Google Street View(WASHINGTON) -- An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died while in U.S. Customs and Border Patrol custody after being treated for an undisclosed illness, according to the agency. The boy, whose name is not being released, had been admitted into a New Mexico hospital and released, but then re-admitted again before dying shortly after midnight on Christmas morning. This child's death is the second such instance this month, after a 7-year-old girl died in government custody. The most recent case was announced via Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) press release on Christmas, hours after the boy's death. It is not known when or how the boy and his father, whose name was also not released, were apprehended by border patrol officers. According to the CBP statement, a border patrol agent "noticed that the child showed signs of potential illness" on Dec. 24, and he and his father were transferred to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center. The boy was diagnosed with a common cold and had a fever, the release states. He was observed for 90 minutes before being released in the afternoon of Dec. 24 with amoxicillin and ibuprofen prescriptions. The child became nauseous and started vomiting later that night and was transferred back to the medical center before passing away after midnight on Christmas, the release states. The child's official cause of death is unknown and the CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct a review, the release states. This latest death comes less than three weeks after a 7-year-old girl died of dehydration and shock. That girl has since been identified as Jakelin Caal Maquin who had been traveling to the U.S. from Guatemala with her father as part of a larger group. Their group was apprehended in a remote desert area near the New Mexico border in the evening of Dec. 6. In the early hours the next morning, when she was on a bus with her father headed to a base, she began throwing up, and when they arrived at the base about an hour and a half later, she wasn't breathing, Department of Homeland Security officials told reporters on a conference call. She was treated by paramedics at the base and airlifted to a hospital where she died less than a day later. Chris Rickerd, a senior policy counsel in the national political advocacy department of the American Civil Liberties Union, said that the latest death was a "horrible loss" that should raise larger questions. "What is CBP doing to fulfill it's border security mission but not treat children and families as threats who have to be incarcerated and kept from treatment and trauma-informed counseling that they need?" Rickerd told ABC News. "Jakelin dying so recently makes this an opportunity to think about what systemically is wrong with CBP," Rickerd said. Though the details about the 8-year-old boy's involvement with border patrol as well as where and for how long he and his father were held remain unknown at this time, Rickerd said that most migrants are held in what are called 'hieleras' which is the word for 'icebox' in Spanish. Rickerd said that the hieleras are known for having "improper sleeping conditions, crowding -- which is particularly a concern with communicable diseases -- and it's clear that these hieleras are completely unsuitable for children and families." "How many deaths of children does it take for CBP to act and get children out of its custody rapidly?" he said. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 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 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. If youve heard of Buckminster Fuller, youve almost certainly heard the word Dymaxion. Despite its strong pre-Space Age redolence, the term has somehow remained compelling into the 21st century. But what does it mean? When Fuller, a self-described comprehensive, anticipatory design scientist, first invented a house meant practically to reinvent domestic living, Chicagos Marshall Field and Company department store put a model on display. The company wanted a catchy label, so it hired a consultant, who fashioned dymaxion out of bits of dynamic, maximum, and ion,' writes The New Yorkers Elizabeth Kolbert in a piece on Fullers legacy. Fuller was so taken with the word, which had no known meaning, that he adopted it as a sort of brand name. After the Dymaxion House came the Dymaxion Vehicle, the Dymaxion Map, and even the two-hour-a-day Dymaxion Sleep Plan. As a child, Fuller had assembled scrapbooks of letters and newspaper articles on subjects that interested him, Kolbert writes. When, later, he decided to keep a more systematic record of his life, including everything from his correspondence to his dry-cleaning bills, it became the Dymaxion Chronofile. The Dymaxion Chronofile now resides in the R. Buckminster Fuller Collection at Stanford University, a place that has merited the attention of no less a guide to the fascinating corners of the world than Atlas Obscura. The files go back to when he was four-years-old, but he only seriously started the archive in 1917, writes that sites Allison C. Meier. From then until his death in 1983 he collected everything from each day, with ingoing and outgoing correspondence, newspaper clippings, drawings, blueprints, models, and even the mundane ephemera like dry cleaning bills. Fuller added to the Dymaxion Chronofile not just every day but, from the year 1920 until his death in 1983, every fifteen minutes. In 1962 Fuller described the Dymaxion Chronofile as what would happen if somebody kept a very accurate record of a human being, going through the era from the Gay 90s, from a very different kind of world through the turn of the century as far into the twentieth century as you might live. Using himself as the case subject for the project (as he did for many projects, which led him to nickname himself Guinea Pig B) meant that I could not be judge of what was valid to put in or not. I must put everything in, so I started a very rigorous record. Open Cultures own Ted Mills has written elsewhere about the rigors of storing and maintaining that record in archive form over the decades since Fullers death, and now, as with so much Fuller did, the Dymaxion Chronofile stands as both a compelling oddity and proof of real, if askew, prescience. After all, how many of us have taken to documenting our own lives online with nearly equal intensity and how many of us do it even more often than every fifteen minutes? Related Content: Buckminster Fullers Dymaxion Sleep Plan: He Slept Two Hours a Day for Two Years & Felt Vigorous and Alert Buckminster Fullers Map of the World: The Innovation that Revolutionized Map Design (1943) Watch the Making of the Dymaxion Globe: A 3-D Rendering of Buckminster Fullers Revolutionary Map A Harrowing Test Drive of Buckminster Fullers 1933 Dymaxion Car: Art That Is Scary to Ride Better Living Through Buckminster Fullers Utopian Designs: Revisit the Dymaxion Car, House, and Map Everything I Know: 42 Hours of Buckminster Fullers Visionary Lectures Free Online (1975) Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The Trailer for 'Us,' Jordan Peele's Next Film, Is Finally Here By Brian Richards | Film | December 26, 2018 | To say that anticipation has been high for Us, writer/director Jordan Peeles follow-up to the Academy Award-winning Get Out, would be a massive understatement. Especially with each morsel of information over the last few months. First, there was the casting news and teaser posters that revealed the title of the film. Then there was the recent release of the films second poster and an actual plot synopsis, as well as promotional material sent to critics and reporters, which included a pair of golden scissors similar to the ones that appear in the poster. Finally, there was this tweet, which informed us when we could see a trailer for the film. Trailer drops Xmas. Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) December 13, 2018 And yesterday, on Christmas morning, the wait was over and we all got our very first look (followed by our second, third, fourth, and 815th look, judging from all of the tweets) at the trailer for Peeles newest film, Us. Twitter, particularly Black Twitter, had plenty to say about the trailer for Us from the moment it dropped, which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one Me in the bathroom after watching #UsMovie trailer. pic.twitter.com/kMdhWmdDBo Robert Young (@robertcyoung) December 25, 2018 Jordan Peele to all the other horror directors #UsMovie pic.twitter.com/NGnCxkcWjd jason momoas side thotty (@Mikey_Talks) December 25, 2018 Just watched the #UsMovie trailer in broad daylight with lamps and shit on and still found myself saying oh fuck no. Oh fuck no several times in a row. Jordan Peele is a scary motherfucker and I am excited and also not because Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) December 25, 2018 Also, can I just say that I feel like @JordanPeeles mastery of horror is due to his study of the genre but also due to his mastery of comedy. His sharp awareness of humor and what makes us laugh somehow provides an understanding of what is deeply NOT funny. Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) December 25, 2018 I love @JordanPeele casting a Black family & all members are dark skinned, especially the daughter who can be seen doing ballet. More little dark skin girls need to see others who look like them existing in spaces where they've been shunned before #UsMovie #RepresentationMatters Carolyn 'people pon scenes today' Hinds. (@CarrieCnh12) December 25, 2018 You best stay in that other dimension if you know whats good for you. #UsMovie pic.twitter.com/s0NEvpBLwO Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) December 25, 2018 Imma just go on record and say this is the first time in a while (or ever) since Ive seen a Black Family in a movie and the entire family is dark skin. It may seem insignificant but it matters. #UsMovie #WatchYourself J.B. (@Glohanx2) December 25, 2018 I just showed my family the #UsMovie trailer at Christmas breakfast. My aunt said What kind of Black devilry satanic shit is this to release on Christmas?! Its looks good though! Im dead . Good job @Monkeypaw @JordanPeele pic.twitter.com/11oQLBSMhA Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) December 25, 2018 Is this a twisted tale of a cloning experiment gone wrong or is this what happens when those multiple Gmail accounts you created to get new TIDAL trials become sentient? #Usmovie pic.twitter.com/XHGcvhaB2i Jerry L Barrow (@JLBarrow) December 25, 2018 Aka all the movies EYE will be watching to get ready for #UsMovie https://t.co/ATZ0JYA0oH Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) December 25, 2018 #UsMovie Jordan Peele : so picture this you're at home with your family and someone breaks in and tries to kill you other screenwriters: i mean i think it's been done bef- Jordan Peele : pic.twitter.com/q6kEn4asAD Rimna H. (@CustardRhymes) December 25, 2018 after #UsMovie i got 5 on it gonna come on at the function and this finna be us pic.twitter.com/JF6R8LvyEd vanessa taylor (@BaconTribe) December 25, 2018 I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY LIFE THAT I'D BE TERRIFIED OF I GOT FIVE ON IT, BUT HERE WE ARE. #UsMovie pic.twitter.com/VQJBr5gw5A (@Maria_Giesela) December 25, 2018 She called the police but they didnt come because of the other 7 times she called for the music being too loud. #UsMovie pic.twitter.com/wvhmwzcDnI Phoni Stark (@Steph_I_Will) December 25, 2018 Theres so much I could honestly unpack from the films Jordan Peele suggested to Lupita for #UsMovie, films like MARTYRS and A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, but instead, Im just gonna watch the trailer again and stay hype af until March. I just wanna enjoy the hell out of this. Jamie Righetti (@JamieRighetti) December 25, 2018 .@JordanPeele I came to calling and cursing you out!!! DAMN THATS A GOOD TRAILER!!!!! #UsMovie #WatchYourself Yahya Abdul-Mateen 2 (@yahya) December 25, 2018 First teacups and now rabbits, @JordanPeele isnt going to stop until all of Alice in Wonderland is terrifying. Isaac Fitzgerald (@IsaacFitzgerald) December 25, 2018 Jordan after dropping a horror movie trailer at 6a on Christmas Day #UsMovie pic.twitter.com/bzNY8yguHC Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) December 25, 2018 Then there were those who shook their heads at Us being referred to as a social thriller instead of a horror film, myself included: Social thriller. The its not really a horror movie takes are ALREADY STARTING https://t.co/gf3fla5gjw Christmas Evangelista (@cevangelista413) December 25, 2018 Creepy Social Thriller? Surely you mean horror because its a horror movie. Colton Q. Dunham (@ColtonD84) December 25, 2018 "I can't wait to see this new social thriller from Jordan Peele." "It's not a social thriller. It's a horror movie." "No, it's not. It's a thriller that uses horror-like elements to comment on social issues that affect us." "Yeah. Those are called horror movies." #UsMovie https://t.co/ceEPvb22L7 hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) December 25, 2018 Jordan Peele, screening the US trailer last week: "It is a horror movie." (yay!) "I wanted to create a new horror mythology and a new monster..It was important for me to have a black family at the center, but its not about race. Its about how we humans are our own worst enemy. Phil Nobile Jr. (@PhilNobileJr) December 25, 2018 It also didnt take very long for there to be reaction videos on YouTube, online theories, and 48-tweet-long threads about the trailer, the music in the trailer, the imagery appearing in the trailer, and the significance of/meaning behind said imagery in the trailer all over Twitter. (The last trailer to inspire this much Kermit-flailing and shot-by-shot analysis was the recent trailer for Avengers: Endgame) Which caused a few people to tell Twitter to take it down several dozen notches. Jordan Peele watching yall go into full conspiracy theory vision board mode trying to figure out the #UsMovie from a 2 min trailer pic.twitter.com/sruaAI2fHi Phoni Stark (@Steph_I_Will) December 25, 2018 I thought albums being called a classic based on a track list was wild. This new essay on blackness based on a trailer holds its beer. https://t.co/BcWf5exsJ0 No Relation, Esq. (@TheCosby) December 25, 2018 Yall really writing think piece tweets on a 2 minute horror movie trailer on Christmas Day. Stephanie (@StephBMore) December 26, 2018 It aint even come out yet lmao https://t.co/svTJiZ6eC2 . (@GOODMlAD) December 26, 2018 The song is about buying weed its LITERALLY in the Damn hook. JihaD https://t.co/z4qcLZbHDO CreJawn LeBlanc, 1st of his Name (@ZipSquad_JihaD) December 26, 2018 Enough with the #UsMovie takes before you've even seen the movie. No more references. No more talking about the diaspora. Go on Fandango and reserve a ticket when it's time but be patient, for real. Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) December 26, 2018 you guys are doing a lot with a 2 minute trailer lol go eat some turkey pls Jasmine Sha-Ree Sanders (@JasMoneyRecords) December 25, 2018 And some of the people being asked/told to curb their enthusiasm over Us didnt take that request all too well. It be your own. Why are "we" always overdoing it? These cats been talking about Chucky, Freddy, and Saw for years. Whole ass communities built around those films. Not even 24 hours into #UsMovie trailer y'all got an issue. https://t.co/eLaXrzkDHJ Ed (@itsedwilliams) December 26, 2018 THIS Contrary to popular belief, Black people are entitled to - and WILL - take joy and pride in our achievements and successes, the same as everyone else does within their own communities. https://t.co/jogeTsQ5i7 The 7th Matrix (@The7thMatrix) December 26, 2018 you knowi don't really blame black people for going OD with the representation, sometimes. it's really symbolizes just how starved people are to see themselves in something. i get it. it's annoying sometimes. but i get it. Shyne Coldchain Jr. (@Smooth_Orator) December 26, 2018 And this was all just from the trailer alone. You can only imagine what the reviews, tweets, and think pieces will be like once we finally see all two hours of Us next year. Us opens in theaters March 15, 2019. And for those who are interested in listening to the song featured in the trailer for Us, that song is I Got 5 On It by Luniz, and you can listen to it here. 'What Used To Be Really Common in Movies That You Don't See Anymore?' | The Best and Worst Books of Cannonball Read 10 Brian Richards is a Staff Contributor. You can follow him on Twitter. Header Image Source: Universal Pictures Iranian FM Zarif Calls Khamenei's 'Look To East' Policy 'Meaningless' 12/16/18 Source: Radio Farda Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has questioned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's "Eastern" policy and ruled it out as "meaningless" in unprecedented and provocative comments he made during a speech in Tehran on Friday December 14. Mohammad Javad Zarif At 4th congress of Voice of Iranians party-- 14 Dec 2018 While explaining his ideas on foreign policy, Zarif made the comments at the congress of reformist party Nedaye Iranian (Voice of Iranians) established by Khamenei's close relative and former Iranian ambassador to Paris, Sadeq Kharrazi. Zarif's comment sharply contradicted Khamenei's October 17 statement during a meeting with a group of "academic elites and prominent scholars." "We should look East, not West. Pinning our hope on the West or Europe would belittle us as we would beg them for favor and they would do nothing," Khamenei told the group which included Iranian academics returning from various Western countries. Instead, Khamenei said that Iran should look East, "where countries are taking quick steps on their roads to growth," The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) quoted him as saying. This was the second unusual comment by Zarif during recent weeks. His first troublesome comments were about widespread money laundering and corruption among Iran's top figures. The comments angered hardliners, and a group of MPs at the Iranian parliament tabled a motion to impeach him for the remarks they took as "insult." There has been so far no reaction from Khamenei supporters to Zarif's latest statements, but considering their uproar over his money laundering remarks, some sort of rancorous reaction cannot be ruled out. Criticizing those who believe in looking towards East or West, Zarif said that the age of superpowers has ended, but Iranian officials' don't want to believe this. Zarif further explained that "At the time being, looking to East is as meaningless as looking to West." He said that a wide range of Iranian politicians "from those who want to interact with the world to those who are concerned about opening up to the West, think of the West as the center of the universe. This is a mistake. Our world is a Post-Western world." The comment also contradicts another Khamenei suggestion he made to President Hassan Rouhani that his government should abandon hope in Europe's initiatives to save the nuclear deal with the or help Iran's failing economy to improve. Khamenei had said: "We should look East, not West." This was after European states promised to save the nuclear deal with Iran, but failed to deliver, after the United States withdrew from the agreement in May. During the past 30 years, under the leadership of Ali Khamenei, Iran has been practically relying on the East, increasing its interaction with Russia, and just as an example, partnering with Moscow in the war in Syria at the expense of ruining its own economy. Tehran also increased its cooperation with Russia at the United nations organization and other international forums, although Russia has supported all the UN resolutions about sanctions on Iran. Fire has gutted some shops at the Makola market in Accra with general goods for sale up in flames on Christmas day. The fire is said to have started around 10:30 am and it took personnel from the Fire Service several hours to quench it. It is unclear yet what may have caused the fire. Eyewitnesses who were looking forward to an exciting Christmas sales have been left shattered. They told Joy News they saw a thick cloud of smoke billowing from one of the shops upstairs and they had to call the fire service. One of the witnesses said it took about 40 minutes before the personnel from the Fire Service who was stationed just right within the market to come to their aid. Another claimed he had to personally ride an okada to the offices of the Fire Service before they were able to respond. On arrival it took several hours before they kept the fire under control. The billowing smoke had given way to a full ravaging fire. We saw smoke coming out and we had to help ourselves by picking some of our things out of the shop. We are running at a big loss, one of the eyewitnesses said. Fridges, fans, air-condition and other home appliances have been burnt to ashes. The victims say they are counting their losses. The fire service personnel are yet to determine the cause of the fire. Source: Joy News 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 man of God has described as prophetic the site chosen for the controversial 5,000-seater National Cathedral at ridge in Accra. Apostle Dr. Amoako Atta, founder and leader of the Lords Parliament maintained that, God had chosen that land even before President Akufo-Addo made that promise. Government has faced criticisms over its decision to build a temple for God. A former Youth Organiser of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh also known as Kabila has sued government in court. Kabila wants the Supreme Court to restrain government or any of its representatives from being involved in or taking any steps towards the construction of the Ghana National Cathedral, including the demolition of residences of justices of the Superior Courts. The issue has become murkier following governments decision to demolish buildings including residences of judges to make way for the construction of a national cathedral has been criticized as inappropriate. The critics questioned the rationale behind pulling down all buildings [sited] from the Ridge Circle to the Scholarship Secretariat, the Judicial Training Institute at East Ridge, the passport office and other structures and about ten six-bedroom bungalows built by the Judicial Service to house Court of Appeal Judges. These buildings are located in prime areas in Accra and in the case of the judges were built only five years ago. But speaking on Adom FMs morning show Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, Apostle Dr. Amoako Atta said those complaining are ill-informed. He asked persons opposed to the construction of a National Cathedral not waste their energies campaigning against the project as the House of Worship will be built at all cost. The man of God bemoaned how no one complained when 150 people were relocated to make way for the National mosque in Nima yet are up in arm with government on its decision to build a national cathedral. Apostle Dr. Amoako Atta urged all Christians to support government honour God for a prosperous future for Ghana. Source: Ghana Web 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 Founder and Senior Pastor of Agape House New Testament Church Reverend Dr. Richard Whitcomb has said building a national cathedral does not bring the presence of God much as a humble heart does. He urged Ghanaians to focus on building themselves and working towards making their hearts right and humble. He indicated that he is neither for nor against the construction of the cathedral but is more concerned about the spiritual implications of building a national cathedral. Herein friends, is the grave danger we face as we debate over building a national cathedral, you can build it but it doesnt bring the presence of God Im not for or against the national cathedral. Im not speaking to you today as a politician, Im speaking as a prophet. You can build the national cathedral but that will not guarantee the presence of God. His statement comes in the wake of the debate about the national cathedral. Some are of the view that the country has need of other facilities which are more pressing than the construction of a national cathedral. According to Rev Whitcomb, having a national cathedral with proud leaders does not guarantee the presence of God. God opposes the proud and dwells with the humble. I will rather be a humble nation without the national cathedral than a proud nation with a national cathedral because if you have a national cathedral but your leaders are proud Gods presence will be far from you. But if you have no national cathedral, no temple at all, your hearts are humbled the presence of the lord will dwell with you. He cited America as one of the countries which has a well-equipped national cathedral but has sin and waywardness clouding the judgement of its citizens. Quoting the scripture Acts 7: 48-50, he said. After all they have a national cathedral in USA and its a backsliding, sin filled perverted country, apologies to the Americans. Im not speaking for or against the national cathedral, Im not a politician, Im not speaking today about the political, legal or financial implications of building a national cathedral. Im a voice from God speaking you about the spiritual implications of misunderstanding Gods holy place. God doesnt dwell on national cathedrals or in temples, He doesnt dwell in buildings made by hands. He came to live amongst us so that He might live within us. Background President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017 cut sod for the construction of a National Cathedral to serve as a national non-denominational Christian worship centre for the country. To begin the construction of the national cathedral, some nine justices of the Court of Appeal as well as other judicial staff occupying bungalows around the site earmarked for the project, were asked to vacate to make way for the construction of the 5,000-seater capacity facility. They are to move into temporary residential buildings pending the construction of some 21 new bungalows on the Second Circular Road Cantonments in Accra. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Policy Think Tank IMANI is forewarning President Akufo-Addo to take steps to nip corruption in his government before it nips him out of power,MyNewsGh.com has reported. In a report from Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI, Akufo-Addo is being warned to take a hard look at ideas his people float to him for implementation, because most of them are conduits of corruption that could bring him down He commended the government for suspending UNIPASS but nevertheless warned government to be careful. Now that UNIPASS is suspended, Mr President take a hard look at those who float projects and procurement opportunities just for graft! This, if not watched and stopped will kill your government!! he added. In our own small way, our noises make some impact. we dont benefit directly, but the progress of Ghana is our progress too.We are citizens, and we are grateful for a listening government. Mr Bentil wrote. Now that UNIPASS is suspended, Mr President take a hard look at those who float projects and procurement opportunities just for graft! This, if not watched and stopped will kill your government!! he added. His boss, Franklin Cudjoe had a rather long one on UNIPASS, take a read: Even before Parliament decides on IMANIs enquiry into the controversial UNI-PASS trade deal, the Economic Management Team, which we had earlier copied in our letters, in a letter dated yesterday, December 20, calls for a suspension of the deal to take off on January 1, 2019 until August 2019, not before a proper economic and legal review has been conducted. See attached letter. For the purpose of reminders, below are some of the crucial questions IMANI asked. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), the introduction of UNI-PASS is expected to make the Ghana National Single Window (GNSW) more comprehensive. In addition, the UNI-PASS system will include a clearance management system, a cargo management system, an information management system and an administration system. QUESTION: Are all these functions missing from the existing systems (GCNet and West Blue platforms)? Arent these functions an integral part of the existing single window and not an addition? QUESTION: How much, percentage wise, are revenues likely to increase from the existing situation with the new system? Will this be large enough to offset the potential loss revenue from government shareholding in GCNet? We note that in 2017, the Customs Division was given a target of GHc13.9bn and ended up collecting GHc12.6bn representing 91% for government. This is evident in the dividends GCNET pays to government on a yearly basis. (Sourced: GCNET Dividend Payout from 2002-2017) ? QUESTION: Isnt 91% revenue turn out under the existing system significant? Why shut down existing successful systems and incur huge costs in judgement debts and in the acquisition of another technology? In September 2018, DANIDA, a project sponsor recommended that after the January 1, 2019 start date of UNI-PASS, there should be an 18 month development, installation and configuration period. QUESTIONS: ? Is this being done? ? What will the transition look like and what consequences will it have for trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation? Separate reports have stated that GCNet charge importers a fee of 0.4% on FOB, while West Blue charge between 0.28% and 1% for CIF. Combined import fess on FOB for West Blue and GCNet therefore is 0.68% . UNI-PASS is charging $40M plus 1% interest for 10 years. QUESTIONS: ? How do the combined charges of GCNet and West Blue compare with that of UNI-PASS at 0.75%? Isnt this financially over burdening the importer? ? Why is government awarding a higher contract rate for a longer period of 10 years? ? What review processes has the Ministry of Trade carried out recently (can evidence be adduced) to justify the signing of this agreement? ? Can MoTI share the results of the feasibility studies (2015) on the ports, conducted by CUPIA of Korea Customs Services and Ghana Link Network Services,the very companies that have been sole-sourced to cancel existing contracts at huge costs? We note that a plethora of initiatives have been introduced to streamline port operations. The latest is the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN). QUESTIONS: ? Where is CTN system in all this? Are they being maintained and who is paying for it?. How much is it costing the government? On Monday this week, IMANI delivered 275 individually addressed letters to Members of Parliament on how Ghanas trade flow could be disrupted due to the introduction of yet another similar technology at the ports. IMANI has been working on trade facilitation issues for years. Source: Ghana Web Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has dismissed a purported injunction against the referenda to create new regions in the country. The election conducting body has subsequently asked the electorate to turn up in their numbers as the referenda will be held according to the earlier announced date of 27 December 2018. This was contained in a press statement issued by Dr Bossman Asare, a Deputy Chairman of the EC. The release, therefore, asked the public to disregard reports by some media houses alleging that the referenda will not be held on 27 December 2018. The Commission calls on the general public to disregard that information. All arrangements are in place and the referendum will be held as scheduled on Thursday, the 27th of December, 2018, the statement noted. Two Ghanaians, Gabriel Aziaglo of Dodo Tamale in the Kadjebi District and Dan Louis Nikabo of Avornyokope also in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region, applied to the High Court to put an injunction on the referenda to create the six new regions on Monday, 24 December 2018. The applicants, who said they are registered voters in the proposed Oti Region to be created out of the Volta Region, were of the view that the processes will not be fair and transparent and prayed the court to enforce their fundamental human rights. The six proposed regions are Oti, North East, Savannah, Ahafo, Bono East and Western North. Below is the full statement from the EC: PURPORTED INJUNCTION ON THE REFERENDUM PRESS RELEASE The Commission has received reports from a section of the media that an injunction has been placed on the upcoming referendum scheduled for Thursday the 27th Day of December 2018. The Commission calls on the general public to disregard that information. All arrangements are in place and the referendum will be held as scheduled on Thursday the 27thof December 2018. The Commission calls on all eligible voters in the affected areas of BONO EAST, AHAFO, NORTH EAST, SAVANNA, WESTERN NORTH, and OTI to go out in their numbers to cast their votes on Thursday, 27th December 2018 from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thank you. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Police investigate the scene of a shooting that took the life of Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh, 33, on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Newman, Calif. Authorities were searching Wednesday for a gunman who shot and killed the police officer during a traffic stop in California. (Deke Farrow/The Modesto Bee via AP) Its the most wonderful time of the year for scammers. This holiday season, fraudsters are posing as charities to take advantage of peoples generosity, according to a new survey from First Orion, an Arkansas-based call management company that combats scam robocalls. The survey of 1,000 U.S. mobile phone users found that 16 percent have recently received a scam call from someone claiming to be from a humanitarian group. And the swindles are working more than a quarter (26 percent) of those who took a call from a fake charity forked over some money, the survey said. Scammers can use caller ID spoofing technology to disguise their phone numbers and make the calls seem to be coming from actual charities, said Gavin Macomber, First Orions senior vice president of marketing. When legitimate numbers are hijacked, even careful consumers can get fooled into thinking theyre on the phone with a charity representative. They can really purport to be from that organization, Macomber said of scammers. And if somebody were to call [the phone number] back or Google it quickly while they were on the phone, it would probably check all of the boxes. Consumers feeling generous this holiday season should donate to charities directly through the groups' websites, rather than over the phone to an unsolicited caller, Macomber said. The Pennsylvania attorney generals office said it hasnt received robocall-related charity scam complaints this year. Scam calls and cyber crimes typically spike this time of year, but the overall rapid rise of robocalls has contributed to a dramatic increase in holiday scam calls this year, First Orion found. The survey, conducted earlier this month, said scam calls jumped 129 percent this holiday season compared with the same time last year. At least 62 percent of users said they received a scam call within the last week, compared with 27 percent last year. More than half said they get more spam calls than real ones each day. First Orion, which develops call screening technologies for T-Mobile, recently predicted that nearly half of all calls will come from scammers by next year after examining 50 billion robocalls during an 18-month period. The findings are consistent with those of other groups that track robocalls. YouMail, a robocall blocking application, said there were 5.1 billion robocalls nationwide in November, compared with 2.7 billion the same month a year earlier. Few users are fooled overall. Only 8 percent of the 1,000 surveyed by First Orion said they suffered a financial loss from a scam call. Of those duped, 43 percent gave away credit card information, 28 percent disclosed their Social Security number, and 11 percent handed over a username or password. According to the survey, gift card scams along with bank and credit card-related frauds are the most effective, with 58 percent of victims identifying those categories as the type of call that robbed them. Gift card scams are similar to the common cruise and vacation frauds, as scammers offer $100 gift cards at a steep discount, Macomber said. Scammers posing as banks or credit card companies will try to obtain personal information. Holiday scams are not limited to robocalls. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be wary of several holiday-themed scams, including phishing emails that appear to come from UPS or FedEx. The emails typically include links that ostensibly track packages, but clicking them exposes consumers to cyber attacks. Consumers can file complaints about scams through the Pennsylvania and New Jersey attorney generals offices, or with the Federal Trade Commission. In this April 4, 2018 photo, a U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council soldier (left) speaks with a U.S. soldier at a U.S. position near the tense front line with Turkish-backed fighters, in Manbij town, north Syria. Read more In this Christmas season, President Donald Trump has given Turkey the green light to massacre our Syrian Kurdish allies. The Kurds provided the main fighting force that took on ISIS inside Syria. Working closely with U.S. special forces, they provided the fighters that crushed ISIS in Syria and ultimately smashed the jihadi capital of Raqqa. Their soldiers, including a tough female army, suffered severe casualties. Yet the U.S. president casually consigned the Kurds to potential slaughter via Twitter and an ill-informed phone call with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He did this against the advice of his top military commanders. He did this despite the pleas of outgoing Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who resigned over this issue. In so doing, Trump displayed an ignorance of Mideast politics, geography, and Turkish intentions so great that it raises (again) the question of his mental competence (see Article 25 of the U.S. Constitution). The more immediate question: Who will save the Kurds from Turkey and Trump? Trumps Kurdish debacle began with a phone call two weeks ago with Erdogan, after which the president suddenly tweeted he was pulling all 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria. Erdogan has long urged Trump to break the U.S. relationship with Syrian Kurds. (He fears the autonomous area they carved out in Syria will inspire Turkeys Kurdish minority.) The Turkish leader apparently convinced Trump that U.S. troops were no longer needed in Syria to wipe out remaining ISIS pockets and to prevent a jihadi resurgence. President @RT_Erdogan has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right next door, the president tweeted. Had Trump absorbed a single briefing on Syria or Turkey he could not have posted such an ignorant tweet. For starters, Turkey has never shown any interest in fighting ISIS, but rather has focused on crushing the Kurds. Indeed, Turkey was notorious for letting ISIS fighters cross back and forth across its border with Syria. In 2016, I visited Rojava (as the Kurds call their autonomous area in northeastern Syria), crossing the Tigris River by boat from Iraq. In the Rojavan capital of Qamishli, a Kurdish military spokesman showed me material seized from ISIS headquarters in towns liberated from ISIS. This included schedules for ISIS vans traveling back and forth to Turkey, as well as lists of Turkish clinics and hospitals that treated wounded ISIS fighters, and the amount of the payments for their treatment. If Trump had mastered Middle East 101, he would know that Turkey has always been loathe to crack down on ISIS because the jihadis were fighting Erdogans real enemies: Syrian president Bashar al Assad and the Kurds. Moreover, the Turkish army hasnt the capacity to reach the remaining pockets of ISIS in Syria, which are far from the Turkish border. In other words, Erdogans promise is bunk. What is right next door to Turkey to use Trumps words are the Kurdish towns and villages of Rojava. If Trump withdraws U.S. forces within 100 days, as promised, they are what Turkey will attack. Within hours [of U.S. troops leaving] Turkey will start its air bombardment, says Columbia Universitys David Phillips, followed by (Ankara backed) Free Syrian Army militias committing atrocities, just like in Afrin. Phillips is referring to the Turkish armys air and artillery attack on the Kurdish city of Afrin near the Turkish border in March 2018. After Afrin fell, Turkish-backed Syrian militiamen kicked tens of thousands of Kurds out of the city and many fled further east to Rojava. Now there is no place left for Kurds to flee to, says Phillips, author of The Great Betrayal: How America Abandoned the Kurds and Lost the Middle East. If Trump leaves our Syrian Kurdish allies alone to fight Turkey, ISIS fighters will be free to reemerge from hiding. Kurdish troops will be forced to return home to defend their families. Without any air force, their towns will be defenseless against Turkish bombs. So what is to be done to prevent the slaughter of the Kurds? If Trump were a normal president, his advisers would try to convince him to delay the withdrawal. They would urge him, at minimum, to warn Erdogan against attacking the Kurds and to establish a no-fly zone over Rojava, preventing Turkish air strikes. Even Erdogan appears nervous about the precipitous U.S. exit, so he might listen. Meantime a delay in the withdrawal would at least give the Kurds a chance to negotiate with Russia and the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad to see if they would offer protection against Turkey in return for a sharp limit on Kurdish autonomy. This would strengthen the Moscow-Damascus-Tehran hold on Syria but hey, that is where Trumps heedless policy leads. But Trump is not a normal president. He listens only to Fox TV talking heads and himself. So the fate of the Kurds may turn on whether GOP senators and even Fox commentators warn the president that the blood of slain Kurdish allies would be on his hands and would forever blacken his image. That may be the only argument this president can understand. MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) Officials say a volunteer New Jersey firefighter on her way to answer a call on Christmas morning died in a single-car crash. Police in Hamilton Township say Natalie Dempsey, 21, of Mays Landing, lost control of her car shortly before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and struck a guardrail. Police say she was pronounced dead at the scene. Chief Jay Davenport of the Mizpah Volunteer Fire Department said Dempsey was on her way to a call. He said the department is like a close-knit family and added: This one has hit us hard. Davenport said Dempsey had been a volunteer firefighter for three years, hoped to become a police officer, and attended the police academy over the summer. He said she was a beautiful person a light in the sky. This story was reported by the Trace with NBC Philadelphia. Ian Hirst-Hermans lay on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his chest. He had been shot after leaving a house party just after 2 a.m. Within seconds, as he remembers, a police car came racing down the one-way North Philadelphia street in the wrong direction. Two cops jumped out and, with the help of his friend, lifted Hirst-Hermans into the back. Blood pooled beneath the 20-year-old on the hard plastic backseat. He was sure he was going to die. Then from the front of the car came a calming voice. One of the officers was asking him questions about his college classes, telling him he was going to make it. Hirst-Hermans last memory of the drive was the siren of an ambulance blaring past and one of the officers saying, There goes your ride. Had he been shot in another city, Hirst-Hermans might have died. The bullet hit a major artery in his chest, and hed lost a lot of blood. A surgeon later told him that hed made it to the hospital with less than a minute to spare. Among cities with the highest rates of homicide, Philadelphia is the only one where police routinely rush gunshot and stab wound victims to the nearest trauma center instead of waiting for an ambulance. The practice known as scoop and run or scoop and go is deeply entrenched among the citys law enforcement officers, who focus their patrol in areas with the highest instances of violent crime and, as a result, frequently beat EMS to crime scenes. The sense has always been, get that person to the hospital quick, says John Stanford, a captain and 16-year veteran of the Police Department. Its just something you do. Last year, a third of Philadelphias 1,223 shooting victims were delivered to a city trauma center in the back of a police cruiser or wagon. At Temple University Hospital, the busiest hospital for gunshot patients in the state, about 70 percent of victims of penetrating trauma arrive by police vehicle or private vehicle, or simply walk in. Though Philadelphia police receive basic training on treating gunshot wounds, including how to apply a tourniquet, most of the victims they transport receive little or no medical care until theyre through the hospital doors. The practice challenges how most people think victims should be cared for. Yet trauma doctors in the city are effusive about scoop and run, and believe it saves lives. Patients often survive the initial gunshot, but unfortunately a large number of them bleed out fairly quickly, within seconds and minutes, says Marcin Jankowski, the head of trauma and surgical critical care at Hahnemann University Hospital, one of the citys eight trauma centers. Doctors say the faster these patients can get to a trauma center, the better their chances at survival. Philadelphia is unique. The police have definitely taken ownership of getting patients to us as quickly as possible, he adds. Beyond its lifesaving potential, some say, scoop and run could enhance public safety in communities with broad distrust of police. When officers lift victims into the backseats of their cars, they become true first responders, shifting roles from enforcer to guardian, from soldier to protector. As intuitive as scoop and run is among Philadelphia cops, police departments in other cities have little appetite for the practice. They argue that cops have other important responsibilities, such as solving crimes; they lack the advanced medical training required of EMTs and paramedics; and there could be liability issues when victims dont survive. In certain circumstances, police in other cities already embrace scoop and run, such as during mass shootings and when their colleagues are wounded. Research suggests cities should consider innovative transport methods for all shooting victims. A recent national study found that the rate of gunshot victims who died en route to the hospital quadrupled between 2007 and 2014. Their injuries are so severe that by the time they come to us, its very difficult to save their life, says Joseph Sakran, the studys author and a trauma surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. After the two Philadelphia cops delivered Ian Hirst-Hermans to Temples trauma center that night eight years ago, surgeons got to work, removing an artery from his thigh to replace the destroyed one in his chest. He awoke the next day shaken. But his mood brightened when the two officers who scooped him came to visit. One joked that Hirst-Hermans needed to hurry up and get well so he could clean the blood out of their car. Hirst-Hermans texts the officers every holiday season to thank them for getting him to the hospital. A few years ago, he had their last names tattooed in thick black cursive beneath his clavicle. Theyre my heroes, he says. Im eternally grateful to those guys. In Philadelphia, scoop and run is such a long-held tradition that many officers cant imagine their jobs without it. It was just something that was understood, that getting the person to the hospital was part of your duties, says Kevin Bethel, a retired former deputy police commissioner who joined the department in the mid-1980s. Last year, police drove 408 gunshot victims to Philadelphia trauma centers, according to the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, the states accrediting agency for trauma centers. In the last decade, police scoop and runs of gunshot victims have nearly doubled, even as shootings have remained fairly level. The practice has become so common that Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, a Level I trauma center, recently designated a drop-off lane for cop cars. Steven Davidson, the citys former EMS medical director, helped lead one of the first systematic evaluations of scoop and run, a 1995 study that compared mortality rates of assault victims transported by police to those driven by medics. The researchers found no significant differences in survival. A year later, the Philadelphia Police Department formalized its policy, which instructs officers to transport gunshot and stabbing victims and not wait for EMS. In the years since, research on the citys practice has reached similar conclusions. The studies are far from perfect they did not control for transport times or medical interventions in the field but many clinicians interpret the findings to mean police transport is safe for patients, and in some cases advantageous. One citywide study included a subset of people severely injured by gunshots. Compared with those transported by EMS, patients ferried by police had higher rates of surviving their wounds. Philly police interviewed by the Trace and NBC Philadelphia consider scoop and run a natural part of their role. The only protective gear they carry are medical gloves; they expect to get bloody. We dont join the Police Department to watch people die, says Stephen Clark, a captain for the 24th District, which has seen some of the highest numbers of shootings in the city. To residents on the other end of a scoop and run, its logic may be less obvious. Rather than being tended to by trained EMTs and paramedics with a range of medical supplies and equipment, they are hoisted into the back of police cars, where they may not even receive direct pressure to their wounds, not to mention a buckled seat belt. Youre hitting bumps, youre bleeding, your bodys going all over the place, says Terry Starks, who was transported by a cop after being shot five times in 2002. Philadelphia officials say that, to the best of their knowledge, neither the Police Department nor the city has been sued over police transport of victims. The Trace identified two civil lawsuits brought against the city by individual families who alleged the actions of police including transporting and not applying pressure contributed to their sons deaths. Neither went to trial. According to some trauma doctors, the lack of medical intervention that victims receive during the typical scoop and run is part of what makes the practice beneficial. Advanced procedures such as breathing tubes and IV fluids, although helpful for certain kinds of patients, may actually do more harm than good for shooting and stabbing victims in urban areas. Id love to debunk the myth that you need a person on the scene who has all this advanced medical training and that is going to make the difference for this specific kind of injury, says Elliott Haut, a Johns Hopkins trauma surgeon. For a presentation he gives at conferences, he shows a slide that asks whats the best fluid to give victims of penetrating trauma. Then he clicks to the next slide, which reads diesel fuel. Haut says, Yes, youre going to get less medical care on the street and in the back of the car, but Im OK with that because the shorter time is going to make a difference. While several police departments have policies permitting their officers to conduct transports including Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and Stockton, Calif., none of the 13 cities surveyed for this report reported transporting victims on a regular basis. Cleveland residents would not benefit from a Philadelphia-style police transport program, wrote a representative of Clevelands paramedic and EMT union in a recent op-ed, pointing out that Philadelphia has five adult Level I trauma centers all within close proximity, while Cleveland has just two on opposite sides of town. Neighborhoods with disproportionately high gun violence are often the same places where residents fear and distrust the police, making them skeptical of scoop and run. I can tell you about times where theres a victim in the back of my car and every other word is an expletive to us. Im not snitching, punk-ass cop, says Stanford, the Philadelphia captain. And Im still driving like a bat out of hell to get this guy to the hospital to save his life. Some scoop and run proponents hypothesize that having an officer spirit you or a loved one to the hospital at a life-or-death moment might have an unexplored power to help mend trust between police and residents of high-crime neighborhoods. Being able to say to the community, here are instances when police have saved the lives of these frequently young victims of gun violence, I think is another justification for doing this, says Jim Bueermann, president of the National Police Foundation, a policing innovation nonprofit. Bueermann speaks about scoop and run in existential terms. On this issue, he says, the Philadelphia Police Department is directly connected to the spirituality of policing the point of police work, to protect and serve. The things cops see day in and day out are frequently negative, he adds. Having an opportunity to save a life in the performance of their duties gives officers a tremendous emotional boost. Still, he thinks that for other cities to adopt scoop and run will require buy-in not just from police chiefs, but also city managers, city attorneys, mayors, and other local leaders. A few weeks ago, Penn Medicine hosted a conference at which clinicians held a debate and panel on police transport for trauma victims. Dan Holena, a trauma surgeon at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, conceded that scoop and run would probably not work in certain places, such as cities with a lower concentration of trauma centers. I can think of a half a dozen major U.S. cities where this could work and really should work, and the only reason that its not are things such as local policies, culture, and legal concerns that really dont have to do with care of the patient. Officials in Camden decided to take a chance on scoop and run a few years ago. The chief of the Camden County Police Department, Scott Thomson, hoped it would help build cops credibility among residents. At first, some officers were wary. Anytime you implement something new and fundamentally different, theres hesitation and some folks resist, Thomson says. But he says they came around, and now his officers scoop about one in every five of Camdens gunshot and stab wound victims. In a few cases, officers even transported victims who were shooting directly at them. The streets are always watching, Thomson says. And they see your behavior, and actions speak far louder than words. Dear RepublicansIt seems like just yesterday we sat watching the presidential election returns, but that was two long years ago. We know you enjoyed winning, and were sure your schadenfreude was as delicious as your victory. But after you win, you have to govern. Thats a lot harder. You were lucky last election because Democrats developed a habit of making Republican wins easy. But you wont be lucky next time, because Democrats also have a habit of making Republican governing difficult. As they take control of the House of Representatives, they will make it very difficult for you, harder than you made it for yourselves, which is tough to fathom. Your inclination will be to dismiss them as snowflakes, commies, or worse, but that would be doubling down on behavior the American people rejected in the midterms. >> READ MORE: Come back to the people, Democrats | Opinion You think that Donald Trumps victory in 2016 was a repudiation of the Democrats. It was. But you have concluded, incorrectly, that it was a validation of your own party. The midterms should have made that clear. In most voters eyes you were merely the lesser of two evils. Mistake that for love or support at your own peril, because if you do, whoever runs against you in the next presidential election will win handily. No, the midterm election was not a blue wave. But it was a drubbing, a drubbing you earned because people dont trust you. Your standard bearer is a classless tweeting lunatic with no fixed ideas and even less loyalty. He comes off as a narcissist, mostly because he is, and the American people are rightly wondering what you see in him. You can start to address this by finding some congressional backbone. He has his job, and you have yours. If you took that seriously, things would likely be a lot better, both for you and for the country. It has become painfully clear over the last two years that the GOP is a party without a purpose. Winning is not a purpose; it is a means to an end. When you decided that winning was the end, you forfeited your ability to do anything worthwhile. What has emerged? A Republican party that has no identifiable goals, and no reason whatsoever to claim success in governing. In every meaningful respect, Trump has simply carried forward his predecessors policies to disastrous effect. We are still at war with a good part of the globe, and our debt has become so large as to be incomprehensible. Trillion dollar deficits have become the norm. All the worst parts of Obamacare remain. Millions of Americans continue to rot in prison for victimless crimes. And regular Americans treat each other with less respect than ever. In just about every way, you have managed to alienate the American people, who now simply dont like you. But it wasnt always so. Republicans used to promote national strength and unity. They used to talk about the ideas that bound Americans together. Now you only talk about the things that divide us. Once upon a time Republicans were the party of economic growth and fiscal sanity. You encouraged us to be proud of our country, but not to be blindly nationalistic. You held America up to the world as an example of freedom; you didnt lock out the huddled masses who sought that freedom. You gave us conservative candidates who offered a clear vision for realizing the full potential of human freedom, not authoritarian hacks who drum up votes by promising to punish political opponents. You used to offer candidates who cared more about serving than ruling. Republicans, your two-year journey begins now. Most Americans are not interested in buying more of what you have been selling, and they will take a pig in a poke over you if thats the choice they are given in 2020. Bet on it. Democrats share with you the blame for what has become of our government. But your time for blaming is over. When half of America chants, not my President regardless of which candidate wins, both parties have failed. You and the Democrats have a long walk back to respectability. Start that walk now, while theres still time to repair the damage you both have done. If you hurry, youll find us, the American people, waiting to listen. If not, well...look back to the Federalist, Whig, and Democratic-Republican parties. Where did they go? Exactly. Antony Davies is associate professor of economics at Duquesne University. James R. Harrigan teaches in the department of Political Economy and Moral Science at the University of Arizona. They host the weekly podcast, Words & Numbers. Wagontown Volunteer Fire Company engineer Sohn Stark, right, watches as firefighter Nick Sheplock, left, aims his hose at a small brush fire during a training exercise at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in Coatesville, Pa., on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Aardvark Video Works owner Mike Fanaro, center, films the exercise. Fanaro's company was hired by Communication Solutions Group, a public relations firm working with the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association, to produce television and movie theater commercials to help recruit volunteer firefighters. Read more Pennsylvania needs to provide funding and incentives and take other actions to fight a worsening "public safety crisis" resulting from a dramatic decline in volunteer firefighters during the last 40 years in the state and nationally according to a report released Wednesday. About 300,000 people volunteered as firefighters in Pennsylvania in the 1970s, but that number has dwindled to fewer than 38,000, due in part to more time demands, an aging population, and societal shifts, said the commission of Pennsylvania lawmakers, municipal officials, and emergency service professionals that produced the report. Underscoring the dimensions of the crisis, the updated figures were even more discouraging than those state fire officials cited last year when, working with old data, they calculated the number at about 70,000. More than 90 percent of the state's roughly 2,400 fire companies are volunteer. State fire officials estimate that volunteer firefighters save Pennsylvania communities about $10 billion annually. Volunteer agencies have turned to hiring full- or part-time staff to fill the volunteer gap. Meanwhile, the number of calls to which firefighters respond has increased with more medical, hazardous-material, false-alarm, and faulty smoke-detector calls, but communities have fewer trained personnel whether volunteer or staff available to respond. >>READ MORE: Alarming situation: Volunteer fire companies fight shortage "crisis" To bolster the ranks of emergency services, the state should centralize its fragmented fire services; encourage emergency responders to consolidate; and offer more tax credits, education credits, and other incentives to attract and retain volunteers, the report says. "I've never been one to cry wolf. Never in my life. And I'm saying we are in a crisis," said State Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R., Allegheny), cochair of the commission and chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. "While individually these recommendations won't solve all the problems, together they can help preserve these two groups of first responders that are there when we are at our most vulnerable." The report cited the need for "resources, funds, and legislative change" to improve public safety. Its authors want local fire and emergency medical services companies to use the report to lobby municipal officials for financial and staffing support. State Rep. Steve Barrar (R., Chester/Delaware), cochair of the commission and chair of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, called the report "our playbook going into the next legislative session." The 39 commission members included fire and emergency medical services groups, municipal organizations, the majority and minority chairmen of the Senate's and House's emergency preparedness committees, and the acting state fire commissioner. The effort marked the first time in members' memories that fire and EMS and volunteer and career first responders came together to produce a shared report on the future of emergency services. The chairs of the Senate's emergency preparedness committee had called for the report, which originally was due June 30 but was granted a five-month extension. Meanwhile, fire departments across the region and the country have turned to marketing campaigns, recruitment centers, billboards, commercials in movie theaters, and mailers to attract volunteers. Wednesday's report follows up on a 2004 assessment from another state commission, which identified the same issues as similar efforts in the '70s, '80s, and 2000s. "The delay or failure to take appropriate action has continued to extend and expand the challenges facing Pennsylvania emergency services," the report released Wednesday said. The decentralized nature of fire service in Pennsylvania is part of the problem. Recruiting and retaining volunteers have been local responsibilities, but the report's authors said the commonwealth must share them. The report recommends that the Office of the State Fire Commissioner stand on its own and report directly to the governor, instead of being attached to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The state would task the office with providing technical assistance to fire departments and collecting data on the state of fire protection. Members of the commission said even getting an up-to-date figure of the number of volunteer firefighters in the state was a challenge. The nearly 100 recommendations for local agencies and the state include: Create a single statewide recruiting tool and website. Partner with the Department of Education to offer high school and college credit to volunteers and work with community colleges and state universities to offer free tuition to firefighters and emergency medical professionals. Remove regulatory and other barriers to encourage emergency service agencies to combine into regional companies. Provide free background checks through the Pennsylvania State Police or local police. Partner with colleges to provide housing for students who volunteer and explore offering college loan forgiveness. Set for the first time minimum firefighter training standards, which fire companies can adjust for urban, suburban, and rural environments. Fund basic fire and emergency medical technician training. Consider tax or other financial incentives for employers that allow employees to leave work for scheduled emergency services training. Lawmakers introduced more than a dozen bills to support firefighters and EMS agencies this legislative session. Of those, one bill compensating EMS agencies for services even if they don't transport anyone to a hospital made it to the governor's desk and will become law. Legislators plan to reintroduce the others. Commission members hope to meet periodically to check progress and adjust recommendations if circumstances change. "In the past it has always been 'Here's the work, and let's hope it takes a hold,' " said Beau Crowding, Chester County's deputy director for fire services and commission member. Neil Vaughn, president of the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association, said Wednesday's report outlines the support that the state's fire service needs. "Now," he said, "we just have to make sure [it's] being followed through." Linda Huebenthal Woolston and her cat, Pushkin, found a place to call home at Medford Leas in Burlington County after Woolston's husband died in 2016. Read more Home always has been a precious word to Linda Huebenthal Woolston, starting with the farm where she grew up in Baldwinsville, outside of Syracuse, N.Y. A historical marker established its 1798 roots. When my parents bought the house, it had no indoor plumbing and no electricity, said Woolston, who saw firsthand what dedication to a home can mean. My family restored it, staying faithful to its center-hall Colonial roots, she recalled, even putting fireplaces in each room, and installing plaster-and-horsehair walls. While Woolston shared her familys belief that a home was more than just shelter, her own sense of home changed dramatically when her husband, Alan Brent Woolston, died suddenly in 2016. I knew that our lovely home on a lake in Medford would never be home to me again, and trying to make it that just wasnt going to work, she said. I would always be missing what had made it whole for me. Nearby was Medford Leas, a Quaker continuing care retirement community in Burlington County. Im pretty decisive, and I have a sense of space, and when I walked into the home where I now live, I knew instantly that I had found what I was looking for," she said. "I even told the marketing person who was helping me that we could stop looking, because I had just found exactly what I wanted. To sweeten that instinct, she realized that the handsome old church columns that she had fitted into her former home would be perfect in her new one. The columns were a happy find from a shop in Mullica Hill. Replicating parts of her earlier world in her new one, she said, brought great comfort. Today, she enjoys Medford Leas' woodland setting, complete with neighbors including a friendly red fox and loads of deer. An open floor plan with some defined spaces such as an elegant dining room area creates a casual look, yet one that still can showcase art and artifacts, many from extensive travel with her husband. Among the more formal showstoppers are a baby grand piano, a Burmese wall hanging, a Lancaster County jelly cupboard, and a cherished piece of art from Woolstons late mother-in-law, the much-honored Farris Woolston, who exhibited widely throughout the Philadelphia area. Farris Woolstons painting of Philadelphias Cresheim Valley is prominently displayed in the great room/living room and continues to enchant visitors and the homeowner herself. I never get tired of looking at it, she said. Even a spare bedroom in the home is enhanced by art. While home is clearly a haven for Woolston, retirement is not a word she embraces. Committed to keeping herself and her neighbors informed, she is active in the Medford Leas community as an advocate for citizen involvement in government. In her early working life, after attending the University of Pennsylvania, Woolston worked at the former Philadelphia General Hospital as an administrative assistant in the nursing department. That led her to earning an MBA at Temple University. In recent years, she has volunteered as a mediator in the small claims/special civil and landlord/tenant division of the Burlington County court system. Its gratifying to be able to help people to resolve their differences, she said. At the end of the day, its still home, sweet home that beckons, and the pleasure of being surrounded by natures bounty and beauty. This is a very special place, and I appreciate that, said Woolston, whose two contented cats seem to agree. Im lucky enough to have maintained old friends who are close by, and new ones who are good and caring neighbors. So this is more than a home, she added. Its also a very special way of life. Why did crude oil crash by almost 11% last week? The past trading week was a nightmare for the global market of crude oil, with a major price crash. In particular, Brent oil dropped in value all the way down to the lowest price since July 2017. This was a dive below 53 dollars per barrel. Since then, international experts have been trying to figure out the reason for that. All in all, the price dropped 11% down over the course of the past trading week. Experts say, this has been one of the biggest crashes seen over the last 3 years. On Friday alone, Brent oil lost more than 1% of its value, NordFX reports. At the same time, it's also interesting to note that Brent already lost some 12% of tis value 4 weeks before the latest price drop seen last week. The price traded below 53 dollars per barrel, but then managed to recover most of the lost ground. This time, as of Friday, it lost almost the same share of its value. The OPEC+ agreement resulted in a temporary rally. For those of you who don't know, in early December, the participants of the so-called OPEc+ agreement signed an agreement to cap their oil production once again. Apparently, this agreement sent oil prices higher. However, as we can see now, this was a temporary rally. Back then, the prices managed to exceed 60 dollars per barrel, only to plunge again. It seems that this rally was a recovery inside a bigger-scale downtrend going on over the last few months. It's interesting to note that crude oil has been in the red zone for 9 out of 11 trading week. Since than, the energy carrier has already lost more than 30% of its value seen around the local highs. It's also important to keep in mind that the bearish factors are getting stronger in the global market of crude oil. the list of the reasons triggering the downtrend includes the excessive supply in the global market initiated by more intensive oil exports coming from the United States coupled with a global economic slowdown, which is usually coupled with a decline in the global consumption of crude oil. By the way, American shale oil producers has taken the lead in global oil production this year. You are free to discuss this article here: forum for traders and investors 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 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Hanukkah, The Festival Of Lights Happy early Hanukkah! This year Hanukkah started in November. We believe the last time it did was in 2013, on November 27 when it began... Letters to the Editor Land Of OpportunityStill To The Editor: I rarely take a car service in Queens. Mass transit is usually faster and its become much cheaper... You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Clinical trials are major catalysts for biotech/pharma companies as positive study data can boost their stock price while unfavorable results can send the stocks plummeting. The success rate of phase I clinical programs is the highest, say 63%, while it is the lowest for phase II trials - i.e. 30%. The phase III trials, which are the longest and most expensive trials to conduct, are said to have a success rate of 58%, according to a report from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization on "Clinical Development Success Rates" over the past decade (2006-2015). Listed below are some of the companies that may report their clinical trial results *this week (if the companies stick to their timeline). 1. AC Immune SA (ACIU) AC Immune is a Swiss-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. The Company's lead product candidate is Crenezumab, out-licensed to Genentech, under phase III testing for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease including the first-ever Alzheimer's disease prevention trial. Next in the pipeline is ACI-24, a liposomal therapeutic anti-Abeta vaccine, wholly owned by AC Immune. ACI-24 is under phase II study in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, and under phase 1b study for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease-like characteristics in adults with Down Syndrome (DS). The other clinical candidates include ACI-35, outlicensed to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, under phase 1b study in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, and RO7105705, outlicensed to Genentech, under phase II study in people with prodromal-to-mild Alzheimer's disease. Watch out for... Interim data from low dose cohort of the phase Ib study of ACI-24 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease-like characteristics in adults with Down Syndrome is due this month. ACIU has traded in a range of $7.16 to $17.40 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's (Dec.24) trading at $8.93, up 1.94%. 2. ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASLN) ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company. The Company's lead drug candidate is Varlitinib, which is being tested in gastric cancer, biliary tract cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Watch out for... Topline data from a pivotal global phase II study of Varlitinib in gastric cancer, and interim phase Ib data on Varlitinib as first line treatment for biliary tract cancer are due this quarter. ASLN has traded in a range of $2.86 to $10.43 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $2.86, down 18.29%. 3. Cocrystal Pharma Inc. (COCP) Cocrystal Pharma is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing therapies for hepatitis, influenza, norovirus and gastroenteritis. The Company's lead program, CC-31244, is under a phase IIa study (University of Maryland) for the treatment of hepatitis C. Watch out for... The interim topline results from the phase IIa study of CC-31244 in hepatitis C are expected this month. COCP has traded in a range of $1.51 to $6.90 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $2.95, down 4.53%. 4. Cytori Therapeutics Inc. (CYTX) Cytori is focused on developing nanoparticle-delivered oncology drugs and autologous adipose-derived regenerative cell (ADRC) therapies. Watch out for... The 6-month data readout from French SCLERADEC II clinical trial in scleroderma patients is due this month. SCLERADEC II is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multi-center clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Habeo Cell Therapy in up to 40 subjects with impaired hand function due to scleroderma (systemic sclerosis). CYTX has traded in a range of $0.25 to $5.40 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $0.27, down 6.67%. 5. Flexion Therapeutics Inc. (FLXN) Flexion Therapeutics is focused on developing novel, local therapies for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative arthritis. The Company's lead product is Zilretta, which received FDA approval last October, for Osteoarthritis (OA) Knee Pain. Zilretta is also being tested in patients with OA of the shoulder or hip. A phase II study, dubbed SHIP, in this indication is underway. Watch out for... Results from the SHIP study are anticipated by year-end 2018. FLXN has traded in a range of $11.14 to $29.10 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $11.47, down 1.29%. 6. Heat Biologics Inc. (HTBX) Heat Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company developing immunotherapies against cancer. The Company's lead drug candidate is HS-110, which is being evaluated in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s (BMY) Opdivo, for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in a phase II trial. Watch out for... Updates regarding interim phase II data of HS-110 in advanced non-small cell lung cancer are due this quarter. HTBX has traded in a range of $1.00 to $4.50 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $1.01, up 1%. 7. Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MRNS) Marinus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics to treat epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorder. Its lead drug candidate is Ganaxolone, which is being developed in three different dose forms, IV, capsule and liquid. Watch out for... A phase II proof-of-concept study of Ganaxolone IV in patients with refractory status epilepticus is underway, with initial data due this month. Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is defined as status epilepticus that continues despite treatment with benzodiazepines and one antiepileptic drug. Status epilepticus refers to a continuous seizure lasting more than 30 minutes, or two or more seizures without full recovery of consciousness between any of them. (Source: NCBI). MRNS has traded in a range of $2.36 to $10.54 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $2.60, up 8.33%. 8. Sesen Bio Inc. (SESN) Sesen Bio, formerly Eleven Biotherapeutics Inc., is a late-stage clinical company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugate therapies for the treatment of cancer. The Company's lead drug candidate is Vicinium, which is under a phase III trial in patients with high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, dubbed VISTA. On May 21, 2018, the Company reported encouraging three-month data from its ongoing VISTA study. However, despite the encouraging data, Sesen shares tumbled 23% that day as 4 treatment-related serious adverse events that were reported in the trial, including acute kidney injury or renal failure and cholestatic hepatitis, spooked the investors. Watch out for... The six-month data from the ongoing VISTA trial is due this month. SESN has traded in a range of $0.75 to $3.50 in the last 1 year. The stock closed Monday's trading at $1.02, up 6.24%. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Following the death of a second immigrant child in the agency's custody, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday it is reviewing its policies with a particular focus on care and custody of children under 10. The CBP also said it would conduct secondary medical checks of all children in custody and review available custody options to relieve capacity issues at facilities in the El Paso sector. Reflecting a surge in border crossings, the CBP is also considering options for medical assistance from interagency partners, including receiving support from the U.S. Coast Guard. The announcement by the CBP comes on the heels of the death of an eight year-old Guatemalan boy previously apprehended by the agency. The Guatemalan boy, identified as Felipe Gomez Alonzo, died shortly before midnight on December 24th at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. "This is a tragic loss. On behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our deepest sympathies go out to the family," said CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. The CBP said the boy and his father were transferred to the hospital after a Border Patrol agent noticed the child showing possible influenza symptoms. Hospital staff initially diagnosed the child with a common cold, but he was held for an additional 90 minutes for observation after being found to have a 103 degree fever. The child was released in the mid-afternoon with prescriptions for amoxicillin and Ibuprofen before being transferred back to the hospital after exhibiting nausea and vomiting During transportation to the hospital, the boy began to vomit and lost consciousness. Staff were unable to revive the child and pronounced him deceased just before midnight. The news of the boy's death comes just days after the body of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal was returned to her village in Guatemala for burial after she died in CBP custody earlier this month. Illegal immigration and border security has recently be in focus in Washington, D.C., as a partial government shutdown took effect over the weekend amid a dispute over funding for President Donald Trump's controversial border wall. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Japan will on Thursday release November numbers for housing starts and construction orders, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Housing starts are expected to ease 0.1 percent on year to 961,000. That follows the 0.3 percent annual increase in October at 950,000. Construction orders were down 16.5 percent on year in October. China will see November figures for industrial profits; in October, profits were up 3.6 percent on year. Hong Kong will release November figures for imports, exports and trade balance. In October, imports were worth HKD428.14 billion and exports were at HKD383.65 billion for a trade deficit of HKD44.49 billion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) on Wednesday called upon the government and the opposition parties to pass the triple talaq ' title=' law on Muslim triple talaq '>law on Muslim triple talaq bill through "consensus, without political point-scoring". On Thursday, the Parliament is scheduled to discuss the proposed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, after the government issued an Ordinance on it earlier this year. The Ordinance was brought after the government failed to push it through the Rajya Sabha during the monsoon session of Parliament owing to lack of unanimity among various political parties, said BMMA Co-Founder Zakia Soman. The Ordinance makes instant triple talaq a punishable offence with a three-year jail term, and Soman urged that it would be ideal if both Houses of Parliament pass the Bill unanimously, especially since some important amendments have been made to the original Bill. For the much-anticipated legislation, she said that today women across the country are protesting, writing to women's commissions and observing token fasts for legal protection. "We urge all political parties to recognise, acknowledge and extend their support to the demands of Muslim women. For too long have they (Muslim women) been discriminated against the faced insecurity, fears for life, threats of instant divorce, polygamy, juvenile marriage and deprivation of inheritance rights," said Soman. However, now the Muslim women have organised themselves, armed with the knowledge of both their constitutional rights and rights as per the Quran, which need to be acknowledged and realised by all political parties, she pointed out. "The tide is turning. This law, if it becomes a reality, will be important and the BMMA will continue to fight for comprehensive codification of Muslim family law where gender-just provisions pertaining to age of marriage, mehr, consent, polygamy, halala, muta, maintenance and inheritance are also legislated upon," Soman added. The BMMA has published its version of a comprehensive Muslim family law and demanded that the government consider the same for further discussions to work towards a comprehensive law which has been hanging for long, she said. The Cabinet is yet to hear from the Ministry of Prison and Correction Services on the rational behind the decision to relocate the juvenile detention center from Oloamanu to Tanumalala. Last week the Minister for Prison and Correction Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, told Samoa Observer that it is logical to move the center to Tanumalala. But Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi says there is a good reason behind the Governments decision to build the center at its current location. The said land in Oloamanu cost the Government $9 million. During his weekly press programme recently, Tuilaepa said they are waiting for the reasons behind the move. There are certain reasons why the juvenile center is located at its current location right now. There are logical reasons why the juveniles are separated from the adults. The minors should not be held together with the adults; the mix-up will not have good results. Also the rehabilitation programs for adults are different from the adults, he added. However, recently Tialavea said the main concern received from members of the public whose children are housed at Oloamanu is that the center is further inland and too far for a lot of families. To date we only have one minor incarcerated at Oloamanu and it is just too far inland, and we cannot continue this operation as its current location hence the move to relocate the center, he said. When he was asked why these issues were not considered by the Government, prior to making the $9 million investment, he said: I dont know as the juvenile center was established before I came on board. I honestly dont understand why the juvenile center is based in Oloamanu, it is severely far to get to it and its located up in the mountains. There have already been cases of families getting lost while trying to locate the center in order to visit their children. Three vehicles were involved in an accident at Tiavi and Papauta on Tuesday as the country celebrated Christmas. The vehicles were identified as a white Nissan X-trail, a grey Honda CR-V and a Hyundai Santa fe. It was not possible to get a comment from the affected drivers, as when Samoa Observer got to the scene, they had already been rushed to the hospital according to a bystander. There were police officers at the accident scene, but they refused to comment, saying the accident is now subject to an investigation. The first three phases of the cost of living salary adjustment (C.O.L.A.) for all public servants to start in their first salary in January 2019 is included in a $19.4 million Supplementary Budget tabled in Parliament this week. Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti told the House that the Governments intent, to ensure that the balance between the competing priorities of Government, and the provision of essential services for the citizens of Samoa is maintained. In doing so, I am pleased to announce that all additional expenses under the supplementary budget presented before the House, is fully funded from additional resources and the reallocation of current savings, and therefore maintains the fiscal deficit estimated for the current financial year. Sili advised that the First Supplementary Estimates laid before Parliament, includes the first of three phases to implement of the C.O.L.A. for all public servants to commence in the first pay of January 2019. Also commencing in January 2019 is an increase in the pension for senior citizens of the country from $135 to $145 a month. The implementation of the C.O.L.A. will begin with a 5 per cent increase for all personnel from Principals and below and a 3 per cent increase for all ACEO positions up to below CEOs. In January 2020, all Principals to below CEOs will get another 3 per cent increase while a 3 per cent increase will be introduced for CEOs, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and members of the Judiciary. In January 2021, all public servants including members of Parliament will receive a final pay increase of 2 per cent to complete the implementation of the 2019 COLA. The decision for the COLA comes in light of the increasing cost of living since the last COLA of 2014 which has eroded the purchasing power of citizens and therefore, in choosing the right path, the Government of Samoa has reshuffled many of its developments to be staggered into forward years so that the COLA is prioritized. According to the Minister the overall additional expenditures in the First Supplementary Estimates for 2018-2019 totals $19.4million and includes $2.1million in development project initiatives received from development partners, following the approval of the Main Estimates in June 2018 these finances will go directly to projects as per the Memorandums of Understanding with these organisations. The remaining $17.3million in additional current payments will be financed by the new and additional revenues of $11.3million and the reallocation of existing budget resources totaling $5.97million, said Sili. Minister of Finance stated the Supplementary Budget before the House is a product of careful consideration to ensure macroeconomic stability is maintained and at the same time Government is in a position to deliver the services demanded by the public. Government will continue to ensure quality spending and prudent allocation of resources so we can deliver on an improved quality of life for everyone. See page 14 for the Budget Appropriation. The Samoa Police Service has appealed to the public for information on the whereabouts of a 60-year-old woman. Silia Samuelu 60 years of Alamagoto was last seen at home on Christmas night at around 11pm. According to family members she suffers from amnesia. If you have any information that might lead to locating her, please contact a nearest police station or call 22222. Christmas is known around the world as a season of exchanging gifts, spending time with families and loved ones as well as throwing a few parties here and there. But the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, a saviour to humanity. This was witnessed throughout the country on the night of Christmas eve and was witnessed by Samoa Observer. The Methodist Church of Vaitele fou, led by Rev. Lone and Lualima Urima, awaited the celebration of the birth of Christ through a Christmas programme put together by youth members. It was witnessed by many as they sung Christmas carols, performed Christmas skits as well as dances as a token of appreciation to mark the special day. For the night program, as is part of the Methodist customs, they went for their manuao a Methodist tradition, where they walk from house to house in white clothes, singing Christmas carols and wishing a merry Christmas to families. The Moataa Congregational Christian church had their very own celebration conducted by the Sunday school, where the children made memorable performances, as they beared witness to a season that they would always look forward to. This was followed by a service of thanksgiving for yet another Christmas, which served as a reminder of Gods love upon his children. TOKYO (AP) Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. Japan switched to what it calls research whaling after the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s, and now says stocks have recovered enough to resume commercial hunts. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan would resume commercial whaling in July "in line with Japan's basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence." He added that Japan is disappointed that the IWC which he said is dominated by conservationists focuses on the protection of whale stocks even though the commission has a treaty mandate for both whale conservation and the development of the whaling industry. "Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views," he said at a news conference. Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan's territorial waters and its 200-mile (323-kilometer) exclusive economic zone along its coasts. He said Japan would stop its annual whaling expeditions to the Antarctic and northwest Pacific oceans. Non-signatory states are not allowed to do so, according to Japanese Fisheries Agency officials. The IWC imposed the moratorium on commercial whaling three decades ago due to a dwindling whale population. In 1987, Japan switched to what is calls research whaling, but the program has been criticized as a cover for commercial hunting since the meat is sold on the market at home. Japanese officials said Japan, even after leaving the whaling convention, will remain as an observer to the IWC and plans to continue participating in the group's scientific meetings and annual conferences. The environmental group Greenpeace condemned Wednesday's announcement and disputed Japan's view that whale stocks have recovered, and noted that ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing. "The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures," Sam Annesley, executive director of Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement. "The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling." Australia's government, often a vocal critic of Japan's whaling policies, said in a statement that it was "extremely disappointed" with Japan's decision to quit the commission. However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters joined Australia in welcoming Japan's withdrawal from the southern ocean. Japan was the only country with an ambition to return to commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWC's method to carefully determine a catch quota on the basis of science, but declined to give an estimate. He said Japan plans to use seven existing whaling hubs on the Pacific coast for the upcoming commercial hunts. Moronuki said Japan is starting with a modest plan because it has to figure out if or how commercial whaling can be a viable industry. "What's most important is to have a diverse and stable food supply," he said. The Fisheries Agency said Japan plans to catch three kinds of whale that are believed to have sufficient stocks minke, sei and Bryde's. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but has reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japan's ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts. Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about one third after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the country's research whaling program wasn't as scientific as it had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the Northern Pacific. Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. It's a fraction of the country's whale meat supply of about 200,000 tons before the IWC moratorium. Critics say they doubt commercial whaling can be a sustainable industry because younger Japanese may not view the animals as food. Nonetheless, Japanese lawmakers want to promote whales not only as a source of protein but as part of Japan's cultural tradition. "We hope the resumption of commercial whaling will lead to the economic revitalization of (whaling) communities," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a meeting of his ruling party's whaling committee. Kazutaka Sangen, mayor of Taiji, a central Japanese town known for dolphin hunts, welcomed the decision and vowed to stick with scientific way of stock management so that Japan's position on whaling can gain understanding from the international community. Suga said that Japan would notify the IWC of its decision by Dec. 31 and that it remains committed to international cooperation on proper management of marine life even after its IWC withdrawal. With the church that once housed Our Lady of Mount Carmel lifted off the ground supported by steel beams community leaders dug shovels into soil in San Ysidro earlier this month to break ground on a long-awaited, mixed-use project. The $9.7 million development, known as Living Rooms at the Border, will include 10 affordable-housing apartments, as well as spaces for services and programs geared toward the predominately Latino and low-income community. The project has been envisioned by Casa Familiar, a San Ysidro-based social services organization, for almost two decades. We are proud to be able to execute on an innovative model that is inclusive of small economics, said Casa Familiar CEO Lisa Cuestas, that supports community needs and much-needed housing through a design that embraces community. Advertisement The centerpiece of the 13,500-square-foot development on West Hall Avenue will be the white, stucco church, which was built in 1927 and is considered a landmark of sorts by longtime residents. The church will be restored and transformed into a visual arts and theater space, which will be named El Salon. It will house theater company Teatro Mascara Magica, which will put on events and programs for the public. The church that once housed Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be restored and remodeled into a theater space under a mixed-use project known as Living Rooms at the Border. (Farshid Bazmandegan/UC San Diego Arts and Humanities) An open-air pavilion will be home to UC San Diegos Community Stations, a program that focuses on research in collaboration with border communities to address social, economic and environmental health disparities across the region. Other aspects of the development include office spaces that Casa Familiar will use to expand its services and programs, including immigration-related services and a youth barista training program. To provide jobs for teenagers and young adults who complete the program, known as El K-Fe, Casa Familiar will set up a coffee kiosk at the site. On opposite ends of the development, two buildings will provide housing for low-income renters. The 10 apartments will include: four three-bedroom units, three two-bedroom units and three one-bedroom units. Rents will range between $900 and $1,800. A one-bedroom unit and three-bedroom apartment will be reserved for renters who earn 50 percent of the area median income or less. The eight other units will be available to families who make 80 percent of the regions median income or less. Casa Familiar will open a waiting list for the apartments at the end of the summer. Construction is targeted for completion by November 2019. The project has been in the works for almost 20 years, since Casa Familiar purchased the land, which includes four parcels, circa 2000. The project gained national attention after it was showcased in 2010 in an exhibition named Small Scale, Big Change at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Plans were designed in partnership with Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman, a research-based political and architecture firm. Most of the costs of the project will be covered by $9.3 million Casa Familiar secured from Civic San Diegos New Market Tax Credit program. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez Jazz, like no other music, is in a constant state of re-invention simultaneously celebrating and re-inventing its rich past, while constantly pushing forward. Those are the exact qualities my favorite jazz albums of 2018 share. (My favorite pop albums of the year will run in Sundays Arts section.) 1. Wayne Shorter, Emanon (Blue Note) In early December, the indomitable Wayne Shorter was the only jazz artist honored as one of this years Kennedy Center Awards recipients. In September, the 85-year-old saxophonist, composer and band leader released his most ambitious work of at least the past two decades. Emanon (no name backwards) is a three-CD set accompanied by a heady, science-fiction graphic novel Shorter co-wrote. He and his superb, three-man band perform an expansive suite with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on the first disc. The second and third discs capture Shorters quartet on stage, in London, and boasts remarkably fluid and extended versions of some of the same pieces featured in orchestral form on the first disc. What results perfectly captures Shorters artistic imperative: Jazz means: I dare you. 2. Henry Threadgill, Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus and Henry Threadgill 14 or 15 Kestra: AGG, Dirt...And More Dirt (Pi) The recipient of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Music, saxophonist and flutist Henry Threadgill combines contrapuntal improvisation and notated scores like no one else. The two albums he released in 2018 last a combined 88 minutes. Heard alone or together, both are enchanting examples of what he calls organic composition. 3. Thumbscrew, Ours and Yours (Cuneiform) Like Henry Threadgill, Thumbscrew guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara put out two albums this year. One is of all-original pieces, the other of jazz standards and near-standards. Happily, there is nothing remotely standard about either. Advertisement 4. Myra Melfords Snowy Egret, The Other Side of Air (Firehouse 12) Pianist and composer Myra Melfords 27th album as a band leader or co-leader is is lilting one moment, raw and edgy the next, and a delight throughout. In cornetist Ron Miles, Guitarist (and longtime Henry Threadgill collaborator) Liberty Ellman, bassist Stomu Takeishi , and percussion marvel Tyshawn Sorey, she has one of the most accomplished and flexible bands around. 5. Miguel Zenon, Featuring Spektral Quartet, Yo Soy La Tradicion (Miel Music) On his 11th album as a solo artist, the splendid saxophonist Miguel Zenon fuses jazz, chamber-music and various idioms from his native Puerto Rico to create a sublime synthesis. 6. Hamid Drake, Ralph M. Jones & Adam Rudolph, Karuna (Metacore) All 12 selections on Karuna were spontaneously composed, then expertly arranged and orchestrated by these three musicians, who perform on nearly 30 instruments between them. The results are mesmerizing. 7. Sons Of Kemet, Your Queen Is A Reptile (Impulse) Led by English sax sensation Shabaka Hutchings, Sons of Kemet mix jazz, African music, reggae and rap with impressive skill and infectious exuberance. Their reflections on what it means to be an immigrant, literally and figuratively, could not be more resonant or timely. 8. Andrew Cyrille, Lebroba (ECM) A subtle tour de force from this masterful drummer, whose near-telepathic interplay with trumpet giant Wadada Leo Smith and guitar great Bill Frisell is a constant joy. 9. Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley, Brian Blade, Still Dreaming (Nonesuch) On which the great saxophonist Joshua Redman pays tribute to his late father, storied saxophonist Dewey Redman, his fathers band, Old & New Dreams, and his fathers former musical partner, fellow saxophonist Ornette Coleman. A triple-treat. 10. Vinny Golia, Stephanie Richards, Bert Turetzky, Trio Music (pfMENTUM) San Diego-based contrabass pioneer Bert Turtetzky, woodwind maverick Vinny Golia and trumpeter and UC San Diego music professor Stephanie Richards are improvisers and musical risk-takers of the first order. Trio Music is a suitably dazzling collaboration. The long-awaited trial of a leading Chinese human rights lawyer began Wednesday, and just as quickly was adjourned as he dramatically fired his state-appointed lawyer. Wang Quanzhang, 42, who had been held incommunicado for more than three years, was indicted during the brief court session on charges of subverting state power. He is the latest in a series of high-profile Chinese dissidents to have their court dates set over the Christmas period as China continues to crack down on civic activism. Renowned for his work defending victims of land expropriation, labor camps, prison abuses and political persecution including members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement Wang is the last of more than 200 lawyers detained across China on July 9, 2015, to face trial. Known as the 709 crackdown, a reference to the date, the sweep is viewed as a pivotal moment in a continuing assault on the rule of law that has intensified under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. It has included the stifling of online dissent, the harassment of dissidents and journalists, and the suppression of religious freedom in Xinjiang province, home to millions of Muslims. Advertisement The 709 crackdown dealt a terrible blow to Chinas rights-defense movement, which significantly contracted as rights lawyers were jailed, disbarred or placed under surveillance, said Yaqiu Wang of Human Rights Watch. Court documents indicate the case against Wang rests on his work with China Action, a now discontinued nongovernmental organization focused on training lawyers in Hong Kong that Wang established in conjunction with the Swedish human rights defender Peter Dahlin, as well as his involvement in a landmark case involving the unofficial detention of Falun Gong practitioners in so-called black jails. Dahlin, who is also the co-founder of the human rights advocacy group Safeguard Defenders, issued a statement saying: The very mission of China Action was to strengthen enforcement of Chinas laws, the very opposite of claims that it was in any way or form working to violate or break Chinese law. There is no legal basis for the prosecution of Wang Quanzhang as presented by the prosecutor, and the court should, without delay, have [him] set free. A supporter of Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang speaks near the Secondary Intermediate Peoples Court of Tianjin in Tianjin, China, on Dec. 26. (Mark Schiefelbein / AP) However, in a dramatic turn of events, Wang fired his state-appointed lawyer Liu Weiguo, forcing the court to postpone the trial for an as-yet-unspecified period. Liu posted the news to a WeChat group within minutes of court proceedings opening on Wednesday. Firing state-appointed lawyers is a strategy adopted by those who feel their representation is biased, forcing the court to adjourn while another lawyer is selected, often taking 10-15 days, Dahlin said in an interview. Wang is unlikely to get to choose his own lawyer, but this move will highlight the lack of any real trial being made available to him that this is a show trial and nothing more, he said. News of Wangs imminent trial in the northeastern city of Tianjin broke across social media Christmas Day after his wife, Li Wenzu, revealed in a statement that she had been visited by state security officials, who surrounded her home and warned her not to attend the trial the following day. Li hit the media spotlight last week by joining three other women in publicly shaving her head to protest Wangs detention. Until his emergence this week, many feared Wang had died, with a report by a U.S. advocacy group, China Human Rights Defenders, indicating he had been heavily tortured in detention, nearly to the point of death, and denied access to lawyers. Almost every human rights lawyer in the 709 crackdown has been tortured and Wang also, but he is the last lawyer on trial, so its very likely that he refused to take part in a TV confession, or to compromise in any way, said Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights activist and lawyer who worked with Wang in Beijing before leaving China for the U.S. in 2014. Four Chinese human rights lawyers detained in the 709 crackdown have so far been handed sentences ranging from three to five years for subversive activities, while hundreds of others have been arbitrarily detained or interviewed, before being released on bail or after making televised confessions, according to the Hong Kong-based China Human Rights Lawyer Concern Group. Videos emerged Wednesday of Yang Chunlin, a human rights advocate from Heilongjiang province, being bundled into an unmarked SUV outside the courthouse after shouting support for Wang. Others detained at the scene included Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from Hangzhou in east China, who was removed by security after holding up a placard reading Not guilty. Release Wang Quanzhang. Xu Yan, the wife of another detained human rights lawyer, Yu Wenshang, was also forced to leave the scene. While it is unclear if and when Wang will be sentenced, his designation as a ring-leader by prosecutors ensures he is likely to be subject of a minimum of 10 years in prison under Chinas Criminal Law. The subversion charge is ironic because these were people working within the system, said Kevin Carrico, who teaches Chinese studies at Australias Monash University. If Wang is guilty of anything, it is of not pushing hard enough to subvert state power, and leaving the Chinese state able to arbitrarily detain and torture people who are trying to build a better society. Green is a special correspondent. December 26, 1952 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 26, 1952 In 1952 writer Robert Nichols and photographer Leslie Dodds gently reminded Union readers to remember neighbors in need during the holidays. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: THREE FRANKS ENOUGH Knight of Road Cooks Own Meal by Tracks By Robert E. Nichols Down by the gas works yesterday, Charles Mallon, knight of the road, sat peacefully by a railroad siding and thought about Christmas dinner. A small fire flickered unsteadily, giving off thin, dry smoke. It had been kindled from oddments of newspaper, brushwood and discarded crating. Mallon concentrated on three frankfurters he was holding in its faltering flame. He smacked his lips and declared they smelled so good he just might eat them then and there without benefit of cookery. But he patiently went on turning the meat and sniffing stray wisps of aroma that broke through the smoke. Food particularly read meat can sometimes be scare, Mallon observed. It should be savored slowly and fully. This provides fulsome thoughts for leaner days. A sea-faring man turned landlubber, Mallon has the look of a weathered Adolph Menjou. He is 71. His home at present is an unused flatcar near the gas works and Union Ice Co. It has been covered with some boarding and happily contains some grain sacks which, Mallon points out, make the hard flooring a little less irksome to old bones. His pantry is the nearby waterfront which he reports reasonably well-stockedif you dont mind fish. His cellarthree scavenged wine bottlesaffords the very best branch water. I dont live nice, he said with some pride, but I live honest. He gets occasional work at night watching freight cars that unload at various firms around the neighborhood. HAS SEEN WORLD Aint allus easy for a man my age to get a job, he says. But I dont like people who steal or take advantage of other people. Ive allus earned my way and I still do. Aint nice but its honest. In younger, better days, Mallon shipped in and out of some of the most exotic port in the world ports in China, the Indies, the Caribees, the Mediterranean and Californias own Barbary Coast. He was in South Africa during the Boer War. Today he stays pretty much around his flatcar. I like the scenery, he said, gesturing in the direction of the surrounding rubble. 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. Denise Harlins, who became an activist after her 15-year-old niece was fatally shot in the lead-up to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, died Tuesday. Her death from congestive heart failure was announced by Najee Ali, an L.A. community activist. Her family hosted a candlelight vigil in her memory Wednesday evening in Leimert Park Village. Harlins niece, Latasha Harlins, was killed two weeks after the beating of Rodney King. A Korean-born shopkeeper shot the girl in the back of the head in a dispute over a bottle of orange juice. The two racially charged incidents sparked outrage in Los Angeles that eventually boiled over into the 1992 L.A. riots. Some rioters invoked the teenagers name as they torched buildings in South L.A. Advertisement On March 16, 1991, Latasha walked to Empire Liquor Market and Deli on 91st and Figueroa streets, put a bottle of orange juice in her knapsack, then went to the counter. Soon Ja Du, the store owner, accused the girl of trying to steal the juice. Amirah Muhammad holds a candle during a vigil Wednesday for her mother, Denise Harlins. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Witnesses said Latasha told Du she intended to pay and revealed two dollar bills in her hand; police later concluded that there was no attempt at shoplifting by Latasha. But Du grabbed the teens sweater, and as the two struggled, Latasha broke free after striking Du in the face, knocking her down. Latasha tossed the juice on the counter and walked to the door. Du picked up a .38-caliber handgun and fired a shot into the back of Latashas head, killing her. A jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, with a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison. The judge gave her probation, 400 hours of community service and a $500 fine. Before Latashas death, Denise Harlins had not been politically involved. I didnt know how to even write a press release, she said, according to a 1993 Los Angeles Times article. She had quit her job with the state Department of Insurance to go back to college and study business management with the hope of starting her own business. To save money, she moved in with her mother, who was raising Latasha and the girls siblings. In the weeks after Latashas killing, Harlins launched a crusade to preserve her nieces memory, forming two organizations bearing the girls name. The Latasha Harlins Justice Committee began a years-long battle to overturn the sentence and recall the judge. Both efforts were unsuccessful. Harlins lobbied public officials, staged protests and marched in parades. Harlins became a staunch activist who led the protests demanding justice for her murdered niece and continued to speak out against gun violence, violence against children and calling for racial unity, Ali said on Facebook. I lost a dear friend and fellow activist. Denise represented the best of South Central. brittny.mejia@latimes.com Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia A manhunt was underway Wednesday for a man suspected of fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop early Wednesday in Stanislaus County. Cpl. Ronil Singh, 33, radioed that he was pulling over a vehicle at 12:57 a.m. at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in Newman, authorities said. A few minutes later, he called out shots fired over the radio, they said. Officers who responded found Singh had been shot. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. The motorist who had been stopped was gone, police said. Singh, a native of Fiji, had worked for the Newman Police Department since 2011. He previously served with the Merced County Sheriffs Department. Advertisement Our Newman police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil, Chief Randy Richardson said in a prepared statement. If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately. Gov. Jerry Brown ordered flags at the Capitol be flown at half-staff following Singhs death. Our hearts are with the entire community of Newman and law enforcement officers across the state who risk their lives every day to protect and serve the people of California. Singh, who served in a K-9 patrol unit, is survived by a wife and young son. A gray, extended-cab Dodge Ram pickup was seen in the area at the time of the shooting, authorities said. Police detectives released photos of a man suspected in the shooting and are asking for the publics help in finding him. It was not clear how the man was linked to the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Michael Fisher at (209) 525-7083 or the departments dispatchers at (209) 552-2468. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry In his 85 years, Lan Hoang has many times seen and heard about the power of communism to stir passions on the streets of Little Saigon. There was the time a video store owner displayed the flag of communist Vietnam and an image of Ho Chi Minh, causing thousands of angry residents to protest. Ten years ago, hundreds of people hoisting signs gathered outside a Westminster newspaper that published a photo of a foot spa bearing the colors and stripes of the anti-communist South Vietnamese flag, calling it a desecration. But when Hoang turned up to a protest in the neighborhood against the Trump administrations recent threats to deport Vietnamese immigrants with criminal convictions back to their homeland, he was surprised by the apparently tepid response by older immigrants. Usually the most fervently anti-communist, only a handful showed up. Everyone was shouting and I looked around, wondering, Where are the people my age? said the retired records clerk from Santa Ana, who said he was shocked by the White Houses move. Its so inspiring to see the youth taking action. They are well-educated, well-organized. I only wish that the others who have been visible for many years were here to support them. Advertisement My Nguyen, right, shouts slogans while joining members of the Little Saigon community who march and rally against a Trump Administrations policy shift that puts 8,500 Vietnamese community members at risk of deportation. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) After word spread about a renewed push by the Department of Homeland Security to get Vietnam to accept more deportees, some people saw it as a mistake by the Trump administration given the GOPs fading strength in Orange County and the historical support that the Republican Party has gotten from Vietnamese Americans. But in a community where many older residents oppose undocumented immigration and younger ones tend to lean left politically, the controversy is just the latest to underscore the generational divide among those of Vietnamese descent. So many of our lives are in limbo. And do we get any support from our own community? Very little if youre talking about the elders. What happened to all the voices speaking out for anti-communism? Why havent they mobilized? said Tung Nguyen, 40, a Santa Ana activist who has served time in prison and helped lead protests in Little Saigon. If they really care about human rights violations, well, violations are happening, not just in Vietnam but right here in our backyard. Earlier this month, Trump administration officials met with their counterparts from Hanoi to talk about a pact the two countries signed in 2008, under President George W. Bush, that protected the Vietnamese who came to the U.S. before July 12, 1995, from deportation. More than 8,000 Vietnamese residents in the U.S. who escaped their homeland but later committed crimes even minor ones for which they have served time would be at risk of deportation if officials succeed in changing the agreement. Overall, since 1998, more than 9,000 Vietnamese immigrants have received a final order of removal, according to the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. Kim Bui, a 19-year-old sales clerk at an Anaheim snack shop, said members of her parents generation and older tend to be no-shows when the topic is immigration and deportations. I think these issues have a stigma to them. The older people are heavily Republican and theyre very focused on traditional values, said Bui, who grew up in Orange County. They are happy to talk about injustice in their homeland and they want to stay in that box, without making waves about U.S. politics. Hoang Ly, center, joins members of the Little Saigon community, who marched against a Trump Administrations policy shift that puts 8,500 Vietnamese community members at risk of deportation. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) On social media and in the mainstream press, some young advocates for the emerging anti-deportation movement say theyve long pushed for fairness and equality, and that Vietnamese Americans have shown up for other immigrant groups throughout U.S. history. Still, within their own group, whats missing is the leadership of the older generation, said Nguyen. We understand if theyre ashamed of some of us for our mistakes and our arrests, he said, referring to immigrants with criminal records. But do they need to punish our wives and children? Why would they not come out and fight for us so families can stay together? Why separate people who have paid the price for their bad choices or who will be exploited in Vietnam? Until last month, Nguyen was at risk for being deported to Vietnam. In 1996, he had been sentenced to life in prison for not intervening while one of his buddies stabbed a man to death. In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown allowed him an early release, recognizing his bravery for saving dozens of civilians in a prison riot. Brown then gave Nguyen a full pardon this past Thanksgiving. Last year, the Trump administration started pursuing the removal of a number of long-term residents from Vietnam and Cambodia, and to a lesser extent, Laotians, some of whom arrived in the United States decades ago as refugees, according to immigrant rights advocates and lawyers who have sued to halt the push. The administration maintains many have criminal records that subject them to deportation. Its a priority of this administration to remove criminal aliens to their home country, Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, told The Times. The latest available numbers on removals by Immigration and Customs Enforcement paint a mixed picture. In fiscal 2016, which ended in September 2016 toward the end of the Obama administration, officials removed 35 Vietnamese people. In fiscal 2017, including the first nine months of the Trump administration, officials removed more than double that number: 71. Removals of Cambodians and Laotians have been relatively minimal: In fiscal 2016, the agency removed 74 Cambodians; the next year, it removed only 29. The agency removed zero Laotians in fiscal 2016, and five the following year. But critics see the moves as yet another example of how, far from the U.S.-Mexico border, in both rhetoric and action, the Trump administration is signaling that no immigrant, whatever their legal status, is safe. They are going to come for our Vietnamese brothers and sisters, Tung Nguyen said. Mr. Trump has made it clear that immigrants are his top target and that immigrants with criminal records are the priority. That approach is a decided shift from nearly 45 years ago, when the United States sponsored the evacuation of roughly 125,000 Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon signaled the end of the Vietnam War. The humanitarian crisis precipitated in the Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, devastated by U.S. bombing campaigns and conflict, ultimately brought more than a million refugees and immigrants to U.S. shores. The U.S. Cambodian and Laotian immigrant populations more than tripled from 1980 to 2017, and the Vietnamese immigrant population exploded from about 230,000 in 1980 to more than 1.34 million in 2017, making them the sixth-largest foreign-born group in the United States, according to the Migration Policy Center, a nonpartisan research institute. About two in five Vietnamese immigrants reside in California, with Orange County, Santa Clara County, and Los Angeles County making up three of their top four destinations nationwide, census data shows. To help shape the anti-deportation movement, grassroots groups such as Viet Unity, VietRise, along with APIROC, or Asian & Pacific Islanders Re-Entry of Orange County, founded by Tung Nguyen with a mission to reintegrate incarcerated people, are mobilizing online to boost awareness nationwide. Julie Vo, a member of VietUnity SoCal, said her organization is coordinating with the National Vietnamese Anti-Deportation Network and the Southeast Asian Deportation Defense Network. This is not just a Vietnamese or Southeast Asian issue but impacts all communities of color. Our struggles are tied to one another, she said. But these efforts havent swayed as many older Vietnamese. After escaping Vietnam, Am Nguyen, 70, lived in Philippine refugee camps, struggling for eight months, before resettling in California in 1981. She had given birth to her fourth child while housed in the Palawan Island barracks, clinging to hope that officials would allow her family passage to the U.S. To be welcomed to America is a privilege, the Westminster grandmother said. Once youre here, you need to follow the rules here. If you violate something that is very serious, you should be deported. They have the right to send you back. Nguyen and her South Vietnamese Army veteran husband Hoa Dang, 76, both Republicans, said they are against illegal immigration and support keeping a close watch on the borders because with terrorism, you have to be careful since you never know whos going in and out. anh.do@latimes.com Twitter: @newsterrier Experts say strong processes and procedures are needed to prevent fraud in school districts, and a closer look at a recent state report shows that Sweetwater Union High School District lacked several that could have helped prevent its many financial inaccuracies. The Chula Vista-based district is facing a state audit that will investigate whether officials committed fraud or misappropriation of funds. The audit will be conducted by the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team, a state agency that detailed last week how the district has incorrectly represented its finances for years and has racked up millions in debt it may not be able to repay. The kind of fraud that the state officials will likely be looking for is financial statement fraud, which is intentionally misrepresenting an organizations fiscal condition by falsifying or omitting information. Thats different from asset misappropriation, a much more common form of fraud that typically involves using or stealing an organizations assets for personal use. State officials dont suspect this is the case for Sweetwater. Advertisement We have not run across any evidence that suggests anyone personally benefited from wrongdoing, said Michael Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team, in an email. More than 83 percent of occupational fraud cases are cases of asset misappropriation, according to an Association of Certified Fraud Examiners 2018 study on global fraud. Financial statement fraud is much less common, constituting less than 10 percent of cases, but it leads to much steeper losses. Experts say one primary defense against fraud is to commission and pay attention to annual audits. Every school district annually has to have an audit, an outside sets of eyes, and theyre charged with looking at the overall financial picture of that given entity, said Dan McAllister, the county treasurer and chair of San Diego Unified School Districts audit and finance committee. Sweetwater has had yearly audits, and its auditors uncovered several of the inaccuracies that the state fiscal teams report did. For example, auditors found that the district has overestimated its state revenue for three of the past four years. This year, its revised October budget overestimated state funding formula revenue by $6 million, and the year before, it overestimated by $4 million. Karen Janney, superintendent of the Sweetwater Union High School District (Courtesy photo) Auditors have also noted that Sweetwater has not been able to stick to its budget and has finished past fiscal years millions of dollars off from estimates in its original budgets. This month, auditors found inaccuracies in Sweetwaters that merited a correction of more than $4 million. To prevent fraud, school districts need checks and balances in place. Typically, what school districts do and what any corporation does is they try to set up processes and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that theft and or fraud cannot occur, said Jim Westrum, a member of the Association of School Business Officials International. The state fiscal teams report showed instances in which Sweetwater lacked recommended processes and procedures. For example, Sweetwater staff only reconciled the general ledger, or double checked that the numbers in the districts accounts were correct, once at the end of each fiscal year. School districts should do so at least twice a year, when reporting finances to the county education office, according to the state fiscal team. Of particular concern to the state fiscal team was how Sweetwater handles its payroll. Just one unnamed staff member in the district was responsible for uploading the districts payroll data, the state fiscal team found, and district management does not monitor whether the data are uploaded correctly. One of the state fiscal teams biggest findings last week was that, during the last fiscal year, the district did not post any payroll for four months. Similar to how the district handles payroll, just one employee in the district has complete access to the districts county treasury accounts and is in charge of cash reconciliation and cash monitoring. That employee also has the power to process cash borrowing between the districts funds without a managers signature or login. One way to prevent fraud is for district staff to report information to superintendents and school boards on a frequent basis, Westrum said. Those can include monthly enrollment reports, periodic expenditure reviews, periodic reviews of cash receipts and monthly reports that compare year-to-date actual spending to budgeted spending. These are strategies that I know high-performing school districts will do throughout the country, Westrum said. Aside from technical processes, McAllister said the best defense against fraud is to have a culture of commitment to ethics and accuracy, starting with leadership. If theres a culture of ethical behavior, if theres a culture of transparency and openness and a willingness to fix mistakes, then the likelihood is a lot lower there will be fraud, McAllister said. Kristen Taketa Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa Through mid-December, San Diego County recorded 730 salmonella cases, the highest total observed in at least 25 years. That number comes amid a large number of salmonella-related recalls this year that have ranged from Capn Crunch cereal and Duncan Hines cake mix to goldfish crackers and hamburger meat. According to county reports, salmonella rates in San Diego County have run higher than they are in the state or the nation in recent years. While more frequent outbreaks have contributed to the increase, better testing has contributed to the overall rise nationwide, said Dr. Eric McDonald, medical director of the countys epidemiology and immunization services branch. According to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about one in 20 salmonella cases ever gets diagnosed. The severe gastrointestinal distress caused by the bacteria usually passes without hospitalization, so a formal diagnosis usually isnt made. However, recent advances in testing make it easier and quicker to prove that salmonella is present. Advertisement People who wouldnt have even gotten tested 10 years ago are getting tested more often today, and that clearly has something to do with the increase, McDonald said. As to why exactly San Diegos numbers are higher than they are in other parts of the state and nation, thats a bit of a mystery. This year, though, there have been food-related cases related to nationwide outbreaks alongside a local salmonella cluster that has been linked to unpasteurized queso fresco cheeses purchased in Tijuana, McDonald said. We have three confirmed salmonella cases and another dozen that are probable and awaiting confirmation. Seven of them reported consuming Mexican cheeses purchased in Tijuana, McDonald said last week. The rest, he said, have secondary links to someone who consumed queso fresco, an iconic style of cheese made from fresh milk and usually consumed shortly after its made. When this cheese is made from unpasteurized milk, the odds are greater that it may carry the bacteria that cause listeria, brucella and tuberculosis. Health consequences for the recent queso fresco cluster were often relatively severe, McDonald added. In the cheese-related outbreak, two of the three confirmed cases, plus five of the 12 unconfirmed cases, were sick enough that they had to be hospitalized, McDonald said. Though it is technically illegal for a company to make and sell cheese from unpasteurized milk and sell it to the public unless it has been aged for at least 60 days, queso fresco is often made in small batches at the household level in Mexico. And those who cross into San Diego from Tijuana are allowed to bring some cheese along for personal use. Weve seen people bring tens of pounds back, suitcases full, said Dr. Steve Waterman of the CDC. There is no doubt that some of it gets sold or shared once it arrives in the United States. These days, Waterman is chief of the CDCs Dengue Branch in San Juan, but before moving to that post, he was stationed in San Diego and was a central figure in the cross-border education efforts around queso fresco. He was co-author of a 2009 study that surveyed border crossers about their knowledge of the dangers of unpasteurized queso fresco. Results showed that 58 percent were aware that the cheese could make them sick and 56 percent said they thought that the cheese could be unsafe for pregnant women. However, nearly 20 percent of respondents said they had eaten the cheese while pregnant. Those results, Waterman said, galvanized a public health campaign that continues today focused on those at highest risk of getting sick. You know, this is culturally sort of a loved food in Mexico, and I dont think were going to stop Mexican Americans or immigrants from eating this cheese, but were trying to educate the public that pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems like those with cancer, older people and infants should not be consuming it, Waterman said. There are many queso fresco varieties available that are made from pasteurized milk, but those made with raw milk continue to have an appeal for many, especially those born and raised south of the border. Such is definitely the case for chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins, owner of El JardIn in Liberty Station. Some of her earliest memories, she said, are of queso fresco made with fresh milk on her aunts ranch in El Salto outside Guadalajara. That fresh taste, with its grassy notes, she said, is simply lost through the heating process of pasteurization. For her, she said, its the pasteurized stuff that her body just cant take. But shes spent a lifetime eating unpasteurized queso fresco without a problem. I eat what you can get in the United States, and it just makes me a little sad, she said. She stresses, though, that any food needs to be prepared in a sanitary manner. Being able to trust that a cheese was made in a clean place from the freshest ingredients, she said, is key for any soft cheese. And that goes doubly for those cooking in their own home kitchens. You definitely need to pay attention to what youre buying and how it was produced, she said. Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1850 Twitter: @paulsisson Protests erupted Tuesday in Tunisia after the death of a journalist who set himself on fire to protest economic problems in the North African nation, prompting clashes with police and nationwide concern. Journalist Abderrazak Zorgui posted a video online before his self-immolation in the struggling provincial city of Kasserine describing his desperation and calling for revolt. He expressed frustration at unemployment and the unfulfilled promises of Tunisias 2011 Arab Spring revolution. Authorities said Zorgui died of his injuries Monday soon after being taken to the hospital. His actions prompted a protest Monday night in Kasserine that degenerated into violence, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters who blocked roads and threw stones at police. Interior Ministry spokesman Sofiane Zaag said Tuesday that six police officers were injured and several people arrested in the protest. Advertisement A new protest was held Tuesday night in Kasserine, with new tensions with police, and other actions were reported elsewhere. A similar self-immolation - by a street vendor lamenting unemployment, corruption and repression - led to nationwide protests fueled by social media that brought down Tunisias long-time authoritarian president in 2011. That ushered in democracy for Tunisia and unleashed similar movements around the Arab world. Zorguis funeral was being held Tuesday in Kasserine, which has come to symbolize Tunisias economic problems and social tensions. Unemployment and poverty are high, and the area has struggled for years against extremists in the nearby mountains who are linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The Tunisian National Journalists Union called for demonstrations and a possible strike in response to the journalists death. In a statement, it accused the state of contributing to Zorguis death by not cracking down on corruption. Tunisian reporters expressed solidarity with Zorgui, lamenting precarious conditions for freelancers with no legal protections and low pay amid Tunisias struggling economy. The reasons for this young mans suicide are poverty and marginalization, as well as the fragile situation of most journalists, said Latifa Labiadh of radio station Amal. Mehdi El Arem contributed to this report. The train ride across the heavily fortified border took all of 27 minutes. The train departed from South Koreas Dorasan Station, just outside the demilitarized zone dividing South and North Korea, around 8:29 a.m. Wednesday. It arrived at Panmun Station on the North Korean side at 8:56 a.m. That was in spite of the fact that the train noticeably slowed as it neared North Korea, presumably due to disrepair on tracks that have sat unused for a decade. The short travel time belied the torturous path the Koreas have taken over the past decades in their bid to reconnect railways and roads between two nations still technically at war, and the numerous hurdles that still lie ahead. Advertisement The nine-car train carried a host of South Korean unification and transportation officials, traveling north for a largely ceremonial groundbreaking on a railway that officials said they hoped would one day ferry people and goods by land from South Korea all the way to Western Europe through North Korea and across China or Russia. Government officials from North and South Korea held a symbolic ceremony Wednesday to reconnect the railway. (Joint press corps) We know that linking the railways and roadways is much more than just a physical connection, South Korean Transportation Minister Kim Hyun-mee said at the ceremony, according to prepared remarks provided by the government. The railways will not only cut down on time and space, but also the distance between the hearts of North and South Korea. South Korea received exemptions from U.N. sanctions designed to pressure North Korea to relinquish its nuclear weapons to survey conditions and hold Wednesdays ceremony. But any significant progress to update the railways and resume regular train service is likely out of the question until the U.S.-enforced sanctions are rolled back. Connecting the railways was one of the first pledges announced by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when they first met in April. In the months since, both in domestic addresses and before the U.N. General Assembly, Moon has touted connecting the railways as the first step to forming what he termed the East Asian Railroad Community something he said would integrate North Korea into the regional economy and bring all-around prosperity and peace. This is not the first time the Koreas have sought to link up the rail systems severed during the Korean War. A former South Korean unification minister noted that Wednesday marked the third time officials broke ground on railroad projects, following similar ceremonies in 2000 and 2002. Wednesdays groundbreaking ceremony brought together North and South Korean officials. (Joint press corps) Trains regularly operated across the border for about a year from late 2007 to 2008, before North Korea abruptly shut down the service in protest of a shift in South Korean policies. Ever since, Dorasan Station has sat deserted, serving only as a stop for tourists on their way to the DMZ. The continued entreaties by South Korea to engage its neighbor come as concern mounts in Washington that the warming of relations is speeding ahead despite stalled talks between the U.S. and North Korea. Korea observers in D.C. have cautioned that South Koreas eagerness to improve relations between the Koreas could drive a wedge between Washington and Seoul. A North Korean official, speaking at Wednesdays ceremony, hinted at those tensions. The success of the North-South Korea rail and road projects is dependent on our willpower and determination, Vice Minister of Rail Kim Yun Hyok said, according to pool reports. If we waver based on others views, we will never be able to realize the unification and union that our people want. A sign unveiled Wednesday in Kaesong, North Korea, shows the capitals of South and North Korea. (Joint press corps) Also present at the ceremony in Kaesong, North Korea, were Chinese, Russian and Mongolian dignitaries, who expressed support for the project. Conservatives within South Korea have criticized the project as running counter to efforts to get North Korea to denuclearize. Before the train departed Seoul Station early Wednesday en route to Dorasan Station, a small group of about 10 protesters held up signs decrying the rail project, referring to Kim Jong Un as a murderous dictator, according to pool reports. Even if the project were to get past political opposition, theres also the matter of cost: updating more than 3,000 miles of tracks in North Korea, which Kim Jong Un admitted were in an embarrassing state, is expected to run in the hundreds of millions of dollars at minimum. South Korean officials have said they expect to foot the bill using North Korean labor and materials but that costs will be recouped once the trains are up and running. The connected railways could ultimately bring significant economic benefits throughout the region, said Cho Bong-hyun, deputy director of Seoul-based IBK Economic Research Institute. We can transport what we used to move by sea by train. Itll cut the time and cost in half, he said. The economic impact will contribute to peace. ALSO More naughty than nice: In South Korea, motels, condoms and the pill are in hot demand for Christmas U.S. has little to show for stalled nuclear talks with North Korea I grew up within striking distance of North Koreas artillery. Covering Kims summit with Trump was sobering and personal victoria.kim@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @vicjkim Police on Wednesday were searching for a gunman who fired at least three shots after an argument between strangers escalated outside of a a home in southeast San Diegos Jamacha-Lomita area. No one was struck by bullets during the encounter, San Diego police Officer John Buttle said. He said dispatchers received a call shortly before 7:50 p.m. Tuesday from a person reporting a shooting on Hagmann Court, in a neighborhood near Imperial Avenue and Viewcrest Drive. The incident began when residents told the suspect, who was sitting in a silver BMW smoking an unknown substance, to stop smoking in front of their residence. Advertisement The residents and the man in the BMW started arguing and one of the residents tore off a license plate from the car, Buttle said. The suspect then got out of the car and fired three to eight shots before jumping back into the car and driving off. Police responded to the home and the residents gave officers the license plate, which was registered to a car at a residence on Di Marino Street. Officers went to the residence but the suspect was not among the 15 people who were inside the home at the time, Buttle said. Police found the BMW near the residence and had it towed, but the cars registered owner was not at the home when officers arrived. No suspect descriptions were immediately available. Detectives from the San Diego Police Departments southeastern division were investigating the shooting. BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. Jill Mott doesnt like the tweets. The hard line on the border is too hard. And when asked whether she will vote for President Donald Trump a second time, she lets out a long, deep sigh. That is the question, said Mott, a Republican from suburban Detroit. In her moment of hesitancy, Mott is the portrait of a small, but significant slice of voters poised to wield considerable influence in the 2020 presidential campaign. They are the 18 percent of voters who described themselves as only somewhat approving of the president. Its a group whose backing for Trump is most tenuous and whose reservations about his personality and his policies reveal warning signs for Republicans, perhaps even more so as he dug in on his demand for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, leading to a budget impasse with Congress that has shut down the government around Christmas. Advertisement An analysis of VoteCast, a nationwide poll of more than 115,000 midterm voters conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago, highlights the fractures. Compared with the 27 percent of voters who describe themselves as strong Trump supporters, the somewhat Trump voters are much more likely to disapprove of Trump on key issues such as immigration and health care, and to express divergent opinions on a need for a border wall, gun control and climate change. They are much more likely to question his trustworthiness and temperament. They are less likely to call themselves conservative, less likely to be evangelical Christians and more likely to have voted for Democrats in 2018. They are more educated, somewhat more likely to be women, and more likely to live in suburbs. How he presents himself is the biggest issue, said Mott, a 52-year-old occupational therapist, who addressed her concerns this past week during a break from Christmas shopping outside the Gucci store at the Somerset Collection luxury mall. She also worries about the presidents fiery approach to immigration. I understand what hes going for trying to keep out criminal activity, Mott said, pointing to Trumps rhetoric about a caravan of Latin American migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. border. However, I think he could do much better in showing concern for these people, offering short-term help. As Trump barrels into his third year in office, and tightens his focus on his own re-election, he has paid scant attention to shoring up support from voters such as Mott. Still, Trumps political future may depend on whether he can retain their support, particularly among the more educated and affluent suburban women who set aside their concerns about Trump two years ago and will be asked to do so again in 2020. Their backing helped Trump carve a path to the presidency through the industrial Midwest, but with little margin for error. The president won Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by fewer than 80,000 votes combined. VoteCast found that 16 percent of those who somewhat supported Trumps job performance decided to vote for Democratic House candidates in the November midterms. Thats compared with 6 percent of those who self-identified as Trumps strong supporters. That difference helped Democrats capture the House majority, picking up 21 of their 40 new seats in districts Trump carried only two years earlier. The flipped Trump districts include Michigans 8th Congressional District, a swath of suburban middle-class America set between Detroit and Lansing. Dozens of recent interviews across the area show that most reluctant Trump supporters arent ready to turn their backs on him or his party. Michael Bernstein voted for Trump in 2016 and said he is likely would do so again in 2020. Bernstein, 52, points to the economy and to Trumps success in getting justices approved to the U.S. Supreme Court as evidence that he chose the right candidate, but the freelance auto writer from suburban Detroit could do without some of what Trump brings. Hes supposed to represent the country and the people who dont like him, Bernstein added. He doesnt. He prefers to play in the dirt. Still, Novembers elections bear out signs of erosion. In Michigans 8th Congressional District, two-term Republican Mike Bishop was ousted by Democratic newcomer Elissa Slotkin, who attributes her victory in part to skeptical Trump supporters. Thats part of the reason we won those voters who kept an open mind, who never really liked the tweeting and the chaos and the vitriol who maybe thought the president would become more presidential, Slotkin said in an interview. We had lots of voters who said I was the first Democrat they ever voted for, she said. Theyre not necessarily becoming Democrats. They just voted for the candidate who most represents their values. The VoteCast analysis suggests that a significant share of these wary Trump supporters have some views in common with Democrats in the Trump era. About half of Trumps somewhat supporters said Trump has the right temperament to serve effectively as president or considered him honest and trustworthy. On health care, reluctant supporters are more likely to think government should be responsible for making sure all Americans have coverage and theyre far less likely to think President Barack Obamas health care law should be repealed entirely. Trumps reluctant supporters also are far more concerned about climate change than are other Trump backers and more likely to call for tighter gun laws. Immigration exposed another clear rift in the Trump coalition. Most Trump supporters favor building the border wall, but just 32 percent of his somewhat supporters are strongly in favor, compared with 80 percent of his strong approvers. While 60 percent of strong Trump backers said immigrants living in the United States illegally should be deported, about 6 in 10 reluctant supporters said those immigrants should be offered a chance to apply for legal status. Still, its not safe to assume that reluctant Trump supporters will abandon the president in his 2020 re-election, said Republican pollster Frank Luntz, also a Trump skeptic. They have rejected the Democrats. But they dont fully embrace Trump. So, the question is whether they stay with Trump or whether they stay home, Luntz said. Republican leaders are aware of the divisions within Trumps base of support, yet few expect Trump to moderate his tone or policies to appeal to wavering supporters. Some hope hell learn to focus his message on the economy. About 90 percent of Trumps somewhat supporters are still supporting of his handling of the economy, and 8 in 10 said he is a strong leader, he is bringing needed change to the government and he stands up for what he believes. Of course there are frustrations at times, however I know I have more money in my paycheck, more people working in our community, home values are up, said Theresa Mungioli, the GOP chairwoman of Oakland County, Michigan, where Republicans lost two congressional seats this fall. She acknowledged that some midterm voters, particularly women, may have soured on Trumps leadership, especially as it pertains to security issues. Maybe in part because the president can be likes to bluff in his negotiations, which makes it look like were on the brink of war, Mungioli said. That kind of instability was something that voters expressed. A shutdown affecting parts of the federal government appeared no closer to resolution Wednesday, with President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats locked in a hardening standoff over border wall money that threatens to carry over into January. Trump vowed to hold the line, telling reporters during a visit to Iraq that hell do whatever it takes to get money for border security. He declined to say how much he would accept in a deal to end the shutdown, stressing the need for border security. You have to have a wall, you have to have protection, he said. The shutdown started Saturday when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and are working unpaid, while an additional 380,000 have been furloughed. Advertisement While the White House was talking to congressional Democrats and staff talks continued on Capitol Hill negotiations dragged Wednesday, dimming hopes for a swift breakthrough. With no deal at hand, members of the House were told there would be no votes on Thursday, assuring the shutdown would last yet another day. Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will have 24 hours notice before having to return for a vote. The Senate is slated to come into session Thursday afternoon. Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a Trump ally who has been involved in the talks, said the president is very firm in his resolve that we need to secure our border. He told CNN, I dont know that theres a lot of progress that has been made today. But he added of Democrats: If they believe that this president is going to yield on this particular issue, theyre misreading him. The impasse over government funding began last week, when the Senate approved a bipartisan deal keeping government open into February. That bill provided $1.3 billion for border security projects but not money for the wall. At Trumps urging, the House approved that package and inserted the $5.7 billion he had requested. On Friday afternoon, a Senate procedural vote showed that Republicans lacked the 60 votes theyd need to force the measure with the wall funding through their chamber. That jump-started negotiations between Congress and the White House, but the deadline came and went without a deal. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York on Saturday said funding for Trumps wall will never pass the Senate. So President Trump, if you want to open the government, you must abandon the wall, plain and simple, Schumer said. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is in lockstep with Schumer against the wall funding. If the shutdown continues into 2019, she has vowed that her new Democratic majority will act quickly to pass legislation reopening the government. The shutdown has been playing out against the backdrop of turmoil in the stock market, which is having a roller-coaster week. Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the White Houses Council of Economic Advisers, said the shutdown does not change the administrations expectation for strong growth heading into 2019. He told reporters a shutdown of a few weeks is not going to have any significant effect on the outlook. The shutdown that began on Saturday the third of 2018 caused a lapse in funding for nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and were working unpaid, while another 380,000 were furloughed, meaning theyll stay home without pay. The shutdown complicates things for essential employees who planned trips for the holidays: According to the Office of Personnel Management rules, employees deemed essential or otherwise exempted from their respective agency furloughs cant take any vacation or sick days. Furloughed federal workers have been given back pay in previous shutdowns. Those being furloughed include 52,000 workers at the Internal Revenue Service and nearly everyone at NASA. About 8 in 10 employees of the National Park Service are staying home, and many parks have closed. Roughly 44,000 U.S. Coast Guard employees are considered essential, and will report to work this week without pay, with another 6,000 furloughed. The Coast Guard is the only arm of the military affected by the shutdown because it is funded through the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown didnt stop people from visiting the White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico, where hundreds of unauthorized visitors have in recent days climbed over a fence to enter the monument, according to The Alamogordo Daily News. State highway workers were sent to the area Monday to erect no parking signs along U.S. 70 outside the monument. Trump claimed on Monday that federal workers are behind him in the shutdown fight, saying many have said to me and communicated, stay out until you get the funding for the wall. He didnt say who he had heard from. Many rank-and-file workers have gone to social media with stories of the financial hardship they expect to face because of the shutdown. One union representing federal workers slammed Trumps claim. Paul Shearon, the president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, in a statement said the union has not heard from a single member who supports Trumps position. Most view this as an act of ineptitude, he said. This story has been corrected to show that Trumps comments were made during his visit in Iraq, not the flight there. Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Alamogordo, N.M., contributed to this report. Five days after about one-fourth of the federal government was shut down in a funding dispute, affecting about 800,000 federal workers, no solution appeared in sight Wednesday. President Trump made an unannounced visit to a U.S. airbase in Iraq after days of raging at Democrats for not agreeing to his demand for $5 billion as a down payment for his long-promised border wall. Democrats and Republicans had initially agreed on $1.6 billion for border security. Asked on the trip how long will the shutdown will last, Trump said, Whatever it takes. We need a wall. We need safety for our country. Without a deal on border funding, the shutdown began Saturday and the acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, warned over the weekend that the impasse could last into the new year. Advertisement Aides to Democratic leaders of the House and Senate said Wednesday they had no updates on negotiations. Capitol Hill was quiet, with many members of Congress in their districts or traveling abroad over the holidays. Newspapers piled up outside of congressional leaders locked offices and the children of a few staff members roamed the marble halls alongside a smattering of tourists. The Senate is set to return Thursday, and the House will briefly meet then. But no votes are scheduled and members were promised 24 hours notice so they have time to return and vote. Trumps chances of getting the $5 billion drop dramatically if a resolution isnt reached in the next few days. Democrats will take over the House on Jan. 3 when the new Congress begins and their leverage is only likely to grow. They have little reason to concede or compromise with the president on one of his top campaign promises. Most Americans probably didnt notice the shutdown over the long Christmas weekend. That could change Wednesday when federal offices were due to reopen or in some cases stay closed. The partial shutdown includes the departments of Homeland Security, State, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice and Transportation, as well as NASA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. About 800,000 federal employees wont be paid until the government reopens, although about 420,000 are considered essential and were expected to work without pay, while the rest were sent home. In previous shutdowns, the affected workers received back pay even if they were temporarily furloughed. Federal employees and their families are using the hashtag #shutdownstories on Twitter to detail mortgage and rent payments they expect to miss because of the delay. For some, the first missed pay day is on Friday. In addition to thousands of Border Patrol agents, about 44,000 active duty members of the Coast Guard are working without pay. They are the only branch of the military funded by Homeland Security. Under the shutdown, the Federal Housing Administration and the Small Business Administration will be unable to process new home or small business loans; the State Department may stop issuing or renewing passports and visas; and on the cusp of tax season the IRS will stop issuing tax refunds. Many of the countrys most popular national parks will remain open, but with minimal staffing or maintenance of facilities including bathrooms. In some cases, states are paying to keep parks and monuments open. Lesser known parks have been shuttered. The Agriculture Department announced that eligible families will receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in January, but food assistance programs for the elderly, people on Indian reservations and the Women, Infants and Children assistance program will be available only until existing resources run out. It said it will not be able to provide new farm loans, often needed to help finance spring planting, if the shutdown continues for longer than a week. Training for new employees at the affected departments is on hold, including for emergency responders who help during disasters, Foreign Service officers and airport security screeners. Congress passed laws to fund about 75% of government agencies before the fiscal year ended in September so much of government remains open. The latest from Washington More stories from Sarah D. Wire sarah.wire@latimes.com Twitter: @sarahdwire Ruth Bader Ginsburg just keeps on going. The Supreme Court justice was released from the hospital Tuesday after undergoing cancer surgery, according to a court spokesperson. Ginsburg, 85, is now recuperating at home, Kathy Arberg, public information officer for the Supreme Court, said in a statement. The Brooklyn-born justice had two malignant growths removed from her left lung last week. The operation, described as a pulmonary lobectomy, was performed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side. Advertisement Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has cancerous growths removed from her lung Doctors said there is no evidence of any remaining disease. She has previously been treated for cancer two other times: once in 1999 for colon cancer and again in 2009 for pancreatic cancer. Her most recent hospitalization comes a little more than a month after the liberal jurist was sent to George Washington University Hospital when she broke three ribs from a fall. The cancerous growths were discovered during tests she had for her ribs. Despite her ailments, Ginsburg has never missed Supreme Court arguments in her more than 25 years on the bench. Before her lobectomy surgery last week, she voted from her hospital bed to reject President Trumps asylum ban. Ginsburg, who was nominated in 1994 by Bill Clinton, is the courts oldest serving justice. Her early career is the focus of a new Hollywood biopic, On the Basis of Sex, starring Felicity Jones as a young Ginsburg. The movie which was released in select cities on Christmas Day brought in an estimated $442,000 from 33 locations, giving it the top location average of the day. The Trump administrations immigration policy and family separation at the border became one of the biggest news stories of 2018 and its still an ongoing issue for the country with so many migrant families and asylum seekers presenting themselves at the U.S.-Mexico border every day. This became a national news story, but what many people may not know is that the court battle over the issue played out in a San Diego courtroom. The American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of a Congolese asylum seeker who was being held in a San Diego detention Center while her young daughter was being detained in Chicago. The case became a class action suit and ultimately led to a nationwide injunction ordering the Trump administration to stop family separations and for families to be reunited. We talked to the lead attorney in the case for the ACLU, Lee Gelernt, not only about the case but about the San Diego Judge who has been overseeing it, Dana Sabraw. Tune into the podcast episode below, or read on to see excerpts of what he revealed about the case. Q: The plaintiff in this case is a Congolese asylum seeker who was being held in San Diego while her young daughter was detained and turned seven years old in Chicago. You flew out to meet the mother, what was that experience like? GELERNT: I was not sure when I went out there what I would encounter. Over my 25-plus years Ive obviously met a lot of immigrants who were in tough situations. This was about as rough as any situation that I have encountered. What I found is a woman who was just devastated, that was so scared she would never see her child again. Her child was separated when the child was six, celebrated her seventh birthday in a government facility in Chicago. The mother was gaunt, had not been sleeping, had not been eating, just constantly, constantly worried whether she would see her little girl again. They were speaking a couple times maybe every few weeks, maybe they had spoken five or six times in the four months they had been separated. No video hook up, just phone, just crying. I think it wasnt just the amount of time she was separated from her daughter but the feeling as if she may never see her daughter again. ... Q: Did you expect the case to get as big as it did? GELERNT: I think when I first started hearing about it I felt as if this was an issue that would become very big, the taking children away would resonate with people, even people who didnt necessarily agree with the ACLU on all or the larger immigration policy issues would feel like this was wrong. I never expected to become as big as it did. For a while in the Summer it was front page in every (news)paper in the country and on TV every second the pope weighing in, First Lady Laura Bush weighing in it captivated the whole country. I did not, in my wildest dreams, anticipate that it would become that big. I think ultimately what it showed is that you can talk about abstract policy arguments all you want, you can throw out statistics, you can throw out legal roles, but at the end of the day what people react to is the human dimension of these issues. I think when people whether they were liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican saw these little children all by themselves wondering where their parents were, I think people just reacted on a very human level and people said, Wait, what are we actually doing here. Whatever were going to do on immigration we can not take a little baby away from their parents. Q: What role do you feel public outcry played in this case? I think the public was really responsible for everything that happened. We filed the lawsuit and that played a critical role and that gave people a vehicle around which to rally but at the end of the day, any lasting change that occurs through the court is ultimately going have to be surrounded by enormous public outcry. No real, lasting change civil rights change in this country can happen without a push by the public. This was the only time that Im aware of that the administration in two years has backed down on anything and due to the public outcry from everyone they finally issued and executive order. It didnt do everything we needed it to do, but it was a sign that the public pressure was working. It was really just sort of organic outcry from the public. And Ive been doing this, again, for more that 25 years and this is the closest Ive ever seen to something that rivaled the civil rights moments in the 60s where the lawyers were in court but it was the public really taking to the streets and protesting. Listen to more of the interview with the lead attorney in the fight against family separations at the border on Soundcloud. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin 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. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/26/2018 -- Antimony trioxide is the one of the major compounds of antimony. Antimony oxide is mainly produced by two ways either by oxidation of antimony or by the process of re-volatilizing of crude antimony trioxide. The method of production is mainly dependent on the composition of ores. Antimony trioxide has the ability to react both as acid as well as base making it suitable in various end user applications. Antimony trioxide reacts with mineral acids to give the corresponding salts. The major applications of antimony trioxide include flame retardants, polymerization catalyst in manufacturing of PET, as an additive in brake linings of automobiles and to certain extent as a coating for certain grades in titanium dioxide pigments. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/antimony-trioxide-market.html The flame retardant application of antimony trioxide is expected to dominate the market for antimony trioxide. Countries such as China, Russia, South Africa and Kyrgyzstan are the major producers for antimony trioxide. The major consumers for antimony trioxide are developed regions especially Europe and the U.S. With growth in flame retardant market across the globe the market for antimony trioxide also expects a positive trend in next few years. The antimony trioxide has limited self fire-retardant properties. However antimony trioxide acts as an effective synergist for halogenated compounds or polymers containing halogens. The other major application for antimony trioxide is flame retardant in plastics and rubber. These flame retardant plastics are chiefly used in electronics applications. As the processing of antimony trioxide with plastics do not require any specialized treatment, majority of electronic companies prefer such treated plastics for electronic end products. The growth of electronic sector especially in personal computers, LCD monitors, printers or house hold television sets will act as a major boost for antimony trioxide market. Moreover, the market for cables and insulations will aid the market for antimony trioxide further growth. The flame retardant rubber is used in coal mines area where there is a high probability of fire exposure. The antimony trioxide is also used in flame retardant textiles, which are used in protective clothing, mats and curtains. The other applications include opacifying agent for glass and in manufacturing of complex organic pigments. However, due to availability for better products in these applications it limits the scope for antimony trioxide for these sectors. Antimony trioxide is also used as a catalyst in manufacturing polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As the demand of antimony trioxide is based on its flame retardant application, the growth in flame retardant market will advance the need for antimony trioxide. The increase in electronics industry in developing and developed nations is anticipated to be the greatest end user industry for antimony trioxide. The developing nations across Asia Pacific and RoW are expected to be the fastest growing market for antimony trioxide in the next six years. Moreover, due to the rapid economic development of these countries and increased disposable income of the citizens of these countries has led to further magnification of the total customer base in these countries for applications in electronic consumables and house hold electronic products. The augmentation of electronic sector especially in personal computers, LCD monitors, and other electronic equipments in developed regions will help the market of antimony trioxide to flourish further. As antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in PET manufacturing, the demand for PET in bottles and containers across globe will aid the market for antimony trioxide to certain extent. Request to view Sample Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3485 Some of the key players in the antimony trioxide market include Sherwin-Williams Company, Almatis GmbH, Minmetals and Great Lakes Chemical Corporation among others. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/26/2018 -- The ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market in Morocco is primarily dependent on the presence of unorganized regional players and a handful of key international players, such as Roca, RAK Ceramics, NG Kutahya Seramik, PORCELANOSA, and Marazzi. Transparency Market Research has observed that a few regional companies with a significant presence have established a strong and loyal customer base in various cities across Morocco. This has intensified the degree of competition with other local players as well as with international companies supplying imported tiles and other bathroom materials. The ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market in Morocco is expected to rise from a valuation of US$1.5 bn in 2015 to US$2.7 bn by 2024. Casablanca and Tangier to Present Promising Scope for Growth in Morocco Full-body porcelain tiles led the ceramic and porcelain tiles market in Morocco, accounting for a 34.6% share in 2015. The segment is also projected to witness strong growth over the coming years. Registering a 7.3% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, glazed porcelain is likely to emerge as the most attractive investment option for the market. Thin tiles are a relatively newer generation of ceramic and porcelain tiles and the segment is expected to be highly lucrative in the near future. Within the bathroom materials market in Morocco, ceramic led the market for floor as well as wall materials. On the other hand, porcelain was the most rapidly expanding segment in both cases. The bathroom furniture and accessories market is dominated by the bath and sanitary ware segment and faucets are anticipated to register a high growth rate during the forecast period. Casablanca led the ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market in Morocco, accounting for a share of more than 30% in 2015. Tangier, on the other hand, is projected to be the most lucrative market, exhibiting a CAGR of over 6% from 2016 to 2024. Government of Morocco Plays Key Role in Boosting Market Morocco has gained much popularity as a tourist destination in the recent past, with an estimated 9.8 mn tourists in 2011 alone. "A surge in the inflow of tourists translates into a rise in the construction of hotels, thereby driving the demand for ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories," the TMR analyst states. Further supporting the building and construction sector is the Government of Morocco, with its efforts in undertaking new construction projects under its housing scheme. The promise to construct 150,000 social housing units by 2020 and the rise in the renovation of old properties is anticipated to boost the market for ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories in Morocco. Get PDF Brochure for more Professional & Technical industry insights: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=15155 Availability of Substitutes Hampering Demand for Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles There are several factors that are going against the Morocco ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories market, the key one being the availability of substitutes. "On the one hand, porcelain and ceramic tiles are higher priced compared to tiles made of cement and terracotta, or even zellige tiles," the author of the study points out. "Moreover, the benefits offered by cement tiles, for instance, are many, including water resistance, durability, and environment-friendliness." This drives consumers to opt for the substitute rather than porcelain and ceramic tiles. Another factor acting as a deterrent is the fact that construction activities in Morocco are limited to just a few major cities. Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier, and Agadir are among the cities that have been reporting a rise in construction projects. This is likely to restrict the demand for ceramic and porcelain tiles, bathroom materials, and furniture and accessories in the rest of the country. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Cleveland, OH -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/26/2018 -- Maggie Farrell, a sophomore Nursing major at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, was chosen as the recipient of the $1,000 scholarship by the Factor Finders committee based on her unique response to the prompt, "Do you think technology has helped or hurt small business?" Farrell said she aspires to work as a pediatric nurse or a labor and delivery nurse in the future. The scholarship money will be assisting her in paying for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing a career path she chose because she loves being in service to others. Undergraduate students attending an accredited four-year college or university in Ohio are encouraged to submit an application essay. Factor Finders has opportunities for students to apply in the spring and fall semesters, each academic school year. Submissions for fall of 2019 are currently being accepted. Interested applicants should visit http://www.factorfinders.com/scholarship for additional information. About Factor Finders Factor Finders is an Ohio-based B2B funding intermediary that matches business owners with the best funding solution for their unique needs. Founded by a seasoned factoring professional, Factor Finders understands the needs of small businesses and uses that expertise to identify the optimal funding source for clients. Visit factorfinders.com for additional information about Factor Finders' accounts receivable factoring and alternative funding services. Oklahoma City, OK -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/26/2018 -- Vigilant SEO is an internet marketing agency run with the larger objective of providing modern enterprises with result-oriented digital marketing solutions that will improve on their bottom line. The Oklahoma City-based agency has a particular interest in local businesses that want to maximize on their online presence to boost their brands and grow their market coverage. The fundamental areas of operation for Vigilant SEO are social media marketing, pay per click services, and localized search engine optimization. Talking about the pillars of running successful digital marketing campaigns, the Company Spokesperson said, "The e-commerce environment is ever shifting as innovations and better techniques are introduced for the virtual platforms to work for the greater good. As the enormous potentials of the internet become more visible, running marketing campaigns are based on specific key pillars. The first pillar to achieve excellence is in having a website with enhanced mobile capabilities given the ever-increasing use of smartphones for generalized search. This must then be complemented by the next pillar which is relevant and targeted content wherein lies our specialty." The buzzing word in any circles whenever there are talks about digital marketing is search engine optimization which has entirely redefined the norms of promoting goods and services online. In the search for the best Oklahoma SEO company, Vigilant SEO stands out as a visionary leader whose works speak for themselves. The team of digital marketers has mastered all it takes to strategically execute and optimize content in a way that will progressively improve the visibility of a business. Vigilant SEO has expansively used their expertise to work with a wide range of industries and are not limited on the campaigns they can undertake. Speaking on the fundamental importance of localized Oklahoma SEO services, the Company Spokesperson added, "Trends have changed and while in the past it was enough to have an overall top ranking in specific categories, today success lies in dominating local markets. The modern consumer is today not interested in a company that is thousands of miles away and when using the internet for their searches they want solutions near them. It is for this reason that localized search engine optimization has become the solution as it enables you to be instantly found by all clients in your primary markets." No enterprise can competitively achieve market distinction without finding the right techniques to make everyday online searches work for their good. Vigilant SEO is giving business owners the peace of mind through their search engine marketing in OKC which goes beyond the creation of leads and can significantly raise profit levels. In tailoring their content optimization to attract more value-added traffic, the achievement of the primary goals of any business becomes simplified leading to steady growth. About Vigilant SEO Vigilant SEO is all about enabling modern enterprises to achieve core distinction and competency in today's markets through their digital marketing solutions which are professionally executed to produce the desired results. Contact Details Company Name: Vigilant SEO Address: 3120 Rockhampton Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73179 USA Telephone Number: (405) 510-0577 Email: ben@vigilantseo.com Website: https://www.vigilantseo.com/ The collision between French boxship CMA CGM Norma and China-flagged Yusheng366 happened on 24 December at around 4am local time, the local Chinese media reported. Chinas Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration said all the crew from Yusheng366 were rescued as they abandoned ship, while CMA CGM Norma suffered minor damages. The Chinese administration said there was no ocean pollution, and issued alerts to nearby vessels to avoid the collision area. It was reported that CMA CGM Norma had sailed to a nearby anchorage for inspections. The boxship was enroute from Nansha port to Singapore when the accident happened. Press Release December 25, 2018 De Lima wishes for unity, compassion on Christmas Day As Filipino families celebrate Christmas Day today, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for strength, unity and compassion of Filipinos amidst all the challenges that the country is facing. De Lima, who will spend her second Christmas in detention as a "prisoner of conscience," said that more than any material present, she wishes to ease the pain and suffering of her countrymen who are fighting their respective battles. "Ngayong Kapaskuhan, dalangin natin na maibsan ang mga dinadanas na hirap ng ating mga kababayan, malampasan ang mabibigat na hamon na ating pinapasan, at makamtan ang ating mga hangarin at dalangin," she said in her Christmas Day message. "Despite the darkness that besieges our nation, let us hope that better things will come. Let not the rottenness of Philippine politics dampen our spirit of resilience and collective will to overcome all adversities," she added. De Lima is celebrating Christmas Day along with family, some close friends and staff members by hearing a Thanksgiving Mass and sharing a simple lunch inside the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police, in Camp Crame, Quezon City. De Lima said her camp decided not to seek furlough to leave her detention and celebrate the holidays at her home because "it will be futile. I'm sure the DOJ would vehemently object." In the spirit of Christmas, De Lima said she hopes that her fellow government leaders can "embody the teachings of Jesus Christ who selflessly gave His life for the welfare of His flock" and serve for the common good. "Let us use the mandate, trust and opportunity given to us by the people to ensure that the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society are not overlooked and neglected, but are given the chance to become equal partners in nation building, upholding social justice and preserving our democracy and cherished freedoms," she said. "That we use these means not for selfish interests, but to truly serve. Let us listen to one another instead of constantly bickering for the sake of the people we swore to protect," she added. De Lima also urged leaders to stop turning a blind eye on social realities, including the problems that Filipinos encounter in their every day lives, and find longterm solution that will improve the plight of the citizenry. "Humugot tayo ng lakas at inspirasyon sa mga kapwa natin na sa kabila ng dinadanas na pagsubok at pighati, ay nakukuha pa ring ngumiti at pinipiling gawin ang tama at makabubuti para sa kapakanan ng higit na nakararami," she said. "Maging inspirasyon sana natin ang bawat batang nagsisikap at nangangarap, na balang araw ay makakaahon sila sa hirap at makararanas ng maginhawang bukas ang kanilang pamilya," she added. De Lima wished that the entire nation can celebrate Christmas season with hopes in their hearts, believing that better days are coming if everyone learns to value and respect human life and human rights. Press Release December 26, 2018 De Lima grateful for chairing Senate social justice panel, regards it as an early 'Christmas gift' This Christmas season, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is not one to wish for any present for herself because she already received her "early" Christmas gift when she was designated as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development in June. De Lima, who took over the committee's chairmanship in June this year, said she feels blessed to have the opportunity to craft more legislative measures that are geared towards promoting the welfare and protecting the rights of the Filipino people, especially the vulnerable. "Aside from considering my chairmanship as an early Christmas present, I also see it as a blessing because it gave me a sense of fulfillment considering that it pushed me to file very meaningful bills and resolutions aimed at improving the plight of the poor," she said. "After all, how can helping the poor, the marginalized and the disadvantaged be meaningless? It is actually good for the soul," she added. Under her chairmanship, the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development has reported out for plenary debate six legislative measures generally aimed at improving the plight of Filipino families. The six measures that were submitted for floor deliberations include Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2111 (Public Solicitation Act), SBN 2117 (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps Act), SBN 2118 (Magna Carta for Child Development Workers), SBN 2119 (Rural Employment Assistance Program Act), SBN 2121 (Magna Carta of the Poor) and SBN 1986 (National Rotary Day Act). Despite her continued unjust detention and political persecution by the Duterte regime, De Lima said her duty to the country and her countrymen as an elected Senator of the Republic always reminds her "to never quit" and continue her fight in pursuit of justice and human rights. "I always remind myself to never lose zest for life, to never lose the fire within me, and to never see quitting as an option regardless of my situation because there are millions of Filipinos out there who need to be inspired," she said. "And now that I can imagine unlimited potential for more social justice legislative initiatives, I told my legislative staff to maximize crafting measures and conduct intensive research on possible areas of legislation so my countrymen can look forward to a better 2019," she added. Like last year, De Lima said she wishes nothing less for her country but an end to the extrajudicial killings and accountability from the people responsible for the unyielding murders under the government's murderous war on drugs. "The best gift this government can give to the Filipinos is an end to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatments of its people," she said. "The government should work on preventing more casualties and base its campaign against illegal drugs on human rights and the rule of law." De Lima is expected to spend her second Christmas Day in detention with her family, some close friends and several staff members in a simple lunch inside the PNP Custodial Center. A Mass will also be officiated on the same day. Press Release December 26, 2018 Resist 'nanlaban' narrative to defend drug war death toll -De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has chided the administration's dismal failure to account for the rising death toll under its war on drugs that left many Filipino children orphaned and struggling this Yuletide season. De Lima urged the government to look closely on the case of an 11-year-old girl who was orphaned after her mother fell victim to another case of extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration's all-out war on drugs. She noted that the girl, identified only as Mary Ann, had to beg to commuters and bystanders in order to save for her mother's funeral. Her father died during the early days of the government's war on drugs. "My heart breaks when I read on the newspaper last Wed. (Dec. 19) about the story of Mary Ann, an 11-year-old orphan who needs to beg and sing Christmas carols so that she can save for the funeral of her mother who died last Dec. 16," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 438. "Mary Ann and her mother, Heart, (the names that media gave them) are among the countless families whose lives are senselessly lost in the most murderous government campaign against illegal drugs. Their dream of a happy life has escaped them now," she added. Considering this appalling situation, De Lima said she cannot allow Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo to defend the administration's murderous war on drugs with a "nanlaban" narrative. "I cannot allow Panelo to continue to poison the public's mind with the Duterte administration's oft-repeated but flawed proposition that the increasing number of deaths due to the crackdown on drugs was because suspected drug offenders have all resisted police arrest with violence." Panelo recently claimed that "the number of deaths occurring in drug-related cases would depend on the circumstances surrounding the arrest during buy-bust operations." Since Mr. Duterte assumed the presidency, more than 23,000 people have been killed either through vigilante-style executions or "legitimized" police operations. However, from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2018, official figures registered only 5,050 suspected drug offenders who Panelo dismissed as those who have resisted police arrest and supposedly resulted to their deaths. The lady Senator from Bicol lamented that these stark statistics only show the police force's low regard to human rights while the suffering of the families of the EJK victims remain immeasurable. "Forget about the right of any individuals, including suspected offenders, to basic presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Forget about their right to due process itself enshrined under our Constitution. That is how our policemen think," she said. Amid all the killings, De Lima urged her colleagues and fellow human rights advocates to continue making the Duterte administration accountable for the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings and urge it to recognize the immense damages wrought by its war on drugs on Filipino families. "This murderous war on drugs must end, and we should not relent on our efforts until the death toll stops and those responsible are made accountable before the bar of justice," she said. Known as the staunchest critic of the administration's war on drugs, De Lima filed as early as 2016 Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 9 seeking for a Senate inquiry into the rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected drug offenders in the country. Healthcare Property Trusts trustee and supervisor says one of its roles is to ensure the manager is acting in the best interests of unitholders. Investors at last weeks AGM left Trustees Executors in no doubt that a large number of unitholders dont believe the manager, Canada-based NorthWest Healthcare Properties Management, has been acting in their best interests. Concerns include NorthWests rights under the trust deed to set its own fees and to fire independent directors at will. Investors are also aggrieved that NorthWest is enriching itself at their expense and using Vital as a piggy-bank. For example, in the latest year alone, NorthWest took $25 million in fees, up from $20.4 million the previous year, despite net distributable income falling 27.6 percent to $46.1 million. NorthWest bought Vitals management contract in late 2011 for $11.5 million. The trustee had representatives at last weeks AGM who responded to questions from the floor about what role the trustee has been playing while the manager legally fleeced investors to such an exorbitant degree and has also made some questionable investment decisions this year. This includes deciding to borrow A$81 million from an already highly geared Vital to take a 13.4 percent stake in ASX-listed Healthscope. Our role is to ensure that the manager is performing their obligations under the trust deed and that they are complying with the Financial Markets Conduct Act and acting in the best interests of investors, chief executive Ryan Bessemer replied in writing to BusinessDesks requests for information after about two weeks of trying to get answers. We have been working with the manager and the proposing unitholders (ACC etc) over the last few months to facilitate improvements to the governance arrangements of Vital, Bessemer said. While he wasnt at the AGM, Bessemer is the only officer of Trustees Executors authorised to speak to the media. We are monitoring these issues closely. We are here listening to the views of the unitholders and, as Claire Higgins (chair of Vitals manager) has already stated, the manager is listening too, he said. The voting on five resolutions posed by rebel investors ACC, ANZ Investment Funds and Mint Asset Management, and on a director they nominated, Paul Mead, will give a strong indication of the views of unitholders, Bessemer said. All five of their resolutions were convincingly supported by the majority of investors not associated with NorthWest excluding NorthWest, the votes in favour ranged from 89.4 percent of those voting to 95.9 percent. And the turnout swelled from the usual 34 percent to 56 percent. But NorthWest holds all the cards in a legal sense, so none of the resolutions are binding on it. Says Bessemer: It should be noted that changes to the trust deed, which is the governing document, will need the support of all parties. While Trustees Executors job is to supervise NorthWest, it clearly has been left out of the loop on a number of matters. For example, Bessemer says his company didnt know NorthWest had hired a proxy solicitation firm to lobby Vitals investors to vote against all five resolutions, an effort that clearly failed. Trustees Executors was not aware that NorthWest had hired a proxy company. Trustees Executors was only made aware, third hand, about the proxy company involvement on Dec. 12 via a media story, Bessemer said, referring to a BusinessDesk story published on Dec. 11. While some unitholders have said that the caller on behalf of NorthWest failed to answer questions and hadnt presented unbiased facts, Bessemer says nobody raised such concerns with Trustees Executors and this is hearsay until we are made aware first hand. Trustees Executors was also ignorant of the New Zealand Shareholders Associations emphatic support of the rebel investors. NorthWest has bowed somewhat to pressure and has agreed to review its fee structure. However, contrary to its own board charter that review is being led by the full five-person board the charter says that such a review should be led by the independent directors. Bessemer says the review follows positive and constructive discussions with a number of unitholders and that, following the AGM, Trustees Executors will be engaging Vital to pursue clause 2.4 of the board charter where the board may form a committee comprising the independent directors to represent the interest of the trust or, more particularly, of unitholders. Bessemer didnt directly respond to BusinessDesks question about what powers the trustee has to force changes to the trust deed or otherwise review NorthWests powers. Over the last couple of months, Trustees Executors has been working with ACC and Vital to improve better communication and governance outcomes for all, was all he said in answer to that question. However, a cursory reading of the Financial Markets Supervisors Act 2011 shows the trustee is far from toothless if it so chooses. For example, clause 49 of the Act says that if a trustee is satisfied that (a) there is a significant risk that the interests of unitholders will be materially prejudiced or (b) the provisions of the trust deed are no longer adequate to give proper protection to unitholders, the trustee may apply to the High Court for an order under this section. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. 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The nine banks are -- National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW), National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF) and Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC). In September, the Centre had approved the merger of the three banks which will make the entity the third largest lender of the country after State Bank of India and the HDFC Bank. The protesters are demanding the Centre to revoke its decision on the proposed merger and is seeking an urgent action from the government to recover huge bad loans from corporate defaulters, stating that amalgamation of banks will not help to recover bad loans. The wage revision of the bank employees is due since November 1, 2017. The bank unions had submitted their charter of demands on which the Indian Bank Association (IBA) called several round of meetings. Although, the IBA has offered 8 per cent wage hike, the UFBU has termed it as "unacceptable". IBA general secretary CH Venkatachalam told ANI in Chennai: "Today 10 lakh employees and officers are on strike. The Centre has been taking anti-banking sector policies since the past few years. They want to privatise these banks and they want to merge banks and turn them as international banks. Last year also, the merger of six other banks with State Bank of India has not benefitted SBI at all. For the first time in 200 years, SBI is reeling in losses". He added that public, especially those residing in the rural areas, would be facing inconvenience as the merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda will lead to closure of thousands of branches across the country. Terming the merger as a "wrong policy", Venkatachalam further said: "When branches and ATMs get closed, where will the people go? Banks and branches are very important. More branches should be opened to people to make them accessible to banking service. They are also not taking measures to receive bad loans and it is a wrong policy. There is a need for expansion of branches." AIBOC convenor VVSR Sharma told ANI in Hyderabad that around 85,000 bank employees from 5,000 state-run banks are participating in the day-long agitation. "We are going on strike today for two demands. One is against merger of PSU banks and second is recovery of bad loans from corporates. The non-performing assets mounted to the tune of 10 lakh crore in the country, which is a huge problem. We demand that stringent measures should be taken such as declaring willful default of recovery of bad loans as a criminal offence. More than that, Rs 2.5 lakh crore are due from 12 corporates who are expanding their businesses and earning huge wealth. The public will be greatly inconvenienced by this move," he elaborated. Warning of repercussions if the merger of the three banks goes ahead, Sharma said that the bank unions will be compelled to go on an indefinite strike. Echoing similar sentiments, AIBA Gujarat state unit chairman RV Seth asserted that the proposed merger is being done by the government to encourage private banks to grow. "We are protesting against this merger. The public will be affected by this move. In the name of merger, private banks are being encouraged and central government is finding ways to close down PSU banks," Seth told ANI. This is the second time in a week within this month that a nationwide bank strike is taking place. The ongoing strike will greatly trouble thousands of people, who would not be able to avail banking services. Earlier, the Strike Additional Labour Commissioner had called a conciliation meeting on December 20 in a last-minute attempt to request the bank unions not to go on a nationwide strike, but it failed. The UFBU subsequently served a strike notice to IBA and MDs of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank against the proposed merger. Since there was no assurance by IBA to stop the merger of the three banks and fresh offer on wage revision, the bank unions decided to go on strike. A non-profit organization, TYI was founded on December 25, 1918, by yoga guru Yogendraji and spearheaded by three generations including his mother Sita Devi, Jayendra Yogendra, the present Director Hansaji Yogendra and Hrishi Jayadeva Yogendra. Mumbai: President R.N. Kovind will on Friday inaugurate the centenary celebrations of The Yoga Institute, the world's oldest organized institute of yoga studies, which turned 100 on Tuesday, an official said. Acknowledged for its contribution to holistic development of Yoga for householders and families, it became the country's first Yoga school certified by the Quality Council of India, Ministry of AYUSH, and bagged the Prime Minister's Award 2018 for outstanding contribution for promotion and development of the ancient Indian science. As part of the centenary celebrations, TYI has organized a two-day wellness festival, the Harmony Fest, at the MMRDA Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex. Long before yoga came onto the global arena, TYI, situated in a green corner of Santacruz east, was contributing towards transforming the lives of people through spectacular services to yoga, its systematic teaching and propagation. Today, it has more than 500 publications on the subject to its credit, and the books of TYI founder Yogendraji have been stored since 1940 in the oldest and largest millennial time capsule, the 'Crypt of Civilisation' at Oglethorpe University, Georgia, USA, which will be reopened in 8113 AD, after more than 6,000 years. TYI Director Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra said that the institute felt "humbled and privileged to have continued the service of yoga through the institute as per the vision of the founder, Yoga Guru Yogendraji". She said the Harmony Fest would help bring about harmony and balance in the lives of people all over the country. The TYI has centres in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, France, Italy, Finland, Brazil, Canada, Australia and other countries, and since 2008, has set up a first-of-its-kind museum dedicated to yoga. On Monday, Spacey posted a video in which he appeared to deny any wrongdoing while in character as Frank Underwood from House of Cards , the BBC reported. He will appear in court on January 7 over the incident, which allegedly occurred in Nantucket in July 2016. Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenager at a bar in Massachusetts. "I'm certainly not going to pay the price for the things I didn't do," he said in the clip. "You wouldn't believe the worst without evidence, would you?" he said. "You wouldn't rush to judgments without facts." The three-minute clip, which is titled Let Me Be Frank, marks Spacey's first public appearance since the first allegation of sexual assault was made against him last November. The alleged victim is the son of former television news presenter Heather Unruh, who spoke publicly about the incident in 2017. She accused Spacey of buying her then 18-year-old son alcohol - the drinking age in Massachusetts is 21 - and then groping him. In Monday's video, Spacey speaks in Frank Underwood's accent and addresses the viewer directly, much like he did throughout his five seasons on House of Cards. "Of course some believed everything," he said. "They're just waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all," the BBC quoted him as saying. "They're going to say I'm being disrespectful, not playing by the rules," he added. "Like I ever played by anyone's rules before. I never did. And you loved it." Frank Underwood was the power-hungry and conniving protagonist of the Netflix series, and murdered a journalist and a politician before he was killed off ahead of season six. Spacey has also been accused by actor Anthony Rapp of making a sexual advance in 1986 and a number of other allegations have since emerged. Spacey said he had no memory of the event but publicly apologised before issuing an "absolute" denial of the other allegations. Separately, in September, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said Spacey would not be prosecuted over an accusation of sexual assault that allegedly took place in 1992. It said it fell outside of California's statute of limitations. The UK police have also been probing several allegations that centre around his time serving as artistic director at London's Old Vic theatre. The #MeToo controversy has led to Spacey being axed from a number of roles, including from House of Cards and the 2017 film All the Money in the World, which was re-shot without him. A film in which he appears, Billionaire Boys Club, also took a record-breaking low of $126 on its first night in US cinemas in August. Syrian air defences shoot down Israeli missiles: state media Beirut, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2018 Syrian air defences shot down Israeli missiles near the capital Damascus on Tuesday, local state media reported, while Israel said it was protecting itself from anti-aircraft fire. The official Syrian news agency SANA said air defences "intercepted hostile missiles launched by the Israeli warplanes" from over Lebanese territories, citing a military source. It added that the majority of them were downed before reaching their targets near the capital Damascus. Three soldiers were injured and an ammunition depot damaged. Israel has previously carried out several bombings in Syria against what it says are Iranian military targets and advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group, both enemies of the Jewish state. Many of them have been in the area south of Damascus. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on reports of a strike in Syria when contacted by AFP. But it added in a statement: "An aerial defence system went off against an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria. No damage or injuries were reported." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor also reported "an Israeli raid". "Missiles fired from Israeli planes targeted... arms depots southwest and south of Damascus that belong to Hezbollah or Iranian forces," said Rami Abdel Rahman. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to let Tehran -- a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- from entrenching itself militarily in the war-torn country. Experts say Israel is to be greatly affected by US President Donald Trump's announcement of a withdrawal of American forces from Syria, as it would leave the area open to Iran and its partners to develop their military capacity. There have been warnings from Israel and others that Iran is seeking to form a "land bridge" across to the Mediterranean, and some analysts have said that the US withdrawal could help that effort. Yet Israeli officials, who have previously applauded Trump's policy in the Middle East, have stressed that it has long managed that front alone. If confirmed, Tuesday's reported strike would be the first by Israel since the US withdrawal was announced. At the end of November Syria said its air defences had targeted and downed a number of "hostile targets" over the Kisweh area south of Damascus. Putin hails 'successful' test of new hypersonic missile Moscow, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2018 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hailed final tests of a hypersonic missile, which he earlier said would render existing missile defence systems obsolete. "On my instructions, the Ministry of Defence prepared and conducted a final test of this system. This has just been completed with absolute success," Putin said during a televised meeting with members of the government. "Russia has a new type of strategic weapon," he said, adding that the intercontinental "Avangard" system would be ready for use from 2019. The Kremlin told Russian news agencies the test had taken place in far eastern Kamchatka while Putin was at the national defence control centre. Putin unveiled features of the Avangard during his annual address in March, which he said would be part of a new generation of "invincible" weaponry. The hypersonic missile could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down, meaning it could breach defence systems, he said at the time. The final test comes after US President Donald Trump announced plans to pull out of a key Cold War-era nuclear weapons pact, the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Putin has laid out plans to develop missiles banned under the deal if the United States abandons it. France drops probe into attack that sparked Rwanda genocide Paris, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2018 French judges have dropped an investigation into the missile attack which sparked Rwanda's 1994 genocide, a probe which has poisoned relations between the countries for two decades. Juvenal Habyarimana, Rwanda's president at the time, was killed when his plane was shot down in April 1994, triggering 100 days of bloodshed that left an estimated 800,000 people dead. Seven people close to current President Paul Kagame were charged in the French inquiry, including former defence minister James Kabarebe. But they will not face trial after a legal source told AFP on Wednesday that French judges had dropped the probe on December 21 due to a lack of evidence. Philippe Meilhac, a lawyer for Habyarimana's widow Agathe, told AFP that plaintiffs in the case would appeal the decision. "We have to interpret this decision by French judges as a form of resignation faced with a political context which prosecutors did not know how to fight," Meilhac said. "Rwandan authorities have never sought to help bring the truth to light," he charged. French prosecutors had requested the probe be dismissed in October because of insufficient evidence against the seven suspects. Kigali has long accused France of complicity in the genocide by supporting the Hutu regime, training the soldiers and militiamen who carried out the slaughter, mostly of ethnic minority Tutsis. - The president's own men? - The French investigation into the attack on the plane was opened in 1998 at the request of relatives of French crew members who were on board. The first judge to lead the investigation, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, backed the theory that it was Tutsi militants from the former rebellion led by Kagame, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR), who shot down the plane. But this theory was weakened by a report from ballistic experts in 2012 stating the missile or missiles were likely fired from a camp held by Habyarimana's own presidential guard. A Rwandan inquiry had in 2009 found Hutu extremists, who viewed Habyarimana as too willing to compromise with Tutsis, responsible for the assassination. The complex French probe was closed but eventually reopened in 2016 before hitting a series of legal obstacles over the following year. Investigators sought in vain to hear testimony from Rwandan dissident Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a refugee in South Africa who himself is targeted by an arrest warrant. Nyamwasa, a former key member of Kagame's circle, accuses his former RPF comrades of carrying out the attack. The Habyarimana probe has embittered France's already fraught relationship with Rwanda since the genocide. Kigali cut off all diplomatic ties after Bruguiere called for Kagame himself to face the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for his alleged involvement in Habyarimana's killing. Ties resumed three years later but have remained tense, not least after Kagame repeated accusations in 2014 that French soldiers were directly involved in the genocide. France, which supported the Hutu regime under its controversial policy of seeking influence in post-independence Africa, has admitted it made mistakes but insists it never had a role in the massacre. Moscow accuses Israel of 'gross violation of sovereignty' in Syria strikes Moscow, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2018 Moscow on Wednesday said Israel had violated Syria's sovereignty with airstrikes the day before, after Israel and Damascus blamed each other for the hostilities. "We are very concerned by the attacks and how they were made. This is a gross violation of the sovereignty of Syria," the Russian ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement. Syria said via state media that its air defences shot down Israeli missiles near Damascus, while Israel said it was protecting itself from anti-aircraft fire. Moscow's defence ministry earlier said Israeli strikes had endangered two passenger planes. "The provocative actions of the Israeli air force.. directly threatened two airliners," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. He said the attack came from over Lebanese territory and came as "two airliners, not from Russia, were preparing to land at the airports of Beirut and Damascus". He said restrictions were imposed on the use of Syrian government forces' air defence systems "to prevent a tragedy". One of the planes was redirected to a Russian airbase within Syria. The Russian defence ministry said three Syrian military personnel were injured in a strike that saw Israeli warplanes drop 16 bombs. Of these, 14 were destroyed by Syrian defence systems, according to the ministry. If Israel is confirmed to have instigated the strikes, it would be the first attack since US President Donald Trump announced last week the withdrawal of American troops from Syria. Experts say Israel is to be greatly affected by a US pull out, as it would leave the area open to Iran and its partners to develop their military capacity. Moscow is an ally of Damascus and its intervention in Syria's civil war in 2015 was seen as key to propping up President Bashar al-Assad's regime. US President Donald Trump makes surprise Iraq visit Al-Asad Air Base , Iraq, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2018 President Donald Trump made a surprise lightening trip to Iraq on Wednesday, his first visit to US troops deployed in a war zone since being elected two years ago. Trump landed at 7:16 pm local time at Al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, accompanied by his wife Melania Trump, an AFP correspondent said. The president spoke to troops and met with military leaders before leaving a few hours later. Although the visit took place in considerable secrecy, speculation had been mounting that Trump might make such a trip following his controversial decision to slash troop levels in Afghanistan and pull out entirely from Syria. "President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders tweeted. Melania Trump's spokeswoman called it "a surprise visit to our brave U.S. service members currently deployed in Iraq." Presidential trips to boost troop morale have been a longstanding tradition in the years of war following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and Trump has taken considerable criticism for declining to make such a visit until now. But apart from the photo ops alongside uniformed military members, Trump was expected to use the Iraq trip to further explain his decision to end the Syria deployment and cut troop levels in Afghanistan. - Time to pull troops? - The policy changes, defended by Trump as an exit from wars where the United States no longer needs to be expending lives and money, have sparked alarm among US allies and some in the US security establishment. The drawdowns -- and the abrupt way that they were announced -- helped lead to the resignation of Trump's defense secretary, Jim Mattis, who has been one of the administration's key heavyweights. In his unusually forcefully worded resignation letter, Mattis appeared to chide Trump when he stressed his own "strongly held" views on "treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors." Trump also took flak from France and other allies and senior figures in his own Republican party. However, the president has made disentangling America from seemingly endless wars a priority since his 2016 election and he says the time is right. The Islamic State jihadist group, which once controlled swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, has been driven mostly into hiding, allowing the approximately 2,000 US troops supporting local fighters to leave soon, Trump says. And in Afghanistan, he wants to withdraw about half of the 14,000 soldiers locked in a war against Taliban guerrillas that has long resembled a stalemate. "Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing?" Trump asked in a tweet recently. "Do we want to be there forever? Time for others to finally fight," he tweeted. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Chahid El Hafed, Dec 25, 2018 (SPS) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized, on Monday with the collaboration of the Ministry of the Occupied Territories, a conference on human rights, international law and humanitarian law, in the presence of members of the National Secretariat, government, the diplomatic corps and some interested organizations and associations. The session was held under the supervision of a member of the National Secretariat and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Salem Uld Salek, together with the Minister of Occupied Territories and the Saharawi Community Abroad, Mr. Bachir Mustapha Sayed. In the opening speech of this event, the head of the Secretariat of the Political Organization of the Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Hama Salama, affirmed that the question of Western Sahara is a human rights issue in the first place, praising in this context the achievements made in this field, especially the attachment of the Sahrawis to their legitimate and unique representative, the the Frente POLISARIO as a national political framework that defends the legitimate rights of the Saharawi people. SPS 125/090/TRA English25/12/2018 SRNA News Roundup /I/ - December 25, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BANJALUKA - Minister of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society Srdjan Rajcevic says it is necessary to revise the curricula at higher education institutions and see what the trends are in business and which jobs in particular are needed. BANJALUKA - The highest net salary of BAM1,379 in November in Republika Srpska was paid out in the field of finance and insurance and was 1.47 per cent higher than in October, while the lowest one was paid in tourism and catering, reports the Trade Union Federation. BIJELJINA - MPs Nedeljko Coric and Milica Lovric of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats /SNSD/ will hold a press conference in Bijeljina on Tuesday. BANJALUKA - Officers of the Banjaluka Police Administration arrested a person identified as D.D. in Banjaluka on Tuesday morning, for the purpose of documenting the criminal offence of threat to security, reports the administration. Media reported the person in question was Davor Dragicevic, the father of the killed Banjaluka native David Dragicevic. BANJALUKA - Christmas is the path of fathers love for a human, humans love for God and humans love for another human, said Assistant Bishop Marko Semren of Banjaluka, who conducted a Christmas service in the Cathedral of St Bonaventure on Tuesday. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA MOSTAR/SARAJEVO - Fake Croats in the Federation of BiH must be legally sanctioned, say Croat representatives in the joint BiH institutions. SARAJEVO - A total of 21,006 babies were born in nine months in BiH, 2.09 per cent less than in the same period of 2017. SARAJEVO - Drivers in BiH owe more than BAM60 million in unpaid traffic offences and among them is one from Trebinje who owes BAM62,990, reports the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers and Data Exchange of BiH - IDDEEA. FEDERATION OF BiH SARAJEVO - Air pollution in the Federation on Tuesday morning was lower than the days before but persons who are very sensitive to pollution may still have health problems, which is why they should avoid going outside, reports the website Zrak.ekoakcija. SERBIA BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated on Tuesday that, according to an agreement between Belgrade and NATO in the scope of the Brussels agreement, Pristina special units Rosu must not enter northern Kosovo without an approval from KFOR and Serb representatives from four northern municipalities. SJEVERNA MITROVICA - The year 2018 was another year of pressure from separatist authorities for the poverty-ridden Serb enclaves in Kosovo and Metohija. Many people moved out. In the village of Slivovo, which is situated some 20 kilometres from Gracanica, there are only ten of the 110 Serb households, which existed there until 1999. BELGRADE - Between 200 and 300 members of the German Nazi SS division Prinz Eugen have so far been rehabilitated in Serbia. The division was made up of Germans known for horrific crimes they committed in WWII. REGION ZAGREB - The Croatian Democratic Union /HDZ/ is supported by 28.9 per cent of Croatian citizens at the end of the year, Human Shield by 14.9 per cent and SDP by 14.8 per cent, according to a poll carried out by Crobarometar. /end/ds English25/12/2018 JOURNALIST SUSAK NOT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BANJALUKA, December 25 /SRNA/ - Officers of the Banjaluka Police Administration did not take into custody BHT journalist Vladimir Susak on Tuesday, like some media reported, the police said. The police confirmed they did not intend to violate the right to freedom of expression or prevent any reporter from doing their professional tasks. The Banjaluka Police Administration says that journalist Susak, while performing his duties outside the Banjaluka Police Administration building, did not carry a clearly displayed professional identification, which is defined by the OSCE journalists guidelines for dealing with the police. "The guidelines read that while performing their duties, journalists should carry a press ID and follow procedures established by the police when accessing legitimately restricted areas, explains the administration. The press release points out that Susaks identity and his profession was defined only after a professional and kind conversation the reporter had with police officers. Certain media reported on Tuesday that Vladimir Susak had been taken into custody by the Banjaluka Police Administration after trying to take photographs when Davor Dragicevic, the father of the killed David Dragicevic, was taken out from the police building and into an ambulance. On Tuesday morning, Banjaluka police took into custody a person identified as D.D. in order to document the criminal offence of threat to security. /end/ds By now, we all know the story. Former Drew Estate chief Steve Saka, now owner of the acclaimed boutique Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, began work in 2005 on a personal blend for his own enjoyment. After over 50 blends of testing with Jonathan Drew and Nick Melillo (now owner of Foundation Cigar Co.), a final recipe was arrived at: a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper fermented for at least 18 months, a Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua. The cigar became known as Liga Privada No. 9. It forever changed the way the cigar world thinks about Drew Estate, which had formerly been known for its infused cigars. Despite being on the market for over a decade, Liga No. 9 production is still limited (due to tobacco availability) so the cigars can be both tough to find and expensive. In 2012, to help satisfy sky-high demand and capitalize on what would otherwise be waste, Drew Estate launched Papas Fritas, a small cigar (4.5 x 44) that employs cuttings from Liga No. 9 production. Like Liga No.9, it has the same Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mata Fina binder, and Honduran and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. Spanish for French fries, one of Sakas favorite foods, Papas Fritas is a mixed-filler cigar that, while not on par with the elegance or complexity of the original No. 9, is a quick, cost-effective way to get the core Liga flavors that made that line so successful. Those flavors include a medium- to full-bodied combination of spice, cocoa powder, espresso, cream, and white pepper. The texture is leathery. The trademark Liga flavor thats as noticeable as it is hard to describethe best I can do is sweet grassinessis also present, though it tends to drift in and out. True to Drew Estates reputation, Papas Fritas has an incredibly easy draw with voluminous smoke production. The other combustion properties are also impressive, especially for a mixed-filler cigar. The burn light is straight, and the white ash holds well. In 2015, to make the cigar cheaper, Drew Estate rolled out new packaging. Papas Fritas can now be found in 50-count boxes, instead of 4-count tins or 28-count boxes. As a result, the per-cigar cost was reduced from $6.40 to $5.25. We needed something for fans of Papas Fritas who already had plenty of tins and wanted a better value, so now were offering the cigar with no tin, said then-president Michael Cellucci. If you look around, you can actually pay about $4.70 per cigar, if you buy a box of 50. And why wouldnt you? Papas Fritas enables you to get your Liga fix in a quick, price-efficient way, and you wont feel bad about discarding one halfway through. For that, Im awarding this cigar three and a half stogies out of five. [To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.] Patrick A photo credit: Stogie Guys Visitors take pictures of the Chinese aircraft carriers on display. Photo: Li Hao/GT China has developed its most powerful steam turbo generator unit, which military analysts said may provide a solution to the huge demand for electricity required by electromagnetic catapults on China's future aircraft carriers and electromagnetic railguns on future destroyers. Independently developed by the No.704 Institute of China's largest manufacturer of naval products, China Shipbuilding Industry (CSIC), the generator recently passed technical appraisal, marking the birth of the 20-megawatt steam turbo generator unit for ships, CSIC announced in a statement released on its WeChat account on Monday. Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the generator unit is now fully operational and technically eligible for production. Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, said that the next step will be to install the generator on a test ship, before it is available for use by China's military in one to two years. The new generation of generator unit made multiple technological breakthroughs and innovative design, the CSIC statement said, noting that 20-megawatts of power is four times as much as China's current generator units and is on par with the most advanced generator units developed by the US and European countries. Twenty megawatts is sufficient to propel 10,000-ton class vessels, Song told the Global Times, noting that larger vessels like aircraft carriers can use multiple generators to get the power they need. The new steam turbo generator unit will not only provide electricity for a vessel's propulsion system, but also lay the foundation for a fully electric power system for ships, the company said. On traditional vessels, power units that provide power for propulsion and electricity are separate, and power generated for the propulsion system is not used to power electrical applications, Song said. Ships seldom sail at full speed, so a considerable amount of its power potential is not used while the electrical system can be overworked providing power to electricity-consuming equipment. Generators that are powerful enough could be used for both the propulsion and electrical systems, Li said. A ship's power system would be more efficient if one system is used to allocate power to where it is needed. The US Zumwalt-class destroyer and the UK's Type 45 destroyer use a fully electric propulsion system. CSIC is reportedly developing China's third aircraft carrier, and experts expect it will be equipped with an electromagnetic catapult to launch aircraft. China is also reportedly looking to upgrade its most advanced 10,000-ton class destroyer the Type 055s with electromagnetic railguns. New technologies such as electromagnetic catapult and electromagnetic railgun require a huge amount of electricity. A fully electric power system will enable them to use unoccupied propulsion power to operate properly, Li said. The Chinese Navys 30th and 31st escort taskforces join forces in the waters at the eastern Gulf of Aden and cruise in two file formations on the morning of December 24, 2018. (Photo by Lai Yonglei) By Zhang Hailong, Lai Yonglei and Xue Chengqing GULF OF ADEN, Dec. 26 (ChinaMil) -- On the morning of December 24, 2018 (local time), the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navys 31st escort taskforce arrived in the waters at the eastern Gulf of Aden as scheduled after an uninterrupted voyage of 15 days and nights, where it met the 30th escort taskforce. Since it arrived in the Gulf of Aden on September 1, the 30th Chinese naval escort taskforce has escorted 59 merchant ships in 31 batches over the past four months, effectively safeguarding the maritime transport line. The 31st Chinese naval escort taskforce set sail on December 9 from the port city of Zhanjiang in south Chinas Guangdong Province. The taskforce is composed of the amphibious dock landing ship Kunlunshan (Hull 998), the guided-missile frigate Xuchang (Hull 536) and the comprehensive supply ship Luomahu (Hull 964). After their joint escort mission, the two taskforces will conduct a mission handover ceremony. The 31st Chinese naval escort taskforce will then replace its predecessor on escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. Laura Pomponi is the heart and soul of Luxury Projects, a talented team of architects, designers and engineers pioneering in elegant spaces. For Laura, luxury is in the details, but she also draws inspiration from the words of the godfather of Italian aesthetics, Leonardo da Vinci: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. One of the things that most draws Laura to superyacht design is the unbelievable creative opportunities that come with working in the luxury sector. She qualifies this, however, with the reflection that the sky is never the limit. Beyond the exhilaration of being privy to a luxury wonderland, the satisfaction that Laura derives from her work is the relationships that you build with the clients. It is clear that the unique combination of technical and human challenges is what drives Luxury Projects: We put our heart and soul into what we do, and when this is rewarded with true friendship we are so pleased. Adriana Monk, Founder of Monk Design, spent 10 years working her way up the echelons of the automotive sector before making the shift to the nautical world. According to her, car and yacht design possess the common denominator of a thorough appreciation of practical luxury - both are forms that take into account both beauty and functionality. The relevance between automobiles and boats is intrinsic, Adriana explains, For example, designing the interior concept of the sumptuous Rolls Royce Phantom is comparable to the comforts of superyachts. Adriana cites dealing with clients who are fulfilling their dreams as being one of the biggest perks of her job. However, all designers must walk the line between creative vision and client specification, and she concedes that the most rewarding projects are the ones where owners allow the designers the freedom to express ambition. Adriana's dream client would give the green light to ecological materials and innovative construction techniques; a reflection of her desire for a more sustainable future with an environmental approach that respects craftsmen but also integrates new technologies. Sabrina Monteleone-einos professional lifeblood, aside from getting to meet people of very different tastes, backgrounds and personalities, is the pursuit of beauty. She is enamoured with aesthetics, echoing Elsie de Wolfes famous pledge to make everything around me beautiful. What I love doing most is making spaces interesting to look at, says Sabrina, This is achieved with great colours, delicate fabrics, special pieces and sumptuous materials. The founder of interior design firm Sabrina Monte-Carlo cites the differences from project to project as the thing that most excites her about her work: We completely change styles - and often countries! Like Adriana, Sabrina has a dual background in design, specialising in both residential properties and yachts. This two-pronged approach can be credited with the professional diversity that she so enjoys: Whilst I love a beautiful contemporary yacht project in Monaco, doing luxurious classic Belle Epoque villas on the Cote dAzur is also a lot of fun. Daniela Zulli considers herself extremely lucky to be working in the sector that she is. Currently Business Director at design tycoon Terence Disdale, Daniela is deeply invested in the creative side of things, however she is also devoted to the practical nitty-gritty of her day-to-day: I still have to focus on the schedules, the deadlines, the meetings, the client liaisons, the technical requirements, the contractual commitments and the problem solving. It is clear that Daniela is a creative with a head for business, yet she ultimately affirms that she is a designer at heart: The result is tangible and long-lasting, and I love it. It is apparent that Laura, Adriana, Sabrina and Daniela are astute businesswomen whose passions for functional beauty have led them to create their own businesses. In part 2, they reveal how they feel their gender has impacted them in this pursuit. The world of gastronomy is not short of competitions and accolades. Practically any organisation even tentatively linked to what we eat or drink has its own way of handing out rewards, from The World's Top 50 Restaurants to the International Wine Challenge. In Spain regional influences are almost as important as national ones, and while the annual Fiesta de Orujo (distillation of remnants from grape pressing) competition in Potes (Asturias, northern Spain) brings together all the local artisan distillers, competition is so fierce that the judges have to leave the hall before the prizes are announced - for their own safety. WINE OF THE WEEK Marques de Caceres Rosado This rose wine from one of Rioja's best-known bodegas is always a hot-weather hit - or will be if any hot weather ever arrives. Made from the usual blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha grape varieties, it quite simply pleases everybody all of the time. In almost any wine for five euros plus. Participants distil orujo in public using their own stills and made from secret recipes handed down within families. Further south, the Malaga brewery, Cervezas Victoria, locally-owned and managed, rounded off a month's epicurean activities with a gala night last week. One of the highly-commendable objectives of the initiative is to send a young local chef on a paid scholarship arranged by Chef Training US to a well-known restaurant, on the condition of course that he or she returns to Spain and shows colleagues what they have learned. As a way of broadening connections and fostering an interchange of ideas and methods, there are few better ways, although it is debatable who learns from who. There are certainly more Spanish restaurants in the US than American restaurants in Spain. Organisers Jose Maria Guadamuro of Daily Tourist Marbella and Helen Vossenberg of Marbella Channel hosted a who's who of local gastronomy, and popular award winners were Thomas Stork, executive chef of Puente Romano (think Sea Grill) and Jorge Manzur, general manager of the complex. Now, after this fifth edition of the event, it will morph into a national experience, something that is not to the liking of those who supported it through its embryonic stage on the basis that Malaga First was just that. Anyway, export success is never assured, even if it is only between regions, and rather like Columbus's (only) pear-shaped venture of its type, Indian slaves, there's no place like home turf. A federal judge on Monday ordered North Korea to pay more than $500 million in a wrongful death suit filed by the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who died shortly after being released from that country. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell harshly condemned North Korea for "barbaric mistreatment" of Warmbier in agreeing with his family that the isolated nation should be held liable for his death last year. She awarded punitive damages and payments covering medical expenses, economic loss and pain and suffering to Fred and Cindy Warmbier, who alleged that their son had been held hostage and tortured. Warmbier was a University of Virginia student who was visiting North Korea with a tour group when he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in March 2016 on suspicion of stealing a propaganda poster. He died in June 2017, shortly after he returned to the U.S. in a coma and showing apparent signs of torture while in custody. In holding the North Korean government liable, Howell accused the government of seizing Warmbier for "use as a pawn in that totalitarian state's global shenanigans and face-off with the United States." "Before Otto traveled with a tour group on a five-day trip to North Korea, he was a healthy, athletic student of economics and business in his junior year at the University of Virginia, with big dreams and both the smarts and people skills to make him his high school class salutatorian, homecoming king, and prom king," the judge wrote. "He was blind, deaf, and brain dead when North Korea turned him over to U.S. government officials for his final trip home." The arrest and death of Warmbier came during a time of heightened tension between the U.S. and North Korea over the country's nuclear weapons program. President Donald Trump held a first-of-its-kind summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2018 and plans another next year. The judgment may be mostly a symbolic victory since North Korea has yet to respond to any of the allegations in court and there's no practical mechanism to force it do so. But the family may nonetheless be able to recoup damages through a Justice Department-administered fund for victims of state-sponsored acts of terrorism, and may look to seize other assets held by the country outside of North Korea. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he looks forward to his next summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "Christmas Eve briefing with my team working on North Korea -- Progress being made. Looking forward to my next summit with Chairman Kim!" Trump tweeted after being briefed by Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun on his recent visit to Seoul. Biegun traveled to South Korea from Dec. 19 to 22 and stopped over at the border truce village of Panmunjom. He promised Washington will review a ban on Americans visiting North Korea to deliver humanitarian aid. But North Korean state media continued to criticize the U.S. on Monday. The official Rodong Sinmun daily warned that the U.S. must "stop provocative and malicious acts" against the North and complained about the UN General Assembly adopting a resolution criticizing human rights abuses in the North. It said the U.S. and its allies are "noisily decrying non-existent 'human rights issues'" to "widen the breadth of sanctions and pressure and raise its intensity." North Korea launched cyber attacks against scores of businesses around the world over the last two months, Voice of America reported Monday. According to VOA, data from computer security company McAfee show that 87 companies in the U.S. and Europe became targets of cyber attacks believed to have originated in North Korea since late October. Raj Samani at McAfee said, "It was an espionage campaign predominantly targeting, approximately... 87 organizations across the globe. What we identified were technical indicators. And those technical indicators seemed to have a correlation with campaigns that were associated with North Korea." He said they were very similar to those of Lazarus, the North Korean-sponsored hacking team behind the "Wannacry" ransomware that struck around 300,000 computers in 150 countries in May 2017 McAfee said the latest cyber attacks were discovered early and did not cause any financial losses. But it warned that North Korean hacking techniques are becoming more sophisticated. "You are actually seeing threat actors who are believed to be from nation states actually improving their ability and investing offensive tools," Samani said. Pope urges 'fraternity' in Christmas message Vatican City, Dec 25 (AFP) Dec 25, 2018 Pope Francis called for peace and "fraternity" and Queen Elizabeth II warned against "tribalism", as millions across the world celebrated Christmas on Tuesday -- and US President Donald Trump caused a festive furore by asking a child whether he still believed in Santa Claus. Some 50,000 worshippers gathered at the Vatican to hear the pontiff's sixth "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World) message appealing for peace in conflict zones such as Syria and Yemen, which face humanitarian crises. "My wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity," he told pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square on Tuesday, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. "Fraternity among individuals of every nation and culture. Fraternity among people with different ideas... Fraternity among persons of different religions." Francis, the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, had used his mass on Monday night to urge people to curb "insatiable greed". The pontiff said he hoped a truce in conflict-ravaged Yemen would end a devastating war that has killed around 10,000 people since 2015 and pushed 14 million Yemenis to the brink of famine. The pope also spoke of the war in Syria, which has forced millions from their homes and reduced swathes of the country to rubble. He called for a "political solution" to the conflict "so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country". Francis also said he hoped for renewed peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians "that can put an end to a conflict that for over 70 years has rent the land chosen by the Lord to show his face of love." - 'Little town' celebrations - Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, located near Jerusalem but cut off from the city by Israel's separation barrier, has seen an increase in visitors this season after several down years because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian tourism officials and hotel operators have reported their strongest season in years. "This year is much more calm, much better than last year," said Abeer Nasser, a Palestinian from the nearby town of Beit Sahour celebrating in Bethlehem with her son and daughter. Beyond Bethlehem, Christians worldwide were marking Christmas, with services held from Indonesia to Iraq. This year's celebrations come after a year of tumult, much of it coming from Washington, where the festive spirit was dampened when the national Christmas tree went dark due to a US government shutdown -- though it ultimately reopened thanks to private donations. One festive service not affected was the military's annual Santa Claus "tracker", which sees North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) deliver live updates on his international gift delivery route. Fielding calls from children anxious to know if their presents would arrive on time, Trump risked a spell on Santa's naughty list by telling one boy that believing in the jolly man in red at age seven was "marginal". Entrenching the unfestive tone on Christmas morning, Trump used a news conference following his annual holiday call to US troops to reel off a laundry list of complaints, including his disdain for the US Federal Reserve and the opposition Democrats, whom he blames for the shutdown. "It's a disgrace what's happening in our country. But other than that, I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas," the president said. - Celebrations despite conflicts - In Bethlehem, visitors were able to view the Church of the Nativity's newly restored mosaics dating to the Crusader era after a major renovation. Visitors from across the world gathered in the "little town" on Christmas Eve for midnight mass, queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born and taking in a festive parade. While for many who celebrate the festival Christmas is a time to gather with loved ones, many were struggling with unforeseen events and hardships. At a little church just outside Indonesia's tsunami disaster zone, a few dozen congregants gathered on Christmas day to pray for the victims. The tsunami, triggered by a volcanic eruption, left more than 400 people dead when it smashed into popular beaches on southern Sumatra and the western edge of Java, inundating tourist hotels and coastal settlements. "This Christmas is different because we're celebrating it during a disaster," Rahmat Carita congregant Eliza told AFP. "For me, it's a chance to contemplate. God's love is real, we must not forget that." Queen Elizabeth II warned of religious "tribalism" in a Christmas message delivered against a backdrop of Britain bickering over its impending exit from the EU. The tone of the 92-year-old monarch's annual TV appearances reflected a sombre mood sweeping the island nation as it ponders the perils of leaving the European project after 46 years. "Even the power of faith, which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice, can fall victim to tribalism," Elizabeth said. Spain's second-largest city Barcelona was meanwhile on alert after the US State Department warned of the risk of a terrorist attack during the Christmas holidays. And in France, groups of "yellow vest" anti-government demonstrators are spending Christmas day at makeshift protest camps on roundabouts across the country, eating devilled eggs and foie gras with new friends they have made in weeks of rallies against the policies of President Emmanuel Macron. burs-mdo/ft Japan's withdrawal from IWC: key dates Tokyo, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2018 Japan announced Wednesday it was withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial whaling activity in a move likely to spark international criticism. Here are some key dates related to Japanese whaling. - Ancient tradition - Japanese fishermen are believed to have started whaling in the 12th century, hunting the giant sea creatures with harpoons, according to the Japan Whaling Association. In the early 1600s, organised whaling begins in the western town of Taiji, now better known as a dolphin-hunting port that gained global attention after the 2009 documentary "The Cove". - Whaling base - In 1906, a full-fledged whaling base is built in Ayukawa, Miyagi, heralding the nation's modern era of whaling. At its peak in the 1950s, some 2,000 whales are landed at the port amid growing demand for their meat as a key source of protein in the desperately poor years following World War II. In 2011, a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake destroys the base but whaling resumes a year later. - Japan joins the IWC - In 1951, Japan joins the International Whaling Commission, established in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population. By then Japan is one of the world's largest whaling countries. - Research whaling - In 1987, Japan begins "scientific research" whaling in the Antarctic, a year after the IWC introduces a moratorium on commercial whaling. In 1988, Japan stops commercial hunting of minke and sperm whales in Japanese coastal waters following the moratorium. - UN court decision - In 2014, the United Nations' highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), orders Tokyo to end its regular hunt in Antarctic waters, saying the project did not meet conventional scientific standards. Japan cancels its 2014-15 hunt, only to resume it the following season under a new programme that it says now has genuine scientific value. But the European Union and 12 other nations condemn Japan's programme. - Commercial whaling bid rejected - In September 2018, the IWC rejects a bid by Japan to return to commercial whaling. Anti-whaling nations -- led by Australia, the European Union and the United States -- defeat Japan's "Way Forward" proposal in a 41-to-27 vote. Japan's vice-minister for fisheries Masaaki Taniai says Tokyo would be "pressed to undertake a fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC". - IWC withdrawal - On December 26, 2018, Japan announces it is withdrawing from the IWC. The decision comes into effect on June 30 in 2019 and Japan says it plans to resume commercial whaling in its territorial waters from July 2019. Japanese Defense Ministry in a statement on Tuesday insisted that a Korean Navy destroyer deliberately pointed a fire-control radar at a nearby Japanese spy plane as it was rescuing a North Korean fishing boat. Tokyo said the Korean destroyer "aimed its radar several times at the Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol plane" and denied Seoul's claim that the aircraft had been performing unusual maneuvers such as flying directly over the destroyer. On Monday, Ahn Sang-min of the Joint Chiefs of Staff here had told reporters, "Let me clearly state that the Navy did not operate its fire-control radar with the purpose of tracking the Japanese patrol plane" but was searching for the North Korean boat, which had sent a distress signal. The Navy quizzed the captain and crew of the destroyer several times and confirmed that they never activated the fire-control radar. "If the radar had been activated, traces of its transmission should have remained in the electronic warfare equipment of the destroyer, but none were found." The ministry did not respond to Japan's latest claim. Newspapers published in Kathmandu on Wednesday have published reports related to a variety of social, political economic issues. The commencement of Parliaments winter session has received considerable attention along with Japans decision to provide blue-collar work visas to Nepali citizens. The papers have also reported on the central banks new limit on the amount that can be spent using a Nepali card in India. Heres a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Wednesday: Important Parliaments winter session to begin today Annapurna Post, Republica, Gorkhapatra and The Himalayan Times report that the winter session of Parliament, also known as the bill session will commence on Wednesday. The session will see an endorsement of 174 laws including the Nepal Citizenship Bill, National Health Bill and Civil Service Employee Adjustment Bill. Nepal Samacharpatra reports the Federal Parliament Secretariat staffers are threatening to disrupt the session. They are threatening to resort to non-cooperation if their demands are not met. Demanding more pay for working overtime, employee union chairman Megh Raj Aryal says they were compelled to protest because the employees are being overworked. He further adds that if their demands are not met, the civil servants will only work during office hours. Senior NCP leaders team up against Oli and Prachanda Nagarik reports that four senior leaders from the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) have teamed up against chairmen KP Oli and Prachanda. They have told party members that the role of the two in running the government isnt up to the mark. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalnath Khanal and Bamdev Gautam have expressed dissatisfaction over the two chairmens tendency to act without consulting party members. They have accused PM Oli of taking unilateral decisions and Prachanda of supporting him. Accusing Oli of nepotism, the four leaders have condemned Olis decision to hand dual responsibilities to Shankhar Pokharel and Prithivi Subba Gurung. They are unhappy that PM Oli didnt consult the party when hiring ministers. Central bank imposes a cap on currency withdrawals in India The Kathmandu Post and Republica report that the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has set a limit on the payments that a Nepali national can make in India through debit and credit cards. The central bank on Tuesday set a limit of INR 100,000 a month which will bar Nepali citizens from making payments for goods and services worth more than Rs 160,000 from a bank account. According to the NRB circular, this limit will not apply to payments to hotels, hospitals and pharmacies. PM seeks one week to address RJP-Ns concerns The Himalayan Times reports that PM KP Oli has asked for a week to address the demands of Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, which includes constitution amendment. Oli told RJP-Ns leaders at his residence that he will get back to them after holding consultation with NCP leaders and authorities concerned. During the meeting, RJP-N reminded Oli about the understanding that the party had reached with Oli nine months ago. RJP-N had agreed to support the government led by Oli and the Prime Minister, in return, had promised to address all demands of the Madhes-based party. Lieutenant General nominated The Kathmandu Post reports Major General Sharad Giri has been nominated for the post of Lieutenant General, the third highest rank in Nepal Army, by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gen Purna Chandra Thapa. Maj Gen Giri was favoured over officers senior to him. The position of lieutenant general was vacant since September 9 as Gen Thapa took the reins as the CoAS. Ignored Telecom companies owe government over 3 billion Kantipur reports the telecommunication companies owned by reputed businessmen and parliamentarians have failed to pay taxes in excess of over Rs 3 billion. Companies such as United Telecom (UTL), Smart Telecom, CG Communication owe the government Rs 3,130,841,921. According to Nepal Telecom Authority, the MP Julie Kumari Mahato-owned UTL owed the government over Rs 700 million. Likewise, Smart Telecom owes the government a whopping Rs 1.3 billion in taxes. Interesting Japan to issue work visa open for Nepalis Kantipur, The Kathmandu Post, Republica, and Nagarik report that the Japanese government has endorsed a new labour policy opening up its labour market to blue-collar Nepalis. The new visa policy means workers from nine Asian countries, including Nepal, will be able to work in 14 sectors including construction, restaurants, farming, and nursing in Japan. Amid a shortage of workers, Japan has announced a plan to bring in over 345,000 foreign workers in five years. This decision comes after Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali requested the government of Japan to include Nepal as one of the source countries for foreign workers. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near -1C. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near -9C. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has confirmed that Article 54 of the Value Added Tax Law (VAT Law) provides that provision of financial services specified by the Regulation shall be exempt from the application of VAT. This exemption shall not apply in respect of specifically specified fees, commissions or commercial discounts, a statement said. Therefore, banking transactions will not be subject to VAT either on loan interests, deposits or withdrawals from accounts either cash or cheques, including withdrawal and deposit through ATMs, as well as transferring or receiving of any transactions with cash or any financial bond or banknotes or any payment orders in addition to the exemption of Islamic financial products provided in accordance with approved contracts. TradeArabia News Service The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has joined hands with the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC), and the GCC Standardization Organisation (GSO) to support the upcoming Big 5 Saudi expo in Jeddah. The event will be held from March 10 to 13 at Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, said the event organisers dmg events. During the expo, the governmental organisations, which are committed to protect consumers and strengthen the competitiveness of the national economy, will provide crucial intelligence to local and international participants, paving the way for the future development of the Saudi construction industry, they stated. The partnerships come at a time when more than 5,200 projects are under construction across the kingdom, and confirm The Big 5 Saudis role as a key platform to advance the sector and meet the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 plans. Announcing GSOs participation at the upcoming event, Saud Al Khusaibi, the secretary general, said: "We are working to disseminate and promote knowledge of standardisation and related activities and quality for industrial, commercial and public consumers." "GSO is also committed to improving the quality of products, goods and materials locally manufactured or imported to the GCC Common Market," he stated. Al Khusaibi said: "In this context, GSO is participating in The Big 5 Saudi to raise awareness about sustainable and green buildings and constructions by presenting Gulf standards and technical regulations related to this sector. We will also present our efforts in developing the GCC Building Code for a healthy environment, as well as for the stability and solidity of buildings." Roni El Haddad, the event director of The Big 5 Saudi, said: "We are honoured to welcome Saso, SBCNC, and GSO to The Big 5 Saudi 2019. As the kingdom unrolls $819 billion worth of construction projects, these partnerships will not only move the building and construction industry forward: they will help elevate the Saudi market to topnotch standards." "With a 6.13 per cent annualised average growth expected between 2018 and 2022, opportunities for global and local industry players in Saudi Arabia are massive," noted El Haddad. "However, its not just the size of the market that is changing today: multi-billion-dollar projects like Neom or the Amaala resort on the Red Sea are now truly raising the bar in terms of sustainability, safety and quality of buildings and infrastructure development in the kingdom," he stated. "Everyone working in construction or aiming to enter the Saudi market should be aware of the enhanced standards and requirements," he added. Anticipating construction trends and providing business and learning opportunities to industry professionals, the 9th edition of The Big 5 Saudi will bring together hundreds of local and international construction buyers and suppliers from 10 to 13 March 2019 at the Jeddah Centre for Forum & Events. For the first time, the event will host official country pavilions from Egypt and Pakistan, alongside Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, India, Turkey and China, among others. More than 100 top Saudi construction players will also exhibit at The Big 5 Saudi 2019, displaying the latest technologies and building solutions across eight dedicated product sectors, said the organisers. A special focus on the HVAC R sector and a wide outdoor area showcasing solar solutions, heavy machinery and outdoor furnishing will be among the upcoming editions new features. Over 80 CPD-certified and free to attend workshops will be also delivered by industry experts across the four days of the event, it stated. The Big 5 Saudi 2019 is also being supported by Al Fouzan Trading & General Construction Company (Gold Sponsor), Astrolabs (Entrepreneurship Partner) and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce.-TradeArabia News Service Zain Bahrain, a leading telecommunications provider in the kingdom, and the Bahrain Society for Training & Human Resource Development (BSTD) have launched a new women empowerment initiative. It is aimed at developing womens leadership skills through gender equality in each sphere of activity and various aspects of development, said a statement from the telecom company. The first phase of the initiative was announced at a special ceremony held in Zain Tower with the participation of several governmental representatives, private institutions and selected people, it said. The event revealed its first programme highlighting the Bahraini distinguished competencies in different disciplines and roles; to emphasise the pivotal role of gender equality between women and men in developing the society and the fundamental impact of both genders respective presence in the community. Dana Bukhammas, director of human resource, Zain Bahrain, said: We are delighted to continue embracing community equity in Bahrain with the support of Bahrain Society for Training & Human Resource Development. This is another step for our company to build a society where men and women are equal in the workplace to act, lead, develop and succeed, she added. Ahmed Attia, chairman of BSTD, said: Our organisation and Zain Bahrain have the same common objective towards Women Empowerment in Bahrain, which resulted in signing a cooperation agreement of the new initiative to build a principal for an equal, justified society between women and men. Dr Houria Al Diri, director of Media and Women's Development at the society, said the new initiative integrated programme was launched on December and will last until the end of 2019. Women in Bahrain are already playing a crucial role in the economy and the initiative will help them in getting more opportunities and creating a bigger impact in the society, she noted. The programme will include numerous activities and events targeting all groups of society of different ages and specialties, she added.-TradeArabia News Service Bahrain-based BMMI, a leading services and supply group, recently donated BD12,700 ($33,503.3) to support the construction of the RIA Adult Centre, which will help differently abled individuals develop crucial life skills in parallel with work experience opportunities. The funds have also been utilised towards the purchase of a mini-bus to help in the transportation of those registered with the centre. RIA was established in 1999 with the mission statement of 'education for all and promotes community awareness, with particular focus on persons with disabilities. The RIA Adult Centre (RAC) is the latest initiative by the institute, and will provide a number of services, including work placements that ensure that students with special needs receive transferrable job skills that help them better integrate into the workforce. RACs vision is to create a community where people with intellectual disabilities and their families can participate equally in the community and be valued in all aspects of society. The mission of the centre is to enable individuals with intellectual disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilise their potential and to contribute as an integral part of the community at all levels and across all segments. BMMI has been a supporter of RIA for over a decade, and this latest donation will help ensure the security of the RAC project, as well as the mobility of the students. We are honoured to support the RAC project, which will help differently abled individuals by providing the opportunity to develop and utilise their potential, said BMMIs head of corporate communications and marketing, Yasmine Mohamed. BMMI has always been on the forefront of supporting inclusivity and community integration, and we will continue our efforts to have a positive impact wherever we operate. Student director at RIA, Chrisitine Gordon, expressed her gratitude for BMMIs contribution. I am humbled, grateful and inspired by the way BMMI responded to our call for help. Advocating for others is made easier when people are genuinely sincere and we would like to thank all those involved, she said. BMMI is committed to promoting awareness of the capabilities and contributions made by differently abled individuals in Bahrain. Last year, as the first business host for the Employment Facilitation Training Service (EFTS) programme for individuals with disabilities, BMMI was able to provide effective transitioning of individuals with intellectual disabilities through pre-vocational and vocational training through its subsidiary, Alosra Supermarket. - TradeArabia News Service Saudi-based Acwa Power has won a contract to develop Rabigh 3, the worlds largest independent water desalination plant (IWP) located on the Red Sea coast, further expanding its desalination capacity in the kingdom. A leading developer, owner and operator of power generation and water desalination plants, Acwa Power said it had submitted the lowest tariff at 0.53USD/cu m amongst 55 expressions of interest and five bidders and hence was selected to develop the desalination plant alongside the Saudi Brothers Commercial Company (SBCC) in Rabigh. Water & Electricity Company (WEC) will act as the off taker of the project, it added. According to Acwa Power, the Rabigh 3 IWP will utilise reverse osmosis (RO) technology to yield a capacity of 600,000 cu m per day. The innovative design of this plant ensures the highest efficiency, reliability and availability for any comparable plant in the world. The water output will cater to the water demand of Makkah and Jeddah. This will ensure consistent, reliable and steady water supply to the citizens of the two cities and village, especially during demand peak periods such as Ramadan and Hajj seasons, it stated. The water purchase agreement was signed by Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and chairman of WEC. On the contract win, Acwa Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan said: "We take extreme pride in securing another milestone in the kingdom that contributes to the welfare of Saudi Arabias economy and its citizens. As a private company, we work continuously to guarantee the right investment is being injected in the kingdom through private public partnerships to achieve the ambitious goals of the Saudi Vision 2030." Rabigh 3 IWP, he stated, will deliver potable water at the lowest cost achieved to date for RO while consuming the least amount of power for each cubic meter of water produced and is consequently another important step in elevating living standards in the kingdom. "Rabigh 3 IWP will contribute to economic progress and increased employment opportunities, helping the kingdom reach the highest levels of prosperity," noted Abunayyan. Managing director Thamer Al Sharhan said: "We are delighted to add another flagship project to our kingdoms portfolio, proving our consistent support to the Saudi economy and its people. The worlds largest reverse osmosis desalination plant validates the thesis that a local developer places the interests of the home country as its utmost priority." "Offering the lowest tariffs without compromising on reliability of water supply, all the while ensuring affordable clean water access to the citizens of Makkah and Jeddah. We take pride in setting the direction and being a strong driver of the progressive vision of Saudi Arabia," noted Al Sharhan. "The Rabigh 3 IWP is being procured under a 25-year build-own-operate (BOO) contract and will commence commercial operation on December 31, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Lufthansa Group has appointed Heinrich Lange as senior director sales, Gulf, Afghanistan & Pakistan, effective January 2019. In his new role, Lange will be responsible for the commercial and sales activities of the Lufthansa Group Airlines, as well as their representation in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Pakistan regions. With his 14 years of experience in airline management, Lange brings a deep and wide-ranging knowledge to his new position. His path into the aviation industry began in 2004 with a dual qualification program in the Lufthansa Group specialising in Business Administration and training as an aviation manager in the Lufthansa Group. In 2007, Lange was assigned Manager Quality Management Onboard Service, being responsible for monitoring desired quality level of rewarded onboard service. Four years later, he was appointed manager Lufthansa Group and Joint Venture Sales Strategy as a founding member of a new team which was to accelerate the sales cooperation and integration of Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines while being responsible for the development of a long-term supporting business strategy for the LHG sales organisation. In his most recent position as senior manager sales steering and business development for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe headquartered in Vienna, Lange was responsible for the commercial steering of seven sales teams in 16 markets and further developing the growth of the Lufthansa Group Airlines in Eastern and South-eastern Europe. In addition, he also headed a Global Cooperation Working Group for the new Lufthansa Group Joint Venture with Air China. Lange will be based in Dubai, succeeding Karsten Zang, who held this position since the beginning of 2014. Lange will report to Dr Stefan Kreuzpaintner, vice president sales Europe, Middle East & Africa, Lufthansa Group. - TradeArabia News Service New Delhi, Dec 26 (UNI) Bhutan Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering will be paying a three-day State visit to India from December 27 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The State visit is taking place during the Golden Jubilee year of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan, officials said here. During his stay, Prime Minister of Bhutan will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other Ministers will also call on the visiting dignitary. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale will call on Mr Tshering on Thursday, sources said here. On Friday, December 28, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu and Power Minister R K Singh will also call on the dignitary. According to a release from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Bhutanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Economic Affairs and other senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan will be accompanying the Prime Minister of Bhutan. "India and Bhutan enjoy exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation, based on utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels," the release said. The upcoming visit of the Prime Minister Lotay Tshering will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review the progress in the multifaceted partnership and to discuss ways and means to expand the enduring ties of friendship and cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples, the MEA release has said here. UNI DEVN SNU 1502 New Delhi, Dec 26 (UNI) In a major crackdown on an ISIS-inspired module styled as Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a joint operation with Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday carried out searches at 17 places in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and arrested 10 suspects allegedly associated with the module. On receipt of credible information that a group of pro-ISIS individuals have formed a terrorist gang and they are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks targeting vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi/NCR, the NIA on December 20 registered a case under several sections against the mastermind of the module, viz. Mufti Mohd. Suhail @ Hazrath s/o Hafiz Ahmad, native of Amroha, UP and his associates and investigation was taken up forthwith, the agency said in a statement. The NIA claimed to have found that Mufti Mohd Suhail alias Hazrath and his associates mobilized funds, procured weapons, ammunition and explosive material to carry out explosions and fidayeen attacks at places of importance in and around Delhi. In an effort to disrupt and dismantle the module, the agency conducted searches at six places in Jafrabad, Seelampur in Delhi and 11 locations in Uttar Pradesh, including Amroha, Lucknow, Hapur and Meerut. The agency seized huge quantities of explosive material, arms and ammunition and other incriminating material and documents. The seizure included 25 kg of explosive material, such as Potassium Nitrate, Ammonium Nitrate, Sulphur, Sugar material paste, 12 pistols, 150 rounds of live ammunition, 1 country- made rocket launcher, 112 alarm clocks, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch, wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones, 134 SIM cards, 3 laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature and a cash amount of Rs 7.5 lacs approximately, the statement said. The arrested accused were identified as Mufti Mohd Suhail, Anas Yunus, Rashid Zafar Raq, Saeed, Raees Ahmad, Zubair Malik, Zaid Malik, Saqib Iftekar, Mohd. Irshad and Mohd Azam. The arrested accused would be produced before the NIA Special Court at Patiala Court House on Thursday. UNI ASH SHK1954 UP : Sedition case against Naseeruddin Shah in Jaunpur Jaunpur, Dec 24 (UNI) A case was registered under sedition charges against bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah in court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Dhananjay Mishra on Monday. Plaintiff advocate Anand Srivastava alleged that statements of veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has the potential of causing unrest to the society and hurt the feeling of several nationals. Mr Shahs statements can affect the thoughts of citizens and can send a message that India is a unsecure nation. The attorney of the plaintiff said that Mr Shah got respect and love in the country but his statements can create unrest in society. He underlined some statements of the actor to prove his grounds. Of the disputes between China and the United States, intellectual property theft is one of the biggest. The U.S. government has cited the trillions of dollars lost to Chinese espionage as a main reason for the ongoing trade war between the two countries. Chinas theft of intellectual property is concentrated in the tech sector, a field that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is determined to dominate. According to overseas Chinese analyst Cheng Xiaonong, the CCP has increasingly resorted to stealing following a long history of unsuccessful attempts at homegrown research and development (R&D), particularly in the microchip industry. In an article translated and published by The Epoch Times, Cheng explained how the Chinese state-run efforts at developing microchips had begun in the 1970s, following similar programs that created Chinas first nuclear weapons and satellites. These centrally directed and funded programs, however, suffered from lack of innovation and efficiency. Cheng cited two examples of Chinese microchip projects that attempted to make products for a civilian market Microchip Projects 908 and 909. The first project, begun in 1990, resulted in chips that were several generations behind international technology when finally ready for production. Microchip Project 909 similarly failed to find a breakthrough point in the microchip industry. National R&D systems were slow to implement technological upgrades and had difficulty coping with complex market changes, Cheng wrote. Even less were they able to meet the huge demand of the civilian market. In short, the militarized R&D system was seriously lacking in industrial ethic and the capacity for upgrade and innovation. In the civilian sector, high-cost technology developed through domestic researches is not as cost-effective or reliable compared with purchasing foreign technology, he wrote. At present, Chinas commercial chips still rely on copious imports, and the high patent royalties associated with foreign supply is a big pain for the Chinese government and its enterprises. Buying and stealing Cheng said that in 2017, China imported US$88.9 billion worth of memory chips. And instead of trying to do the research independently, the Chinese turned to acquiring foreign technology by all means available. This meant acquiring foreign high-tech companies and with them their patents, technology, and production lines; or poaching technical personnel from foreign companies. Additionally, Chinese spies, or simply those working in abroad for foreign companies, stole technical data and other classified information and brought it back to China. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review published a report on Aug. 1, saying that Chinas engaged in a buying spree of international semiconductor firmsWhat they cant develop on their own, they intend to buy, if they can, or steal, if they must. In November, the U.S. Department of Justice brought lawsuits against a major Chinese microchip company called Fujian Jinhua and an affiliated Taiwanese company on charges that they had stolen US$8.75 billion in intellectual property from Micron, an American tech company. Jinhua was banned from doing business with American firms and lost its Taiwanese connections as well. Aside from [Chinese] government investment, Jinhua literally has nothing else, Cheng wrote. He compared Jinhua to the abortive microchip projects of the 1990s: Once its source of upstream technology was interrupted, it became an unfinished project. The recent controversy surrounding Chinas biggest tech company, Huawei, has called attention to the companys reliance on U.S. suppliers for critical hardware. And at the beginning of the year, Huaweis domestic competitor, ZTE, was nearly crippled by a U.S. government business ban that was later downgraded to a large fine. Both Chinese flagship companies were charged with violating U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, and both companies are widely suspected of being complicit in technological theft from the United States. The dead end of domestic development In his article, Cheng Xiaonong said that the failure of Chinese research and development in the field of information technology ultimately point to the failings of the communist economic model, which retards creativity and independence in order to minimize risk. Competition in the information economy requires huge amount of venture capital. The returns from intellectual property not only cover the benefits of successful R&D investment, but also the costs associated with failed investments, Cheng said. Because technological development entails high-risk ventures, the costs associated with successful development have to be high: Chinese government and companies often complain that charges for the use of Western intellectual property charges exceed the direct R&D costs that went into the technology. This perception stems from limitations in the Chinese vision. In the Chinese system, money is simply handed out by the government to state-run projects, where researchers and administrators dont have much incentive to gamble with their own professional future, as Cheng puts it. Moreover, bureaucrats in decision-making roles do not have the vision that front-line R&D personnel possess, so they fail to follow and take advantage of the trends in tech development. The U.S. government knows very well that China is not only after the gains to be made by emulating the intellectual property American companies, but also hopes to spend minimal sums in taking away technology and using it to crush U.S. companies and damage the foundations of the American information economy, Cheng Xiaonong explained. Cheng noted that Chinas communist authorities have generally tried to avoid detailed negotiations, offering only vague responses to American demands. Meeting with President Donald Trump in Argentina on Dec. 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated a willingness to discuss specific points in the U.S.-China relationship in exchange for a 90-day truce in a trade war that has squeezed the struggling Chinese economy. But without making fundamental reforms, Xi faces an insurmountable deadlock in the Communist Partys economic and political system. Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our weekly email If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Benton police identify vehicle owner after seeking the public's help 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. 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 Coleg Cambria leads the way to Shanghai skills final with UKs biggest squad This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Dec 26th, 2018 Coleg Cambria is set to take more representatives to the prestigious Worldskills competition in China than any other organisation in the UK. Wales has the most learners and apprentices on the international shortlist for the event, an impressive 10 out of the 47 set to travel to Shanghai in 2021. And five of that cohort are from Coleg Cambrias sites in Deeside and Bersham Road, Wrexham. The news comes after the college won nine medals, was highly commended in two categories and achieved 25 points at the Worldskills UK LIVE contest in Birmingham last month, finishing fourth in the overall league table. Worldskills UK LIVE is the biggest skills, apprenticeships and careers event in the country, and Cambria Chief Executive David Jones is confident their representatives will do the organisation proud on the biggest stage of all in front of a global audience. As we grow as a college our stature in this competition rise and rises, which is just incredible, said Mr Jones. For half of the Welsh team to be students and apprentices of Coleg Cambria is a phenomenal achievement and testament to the work thats been put in to developing our partnerships with industry and skills over the last five years. He added: I wish all of our representatives the best of luck and hope to see them go to Shanghai and bring back even more medals. Whatever the result, theyve done brilliantly to get to this stage, but we know they will push hard for even more success. Coleg Cambria will be represented by the following learners: Thomas Williamson Electrical Installation Tomas Davies, Cameron Pemberton and Alfie Beeson for JCB Transmissions Manufacturing Team Challenge David Davies Aeronautical Engineering: Mechanical The college will have the same number of competitors as Yorkshire and Humberside and more than Northern Ireland (4), the East Midlands (4) and the South West (4). They had previously wowed the judges at Worldskills UK LIVE, having demonstrated the ability and experience theyve gained at the college and with leading partners in a variety of sectors, including Airbus, JCB Transmissions, Thomas Cook Airlines, Magellan Aerospace and Raytheon Systems. Rona Griffiths, Deputy Director for Learner Experience and Enterprise at Coleg Cambria, was herself named Worldskills UK Local Heroes Winner in 2017 for her tireless efforts in helping to establish the college as force to be reckoned with in the contest. She said: Our learners and apprentices are among the elite and deserve to showcase their talents on the biggest stage of all. For Cambria to have so many representatives on this international shortlist is a huge success story and one we are very proud of. For more on WorldSkillsUK, visit www.worldskillsuk.org Visit www.cambria.ac.uk/worldskills for information on the colleges participation in the competition. . 2:3 . , " " , . " , . , " ", ... Midwives promote the benefits of bilingualism with expectant parents across north Wales This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Dec 26th, 2018 Midwives across Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are promoting the benefits of bilingualism to prospective parents as part of a unique project. The maternity service is working with Cymraeg for Kids, an initiative set up by the Welsh Government in partnership with Mudiad Meithrin, to support and encourage parents and prospective parents who wish to raise their children bilingually. Established in April 2016, the project works alongside NHS Wales and other partners to provide advice and support on the benefits of raising a child bilingually. Earlier this year representatives from Cymraeg for Kids attended the Health Boards Midwives Conference in Wrexham where they had the opportunity to discuss with maternity services staff, and especially midwives, in order to emphasis the value of transferring and introducing the Welsh language from the very start. More recently the Health Boards Welsh language Team, along with Cymraeg for Kids, held a stall at Ysbyty Gwynedd to allow them to meet with pregnant women and discuss the advantages of the Welsh language and introducing the language at the start of the childs journey. Sioned Roberts, translator for BCUHB Welsh language team, said: Language transmission within the family is an integral part to the success of Welsh Governments Cymraeg 2050: Welsh language Strategy, and the Health Board has taken the opportunity to develop this collaborative work with Cymraeg for Kids. We are able to support Cymraeg for Kids and expectant parents by increasing the support for families in our hospitals who wish to raise their children bilingually. Fiona Giroud, director of midwifery & womens services for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, added: As a service we are absolutely supportive of this initiative and proud to be working in partnership with the project leads across our community services and three maternity units in North Wales. Plans for more than 130 new homes in Rossett backed for approval This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Dec 26th, 2018 Plans to build more than 130 homes on green barrier land have been backed for approval despite concerns it will place a strain on health services. A total of 74 objections have been raised against proposals to develop two areas of land near Lane Farm in Rossett, Wrexham. Bellis Brothers Limited is behind the application for up to 132 houses, which it claims will play a key part in the villages growth. However, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has warned it will add to existing pressure on Alyn Family Doctors. In their response, health board officials said: The practice, like many other practices in the UK, has been experiencing difficulties in ensuring the stability of their service, largely due to staffing shortages and difficulties in recruitment. Branch surgeries at Rossett and Llay could potentially be affected by these difficulties. Additional pressure on the Rossett branch will be further compounded by a larger population attributable to the proposed housing growth in this area. The practice list size is increasing and the current accommodation is inadequate for the needs of a modern general practice of 13,000 patients. The partnership has initiated and supported redevelopments at all three surgeries during the past 20 years and there is no further capacity to expand. Under the proposals, a plot of land earmarked to the north of the farm would have 61 homes built on it, while a site to the south would have 71. Planning officers at Wrexham Council have recommended the scheme should be approved in the face of a large number of concerns. It includes fears that it would pose a serious flood risk and result in the loss of green land. In a report, the authoritys head of environment and planning said there were very exceptional circumstances which outweighed the objections. Lawrence Isted said: The health board have acknowledged that Alyn Family Doctors are under pressure due to issues with the existing physical infrastructure (i.e. premises) and staffing shortages. Despite seeking further clarification from the health board, I have not been provided with evidence to demonstrate specific additional local healthcare infrastructure would be necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms. As such concerns regarding local healthcare infrastructure would not be a valid reason to refuse planning permission. It is clear that there is a considerable need to bring forward additional land for housing in order to deliver the requirements identified in the deposit Local Development Plan. Taking all of the above into account, it is my opinion there is clearly an overriding need for the development in order to contribute towards meeting the county boroughs future housing requirements. The proposals will go before Wrexham Councils planning committee on Monday 7 January. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme). TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Adopting a child is a special moment for any family. As WTXL ABC 27's Blake Levine shows us, adopting a child on Christmas Day is the ultimate gift. Three local families adopted a child, receiving what they described as the greatest gift parents could ever get, a new member of their families. This is the second year Big Bend Community Based Care has hosted a Christmas day Adoption Ceremony. A permanency specialist with the care center, Kathy Donofro, says this is the only official adoption ceremony with a judge on Christmas in Florida. "This is a miracle for them and to have it on a day that is being celebrated by the whole country and have that child and have that child be yours," Donofro said. The new families' plans after the adoption include finishing cooking holiday meals, visiting family and gathering gifts. Initial reports indicated that two men were shot, and one was treated and later released from the hospital, the other was taken to an out of town hospital for treatment. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-25 20:47:07|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Security force members inspect the site of an attack in Aino Mina township of Kandahar, capital of south Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, Dec. 25, 2018. At least three people were killed and two others injured in the suicide attack that rocked Aino Mina township on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Arghand) KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were confirmed dead and two others injured in a suicide attack that rocked Aino Mina township in Kandahar city, capital of southern Kandahar province, on Tuesday, an official said on condition of anonymity. The casualties, the official said, could rise as the blast happened in a residential area. Provincial government spokesman Aziz Ahmad Azizi confirmed the attack but failed to provide more details, saying investigation is underway. The attack, according to officials, was targetting a tribal elder and all victims are civilians. No group or individual has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. This is the second suicide attack in the insurgency-battered country over the past two days. A deadly suicide bombing and gun battle in Kabul on Monday claimed 44 lives and injured 27 others, almost all of whom were civilians. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 01:48:16|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Tsunami survivors rest at a temporary shelter in Labuan of Pandeglang in Banten Province, Indonesia, Dec. 25, 2018. Casualty from the tsunami triggered by a volcanic eruption in Sunda Strait in Indonesia climbed to 429 people, and 16,802 others were displaced. (Xinhua/Du Yu) by Abu Hanifah SERANG, Indonesia, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Residents in Indonesia's tsunami-affected areas have refused to go back to their houses and crowded the sheltered camps amid the fear that another tsunami could occur in the following days. The death toll from the tsunami triggered by a volcanic eruption in Sunda Strait of western Indonesia has climbed to 429 so far, with a total of 1,459 others injured. The tsunami, triggered by an underwater landslide after the eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano Saturday night, also destroyed 882 houses, 73 hotels and villas and scores of buildings along the coastlines, and displaced a total of 16,082 people. The tsunami that swept through Banten province's popular coastline of Anyer has deeply traumatized the residents there who recalled that they did not have any idea about a coming tsunami until the ferocious sea wave hit and submerged their houses on Saturday night. The rising number of the death toll from the tsunami has also amplified their fear for more possible tsunami strikes in the near future. The panic and fear from the tsunami still haunts old man Atok Sukani who now takes shelter in a big refugee camp in Banten's Pandeglang regency. He brought his 12 family members to the shelter camp for the fear that another tsunami may strike at any anytime. his house locates at Caringin village in the district of Labuan in Pandeglang's regency. "I will not let my wife and grand children stay in our house again until there is a further notice from the authorities that confirms the danger from tsunami is all over." "One of my sons was killed by the tsunami," the 80-year-old man old Xinhua on Tuesday in Rancateureup shelter camp in Labuan. He said that he could not attend his eldest son's burial due to his poor condition of health caused by the sadness of losing the son. "My son refused to come out of his house as he tried to prevent his belongings from washing away from the house by the tsunami. He told his wife and children to run out of the house for safety and not to worry about him." His body was found floating inside the house the next morning, Atok recalled with tears. Atok also went through hard moments while he was evacuated from his house. The weak old man had to sit in the back of a motorbike driven by his son to a higher ground a little bit far from his house. To seek a safer ground to stay, Atok has moved from one place to another and finally settled in Rancateureup shelter camp on Sunday morning. "I had been in this camp before it was officially used as a shelter camp." Although more families are coming to the camp and the camp will become overcrowed, Atok said that it is much better than going back to his house to live in fear. "The government provides enough food for us. That is quite fine as long as I feel safer here. But I have to get used to the cold breeze at night." The camp Atok is staying at has no walls. Concerned over possible slow reconstruction after the tsunami in Banten's coastline, the disaster-affected residents prefer to stay at the camp. "I have a baby and I have to pay more attention to his health and safety. Water caused by the tsunami has not receded from my house," Arawanah, a 26 year-old mother told Xinhua in the camp. Securing a mat in the corner of the camp, Arawanah stayed at the camp with her husband and two children. Even though they are well-fed in the camp, Arwanah hopes the government would speed up the delivery of formulated milk powder, diapers and other necessities for those infants in the camp. "I cannot find these necessities for my baby around here for the time being. My baby really needs the formulated milk powder which I haven't get since the tsunami," she said, adding she has already asked the regency officials supervising the camp to get milk for the babies. "That is all I need. I don't ask for more." Police officers have frequently came to the camp to inform the residents of the latest developments of the situation related to the volcano activities but there is no improvement. The Indonesian authorities have announced a 14-day period of emergency response in Banten's most affected regency of Pandeglang and a 7-day period in southern Lampung province. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 07:44:13|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean train carrying about 100 people left from Dorasan Station, just south of the inter-Korean border, for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday morning for the ceremony to modernize and connect railways and roads across the border, local TV footage showed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 08:34:18|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean train carrying about 100 people left from Dorasan Station, just south of the inter-Korean border, for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday morning for the ceremony to modernize and connect railways and roads across the border. The nine-car train, which departed from Seoul Station in South Korea's capital Seoul earlier in the day, left from the Dorasan Station at about 8:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT Tuesday), local broadcaster YTN footage showed. It transports the South Korean participants to Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, where the groundbreaking ceremony is slated to start at 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT). The South Korean participants included Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mee, and Lee Hae-chan, chief of the ruling Democratic Party. From the DPRK side, Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland and Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun Hyok would attend the ceremony. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed during their first summit in April to modernize and eventually connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. They agreed in their Pyongyang summit in September to hold the groundbreaking ceremony before the end of this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 10:09:32|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close by Xie Meihua HONG KONG, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The year 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) featured with political trust, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The two sides have pledged to further develop their relations to a new high by adopting the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 last month, which is widely seen as a role model for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. CHINA-ASEAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP A BOON TO ASIA-PACIFIC In 2003, China and ASEAN decided to establish their strategic partnership, ringing in a new chapter in their relations. Over the past 15 years, the partnership has endured a changing international landscape and their cooperation has continued to deliver real benefits to the countries and the peoples of the region. China and ASEAN are firmly committed to good-neighborliness and friendship while enhancing political and security ties to create stability across the Asia-Pacific. Under this partnership, the two sides have properly managed sensitive issues and disputes through dialogue and negotiation in order to keep their relationship on track. After earnestly implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), China and ASEAN arrived at a single draft negotiating text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea in August this year. Tensions in the South China Sea have significantly cooled down, generating positive regional momentum. Breakthroughs have also been made in maritime cooperation. The two sides held their first ever large-scale joint exercises on maritime search and rescue in October 2017 and first-ever maritime drills in October this year. China and ASEAN have promoted trade and investment liberalization, an approach that has provided the backbone and engine for development and prosperity in the region. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), the largest regional FTA in the world in terms of population, went into effect in 2010, removing tariffs on more than 90 percent of goods traded between China and 10 ASEAN members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Moreover, an updated FTA was hammered out late in 2015, further facilitating trade, scaling up bilateral investment and encouraging technological cooperation. China and ASEAN are now working together to speed up negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed free trade area made up of the 10 ASEAN member states and its six FTA partners -- China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, in order to further facilitate trade and investment in the region. Based on the principle of collaboration, China and ASEAN have worked to align the former's Belt and Road Initiative with the latter's development plans. Connectivity projects include the China-Laos Railway, the China-Thailand high-speed railway, and Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. China and ASEAN have also advocated people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among their different and numerous civilizations. Ties have rapidly developed in the areas of culture, education, tourism, media, science and technology, environmental protection, disaster relief, poverty reduction and youth, among others. BLUEPRINT FOR DEEPER STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, WIDER PRAGMATIC COOPERATION China and ASEAN adopted last month a blueprint to further advance their strategic partnership and forge wider mutual beneficial cooperation so as to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. The vision is a new cooperation framework between China and ASEAN, underpinned by the three pillars of political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange, and supported by cooperation in mutually-agreed areas. To enhance political and security ties to further build mutual trust, the two sides emphasized respect for each other's national conditions and development paths, and promised to promote understanding through dialogue, confidence-building measures and cooperation in defence, security, non-traditional security and transnational threats. China and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to maintain and create peace, security, stability and safety in the South China Sea, fully and effectively implement the DOC, and working towards the early conclusion and adoption of the COC in the South China Sea based on consensus. As the backbone and engine for promoting development and prosperity in the region, China and ASEAN hailed the continued strong growth in bilateral trade, investment and tourism flows. The two sides have pledged to intensify efforts to meet the joint target of 1 trillion U.S. dollars in trade volume and 150 billion dollars in investment by 2020 through deepening economic linkages and improving connectivity with an eye on more fruitful results in trade and investment by 2030. They also remained committed to intensifying efforts to finalize negotiations for a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually-beneficial RCEP agreement, boosting physical and institutional connectivity to bring markets closer together, deepening financial cooperation, enhancing dialogue and exchanges in maritime economic cooperation, engaging in the process of economic globalization and facilitating further economic integration, among others. While encouraging people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between them for a better future, the two sides said they would promote youth exchanges in the fields of language learning, culture, art and heritage. They would also strengthen cooperation in environmental protection, water resources management, sustainable development and climate change, and promote policy communication among governments. PLEDGES TO BOOST COOPERATION UNDER SUB-REGIONAL FRAMEWORK Proposed by China in 2014 among six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River - Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) has become one of the most prominent sub-regional frameworks. At "the fourth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting" held in Laos in mid December this year, the six LMC countries pledged to further deepen their cooperation within the framework of the mechanism to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the sub-region by identifying development directions for future cooperation. Addressing a press conference following the meeting, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the six development directions include jointly building LMC Economic Development Belt, carrying out cooperation on production capacity, enhancing innovation cooperation, giving priority to improvement of people's livelihood, deepening environmental protection, and upholding openness and inclusiveness. In a joint press communique released after the meeting, the six riparian countries, while underlining the vital need of upholding an open world economy and the rules-based multilateral trading system, reaffirmed that the LMC would be based on the principles of consensus, equality, mutual consultation and cooperation, voluntarism, common contribution and share benefits. They also agreed to promote the synergy of national development strategies, bring into full play resource endowment and competitive advantage, promote rational flow and optimal allocation of production factors, and start discussion on concretization of jointly building a LMC Economic Development Belt for mutual benefit and shared prosperity. Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2018 shows Afghan security force members stand at the site of an attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Rahmine) KABUL, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 44 people, including four assailants, have been killed in a terrorist attack against two government offices in Kabul, an Afghan Public Health Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "The latest data showed 40 people, including 11 women and 29 men, were martyred and 27 others wounded in Monday's terrorist attack in Kabul," Waheed Majroh told reporters. The attack occurred on Monday afternoon when the assailants stormed buildings of Afghan Ministry of Public Works and nearby newly-formed National Authority for People with Disability and Martyrs' Families. The counter-attack ended at early hours of Tuesday. Among those lost their lives in the deadly incident were government employees, visitors and a police officer. About 357 people were rescued by the Afghan Special Operations Forces from the targeted buildings. The attack occurred in Makruyan-e-Awal locality near Shashdarak, where several foreign embassies are located. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2018 shows Afghan security force members stand at the site of an attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Rahmine) The capital city with a population of nearly 5 million has been hit by series of terror attacks by Taliban militants and Islamic State (IS) outfit over the past couple of years. On Dec. 11, a Taliban suicide car bombing targeted a security forces' convoy in western Kabul, killing eight civilians and four Afghan intelligence agency personnel. More than 2,790 civilians were killed and over 5,250 others injured in conflict-related incidents in the first nine months of year in the war-torn country, according to figures released by the United Nations mission in the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 10:34:40|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday said he wants an agreement with Israel to build desalination plants in the parched north where droughts are frequent. In a message on Twitter, Bolsonaro, who is to take office on Jan. 1, said his appointed Science and Technology Minister Marcos Pontes will travel to Tel Aviv in January to meet with his Israeli counterpart over the matter. The president-elect said the idea is to begin building as soon as January "a pilot facility to draw brackish well water, desalinate it, store it and distribute it to family farms, expanding the project to more localities after trials and adjustments." Bolsonaro said the two sides will also announce cooperation in a trial of Israeli technology to produce water from humidity in the air. Brazil's northeast has been going through a prolonged severe drought. Brazil's poorer north has traditionally been a stronghold of the Workers' Party (PT), which governed from 2003 to 2016. The northeast is also the only region where Bolsonaro lost in the presidential runoff in October. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 10:59:43|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close ZHENGZHOU, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- For Kawasaki Hiroto, a 72-year-old Japanese agricultural expert, promoting organic farming in China has become a lifelong pursuit. "Prepare a grave for me here in China, this is where I'll work till my last breath," said Kawasaki to his Chinese partner after one of his trips back to China. Kawasaki has been in China for nearly a decade, and his calling is to promote manure composting and recycled farming, both greener farming methods, in the country. So far, the Japanese green farming enthusiast's mission has won him more than 270,000 followers on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo. Four years ago, the number was less than 300. Kawasaki teamed up with Xiaoliugu Farm in the city of Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, to apply green farming methods and train young farmers across the country in the skills needed to popularize the green techniques. "The task for the rest of my life is to cultivate talent and hope that recycled agriculture can be widely applied in the future," Kawasaki wrote in 2017. Back in 2009, Kawasaki worked at a Chinese university and was appalled to find that many Chinese villagers threw livestock manure into the field or rivers without any disposal methods, and the abusive use of fertilizers was causing the soil to harden, affecting product yield and quality. Later, the retiree from a Japanese agricultural cooperative decided to alter the situation by promoting manure composting and recycled farming. "When I told my wife that I was going to work in China, she thought I no longer loved her," Kawasaki said with a laugh. Under his insistence, his wife finally understood and agreed. In 2013, Kawasaki traveled to farms across China looking for partners to achieve his vision but was turned down many times because of the high cost of implementing the methods. Kawasaki began learning Chinese in 2009 and did not have a good grasp on the language at that time. In addition, he had a hard time getting used to pit toilets, which are common in Chinese countrysides. Then, through a friend's introduction, he met Li Wei, a former journalist who inherited a hog farm from her father. She wanted to transform the hog farm into an organic farm but found it difficult without proper techniques. "We both wanted to use recycled farming back then," said Li. "Kawasaki also broadened my mind by introducing deep processing in our wheat production." Kawasaki's methods helped boost wheat yield and sales for the farm, and Li invited him to stay. In the winter of 2015, a snowstorm destroyed 35 greenhouses on the farm and Kawasaki's posts on Weibo helped them sell nearly 70,000 yuan (about 10,179 U.S. dollars) of products in just a few days. Kawasaki's publicity has also brought in online sales for Li's farm. In 2017, he launched training classes to promote the green techniques. "Next year, I plan to go to study at a Japanese agricultural company," said Liu Yan, a fresh graduate from a local university participating in the training sessions. More than 100 people have participated in the program and some have even come from other parts of China thousands of miles away. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 11:54:52|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close YANGON, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar military has refuted a statement made by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of the Northern Alliance ethnic armed group, which accused the government forces of launching an offensive against TNLA on Monday. Zaw Min Tun, deputy director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), said that the TNLA statement and the coverage by the Radio Free Asia and The Irrawaddy were both false, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday. The deputy director cited a military announcement issued on Dec. 21 as saying that the armed forces will unilaterally suspend all its military action against armed groups in operation areas in five regional commands for over four months starting from Dec. 21 until April 30, 2019. The military command areas include northern, northeastern, eastern, central-eastern and triangle's. The announcement of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief called on all those remaining non-ceasefire signatory armed groups in respective operation areas to negotiate for ceasefire and peace with the National Reconciliation and Peace Center during the military's non-operation period to sign the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA). The deputy director said the all five regional commands were given specific directions to observe ceasefire immediately after the military's Dec. 21 announcement, confirming that there has been no fighting since then. However, he added that the military has not directed the Western Command in Rakhine state to cease its operation as there found terrorist groups active in the area which is not classified as peaceful or stable region. The military's announcement came after Dec. 12 joint statement of three non-ceasefire signatory Northern Alliance Ethnic Forces, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), in which they voiced support for the government's efforts for national reconciliation and nationwide peace. The three forces expressed their desire to join hands with government to settle military dispute and political matters through dialogue, while hoping for suspension of military action to pave way for the political engagement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 12:24:58|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Guests take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for rail and road connection across border between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong on Dec. 26, 2018. South Korea and DPRK on Wednesday held a groundbreaking ceremony to modernize and eventually connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. (Xinhua) SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday to modernize and connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. The ceremony was held at Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, attended by some 100 participants from each of the two sides, according to South Korea's unification ministry. It started at around 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) as scheduled to celebrate the groundbreaking, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed during their Pyongyang summit in September to hold before the end of this year. Moon and Kim agreed at their first summit in April to modernize and eventually connect railways and roads along the eastern and western Korean Peninsula. South Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mee and Kim Yun Hyok, the vice DPRK railway minister, delivered celebratory speeches as representatives of each side. From the DPRK side, Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and four other high-level officials participated in the event. Attendees from the South Korean side included Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Lee Hae-chan, chief of the ruling Democratic Party, and other parliamentary leaders. Among other South Korean invitees were five civilians, who have families in the DPRK separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, and the last locomotive engineer, who drove the train between Kaesong and Munsan, a South Korean city just south of the border with the DPRK, for about one year until December 2008. South Korea operated cargo trains five times a week for about one year through the section of the Gyeongui Line from Kaesong to Munsan, but the operation stopped since December 2008 as inter-Korean relations began to sour. All railways and roads between the two Koreas have been severed since the Korean War ended with an armistice. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war with the armistice. Foreign dignitaries also joined the ceremony, including Armida Alisjahbana, executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and senior railway and road officials from neighboring countries. Kim Kum-ok, a South Korean separated family member whose birthplace is Kaesong, said in the train for the Panmun Station that she rejoiced and was glad at her trip to Kaesong where the 86-year-old spent her early years, according to a pool report from South Korean journalists provided by the unification ministry. Describing the trip as a dream, Kim said the north-bound train to her hometown had been a big hope to her. The nine-car train, carrying about 100 South Korean participants, departed from Seoul Station in capital Seoul early Wednesday, and stopped at Dorasan Station, just south of the inter-Korean border, for immigration inspection. The train crossed the military demarcation line (MDL), which divides the two Koreas, into the DPRK territory at 8:34 a.m. local time (23:34 GMT Tuesday). After the ceremony, the South Korean participants were scheduled to have lunch in Kaesong and returned by train to the Seoul Station at about 3 p.m. local time (0600 GMT). The hour-long ceremony was comprised of celebratory speeches from representatives of the two Koreas, the signing on the wooden sleeper, the linking of a track, and the unveiling of a signpost at the station. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 13:05:03|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close KUNMING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province apprehended three suspected drug traffickers and seized 52.34kg of opium, said local police Wednesday. Early in December, police in Tengchong city received a tip-off on a planned cross-border drug deal from Myanmar. The police then launched a raid near the border Dehong Autonomous Prefecture on December 21, resulting in the arrest of three suspects and the confiscation of 52.34kg of opium. Further investigation is underway. Yunnan is a major front in China's battle against drug crimes, as it borders the Golden Triangle, notorious for drug trafficking in southeast Asia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 13:15:04|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed into a neighborhood of Sioux Falls, U.S. state of South Dakota, on Tuesday, killing at least one person and affecting several homes, authorities said. The crash took place around 5 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) and the person on the plane was dead, Sioux Falls Emergency Manager Regan Smith told a press conference. Smith said four homes were affected by the crash, two of which sustained heavy damage. Local police were continuing to search the scene as "there may be more fatalities to come," Smith added. A team from the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 13:40:08|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close KABUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Five armed militants were killed after Afghan Special Operations Forces launched airstrikes in two eastern Afghan provinces, the command of special forces said Wednesday. In one strike, three prominent Islamic State (IS) militants were killed Tuesday following an airstrike in Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps (ANASOC) said in a statement. Two important members of Taliban militant group were killed in Mohammad Agha district of neighboring Logar province, according to the statement. The sorties were conducted based on accurate tip-offs and no civilian was hurt during the raids, the statement added. Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants within the past few months as the Taliban militant group has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its positions ahead of winter in the Central Asian country. The militant groups have not made a comment so far on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 14:37:16|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Photo taken on July 11, 2017 shows tourists visiting the Qixing Lake Scenic Area of the Saihanba State Forest Park in Chengde City, north China's Hebei Province. Saihanba is a vast forest covering nearly 75,000 hectares. It was a piece of barren land 55 years ago, but decades of hard afforestation efforts turned it into an important ecological shield for Beijing and Tianjin. China has seen reduced desertification and increased forest coverage since 1978, thanks to the Three-North Afforestation Program (TNAP), said a report released on Dec. 24, 2018. Constructed in the northeast, north and northwest China, TNAP is a national program fighting against soil erosion and wind-sand damage by planting sand-fixing forests. The area of sand-fixing forests has increased by 154 percent in the past 40 years, contributing to the reduction of desertification by around 15 percent, according to a report jointly released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Over the past 40 years, TNAP increased the forest area by 30.14 million hectares and raised the forest coverage rate from 5.05 percent to 13.57 percent in the regions it covers, said Liu Dongsheng, deputy head of the NFGA. (Xinhua/Wang Xiao) Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 16:05:38|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers have called for a hearing procedure to make decisions on public interests-based land expropriation. The suggestion was raised Tuesday at a panel deliberation on a draft revision to the land administration law, which was submitted to the ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Luo Baoming, a member of the committee, said it was crucial for the draft revision to clarify the scope of public interests and there should be a series of procedures to check land expropriations on that cause, including the public interest review and hearings. Such arrangements could guarantee the public's right to know, participate and supervise, according to Luo. Committee member Dong Zhongyuan also stressed the necessity to put in place similar rules to prevent abuse of power in local governments. On the compensation of land expropriation, committee member Gao Youdong said the expropriated should be provided with a reasonable share of the land's added value, in addition to fair and reasonable compensation. He also called for public consultations in formulating the measures for assessing the value of the land. Moreover, local governments were urged to offer vocational training for peasants whose land has been expropriated. China's current land administration law was adopted in 1986 and amended in 1988, 1998 and 2004. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 16:15:40|Editor: zh Video Player Close SHENZHEN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. on Tuesday said the company's operation has remained normal despite a "complicated environment," and it is pushing on with 5G development. Huawei chairman Liang Hua said in a media interview that Huawei will launch its first 5G smartphone model in the first half of 2019, and achieve a commercial scale of the cell phones in the second half of the year. "Huawei has obtained 26 5G commercial contracts and signed cooperation agreements with more than 50 partners globally. The company has delivered more than 10,000 5G-oriented base stations, ranking first globally," said Liang. He said the company is doing well in Germany and has been involved in 5G development and testing with French and Japanese telecom operators. Liang said the company will invest heavily on research and development to seize opportunities in the wave of digital and intelligent development in the telecom sector and consolidate its advantage in the infrastructure building of information and communication technology. Headquartered in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, privately-owned Huawei is a world-leading telecom solution provider and also one of the world's major smartphone brands. Huawei announced on Tuesday that it had shipped more than 200 million smartphones so far this year, a record high for the company. The company overtook Apple in the second and third quarters of 2018 to become the world's second-largest phone vendor. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 16:20:44|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Guests take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for rail and road connection across border between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong on Dec. 26, 2018. South Korea and DPRK on Wednesday held a groundbreaking ceremony to modernize and eventually connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. (Xinhua) SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday held a groundbreaking ceremony to modernize and eventually connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. The ceremony was held at Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, attended by some 100 participants from both sides, according to Seoul's unification ministry. The ceremony started at around 10:00 a.m. local time as scheduled with the music performance by a DPRK brass band. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un agreed at their Pyongyang summit in September to hold the groundbreaking ceremony before the end of this year. Moon and Kim agreed at their first summit in April to modernize and eventually connect railways and roads along the eastern and western Korean Peninsula. Kim Yun Hyok, the DPRK railway minister, said in a congratulatory speech that the ceremony was held at a historical moment when the peninsula was into a historical turning point and the desire for peace and prosperity got stronger than ever. He said the ceremony would become an opportunity to actively push for a balanced development between the two Koreas and a co-prosperity in Northeast Asia and the entire world, according to a pool report from South Korean journalists provided by Seoul's unification ministry. South Korean Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee said the two Koreas took a step forward for peace and prosperity on the peninsula as the railway and road connection across the border would have a meaning of physical connection beyond. She said the connection would facilitate exchanges across the border and widen inter-Korean economic cooperation, benefits from which would be shared by the two Koreas, noting that increased exchanges and cooperation would consolidate peace on the peninsula further. From the DPRK side, Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and four other high-level officials participated in the event. Attendees from the South Korean side included Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Lee Hae-chan, chief of the ruling Democratic Party, and other parliamentary leaders. Following the speeches, the South Korean transport minister and the DPRK railway minister had a signing event on the concrete sleeper that could be used for rails in future construction works. About 10 officials of the two sides linked meters of track as a celebratory function, followed by the disclosure of a signpost that reads Seoul on the left side and Pyongyang on the right. Among other South Korean invitees were five civilians, who have families in the DPRK separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, and the last locomotive engineer who drove the train between Kaesong and Munsan, a South Korean city just south of the border with the DPRK, for about one year until December 2008. South Korea's cargo trains operated five times a week for about one year through the section of the Gyeongui Line from Kaesong to Munsan, but the operation stopped since December 2008 as inter-Korean relations began to sour. Foreign dignitaries also joined the ceremony, including Armida Alisjahbana, executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and senior railway and road officials from neighboring countries. Kim Kum-ok, a South Korean separated family whose birthplace is Kaesong, said in the train for the Panmun Station that she rejoiced and was glad at her trip to Kaesong where the 86-year-old spent her early years, according to the pool report. Describing the trip as a dream, Kim said the train trip to her hometown had been a big hope to her. The groundbreaking ceremony ended with the performance by the DPRK brass band. The South Korean participants had lunch in Kaesong and returned by train to Seoul Station in the capital Seoul Wednesday afternoon. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 16:30:45|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Edgardo Loguercio BRASILIA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- With just a week to go before Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro takes office, one key question hangs in the air: how well will he work with Brazilian lawmakers? It's a relevant question as Latin America's largest economy and one of the world's emerging economies aims to adopt strategic reforms to promote economic recovery following a severe recession. During his election campaign, Bolsonaro promised to shake up the political establishment, which is widely seen as corrupt and self-serving. While Bolsonaro's Social Liberal Party (PSL) got enough votes to become the second-biggest political group in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Congress, with 52 seats, his administration cannot count on the solid backing of parliament. With that in mind, Bolsonaro has already begun to pursue dialogue with the most powerful interest groups represented in the Congress, which are locally known as the "Three Bs" -- Buey (ox), Biblia (Bible) and Bala (Bullets) -- and refer to the farming sector, evangelicals and the arms-security industry. This strategy aims to replace the traditional wheeling and dealing between the executive branch and Brazil's numerous political parties and their members in the Congress. The strategy is also borne out by Bolsonaro's cabinet picks, which include only four of the 30 parties that won deputy seats. Bolsonaro's appointed cabinet chief Onyx Lorenzoni, a member of the Democrats party, will also oversee the ministries of Health and Agriculture. The PSL will be in charge of the ministries of Tourism and Science and Technology. The Brazilian Democratic Movement will head the Ministry of Citizenship, and the New Party will take up the reins at the Environment Ministry. One problem is that the new Congress seems to lack seasoned legislators with the experience to marshal votes when necessary, which could make it tough to pass proposed reforms. David Fleischer, a political analyst at the University of Brasilia, says Bolsonaro's strategy will "probably not be enough" to ensure the legislative support he needs, leading to eventual compromise and a return to traditional negotiating methods. "The people who distribute the benefits are the leaders of each party, who decide which congressional committee each deputy will be on and how to allot party funds," said Fleischer. "So, the party leaders are more powerful than the interest groups," he said. However, Bolsonaro does have a card up his sleeve, and that's his followings on social networks, said the analyst. "I think he will use the same technique he did during his campaign of using social networks to put pressure on the deputies ... It's a possibility and it would mark a new development in relations with the Congress," said Fleischer. Still, Bolsonaro's decades in the Congress as a deputy means he knows how the dynamics of give-and-take work, he noted. "Bolsonaro has 23,000 federal posts to distribute among the deputies, highly coveted posts. That has been the traditional bargaining chip between the president and the Congress, and there are indications that's going to continue," he said. Antonio Augusto de Queiroz, a political observer and director of the Parliamentary Consulting Inter-Union Department, a lobbying group, believed Bolsonaro is in the same boat as other presidents before him who lacked a majority in the Congress. To build consensus, he believed, Bolsonaro must resort to the three tools presidents have always had at their disposal: assigning posts, assigning budget and negotiating the content of public policy. Bolsonaro's particular challenge will be implementing his neoliberal economic agenda, which will meet strong resistance from some sectors, and to bring about change fast enough to please Brazilians eager to see results. "The people are expecting effective measures to combat violence and crime, but also to improve employment and income, expand and improve the quality of public services, and fight corruption," said de Queiroz. All of that requires ambitious reforms as well as fiscal austerity. "When the incoming president takes office, he will perceive the complexity of the decision-making process, and he could become frustrated with the lack of impact his actions have, especially if he neglects the relationship with the parties in the Congress," warned de Queiroz. "The future of democracy in Brazil will depend on how he reacts," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 17:00:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SUVA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Health has been taking pro-active steps to nip the problem of typhoid in the bud after rising statistics were recorded recently. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) reported on Wednesday that the ministry is working closely with the Rural and Maritime Development Ministry and the divisional commissioner's office to identify new water sources and construct proper toilet facilities for the villagers in these two provinces. Fijian Minister for Health Ifereimi Waqainabete said so far the authorities have recorded a total of 48 cases in Naitasiri, 34 confirmed and 14 suspected. In Namosi, 11 cases were reported of which six were confirmed and five were suspected cases. Waqainabete said one of the main causes of the increase in cases that they've identified is improper toilet facilities and water sources for these villagers. Some of the villagers are relying on river water for cooking, drinking and other daily chores. The ministry has successfully been able to consult and negotiate with the landowners to secure a clean water source for the villages. The ministry has also so far constructed water seal toilet facilities in these villages. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 17:35:57|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Afghan army soldiers and 12 Taliban militants have been killed in clashes in northern province of Faryab overnight, authorities said Wednesday. In one incident, eight militants and two Afghan National Army troops lost their lives after soldiers fought back on attackers on security checkpoints in Almar district in provincial capital Maimana, Abdul Hadi Jamal, a press officer of the army's Division 20 Pamir based in the region, told Xinhua. Two soldiers and five militants were wounded and two shops caught fire in the district bazaar in the exchange of fire, he said. In Gurziwan district, west of Maimana, four Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in another clash Tuesday night, according to Jamal. A local Taliban leader named Hamidullah who served as shadow district governor for Gurziwan were among the injured. Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to once peaceful regions in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from the youth. The militant group has not made a comment on the report so far. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 18:01:01|Editor: zh Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed disappointment on Wednesday about Japan's leaving the International Whaling Commission in order to resume commercial whaling. "While we seriously welcome the announcement that Japan will cease whaling in the Southern Ocean, we are disappointed it is leaving the commission with an intention to resume commercial whaling within Japan's own exclusive economic zone," Peters said. Peters made the statement after he discussed with his Japanese counterpart about Japan's position in the International Whaling Commission. "Japan is a valued supporter of the international rules-based system and we had hoped Japan would choose to stay in the commission," Peters said. "Whaling is an outdated and unnecessary practice. We continue to hope Japan eventually reconsiders its position and will cease all whaling in order to advance the protection of the ocean's ecosystems," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 18:26:05|Editor: zh Video Player Close WARSAW, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed in a fire in Warsaw, said a spokesman of Poland's State Fire Service (PSP) on Wednesday. A small wooden building caught fire on Tuesday night in Warsaw's Zeran district, with the whole building was covered by fire when the first units of the fire department arrived, PSP spokesman Pawel Fratczak told local media. The cause of the fire, which was put off early in the morning, as well as the identities of the six victims were still unclear, as the police had launched investigation into this tragedy, said Fratczak. He also said that the fire department since Saturday carried out 3,860 interventions, and a total of 18 people were killed and 54 others were injured. The most tragic day was Tuesday, when eight people died, including six in the fire of Zeran. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 18:36:12|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close HEFEI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Police in central China's Anhui Province said Wednesday they had arrested 19 people suspected of raiding a high-profile millennia-old tomb. Procuratorate in the city of Huainan said the gang used explosives to raid the Wuwangdun tomb, which dates back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), for over a month in 2015. They later raided the tomb another two times and stole artifacts including bronze tigers and bronze chimes. The gang was said to be well-organized, complete with a technical advisor and an on-site commander. They were targetting two other nobleman tombs before being arrested in November. They have been charged with raiding ancient tombs and selling cultural relics, procurators said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 18:46:14|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Israeli soldiers stand near a military base where a Palestinian man was shot and injured by Israeli troops in the West Bank, on Dec. 26, 2018. Israeli troops shot and injured a Palestinian man from Nablus on Wednesday after he attempted to carry out a car-ramming attack in the West Bank, the army said. (Xinhua/Ayman Nobani) JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli troops shot and injured a Palestinian man on Wednesday after he attempted to carry out a car-ramming attack in the West Bank, the army said. A military statement said the man from Nablus attempted to run over civilians and soldiers near an Israeli military base in the central West Bank. No Israelis were injured in the incident. It was the latest violence in a resurging wave of knife, car-ramming and shooting attacks carried out by Palestinian individuals against Israeli soilders or settlers. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 18:51:16|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland has always held an active and open-minded approach to city-to-city exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu's comments about establishing a new type of city-to-city forum. "[We] welcome more counties and cities from Taiwan to participate in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation and jointly strive for the wellbeing of people on both sides of the Strait, based on correct recognition of the nature of cross-Strait relations and city-to-city exchanges," Ma said. Speaking of the annual forum between Shanghai and Taipei in 2018, Ma said the forum had accomplished series of positive results. "Three memoranda strengthening exchange and cooperation were signed, further expanding benefits and enhancing Taiwanese compatriots' sense of fulfillment," Ma. "Facing strong desires of Taiwanese compatriots to improve the economy and their wellbeing as well as to develop cross-Strait relations, the Democratic Progressive Party administration should no longer risk hurting the interests and wellbeing of Taiwanese compatriots and continually obstruct or restrict exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait." The Shanghai-Taipei forum has been held by Shanghai and Taipei in rotation since 2010. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 18:51:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Nguon Sovan, Mao Pengfei PHNOM PENH, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has maintained political stability and strong economic growth after a July general election that handed a landslide victory to Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's ruling party. The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won all 125 parliamentary seats in the election after the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November 2017 and 118 party senior members were barred from joining politics for five years. The dissolution of CNRP was made after party leader Kem Sokha, 65, was arrested and charged with treason for allegedly conspiring with a foreign power in an attempt to overthrow the government. Speaking in a speech during a get-together with thousands of garment factory workers in southern Kandal province on Wednesday, Hun Sen said political situation and macro-economy are very stable after the election. "By voting for the Cambodian People's Party, the people have chosen the permanent presence of peace and development," he said. Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the political situation is good, as life and business activities are normal after the election. He said the economic growth is projected at 7.3 percent in 2018. "Since the July election until now, the political situation is very stable and all businesses function as usual," he told Xinhua. "In coming years, I believe that the political stability remains firm under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen." Chheang Vannarith, vice chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, said the post-election political and business environment have been relatively stable compared with the post-election period in 2013. IMPROVING POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE The National Assembly on Dec. 12 amended the Law on Political Parties to allow banned opposition politicians to re-enter politics. Under the changed law, the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni can pardon banned politicians at the request of the prime minister. "The move aimed at improving democracy and the rule of law," Phay Siphan said. "It's also to strengthen peace and stability, as well as to uphold national reconciliation." CPP's senior lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the legal change was to revive the political careers of individuals from any political party who were banned from joining politics. Chheang Vannarith said the legal change is a "positive move towards national reconciliation and unity, which are crucial for peace and development." Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the Beltei International University in Phnom Penh, said the move will bring reconciliation and unity in the nation, and thus further strengthening the political stability and economic environment in the kingdom. "For economic growth and social order, political stability in the country is indispensable, without it, there will be no investment and business activities," he said. POLITICAL, ECONOMIC STABILITIES EXPECTED IN NEXT 5 YEARS Phay Siphan said Cambodia is expected to maintain the robust growth of around 7 percent per annum in the short-to-medium term. He said the government forecast that the economy will grow by 7.1 percent in 2019, mainly driven by garment industry, construction and real estate, tourism and agriculture. "With ensured political stability, I believe that more foreign investors and tourists will continue to come to Cambodia in coming years," he said. The European Union (EU) announced in October that Cambodia could lose its special trade access to European markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade scheme after it conduct a six-month review of Cambodia's duty-free status. "The government has no concern over this issue because in political life, the government always faces obstacles, and we're confident in our capacity to negotiate and solve it for the sake of our economic growth," he said. Joseph Matthews envisaged that Cambodia would continue to enjoy peace, stability and development in coming years thanks to the CPP's leadership. "I believe that until 2023 when the next election will be held, political stability and business environment will remain positive as there will be more inflows of foreign direct investment and tourists," he said. Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, which represents about 250 tour and travel companies, said tourism has grown well this year and there is not any sign of decline in coming years. "I think that both tourists and investors from China and other countries will continue to come to Cambodia in coming years thanks to the country's peace and political stability," she told Xinhua. Cambodia attracted 4.82 million international tourists during the first 10 months of 2018, up 11.5 percent over the same period last year, data showed. Of the figure, 1.62 million are Chinese tourists, up 71.5 percent, accounting for 33.7 percent of the total foreign tourists to the kingdom. , , Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 19:26:22|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close MANILA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has announced a series of measures on advancing reform and opening up, which will not only help the Chinese economy but also create opportunities for the global economy, said a Philippine expert. The annual Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing last week to review the country's economic work in 2018, analyze the current economic situation and arrange the economic work in 2019. Lucio Blanco Pitlo, a lecturer from the Chinese Studies Program in Philippine Ateneo de Manila University, told Xinhua that he noticed that a series of measures have been announced at the conference, like a larger cut in taxes and fees and advancing all-around opening up. "It shows that China now is pushing an incremental and gradualist reform and opening up," Pitlo said. The Central Economic Work Conference said the country needs to improve its consumption environment and boost consumer spending. Pitlo believed that China's rising middle class and its increasingly sophisticated and diverse consumer tastes and preferences represent an immense potential for China and the world. "Beijing can tap into this huge internal market, and other countries can too," he added. Pitlo told Xinhua that it is impressive that Chinese leaders emphasized the country will reinforce investments on new infrastructures like the 5G network, AI and industrial Internet. The China expert said these connectivity projects may facilitate faster and more efficient transactions. E-commerce and fintech may also enable Chinese enterprises to better reach out to the domestic audience and the same E-commerce and fintech platforms can also be utilized by foreign countries and firms. On China's further opening up, Pitlo said the world's second-largest economy already demonstrated a commitment to continuing opening up to the world through the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai this year. China is so integrated with the world economy that "a reversal or retreat is unimaginable," said Pitlo, adding that "China continues to advance the reform and opening up is important to the whole world." At the Central Economic Work Conference, China announced it will continuously advance cooperation with other countries under the Belt and Road Initiative and it will hold the second Belt and Road forum for international cooperation. In a world full of uncertainty where some resort to unilateralism that undermines the stability of global finance, trade and economic governance, the Belt and Road Initiative is "a welcome relief," Pitlo said. On China's economic development, Pitlo said China is the main trading partner of over 120 countries and regions especially in emerging and developing economies, and that China's continued steady economic growth and stable policies will be warmly welcomed. China's economic transformation and ascent in the industrial chain will also create opportunities for less developed countries, as certain industries and their downstream chains move out of China. For countries eager to jumpstart their industry or keen in expanding their existing manufacturing, this is a positive development, he added. "China has changed a lot in the past 40 years and the pace remains forward," Pitlo said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 19:31:24|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close MAPUTO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The National Migration Service of Mozambique (SENAMI) said Wednesday that more than 300,000 Mozambican and foreign nationals crossed borders in the past 10 days to spend the holiday season in Mozambique. The spokesperson of SENAMI Celestino Matsinhe told press that the registered movement makes up some 39 percent of the volume forecast for this period. "The peak of the movement was recorded on December 22 , when about 44,000 people crossed the borders into Mozambique," said Matsinhe. The entry and exit movement, according to Matsinhe, can still be verified, with people starting the trip late. Some are still shopping in South Africa, while others are planning to stay with their families for the turn of the year. He said conditions were created for the return movement of the national and foreign citizens. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 19:36:25|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Mao Pengfei, Nguon Sovan PHNOM PENH, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sixty years on, the Sino-Cambodian relations have been strong and deep-rooted in cooperation, Cambodian officials and scholars said. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the country's Council of Ministers, said the two countries' friendship has withstood the test of regional and international vicissitudes and grown even stronger since they forged diplomatic ties in 1958. "We always share both happy and difficult times together, and we have never abandoned each other in all circumstances," he told Xinhua in an interview. Siphan said the ties and cooperation between the two countries are based on mutual trust, respect, help and support for mutual interests. "Our friendship should be a good example of treating each other with mutual respect and equality among countries," he said. China is one of Cambodia's largest trading partners and has built the road of nearly 3,000 km and seven bridges in Cambodia. In the energy sector, Chinese enterprises have developed seven hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 1,328 megawatts. "Chinese aid, investment, and tourists have greatly contributed to Cambodia's socio-economic development," Siphan said. "There are a lot of Chinese investors and tourists to Cambodia thanks to close ties between the governments and peoples of the two countries." On the future of the Sino-Cambodian ties, the spokesman said there is no doubt that the relations will continue to grow stronger thanks to the commitment made by the leaders of the two countries and the bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. FUTURE COOPERATION TO FURTHER DEEPEN TIES Ek Tha, an advisor to the Ministry of Information, said the current Sino-Cambodian relations are flying high in all fronts. "I believe that the two countries' relations and cooperation will continue to grow greater, stronger from time to time in all fields from trade to investment, foreign diplomacy and other sectors in the future," he told Xinhua. "No one can break the ties between the two countries. We are iron friends," he said. Tha said the two countries should look to greater cooperation in language education, saying that the more the two peoples can communicate in either Khmer or Chinese, the better people-to-people relations will be. "This will benefit greater not only people-to-people relations, but also trade and investment communication," he said. The advisor said China could help Cambodia train skilled workers through setting up schools or centers in various parts of Cambodia because this will help support the growing demand of Chinese investment in Cambodia. He added that China could help Cambodia speed up in public investment, mainly infrastructures of electricity, roads and bridges, and medical centers, as well as in human resources development. In tourism, he suggested that more Chinese speaking guides should be trained to meet the huge influx of Chinese tourists to the Southeast Asian country. Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the Beltei International University in Phnom Penh, said the Sino-Cambodian ties, established 60 years ago, are now "as solid as the Great Wall of China, unshakeable and stable." He said the relationship between two countries are based on mutual respect, non-interference and co-existence. "In coming years, I see relationship between the two countries further enhancing and reaching a new high," he said. "In my personal view, Cambodia needs new investment in agriculture sector, streamlining its irrigation system, development of power and energy sectors and development of human capital," he said. Meanwhile, Matthews said the Belt and Road Initiative has played and will continue to play a leading role in supporting the development of roads, bridges, railroads, airports and seaports in Cambodia. Chheang Vannarith, vice chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, said the government-to-government and business-to-business relations between the two countries are progressing well. More public participation and more platforms and dialogues to engage local stakeholders will better serve the Belt and Road Initiative projects. "Both countries need to develop a comprehensive strategy to strengthen people-to-people ties," he told Xinhua. Mey Kalyan, chairman of the state-run Royal University of Phnom Penh's board of trustees, said from a broad perspective, the relations between the two countries so far has been very good, and lead to development and prosperity of both countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 19:46:26|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ABUJA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen Nigerian soldiers and two policemen were killed following an ambush by terror group Boko Haram in the country's north region, the army said. In a statement reaching Xinhua on Wednesday, the army said the incident occurred late Monday along the northeastern Damaturu-Maiduguri road. The ambush followed another Boko Haram attack repelled by troops at a military formation in Kukareta area of Damaturu in the northeastern state of Yobe, the same day. One soldier was wounded in the attack on that military base, said Onyema Nwachukwu, a spokesman for the army. Nwachukwu said an unknown number of Boko Haram members were killed during the gunfight at the military base. Last month, the army claimed that Boko Haram had gone hi-tech, using drones and mercenaries, in attacking military formations in the northeast region. Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria, killing some 20,000 people and forcing displacement of millions of others. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 20:06:29|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday said the African swine fever outbreak on the mainland, initially reported in August, has been effectively dealt with and was under control. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when responding to fabrications by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration which reportedly claimed that the mainland was concealing facts about the outbreak, and the disease on the mainland was out of control. Speaking at a press conference, Ma rejected DPP administration's claims as "sheer, intentional hype," saying they were an attempt to sow discontent towards the mainland among Taiwan residents. The mainland's measures and achievements in the prevention and control of African swine fever have received recognition from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ma said. The mainland has been keeping updating related international and regional organizations on the African swine fever outbreak in a timely, open and transparent manner, the spokesman said, adding that as a member of the World Organization for Animal Health, Taiwan has access to information on animal epidemic diseases. According to Ma, following the bird flu outbreaks across the Taiwan Strait in 2004, both sides agreed to establish a non-official channel, under which two specified organizations maintained regular exchanges of information on epidemic diseases in agricultural products that are currently not being traded between both sides. It ran smoothly before it was discontinued due to changes in personnel and functions in the concerned Taiwan-based organization in 2017, the spokesman said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 20:16:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga on Wednesday submitted an official letter to the country's Parliament Secretariat, asking to create conditions for plenary sessions of the parliament. "I planned to give information on national security during the plenary session of the parliament on Dec. 21. But I could not give any information on scheduled time because members of the parliament boycotted plenary sessions of the parliament," he said in the letter. "Thus, the Parliament Secretariat should pay attention for creating conditions for plenary sessions of the parliament in the coming days," he said. More than half of the lawmakers in the 76-seat parliament, most of them belonging to the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP), have boycotted plenary sessions and meetings of standing committees of the parliament for four weeks, demanding parliament speaker Miyegombo Enkhbold's resignation over alleged conflicts of interest. Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh also submitted a request to the constitutional court on Nov. 29 to dismiss Enkhbold. Audio recordings were made public last year that some officials of the MPP, including Enkhbold, allegedly used their government positions as a tool to run in the parliamentary election in 2016. Enkhbold has denied the allegations, saying he did not do anything unethical and illegal. Earlier this month, Enkhbold submitted an official demand letter to the prime minister, asking to stop the boycotting of plenary sessions of the parliament. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 20:16:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's total foreign debt reached 7.24 billion U.S. dollars in the third quarter, up 12 percent from the same period last year, the country's central bank said Wednesday. As of the third quarter, foreign debt accounted for about 60 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to the central bank. "We have many challenges ahead. In particular, the government is due to pay back 5.4 billion U.S. dollars in total in 2021-2022," said Bayartsaikhan Nadmid, president of the Bank of Mongolia. "So, we need to pay special attention to increase foreign currency reserves," he said. Mongolia's foreign currency reserves reached 3.4 billion dollars at the end of the third quarter, a new high since 2013, he added. The mineral-rich country has a population of 3.2 million and an economy of 12 billion dollars. The country's economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry that contributes to about a quarter of the country's GDP and around 90 percent of its exports. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 20:41:38|Editor: zh Video Player Close JINAN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cai Xiyou, former general manager of state-owned chemical firm Sinochem Group, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday for taking bribes. He was also fined 3 million yuan (435,000 U.S. dollars), the Tai'an Intermediate People's Court in Shandong Province announced. Cai pleaded guilty at the court and decided not to appeal. The court trial found that between 1997 and 2016, Cai had used his various posts, including being a senior executive of Chinese oil giant Sinopec Corp., as well as the conveniences from his power and positions, to provide help for other units and individuals regarding contract issues and petroleum product purchases and sales. In return, he had asked for and illegally accepted money and gifts worth over 53.7 million yuan, the court said. The court said Xi was given a lenient sentence, given that he confessed to all of his crimes, provided clues for the investigation of other serious violations, showed repentance and was cooperative in returning all his illegal gains. Palestinians demonstrate in support of the Palestinian quest to obtain the membership in the United Nations in front of the UN headquarters in Gaza City, on Sept. 22, 2011. (Xinhua File photo) RAMALLAH, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki declared on Wednesday that Palestine would "initiate an application to gain full state membership at the United Nations" in January. Al-Malki told the official radio station Voice of Palestine that he would file the application to upgrade Palestine's status from an observer state to a full-member state to the UN Security Council (UNSC) during his upcoming visit to New York next month, upon Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' instructions. To secure full state membership, the Palestinians need support from at least nine out of the UNSC's 15 member states. Al-Malki also said he would demand the UNSC implementation of Resolution 2334 and ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an official inquiry into Israeli settlement construction. According to UNSC Resolution 2334, the UN Secretary General should present the Security Council with a progress report every three months on Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestine has been recognized by the UN as a non-member observer state since 2012. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 21:56:50|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close LONDON, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A multi-million dollar drive to help save downtown high streets across Britain from disappearing was announced Wednesday by the government. The ministry of housing, communities and local government said its Future High Streets fund will help local leaders implement bold new visions to transform town centers across the country. The initiative is a response to the growing number of empty shops caused by changes in shopping patterns as a result of growing on-line trading. Towns across the country are now being urged to bid for a share of an 890 million U.S. dollar fund to transform their local high streets into modern vibrant community hubs. It follows proposals to help save "high streets" put forward by one of Britain's most successful shopkeepers, Sir John Timpson. His company runs a network of hundreds of shop repair and key-making stores, many of them run by rehabilitated prisoners. High Streets Minister Jake Berry said: "We all know high streets are changing, we can't hide from this reality. But we're determined to ensure they continue sit at the heart of our communities for generations to come. "To do this we have to support investment in infrastructure, boosting local economies and ensuring people are able to get the most out of their local high streets. Empowering leaders on the ground is key too, they best understand the challenges facing their areas." Berry said the Future High Streets Fund will drive forward the change, transforming town centers into the thriving community hubs of the future. Timpson said: "I have learnt, from my own business, that the best way to get things done is to give people on the front line the freedom to get on with the job in the way they know best. "By helping our towns create their own individual community hub, I believe we will have vibrant town centers to provide a much-needed place for face to face contact in the digital age." Up to 70 million U.S. dollars of the fund has also been earmarked to support the regeneration of heritage high streets to help restore historic high street properties for new work spaces or cultural venues. This year a number of big-name high street stores have announced shop closures and thousands of job losses in the face of rising costs. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 22:31:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KIEV, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The martial law imposed on a few Ukrainian regions on Nov. 26 has expired, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday. "This is my principled decision. It is based on the analysis of all components of the current security situation in Ukraine," Poroshenko was quoted as saying by his press service. The martial law has enabled Ukraine to develop the capabilities of its armed forces by redeploying troops, reducing terms of combat coordination, increasing the number of reserve personnel and supplying weapons. The martial law has not affected the Ukrainian economy and human rights, Poroshenko said. Ukraine imposed martial law on 10 regions mainly bordering Russia for 30 days starting from 2 p.m. local time (GMT 1200) on Nov. 26 due to tensions with Russia over the Kerch Strait. Poroshenko said that "martial law does not mean the declaration of war," but a step toward strengthening Ukraine's defense. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 23:17:03|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close HANOI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on Wednesday affirmed the top importance of personnel work, Vietnam News Agency reported. The work must be conducted cautiously, regularly and effectively to build a contingent of qualified and prestigious personnel, Trong said at the 12th CPVCC's ninth session which concluded on Wednesday in Vietnam's Hanoi capital. After thoroughly considering reports and documents relating to personnel planning, participants to the ninth session cast votes on candidates planned for the CPVCC for the 2021-2026 tenure. Based on the result, relevant agencies will review it before submitting to the CPVCC's Political Bureau (Politburo) for consideration. The CPVCC also gave nod to the Politburo's report on casting confidence votes on members of the Politburo and the committee's Secretariat. Trong said each Politburo and Secretariat member should consider it a good chance to review themselves, tap strengths and fix shortcomings to accomplish assigned tasks. The participants agreed with a report reviewing the Politburo and Secretariat's leadership and directions in 2018. The committee also decided to impose a disciplinary measure against Tat Thanh Cang by relieving him from the post of member of the 12th CPVCC, permanent vice secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, member of the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee for the 2015-2020 tenure, for his very serious shortcomings and wrongdoings. Within nearly three years since the start of the 12th tenure, over 60 officials under the management of the CPVCC have been disciplined, including four of its incumbent members and three of them been expelled from the body, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 23:32:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the performance of the newest hypersonic Avangard missile on Wednesday after attending its successful test launch carried out on his order. "The new Avangard system is invulnerable to current and promising air defense and missile defense systems of a potential enemy. This is a great success and a great victory," Putin was quoted as saying after the launch, according to a Kremlin transcript. The test launch was conducted by the combat crew of the Strategic Missile Forces formation from the Orenburg region in the Southern Urals and hit a conventional target at a test site in the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East, the Kremlin said. The distance between the Orenburg region and Kamchatka exceeds 6,000 km. In March, Putin said in his address to the Russian parliament that the missile is capable of intercontinental flights at a speed 20 times that the speed of sound. Earlier this month, Putin said at a Russian defense ministry meeting that Russia had already started the serial production of the Avangard missile systems. On Wednesday, Putin said that the system will be put into service next year, for which a special regiment will be formed within the Russian Strategic Missile Forces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 23:37:12|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close KIEV, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday urged the parliament to add Ukraine's intention to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) to the constitution by spring. "I would insist that in February the Verkhovna Rada must approve the constitutional amendments in the second reading and they should enter into force," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook. Last month, the Ukrainian parliament approved in the first reading a bill on including Ukraine's goal to join NATO and the EU in the constitution. In 2014, when pro-West authorities came into power in Ukraine, Kiev abandoned its multilateral policy and set a course toward European integration. Furthermore, the parliament revoked Ukraine's non-aligned status, paving the way for its membership in military blocs. Over the past four years, Ukraine has strengthened cooperation with the EU and increased interactions with NATO, but neither organization has promised Kiev near-term membership prospects. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 23:37:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and four others injured Wednesday after part of an old house collapsed in eastern Indian state of Bihar, officials said. The house collapsed in Panchmahalla area of Jehanabad district, about 47 km south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. "This evening a house collapsed here in a congested locality, killing four people and injuring four others, who were rescued and removed to hospital immediately," Ramesh Kumar Jha, additional collector of Jehanabad told Xinhua over the telephone. "We are right now at the spot overseeing rescue work and all the trapped ones have been rescued." Following the incident, police teams and disaster response force personnel rushed to the spot to carry out rescue work and retrieve bodies from underneath the debris. Deadly accidents due to failing infrastructure are not rare in India. Construction experts blame the lax administration and corruption in India for flouting building rules that often result in using poor quality materials, inadequate supervision and poor safety standards. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 23:47:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- After years of bloody conflict, the deteriorated health system of the devastated city of Mosul in northern Iraq is reviving after the World Health Organization (WHO) provided laparoscopic surgery techniques in Mosul's hospitals. A UN report said on Wednesday that the al-Jumhori Hospital for specialized medical services in western side of Mosul "has taken extra steps to expand the types of surgical services it delivers." The services include laparoscopic surgical operations, in addition to a wider range of specialized outpatient consultations, including ophthalmological, cardiovascular and fascia-maxillary services, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) quoted a statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying. "Having laparoscopic surgery techniques in our hospital is a big move towards improving the medical services in Mosul," said Nashat Ganim al-Khaiat, manager of the hospital. Al-Jamhori Hospital, one of many others supported by WHO, is improving the quality of health services in Nineveh province by adopting modern techniques and providing specialized surgical services, the statement said. The rehabilitation of the health system and other specialized medical services in conflict-affected provinces like Nineveh, Anbar, Salahudin, and Kirkuk have been a top priority for WHO. "Emergency response activities have now been shadowed by the new types of expanded specialized medical services directed at the most vulnerable segments of the population including the disabled," the statement added. However, the statement said that more efforts and resources are still needed to cover the increasing demand for healthcare services for millions of returnees and displaced people in liberated area, which are now under recovery. Since Iraqi forces liberated the second largest city in Iraq one year ago, Iraqi authorities have been slowly rebuilding the devastated parts of the city, not to mention the badly deteriorated health institutions amid wrecked infrastructure. The fierce clashes destroyed the city's power stations, as well as infrastructure including roads, bridges, water supply, hospitals and schools. A large part of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, including its capital Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, came under the control of the Islamic State (IS) group since June 2014, when government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions. On July 10, 2017, former Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, formally declared Mosul's liberation from IS after nearly nine months of fierce fighting to dislodge the extremist militants from their last major stronghold in Iraq. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 00:02:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two men were killed and three women were wounded when a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a displaced family in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah on Wednesday, a local council official told Xinhua. It targeted a slum house, which the victim family has rented for more than two years after they escaped ground battles in the far northern district of Harad bordering Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Shuayb, a member of the tribal and local council in Mastaba district, told Xinhua by phone. The airstrike took place in early morning in al-Sudy village in the northern edge of Mastaba district. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa. The four-year-long war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others and pushed the country to the brink of famine. The United Nations has brokered a cease-fire earlier this month between the Yemeni rival forces in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, as the first confidence-rebuilding measure to end the war. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 00:12:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The retailing performance in Lebanon has dropped by 40 percent during this Christmas and New Year season compared with last year, trade experts told Xinhua. "Merchants are suffering from declining businesses. Many of them cut their prices to promote sales to cover their expenses," said Adnan Rammal, representative of the trade sector in the Economic and Social Council. Rammal said that the business activities in retailing has dropped by 40 percent year on year in December, and it has fallen by an overall 20 percent during 2018 compared with 2017, despite the price cut of goods. "People do not have a good purchasing power and this is obvious because they have been buying less than before," he said. Likewise, Nassib Gemayel, president of the Mount Lebanon Trade Association, said that retailing activities in Mount Lebanon has also been very slow this year compared with last year. "People are only buying the necessary items. They even stop buying all food items. They try to save by buying the cheapest products from the supermarkets," he said. Meanwhile, Roger Keyrouz, head of Jounieh and Keserwan Trade Association, reiterated Rammal's comments by saying that people have minimized their purchases and chosen cheaper products. The experts attributed the decline in businesses to the absence of a government, which reduces people's confidence in the future of the country's economy and keeps them from spending. "When there is no government, people prefer to save their money for the future because they do not know what will happen in the country," said Rammal. He added that last week, the market witnessed a slightly improved performance after Lebanese Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri announced Friday that the government would be formed over the weekend. Hariri has been facing various hurdles to form a 30-member national unity government due to differences among the political parties over their representation in the cabinet. Local economists warned on several occasions of the negative repercussions of any delay in cabinet formation. Keyrouz said that the government formation will enable Lebanon to start with necessary reforms to have access to the 11 billion U.S. dollars of CEDRE pledges. CEDRE is an international conference in support of Lebanon's development and reforms. Lebanon secured over 11 billion dollars in soft loans and grants from international donors at CEDRE to revamp its ailing infrastructure and bolster its economy. However, authorities must speed up the formation of the new government to start necessary reforms to obtain the help. "Also, the market stability will encourage the Central Bank to give subsidized loans which would activate various sectors of the economy," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 02:22:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BELGRADE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Romania will place the European integration of Serbia and the whole of Western Balkans as one of the top priorities of its future six-month presidency over the Council of the European Union (EU), visiting Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told Serbian officials during his visit on Wednesday. During Melescanu's visit only days before Romania is to take over from Austria the presidency of the EU Council, he met with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic, Serbian prime minister, president and speaker over regional issues, bilateral relations as well as the priorities of Romania's presidency. "Romania fully supports the European path of Serbia," Melescanu assured at the press conference after meeting Dacic and invited Serbian officials to maximize their engagement in European integration. "I assure you that we will place the Western Balkans among the highest priorities of Romania's presidency," Melescanu said, stressing that his country encourages the accession of the whole Western Balkans into the EU. "There was never a better time to carry out reforms," he said, offering Bucharest's technical assistance in adapting to European standards. According to the minister, economic ties between Serbia and Romania are strong, with bilateral trade almost at a record level. There are opportunities for large joint infrastructure projects in transport and energy, as well as cooperation on border security. The volume of trade between Serbia and Romania is 1.5 billion euros (about 1.7 billion U.S. dollars), said Dacic, adding that Serbia is interested in continuing cooperation and developing bilateral relations "in all areas of common interests". The Serbian foreign minister expressed the hope that Serbia will open a greater number of accession chapters with the EU during Romania's presidency, as accelerating the progress in European integration is Serbia's top priority. Melescanu's meeting with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic also emphasized the importance of the construction of the Belgrade-Timisoara highway and the modernization of the railway infrastructure between the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 03:17:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli lawmakers voted on Wednesday in favor of dissolving the parliament, meaning Israelis will head to the polls and vote on April 9, 2019. After three rounds of voting on Wednesday night, 102 members in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament) voted in favor of early elections with only two voting against it. The bill to disperse the Knesset and head for snap elections was proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government coalition. The coalition was left with 61 members in the 120-seat parliament after former defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman of the far-right Israel Our Home party, resigned in November in protest of a cease-fire agreement with Gaza Strip's Hamas. The coalition's decision also came as Netanyahu and his wife Sara were entangled in criminal investigations over alleged corruptions. The upcoming elections will produce the 21st parliament of Israel. It will be the 13th time that elections in Israel are held before the official date, out of 21 elections held in this country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 05:08:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump visited the U.S. troops in Iraq to celebrate Christmas, the official Iraqiya television reported on Wednesday. The state-run channel briefly said that Trump "denied any plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq." As for his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from neighboring Syria, Trump said that "a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking," according to the channel. The channel said that Trump and Melania Trump arrived earlier at Ayn al-Asad airbase in Iraq's western province of Anbar after an overnight flight, where hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed. Trump left Iraq to Washington after the surprised two-hour visit without meeting with any Iraqi leaders, it added. The U.S. House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on its twitter account that "Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit our troops and senior military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas." Trump's visit to Iraq is his first since taking office nearly two years ago. On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said that the U.S. troops' withdrawal from Syria would have negative impact on Iraq. "We have discussed ... the U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Syria, because this has great repercussions on Iraq," Abdul Mahdi told a press conference after a weekly cabinet meeting. "If there is a security tension in Syria (by the U.S. pullout), there will be a wave of migration, and Iraq will be one of the first countries to be exposed to such issue," Abdul Mahdi said. "The terrorists may leave the Syrian territory and try to go to Iraq, and this also would have repercussions on our country," Abdul Mahdi added. He stressed that Iraq needs to take precautions from now so that it will not be affected. The prime minister mentioned that the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had informed him of the pullout of the U.S. troops before the implementation of the decision, asserting that Pompeo confirmed that the U.S. will continue to support Iraq in its war against terrorism. Abdul Mahdi's comments came two days after he held a phone call with Pompeo, who explained the details of the scheduled pullout from Syria. Recently, Trump declared a plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, citing the full defeat of IS militants in the country. These troops were part of a U.S.-led coalition which has been fighting and conducting airstrikes against IS targets in both Iraq and Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 05:13:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close OSLO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Research conducted by the Norwegian Ornithological Association showed that at least 5,200 birds and bird eggs were destroyed every year in Norway's nature areas, public broadcaster NRK reported Wednesday. There is however possibility of even darker numbers going as high as 34,500 birds and eggs, the organization warned. The reasons for this type of crime are various, the association claims, mentioning shooting "for fun", destruction of nests, collection mania as well as sale of eggs, skins and live birds of prey through an international network. "Some (of the reasons) are due to enough ignorance or low tolerance for birds while other types of crime follow financial intentions," said Paul Shimmings, a senior consultant of the Norwegian Ornithological Association. "The numbers are dreary. There is no reason why so many birds should be killed," he said. Criminals use increasingly advanced methods, such as drones and GPS to find bird nests, Shimmings said. "At the same time, the internet is used to spread information in criminal environments. The information flow is faster today than it was 20-30 years ago," he added. Even though the number of birds killed in Norway is much lower than in other countries, there should be focus on the problem, Shimming said. "This type of action comes in addition to the challenges the birds have already been experiencing with food access and climate change," he told NRK. Common gull, European herring gull and great black-backed gull are the birds that top the list of the species that are most illegally killed in Norway. Other birds, such as long-tailed jaeger, are considered to be a Nordic specialty and eggs from the species are a sought after as a collection item. Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with officials and representatives of Russian business community at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 26, 2018. (KREMLIN PHOTO) MOSCOW, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia needs to improve the competitiveness of its economy on a global scale in response to Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. "Supporting Russian businesses and expanding their opportunities is a major priority that has special relevance today as Russian companies face certain external restrictions," Putin said at an annual meeting with representatives of the Russian business community. In order to respond to these steps, the Russian economy needs an increase in its global competitiveness, which calls for accelerating industrial growth, promoting research and development, facilitating localization of production and developing new markets both home and abroad, he said. Putin said the government and the businesses can work together to improve labor productivity and upgrade production facilities with better technologies while protecting the environment. Meanwhile, Russia will make efforts to strengthen trade, technology and investment ties and cooperation with its foreign partners, as well as continue to support its exporters, especially in the non-resource sectors, such as the high-tech and agricultural fields. Relations between Russia and the West have been on the rocks since 2014 over disputes in the Ukrainian crisis, Moscow's alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election and an nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy in Britain. The United States and the European Union imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russian individuals, companies and economic sectors, which led to Russia's countermeasures against these countries including restrictions on food imports and suspension of cooperation in certain fields. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 06:13:30|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close ANKARA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A high-level Turkish delegation will visit Russia on Saturday to discuss Syria issues, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party Spokesman Omer Celik said on Wednesday. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, will be among the officials to visit Moscow, Celik said at a press conference. According to Celik, following Saturday's talks, a plan would be made to hold a meeting between Turkish and Russian presidents. Meanwhile, a Turkish committee will also pay a visit to Washington soon, the spokesman said, adding that U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is scheduled to come to Turkey in early January. Celik said Turkey will continue its close coordination with Iran and Russia in the upcoming days following U.S. announcement of troops' withdrawal. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a surprise decision to withdraw all his troops from Syria in the wake of a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Following Trump's move, Erdogan said on Dec. 21 that Turkey had decided to postpone its cross-border operation into areas controlled by the Kurdish militia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-27 06:48:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Four researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego have earned state grants to study how climate change is shifting conditions on the Pacific Coast. They were awarded 1 million U.S. dollars from the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to study topics ranging from saltwater bass populations to coastal cliff erosion, according to a release of the institution. They will create maps, models and other data sources that will help chart the changes to California's coastline, and guide strategies to deal with them. The grants of 250,000 U.S. dollars to each scientist are part of a larger project to fund research on topics such as sea-level rise and coastal resilience, marine pollution, and renewable energy. The four scientists will lead their teams to focus on respective projects. Jennifer Smith, an associate professor of marine biology, is building 3D images of rocky intertidal zones to study how sea-level rise will affect the wealth of marine life in tide pools. Brice Semmens, an associate professor of marine biology, will develop a unique time series of bass species abundance dating back to the late 1940s. These new data will provide valuable insights regarding the oceanographic drivers to these species, and will support effective fisheries management. Scientist Adam Young's team will provide the first statewide high-resolution assessment of California coastal cliff erosion and retreat. The results will be used to detect erosion hotspots, map a coastal cliff stability and hazard index, and identify areas prone to future coastal erosion. Marine biology professor Ronald Burton will use DNA metabarcoding approach, a DNA-based method of species identification, to monitor fish spawning and population connectivity in Coastal Southern and Central California. OPC was created in 2004 as part of the California Ocean Protection Act, with an aim to help protect, conserve and maintain healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems and the economies they support. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-26 23:22:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Guests take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for rail, road connection across border between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong on Dec. 26, 2018. (Xinhua) by Yoo Seungki SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- About 100 South Korean passengers boarded a train early Wednesday in Seoul station for a rare trip to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). They were given souvenir tickets with a message saying "Thank you for joining this historic moment to participate in the ceremony to modernize and connect inter-Korean railways and roads." The nine-car train departed at 6:48 a.m. (2148 GMT Tuesday) in the cold winter dawn. It crossed the military demarcation line, which divides the two Koreas, into the DPRK territory and arrived some two hours later at Panmun station in Kaesong, a DPRK border town around 70 km north of the South Korean capital Seoul. HISTORIC MOMENT The groundbreaking ceremony was held for a project to modernize and link railways and roads across the inter-Korean border along the eastern and western Korean Peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed during their Pyongyang summit in September to hold the ceremony before the end of this year. The agreement on the connection was reached during the first Moon-Kim summit in April. The train trip to the DPRK was a rare opportunity for the South Koreans as all railways and roads have been severed between the two Koreas since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice. The peninsula remains technically at war with the armistice. South Korea's cargo trains ran regularly across the border for about one year before the relations between the two Koreas began to sour in December 2008. Kim Yun Hyok, the DPRK vice railway minister, said in a congratulatory speech that the ceremony was held at a historic moment when the peninsula was at a turning point and the desire for peace and prosperity was stronger than ever. He said the ceremony would become an opportunity to actively push for a balanced development between the two Koreas and joint prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world, according to a pool report from South Korean journalists provided by Seoul's Unification Ministry. "The ceremony has a historical meaning as it indicates the re-connection of railways and roads which were severed by the Korean War," Kim Joon Hyung, a South Korean professor of international studies at Handong Global University who also attended the event, said in an interview with Xinhua. The professor said the re-connection was also part of efforts to enforce the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, advocated by President Moon to prevent any war from breaking out on the peninsula through increased exchanges and cooperation between the two Koreas. STEP FORWARD South Korean Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee said in her speech that the two Koreas took a step forward for peace and prosperity on the peninsula as the railway and road connection represents more than a physical connection. She said the connection would facilitate exchanges across the border and widen inter-Korean economic cooperation, which would benefit the two Koreas. Kim noted that increased exchanges and cooperation would further consolidate peace on the peninsula. Hope for peace emerged on the peninsula as the leaders of the two Koreas met three times this year, leading to the resumption of inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation. The first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit was held between Kim, the DPRK leader and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June. The groundbreaking ceremony, which would help bolster the optimistic mood, was attended by about 100 government officials and civilians from each of the two Koreas. From the DPRK side, Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and four other high-level officials participated in the event. Attendees from the South Korean side included Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Lee Hae-chan, chief of the ruling Democratic Party, and other parliamentary leaders. Among other South Korean invitees were five civilians who have families in the DPRK and were separated from them by the Korean War, and the last locomotive engineer who drove cargo trains across the boarder until the one-year operation stopped. Kim Kum-ok, who was separated from other family members by the war, said during the trip that she was glad about her voyage to Kaesong, where the 86-year-old spent her early years, according to the pool report. Describing the trip as a dream, Kim said the train ride to her hometown had been a big hope of hers. SYMBOLIC EVENT The groundbreaking ceremony was held, but it was a symbolic event only as the two Koreas were banned from launching construction work for the railway and road connection because of international sanctions on the DPRK. South Korea and the DPRK have conducted joint inspections on railways and roads in the DPRK territory, but they were carried out only after the United States gave them a green light. Seoul made efforts to get support from Washington for the groundbreaking ceremony through the working-group meeting last week. The ceremony itself does not violate sanctions, but bringing equipment and materials to Kaesong to build a stage and an audio system requires a sanctions exemption. "It is a progress as the joint inspections and the groundbreaking ceremony, toward which the United States showed a hawkish stance in the past, were realized. But the most significant is the launch of construction works," said the Handong Global University professor in the interview with Xinhua. To start the construction work, the professor said sanctions on the DPRK should be lifted in a broader way, but he noted that Pyongyang and Washington had yet to narrow a gap in negotiations on how to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. He suggested that a part of the sanctions on Pyongyang be lifted, for example, on the railway and road connection project or special economic zones in the DPRK, in return for Pyongyang's further measures for denuclearization. If sanctions are lifted on Pyongyang and construction work starts, railways and roads can be linked from the South Korean capital Seoul to the DPRK's northwestern city of Sinuiju that can be connected to the Trans-China Railway. Along the eastern peninsula, the inter-Korean railways and roads, if connected, can reach out to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Foreign dignitaries also joined the groundbreaking ceremony, including Armida Alisjahbana, executive secretary of the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and senior railway and road officials from China, Russia and Mongolia. (Video reporter: Tian Ming, Liu Shengji, Jin Haomin; Video editor: Zhu Jianhui, Li Jingchen, Liu Xiaorui) Revelion in Poiana Brasov, mai scump decat un sejur in Dubai. Suma exorbitanta ceruta unor romani In perioada 30 decembrie 2 ianuarie, tarifele pentru un sejur de trei zile de Revelion la Poiana Brasov sunt exorbitante. Cu aceeasi suma pe care un roman ar trebui s-o scoata din buzunar pentru [citeste mai departe] New Delhi: India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) on Wednesday announced to recall 5,900 super carry vehicles over possible fuel filter defect. Recall campaigns are undertaken globally to rectify faults that may be potential safety defects. The Company will inspect a possible defect in fuel filter of 5900 Super Carry vehicles manufactured between 26 th April 2018 and 1st August 2018, MSIL said in a statement. This also include vehicles in which fuel filter has been replaced in field during this period. Starting 26 th December 2018 owners of the suspected vehicles will be contacted by Maruti Suzuki dealers f or inspection and replacement of the faulty part free of cost, the company said. Alternatively, customers of Super Carry can visit the company's website and fill in the chassis number ( MA3 followed by 14 digit alpha - numeric number) on the computer screen to check if their vehicle needs any attention. The chassis number is embossed on the vehicle ID plate and is also in the vehicle invoice / registration documents. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will undertake a state-wide "Bhajpa Bhagao, Bhagwan Bachao Yatra" from January 12 in Uttar Pradesh, party leader Sanjay Singh announced in Lucknow on Wednesday. Interacting with mediapersons, the Rajya Sabha member said that the Yatra would start from Ayodhya. This Yatra, he added, would be conducted to expose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially in the light of the hundreds of Shivlingas, which were allegedly found lying under the rubble of demolished structures to pave way for Kashi Vishwanath corridor -- a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his parliamentary constituency. Leaders of the Apna Dal, an ally of the BJP, will also be participating in the Yatra, Singh said. Calling the pro-Hindutava posturing of the BJP as fake, the Rajya Sabha member said the district administration had served notices to 176 temples in Varanasi, adding as to how the party that vowed to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya was now demolishing ancient temples in name of development. Singh also slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in the state for "failing law and order in the state" and demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the burning alive of a Dalit minor girl in Agra recently. He said that on Thursday, the AAP would demonstrate at all district headquarters against the state`s BJP government. Singh also criticised the BJP government and its leaders for trying to give a "caste certificate" to the monkey Hindu god, Lord Hanuman. Noida: An order issued by the police in Noida asking companies - mostly multi-nationals - to bar their employees from offering prayers in open public spaces in Sector 58, sparked controversy on Tuesday. The notice issued specifically warned that the firms would be held responsible for any breach of this directive. Although Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal clarified that the notice was not for any "particular religion", it was widely believed that the notice pointed to the namaz offered by Muslims in open public spaces. An official confirmed that at least a dozen companies in Sector 58 of Noida have been served the notice by the concerned police station. NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which busted an IS-inspired terror module following massive raids at various places, including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, said on Wednesday that its members wanted to carry out fidayeen attacks in near future and targeted VVIPs. ''Level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Their identities are yet to be established,'' NIA IG Alok Mittal told reporters. ''Their targets were political persons and other important personalities and vital and security installations,'' he added. Sharing more details about how the anti-terror agency busted the alleged terror module, NIA IG said, ''We conducted searches at 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' which was in an advanced stage of carrying out a series of blasts.'' Searches were conducted in Delhis Seelampur and UPs Amroha, Hapur, Meerut and Lucknow. Large quantities of explosive material, weapons and ammunition including a country-made rocket launcher have been recovered from them,'' the NIA IG said. Mittal, while addressing a press briefing in the national capital, said that the agency has so far detained 16 people and formally arrested ten suspects in this connection. They are being interrogated at the moment for more leads. ''Five people were picked up from the western Uttar Pradesh district of Amroha following a joint operation with the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, and five others from Delhi,'' the NIA Inspector General said. The NIA top cop said that several incriminating documents were recovered from the suspects. ''Total amount worth Rs 7.5 lakh have been recovered, nearly 100 mobile phone, 135 SIM cards, laptops and memory cards have also been also seized. After initial interrogation of the 16 suspects, we have arrested 10 accused,'' Mittal said. The members of the newly-traced Islamic State module 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' were allegedly planning terror attacks in north India, especially Delhi, he confirmed. The searches started at different locations earlier this morning and are still underway at some places, the NIA IG said. Mittal said that the man who was heading the alleged terror module has been identified as Mufti Sohail, who hails from Amroha. One pistol, explosive material and some cash were recovered from him. ''The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque,'' Mittal said. IG NIA: The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque. pic.twitter.com/bQ9o1NDqYL ANI (@ANI) 26 December 2018 On the basis of the information provided by him, parallel raids were conducted in Simbhaoli, Lucknow and other places, the NIA IG said. In east Delhi's Jafarabad area, the NIA team carried out searches along with the Delhi Police's Special Cell and recovered seven pistols and swords. The members of the alleged terror module wanted to target important government offices, vital installations, crowded public places and top political figures, he said on the basis of the information obtained by the agency. There were at least five such teams of the alleged terror module in Delhi which were planning to carry out attacks on important offices in the national capital simultaneously, Mittal said. The NIA IG said that further questioning of those nabbed would reveal vital information about the module, their plans and handlers. He, however, said that the investigation in the case is at the initial level, but the agency has obtained very credible information from the suspects. The arrested suspects were in touch with their handlers through WhatsApp and other social media tools. The terror module was largely self-funded as its members collected money by selling gold ornaments in local markets, the NIA IG said. The terror module was under NIA surveillance for some time following inputs of their suspicious activities, Mittal told reporters. A week ahead of the anniversary of 1818 Battle of Bhima Koregaon in Maharashtra's Pune district, authorities on Wednesday cited details on the preparations. Pune District Magistrate, Naval Kishore Ram, appealed to the people to refrain from falling prey to false messages on social media. The announcement comes ahead of the Bhima Koregaon incident anniversary on January 1. The District Magistrate informed that the security for this year has been increased by 10-15 times. He added that there is an active plan and preventive detentions have also been done. "We appeal to people to not fall for false messages on social media. This year 10-15 times more security will be at place, theres an active plan, weve also done preventive detentions," said Naval Kishore Ram. The area near the 'Vijay Stambh' and around it will be under the Maharashtra government from December 22 to January 12, as directed by the Bombay High Court. The directive has been issued so that proper preparations can be done for the January 1 'Vijay Diwas' event. After January 12, the state government has to return the place in the same condition as received. On January 1, Dalits visit the war memorial at Bhima Koregaon on 200th anniversary of the decisive battle between forces of the Peshwa and the British East India Company came under attack on January 1 this year, leading to protests across the state. Dalits commemorate the 1818 battle as the victorious British forces included a large number of Mahar soldiers. Mahars are a prominent Dalit community in Maharashtra. Some right-wing organisations had opposed the commemoration of the East India Company's victory as it ended the Peshwa rule in Pune. As per the records, the first battalion of the Mahar regiment was established in Belgaum on October 1, 1941. The government also fears fresh trouble as Dalits will be visiting the war memorial on January 1 like every year. Minister of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble said apprehending fresh attempts to rekindle the controversy, the government has held meetings with all stakeholders including sarpanchs (village heads) of local villages. There would be elaborate security at the memorial and in surrounding areas, he said. A sarpanch belonging to the NCP has issued a diktat that shops and eateries in the area should be shut down on January 1 in defiance of a government order that all these establishments should remain open, he said. Taking no chances, the government, through the Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute, has made arrangements to provide food to those who visit the memorial, he said. Another source said the government has denied permission to the Elgar Parishad to organise any function at the site. The air quality in the national capital improved and settled at 'very poor' category on Wednesday, even as Delhi continued its battle with pollution. While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) at 'very poor' level of 399, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) showed an AQI of 385 which falls in the very poor category. While the PM10 level -- fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres -- settled at 394, the PM 2.5 level was at 230, both of which fall in the 'very poor' category. In view of the prevalence of severe pollution in the national capital, industrial activities in pollution hotspots of Wazirpur, Mundka, Narela, Bawana, Sahibabad and Faridabad, and construction work across Delhi-NCR will remain shut till Wednesday. They will remain closed until Wednesday, EPCA Chairperson Bhure Lal had said. In a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev, Lal had also directed him to ban all construction activities in the national capital, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida till Wednesday. The EPCA directed the traffic police to deploy special teams and ensure congestion-free traffic flow, particularly in identified high-traffic corridors. The agencies concerned have also been asked to ensure strict action against illegal industries, intensify ground action and make all efforts to control polluting activities, particularly waste burning. In a health advisory, SAFAR asked Delhiites not to rely on common dust masks for protection. The agency has advised people to avoid all outdoor activities, such as taking walks. "If the room has windows, close them, if the air conditioner provides a fresh air intake option then choose it, avoid burning anything such as wood, candle or even an incense," it said. The advisory also recommended frequent wet mopping and using masks known as N-95 or P-100 respirators only for outdoor activities. "Do not rely on dust masks for protection," it read. Earlier on Tuesday, the CPCB data had shown the overall the AQI at 'severe' level of 408, the SAFAR had shown an AQI of 385 which falls in the very poor category. Twenty-three areas had recorded severe pollution level, while 12 areas witnessed very poor air quality, the CPCB data had shown. In NCR, Ghaziabad recorded severe air quality while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded very poor air quality. The overall PM2.5 level was recorded at 263 and the PM10 level at 400, the CPCB had said. Delhi's air quality turned 'severe' on Saturday. The national capital recorded its second-highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450. According to SAFAR, Delhi's overall air quality is expected to improve due to increased wind speed. "The forecasting model predicts a faster improvement due to faster dispersion. The AQI will go back to the very poor category by tonight for the next three days," it had said. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the air quality is likely to improve but will remain in the upper end of the 'very poor to severe' category. "The wind speed and ventilation index are highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants," it had said. Ventilation index is the speed at which pollutants can get dispersed. A ventilation index lower than 6000 sqm/second, with average wind speed less than 10 kmph, is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants. The index was 5000 sqm/second on Tuesday, the IITM had said. New Delhi: Facing backlash after a video of him purportedly hitting a specially-abled man became viral on social media, BJP leader Mohd. Miya has denied charges that he had used a stick to attack. Miya said that the allegations he used the stick to attack were false and, instead, said the man was drunk. "He was abusing Modi ji and Yogi ji. I tried to first explain things but he was drunk. It was a conspiracy to malign BJP," he told news agency ANI. "I was just trying to make him leave the place. I did not shove stick in his mouth." Miya, a BJP leader from Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, is heard shooing away the man and abusing him after he said that he would vote for Akhilesh Yadav. The video of the incident went viral on social media with many accusing Miya of using his political influence unfairly. According to local media reports, a police complaint has been filed against Miya. Days after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced the seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader Gopal Narayan Singh on Wednesday said that both the saffron party and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar need each other. As per the arrangement, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal United (JDU) will contest on 17 seats each while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will fight on 6 seats. Speaking to news agency ANI, the Bihar MP said both the JD(U) and BJP are equal partners and that there should be no comparison between the two political parties. However, he added that if the BJP needed JDU chief Nitish Kumar then the Bihar CM also also needed the BJP. Singh further added that in Bihar the main brand is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Both JDU and BJP are equal partners, there should be no comparisons. If BJP needs Nitish then Nitish also needs the BJP. Like in all over India, in Bihar also our main brand is Narendrabhai Modi ji," said Singh. In a show of unity, the announcement was made by BJP president Amit Shah, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan together. The BJP and the JDU also agreed to give a Rajya Sabha seat to LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan. Shah said the parties have agreed to contest under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and win more seats in Bihar in 2019 than it did in 2014. Of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the BJP had won 22 out of 30 it contested while the LJP won six out of seven it contested. Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) had won all three seats it contested as part of the NDA alliance in 2014 elections but walked out of the alliance earlier this month after seat-sharing talks failed with his party. Kushwaha has agreed to contest the 2019 elections as a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance. The discussions over seat sharing between the allies had been underway for over months. The decision was finalised after LJP chief and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan along with his son Chirag Paswan held a series of discussions with Amit Shah and Union Minister Arun Jaitley. Jaitley is an old Bihar hand in the party with friendly relations with leaders of different parties. His intervention to resolve the differences with the LJP was a clear indication of the importance the BJP gives to Paswan's party which enjoys strong influence among Dalits. The LJP had been insisting that they should get seven seats, the same number on which they contested in 2014, along with seats in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, too. The Narendra Modi government has given approval to the extension of Dhanushkodi railway line till Rama Setu, which is also called Adams bridge. The current 18-km railway line from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi will be extended till the Rama Setu. The new railway line will be built at the cost of Rs 208 crore and Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has also given his approval for the move. Considering the cost of the project, the same does not require an approval from the Cabinet. Indian Railways is slated to start work on the project at the earliest. According to sources, work on the Detailed Project Report will begin as early as next month. The government has also approved the construction of a bridge, which would be parallel to 104-year-old Pamban Bridge, which connects Rameswaram to mainland India. The bridge will be constructed at a cost of Rs 250 crore. The sources said that the new bridge will be built at height of 3 metre above the existing Pamban bridge. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, who have reportedly struck a seat-sharing deal to jointly contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, seem to be playing hardball for others who are reaching out to them. Days after Zee News reported that the two parties have kept the Congress out of the seat-sharing deal in Uttar Pradesh, two former chief ministers have now kept Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) K Chandrasekhar Rao in waiting. According to news agency PTI, while Akhilesh Yadav has said that he would meet KCR later in Hyderabad, and not in Delhi, Mayawati has not yet given time to the Telangana Chief Minister for a meeting. Notably, KCR is working to constitute a non-BJP and non-Congress federal front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting between Akhilesh Yadav and KCR was scheduled to happen at the residence of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in the national capital. But the Yadav scion said that he would meet the TRS chief in Hyderabad after January 6. He however, hailed KCRs attempts. Efforts to bring all parties together have been ongoing for many months; I congratulate Telangana Chief Minister for working in this direction. He has been trying to bring together a federal front, Ill go to Hyderabad to meet him, said Akhilesh Yadav. Mayawati has not confirmed the timing for meeting with the Telangana Chief Minister despite being in the national capital since Sunday. In his attempt to constitute a federal front of opposition parties, the TRS chief has already held meetings with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Following his meeting with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, KCR had said, Our dialogue will continue, very shortly, we will come out with a concrete plan. We are discussing things. I will continue with my efforts. After winning the Telangana Assembly elections with a thumping majority, KCR had declared that he was in consultation with other parties and would play an active role in national politics. (With agency inputs) West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has raised questions on the loan waivers for farmers being announced in several states. In an administrative meeting on Wednesday, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that while some were announcing farm loan waivers, she was gathering information to ascertain if the move actually benefitted people on the ground. There are some who are waiving farmers loans and I am gathering papers to find out whether farmers are actually benefited or not, said the Trinamool Congress chief. While Mamata targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over farmer insurance scheme, she also launched an attack on the Congress party without naming it by referring to loan waiver announcements. Her remark comes just days after newly-elected Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh announced loan waivers for farmers. Reacting to the TMC chiefs attack over farmer insurance scheme, BJP leader Rahul Sinha termed her as a worthless chief minister. He said, She (Mamata Banerjee) is a worthless Chief Minister. She herself cannot do that much for farmers and is saying this. The attack by Mamata over farm loan waiver, meanwhile, triggers speculation on whether she is distancing herself from the Congress party. Even when the Assembly election results were declared on December 11, Mamata had taken to Twitter to wish the people and not the Congress in particular. She, however, congratulated Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao separately for victory in the southern state. The Telangana Chief Minister also met Mamata in Kolkata days after the result. NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday busted an IS-inspired terror module following massive raids at various places and arrested at least 10 terror suspects from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The apex anti-terror probe agency said that the members of the alleged terror module wanted to carry out fidayeen attacks in near future and had set eyes on VVIPs. ''Level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Their identities are yet to be established,'' NIA IG Alok Mittal told reporters. ''Their targets were political persons and other important personalities and vital and security installations,'' he added. Sharing more details about how the anti-terror agency busted the alleged terror module, NIA IG said, ''We conducted searches at 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' which was in an advanced stage of carrying out a series of blasts.'' Searches were conducted in Delhis Seelampur and UPs Amroha, Hapur, Meerut and Lucknow. Large quantities of explosive material, weapons and ammunition including a country-made rocket launcher have been recovered from them,'' the NIA IG said. Mittal, while addressing a press briefing in the national capital, said that the agency has so far detained 16 people and formally arrested ten suspects in this connection. They are being interrogated at the moment for more leads. ''Five people were picked up from the western Uttar Pradesh district of Amroha following a joint operation with the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, and five others from Delhi,'' the NIA Inspector General said. The NIA also published the list of suspects arrested by it following joint raids in UP and Delhi. NIA crack down ISIS module Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam. Ten accused arrested.https://t.co/RUGbSk05K0 NIA India (@NIA_India) 26 December 2018 Several incriminating documents were recovered from the suspects, the NIA IG said. ''Total amount worth Rs 7.5 lakh have been recovered, nearly 100 mobile phone, 135 SIM cards, laptops and memory cards have also been also seized. After initial interrogation of the 16 suspects, we have arrested 10 accused,'' Mittal said. The members of the newly-traced Islamic State module 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' were allegedly planning terror attacks in north India, especially Delhi, he confirmed. The searches started at different locations earlier this morning and are still underway at some places, the NIA IG said. Mittal said that the man who was heading the alleged terror module has been identified as Mufti Sohail, who hails from Amroha. One pistol, explosive material and some cash were recovered from him. ''The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque,'' Mittal said. On the basis of the information provided by him, parallel raids were conducted in Simbhaoli, Lucknow and other places, the NIA IG said. In east Delhi's Jafarabad area, the NIA team carried out searches along with the Delhi Police's Special Cell and recovered seven pistols and swords. The members of the alleged terror module wanted to target important government offices, vital installations, crowded public places and top political figures, he said on the basis of the information obtained by the agency. There were at least five such teams of the alleged terror module in Delhi which were planning to carry out attacks on important offices in the national capital simultaneously, Mittal said. The NIA IG said that further questioning of those nabbed would reveal vital information about the module, their plans and handlers. He, however, said that the investigation in the case is at the initial level, but the agency has obtained very credible information from the suspects. The arrested suspects were in touch with their handlers through WhatsApp and other social media tools. The terror module was largely self-funded as its members collected money by selling gold ornaments in local markets, the NIA IG said. The terror module was under NIA surveillance for some time following inputs of their suspicious activities, Mittal told reporters. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids across 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi against Harkat ul Harm e Islam - a suspected terror module styled on the lines of the Islamic State. It is suspected that the IS module had plans of carrying out attacks across the country - especially in Delhi and its adjoining areas. The NIA has reportedly detained several suspects during the raids and will question them. UP ATS has confirmed that five persons have been arrested in Amroha. Most of the raids in UP have occurred in the western part of the state including Meerut, Hapur, Amroha and Ghaziabad. Zee News correspondent Pramod reported from Jafarabad that the raids here began from 0400hrs and that a team of close to 20 vehicles with several officials came in for the operation. Zee News correspondent Manish Shukla reported from Delhi that the module may have been active in radicalising people - especially in backward areas of UP. A number of suspect items have been recovered from the locations that were raided. These include ammonium nitrate, pistols, grenade launchers and jihadi manuscripts. Those detained are being taken to NIA headquarters for questioning. NEW DELHI: BJP leader Ram Madhav on Wednesday said that the option of taking the ordinance route on the Ram Temple issue is always open, but the government will wait for the Supreme Court to decide on the matter. The BJP general secretary said that the Supreme Court is set to hear the Ram Jannmabhumi-Babri Masjid case from January 4 and expressed hope that the matter would be disposed of in a fast-track manner. However, he warned that in case of a delay, the Government would be free to explore other options. ''The option of an ordinance has always been there. But the matter is right now in the Supreme Court. The top court has given a date of January 4 to decide about next bench. We are hoping that the SC will take it in fast-track way and conclude it early. If thats not going to happen, we'll explore other options,'' Madhav said. Ram Madhav,BJP on #RamTemple: Option of ordinance has always been there. But matter is right now in SC&SC has given a date of 4 Jan to decide about next bench. We hoping SC will take it in fast-track way&conclude it early.If thats not going to happen, we'll explore other options pic.twitter.com/hBJeoZtq5V ANI (@ANI) 26 December 2018 Commenting on the ongoing efforts by the non-BJP parties to stitch a Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan, Madhav said, ''If Rahul Gandhi could've been an option for PM candidate because of recent victories, then there would've been no need for a 'Mahagathbandhan'. Even today, no one, except MK Stalin (DMK), is ready to confirm the name of the leader of 'Mahagathbandhan'. There are at least 6 people in the queue to become PM.'' While also admitting that BJP's ties with some NDA constituents were not in good shape at the present, Madhav said that the party is trying to win new allies down south. ''Alliance politics is all about accommodation and adjustment and for that BJP is ready. It is true that certain smaller allies like Kushwaha (RLSP) have decided to leave us but were working on bringing new allies into our fold especially in South India and Eastern India,'' Madhav said. The statement from Madhav came in the wake of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) deciding to file a petition in the Supreme Court in case the Narendra Modi government at brings in an ordinance paving way for the construction of a grand Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The statement from Madhav came in the wake of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) deciding to file a petition in the Supreme Court in case the Narendra Modi government at brings in an ordinance paving way for the construction of a grand Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. A decision to this effect was taken by the BMAC during a meeting on Tuesday. The top court had in October rejected an urgent hearing after the Uttar Pradesh government argued that it was a 100-year-old dispute that should be taken up on priority. The decision to move the case to January was seen by many to have dimmed hopes for a verdict before the Lok Sabha election a few months hence. It triggered loud demands for an ordinance within the BJP and various groups linked to its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to pave way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The apex court is scheduled to take up a batch of petitions for hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case on January 4. The matter is listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SK Kaul. The bench is likely to constitute a three-judge bench for hearing as many as 14 appeals filed against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land be partitioned equally among three parties - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (With PTI inputs) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He attacked PM Modi for accusing the Gandhi family of ruining the country. Pawar on Tuesday also lauded Sonia and Rahul, saying people should respect them as they are working with the same sentiment of serving the poor. He said that generations of the Gandhi and the Nehru family have contributed to the nation's development and have made sacrifices. "Generations of Gandhi-Nehru family have contributed to country's development and made sacrifices. If today, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are working with the same sentiment of serving the poor then we should respect them. But PM Narendra Modi only says that one family ruined the country," said Pawar. He said that people should feel "proud of them" as they continue to serve the poor despite the assassination of late prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Launching a broadside at the ruling BJP, Pawar alleged the saffron outfit was pitting communities against each other as it did nothing on the development front as was promised to the people. The NCP leader was speaking at an event in Satara district, around 300km from Mumbai. He said some lawyers have raised doubts if the 16 per cent quota granted to Marathas in jobs and education in Maharashtra will stand the scrutiny of the law and said the government should ensure the reservation sustains. Attacking Modi for targeting the Gandhis, the Maratha strongman said the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru spent years in jail during the British rule, while Indira Gandhi protected interests of the poor when in power. "Such sacrifice by a family. Indira Gandhi was killed. Rajiv Gandhi was killed. We should feel proud if Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi are continuing to serve the poor notwithstanding these two killings. "But the prime minister only talks about one family ruining (the country)," the former Maharashtra chief minister told the gathering. "You (Modi) were in power in Gujarat. Innocents were killed there. What you did there? People were burnt but (you) did nothing," added Pawar, who quit the Congress and formed the NCP in June 1999. He also raised questions over the recent acquittal of 22 accused, most of them policemen, in the alleged fake encounter killings of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife and an aide in Gujarat in 2005-06. "What kind of state it is? Is it a state of the law? Is it a state that protects the interest of the common people? The power is in the hands of such people," he said. On the issue of Maratha reservation, Pawar said some lawyers have told him that they had doubts whether the quota law would stand legally. "I am not a lawyer. I spoke to some lawyers I will definitely speak to experts after going back to Mumbai and try to understand it (the issue)," he added. On senior Congress leader D Y Patil joining the NCP, Pawar said the former had evinced interest in working with him. "Patil has been expressing interest in working with me for the past six months. He said he did not want any post and joined (the NCP)," the 78-year-old veteran parliamentarian added. with PTI inputs Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has appealed to the Supreme Court to fast-track the hearing in the Ayodhya title suit, stressing if it could happen in the Sabarimala issue, it can be done to resolve this long-pending matter as well. Inaugurating the 15th National Conference of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad in Lucknow on Monday, the Union minister said, "I appeal to the Supreme Court in my personal capacity to hear the Ram Janmabhoomi issue like fast-track court for a prompt disposal of the case." "When the Supreme Court can give its verdict on the Sabarimala Temple case promptly, why is the Ram Janmabhoomi issue pending for the past 70 years," he said. Supreme Court Justice M R Shah, Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Govind Mathur were among others present at the event. "Why must we worship Babar," Prasad asked. Citing a copy of the Constitution, he said, "There is a mention of Ram, Krishna as well as Akbar but there is no mention of Babar... But if we talk about such things in the country, a different kind of controversy is raised." The Union minister also talked about bringing an all-India judicial services system for appointment of judges in the future. He appealed to the members of the Adhivakta Parishad to ensure that the cases related to the poor and needy people were heard promptly. The apex court is scheduled to take up a batch of petitions for hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case on January 4. The matter is listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul. The bench is likely to constitute a three-judge bench for hearing as many as 14 appeals filed against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Jammu: A civilian was killed on Wednesday after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. "At around 12 PM today (Wednesday), the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing in Nowshera Sector resulting in critical injuries to a civilian, Bodhraj, aged about 55 years, a resident of Deeing in Nowshera Tehsil,'' Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said. #JammuAndKashmir: Pakistan violated ceasefire in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district at around 12 pm today. One civilian killed. ANI (@ANI) 26 December 2018 The Indian side replied to the Pakistani belligerence "in a befitting manner", the official said. "The Army immediately evacuated the injured for medical aid. However, the individual succumbed to his injuries," he added. The Army top commanders have promised all possible assistance and help to the family of the deceased, Anand said. Meanwhile, in a related incident, the security forces on Wednesday busted a terrorist hideout in a forest area close to Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo's village, during a cordon and search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The search operation was launched earlier in the day in the Badriwan forests of Awantipora area following specific information about militant presence. "A terrorist hideout has been busted during this operation," a police officer said. The hideout is close to Beighpora village, the ancestral village of Naikoo, who is at the top of security forces wanted list in south Kashmir. Bengaluru: RTI activist Narasimha Murthy on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commision against Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy over the latter's 'kill mercilessly' remark. Slamming the country's law and constitution, the activist said, "The Chief Minister told police officials to shoot the culprits. In our country, there's law and constitution. Procedure of law should be followed, the Chief Minister cannot give such statements," Murthy said. The Chief Minister on Monday was caught on camera asking to 'mercilessly' kill the accused in the murder of a Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) worker. Media reports suggested that the Chief Minister was apparently speaking to a senior police officer following the death of JDS leader Honnalagere Prakash. "Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy caught on cam telling someone on the phone 'He(murdered JDS leader Prakash) was a good man, I don't know why did they murder him. Kill them (assailants) mercilessly in a shootout, no problem," news agency ANI quoted Kumaraswamy as saying. H Prakash was killed by four assailants due to alleged personal rivalry in Karnataka's Maddur town in Mandya district on Monday. The JDS worker was also a former Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member of the district. Shillong: With rescue operations suspended for the second day in a row, there seems to be no hope in sight for the 15 labourers trapped in a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Ksan area of Lumthari village in Meghalaya. Rescue efforts so far have failed to extricate any of the labourers, who've been trapped for more than 13 days in the rat hole. Meanwhile, the water level in the flooded mine in East Jaintia Hills district has not receded, a senior official said. The fate of the workers now hangs in balance with authorities yet to touch base with them. On December 13, nearly 20 miners entered the quarry owned by Krip Chullet. After reaching the bottom of the pit, they entered horizontal manholes, often termed as 'rat-holes', as each just about fits one person. The miners were trapped in the illegal pit after water from nearby Lytein River gushed into the mine. Five persons were able to climb out of the flooded mine, leaving the others behind. Search operations were hit after the Meghalaya government suspended operations for want of high-powered pumps to flush out water from the illegal pit on December 25. Initially, there wasn't much help from villagers and locals, leading to further delay in rescue operations. "It took the police hours to locate the mine as the villagers feigned ignorance about the accident. They are afraid that mine owners might cause them harm. Some who consider mining to be their only means of livelihood fear police action may add to their woes," said Sylvester Nongtynger, the East Jaintia Hills superintendent of police, adding that he came to know about the accident from Rajabala MLA Azad Aman. Four years after the National Green Tribunal ordered a ban on coal mining in Meghalaya, illegal practices continue unabated in the state, putting lives at risk every day. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat-holes", as each just about fits one person. According to government reports, the coal mining industry was among the biggest revenue earners for the state, generating about Rs 700 crore annually, prior to its ban in 2014. New Delhi: The world celebrated Christmas yesterday and the internet is full of celebrations pics and videos. Our Bollywood celebs too spent quality time with their family and friends. Superstar Salman Khan attended the Christmas bash hosted by his sister Arpita Khan and brother-in-law Aayush Sharma on behalf of their son, Aahil. A video has gone viral on the internet that has Salman dancing with his brothers Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan. The video was originally shared by Salman's stylist, Ashley Rebello. Check it out here: On the work front, Salman will next be seen in 'Bharat' which also stars Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani as female leads. The film is one of the most-awaited ventures of 2019 and the gripping teaser raised the excitement around the Ali Abbas Zafar directorial. Salman, Katrina and Ali have previously delivered the super hit, 'Tiger Zinda Hai' which is why expectations from 'Bharat' are soaring high. Last month, Salman had shared a still on Instagram featuring him and co-star Katrina looking towards the re-created Wagah border. In the photo, while Salman was all suited up, Katrina was dressed up in a heavy red-maroon saree with a curly hairdo. This will be the first time that the actress will be sporting the ethnic six-yard outfit for a role on the big screen. The film also stars actor-comedian Sunil Grover, Tabu and popular television actor Aasif Sheikh in pivotal roles. New Delhi: At a time when the debate over machines replacing humans rages, a top Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive is convinced that machines are not here to take decisions on their own, and certain human emotions- empathy, for instance, cannot be automated. Last year, Facebook Artificial Intelligence Researchers (FAIR) had to shut down one of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems after chatbots started speaking in their own language, defying the codes provided. There have been other instances too where anomalies in the AI models were noticed. However, according to Olivier Klein, Head of Emerging Technologies, Asia-Pacific, at AWS, which is retail giant Amazon's Cloud arm, a Machine Learning (ML) model will always operate the way you've trained it. "If you train a model with a bias, you would end up with a biased model. You continuously need to train and re-train your ML model and the most important thing is that you need some form of feedback from the end-consumers," Klein told IANS in an interview. "I think there are certain elements of human emotions like empathy that cannot be automated. There will be scenarios where it makes sense to automate and give customers better experiences. ML is absolutely not about replacing humans but enhancing the experiences," he explained. The success depends on the data points, or observations, that you put into the deep learning or neural networks. "If your data points are very small and minimal, you probably end up with a model that is not really doing what you want it to do. So it always goes back to what's the data that you're collecting and what are you training ML models on," explained Klein. At AWS, he and the team is busy adding unbiased data inputs to ML models, building services around those for enhanced consumer experience. "We keep training and retraining the ML models and optimising those. Take, for example, our Amazon Rekognition service. It has a variety of different capabilities like object detection, object recognition, sentiment detection, etc. One of it is also facial recognition," said the AWS executive. "Recently, we updated our capabilities to increase the accuracy that we have within the facial recognition space to have a 40 percent higher accuracy than we previously had," Klein noted. He stressed that the outcome of AI/ML models are always based on the data and the training with those. "Training the ML models is not a one-time effort," he said, adding human supervision is required to annotate the customers' feedback and say, "we should retrain these kind of data points because they are not performing the way they should". To create better AI/ML models, one has to look at different data sets, write out the bias in the data set and have an unbiased model in the end. "Your first model really isn't perfect but then, from there on, you keep increasing the accuracy and the performance, depending on what the use case is," Klein explained. When it comes to humans, they are good in dealing with situations that have ambiguous kind of data points. "Humans are really good at learning quickly with very little information. ML models are the opposite. They require a lot of data inputs to be able to be trained. "I would argue that you show someone a bicycle a few times and you show them how to ride a bicycle after few times the human being is able to ride that bicycle pretty easily. To just train a robot to ride a bicycle takes millions of hours of training," explained Klein. In the last one year, AWS has released over 200 ML services and features. When it comes to Amazon Alexa now talking to humans, he said lot of their customers are using the platform to do voice profiling for a variety of reasons. "For example, in the financial services industry, we have customers that are looking into voice profiling as an additional factor at their call centres. So if they want to verify if it's you, they can add voice profiling as an additional factor to further reduce fraudulent or impersonation calls," he explained. In a nutshell, Klein said, ML would only complement and enhance the human work once bias is out from our minds. LUCKNOW: An Ayodhya-based man was arrested for murdering two sisters on Tuesday. The incident took place in the Bodhipurwa village on Saturday. The accused, Ravi Verma, had an illicit affair with one of the sisters who was married, according to the police. On the night of the murder, the duo got into a fight over some issue. In a fit of rage, the man hit the woman which allegedly led to her death. Later, he also murdered the woman's younger sister who threatened to go to the cops. We have arrested a man for killing two sisters. The accused had an affair with one of the victims, they got into a fight and the man hit the woman. Later the accused also murdered the other sister, said Jogendra Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayodhya. Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Syed Ali Raza Abidi was killed in Karachi, Pakistan, on Tuesday. According to Pakistani media, Dawn, 46-year-old Abidi was shot dead near his residence while he was in his car. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. As per the postmortem report, the former Member of Pakistan National Assembly (MNA) suffered four bullet wounds. Two unidentified people, on a bike, attacked Abidi while he had reached his residence gate, Dawn said citing CCTV footage. One of them got off the bike and pumped bullets on Abidi. At the time of the attack, Abidi was alone in his car. "The attackers were expert in target killings", Dawn reported quoting the police. The police cordoned off the site of the attack. Tripoli: Three suicide bombers attacked Libya`s foreign ministry in Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least two other people as well as themselves, authorities said. The three attackers began their assault with a car bomb, damaging vehicles and buildings, and then opened fire on the ministry, a security source said. Two managed to get inside and blow themselves up. The other was killed by ministry guards. Heavy smoke rose from the building, which was surrounded by security forces, as people were rushed to hospital. The health ministry said that apart from the attackers, three people had been killed and at least 21 injured. Interior Minister Fathi Ali Bashagha said however that apart from the attackers only two people were killed, adding that investigations were continuing into the identity of the assailants. (Update: Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack) "Security chaos in Libya offers propitious conditions for IS (Islamic State) and other terrorist groups," Bashagha said at a joint news conference in Tripoli with Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala. IS has been active in Libya in the turmoil since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The group took control of the coastal city of Sirte in 2015 but lost it late in 2016 to local forces backed by U.S. air strikes. Siala called for a partial lifting of the UN arms embargo on Libya to help authorities counter militant groups. He said the foreign ministry had been targeted because "it is a symbol of sovereignty". "All important documents have been saved," he said, adding that he deplored the death of one ministry employee in the attack. The foreign ministry earlier issued a statement saying: "The Libyan people are waging a war on terrorism on behalf of the world." The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the attack, stressing the need to "prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven or an arena for their crimes". Siala said security arrangements agreed between Libya`s Government of National Accord and the UN after a month of clashes in the south of Tripoli are yet to be implemented. The term of the martial law in some regions of Ukraine has expired. We will sum up its consequences and results Martial law in Ukraine 112.international The legal regime of a martial law in Ukrainian 10 regions has expired on December 26. As you know, due to the threat of large-scale invasion in Ukraine by Russian Armed Forces, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on the introduction of martial law in Ukraine on November 26. It provided for the establishment of such a regime for 30 days - until December 26 this year. The Verkhovna Rada approved the law, approving presidents decree on the same day. According to the regulations, the martial law was established in ten regions of the country (Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Donetsk and Zaporizhia), as well as inland waters of the Azov-Kerch water area. Let us try to sum up the main events: what happened in Ukraine during the first martial law ever introduced in the country. Full combat readiness The regime of martial law, in general, gives the right to the military command to assume the powers of state authorities. However, immediately after the introduction of a special regime, president Poroshenko noted that of all the options provided by the Law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law", his decree included mainly the defensive measures. So, from the first minutes of the introduction of the special legal regime, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard and the Security Service were brought to full combat readiness. They focused their efforts on checking the possibility of an effective defense of state borders and preventing provocations in the border regions. As part of such checks, the redeployment of military units, reservists training were conducted and even more strict traffic control was introduced. For example: The military command by aircraft transferred the 95th Separate Assault Brigade from Zhytomyr region to the Azov and Black Seas, and some units of the air defense forces were sent directly to the border with the Russian Federation. During the period of the martial law, more than 3,000 reservists of the first turn were trained. The training lasted 15 - 20 days. They were summoned from regardless of where they live, and on the eve of the holidays they were let home. In the first days of martial law, the border guards and customs organized enhanced control at the border. On November 30, the entry to Ukraine was restricted for Russian men aged 16 to 60 years in case they can prove that they travel to the country with peaceful purposes. During this period, more than 1,6 thousand of Russian citizens were refused entry to the country. To prevent provocations, the police and the National Guard increased patrols in towns and villages in the martial law area. The number of checkpoints was also increased, and the level of crime has subsided. It is worth noting that the vertical power of the government also went through combat training, including the Cabinet of Ministers and local administrations of the ten regions with martial law. In particular, they checked the readiness of bomb shelters and other civil defense facilities, worked out plans for evacuation, prepared the reserves of medicines. As the National Security and Defense Council Secretary General Oleksandr Turchynov said, many problematic issues that were hidden before the introduction of martial law, became clear. Restriction of citizens' rights It is worth recalling that the law on imposition of martial law provided the restriction of the rights and freedoms of the citizens provided by eleven articles of the Constitution of Ukraine if it was needed. The president promised before the law came into force that such measures will be assumes only when the situation will escalate. Thus, if the large-scale invasion of the Russian troops in Ukraine will take place. Such scenario did not take place and it is the most important point, but the situation with the rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian turned out to be a little different. Particularly, the local elections, mass strikes and protests were banned at the territory of regions with martial law. Moreover, the hunting was prohibited in Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Luhansk and Vinnytsia region. The authorities urged people not to wear military uniform and report about suspicions persons. More serious restrictions, such as introduction of the curfew, restriction of the freedom of mass media and communication, expropriation of the property for the needs of army of ban for leaving the country were not assumed. Besides, the full or partial mobilization did not take place. Some mass media reported that people get personalized text messages with the demand to come to the military commissariat but the Defense Ministry called such messages fake of the information war. The financial restrictions also were not imposed, while the rush occurred at the currency marker as soon as martial law was imposed and it led to the fall of hryvnia rate. Now, it is stabilized thanks to the tranche of IMF received with the stand-by program and its rate has increased thanks to part of the credit from the World Bank. Martial law did not influence the creation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous Church. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew confirmed that he is ready to pass Tomos on provision of the autocephaly to the Ukrainian church to Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Epiphaniy after the joint worship in Istanbul on January 6, 2019. Will it be prolonged? The Head of the State has stated several timed that the martial law would be prolonged only in case of large-scale intervention of Russias Armed Forces into Ukraines territory. Therefore, Poroshenko declared the end of the martial law today, on December 26, at 2 pm at the session of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council. He also noted that it would not be extended. This is my principled decision which is based on the analysis of all the components of the current security situation in the country, he stressed. The President sadly noted that the situation around Ukraine had not changed. OSCE confirmed the information our intelligence had Grad systems are recorded near Luhansk, the amount of artillery was tanks were not withdrawn. Russias military presence in Azov Sea has not decrased, he said. Poroshenko added that the Ukrainian sailors were still in captivity. According to the Head of the State, the defence capacity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other units got a completely different dimension. We have done a lot of work on redeployment, reduction of time frames of combat shakedown, additional complementation by the means of immediate reserve forces, military queipment supplies, he named. According to the President, martial law in Ukraine will not be prolonged. The legal regime of martial law in ten regions of Ukraine ends on Wednesday, December 26. Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine imposed the martial law in ten regions across the country on November 26. On the same day, the Ukrainian Parliament passed the law that enacts the president's decree. Thus, the martial law lasted for 30 days. The reason to impose the martial law was the crisis in the Kerch Strait, in the Sea of Azov. The Russian Navy attacked the Ukrainian vessels, damaged them and captured the crews, 24 Ukrainian sailors. Currently, the captured men are at remand centers in Moscow. According to the respective acts, the martial law was imposed in Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Donetsk and Zaporizhya region, as well as in the domestic waters of the Sea of Azov. In case of necessity, the martial law foresees certain limitations of rights and freedoms of citizens; however, the President promised that these measures would only take place if the situation escalated. Later, Poroshenko said the legal regime of the martial law would not be extended, if no full-scale Russian invasion took place. As we reported earlier, the Russian Navy attacked the Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov. The vessels were damaged, and the crews captured by the Russian special services. Ukraine and the Western governments consider the attack an act of aggression. The Ukrainian sailors were taken to a remand center in Crimea, and then in Moscow, charged with the 'illegal crossing of the Russian territorial waters'. All sailors deny their guilt, claiming they are prisoners of war. On December 26, from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m., the Ukrainian military recorded five shelling of Ukrainian positions, reports the press office of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The strongholds of the Ukrainian military were shelled from grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns and small arms in the areas of settlements Pesky, Krasnohorivka and Hruntove. Related: One Ukrainian serviceman wounded in Donbas over Tuesday Besides, one use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements was recorded near Hruntove. In particular, the enemy conducted shelling of the positions of the Joint Forces from 82mm mortars. Serviceman Yevhen Tonenkov (aka Stalker) died during mission in Krymske village in Luhansk region. Related: One Ukrainian soldier wounded in Donbas over 24 hours, - Ukrainian military Yevhen Tonenkov is from Mariupol, lived in Mykolaiv District in Lviv region. In September 2018, along with his wife, he signed a contract with the 10th separate mountain assault brigade. Prior to that, he served in Donbas battalion, Lviv Regional State Administration reported. The Ministry of Defense says that the situation in the hostilities zone remains controlled by Ukranian forces. On Wednesday, December 26, North and South Korea held a ceremony of the symbolic unification of the railway systems of the two countries, Yonhap reports. The ceremony started at Panmun Station in the North's border town of Kaesong at around 10 a.m. with high-ranking officials from the two Koreas on hand. Officials from the United Nations and neighboring countries, including Russia, China and Mongolia, also attended the event that could be the start of an ambitious plan to connect the inter-Korean railway to the Trans Siberian Railway so as to create a transportation route from Korea all the way to Europe. On April 27, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in met at Panmunjom border checkpoint. The historical handshake took place as the North Korean leader visited the neighboring country - for the first time in 65 years. During the talks, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced his intention to close the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. After the talks, the leaders of the two countries announced the signing of a peace treaty at the end of 2018, which would put an end to the war between the two countries. In particular, the heads of the states signed the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula. Later DPRK canceled a meeting with the authorities of South Korea. The reason was the discontent of the North Korean side with military drills conducted by the United States and the Republic of Korea. Later, Kim Jong-un convened a military commission of the party for the first time in two years. The meeting took place in Kremlin with the short breaks and change of the formats The President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko have finished the negotiations in Kremlin, which lasted almost four hours as TASS reported. At first, Lukashenko and Putin have listened to the speeches of the officials; then Putin invited the Belarusian leader to a working New Year's Eve dinner. The talks continued behind the closed doors, the message said. According to the observers, the compensation of the outlier incomes of Minsk from the tax maneuver held by Russia has become the most pressing issue of the negotiations. The Russian side is concerned about the issue of the periodic violations of the customs regime of the Union State by Belarus. It is also known that the presidents agreed on one more meeting before the New Year; Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed this information. Earlier, Lukashenko stated that he would not call Russia a fraternal state anymore but only a partner. Besides, the Belarusian president expressed the opinion that Moscow wants to incorporate Belarus into the composition of Russia on the pretext of deep integration. Open source Russia announced the names of Ukrainian companies and individuals who have been included to the expanded sanctions list. The full list is available on the Russian government's website. Now, special economic sanctions are applied to 567 individuals and 75 companies. Thus, on December 25, Russia added 245 new persons and 7 companies to the sanctions list. The list included the "Ukroboronprom" concern, the "Ukrspetsexport" enterprise and the public joint-stock company "Centrenergo". As reported, earlier the head of the Russian government Dmitry Medvedev tweeted that he had signed a government decree, expanding the lists of individuals and legal entities, against which sanctions would be applied - 'due to Kyivs unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities'. At the same time, Medvedev stressed that the decision was taken "to protect the interests of the Russian state, companies and citizens of Russia." As we reported earlier, on November 1, 2018, Russias Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree, which introduces sanctions against 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 companies. In particular, sanctions were imposed against Ukraines Internal Minister Arsen Avakov, Acting Health Minister Ulyana Suprun and Culture Minister Yevgen Nyshchuk, Minister of Education Liliya Grynevych, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan, Ecology Minister Ostap Semerak, Information Policy Minister Yuriy Stets, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, Deputy Defence Minister for European integration Anatoliy Petrenko and Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. The sanctions include the blocking of non-cash money, non-documentary securities and property in Russia and the ban on the withdrawal of the capital from Russia. The Russian side also stated that the restrictions could be lifted if Ukraine lifted sanctions against Russian citizens and legal entities that were imposed by the National Security Council on September 2, 2015. The parties have also discussed interactions within the framework of the international organizations, in particular, the UN President Petro Poroshenko and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev agreed on holding a session of Ukrainian-Kazakh Commission on economic cooperation in 2019. Reported the Presidential Administration after the phone talks of Poroshenko and Nazarbayev. A special attention has been drawn to the state and prospects of development of trade and economic bilateral cooperation, reads the message. Related: Ukraine introduces sanctions against Russian politicians and companies Poroshenko and Nazarbayev have also discussed interactions within the framework of the international organization, in particular the UN. Recently, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip had a phone conversation, during which they discussed the prospects of expanding of the joint border and customs control in some checkpoint at the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border. Related: Poroshenko hopes Ukraine's Parliament "drops anchor in NATO's bay" in February They talked on relevant issues of the bilateral agenda. In particular, the conversation was about enhancing cooperation in the border area and expanding joint border and customs control at selected checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border. The interlocutors drew special attention to enhancing security in the region and cooperation of Ukraine and Moldova within the framework of international organizations. At the same time, the National Security and Defense Council didnt publish the list of names, against which the sanctions are to be imposed On December 26, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine endorsed the decision to impose sanctions against Russian physical and legal entities for holding unlawful elections on the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the Russian aggression near the Kerch Strait, reports the press office of the council. Based on the results of the discussion of the issue On the implementation of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions), it was decided to endorse the imposition of sanctions, primarily against legal entities and individuals - Russian companies, businessmen, politicians and deputies, law enforcement officers who actively supported or contributed to aggressive actions against Ukraine, reads the message. Related: Month of martial law in Ukraine: What happened and what never happened? In addition, the NSDC issued sanctions against the organizers of so-called elections on the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the military, judges and law enforcers involved in the illegal capture of the Ukrainian sailors during the aggressive act of Russia against Ukraine near the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018 and their hold in Russian remand centers. That said, the press office of the council didnt publish the list of names against who it is decided to impose sanctions. Related: Poroshenko announces tests of anti-ship cruise missile On November 25, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy attacked 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. 21 Ukrainian sailors have been delivered to Lefortovo remand center in Moscow, three others are in the hospital of Matrosskaya Tishina prison, also in the Russian capital. On December 3, the Russian prosecutors officially accused Ukrainian sailors with the 'illegal crossing of the state border' during the attack in the Kerch Strait. The participants will discuss the end of the martial law in ten regions of Ukraine Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council will gather on session on Wednesday, December 26. Ukrainska Pravda outlet reports that with the reference to its own sources in the Presidential Administration. 'The session is planned for 2 p.m. today. The live broadcast will be available', reads the message. Earlier, we reported that the legal regime of martial law in ten regions of Ukraine ends on Wednesday, December 26. Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine imposed the martial law in ten regions across the country on November 26. On the same day, the Ukrainian Parliament passed the law that enacts the president's decree. Thus, the martial law lasted for 30 days. The reason to impose the martial law was the crisis in the Kerch Strait, in the Sea of Azov. The Russian Navy attacked the Ukrainian vessels, damaged them and captured the crews, 24 Ukrainian sailors. Currently, the captured men are at remand centers in Moscow. According to the respective acts, the martial law was imposed in Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Donetsk and Zaporizhya region, as well as in the domestic waters of the Sea of Azov. In case of necessity, the martial law foresees certain limitations of rights and freedoms of citizens; however, the President promised that these measures would only take place if the situation escalated. Later, Poroshenko said the legal regime of the martial law would not be extended, if no full-scale Russian invasion took place. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine noted that the state budget of Ukraine for 2019 provides for an increase in funding for defense and security tasks by almost USD 122 million, in comparing with 2018 The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine approved the main indicators of the State Defense Order for 2019-2021 at the meeting on December 26, reports the press office of the council. The NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said that the state budget of Ukraine for 2019 provides for an increase in funding for defense and security tasks by almost USD 122 million in comparing with 2018 and provided for in the amount of USD 4,4 billion, which is 5.37 percent of the gross domestic product. Related: Ukraine, Kazakhstan negotiate on economic cooperation According to him, following the fulfillment of the state defense order in 2018, more than 3,000 pieces of armament, military equipment and special items, more than 450,000 missiles and ammunition were supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2019, a number of priority projects for the development of rocket and rocket-jet weapons will be completed, Turchynov noted. He also added that this primarily relates to missiles with an increased range of destruction, a complex of ground-based cruise missiles for the destruction of naval targets, which will greatly enhance the coastal defense of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Related: Armed Forces of Russia to use Avangard missile system since 2019 Prospective developments and production of weapons and military equipment, heavy howitzer artillery, air defense and communications equipment, armored vehicles will be supported, the production of ammunition and shells will be expanded, the Secretary said. It is noteworthy that on December 26, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine endorsed the decision to impose sanctions against Russian physical and legal entities for holding unlawful elections on the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the Russian aggression near the Kerch Strait. The SUROV cargo ship under the flag of Mongolia, which moved from Turkish port to Russian Kavkaz port, ran aground on December 25 as the Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs reported. According to the international identification system AIS (automatic identification system), the last information about vessel SUROV was spotted two weeks ago. The automatic identification system (AIS) system was switched off on the vessel in violation of the demands of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea dated 1974. However, thanks to this system, there is a possibility not only to respond to the ships accidents and provide assistance to the victims but to trace the violations of the vessels traffic and illegal crossing of the border, the message said. According to the present information, the switching-off of the AIS was caused by the illegal movement of SUROV vessel to Crimean port. The reason is the attempt of the foreign companies involved in the maritime transport in the closed port to avoid the responsibility from the Ukrainian legislation and not to be put in the list of the violator companies, against which the sanctions can be imposed. Earlier, two ships collided in the Sea of Azov. Lady Mary cargo vessel under the flag of Tonga carried out a maneuver near a moored vessel Azov Concord under the flag of Malta; its propeller stuck in the anchor chain of the Maltese vessel. The glaze ice is observed on some parts of the roads The traffic is still complicated in Poltava and Cherkasy regions (central Ukraine) due to the bad weather. The traffic jams up to 20 km are observed in some places as the Emergency Service of Ukraine reported. Thus, the traffic is complicated on M-03 highway between villages Krasnohorivka, Velyka Bahachka district and Chervone, Khorol district (the traffic jam is about 20 km long) in Poltava region. The police have blocked the traffic for the work of the snow removal equipment; the vehicles start to move periodically. Besides, the traffic is complicated on the highway N-08 Zolotonosha-Lypove. About 50 vehicles are stuck there. The warming center is arranged inside the school building in the nearby Svyatylivka village. The traffic is complicated on the N-08 Zolotonosha-Kremenchuk roadway near Tymchenky village, Chornobay district in Cherkasy region; about 10 vehicles are stuck in the traffic jam. The traffic is provided on other roads of the state and local significance. The glaze ice is observed on some parts of the roads. Maksym Zurian, the driver, who got stuck on the highway Kyiv-Poltava reported to 112 Ukraine that some parts of the road are completely snowed. I am driving for 18 hours and got stuck between Myrhorod and Romodan. The road to Romodan is completely snowed. The Emergency Service of Ukraine promised to send a tractor to clean the road all night long but it turned out in the morning that all tractors are broken and none of them can come. Two drivers of the trucks with the buckets, which throw the snow aside, stay there but there is a too much of it. They got stuck there and their work stopped at this point, he reported. According to Zurian, a few vehicles are trapped on this part of the road. There are four such persons as me; we drive between the bend on Kybyntsi and Bijeve. It is impossible to move past Bijeve to Romodan or Kyiv, and it is also impossible to return to Myrhorod as there is the snowdrift at the bend of Kybyntsi, and the broken tractor stands in the middle of the road. As we reported, 479 inahbited localities across Ukraine are cut off the grid due to the bad weather. According to the President , the aspirations of the country toward establishing closer relationships with the North Atlantic Alliance acquired a new form The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko insists on adoption of amendments to the Constitution in the part of the consolidation of the strategic direction of Ukraine toward EU and NATO membership, as he said at the meeting of the National Security and Defence Council, broadcasted on 112.Ukraine. Today, Ukraines aspirations toward establishing closer relationships with the North Atlantic Alliance acquired a new form. Only after Ukraine drops anchor in the NATO bay, we will reflect Kremlins desire to provoke the escalation on the Ukrainian direction. I hope, we will do that at the level of the Ukrainian legislation, right after the next session of the Verkhovna Rada is opened, Poroshenko said. He stressed that in February, he would ask the Ukrainian Parliament to vote for the amendments to the Constitution, which declare our course towards membership in the European Union and NATO. Earlier, on November 22, Ukraines Parliament supported the draft amendment to the Constitution on Ukraines foreign policy, in particular, the intentions to become a member of the EU and NATO. In their turn, the Russian border guards banned 351 Ukrainians from entry The border guards did not allow 1,650 citizens of Russia to enter Ukraine during the action of martial law in ten regions from November 26 till December 26 as Hromadske reported citing Oleg Slobodyan, the spokesperson of the State Border Guard of Ukraine. Particularly, 89 Russians were banned from entry during the past 24 hours. In their turn, the Russian border guards banned 351 Ukrainians from entry during these 30 days. Ukraine has banned the entry to its territory for the male citizens of Russia in the age from 16 up to 60. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko proposed to tighten the rules of the registration in Ukraine for the Russians. 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. Given the tough situation in the area of Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov, President Petro Poroshenko supported the offer of Ukraine's national security and defense council; it stipulated that the Ukrainian Parliament should consider the option to impose the martial law in Ukraine. On December 26, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has declared the end of martial law in ten regions of Ukraine. Ukraines power structures obtained anti-tank missile systems such as RK-3 Corsar, Strunga-P', Barrier and other precision weapons During 2018, Ukroboronprom defense industry company gave the Ukrainian power structures more than 2,500 units of accurate weapons, as the press office of the company reports. It is noted that it became possible with the high-end manufacturing lines and very accurate machine tools. Related: U.S. Congress to consider $125 million military assistance to Ukraine in January, Volker As Ukroboronprom stated, one of the key enterprises in this medium is Kyiv State Design Bureau Luch, which developed and massively produces high-accuracy missile systems: RK-3 Corsar, Strunga-P' and Barrier. The handed weapons included high-accurate 152mm Kvitnyk shells, which hits the target on 20-kilometer distance with an accuracy of a few centimeters and 80mm Oskol missiles. In addition, the State Joint-Stock Holding Company "Artem" began work on the mass production of new 152-mm shells for Giatsint artillery systems. Related video: As it was reported earlier, Kyiv Armored Plant gave a batch of BTR-3DA to the National Guard of Ukraine. The armored personnel carrier is equipped with Storm-M module equipped with 3TM-1 30mm automatic cannon, which has a fire rate of 330 shots per minute. Prior to this, the enterprise manufactured more than 50 new BTR-3 for Ukrainian servicemen; about 140 armored vehicles and other heavy weaponry were repaired. Martial law imposed in ten Ukrainian regions has not influenced the lives of the citizens, as President Poroshenko said at the meeting of the National Security and Defence Council, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. I stress again: as it was promised a month ago, martial law had no influence on the everyday lives of the Ukrainians. It did not lead to restriction of rights and freedoms. As I promised, it did not influence the economy, as we were scared of that possibility, Poroshenko noted. At the same time, he added that the threat of Russias intervention did not disappear. And maybe, if it werent for elections, we would ask the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament, - 112 International) to prolong this martial law. Yet, we have done a lot for enhancing the defence capacity within this month in the conditions of the martial law, the President stressed. Today, on December 26, martial law imposed in ten regions of Ukraine is over. Order and security on the streets of our regional centers and in Kyiv have increased, the Head of the state assures President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko claimed that the criminal rate decreased by a quarter in ten regions where the martial law was imposed. He claimed this at the session of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine while declaring the termination of the martial law, reports 112 Ukraine. Here's an interesting thing: the martial law, which was active in ten regions for last month... I think Arsen Borysovych (Avakov, - 112.international) will confirm that 26 percent less crimes have been recorded than usual. Order and security on the streets of our regional centers and in Kyiv have increased, the President said. Related: 1,650 Russians were not allowed to enter Ukraine during martial law period Having said that, Poroshenko noted that more illegal weapons and offenders are found over the period. They are now being brought to justice, the President explained. Today, December 26, martial law is over in ten regions of Ukraine. Earlier, we reported that the legal regime of martial law in ten regions of Ukraine ends on Wednesday, December 26. Related: Legal regime of martial law in ten regions of Ukraine over Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine imposed the martial law in ten regions across the country on November 26. On the same day, the Ukrainian Parliament passed the law that enacts the president's decree. Thus, the martial law lasted for 30 days. The reason to impose the martial law was the crisis in the Kerch Strait, in the Sea of Azov. The Russian Navy attacked the Ukrainian vessels, damaged them and captured the crews, 24 Ukrainian sailors. Currently, the captured men are at remand centers in Moscow. Related: How Russian aggression and martial law strike Ukraine's ports in Sea of Azov According to the respective acts, the martial law was imposed in Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Donetsk and Zaporizhya region, as well as in the domestic waters of the Sea of Azov. In case of necessity, the martial law foresaw certain limitations of rights and freedoms of citizens; however, the President promised that these measures would only take place if the situation escalated. Later, Poroshenko said the legal regime of the martial law would not be extended, if no full-scale Russian invasion took place. Russian Nizhniy Novgorod District Court sentenced the Ukrainian lawyer Ihor Kyiashko to eight years behind bars in a high-security correctional facility on the charge of espionage and military equipment smuggling attempt, as Meduza reported. According to the prosecution, Kyiashko tried to buy a blade for RD-33 engine in Russia and sell it in Ukraine. RD-33 is used in MiG-29 jet fighter aircraft. Russian Security Service controlled the sale, he was detained when the money was handed. Kyiashko admitted his guilt, the news agency reads. Besides, Kyiashko was found guilty of attempting to gather data on a radio station, which is used in the S-400 missile system. According to Kyiashko, somebody planted the secret documents during the arrest. His lawyer Olexiy Matasov regards the sentence quite light, he is not going to appeal against it. Reportedly, Ihor Kyiashko, a Ukrainian lawyer was detained in Nizhniy Novgorod region on April 10. He was charged for smuggling attempt and spying. In particular, he was accused of trying to acquire tools of aviation engines and the copies of technical documentation about the radar station which is a part of the man-portable air defense system. N.M. Wildlife and Wildscapes: The Art of Julia... PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Gobierno del Peru condena atentado terrorista en Libia. ?https://t.co/NqyMQd2aVl pic.twitter.com/nSBAtTCK2I Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: No podemos defraudar la confianza del pueblo. Los peruanos estan vigilantes de los pasos que vamos dando. El 2019 tiene que ser un ano de consolidacion de la lucha contra la corrupcion y el fortalecimiento del sistema democratico. pic.twitter.com/jy6lo6SHaY Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Generamos este tipo de iniciativas para brindar el apoyo necesario al sector agrario, poniendo enfasis en los pequenos agricultores, pues el Estado debe ser un soporte para ellos. pic.twitter.com/2uE1Woojbj YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. North and South Koreas held a ceremony for a project to reconnect rail and road links, Reuters reported. The ceremony began at 10:00 local time at Panmun Station in the border city of Kaesong. The two sides agreed in October to inaugurate work on reconnecting railways and roads that have been cut since the 1950-53 Korean War. A special train carried 100 South Korean officials, politicians and members of families displaced by the war to the ceremony. They were joined by a 100-strong North Korean delegation, as well as officials from the United Nations, China, Russia and Mongolia, according to South Koreas Unification Ministry. The United States and the U.N. Security Council gave their support for the ceremony. South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to the ceremony during a September summit in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a step toward joint industrial zones and reconnecting transport links. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Loud explosions have been heard close to Syria's capital Damascus overnight, in what the Syrian military says were Israeli air strikes on a weapons depot, according to BBC. A Syrian military official told state media the depot was hit, and three soldiers were injured. Israel has not confirmed the strikes. But at the same time, Israel said it activated its air defense systems to bring down a Syrian missile. There were no casualties or damage to property in Israel, the military said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not commented on the reported air strikes. The IDF later tweeted that its air defense systems were "activated in response to an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria". According to An Nashra news, the Syrian air defense systems successfully intercepted eight Israeli missiles. The media outlet reported that Israel has also used UAVs. The Syrian state-owned TV channel reported that an aggressive attack was carried out through Lebanese airspace. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Board of Chamber of Advocates of Armenia, discussing the intolerant behaviors of some party of society against judges and attorneys, recorded that in recent period a tension is noticed among some party of the society regarding certain objectively sensible criminal cases, which also targets the advocates institute that is called to provide legal support to everyone, the Chamber of Advocates told Armenpress. The Board states that this behavior continues till now, and the executive leadership doesnt show respective interference. The Board expresses its concern over the pressures used on judges, considers this unacceptable regardless of its demonstration format and time and believes that acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans public speech can contribute to preventing such negative behavior. The Board strictly condemns the pressures against lawyers and judges, expresses support to judges calling on not to deviate from their constitutional mission. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. More than 120 judges have been fired in Azerbaijan, local media reported. According to local news media, the reason for the dismissals is misconduct. The decision to fire the judges was made during a sitting at the justice ministry on December 25. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Former President Robert Kocharyan has appealed a court verdict on his arrest to a higher court, his lawyers said in a statement. They said that the complaint to the Court of Cassation is comprised of 107 pages. Kocharyans attorneys argue violations of due process, including the violation of presumption of innocence, and violations of several other rights, among others, in the complaint. The lawyers said they will soon also file a motion to court requesting bail. 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again. At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities by walking to the Yerevan jail. Kocharyan is charged for overthrowing constitutional order during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead during his final days as president. He denies any wrongdoing. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Five boats, carrying forty illegal migrants, including two children, have been rescued on Christmas day in the English Channel, BBC reported. Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter intercepted a boat carrying 12 people and a child off the coast of Deal, Kent. And a girl was one of eight who arrived in Folkestone. The Home Office said some of the migrants identified as Iraqis, Iranians and Afghans. The children will come under the care of social services, officials said. All of them have undergone a medical assessment and the adults have been transferred to immigration officials to be interviewed. French maritime officials tweeted two images of the rescue, which appeared to show at least some of the eight people were wearing life jackets. The evidence shows there is organized criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel. We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk, a Home Office spokesman said as quoted by BBC. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenia had a record low number of murders in 2018, caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook. In 2018, weve had a record low level of murders since the year of 1990. This is an important indicator. For the record, all those who will attempt to solve any economic, political, personal or group problem through violence and weapons will get the most serious counter-blow and will be held responsible in the strongest possible terms, he said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The people of Artsakh will decide their own fate, Ararat Mirzoyan acting first deputy prime minister of Armenia, said on Facebook, commenting on the statement of Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov, reports Armenpress. Azerbaijani foreign minister Mammadyarov said Baku is ready to ensure the security of Artsakh-Armenians and give them right to high-level self-governance. I advice Mr. Mammadyarov to present this proposal to the Artsakh people: eventually the people of Artsakh are the ones who will decide their own fate. That is their natural, inalienable right that is not pressured by threat or weapon, and this right sooner or later must be recognized, Ararat Mirzoyan said. Earlier Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan, in response to the inquiry of Public TVs Lurer program, commented on Mammadyarovs statement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, emphasizing that Armenia reaffirms its clear position on the supremacy of the status and security of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiation package. There can be 2 approaches towards this announcement. We can reaffirm our clear stance on the priority of status and security of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiation package, giving reasonable clarifications for both approaches. Anyway, we think its necessary to display restraint in public announcements, supporting the negotiations, if, of course, there is sincere wish to respect the commitment towards the negotiations. This refers to the cases when attempts are made to present ones own one-sided opinions as preconditions. No one should decide the will of the people of Nagorno Karabakh but themselves. Preconditions, let alone threats, can have no impact on our position. Demonstration of both optimism and pessimism are equally ineffective methods for having any influence on the process. Its necessary to be realistic and to find a solution that will be acceptable for all the involved sides, Anna Naghdalyan said. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Jailed former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will file a motion to court seeking to be released on bail, his lawyer Aram Orbelyan told ARMENPRESS. It is highly likely that the issue will be discussed next year, however we hope that they will convene a hearing this year, taking into consideration that this is a matter concerning freedom, Orbelyan said. They seek to substitute the current measure of restraint the pre-trial arrest with bail. The lawyer said they will not seek any particular amount of bail, and will leave it to the discretion of the court. He said the motion will be filed today. 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again. At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities by walking to the Yerevan jail. Kocharyan is charged for overthrowing constitutional order during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead during his final days as president. He denies any wrongdoing. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Market Supervision Inspectorate of Armenia says it is monitoring gas filling stations (CNG) for technical and safety inspections. The agency said that it has revealed violations and irregularities in all 25 operators that were inspected. Violations include non-calibrated metering devices, exceeding levels of pressure, absence of safety precaution signs. Gas is filled by cubic meters instead of kilograms, the agency said. The inspectorate called on the businesses to operate duly and to avoid any irregularities. It called on the CNGs to adhere to safety precautions. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, 26 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 26 December, USD exchange rate down by 0.19 drams to 483.81 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.75 drams to 550.77 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 6.98 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.70 drams to 613.86 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 7.68 drams to 19570.34 drams. Silver price down by 0.09 drams to 228.27 drams. Platinum price down by 4.83 drams to 12288.33 drams. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. International Conference of Tour Operators will be held in Armenia for the first time in 2019, Hripsime Grigoryan chair of the Tourism Committee, told reporters today, reports Armenpress. She said the Conference will enable the tour operators to communicate and jointly develop Armenias tour packages and etc. After the official visit of Armenias acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Lebanon, an agreement was reached to intensify the cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism. The Conference will be organized by the consent of Lebanese tourism minister Avetis Kitanian, Grigoryan noted. She added that the Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will visit Armenia in early 2019. This year restoration works of a number of tourism infrastructures have been carried out by the World Banks loan program worth 55 million USD. At the moment the road from Garni to the Symphony of Stones, the road from Tatev Monastery to the Devils Bridge, as well as a number of central streets in Gyumri are under construction, she said. Hripsime Grigoryan said in 2019 huge amount of money will be provided for Armenias marketing promotion. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Russia will do its best for achieving a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a weekly news conference when asked how Russia is assessing the trends of settlement and opportunities for 2019. We dont put timeframes. If we speak about time, certainly we are in favor of a speedy resolution of the conflict and all steps aimed for it. But I wont mention specific timeframes, the history is long, the conflict is unfortunately protracted, but the Russian side as a co-chairing country of the Minsk Group as a country that has a common past and history with Armenia and Azerbaijan, will do everything required for it, she said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Despite the recent oral agreement between the sides of the contact line of Artsakh-Azerbaijan opposing troops, the Azerbaijani side continues to intensively violate the ceasefire regime in various sections of the frontline, as well as carries out strategic-tactical provocative actions. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, the front line units of the Defense Army still refrain from retaliation, but in case of the continuation of such behavior by the Azerbaijani troops are ready to take measures relevant to the situation. The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh urges the Azerbaijani side to refrain from unreasonable actions aimed at escalating the situation and at least during the holidays respect the requirements of the oral agreement between the sides. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Army front line units recorded high voices (most probably quarrel) and later shooting in the military positions of Azerbaijani located in front of Bash-Karvend village at about 16:00, December 26. After that the Armenian servicemen recorded how some Azerbaijani servicemen drag away another lying serviceman. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, such incidents often take place in Azerbaijani army which is the proof that discipline and inter-personal relations in Azerbaijani armed forces continue to remain in a miserable state. As a result of the mentioned incident the Azerbaijani side will probably have losses, about which it will prefer to keep silence according to its tradition. Its not also ruled out that the Azerbaijani elite will try to present the losses as victims of shooting by the Armenian side. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. A reception was held for mass media representatives on behalf of Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on December 26. Pashinyan congratulated the media representatives on New Year and Christmas wishing them health, happiness and success, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia. First of all let me thank you for your work done in 2018, because I think that the role of media was extremely great in the non-violent, velvet, popular revolution, Pashinyan said in his speech, adding that the press has never been so free in the history of the 3rd Republic of Armenia than it is now. You can be confident in one thing. The Government of the Republic of Armenia will spare no efforts for protecting and developing freedom of speech and the press, and of course, we expect an effective cooperation with media representatives, Pashinyan said, once again congratulating and thanking for the works done in 2018 and hoped that in 2019 the works will be more productive and the media will become a very productive tool for supervising the activities of the Government. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan The trial of a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer took place Wednesday but was closed to the public because of "state secrets", a northern Chinese court said. Wang Quanzhang, 42, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, disappeared in a 2015 sweep -- known as the "709" crackdown -- aimed at courtroom critics of Communist authorities. Charged in January 2016 with alleged "subversion of state power", Wang had been in legal limbo -- detained without a trial date -- until Monday, when his government-appointed lawyer finally contacted his wife with the court date. "The defendant... was tried in the first instance of the Tianjin Second Intermediate People's Court today," the court said in a statement. "Due to the state secrets involved, the court decided not to open the trial to the public. The verdict in this case will be pronounced at a later date." The closed-door proceedings were conducted in a heavily-guarded courthouse in the northern city of Tianjin, with Wang's wife prevented from attending the session and at least two activists detained for protesting outside the building. Wang's wife, Li Wenzu, was on Tuesday placed under de facto house arrest with "more than 20" security personnel outside her apartment. In an account posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning, a supporter Wang Qiaoling detailed how she and Li were barred from leaving a Beijing housing compound by groups of police officers for over an hour. - 'Another potential enemy' - "The authorities in cases like these see the defendant as their enemy and anyone close to them as either a potential tool to be manipulated... or as another potential enemy to be controlled," Eva Pils, a professor specialising in human rights law at King's College London, told AFP. "Placing Li Wenzu under house arrest would fall in that category." Just before 10:00 am (0200 GMT), AFP journalists witnessed Heilongjiang activist Yang Chunlin getting arrested after he protested outside the court in Tianjin, describing the situation as "fascist rule" and "absurd". Several plainclothes officers set on Yang and bundled him into a waiting black SUV. Witnesses told AFP that Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from central China, had been taken away at about 8:15 am after holding up a sign calling for Wang's release. Wang is charged with being influenced by "infiltrating anti-China forces", of being trained by a foreign group and accepting their funding, and of having subversive thoughts as a result. The documents seen by AFP say he worked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish human rights activist whose group offered training to lawyers who have tried to use the tightly controlled Chinese judiciary to redress apparent government abuses. Dahlin was deported in 2016 after a 23-day detention. Wang is also accused of hyping up and distorting facts in cases he worked on, including a "cult" he was defending. - 'Stay quiet' - In Hong Kong, about 50 people marched to China's liaison office on Wednesday, demanding the release of Wang and others detained during the 709 crackdown. The sweep has dealt a blow to China's human rights defence movement, with most lawyers either jailed, disbarred or under heavy surveillance, making it impossible for them to work, said Human Rights Watch China researcher Yaqiu Wang. "The Chinese government, paranoiacally, sees grassroots Chinese activists and organisations working with foreign non-government organisations as attempts to foment a 'colour revolution' to challenge the Communist Party's grip on power," she said. Li and three others last week shaved their heads in protest of Wang's indefinite detention and tried to submit a petition to the courts but were prevented from doing so by the police. "Family members of detained activists are often warned to 'stay quiet' to avoid their loved ones getting harsher sentences," said Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International. "In the hope of getting the activist out earlier by succumbing to the threats of the authorities, family members and friends avoid bringing the case to journalists or calling for support on social media." Yang Chunlin, a rights activist from Heilongjiang, was detained after protesting outside the courthouse An AFP journalist at the scene counted at least 50 security personnel, both uniformed and plainclothes, who told journalists that the trial was not open to the public An Argentine woman kidnapped 32 years ago as a teenager has been found alive and well in Bolivia following a joint investigation between the two countries, Argentine police said Wednesday. Now 45, the woman was the victim of human trafficking at just 13 years old, police said. Bolivian officers had been gathering evidence on the woman's whereabouts for several months at the behest of their Argentine counterparts, before localizing her in a small town in the south of the country. Once Bolivian authorities gave the authorization, police liberated the woman and her son. The pair were transferred to Mar del Plata, her home town some 400 kilometers (250 miles) to the south of Buenos Aires, where she was reunited with family, Argentine police said. An Argentine woman (2-L) who was abducted 32 years ago and her nine-year-old son (2-R) being escorted by police officers into a car in Oran, Salta Province, Argentina Japan said Wednesday it is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission and will resume commercial whaling next year, sparking criticism from activists and anti-whaling countries including Australia. The announcement comes after Japan failed earlier this year to convince the IWC to allow it to resume commercial whaling. Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan's territorial waters. "We will not hunt in the Antarctic waters or in the southern hemisphere," he added. Tokyo has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the IWC, and has been regularly criticised for catching hundreds of whales a year for "scientific research" despite being a signatory to a moratorium on hunting the animals. Suga said Japan would officially inform the IWC of its decision by the end of the year, which will mean the withdrawal comes into effect by June 30. Leaving the IWC means Japanese whalers will be able to resume hunting in Japanese coastal waters of minke and other whales currently protected by the IWC. But Japan will not be able to continue the so-called scientific research hunts in the Antarctic and elsewhere that it has been exceptionally allowed as an IWC member. Japan joins Iceland and Norway in openly defying the IWC's ban on commercial whale hunting, and its decision sparked international criticism. - 'Rich whaling culture' - Australia's government said it was "extremely disappointed" and urged Japan to reconsider. "Australia remains resolutely opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called 'scientific' whaling," Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Environment Minister Melissa Price said in a statement. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters also urged Japan to stay in the IWC. "Whaling is an outdated and unnecessary practice. We continue to hope Japan eventually reconsiders its position and will cease all whaling," he said. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, and the meat was a key source of protein in the immediate post-World War II years when the country was desperately poor. But consumption has declined significantly in recent decades, with much of the population saying they rarely or never eat whale meat. Whale hunting has become a rare thorny subject in Japan's otherwise largely amiable foreign policy, with international opposition only prompting conservatives to dig in deeper in support of the tradition. Many members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party are supporters of whaling, and he himself comes from a constituency where whale hunting remains popular. Tokyo argues that whaling is an important part of Japan's traditions, and Suga said the withdrawal would allow fishermen to "pass our country's rich whaling culture onto the next generation." In September, Tokyo argued unsuccessfully that stocks of certain species of whale were now sufficient to support renewed hunting. "At the IWC general meeting in September this year, it became evident once again that those supporting the sustainable use of whale stocks and those supporting protection cannot co-exist, leading us to this conclusion," Suga said. Hideki Moronuki, a senior official at the Fishery Agency, told reporters: "A withdrawal is not the best option, but it is a better option in order to achieve Japan's major objective of commercial whaling." - 'Pirate whaling nation' - Activist groups slammed Tokyo's decision, with Humane Society International saying Japan would become "a pirate whaling nation killing these ocean leviathans completely outside the bounds of international law." Greenpeace Japan's executive director Sam Annesley said the decision was "out of step with the international community." The IWC, established in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population, introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986. Japan is the biggest financial contributor to the IWC, which may now have to find ways to replace lost funding. Tokyo has long exploited a loophole allowing whales to be killed for "scientific research" and says it is trying to prove the population is large enough to sustain a return to commercial hunting. It makes no secret however of the fact that meat from the expeditions ends up on dinner tables. It was not yet clear how many whales would be caught each year once Japan resumes commercial whaling, officials said. Last season, its scientific research expeditions caught nearly 600 whales in the Antarctic and the northwest Pacific. Leaving the International Whaling Commission means Japanese whalers will be able to resume hunting in their own coastal waters of minke and other whales currently protected by the global organisation Graphic on Japan's whale hunt Japan will not be able to continue the so-called scientific research hunts in the Antarctic that it has been exceptionally allowed as an IWC member under the Antarctic Treaty Whale hunting has become a rare thorny subject in Japan's otherwise largely amiable foreign policy, with international opposition only serving to make conservatives dig in deeper in support of the tradition Consumption of whale meat in Japan has declined significantly in recent decades, with much of the population saying they rarely or never eat it The release of additional bears into the Pyrenees mountains straddling France and Spain is needed to ensure the fledgling population's survival, the activist group charged with the bears' protection said Wednesday. "The good news of 2018 is without doubt the release of two bears in the Bearn region in October," the Ferus association said, referring to the border region. "But there's still a long road ahead of us," it added. Government officials have pushed ahead with plans to reintroduce brown bears in a bid to boost biodiversity, despite fierce resistance by sheep and other livestock producers. Around 40 bears currently roam the mountains since France began importing them from Slovenia in 1996, with Ferus hoping the two newest, Claverina and Sorita, will have cubs sometime next year. Environmental activists say they are crucial for maintaining a fragile ecosystem threatened by human activity and climate change. Some farmers, however, have vowed to shoot the bears on sight, saying they are decimating flocks, which now require costly protection from the predators. Claims by farmers for government compensation have soared, rising by 70 percent this year to 448 cases in the single French department of Ariege, where opposition to the bears has been particularly intense. "Complete security for the bears is far from assured because of an anti-bear minority which remains violent," Ferus said. Ferus also said France's wolf population remained at risk, with 45 animals shot and killed this year under a government programme that lets livestock owners shoot the animals if their flocks are threatened. The group announced earlier this month that it had filed a complaint with the European Commission against the French state, saying it was failing to ensure the wolves' protection. Around 500 wolves are now in France since they began to return to the Alps via Italy in the early 1990s, and are increasingly found elsewhere, including the Pyrenees and wooded northeast regions near Germany. A protest by shepherds in Pau, southwest France, this year against the reintroduction of bears in the Pyrenees mountains High operating costs and tight customer budgets have left US coffee giant Starbucks needing a caffeine hit after it abandoned ambitious expansion plans in South Africa -- seen as a foothold for the continent. Starbucks looked set to take the country by storm when the opening of its first store in the Rosebank district of Johannesburg in April 2016 attracted big crowds who queued for hours to taste their famous coffee and enjoy the cafe experience. "We thought they were going to run out of coffee before we could get a chance to taste it," Irshaan Mohammed, who is still a loyal customer at the flagship store, told AFP. "We couldn't believe how many people had actually come here." Mohammed, 23, said he loved "choosing ingredients and hanging out" at Starbucks, but "when it comes to my bill I always worry that I am paying too much." Local licensee Taste Holdings has opened 12 Starbucks cafes across Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban. It had hoped to have 45 stores open by 2020 -- with a peak target of 150 countrywide. But further openings have now been ruled out as the company struggles to control operational costs and debt. Taste last month announced it would "pause the expansion", saying "whilst the Starbucks' store network is profitable (before debt interest and tax), it is not producing the required return on the store investments." In its latest financial report, Taste said its food divisions operating costs increased by seven percent in the six months to August, "largely as a result of the operating costs of Starbucks doubling since the comparative period due to the addition of eight stores". - A tough challenge - Michael Trehene, market analyst at Vestact, told AFP that the Starbucks name was strong in South Africa but "the current model is simple too expensive to operate." It costs an estimated $350,000 to $550,000 to open each new store. There is no Starbucks in the country's fashionable tourist hub of Cape Town, despite Taste announcing plans to open there as far back as November 2017. "Places like Cape Town are affluent enough to sustain a few stores... (but) the coffee is expensive, which makes it unaffordable for a large part of our population," Trehene added. Another market watcher, Casparus Treunicht, an equity analyst at Gryphon asset managers, said Starbucks was a tough challenge to make profitable in South Africa. "Sure, it is a big brand, but what does it cost to give that product to your consumer?" he said. "You have to import all your ingredients and materials." The company sources coffee from nine countries in Africa along with small-batch reserve coffees from around the world. "For Starbucks to really make a profit they have to bring the costs down significantly but at the same time you need scale and selling more units,' said Treunicht. But cost-cutting is tricky at Starbucks where prime store locations, branded products and fast wi-fi are internationally standardised -- as well as having your name scribbled on your takeaway cup. The South African coffee market is also competitive with the likes of Bean There, Father Coffee and many independent outfits targeting middle-class consumers in cities. A small cup of Starbucks flat white costs 30 rand ($2), while a similar order at Father coffee costs 22 rand and 26 rand at the Vida e Caffe chain. - Weak economy - South Africa's middle-class has been under pressure from slow economic growth, while the country is one of the most economically unequal in the world with 27 percent of the population jobless. Starbucks, which operates more than 22,000 cafes worldwide, has a presence in only two other African countries -- Egypt and Morocco. Taste's entire food division, which includes brands like Domino's Pizza, has failed to make profit since 2015. It had to be refinanced by shareholders last February to the tune of $27 million to pay off its debt. It has also secured a $14 million loan from its now majority shareholder, the Riskowitz Value Fund, and may seek fresh refinancing in the near future. But Taste is optimistic and says that after securing long-term funding it hopes to reconsider its Starbucks plans. Now they need to convince consumers. "I only come here when me and my mom meet once a month, she loves it," said 25-year-old administration clerk Lerato Sedibeng. "I personally can't afford this coffee on my budget." The opening of Starbucks' first store in the Rosebank district of Johannesburg in April 2016 attracted big crowds President Donald Trump used a lightning visit to Iraq -- his first with US troops in a conflict zone since being elected -- to defend the withdrawal from Syria and declare an end to America's role as the global "policeman." Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, landed late Wednesday at Al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq after what he described as a stressful, secrecy shrouded flight on a "pitch black" Air Force One. He spoke to a group of about 100 mostly special forces personnel and separately with military leaders before leaving a few hours later after a visit that sparked controversy in Iraq. A planned meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi was scrapped and replaced by a phone call, the premier's office said. Trump invited Abdel Mahdi to visit Washington and he accepted, according to the White House. The president was seen shaking hands with camouflage-clad personnel, signing autographs and posing for photos at the base. Morale-boosting presidential visits to US troops in war zones have been a longstanding tradition in the years following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Trump has been soundly criticised for eschewing such a trip in the first two years of his presidency. But speculation had been mounting that he would finally make the gesture following his controversial plan to slash troop levels in Afghanistan and his order to withdraw entirely from Syria. Trump sought to defend his "America First" policy of pulling back from multinational alliances, including what to many Americans seem like the endless wars in the Middle East. "It's not fair when the burden is all on us," he said. "We don't want to be taken advantage of any more by countries that use us and use our incredible military to protect them. They don't pay for it and they're going to have to." "We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people haven't even heard about. Frankly, it's ridiculous," he added. - 'Enough time' - Trump told reporters he had overruled generals asking to extend the Syria deployment, where about 2,000 US forces, joined by other foreign troops, assist local fighters battling the Islamic State jihadist group (IS). "You can't have any more time. You've had enough time," he said he told the top brass. Trump's visit appeared to take Iraqi authorities by surprise and prompted criticism including from former prime minister Haider al-Abadi. The way in which Trump visited was "not commensurate with diplomatic norms and relations with sovereign states", Abadi said. "Dealing with Iraq and its sovereignty in this way will harm Iraqi-US relations," he said. Iran-backed groups that make up a key bloc in the Iraqi parliament reacted angrily. Shiite movement Harakat al-Nujaba said the presence of US forces in Iraq was a "violation of the country's sovereignty" and it was "now the duty of the government to expel American forces". "Trump's disrespect of Iraq's sovereignty will not go unpunished," it said, adding it would "not allow Iraq to be a base used to threaten other countries". The head of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq pro-Iran paramilitary group, Qais al-Khazali, tweeted that "Trump's visit to a US military base without regard for diplomatic norms reveals the reality of the American project in Iraq". The Iraqi response, he said, "would be the parliament's decision to remove your military forces" unilaterally. - Disentangling America - Trump's troop drawdowns -- and the abrupt way that they were announced -- helped trigger the resignation of his defence secretary, Jim Mattis, who has been one of the administration's heavyweights. But the president has made disentangling America from its wars a priority since his 2016 election and he said in Iraq that the US would no longer be treated as "suckers." IS, which once controlled swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, has been driven mostly into hiding. On Wednesday, Trump said "we've knocked them out," although he added Iraq might be used as a future base "if we wanted to do something in Syria." According to a transcript released by the White House, he thanked troops for the "near-elimination" of IS, and said some US troops from Syria "will come here for a stay, but a lot of them are going to be going back home". According to Trump, the flight into Iraq was unlike anything he'd previously experienced. "If you would have seen what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all windows closed with no light anywhere -- pitch black," he said. After departing Iraq, Trump stopped over at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, before flying on to the United States, with Air Force One touching down early Thursday at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington. US President Donald Trump, wearing his Commander in Chief jacket, visits members of the US military during his trip to Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq Donald Trump sought to defend his "America First" policy of pulling back from multinational alliances US President Donald Trump signs a hat as First Lady Melania Trump looks on while they greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi spoke with President Donald Trump by phone after a planned in-person meeting was scrapped One of the last things Auburn City Court Judge Michael McKeon took out of his office ahead of retiring after 20 years was a framed picture. At first glance it seems like a painting, but it's actually a photograph, one that depicts McKeon's father, a lawyer, leaving the Cayuga County Courthouse, decades before his son would spend two terms as Auburn's lead judge. After graduating from Auburn High School in 1975, McKeon thought his path would lead him into a career as a history teacher. He even went so far as to earn his accreditation in that field. Ultimately, however, McKeon would end up following his father's footsteps into a career in law that culminated in the judgeship that he hopes left a record of encouraging people to change their lives for the better. Following his graduation from The College of Wooster in Ohio and later the Duquesne University School of Law, McKeon joined his father's law practice part-time. It wasn't until he served as a clerk for fellow Auburn resident and New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert White that McKeon got the idea to one day serve as a judge. First, however, McKeon would work as the assistant and later full corporation counsel for the city of Auburn, while also teaching criminal justice at Cayuga Community College. The combined experience from private practice, with the city and with White, gave McKeon enough experience to run a successful campaign for city court judge when the position opened in 1999. Initially, thanks to under-staffing and natural busyness of a court that deals in everything from "dog cases to drug cases," McKeon's first days as judge were something of an "organized chaos," he said. "It certainly was a full-time job and then some," McKeon said, later adding "You look back sometimes and think 'how did you manage to do that?'" But, thanks to court staff, especially Chief Clerk Debra Robillard, the position soon became the best job he's ever had, McKeon said. "The people I've worked with here are probably the hardest working, most dedicated people I've met in all my 40-year career in law," McKeon said. Robillard, who McKeon said he barely goes a day without speaking to, said it has been a pleasure working with the judge, and that the two have learned a lot together. "We're a team and he's a great leader," Robillard said. Having presided over so many cases over the years, McKeon said it's often difficult to point to certain ones that stand out over his entire career. What McKeon didn't hesitate to say, however, was that the establishment of specialized courts focused on helping and rehabilitating offenders with drug, behavioral, mental health and domestic violence problems was the "most important" legacy of his career. Beginning on Feb. 24, 1999 a date he remembers because it coincides with the birth of his twin daughters the city first began holding drug and alcohol treatment court with the goal of not just reducing recidivism but helping get qualified offenders into recovery, McKeon said. "All these courts are about transformation in people's lives," McKeon said. McKeon said he was moved to start a drug court in Auburn, something that first started in Miami in 1989 and in New York in 1995, after seeing defendants come in again and again. "I began to realize that the normal process of incarcerating people didn't solve their problems," McKeon said. "It was a revolving door that didn't stop revolving." A recent independent evaluation of the drug court required as part of the grants the court received found that the specialized courts perform better than the nationwide average in terms of getting offenders into recovery and staying out of trouble, McKeon said. He again deferred the praise for that success to the court's staff, particularly Carol Colvin, the drug court coordinator since 2003, who he called "the best coordinator in the state." But for McKeon, the calculations of things like money saved from cases that didn't have to be prosecuted comes secondary to seeing the real change the court makes in lives. In one of his last sessions on the bench, McKeon said a graduate of the drug treatment program came before him and told him how they had turned their life around and that they wouldn't be there if it weren't for him. For his part, McKeon said he only gives participants the "nudge" they need to change their lives themselves. But the biggest reward for McKeon comes in the form of the 30 to 35 babies that were born drug- and addiction-free after their mothers successfully completed the drug treatment court's programs. "It is wonderful to see a baby born healthy. It's really a moving thing," McKeon said. As he was looking toward hearing his last cases, McKeon said the decision to end his time as judge was "bittersweet," but overall a good way to end a career. "Certainly, this was the most rewarding thing I've ever done," McKeon said. Staff writer Ryan Franklin can be reached at (315) 282-2252 or ryan.franklin@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @RyanNYFranklin Love 12 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 2 Angry 0 New York state entered 2018 with some serious deficiencies in how its laws support people victimized by sexual abusers, but as the year draws to a close, lawmakers and the governor have made some significant progress. The most recent example came last week when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a sexual assault survivors bill of rights. The measure, passed last session by the state Assembly and Senate, puts into law steps that must be taken to make sure alleged victims in sexual assault cases understand and can exercise their rights. Among those rights are access to a rape crisis counselor, free health-care services, information about their rape kits and the status of their criminal cases. Law enforcement agencies must establish policies that guide communicating with alleged victims in these cases. The law goes into effect in 180 days, at which time New York will be the 16th state with this type of bill of rights. Cuomo OKs bill to establish sexual assault survivors' bill of rights The sexual assault survivors' bill of rights has been signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, That new law followed a legal change made as part of the state budget adopted last spring that extends the time rape kits must be preserved. That went from an incredibly short 30 days to 20 years. At the same time, the state is pushing to end a high backlog of rape kit testing. All of these measures demonstrate important and badly overdue reforms in how the state deals with sexual abuse. As 2019 comes into focus, we urge lawmakers and the governor not to rest on these issues because more progress can and must be made. At the top of the to-do list should be extension of statutes of limitations in sex abuse cases. For all but the most serious sexual abuse crimes, New York's statute of limitations on child sex abuse crimes has been woefully inadequate. A measure to change that, for both criminal and civil cases, has been approved by the Assembly for multiple years only to be blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate. With Senate control shifting this year, that can change. Cuomo last week signaled that this issue was among his top priorities for the start of the 2019 session, and we hope lawmakers in both houses feel the same way. The Citizen Editorial Board includes publisher Rob Forcey, managing editor Mike Dowd and executive editor Jeremy Boyer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This past November the citizens of New York turned out in record numbers to reform and reshape New York state government. Driving many to the polls was an effort to change our antiquated election system in New York state. Often these reforms were blocked by the GOP leadership in the state Senate. The voters rebelled against this and voted to unify NYS government with a mandate to reform our electoral process. The state Legislature and governor are promising to heed this call. We support this decision and urge them to act early in the next session to provide the reform voters want. The Democratic elections commissioners of New York state are eager to enact these reforms. Last March our caucus embraced many of the reforms that are being discussed today. We once again affirm our commitment to working with lawmakers on all sides to help shape reasonable and responsible legislation to modernize our electoral system. Among the many reforms needed we support the following: A unified primary in June: New York state is the only state in the nation that has two primaries for determining general election candidates. Our September primary is in violation of the federal MOVE act and for the last six years this has resulted in two primaries in federal years, a federal primary in June and a local primary in September. It is estimated that this has cost New York state taxpayers $50 million dollars each federal year and causes voter fatigue and confusion. A move to a June primary will not only save precious taxpayer dollars but alleviate calendar issues that prevent other reforms. We urge an immediate adoption of a unified primary in June. Early voting and no-fault absentee: 37 other states enjoy the convenience and benefit of early voting. This vital electoral tool for is long overdue in New York state. We urge the adoption of early voting with at least two full weekends for New York voters. We also urge a permanent funding source be provided from the state so the added cost is not a burden to county governments. A move to electronic poll books will also ensure the success of early voting and modernize the Election Day experience for voters. In addition we urge the Legislature to start the process of a constitutional amendment to move to a no-fault absentee voting system. Modernize our registration system: New York states antiquated registration can stand to benefit from proven reforms we see happening in other states. First among these reforms is automatic voter registration. A switch to an opt-out instead of an opt-in system will remove one of the biggest barriers to participation, registration. An online voter registration system managed by New York State Board of Elections will provide oversight to DMV and help other agencies comply within guidelines to ensure accurate and timely registration. We also urge the Legislature to remove the restriction on polling places for affidavit ballots and start the constitutional process for same day registration for all voters who may fall through the gaps of an AVR system. End fusion voting: Many of the frustrations of our voting system stems from the root of fusion voting. The fusion voting system encourages minor parties that are parties in name only and act as cross-endorsement agents of major parties. Competition over minor party lines lead to ballot delays and voter confusion. We urge the Legislature to take a serious look in to ending fusion voting and providing clarity to voters. Make general Election Day a state holiday: We applaud the governors call for a state holiday for general Election Day. Not only will this properly emphasize the importance of Election Day, it will free up potential polling places in schools and much needed inspectors from the ranks of municipal and state employees. New York state voters have awaited reforms for a very long time. The legislature should move quickly to pass legislation to start the process of reform over the next year. By the time New York state participates in our presidential year of 2020 we should be well on the way of reforming our voting process. Voters of New York deserve swift answers to their calls for reform. It is our hope with a unified New York state government, the obstacles of the past are removed and we can look forward to a bright future for our electoral system. Dustin M. Czarny is an Onondaga County Board of Elections commissioner and Democratic Caucus Chair of the New York State Elections Commissioners Association. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I want to thank your recent coverage of the Cayuga County Small Business Pitch Competition. However there was an oversight in that coverage that I believe must be addressed. This competition is the initiative of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Onondaga Community College. The SBDC serves five Central New York counties; Cayuga being one. The purpose of the competition is to encourage residents of the county, who aspire toward having their own small business, to learn the steps necessary to do so while competing for a cash prize. In order to afford this opportunity, the SBDC collaborates with Cayuga County businesses and their leaders who provide the necessary funding for the classes and the prizes. As the instructor of these classes and a former advisor at the SBDC (as well as an Auburn SCORE mentor) I am always grateful for this privilege. I believe all agencies deserve credit therefore; ask that the SBDC be recognized for its role. My hope is that you will print this missive towards that end. Nancy Ansteth Skaneateles Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The underlying reason that the Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 was in large part due to the dire circumstances that the Great Depression had on so many, including seniors during that eight-year period (19301938). (The suicide mortality rate among seniors was also significant during that same period.) The president said that the Act was intended on having some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age. And, for those interested: Wikipedia provides the history of the SSA at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Insurance_Contributions_Act_tax. From 1937 to 1949, no Social Security deductions were taken from the pay of American workers. It was from 1949 to 1979 that 0.5 percent of a person's salary was finally paid into the fund by the employee and the employer matched it. Then in 1980, it was raised to 3 percent ... and remained at that rate until I retired in at the age of 62. What was a real surprise to me was that my first three Social Security checks equaled an amount greater than what I'd actually put into the fund! (This holds true for just about every senior living in my building here at Stryker Homes) Today's workers are contributing a heck of a lot more into the fund than we did. Most are having 6.2 percent taken out of their pay and their employer is also contributing an additional 6.2 percent. (It's obvious that today's folks are not only having to put in the needed funds into their own retirement ... but they're also paying ours ... and for that we (seniors) should be saying, A BIG THANKS! Perhaps more seniors might want to find out what they actually paid into the fund and then realize also how fortunate that we also have the relief that Depression-era seniors didn't have! Anyone can request a copy of their Social Security statement from the agency by going on the Internet at: www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement or calling (800) 772-1213. Joyce Hackett Smith-Moore Auburn Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 HORSHAM, Pa.Xgen Products lingerie brand Baci Lingerie is now available in the United Kingdom thanks to a deal with ABS Holdings. We are pleased to partner with ABS Holdings and return Baci Lingerie to the U.K. market, said Andy Green, president of Xgen Products. Baci is a strong brand with great name recognition and a reputation for style, quality and comfort which will be well-received in these new markets. After a five-year absence, Baci Lingerie is returning to the U.K. following an agreement between Xgen and London-based ABS Holdings, a noted distributor and wholesaler of erotic products and novelties. Baci Lingerie is designed to celebrate every woman, offering each item from its collections in a full range of sizes from 0 to Queen. As part of the U.K. rollout, ABS will ship the top 15 styles from Bacis White Label and Dreams Collection. Baci Lingerie is known for its lines of products that include a wide range of bra sets, body stockings, chemises, costumes, hosiery, mini dresses, teddies, and more. We are very excited to be launching the Baci Lingerie brand at ABS! The award-winning brand is a force in the industry, and were happy to add Baci to our roster, said Justin Vickers, head of global trade sales at ABS Holdings. For more, visit Xgenb2b.com. Lady Sarah Ashley, played by Nicole Kidman, makes he r grand entrance upon the rugged landscape of Australia, and, initially, finds it more than she bargained for: Above. Drover, portrayed by Hugh Jackman (left) with Nullah, Brandon Waters (right), leads the quiet group of aboriginal children to safety from the occupying Japanese forces: Below. Drover, Hugh Jackman, discovers that possibly his association with Lady Sarah Ashley may be a larger endeavor than he bargained for: Above. Nullah, Brandon Waters (left), finds his spot in a reluctant Lady Sarah Ashley's (right), heart: Below. Like all great romantic epics, the story must embellish the subplot that both partners creating all that romantic tension must at some point manifest their elegant side. Drover, Hugh Jackman: Above. Lady Sarah Ashley, Nicole Kidman: Below. Hugh Jackman's Drover was the proverbial tough, honest cowboy, who doubled as the romantic lead. Somewhat of a combination between John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Gary Cooper but set in the Australian outback in the late 1930s: Above. Drover, Jackman, never shrinks from a fight, just like John Wayne; but unlike "The Duke," which was often the case, he gets the girl in the end: Above. "Australia," brought to us via the big screen by Director / Producer / Writer Baz Luhlmann, was epic in scale while concentrating on a pivotal time period (1938 to 1942) in the younghistory of the former British Colony - Australia. Many epics have been made since D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" and most have a cogent message against the backdrop of a sweeping panorama under difficult circumstances. The film "Australia" is no different."Australia" concentrates on the era when most of the world was facing the threat of an imminent world war. Australia, isolated by its geography from Germany's aggression in Europe and Japan's aggression in China, appeared more as a bystander and not a combatant. That all changed when the United States' Pacific Fleet was attacked by the Empire of Japan at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Before that event, the British nation was the only bastion of freedom willing to fight the Axis Powers in the Orient as well as western Europe. What few cattle ranchers that could raise cattle in the arid northern Australia had a near monopoly on that supply of protein to feed the British Army in 1938 / 39. Darwin bovine baron, King Carney, played by Australian actor Brian Brown, and the widow, Lady Sarah Ashley, played by fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman, the owner of the adjoining ranch, Far Away Downs, were the only competing producers and therein lied the conflict for this story.What breathed life into this story, that needed much resolution, was that it was told in the first person of a mixed Aboriginal and Caucasian boy name Nullah, played by precocious first time actor Brandon Walters. Nullah lived his 11 years on the fringe of society: unschooled, unwanted and fatherless. Fathered by the King Carney shill, Neil Fletcher, portrayed by Australian actor David Wenham, Nullah had always lived on the expansive Far Away Downs, where he was taught the story of life by his aboriginal grandfather, King George. His Grandfather, played by Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil, guided him through the mysteries of maturation until he would be ready for his "Walkabout." The "Walkabout" would be months of exploring the Australian outback with his grandfather as he searched for "the story" of his life.Young Brandon Walters was outstanding as the precocious Nullah, who as a child, sought not only the answers for his life, but for those around him. He was the spark with the grist to bring the reluctant Lady Ashley to compete with King Carney to drove what cows had been scattered, by the former ranch boss Neil Fletcher, to the docks of Darwin. All she needed besides Nullah was whomever they could scrounge remaining around the ramshackle ranch not fired by Fletcher as his parting shot, and a drover to manage the cattle drive. The ranch's alcoholic and corruptible accountant, Kipling Flynn, adroitly portrayed by Australian character actor Jack Thompson, certainly was no drover, but, a man named Drover played by Australian leading man Hugh Jackman was begged by Lady Ashley to be the catalyst to her success. Do you detect the thread that all of the major actors are native Australians? I'm just surprised that Cate Blanchett, Guy Pierce, Toni Collette, Russell Crowe and the "Breaker" Edward Woodward did not perform cameos.Drover was rough edged and rowdy and traveled with an Aboriginal sidekick, Bull, played by Ray Barrett. There existed an immediate conflict between Lady Ashley and the rum drinking, tough talking and rather assertive Drover as there existed multiple other conflicts in search of resolutions. Conflicts such as: the competition to successfully herd cattle with the "bad guys," led by the nemesis Fletcher, at every turn against the backdrop of some rough terrain, the mixed Aboriginal Nullah as a member of Australia's "Lost Generation" and derisively known as a "Creamy," the sudden and unprovoked bombing of Darwin by the Japanese soon after their attack of Pearl Harbor, Lady Ashley's maternal instincts to bring Nullah closer to the Caucasian world, complete with "The Wizard of Oz" (period film made an impression on Nullah, especially the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") and the Aboriginal Grandfather's drive to teach him his "own story."This epic, similar to the magnificent epic "Lawrence of Arabia," has the interaction of drama within the scope of a richly historical period and Cinematographer Mandy Walker's close attention to painstakingly film the beauty within a harsh environment magnifies its scale. The multiple conflicts, the cinematography within the panorama of a rough terrain, the interaction of actors, the cattle and the issue of xenophobia reminded me so much of John Ford's classic westerns and Hugh Jackman's Drover was somewhat of a homage to the late, great John Wayne. Similarly, "Australia" tells a story that is so reminiscent of the growing pains of the U.S.A. A really tough story about a decent people who eventually find their way and build a great country.While slowly driving a rickety truck along a rutted road in the Australian back country, Drover pronounces to Lady Ashley, "In the end all you own is your story ... I'm just trying to live a good one." This film showcased a great story told by young Nullah, and as a finely crafted film, it was entertaining and did not waist one minute of my time at nearly 3 hours of runtime. The writers of cinema history will determine if this film becomes a classic epic. I am impressed to the extent I give it 3 3/4 stars.Released November 26, 2008. Rated PG13. This is the legacy of arguably two of Sergio Leone's best films: "Once Upon a Time in the West," and to be reviewed later, "Once Upon a Time in America." Our subject in the now is the classic western that features an enigmatic cast, fantastic staging of scenes and equal cinematography, and is long on film score and short on dialogue.Once Upon a Time in the West is not only one of Sergio Leones best films, it is inarguably one of the top ten westerns ever made. The story is of the powerful ruthlessly subjugating the powerless, with little resistance until a hero steps forward, is timeless. In this yarn two heroes, however reluctant, take that step forward.The two heroes of this tale are Jason Robards, as hardened criminal on escape Cheyenne, and Charles Bronson, as thevengeful Harmonica, who plays a few mournful notes from the harmonica far more than he speaks. Both men find a purpose to be in the same place at the same time, and the heroine in need of their aid is the Italian beauty Claudia Cardinale, as the widow Jill McBain.As beautiful as Claudia Cardinale was in her prime, it is not her beauty that attracts these reluctant heroes;moreover it was for the money for, he would have to help her make, for one and revenge for the other. Definitely not altruistic qualities. For a film released in 1968, Once Upon a Time in the West definitely went against the formulaic typical westerns that were so prevalent in that era. But then again, so did Leones previous three spaghetti westerns, released respectively in 1964, 1965 and 1966: A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. They were so irreverent to the classic western genre, that one can well understand Director Leones natural successive need to bring all these qualities together in one to produce his American classic - mostly filmed in Spain.Sergio Leones cinematic contradictive qualities are emblematic of the myriad of complexities that make up intelligent human beings. I believe that is why his films innately speak to folks long after his death. Leone makes a romantic western like, One Upon a Time, with a beautiful woman like Cardinale, and yet there is no romance. He shows us, early in the film, the gun belt of an malevolent gunman as he is taking aim at a small child begging for his life with the impassioned stare of his big blue eyes. The gunman stares back with the squinting blue eyes of a man the has seen too much bad, and has done even worse, and unmistakably, the audience can tell that the actor playing a this malevolent man is Henry Fonda. He has slaughtered the boys family and now, consequently, holds his life in the balance. And in a moment, he coldly squeezes the trigger of his nickel plated Colt, and snuffs out all that child would become. Considering the cinematic fact that Henry Fonda has only played heroes: from Abraham Lincoln to Tom Joad in Grapes of Wrath, Leones desire to stun this audience, for effect, was heavily measured by the contradictive story telling in these images.A malelovent Henry Fonda tries playing bad guy, and gains no sympathy from the audience. He is rotten to the core.Symbolism has always been an integral component in the Leone box of cinematic tools. The first scene of the film begins with Harmonica getting off of the train and greeted be three dangerousdesperado in dusters at the station. The scene comprised of the four menlooking at each other for nearly five minutes, with just the ambient sounds of the locale as the soundtrack: no dialogue, just eventual gunfire.Later upon his first meeting with Cheyenne, he explained his previous duel as such:Harmonica: I saw three of these dusters a short time ago, they were waiting for a train. Inside the dusters, therewere three men.Cheyenne: So?Harmonica: Inside the men, there were three bullets.Cheyenne: That's a crazy story, Harmonica, for two reasons. One, nobody around these part's got the guts to wear those dusters except Cheyenne's men. Two, Cheyenne's men don't get killed.Harmonica: Well, you know music, and you can count - all the way up to two.Charles Bronson is pitch perfect as Harmonica.Very spare, but great dialogue. I would be remise if I did not mention that spare dialogue and well told tale was written by Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci and Sergio Leone. The Screenplay was written by Sergio Leone and Sergio Donati, with the English version written by Mickey Knox.At some point in every great western there must be the standoff.The staging of the scenes, whereby just the faces of these integral characters are used to convey the intent of the scene, with the supportive cinematic score by one of the greatest film score composers since inception of the motion picture - Ennio Morricone - is unique to the Leone brand. With such little dialogue, and when a director who films just the images of the interesting faces of his talented actors is his paramount vehicle for telling this story in celluloid, thus the music becomes an invaluable and indispensable component to convey his message. Morricone is just the artist to complete the classic Once Upon a Time in the West. If you truly love exceptional films, and even if you must have every detail explained to you in that film, sit your butt down for 165 minutes and experience one of the greatest westerns ever made. Thats an order.Rated R. Released in theaters in 1968. "We have a 9 a.m. meeting? Hold on let me scour the internet to find content for the morning tweet." Sound familiar? Scrambling for social content is nothing new. We have meetings. We miss deadlines. Things come up. And it's really hard to get any meaningful amount of work done when you have the next social media update looming over your head every 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Social media content moves so fast that you might occasionally feel thrown for a loop, which is why a pre-scheduled social media content calendar should be your new best friend. To make social media content easier for companies to plan and schedule across the accounts they manage, we created a social media content calendar template. And because this field moves so quickly, were always updating this template with the latest social platform features to help you share your content strategy at a tactical level. Use the Above Template to Plan Out Your Social Media Holiday Posts What is a social media content calendar? A social media content calendar organizes your publishing schedule by date so you can keep track of deadlines, better manage your content creation team, and create transparency with stakeholders who rely on your publishing schedule. What's in this social media content calendar template? Every social media content calendar is different and should be customized to fit your unique social media strategy. In this one, you'll find a schedule tab, your monthly planning calendar, a repository for website content, and updates for each of the top social media platforms: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Pinterest The great thing about this template is that as new social media platforms become popular and part of your content strategy (looking at you Tik Tok and Clubhouse), you can simply copy the spreadsheet and repurpose it for that new channel. This blog post will walk you through exactly how to use a social media content calendar template to stay on top of your social media content planning for each channel. Pro Tip: HubSpot customers can also schedule content through HubSpot's Social Media Management Software, or use this spreadsheet to organize and upload content. Detailed instructions for doing this can be found in the cover sheet of the template. How to Create a Social Media Content Calendar Template When you open the social media content calendar template, you'll notice the bottom of the Excel spreadsheet has several different tabs, most of which are dedicated to a specific social network. Since each social media network is a little different, you don't want to craft a generic social media post and use it across LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Instead, it's best practice to create a different worksheet for each platform. Why? A few reasons. Image sizes vary across all platforms, the types of content that work well on Facebook might tank on Twitter, and external links are great for Twitter but nearly impossible to use effectively on Instagram. You can certainly promote the same piece of content across those networks, but that doesn't mean you'll craft your update the same way for each of them. In fact, you may want to add additional tabs if you're active on other networks, like Quora or YouTube. How to Use this Template The following subsections will show you how to fill out each of the tabs you see in this template Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. But before we get to that, let's start with the Monthly Social Calendar. Monthly Planning Calendar The tab Monthly Planning Calendar provides an overall snapshot of your monthly social media campaigns. It'll help you coordinate with other stakeholders and keep all the moving parts in order. Here's what it looks like: There are three sections to take note of when you edit this template. First, the color-coding key. Each color represents a type of content or campaign you might coordinate, like ebooks, webinars, blog posts, product launches, and so on. Though only some of these might be relevant to you, they're just the beginning of what you may want to include here so be sure to add and remove categories that align with your own types of content. The other two sections you'll need to edit are the Month and Year at the top of the calendar, as well as the cells below each day of the week. In those cells, you should enter the type of content you'll be promoting that day and color-code it to align with the campaign it's supporting. Instead of deleting all the content in this spreadsheet each month, I recommend copying this worksheet twelve times over and creating a separate sheet for each month. (If that gets to be too overwhelming, you can always save those tabs as a separate workbook.) Planning Your Social Media Content Calendar for Twitter Alright, now let's get to the social media content part of the calendar. This section will be the longest because all subsequent sections will draw on the instructions we go through here. If you only read one section in this whole post, make sure it's this one. Let's say you want to add some tweets to your scheduling template. Scroll over to the Twitter Updates tab in the content calendar spreadsheet, where you'll see this: The first four columns, Day, Date, Time, and Date & Time are there for your convenience, and if you choose to use a third-party app for pre-scheduling your tweets (like HubSpot's Social Media Management Software), then these columns will be useful. For now, just fill in the date for when youll publish updates to Twitter, and the time at which you'd like them to go out. The Date & Time column will automatically change based on what you type in the previous two columns. Now, lets move over to the Message column. Here, input the copy youd like to appear in your tweet, bearing in mind you should cap it at 217 characters to allow enough room for a link. (Read this blog post for a full character count guide.) This spreadsheet will auto-calculate the number of characters youve entered to keep you on-point, turning yellow and eventually red as you approach 240 characters. After you've composed your tweet, paste the URL you'd like to include in your tweet in the Link column. Be sure to include UTM parameters so you'll know whether these tweets are driving traffic, leads, and customers. This is an important step to remember if you'd like to demonstrate ROI from social media. You can also use the Campaign column to add an associated campaign which helps with more detailed tracking and reporting. Finally, in the Image column, attach the tweet's image (if you have one). For Twitter, we recommend images that are 1200 x 670 pixels. (Click here for a full cheat sheet of social media image sizes.) If you're having trouble attaching your image to the spreadsheet, follow these steps: Step 1: Click on the cell where you'd like to place your image. Step 2: Click Insert in the top row, then click the Image button, and finally, click Image in cell to choose your image. Step 3: In the Insert image window, choose the option your photo will come from. In this example, we uploaded an image from our computer. Step 4: You'll now see the image appear in the cell. Pro Tip: This process is just for organizational purposes. If you decide to upload the spreadsheet to your social media publishing software, it will not attach you'll have to do that manually. If you're a HubSpot customer, details for how to bulk upload your Twitter content to the HubSpot Social PublishingTool can be found within the downloaded template. Planning Your Social Media Content Calendar for Facebook Now, let's talk about how to plan your Facebook marketing content with this template. First, navigate to the tab in your template labeled Facebook Updates. The first three columns, Day, Date, and Time are there for your convenience. Scroll over to the column labeled Message and input the copy you'd like to appear in your status update, corresponding to the days and times you'd like those updates to run. Then, move to the Link column and input the link that'll be included in the update. (Don't forget that UTM parameter.) If you'd like the update to be tagged to a certain campaign, include this in the Campaigns column. Finally, attach an image just like you did with your Twitter updates if you're using one. (These images should fit the dimensions of 1200 x 628 pixels.) Planning Your Social Media Content Calendar for LinkedIn LinkedIn Groups let you start conversations with your Group members and share company updates on your Company Page. To begin, fill out the first column, Message, for every post you create, including those for a Company Page or a Group. Simply enter your copy into this column, and then navigate to the next two columns, Link and Campaign. Here, youll add your URL with a UTM parameter that you'll use to track activity. Then add the campaign in the Campaign column, if you're using one. If you'd like to use an image for an update, attach one using the instructions we shared earlier. We recommend uploading the image in the dimensions of 1200 x 1200 pixels for a clear, professional-looking post. Planning Your Social Media Content Calendar for Instagram Now, let's move on to setting up your Instagram photos and videos. Scroll to the tab in your template labeled Instagram Updates. The first three columns, Day, Date, and Time are there for your convenience. Head on over to the column labeled Message, and input the copy you'd like to appear in your post's caption, corresponding to the days and times you'd like those updates to run. Keep in mind that although Instagram captions can be up to 2,200 characters long, they cut off in users' feeds after three lines of text. The exact length of these three lines depends on the length of your Instagram handle. (Read this blog post for a full character count guide.) Next, move to the Link for Bio column and input whichever link you plan to put in the bio when you publish the accompanying Instagram post. Oh, and don't forget the UTM parameter. If you'd like the update to be tagged to a certain campaign, include this in the Campaigns column. Finally, attach an image just like you did with your other social media updates we suggest you edit it to be 1080 x 1080 pixels. (Here's the cheat sheet of social media image sizes.) Pro Tip: Even though you can't schedule Instagram stories automatically, you can still add them to your social media content calendar. Stories also support links once your account has over 10,000 followers, so you can include specific links for these types of posts in your content calendar. The dimensions for Instagram Story posts are 1080 x 1920 pixels. Planning Your Social Media Content Calendar for Pinterest Next, let's go over how to set up your Pinterest Pins in advance with this template. Navigate over to the tab in your template labeled Pinterest Updates. For your convenience, weve added Day, Date, and Time columns, but you can skip them if you dont need them. Next, go to the column labeled Message, and enter the information for the pin's description. Then, scroll to the Link column and add the link you'll be including in the update. (And seriously, don't forget the URL Parameter.) If you'd like the update to be tagged to a certain campaign, include this in the Campaigns column. Finally, attach an image the same way you did with your other social media updates we suggest you edit it to fit the dimensions of 1000 x1500 pixels. This is the standard size, but Pinterest Pins can be much longer if your audience responds to longer content. Just make sure your Pin fits the aspect ratio of 2:3. Content Repository (Or, Where to Source Social Media Content) This template also provides you with a tab called Content Repository, which should help you keep track of all your content and maintain a healthy backlog of fodder to make sourcing social media content easier. As you create more assets, you'll likely want to resurface and re-promote those pieces down the line, too. To ensure you don't lose track of all of that content, record it on this tab so you're never at a loss for what to publish on social media. If the content you're promoting isn't evergreen, be sure to include an expiration date in the column marked Expiration so you don't promote it after it's out of date. This tab will also help you maintain a healthy balance of content. Here you can include a mix of original content, curated content, various formats and types, and lead generation content vs. MQL-generating content. Components of a Social Media Content Calendar Key URLs and UTM Parameters Date and Time Message Campaign Image Perfecting your social media content calendar doesnt have to be a chore. With these essential components, youll have a foundation to organize your social media strategy at a tactical level. Key As you noticed in earlier sections, your stakeholders will appreciate having an easy-to-read key that they can use to understand the information in the calendar. Weve color-coded our example here, but you dont have to go that extra step if you have fewer channels and types of content to differentiate between. As long as your key is clear, just about anyone in your organization can view your social media content calendar and understand exactly whats happening on all platforms. URLs and UTM Parameters We've harped on these UTM parameters throughout this post for good reason. They're critical to tracking the success of your campaign. Without them, you won't know what's working and what isn't. URLs and UTM parameters are similar, but theyre not one and the same. URLs are the links youll want to share from your website (or even another website if youre curating content) on your social media platforms. On the other hand, a UTM parameter is an extension of your URL. Its a string of tracking code thats appended to the end of the URL and it helps social media marketers track how well their posts are driving traffic to their website. By tracking and analyzing UTM parameters, youll be able to see what content is meeting your conversion goals and what content is better for engagement on social media platforms. Date and Time If you have stakeholders or other teams that rely on your social media content, youll quickly see the benefit of including dates and times in your social media calendar. When teammates can view the calendar and identify exactly when a post was or will be scheduled, theyll be able to quickly proceed with their workflow which is beneficial for you, too. That means you wont be interrupted to give status updates about every Tweet on the docket for the day. Message Transparency and context are invaluable when it comes to social media content calendars. Giving a brief synopsis of the message or even sharing the caption for a post can go a long way in helping others within and outside your team understand what the intent of the post will be. Pro tip: If youre adding a video to your social media content calendar that isnt finished, consider adding a short Loom video that gives an overview of what the video will be about. Campaign When it comes to tracking, its too late to start when the campaign is over. Start tracking your social media campaigns in your content calendar. You can make this prescriptive by having a dropdown list of predetermined campaign names, or if your campaigns are few and far between, simply copy and paste the names next to the corresponding content. Pro tip: Align your campaign name with the campaign section of your UTM parameter for seamless tracking. Image Your social media content calendar will become just another spreadsheet without some imagery. Since much of your social media content will probably be visual, add a thumbnail-sized version of the image that will be included in the published post. Coupled with the message, stakeholders who view the calendar images will have a pretty good idea of what will be shared and when. To make editing your images for each platform easier, check out this cheat sheet for ideal image dimensions on each platform. Don't Forget to Interact With Your Followers Whether you use this spreadsheet to plan your content or upload it to a third-party app, you'll still need to supplement these updates with on-the-fly content. Breaking news hits? Whip up a quick update to share it with your network. Did someone in your network tweet something interesting? Give it a retweet with some commentary. Got a fascinating comment on one of your updates? Respond with a "thank you" for their interaction. Coming up with and scheduling your social media content in advance is a huge time-saver, but it should go without saying that you still need to monitor and add to your social presence throughout the day. Finally, we encourage you to experiment with your social media publishing. This template provides publishing dates and times for each social network, but you may find those are way too many updates for you to fill, or perhaps too infrequent for your booming social presence. If this is the case, you should adjust your social media publishing frequency as needed. Now that youve got the ins and outs of a social media content calendar, download the one below for free and start planning your content. Editor's note: This post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. Opinion / Columnist Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, author, and speaker. Please feel free to call/WhatsApp: +263715667700, or calls ONLY: +263782283975. As the nation commemorates the 39th anniversary of the tragic passing of one of the bravest men ever to come out of Zimbabwe - General Josiah Magama Tongogara - in a horrific, but highly questionable, road accident - one can not help but wonder whether this country would ever produce men and women with such unwavering and unflinching gallantry, that was not self-serving, but totally for the good of all people.Tongogara committed his life - being prepared to lay it down - in his fearless fight against oppression, subjugation, and sub-standard standards of livelihoods for the majority of the people of this country under the minority Rhodesia regime.Throughout his participation in the liberation struggle, he never substituted his love to attain justice for all in this country, for the comfort of survival, or to earn a living for his family, or to score cheap selfish political points.His life became the struggle, and the struggle became his life.He never chose the easier route, but he chose the most arduous and dangerous one, as positive results seldom manifest on the straight and wide road.Nonetheless, the independent Zimbabwe - where the majority enjoyed freedom and prosperity - swiftly turned back into that dark place of oppression, subjugation, and economic deprivation of the majority.For the past 38 years - under the very political party that Tongogara, at one time, sincerely believed was devoted to the total emancipation of the people of Zimbabwe - the majority have endured immeasurably pain and suffering - only comparable to the Rhodesia days themselves.Even that comparison is debatable, as those who have lived in the Rhodesia era argue that life was actually better - as there were plentiful of jobs (in spite of the limited educational opportunities), workers were paid everytime (meagre wages, which, however, could buy the most basic essentials, and a few extra luxuries), most workers were provided with accommodation by their employers, terminal benefits provided a relatively comfortable retirement, and hospitals were well-stocked with all the essential medication, whilst most necessary medical procedures could be done within the country.However, in independent Zimbabwe, the very opposite of the above is true!If that is the case, why are the people of Zimbabwe not being united in fearlessly standing up against their oppressors?Where are the modern day Tongogaras?As I write this article, the people of Sudan have entered their eighth day of demonstrations in the capital Khartoum, against their appalling standards of living and oppressive government.In spite of 40 of their fellow demonstrators being killed by security forces using live ammunition, these gallant men and women have never faltered - as they have stood firmly and unshivering in their demand for freedom and prosperity.In fact, according to one news bulletin, the demonstrators' resolve has only intensified with each person killed by the regime - and the protests are getting bigger and stronger.Can we, the people of Zimbabwe, learn anything from this?Are we not to learn that our constitutional right to peacefully demonstrate and petition - as enshrined in section 59 - is one of the most sacrosanct rights, which we should never take for granted?As most of us are currently wallowing in the worst economic meltdown in the past decade - with the prices of basic commodities, medications, and school fees and uniforms tripling within the past month, as well as shortages of fuel - one would have thought that our first port of call would be section 59 of the Constitution.However, our silence - save for a few quiet rumblings in corners and communiter omnibuses - begs to deceive - as it paints an illusion of normalcy and acceptance.How can we accept and be alright with such a warped scenario?Can anyone be alright with suffering?Of course, some will be quick to point to the events of 1 August 2018 - whereby, at least six people were shot dead on the streets of the capital Harare, during a violent supposedly election-result protest - that the Monthlante Commission of Inquiry pointed at the security forces.It is understandable that, just as no normal person would be alright with suffering, similarly, no normal person would be alright with being killed - thus, the reluctance for any meaningful constitutional action against the regime.However, does a struggle require a 'normal' person?Was Tongagara 'normal'?The genuine struggle for one's own livelihood - and that of our children and grandchildren - can never be achieved by being 'normal'.It is similar to a mother whose child is trapped in a burning house - would a 'normal' mother rush into a building she is most likely to also die in?Certainly not!This requires an attitude that transcends 'normalcy'.It is a decision that one has to deliberately make - that "whether I die or not, I have to do this for the sake of my children, or for my nation".As the saying goes, "courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to master fear".The people of Sudan have so far lost 40 of their fellow demonstrators, but that has not dampened their spirits - in fact, they are even more determined than ever.As the people of Zimbabwe, we need to take charge of our own destiny.We can not just sit back and expect politicians to be so kind and nice as to do it for us.Tongogara did not wait for "dear old Smithy" to be considerate enough to give the majority their freedom.This struggle is for us - the people of Zimbabwe - and no one else can do it for us.Even between 2006 and 2009, we just watched as our lives were shattered by this same regime - with our currency losing all its value and we had to buy a loaf of bread for billions of dollars.Yet, we did nothing!The same situation is stealthily creeping upon us, yet we still do nothing!We need to have one common purpose - that is, to demand that our lives be bestowed the value which they are worth.This is not political - as this need not be the topling of the government - but, merely the unequivocal demanding for our lives to improve.In fact, we should never allow political parties to infiltrate our struggle, as these organisations have their own selfish objectives, which are at odds with our own.Political parties are after political power, and they use us to fulfill that objective.We ourselves know what we want, and should be able to stand firmly and fearlessly in demanding our lives back.As long as we allow ourselves to be divided by political parties, and other organisations that have their own agendas, we will forever be weak.Let us be united under one banner of ZIMBABWE - and no other interests should be allowed.No gun and no killings should be able to deter us.Just as General Josiah Magama Tongogara, and the people of Sudan, if ever the oppressive regime decides to intimiate us with any killings, this should not make us flee into all directions, but to stand firm and even have more joining in.Unless, and until we ourselves demand our rights without any fear - we can kiss any hope of a better life good-bye - in fact, KUSIKUFA NDEKUPI! MOSCOW (Reuters) - Giovanni Salvetti, the head of Rothschild in Russia and CIS, takes five flights a week in his job managing the bank's operations from Kazakhstan to Ukraine. In-between time, he has written a book of fairy tales for his children. "I did not decide to create a book it was a request of my children. Every night I am with them they want me to tell a story. They dont want me to read a story," Salvetti, 47, said after receiving the first printed edition of his book. He has three children: two boys aged 12 and 10 and a girl of eight. "Once they told me: We like very much your stories. Why dont you write one?" The book, "Arturo and the Unicorn", is available in Russian, English and Italian. It tells the story of a poor man from the Italian town of Bergamo working for a local nobleman. The book's hero is blackmailed and jailed but he manages to escape thanks to his paintings. "The message is that life sometimes can be unjust, but that art can help you even in the darkest moments of your life," says Salvetti, whose bank advises companies and government bodies in ex-Soviet countries. Salvetti did the drawings for the book himself, and published it with his own funds. It can be bought online or in book stores in Russia and Ukraine for about 3 euros and proceeds from sales will go to a charity to help children in Russia and Ukraine who are suffering from cancer. Asked if anything about his business could be learned from the fairy tale book, Salvetti said none of the characters were based on people in real life. "I think I can write something more interesting not about children but about my... experiences in my business," he said, joking that might carry risks. "But then I'll have to move to Argentina or Sri Lanka." (Reporting by Katya Golubkova,; Editing by Ed Osmond) Photo - Caitlyn Furler and Laura Miles at the Christchurch conference The Best of 2018 Press Service International (PSI) young writer articles kick-starts on Monday (31 December) for a two week period over the New Year period giving the young writers a well deserved break. It has been a huge year for the PSI young writers from Australia and New Zealand along with their Christchurch conference on 1 September with the annual awards. Each of the young writers have now put down their quills (as it were) for this two week respite time before they pick-up the program once again on the 14 January 2019. Next year there are additional young writers in the program, some returning after a period of time, others are new to the project, but whatever the case, if anything like this year is to go, they will be as-keen-as once the new year program gets under way at the end of January. The five week program of young writers of each Cycle will see an Over 31s dedicated week with their own coordinator and editor. Each young writer has their own web presence CV site they may be viewed by moving across the top of the page where they are listed under their separate nations, sport and internationals. Over this next two weeks the 2018 young writers who attended the Christchurch conference have their best article as determined by the Panellists republished in Christian Today. Photo - Esther Koh, Kristen Dang and Conor Ryan at the Christchurch conference Week 1 - 31 Dec 4 Jan Monday 31 Dec Bridget Brenton Brisbane Laura Miles - Sunshine Coast Peter Brookshaw - Melbourne Tuesday 1 January Melissa Ramoo - Sydney Joseph Kolapudi - Brisbane Cheryl McGrath - Melbourne Wednesday 2 January Catria Moore - Sunshine Coast Sam Gillespie - Sydney Roydon Ng - Sydney Thursday 3 January Jesse Moore - Sunshine Coast Kirsten Dang - Adelaide Hannah Edwards - Brisbane Friday 4 January Caitlyn Furler - Sunshine Coast Fiona Mackenzie - Sydney Conor Ryan - Adelaide Photo Ethan Miller and Matthew Thornton at the Christchurch conference Week 2 - 7-11 January Monday 7 January Amy Manners - Adelaide Esther Koh - Wellington NZ Richard Kwon - Auckland NZ Tuesday 8 January Sunny Kang - Auckland Ethan Miller - The lessons never stop Jessica McPherson - Christchurch NZ Wednesday 9 January Matthew Thornton - Auckland NZ Manuele Teofilo - Auckland NZ Emma McGeorge - Auckland NZ Thursday 10 January Jason Lalone - International Josh Robbie - Internmational Kandima Awendila - International Friday 11 January Michael Dahlenburg - Adelaide Stacy-Ann Smith - International Ben Kruzins - Ocean Shores Enjoy these Best of 2108 over the break ! The young writers 2018 program kick-starts on Monday 14 January. Photo - Fiona Mackenzie and Hannah Edwards at the Christchurch conference Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html 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 La Vencedora is a home run for Villiger Cigars. While I was quite pleased that Villiger has a bolder offering in its portfolio, that is not the reason this cigar is a home run. The bottom line is this cigar excels in the category that matters most flavor. Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua, S.A Churchill: 7 x 50 Price: $10.00 Review: Villiger La Vencedora Churchill (2/27/18) Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 1 (2018) Coming in at #12 is the Villiger La Vencedora Churchill. La Vencedora is a line that was put into widespread distribution early in 2018 by Villiger Cigars. The name La Vencedora translates to The Victor, and it paid homage to the highly successful year Villiger Cigars North America had in 2017. La Vencedora is different than any line Villiger had released before in that this line was positioned as a full-bodied smoke. It would not only fill a gap Villiger had in the portfolio, but it would allow the company to address a segment of the market it had not before. La Vencedora also gives Villiger Cigars its first appearance on a Cigar Coop Countdown. The blend is a Nicaraguan puro highlighted by a Habano Oscuro wrapper. Its the fifth Nicaraguan puro to land on the 2018 Countdown. The Churchill size landing on this years Countdown is a near double corona-size 7 x 50. To produce this fuller cigar, Villiger turned to a factory it had worked with in the past (most notably its La Capitana brand) and is quite familiar with fuller cigars Joya de Nicaragua. The La Vencedora Churchill delivers notes of chocolate, cedar, white pepper, citrus, and damp earth. The strength and body of this cigar arent off the charts as both attributes start out medium before progressing to medium to full, however, its still going to fit the bill as one of the fuller and more robust-flavored Villiger Cigars in the portfolio and it works perfectly with the flavors delivered. While many will be pleased with a fuller offering in the Villiger portfolio, the cigar also delivers an excellent combination of flavors. Its a line that is one of the highlights of 2018. For details of the 2018 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2018 criteria. Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) assessment has revealed consumer goods maker Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) allegedly profiteering to the extent of Rs 383 crore after the large-scale goods and services tax (GST) rate cut last November. The National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) has asked HUL to deposit Rs 223 crore in central and state consumer welfare funds since the company itself had proactively deposited Rs 160 crore with the central consumer welfare fund. Contents National Anti-profiteering Authority GST consumer welfare funds Why the profiteering is rampant in India? National Anti-profiteering Authority National Anti-profiteering Authority was constituted by the central government to provide an institutional mechanism under the GST law for checking the unfair profit-making activities by the trading community. National Anti-profiteering Authority is headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India. There will be four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States. GST consumer welfare funds The GST law also provides for the creation of a Consumer Welfare Fund wherein undue benefits made by businesses under the GST law have to be deposited, in case it cannot be passed on to the identified recipient. The proceeds from the GST consumer welfare fund can be given as grant to the Centre and state governments as well as regulatory authorities. Why the profiteering is rampant in India? According to the anti-profiteering laws in India, businesses have to pass on the benefit of tax cuts as well as tax rebates to consumers. But the businesses often increase prices to commensurate with the reduced taxes due to the free nature of the market. Also, there are no explicit guidelines for companies which they are required to follow so that the benefit of tax rebates and rate reductions on raw materials are passed on to consumers at the right measure across all final products. As a result, the NAA is witnessing a large number of complaints related to overcharging. Twenty people have been injured, two seriously, after two horse-drawn carriages collided during a Christmas Day outing.Police in southern Bavaria said the two carriages, each carrying 10 passengers, were approaching a rail crossing single file when the first carriage halted. The second did not and overturned in the resulting collision.One man had to be taken to the hospital by helicopter. Dpa says the driver of one of the carriages was also seriously hurt during Tuesday's accident.The 18 other people injured included children. They all suffered less serious or minor injuries and were tended to by 35 medical personnel.Police in the community of Pfronten are investigating and may place charges of suspicion of negligence causing bodily injury. Pope Francis has offered his Christmas wish for fraternity among people of different faiths, races or ideas.He urged the world to put aside 'partisan interests' to find a political solution to wars in Syria and Yemen and conflicts in Ukraine and on the Korean peninsula.Addressing tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans in St Peter's Square, Francis said on Tuesday that the universal message of Christmas was that 'God is a good Father and we are all brothers and sisters'.Without fraternity, the Pope said, 'even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty'.He added that 'our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness'.Francis made his appeal as trends toward nationalism, fuelling suspicion of migrants and refugees, have gained traction in much of the developed world.Francis urged the international community to 'work decisively for a political solution that can put aside divisions and partisan interests, so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country'.He said he hoped an internationally-brokered truce for Yemen would bring relief to that country's people, especially children 'exhausted by war and famine'.Other Christmas wishes expressed by the Pope included one for dialogue among Israelis and Palestinians so they can 'undertake a journey of peace that can put an end to a conflict that for over 70 years has rent the land chosen by the Lord to show his face of love'.He also cited conflicts and vulnerable populations in much of Africa, in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Ukraine.He expressed hope that the 'bonds of fraternity uniting the Korean peninsula' would be consolidated.On Monday, Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass for the faithful in St Peter's Basilica. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is scheduled to testify before Congress next week, and he'll potentially face questions on a number of thorny issues ranging from perceived search engine bias to Google's interest in developing a search engine for use in China that would be heavily censored there.To that latter point, a top US general went public today with what sounds like a pretty reasonable question for the tech giant. It boiled down to, essentially, why are you guys willing to work with China, but have such a problem working with your own country's military?Speaking at an event today, Marine General Joseph Dunbar said it seems inexplicable to him that Google would distance itself from the Pentagon at the same time as its top executives clearly have an interest in developing a greater presence in China. We are the good guys, and it's inexplicable to me that we would make compromises in order to advance our business interests in China where we know that freedoms are restrained, where we know that China will take intellectual property from companies, said Dunford, who's also the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.He also added, according to various reports of his comments: I'm not sure that people at Google will enjoy a world order that is informed by the norms and standards of Russia or China.Dunbar's comments echoed remarks along these same lines also today from US Sen. Mark Warner of Virgina, who spoke at an event hosted by the Center for New American Security. It's pretty amazing to me that Google is actually looking to work with China to develop a censored version of its search engine in China, Warner said. Today China's cyber and censorship infrastructure is the envy of authoritarian regimes around the world. China is now exporting both its technology and its cyber-sovereignty doctrine to countries like Venezuela, Ethiopia, and Pakistan.We'll see how Pichai handles these criticisms next week. He's set to appear before lawmakers Dec. 11.All of this comes against the backdrop of Google's reported work on a search engine for Chinese users that would be censored so as to pass muster with the repressive authorities there. Meanwhile, Google earlier this year backed out of a $10 billion cloud computing contract with the US Defense Department after employees internally revolted over working with the military to do things like help them analyze aerial drone imagery. Sri Lanka: Missing fishermen return to the island from Seychelles December 26,2018 | Source: Hiru News 6 fishermen who went missing while at sea in the Thilina Putha fishing vessel are to return to the island from Seychelles today. The ministry of foreign affairs noted that the fishermen are to arrive at the Katunayake international airport this morning. The director of the Sri Lanka department of fisheries- investigation unit, Padmapriya Perera noted that laws are strictly enacted against fishermen who migrate to other countries via multiday fishing vessels. Jammu and Kashmir: Fish Farmers group leaves for exposure tour December 26,2018 | Source: Kashmir Reader Additional District Development Commissioner, Anantnag Reyaz Ahmad Sofi, Monday flagged off a group of 25 Fish Farmers on an exposure tour to fish farm Panzath under Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme. The ADDC also distributed fish rearing equipment among four farmers and handed over an Auto Rickshaw to a member of Fishermen community under Blue Revolution Scheme. While interacting with the farmers, the ADDC assured all possible help and guidance to them. He added that since there is enough scope of employment in this sector, therefore, the government is very keen to develop this sector on modern lines so that more people especially the educated youth are attracted towards it and new job opportunities are created. Deputy Director Fisheries Anantnag Mohammad Ashraf Darzi said that aim of organizing such exposure tours for the Fish Farmers is to aware them about latest and scientific techniques of Fish Farming. He added that educated and unemployed youth are showing greater interest towards fish rearing and the department is providing them all sorts of awareness and training. Andhra Pradesh: Long way to go in curbing antibiotic usage in shrimp farming December 26,2018 | Source: The New Indian Express Even as Andhra Pradesh remains one of the top exporters of shrimp in India, the issue of excessive usage of antibiotics in its culture continues to affect the State as the number of consignment rejections have not gone down. Official data shows that 60 per cent of the total rejections of the consignments from the State were due to the presence of antibiotics in the shrimps. According to the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA), the three major export markets for shrimp European Union (EU), USA and Japan rejected 45 consignments from India till November this year. Of them, 12 were rejected as the shrimps did not meet the safety standards prescribed by the authorities abroad. Out of the 12 rejections due to the presence of high antibiotics, nine were from Andhra Pradesh, says the MPEDA data. The data since 2011 shows that there were a total of 110 cases of rejection of the shrimp consignments from Andhra Pradesh by the three major markets due to presence of antibiotics. This accounts to 51.8 per cent of the total rejections (due to various reasons) from the State. It may be noted that Andhra Pradesh exports around 70 per cent of shrimps from India. The Fisheries department officials admitted that even though there has been a marginal decrease in the usage of excessive and banned antibiotics, there was a long way to go. They added that rejections were particularly high with respect to the consignments sent to European Union. Speaking to TNIE, Commissioner of Fisheries Rama Shankar Naik said that the department has chalked out a multi-pronged approach to tackle the menace. It is true that the usage of antibiotics has been high, but we have formed district-level task forces, which are monitoring farms, hatcheries, feed suppliers and processing units. Besides monitoring, the task forces are also creating awareness among farmers and other stakeholders, which has shown positive results, he explained. The task force consists of officials from MPEDA, fisheries, drug control and other departments. The officials said notices were issued to 38 hatcheries and 33 aqua shops this year.He explained that the middlemen between farmers and processing units were one of the major causes for the menace. He said the department was proposing that the processing units carry out a farm audit before purchase of shrimps. If processing units reject stock, the farmers will stop using antibiotics, he said. West Bengal: Migration aiding Sundarbans youth, women adapt to climate uncertainties by Sahana Ghosh December 26,2018 | Source: Mongabay As dawn breaks, 26-year-old Onimal Raptan spreads his net as far as it can stretch in the sparkling blue-grey waters of the Indian Bengal delta (IBD) in south Asia. He prepares to haul prawns, but only for the upcoming winter months. When the rains begin six months later, he will move south, to Andhra Pradesh, to work as an agricultural labourer. Raptan, is a resident of Annepur village in Gosaba community block of Sundarbans, worlds largest mangrove forests, at the confluence of Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal. Precariously perched at the edge of his wooden boat, Raptan cites the devastating cyclone Aila in 2009 and the barrage of impacts in its aftermath, as his trigger to venture out and look for better income options. Aila washed our fields with salt water that stagnated for months. It became too salty to grow anything for the next five years. We only grow paddy and potatoes which is just enough for consumption for our family of four, Raptan told this visiting Mongabay-India correspondent. Natural resource-based livelihoods such as agriculture and fishing predominate in the Sundarbans that is home to 4.3 million people. Due to paucity of fresh ground water resources, mono-cropping is common, which exposes them more to climate hazards such as floods and cyclones. For many migration is a way out. Men like Raptan make up the largest proportion of migrants, males aged between 21-30 years, according to a 2018 study by researchers associated with the Deltas, vulnerability & Climate Change: Migration & Adaptation (DECCMA) project. As an agricultural labourer in Andhra, I make Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 in two months, more than three times of what I would have earned had I stayed back and worked as a daily labourer, Raptan says with belligerence. Our two bigha plot yields nine sacks of rice per year. There is no arrangement for irrigation to acquire sweet water. There is no political will to start irrigation, Raptan said. In Indias Sundarbans region where 54 of the 102 islands support human settlements, one in five households now has at least one family member who has migrated, said Tuhin Ghosh, a scientist at Jadavpur Universitys School of Oceanographic Studies and DECCMA India, principal investigator. Almost two thirds of migrants are moving to seek better employment opportunities, followed by family obligations while 10 percent of respondents mentioned that the migrant left to pursue a degree or obtain training in a new skill, said Ghosh discussing the results of their four-year long study in the Bengal delta. Like Onimal Raptan, only a very small percentage of the respondents (three percent) in the Indian Bengal delta singled out environmental stresses as the direct cause of migration. But environmental stresses indirectly disrupt livelihood security and can contribute to economic circumstances that necessitate migration, pointed out Ghosh. People are shifting from a traditional farm based economy to a labour based one. Sea level rise in Sundarbans higher than global average The 2018 State of Food and Agriculture: Migration, Agriculture and Rural Development report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN notes that under slow-onset environmental stressors, rural out-migration can be a risk-management or adaptation strategy, albeit one that is not generally available to the poorest. Water regulates everything here in the Sundarbans. Water from upland and water from the delta is creating problems and benefiting people at the same time. And climate change (temperature changes in the last 100 years and rainfall patterns) is stressing people because agriculture is no longer profitable. Honey and crab collection, and fishing have been affected, Ghosh explained. At least three Sundarbans islands have gone to their watery grave and villages in neighbouring islands are being claimed by rising sea levels and creeping tides that routinely engulf the remote mangrove ecosystem. Sugata Hazra, DECCMA Country Lead and Director, School of Oceanographic Sciences at Jadavpur University, had earlier shown that the sea level rise in Sundarbans (3.14 mm per year) is higher than the average global sea level rise. Sea level rise also has significant impact on erosion-deposition process that shape the islands and subsequent land use changes. The researchers emphasised that people do not have any other option other than migrating, which can be one of these options daily commute within the state or seasonal and opportunistic visits to other states and within Bengal itself. For returnee Pradip Mandal of Bali island, picking up work in the southern state of Kerala has become a way to cope with the effects of river bank erosion linked to sea-level rise. The basin like islands, till date are protected by about 3500 km long earthen embankments which are mostly 150 years old. They are being weakened everyday by the swirling currents that scour at their bases and by tidal surges coupled with strong winds, points out Pradip, the only earning member in his family. Our homestead is at the edge of the river on the island and is being constantly eroded. His domestic woes are compounded by the fact that local administration has asked his family to evacuate their present property so as to make way for road construction. Remittance has saved them for the time being. Pradip escaped the devastation of the Kerala floods this year as he was in the Sundarbans. But there are limited options for work here and agriculture is no longer feasible with the available facilities. If I dont work (outside) then my family will not get food, Pradip asserts. Female migrants are increasing Remittance money sent by her mother-in-law working in the western state of Maharashtra staved off poverty for thirty-year old Mamata Mandal, a resident of Dulki in Gosaba, who was widowed eight years ago when her husband was dragged away by a tiger on a fishing trip. With three school-going children to take care of, Mamata, who quit her education in primary school itself, solely depends on her mother-in-law who works as a house help in Pune city of Maharashtra and visits her village only twice a year. For her future, Mamata plans to move to the nearest city, Kolkata, once her children finish school, to support her finances. I will try to do some work. I will have to work as a domestic help since I do not have much of an education. No work is menial whether you are educated or not. When Mamata does take the leap of faith, she will contribute to growing numbers of female migrants, a trend mapped by researchers. Although both men and women tend to migrate seasonally, their patterns differ. Both men and women migrate to Kolkata, although men typically to the areas where they work in construction, with women mainly to the peri-urban areas for employment as domestic workers, pointed out Sumana Banerjee, DECCMA co-ordinator. But unlike men, seven out of 10 migrating women stay within their home state of West Bengal, often working in or near Kolkata, caring for children or the elderly, Banerjee observed. Female migrants with higher levels of education mostly move with their family members. Male migrants also venture further afield, including to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat, the study found. Human animal conflicts in the mangrove habitats are also driving migration. Sushama Das, doubles up as an agricultural labourer in paddy fields and in the fisheries sector in Odisha, twice a year. When she is back in her village in Gosabas Dulki island, she supplements her savings by operating an ice cream cart in the blocks market place. The 30-year-old switched gears from prawn collection to being a migrant worker following crocodile attacks. This was more than five years ago. One person was killed by a crocodile. After that incident my husband never let me go to catch prawns. He said that you die on land but I will not let you go for fishing, Das said. Researcher Hazra said working outside their village is the most practised adaptation option for women but is not accepted by the community as a successful adaptation due to inherent gender bias. Problems versus aspirations But there are trade-offs to contend with for migrants. For Sushama Das it is the toilets. In Odisha work is good but the toilets and bathrooms are in an extremely bad shape. Plus the region is very salty, there is no sweet water and so I dont like it much, she said. Water-associated problems and irregular food habits due to workload plague Bali islands Abhijit Mali and friends who are dependant on Tamil Nadu which accommodates 10.67 lakh migrant workers, largely in the manufacturing sector. We do not like to depend on forests so my father and I have never been into fishery or honey collection. We do not own land so we do not have inclination for agriculture. If youth like us get opportunities to work here in other sectors then I would prefer to have stayed back, Mali said. But Kaushik Mandal in Satjelia island staunchly differs. He would have wanted to purchase land and cultivate paddy but is wary of the climatic hazards. After Aila, crop yields have declined. And there is not enough of land available, so what can we do. I dont see any future here. I dont foresee anything good, only the bad. Even if you are educated then also jobs are far and few, Kaushik said. Kaushik is a second generation migrant but he returns once a year instead of his fathers seasonal approach. The company I work in Karnataka employs 3000 to 4000 youth from the islands here. Youth prefer to go out and some even have taken their families. This is the way things are now, Kaushik says with indifference. Policy focus needed on adaptation measures Climate change and development researcher Anurag Danda who has worked extensively in the archipelago says displacement from the Sundarbans is inevitable in our lifetime even if high intensity weather events do not become more frequent or intense. However, it may not be en mass and dramatic. Global warming will continue despite all the mitigation action, the delta will continue to sink and terrestrial space will become less. Migration can be avoided only if people can manage to live and thrive on lesser amount of land, Danda told Mongabay-India. But this will need a very different kind of thinking on the part of the political and governmental leadership as well as communities. For example, if the people of the Sundarban can shift to high value crops on land and water, high-end tourism and can live on raised land or on stilts, he said. According to Hazra adaptation measures that remain top priority for the community include picking up skills and rebuilding houses to make them flood tolerant. However, there are hurdles in practising them because the government does not invest in the options that communities demand.Practised adaptation options are the ones that are popularised by the government but people want different kinds of options which are not often offered by the government, Hazra elaborated. DECCMA outcomes stress that climate change impacts are reflected in a number of relevant policies and plans, for example the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the West Bengal State Action Plan on Climate Change (WBSAPCC), which specially refers to the Sundarbans as extremely vulnerable. However, various barriers exist to effective implementation of these policies. Despite a recommended budget allocation from 2012 to 2022, there is no information on release of it, nor any progress report on the activities carried out under the WBSAPCC, the study said. At present migration is 18 percent but 23 percent of the current non-migrant households have the intention to migrate in the future, which would lead to migration rates of 37 percent in the IBD, said DECCMAs Sumana Banerjee. Hazra underscored the need to include gender in policy-making. There is no gender perspective in databases, in policy formulation or in implementation of disaster management plans and policies (the state) so that must be incorporated, he said. Governments must act on the fact that migration is increasingly thought of a livelihood option and help make mass movements successful. They can have records of migrants, their skill sets and ensuring security in the receiving areas, he said. For example, if the human capital in the Sundarban region can be improved through concerted investment, the trained manpower will move to distant places to take advantage of opportunities that can be made use of with their new skills, said Danda. As of now, it is the movement of human labour but not skills and therefore it does not cause the economy of the host location to expand the way it should, Danda added. Migration has had a negative connotation for long. It has been associated with failure at source locations and compounded problems at host locations. In this part of the world, migration brings back memories of famine and partition. This negative construct is due to unplanned movement of people in large numbers. Its the same narrative in many parts of the world, he said, adding there are a few positive examples from across the world of planned movement, and a school of thought that sees migration as adaptation. The examples are from Australia, Alaska, and even Odisha. - In Indias Bengal delta, encompassing the Sundarbans mangrove forests, one in five households now has at least one family member who has migrated, a study has said. - Environmental stresses indirectly disrupt livelihood security and can contribute to economic circumstances that necessitate migration. - More women from the Sundarbans are picking up work in other parts of the country. - Skill development can aid migrant workers to find the right opportunities. Condemned Nevada prisoner Scott Dozier wants to die, but he denies that he attempted to take his own life after his execution was canceled. The states responsibility is to execute me, he said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. Ive been ready to go for two years now. In recent court filings, defense lawyers said Dozier has deteriorated while spending time in isolation, and they asked a judge to put a stop to the practice. Prison officials countered by saying they had no choice but to seclude Dozier after he made repeated threats about suicide and took steps to follow through on those threats. Dozier described life on death row as a dishonorable existence. It isnt that its hard, he said. Its monotonous, and it doesnt meet my standards. The inmate said he would still like to be a positive, contributing adult. Instead, he said, Im taking more than Im putting out. Nevada could have killed Dozier more than a year ago, like he requested. But lawyers with the attorney generals office appealed a judges decision to block a paralytic drug from the states three-drug lethal injection cocktail. They objected to proceeding with just two drugs. This is their doing, Dozier said of the delay. Eight months later, Dozier was hours from death when the state was barred from using a sedative to execute him. Again, the attorney generals office turned to a higher court in an effort to go forward with all three drugs. And so, Dozier sits in Ely State Prison, occasionally transferred back and forth from death rows general population to an isolated cell. Desire to die In a letter to his trial judge and lawyers, Dozier waived his appeals in October 2016. He suggested in this weeks interview, which was limited to 15 minutes, that his desire for execution, rather than imprisonment, is unlikely to change. However, the law on capital punishment could be altered under a new attorney general and governor, set to take office next month. Ive certainly entertained that, Dozier said. But then that just puts us back where we were before. In a recent interview, incoming Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who opposes the death penalty, declined to say whether he would drop the appeals. Earlier this month, Doziers lawyers wrote that he had been deprived of basic human needs while the attorney generals office appealed lethal injection drug rulings with the Nevada Supreme Court. In a recorded Oct. 5 prison phone call documented in court papers, Dozier said hes going to make a big to do about the fact that he is being held involuntarily, held against his will, he feels like hes being held captive & forced to engage in a mandated counseling program. He wants to put it in writing that he is in here involuntarily. He is represented by the same federal public defenders who sought to ensure that his execution be carried out humanely, which ultimately led a judge to block the paralytic cisatracurium from the prisons execution protocol. Doziers execution was halted most recently in July after the drug company Alvogen sued the prison system over the use of its sedative midazolam. He was sentenced to die in 2007 after first-degree murder and robbery convictions in the killing of Jeremiah Miller. Dozier had a murder conviction in Arizona before he was brought to Nevada to face charges in Millers death. Lifes pretty good Dozier characterized news reports of recent court filings and claims from the prison system as only about 10 percent accurate, but he declined to get into details, citing the ongoing litigation. Relatively speaking, my lifes pretty good, he said, referring to family support. Prison lawyers said the inmate attempted to smuggle potent drugs that appeared to contain fentanyl through the prison mail system. Fentanyl is one of the drugs listed in the states lethal injection cocktail. Corrections officers also found two razor blades and nail clippers in Doziers cell. Dozier said he never received a package from his sister, which included Reebok running shoes, Old Spice Swagger soap, Nivea body lotion, Suave antiperspirant, Colgate toothpaste, Skull Candy ear buds, pens, a tank top, V-neck shirts, boxer briefs, and 10 pages from a textbook regarding the cardiovascular system of the head and neck. Dozier and another family member told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he had requested the anatomy description because he spends time crafting artwork. A Facebook page managed by relatives displays some of his drawings. But prison officials focused on excerpts that detailed the potentially fatal outcome of a severed artery. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Sustained land fever in HCMC and proposed SEZ areas has sparked fears of a cyclical bubble and other challenges. There was no let up in the land fever that lasted throughout 2017 in HCMC, with real estate prices continuing to rise in the first quarter of this year. The situation has also been true of land in and around the proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs). By late April 2018, real estate prices across HCMC had accelerated strongly. With East HCMC as the epicenter, land prices in Districts 2, 9, Thu Duc, Nha Be, Binh Chanh and Can Gio all jumped by 50-100 percent compared to the end of 2017. Prices in District 9 rose by between 60 and 100 percent by the middle of the second quarter. Land in some areas of District 2 was priced at VND140-160 million ($5,998-$6,855) per square meter, a peak price for the area. The HCM City Real Estate Association believes that there are at least two artificial price fevers in some coastal or suburban districts of HCMC related to projects or agricultural lots illegally divided. This has prompted police intervention, and it was proposed that the city investigates the tactic of spreading false information and profiting from ensuing fluctuations in land prices. Meanwhile, the price fever in the proposed SEZ areas has been one of the biggest movements in the Vietnamese real estate market. Anticipation of the National Assembly passing a law providing preferential trade/investment regulations for three designated SEZs caused prices to soar in the beginning of the year. The SEZs are planned in Van Don, Quang Ninh Province in the north; Van Phong, Khanh Hoa Province in the center; and Phu Quoc, Kien Giang Province in the south. The number of land transactions in the SEZ areas rose many times just in the first quarter. Prices even reached VND60 million ($2,581) per square meter in Van Don. On Phu Quoc Island, a coveted tourist destination, some plots have risen in value by up to 18 times within a year. While the real-estate community brands the phenomenon as a bubble, local authorities have conceded that prices are uncontrollable. To put a break on this rise, authorities decided to stop all land transactions in the three areas in the second quarter. The National Assembly cancelled its plan to consider the SEZ Law at its October meeting, so investors are now stuck with land that cannot be liquidated in these localities. Although it was fleeting, the land fever in 2018 left heavy aftershocks. In HCMC, land prices have continued to rise with no end in sight. According to economists, the 2018 real estate bubble has been largely restrained by a tightened credit policy. However, fear of the 10-year cyclical bubble hangs over the market, creating many challenges for 2019. China, Japan and South Korea, signatories to the Paris Agreement, are leading financiers of coal-fired power plants in foreign countries. Vietnam, Bangladesh and Egypt are the primary destinations for coal-fired power plants, funded mostly by public institutions in the three East Asian countries, according to CoalSwarms new Global Coal Finance Tracker. The tracker allows anyone to keep track of international financial flows into coal projects. Vietnam already has 13,020 MW of installed capacity funded by public financial institutions from the three countries, with South Korea being the most generous followed by Japan. A typical coal-fired generating unit is 500-1,000 MW in size, and most plants have at least two generating units. These countries funding has resulted in a total of 10 power plants along the northeastern and central coasts and the south of Vietnam. The data also shows Russia, Italy and India investing in coal plants in Vietnam. "Climate change cannot be addressed as long as coal plants continue to be built," Ted Nace, executive director of CoalSwarm, said in a press release earlier this month. Screenshot of overseas financial flows into coal-fired power plants from CoalSwarms Global Coal Financial Tracker with China, South Korea and Japan being the top three investors. "The database exposes a dangerous double standard, which is that China, Japan, and South Korea continue to be the largest sources of public funding for overseas coal plants, even as they transition their own economies away from coal," Nace said. Nace told VnExpress International that China, Japan, and South Korea are doing so "in support of their industrial equipment manufacturers and construction companies" which seriously harm the global environment "in exchange for a limited amount of short-term economic gain." "The information that we have provided is all from public sources and does not impinge on any confidentiality," Nace said. Speaking about the likely effects these plants would have on Vietnam, he said: "The danger is that costly, dirty energy will be 'locked in' for the next 40 years, even as the rapidly falling costs of renewables such as wind and solar are already making these clean sources highly competitive." Nace foresees an outcome where massive amounts of stranded assets will have to be decommissioned both on cost and climate grounds long before their capital costs can be recovered. Vietnam is planning to build 26 coal power plants after 2020, but Hanoi-based nonprofit Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) has said 25 of them are not required. The nation can annually save $7 billion in coal imports and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 116 million tons by removing the 25 plants from its energy master plan, experts said at a conference on energy conservation held in Hanoi in June. China and South Korea have ratified the Paris Agreement, Japan has accepted it and Vietnam has approved it. The agreements central goals are to keep the global temperature rise in the 21st century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Hanoi was asphyxiating in the first half of 2017 with its residents only able to inhale "acceptable" air for one and a half days every week, according to a report released by GreenID. Air pollution is measured in terms of the concentration of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which is discharged by vehicles, industries and natural sources like dust. PM2.5, which is a fraction of the width of human hair, can get into the lungs and cause a number of diseases, including cancer. Dangerous air particles cause an increasing number of deaths in Vietnam they were 60 percent up from 26,300 in 1990 to 42,200 in 2015, according to a study by the Health Effects Institute, a U.S.-based research institute focusing on the health impacts of air pollution, and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation also in the U.S. The Liou He night market in Kaohsiung City, one of the most famous night markets in Taiwan. Photo by Shutterstock/Richie Chan Taiwan is searching for 152 Vietnamese tourists who went missing in the southwestern city of Kaohsiung late last week. The Central News Agency Tuesday cited Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA) as saying 153 Vietnamese tourists arrived in Taiwans south-western city of Kaohsiung on December 21 and 23 in four groups. 23 tourists who arrived on December 21 later strayed off from their groups between Nantou and New Taipeis Sanchong District the same day, while 129 others who came on December 23 went missing on December 23 and December 24. The only one who wasnt missing was a tour group leader, according to Taiwanese travel agency ETholiday, which was responsible for receiving the tourists. The tourists itineraries were arranged by the Vietnams International Holidays Trading Travel Co.. They applied for electronic visas under a program launched in 2015, which requires no visa fees for travelers from Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and India. The program, a part of Taiwans New Southbound Policy to establish closer ties with selected nations, also allows simplified visa procedures for groups of five tourists or more from the aforementioned six countries, as long as they are organized by "quality travel agencies" recognized by the Tourism Bureau or if they are part of company-sponsored groups. ETholiday reported the situation of the 152 missing tourists to Taiwans Tourism Bureau, the NIA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agency believes that the tourists faked the purpose of their visit. The Tourism Bureau subsequently asked the foreign ministry to suspend future visa applications from the Vietnamese agency responsible for the missing tourists. In response, the foreign ministry has not only canceled the visas of the 152 missing tourists, but also that of 182 other Vietnamese applications submitted under the same program. The NIA has also formed a task force including members of the local police to hunt the missing persons. They will also investigate the case for human trafficking and whether human smugglers were involved. Once found, the tourists would be deported for violating Taiwans Immigration Act and banned from entering the territory for an unspecified amount of time, the NIA said Tuesday. This is Taiwan's biggest case of missing tourists in recent years, said Cheng Ying-huei, director of the Tourism Bureaus International Affairs Department. The number is more than the total of tourists that have gone missing in Taiwan over the past three years. Ever since it lifted a 10-year ban on certain categories of Vietnamese workers in 2015, Taiwan has been a top destination for Vietnamese looking for jobs overseas. 65,000 Vietnamese workers were sent to Taiwan this year, accounting for nearly half of the total number who went overseas that year. Uplifting moments of 2018 we can take with us A mother-son reunion after 43 years and a dying girls eye donation are among 2018's most heartwarming stories in Vietnam. Long time no see Nguyen Thanh Chau, or Vance McElhinney of Northern Ireland, kisses his Vietnamese mother Le Thi Anh in Quy Nhon, February 10, 2018. They met each other after 43 years. Photo by VnExpress A British man who was among 100 babies rescued from an orphanage in Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 returned home this year to celebrate his first Tet, Lunar New Year, with his Vietnamese mother in February. Nguyen Thanh Chau, or Vance McElhinney as he is known in Northern Ireland, was admitted to an orphanage after his mother, Le Thi Anh, had an accident in 1975 and was hospitalized for more than two months. An airlift campaign organized by the U.K. newspaper Daily Mail took the child to the U.K., where he was adopted by a new family and started a new life. When he reached his twenties, he decided to go looking for his biological family, with a small photo carrying a relatives name on the back. After a long search, he finally found his relatives in Vietnam and reunited with his biological mother after a DNA test proved their relationship. After 43 years away, the long lost son had an emotional reunion with his biological mother in Quy Nhon Town, Binh Dinh Province. An eye for an eye, in compassion Nguyen Hai An, a seven-year-old girl from Hanoi, has inspired a lot of organ donors after deciding to donate her cornea before dying of a brain tumor in February 2018. Photo by VnExpress/H.A. Nguyen Hai An, a seven-year-old girl in Hanoi, won the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people after she donated her cornea before dying of a brain tumor last February. Her act was described as "rare" and "heroic" in a country where theres a strong belief that people need all their body parts for the afterlife. An was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September 2017, and her condition had worsened rapidly. During her time in hospital, her mother discussed the idea of donating her organs with An. However, Vietnamese laws only allow hospitals to take corneas from people under 18 years old. Nevertheless, the little girl decided to donate her cornea after seeing many people struggling in the hospital. Many people have been motivated by An and signed up to be organ donors. A friend in need is a friend indeed Xuka (F) and her pup suffered minor burns while alerting their owners of a deadly fire in HCMC in March, saving their lives. Photo by VnExpress/via Danny Nguyen Two pooches, named Alaskan Xuka and Siu Husky, took Vietnams social media by storm after a 29-year-old man, Danny Nguyen, who had a narrow escape in the Carina Plaza fire last March, shared the story on his Facebook page. Nguyen and his five-month pregnant wife were sleeping in their apartment on the first floor of the Carina Plaza in District 8 when the building caught fire. The two dogs started scratching the bedroom door and barking in the middle of the night, waking up the couple. "They were our saviors," he said. "If they hadn't started barking, we could have been burnt alive." The Carina Plaza fire killed 13 people and injured 28, making it the citys deadliest blaze in the last 15 years. Grass is greener on the outside Hai Chan (Two Paws), had two paws amputated and spent 10 years in a cage before being rescued. She now enjoys lying on the grass in the open at the Ninh Binh Bear Rescue Center in northern Vietnam. Photo by Four Paws/Bogdan Baraghin A picture released in May by Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, shows a bear, Hai Chan (Two Paws), lying on the grass at the Ninh Binh Bear Rescue Center in northern Vietnam, breathing in the fresh air. Shed been held captive in a bear bile farm for about 10 years before being rescued. Her two other paws had been amputated by the farm's owner to make bear paw wine, believed to be a health-boosting tonic in Chinese medicine. After years of captivity, freedom to lie in the open on green grass is sheer luxury. Take some if you need it A photo shared on Facebook shows a charity box in Ho Chi Minh City that invites the needy to take three notes from it. Last May, the image of a donation box in the heart of Saigon went viral on social media, drawing positive comments from many Facebookers as a "beautiful and humanitarian" act. The money box, which stands on a street corner in District 10, was the brainchild of the districts general clinic. It aims to lend a helping hand to poor people and street children who are struggling to buy food. Staff from the clinic and generous passers-by drop small change, mainly VND5,000 ($0.21) notes, into the box. What struck people all across the country was a small sign stuck on the side of the box, which reads: "Take three notes if you are in need." Kidnapped and sold, young woman returns home Uplifting moments of 2018 we can take with us Chinese man helps trafficked Vietnamese woman return home - EDITED Lo, a 20-year-old Vietnamese woman in the central province of Nghe An, was reunited with her family last October, seven years after she was kidnapped and sold to a Chinese man for VND60 million ($2,576 ). During her time in China, she was physically abused by her "husband" to the extent that she lost her baby. About a year ago, she accidentally met another Chinese man who managed to help her escape. They lived together as a couple and he brought her across the border to Vietnam to visit the family and report the case to local police. Unselfish action saves drowning man A photo shared on Facebook shows a completely drenched Bong, who jumped into a river to save a drowning man. Pham Van Bong, 22, a resident of the central province of Quang Nam, became a hero overnight after he jumped into a raging river to save a drowning man. Bong was on his way back home when he saw a man lose control while driving due to the tough weather conditions triggered by Storm Usagi in November. He fell into the river. Bong immediately stopped his vehicle and jumped into the river, crying out for help. Sometime later, locals rowed a boat to where the two men stood, carrying life jackets, and got both of them safely to the shore. Tat Thanh Cang, seen here in a photo captured in March 2018, has lost his post as deputy chief of Ho Chi Minh City's Communist Party unit for violations in land management. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen Tat Thanh Cang, 47, has been dismissed from several positions including deputy Party chief of Ho Chi Minh City. He is among several city leaders who have lost their positions for involvement in murky land deals. He has been removed as member of the 12th Party Central Committee and the HCMC Party unit's standing committee for the 2015-2020 tenure. The disciplinary action was handed out Tuesday at the ninth plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee in Hanoi. The Central Inspection Committee, top Party watchdog, had concluded in November and early December that Cang had committed "serious violations." He had violated the principle of democratic centralism, working regulations, as well as state regulations on managing and using assets of state-owned companies, the committee said. Cang was held responsible for transferring land belonging to the Party unit, causing huge losses, and illegally approving a million-dollar property investment at the new urban area Thu Thiem. He failed to ensure that the unit's working procedures and principles were followed, and showed a lack of supervision in the implementation of his decisions. President and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong told the Tuesday meeting that Cangs case was a profound lesson that should be learnt by "all of us." In May last year, the citys inspectors had announced the results of their investigation into Cangs decision to let HCMC Party unit's Tan Thuan Investment and Construction Company sell a 32-hectare (80-acre) riverside plot of public land in Nha Be District for just VND419 billion ($18.4 million). Inspectors said that it was not within Cangs authority to approve the sale, so the approval itself violated regulations. By not reporting the deal to the Party unit's standing committee before approving the sale, he also risked causing huge losses to the unit. The Tan Thuan Company first signed a contract to transfer the land in Nha Be District on the banks of the Saigon River to property firm Quoc Cuong Gia Lai in June 2017. Concerns that the transaction was not transparent rose as the land was sold at an unusually low price of VND419 billion, while its market price was estimated to be up to VND2 trillion. The Party unit's leaders last December ordered the transfer to be suspended for renegotiation after the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment reevaluated the land. The department put the land's value at over VND574 billion, estimating the loss at over VND150 billion. The contract was eventually ordered to be terminated last April, and the Party unit's leaders ordered an inspection into the failed deal. Thu Thiem investment Investigations also found that while serving as the city's Director of Transport Department, Cang had in 2013 approved a VND12.2 trillion ($524 million) investment by property giant Dai Quang Minh to build four main roads in the Thu Thiem area, designated to be HCMC's new trade center. In exchange for the funds it agreed to commit, the company was granted 79 hectares to develop commercial and residential projects in the area. But Cang had no power to approve investments of that scale. Regulations at the time only allowed municipal administrations to approve projects worth up to VND1.5 trillion. Vietnam has been cracking down strongly on violations by both government and Party officials. Many high ranking officials including top leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, two of the country's largest cities, are among the people who have been found guilty and punished. President and Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said at a meeting in April that the country is determined to push ahead with more major corruption cases involving power abuse violations by top defense and police officials. Indian daily The Economic Times includes Vietnam in its list of destinations that people can visit at short notice without fuss. The English-language newspaper picked destinations that are easy to access by flight, easy to get visas to and easy to make travel plans that saves time on the trips. It ranked Vietnam fifth on the list, mentioning many attractions like Ha Long Bay, the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, Con Dao Islands off the southern coast and the Mekong Delta. Vietnamese culture features an "intoxicating blend of different influences", including the Indian/Hindu influence in the south, as seen in the architecture in temples and cuisines and Chinese influence in the north. The newspaper also mentions the central Vietnamese attractions of Hoi An ancient town, royal tombs and pagodas. Con Dao Islands in Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstock/Jimmy Tran. Among the exotic things to try in Vietnam, the newspaper says, is "ruou ran", also known as snake wine, a common drink in Vietnam that locals believe increases health, vitality and has restorative purposes. Cobra snake pickled in rice wine. Photo by Shutterstock/underworld. Five other destinations on the list are from Asia: Indonesia ranked first, followed by Laos, Fiji, Jordan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Earlier, Vietnam had been named by Australian website Traveller as one of the best places that everyone should visit in 2019. Vietnam has welcomed more than 15 million foreign visitors this year, setting a new record for the countrys tourism industry. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un agreed to hold a ceremony pledging them to reconnect road and rail links between their two countries when they met in September. Photo by AFP A South Korean delegation left for North Korea on Wednesday to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for reconnecting roads and railways across the divided peninsula. A nine-car special train carrying some 100 South Koreans, including officials and five people born in the North, was seen leaving Seoul railway station early in the morning for a two-hour journey to the North's border city of Kaesong. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un agreed to hold the ceremony by the end of this year when they met at their third summit in Pyongyang in September. Concerns arose that the train and other materials being brought into the North for the ceremony could breach various sanctions imposed on the isolated regime over its nuclear weapons program, but the U.N. Security Council reportedly granted a waver for the event. Seoul stressed that the ceremony would not herald the start of actual work on reconnecting and modernising road and rail links between the two Koreas - which remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended without a peace treaty. The event is a mere "expression of a commitment" to the projects, a South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman said, adding that construction would depend on "progress on the North's denuclearization and circumstances concerning sanctions." The two sides wrapped up their joint railway and road inspections for the projects this month. South Korea has set aside some $620,000 for the endeavour. The ceremony comes as the United States ramps up efforts to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. Following a rapid rapprochement earlier this year that culminated in a historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, progress has stalled with both sides accusing each other of dragging their feet and acting in bad faith. Critics say North Korea has made no concrete commitments and is unlikely to surrender its atomic arsenal, while Washington's policy of maintaining pressure through isolation and sanctions has left Pyongyang seething. Second summit Trump said Monday that he was "looking forward" to his second summit with Kim, which Washington says may take place early next year. He tweeted the statement after he was briefed by Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative on North Korea, who wrapped up a three-day trip to Seoul on Saturday. Biegun said last week the United States will be more lenient in enforcing its blanket ban on U.S. citizens' travel to the totalitarian state when dealing with aid workers, a goodwill gesture as Trump seeks a fresh summit. The Trump administration has generally refused to let U.S. aid groups operate in North Korea, seeking to both maximise pressure on Pyongyang and ensure the safety of Americans. Biegun also said in Seoul last week Washington was willing to discuss trust-building initiatives with Pyongyang. Senior transport officials from Russia, China and Mongolia as well as several foreign ambassadors to South Korea will attend Wednesday's ceremony, the South's Unification Ministry said. The two leaders are expected to meet again before 2019. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow failed to agree on a gas price for Belarus, therefore the parties agreed to meet again before the New Year. "The recent talks can be called constructive. The presidents have discussed the entire spectrum of the bilateral agenda. Assessing the trade and economic cooperation, they welcomed the growth in bilateral trade. Other important issues on the agenda included prices for gas, the operation of the Belarusian oil refining sector amidst Russia's tax maneuver, and supplies of Belarusian foodstuffs to the Russian market. The parties managed to reconcile positions across all the issues," BelTA has learned from Lukashenko's spokesperson, Natalia Eismont. Read alsoLukashenko complains about hints coming from Moscow: Take oil and join Russia Apart from that, the presidents scrutinized the Union State agreements and their implementation. "They admitted that the two countries lag behind in fulfilling several provisions of the agreements. They announced plans to intensify these processes (this pertains, for example, to the common and agreed manufacturing policy)," Eismont said. "As a result, the heads of state agreed to hold another meeting before the New Year to make decisions on some urgent issues. First of all, this has to do with the intention of the Russian president to come to grips with the issues in order to find a solution. The date of the meeting will be agreed upon later taking into account the schedules of the heads of state," the spokesperson said. Vessel that illegally checked in annexed Crimea's ports runs aground off Taman coast In 2014, Ukraine officially ceased operations of all ports on the Russian-annexed peninsula. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter What do you think about our new website? Share your opinion Andres Abian on his Siberian adventure. Andres Abian Pajares is a school janitor in Zaragoza and an adventure cyclist with 20 years of experience under his belt. But in Russia, he found out the hard way that you dont mess with the Siberian winter, particularly in the far-eastern provinces such as Magadan. There, on the side of the Kolyma highway, Andres almost froze to death, only to be rescued and taken to hospital by three Russians from the Caucasus who found him in his tent in temperatures of -40C. Andres landed in Moscow on December 3 and proceeded directly to Magadan where, as he explains on his website, he began an odyssey that involved pedaling 4,658 kilometers in unforgiving winter conditions to the city of Irkustk in the Baikal Lake area an adventure that was being chronicled by Spanish daily El Mundo. Magadan welcomed me with -17C and a blizzard. Its a gray day and theres hardly anyone on the streets. The small hotel is perfect and cozy, he wrote in his blog on arrival. To get acclimatized, he stayed several days in town, which is the capital of the province and a port on the shores of the Ojotsk Sea. The area is famous for its gold mines and its gulags during Stalins rule, a cruel period in history described at length by Varlam Shalamov in The Kolyma Tales. Momento del rescate: Andres first encountered the three Russians when they drove past him en route to Magadan from Susuman in their four-wheel vehicle. At that point, they stopped to warn him that the temperatures were dropping sharply and advised him to find a house to spend the night in. But Andres didnt take the warnings seriously and decided instead to pitch his tent. Later, he would explain how he was unable to get the tent up wearing the mittens he had on over his other gloves. He took the mittens off to get the pins sorted. And in a matter of minutes, the intense cold froze three of the fingers on his right hand. On their way back home, Vaja Chemurziyev, Aslan Jabriev and Musa Mutsolgov saw Andres tent and stopped the car. At first they thought he was dead, but when they saw he was still breathing, they put him in their car and drove him to hospital. Hailing from the warmer climes of Ingushetia, Andres saviors, whose gesture has prompted the regions president to ask that they be decorated, are well aware of the dangers of underestimating the cold of Kolyma. But despite his brush with death, The Spaniard of the Snows as he is now known, remains undeterred. It was, he says, bad luck, a mistake and an incident that has forced him to put his plans on hold. He will return, he insists, but next time he will pedal in the summer. The route planned by Abian Pajares. Andres is used to navigating his way through difficult situations. He has cycled all over the world, including India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan and, until now, he has always emerged from his adventures exhilarated and triumphant. It might prove some consolation that Napoleon also underestimated the Russian weather conditions. English version by Heather Galloway. Iberia is a key concern in the case of a no-deal Brexit. ULY MARTIN A so-called hard Brexit is no longer a remote possibility in Europe. The Spanish government has nearly finalized its contingency plans to deal with the adverse effects for Spain should the United Kingdom crash out of the European Union in March of next year without a deal. The executive will launch a battery of measures and recommendations in January that are focused on the most exposed sectors. The rights of citizens, aviation with former Spanish flag carrier Iberia a key concern and the exchange of goods will figure among the key points. Spain is one of the EU countries that has the closest ties with the UK, forcing the government to anticipate the worst possible scenario of no deal when it leaves the 28-country bloc on March 30, 2019. While Madrid has been making preparations for such a scenario, the chaotic situation in London with Prime Minister Theresa May unable to guarantee to her European partners that she can get her Withdrawal Agreement approved by parliament has forced them to pick up the pace. Spain is one of the EU countries that has the closest ties with the UK, forcing the government to anticipate the worst possible scenario of no deal Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), has taken the reins of the project, and is due to officially launch it in January, possibly after the vote on the agreement takes place in parliament. The most visible element of the plan will be a webpage aimed at businesses and citizens containing all of the information relating to Brexit, government sources have told EL PAIS. The project will consider two scenarios: an agreed withdrawal, which is still the most likely, or a no-deal situation, which is looking more probable with each passing day. Until now, the Spanish government had been unwilling to publicly explore this second possibility in order to not create concern among businesses and citizens (although talks in private with the most affected sectors have taken place). But as the key date of the UKs exit approaches, more focus is being put on a possible adverse scenario. Practically all of Spains ministries are working to analyze which areas are most sensitive and to anticipate possible solutions. Here are the key elements of the contingency plan. Practically all of Spains ministries are working to analyze which areas are most sensitive and to anticipate possible solutions Citizens. Spain counts on the largest community of British residents in the EU (around 300,000), and a high number of Spaniards living in the UK (116,000). The Spanish government is working on the basis that, even without a negotiated withdrawal, London will be interested in reciprocally maintaining the rights of this significant number of people. On the basis of the recommendations that have been published by the European Commission in order to maintain rights intact, the Spanish government is seeking to reach deals that will guarantee rights to residency, healthcare and the recognition of academic qualifications. Sources consulted by EL PAIS say that this will be the area with the least disagreement between the two sides. Aviation. Air traffic is a much more complex issue. Beyond the general uncertainty related to a key area for tourism, Spain is faced with the specific problem of Iberia the former flag carrier is part of the British group IAG, which also includes British Airways. The company would become a non-EU firm as soon as Brexit happens if it does not manage to apply changes to its structure in order to show the EC that its majority shareholders are European. A hard Brexit would leave this company without the time frame it is counting on the current Withdrawal Agreement allows for a two-year transition period, in which the status quo in the EU would be maintained in order to make the necessary changes on a gradual basis. In the worst of all cases, there would be internal measures to protect the interests of affected citizens, sources explain, without providing further information. Trade. The government already has an estimate as to how much it will have to increase its customs resources should there be a hard Brexit. In such a case, goods would be subject to border controls to ensure that duties are paid on them and also to carry out inspections given that they would no longer be coming from an EU member state. These barriers threaten to significantly affect high volumes of trade: the UK is the fourth destination for Spanish exports. The majority of the negative economic effect will depend on how prepared companies are. The Economy Ministry has for some time now been offering information on how to operate in a country that, from March onward, will no longer be part of the EU. There will also be instructions about how Spains Official Credit Institute can offer financing in the case of difficulties, although for now the government is not planning on opening official lines due to Brexit. Initially, Madrid had identified the financial sector as one of the most exposed Santander bank, for example, does large volumes of business in the UK. But plans made by Brussels and preparations of the banks themselves have quelled these fears, sources say. Fishing. In this area, Spain considers the work already done by the EC to have significantly reduced the adverse effects for the Spanish fishermen who are operating in the United Kingdom (there are around 80 boats who fish in British waters). Gibraltar. The issue related to Brexit that has consumed the most diplomatic efforts is the one that the government considers to be the best covered. The Spanish government believes that, even if the general Withdrawal Agreement were to be rejected the document contains a specific protocol on Gibraltar the bilateral arrangements that Madrid and London have signed up to relating to the British Overseas Territory would remain in force. And that would guarantee an understanding on the four key issues that cause friction between Spain and The Rock: the movement of citizens, tobacco smuggling, tax issues and environmental disputes. It is yet to be seen whether the UK will accept these memorandums should the Brexit deal between Brussels and London be dashed. English version by Simon Hunter. Andrea Sicignano in two photos of herself after the attack that she published on her Facebook account. Andrea Sicignano (Facebook) A 27-year-old student living in Madrid was attacked and raped by a man two weekends ago close to the bus station in the Aluche neighborhood in the south of the capital, according to sources from police headquarters. As I fought, he started to beat me. I was screaming and fighting with all of the power I could muster Andrea Sicignano, who has been living in Madrid for the past six months, described via a public post on her Facebook account what happened to her as she returned home from a night out with a friend. The pair had been to watch flamenco and have a few drinks. At the end of the night, they got separated and Sicignano became confused about which bus she was on and where she was in relation to her home. The last off the bus, a man approached her and offered to help her find her bearings. I was lost at 4am, and all public transport had stopped running. I needed help and this man assured me he could help me get home, she writes in her powerful account of the nights events. Its unclear exactly what happened next, but as soon as I started to realize I could be in danger, I tried to leave. But this man became forceful and violent towards me, she goes on. As I fought, he started to beat me. I was screaming and fighting with all of the power I could muster. I desperately tried to reach for my phone but he called out in Spanish, I have your phone, you can't call anyone. He hit me in the face over and over until I couldnt fight anymore. I couldnt scream anymore. I could barely see through the blood in my eyes. I was sure he was going to kill me, she continues. Eventually I closed my eyes. With the hope that he would stop beating me, I pretended to be dead. I prayed that when I opened my eyes he would be gone. I dont know how much time passed before I finally opened my eyes, but when I did, he had disappeared. Finally, she writes: He raped me. Once he had left, she sat up and retrieved her things. Then, barefoot, she ran through the deserted streets, shouting for help. I was waving frantically, and yet three or four cars drove past me, she recalls. Finally, one stopped. I ran to it, screaming. Blood covered my face, hair, and jacket. A kind stranger whom Ill never have the chance to thank called the ambulance and tried to soothe me while we waited for them to arrive. According to a police spokesman, Sicignano reported the attack on December 9. Three days later, thanks to an investigation by the Family and Women Unit (UFAM), the suspect was arrested in Carabanchel. He has a police record, though none of his nine prior offenses are for rape. Other assaults News of this attack comes in the wake of the Laura Luelmo murder case, which has sent shockwaves through Spain. The young Spanish schoolteacher was sexually assaulted and left for dead earlier this month in the southern province of Huelva. A neighbor of Luelmo, who was a convicted killer with a long criminal record, has confessed to her crime. English version by Heather Galloway. King Felipe VI during his Christmas speech. Ballesteros (EFE) Spanish politicians from all sides of the political spectrum have reacted to King Felipe VIs Christmas message, which was broadcast on December 24 and was dedicated in large part to the challenges facing the countrys young people. You have talent, you believe in peace, you are open to the world because you are, and you feel, European, you are humanitarian, you are committed to social causes, to the fight against climate change and the defense of the environment, the monarch said in his address. You want to live and coexist, but you face serious problems. Young people want to live and coexist, but you face serious problems King Felipe VI King Felipe referred to the challenges facing young Spaniards when looking for employment. You know that it is very hard to find a job without the proper training, he said. Many of you have this [training], but sometimes you are forced to occupy a position that is not the one you have trained for or that doesnt meet your expectations. And we have to help you: so that you can build a personal and professional life, with dignified work and salaries, to have an adequate place to live, and if you want to, to build a family and be able to find a work-life balance. The kings call for peaceful coexistence in Spain, at a time of continuing tensions in the region of Catalonia, which is still in the midst of an independence drive, was given a mixed reaction by Spains politicians. This part of his speech was received positively by the pro-Constitution parties, such as the governing Socialist Party (PSOE), the conservative Popular Party (PP) and left-wing anti-austerity party Podemos albeit the latter voicing concerns over the credibility of the monarch. Basque and Catalan nationalists, however, were critical of the kings speech. The regional premier of Catalonia, the hardline separatist Quim Torra, rejected the words of Felipe VI, saying: There is no problem of coexistence in Catalonia, rather one of democracy and justice. He was referring to the Catalan pro-independence leaders who have been in pre-trial custody for over a year, ahead of their upcoming court cases for their role in last years illegal referendum on secession from Spain and subsequent unilateral declaration of independence. There is no problem of coexistence in Catalonia, rather one of democracy and justice Catalan regional premier Quim Torra The spokesperson for the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) in Congress, Aitor Esteban, also criticized the speech, saying that rather than the Constitution being the greatest legacy that could be left for future generations, it would be to recognize the Basques as a nation. The PSOE government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the kings message was in line with what the government defends, and highlighted the kings calls for dialogue and understanding. The leader of center-right party Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera, also supported the king via a tweet. Peaceful coexistence is the greatest asset, the most valuable result from our democracy. I agree with the king: our biggest challenge is to ensure that coexistence continues, defending equality, freedom and the union. We must look to the future to modernize and continue to improve our great nation. For his part, PP chief Pablo Casado echoed the calls by the king for laws to be observed. Rules that are for everyone must be respected by everyone. The leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, celebrated the change of tone of the king with regard to Catalonia. The king made a televised address last year in the wake of the Catalan crisis, and was criticized by certain sectors for what was perceived as an excessively hardline approach to the issues relating to the secessionist drive. Iglesias described this change of approach as the king making an implicit recognition of having made a mistake by assuming too closely the positions of the then-PP government. But Iglesias added that the monarchy as an institution belonged to another era and that it did not respond to the needs of society. He does not sound credible, said the Podemos spokesperson in Congress, Irene Montero. English version by Simon Hunter. OPEC Fund Partners Ameriabank to Address Problems and Help to Improve the Life of People in Armenia. T. Alnassar. Generation A: Edition 14. Exclusive Chance to Begin Your Professional Career with Ameriabank Katna Armenian cheeses enter the market: the new project of Galaxy Group of Companies US$30m OPEC Fund loan to Ameriabank to promote sustainable energy and support small businesses in Armenia Google Ad Black Friday at ucom: up to 70% discount for smart home devices, gadgets and smartphones 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Google Ad Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases OPEC Fund Partners Ameriabank to Address Problems and Help to Improve the Life of People in Armenia. T. Alnassar. Generation A: Edition 14. Exclusive Chance to Begin Your Professional Career with Ameriabank Katna Armenian cheeses enter the market: the new project of Galaxy Group of Companies US$30m OPEC Fund loan to Ameriabank to promote sustainable energy and support small businesses in Armenia Black Friday at ucom: up to 70% discount for smart home devices, gadgets and smartphones 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Google Ad Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases Levon Shirinyan: We have passed from communistic extremism to liberal extremism (video) Political scientist Levon Shirinyan is convinced that forces which supported the revolution did not become members of the parliament. It is about the Christian-Democratic Revival of Armenia and the "Sasna Tsrer" parties. Shirinyan described the strange fact that the new government, besides denying Serzh Sargsyan, did not deny his legacy. "The Electoral Code was an inheritance from Serzh Sargsyan, which worked against the people's representation." According to Shirinyan, liberalism prevails in parliament. "In the 1990s, we had communistic extremism and now we have liberalism. Both are dangerous, both direct to nowhere." As to the Prosperous Armenia party (PAP), it is a master of compromises. Shirinyan has no opposition to either the PAP or the Luys factions. "There will be no opposition in the National Assembly because both powers have the same value system with the My Step alliance. They cannot be liberal and do not accept LGBT, it is excluded." Robert Kocharyan was for the Meghri exchange option - Ashot Manucharyan (video) What role did Robert Kocharyan have on October 27? What happened to the Miasnutyun (Unity) bloc and Robert Kocharyan before October 27? According to Ashot Manucharyan, all those external powers that sought to compel Armenia had the first major conflict with the ruling couple of Vazgen Sargsyan-Karen Demirchyan. The latter brought Armenia to complete sovereignty. According to Manucharyan, the second clash took place in the Meghri exchange version proposed to Armenia. "In reality, it was a destructive option because Armenia was in the Turkish 'bag.'" He said that Vazgen Sargsyan and Karen Demirchyan were strongly against this option, but Kocharyan was for. During a press conference in 2000, Manucharyan accused Kocharyan of hiding from the examination the main version of the exchange of Meghri. Continuing, he says, "Until this day, this remains as main theory for me about what happened and why." Manucharyan is convinced that March 1 case was the destruction of people who stood up to prevent him from establishing a strange situation for themselves. "I do not think anyone will be limited to Kocharyan. Hundreds of people were involved in this process," Manucharyan says. "Ter-Petrosyan was the leader at the time, Stepan Demirchyan - before him followed by Artashes Geghamyan. I just give names, if I continue, Artur Baghdasaryan was a leader as well and so on," he said when asked about the activities of the opposition in 2008. He assures one thing: "People's rebellion was fair." According to Manucharyan, the examination of the those who ordered to kill people will give an opportunity to end many things. Sanctions, which the Russian Federation imposed from December 25 against JSC Ukreximbank would not affect its current operations, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday. "Respectively, the NBU does not see risks for the operation of the banking sector, which is enough capitalized and has enough liquidity," the central bank said in a response to Interfax-Ukraine's inquiry. As reported, the Russian Federation on December 25 added seven companies to the sanctions list of legal entities, including Ukrainian defense enterprises (the Ukroboronprom state concern and Ukrspecexport state-owned enterprise), the Ukrainian State Export-Import Bank, Centrenergo, one of the largest Ukrainian power-generating companies, the TAS Insurance Group under control of businessman Sergiy Tigipko, and several transport logistic organizations (the Vertical forwarding company belonged to Roman Vasylevsky and the First Logistic Company). Regarding legal entities and individuals placed to the list, and organizations under their control, their noncash money, securities and property are blocked on the territory of the Russian Federation and the prohibition on the withdrawal of capital outside Russia is introduced. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation received the right to grant temporary permits to conduct certain operations in respect of legal entities to which special economic measures are applied. Ukreximbank, a wholly owned state bank, was established in 1992. It ranked third among 82 banks in Ukraine in terms of total assets worth UAH 163.956 billion as of October 1, 2018, according to the NBU. The 30-day martial law decreed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in 10 Ukrainian regions is expiring at 14:00 Kyiv time on Wednesday. Martial law was introduced from 14:00 on November 26, but actually came into force on November 28 after the publication of the law on the approval of the presidential decree of Ukraine "On the imposition of martial law in Ukraine." Martial law was introduced for 30 days in 10 regions Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, as well as in the internal waters of Ukraine's Azov-Kerch coastal area. On November 30, Ukraine's State Border Service head Peter Petro Tsyhykal said his agency had strengthened control measures at the border and restricted the entry into Ukraine of male citizens of the age of 16 to 60. National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said restrictions for men citizens of the Russian Federation may remain, even after martial law expires. Martial law was introduced after Russia's open armed aggression against Ukraine in the Azov-Black Sea basin, as a result of which Ukrainian naval sailors were captured and three ships of Ukraine's Navy were seized. Poroshenko said the reason for the introduction of martial law was not only Russia's open armed aggression against Ukraine in the Azov-Black Sea basin, but also Russia's build-up of troops along Russia's border with Ukraine in recent months. The president said during martial law Ukraine's the line of defense was maximally strengthened, and that military personnel are ready at any moment to give an adequate response to the provocations of the aggressor. Poroshenko said much has been done to strengthen the defense capability of Ukraine as a whole: Ukraine's anti-aircraft defense has been strengthened, as has the country's Air Force. He also said the intensity of training of the command and troops was increased, especially in parts of Ukraine bordering Russia. As earlier reported, on November 28, Poroshenko signed decree No. 393 "On the introduction of martial law in Ukraine" enacting martial law for 30 days from 14:00 November 26 to 14:00 December 26, 2018. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine did not allow about 1,650 citizens of the Russian Federation to enter Ukraine since the introduction of martial law in Ukraine from November 26, spokesperson for the State Border Service Oleh Slobodian has told Interfax-Ukraine. The period under review is from November 26 to December 26, he said. In particular, 89 Russian citizens were refused entry into Ukraine in the last 24 hours, he said. Martial law introduced in 10 regions of Ukraine is expiring at 14:00 Kyiv time on Wednesday, December 26. The Ukrainian side in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) has not received an answer from representatives of Russia and officials in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the proposal to conduct a video conference call for TCG members on December 27, 2018, to discuss new initiatives by Kyiv to release hostages and political prisoners. First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament and Ukraine's envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group's humanitarian subgroup Iryna Gerashchenko said on Facebook: "We have not received any response from Russia or representatives of occupied Donetsk region. Representatives of occupied Luhansk region sent a letter refusing to take part in the Skype conference and called the initiative by Kyiv to negotiate a release of hostages a 'PR exercise.'" Gerashchenko said on Facebook the Ukrainian side is waiting for more active and constructive positions from Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Coordinator of the Humanitarian Working Group, Ambassador Toni Frisch. "He recommended holding the conference on December 29, and not on December 27 (We are ready to hold it on December 29, of course, but we expect more involvement and more initiative to be shown for solving humanitarian issues)," she said. Gerashchenko said the Ukrainian side of the TCG earlier recommended holding on December 27 a video conference of the humanitarian group in order to attempt to close positions on the issue of releasing hostages. Representatives of Ukraine then made concrete proposals, replete with lists, and recommended carrying out a "large-scale prisoner swap in the form of 22 for 22, 39 for 11 and 33 for 8 on January 5, on the eve of Orthodox Christmas." "Nevertheless, the Ukrainian side demands the release of hostages and political prisoners. I have appealed to Ukraine's head of the TCG Yevhen Marchuk so that on December 27 during the Skype conference of the TCG security subgroup he can raise the issue about the need of conducing a Skype conference of the humanitarian subgroup to discuss one issue the release of hostages. We are ready to talk about various formats, to discuss each name, to do everything to reach an agreement and free those held in captivity. It would be very proper and humane to release everyone by Orthodox Christmas on January 7, 2019," she said. As earlier reported, on December 21, the Ukrainian side of the TCG sent to the OSCE its written proposals for holding a video conference of the TCG humanitarian subgroup on December 27 in order to discuss Kyiv's new proposals for releasing hostages and political prisoners. The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine will expand the sanctions list by adding members of the Russian State Duma from the United Russia and Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) factions, as well as suppliers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said. "A significant number of State Duma members, including those from the United Russia and LDPR factions, are to be added to the sanctions list by [a NSDC] decision," the president said at a NSDC meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday. He also said that enterprises that "act against Ukraine in one way or another, are engaged in military supplies to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" would also be included in this list. The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) will discuss behind closed doors shortcomings of martial law administration that were discovered under the recent state of martial law in Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine has said. "Thanks to the state of martial law under the conditions closely resembling those during combat actions, we have been able to scrutinize the system of military administration of military equipment, procurement And it was discovered, by the way (I will talk about it openly during our session behind closed doors) that we have a number of shortcomings," he said at the NSDC's meeting in Kyiv on December 26. Poroshenko said it was a very important thing to do because shortcomings in military administration should better be discovered before they are exploited by the enemy. NSDC to consider draft decision on sanctions in response to illegitimate elections in Donbas, Russia's aggression near Kerch Strait Poroshenko The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) on December 26 will discuss a draft decision on imposing sanctions in response to illegitimate elections in the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Donbas, as well as to Russia's aggression near the Kerch Strait, President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine has said. "The NSDC's agenda for today includes a draft resolution on imposing sanctions by Ukraine for illegitimate elections in the occupied territory of our statein Donbas and for the act of aggression against our nation in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait," he said at the NSDC's meeting in Kyiv on December 26. Poroshenko said sanctions will be imposed on those who attacked the Ukrainian naval vessels, those who have been involved in illegitimate court rulings and detentions, as well as those who gave out the orders. The Supreme Court of Crimea on December 26 refused to release the last five naval seamen out of the crews of three Ukrainian naval vessels captured in the Black Sea on November 25 after considering complaints against their arrest, an Interfax correspondent has reported. The court of appeals has upheld the ruling of the Kyivsky District Court in Simferopol, specifying that the term of arrest will come to an end on January 24, 2019 instead of January 25, 2019 as had been declared by the court of the first instance that merely made a technical mistake. The defense will appeal the arrest of the remaining four Ukrainians in the court of appeals. Thus, the court of appeals has heard appeals against the arrest of 20 out of the 24 Ukrainians. As was earlier reported, on November 25, the Russian border guards attacked and captured three Ukrainian naval vessels en route from Odesa to Mariupol near the Kerch Strait. The crews were then arrested and transported to Moscow. They are charged with illegal border crossing. Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko has said the Ukrainian army can respond swiftly in the event of a threat of Russia's invasion into Ukraine. He announced it while delivering a report on the initial results of the state of martial law that was in effect in ten regions of Ukraine for 30 days. "First, the General Staff can deploy joint force formations in case of a threat of a direct invasion from Russia's side. Second, the Ukrainian armed forces are ready to quickly increase the number of combat units thanks to the availability of professionally trained and highly motivated operational reserve. More than 30,000 reservists were able to refresh their skills during recent training exercises," Muzhenko said in the aftermath of the NSDC's meeting in Kyiv on December 26. He said comprehensive exercises of territorial defense brigades had been held and measures to ensure smooth interaction among government bodies and other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had been put in place. "In view of the threat of open aggression, the General Staff conducted large-scale organizational and training exercises meant for defending the country. A detailed analysis of the conducted actions of all components of the states defense sector under the state of martial law will allow solving the identified problems and will enhance the combat capabilities of our Armed Forces," he said. More than fifty members of parliament in Iran have called upon the Islamic Republic's judiciary to set up a special branch to look into significant "violations" committed in privatization of state-owned industries. Without going into the details, 55 legislatures maintained that numerous violations have occurred at the Iranian Privatization Organization (IPO) under the leadership of Mir Ali Ashraf Abdollah Pouri Hosseini. In their letter to the judiciary, the MPs have presented a list of state-owned industries where they say a series of "significant violations" have occurred, including at Al- Mahdi Aluminum, Hormozal Project, Machine Sazi Tabriz (Tabriz Machinery Manufacturing), Tabriz Molding complex, Iran Airtour, Arak Aluminum, Moghan Agro-Industry and Livestock company, Kermanshah Petrochemical company, and Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane industrial complex. Insisting that there have been major ambiguities in the privatization of these state-owned industrial complexes, the MPs have also noted that lawsuits have already been filed against the head of IPO, Pouri Hosseini. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, private sector companies set up by entrepreneurs before the revolution were nationalized in the government of Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan. Later in the administration led by Prime Minister Mir Hossein Musavi who believed in centralized economy, all major companies and industries became nationalized. However, as war broke out with Iraq, the government of Iran was incapable of running them. Towards the end of the war in late 1980s, an amendment in the constitution called for privatization of those industries. As the war ended, the government of President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani sold all of them to the Islamic Republic insiders, and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) got the lion's share of those firms. Later, as many of these insiders proved to be incapable of running large companies, they tried to sell the same companies to the government and the government set up its own "private companies" to take over the factories that practically did not produce anything. These companies were later nicknamed "Khosoulati" which is a combination of the Persian words for private and public. In many cases the main function of such factories and companies is that their private owners can use them to get subsidized foreign exchange ostensibly to develop them, but instead they use the hard currency to import marketable goods with a guaranteed profit without the hassle of dealing with workers. As a result, many such companies failed to regularly pay workers, especially during the past few years, leading to major labor unrest in industrial provinces such as Arak and Khuzestan. Earlier, veteran conservative politician and former Tehran MP, Ahmad Tavakoli had also reported that a lawsuit against Al- Mahdi Aluminum and Hormozal Aluminum had already been filed. Meanwhile, pro-reform representative of the city of Shiraz to Majles (parliament), Bahram Parsaei disclosed that a $237 million-plus violation has occurred in the procedure of privatization of the two Alluvium complexes. The violation has led to the disclosure of the fact that 50%-60% of Iran's Aluminum market has been practically monopolized by a single family., Parsaei. Furthermore, Parsaei has accused IPO of holding the bid for selling the two complexes to the private sector with the presence of only one bidder; which is categorically against the law. Nevertheless, the advisor of the IPO's head, Jafar Sobhani, has fired back, noting that the deal has been endorsed by the judiciary. In the meantime, the MPs have asserted in their letter that state-owned industries are sold to the private sector for "peanuts", and to the individuals without any qualification. "Some of the individuals, who have succeeded in buying state-owned industries, have criminal records and who had been arrested for various violations and committing crimes," the legislators have noted. The mainly conservative MPs have also cited the Minister of Economy as promising that the IPO's head will soon be dismissed and replaced. Pouri Hosseini was appointed by the so-called pro-reform mid-ranking cleric, President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) as the head of IPO, after serving as the representative of Tabriz to Majles. Later he was dismissed by the hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but reinstated by President Hassan Rouhani. The workers at many privatized industrial complexes across Iran, including giant corporations, Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane plant, Iran National Steel Industrial Group (INSIG) and Hepco have recently gone on strike and holding numerous rallies protesting the privatization of their plants. For various reasons, most of the privatized complexes are currently on the verge of bankruptcy and incapable of paying their employees. Nonetheless, Rouhani and his cabinet have repeatedly insisted that the privatization procedure should go on, regardless of widespread protests and strikes. Many of formerly nationalized industries were sold back to the private sector for unbelievably low prices. Critics have repeatedly maintained that nepotism and favoritism have been involved in the process. Police has captured "nearly three thousand unauthorized weapons" in Dezful, in Southwestern Iran in the volatile province of Khuzestan, Iranian media reported on Monday December 24. Meanwhile, Khuzestan Police Chief Heydar Abbaszadeh told reporters that a "general disarming" project is under way in the area, warning that "those who own and use unauthorized weapons will be strictly dealt with." Abbaszadeh said that 2,325 individuals have been arrested in Khuzestan during the past nine months, adding that police has seized 494 combat weapons as well as 2,236 rifles during the same period. The province is home to a major part of Iran's oil industry including the Abadan Refinery, as well as the steel mill in Ahvaz and the sugar plant in Haft Tappeh where unpaid workers have been on strike and holding protest demonstrations nearly for a year. However, no shooting was reported during last year's labor unrest in Khuzestan. The province is also known for its Arab-Persian ethnic divide which at times brought about disturbances. An ethnic Arab group claimed responsibility for last September's attack on a military parade in Ahvaz that claimed two dozen lives and left many more wounded. Dezful's local governor Mohamad Heydari told reporters that recently there have been "cases of armed robbery and shooting" in the city, and officials have decided to launch a general weapons confiscation project. However, he said because of the special situation in Dezful, complete disarming will take some time. Nevertheless, he did not elaborate on what makes the city's situation "special." Yet, the local governor warned "those who disturb order in the city" will be stopped by the authorities from "committing outrageous criminal acts." The governor asked the police to plan and act in a way that criminals "wouldn't even think of disturbing public's peace." However, he said "Violent crimes are committed by criminals who have a long record of mischief," but said there are not too many criminals around. The local governor further called on the police to confront armed robbery while the disarming project is under way. Iranian media recently reported cases of tribal disputes that led to shootouts, as well as armed robberies by "bandits." Recently a local police chief in Dezful was shot dead during a clash with bandits, reports said. In another developments, gunmen attacked "a cultural center" associated with Khuzestan's representative to the Assembly of Experts, his Telegram channel reported. Importing, buying, selling and repairing weapons are not allowed in Iran except for authorized weapons used for hunting. Possession of unauthorized hunting or combat weapons entail between three months to ten years prison terms as well as cash fines up to 80 million rials (roughly $800). After reports that an Israeli aircraft launched a missile attack on an arms depot near Damascus, Israeli media reported more information showing possible links to Iranian activities in Syria. The Jerusalem Post, using commercial airline tracking information, reported that two Iranian cargo planes left Damascus around 10 PM, right before or during the air attack took place. A Mahan airlines plane and a Fars Air Qeshm flight took off, crossed into Iraq and flew on toward Tehran. Mahan Air has been targeted by U.S. sanctions for delivering arms to Syria, which at least partly reach the Lebanese Hezbollah, designated as a terror group by the U.S. The JP and other Israeli media also quoted a report by Newsweek that the attack might have targeted and wounded high-ranking Hezbollah officials visiting Damascus, but this information has a single source; an unnamed U.S. Department of Defense official. A Lebanese website has also reported that a Hezbollah delegation was arriving in Damascus at the time of the airstrikes to board one of the Iranian flights to go to the funeral of Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi who passed away in Tehran on December 24. A Hezbollah delegation heading to Iran for the funeral of a senior regime official is entirely possible, as such trips have been quite common in the past. But whether Tuesday night a Hezbollah delegation was indeed in Damascus at about the time of the air attack, is not confirmed. Speculations that the Hezbollah delegation might have been targeted while on board of one of the Iranian planes was discounted by former director of Israeli Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, who told the Israeli radio the probability of such an incident is "very low" according to Haaretz. Indeed an Israeli strike on an Iranian plane on the ground in Damascus would be unprecedented and would be a major escalation. Yadlin added that Israel does not attack Hezbollah officials but targets weapons and ammunition and said a lot of things are still unknown and need to be pieced together, Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 27 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Dec. 26. 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. 26 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Russia will do everything possible to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports referring to Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. Zakharova made the remarks during a press conference on Dec. 26. We do not set a time-frame, she said. If we talk about time, of course, we have always stood for rapid settlement of the conflict and all measures aimed at speedy settlement of this problem. But frankly speaking, I can not say about specific time-frame. Unfortunately, the conflict is protracted," Zakharova said, adding that everything that will depend on the Russian side will be done. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 Trend: The City of San Diego in the US State of California has proclaimed December 31, 2018 as Azerbaijani Solidarity Day in the city, Azerbaijans Consulate General in Los Angeles said in a message Dec. 26, Trend reports. The relevant proclamation was signed by the City Mayor Kevin Faulconer. In the proclamation, the Mayor notes that the Azerbaijani people established the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, which became the first secular democracy in the entire Muslim world. It also states that the new democracy enacted many progressive reforms, including granting the right to vote to women in 1919, which made Azerbaijan not only the first majority-Muslim nation to empower women, but also put the country ahead of many advanced nations of the time in championing womens rights. The document stresses that since restoring its independence in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan has consolidated its freedom and independence, and has become one of the worlds fastest developing and modernizing countries, the largest economy of the region and an important trade partner of the United States in the South Caucasus. It further mentions that Azerbaijan has a long-standing tradition of peaceful co-existence and interfaith harmony among Muslims, Christians and Jews. The proclamation notes that San Diego and Baku established sister-neighborhood partnership in 2011. The document also states that the Azerbaijani community in San Diego actively contributes to cultural diversity, richness and economic prosperity in the city. It notes that December 31 of every year is celebrated as the Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis by around 50 million Azerbaijanis around the world, including many thousands in the City of San Diego. In the end, the Mayor of San Diego Kevin Faulconer, for and on behalf of the citizens of the City, proclaims December 31, 2018, to be Azerbaijani Solidarity Day in the City of San Diego. A similar proclamation was also adopted by San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of a newly-built highway linking Baku ring road with Sharifzade Street as well as Yasamal residential complex of the State Housing Construction Agency (MIDA). Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state of the work carried out on the newly-built road. The construction of the highway started this February. The length of the four-lane road is 1310m, while its width is 18.5m. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road. X X X President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva then attended the opening of Yasamal residential complex of the State Housing Construction Agency. Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Housing Development Agency Sadig Sadigov informed the head of state of the work done. The Yasamal residential complex occupies a total area of 11.6 hectares. Under the planned project, 29 residential buildings were constructed. Of them 12 are twelve-storey, while 17 are nine-storey buildings. The buildings feature a total of 1843 apartments. X X X The secondary school No161 was also constructed in the territory of the complex. The head of state and first lady viewed conditions created here. Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov informed that the 960-seat school features 36 classrooms. All classrooms are supplied with necessary teaching equipment. X X X President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva then familiarized themselves with conditions created at the 240-seat kindergarten built in the territory of the complex. Extensive landscaping work was carried out, and green areas were laid out in the area. Various amusement facilities were installed in the yard of the kindergarten. X X X The head of state and his wife then attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new residential complex, which will occupy a total area of 15.4 hectares. President Ilham Aliyev laid a foundation stone for the new residential complex. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 Trend: A citizen of the US and Ukraine, Director of the Eurasia Security Program at the Harvard Kennedy School Sergei Konoplyov addressed a letter to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry asking for a removal of his name from the List of foreign citizens who illegally visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to the ministry. In his letter, Sergei Konoplyov noted that he was unaware of the consequences of his visit to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in 2012. He reaffirmed his full respect to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders, its laws and regulations and underlined that this visit shall not give a meaning of disrespect for Azerbaijan and its people. Expressing regrets for this visit Sergei Konoplyov mentioned that his visit to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia in no way served for the promotion of illegal regime established in the seized lands of Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Konoplyov expressed apology to the government and people of Azerbaijan for an unauthorized visit to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and attested that he would refrain from such visits to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the future. Sergei Konoplyov also asked for permission to visit Azerbaijan in the future. The appeal by Sergei Konoplyov was considered and the removal of his name from the list was decided upon. 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. 26 By Samir Ali Trend: The Russian audience always showed interest in modern Azerbaijan and various aspects of its policy and this interest is growing day by day, editor-in-chief of the Baku xeber newspaper, political analyst Aydin Guliyev told Trend on Dec. 26. Stressing that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently given an interview to the Russia-24 TV channel, Guliyev added that the presidents statement will be interesting to the multi-million Russian TV viewers. "President Aliyev fully used the opportunities to inform the Russian public and the country's elite about the success achieved by Azerbaijan, as well as the upcoming economic and political tasks, he said. The presidents interview to the Russian TV channel is extremely important from the point of view of the country's propaganda, Guliyev said. Russian TV viewers heard Azerbaijans concept. The opinions of Russian officials and the Azerbaijani president about the upcoming changes in the process of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2019 fully coincide and this was interesting for the Russian public, he said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. He stressed that the Russian society was once again convinced of the irreversibility of the intensification of the Azerbaijan-Russia relations and that the Azerbaijan-Russia tandem is crucial for the calm and sustainable development of the region. The Russian society has received new and valuable information about Azerbaijan, Guliyev added. The information that Azerbaijan has closer relations with the absolute majority of the Eurasian Economic Community member-states than Armenia has become new and important for the Russian public and political circles, he said. The information that Azerbaijan is the only country actively participating in the implementation of the North-South and East-West transit corridors was also valuable for Russian analysts, Guliyev said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.26 Trend: Azerbaijan is becoming more developed, has more plans to assert itself in the region, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev as he was interviewed by the Russian Rossiya-24 TV channel. We have never felt any pressure in terms of the development of our energy projects. I would even say the opposite. Since Azerbaijani gas will, to a certain extent, ensure the energy security of European countries, we have felt the support of the European Union, said President Aliyev. Meetings of the Advisory Council on the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project are held in Baku every year. Since several EU member-countries are involved in this project, the European Union is always represented at meetings of the Advisory Council at a high level. We are implementing our energy projects because we need them, because we are a country rich in oil and gas reserves. We need to sell them and earn money. Therefore, we have attracted investor companies, so we attracted banks, we are building gas and oil pipelines. The Southern Gas Corridor alone costs about $40 billion. Most of this investment is borrowed capital. Therefore, of course, active cooperation with international financial institutions is an important factor in this project. The head of state said: Therefore, in this context, in terms of energy projects, we do not feel any obstacles. On the other hand, you are quite right that the significance and role of Azerbaijan not only in the energy market but also in general, in geopolitical terms, is growing. The country is becoming more developed, has more plans to assert itself in the region. And in proportion to our development and to how we conduct independent policies, pressure on us is growing. But it is not connected with energy factors, it is connected with attempts to involve us in some adventures that are absolutely alien for our people and our country, the Azerbaijani President added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 Trend: In 2030, the Azerbaijan State Economics University (UNEC) will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Based on this, the UNEC-100 Development Strategy, which includes the major directions of its activities until 2030, has been adopted by the UNEC. The SWOT analysis of the university has been undertaken in the strategy, in which taken into account the UNEC mission, the vision of future and its core values and the 7 strategic goals and 31 strategic targets to be implemented by 2030 have been determined. The specific directions of the activities have been identified to achieve the goals and objectives set out in the document. As a result of the measures taken in line with the strategy, the UNEC is targeted to become one of the best 1000 universities in the world at the age of 90 and one of the 500 best universities in the world at the age of 100. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: There is information that over 1,000 Azerbaijani citizens joined illegal armed formations abroad, including in Iraq and Syria, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Sayavush Heydarov said, Trend reports Dec. 26. He said that 109 of them were brought to criminal responsibility, and there is information that more than 300 Azerbaijani citizens died and the citizenship of 310 persons was revoked. Heydarov noted that women and children who left Azerbaijan remain in Iraq and were placed in various camps there. The negotiations are underway with the Iraqi government to return them to the country, he said. Twenty children who lost their parents have already been returned to Azerbaijan. They have been handed over to their close relatives, and this process continues. He noted that over the past year and a half, there has been no information about any Azerbaijani citizens joining participation in conflicts in Iraq and Syria, on the contrary, they started to flee those territories. A part of them was able to escape and is hiding in other countries, he said. Negotiations are underway with the respective countries on their establishment and taking the necessary measures. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend: The Friend of SMEs service of Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of SMEs began its activity in the Ganja and Yevlakh cities, Azerbaijans Economy Ministry told Trend. The service will operate in the Ganja Youth House and the Regional Development Center of the Economy Ministry in Yevlakh, the ministry said. The Friend of SMEs, in accordance with the concept of friendship with small and medium-sized businesses, will support entrepreneurs operating in Ganja, Yevlakh and adjacent regions to create, develop and expand businesses through various mechanisms. The Friend of SMEs service is a mechanism that works closely with entrepreneurs, provides them with various services and comprehensive support. The first Friend of SMEs was launched in September this year in Masalli as part of the opening of the Masalli Industrial Park. Recently, the services of Friend of SMEs have been presented to entrepreneurs in Khachmaz, Siyazan and Shabran. By the end of this year, there are plans to launch the activities of the service in Guba and Gusar, and work is underway to create "Friend of SMEs in other major cities and districts of Azerbaijan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @TalehMursagulov FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE Galenfeha, Inc. (OTC: GLFH ) shared today that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire all assets and operations of Frontier Oilfield Services, Inc. (OTCQB: FOSI ). In consideration for the release of all of the liabilities against the assets and operations of Frontier, Galenfeha will issue one share of Preferred Stock for each share of Common stock of Frontier, which is approximately 15 million shares. Frontier Oilfield Services, Inc. (OTCQB: FOSI ) is an SEC fully reporting company, listed on the OTCQB. Mr. Trey Moore, Galenfehas CEO, stated: 2018 is shaping up to be our highest revenue and earnings year since the inception of the company. With the continued growth of our Fleaux Solutions division and this latest acquisition, we are solidifying growth in 2019. Galenfehas Fleaux Solutions Division uses patented technology to reduce State and Local Government cost in the repair and rehabilitation of wastewater routing. The technology primarily uses a polymer that is inserted into pipelines, expanded, and then cured with Ultraviolet Light. This method allows for repairs to be made without complete removal and replacement of water lines. Mr. James Ketner, Galenfehas founder and Executive Chairman commented: We had some headwinds in 2018, made some mistakes, and we have learned some valuable lessons. Our goal for 2019 is to continue to add other sources of revenue, improve our balance sheet, and organically grow our current operations. Frontier Oilfield Services, Inc. is engaged in the disposal of saltwater and other oilfield fluids. The company owns and operates eight disposal wells located in Barnett Shale region and East Texas. Its oilfield services include hydraulic fracturing fluid recovery and disposal, and saltwater disposal well schematic. The company was founded on March 24, 1995 and is headquartered in Shreveport, LA. Mr. Moore closed: We believe with the successful execution of this latest acquisition, we are paving the way forward with companies and management teams who can see the value of building a diversified company based on brick and mortar foundations. Contact: Galenfeha, Inc. 817-945-6448 info@galenfeha.com Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical information contained in this release, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, words such as "anticipate," "believes," "estimate," "expect," "should," "intend," "projects," "objective," and "appears," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization, or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; the impact of reimbursement rates and coverage; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 256 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistan is planning to get $4.1 billion in foreign direct investment in 2019, which is almost 71 percent more compared to 2018 ($2.4 billion), Deputy Chairman of the State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan Shukhrat Vafayev told Trend. He said that many changes have been made in Uzbekistan in 2018 to further improve the investment climate, in particular, a number of tax and financial reforms were implemented. "As a result, foreign companies are showing more and more interest in investing in various sectors of the economy in Uzbekistan. By Oct. 1, 2018, the number of enterprises with foreign capital operating in the country reached 6960, which is 29.6 percent (1,590) more than a year before. Of these, 3,764 are joint ventures, 3,196 are foreign enterprises," Vafayev said. He added that the main investor countries are Russia, Turkey, China, Kazakhstan and South Korea. The residents of Afghanistan, India, Germany, Ukraine and Azerbaijan also show interest in investing in Uzbekistan. "In only nine months of 2019, some 1,652 enterprises with foreign capital were established. The volume of foreign direct investments in 2018 is projected at $2.4 billion. In 2019, it is planned to get $4.1 billion of foreign direct investments," the deputy chairman said. Vafayev noted that tourism, agriculture, light industry, construction industry, oil and gas industry, etc. have recently become the most popular sectors of the economy among foreign investors. He underlined that Uzbekistan is interested in expanding diverse investment cooperation in such industries and spheres as energy, aircraft, transport, water management, chemical industry, etc. "Another promising area is the processing of agricultural products and food production. The average annual growth rate of food production in our country is 9-10 percent. In addition, the consistent implementation of measures to develop and diversify the industry over the past five years has ensured the expansion of the resource base and increased production volumes," Vafayev said. He added that Uzbekistan increased production of fruits, vegetables and grapes 1.6 times in 2018, meat products 1.4 times, dairy products 1.4 times. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Tehran, Iran, Dec.26 Trend: Iran and the European Union are reviewing a comprehensive customs agreement and other related cooperation programs. "Iran seeks to sign a mutual cooperation agreement with the European Union," Iran's International Customs Cooperation Office Hussein Kakkhi told Trend. "Iran held intensive, over 2-year negotiations to sign the agreement with the European Union. They have demanded a series of documents and surveys, and they were provided. The heads of Iran and the EU customs attended two meetings, while two EU delegations visited Iran over this issue," he said. "The EU delegations had visited Iran's customs and held joint meetings with Iran Customs Administration and Ports & Maritime Organization," Kakkhi said. "The European Union consists of many countries, and each European country should have their own opinion on this case. Iran waits to sign the agreement with them," he said. The official mentioned that the agreement with the EU would mean cooperation on land or sea customs. "The agreement includes administrative cooperation like document exchange and inquiry between European countries and Iran customs," he added. "Naturally, the border customs cooperation with European countries can be different, for example Iran customs cooperation with Austria would include Imam Khomeini Airport and Vienna International Airport cooperation," said the official. "The signed agreement would be comprehensive that covers administrative communications, inquiry mechanism and joint cooperation in data exchange, which would ease the customs formalities," he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 Trend: In accordance with the statistics of the Azeraeronavigation Air Navigation Department (AZANS) for 2018, a total of 150,000 flights used Azerbaijans airspace, and 95,000 of them accounted for transit flights, Trend reports with reference to the press service of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC. These figures are record-high in the history of AZANS. During the daily period, record-high number was 500 flights. In total, 26 million passengers were transported on these flights and 6,000 flights were carried out on the largest passenger airliners Airbus A380. Air traffic statistics exceed the figures for 2017 by 7.5 times. The opening of Azerbaijan Airspace Supervision & Efficiency Center (ASEC) on the territory of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in February of 2018 has significantly increased the transit flow through our country. Achievement of record-high figures became possible thanks to President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyevs constant attention and support to civil aviation. Azerbaijans airspace is becoming increasingly important for Europe. More and more airlines are choosing our country as a transit corridor. High quality, sustainability and safety were the main components of our sustainable development in 2018, AZAL President Jahangir Asgarov said. The successful and dynamic development of air navigation in Azerbaijan has allowed Baku to win the competition to hold the annual CANSO Global ATM Summit in 2020. The candidacy of Baku was unanimously chosen at a meeting of the Executive Committee (consists of the leaders of the FAA (USA), air navigation systems of Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic, Argentina, civil aviation administrations of Singapore, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia) in Bangkok. Over 70 countries voted for the candidacy of Baku during the CANSO general meeting. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Since the beginning of this Iranian year on March 21, goods worth $59 million were exported from Abadan port of Irans Khuzestan province to different countries, which is 54 percent more compared to the same period of last Iranian year, Ali Mousavi, deputy head of Iran's Arvand Free Trade Zone, said. A cargo worth $7 million was transited through the Abadan port during the period, which is 100 percent more compared to the same period of last Iranian year, Mousavi said, Trend reports referring to IRNA. Free trade zones and border markets are the ways to resolve the problem of exporters, Rashid Pournemati, Director of the Industry, Mine and Trade Organization of Abadan, said. Tehran, Iran, Dec.26 Trend: For the first time, Iran's government budget bill has allocated new income sources for the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) from the gas exports revenues, Trend reports, referring to Iran's budget bill which Iranian President Hassan Rouhani submitted to Parliament for the forthcoming Iranian year (covering March 2019-2020). Unlike the previous annual budget laws, for the first time the next year (Mach 21, 2019) budget bill allocates 14.5 percent income from gas exports to the company, alongside zero tax exemptions. The government budget law has also allocated a 20-percent share from the oil and gas exports revenues to the National Development Fund. Therefore the Central Bank of Iran is required to monthly pay 14.5 percent of the crude oil and gas condensate exports revenues to the National Iranian Gas Company. If the parliament approves the bill, for the first time the National Iranian Gas Company would have new income sources. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Iran is carrying out exchange of essential goods with China and India and Tehrans relations with these two countries are gradually expanding, Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said at a meeting with directors of Irans banking system, Trend reports via Mizan News Agency. He said that the banking system should try to comply with monetary policy of the Central Bank. Commenting on his visit to Turkey, Hemmati said that as part of the visit, Turkish officials expressed readiness for broad cooperation. The goal of trade development between the two countries has been set and there is a great opportunity for the development of bilateral trade, he noted. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: UAE-based investment company Frontera Capital will acquire securities of Ozsanoatqurilishbank, Trend reports on Dec. 25 referring to the press service of the bank. The delegation of Ozsanoatqurilishbank visited the United Arab Emirates, where the parties signed the agreement on development of cooperation. The document provides for raising $50 million using investment and credit instruments. The agreement also provides for the sale of securities of the Uzbek bank to the UAE company, which will expand the banks ability to attract resources and finance investment projects on a long-term basis. The parties also intend to establish cooperation in the credit market of Uzbekistan. It should be noted that Ozsanoatqurilishbank ranks second in the country in terms of assets with 29.3 trillion soums (14.1 percent of the total volume). (8339.55 UZS = 1 USD on Dec. 25) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Fikret Dolukhanov - Trend: S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term ratings on National Bank For Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NBU) and KDB Bank Uzbekistan JSC to 'BB-' from 'B+' and affirmed its 'B' short-term ratings on the two banks. The outlooks are stable. The rating actions follow 'BB-/B' ratings assignment to the Republic of Uzbekistan on Dec. 21, 2018. S&P's view of the sovereign's creditworthiness previously constrained the ratings on the two banks at 'B+'. For NBU, this is because S&P considers the creditworthiness of state-owned banks to be correlated to that of the sovereign. S&P's ratings on KDB are also capped by rating on Uzbekistan, despite the bank's ownership by, and strategic importance to, a higher-rated foreign entity. S&P's ratings on Uzbekistan are supported by the government's strong fiscal and external positions. These strengths predominately arise from the government's large asset position, which stems from the past policy of transferring part of the revenues from commodity sales to the Uzbekistan Fund for Reconstruction and Development (UFRD). At the same time, S&P's ratings are constrained by Uzbekistan's low economic wealth, as measured by GDP per capita. In S&P's view, future policy responses may be difficult to predict, given the highly centralized decision-making process and that accountability and checks and balances between institutions are relatively underdeveloped. S&P's ratings are also constrained by low monetary policy flexibility. S&P's ratings on NBU reflect the bank's diversified business model, with leading market positions in state development projects and other nongovernment segments. The bank's relatively modest core profitability by domestic standards is constrained by the limited net interest income, as NBU acts as the state's agent in financing targeted industries at capped margins set by government decrees. While the bank has a proven track record of maintaining stable profitability over the cycle, S&P believes that earnings capacity is still lagging behind expected asset growth. Finally, S&P considers the bank's funding diversification to be better than local peers' and liquidity as adequate. S&P's assessment of NBU's risk profile balances marked ongoing support from the sovereign (direct and indirect via state guarantees) with high concentrations, a significant amount of foreign currency lending, and a fast expansion strategy. S&P assess the bank's stand-alone credit profile at 'bb-'. S&P considers the bank has high systemic importance within the banking sector of Uzbekistan and is a government-related entity (GRE) with a very high likelihood of extraordinary government support. However, S&P's ratings do not reflect this in the form of an uplift, as the stand-alone credit profile (SACP) is at the same level as the sovereign rating. The stable outlook on NBU reflects S&P's view of the balance between expected continued state support over the next 12 months and high economic and industry risks for banks operating in Uzbekistan. S&P considers state-owned banks' creditworthiness to be closely linked to that of Uzbekistan. Therefore, S&P is unlikely to raise the ratings on NBU over the next 12 months unless our view of the sovereign's creditworthiness improves. S&P views an upgrade driven by improvements in bank-specific factors as unlikely over the next year. S&P could downgrade NBU over the next 12 months to reflect heightened economic and industry risk, for example caused by a deterioration of the sovereign's creditworthiness. A downgrade linked to bank-specific factors is remote, as this would require both material weakening of NBU's currently adequate asset quality and deterioration of capitalization (with projected risk-adjusted capital [RAC] ratio declining to below 3 percent). S&P's ratings on KDB Uzbekistan reflect its small lending franchise, stable depositor base, high liquidity cushion, and funding metrics that S&P sees as much stronger than those of peers. S&P also incorporates in the ratings the bank's strategic intention to rapidly expand its lending business over the next two years. Following the assignment of ratings to Uzbekistan, S&P views the capitalization of KDB as a positive rating attribute, owing to high amount of placements with the central bank of Uzbekistan (about 20-25 percent of assets). Previously, in the absence of a sovereign credit rating on Uzbekistan, S&P applied more conservative risk weights in calculating of the RAC ratio for KDB. S&P expects that the bank will be able to maintain a solid capital buffer, with a RAC ratio of close to 10.8 percent at year-end 2019. S&P have therefore revised upward the SACP on the bank to 'bb-' from 'b+'. S&P considers KDB Uzbekistan a strategically important subsidiary of Korea Development Bank (AA/Stable/A-1+). There is a high likelihood that the parent would provide extraordinary support to KDB in the form of capital or liquidity if needed. S&P may rate strategically important subsidiaries up to three notches above their SACP. However, S&P caps the ratings on KDB at the level of the foreign currency long-term sovereign rating on Uzbekistan. The stable outlook on KDB largely mirrors the stable outlook on Uzbekistan. S&P could raise the long-term rating on KDB or revise the outlook to positive over the next 12 months if S&P took a similar rating action on the sovereign, assuming that there is no change in the commitment of the parent, Korea Development Bank, to provide extraordinary support to its Uzbek subsidiary if needed. S&P could take a negative rating action if S&P took a similar rating action on the sovereign. Although unlikely, a significant deterioration of the bank's SACP and changes in parent's commitment to provide extraordinary support could also prompt a negative rating action. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend: Azerbaijani postal operator Azerpost LLC has integrated online payments into its website www.azerpost.az, the company told Trend Dec. 26. Online payments are available over the SmartPay system of the information and computing center of Azerbaijani Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies. "Users have access to payment for most services (telephony, internet, cable TV, bank payments, etc.)," the company said. "Internet banking service is also available via the company's web-interface, and in the future, users will be able to use the 'personal cabinet' option, the development of which is conducted jointly with the State Customs Committee." --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev The Syrian air defenses intercepted an Israeli missile attack that targeted areas in the western countryside of the capital Damascus on Tuesday evening, Trend reports citing Xinhua. Citing a military source, the state TV said the air defenses intercepted most of the Israeli missiles before reaching their targets, adding that only a weapon depot was damaged and three soldiers were wounded. The Israeli attack was carried out from inside the Lebanese airspace, said the state TV, adding that some of the missiles were intercepted while over Lebanon. The residents in Damascus heard a series of explosions in the capital and saw the flaring air defense missiles chasing targets in the sky. Meanwhile, Lebanese reports said Israeli warplanes infiltrated the Lebanese airspace on Tuesday evening at the time of the attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that the Israeli missile attack targeted areas in the western and southwestern countryside of Damascus. It said a number of missiles hit three targets, which it claimed are weapon depots that belong to the Lebanese Hezbollah group. The Israeli attack is the latest in a string of missiles strikes targeting Syrian positions throughout the crisis over the pretext that they are targeting positions of Iranian-backed forces and allied Hezbollah fighters. The last attack was late last month and targeted military positions in the town of Kisweh in the western countryside of Damascus. In September, Moscow equipped Damascus with the S-300 air defense missile system, but local reports said that this advanced system hasn't been used yet. Los Angeles, CA, Dec. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Since 2002, Sea Shepherd has opposed Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with expeditions to Antarctic waters first in 2002 followed by continuous campaigns from 2005 until 2017. During this period over 6,000 whales were saved from the harpoons of Japanese commercial whalers posing as research whalers by Sea Shepherd interventions. In 2017, the Japanese government began to invest millions of dollars in security efforts to prevent Sea Shepherd from engaging their fleets. These security measures included military grade real time surveillance. Although this prevented Sea Shepherd from returning to the Southern Ocean in 2018, it also placed Japan in a position of expending huge resources on continuous security. In other words, the cost of preventing Sea Shepherd intervention became very expensive. This and the verdict of the International Court of Justice that exposed Japanese research as fraudulent, coupled with worldwide condemnation of their Southern Ocean activities has in the opinion of Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd led to this decision to declare they will openly undertake commercial whaling activities. The scheme to pose as researchers will now be dropped and that means there can be absolutely no justification for hunting whales in an internationally established whale sanctuary. This will be the last year of Japanese whaling activities in the Southern Ocean. Sea Shepherds objective of ending the slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary has been realized. This is a victory for the campaign to make the Southern Ocean a whaling free zone. If Japan decides to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) it will allow the IWC to pass the motion to establish the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary thus effectively ending whaling in the Southern Hemisphere. Japan will now join Norway and Iceland as rogue outlaw whaling nations in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic. The Whale Wars in the Southern Ocean will soon be over. The focus now must be the Northern Hemisphere. Sea Shepherd welcomes this announcement by Japan and views it as a positive development. Captain Paul Watson issued a statement saying, We are delighted to see the end of whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We are delighted that we will soon have a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary and we look forward to continuing to oppose the three remaining pirate whaling nations of Norway, Japan and Iceland. Whaling as a legal industry has ended. All that remains is to mop up the pirates. # # # Notes to Media: Video and photographs Credit: Sea Shepherd By using any of these images you agree to credit Sea Shepherd in a legible manner. If broadcasting you agree to credit Sea Shepherd on footage. Attachments China said it has produced a blade casting that could improve the performance of the heavy duty turbines that will power the latest generation of its guided-missile destroyers, Trend reports referring to The South China Morning Post. State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), one of Chinas largest state-owned power generator companies, said it could now establish its own production process for the core component of 330-megawatt gas turbines. SPIC said on its website on Tuesday that the blade casting was Chinas first breakthrough in core components in heavy-duty gas turbines and the most important milestone achievement since 2015, when China launched a task force to develop a home-grown gas turbine. To generate electricity, air and fuel are mixed and combusted, causing the turbine blades to spin, driving the generator. The blades are typically made of superalloys designed to endure the high stresses created within the turbine. Chinas efforts to access critical but sensitive technologies owned by foreign players such as General Electric in the US, Germanys Siemens, Japans Mitsubishi and Italys Ansaldo Energia have been turned down over the past 50 years, putting China at risk of being choked by the neck, especially in the field of national energy security, Science and Technology Daily said in May. The technical breakthrough was announced at a time when China is locked in a trade war with the US and as Made in China 2025, a strategy aimed at transforming China into a technology and manufacturing superpower, draws the ire of US President Donald Trump and Western governments. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the new component could be used on gas turbines that are designed to power later variants of Chinas most advanced surface ship, the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer. China has launched four over the past 18 months and four more are under construction. The Type 055s are designed to serve as the primary escort vessels for the Peoples Liberation Army aircraft carrier strike groups. The original gas turbines used on Type 055 destroyers are not as powerful as the engines used by the Americans Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Li said. But the gap between Chinese warships and their American counterparts will be narrowed as China overcomes the core technology [gap]. The first two Type 055s do not feature super efficient integrated electric propulsion systems (IEPS) because of their relatively low power supplies. The IEPS would allow warships to operate high-energy, hi-tech weapons such as rail guns, which can launch projectiles at speeds far beyond conventional weapons. A source close to the Chinese shipbuilding industry said Beijings achievement on turbine blade technology development was made with the help of foreign counterparts, especially through a cooperation agreement signed between Russian United Engine Corporation and Chinas state-owned Harbin Turbine Company in July last year. Russia needs China to retrofit its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier, whose hull, deck and other parts were all damaged following a series of accidents earlier this year, the source said. Chinese shipbuilders in Dalian, Liaoning province, are capable of retrofitting the Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier, based on their experience of refitting the countrys first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. China bought the Liaoning, a half-built Admiral Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, from Ukraine in 1998, and spent about a decade refitting it, turning it into the countrys first commissioned aircraft carrier. The countrys first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, was launched last year by the Dalian shipyard. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has spoken out against the deployment of US medium-range missiles with nuclear warheads in Europe in the event of Washingtons withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Trend reports referring to TASS. "Europe should not turn into a platform for discussions on arms buildup under any circumstances," the minister said in an interview with the DPA news agency published on Wednesday. "The deployment of new medium-range missiles in Germany would encounter huge dissatisfaction." "Nuclear weapons buildup would be a totally erroneous response," Maas stressed, commenting on accusations of violating the INF Treaty against Russia. "The policy of the 1980s will not help answer modern-day questions." US President Donald Trump said on October 20 that his country would quit the INF Treaty because Russia was allegedly in breach of that agreement. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called this decision a dangerous move, while Berlin and Beijing likewise criticized it. In the meantime, London came out in support of the United States, and NATO placed the responsibility for Trumps decision on Russia, claiming that Moscow had violated the treaty. The INF Treaty was signed on December 8, 1987, and took effect on June 1, 1988. It outlawed deployed and non-deployed intermediate range (1,000-5,000 kilometers) and shorter range (500-1,000 kilometers) ground-based missiles. In recent years, Washington has repeatedly alleged that Russia had breached the agreement. Moscow has rejected the accusations countering them with its own claims over the United States failure to comply with it. The Knesset (Israel Parliament) passed a law to prevent the early release of convicted terrorists on Tuesdays night, Trend reports referring to The Jerusalem Post. "A reduced sentence is a privilege that terrorists are not worthy of receiving," said MK Anat Berko, one of the Knesset members who proposed the legislation. The legislation will stop terrorists from being released after two-thirds of their sentences, a privilege given to other inmates who demonstrate remorse during their time served. The law was proposed in response to a Defense Ministry attempt to reduce the sentences for terrorists by one-third for good behavior, according to a Yediot Ahronot expose. "This is an important precedent in the fight against terror and the effort to increase deterrence. Now every terrorist knows that he has no hope of being released early," MK Oded Forer, the other main Knesset member to push for this new law, said. Israel expects a record-breaking 4 million tourists to have visited the country by the end of 2018, Trend reports referring to The Jerusalem Post. "I am excited to welcome next week Israels 4 millionth tourist in 2018. This represents the unprecedented success of the Tourism Ministry, which invests in marketing Israel around the world," Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin said. This includes the latest agreement signed with the Philippine Minister of Labor to increase the quota of up to one thousand foreign workers in the hotel sector." There were approximately 13% more tourist entries in 2018 than 2017. Comparatively, the increase in global tourism has only grown by 4%. In terms of demographics, most of the tourists who visited Israel were Christians, with 61% of the tourists in 2018. Some 22% were Jews, 12.1% not affiliated, 1.8 % Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhists, 0.5% were Hindus, 0.1% were Bahais and 1.7% others. There has been a significant increase of tourists from the United States (813,500), France (320,000), Russia (303,200), Germany 259,500, Britain (~200,000) and from China (about 100,000). The Ministry of Tourism also invested significant funds to expand hotels throughout Israel. Some NIS 145 million in grants were given to entrepreneurs to build 3,829 new rooms from the North to South. Israel contributed the rise in tourism to these hotel grants, the opening if new direct routes from [potential tourist countries and advertising campaigns in USA, Germany, Russia, Italy, England, China, Ukraine, Brazil and Philippines. Direct revenues from tourism were NIS 24 billion. An eight-year-old boy from Guatemala died shortly after midnight on Christmas Day after being apprehended over an illegal entry attempt within the past month, Trend reports citing Sputnik. In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection said the eight year old had displayed "signs of potential illness" on Monday and was taken to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where the boy was diagnosed with a cold and a fever. He was released with medical prescriptions yet returned to the hospital on Monday evening after he began vomiting, where he died just hours later, the statement added. The agency said that the cause of death had not been determined, and that the Department of Homeland Security's inspector-general and the Guatemalan government had been notified. On December 8, a seven year-old Guatemalan girl died two days after she was apprehended together with her father for illegal entry into the United States as part of a group of 163 undocumented immigrants. According to human rights activists, the girl died from septic shock, fever and dehydration. The US authorities said that the girl did not consume any food or water for several days. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Jakelin's death was "a very sad example of the dangers of this journey." Tensions on the border are on the rise as Mexican authorities have said that more than 8,200 asylum-seeking migrants from Central America have reached Mexico, with around 7,400 of the migrants staying near the cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, just south of California, while attempting to access US territory. In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order that initiated the process of building a wall along the US-Mexico border. The Trump administration has requested $5 billion for the project from the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) budget, which Democrats and some Republicans oppose. The president believes that the wall will stop illegal migration as well as human and drug trafficking. However, after facing opposition to his initiative, Trump has declared that the federal government would be in a state of partial shutdown until he and the Democrats are able to reach a deal on border security issues. South Korea will send a delegation, including two ruling party lawmakers, to next week's inauguration ceremony for Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday, Trend reports citing Yonhap. Democratic Party Reps. Jeon Hae-cheol and Choi In-ho will attend the ceremony slated to take place in Brasilia on Jan. 1. The delegation, led by special envoy Jeon, will deliver to Bolsonaro President Moon Jae-in's handwritten letter that highlights his desire to strengthen the two countries' cooperative ties, the ministry said. "Brazil is a partner country with which South Korea has cemented friendly, cooperative ties in various fields since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1959," the ministry said in a press release. "On the occasion of the 60th anniversary next year of the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries plan to further deepen their comprehensive, cooperative partnership," it added. In October, Bolsonaro won the run-off presidential election with 55.1 percent of the vote. In February, he visited South Korea as a lawmaker. Nissan director Greg Kelly was being examined in a hospital on Wednesday, a source said, a day after he was released on bail from a Tokyo jail where his former boss Carlos Ghosn is still being detained, Trend reports citing Reuters. Kelly, an American who was released late on Christmas Day after more than a month in detention, has been charged with conspiring to under-report Ghosns income. He posted bail of 70 million yen ($640,000). Their Nov. 19 arrests jolted the global car industry and has strained Nissans (7201.T) alliance with French car maker Renault SA (RENA.PA). Nissans board last month fired Ghosn as chairman and Kelly as representative director, although both men technically still remain board members who can only be removed by shareholders. Kelly suffers from spinal stenosis, causing numbness, tingling and shooting pain in his extremities, according to a video message last week from his wife, Dee Kelly, appealing for his release. The condition compresses or pinches the spinal cord. Those symptoms worsened during his five weeks in the Tokyo Detention Center, his wife said, citing Kellys lawyer. Kelly was scheduled to have surgery on Dec. 7 in Nashville, Tennessee, but flew to Japan last month after being told that he was needed in person at a board meeting, Dee Kelly said in the video. Kelly was arrested soon after his arrival. Under the conditions of his bail, Kelly is barred from traveling overseas and his residence must be restricted to a designated place, the Tokyo District Court said. Lawyers say that travel exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Kelly walked out of the detention center around 10:45 pm (1345 GMT) Thursday night wearing a light-colored jacket and was whisked away in a black taxi. Japanese media showed footage of Kelly entering a hospital around midnight. After his release from detention, Kelly issued a statement through his lawyer saying he had not falsified any documents and looked forward to restoring his honor in court. I believe my innocence will be revealed in the trial, he said. Kelly also said in the statement he wanted to see a doctor immediately and get the appropriate treatment or operation originally scheduled for early December. The office of his lawyer, Yoichi Kitamura, did not respond to requests for comment. Ghosn was re-arrested on Friday based on suspicions that around October 2008 he shifted personal trades to Nissan to make it responsible for 1.85 billion yen ($16.6 million) in appraisal losses, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Ghosn had inflicted damage on Nissan by having it deposit a total of $14.7 million on four occasions between June 2009 and March 2012 into a related bank account. Ghosn said through his lawyer that he was not guilty of the allegations, for which he has not been formally charged. He will remain in Tokyos main detention center until at least Jan. 1, although prosecutors can request to extend his detention. A Nissan spokesman said the company is not in a position to comment on the latest twist in the more-than-month-long saga. The companys own investigation uncovered substantial and convincing evidence of misconduct, resulting in a unanimous board vote to dismiss Ghosn and Kelly as chairman and representative director. Our investigation is ongoing, a spokesman said on Tuesday. Japans top government spokesman said on Wednesday his government wants to promote rules that protect free and fair trade for the global economy, Trend reports referring to Reuters. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, speaking during a recording of a TV program at Japanese broadcaster BS11, said Japan is ready to explain its stance in trade negotiations with the United States. Suga also warned that the global rules of trade could be compromised if all countries simply pursued their own interests. I understand that its natural for countries to pursue their own interests, but countries should respect the rules of free and fair trade, Suga said. Japans position is we want to promote these rules for the global economy, he added. The White House on Friday laid out objectives for trade talks with Japan as President Donald Trumps administration seeks to slash the United States $69 billion trade deficit with the worlds third-biggest economy. The United States is aiming to secure duty-free market access for American industrial products and reduce or eliminate tariffs for U.S. agricultural goods, according to a statement. Washington is also seeking more equitable trade in the motor vehicle sector and will try to ensure that Japan avoids manipulating exchange rates in order to prevent effective balance of payments adjustment or to gain an unfair competitive advantage, the document said. The Trump administration has agreed to not raise tariffs on Japanese autos during negotiations, but Japans economy would suffer a blow if the two countries cannot strike a deal and tariffs rise. A few options available to Japan include buying more U.S. military hardware and natural gas, but it is uncertain whether this will satisfy the Trump administration. Japan is also closely watching U.S. negotiations with China over tariffs and trade practices for clues on how to approach its own talks with the United States. Suga said there are concerns about an economic war between the United States and China, the worlds two largest economies. He called for restraint from both sides, but also warned that Japans economy could take a hit if the Washington and Beijing failed to settle their differences and retaliated with further tariff hikes. New fighting vehicles for the Russian naval infantry will be designed and enter service "in midterm perspective," Russian Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Korolev said in an interview to the Krasnaya Zvezda daily on Wednesday, Trend reports referring to TASS. "In the midterm perspective, we plan to create and introduce into service a family of combat vehicles for the naval infantry of the Russian Navy, designed to deliver naval infantry units to battle locations, destroy (strike) the adversarys armored objects and personnel, render fire support to assault forces during all stages of their combat operations," the official said. He said the new vehicles will operate "in any latitudes and climatic conditions, including Arctic ones." Earlier, media reported citing a presentation of Rostec`s Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) research-and-manufacturing corporation, that the new vehicle would weigh about 35 tonnes and will travel at the speed of up to 75 kmph on land and 37 kmph on sea. It will have a crew of three and a passenger capacity of ten. The United States has made a right decision to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan but there is a need to wait and see what steps Washington finally takes, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday, Trend reports referring to TASS. "We have taken note of the US authorities statements about pulling about half of troops out of Afghanistan. We consider it to be a step in the right direction, which may help pave the way to a peace process. We just need to wait and see what practical form it takes because we already heard many promises that Americans eventually failed to fulfill," she said. Zakharova pointed out that Russia had on numerous occasions warned the US and other members of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan that they were wrong to bet on the use of military force to resolve the Afghan issue and pointed to "the need to employ political and diplomatic methods to launch an inclusive peace process in the country." "Today we see that the reality has made Washington step up efforts to end the military standoff and launch political dialogue between the opposing Afghan parties," the Russian diplomat went on to say. In this regard, she mentioned recent talks involving the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and the Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia), which took place in Abu Dhabi. "We welcome these efforts and believe it is important to make them transparent and also take the Afghan peoples interests into account, as well as the interests of the neighboring countries, which have been facing threats emanating from Afghanistan," Zakharova added. US President Donald Trump earlier ordered the Pentagon to make preparations for pulling about 7,000 US troops out of Afghanistan. According to the Wall Street Journal, the withdrawal would begin within the next few weeks. A number of countries have participated in talks on resolving the Afghan issue, which also involved the Taliban movement. On December 17-18, Abu Dhabi hosted a meeting between the Taliban and the United States, while Saudi Arabia and Pakistan also participated. On November 9, the second Moscow meeting on Afghanistan was held, which involved more than ten countries, including Russia and the US. CHICAGO, Dec. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dresner Partners, a leading FINRA-registered, middle-market investment bank headquartered in Chicago, is pleased to announce that Scott W. Sims has joined the firm as Senior Vice President, Industrials. Mr. Sims will anchor Dresners presence in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to joining Dresner Partners, Mr. Sims served as Industrials Vice President for Brown Gibbons Lang & Company in Cleveland. Previously Mr. Sims served as Vice President with Valesco Industries, a private equity fund that targets equity and subordinated debt investments in U.S.-based companies. Mr. Sims also held senior-level positions at Allegiance Capital Corporation and Esposito Securities. Dresner Partners has established a great reputation in the middle-market, both domestically and internationally, over its nearly 30 year history, said Scott W. Sims. I look forward to working closely with Steve Dresner and the Dresner team to support the continued growth of the firm, both in industrials and many other sectors. Scott will play an important role in our Industrials Group as well as marketing our financial advisory services to middle-market companies in a variety of industries and sectors, said Steven M. Dresner. We look forward to working closely with him to develop new opportunities for the firm and our clients. Mr. Sims holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis and Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from St. Johns University. About Dresner Partners Dresner Partners is a FINRA-registered, middle-market investment bank headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Irvine and Palo Alto, Calif. For 27 years, Dresner Partners has provided financial advisory services to middle-market companies throughout the world, including institutional private placements of debt and equity, merger and acquisitions advisory, financial restructuring & corporate turnarounds, valuations and strategic consulting services. Dresner Partners has extensive international and cross-border transaction experience and is a member of one of the worlds leading global mergers and acquisitions partnerships focused on the middle market. An affiliated company, Dresner Corporate Services, is a strategic communications firm specializing in public and investor relations. More information is available at www.dresnerpartners.com . You can also follow Dresner Partners on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DresnerPartners . For Media Inquiries David Gutierrez, Head of PR and Corporate Development, (312)780-7204, dgutierrez@dresnerco.com For Investment Banking Inquiries Steven M. Dresner, President, (312)780-7206, sdresner@dresnerco.com Scott W. Sims, Senior Vice President, Industrials, (312)780-7232, ssims@dresnerco.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7c206b9-a25c-4579-822e-cbcd8c19da0b All members of the international community are responsible for the fight against terror groups designated as such by the United Nations Security Council, including the Islamic State group, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday, Trend reports referring to TASS. "All members of the international community are responsible as long as the matter concerns the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra and all other groups linked to Al-Qaeda and designated as terrorist organizations by the UN Security Council," she said. "For a long time, Russia has been calling for forming a united front against terrorism and the initiative is still relevant," Zakharova added. According to her, a broad international front against terrorism "would make it possible to deliver an effective blow to terrorists not only in Syria but in other hotspots as well." "The international community has all mechanisms to legitimize this kind of cooperation, it just needs to show political resolve," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey has proven its power and political will in the Middle East, the leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, said, Trend reports via Turkish media. Bahceli said Turkey has become a world power. Touching on the issue of launching a new anti-terrorist operation in Syria's north, Bahceli noted that the Turkish people hope the armed forces of the country will launch a military operation against the terrorists of PYD/YPG, which is the Syrian wing of PKK. On Dec. 12, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish Armed Forces would launch a new military operation in northern Syria against PYD/YPG. Erdogan claimed there were American soldiers in the detachments of the terrorists in Syria. "Despite the US promised Turkey that it would not support PYD/YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, the US did not keep its word," Erdogan said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have made an unannounced Christmas visit to US troops in Iraq, Trend reported citing BBC. They travelled there "late on Christmas night" to thank troops for "their service, their success and their sacrifice", the White House said. Mr Trump said the US had no plans to pull out of Iraq, Reuters reports. The trip came days after Defence Secretary Jim Mattis quit over divisions about strategy in the region. Mr Trump and his wife travelled on Air Force One to al-Asad airbase, west of the capital Baghdad, to meet military personnel in the base's restaurant. It is his first visit to the region. He had planned to spend Christmas at his private club in Florida, but stayed behind in Washington because of the current partial government shutdown. The US still has some 5,000 troops in Iraq to support the government in its fight against what remains of the Islamic State (IS) group. "We're no longer the suckers, folks," he told American servicemen and women at the base. "We're respected again as a nation." Mr Trump said the US could use Iraq as a forward base if "we wanted to do something in Syria", Reuters news agency reports. He defended his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria during the visit, saying: "A lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. "I made it clear from the beginning that our mission in Syria was to strip Isis [another name for IS] of its military strongholds. "Eight years ago, we went there for three months and we never left. Now, we're doing it right and we're going to finish it off." He announced the decision to pull US troops out of Syria last week. Arresting Kunhiraman, a leader well-known at the state level, would raise several serious questions, much to the chagrin of the CPM. A "standing" tiger, the "bleeding-heart monkey," and fierce members of the New York Aquarium's brand new, $158-million exhibit are among the subjects of the Wildlife Conservation Society's favorite photographs of 2018. The WCS shared the images this week, noting that nine of them were taken at the Bronx Zoo, and one at the New York Aquarium. Maybe you can see some of these critters for yourself, since both of these places are open every day for the rest of the year (there are extended hours on New Year's Eve at the Aquarium, too!). Check them out below (captions courtesy of the WCS): Malayan Tiger (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "This photo of a Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) taking a dip in the pool at Tiger Mountain is the winner of the annual Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) photo contest and is the cover of the December 2018 issue of AZAs Connect magazine." Markhors (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "A herd of markhor (Capra falconeri heptneri), including adult males, females, and several juveniles born this year, are running together across their exhibit. This herd lives in a rocky habitat in the wild and along the Wild Asia Monorail at the Bronx Zoo." Chinese crocodile lizards (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "A group of juvenile Chinese crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) hatched earlier this year at the Bronx Zoo. The species are on exhibit in the Reptile House." Sharks! (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "This shot is obviously not the Bronx Zoo, but WCS opened the long-awaited Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit at the New York Aquarium during summer 2018. This photo shows the massive size of the Hudson Canyons Edge exhibit which is a recreation of a vital ecosystem and its inhabitants found in the waters off the coast of New York City." Gaur (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "Gaur (Bos gaurus) are the worlds largest species of wild cattle and are native to India and areas of Southeast Asia. At the Bronx Zoo, gaur can be seen grazing from the Wild Asia Monorail. This photo shows two adults." Mandrill (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) troop in the Bronx Zoos Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit got some attention this year for a new baby. This shot is a close-up of the adult male that sired this years baby. The males of the species are much larger and more colorful than the females." Snow leopard (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "A snow leopards (Panthera uncia) beautiful white spotted coat helps it blend into the rocks and trees within its environment. This shot of a snow leopard at the Bronx Zoos Himalayan Highlands is a good example of how that camouflage works." Slow loris at the Bronx Zoo (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "The slow loris (Nycticebus) is a small nocturnal primate native to Southeast Asia. Their huge eyes are adapted to help them see in dark of night. This slow loris can be seen in JungleWorld if you let your eyes adjust to the dark." Gelada (Megan Maher / WCS) Burrowing owl (Julie Larsen Maher / WCS) "The Bronx Zoo is the only zoo in North America breeding geladas (Theropithecus gelada). There have been several offspring born in recent years making for a very active scene in the zoos Baboon Reserve. The geladas share the exhibit with rock hyrax and Nubian ibex." "Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) came to the Bronx Zoo from the Queens Zoo in 2017. In 2018, they have already hatched several offspring. The tiny owl species uses burrows created by prairie dogs and other animals to nest and avoid predators." The WCS's other facilitiesCentral Park Zoo, Queens Zoo and Prospect Park Zooare all open 365 days a year. Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again talked about the minorities issue and on Monday stated his countrys founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah was an envoy of Hindu-Muslim harmony. PM Khan took to micro blogging website Twitter on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jinnah, also dubbed Quaid-i-Azam, and stated The Quaid envisaged Pakistan as a democratic, just and compassionate nation. Most importantly, he wanted our minorities to be equal citizens. It should be remembered that his early political career was as an ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity. Just after his tweet the Pakistan PM faced a counterattack from Indians over his statement as it lacked reliability that comes from being supported by history and records. The mass departure of non-Muslims from Pakistan during the Partition in 1947 is not the only time when non-Muslims were victimized in Pakistan. Not only was Pakistan's Punjab governor Salman Taseer murdered by radicals for defending the minorities, but a Christian woman Asia Bibi's trial on Blasphemy charges in Pakistan have also astounded the world too. Pak PM Imran Khan, though, sustained to admire Jinnahs contribution towards identical rights to all citizens in Pakistan and stated the Islamic nation treats everyone uniformly, unlike India. His (Jinnahs) struggle for a separate nation for Muslims only started when he realised that Muslims would not be treated as equal citizens by the Hindu majority. Naya Pakistan (Imrans motto promising a new-age Pakistan) is Quaids Pakistan and we will ensure that our minorities are treated as equal citizens, unlike what is happening in India, he asserted in his post on Twitter. In a scornful attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance government, Khan had on December 22 passed a comment asserting he will show the Indian government how to treat minorities. When Miguel Romero Lara quit his job as a milkman in Tlaxcala, Mexico, nearly 30 years ago and said goodbye to his pregnant wife and two young children, he went in search of better paying work to support his family. He thought he had found just the right position when he was hired as a dishwasher at the Waverly Diner, an all-night Greenwich Village fixture that was a favorite of the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Patti Smith. But over the ensuing decades, says Romero, the Waverlys owner, Nick Serafis, systematically ripped off him and his co-workers. According to a lawsuit filed in federal civil court and a March ruling by the National Labor Relations Board, employees, mostly Mexican immigrants, were required to pull long shifts for as little as $25 for 12 hours on the job. The complaints submitted to the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York allege that Serafis illegally underpaid eight employees by hundreds of thousands of dollars each, taking advantage of their ignorance of the law, all while racking up profits that, according to court records, in some years topped half a million dollars. I thought it was normal, Romero says of his pay, which ranged from $3.88 to $5.70 per hour during his 25 years of employment at the Waverly. Its a problem that plagues thousands of restaurant workers in New York City. According to New York City Health Department inspection records and court records, among the 371 eateries across the city that identified themselves as diners or coffee shops, workers have sued nearly one-quarter of them 92 establishments for underpayment during the last decade. (In comparison, the close to 2,000 pizzerias in the city have been hit with 283 lawsuits, a significantly lower percentage.) Of those suits, only 12 have been ruled on or settled, according to court documents, evidence of the lengthy legal process than can often deter workers from filing suits in the first place. While lawsuits continue to stack up, another factor is compounding the problem: few workers actually end up getting paid, as owners are too often able to evade judgments against them by declaring bankruptcy, signing over assets to friends and relatives, selling their business, and other shifty business tactics, avoiding payments on more than $125 million in violations and settlements, according to a 2015 study. Among recent wage theft claims: Fifteen former servers and busboys of the Galaxy Diner in Hells Kitchen say they were paid between $2.50 and $3.50 per hour, including overtime. A former employee at the D&D Coffee Shop in Borough Park says she was paid $20 per 8 -hour shift. Three former workers of the Tick Tock Diner on 34th Street in Manhattan says the restaurants owner only paid them for 30 to 40 hours of work each week, though they actually put in more than 60 hours, in order to evade paying the regulated overtime rate. Labor experts say the number of offenders is likely much higher, as abuses often go unreported, and illegal practices do not always result in lawsuits. We do find that the employers sometimes threaten the employee [to stop them] from calling other agencies on them, says Favio Escudero, an investigator with the New York Department of Labor. Diners are able to still pay under minimum wage because most [immigrants] are intimidated and afraid, says Romero. *** At the Waverly, Romero began working 12-hour dishwashing shifts, six days a week, without holidays or sick days. According to court filings, Romero claims he was paid $280 per week, or $3.89 an hour, which Serafis handed him in cash at the end of each week. (The state minimum wage for 1991, Romeros first full year as a Waverly employee, was $4.25 an hour, with mandatory time-and-a-half over 40 hours per week.) He says he never received a pay stub. Three years later, Serafis made Romero a delivery worker and made him pay $400 to purchase a bicycle, Romero says. His new pay rate was $150 for the same 72-hour week, plus cash tips, court records state. In the best-paying years of his employment at the Waverly, Romeros tips peaked at about $260 per week, he says, putting his total pay at no more than $5.70 per hour. Listen to WNYC's Richard Hake discuss wage theft with journalist Scott Simone: By 2007, Congress had raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, plus mandatory overtime. If the Waverly had followed the law, Romero should have been paid about double what he was just in overtime, he was owed more than $8,000 a year. Other workers report similarly low wages. Delfino Tlacopilco, a cashier who worked with Romero at the Waverly starting in 1996, first as a dishwasher and then behind the counter, says he earned between $5 and $6 per hour. Waiter Jesus Delgado reports making $20 per 12-hour shift, plus tips, as did Justino Garcia. Busboy Miguel Gonzaga took home $150 per 66-hour work week. During his first few years in New York, Romero lived with 20 other roommates in a three-bedroom house in Jackson Heights, for which he paid $300 a month in rent. Whatever he could save, he sent to his family in Mexico, until his wife joined him in New York a few years ago in their own apartment. His three children by then were grown, having only known him as a father via phone calls and a few visits to New York. Its difficult to not see my children, but I sacrifice so that they can have a better life, Romero says. I do not want to see them mopping or washing dishes in someone elses kitchen. I do not want them to go through what I have gone through. I work hard and support them so that they can go to college and have careers. Waverly workers say they were also denied sick days and personal days. Theyd tell us, No, youre not allowed, says Tlacopilco. Theyd call us donkeys because they worked us so much. Romero says he was required to help in the kitchen, cutting fruit and preparing salads, and to clean the bathrooms and wash the outdoor facade, for no extra pay. Serafis, who owns the building where the diner is located, relied on the Waverly staff to mop the apartment hallways. When a tenant moved out, his workers would be summoned to paint and repair the units. Residents became so accustomed to this arrangement that theyd come down to the diner to ask wait staff to install air conditioning units or replace light bulbs. Other times, Serafishimself an immigrant from Greeceordered Romero to buy him cigarettes or Powerball cards, or to clean snow off his car and warm it up. (Shutterstock) Id ask, Is this part of my job? Romero recalls. I knew it wasnt, but they were still making me do it. Multiple requests from Gothamist for comment went unanswered by Serafis and his lawyers. But in a 2016 videotaped deposition, Serafis admitted to paying the workers as low as $120 per 70-hour workweek. But, he said, they did this voluntarily: They offered that to me, he said. As for overtime, he claimed, The waitstaff that was volunteering to work overtime in order to make the tips, I didnt pay them overtime. Regardless of whether that is the case, its still illegal to pay employees below minimum wage and to not pay overtime, whether workers agree to it or not. *** At ones favorite coffee shop its not uncommon to find that the cooks, waiters, bartenders, and busboys all come from the same country, if not the same region or even town, as new workers learn of jobs through friends and relatives. Foreign workers are particularly important to New Yorks $43 billion restaurant business, with immigrants comprising 64 percent of all industry workers in the city, according to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey. Yet out of 4,387 low-income workers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, 63 percent of whom were Hispanic, who were surveyed for a 2008 study by the National Employment Law Project, 30 percent of tipped employees did not get paid their states minimum wage, and 12 percent had their tips stolen by an employer or supervisor. Of the one quarter of workers who put in more than 40 hours a week, 76 percent were not paid overtime. A 2017 Economic Policy Institute study concluded that 6.5 percent of undocumented workers nationwide again, a majority of them Hispanic reported being paid less than the minimum wage, nearly double the 3.8 percent of U.S.-born workers who said they were victimized by underpayments. Thats mostly due, experts say, to the fact that immigrants are more easily exploited, as they are less likely to know labor laws and rarely complain to authorities. While labor laws apply regardless of immigration status, being uninformed about their rights and a fear of deportation combine to silence objections from undocumented workers. They're not educated on how to be paid, says Escudero, the New York state labor investigator. They accept their wages as the employer tells them, and that's how they go about their lives. Heidi Shierholz, director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute and the former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, adds, On average, immigrants are super vulnerable because they know that they could be retaliated against. They could end up in deportation. This is not an idle fear. In addition to immigrants who have been targeted at work such as Pablo Villavicencio Calderon, the undocumented Ecuadorian who was taken into custody by ICE after he delivered a pizza to a U.S. Army base in Brooklyn, and the 21 7-Eleven workers arrested during an ICE sweep of 98 stores federal authorities have been known to use underpayment disputes to identify and expel foreign-born workers. In California, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been showing up at wage violation proceedings, where workers must appear after filing complaints against owners. ICE also has asked California state officials for details about ongoing investigations into labor violations at construction sites in Los Angeles. *** Three years ago at the Waverly Diner, the tide began to change, and Nick really started to treat us like trash, says Delgado. Thats when Waverly workers finally decided to take a stand against the diner owner. When Tlacopilco and another employee were fired after missing a few days of work for personal reasons, he sought the advice of a lawyer to see if he had a case for wrongful termination. After a friend suggested he contact New York labor lawyer Lou Pechman, who also educates workers on their rights through his website WaiterPay.com, he learned that workers could sue for unpaid wages stemming from years of wage theft. When the group filed suit in August 2015 in Manhattan federal court seeking back pay, the Waverly responded by slashing the workers hours, according to court documents. Garcia, who had consistently logged 72 hours per week, says he was cut back to 50 hours. Serafis, he was told, would give him $6,000 if he got the group to drop the lawsuit. When the workers rejected that offer, Garcias shifts were cut to three days a week. If youre not happy, why do you insist on staying here? Garcia recalls Serafis asking him in October 2015. If you dont want me here, then Ill leave, Garcia answered. You cannot leave now, was Serafiss reply, Garcia says. You have to wait for somebody to replace you. Later that night, he says, Serafis fired him, saying, I don't want to see you around my business. Romero says his schedule was reduced to just two four-hour shifts a week in late August 2015, so he left and found another job. Delgado quit after he was cut back to four days a week. (Jake Dobkin / Gothamist) The National Labor Relations Board found that the Waverly discriminatorily discharged the workers, and ruled that the diner must offer them reinstatement to their former positions and to make them whole for any loss of earnings and other benefits resulting from their discharge. Serafis, though, was already planning his next move, putting in place a strategy to avoid having to pay for what hed done. *** Owners do face enforcement action in New York and, occasionally, hefty fines and settlements, such as the $200,000 that the Tick Tock Diner agreed to pay the three former workers who sued the restaurant. The state claims that such results show New York is serious about holding violators to account. The state Labor Department, charged with investigating wage theft allegations, says employers have paid more than $258 million in back wages owed to 215,335 workers since 2011, including about $35 million to 36,446 workers last year. Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Labor has investigated thousands of wage claims, of which 75 percent resulted in a determination of a finable violation. But in some cases, owners have escaped with wrist-slap fines or settled with victims on favorable terms. Jimmy Giapoutzis, the owner of the D&D Coffee Shop, agreed before trial to a $30,000 settlement payment to Chelsea Andersen, the worker who claimed shed been underpaid. Andersens lawyers agreed to the sum, which covers most but not all of the wages owed, accepting Giapoutziss purported inability to pay a larger settlement sum, court documents show, and to avoid a lengthy legal battle, says Andersens lawyer. In fact, a 2015 study found that the amounts of payouts have continually declined in the last decade. On average, the settlement per plaintiff for wage violation cases was $5,742. But that was skewed by a small proportion of casesapproximately 5 percentwith settlements that averaged more than $25,000 per plaintiff. The median settlement per plaintiff was lower, at $2,576. Other proprietors, including those fined by the states Labor Department, have simply ignored settlement agreements or judgments and not paid. Owners have shut down businesses, declared bankruptcy, or transferred ownership of establishments to a friend, partner or relative. A few have fled the country. In 2011, when five workers from Manhattans Charm Thai won a court judgment for $830,000 in federal court, the restaurants owners filed for bankruptcy, which gave them time to gather their assets and leave the country. The aforementioned 2015 study, Empty Judgments: The Wage Collection Crisis in New York, found that New York employers have skipped out on more than $125 million in court-ordered restitution. Of that sum, $25 million stems from lawsuits against employers, with another $101 million in unpaid wages that the New York Labor Department determined employers owed to workers between 2003 and 2013. But the study lays out a few guidelines for how New York can protect against these tactics. Currently, New York allows certain workers in the construction industry to apply a mechanics lien to the property on which they worked if they are not paid in full. Ten other states also allow other kinds of workers to put liens on employers property in connection with a wage claim. If New York were to expand its law similarly, it would ensure that workers would be able to enforce judgments against their employers. (Such a law was passed by the New York State Assembly in 2015, though it failed to pass the State Senate.) *** Serafiss first step in avoiding a judgment against him was to transfer the Waverly business to his daughter Christine, who lives in Greece. He also declared personal bankruptcy under Chapter 7, and filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the business. The filing means that although, according to Nick Serafis deposition, the father still runs the restaurant, any judgment cannot be collected against him because he has no assets in his name, says Pechman. This has stalled legal proceedings as Serafis bankruptcy claims are still being worked out in court, and potentially protects the Waverly from paying more than $2 million in estimated damages to the workers, according to court filings. The Waverly plaintiffs remain frustrated by the failure to bring Serafis to account. They are still waiting for the federal civil court to rule on their case three years after their first filing. After robbing us for so many years, he has the money to pay us, says Garcia. I feel defrauded. But the group holds out hope. We came forward to get what is owed, says Delgado. But if our case doesnt end up helping us, maybe it will help other workers experiencing this. Scott Simone reported on this story in collaboration with The Hatch Institute, a nonprofit journalism foundation where he is managing editor. You can see more stories from The Hatch Institute here. As the criminal case against a trio accused of concocting a $400,000 GoFundMe scam continues, the fundraising website has announced that it has refunded all the donors to the campaign. "We have a zero tolerance policy for fraudulent behavior," GoFundMe spokesperson Bobby Whithorne said yesterday. "If fraud occurs, donors get refunded and we work with law enforcement officials to recover the money." Last year, New Jersey resident Katelyn McClure shared her story of being stranded on I-95 when homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt offered her his last $20 for gasoline. She wrote on her GoFundMe page, "I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day. He is such a great guy, and talking to him each time I see him makes me want to help him more and more." The feel-good tale went viral, with McClure and her boyfriend Mark D'Amico joining Bobbitt for interviews, and eventually $401,921 was raised for Bobbitt. However, the money was controlled by McClure and Mark D'Amico, and, in August, Bobbitt accused the couple of keeping the money for a lavish lifestyle of vacations and casino trips, leading to an investigation into their finances by Burlington County. (The couple countered that Bobbitt couldn't be trusted with spending the money wisely.) Then, in November, county authorities charged the three with making up the whole story after they met at an off-ramp near a Philadelphia-area casino. Burlington County prosecutor Scott Coffina said at the time, "Less than an hour after the GoFundMe campaign went live, McClure, in a text exchange with a friend, stated that the story about Bobbitt assisting her was 'completely made up.'" Adrienne Gonzalez, who runs the GoFundMe scam tracker GoFraudMe, told NJ.com, "I have never seen ANYTHING close to this in the three years I've been covering GoFundMe fraud." After McClure, D'Amico, and Bobbitt were charged with conspiracy and theft by deception, GoFundMe promised that the campaign's 14,325 donors would be refunded. On Christmas day, GoFundMe announced the contributors had been "fully refunded." Whithorne added, "While this type of behavior by an individual is extremely rare, it's unacceptable and clearly it has consequences. Committing fraud, whether it takes place on or offline, is against the law. We are fully cooperating and assisting law enforcement officials to recover every dollar withdrawn by Ms. McClure and Mr. D'Amico." According to Whithorne, less than one-tenth of GoFundMe campaigns involve misuse of the platform. GoFundMe also offers tips for determining whether a campaign is "safe to donate to." Last month, McClure claimed she was manipulated into participating in the scam by her now-ex-boyfriend D'Amico. D'Amico said at the time, "The truth will come out. It always does." An unknown transit thief managed to quietly borrow an MTA bus from a Bronx street this weekend, taking it on a round-trip jaunt to Queens without anyone noticing for most of the day. According to police, an MTA supervisor reported the missing bus to the NYPD on Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. A review of the bus's GPS tracker later revealed it had been swiped from outside The Crossings mall on Hunts Point Avenue in Longwood at 4 a.m. Sunday morning. The bandit somehow got on board the bus and drove it to Queens, then at some point before 7:40 pm Sunday returned it to Westchester and Prospect avenues in the Bronxjust a few blocks from where it was initially snagged. There was no one aboard the bus, which the Post reports was "being used as a shelter for off-duty bus operators," and no suspects have been identified. A spokesperson for the MTA did not respond to a request for comment; a police report notes that the cross-borough trip bus trip was made "without authority or permission to do so." According to an unnamed bus driver who spoke with the Post, the pilfering of city buses is a fairly frictionless process: "Theyre push-start buses. You dont even need a keyless fob. Anyone can just climb into a bus and push the button and drive wherever the hell they want. Its a big problem." Still, not everyone has what it takes to hijack a bus in this town. Youve got to have some balls to steal a big-ass bus and drive it all the way the fuck to Queens," the driver explained. "You have a lot of people who have a fantasy about driving a city bus, and when you leave a bus out there in the open with no one inside, youre at risk of someone stealing it." While arguably not a big problemit took more than 15 hours for anyone to notice, after allillicit bus-borrowing is certainly an issue that the MTA has previously encountered. Serial mass transit thief Darius McCollum was responsible for at least 30 such incidents, most recently pirating an unattended Greyhound bus outside the Port Authority in 2015. In October, McCollum, who is autistic, was ordered to a psychiatric facility after a judge determined he had a dangerous mental disorder." Other bus snatchers have gotten off much easier. Back in 1947, New York City bus driver and Bronx native William Cimillo "got tired of it all" and took an impromptu journey down to Florida in a stolen bus. He was arrested in Hollywood, but the charges were dropped after he gained folk hero status, and he was permitted to keep his job. The investigation into Sunday's incident is ongoing, according to the NYPD. A large part of investment returns can be generated by dividend-paying stock given their role in compounding returns over time. Historically, China Life Insurance Company Limited (HKG:2628) has paid a dividend to shareholders. It currently yields 2.8%. Does China Life Insurance tick all the boxes of a great dividend stock? Below, Ill take you through my analysis. Check out our latest analysis for China Life Insurance 5 questions I ask before picking a dividend stock When researching a dividend stock, I always follow the following screening criteria: Is its annual yield among the top 25% of dividend-paying companies? Does it consistently pay out dividends without missing a payment of significantly cutting payout? Has dividend per share risen in the past couple of years? Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will it be able to continue to payout at the current rate in the future? SEHK:2628 Historical Dividend Yield December 26th 18 How does China Life Insurance fare? The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for the stock is 46%, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. However, going forward, analysts expect 2628s payout to fall to 36% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of 3.0%. However, EPS should increase to CN1.29, meaning that the lower payout ratio does not necessarily implicate a lower dividend payment. When considering the sustainability of dividends, it is also worth checking the cash flow of a company. A business with strong cash flow can sustain a higher divided payout ratio than a company with weak cash flow. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock youre eyeing out is reliable in its payments. Not only have dividend payouts from China Life Insurance fallen over the past 10 years, it has also been highly volatile during this time, with drops of over 25% in some years. These characteristics do not bode well for income investors seeking reliable stream of dividends. Story continues In terms of its peers, China Life Insurance produces a yield of 2.8%, which is high for Insurance stocks but still below the markets top dividend payers. Next Steps: Taking all the above into account, China Life Insurance is a complicated pick for dividend investors given that there are a couple of positive things about it as well as negative. But if you are not exclusively a dividend investor, the stock could still be an interesting investment opportunity. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, you should always research extensively before deciding whether or not a stock is an appropriate investment for you. I always recommend analysing the companys fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. Ive put together three relevant aspects you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 2628s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 2628s outlook. Valuation: What is 2628 worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether 2628 is currently mispriced by the market. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. BEIJING (Reuters) - China plans to remove import and export tariffs in 2019 on a range of goods, including import taxes on alternative meals used in animal feed, to secure supplies of raw materials amid trade tensions with the United States and boosting outbound cargoes. Import tariffs on so-called alternative meals, which include rapeseed meal, cotton meal, sunflower meal and palm meal, will be removed from Jan. 1, 2019, the finance ministry said in a statement on its website on Monday. China's trade war with the United States has unsettled the global soy market after China virtually stopped all imports of U.S. soybeans after the imposition of additional 25 percent tariffs in July. While China has resumed some purchases of U.S. soybeans, the tariffs on the oilseed from America remain in place, and the removal of tariffs on alternative meals could help improve the reliability of supply of animal feed meal in China, analysts said. "This is basically getting ready for a rainy day, as commercial purchases of U.S. soybeans haven't kicked off and so far it's been just the state-owned firms that have done the buying," said Monica Tu, analyst with Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. Ltd. "Though the volume of alternative meal imports is not that huge, they can substitute soy. (The tax removal) is basically offering end users more options," Tu said. The United States is the second-largest soybean supplier to China and that component of the trade between the countries was worth $12 billion (9.5 billion pounds) in 2017. China brings in soybeans to crush into meal for animal feed and cooking oil. The country has the world's largest pig herd. Beijing had previously sought ways to cut protein levels in animal feed and import more alternative meals, to reduce its reliance on U.S. soybean shipments. The most active rapeseed meal futures traded on Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange, for delivery in May (CRSMK9), slid nearly 3 percent to 2,113 yuan (242 pounds) per tonne on the news. China's soymeal futures (DSMcv1) and soybean futures (DSAcv1) also fell 1.3 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. Story continues Import tariffs on materials of some pharmaceutical goods will also be cut to zero, according to the finance ministry. To boost overall imports, China also reduced the amount of items taxed on a list of temporary import tariffs to slightly more than 700, the ministry said, from more than 900 items. China will also maintain relatively low import tariffs for aircraft engines, at 1 percent, to help grow its indigenous plane-making industry. For exports, China will not levy any tariffs on 94 products next year including fertilisers, iron ore, slag, coal tar and wood pulp. It will also further cut most-favoured-nation tariffs on 298 information technology products from July 2019. The statement did not give details. China's economic growth slowed to 6.5 percent in the third quarter, the weakest pace since the global financial crisis and is expected to slow further next year amid the trade war with the United States. (Reporting by Stella Qiu, Hallie Gu and Ryan Woo in BEIJING; Editing by Richard Borsuk and Christian Schmollinger) FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018 file photo, an information board for employees' shuttle bus is on display near the Huawei office building at its research and development centre in Dongguan in south China's Guangdong province. The U.S. dispute with China over a ban on tech giant Huawei is spilling over to Europe, the companys biggest foreign market, where some countries are also starting to shun its network systems over data security concerns. Some European governments and telecom companies are following the U.S.s lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital infrastructure for mobile networks could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, file) LONDON (AP) The U.S. dispute with China over a ban on tech giant Huawei is spilling over to Europe, the company's biggest foreign market, where some countries are also starting to shun its network systems over data security concerns. Some European governments and telecom companies are following the U.S.'s lead in questioning whether using Huawei for vital infrastructure for mobile networks could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Bans in Europe could significantly increase the financial pressures on Huawei. They would also cost Europe tens of billions of dollars as the region looks to build up "5G" networks, which are meant to support a vast expansion in internet-connected things, from self-driving cars to factory robots and remote surgery. "Europe is still divided over Huawei, but the trendline is moving in a fairly clear direction" as the U.S. exerts pressure on allies to block it, said Thorsten Benner, director of the Berlin-based Global Public Policy Institute think tank. Geopolitical tensions over Huawei intensified after its chief financial officer, who is also the daughter of founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested Dec. 1 in Canada in connection with U.S. accusations that the company violated restrictions on sales of American technology to Iran. Huawei has been blocked in the U.S. since 2012, when a House Intelligence Committee report found it was a security risk and recommended that the government and private companies stop buying its network equipment. Germany's Deutsche Telekom said last week it "takes the global discussion about the security of network elements from Chinese manufacturers very seriously." The company said it uses multiple companies to build its network, including Ericsson, Nokia and Cisco. "Nevertheless, we are currently reevaluating our procurement strategy," the company said. The statement is significant because until recently it had been one of Huawei's "biggest cheerleaders" based on its cheap and reliable equipment, said Benner. Story continues It came shortly after Alex Younger, the director of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, said in a speech that Britain needs "to decide the extent to which we are going to be comfortable with Chinese ownership of these technologies," according to local media reports. At about the same time, mobile provider British Telecom said it was removing Huawei equipment from key parts of its current 3G and 4G networks as part of an internal policy not to use it for core infrastructure, which will also apply to 5G networks. The British government-run center that tests the company's equipment and software this summer identified "shortcomings in Huawei's engineering processes that have exposed new risks" in U.K. networks. Huawei said it's working on fixing those issues. Norway's telecom ministry said it was considering clarifying requirements from network operators, without being more specific. Belgium's cybersecurity agency is reportedly considering a ban on Huawei. And the Czech Republic's prime minister ordered his government office on Tuesday to stop using Huawei mobile phones, after the national cybersecurity agency warned that products by Huawei and another Chinese telecom company, ZTE, pose "a security threat." The European Union's head of technology policies, Andrus Ansip, said "we have to be worried" about possible security risks from Huawei when asked about the company's role in European 5G and driverless car projects. Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, denies accusations it's controlled by China's ruling Communist Party or designs equipment to facilitate eavesdropping. It said it recognizes and shares security concerns around the rollout of new 5G networks and is happy to take part in Deutsche Telekom's review. The company noted German officials have said publicly there's no reason to exclude Huawei and it has never been involved in any confirmed cybersecurity breaches. "Cybersecurity is incredibly important to Huawei. It is central to every decision and product we make," said Vincent Pang, the company's president for Western Europe. "We think the answer lies in global cooperation and collaboration to ensure that networks are as secure as possible." The Europe, Middle East and Africa market is Huawei's second biggest after China, accounting for 27 percent of its nearly $90 billion revenue last year. Executives said the company has now signed contracts with 25 telecom carriers for commercial or test use of 5G and shipped more than 10,000 5G base stations. The rollout of 5G networks is expected to take a decade. As technologies advance, the amount of data flowing between machines is set to surge, prompting governments to increasingly view telecom networks as strategic national assets. Not everyone is endorsing quick action to ban Huawei. The CEO of the French telecom company Orange, Stephane Richard, said last week his company wouldn't use Huawei gear for sensitive parts of its network because of "messages of prudence" from French authorities. But he said that was not for any technical reason, and that the debate on Huawei had become politicized. "We're in the realm of fantasy: 'They're Chinese. They have links to the Chinese army, thus there are spies, thus we can't let them touch our telecom equipment'," he said. Excluding Huawei won't be easy, analysts said. "It's not like there's some cheaper alternative," said Paul Triolo, head of geotechnology practice at the Eurasia Group. "Ericsson and Nokia don't produce the whole spectrum" of equipment, referring to the Scandinavian companies that are the only non-Chinese competitors. Huawei has thrived in major European markets like Germany and Britain because their telecom industries wanted to ensure there were multiple equipment suppliers to avoid relying on one. "So if you're asking them to remove a major vendor from their markets, it's going to be difficult," Triolo said. German companies won't be happy if they can't use Huawei because their costs will go up and it will delay rolling out 5G networks, which will initially rely on existing 4G infrastructure for which Huawei is already a major supplier, said Benner. But German decisions are also likely to influence those by smaller countries that are part of the German industrial manufacturing supply chain, such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. "They'll all wake up if Germany takes a decision and worries about the security of its infrastructure," said Benner. Weve lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, wed be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So well take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (TSE:FC). What Is Insider Selling? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We dont think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Colombia University study found that insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers. See our latest analysis for Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when COO, Executive VP & Director Jonathan Mair sold CA$94k worth of shares at a price of CA$13.41 per share. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of CA$13.00. They could have a variety of motivations for selling, but its still not particularly encouraging to see. We usually pause to reflect on the potential that a stock has a high valuation, if insiders have been selling at around the current price. Jonathan Mair was the only individual insider to sell shares in the last twelve months. In the last twelve months insiders purchased 5.30k shares for CA$69k. But they sold 10.10k for CA$134k. Jonathan Mair divested 10.10k shares over the last 12 months at an average price of CA$13.26. The chart below shows insider transactions over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Story continues TSX:FC Insider Trading December 25th 18 If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Insiders at Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Have Sold Stock Recently Weve seen more insider selling than insider buying at Firm Capital Mortgage Investment recently. We note Jonathan Mair cashed in CA$134k worth of shares. On the flip side, Chief Financial Officer Boris Baril spent CA$34k on purchasing shares. Because the selling vastly outweighs the buying, wed say this is a somewhat bearish sign. Insider Ownership I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Its great to see that Firm Capital Mortgage Investment insiders own 1.8% of the company, worth about CA$6.1m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. So What Do The Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Insider Transactions Indicate? The insider sales have outweighed the insider buying, at Firm Capital Mortgage Investment, in the last three months. And our longer term analysis of insider transactions didnt bring confidence, either. Insiders own relatively few shares in the company, and when you consider the sales, were not particularly excited about the stock. As the saying goes, only fools rush in. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. If you would prefer to check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. The partial federal shutdown is now in its fifth day and most agencies are still running. But at the Jacob Javits Federal Building, in Lower Manhattan, even a partial shutdown can still lead to confusion. The 41-story building at Federal Plaza is home to the nations largest immigration court. No hearings were scheduled for December 24th and 25th, but hundreds of court appearances were canceled on Wednesday. The courts are part of the Department of Justice, which is among nine agencies affected by the partial shutdown. As a result, there were very few people in line at the visitors entrance on Worth Street. Security is managed by contract workers, who arent federal employees. Several said they didnt know which offices were open and directed people to an information desk. Attorney Christian Benante went inside hoping to see the immigration court office. He said he normally works in financial restructuring at his law firm, Stroock & Stroock & Levan. But because hes now planning to represent a Honduran family for free in their asylum case, he has to register with the immigration court. He went up to the 12th floor and turned right around when he learned he couldnt be seen. "I thought that essential workers still had to show up so I didn't think anything would interfere with the courts," he said, as he left the building. Benante said the familys court hearing is on January 15th and he hopes the shutdown ends before then or it could be affected. Cases that were supposed to be heard during the shutdown will be rescheduled, only adding to the backlog of more than 105,000 cases in the Javits Buildings immigration court. But the citys other immigration court on Varick Street remained open on Wednesday. It serves a much smaller population of immigrants held in detention. About 420,000 federal workers are reporting for work without pay. One woman who works at the immigration court at Federal Plaza, who declined to give her name, said shes considered an essential worker. Its hard but I have a job to do, she said. You have to have a positive attitude. There are a variety of agencies in the Federal Building that are not affected by the shutdown. They include The FBI, the Social Security Administration and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which relies on fees. There is no problem inside, said Shabana Kausar, who went to USCIS for work papers. She said she was in a line with about 20 people. The Department of Homeland Security is affected by the shutdown but has essential workers including those at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which continued operating. Many people coming to the visitors entrance were immigrants who had appointments with ICE, following their release from detention. They appeared just as confused as they do on regular days. They entered the gigantic building, went through metal detectors and tried to interpret pages of instructions in English. A Honduran woman clutched an envelope on which someone had written the bus schedules from McAllen, Texas, where she had been held in detention after entering the country earlier in December. She made her way to the 9th floor office and found a busy waiting room filled with other immigrants. It was business as usual. Beth Fertig is a senior reporter covering courts and legal affairs at WNYC. You can follow her on Twitter at @bethfertig. Intel Corp INTC has announced plans to strengthen and expand in Israel through production operations, according to a report by Reuters. In this regard, the company will receive approval from the authorities in Israel to invest $5 billion to upgrade a chip plant in Kiryat Gat. The precise amount is subject to the final approval by Intels Investments Center. After the upgrade, the companys plant in Israel will be one of the most advanced chip manufacturing facilities in the world. Following the investment, the worlds largest chipmaker will be entitled to a 700 million shekel ($185 million) grant from the Israeli government. Further, Intel will have to pay a reduced tax rate of 5% until 2027 (the standard rate of company tax in Israel in 2018 was 23%). Per the deal, Intel will purchase a 2.1 billion shekels ($556 million) worth of Israeli products, according to the media report. The company also intends to hire an additional 250 workers for the Fab 28 plant. Intels Position in Israel Santa Clara, CA-based Intel forayed into Israel in 1974.Notably, the company already has 11,000 employees in Israel directly. Moreover, Intels local team now has around 1,000 employees of Mobileye. Notably, Intel's acquisition of Israel-based Mobileye, an autonomous vehicle technology provider is significantly positive in our view. The acquisition will help the company to rapidly penetrate the autonomous car technology market, currently dominated by the likes of NVIDIA NVDA and Qualcomm QCOM. With the buyout, Intel will now have access to Mobileyes technologies related to cameras, in-car networking, sensor-chips, roadway mapping, cloud software, machine learning and data management. This will bolster its customer base going forward. Media reports indicate that Intel Israels exports amount to $35 billion over a period of 40 years. Intel Corporation Price Intel Corporation Price | Intel Corporation Quote Story continues Bottom Line The deal holds a lot of value for both Intel and Israel. As part of the deal, the Israeli government has set certain conditions. Intel will have to increase production capacity of the renovated plant. It will also have to retain workers irrespective of how its business performs, increase the value of local buys made by the company and give preference to Israeli workers and contractors in the plant upgrade work. While Intel has not made any official announcement, the investment by the company will likely be utilized to develop its new advanced 10-nanometer (nm) chips. The deal is deemed to be the biggest investment in Israel by a foreign company. Zacks Rank & Another Stock to Consider Intel currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Another top-ranked stock in the broader technology sector includes Upland Software, Inc. UPLD, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Long-term earnings growth rate for Upland Software is currently pegged at 20%. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Intel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Woman in Black Pinafore by Egon Schiele, former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau As worldwide efforts by Jewish heirs to reclaim Nazi-looted art continue to surgea movement that some say former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau fueled with his bold 1998 seizure of the MOMAs Dead City III paintingan art-restitution lawsuit launched in Manhattan state court appears to be growing in importance. Impassioned oral argument unfolded in the case earlier this month before a lively Appellate Division, First Department bench, with justices challenging the lawyers while often barely waiting for each other to finish, or repeating a question until a better answer was given. Meanwhile, a database based in Europe that lists works believed to have been Nazi-seized during World War II has made changes, further stirring the debate in New York and well beyond. And even within Manhattans courts, there are divergent rulings. The suit, Reif v. Nagy, was launched in 2015 by Jewish heirs of a 1930s Austrian-Jewish entertainer, Fritz Grunbaum, who was a major art collector and public critic of Adolf Hitler. The heirs are trying to win from an art dealer the rights to two highly valued paintings, Woman in Black Pinafore (1911) and Woman Hiding Her Face (1912), once owned by Grunbaum and created by Austrian Expressionist Egon Schiele. At the trial level, they won summary judgment, and according to the heirs attorney, Raymond Dowd, a Dunnington Bartholow & Miller partner specializing in intellectual property and art cases, the case is being followed by the Austrian legal community and by others in Europe and the U.S. who will look to itonce fully decidedfor guidance. In addition, the many cases springing up across continents over the provenances of allegedly Nazi-stolen art are known to be murky and difficult for both judges and litigants alike. And Manhattans courts, both federal and state, are considered a crucial staging ground for them because they are considered to be among the few places in the world where such claims can get a full, fair and sophisticated hearing, multiple lawyers representing Jewish heirs say. And lawyers on both sides of such cases say those courts are viewed as central in the larger fight because they preside over one of the worlds museum capitals, New York, where numerous pieces allegedly plundered by Nazis are shown. Reif is taking on increased meaning, some art world members and lawyers contend, in the wake of a controversial move made by an important German database of likely Nazi-stolen art. The database, operated by the German Lost Art Foundation and often hailed for publishing more than 100,000 detailed provenance reports, has delisted 63 Egon Schiele works, thereby indicating that, based on information it has received, the pieces werent stolen. The works delisted include Schieles celebrated Dead City III, as well as the works at issue in Reif, Woman in Black Pinafore and Woman Hiding Her Face, paintings valued together at about $5 million. The delisting, meanwhile, stands in opposition to Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Ramos opinion issued last April in Reif, in which he explained, while granting the heirs ownership of the Schieles, why the paintings were looted by Nazis who may have been pointing a gun at Grunbaum as he signed over title from a concentration camp. Dowd, one of those publicly criticizing the German foundation, is now claiming that its unthinkable removal decision is damaging his clients separate legal effort in Austria over Schiele works therea battle that he said is meandering through an Austrian legal system with no transparency, no due process, no right to appeal. It has a strong negative affect, he said in a recent interview. The foundation is essentially using this database to help launder stolen art. I think Germany is showing its defiance of the New York courts, he said. But the foundationwhose database reportedly presents detailed reports on 170,000 allegedly Nazi-stolen pieces, plus summaries of far more objectsdisputes that it has done anything other than follow evidence. In an email, foundation spokeswoman Freya Paschen said that not even the court ruling of Judge Ramos in New York has produced any new historical facts about the provenance of these particular 63 Schiele works. The fact that Fritz Gruenbaum was persecuted by the Nazis is not contested, Paschen said, but this does not mean that the entirety of Gruenbaums art collection must have been lost due to Nazi persecution. She also pointed out that this rare case affected 63 works, whereas 163 other objects from Schiele are still on record in the database as stolen. How Do We Know? At the Reif argument Dec. 13, the German foundations decision did not come up, but the appeal questions and contentions over the two Schieles in dispute flew out with vigor. It was hard to determine a leaning from the judicial panel as a whole, but the five justices sitting atop the ornate courtrooms wide bench had come prepared. The red times up light was on for at least five minutes for Thaddeus Stauber, the attorney for defendant-art dealer Richard Nagy, but the judges peppered him anyway. Justice Peter Tom asked Stauber, Assuming you identified and matched these paintings, then we go into the sister-in-law of Grunbaum, who Nagy has argued obtained good title to the works despite Grunbaums persecution. How could she possibly have legal title? Tom said. Later, Tom came back to Stauber again: Is there something in the record that shows the sister-in-law had legal titlenot possession, legal title? Addressing Dowd, a justice asked, How we do we know these two particular artworks were part of the collection of Schieles believed to be looted? Were able to tie these 63 allegedly looted artworks together, Dowd said while citing evidence and alleged facts. At another point a judge asked Dowd, Several experts ... offer alternative explanations of the two paintings provenance. How does Judge Ramos reject those as a matter of law? Why dont they raise an issue of fact? Repeatedly throughout the session, Stauber, a Nixon Peabody partner based in both New York and Los Angeles, pleaded for a trial on the merits rather than affirmation of Ramos ruling for the heirs. Thats all were asking for, he told the justices, contending that Ramos decided to pick and choose what he found true and not. And Stauber argued that each side had diametrically opposed experts on the paintings provenance, and therefore a trial was needed. Seated dozens of blocks away from the courtroom in his Lower Manhattan chambers, Ramos, speaking by phone, said before the argument began that hed be watching on live stream. He declined to talk about the suits merits or the reasoning hed laid out in his 17-page opinion, but he did offer a broader thought: Its a terrible period of history, Ramos said, referring to the Holocaust. I fear that a decision like mine is too little, too late, but we do what we can. Morgenthau and the Washington Principles The Reif case traces back to the Nazis arrest of Grunbaum, his imprisonment at the Dachau concentration camp, where he later died, and what happened to his 449-piece art collection, 81 of them Schieles. The plaintiffs in the case are Milos Vavra, an heir of Grunbaums sister, along with Timothy Reif and David Fraenkel, who are co-executors of the estate of Leon Fischer, Dowd said. Fischer is descended from Grunbaums wifes sister. The paintings passed through the art world until, one day in 2015, the plaintiffs spotted them in Nagys booth at an art show inside Manhattans Park Avenue Armory. Days later, Dowd made a demand for their return. Nagy and some other art dealers have argued that after the Nazis stormed Grunbaums home in 1938, his wife shipped off most of his art collection, possibly to family in Belgium. It is without dispute that the Schieles somehow disappeared until 1956, when Swiss art dealer Eberhard Kornfeld put 63 of them up for sale. But it was unclear in 1956 how, or from whom, hed obtained them. In 1998, as the Schieles provenance became public debate, Kornfeld said hed gotten them from Grunbaums wifes sister, Mathilde Lukacs-Herzl. The heirs, however, contend that documents Kornfeld has presented to back up his claim, including letters and receipts, are forgeries. Our handwriting expert concluded that these are likely forgeries, Dowd said in an interview, but Kornfeld never granted us access to the materials so that we could get a scientifically verified finding of forgery. For Justice Ramos, the Nazis original persecution of Grunbaum, and how his art collection came into his wifes possession, was central to his decision. He wrote that the Nazis took away Grunbaum but left behind his wife, Elisabeth Grunbaum-Herzl. Then once Grunbaum was at Dachau, he was forced, perhaps at gunpoint, to sign power of attorney over his possessions to heran involuntary act and not a valid conveyance, Ramos wrote. He also applied the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act (HEAR Act), a 2016 statute adopted by Congress that expanded the statute of limitations for Holocaust victims heirs suing for artwork. In addition, he pointed to the Washington Principlesa set of nonbinding tenets that various countries have agreed to use to promote the return of Nazi-stolen art. The principles grew out of an emotional 1998 conference in Washington, D.C., over Nazi-stolen art, which many say was sparked by Robert Morgenthaus ultimately unsuccessful attempt to subpoena and keep Dead City III from being shipped to Austria that year. We are instructed to be mindful of the difficulty of tracing artwork provenance due to the atrocities of the Holocaust era, and to facilitate the return ... where there is reasonable proof that the rightful owner is before us, Ramos wrote. Highly Unlikely Ramos view on the Grunbaum-owned Schieles is disputed not only by art dealers, it has been contradicted by a 2011 ruling from U.S. District Judge William Pauley III of the Southern District of New York. In Pauleys Bakalar v. Vavra decision addressing a Schiele drawing called Seated Woman With Bent Left Leg (Torso), he wrote that his court had previously found that the drawing was possessed by Grunbaum prior to his 1938 arrest, and then by Lukacs-Herzl in 1956. The most reasonable inference to draw from these facts is that the Drawing remained in the Grunbaum familys possession and was never appropriated by the Nazis, Pauley wrote. The alternative inferencethat the Drawing was looted by the Nazis and then returned to Grunbaums sister-in-lawis highly unlikely. He also said, What little evidence existsthat the Drawing belonged to Grunbaum and was sold by one of his heirs after World War IIsuffices to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the Drawing was not looted. Addressing the contention that Grunbaums possibly coerced transfer was void, Pauley wrote: Assuming arguendo that a transfer of property to a family member subsequent to a compelled power of attorney is void as a product of duress ... there is no way of knowing whether the Drawing was in fact transferred pursuant to the power of attorney. It is equally possible that Lukacs obtained the Drawing before the power of attorney was executed. A New York Story Following the Reif arguments, Dowd said he will await the First Departments decision in Reif with intense interest. He has called the suit probably the most important art case of the late 20th century, and one that ended a controversy that has raged since 1998 over whether Morgenthau was right to attempt to keep Dead City III from leaving the U.S. Stauber said he believes Dowd is exaggerating the impact of Ramos ruling. And in a recent email, Stauberwho has 20 years experience in art-restitution casesrepeatedly addressed what he views as the proper role of United States courts in handling cases that are part of a worldwide movement and fight. The U.S. courts role under the HEAR Act is to allow for merits-based trials to resolve claims that are in dispute, he wrote, adding, When a claim goes to court, it is only after we have shared the provenance research with opposing parties and have tried to reach a fair and just resolution. Addressing cases where international law or facts are at issue, he said, U.S. courts must carefully consider whether taking on a case, especially if a claims panel in that country has been made available ... is within the courts limited jurisdictional mandate. He added, The U.S. is not the only country with an independent judicial system, and the interpretation and application of foreign laws in U.S. proceedings risks placing a U.S. court on tenuous ground. Dowd disagreed with all of Staubers points, including his view on the role of U.S. courts in international controversies over allegedly Nazi-looted art. The United States won World War II, as did the Allies, he said. Part of the victory was the restitution of property to Nazi persecutees, he went on, and any post-war law erected by another country in violation of that principle undermines the treaty obligations of all of those countries. Our policy is to undo Nazi spoliation, but throughout Eastern Europe and Western Europe they have set up roadblocks to frustrate the claims of Holocaust victims, Dowd said, adding that the U.S. State Department has charged U.S. courts with righting these wrongs and has lifted all limits on their jurisdiction. And Nazi-looted art is a New York story, Dowd said, We are the museum capital of the world and we have to show leadership. Dowd said Morgenthaus decision to go after Dead City III in the hours before it would to be shipped to Vienna was a truly historic moment that became a driving force behind the Jewish heirs movement today. He was taking on the power structure. It literally changed the entire legal and diplomatic landscape, Dowd said. Morgenthau Reflects Though for Morgenthaunow of counsel at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and still working at age 99what he recalled in an interview about going after the Schiele works in 1998 was simply that it needed to done. There was strong evidence Dead City III was stolen, he said, also calling the German Lost Art Foundations delisting of the 63 Schieles a "mistake. What we did, we would have done with any stolen property. Morgenthau added that he could not have anticipated that the seizure would help lead to the Washington Principles and the fueling of expansive artwork litigation today. But asked if he was proud that his action may have sparked efforts aimed at righting one of Hitlers wrongs, he answered: Absolutely. European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker misses a step at a dinner in Vienna on Monday. Photo: Getty The European commission has dismissed concerns over the health of its president, Jean-Claude Juncker, after images emerged which appear to show him stumbling at a dinner in Vienna. Juncker was pictured being propped-up by Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney and an EU aide at a reception for the Africa-Europe summit being held in Austria on Monday evening. The 64-year-old appeared to lose his balance after missing a step as he made his way to dinner. Its not the first time the former president of Luxembourg has suffered with mobility issues at high profile events. He had to leave Julys Nato summit in a wheelchair after struggling to walk. The commission explained at the time the incident was caused by a flare-up of the presidents long standing problem with sciatica, which causes cramps and severe pain in the back. Addressing concerns Juncker was suffering fresh health problems, a commission spokesperson said: Photos sometimes lie, as they do in this case. Juncker high fives with the prime minister of Croatia Photo: Getty In this case the president is in full good health and in full throttle since yesterday evening representing the European Union at the Africa-Europe High Level Forum, she added. I was just in contact with him and hes all good. Sometimes he has pain walking because he also had a very bad car accident. For those who do not know, that was in 1989 and it was a very bad car accident and for several days his life was even in danger. So thats the context when people look at such footage. READ MORE: Junckers problems standing caused by painful attack of back problem Juncker appeared in high spirits at Mondays event, being pictured giving a high-five to Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenkovic and hugging Estonian prime minister Juri Ratas. He later gave a speech stressing the need for Europe and Africa to create a partnership on an equal footing based on shared responsibility by deepening trade in a bid to create sustainable jobs and growth. The event came on the same day it was revealed a backdated Christmas pay boost for the commission president means Junckers monthly pay is now almost equal to the average annual wage for British workers. Story continues READ MORE: Christmas pay rise means EU chiefs make UK average annual wage every month When we talk about worldwide crypto adoption, one of the most untapped places in the world is Africa. Nigerian blockchain experts have called for greater regulation of cryptocurrency on the African continent to strengthen the sector in the region and to help boost the economy. Although most crypto-fanatics will pour scorn on any talk of regulatory measures, some experts believe that the crypto industry, especially in Africa, needs reigning in and needs to be guided in the right direction for the betterment of all. Nigerian Blockchain Experts at Luno Meet At the recent Luno Meet in Nigeria titled Building Trust in the Nigerian Cryptocurrency Market, some of the nations most qualified crypto experts have been discussing the best way forward for not only the Nigerian blockchain industry but also right across the continent. The Chief Operating Officer of Blockchain Solutions Limited, Lucky Uwakwe, told the audience that cryptocurrency is on the rise globally and that 65% of people are now aware of crypto. Uwakwe cited research from Luno Nigeria that 25% of people in the study now own crypto in some form. He cited from the research that 51% saw crypto as an investment, 16% used crypto for online shopping and that 19% of people in the study used crypto for remittance. Although the study and the stats seem a bit contrived, the overriding issue that Uwakwe was trying to put across is that crypto is on the rise and that Nigeria needs to get up to speed or will get left behind in the cold. When addressing the audience, Uwakwe was quoted as saying: Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency to use peer to peer technology; It is a simpler implementation of blockchain technology; Functions as a payment tool that can be used to send money, and carries value as an investment tool. Making Africa Great Again! Also speaking at the Luno event, Country Manager and Nigerian blockchain expert Owenize Odia talked about how regulation is a pivotal issue that can help cement trust in the Nigerian and African crypto sectors by saying: Story continues Regulation is key but should be county specific, since it can bring about credibility to market, even though banks try to distant their operations from cryptocurrency. Odia also touched on other aspects of crypto adoption and talked about how the decentralized and universal nature of crypto could help to drive the Nigerian economy while also meeting with the needs of the people. It seems its only a matter of time before more regulatory measures are imposed on the Nigerian crypto markets for better or worse. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Nigerian Blockchain Experts Believe Crypto Can Boost African Economy appeared first on CCN. Major indices have lost their momentum lately owing to a plethora of woes such as U.S.-China trade conflict, tightening of monetary policy, partial government shutdown and slowing global economy. In such a scenario, you may be scrambling for stocks on the Wall Street that look promising as you head toward 2019. We are presenting here one such stock Office Depot, Inc. ODP that looks well poised on growth track, courtesy of strategic endeavors, and looks compelling from valuation perspective. The company is trying all means to give itself a complete makeover in an environment where demand for office products (paper-based) has shrunk due to technological advancements. Surely, the company is focusing on business operating model, viable projects and cost structure. ODP Treading Growth Path Office Depot is concentrating on e-commerce platforms and providing innovative products and services. The company by increasing penetration into adjacent categories and enhancing share of wallet with existing customers, intends to boost sales in the contract channel. The company is also engaging in the acquisition of small, independent regional office product dealers in different geographical locations such as Hawaii, Wisconsin, Oklahoma and New Mexico to enhance its footprint. Management is making incremental investments to catapult it into a product and services-driven enterprise. Service revenue represents approximately 15% of the total sales and is likely to reach about 20% of total sales in the next two years. To widen its domain of offerings, Office Depot acquired CompuCom Systems that is helping it to acclimatize to the fast-changing retail landscape along with providing enterprise-level tech services and products to customers. The company also signed a channel partner agreement with MicroCorp, a premier value-added distributor of telecom and cloud solutions. The company is also a certified installation partner for Google and Nest smart home devices. The company is also incorporating Tech-Zone services desk across its stores. It also launched a subscription-based business services platform, BizBox, to assist start-ups and small businesses on host of things such as website designing, financing and accounting service, HR/payroll support and others. We believe that improvement in Business Solutions and CompuCom divisions is likely to benefit the company going forward. Office Depot is leaving no stone unturned to develop into an omni-channel business services platform, offering end-to-end solutions to enterprise customers and small to medium-sized businesses. Story continues Office Depot, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Office Depot, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Office Depot, Inc. Quote Valuation Looks Attractive We note that shares of Office Depot have fallen 13.4% in the past six months compared with the industrys decline of 10.3%. But in spite of this you cant ignore the stocks aforementioned fundamentals that is well reflected from Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and attractive valuation. Since the long term bodes, it will be wise to invest in the stock. Since, by purchasing the stock right after a dip, you are essentially buying shares at a discount. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. A brief glance at some valuation metrics seems to indicate that Office Depot has enough room to run on the bourses. Further, a Value Score of A also indicates the same. Office Depot with a price to sales ratio of 0.1 compared with that of industrys 0.9 indicates that the stock has enough upside potential. The stock also looks attractive with respect to a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 7.0x versus industrys 12.4x. A more-or-less similar picture emerges when comparing EV/EBITDA ratios. Office Depot holds the edge here with an EV/EBITDA ratio of 3.0 lower than 11.7 for the industry. 3 More Stocks to Fill Your Holiday Hamper DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. DKS delivered average positive earnings surprise of 25.5% in the trailing four quarters. It carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Five Below, Inc. FIVE delivered average positive earnings surprise of 9.1% in the trailing four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 30% and a Zacks Rank #2. The Michaels Companies, Inc. MIK delivered average positive earnings surprise of 6.4% in the trailing four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.6% and a Zacks Rank #2. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Michaels Companies, Inc. (MIK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Office Depot, Inc. (ODP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Adds comments by Israeli prime minister) MOSCOW, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that Israeli missile strikes in Syria the previous day had directly threatened two civilian flights, Interfax news agency reported. The ministry, which did not specify which flights had been threatened, added that Syrian air defences had destroyed 14 of 16 Israeli missiles launched against unspecified targets near Damascus on Tuesday. Three Syrian soldiers were injured in the strikes, Syrian state media reported. The Israeli military declined to comment on the reported missile strikes and the Russian allegations. Addressing a graduation ceremony for new pilots at an Israeli air force base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no direct reference to specific attacks or Moscow's criticism. But he reiterated Israel's intention to prevent "Iranian military entrenchment, which is directed against us" in Syria. "We will act against it, vigorously and continuously, including during the current period," Netanyahu said. During the more than seven-year war in neighbouring Syria, Israel has grown deeply alarmed by the expanding clout of arch-enemy Iran, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Israel's air force has struck scores of targets it describes as Iranian deployments or arms transfers to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in the Syrian conflict. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn and Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem Writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber Editing by Andrew Osborn/Mark Heinrich) FILE PHOTO: The logo of SoftBank Group Corp is displayed at SoftBank World 2017 conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2017. REUTERS/Issei Kato By Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) is nearing a deal to invest $1.5 billion in Grab, three times a previously expected $500 million, as Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing firm looks to expand, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Six-year old Grab has so far raised over $6.5 billion, led by SoftBank, Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing and Toyota Motor Corp . After a fund raising in August, Grab was valued at around $11 billion. SoftBank first bought a stake worth $250 million in Grab in 2014 just as Grab began competing with Uber Technologies [UBER.UL] in Southeast Asia. Its latest funding in the ride-hailing firm will be made from its Vision Fund, which after raising more than $93 billion last year is the world's largest private-equity fund. SoftBank is expected to finalize its investment in Grab this month and an announcement is likely next month, said the person, declining to be identified as the information is not public. Grab declined to comment, while a SoftBank spokesman did not have an immediate comment. Reuters reported in October that SoftBank was closing in on a deal to invest about $500 million in Grab, underscoring the tech investment giant's confidence in the ride-hailing firm's growth. Grab acquired Uber's Southeast Asian business this year in exchange for a stake in itself and has since expanded its operations rapidly. Grab is looking to use part of the funds to expand further in Indonesia, where it has partnerships with fintech firm OVO and e-commerce platform Tokopedia, the person said. The firm is looking to transform itself into a leading consumer technology group offering, besides ride-hailing, services such as food delivery, electronic money transfers and mobile payments in one of the world's fastest-growing markets. Grab and its Indonesian rival Go-Jek are raising billions of dollars and investing in the race to corner a bigger share of Southeast Asia, as more of the region's 650 million consumers go online and use smartphones to shop, commute and make payments. Go-Jek kicked off a trial launch of its ride-hailing service in parts of Singapore last month and plans to roll out an array of services through its app in early 2019, challenging dominant player Grab in the small city-state. (Reporting by Anshuman Daga in SINGAPORE, additional reporting by;Aradhana Aravindan in SINGAPORE and Taiga Uranaka in TOKYO; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christopher Cushing) (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. has sold enough cars to put one outside every Japanese home. Now it wants to put robots inside. Well-known for its automated assembly lines, Toyota sees a not-so-far-off future in which robots transcend the factory and become commonplace in homes, helping with chores -- and even offering companionship -- in an aging society where a quarter of the population is over 65 and millions of seniors live alone. Machines have become much smarter in the last decade or so. Yet, every attempt to build one that can do simple things like load a washing machine or carry groceries encounters the same basic, physical problem: the stronger a robot gets, the heavier and more dangerous it becomes. What Toyota has going for it are $29 billion in cash reserves, a new artificial intelligence research center and a well-respected inventor, Gill Pratt, heading its effort. This is a company with so many resources that you can never ignore them, said Morten Paulsen, a Tokyo-based analyst at CLSA Japan Securities Co., whos covered the robotics industry for decades. Toyota has been experimenting with robots since at least 2004, when it unveiled a trumpet-playing humanoid with artificial lips, lungs and movable fingers that could accompany an actual human orchestra. Android Avatar Since then research has become more practical. Toyotas latest android, the T-HR3, is a kind of avatar that can be manipulated remotely via wearable controls, with vision goggles that allow users to see through the machines camera-eyes. The device could one day serve as arms and legs for the bedridden, or as a surrogate for relief workers in disaster zones. In 2015 the automaker spent a billion dollars to open its AI-focused Toyota Research Institute in Silicon Valley. Last year it set up a $100 million fund to invest in startups and new robotics technology. This year the company restructured its Partner Robot division to speed decision-making and shorten development time. Story continues Theres internal pressure all of a sudden to move faster, senior manager Keisuke Suga said at a recent industry forum near the automakers Toyota City headquarters. The road to robots has had its setbacks. In 2011, Toyota demonstrated a machine for lifting patients in and out of bed, but engineers had only tested it on healthy volunteers. Once they discovered that the frail and elderly required a more delicate touch, the product was shelved. Regulatory Hurdles Another device, a personal scooter that resembled a Segway, looked promising in trials but was kept off the streets by regulatory holdups. Outside of factories and warehouses, in fact, unfulfilled promise has been the main story for robots. Boston Dynamics, a ballyhooed firm started by engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, has spent more than 12 years developing four-legged automatons but still hasnt proved they can be commercialized. Most of the $2.1 billion spent by consumers last year on household robots was for automated vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers -- not exactly the stuff of science fiction. Toyota says the need for elder-care will change that. The automaker illustrates the point with a chart showing Japans inverted age-pyramid in the year 2050, when a third-fewer workers will have to support twice as many old people as today. (Some 22 percent of the worlds population will be over 60 by then, according to the World Health Organization.) Toyotas Human Support Robot, or HSR, is the machine the automaker sees as closest to making the leap from lab to living room. The robot-equivalent of a Corolla all function and no frills the HSR is basically a retractable arm on wheels with a video screen on top and two large camera eyes that give it the rudiments of a face. AI Injection It weighs as much as a half-dozen bowling balls, but can only lift a 1.2-kilogram payload, about the weight of a medium-sized water bottle. Still, loaded with the right software, the machine can do some interesting things. In a demo this fall by one of Toyotas partners, an AI startup called Preferred Networks Inc., the robot was able to learn where books, pens and other items belonged on a shelf, and clean a room that looked like it had been turned upside-down by a three-year-old. Using its sensor-eyes and its pincer, the machine arranged a pair of slippers neatly on the floor next to each other, with both feet pointing in the same direction. Asked when its home helpers will be available to consumers, Toyota wouldnt say. But adviser Masanori Sugiyama, a former top manager in the robot program, says the HSR could be ready for hospitals and rest homes in two or three years to do simple tasks like tidying up or delivering meals. For machines with more profound skills, the wait will be longer. They need to be able to understand what people are thinking and have empathy, Sugiyama said. The idea is for the robot to be a friend. --With assistance from Jason Clenfield and Pavel Alpeyev. To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Buckland in Tokyo at kbuckland1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brian Bremner at bbremner@bloomberg.net, Jason Clenfield, Ville Heiskanen For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. President Donald Trump has remained cagey on the subject of his apparent draft dodging during the Vietnam War, saying only that he had received a medical exemption for "temporary" bone spurs. But according to a New York Times investigation, a Queens podiatrist may have helped Trump secure a permanent deferment in exchange for extra benevolent treatment from his landlord: Donald's father, Fred. The Times reports that the now-deceased Dr. Larry Braunstein occupied an office at the base of the Trump-owned Edgerton Apartments in Jamaica, Queens, during the 1960s. Although they lack access to their father's medical records, Braunstein's daughtersElysa Braunstein and Sharon Kesselrecall Dr. Braunstein as doing a solid for Trump's father. Apparently, he talked about this "favor" he performed for a "famous guy" all the goddamn time, so often that the favor became "family lore," according to Elysa. D.J. Trump underwent a physical exam in 1966, after which he was declared fit for service. He subsequently was granted deferrals four times on educational grounds, before he obtained a temporary medical exemption in October 1968. His 1-Y classification changed to an 4-F, or permanent disqualification, when the former category was retired in 1972. Elysa admitted that she doesn't know if her father actually examined the mogul-to-be, but said he intimated that the bone spurswhich conveniently appeared on Trump's heels at the eleventh hourdid not really exist. But in return for saying they did, Dr. Braunstein may have received particularly accommodating treatment from father Trump. "What he got was access to Fred Trump," Elysa told the Times. "If there was anything wrong in the building, my dad would call and Trump would take care of it immediately. That was the small favor that he got." A friend of Braunstein's told the Times that Fred Trump also allowed the podiatrist to rent his office at a low rate. In explaining how he somehow managed to come up with a medical condition at the precise moment he ran out of other draft dodging options, the president has nodded to a very high draft number (which, as the Times points out, would've been irrelevant in 1968), and to a "very strong" letter from a physician. He has also argued that, during the Vietnam War, he lacked the influence necessary to conjure up a phony bill of health. "I didn't have power in those days," Trump previously told a biographer, according to the Times. "My father was a Brooklyn developer, so it wasn't like today." Forget that annual $200,000 Trump was reportedly making by the time he hit three! Braunstein may have had some help from another doctor, one Manny Weinstein, who moved into a Trump-owned Brooklyn apartment building in 1968. Although the Times notes that the nature of Weinstein's possible role remains unclear, he may have provided one of those compelling letters to the draft board; indeed, the Braunstein sisters float the idea that Weinstein himself could have had a personal connection to the draft board that would have exempted Trump from service. Trump has made a habit of ridiculing people who actually did serve in the war, having suggested that the late Senator John McCainwho spent five years as a POW in Vietnamwas only considered a hero because he had been captured, and that the more heroic action would've been simply not getting caught. Trump has also harassed Senator Richard Blumenthal (or, as Trump calls him, Da Nang Dick) over his misrepresentation of his Vietnam-era military service, complaining that Blumenthal "LIED" about the nature of his duty. Meanwhile, the extent of Trump's knowledge about the conflict seems to have come from Apocalypse Now, a movie he does not appear to remember with particular accuracy. Perhaps he would have more firsthand experience if not for (allegedly) a set of very convincing doctors' notes. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin attends the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo (Reuters) - U.S. regulators assured Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that nothing is out of the ordinary in the financial markets, Bloomberg reported on Monday citing a source familiar with the matter. Mnuchin spoke with officials from the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Bloomberg reported. The regulators also briefed the treasury secretary on their plans for monitoring markets during the government shutdown, Bloomberg reported, citing the source. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) The University of Kansas School of Law, like a growing number of law schools across the nation, is starting to teach its students cutting-edge quantitative subjects such as data analysis and artificial intelligence. This semester, Kansas law students had the first chance to take the Legal Analytics course taught by professor Andrew W. Torrance. Before his academic career, Torrance practiced biotechnology patent law at Fish & Richardson. With both a law degree and a doctorate in biology from Harvard, Torrance now teaches and conducts research in patent law, intellectual property, and empirical, experimental and big data approaches to law, among other topics. Torrance said his hope with the new course was to introduce students to progressively more sophisticated methods for tackling legal issues. Such methods include computational approaches involving Big Data and AI analysis. The semester ended with the students experimenting with legal analytics and AI tools, which were donated by legal tech companies. These tools let students find answers to legal questions in minutes that formerly took weeks to complete, Torrance said. For instance, the law school reported that students used Robot Lawyer LISA, which can draft nondisclosure agreements in about 20 minutes, and Donotpay.com, a website that helps dispute traffic tickets. We were able to use an AI tool to analyze an existing contract to find errors and suggest improvements across all major legal jurisdictions around the world, Torrance said. Perhaps most fun was a free AI tool that drafts appeals to parking tickets in the United States or United Kingdom, even citing case law where appropriate. Learning how to use and appreciate these tools, Torrance believes, will give students a competitive edge in their future careers. Those who integrate these approaches and tools into their legal practices will have substantial advantages over those who do not, he said. The earlier they learn them, the larger their lead will be. Interestingly, its not attorneys who demand these new approaches, Torrance said. Instead, its clients, who want better, faster, and less expensive legal advice, and will ruthlessly seek out attorneys who are most adept at providing it. Stephen Mazza, dean of the University of Kansas School of Law, agreed that the course plays an important role in students legal education given current and future trends. The heart of a KU legal education has always been the teaching of reasoning and analysis, Mazza told Legaltech News. As advancing technology and massive data sets enable lawyers to answer complex legal questions with greater speed and efficiency, courses like Legal Analytics will help KU Law students be better advocates for tomorrows clients and more competitive for tomorrows jobs. Looking back, Torrance said he partly decided to teach the Legal Analytics class at Kansas because law traditionally relies heavily on telling persuasive stories. The standards by which such narratives are evaluated has remained fairly stable since before the scientific revolution, he explained. Im fascinated by how we might apply the methods of Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton, and their hundreds of years of successors, to a rigorous examination of how we make decisions in the law. Legal Analytics is an attempt to introduce law students to this approach, he added. I thought it would be fun, but it was far more fun than I expected. To be sure, Torrance said there is always the risk of math-related topics causing a phobia among law school students. He knew from the start he had to find a remedy for this potential fear. I created the class deliberately to make students from all levels of mathematical and scientific backgrounds feel comfortable learning these methods, he said. I think this succeeded because everyone in the class was able to participate and meaningfully apply what they learned. Moreover, Torrance noted he avoided tests and exams in the course, and instead had students undertake projects where they could feel in control. We allowed considerable choice in which methods students could apply, he said. For instance, the final project involved critiquing an actual legal complaint filed in federal district court that purported to be based on compelling data, graphs, and mathematical and statistical reasoning to make its arguments. The students had a field day ripping it apart. Torrance added that while the recent semesters Legal Analytics class did not include coding, he is toying with a complementary class that might tackle this topic" in the future. KU joins a host of other law schools supporting legal technology education. At Columbia Law School, students now use software to create apps that help various legal organizations clients automate the drafting of legal documents, Legaltech News recently reported. The project came after the Columbia Law School Legal Technology Association, a student-led organization, and HelpSelf Legal teamed up to offer HelpSelfs document automation builder software for worthy causes. Moreover, at Cornell University, law students developed apps to solve legal issues facing legal aid societies. J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University and the University of Arizonas James E. Rogers College of Law also recently partnered to offer parallel courses where students use legal technology to help reduce evictions in their local areas. Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, well use ROE to better understand Want Want China Holdings Limited (HKG:151). Over the last twelve months Want Want China Holdings has recorded a ROE of 23%. That means that for every HK$1 worth of shareholders equity, it generated HK$0.23 in profit. See our latest analysis for Want Want China Holdings How Do You Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders Equity Or for Want Want China Holdings: 23% = 3180.3954 CN14b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.) Most readers would understand what net profit is, but its worth explaining the concept of shareholders equity. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. The easiest way to calculate shareholders equity is to subtract the companys total liabilities from the total assets. What Does Return On Equity Mean? Return on Equity measures a companys profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The return is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does Want Want China Holdings Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess companys ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Want Want China Holdings has a superior ROE than the average (9.4%) company in the Food industry. SEHK:151 Last Perf December 26th 18 Thats what I like to see. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. For example, I often check if insiders have been buying shares . Story continues The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but wont affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Combining Want Want China Holdingss Debt And Its 23% Return On Equity While Want Want China Holdings does have some debt, with debt to equity of just 0.69, we wouldnt say debt is excessive. When I see a high ROE, fuelled by only modest debt, I suspect the business is high quality. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. In Summary Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, Id generally prefer the one with higher ROE. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, youll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. If you would prefer check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Opinion The new red lines on Russias western frontier The Russia-Ukraine standoff is not exactly between the two countries, but it is one between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) led by the United States. It is an echo of the old Cold War between the then two superpowers, America, and In a few days, Colorados loneliest grocery store aisles no longer will be haunted by the ghosts of liquor laws past. Say your goodbyes to 3.2 beers, those low-alcohol suds that helped gentle the post-Prohibition population back into big libations and, until the repeal of the states blue laws in 2008, were the only packaged beers you could buy on a Sunday. Sweeping changes to the states 80-year-old alcohol laws take effect Jan. 1, when grocery stores will start selling full-strength beer. Distributors stopped delivering the 3.2 ABV varieties this month, and most stores already have cleared coolers to make way for stronger stock. Last call for near beers is truly upon us, and I, for one, wont be shedding any tears in my real one about it. In truth, such suds might have gone forever untasted by me had I not allowed my father to embark, unprepared, on a grocery store and beer run during my folks visit this year. Being from West Virginia, where grocery store beer is the same beer youd get anywhere else, Dad didnt understand that such a shopping list (from his craft beer-drinking daughter) required visiting two locations in Colorado Springs. When he returned from Safeway with a 12-pack of Fat Tire Amber Ale, I had to break the news. Thats sneaky, said Dad, who ended up having no complaints about the beer, pronouncing it actually not bad, which from him is pretty high praise. After my parents left town, I promptly dealt with the remaining bottles of Fat Tire, mostly to make room in the fridge for beers I actually like. Sure, it was drinkable. But, good? Can water with calories be good? Being delicious was never really part of their job description, though. Mark Robbins hasnt indulged in 3.2 beer in decades (though he came close once, by accident), but the 67-year-old admits it was his drink of choice when the choices were few. You had to be 21 to buy full-strength beer. But when you were 18, you could do 3.2 beer, and there were a bunch of 3.2 bars. Most people turned 18 their senior year of high school, so it was pretty good timing, said Robbins, who is from the Springs and went to college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. It was a huge part of the social scene at the time, for the 18 to 21 crowd. It was the great equalizer. Back when Robbins was frequenting the areas 3.2 bars, including Giuseppes many popular outposts, the topic of beer quality, or lack thereof, didnt come up. And despite his grown-up affinity for craft suds, Robbins maintains fond memories of those near-beer years. Ive heard all my life that 3.2 beer, you couldnt get drunk on it, it tasted terrible, it was kind of a second-class citizen, he said. But Ive never really found a difference in the taste, and I can tell you from personal experience, yes, you can get drunk off it. In 1987, the states legal drinking age for all alcoholic beverages, no matter their potency, was raised to 21. It took a while to play out, but Robbins figures the death knell for 3.2 beer was that loss of a niche in coming-of-age culture. Once you turned 21, the 3.2 scene was pretty much over with, he said. And since you have to be 21 to buy any beer now, I never really understood why people would go to a grocery store and buy 3.2 when they could buy the real thing elsewhere ... (unless) theyre from out of town and dont know what theyre buying. But is he bummed to see it banished to the great beer fest tent in the sky? Im sad in the nostalgia kind of way because it was a period in my history that made quite an impression on me, Robbins said. I wont miss the beer. Ill miss what it represented in my life. Deputy Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt, at far left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House on June 21. From left are Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trump and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. President Trumps search to replace departing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke did not conclude last week as it was expected to and could stretch into the new year. A few new contenders have emerged as some of the earlier prospects have faded, according to sources close to the Trump administration. Colorado native David Bernhardt, the Interior Department deputy set to become acting secretary next month, is still viewed as Trump's safest bet to run the agency on a permanent basis, according to allies of his and sources close to the White House. Interiors No. 2 man sees Washington from a Colorado point of view But Bernhardt has competition for the job, and Trump wont make a decision this week, as the president is preoccupied with the government shutdown fight, the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and the fallout from his decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria. Bernhardt, who is expected to be named acting Interior secretary as soon as Zinke leaves on Jan. 2, could be the easiest transition for the Trump administration, according to his allies. He has more experience in that building working on these issues than any predecessor, Jon Hrobsky, an attorney who worked with Bernhardt in President George W. Bushs Interior Department, told the Washington Examiner. The uniqueness of David for this job is there has never been anyone more qualified to do it." But he would have to overcome criticism of his past ties to energy lobbyists. Bernhardt worked with Hrobsky at the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where the former represented oil and gas companies and water districts. His past business history has provided ammunition to critics who say he is too conflicted to lead the Interior Department, which oversees the countrys 500 million acres of public land, including 59 national parks. His former client list ranges from offshore oil and gas drillers like Eni Petroleum, onshore drillers like Noble Energy and Halliburton, and industry trade associations, including the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the National Ocean Industries Association. Meanwhile, at least two more candidates, Cynthia Lummis, a former congresswoman from Wyoming, and Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. are expected to receive interviews for the job, sources said. Pearce is leaving Congress after failing in a bid for governor of New Mexico, where he lost in November to Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham. Congressman Pearce is actively pursuing the role and has been included in conversations the president has had about the position, a congressional staffer familiar with the process told the Washington Examiner. If nominated, he would be honored to accept and serve as secretary DOI. Others like Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. and Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., both of whom recently lost re-election, are interested in the job, but its unclear whether they are serious contenders. Still, Denham is openly campaigning for it, recently telling the Los Angeles Times, "I am on the president's list." Jessica McFaul, a spokeswoman for Denham, told the Washington Examiner her boss has had "conversations with the White House" about the position. She highlighted Denham's experience working on water and land issues and wildfire prevention. A few other previously mentioned candidates, including Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho who opted to not seek re-election and ran unsuccessfully to be his state's governor and Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, are not likely to be nominated, sources said. The lack of a definitive favorite among lawmakers and former congressmen could move Trump back to Bernhardt, who already knows the agency. In his Interior role, observers say Bernhardt has been leading the day-to-day policymaking process at the agency, specifically focusing on easing permitting processes and environmental reviews to open more federal land to oil and gas drilling, and reforming endangered species protections to make the law less cumbersome and restrictive to developers. The department is in very capable hands with David Bernhardt , who would make an excellent secretary himself, Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, told the Washington Examiner. However long it takes for President Trump to nominate and the Senate to confirm, Bernhardt will continue to implement the energy dominance agenda that is already well in motion and which he has had a guiding hand in. Bernhardt, 49, is a former high school drop-out from rural Colorado who earned his law degree from George Washington University before working at Interior from 2001 to 2009, and eventually rising to the No. 3 position at the department as its solicitor general. He would have to be confirmed again if nominated as Interior secretary. Other industry leaders, and Trump allies, prefer a nominee with more political experience, and say Bernhardt is more effective in a less visible policy role. Hes more effective where he is, Dan Eberhart, CEO of the oil services firm Canary and a Trump donor, told the Washington Examiner. If hes promoted to the political role, someone else will have to actually run the agency on a daily basis. It that the best move for Trumps agenda? Appointing a political could solve that problem. 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. Will the Denver Broncos, currently 6-5 after Sunday's win over the Chargers, qualify for the playoffs? You voted: Tents sit on a ridge near Shooks Run in a homeless camp near Fountain Boulevard and Wahsatch Avenue in Colorado Springs last year. The freshest tiny human beings, babies you might imagine in an Anne Geddes photo dressed as a cabbage or sunflower, snooze the days away under dim lights in the neonatal intensive care unit at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central. These are the preemies who arent quite ready for prime time. They might have been born a smidge too early, need to gain weight for a surgery or are going through withdrawal after being born to a drug addict. Whatever the case, Bruce Erickson, a longtime volunteer baby cuddler (yes, there is such a thing), is happy to get comfortable in a cozy chair and hold his precious cargo for as long as possible, sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes his whole three-hour shift. To be held is such a gift for these little ones, Erickson said. Its a real privilege to come in and hold babies. Baby time The bespectacled man with the soft voice, perfect for shushing and cooing babies, settles into a chair with a baby blanket over his chest and a pillow in his lap. Nurse Heather Averbeck carefully picks up todays cuddlee: a month-old, 5 pound, 4 ounce girl with tufts of light brown hair sprouting from her scalp. Shes still attached to her feeding tube as Averbeck gently places her in Ericksons arms. He goes straight to work, if by work one means providing her with human contact and love. Erickson has spent 26 years as a hospital volunteer, with 24 years in the NICU. His cuddling game is strong; he estimates hes cuddled about 1,500 babies. He almost talked himself out of that first cuddling orientation, as hed never held a baby less than 6 months old. I was so nervous to hold a baby, but I thought: Ill just go this once. They put a baby in my arms, and I was pretty much hooked. The UCHealth cuddler cadre now consists of 60 volunteers, including Erickson, who spends three hours a week in the NICU. He also helps the volunteer services department and NICU with scheduling and training wannabe cuddlers. Cuddlers have been a big part of the NICU for more than 25 years, for good reason. Babies do better when they receive affection. And it doesnt have to be from the parents, who often cant be in the NICU all day due to jobs, other children or a lengthy commute from home. Lots of studies show premature babies who are cuddled will grow better and go home sooner, said Dr. Sue Townsend, a neonatologist at UCHealth. They have more normal brain development and more stable heart rate and breathing. Cuddling for some part of the day has been part of our care for many years. Erickson wont get details about his tiny charge, unless it affects how he should hold her. Once the nurse places her in his arms, he cant simply check out or drift off to sleep, though holding a baby does seem to be a sort of potent sleeping pill. (Its pretty much the calmest part of my week, he said. I dont dare come in here tired.) Hell keep an eye on her throughout their cuddle session, noting if she starts to hiccup (she does) or yawn, as it could be a sign of overstimulation. Her coloring and expressions also help him watch for desaturation, when the blood oxygen level dips. He often picks up on that more quickly than the monitor can. Volunteers learn the ins and outs of preemie care during training, and they only hold babies who are medically stable. Should something start to go wrong, nurses are only a few feet away. Many of the 700 babies who arrive in the NICU every year go home around their due date, at 40 weeks. Carly McCallisters little boy has been in the NICU for three months. Hes not one of the drug-addicted babies. McCallister and her husband hope to bring Cooper home by the beginning of the new year, but if they cant, they feel comforted by the care hes receiving. Our neighbor is one of the cuddlers, she said. A couple of times Matt (her husband) has gone on a Tuesday, and the neighbor is holding Cooper. It warms your heart to know its someone we know, and that hes being taken care of and doesnt have to lie in bed all the time, and that there are people who love holding babies. It puts comfort and ease in your heart when you cant be with them. Erickson recalls one moment that made him a little misty. I was holding a baby, and a man came in. He said he only had 15 minutes for his break and told me to keep holding his baby, that he just wanted to see the baby. Questions about bonding often come up during training. Volunteers worry that the babies will bond with them instead of their parents. No such chance, Erickson tells them. The important thing is that were not a replacement for parents, he said. Were assistants for parents who are not there. Were simply there to help. Babies take a long time. Its called attachment. Adults will instantly fall for children, but it doesnt work the other way around. Cuddling drug-addicted babies Of the 45 to 50 babies in the UCHealth NICU each day, two to four have been exposed to narcotics. This year, 50 to 52 babies have had fetal drug exposure. They experience many of the same withdrawal symptoms as drug-addicted adults: irritability, agitation, jitters and feeding problems. They dont grow and gain weight as well as other babies, and they can suffer vomiting and diarrhea. The standard treatment was to score the baby in different areas. If the scores got too high, babies would be given methadone to gradually lessen the symptoms so they could go home after several weeks. But more and more addicted babies were showing up and staying in the hospital longer. It was stressful, Townsend said. People began to wonder if it was the best way to treat a newborn. Yale University doctors wanted to bypass standard treatment and experiment with feeding addicted babies when they were hungry and soothing them when they were agitated, with techniques such as swaddling, a quiet environment, rocking and music. They thought this might lessen or eliminate narcotic treatment and let babies go home sooner. It became known as the ESC evaluation tool: eat, sleep and console. It takes a lot of time to rock and console and soothe a baby, Townsend said. If parents couldnt be there, who was going to do this? Our cuddler program stepped up. Our nurses office stepped up. Everybody became interested in the success of the program. They tried it on a few babies in May and fully transitioned to ESC in June. The results have been dramatic, Townsend said. During the first quarter of the year, the median age of a discharged baby exposed to opioids was 17 days. By the third quarter, it was 6 days. In the first quarter, 71 percent of babies who had been exposed to narcotics were treated with methadone. By the third quarter, that was down to about 25 percent, and morphine was used instead of methadone. Those babies got medication because they still couldnt eat or sleep well or behave as normal babies, despite the increased cuddling. Length of stay was also down, from 75 percent of babies staying two weeks to 25 percent staying two to three days. As the program showed undeniable gains, more cuddlers were needed. The cuddler community stepped up, Townsend said. Volunteers were added, and while they had been available during the day, they now work into the evenings. But Erickson, who tries to schedule two cuddlers per shift, has been hard-pressed to find folks wholl stay past midnight. Mom is the best because it improves bonding and breastfeeding, Townsend said. But many studies have shown that human touch improves the babys heart rate and breathing. She gains weight and grows better. It doesnt have to be the mother. And if babies dont get that affection? The result isnt pretty. Kids who grow up in orphanages or other situations without much human touch and interaction have abnormal behavioral development. Touch is important to recognize the human voice, focus and develop motor skills. The brain has a lot of plasticity, and some of those could be overcome, Townsend said. But a lot of this is critically important in the first few years of life. Early experiences would be very important, and if missed out on as an infant, they might not fully be able to ever overcome it. Amada partners with families to get to the heart of senior care New interim manager Mike Foreman will serve for 4 months, with hopes to be hired for long-term position TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Organic Potash Corporation (OPC or the Corporation) is pleased to announce that further to its press release of November 24, 2015, Karl Akueson, Founder of NCV, OPCs joint venture partner in the Ivory Coast has, acting in capacity as Trustee, for both NCV and OPC, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a major international producer of low carbon energy (the Partner) for the construction of a plant that would allow the economical viable production of renewable energy, heat, potassium carbonate, and natural fertilizers from cocoa pod husks. The Parties will continue to work towards a Joint Venture Agreement in early 2019. The Partner will be fully identified upon the conclusion of a binding agreement. It is the intention to develop a first prototype unit for the production of 1 MW of electricity, approximately 1,000 tons per year of potassium carbonate and various natural fertilizer compositions. The viability of this prototype would serve as a basis for replication of the project, on other sites in Ivory Coast, or elsewhere in Africa. In Ivory Coast, the Parties have the objective to replicate this prototype model to achieve a combined production of at least 10 MW of electricity and 10,000 tonnes per year of potassium carbonate (the Project). Africa supplies approximately 75% of global cocoa. Ivory Coast alone produces 43%. This represents a unique opportunity for major growth prospects for OPC and its technology. Mrs. Heather Welner, President, CEO stated: This venture will lay the groundwork for similar projects in Ivory Coast and throughout West Africa. OPC is proud to be a partner with NCV and a major international company and looks forward to a long and successful relationship. About Organic Potash Corporation Through its licensed, proprietary, patented technology, Organic Potash Corporation produces 99%+ pure potassium carbonate (potash) from the ash of agricultural waste, in particular, cocoa husks. The purity of the companys potassium carbonate will allow Organic Potash Corporation to target multiple industries including the Agricultural and Pharmaceutical industry. Organic Potash Corporation is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and its shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the trading symbol OPC. For further information, please visit the company website at www.organicpotash.com. For further information please contact: Mrs. Heather Welner President and CEO Organic Potash Corporation Tel: (905) 452-8060 E-mail: heather.welner@organicpotash.com Web: www.organicpotash.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. anirudh279 wrote: Hi All, I would be moving to Canada in Feb'19 as a Permanent Resident and would want to do a 12-16 months course in Analytics or Business. I have digged through various University websites and forums, shortlisting a few courses. (Deadlines in Jan/Feb) 1) Masters of Management Analytics - Rotman (UoT) 2) Masters of Management Analytics - Desautels (McGill) 3) Masters in Business Analytics - Sauders (UBC) 4) MBA in Management of Technology - Ted Roger s (Ryerson) 5) Full Time MBA - Beedie (SFU) There were other options as well (Ivey, McMaster) but either deadlines or a pre-existing MBA were the issue. I urge the members here to provide a little bit of guidance as to which schools would be better (and if I fit the bill as well) from a job prospective in Banking or Retail Analytics. My Profile : Indian Male ; Age - 28 Bachelor in Engineering in Information Technology in 2012 (U.S GPA - 3.01/4) ; 2 years in software development (2012 - 2014) MBA in Information Technology in 2016 (Gold Medalist) (U.S GPA - 3.9/4); 1 year as Area Sales Manager in India's biggest Telecom provider and 8 months in IT Recruitments (Till Feb'18) Life Member Indian Red Cross, Head of MBA Entrepreneurial Cell. GMAT in Nov'19 (660 : Q-47 ; V-34 ; IR-5 ; AWA-4) ; Do intend to improve on that by Mid Jan I am moving to Canada to have an ironic "fresh start" and have burned through almost all of my savings in the process Criteria and Objectives : I understand that there are multiple nuances to any Admission process. However, it is the general pattern I wanted to know about. Since whatever course I do, it would be on a student loan. I wanted advice on which schools to target based on my profile with a good job placement scenario, and also do factors like (location - Toronto vs Vancouver) or (reputation - Sauders vs Beedie) play a significant role when it comes to the job market. Thanks a lot in advance, Anirudh Kapoor thebest wrote: Hello everyone, I am considering applying to Darden this year based on the strong employment report and other great things about the community that I have learned from the alums. My goal is to transition from tech to strategy consulting (MBB ideally), and Darden numbers look strong for consulting. I have to decide very quickly as the Round 2 deadline is approaching: I have a few quick questions mainly on the student experience at Darden and would really appreciate if someone could chime in: 1) I have heard/read on forums that Darden's workload in 1st year is very extensive among all other top business schools. While this may be okay, I wonder how this affects the social life of students? Do the students have very limited time to get to know each other outside of academics, party, etc. during the 2 years? I am asking because I want an MBA experience where I can work hard but have fun with my classmates every now and then. I spoke to a Fuqua student and really liked that students got out once every week/2 weeks to grab beers. 2) I know that Darden is great for Consulting, but how does it differ from schools like Kellogg/Ross? They all look very similar number wise, so I wonder if they all provide very similar opportunities for someone eyeing management consulting post MBA. How is Darden perceived in consulting companies compared to maybe Kellogg? I would greatly appreciate any other thoughts/inputs you may have about Darden. Thanks much! Hey! The workload is super intensive. This is 100% true. You will leave your home at 7am, get back at 10pm. But social life is pretty amazing here. We have Thursday night drinking club and pretty much every week there is something going on.I dunno how to compare Darden to the schools you mentioned, but if you will apply for Data Science dual degree youll get 100% of consulting interviews with all firms. Well see how the offers will go in mid January)) Grand Old Partisan salutes Erastus Turner, born in Pennsylvania this day of 1846. Outbreak of Civil War found him in Iowa. He left college to enlist in the state's 13th Volunteer Infantry. Peace restored, he obtained a degree. Turner relocated to Kansas in 1879. A year later, the Republican attorney won the first of two state house terms. The board of railroad commissioner hired him as its secretary. In 1886, he was elected to the first of two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5m0YyCEWJGY Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement. Each day, his grandoldpartisan YouTube channel and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far. He also wrote the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. 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" Its true, Japanese women agree that Curves and whey do go together. Curves is the largest gym chain in Japan. And its small, community-based franchised gyms are collectively the largest sellers of U.S. whey proteins in the form of its branded product Curves Super Protein. While Curves participants may not be dairy people, they are protein people. Its this protein connection that makes a partnership with U.S. dairy farmers possible. Protein builds muscle Curves caters specifically to women. Its core audience is middle-aged women who have a growing concern about quality of life . . . especially as they age. The average life expectancy of a Japanese woman is 87 years old the longest in the world. This longer life expectancy is due in part to healthier eating habits and reduced weight carried by the average citizen when compared to counterparts around the globe. However, in later years of life, many of Japans women enter assisted living facilities because they simply lack the muscle strength to carry out daily activities. To combat this trend, many middle-aged women have been taking action and physically working out more often. As part of this regime, these same women have bolstered their intake of protein to maintain and even build muscle mass. For many of the Curves clients, this includes consuming 30 grams of whey protein on a daily basis in the form of a shake. To foster sales, the U.S. Dairy Export Council staff holds train-the-trainers sessions to amplify messages about U.S. dairy proteins healthy aging effects with gym trainers. These days, about one in three women who work out at Curves purchase the Curves Super Protein whey protein product made from 100 percent U.S. whey proteins. The most popular flavor is lemon. In the future, Curves plans to branch out to whey protein bars. Why whey? Whey is the most complete protein known in the world. That makes it the best source to build muscle. The Japanese Curves team has been so successful that it was just awarded the master franchising rights for all of Asia. This includes China, the worlds most populous country. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2018 December 24, 2018 It has been bitterly cold here in East Moline, Ill. As I write this blog, we are subzero with more than a foot of snow on the ground. Not a great way to start this Valentine's week, but our big project includes being inside, so that's a plus. Unfortunately, its finalizing our taxes. Yes, some would argue that tax work doesn't spell out romance, but it sure does solidify those marriage vows. My husband, Scott, and I have survived many things, but sorting cattle and finalizing taxes year-after-year reminds us that we can conquer just about anything. Scott and I met 19 years ago at the Kentucky National Jersey Sale in Louisville. He was there to purchase cattle, and I was there to write about the sale. Although we didn't formally date until several months later, it was love at first sight. Since then, we've managed to survive more than taxes and cattle work. We've made it through birthing three children while simultaneously expanding our dairy operation. He has been there to wipe my tears as I buried both of my parents and sold my childhood farm. We've smiled wide watching our kids show cattle, drive tractors, and learn some of the best lessons while being raised on our family farm. I won't lie; there is something about these dairy farmers that make our hearts bloom. Through the best of times and the toughest of times, they know how to plow deep and straight and do not cut corners. They have a way of raising the bar working more hours than we dare report, but rarely complaining. They get up well before the sun: milk cows, haul the manure, plow the fields, fix the fence, and still seek what else needs to be done. They can be found sitting in the school bleachers in their coveralls to cheer on their children, and grabbing coffee on their way to a 7 p.m. Farm Bureau meeting. They mix feed, breed the cows, attend Sunday mass, and then go back to the barn for the remainder of the day. And, the best part about my dairy farmer is his smile and his ability to laugh. Scott has a way of leading by example, working harder than anyone I have ever met. With the twinkle in his eye and the smirk of his grin, he gives me hope that the best is yet to come. Karen Bohnert is a second generation dairy farmer, born and raised on her family dairy in Oregon and moved east after graduating from Oregon State University. Karen and her husband work in partnership with family, and they along with their three children live and work on the family's 500 Jersey cow dairy in East Moline, Ill. Karen's pride and love for dairy could fill a barn, and she actively promotes dairy anyway she can. IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Rep. Waters Statement on the Passage of the First Step Act WASHINGTON Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued a statement on the First Step Act of 2018, which passed both the House and the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now the law of the land. I applaud the overwhelmingly bipartisan support for, and passage of, the First Step Act by the U.S. Congress. As a lifelong civil rights advocate and a leader in the fight for criminal justice reform, I believe that this bill is one step in a journey of many miles to enacting the comprehensive reforms our country, communities, and citizens particularly people of color so desperately need and deserve. Earlier this year, I shared the concerns of almost every criminal justice organization in the country regarding the First Step Act: the bill, as originally drafted, did next to nothing to reform our criminal justice systems draconian sentencing practices and processes. While I applaud my colleagues efforts to amend the bill, there are still provisions within this law that are deeply troubling to me. The First Step Act only applies to the federal system, which imprisons only a small fractionabout 180,000of the 2.1 million people currently incarcerated in the United States. The bill also fails to end life without parole and other extreme sentences for children in the federal criminal justice system a step that a majority of states, including California, have already taken. The bill also includes a risk assessment system tool that may rely on algorithms to determine which inmates are eligible for earned time credits that can be used for early release. I am concerned that such a tool and algorithm, if created without a strong understanding of the racial inequities in our criminal justice system, could have a discriminatory effect on people of color. ADVERTISEMENT However, I am pleased that the amended bill includes a wide range of sentencing reforms that are much needed if we are ever to fix our broken criminal justice system. The new version would retroactively apply the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which reduced the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences from a ratio of 100-to-1 to 18-to-1. More than 2,600 people will now have the opportunity to have their sentences reduced because of this provision. I am especially thrilled that the amended version of the First Step Act also makes initial strides towards ending mandatory minimum sentencing an issue that I have championed for more than 20 years. The bill increases judges discretion to both reject and/or reduce mandatory minimums for people convicted of certain drug offenses, which will impact more than 2,000 people annually. The new bill also reforms the unfair two- and three-strike laws by reducing the mandatory life sentence for a third drug felony to 25 years, and the mandatory sentence for a second drug felony from 20 to 15 years. I have worked for decades to end mass incarceration and reverse the effects of mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses policies that originated from Congress ill-conceived response to the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic and the public outcry following the death of college athlete Len Bias in 1986. Bias death from a cocaine overdose generated significant media coverage and led to the enactment of so-called tough on crime policies at the state and federal levels, which have disproportionately incarcerated African Americans and Latinos. For many years, as a member or former member of the House Judiciary Committee, I introduced legislation such as the Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act and the Mandatory Minimum Reform Act, which would restore judicial discretion and greatly reduce the use of cruel mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses. For the past 20 years, I have also hosted annual forums on mandatory minimum sentences and criminal justice reform during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference. These forums have featured an esteemed panel of advocates including Kemba Smith Pradia who are my partners and allies in this fight. Kemba Smith Pradia was sentenced to serve a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 24.5 years for a first-time, non-violent offense. Her sentence was commuted under the Clinton Administration, and she has since become known as the poster child for sentencing reform. I have also partnered with organizations such as Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the Open Society Institute, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Sentencing Project during my annual forum, which continues to be one of the most well-attended events during the conference. The First Step Act is far from perfect, but I join my colleagues and criminal justice advocates who are pleased with the amended provisions of the bill. I remain committed to my career-long effort to reform our criminal justice system and eradicate mandatory minimum drug sentences, which we know have destroyed the lives of millions of Americans and have had devastating effects on people of color particularly African Americans. These reforms are a small, but nonetheless important, step toward a more equitable and just judicial system. How do you measure a chickens happiness? Is it in the way it runs for food? Or by how much time it spends cleaning itself? To find the answers to these questions, researchers in Canada are putting 16 kinds of chickens through a series physical and mental tests. They are watching how well the birds can climb over a barrier for food, how nervous they appear and whether they play with a fake worm. Chickens cannot say how they feel, but researchers believe that playing with the worm might be a sign of happiness. The researchers are with Ontarios University of Guelph. Stephanie Torrey is one of the researchers. Torrey said the animal welfare world wants to do more than just reduce suffering. Now, researchers aim to learn if and how animals can really enjoy their lives. Supporters of animal welfare say the poor treatment of chickens begins with birds that have been bred to have breasts so big they cannot fully walk. They say todays chickens are unusually huge and in great pain. They say the industry needs to change breeds. Many in the chicken industry say there is no problem. They say that broiler chickens the most commonly used bird -- may not move around a lot because they do not have a lot of energy. Even if the industry agreed to change breeds, it is not clear what the new birds should look like. The two sides also disagree about the cause and frequency of health issues among chickens. Chicken companies Tyson and Sanderson Farms, for example, admit that the size of chicken breasts has increased greatly over the years. But both say they are not seeing widespread problems as a result. John Glisson of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association says broiler chickens are especially inactive by nature. Some people may mistake the birds inactivity for a medical problem. The industry says changing chicken breeds would be costly in several ways. Changing to broiler chickens that do not grow as big or as fast would mean using up more water and other resources. Chicken prices at food stores would be higher, too. Still, animal welfare is becoming a bigger public image concern. Companies say they are always looking for ways to take better care of their chickens. Tyson recently ran a trial in which it let chickens choose from living areas with differing levels of light. And company Perdue is testing giving its usual birds as much light and space as its organic birds. The Humane Society of the United States says improving chickens living conditions helps. But, it believes the bigger problem is breeding that has resulted in misshapen chickens. It says chickens have been genetically changed to be so huge that their legs cannot support them. It is crazy for anyone to have to remind the industry that birds naturally walk, said Josh Balk, the Humane Societys vice president of farm animal protection. Balk said the study in Canada will provide important information on what breeds of chickens might suffer less. University of Guelph researchers are also examining chicken qualities such as weight, growth rate and meat quality. They hope the information will be useful to the industry. Several companies say they already track health and welfare themselves. Still, they are interested in the research. The Guelph study is supported by the Global Animal Partnership, which certifies corporate animal welfare requirements. In 2016, it launched a campaign to get companies to change to slower growing breeds of chickens. Since then, it has admitted that chicken welfare is more complex than just growth rate. It is now pushing for a better chicken, and hopes the study will help define what that means. I'm Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fake - adj. not true or real welfare - n. the state of being happy, healthy, or successful; well-being frequency - n. the fact or condition of happening often organic - adj. grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals track - v. to follow and find (someone or something) especially by looking at evidence certify - v. to say officially that something or someone has met certain standards or requirements Many people, some even at a very young age, set the goal of graduating from college. One American woman in Texas waited a long time for her chance to reach that goal. The woman is 84-year-old Janet Fein. Last week, she received her bachelors degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. Fein has had a full life. She has raised five children and then had a career as a secretary until she retired at age 77. But even then, she was not ready to take it easy and rest during a well-earned retirement. I didnt have anything to do in retirement and I didnt think that playing bingo was up to my speed, Fein told the Associated Press. She said she decided to major in sociology because she felt it was substantial. Fein grew up in the Bronx area of New York City. She said that in high school, she just wanted to finish and get a job. After graduating early, at the age of 16, she went to work as a secretary at a dress manufacturer. After getting married, she spent 18 years staying home with her children. She held several jobs throughout her life, including 20 years as a secretary at a Dallas hospital. That is the job she retired from in 2012. She also worked for 20 years on earning an associate degree, which she received in 1995. But Fein told the AP she also wanted to earn a bachelors degree with all of my heart. Even with all of her life experiences, she said she enjoyed reading, writing papers and learning new things. With each class I already knew a lot, but then I also learned a lot. And that made me happy. Fein took part in a state program that lets people who are 65 and older take free classes at public universities in Texas. State officials say about 2,000 people used the program last year. Estimates show that nationwide, people 65 and older make up less than one percent of U.S. college students. But health experts say continuing with education later in life is one way to keep fit. Carmel Dyer is director of the UTHealth Consortium on Aging at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She says that keeping active and giving yourself something to look forward to is just a really positive move. In Feins case, she kept going to class even as her health conditions worsened. During her studies, it became necessary for her to use a walker to get around and she required oxygen. She also developed knee problems. So, Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements. Her college advisor was Sheila Rollerson. She told the AP that Fein never showed signs of giving up even with all of her difficulties. She just kept plugging along, Rollerson said. Tracy Glass, a 40-year-old student, became friends with Fein after they both took seats in the front of the class. I sat right next to her and over the course of the semester, built a fast friendship with her, Glass said. She added that Feins personal memories of world events - like the womens movement improved a lot of the class discussions. Carol Cirulli Lanham teaches sociology at the university. She agrees that Fein could make the classroom experience more meaningful for other students. She would speak up a lot in class and I think that it just made for a more interesting class," she told the AP. Because she literally remembered some of the times we were talking about. Renee Brown is one of Feins caregivers. She says Fein has also inspired her. At 53, she plans to begin nursing school to further her career. Brown said Fein told her, Renee, you can do it. If I can do it you can do it, and you will feel so good about it," Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Woman Reaches Lifelong Goal of College Degree at 84 Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bachelors degree n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study secretary n. someone who works in an office answering phones, writing letters, arranging meetings, etc. bingo n. game in which players mark numbers on a board substantial adj. important or large in amount online n. connected to or involving a computer or telecommunications system plug along v. to work hard at something for a long time semester n. one of the two time periods a college year is divided into literally adv. in a completely accurate way inspire v. make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it Members of the research team (right to left): Bioengineering seniors Erin Tevonian and Melina Megaridis, Post-doctoral fellow Kathrin Bohn-Wippert, Bioengineering graduate students Meng-Yao Huang and Yiyang Lu, and Professor Roy Dar. Credit: University of Illinois Department of Bioengineering. Thanks to the development of antiretroviral drugs, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is considered a manageable chronic disease today. However, if left undiagnosed or untreated, HIV can develop into AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), a disease which led to the deaths of nearly 1 million people worldwide in 2017. The life-saving drugs don't cure HIV, though, because when the virus infects the body, it insidiously targets the very cells required to trigger the body's immune response to any infection. Specifically, HIV invades CD4 T-cellsa type of white blood cellmaking copies of itself and taking over the CD4 host cell's DNA. "Upon infection of a CD4 T-cell, HIV undergoes one of two fates," said University of Illinois Assistant Professor Roy Dar. "It either integrates into a replicating state, leading to the production of hundreds of infectious virions, or it integrates into a latent state where the provirus lies transcriptionally silent." According to Dar, researchers have focused on eradicating the latent reservoir because it can reactivate spontaneously, evade drug therapy, or be a source for viral rebound, which can occur if a patient does not strictly adhere to the antiretroviral therapy treatment regimen. "To date, there is no way to distinguish between uninfected cells and latently infected cells in the body, but such an ability would support existing therapeutic approaches to curing HIV," said Dar, who is affiliated with the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department and Carl Woese Institute for Genomic Biology on campus. In a recent study, Dar and his research group investigated the reactivation of T-cells that were latently infected with HIV in the lab by using a viral construct that contained a gene for a green fluorescent protein (GFP) that gets expressed when a cell reactivates. "The method of time-lapse, single-cell imaging allowed monitoring single latent cell reactivation from their silent to their active states by calculating the mean fluorescence of GFP," explained Bioengineering Post-Doctoral Researcher Kathrin Bohn-Wippert, the lead author of the study. Once they identified the cells that were reactivated, they calculated the cell size and determined the mean cell diameter necessary for reactivation. They discovered that within a latent population, only larger host cells reactivate while the smaller cells remain silent or latent. According to Bohn-Wippert, this larger host-cell size provides a natural cellular mechanism for enhancing burst size of viral expression and is necessary to destabilize the latent state while biasing viral decision making. "Our results present a case of passive host-cell dominated viral decision-making, in which the virus is off when the infected cell is small and can only spontaneously reactivate in larger cell sizes," said Dar. "This presents a case of the host cell depicting the right conditions for viral decision-making to occur." The team also determined that the cells' transition from latent to active is dependent on the cell cyclethe stages by which cellular DNA replicatesand can be modulated with drug treatments. "We showed that you can use drug treatments to modulate a population of cells in and out of a specific cell cycle state in order to bias their viral reactivation," said Dar. These findings may be useful in guiding stochastic design strategies for drug therapies, have applications in synthetic biology, and play a role in advancing HIV diagnostics and treatments. The full paper, "Cell size-based decision-making of a viral gene circuit," is published in the journal Cell Reports. Explore further Eliminating the latent reservoir of HIV (HealthDay)Movies, the theater and other cultural events can help you fight the blues as you age. And the more you go, the less depressed you'll be, new research suggests. The British study showed that older folks can cut their depression risk by 32 percent simply by going to cultural activities every few months. And if they go at least once a month, their risk appears to drop by a whopping 48 percent. The results are based on a decade-long tracking analysis that stacked cultural engagementplays, movies, concerts and museum exhibitsagainst depression risk among approximately 2,000 men and women over the age of 50. They were all participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and none had depression at the start of the 10-year study. The study's lead author, Daisy Fancourt of University College London, suggested that there are probably many positive "side effects" generated by cultural participation, all of which seem to help tamp down depression risk. "For example, going to concerts or the theater gets people out of the house," she said, "which reduces sedentary behaviors and encourages gentle physical activity, which is protective against depression." Fancourt added, "It also provides social engagement, reducing social isolation and loneliness. Engaging with the arts is stress-reducing, associated with lower stress hormones such as cortisol, and also lower inflammation, which is itself associated with depression." Those points were seconded by Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach with the Alzheimer's Association in Chicago. "Being socially or culturally active checks a lot of important boxes that may help reduce depression or cognitive decline," Fargo noted. "These activities stimulate thinking, they can evoke enjoyable feelings and emotions, and they often provide opportunities for interaction with othersall things that can enhance mental health." Cultural engagement can even prompt an uptick in the release of the so-called "feel good" neurotransmitter dopamine, Fancourt added. And taken as a whole, the end result is very likely not only a lower risk for depression but also lower risk for dementia, chronic pain and even premature death. "So in the same way we have a 'five-a-day' [recommendation] for fruit and vegetable consumption, regular engagement in arts and cultural activities could be planned into our lives to support healthy aging," she advised. Fancourt is a senior research fellow in the department of behavioral science and health with the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at University College London. She and her university colleague Urszula Tymoszuk outlined their findings online recently in the British Journal of Psychiatry. The ELSA study used interviews and surveys to gauge both depression incidence and the frequency with which study participants attended the theater, concerts, the opera, movies, art galleries and/or museums. While only an association was seen and not a cause-and-effect link, the results held true regardless of an individual's age, gender, health, income, educational background, relationships with family and friends, participation in non-arts related social groups, and/or exercise habits (or lack thereof). The results even held apparently for those with a predisposition to depression. Turhan Canli, an associate psychology professor at Stony Brook University in New York, described the findings as "interesting" and "intuitively appealing." "[So] if you enjoy cultural engagement, enjoy," he said. "If you never tried it, give it a try. If you think you hate it, but actually never tried, try to keep an open mind, perhaps you will surprise yourself." Explore further Regular trips out guard against depression in old age More information: Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D., senior research fellow and Wellcome research fellow, department of behavioral science and health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, England; Keith Fargo, director, scientific programs and outreach, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago; Turhan Canli, Ph.D., associate professor, department of psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.; Dec. 13, 2018, British Journal of Psychiatry, online. Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D., senior research fellow and Wellcome research fellow, department of behavioral science and health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, England; Keith Fargo, director, scientific programs and outreach, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago; Turhan Canli, Ph.D., associate professor, department of psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.; Dec. 13, 2018,, online. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on aging and depression. Journal information: British Journal of Psychiatry Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Instead of giving Eskom a bailout to cover its R419-billion debt, a cheaper and more sustainable solution is to create a rebate or incentivised photovoltaic solar programme for residential electricity consumers. You can implement that within six months and have no more load-shedding, Rubicon sales director Greg Blandford told MyBroadband. Blandford said that such a rebate programme would only need around R50 billion if the government agreed to refund 50% of the cost of a 5 kilowatt solar power system for residential customers. This would allow 5 million homes to have a 5kW photovoltaic solar system installed, possibly feeding excess power into the grid where allowed or storing it in batteries for night-time consumption. Theoretically the combined power output would equal 150 million kWh per day, which translates into an average annual production of almost 55 terawatt-hours. Not only would this eliminate load-shedding in a much shorter time frame compared to building extra central generation capacity, Blandford said, it also moves South Africa towards a decentralised energy programme. Globally this is the trend, and now is the time to implement it for South Africa, he said. We are in an opportunity window which will allow this to happen rapidly and get our economy back on track. Eskom should cut its losses and focus on getting their current infrastructure operational once again. Let the private sector and government move quickly to restore power stability. Decentralised power utility Blandford said that technology already exists which can control vast decentralised energy production and storage. One such platform is Grid Services, developed by SolarEdge. SolarEdge unveiled its Grid Services and Virtual Power Plant system in May 2018, stating that its solution will help support a shared energy economy. According to SolarEdge, its system helps resolve a variety of complex energy issues such as generation shortages, transmission bottlenecks, energy arbitrage, and frequency imbalances. As PV markets evolve from feed-in tariffs to net-metering and finally to self-consumption, the grid services will provide homeowners with the opportunity to maximise self-consumption and take advantage of time-of-use tariffs as a revenue stream, SolarEdge said. This technology is the future, said Blandford. If Eskom remains defiant and does not adapt to these changes, South Africas economy will die along with its power utility. As the year comes to a close, filmgoers face a decision at the ticket window: Should you prepare for awards season by catching up on the contenders, or shut off your brain for a couple hours and enjoy some mindless fun? This holiday season provides both options, with blockbusters that surprise with their depth and heart, and an early awards favorite from the director of Moonlight. An added gift for those who cant make it out to the theater: You have the option to stay home to watch the best film of 2018. Heres a guide to the holiday crop of movies, featuring advice from Washington Post critics. Popcorn pleasers: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse The Marvel webslinger was one of the first full-fledged efforts to have comic-book movies taken seriously, but its also been rebooted with a new Peter Parker donning the mask. Now, hes gone animated. While this version isnt directly tied to the Marvel cinematic universe, it might be the best depiction of Spider-Man put to film. The Washington Posts David Betancourt says its a one-of-a-kind, wall-crawling experience. The movie is unique because theres more than one Spider-Mandue to a dimensional breach that spawns many other spider-people (voiced by the likes of John Mulaney and Nicolas Cage). Betancourt says the inspirational film hits all the right notes of a superhero tale: It deserves top ranking among Spider-Mans greatest cinematic achievements, live-action or otherwise. Aquaman Aquaman earns points for its production design and romantic subplot, anchored by a charismatic performance from Jason Momoa. The actor plays amphibious superhero Arthur Curry, who is part human, part sea creature, born to the queen of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman). Curry must square off with two baddies in this superhero tale: one, a cartoonish evildoer Mantaa bad guy in a bug suitand his jealous half brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson). If 2017s Justice League left you wanting more, this spinoff might be what youre looking forif what youre looking for is multiple movies mushed into one. The Posts Michael OSullivan wasnt a huge fan, saying the new DC Comics movie doesnt register as one movie but a myriad. Still, its dazzling to watch. Bumblebee Maybe one of the biggest holiday surprises is that Hollywood made a good Transformers movie. Gone are the big, clunky robot battle sequences (fear not, action fans, there are still some robo-fights), and in its place is a surprising amount of humor and tenderness. Post contributor Kristen Page-Kirby says the movie succeeds by focusing on the relationship between Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) and the title Autobot, Bumblebee (voiced by Dylan OBrien). Underneath the metal veneer, there is a genuinely touching story of two friends who help one another along a road that, in the beginning, neither of them thought they could walk, Page-Kirby says. Or drive. - Mary Poppins Returns On paper, it seemed like a surefire hit: a play for nostalgia by returning to the classic world of Mary Poppins; casting the inimitable Meryl Streep and Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda; and picking the underrated but always appreciated Emily Blunt to fill the title role made iconic by Julie Andrews. The film is set 20 years following the events of the original, centered on the now-grown Banks children. Michael, a widowed father of three children, is ridden with grief following the death of his wife, and the bank is about to foreclose on the house. This is when the charming Blunt floats on screen to get the family out of its funk. The Posts Michael OSullivan says the movie works hard to recapture the magic of the original, but it doesnt always pay off: There is so little tolerance for spontaneity, in a film that feels calibrated to the millimeter to be magical, that reactions like delight and surprisewhen they occur at allfeel manufactured. Oscar bait: - Roma Film purists may suggest you head to a theater to see Roma, but your best bet this holiday season can be streamed on Netflix right from your home. Roma is a semi-biographical work (shot entirely in black-and-white) of director Alfonso Cuarons childhood in a Mexico City household in the 1970stold through the eyes of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a houseworker. Ann Hornaday, The Posts film critic, gave the masterful film four stars and named it her favorite of 2018. What stands out to Hornaday is the craft and skill of Cuarons direction and cinematography: [Roma] feels less like storytelling than poetry, shot through with shrewd social observation that never swamps the films deep emotional core. - If Beale Street Could Talk While many 2017 headlines focused on the Moonlight best-picture envelope mishap, there was no question as to why it had earned the prize: the extraordinary filmmaking talent of Barry Jenkins, who has found cinematic magic again with his adaptation of a James Baldwin novel. If Beale Street Could Talk earned four stars and the No. 2 spot on Hornadays list of best movies of 2018. Hornaday cites Jenkins ability to meld color, music and portraiture to do more than tell a story. That storygorgeously told in a nonlinear narrative that holds together because of its deliberate pacing and emotional corecenters on the romance of Tish and Fonny, played by KiKi Layne and Stephan James. Hornaday says the film invites audiences to venture beyond the screen in front of them to connect with the characters and their world on a deeper, more mystical plane. The Favourite In the mood for a vulgar and hilarious spin on a period piece this holiday season? The Favourite is the movie for you. Based loosely on an 18th-century British royal court, the film is about Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) and the two women (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone) jockeying for the queens attention and affection. Instead of the staid portrayals of royalty, the movie is bursting with schemes, subterfuges, sexual antics and sly social commentary worthy of the Restoration era they depict so lavishly, writes Hornaday. - Vice Sometimes the actor outshines the movie, and thats the case with Christian Bale as Dick Cheney. Hornaday says Bale brings his A game, his Z game and everything in between to Vice. Director Adam McKay nailed the 2008 financial crisis in his 2015 takedown The Big Short, and he brings the same frenetic editing and breaks of the fourth wall to this tale chronicling Cheneys rise into one of Washingtons premiere power players. But ultimately, Hornaday says: Vice is a mess, zigging here and zagging there, never knowing quite when to end, and when it finally does, leaving few penetrating or genuinely illuminating ideas to ponder. While some in Napa were sipping eggnog or tearing wrapping paper off of presents on Christmas Day, American Canyon Police Sgt. Jeff Matlock patrolled the streets. We still provide a public service, he said. Law enforcement is that, 24/7, every day of the year. Matlock, like many first responders who served Napa County on Christmas, doesnt get to take a break on the holiday. Its been years since he worked a Christmas shift, but he likes helping out so that younger officers can spend the day with their families. Matlock said older officers did the same for him when his kids were growing up. Others, like Napa Police Department Sgt. Scott Holliday, coordinate with other officers who live locally to so that they can take breaks or watch their kids open presents. This is kind of just the normal for me and my family, said Holliday, who has worked in law enforcement for 25 years. A donor gave the police department $100 to share with others, and Holliday gave that money to a homeless man who witnessed a crime and was a good Samaritan, he said, adding that helping the man on Christmas made Holliday feel good. Napa Fire Department Cpt. Steve Becker said some people stop by the downtown station, where he works, to show their appreciation for those who work on Christmas. It does help when youre driving down the street ... and people say thanks for being there today, he said. But working on the holiday isnt always full of feel-good encounters. Becker, who has spent more than 20 years in public safety, said it can be upsetting to respond to the scene of calls where people are hurt, traumatized or having a bad day on Christmas, he said. The department keeps extra toys on hand for the holidays in case kids lose their toys in an emergency. Even though Becker and others at the fire station spent Christmas at work, they still took time to celebrate. The Christmas tree is decorated in red, white and blue. One of the stations newest firefighters from Australia planned to prepare an Australian Christmas dinner at the station for his colleagues and their families. Cal Fire employees pitched in to make a dinner of prime rib, scalloped potatoes and cheesecake at the St. Helena center that serves Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties, Cpt. Aaron Loscar said. They planned a gift exchange for everyone around the office. Loscar said his colleagues have been around for years and working Christmas isnt much of a disappointment. Some staff members rearranged their work schedules and come in on their day off to allow others to spend time with family, he said. Its the job that we signed up for ... to serve the community, Loscar said, later adding: Every single day that we come to work in the command center is a rewarding day, when we get to help the public. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A collision involving two cars at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday in south Napa took out a power and telephone pole, police say. Benjamin Schwartz of Napa was driving north on Highway 29 at 60 miles per hour in his 2015 Mazda when his car veered off the right side of the roadway, according to a California Highway Patrol press release. The impact knocked over a PG&E power pole and AT&T phone pole near the intersection of Highway 12. The northbound side of Highway 29 was shut down for hours while PG&E restored power. Neither Schwartz nor his passenger were injured, CHP wrote, adding that there were no arrests. 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. Napa County Supervisors Diane Dillon and Belia Ramos recently traveled to South Australia to encounter international wine world competition that has some different takes on wine country tourism. Napa Valley-San Francisco is one of 10 Great Wine Capitals members. Each year, two supervisors fly to the country of whatever member is holding the annual general assembly conference at a combined cost to taxpayers not to exceed $17,500. The Great Wine Capitals organization encourages international winery tourism and exchanges economic, academic and cultural ideas. Its important that Napa County be a member because of the global nature of the local wine business, a county report said. Dillon and Ramos traveled to Adelaide, South Australia for the 2018 assembly from Nov. 3-9. At the Dec. 18 Board of Supervisors meeting, they gave their after-trip report. Photos shown at the meeting made it clear Ramos and Dillon were on the move. The conference used the city of Adelaide and its 1.3 million residents as home base and took participants to see various wine regions, sometimes by small plane. In Napa County, wineries are supposed to be primarily agricultural production facilities and debate rages over whether they are becoming event centers. In the South Australias McLaren Vale wine region, where the rules are different, one venture has clearly and unapologetically crossed that line. Rising out of vineyards, the five-story-tall dArenberg Cube looks like a glass Rubic cube in mid-move. Visitors can see a 360-degree video room, take in art in the Alternate Realities Museum, sniff flowers and fruit in sensory rooms, taste wine and eat in a restaurant. The center contains no wine production. Its controversial, Dillon said. Even within my own mind, Ramos said. One Australian wine publication said the Cube took winery tourism to a new level. Dillon showed a photo of dArenberg proprietor Chester Osborn pointing to a map of soil types. Dillon and Ramos said the dArenberg vineyards are bio-dynamically farmed, with horses used instead of tractors on some parcels. He knew his art and he knew his geology, Dillon said. Ramos said South Australia takes a proactive approach to agricultural biosecurity, while Napa County tends to be more reactive. When she arrived in the country, a security dog sniffed a backyard chicken smell on her shoes. In Napa County, vine-destroying Pierces disease has long been a concern. They said, Australia does not have Pierces disease and we will prevent ourselves from receiving it, Ramos said. Just think about that, something that has plagued us. They just dont have it and they are intent on keeping it that way. Great Wine Capitals delegates were supposed to meet a kangaroo after all, this is South Australia but apparently the kangaroo was in a bad mood and got replaced by reptiles. A photo from the trip shows Ramos forcing a smile as she holds a snake. I only took this picture because it would make my 11-year-old really proud, Ramos told her colleagues. Ramos talked about the rolling nature of the Adelaide Hills part of South Australia, with its little valleys and ponds. It was very (like) home, Ramos said. There are a few places on earth that are selected to do just this, to do just what we do, and this is one of them. With that, Dillon and Ramos wrapped up their report on a trip that seemed part Great Wine Capitals business and part scoping out some of Napa Valleys international competition. It was educational and informative, Dillon said. Great Wine Capitals members are San Francisco/Napa Valley; Adelaide, South Australia; Bilbao/Rioja, Spain; Bordeaux, France; Lausanne, Switzerland; Mainz/Rheinhessen, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Porto, Portugal; Valparaiso/Casablanca Valley, Chile and Verona, Italy. Pop the cork on Napa Valley wine! Discover the hidden stories of Napa Valley wine and the people behind it -- plus expert analysis from our columnists and more with our weekly email newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Father Stephen Carpenter spent 34 years ministering to his congregation at St. Marys Episcopal Church in Napa. Its a 24/7-day-a-week occupation, he said of the work. A calling. So after he retired in November 2017, you can hardly blame Carpenter for taking some time off. At first, it wasnt all spent relaxing. From last December to this September, Carpenter had four surgeries including operations on his rotator cuffs and an elbow. Carpenter reflected on his life and service of more than three decades to the Napa community. Carpenter grew up in Napa from sixth grade, attending Vichy Elementary School, then Silverado Junior High and Napa High, graduating in 1969. His parents had a wallpaper business in Napa called Wall Craft Studios. In October 1977, Carpenters family was killed in a plane crash at Stevens Pass in Washington states Cascades. The loss included his mother, father, two brothers and their wives, he said. If he hadnt been in the seminary at the time, I would have been with them, Carpenter said. It was so many years ago, its almost unbelievable. When he was just 30, Carpenter heard the position of rector was open at St. Marys Episcopal Church in downtown Napa. It was a rare opportunity, he said. The previous head of the church had been on the job for more than two decades. I didnt think Id get it, he admitted. There was another person they were looking at. But after he applied, they called me and offered the job. It was a blessing, said Carpenter. It was a good marriage between the parish and me. We grew and expanded our faith. We worked well together. If you dont get that, its a very difficult situation. Carpenter said one of his key efforts was to encourage St. Marys parish to take our faith beyond the walls of the church by serving the local community and even serving nationally and internationally. Under his direction, St. Marys helped support a school in Jerusalem, Meals on Wheels, Church Women United, the local food bank, The Table feeding program and more. We dont just proclaim something, we participate in it, said Carpenter. Weve got to walk the talk. After his retirement a year ago, Carpenter took time off for his surgeries and to adjust to retirement. It takes a lot out of you to retire after youve been a priest in active ministry to pull yourself away from that, he said. I was struggling with that at first. Today, Im ready to just sit back little bit and reflect and do some reading that before I didnt have time to do, and participate in volunteer or other activities that happen on Sundays. That includes volunteering at the Napa Valley Film Festival and taking groups on trips to the Holy Land in Israel. He also does substitute clergy work when needed. Carpenter still lives in Napa with his wife Fran, who recently retired from a job in administration with the Napa Valley Unified School District. The two were high school sweethearts, he said. A temporary rector has been named at St. Marys in Napa, but as of mid-December, the new permanent priest had not yet been identified, said Carpenter. The parish is doing great. A transition of a new rector is a big deal, he said. I pray they will (find) somebody who will work for them. 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. In 2018, those who follow the fortunes of journalism in America probably heard a nameand, separately, a terrible nicknamefor the first time. The name is Patrick Soon-Shiong, a South African-born surgeon and philanthropist. Once described as the richest doctor in the history of the world, the billionaire bought the Los Angeles Times in June, providing a rare jolt of joy in the troubled world of local and regional journalism. Historically one of the nations best and most storied newspapers, the Times has been besieged in recent years by owners and managers who would make a plague of locusts look like a litter of labradoodles. Now, the Times is on the upswinghiring robustly and, under veteran editor Norman Pearlstine, getting its mojo back. Whether this suggests anything positive for beleaguered regional journalism overall is a trickier question, but some see reason for optimism. 2018 has been a decisive turning point for local news, said Jim Friedlich, executive director of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, a nonprofit organization focused on creating sustainable business models for local news; it is the parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The terrible nickname that emerged this year is Mr. Bone Saw, the moniker applied to Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman after the October killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Theres good reason to believe this brazen brutality happened at the crown princes direction. Both of these events the positive and the tragic take place in a larger, mostly troubling, context for journalists and news organizations in America and the world. The Los Angeles Times revival is especially noteworthy because of regional journalisms deep structural troubles. Local news has borne the brunt of the crashing journalism ecosystem, with still high levels of trust from readers but little trickle-down of subscription dollars, wrote Christine Schmidt in Nieman Lab, noting that huge amounts of ad revenue have been diverted for years to Facebook and Google. Still, in 2018, local journalism may have found a tenuous toehold amid the continuing avalanche. Rich owners aside (The Washington Post, of course, is owned by Amazon founder Jeffrey Bezos), there are some encouraging signs. Foundations, philanthropists and influential news organizations are taking action. A few examples: the Knight Foundationwhich Friedlich calls Americas most generous news foundationand the Lenfest Institute are putting $20 million toward shoring up local news. ProPublica, the highly respected investigative news website, is branching out to offer its expertise and funding to support meaningful local investigations. John Thornton, who founded the Texas Tribune, is the force behind the American Journalism Project, which is raising millions to support nonprofit community news organizations. (The idea, in a nutshell, is to clone the Texas Tribunes success in many communities.) While legacy news operations and newspaper chains still face fierce head winds, Friedlich said, there is reason for optimism that a new form of local news industry collaboration has begun to take shape. Thats happening, he said, at the intersection of community, philanthropy, new business models and software technology. (Google has made a $300 million commitment in the form of its Google News Initiative, mostly oriented toward local news.) That may not mean much immediately to journalistsor laid-off employeesat places such as the Denver Post or the Mercury News in San Jose, whose newsrooms are a tiny fraction of what they were in their heyday two decades agoand that have suffered at the hands of craven hedge-fund owners such as Alden Global Capital. As for the aftermath of Jamal Khashoggis death, it is a tragedy in its own right but also points to what a dangerous pursuit journalism has become. The number of journalists targeted for murder because of their reporting nearly doubled in 2018 from a year earlier, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. As of mid-December, 53 journalists had been killed for doing their work, with reprisal killings twice what they were the previous year from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan to the United States, where five employees of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis were shot and killed in June. And many more journalists are imprisoned around the world or persecuted in other insidious ways. Whether in American cities and towns or in the far-flung regions of the world, good journalism makes a huge differenceholding powerful people and institutions accountable, and allowing citizens to make informed choices. It is, simply, essential. And so we celebrate the progress, deeply mourn the lossesand hope for a better year ahead. Margaret Sullivan is The Washington Posts media columnist. Previously, she was the New York Times public editor, and the chief editor of the Buffalo News, her hometown paper. Margaret Sullivan is The Washington Posts media columnist. Previously, she was the New York Times public editor, and the chief editor of the Buffalo News, her hometown paper. Recently, I finally did something I have been meaning to do for more than two years, ever since moving into the retirement home in which I have been living in France since 2016. Soon after arriving here, I learned that I was only one of two foreigners living in Residence Benetin here in Southern Burgundy. The other was a woman from Vietnam. Immediately I began thinking of apologizing to her for how the USA ravaged Vietnam but I was afraid I would upset her. In my old age--I'm 81-- I have been trying to live by the tenet of the medical profession--"First do no harm." But as time went by, especially in recent years when I learned of the incredible numbers of suicides of mostly aging American veterans of the fighting in Southeast Asia, I became more and more haunted by the fact that war is not over for so many of us, including those of us who tried to stop the bloodshed. Finally, my conscience caught up with me. I bought a condolence card and wrote in French, "I wish to apologize for what the country of my birth did to the country of your birth. It was absolutely criminal (C'etait criminal absolu)." The woman then invited me to sit and we had a short conversation through my iPad, during which I told her the war in Vietnam isn't over for many of us Americans, even the ones of us who tried to stop the conflict because we knew it wasn't only about stopping Communism. It was also about supporting with tax money the U.S. military-industrial complex that a former Republican president and former World War II, five-star general warned us about in his farewell speech from the White House in 1961. I then went on to tell Mme. Barrand, who might have been married to a Frenchman, that more American veterans of the fighting in Vietnam have committed suicide in recent decades than those who died in combat in the jungles of Vietnam. My guess is that they could no longer live with memories of what they were forced to do or what they witnessed such as the My Lai Massacre, which was as Nazi a thing as done by the SS in France, Russia, Germany and elsewhere in WW II. There needs to be erected in Washington, D.C., a second Vietnam Wall for these vets. What I didn't tell her but I will, is that life for all living things on earth will be changing for the better soon since we are now two decades into the astrological age of Aquarius, with emphasis on compassion and love replacing the Age of Pisces with its greed and deception. But we are still in the period of dawn when the light of Aquarius is beginning to expose all that is false and sweeping it away. God bless us all, no exceptions. Tom Cahill Cluny, France Lauren Ritchies Commentary ("Cry of 'fake news' is more than just wrong it's nationally destructive," Dec. 24) resonated. Trump needs to stop crying Fake News and Enemy to the people every time an investigative journalist or a reporter writes factual information on what is happening in the Trump administration that does not provide the fawning feedback loop like Fox News. She is correct; this is dangerous because a free press is essential to our democracy. I am not certain Trump or his supporters know a free press is the First Amendment to our Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution protects five basic freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition the government. These civil liberties are the cornerstone of our democracy. Read Bob Woodwards book Fear. Trump is quoted as stating to Bob Woodward (Watergate investigative reporter) that Dare I say it? Real power is Fear. One of the hallmarks of an autocratic despot is demonizing a free press and creating fear as he has with the caravan and the wall. Building a solid border wall is just as outdated and a foolish waste of money as dirty, unhealthy coal mining for energy. Technology to monitor the borders is more effective. He promised Mexico would pay for the wall. Will that ever happen? Wasnt that a campaign promise? Supporters dont bother to learn the facts that this caravan is not carrying smallpox (eradicated.) There is no smallpox in circulation anymore. Thats been true since 1980, when a major global vaccine effort wiped the virus from the planet. The risk of leprosy now called Hansens disease being imported from Latin America is similarly remote. And while some foreign-born people do have higher rates of TB, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) screens for TB in people moving to the U.S. The risk of TB is higher with travelers flying into our country. An effective leader listens to his Cabinet and advisers who have decades of experience in their field, yet Trump knows more than they do? How can he be an expert in everything. Is anyone? He instead listens to and responds impulsively to Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, media entertainer/pundits who are not experts in the military, domestic or foreign policy. The resignations and terminations are frightening, especially Kelly and Mattis who are true patriots who have tried to rein his impulsiveness in. Read Mattis's resignation letter. Read the New York Times' expose of the Trump family money and organization. The Times is not out to get him, they are performing investigative journalism to expose his lies. Why hasnt he shared his tax returns as every other recent president has? If he has nothing to hide, why not? Why did he sell a property to Russians for $45 million more than it was worth if not for those Russians buying favors? The Russian term is called Kompromat." We must believe in and fight for our constitution, the rule of law, a free press and democratic principles. No one, including the president, is above the law. Dont buy into the Fake News rhetoric. Read and seek out the facts. Debra Phairas Napa Dec. 27 is National Visit a Zoo Day which encourages families to experience the excitement and wonder of taking a trip to their local zoo. Zoos allow us to observe majestic creatures we do not encounter in our urbanized lives. Zoos create a deeper appreciation for the worlds diverse species and help foster science learning in budding conservationists. Despite such positive contributions, zoos have been criticized by misguided activists who believe animals should never be in human care. Zoos are vital to conservation. Over 200 million people visit U.S. zoos and aquariums annually, and these institutions invest $200 million yearly in global conservation projects. For example, American zoos helped recover populations of critically-endangered species including the whooping crane, black-footed ferret, and golden lion tamarin. To set the highest animal welfare standards, American Humane certifies zoos for excellence in humane animal care. The American Humane Certified program is managed by an independent panel of animal scientists and ethicists who are global leaders in humane animal care and well-being. This distinguishes the best zoos for an increasingly discerning public and gives others clear standards to emulate. Americans should feel proud to support their local zoos knowing that they help connect us and our children to nature and make significant contributions to the care of animals that are true ambassadors for wildlife. American Humane highly recommends taking your kids and guests to your zoo for a safe, up-close, holiday experience with nature. Paul Boyle National Director, American Humane Conservation American Humane Armenia President, Russia ambassador discuss regional security, stability Canada FM expresses solidarity with Armenian people EU envoy to Armenia on another Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting: We are in touch with both sides UAE signs contract for 80 French Rafale fighter jets Statements on Armenia army falsification of wartime orders to be sent to the investigative body Armenia FM briefs Netherlands colleague on situation as result of Azerbaijan military aggression Protest staged outside Armenia consulate in Los Angeles (PHOTOS) Benny Gantz believes US will support Israel in attack on Iran Armenia MFA spokesman: FMs Mirzoyan-Bayramov meeting possible in Stockholm today Armenia appoints permanent representative to Council of Europe Passenger, 53, dies in hospital after accident on Goris-Stepanakert motorway Young Karabakh filmmakers movie wins at Cannes Film Festival President: 178 births registered in Artsakh in November 9th Khachaturian International Festival to be held in Yerevan 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Artsakh Switzerland launches reform project for modernization of Armenia Vocational Education System in Agriculture Nikol the traitor banner is placed on gate of Armenia consulate general in Los Angeles Armenia, Greece FMs discuss need for returning all Armenian captives in Azerbaijan 399 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia PM makes new appointment Large fire breaks out in Armenias Charentsavan, burnt body of elderly woman found in apartment (PHOTOS) Artsakh President meets with relatives of soldiers who died in 44-day war last fall Armenias Mirzoyan briefs Croatia FM on latest developments in Karabakh peace process Armenia FM lauds Austria position on comprehensive settlement of Karabakh conflict (PHOTOS) London Christmas tree becomes subject of ridicule Newspaper: Armenia parliament ruling majority faction holds night meeting Newspaper: What did Armenia ex-President Kocharyan discuss with his political teammates? Twitter removes over 3,000 foreign country-related accounts Blinken discusses with Bayramov situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Armenian FM: Determination of Nagorno-Karabakh's status is subject to negotiations EU fines four major banks totaling $390 million Lavrov: Russian mediation on Karabakh settlement is welcomed by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Armenian defense minister discusses Washington's role in OSCE Minsk Group Armenian PM discusses Sochi meeting with defense minister and ruling party MPs Mirzoyan and Blinken discuss settlement of Karabakh conflict Armenia and Lithuania sign military cooperation program Israel calls on to stop Iran nuclear talks Taliban assures Iran border incident will not happen again Lavrov and Cavusoglu discuss South Caucasus situation Almost 9% of infected with COVID-19 in Armenia are vaccinated NEWS.am daily digest: 02.12.21 Armenia premier confers on proposals for large-scale investment programs in urban development Sebastian Kurz announces decision to quit politics President, those in charge of several NGOs discuss Artsakh programs Blinken: US hopes to work with Russia to resolve Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict Armenia President lauds dynamically developing relations with UAE Dollar still going up in Armenia Artsakh ombudsman: Azerbaijan shooting in direction of Karmir Shuka village lasted 10-15 minutes Christmas tree to be installed at Republic Square of Yerevan this year Armenia Security Council chief on deputy PMs Moscow meeting: Agreements not managed to be formulated yet Biden urges Congress to approve nuclear force data transfer to Australia Trump complains about loss of respect for the US Hajiyev: Azerbaijan ready to start talks with Armenia on signing peace agreement Ivan Aivazovsky bust unveiled in Stepanakert Armenia electricity tariffs may increase as of February 2022 Exchange of fire occurs in area of Karabakhs Karmir Shuka village Ardshinbank named the Best Bank of the Year by The Banker international magazine Ex-President Kocharyan chairs meeting of opposition Armenia Faction in parliament 3 more die of coronavirus in Artsakh Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan deputy PMs to continue work in coming days to open regional communications Armenia to get EU assistance to improve its aviation safety Armenia revenue committee ex-chief is appointed Armavir Province governor 40% of Armenia adults have received first dose of Covid vaccine, 23.9% got second dose World oil prices going up 558 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia humanitarian mission medical team delivers healthcare supplies to Aleppo medical facilities (PHOTOS) Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh conduct training Armenia FM in Stockholm, underscores proper, targeted response from international community (PHOTOS) Blinken, Cavusoglu discuss situation in Armenia, Azerbaijan Senator Markey expresses readiness to work in US Senate to facilitate release of Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan Newspaper: Armenia police continue inspections regarding health ministers voyages Newspaper: Armenia PM-Artsakh President tandem devises another operation Travelers to face stricter Covid test rules when visiting US UN Secretary-General urges to increase testing, and not to ban travel due to omicron strain Castro becomes the first female president in Honduras Lavrov: Russia is making efforts to resolve controversial issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan EU Representative: Bayramov and Mirzoyan to meet in Stockholm on December 2 European Commission unveils its alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative Macron says UK PM Boris Johnson is a clown NEWS.am daily digest: 01.12.21 Embassy in Armenia: This year 16 Days of Activism align with US Summit for Democracy US envoy: Armenia has some of the best produce in the world Turkey already assessing economic benefits of opening Nakhichevan corridor Dollar continues increasing in Armenia All Armenian Fund: Working Group reported they received no credible evidence that funds were misappropriated Luc Pierre Devigne: EU discussing with Russia conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan Armenia former President Sargsyan: Artsakh issue is not resolved Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan deputy PMs to meet in Moscow today Russia MFA: OSCE plays useful role in promoting settlement of Karabakh conflict Armenia Inspection Bodies Coordination Bureau: We cant fine PM, parliament speaker for not wearing face masks Armenia State Revenue Committee: Indicators set by 2021 budget will be fulfilled Heavy snowfall in Armenias Ashotsk Armenia opposition lawmaker: Why should Azerbaijanis withdraw from Ishkhanasar hills? Armenia opposition MP: Iran drivers can enter Goris-Kapan road, refuel their cars with Azerbaijan fuel Armenia ex-President Sargsyan attending international videoconference (PHOTOS) Armenia PM sacks head of his staff's foreign relations department 4 more die of coronavirus in Karabakh President invites Romania colleague to Armenia Armenia revenue committee chief: Our customs officers are already on Goris-Kapan motorway 502 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia A woman had set on fire a man whom she knew, in Armenias capital city of Yerevan. The Investigative Committee has completed the investigation into the criminal case that was filed into the incident of deliberately causing serious damage to health, and it has brought charges against a woman from Gegharkunik Province. On July 16, this 50-year-old woman had once again arguedin Yerevanwith a 55-year-old Yerevan man whom she knew, and with respect to domestic issues. During this dispute, however, the woman had poured a container full of gasoline on this man and set him on fire. The man had sustained burns to about 20 percent of his skin, with subsequent burn shock and illnesses. Criminal charges have been brought against this woman. But a signature bond to not leave Armenia has been enforced as a preventive measure for her. The criminal caseincluding the indictmenthas been sent to court. Davit Buniatyan, despite his young age, is an extraordinary entrepreneur and scientist in the field of artificial intelligence. This is an inspiring story that starts from looking at how the brain works to actually building one. A journey that begins from Princeton University where he is a Ph.D. candidate and extends to Y Combinator where he co-founded Snark AI. The world has seen significant expansion in AI during last 5 years. US, China, Canada, France and Germany have been pouring billions of dollars into building AI infrastructure. The success of using Deep Learning in recognizing objects from images had a tremendous impact in the everyday lives of billions. Applications include recognizing our faces, talking to virtual assistants and building self-driving cars. Terabytes, or even Petabytes, of data is required for getting high-accuracy models that can be deployed in real lives. Huge computational resources are required to execute so called Deep Neural Networks. Deep Neural Network consists of layers of artificial neurons that can be expressed with simple Linear Algebra. Stacking many layers and feeding a lot of data, those models learn complex patterns of information that can help to identify or classify objects in images or even translate speech to text. The butterfly effect to Princeton University Davit was born in Yerevan and studied at Quantum College. In 2013, he received an acceptance to University College London to complete his BSc in Computer Science. In 2014, his first step in the AI field was to build a machine learning algorithm to learn news preferences of users with his friends. The project was one of the top 5 from hundreds in a prestigious startup event in London, Techcrunch Disrupt. Subsequently, he and his project were featured on TechCrunch news. Newsly Hack Is Tinder For News Articles https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/19/newsly-hack/ To train Deep Learning models efficiently, researchers often use GPUs, a special piece of hardware that was initially produced for playing games. To train a better model for news recommendation, his friend Karen Hambardzumyan requested a GPU but they couldnt afford one. Intentionally Davit got enrolled into a 2 day GPU computing course where they were offered a 50% discount after completing it. My only goal was to get the discount such that we can buy a single GPU and train significantly higher accuracy models with more data says Davit, but little did he know that during that course he will meet a professor who will introduce him to his future bachelor's thesis supervisor Prof. Lourdes Agapito. Working under Prof. Agapitos advisory, Davit learned a lot how to conduct research in Computer Science and develop sophisticated AI algorithms from scratch. Prof. Agapito recommended Davit to get accepted into one of the most prestigious Computer Science Ph.D. programs in the world where pioneers of Computer Science and AI like Alan Turing, Claude E. Shannon and Marvin Minsky conducted research. Being 20 years old, Davit received an offer from Princeton University and was awarded Gordon Wu Fellowship, the most prestigious fellowship for an upcoming Ph.D. student. Photo taken at Princeton University 2016 during the class about Linear Programs and Dr. Leonid Khachiyans Ellipsoid Algorithms One of the very first lessons I learned at Princeton: real Computer Science is done on the blackboard without any computers and with full of heavy math. During one of his classes, the professor taught about how Soviet Armenian Mathematician Dr. Leonid Khachiyans significant theoretical breakthrough struck US news telling A Soviet Discovery Rocks World of Mathematics NY Times 1979. Dr. Khachiyan later became a professor at Rutgers University. Having a conversation with AI In 2016, Amazon announced Alexa Prize Competition. Princeton team was one of the selected 10 teams that received funding to build a chatbot that can have a generic conversation with human more than 20 minutes. It is somehow similar to Turing test, however the converser is aware that the AI is on the other side of the line. Analyzing dozen thousands of conversations produced by our bot with random people, I was so happy when I noticed that it had achieved the goal.. Details of the results were described in the technical paper. Their project was also featured on CNET. Davit also met Jason Ge, his future co-founder while working on this project and received AWS Machine Learning award next year. Tracing Neurons Princeton Prof. Sebastian Seung in his famous Ted talk popularized the term "connectome". To understand how the brain works, looking into a single neuron is not enough. One needs to understand its connections. Upon arrival to Princeton, Davit joined the ambitious project to reconstruct the connectivity of mouse brain led by Prof. Seung and his students at Princeton Neuroscience Institute. Members of the Seung Lab, from left: Sitting: Alexander Bae, Thomas Macrina, Sergiy Popovych, Jingpeng Wu; Standing: Nicholas Turner, Sven Dorkenwald, Chris Jordan, Davit Buniatyan, Zhen Jia, Sebastian Seung, William Silversmith, Ran Lu, Kisuk Lee, Kyle Luther, Nico Kemnitz, William Wong, Shang Mu, Alyssa Wilson, Maysoun Husseini. Photo courtesy of Janet Jackel source The mouse brain is cut into very thin slices using a diamond knife (40nm wide). An electron-microscope is used to take images of slices. We could get thousands of slices each 100,000 pixels wide. Each could be slightly deformed, damaged or totally missed. To reconstruct neurons out of those images we needed to align them first. Davit worked on the problem of aligning images into a volumetric space such that there are no discontinuities. It is similar to reassembling cut bread. Once the bread is sliced, there is no more ground truth to compare to. A single mistake can propagate into the wrong connectome. It is very important to be error proof from the beginning. A reconstruction of six pyramidal cells, the most popular type of cell in the cortex. The cells dendrites are covered in tiny spines, the site of synaptic connections. Credit: Seung lab Davit, with his colleagues, advised by Prof. Seung, invented an unsupervised algorithm that uses almost no human supervision to reconstruct a volumetric image of the mouse brain. The algorithm learns itself how to align those slices into each other. It compares two adjacent images and finds the corresponding location. At every iteration, the images are transformed using Deep Neural Networks to make stronger correspondences. Without human intervention, it was able to self-correct errors which are very hard to notice even by a human eye. The described algorithm was accepted for a presentation at CVC conference and will be published in Springer Series "Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing". While I was training the algorithm, occasionally the process crashed. I had one bug in the code that was corrupting it. I looked into this problem for almost 6-7 months and couldnt figure out what was wrong. shares Davit from the experience of doing research. Then I told my advisor about this problem. He directly advised me to describe him the code on the blackboard in mathematical terms (not a pseudo code). After a week of math notations, a problem that was thought to be a software issue (float overflow) was unexpectedly found on the blackboard - confirming the first lesson that Davit learned during his class at Princeton. Prof. Seung and his lab uses Artificial Neural Networks to trace how Real Neural Networks are connected. By looking at each individual cell and its connections as a whole, it will help to understand how the brain learns . I am really lucky to be able to work with Prof. Seung and my labmates Davit shares from his experience. Connecting Computational Power Tiny part of mouse brain contains terabytes, or even petabytes, of data. Running Deep Neural Networks at this scale requires a lot of compute resources. We were wondering with Jason at NeuroIPS (an AI conference) how we can connect all GPUs into a single network to run Neural Networks. In order to do that Davit and his PhD colleagues came up with unique algorithm that can run Neural Networks and Cryptomining at the same time, on the same GPU. It helped to incentify all cryptominers to run Neural Networks during Bitcoin boom. In contrast to other algorithms that could switch between two executions, our algorithm could actually do both at the same time using same amount of energy. TechCrunch wrote another article about this invention. Davit and the team got accepted to the top startup accelerator Y Combinator which is known for very low acceptance rate (below 1%). Jason Ge, Sergiy Popovych, Davit Buniatyan after getting accepted to Y Combinator 2018 While we were doing research at Princeton, we found out that the ecosystem for deep learning on the cloud is very immature. It was very costly and difficult to train and deploy large-scale deep learning on the cloud. That inspired us to start a company to solve the problem. Jason Ge, PhD at Princeton and co-founder at Snark AI Snark AI builds a deep learning platform on the cloud. It helps companies to scale their AI algorithms on the cloud. For example processing 100 million documents or millions of images can be easily achieved using their software on top of any cloud provider. Davit mentioned that Companies can significantly speed-up the research cycle from training to deploying ML models Snark AI attracted investment of 1.7 million dollars. Investors include Y Combinator, Fenox Ventures, Tribe Capital, Baidu VC, Liquid 2 and many prominent angels from Silicon Valley. They also received investment from Armenian investors including SmartGate VC. Next steps While back ago he couldnt afford one GPU, now his software controls more than tens of thousands of GPUs in a single network to train and deploy deep learning models. It is expected that mapping the whole human brain will be only feasible in 50 years. Davit has the ambition to speed up this process. He has also planned to open an applied ML lab in Armenia. Jensen Huang, CEO and Founder of NVidia Largest GPU Producer YEREVAN. Robert Kocharyans attorneys have appealed to the Court of Cassation the Criminal Court of Appeal decision on remanding him in custody. Legal defense team of the second President of Armenia has informed the aforesaid. As per their respective statement, the Criminal Court of Appeal rulings apparent contradiction with the positions expressed in the previous decisions by the Court of Cassation, the fundamental violation of human rights and freedoms (fair trial), and the violations of some other rights are at the basis of this appeal. Also, Kocharyans attorneys will file a motion with the court that he be released from custody on bail. With its ruling on December 7, the Criminal Court of Appeal upheld the first instance courts July 27 decision on remanding Robert Kocharyan in custody. On the same dayDecember 7, Kocharyan handed himself over to a Yerevan penitentiary where he was arrested. Armenias second President Robert Kocharyanalong with several other former officialshas been charged within the framework of the criminal case into the tragic events that transpired in capital city Yerevan on March 1 and 2, 2008and under Article 300.1 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code; that is, breaching Armenias constitutional order, in conspiracy with others. 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. The new Armenian authorities state that they are ready for talks with Turkey without preconditions; but our precondition is clear, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. During his press conference, a reporter asked whether or not Turkeys relations with Armenia will be normalized, Haber Turk reported. Would we [Turkey] make a move without taking Azerbaijans [respective] sensitivity into account? Cavusoglu added in his response. Simultaneous steps should be taken to normalize relations and resolve issues with both Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Karabakh issue, the issue of occupied lands needs to be resolved. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had announced that Armenia was ready to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions. YEREVAN. The legal defenders of Robert Kocharyan on Wednesday filed a motion with the Court of Cassation, with a request to release Armenias second President from custody on bail. As grounds for this motion, it is noted that more than four months have passed since the first instance courts July 27 decision on remanding Kocharyan in custody, and since then he has not carried out any action to obstruct the criminal case. So the defense finds that there are no grounds for any longer remanding Robert Kocharyan in custody. As another grounds for this motion, it is stated that the second Presidents freedom was restricted unlawfully, and therefore releasing him on bail would be the only means whereby the court can minimize the violation of Kocharyans rights. Also, Robert Kocharyans attorneys have asked the Court of Cassation to determine the amount of the bail to be set. With its ruling on December 7, the Criminal Court of Appeal upheld the first instance courts July 27 decision on remanding Robert Kocharyan in custody. On the same dayDecember 7, Kocharyan handed himself over to a Yerevan penitentiary where he was arrested. Armenias second President Robert Kocharyanalong with several other former officialshas been charged within the framework of the criminal case into the tragic events that transpired in capital city Yerevan on March 1 and 2, 2008and under Article 300.1 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code; that is, breaching Armenias constitutional order, in conspiracy with others. 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. YEREVAN. An incident was registered in one of the military outposts of the Azerbaijani armed forces along the line of contact with Artsakh. The Artsakh Defense Armey reported about a scuffle between Azerbaijani soldiers and a shootout on Wednesday afternoon. It could be seen how the Azerbaijani servicemen were dragging one of the soldiers. Such incidents are repeating and are from time to time recorded by the Artsakh soldiers. This testifies to deplorable state of discipline and interpersonal relations in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. The adversary is likely to suffer losses due to the incident, and they traditionally prefer to be silent about it. It is also possible that the Azerbaijani elite will try to blame the Armenian side, the statement says. The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by The Daily BeastOXFORD, MichiganDetailed descriptions of a wish to massacre classmates on his cellphone and in a journal. At least one social media post pointing to elation at access to a handgun bought by his dad. A mom who thanked Trump for my right to bear arms. And a meeting between his parents and school administrators about his conduct just hours before the attack.Authorities on Wednesday identified the teenage suspect in the mass shooting a day earlier at Michigan Weve lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So well take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in 20 Microns Limited (NSE:20MICRONS). Do Insider Transactions Matter? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise. See our latest analysis for 20 Microns The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At 20 Microns While there werent any large insider transactions in the last twelve months, its still worth looking at the trading. Over the last year, we note insiders sold 186.38k shares worth 10m. Over the last year we saw more insider selling of 20 Microns shares, than buying. They sold for an average price of about 54.84. Its not ideal to see that insiders have sold at around the current price. But we dont put too much weight on the insider selling, since sellers could have personal reasons. The chart below shows insider transactions over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! NSEI:20MICRONS Insider Trading December 25th 18 If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). 20 Microns Insiders Are Selling The Stock The last three months saw some 20 Microns insider selling. Ritika Devidayal divested only 1.9m worth of shares in that time. Its not great to see insider selling, nor the lack of recent buyers. But the volume sold is so low that it really doesnt bother us. Story continues Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. 20 Microns insiders own about 459m worth of shares (which is 30% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At 20 Microns Tell Us? An insider sold stock recently, but they havent been buying. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesnt show any insider buying. On the plus side, 20 Microns makes money, and is growing profits. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. To put this in context, take a look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow . If you would prefer to check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. The intelligence community is meant to be an independent arbiter of information, providing the president with facts on the ground so he can make important national security and policy decisions. But on countless occasions, President Trump has publicly denounced its conclusions. As we close out 2018 the friction between the White House and the intelligence community has spilled into the public forum in the form of leaks. Could a war fought through the media be coming in 2019? Yahoo News National Security and Investigations Reporter Jenna McLaughlin has a preview of what may be to come. Stocks have more or less gained in 2018, courtesy of tax reforms, a stronger economy and confident consumers. However, things havent been looking up for investors over the past few months. Trade-related issues between the United States and China and a slowdown in the housing market have pushed Wall Street into a bear market, with major indexes remaining in the red for the year. Things have, in fact, gone from bad to worse as the Trump administration continues to blame the Fed for raising rates too fast, with Trump openly criticizing its chairman, Jerome Powell. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchins phone calls to major banks to assess their financial health are doing no good either. Thanks to the odds, companies like Facebook, Inc. FB have lost considerably. General Electric Company GE is another company that took beating due to weakness in its power division and major mistakes by former CEO Jeff Immelt. While Facebook is down nearly 32% so far this, General Electric has tanked more than 60% on a year-to-date basis. But, there are certain companies that have made rather surprising turnarounds and have defied the downside in the broader market. Let us take a look Twitter After several disappointments, Twitter, Inc. TWTR a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has finally emerged as a profit making company. Year to date, the global platform where any user can create a Tweet is up 10.2%, in contrast to the Internet - Softwares decline of 8.7%. Even though its monthly user numbers have declined, the daily user growth continues to remain solid, up double digits. This, undoubtedly, shows that involvement with the social media site is gradually increasing. Twitters revenues continue to grow and the company has seen four straight quarters of GAAP profits. Trumps use of the platform to connect to the broader public and an active news scenario is surely working in favor of Twitter. The company has taken enough measures to negate abuses on the platform, something that bodes well for users. Story continues TripAdvisor TripAdvisor, Inc. TRIP a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company seems to have left a bad spell behind. Lest we forget, a failed launch of its Instant Booking platform and lowered monetization rates from mobile instead of desktops have wiped off almost 75% of its stock price. Now, the travel-recommended engines focus on restaurants and other sorts of amusements other than its core hotel segment has worked wonders. Trimmed marketing and advertising expenses have also helped the company double it profits in the most recent quarter. The stock has outperformed the broader Internet - Commerce industry so far this year (+49.8% vs -13.9%). Costco At the beginning of 2018, talk of the retail apocalypse was pretty common with many traditional retailers shutting down thousands of stores. Retail heavyweights like Costco Wholesale Corporation COST a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company werent spared either. But, by the end of this year, Costco has come up with the best comps and traffic growth in a decade, helping the stock make a stellar comeback. This can be attributed to record Black Friday sales. Mastercard reported total Black Friday spend (online and offline) of $23 billion, up nearly 9% from last year. It projected a 5% rise in holiday sales from November 1 through Christmas Eve this year from last year. Costco just ended a fiscal year with a 7.4% rise in U.S. comps. The stock has outperformed the broader Retail - Discount Stores industry so far this year (+2.1% vs -0.2%). Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. CMG a Zacks Rank #3 company was looking forward to put a rough two-year patch behind while entering 2018. The company that serves a focused menu of burritos, tacos, and burrito bowls and salads was hopeful that the new CEO Brian Niccol will be able to put memories of the E. coli crisis on the back burner, restoring investor confidence. And Niccol definitely didnt disappoint. He brought in a flurry of new executives, moved the head office to his hometown, launched an ad campaign focusing on real ingredients and in the process helped Chipotle Mexican Grill post double-digit comparable-store sales growth so far this year. The stock has outperformed the broader Retail - Restaurants industry on a year-to-date basis (+33.5% vs -1.1%). In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 top tickers to buy and hold for the entirety of 2019? These 10 are painstakingly handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks poised to outperform in the year ahead. Be among the first to see the new Zacks Top 10 Stocks >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Facebook, Inc. (FB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Twitter, Inc. (TWTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report General Electric Company (GE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Shares of American Airlines Group AAL slipped to a 52-week low of $29.67 during the trading session on Dec 24 before retracing a bit to close at $29.72. The stock has lost 43.3% in a years time compared with the industrys 28.6% decline. Reasons Behind the Stocks Decline American Airlines has struggled with low bottom-line growth for the most part of 2018, thanks to rising fuel prices. This is because fuel comprises a major chunk of the airline expenditure. Evidently, the companys bottom line declined significantly during the first nine months of 2018. In fact, the airline seems to have little respite even now that oil prices are down trending. The carriers projection for fuel costs in the final quarter of 2018 remains unchanged at $2.30-$2.35 compared with $1.90 in the year-ago period. We remind investors that fellow players in the industry such as Southwest Airlines LUV, Spirit Airlines SAVE and Alaska Air Group ALK have lowered their fuel cost forecast following the slump in oil prices this November. However, American Airlines is perhaps still skeptical and yet to make a move. Apart from fuel prices, high labor costs are also weighing on the companys earnings. With airline employees agitating over low pay scales, labor deals are very much in vogue in the industry. In this regard, pilots at American Airlines are planning to amend the existing contract (inked in 2015) before it becomes due for renewal in early 2020. To this end, the union (Allied Pilots Association) representing American Airlines 15,000 pilots has asked the company to commence negotiations in January 2019 for a fresh contract including an improved pay structure. (Read more: American Airlines Pilots Aim for New Contract Talks in 2019) The contract on materialization will certainly be a big boon to the airline staff. However, additional costs from it might affect the companys earnings. Passenger Traffic Strong Amid Cost Woes We expect strong demand for air travel to support this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) companys growth despite the carrier struggling with rising costs. As a result of robust demand, passenger revenues, accounting for bulk of the top line, increased 4.3% in the first nine months of 2018. Moreover, total revenue per available seat miles (TRASM: a key measure of unit revenues) is anticipated to increase in the 1.5-3.5% band during the final quarter of 2018. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Buoyed by this tailwind among other factors, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-quarter earnings has been revised 13.7% upward in the last 60 days. Also, the same for 2018 earnings has moved 2.2% north. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Shares of The Andersons, Inc. ANDE have declined around 27% in the past three months, wider than the industrys loss of 17%. This can be attributed to unfavorable margin conditions in the Ethanol Group and delay in plant construction. Notably, the stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 10% downward over the last 60 days, reflecting analysts pessimism. Given the headwinds facing the company, we believe the stock will remain under pressure in the coming quarters. Whats Pulling the Stock Down? Andersons Ethanol Group witnessed decline in margins in the past couple of months and the company does not expect any improvement in the near term. The group has comparatively lesser margins hedged for fourth-quarter 2018. The company remains concerned about margins for the balance of 2018 and in 2019. Andersons expects the Groups fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results to be somewhat lower than fourth-quarter 2017. In addition, the Ethanol Group has a delay of 60 days in the progress of the construction of the plant building with ICM, Inc. in Kansas. The delay was caused by near-record rainfall at the site which may delay its start-up, thus impacting the group's 2019 results. Notably, Andersons Plant Nutrient Group's third-quarter 2018 results reflected a decrease in sales volume in primary nutrients and lower margins in specialty nutrient products. While primary product margins have improved, the outlook for the Group remains challenged. Further, Andersons Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) only reaffirms that it is plagued with several headwinds at the moment. The unfavorable rank implies that investors should get rid of the stock from their respective portfolios. In fact, stocks witha Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Strong Sell) are likely to underperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Will the Stock Rebound? Andersons expects that its 2018 net income will be significantly better than the adjusted 2017 results. It will benefit from a substantial decline in its effective tax rate in 2018. The enactment of the tax reform in December 2017 has reduced the federal income tax rate from 35% to 21%. Andersons made significant progress on its cost-savings and productivity initiatives in the first quarter. The company is making good progress on the latest run-rate additional savings goal of $7.5 million this year, which is expected to be achieved by the end of 2018. We believe these factors will eventually benefit Andersons results and drive its share price. However, the stock will remain under pressure due to the above-mentioned headwinds for the time being. Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks in the same sector are CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF, W.R. Grace & Co. GRA and Israel Chemicals Shs ICL. All three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. CF Industries has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.5%. The stock has witnessed upward earnings estimate revision of around 13% over the past three months. W.R. Grace has a long-term earnings growth rate of 6%. Itwitnessed upward earnings estimate revision of around 1% over the past three months. Israel Chemicals has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. It witnessed upward earnings estimate revision of around 2.8% over the past three months. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Israel Chemicals Shs (ICL) : Free Stock Analysis Report W.R. Grace & Co. (GRA) : Free Stock Analysis Report CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Outgoing Secretary of Defense James Mattis has shared a Christmas message with American troops, telling them it remains my great privilege to serve alongside you. In a tweet shared from the official U.S. Department of Defense account, the seven-point holiday message expressed to forces stationed around the world that you carry on the legacy of those who stood the watch in decades past. In this world awash with change, you hold the line. #SecDef Mattiss Holiday Letter to the Troops pic.twitter.com/xiwcpMpC4q U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) December 25, 2018 We know our freedoms are not guaranteed by themselves; they need defenders, the letter continues. Mattis, a retired Marine General, will be leaving his post as Secretary of Defense on Jan. 1 two months earlier than his resignation letter had suggested. Addressed to President Trump and hand-delivered to the White House last week, Mattis candid resignation letter suggested that he disagreed with some of the presidents policies, noting that Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position. Trumps abrupt decision to withdraw all 2,200 U.S. troops fighting ISIS in Syria, as well as up to half of the 14,000 in Afghanistan, is thought to have led to Mattis decision to resign. Storm clouds loom, yet because of you, your fellow citizens live safe at home, the Christmas message reassured troops. Most dont know your names but all are confident their freedoms and families will be kept safe. Bank of America (BoA) has filed another blockchain patent, documents with the USPTO reveal. The American multinational investment bank stated that it would use blockchain, the underlying technology which powers the worlds leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin, to handle some portions of its cash handling devices. The patent, titled Banking Systems Controlled by Data Bearing Records, mentioned blockchain around 58 times, indicating how the digital ledger technology would improve their traditional cash deposit and withdrawal protocol. A cash handling device, in general, assists banks in dispensing, counting and tracking their cash flow to prevent thefts and minimizing management time for oversight of cash drawer. The Bank of Americas patent proposes to utilize a blockchain distributed database for the recordkeeping of cash transactions between two financial entities. As the document reads further, it describes the blockchain database as a go-to system for identifying deposit items received from the previous cash handling device. It also credits its blockchain-integration for enabling other cash handling machines to approve withdrawals, and for understanding the cash transportation needs of other devices in the distributed network. The document added: In some embodiments, sending the first transaction information encoded for the blockchain distributed database to the cash handling device support server may cause the cash handling device support server to generate and send one or more alerts based on identifying the one or more cash transportation needs of the cash handling device. Blockchain in ATM Services BoA expects that their blockchain cash handling system could be useful in improving the ways ATMs work. An ATM operator may be responsible for restocking the automated teller machine rather than a particular financial institution, the bank writes. Blockchain technology may be used by automated teller machine to accelerate transaction speed and/or facilitate other types of transactions in addition to ATM transactions like cash withdrawals and deposits, such as gift registry transactions. Story continues BoA also says their solution could assist ATMs in tracking transactions, one of the most popular aspects of the digital ledger technology in the crypto space. The patent provides yet another evidence of banks continued interest in the blockchain technology. Bank of America, in particular, has filed for more than 53 patents that involve blockchain, closing in on IBM and Alibaba, other major corporations, with 89 and 90 blockchain patents in their baskets, according to IPR DAILY. Images from Shutterstock. The post Bank of America Files Patent for Blockchain-Enabled Cash Handlers appeared first on CCN. woman standing in the airport with her suitcase and passport My doctor recently compared my uneasy adjustment since surviving a heart attack to being like a stressful move to a foreign country. I used to be pretty comfortable in my old country, pre-heart attack. A former distance runner, I was healthy, active, accomplished, outgoing, and I had a wonderful family and a whack of close friends, a meaningful career I really loved, a crazy-cute cat, a condo renovated top to bottom in a charming leafy neighborhood of the most beautiful city in Canada and a busy, happy, regular life. Then on May 6, 2008, I was hospitalized with a myocardial infarction what doctors still call the widowmaker heart attack. And that was the day I moved far, far away to a different country. Breast cancer radiation oncologist Dr. Marisa Weiss described a similar move when she was, ironically, diagnosed with breast cancer herself one spring: Now I have dual citizenship in a country I never wanted to belong to. Related: My Son's Scars Are His Story, and It's a Story of Bravery Eve Ensler, who wrote The Vagina Monologues, said this about her own cancer experience during a speech to a womens conference in Long Beach, California: And when I wake up, I am in a new country. Nothing is familiar. Because the possibility of not dying is gone. Because I am now living in the land of the sick. Turns out my being a vegetarian-sober-nonsmoker-activist has not protected me at all. And the late author Christopher Hitchens told his Vanity Fair readers about the arrival of emergency paramedics at his home after he suddenly collapsed one day due to his cancer symptoms: Now that I view the scene in retrospect, I see it as a very gentle and firm deportation, taking me from the country of the well across the stark frontier that marks off the land of malady. As the late writer and activist Susan Sontag once wrote: Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place. Story continues Related: Why Living in a 'More Exercise Is Better' Culture Is Hard for Someone With Chronic Illness The late Dr. Jessie Gruman, who spent more time than most as a hospital patient, wrote in her Prepared Patient Forum column and in her important book AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You or Someone You Love a Devastating Diagnosis: Every time I have received bad health news, I have felt like a healthy person who has been accidentally drop-kicked into a foreign country: I dont know the language, the culture is unfamiliar, I have no idea what is expected of me, I have no map and I desperately want to find my way home. Exiled to my own foreign country called Heart Disease, nothing around me felt familiar or normal anymore after my cardiac diagnosis. I was in a profound state of denial and shock. The simplest of tasks like taking a shower or any other activity that includes lifting my arms above the head now required a supreme effort and a 20-minute lie-down afterwards to recover. Related: The Selfless Act of Kindness My Friend Performed to Raise Money for My Disease I was fatigued and anxious at the same time, convinced by ongoing chest pain and shortness of breath that a second heart attack must be imminent. I felt a cold, low-grade terror on a daily basis. And my worried family and friends could not and did not even begin to comprehend what was going on for me because I could scarcely understand it myself. Sensing their distress, I tried to paste on my best PR smiley face around them so we could all pretend that everything was normal again. But making even minimal conversation felt so exhausting that it eventually seemed much easier to just avoid other people entirely. I also felt deeply ashamed that I just could not seem to pull myself together. As U.K. physician Dr. Jonathon Tomlinson recently described this isolation-seeking side effect of depression: Shame is strongly associated with depression, but even more strongly associated with social anxiety; we fear revealing our shame, and so we withdraw from the world. Instead of feeling happy and grateful because I had survived what many do not, I frightened myself by weeping openly over nothing in particular. I couldnt seem to concentrate on anything. I slept in my clothes. I didnt care how I looked or how I smelled. I had no interest in reading, walking, talking or getting out of bed. Everything seemed like just way too much trouble. And every night at bedtime, I quietly (and unconsciously) prepared for my own death overnight. What was wrong with me? Why wasnt I able to just snap out of it? One day, at about the seven week post-heart attack mark, I finally felt like I had had quite enough of this heart disease, thank you very much. In a fit of pique, I marched around the apartment gathering up get well cards and lovely bouquets of flowers and anything else that reminded me or my family or anybody else that somebody sick lived here. I tossed all of them into the trash, and waited to feel better. It didnt work. The apartment, however, did look a whole lot tidier. Worse, none of this felt like my real self, like my real life, like my real world. I began to fret that the old me was truly gone. Would I ever get it back? Maybe if I could just return to work, maybe then I might once again feel normal again during a time when nothing about this new country felt normal. Because of ongoing symptoms, it took three long months after my heart attack before I received medical clearance to attempt a return-to-work trial, half-days only to start. By then, I had used up all my vacation days and all my sick time, and could no longer afford to stay home from my public relations position at our local hospice palliative care society. And I felt absolutely desperate to get back to work. But I realized within the first week back at the office, after all the welcome back hugs and solicitous fussing by my colleagues had faded, about the same time that multiple project deadlines started to pile up alarmingly, that I was simply no longer able to function in my old PR life. More anxiety, more terror, more weeping, more chest pain. I dont know how I made it, but I somehow hung on for a full month before my doctor finally ordered me to leave work immediately on extended medical leave. Worse, in order to survive financially, I had to face the option of applying for long-term disability benefits which meant I had to get my brain wrapped around the reality that I me of all people! would be termed disabled. Leaving work felt almost worse than suffering through the workday stress. As weeks turned into months, my hope of returning to my old pre-heart attack self dimmed as the reality of life in this new country sank in. Where once I had been competent, I now felt unsure. Where I had once made decisions with lightning speed, I now seemed incapable of making even the most insignificant choice. I was seeing my physician on a weekly basis by now, was referred to the Regional Pain Clinic to address debilitating chest pain, had to go back into the hospital for another cardiac procedure, was newly-diagnosed with inoperable coronary microvascular disease (MVD), started seeing a therapist and was prescribed more drugs to help get me through this state of anguish, pain and despair. My once-busy life had become reduced to what I called one-outing days, two-outing days or (rarely) three-outing days. Each outing a doctors appointment, for example is followed immediately by two hours back home crashed on the couch in order to recuperate from the bone-crushing fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain brought on by the outing. Going out in the evenings is almost unbearable, and when we do, I have to rest up for hours in preparation, and I usually need the full next day to recover. The distress of adjusting to such a debilitating change to ones lifestyle is hard to describe to those who have never experienced it. Yet there are travel agents and tour guides here who actually have tools to help us along the journey although I personally never met them. For example, we know that we have at least 12 measurement surveys available to the medical profession that look at factors like the search for meaning in chronic illness. These surveys have been used for many patients being treated for AIDS or cancer, such as the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Inventory or the Meaning of Illness Questionnaire. A 2008 study found, alas, that limiting factors in the success of these tools included the infrequent use of some of the instruments clinically or in research. I cant help but wonder why these readily available psychosocial tools are not being administered routinely to heart patients during post-MI recovery. And where are the models of survivorship care plans for heart patients that are so well-entrenched in the oncology world of cancer survivors? With much backsliding, and my newly revised cardiac diagnosis of MVD, Ive had to learn through painful practice the fine art of p-a-c-i-n-g throughout each day. I have now found that most days, I can actually function pretty well as long as I remember to balance every single activity each day with an even longer period of rest. As Susannah Fox wrote: Its not surprising that when someone gets dropped into this kingdom of the sick, they grab their phones, they grab their laptops, they grab their loved ones, and they go. They go into that unfamiliar area of a new diagnosis, a new drug, a new treatment. They consult experts. They call and search and text. They band together and form posses, pioneers sharing maps with newcomers. Thats what I did. I researched womens heart disease like I was cramming for a cardiology midterm. I tried to figure out why an E.R. doc with the letters MD after his name had sent me home with an acid reflux misdiagnosis despite presenting with my textbook heart attack symptoms, and why so many other women were also being misdiagnosed like me, too. While researching this on the Mayo Clinic website, I learned about the WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium for Women With Heart Disease held each year at Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota. I applied to attend, and I then became the first Canadian ever accepted to attend this prestigious training. After returning home to the West Coast, I knew I had to share what Id just learned at Mayo with other women. I began speaking to small groups of women at what I called my Pinot & Prevention parties as my health allowed. My speaking invitations grew to include presentations at medical conferences, universities, service club dinners and community events. And my Mayo Clinic training opened doors for me through invitations to speak about womens experiences with heart disease to senior health care professionals in mental health, cardiology and emergency medicine. I launched my blog, Heart Sisters. I wrote a book called A Womans Guide to Living with Heart Disease (Johns Hopkins University Press). My public relations friends tease me that this is just what happens when a PR person has a heart attack. We keep on doing what weve always done, what we know how to do best: writing and speaking and looking stuff up. In this new country called heart disease, the culture here demands a profound respect for prioritizing. This means learning new customs, like putting myself and my physical/mental/emotional health needs first. This seems to be harder than youd think, particularly for women. It means learning how to nap like a pre-schooler, or just sit and have a rest when I need to. It means learning to limit social contact to those who lift my spirits, make me laugh or bring me casseroles. It means learning how to say no! to a lot of things, from Tim Hortons maple dips to those energy vampire people who can suck the life right out of you. At first it was extremely painful, as a newly arrived citizen in this new country, to learn that those still living in my old country of the well as Hitchens calls it are doing just fine without me. My work colleagues, for example, have somehow managed to keep the place running perfectly fine even though Ive now been gone for years. The world has continued to spin on its axis, even without me being in charge. As the old saying goes: The graveyards of the world are filled with indispensable people! And in the words of Susannah Fox: The number one thing that people try to do is to get the hell out of the kingdom of the sick and back to the kingdom of the well. The reality, however, is that some of us have been forced to permanently surrender our passports and will not ever get back. Welcome to the new country. Read more stories like this on The Mighty: What It's Like to Live With Thyroid Disease My Fears About Playing Video Games With Fibromyalgia Rise of the Spoonie Zombie: What It's Like to Be Unable to Sleep The Boeing Company BA recently announced that Flyadeal, a Saudi-based airline, has made commitments for ordering 30 737 MAX jets with options for 20 more in a deal, with an estimated value of $5.9 billion at list prices. The deal will come into existence once both the companies conclude the final terms and conditions along with a purchase agreement. The agreement is in line with flyadeals latest rush to expand their carriers to meet the expanding domestic passenger demand and cater to the rising air transport services in the country Boeings Prospect in Saudi Arabia Due to the rising level of airborne passenger traffic, major airlines from all over the world, including Saudi-based airlines, are increasing their fleet size to meet rigorous customer demands at the domestic front. According to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), about 14 million passengers have traveled through the Saudi Arabias domestic airports on 147,000 flights in 2017. Evidently, the passenger traffic within the domestic circle is increasing at a rapid pace, providing Boeing with enormous opportunities to expand growth. Our View Flyadeal, which offers low cost flights within Saudi Arabia, has conducted an evaluation process for 50 narrow-body airplanes to support domestic growth and potential international expansion. The company that currently operates the new Airbus A320s plans on shifting to Boeing's 737 MAX for future expansion, as the latter carries 12 more passengers and provides 8% lower operating costs per seat. Such major decision taken by the company will not only enable Boeing to further expand its market in the Saudi region but also dealt a blow to the growth trajectory of its arch-rival, Airbus in the Saudi commercial airline market. Per Boeings current market outlook, the world will need 42,730 new planes, worth $6.35 trillion, between 2018 and 2037. The company expects single-aisle jets to be the major driver behind demand growth, comprising 73.4% of the total projection. This translates into worldwide demand for 31.360 single-aisle jets, worth $3.48 trillion, over the next 20 years. Notably, with the 737 fleet leading the single-aisle jet space, we may expect Boeing to win more orders for this fleet in days ahead. Price Performance Shares of Boeing have gained about 1.5% in a year, against the industrys decline of 13%. The outperformance was primarily led by significant demand for the companys military jets across the globe along with robust long-term demand for its commercial aircraft. Story continues Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Boeing currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). A few top-ranked companies in the same sector are Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings AJRD, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated TDY and Raytheon Company RTN. While Aerojet Rocketdyne and Teledyne Technologies sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Raytheon carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Aerojet Rocketdyne came up with average positive earnings surprise of 19.27% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has increased 43.3% to $1.82 in the past 90 days. Teledyne Technologies came up with average positive earnings surprise of 12.92% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has increased 6% to $8.75 in the past 90 days. Raytheon delivered average positive earnings surprise of 6.71% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has moved up 1.8% to $10.10 in the past 90 days. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (AJRD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Raytheon Company (RTN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. By Hannah McKay SANDRINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband, missed a traditional Christmas Day church service on Tuesday, though a royal source said that the 97-year old was in good health and just wanted to spend the day in private. Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, married Elizabeth in 1947 and has been by his wife's side throughout her reign, the longest in British history. "The duke is in perfectly good health, he is just spending the day privately," the royal source said. Former naval officer Philip, who had successful hip replacement surgery earlier this year, retired from public life last year, quipping at the time that he was no longer able to "stand up much". Senior members of the royal family traditionally attend a Christmas service at the St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham, eastern England. Elizabeth attended, as did Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the throne. Charles' wife, Camilla, did not attend, according to a Reuters photographer at the church. Charles' sons, Princes William and Harry, also went to the service with their wives, Kate and Meghan. The U.S. born actress, who is pregnant, exchanged a smile with Kate as they walked to church. Elizabeth will say in her Christmas message that the traditions of peace and goodwill need to be heeded as much as ever, and people should respect each other even when they harbor the most deeply held differences. According to excerpts released by Buckingham Palace, the 92-year-old monarch will also speak of family and friendship following a year in which her grandson Harry married Meghan at a dazzling ceremony. The queen has avoided commenting in public on contentious issues, and the excerpts make no mention of the visit in July by U.S. President Donald Trump or the turmoil over Britain's departure from the European Union. Speaking about the birth of Jesus, she will say: "I believe his message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date. It can be heeded by everyone; it's needed as much as ever." "Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good step towards greater understanding." (Reporting by Hannah McKay, writing by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Robin Pomeroy) Dividends play a key role in compounding returns over time and can form a large part of our portfolio return. Recently, Kinder Morgan Canada Limited (TSE:KML) has started paying dividends to shareholders. Today it yields 4.2%. Should it have a place in your portfolio? Lets take a look at Kinder Morgan Canada in more detail. Check out our latest analysis for Kinder Morgan Canada 5 questions I ask before picking a dividend stock When assessing a stock as a potential addition to my dividend Portfolio, I look at these five areas: Is their annual yield among the top 25% of dividend payers? Has it paid dividend every year without dramatically reducing payout in the past? Has dividend per share amount increased over the past? Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will it be able to continue to payout at the current rate in the future? TSX:KML Historical Dividend Yield December 26th 18 Does Kinder Morgan Canada pass our checks? The current payout ratio for KML is negative, which is not great. When considering the sustainability of dividends, it is also worth checking the cash flow of a company. A company with strong cash flow, relative to earnings, can sometimes sustain a high pay out ratio. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock youre eyeing out is reliable in its payments. Unfortunately, it is really too early to view Kinder Morgan Canada as a dividend investment. Last year was the companys first dividend payment, so it is certainly early days. The standard practice for reliable payers is to look for 10 or so years of track record. Compared to its peers, Kinder Morgan Canada has a yield of 4.2%, which is on the low-side for Oil and Gas stocks. Next Steps: After digging a little deeper into Kinder Morgan Canadas yield, its easy to see why you should be cautious investing in the company just for the dividend. On the other hand, if you are not strictly just a dividend investor, the stock could still be offering some interesting investment opportunities. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I recommend taking sufficient time to understand its core business and determine whether the company and its investment properties suit your overall goals. Below, Ive compiled three pertinent factors you should look at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for KMLs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for KMLs outlook. Valuation: What is KML worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether KML is currently mispriced by the market. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed NEW YORK (Reuters) - The big uptick in stock market gyrations this year has made a surprise winner out of a trade that has rarely delivered a win - buying and holding volatility. Stock market ructions over the last decade have been few and fleeting, requiring great feats of timing to generate profits from volatility buying. Not so this year. Frequent bursts of market gyrations have kept things lively in the volatility space and has made betting on enduring turmoil hugely profitable. While the S&P 500 <.SPX> is getting crushed to a degree not seen since the financial crisis a decade ago - the index is down 19 percent in the last three months - a trader who took a flyer on volatility early this year could be pocketing a profit of 70 percent or more. "The thing that worked in the volatility space this year is the thing that almost never works - just buy and hold volatility," said Matt Thompson, co-head of commodity trading adviser Typhon Capital Plc's volatility group in Chicago. Since volatility usually rises when stocks fall, owning volatility is a form of insurance and just like any other insurance there is a cost attached to it. "Usually it costs a lot to own volatility," said Jim Carney, chief executive officer at New York-based hedge fund Parplus Partners. Most volatility instruments, including options, futures and exchange-traded notes (ETNs), lose value rapidly when stocks are calm or rising. But with the stock market in the grips of almost daily wild swings, for the first time in years it has paid to own volatility, said Carney. One example of how well that trade has worked is the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN , which is up about 72 percent this year. The ETN tracks the performance of the Cboe Volatility Index <.VIX>, a widely followed options-based barometer of expected near-term volatility for stocks. VXX follows an index that tracks the price of two near-term VIX futures and seeks to maintain a constant one-month exposure to volatility by repeatedly selling first-month futures to buy second-month contracts. Story continues "When the front month VIX future is below the second month there's a huge cost to owning the product, but now with the front month around the same level of the second month, or above it, there is no cost," said Carney. Under normal conditions, first-month VIX futures are priced lower than second-month contracts as uncertainty about how stocks will fare leads traders to boost the volatility embedded in further-out expirations. That is a problem for VXX, which essentially is constantly selling the relatively cheaper first-month contract and buying the more expensive second-month contract. This constant erosion in value has caused VXX to hemorrhage money like few other products. A $100,000 invested in VXX at its inception in 2009 would be worth about $40 now. But during times of market stress, such as now, first-month contracts become even more pricy than contracts with expirations further out. That gives VXX a fillip. The VXX is on pace this year to finish up for the first time in its decade-long existence. OMINOUS PORTENT VXX's success this year bodes ill for the overall stock market. While the ETN has only been around since 2009, estimating how the index might have fared in previous years paints a bleak picture for the near-term outlook for U.S. stocks. "It wasn't trading then, but 2007 and 2008 would have been up years," said Vance Harwood, who runs the alternative investment website Six Figure Investing and has studied VIX products extensively. Harwood estimates that VXX would have gained about 40 percent in 2007 and more than doubled in price in 2008, as the stock market got hit by the global financial crisis. Others also see the similarity. "This year looks a lot like 2007," said Typhon's Thompson. "I am not predicting a 2008 next year but we had a pretty fundamental transition this year from the old low volatility regime to the new higher volatility regime," Thompson said. Regardless of whether VXX's strong performance is a portent of trouble for stocks next year, higher levels of daily stock gyrations should draw more investors to the ETN, analysts said. "With volatility in the 20s for the VIX, I think it is an excellent product to be long," said Parplus' Carney. Presently, more than 50 million VXX shares change hands every day and the ETN has about $800 million in assets under management. "I wouldn't be surprised to see it bump up into the $1 billion to $1.5 billion range," said Harwood. (Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) Shares of major U.S. defense firms plummeted after U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced that he will resign from the White House by the end of February 2019. Confusion increased after President Donald Trump tweeted about the secretarys departure by Jan 1, two months earlier than originally planned. The sudden exit of Mattis, a strong advocate of bigger defense budget and a close aide of President Trump in matters of defense, and the consequent events have resulted in the Zacks Aerospace sector (containing the U.S defense majors) declining 5.8% since Dec 20. Story Behind Mattis Resignation Mattis resigned due to disagreement over Trump's recent decisions on a couple of foreign policies. Notably, last week, Trump made two major decisions that overruled the advice of his defense secretary withdrawing all U.S. troops from Syria and ordering a reduction in U.S. troops in Afghanistan by approximately half. Impact on Defense Stocks Trumps latest Syria decision is likely to empower military forces of Russia and Iran, thereby leaving Syrian Kurds at risk from both ISIS and Turkey. If this leads ISIS to salvage its lost strength once more, as many do fear, it would be a big blow to the global security establishments and may even result in loss of faith in U.S. defense forces. At the same time, many remain skeptical about how deputy defense secretary Patrick Shanahan, elected by Trump to take Mattis place, will perform with no military and foreign policy experience. A former corporate executive, Shanahan's portfolio at the Department of Defense reflects no experience in international affairs or counterterrorism. Naturally with Mattis out of Pentagon and apprehension surrounding his replacement, investors have become increasingly worried about the fate of defense majors in the coming days. This was reflected in the notable sell-offs we witnessed in the U.S. defense space over the last couple of trading days. Story continues Stocks in Focus Below we have mentioned three defense majors, shares of which individually plummeted more than the broader sectors decline. These stocks also have solid international exposure. However, one should keep in mind that this is just a transitory effect of the aforementioned events on the defense space, which has been excelling under Trumps administration so far and is expected to do so going ahead on inherent strength. These stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and have witnessed solid estimate revisions, thus becoming worthy of a place in investors' portfolio. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Boeing Company BA is a premier jet aircraft manufacturer and one of the largest defense contractors in the United States. The companys shares have lost 6.1% since Dec 20. However, its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings indicates annual growth of 25% and the company has seen two upward revisions in the past 60 days. It also has a solid estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.3%. Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT is the largest defense contractor in the world. The companys shares have lost 7.6% since Dec 20. However, its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings indicates annual growth of 31.4%. The company has seen one upward revision in the past 60 days. It has a solid estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 6%. Raytheon Company RTN is one of the premier missile makers in the United States. The companys shares have lost 7.2% since Dec 20. However, its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings indicates annual growth of 32.6%. The company has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 60 days. It has a solid estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9%. In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 top tickers to buy and hold for the entirety of 2019? These 10 are painstakingly handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks poised to outperform in the year ahead. Be among the first to see the new Zacks Top 10 Stocks >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Raytheon Company (RTN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Photo credit: Sikorsky-Boeing From Popular Mechanics Two American giants of military development, Sikorsky and Boeing, have teamed up for what they are calling a revolutionary helicopter design. The SB>1 Defiant, in the works for years, is finally getting a debut in pictures. According to a press release, the Defiant is "designed to fly at twice the speed and range of today's conventional helicopters and offers advanced agility and maneuverability." The actual flight launch is scheduled for 2019, even as early as next month. The companies hope that the Defiant is the culmination of a decade-long effort known as the Future Vertical Life (FVL). Started in 2008 as a response to legacy helicopters crashing in Iraq and Afghanistan, the goal was to develop an entirely new rotorcraft system, as opposed to just continually upgrading Black Hawks and Apaches. First made public in 2017, the Defiant "has great potential," according to Swami Karunamoorthy, a professor of engineering at Washington University in St. Louis with a speciality in helicopter dynamics. The strengths that the Defiant brings, Karunamoorthy says, lies in that fact that it doesn't rely on one singular style of propulsion. It's "a hybrid system," he tell PopMech over email. The hybrid system has a "coaxial rotor design for vertical flight" Karunamoorthy says, "and a pusher propeller system to increase the forward flight speed." A coaxial helicopter design features two sets of helicopter rotors and has been a concept in flight design before flight was a reality, dating back to the 1700s. Working in tandem with a propellor system "may be twice the current speed record as it claims," he says. However, not everyone was as optimistic. A retired Army experimental test pilot who asked for anonymity pointed towards Sikorsky's uneven history with coaxial, specifically a smaller project known as the S-97 Raider. Under development since 2011, a Raider test in 2017 ended in an inauspicious hard landing. It's begun testing again this year. Story continues Photo credit: Sikorsky-Boeing "While Lockheed/Sikorsky has likely learned from their S-97 experience," says the former test pilot, "getting this larger scale to achieve all of the goals in a mission configuration that is representative of a combat aircraft is unlikely." To get a Defiant to double the speed of a conventional helicopter would require it to fly at 280 knots, or a little over 322 mph. The former test pilot says this is "unlikely." And the Defiant isn't the only FVL around-there's competition from the already flying Bell V-280 Valor, which has nearly a year of flight tests under its belt. Karunamoothy believes that both the Defiant and the Valor have the potential to "break the barrier in both forward and vertical flight." For the Defiant to succeed, says the former test pilot, Sikorsky and Boeing must have made sure it is "sized properly to achieve all of the Army's design goals," which they point to as a failure of the S-97. With its test flights next year, the Defiant will soon have a chance to prove its worth. Source: Breaking Defense ('You Might Also Like',) If you own shares in Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) Company Limited (HKG:2006) then its worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. First, we have company specific volatility, which is the price gyrations of an individual stock. Holding at least 8 stocks can reduce this kind of risk across a portfolio. The other type, which cannot be diversified away, is the volatility of the entire market. Every stock in the market is exposed to this volatility, which is linked to the fact that stocks prices are correlated in an efficient market. Some stocks see their prices move in concert with the market. Others tend towards stronger, gentler or unrelated price movements. Some investors use beta as a measure of how much a certain stock is impacted by market risk (volatility). While we should keep in mind that Warren Buffett has cautioned that Volatility is far from synonymous with risk, beta is still a useful factor to consider. To make good use of it you must first know that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. View our latest analysis for Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) What 2006s beta value tells investors Zooming in on Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group), we see it has a five year beta of 1.25. This is above 1, so historically its share price has been influenced by the broader volatility of the stock market the market. If this beta value holds true in the future, Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) shares are likely to rise more than the market when the market is going up, but fall faster when the market is going down. Many would argue that beta is useful in position sizing, but fundamental metrics such as revenue and earnings are more important overall. You can see Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group)s revenue and earnings in the image below. Story continues SEHK:2006 Income Statement Export December 26th 18 How does 2006s size impact its beta? Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) is a small company, but not tiny and little known. It has a market capitalisation of HK$11b, which means it would be on the radar of intstitutional investors. It is quite common to see a small-cap stock with a beta greater than one. In part, thats because relatively few investors can influence the price of a smaller company, compared to a large company. What this means for you: Since Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) tends to moves up when the market is going up, and down when its going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether 2006 is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group)s financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 2006s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 2006s outlook. Past Track Record: Has 2006 been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of 2006s historicals for more clarity. Other Interesting Stocks: Its worth checking to see how 2006 measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with this free list of prospective options. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). Well show how you can use Royal Dutch Shell plcs (AMS:RDSA) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Royal Dutch Shell has a price to earnings ratio of 10.99, based on the last twelve months. That means that at current prices, buyers pay 10.99 for every 1 in trailing yearly profits. See our latest analysis for Royal Dutch Shell How Do I Calculate Royal Dutch Shells Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for price to earnings is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share (in the reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Royal Dutch Shell: P/E of 10.99 = $28.57 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, USD ) $2.6 (Based on the year to September 2018.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That isnt necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. Thats because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the E in the equation. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. Royal Dutch Shell increased earnings per share by a whopping 99% last year. And it has improved its earnings per share by 84% per year over the last three years. So wed generally expect it to have a relatively high P/E ratio. In contrast, EPS has decreased by 14%, annually, over 5 years. How Does Royal Dutch Shells P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (9.3) for companies in the oil and gas industry is lower than Royal Dutch Shells P/E. Story continues ENXTAM:RDSA PE PEG Gauge December 26th 18 Royal Dutch Shells P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesnt guarantee future growth. So investors should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank The Price in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). How Does Royal Dutch Shells Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? Royal Dutch Shells net debt is 25% of its market cap. If you want to compare its P/E ratio to other companies, you should absolutely keep in mind it has significant borrowings. The Bottom Line On Royal Dutch Shells P/E Ratio Royal Dutch Shell has a P/E of 11. Thats below the average in the NL market, which is 14.3. The EPS growth last year was strong, and debt levels are quite reasonable. If the company can continue to grow earnings, then the current P/E may be unjustifiably low. Given analysts are expecting further growth, one might have expected a higher P/E ratio. That may be worth further research. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Royal Dutch Shell. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Addis Ababa (AFP) - From its hillside overlooking the Ethiopian capital, Berhanu Mengistu's century-old, gabled family home has seen emperors and governments rise and fall. It has withstood economic stagnation and the rapid population growth that replaced its once-patrician neighbours with a rabble of shacks. But it now stands lonely in a field of weeds, the house's corrugated roof and red plaster walls stark against a fast-changing cityscape of cleared slums, tower cranes and glinting high rises. Palatial homes like Berhanu's are scattered throughout Addis Ababa, built for imperial-era courtiers and foreign business moguls, but most have slid into dire neglect as the government focuses on an aspirational building boom. "Nowadays, most of the buildings you see are more of the European architecture," said Berhanu, a supply chain manager whose house has been in his family for seven generations. Across the capital, older, poorer neighbourhoods -- like the one that once surrounded Berhanu's home -- have been levelled to make way for glass-and-concrete towers, lauded by the government as a symbol of the rapid economic expansion transforming one of Africa's poorest countries. But preservationists worry that the breakneck development comes at the cost of the capital's architectural heritage. "There are isolated efforts of protecting, saving historic buildings, but it's really very limited," said Fasil Giorghis, a well-known architect. "It is not even a given that you should protect a historic building." - A young city - Addis Ababa was founded in the late 19th century by Emperor Menelik II as he expanded the Ethiopian empire from the country's northern highlands to its modern boundaries. The young city soon filled with houses belonging to members of Menelik's government, among them Berhanu's ancestor Yemtu Beznash, the family matriarch and administrator of a powerful law court. Story continues Menelik, who died in 1913, also hired Armenians as city engineers, while merchants came from India and Yemen. That cosmopolitanism was upended in 1974 with the arrival of the Derg military junta, which dismantled the Ethiopian empire. Fasil recounted how, as foreign traders fled, the communist-leaning Derg handed their former mansions to poor tenants, who could not afford to maintain the earthen walls and wooden floors. - 'Ideological shift' - The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which evicted the Derg in 1991 and continues to rule today, has presided over an economic boom. This has seen contractors from China and elsewhere set to work on half-built skyscrapers that give the capital's skyline a jagged, unfinished feel. Maheder Gebremedhin, an architect who hosts a radio show discussing the trade, says the neglect of the old buildings is due to the cost and complexity of renovation, as well as a lingering ambivalence towards the imperial past. "Because of the ideological shift, there is not a real interest to keep these buildings," Maheder said. - Heritage, abandoned - Government and private donors have successfully restored a handful of buildings, including one of Menelik's palaces and the mansion of a former defence minister that's been converted into a museum. But city authorities acknowledge that most of the 440 buildings that have been designated heritage sites are rundown. "Because of our capacity as a developing country, they can't be repaired all the time," said Worku Mengesha, a spokesman for Addis Ababa's tourism office. A decade ago, foreign embassies and Ethiopian preservationists tried to restore the Mohammadali house, once the property of a wealthy Indian businessman featuring prominent Indian and Arabian architectural elements in addition to its imperial-era Ethiopian style. However, bureaucracy and shoddy construction scuppered the effort, Fasil said. As a result, it is padlocked and abandoned, with parked cars sheltering beneath its Indian-inspired arches and a pair of discarded trousers draped across its faded cream staircase. Other historic buildings continue in their Derg-era role of housing for the poor, or in their slow decrepitude. The expansive former palace of Hojele Al-Hassen, a wealthy traditional ruler during the Menelik era, still houses people from his western region, who spend after-work hours socialising on the wraparound veranda. But it's increasingly dilapidated, with an entire decaying wing that once served as a school classroom sealed off for safety. - Family history, city history - Three years ago, as city authorities levelled the homes that had mushroomed around Berhanu's house, he kept the bulldozers at bay by having his home designated an historic building. Berhanu now hopes to turn his family history into national history. Standing near a large portrait of the matriarch Yemtu, he spoke of his dream to make a museum of the house whose rooms are filled with family photographs and heirlooms, including a wall-spanning snake skin. "This is not only our property. It belongs to all Ethiopians and people of Addis Ababa," he said. He hopes the city will agree. Across the street in the slum area the government wants cleared, his neighbour Solomon Damana had recently resolved a dispute with city authorities and was following orders to demolish the small family home in which he was born and raised and move to a one-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of town. "I'm happy that one isn't demolished," he said, gesturing at Berhanu's place. "It's an historic house." Yanlord Land Group Limited (SGX:Z25) is a stock with outstanding fundamental characteristics. When we build an investment case, we need to look at the stock with a holistic perspective. In the case of Z25, it is a dependable dividend-paying company with a a strong history of performance, trading at a great value. Below is a brief commentary on these key aspects. For those interested in understanding where the figures come from and want to see the analysis, take a look at the report on Yanlord Land Group here. Undervalued with solid track record and pays a dividend Z25 delivered a satisfying double-digit returns of 24% in the most recent year Unsurprisingly, Z25 surpassed the Real Estate industry return of 6.1%, which gives us more confidence of the companys capacity to drive earnings going forward. Z25s shares are now trading at a price below its true value based on its discounted cash flows, indicating a relatively pessimistic market sentiment. This mispricing gives investors the opportunity to buy into the stock at a cheap price compared to the value they will be receiving, should analysts consensus forecast growth be correct. Compared to the rest of the real estate industry, Z25 is also trading below its peers, relative to earnings generated. This supports the theory that Z25 is potentially underpriced. SGX:Z25 Income Statement Export December 25th 18 Income investors would also be happy to know that Z25 is a great dividend company, with a current yield standing at 5.4%. Z25 has also been regularly increasing its dividend payments to shareholders over the past decade. SGX:Z25 Historical Dividend Yield December 25th 18 Next Steps: For Yanlord Land Group, Ive compiled three essential aspects you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for Z25s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for Z25s outlook. Financial Health: Are Z25s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other Attractive Alternatives : Are there other well-rounded stocks you could be holding instead of Z25? Explore our interactive list of stocks with large potential to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. CCN spoke with Nimrod May to find out if SIRIN will continue making phones or focus on developing an OS. May also gave a side-by-side comparison of the SIRIN FINNEY and the HTC Exodus 1. SIRIN Labs launched its blockchain smartphone, the FINNEY, just a few weeks ago. In the middle of a cryptocurrency market crisis, SIRINs plans hit the spotlight and led some to question if the $158 million ICO would abandon its plans to make cryptocurrency-friendly phones and concentrate instead on the SIRIN operating system (SIRIN OS). Recent reporting by some news outlets suggested that the fall in price of Ether (ETH) since SIRINs ICO meant the company now had less available capital and would struggle to meet its initial goals of becoming both a phone and OS maker. Thats since been clarified and SIRIN Labs is committed to making its own blockchain smartphones AND ALSO exploring the market for its SIRIN OS with other phone-makers. May hinted at some of the big-name manufacturers SIRIN has been in talks with. SIRINs CEO Moshe Hogeg revealed recently that mobile phone distributors had committed to 160,000 units of the FINNEY phone, though this figure needs to translate into actual sales, SIRIN only has to sell around 80,000 phones to become profitable. CCN questioned May, Chief Marketing Officer for SIRIN Labs, to get to the bottom of the companys plans once and for all. How are sales of the FINNEY phone going? What is SIRINs attitude to crypto-winter and what steps are you taking to combat market concerns? Even with the current market situation, were actually proud to share with the world some of the interest we have received since our launch two weeks ago. Were proud to say we have surpassed our FINNEY devices sales goal for the entire year in less than 10 days, and right now are focusing on mass producing the first ten thousand units to meet the demands of our community, distributors, and partners. Whats happening right now with SIRIN OS? Is it ready to roll out as a standalone OS? Do you have any takers? Story continues We at SIRIN LABS have strong faith in crypto and blockchain and are proud to provide the consumer facing solution that will act as a gate to crypto. FINNEY is the optimum platform and ecosystem to use and manage crypto on the go, through the first ultra-secure Android platform. SIRIN OS proprietary technology is the best operating system that is compatible with other devices as well, in efforts to bridge the gap across consumer electronic companies and to benefit the millions of crypto holders all over the world. We built SIRIN OS to fit all phone manufacturers and indeed were not alone in this field: Huawei, HTC, and other OEMs alike are moving along; some of them have been in talks with us regarding SIRIN OS . Overall it seems like this is just the beginning of our path. Were a group of enthusiastic and highly skilled engineers who understand the market, are an active part of it, and know what needs to be done in order to serve the needs of the market in real time. As a result, were now speeding up the process of accepting Fiat in our Token Conversion Service to create a more comprehensive solution for our users and to show the world that the need for a blockchain phone goes beyond what the crypto market is experiencing right now. What are SIRINs plans for the next 6-12 months and what are your expectations for the cryptocurrency market in 2019? Our plan for 2019 is to focus on the delivery of FINNEY worldwide, fostering more partnerships, continuing the development of SIRIN OS . HTC has released the Exodus 1 at the same time as the SIRIN FINNEY. How do you believe the phones compare? May kindly provided SIRINs side-by-side comparison of FINNEY to the HTC EXODUS 1. General HTC Exodus 1 FINNEY U1 Launched market US, Canada Worldwide Form factor Touchscreen Touchscreen Battery capacity (mAh) 3500 3280 Fast charging Proprietary Qualcomm Quickcharge 4.0 Wireless charging No No Display Screen size (inches) 6 6 Touchscreen Yes Yes Aspect ratio 18:09 18:09 Pixels per inch (PPI) 402 402 Hardware Processor octa-core octa-core Processor make Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 RAM 6GB 6GB Internal storage 128GB 128GB Expandable storage Yes Yes Expandable storage type microSD microSD Expandable storage up to (GB) 2 2 Camera Rear camera 12-megapixel + 16-megapixel 12-megapixel (f/1.8) Front camera 8-megapixel + 8-megapixel 8-megapixel (f/2.2) Rear autofocus Laser autofocus Rear flash Yes Software Operating system Android Oreo Android Oreo Skin HTC Sirin OS Connectivity Wi-Fi Yes Yes GPS Yes Yes Bluetooth Yes, v 5.00 Yes, v 5.00 Number of SIMs 1 1 Wi-Fi standards supported 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac NFC Yes Yes Sensors Proximity sensor Yes Yes Accelerometer Yes Yes Ambient light sensor Yes Yes Gyroscope Yes Yes Sim 1 SIM Type Nano-SIM Nano-SIM HW Wallet Type Software True Cold Storage Solution TrustZone / Trusted UI MCU + Secure Element + FPGA + Secondary Display Blockchain Features Tokens Bitcoin, Ethereum, ERC20 (25 tokens), and ERC721 Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, ERC721 Dapp Store No dCENTER Token Conversion No Yes Cyber Protection Features IPS, IDS Hardened OS No Yes CCN also attended the FINNEYs release party in Barcelona, Spain, in late November and was able to spend some hands-on time with the SIRIN FINNEY. CCN was able to take a close look at the blockchain phone with its safe-screen and native cryptocurrency cold-storage wallet, native cryptocurrency exchange, decentralized application (dApp) store, and Android-based SIRIN OS. The HTC Exodus 1 was demonstrated in early December at Slush 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. CCN is also talking to HTCs Phil Chen for his insight on the market, HTCs plans, and the performance of the Exodus 1 so far. Featured image from Shutterstock. Nimrod May photograph from Twitter. The post Exclusive Interview: Whats Really Happening at SIRIN Labs? appeared first on CCN. If you have been looking for Large Cap Blend funds, a place to start could be Fidelity Stock Selector Allocation Cap (FDSSX). FDSSX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective FDSSX is classified in the Large Cap Blend segment by Zacks, which is an area full of potential. Targeting companies with market caps of more than $10 billion, Large Cap Blend mutual funds offer a stable investment choice; these funds are perfect for investors with a " buy and hold " mindset. Since blended funds mix large, more established firms into their portfolios, investors are exposed to both value and growth opportunities. History of Fund/Manager FDSSX finds itself in the Fidelity family, based out of Boston, MA. Fidelity Stock Selector Allocation Cap made its debut in September of 1990, and since then, FDSSX has accumulated about $8.48 billion in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund's current manager is a team of investment professionals. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund carries a 5-year annualized total return of 9.76%, and is in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 10.9%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. FDSSX's standard deviation over the past three years is 10.61% compared to the category average of 8.72%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 10.91% compared to the category average of 8.91%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. In FDSSX's case, the fund lost 52.92% in the most recent bear market and underperformed its peer group by 3.32%. This might suggest that the fund is a worse choice than its peers during a bear market. Story continues Even still, the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.05, so investors should note that it is hypothetically more volatile than the market at large. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. The fund has produced a negative alpha over the past 5 years of -1.65, which shows that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Examining the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. As of the last filing date, the mutual fund has 80.58% of its assets in stocks and it has a negligible amount of assets in foreign securities. Turnover is about 12%, so those in charge of the fund make fewer trades than comparable funds. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, FDSSX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.68% compared to the category average of 0.98%. FDSSX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500, investors should also note that there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Fidelity Stock Selector Allocation Cap ( FDSSX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Fidelity Stock Selector Allocation Cap ( FDSSX ) looks like a good potential choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Large Cap Blend funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare FDSSX to its peers as well for additional information. Zacks provides a full suite of tools to help you analyze your portfolio - both funds and stocks - in the most efficient way possible. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FDSSX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Tesco needs to monetise spare space in its Extra stores. Source: Ed Reeve/VIEW/REX/Shutterstock A barber shop double act is set to rake in a cool 5m after striking a deal with Tesco to open dozens of outlets in its stores. Brothers Darran and Leigh Gould already operate 19 Gould Barbers concessions at Tesco stores located in the east of England, the home counties and the Midlands, and now they have been given the green light by Tesco to open as many as 50 more. According to Darran, the pair, who opened their first Tesco outlet in 2016, were invited to Tescos head office, where they were told that the chain had been looking at the barber concept for a while and wanted to extend the partnership in order to fill space in its almost 18,000,000 sq ft Tesco Extra stores. READ MORE: Is Tesco a buy right now? The partnership has so far seen Gould Barbers revenue rocket from 500,000 to 3m last year, and this new expansion could see them hit 5m in 2019. The growth could also create between 300 and 400 new jobs for people in the UK. Darran said that Gould Barbers has been so successful because it is accessible and not exclusionary, unlike the increasingly elitist salons that have emerged in recent years that seem to cater specifically to hipsters. Weve been successful because were not the cool and trendy type thats popped up everywhere that serves you drinks, he said. We cater for everyone mothers, OAPs, everyone. Also, with Tesco, the opening times and free parking are a huge plus for someone looking for a haircut. READ MORE: Volkswagen and Tesco to build UKs biggest free car-charging network He added: Tesco have been very supportive in helping us to develop and grow our business from a small family owned barber shop to a national chain. It has been an incredible journey. Tesco is just one of many major UK supermarkets and departments stores trying to monetise excess space by leasing out extra capacity to other retailers in recent years. Since 2015, many Argos stores have been launched inside Sainsburys supermarkets. The Zacks Oil-Energy Sector has taken a beating this year, falling almost 20% year to date, amid various challenges including volatility in oil prices, U.S.-China trade tussle, oversupplied market and weakening demand outlook. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) started the year just above $60 per barrel of oil and touched multi-year highs of more than $76 in early October. However, the rally was pretty short-lived, with the commodity plunging more than 40% since then on fears of supply glut and economic headwinds. Despite crude being on an upward trajectory for most part of 2018 and shale producers still reaping profits, the picture for the oilfield services players has not been quite rosy. The industry has struggled with forced efficiencies, reduced day rates and diminishing backlogs, which affected earnings and revenues of most companies. In fact, amid various headwinds, shares of Halliburton Company HAL the worlds second largest oilfield services company have declined 48.6% year to date compared with the industrys decline of 44.6%. Factors Plaguing Halliburton Considering the fact that Halliburton derives most of its revenues from North American operations, pipeline takeaway constraints in the Permian are primarily impacting the stocks prospects. Notably, on Halliburtons second-quarter call, management had warned investors that a slowdown in production growth in the Permian Basin due to infrastructural bottlenecks will weigh on the companys earnings for the remainder of 2018. In fact, very recently, Schlumberger Limited SLB the worlds largest oilfield service player warned of weakness in the North American hydraulic fracturing market, which is likely to impact its revenues till the first half of 2019. This has further weakened the outlook for Halliburton as North American business constitutes the major chunk of the firms revenues. Basically, transportation bottlenecks in the Permian Basin have forced domestic producers to cut down on their production and spending levels, dampening the demand for Halliburtons market-leading hydraulic fracturing services in North America. Halliburton remains heavily levered to changes in the overall energy price environment, and the recent pullback in oil prices is likely to cause more trouble for the stock. These price headwinds and Permian pipeline pinch are adding to the woes grappling the stock, including the failure of its proposed merger with Baker Hughes that is still causing problems for its balance sheet. The deal was called off in early 2016, forcing Halliburton to book $3.5 billion in termination fees one of the largest of these charges in U.S. corporate history. As a result, Halliburton is now facing a stretched balance sheet, representing a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 53.6%, which is more than double the industry average of 24.0%. Notably, we also notice weakness in the valuation metrics of the stock as its EV/EBITDA ratio stands at 5.76 compared with the industrys 5.29. Consequently, this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock has been witnessing downward revisions lately. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the companys earnings in 2019 has declined 14 cents to $2.03 per share in the past 30 days. Hence, this further limits the companys upside potential. Moreover, the companys 2019 projected earnings per share growth rate of 9.1% is lower than the industry average of 23.7%. Estimates are not on Halliburtons side either, with six analysts revising their estimates downward in the past 30 days for this year. Hence, the stock does not look promising at present. Buy These 4 Oilfield Service Stocks Instead With takeaway capacity concerns aggravating, many producers have now become reluctant to increase their spending levels until the takeaway problem is sorted. While there are several Permian pipeline projects lined up, it will definitely take a year or more for everything to settle in place. Reduced spending, lower production activities along with falling oil prices are likely to hit the oilfield services players once again. Therefore, the overall scenario does not look very encouraging for Zacks Oil and Gas - Field Services industry as of now. Unfortunately, the Oil And Gas - Field Services industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank #189, which places it in the bottom 27% of more than 250 Zacks industries, and good options look sparse right now. Hence, we suggest investors looking at this specific industry to broaden their search. Below we have zeroed in on stocks from the broader oil and energy space. These stocks currently carry a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and flaunt a VGM Score of A or B. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Unit Corporation UNT: It is an integrated energy company with operations including exploration and production, midstream gathering and processing, and a drilling rig business. Thjs Tulsa, OK-based stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of A. The company has an expected earnings growth of 64.7% for the next year. Over 60 days, the company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 increase 44.6%. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation COG: It is engaged in high-impact natural gas-focused drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The Houston, TX-based stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a VGM Score of B. The company has an expected earnings growth of 63.4% for the next year. Over the past 60 days, the company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 increase 15.2%. SilverBow Resources, Inc. SBOW: This Houston, TX-headquartered oil and gas explorer focused on the Eagle Ford shale located in South Texas has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. The company has an expected earnings growth of 67.3% for the next year. Over the past 60 days, the company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 increase 18.5%. Archrock, Inc. AROC: Archrock is a leading player in the natural gas compression and transmission business. The Houston, TX-based company carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a VGM Score of A. The company has an expected earnings growth of 48.2% for the next year. Over the past 60 days, Archrock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 increase 3.8%. In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 top tickers to buy and hold for the entirety of 2019? These 10 are painstakingly handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks poised to outperform in the year ahead. Be among the first to see the new Zacks Top 10 Stocks >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Unit Corporation (UNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Schlumberger Limited (SLB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Halliburton Company (HAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Archrock, Inc. (AROC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG) : Free Stock Analysis Report SilverBow Resources Inc. (SBOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Nate Raymond BOSTON (Reuters) - The former chief executive of Insys Therapeutics Inc has agreed to plead guilty to participating in a scheme to bribe doctors to prescribe a powerful opioid medication in order to boost its sales, U.S. prosecutors said on Wednesday. Michael Babich, who resigned as the Arizona-based drugmaker's CEO in 2015 and was due to face trial next month, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud charges, federal prosecutors in Boston disclosed in a court filing. Five former Insys executives and managers indicted along with Babich, including John Kapoor, the company's founder and former chairman, remain scheduled to go on trial in late January. They have pleaded not guilty. The terms of Babich's plea deal were not disclosed, and it was unclear whether he would agree to cooperate with prosecutors and testify at that trial, as has another former Insys executive who recently pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors requested a Jan. 9 plea hearing. A lawyer for Babich, 42, declined to comment. The case centers on Subsys, Insys' under-the-tongue spray for managing pain in cancer patients. It contains fentanyl, an opioid 100 times stronger than morphine. Prosecutors allege that from 2012 to 2015, Kapoor, Babich and others conspired to bribe doctors in exchange for prescribing their patients Subsys. Prosecutors said they also defrauded insurers into paying for Subsys. Prosecutors allege Insys paid doctors kickbacks in the form of fees to participate in speaker programs ostensibly meant to educate medical professionals about Subsys that were actually shams. The case has been brought amid a national opioid addiction epidemic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids were involved in around 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017. Babich, who was originally indicted in 2016, is married to a former Insys sales representative, Natalie Babich, who in 2017 pleaded guilty to conspiring to pay kickbacks and became a government witness. Story continues She testified this month at the trial of Christopher Clough, a former physician assistant in New Hampshire accused of accepting kickbacks from Insys. A federal jury in Concord, New Hampshire convicted Clough on Dec. 18. In August, Insys said it had agreed to settle a related U.S. Justice Department probe for at least $150 million. (Reporting by Nate Raymond; editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Rosalba O'Brien) Gerald Champion Regional Medical Centre in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where Customs and Border Protection reported the death of an eight-year-old migrant from Guatemala - AFP An eight-year-old boy from Guatemala has died in US government custody, becoming the second migrant child to pass away while in the administrations care this month. The US authorities did not name the child but a US congressman and Guatemala official confirmed he was called Felipe Gomez Alonzo. Felipe had begun to feel unwell on Christmas Eve and was taken to hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with his father, according to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He was diagnosed with a fever, given drugs and initially released but returned later on Christmas Eve once he begun vomiting and feeling nauseous. He then passed away. The exact cause of the death was not announced. A Guatemalan official told the Associated Press that the boys father said they had been travelling to Tennessee and that his son had been in "perfect health". Relatives and friends of the family carry the coffin of Guatemalan seven-year-old Jakelin Caal, Credit: AFP Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he had talked to the father, 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, by telephone about what happened. The death came just weeks after another Guatemalan, 7-year-old Jakelin Caal, died in a hospital shortly after being apprehended by border agents. The girl had died of dehydration and shock after crossing from Mexico into the United States illegally with her father. The CBP said it is conducting new medical checks on every child in its custody after Felipes death. The agency said it is "considering options for surge medical assistance" from the US Coast Guard and potentially other departments. Joaquin Castro, a US congressman and chairman elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said he was deeply saddened by the news of a second death. A girl from Guatemala, part of the Central American migrant caravan, plays with a doll near the US-Mexico border fence Credit: AFP Mr Castro said in a statement: Many questions remain unanswered, including how many children have died in CBP custody. With two deaths that we know about just in the last few weeks, Congress will continue to press the Department of Homeland Security until we get answers to all our questions. Story continues Earlier this year, Donald Trump, the US president, faced a fierce backlash over his administrations policy of separating children of illegal migrants from their parents when they cross into America together. The policy was used as the Trump administration implemented a strategy of extreme vetting of migrants. The US president eventually signed an executive order ending family separation. An Associated Press investigation found this month that most of the 14,300 migrant toddlers, children and teens in US care had been placed in detention centers and residential facilities packed with hundreds or thousands of children. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. HLT recently announced the opening of a hotel named Hilton Wen'an in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region under its flagship brand Hilton Hotels & Resorts. The hotel, which is owned by Luneng Group Co. Ltd, will be managed by Hilton. This 227-roomed hotel, offering Hiltons signature services, lies in close proximity to the Beijing Daxing International Airport and Bai Yang Dian Wetland Park. The move underscores Hiltons efforts to expand in international markets and strengthen its brand name. Though the company has productively expanded in China, Latin America and Europe, it continues to face intense competition from both large hotel chains like Marriott MAR and Hyatt H as well as smaller independent local hospitality providers like Choice Hotels CHH. Consequently, shares of Hilton have declined 17.1% in the past year, better than the industrys fall of 31.6%. Expansion A Major Growth Driver Hilton continues to drive unit growth to maintain position as the fastest-growing global hospitality company. The companys continuous efforts toward expanding brands globally help increase its market share. In third-quarter 2018, the company achieved net unit growth of 14,800 rooms, marking a 24% increase from the prior-year quarter. Further, the company added 113 hotels, taking the room count to 16,100. For 2018, it projects approximately 6.5% net unit growth. It also has more rooms under construction in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific compared with any other hotel chain. We expect expansion to drive Hiltons system-wide comparable revenue per available room (RevPAR). In the third quarter, comparable RevPAR increased 2% year over year on growth in average daily rate (ADR). Also, the recent hotel addition will strengthen the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brands presence. Currently, the brand comprises more than 579 hotels in 89 countries and territories. Efforts to Fortify Loyalty Program The hotel is part of Hilton Honors, one of the largest loyalty programs in the hospitality industry. Hilton extensively focuses on expanding its loyalty program to drive occupancy and revenues. With about 82 million members, this network created an extremely valuable asset for the company. In fact, in the third quarter of 2018, more than 3.5 million members were added to Hilton Honors. In fact, the loyalty program increased occupancy in the third quarter to nearly 60%. Hilton currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Marriott International (MAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H) : Free Stock Analysis Report Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Hundreds of migrants were dropped off at a Downtown El Paso bus station late Sunday night with no forewarning to area shelters, volunteers said. And more busloads of migrants were dropped off Monday and hundreds more were expected on Christmas Day. The dropoffs came days after a partial shutdown of the federal government because of a dispute over funding for President Donald Trump's planned border wall. About 200 migrants were dropped off Sunday night by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at the Greyhound bus station at 200 W. San Antonio. On Monday morning, vehicles carrying the migrants dropped off Sunday trickled in to the bus station parking lot, dropping off families who had made contact with their relatives in the United States. Families, some with toddlers, walked into the bus station carrying their belongings in trash bags and reusable totes. But by Monday afternoon, hundreds more migrants were being released at the bus station. About 50 were dropped off early Monday afternoon, and then at least 150 were released later that day. U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke was at a park near the bus station Downtown, helping hand out food to incoming migrants. Officials estimated about 170 migrants were dropped off while he was there. O'Rourke said that on Sunday he spoke to the director of ICE, who said the unannounced releases were mistakes. ICE made a mistake yesterday," O'Rourke said Monday. "I don't think it was intentional. I think they made a mistake in not alerting the community. A second wave of migrants were released by ICE in Downtown El Paso late Monday afternoon. The release followed about 50 being dropped off at the Greyhound bus station earlier in the day, and about 200 being dropped off at the bus station Sunday night. ORourke said El Pasoans have stepped up to help provide service and donations for the incoming migrants. El Paso by some measures is one of the poorest cities in the United States, but heres El Paso stepping up and people giving, without costing the government a dime," O'Rourke said. "Its all from people in this community. U.S. Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar said about 200 more migrants were set to be released Monday, with possibly 200 more coming Christmas Day, on Tuesday. Story continues Escobar tweeted that hotel rooms are needed for the incoming migrants. "Everything keeps changing by the hour," Escobar said. More than 50 migrants were dropped off at a Downtown El Paso Greyhound bus station by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Christmas Eve. By Monday afternoon, more than 50 migrants had arrived at the bus station. Volunteers also arrived to hand out lunches, water and small toys for the children. Feliz Navidad, volunteers said as they handed out sack lunches to the men, women and children arriving Monday afternoon at the Greyhound bus station. Children smiled as they were handed stuffed animals and other toys. The Grajeda-Montes family of El Paso brought 44 sack lunches and when they ran out, they went to buy hamburgers. We know there is a lot of need, said Adolfo Grajeda, who with his wife, son and daughter handed out food. Hundreds of asylum seekers were dropped off Sunday night at the Greyhound bus station in Downtown El Paso before accommodations were made by Annunciation House. Many of the migrants were taken Monday morning back to the Greyhound station to arrange for travel. The family said they were motivated by their Catholic faith to help others and have handed out food to migrants at the bus station before. We began service work to welcome refugees because they are like an extension of God and we have to help them and accompany them, daughter Gabriela Grajeda Montes said. They are going to spend Christmas outside their country, far away from their family and without anything. They only have what they have on. We need to show solidarity with those who are less fortunate than us, she said. Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, said ICE has dropped off migrants without warning before but that usually it contacts local nonprofits before doing so. "There's no need for it. These are folks who are confused and don't know where they are," Cobrett said. "Many haven't bathed in days, many are hungry. We've seen cases in the past where people need medical attention." On social media, some El Pasoans put out calls for supplies, donations and volunteers. Lorri Burnett, a volunteer at Nazareth Hall, was spending her Christmas Eve driving migrants from a shelter back to the Greyhound station, where they boarded a bus and traveled to be reunited with families or friends in the United States. "They've been through so much," Burnett said. "All we're there for is to love them and provide them some safety." Burnett said Annunciation House, which took in the migrants and distributed people to about seven shelters, was not given advance notice that the migrants would be released at the bus station. She said the shelter generally gets daily notices from ICE about the number of individuals who will be released to Annunciation House, which helps immigrants passing through the area. Burnett added that the individuals coming to Annunciation House have been processed by ICE and have their papers, an ankle monitor and a court date and are able to cross through Border Patrol checkpoints. More: El Paso's Annunciation House to help 30 parents separated from immigrant children More: Body of migrant girl who died at US border in El Paso returns to Guatemala Hundreds of asylum seekers were dropped off Sunday night at the Greyhound bus station in Downtown El Paso before accommodations were made by Annunciation House. Many of the migrants were taken Monday morning back to the Greyhound bus station to arrange for travel. Ruben Garcia, executive director of Annunciation House, did not immediately return a call seeking information. Calls to ICE were not returned. Because the federal government is shut down, employees in nonessential positions, such as some public affairs positions, are not working. An email to ICE bounced back with an automatic reply stating the agency's public affairs officers by law cannot work or respond to media inquiries during the shutdown. Sara Sanchez can be reached at 546-6147; ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; @siempresarita on Twitter. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ICE drops off hundreds of migrants at Downtown El Paso bus station; shelters scramble Monday, January 11, 2016 at 8:56AM How do you scale a system from one user to more than 11 million users? Joel Williams, Amazon Web Services Solutions Architect, gives an excellent talk on just that subject: AWS re:Invent 2015 Scaling Up to Your First 10 Million Users. If you are an advanced AWS user this talk is not for you, but its a great way to get started if you are new to AWS, new to the cloud, or if you havent kept up with with constant stream of new features Amazon keeps pumping out. As you might expect since this is a talk by Amazon that Amazon services are always front and center as the solution to any problem. Their platform play is impressive and instructive. It's obvious by how the pieces all fit together Amazon has done a great job of mapping out what users need and then making sure they have a product in that space. Some of the interesting takeaways: Start with SQL and only move to NoSQL when necessary. A consistent theme is take components and separate them out. This allows those components to scale and fail independently. It applies to breaking up tiers and creating microservices. Only invest in tasks that differentiate you as a business, don't reinvent the wheel. Scalability and redundancy are not two separate concepts, you can often do both at the same time. There's no mention of costs. That would be a good addition to the talk as that is one of the major criticisms of AWS solutions. The Basics AWS is in 12 regions around the world. A Region is a physical location in the world where Amazon has multiple Availability Zones. There are regions in: North America; South America; Europe; Middle East; Africa; Asia Pacific. An Availability Zone (AZ) is generally a single datacenter, though they can be constructed out of multiple datacenters. Each AZ is separate enough that they have separate power and Internet connectivity. The only connection between AZs is a low latency network. AZs can be 5 or 15 miles apart, for example. The network is fast enough that your application can act like all AZs are in the same datacenter. Each Region has at least two Availability Zones. There are 32 AZs total. Using AZs its possible to create a high availability architecture for your application. At least 9 more Availability Zones and 4 more Regions are coming in 2016. AWS has 53 edge locations around the world. Edge locations are used by CloudFront, Amazons Content Distribution Network (CDN) and Route53, Amazons managed DNS server. Edge locations enable users to access content with a very low latency no matter where they are in the world. Building Block Services AWS has created a number of services that use multiple AZs internally to be highly available and fault tolerant. Here is a list of what services are available where. You can use these services in your application, for a fee, without having to worry about making them highly available yourself. Some services that exist within an AZ: CloudFront, Route 53, S3, DynamoDB, Elastic Load Balancing, EFS, Lambda, SQS, SNS, SES, SWF. A highly available architecture can be created using services even though they exist within a single AZ. 1 User In this scenario you are the only user and you want to get a website running. Your architecture will look something like: Run on a single instance, maybe a type t2.micro. Instance types comprise varying combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking capacity and give you the flexibility to choose the appropriate mix of resources for your applications. The one instance would run the entire web stack, for example: web app, database, management, etc. Use Amazon Route 53 for the DNS. Attach a single Elastic IP address to the instance. Works great, for a while. Vertical Scaling You need a bigger box. Simplest approach to scaling is choose a larger instance type. Maybe a c4.8xlarge or m3.2xlarge, for example. This approach is called vertical scaling. Just stop your instance and choose a new instance type and youre running with more power. There is a wide mix of different hardware configurations to choose from. You can have a system with 244 gigs of RAM (2TB of RAM types are coming soon). Or one with 40 cores. There are High I/O instances, High CPU Instances, High storage instances. Some Amazon services come with a Provisioned IOPS option to guarantee performance. The idea is you can perhaps use a smaller instance type for your service and make use of Amazon services like DynamoDB that can deliver scalable services so you dont have to. Vertical scaling has a big problem: theres no failover, no redundancy. If the instance has a problem your website will die. All your eggs are in one basket. Eventually a single instances can only get so big. You need to do something else. Users > 10 Separate out a single host into multiple hosts One host for the web site. One host for the database. Run any database you want, but you are on the hook for the database administration. Using separate hosts allows the web site and the database to be scaled independently of each other. Perhaps your database will need a bigger machine than your web site, for example. Or instead of running your own database you could use a database service. Are you a database admin? Do your really want to worry about backups? High availability? Patches? Operating systems? A big advantage of using a service is you can have a multi Availability Zone database setup with a single click. You wont have to worry about replication or any of that sort of thing. Your database will be highly available and reliable. As you might imagine Amazon has several fully managed database services to sell you: Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service). There are many options: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Amazon Aurora. Amazon DynamoDB. A NoSQL managed database. Amazon Redshift. A petabyte scale data warehouse system. More Amazon Aurora: Automatic storage scaling up to 64TB. You no longer have to provision the storage for your data. Up to 15 read read-replicas Continuous (incremental) backups to S3. 6-way replication across 3 AZs. This helps you handle failure. MySQL compatible. Start with a SQL database instead of a NoSQL database. The suggestion is to start with a SQL database. The technology is established. Theres lots of existing code, communities, support groups, books, and tools. You arent going to break a SQL database with your first 10 million users. Not even close. (unless your data is huge). Clear patterns to scalability. When might you need start with a NoSQL database? If you need to store > 5 TB of data in year one or you have an incredibly data intensive workload. Your application has super low-latency requirements. You need really high throughput. You need to really tweak the IOs you are getting both on the reads and the writes. You dont have any relational data. Users > 100 Use a separate host for the web tier. Store the database on Amazon RDS. It takes care of everything. Thats all you have to do. Users > 1000 As architected your application has availability issues. If the host for your web service fails then your web site goes down. So you need another web instance in another Availability Zone. Thats OK because the latency between the AZs is in the low single digit milliseconds, almost like they right next to each other. You also need to a slave database to RDS that runs in another AZ. If theres a problem with the master your application will automatically switch over to the slave. There are no application changes necessary on the failover because your application always uses the same endpoint. An Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) is added to the configuration to load balance users between your two web host instances in the two AZs. Elastic Load Balancer (ELB): ELB is a highly available managed load balancer. The ELB exists in all AZs. Its a single DNS endpoint for your application. Just put it in Route 53 and it will load balance across your web host instances. The ELB has Health Checks that make sure traffic doesnt flow to failed hosts. It scales without your doing anything. If it sees additional traffic it scales behind the scenes both horizontally and vertically. You dont have to manage it. As your applications scales so is the ELB. Users > 10,000s - 100,000s The previous configuration has 2 instances behind the ELB, in practice you can have 1000s of instances behind the ELB. This is horizontal scaling. Youll need to add more read replicas to the database, to RDS. This will take load off the write master. Consider performance and efficiency by lightening the load off your web tier servers by moving some of the traffic elsewhere. Move static content in your web app to Amazon S3 and Amazon CloudFront. CloudFront is the Amazons CDN that stores your data in the 53 edge locations across the world. Amazon S3 is an object base store. Its not like EBS, its not storage thats attached to an EC2 instance, its an object store, not a block store. Its a great place to store static content, like javascript, css, images, videos. This sort of content does not need to sit on an EC2 instance. Highly durable, 11 9s of reliability. Infinitely scalable, throw as much data as it as you want. Customers store multiple petabytes of data in S3. Objects of up to 5TB in size are supported. Encryption is supported. You can use Amazons encryption, your encryption, or an encryption service. Amazon CloudFront is cache for your content. It caches content at the edge locations to provide your users the lowest latency access possible. Without a CDN your users will experience higher latency access to your content. Your servers will also be under higher load as they are serving the content as well as handling the web requests. One customer needed to serve content at 60 Gbps. The web tier didnt even know that was going on, CloudFront handled it all. You can also lighten the load by shifting session state off your web tier. Store the session state in ElastiCache or DynamoDB. This approach also sets your system up to support auto scaling in the future. You can also lighten the load by caching data from your database into ElastiCache. Your database doesnt need to handle all the gets for data. A cache can handle a lot of that work and leaves the database to handle more important traffic. Amazon DynamoDB - A managed NoSQL database You provision the throughput you want. You dial up the read and write performance you want to pay for. Supports fast, predictable performance. Fully distributed and fault tolerant. It exists in multiple Availability Zones. Its a key-value store. JSON is supported. Documents up to 400KB in size are supported. Amazon Elasticache - a managed Memcached or Redis Managing a memcached cluster isnt making you more money so let Amazon do that for you. Thats the pitch. The clusters are automatically scaled for you. Its a self-healing infrastructure, if nodes fail new nodes are started automatically. You can also lighten the load by shifting dynamic content to CloudFront. A lot of people know CloudFront can handle static content, like files, but it can also handle some dynamic content. This topic is not discussed further in the talk, but heres a link. If you provision enough capacity to always handle your peak traffic load, Black Friday, for example, you are wasting money. It would be better to match compute power with demand. Thats what Auto Scaling lets you do, the automatic resizing of compute clusters. You can define the minimum and maximum size of your pools. As a user you decide whats the smallest number of instances in your cluster and the largest number of instances. CloudWatch is a management service thats embedded into all applications. CloudWatch events drive scaling. Are you going to scale on CPU utilization? Are you going to scale on latency? On network traffic? You can also push your own custom metrics into CloudWatch. If you want to scale on something application specific you can push that metric into CloudWatch and then tell Auto Scaling you want to scale on that metric. Users > 500,000+ The addition from the previous configuration is auto scaling groups are added to the web tier. The auto scaling group includes the two AZs, but can expand to 3 AZs, up to as many as are in the same region. Instances can pop up in multiple AZs not just for scalability, but for availability. The example has 3 web tier instances in each AZ, but it could be thousands of instances. You could say you want a minimum of 10 instances and a maximum of a 1000. ElastiCache is used to offload popular reads from the database. DynamoDB is used to offload Session data. You need to add monitoring, metrics and logging. Host level metrics. Look at a single CPU instance within an autoscaling group and figure out whats going wrong. Aggregate level metrics. Look at metrics on the Elastic Load Balancer to get feel for performance of the entire set of instances. Log analysis. Look at what the application is telling you using CloudWatch logs. CloudTrail helps you analyze and manage logs. External Site Performance. Know what your customers are seeing as end users. Use a service like New Relic or Pingdom. You need to know what your customers are saying. Is their latency bad? Are they getting an error when they go to your web page? Squeeze as much performance as you can from your configuration. Auto Scaling can help with that. You dont want systems that are at 20% CPU utilization. Automation The infrastructure is getting big, it can scale to 1000s of instances. We have read replicas, we have horizontal scaling, but we need some automation to help manage it all, we dont want to manage each individual instance. Theres a hierarchy of automation tools. Do it yourself: Amazon EC2, AWS CloudFormation. Higher-level services: AWS Elastic Beanstalk, AWS OpsWorks AWS Elastic Beanstalk: manages the infrastructure for your application automatically. Its convenient but theres not a lot of control. AWS OpsWorks: an environment where you build your application in layers, you use Chef recipes to manage the layers of your application. Also enables the ability to do Continuous Integration and deployment. AWS CloudFormation: been around the longest. Offers the most flexibility because it offers a templatized view of your stack. It can be used to build your entire stack or just components of the stack. If you want to update your stack you update the Cloud Formation template it will update just that one piece of your application. Lots of control, but less convenient. AWS CodeDeploy: Deploys your code to a fleet of EC2 instances. Can deploy to one or thousands of instances. Code Deploy can point to an auto scaling configuration so code is deployed to a group of instances. Can also be used in conjunction with Chef and Puppet. Decouple Infrastructure Use SOA/microservices. Take components from your tiers and separate them out. Create separate services like when you separated the web tier from the database tier. The individual services can then be scaled independently. This gives you a lot of flexibility for scaling and high availability. SOA is a key component of the architectures built by Amazon. Loose coupling sets you free. You can scale and fail components independently. If a worker node fails in pulling work from SQS does it matter? No, just start another one. Things are going to fail, lets build an architecture that handles failure. Design everything as a black box. Decouple interactions. Favor services with built-in redundancy and scalability rather than building your own. Dont Reinvent the Wheel Only invest in tasks that differentiate you as a business. Amazon has a lot of services that are inherently fault tolerant because they span multiple AZs. For example: queuing, email, transcoding, search, databases, monitoring, metrics, logging, compute. You dont have to build these yourself. SQS: queueing service. The first Amazon service offered. It spans multiple AZs so its fault tolerant. Its scalable, secure, and simple. Queuing can help your infrastructure by helping you pass messages between different components of your infrastructure. Take for example a Photo CMS. The systems that collects the photos and processes them should be two different systems. They should be able to scale independently. They should be loosely coupled. Ingest a photo, put it in queue, and workers can pull photos off the queue and do something with them. AWS Lambda: lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers. Great tool for allowing you to decouple your application. In the Photo CMS example Lambda can respond to S3 events so when a S3 file is added the Lambda function to process is automatically triggered. Weve done away with EC2. It scales out for you and theres no OS to manage. Users > 1,000,000+ Reaching a million users and above requires bits of all the previous points: Multi-AZ Elastic Load Balancing between tiers. Not just on the web tier, but also on the application tier, data tier, and any other tier you have. Auto Scaling Service Oriented Architecture Serve Content Smartly with S3 and CloudFront Put caching in front of the DB Move state off the web tier. Use Amazon SES to send email. Use CloudWatch for monitoring. Users > 10,000,000+ As we get bigger well hit issues in the data tier. You will potentially start to run into issues with your database around contention with the write master, which basically means you can only send so much write traffic to one server. How do you solve it? Federation Sharding Moving some functionality to other types of DBs (NoSQL, graph, etc) Federation - splitting into multiple DBs based on function For example, create a Forums Database, a User Database, a Products Database. You might have had these in a single database before, now spread them out. The different databases can be scaled independently of each other. The downsides: you cant do cross database queries; it delays getting to the next strategy, which is sharding. Sharding - splitting one dataset across multiple hosts More complex at the application layer, but theres no practical limit on scalability. For example, in a Users Database of the users might be sent to one shard, and the last third to another shard, and another shard to another third. Moving some functionality to other types of DBs Start thinking about a NoSQL database. If you have data that doesnt require complex joins, like say a leaderboard, rapid ingest of clickstream/log data, temporary data, hot tables, metadata/lookup tables, then consider moving it to a NoSQL database. This means they can be scaled independently of each other. Users > 11 Million Scaling is an iterative process. As you get bigger there's always more you can do. Fine tune your application. More SOA of features/functionality. Go from Multi-AZ to multi-region. Start to build custom solutions to solve your particular problem that nobody has ever done before. If you need to serve a billion customers you may need custom solutions. Deep analysis of your entire stack. In Review Use a multi-AZ infrastructure for reliability. Make use of self-scaling services like ELB, S3, SQS, SNS, DynamoDB, etc. Build in redundancy at every level. Scalability and redundancy are not two separate concepts, you can often do both at the same time. Start with a traditional relational SQL database. Cache data both inside and outside your infrastructure. Use automation tools in your infrastructure. Make sure you have good metrics/monitoring/logging in place. Make sure you are finding out what your customers experience with your application. Split tiers into individual services (SOA) so they can scale and fail independently of each other. Use Auto Scaling once youre ready for it. Dont reinvent the wheel, use a managed service instead of coding your own, unless its absolutely necessary. Move to NoSQL if and when it makes sense. By Aftab Ahmed and Sankalp Phartiyal NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - India will ban e-commerce companies such as Amazon.com and Walmart -owned Flipkart Group from selling products from companies in which they have an equity interest. In a statement, the government also said that the companies will be prevented from entering into exclusive agreements with sellers. The new rules will be applicable from February 1. "An entity having equity participation by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, or having control on its inventory by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, will not be permitted to sell its products on the platform run by such marketplace entity," the commerce ministry said in a statement. E-commerce companies can make bulk purchases through their wholesale units or other group companies that in turn sell the products to select sellers, such as their affiliates or other companies with which they have agreements. Those sellers can then sell the products to other companies or direct to consumers, often at attractively low prices. The new regulations follow complaints from Indian retailers and traders, who say the giant e-commerce companies are using their control over inventory from their affiliates, and through exclusive sales agreements, to create an unfair marketplace that allows them to sell some products at very low prices. The All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA) in October filed a petition with the anti-trust body Competition Commission of India (CCI) alleging that Amazon favours merchants that it partly owns, such as Cloudtail and Appario. The lobby group filed a similar petition against Flipkart in May, alleging violation of competition rules through preferential treatment for select sellers. [nL4N1WO1Y1] Wednesday's notification also said that the cash back that customers get as an incentive while online shopping should not be based on whether the product was purchased from an affiliate of the platform or not. The new rules said that services provided to vendors on an e-commerce platform and by that entity's affiliates should be done so at arm's length and in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. New rules will appease small traders and farmers who fear that U.S. companies are making a back door entry into India's retail market and could squeeze out small corner shops that dominate Indian retailing. The Confederation of All India Traders in a statement said that if the order is implemented in full then malpractices, predatory pricing policies and deep discounting by e-commerce players will no longer occur. CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said the new rules will put an embargo on the tactics adopted by the global players to control and dominate retail trade in India through e-commerce. In May, CAIT had raised objections to Walmart's $16 billion acquisition of Flipkart saying the deal would create unfair competition and result in predatory pricing. The new regulations build on existing rules under which foreign investors can acquire 100 percent of e-commerce companies, with the exception of a model based on inventory from which they are barred. Amazon India said it is currently evaluating the new rules, while Flipkart did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Writing by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Martin Howell) Models present creations during the CHANEL Paris New York Metiers dart 2018/19 Show. Photo: REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs The discrimination women face at work comes in many different forms. Studies have shown women are far more likely than men to be judged at work because of their size , with many significantly underpaid or overlooked simply because they are overweight. In recent years, researchers have begun to dig deeper into discrimination based on appearance and its detrimental impact on women at work. But there are some professions in which discrimination, particularly based on appearance, still prevails. One of the key culprits is the fashion industry. Despite the issue of body diversity being brought up time and time again by the likes of Ashley Graham, the industry continues to be dominated by thin women. Of the 52 models featured in the Victorias Secrets 2017 New York show, not a single one was plus-size. None of the models announced for this years show are plus-size either. READ MORE: How women, not men, face discrimination at work for being overweight According to Fashion Spot, runways in autumn 2018 saw the first regression in plus-size castings since 2016, with just 30 plus-size models across London, New York, Paris and Milan. Perhaps most importantly, this lack of body diversity isnt just felt in the fashion industry. It sends a message that only thin people can be fashionable, or wear nice clothes a message which is felt on the high street too, as shops like Topshop, Zara and Urban Outfitters dont cater for those above a size 18. Some progress has been made, but its not enough. Models like Tess Holliday, who appeared on the front cover of Cosmopolitan, are in the minority and still face criticism and abuse for their size. And its not just about weight, either. Research by Fashion Spot showed that in 2016, 78.2% of the models who appeared in spring adverts were white. Only 8.3% of the models were black, 4% were Asian and only 3.8% were Hispanic. In August, journalist Lindsay Peoples Wagner spoke to more than 100 black people in the fashion industry for an article in the New York Times , all of whom shared stories of being marginalised and discriminated against. Story continues The film industry also has a long, uncomfortable history of fat-shaming, which continues to this day. It is usually thin women who are cast in mainstream roles in Hollywood films, with many actors told to lose weight. Women who are of average or who plus-size, may be pigeon-holed into roles defined by their weight. In 2016, the late Carrie Fisher spoke out about being asked to lose weight before the making of the very first Star Wars film in 1977. Last year, Jennifer Lawrence revealed she was forced to do a humiliating naked line-up with other women. READ MORE: Why hepeating prevents women from moving up the career ladder When I was much younger and starting out, I was told by producers of a film to lose 15 pounds in two weeks, Lawrence said at Elles Women in Hollywood event, revealing that another actress before her had been fired for not losing the weight fast enough. Women of colour are still marginalised in Hollywood, despite the discourse around diversity in film. A report by the University of Southern Californias Annenberg Inclusion Initiative released earlier this year found that in the 100 top movies of 2017, 29.3% of characters were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, 2.5% were characters with disabilities and less than 1% of all characters were from the LGBT community. In addition, female characters were more than twice as likely as male characters to be shown in sexually revealing clothing, partially naked or referenced as attractive. So why do some industries get away with such a lack of diversity? One argument, perhaps, is that its easy to discriminate with impunity when it comes to arbitrary requirements for weight, height or looks any underlying bias, whether its sexism or racism, is masked. What do you say when youre simply told you dont have the right look whatever that means? Weve lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So before you buy or sell AA plc (LON:AA.), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. Do Insider Transactions Matter? Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year. See our latest analysis for AA AA Insider Transactions Over The Last Year CEO & Executive Director Simon Breakwell made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK169k worth of shares at a price of UK1.19 each. So its clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. Its not at all bad to see insiders buy shares at or above current prices. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 314.07k shares worth UK333k. In total, AA insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. They paid about UK1.06 on average. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices (around UK0.69). You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Story continues LSE:AA. Insider Trading December 26th 18 AA is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insiders at AA Have Bought Stock Recently Over the last three months, weve seen significant insider buying at AA. In total, insiders bought UK164k worth of shares in that time, and we didnt record any sales whatsoever. This could be interpreted as suggesting a positive outlook. Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. AA insiders own about UK1.0m worth of shares (which is 0.2% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About AA Insiders? Its certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. While the overall levels of insider ownership are below what wed like to see, the history of transactions imply that AA insiders are reasonably well aligned, and optimistic for the future. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in AA, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer to check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Donear Industries Limited (NSE:DONEAR). Do Insider Transactions Matter? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year. Check out our latest analysis for Donear Industries The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Donear Industries While no particular insider transaction stood out, we can still look at the overall trading. In the last twelve months insiders paid 14m for 334.53k shares purchased. In total, Donear Industries insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. They paid about 42.09 on average. Id consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price, which is 35.50. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! NSEI:DONEAR Insider Trading December 26th 18 There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Donear Industries Insiders Bought Stock Recently There was some insider buying at Donear Industries over the last quarter. Vishwanath Agarwal shelled out 1.9m for shares in that time. Its good to see the insider buying, as well as the lack of recent sellers. But the amount invested in the last three months isnt enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor. Story continues Insider Ownership of Donear Industries For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Donear Industries insiders own about 1.3b worth of shares (which is 70% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Donear Industries Insiders? Its certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Donear Industries insiders are well aligned, and quite possibly think the share price is too low. One for the watchlist, at least! Along with insider transactions, I recommend checking if Donear Industries is growing revenue. This free chart of historic revenue and earnings should make that easy. Of course Donear Industries may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Weve lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So before you buy or sell Symbol Mining Limited (ASX:SL1), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. Do Insider Transactions Matter? Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Colombia University study found that insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers. Check out our latest analysis for Symbol Mining Symbol Mining Insider Transactions Over The Last Year While no particular insider transaction stood out, we can still look at the overall trading. You can see the insider transactions over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! ASX:SL1 Insider Trading December 26th 18 If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does Symbol Mining Boast High Insider Ownership? For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Symbol Mining insiders own 39% of the company, currently worth about AU$5.0m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Symbol Mining Tell Us? There havent been any insider transactions in the last three months that doesnt mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in Symbol Mining and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. Along with insider transactions, I recommend checking if Symbol Mining is growing revenue. This free chart of historic revenue and earnings should make that easy. But note: Symbol Mining may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. President Trumps relationship with the intelligence community has long been rocky, and its not likely to get much better in 2019 as special counsel Robert Muellers investigation draws to a close. While President Trump has not resorted to comparing his intelligence officers to Nazis as he did in the months prior to taking office, his public statements this past year have still riled some of the countrys longtime spies. At a joint press conference between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July, the conflict between Trump and his intelligence community escalated dramatically. Trump, alongside Putin, expressed doubt about his officials unanimous assessment that Russia had meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, hinting that there could still be other explanations and adding that Putin had adamantly denied the allegations. The press conference sparked blowback from former intelligence officials, diplomats and world leaders, even forcing Trumps own director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, to publish a statement expressing the communitys commitment to its analysis despite Trumps wavering. And when Trump decided to invite Putin for a visit to Washington afterward, the news took Coats off-guard while he was onstage at a conference. That will be special, he said in a skeptical tone. And as the year ends, the gruesome killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi Arabian officials has exposed the chasm between President Trump and the people who provide him with intelligence. While the CIA has given him strong evidence that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, was instrumental in the killing of Khashoggi (highly classified information that was leaked to several major news organizations), Trump continues to stonewall or refuse to make moves to punish the Saudis, citing close business and defense relationships between the United Stations and the Gulf kingdom. Story continues One of President Trumps most bitter relationships in his first two years in office has been with the FBI, including former Director James Comey, whom he fired, citing his lack of loyalty and involvement in investigating his 2016 campaign. Trump ramped up his tweets, attacking the FBI, the Justice Department and Mueller, and it remains to be seen whether he will try to further interfere with the special counsels probe in 2019. There are some signs that relations are improving, or at least stabilizing. In the past year, the intelligence community gained new leaders: Gen. Paul Nakasone, the new chief of the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command, whose entrance has been embraced as a way to bolster morale, as well as Gina Haspel, a 30-plus-year veteran of the CIA and the first woman to lead the spy agency. The pair have worked to take their agencies back into the shadows, protecting them from the political fray in most day-to-day interactions. Yet as 2019 begins and the 2020 presidential election grows closer, President Trump is sure to be confronted with facts from the intelligence community he may not like, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns refusal to denuclearize his country and potential ongoing attempts by Russia to meddle in U.S. or European elections. Beirut (AFP) - Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in neighbouring Syria since 2013, targeting regime forces along with their allies Iran and the Lebanese movement Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to let Iran -- which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- entrench itself militarily in the war-torn country. Here is a recap of some of the major reported Israeli strikes, which the Jewish state does not always directly confirm. - First strikes - In January 2013 Israeli planes hit a military complex near Damascus suspected of holding chemical agents, according to a US official. Israel later implicitly confirms the strike, for the first time since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. In May 2013, Israel strikes the Jamraya scientific research centre near Damascus, a weapons depot and an aircraft unit, according to a diplomat in Beirut. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor which relies on a network of sources inside the country, says 42 soldiers are killed. - Hezbollah hit - In January 2015, a raid blamed on Israel on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights kills six Hezbollah personnel and a general from Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. Hezbollah commander Samir Kantar, who spent almost 30 years in Israeli prisons, dies in a raid blamed on Israel near Damascus in December 2015, according to Hezbollah. In March 2017 Israel says it has targeted "sophisticated" weapons destined for Hezbollah near the central town of Palmyra. In December 2017, Israeli planes again target the Jamraya research centre in Damascus, along with a weapons depot, according to the Observatory. - Iranians targeted - In February 2018 Israeli raids hit Syrian and Iranian targets after an Israeli fighter jet crashes under Syrian fire. In April, Syria and its ally Russia accuse Israel of a dawn bombing raid on a Syrian airbase that kills 14 fighters, including seven Iranians. Later that month, at least 26 mostly Iranian fighters are killed in a raid Syria says bore the hallmarks of an Israeli operation. Story continues In May 2018 an attack near Damascus, blamed on Israel, kills 15 pro-regime foreign fighters including eight Iranians. Israel carries out dozens more raids that month on what it says are Iranian targets, as Iranian rocket fire hits the occupied Golan Heights. At least 27 pro-regime fighters are killed, including 11 Iranians, the Observatory says. In July, Syria accuses Israel of bombing a military position in Aleppo province. At least nine pro-regime fighters die, including three foreigners. In September, Syrian air defences responding to an alleged Israeli strike accidentally down a Russian transport aircraft with a crew of 15, sparking tensions between Israel and regime backer Moscow. Israeli bombs hit several positions near Damascus in November and December 2018. In both cases, the targets are Hezbollah or Iranian weapons depots, the Observatory says. - Israel 'determined' - On January 12, 2019, Syrian air defences shoot down Israeli missiles targeting a transport ministry warehouse at the Damascus international airport, state news agency SANA reports. Netanyahu confirms the strike and says Israel is "more determined than ever to act against Iran in Syria." On January 15, he tells Iran to remove its forces from Syria "fast" or face continued attacks. On January 20, Israel announces its Iron Dome aerial defence system has intercepted a rocket fired from Syria by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force. In response, Israeli fights jets carry out further strikes inside Syria, targeting Iranian facilities and Syrian aerial defence batteries. The Observatory says the next day that at least 11 fighters were killed in the raids. By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co will pay over $135 million to settle charges it mishandled so-called "pre-released" American Depositary Receipts (ADRS), the Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Wednesday. The regulator said the investment bank improperly provided ADRs, which are U.S. securities that represent foreign shares of foreign companies, to brokers even though the brokers and their clients lacked the corresponding foreign shares. The bank did not admit or deny the SEC's findings, but agreed to pay back ill-gotten gains and additional penalties, the SEC said. JP Morgan declined to comment. In August, the bank said it was under investigation by the SEC for its handling of ADRs. The bank is the eighth institution to face SEC charges on such a practice, according to the regulator. Its probe into ADR abuse is ongoing, it said. The SEC said that improperly providing ADRs that are not supported by underlying foreign securities can create inappropriate short-selling and dividend arbitrage. (Reporting by Pete Schroeder; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Lamar Advertising Company LAMR is making concerted efforts to incubate its business and increase market share in the U.S. outdoor advertising business. Amid increasing popularity of this advertisement medium, on account of technological advancements in the outdoor segment and its wider reach, the companys focus to expand market share is a strategic fit. Most recently, Lamar announced the acquisition of the billboard operations of Fairway Outdoor Advertisingfrom GTCR, LLC, for $418.5 million. Through this buyout, the company adds more than 8,500 high-quality billboards, including more than 135 digital displays. Further, the all-cash acquisition strengthens its position in five U.S. markets Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC, Athens, GA, and La Crosse, WI. Per management, the acquisition will be accretive for the companys 2019 revenues, contributing nearly $70 million in revenues for 2019. Additionally, projected organic sales growth of more than 5% in fourth-quarter 2018, will further boost the companys growth. Notably, Lamar anticipates to realize around $4 million in synergies in 2019 through this transaction. Furthermore, Moodys Investors Service the rating division of Moodys Corporation MCO reiterated the companys ratings following the acquisition. The rating agency believes the pro forma leverage will increase to 4x from 3.7x as of third-quarter 2018 (excluding Moody's standard lease adjustments). However, this could decrease below 4xfrom continued EBITDA growth absent future buyouts. Per Moodys, the Fairway billboardtransaction will be funded with $215 million from Lamars $450-million revolving credit facility, cash from the balance sheet,and $175 million from a new AR securitization facility which is not being rated by Moody's. These efforts of the company will likely drive long-term profitability. Furthermore, the company remains committed to share its growth with shareholders and recently announced a 5.2% hike in dividend distributions. Particularly, Lamar anticipates disbursing $3.84 per share in quarterly distributions to stockholders in 2019, an increase from $3.65 paid in 2018. Story continues Hence, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company remains well poised to capitalize on the outdoor advertising industrys encouraging prospects and benefit shareholders accordingly. Over the past six months, shares of Lamar have declined 3.9%, narrower than its industrys fall of 9.6%. Other Key Picks Other top-ranked stocks from the real-estate space include PS Business Parks, Inc. PSB and Outfront Media Inc. OUT. Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. PS Business Parks Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 FFO per share moved 1.3% north to $6.45 in the past two months. Outfront Medias FFO per share estimates for the current year has been revised 2% upward to $2.09 in two months time. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Moody's Corporation (MCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lamar Advertising Company (LAMR) : Free Stock Analysis Report PS Business Parks, Inc. (PSB) : Free Stock Analysis Report OUTFRONT Media Inc. (OUT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Liberty Property Trust LPT has been focused on disposing its non-core properties, and using the dry powder for gaining the preferred properties across the United States. Specifically, the company is aimed at growth of its industrial platform in top tier markets and financing the same through disposition of office assets. In sync with such efforts, the company disposed five office properties comprising 335,866 square feet in Malvern, PA, for $45.8 million, according to a recently-announced 2018 capital activity update. The properties which have been sold off, included 100 Chesterfield Parkway, 600 Chesterfield Parkway, 700 Chesterfield Parkway, 14 Lee Boulevard, and 12-16 Great Valley Parkway. With these transactions, the company has executed $795.2 million in sales in the current year. On the other hand, Liberty Property acquired two industrial properties, totaling 447,570 square feet in Southern California for $60.2 million. One of these is 15025 Proctor Avenue, a fully-occupied, 128,581 square foot property in City of Industry. The other is 520 E. Orange Show Road in San Bernardino. It is a 318,989-square-foot development property acquired vacant at shell completion for inventory. Notably, the company has acquired $496.7 million in industrial properties in aggregate in the current year. Moreover, Liberty Property has financed a portfolio of 13 industrial properties situated in the U.K., with a 129.5 million, 10-year, interest-only loan at 2.64%. This was in association with the companys prior-announced 111-million purchase of a 1.1 million square foot industrial portfolio in October. The loan supported repayment of short-term borrowings that were used to finance seven of those 13 properties, in addition to parts of the companys existing U.K. industrial portfolio. This expansion of the industrial real estate portfolio is a strategic fit for Liberty Property. This is because fundamentals of the industrial market remain solid, backed by growing demand for industrial properties amid economic recovery, job-market improvements and high-consumer spending, which has led to strong rent growth, high occupancy and development opportunities. Therefore, given its premium quality industrial portfolio located in upscale locations, pro-business environment and continued e-commerce demand, Liberty Property is poised to gain. In addition to Liberty Property, other REITs, including Prologis Inc. PLD, Duke Realty DRE and Terreno Realty Corp. TRNO, are expected to benefit from the same. Nevertheless, there is rising supply of industrial real estate space and this will partly dampen the robust growth momentum in rents. Also, trade tensions and rate hike add to REITs woes. Liberty Property currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The companys shares have lost 3.4% of its value in the past three months compared with its industrys decline of 7.8%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Terreno Realty Corporation (TRNO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Liberty Property Trust (LPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Duke Realty Corporation (DRE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Prologis, Inc. (PLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Londoners are leaving the capital in record numbers. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images Londoners have bought 30bn of property in other parts of the UK over the past year as record numbers of locals leave the capital, new figures show. The amount spent on new homes elsewhere by the capitals residents reached a 10-year high in 2018, according to estate agents Hamptons International. The figures suggest Londoners may be seeking better value for money or quality of life in other parts of the UK, swapping the capitals overheated property market for cheaper areas. London residents do not appear keen to stray too far, with the data suggesting 7 in 10 bought their next properties in the south-east and east of England. READ MORE: British cities with the fastest-growing house prices in 2018 But the number of Londoners heading to the Midlands or northern England has also gradually increased, from just one in 14 who left the capital in 2008 to one in five today. Yahoo Finance UK previously reported how the north-west had the highest rise in property prices last year at 4.9%, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 4.4%. The British cities with the fastest-growing markets in 2018 were Newport, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester. Official figures released earlier this year showed record numbers of Londoners were deserting the capital, with the exodus most pronounced among people in their 30s and 40s with children. READ MORE: When is the best time to buy a new home in 2019? More than 330,000 London left the city in the year up to June 2017, with Newham in east London recording the greatest outflows of any London borough. So many Londoners have moved to or bought second homes in regions like Cornwall and several towns on the southern coast that they are known as Down from Londoners or DFLs, with some locals resenting the impact on property prices. The latest Hamptons International report shows the amount spent by the average London buyer outside the capital rose in 2018 to just under 399,000. Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons International, said: Historically most people moving out of London have done so because of changing priorities, such as starting a family or generally wanting a slower pace of life. Story continues But increasingly as affordability in the capital is stretched, more households are looking beyond the confines of London to buy their first home. READ MORE: London homes are getting cheaper but theyre still hopelessly unaffordable But she said the 2018 figures were probably a peak, with a slower housing market expected to push down purchases in the year ahead. The property market has already begun to cool in London, with the latest official statistics showing prices were down 1.7% in October on a year earlier. Homes are now cheaper in the capital than they were two years ago, with an average purchase price of 473,600. But the citys average prices remain incredibly high, with the average London home still costing 206,000 more than a decade ago a steep rise of 77%. READ MORE: Why now is the best and worst time to buy before Brexit Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends? Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK). Alaska Air Group in Focus ALK may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 13.2, its P/S ratio of 0.9, and its decent dividend yield of 2.2%. These factors suggest that Alaska Air Group is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that ALK has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings. Alaska Air Group, Inc. PE Ratio (TTM) Alaska Air Group, Inc. PE Ratio (TTM) | Alaska Air Group, Inc. Quote But before you think that Alaska Air Group is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 5.1% in the past 30 days, thanks to eight upward revisions in the past month compared to one lower. This estimate strength is actually enough to push ALK to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. So really, Alaska Air Group is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. By David Morgan and Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday criticized departing Defense Secretary James Mattis and his view of alliances, saying the Pentagon chief failed to recognize the true costs of America's military support around the world. A day after Trump announced he would replace Mattis two months earlier than expected, the president took a parting shot at the Pentagon chief, who resigned last week over policy differences with Trump. "We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade," Trump wrote in a series of tweets. "General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!" he wrote. Administration officials said Trump was annoyed by Mattis' resignation letter, which included an implicit criticism of Trump's disregard for allies. Despite the falling out, the Pentagon said on Monday that Mattis authorized Trump's withdrawal of U.S forces from Syria, one of the decisions that helped trigger his resignation. The exit of Mattis, highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats alike, added to concerns over what many see as Trump's unpredictable, go-it-alone approach to global security. "To those few Senators who think I don't like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO," Trump also tweeted. "What I don't like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States." "AMERICA IS RESPECTED AGAIN!" Trump added. Mattis has been seen in Europe as firmly committed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance, while Trump warned European allies that the United States could withdraw its support unless they boost defense spending. Trump also tweeted on Monday that Saudi Arabia had agreed "to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States." It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to new funding from Saudi Arabia, which has already pledged money to cover costs for the next two years of stabilizing areas of Syria retaken from the Islamic State militant group. The State Department was not immediately available for comment due to the partial U.S. government shutdown. Trump made the decision last week to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria and pull out about half of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, against the advice of his top aides and U.S. commanders. The move brought withering criticism from fellow Republicans, Democrats and international allies. Defense officials have cautioned against a timeline, but the withdrawal could begin in weeks. A senior official said a specific plan was being worked out. Mattis' abrupt resignation sparked concern among allies, who credit the retired Marine general with building trust and tempering isolationist impulses. In his resignation letter, Mattis had said he would step down at the end of February to allow for a successor to be confirmed and to attend congressional hearings and a key NATO meeting. But Trump Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will now take over on an acting basis beginning Jan. 1. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Mary Milliken, Dan Grebler and Jonathan Oatis) Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were all smiles as they greeted hundreds of onlookers during a Christmas stroll to a church service on Queen Elizabeths Sandringham Estate. The couples followed Prince Charles to the church, with Meghan and Kate walking alongside each other and talking on the way to the service. This apparent happy gathering follows reports of tension between the two couples. Kensington Palace issued a rare statement earlier this month to The Sun denying a report of an alleged clash between Meghan Markle, who is expecting her first child with Prince Harry, and her sister-in-law Kate Middleton before the royal wedding in May. This never happened, a royal spokesperson told The Sun. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II departs the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on December 25, 2018. The holiday stroll marks the first time both royal couples have appeared together since Meghan and Harry announced that they would be moving out of the two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Queen Elizabeths husband, Prince Philip, 97, was absent from the church service, as was Prince Charles wife, Camilla, who is recovering from a cold. Following the service, the Royal Family greeted a large crowd outside the church. Well-wishers brought bouquets of flowers for the family and wished them a Merry Christmas as they walked by. The Queen, her son Prince Charles and grandchildren including Prince William and Prince Harry along with their spouses and assorted other royal relatives, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gather each year at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England for Christmas. (Its about a two and a half hour car journey from the London royal residences.) There, the family treats each other to a Christmas Eve gift exchange, joins in a family dinner, attends services at the nearby St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day and shares a turkey lunch. The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla and her husband, a senator and former state governor, have died in what local media reported was a helicopter crash, the countrys president has said. Martha Erika Alonso and Rafael Moreno Valle died when the aircraft came down not far from the state capital, also called Puebla, on Monday. Local reports said it happened in Huejotzingo. Other reports said the aircraft was a small plane. Ms Alonso, from the centre-right National Action Party (PAN), took office less than two weeks ago after a hotly contested and at times violent election. A tribunal was forced to validate the results months after the vote amid accusations of fraud. It was not immediately clear what caused the Christmas Eve crash which was said to have occurred shortly after the aircraft took off. Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, confirmed reports of the crash and pledged a governmental investigation. Those of us who had the opportunity to know them are sad and troubled, foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard said of the couple on Twitter. The PAN is in mourning, its president Marko Cortes said in a tweet. Mr Moreno Valle governed Puebla state from 2011 to 2017. In the recent elections his wifes opponents claimed he had attempted to manipulate events in her favour, but the result was validated by an independent authority. Read more Mexico agrees to take in Americas asylum seekers Benito Nacif, an official at Mexicos federal electoral institute, said Pueblas congress would have to appoint an interim governor until new elections could be held for a successor to serve the remainder of Ms Alonsos term. A number of Mexican politicians have died in aircraft accidents in the past few years, including federal interior ministers in 2008 and 2011. The latter two were also members of the PAN. Additional reporting by agencies In Tomaselli v. Siegal, a Middlesex County jury awarded a South Brunswick woman and her husband $2.5 million as compensation for injuries she sustained when she was involved in a three-car accident. The jury on Dec. 17 awarded $2.3 million to plaintiff Jennifer Tomaselli, now 46, and $200,000 to her husband, Girolamo, on a per quod claim, said the family's attorney, Mark Kuminski. The trial was for damages only as liability was not contested, said Kuminski, of the Jamesburg office of Levinson Axelrod. Tomaselli was injured on Nov. 21, 2014. She was stopped at a red light while driving on New Brunswick Road near Cedar Grove Lane in Somerset Township. A car driven by defendant Bernard Siegal of Somerset failed to stop and rear-ended another car, driven by Nevine Ragheb, also of Somerset, Kuminski said. Tomaselli was then struck from behind by Ragheb's car, Kuminski said. Tomaselli sustained injuries to her neck, back and shoulder, as well as a concussion, Kuminski said. While the concussion was resolved, she was required to undergo multiple pain management procedures for her orthopedic injuries, as well as two neck surgeries, he said. The first neck surgery was a discectomy and the implantation of an artificial disc, Kuminski said. The surgery resulted in increased movement of the spine, which led to the development of arthritis, he said. As a result, the artificial disc was removed, and the plaintiff underwent spinal fusion surgery, Kuminski said. Tomaselli continues to suffer from symptoms related to her injuries, Kuminski said. Superior Court Judge Phillip Paley presided over the trial, which lasted four days. Siegal's carrier, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., retained Michael McCaffrey of Purcell Mulcahy Flanagan in Bedminster. He didn't return a call about the case. Michael Booth $875,000 For Restaurant Fall Lewis v. P.B.'s Diner and Taproom: A restaurant patron who suffered traumatic brain injury after a stairway fall agreed to an $875,000 settlement in his suit in U.S. District Court on Nov. 13. Jack Lewis, then 66, was exiting PB's Diner and Taproom in Glassboro on June 19, 2015, when he lost his footing at the top of an exterior stairway. The restaurant owner created a tripping hazard by removing some tile and replacing it with a piece of wood, according to plaintiff lawyer Gerald Baldino Jr. of Sacchetta & Baldino in Media, Pennsylvania. Lewis' shoe became caught, and he fell down six steps, striking his head. A CT scan of the brain was read as negative, and he was discharged, but he was ordered to return several hours later when a second reading of the same scan showed a brain bleed. He was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma and concussion, and released after one day. A month after the fall, Lewis returned to his job as a corporate controller, but experienced effects of a traumatic brain injury, including memory loss, the suit claimed. He retired from his job roughly one year later, due to what he claimed were ongoing effects of the brain injury, Baldino said. According to Baldino, the restaurant acknowledged Lewis' injury but asserted that he made a full recovery, as evidenced by his return to his job. The restaurant also asserted that alcohol intoxication contributed to his fall. He had consumed two alcoholic drinks with dinner. The parties agreed to settle for $875,000. The restaurant had $1 million in coverage with Utica First Insurance Company, Baldino said. The lawyer for the restaurant was Thomas Decker of Decker & McGaw in Westfield. He did not return a call about the case. Charles Toutant On Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee came to President Donald Trumps defense. Trump has been catching flack for telling a 7-year-old girl that believing in Santa Claus is marginal at her age during a Christmas Eve phone call. While blasting the medias coverage of the phone call, Huckabee said, I mean, it wasnt like he (Trump) was boiling the girls bunny rabbit on the stove or something. Huckabee went on to lament the medias coverage of Trump in general. If he doesnt make the call, if he didnt talk to the little girl, Huckabee said. Theyd say he was curled up in the fetal position in the White House and he was unwilling to come out and talk to anybody. The girls father, Donald J. Lloyd, also came to Trumps defense. I think its crazy it became a big deal, Lloyd told BuzzFeed News. Its Christmastime. Id love to keep politics out of Christmas. As for his daughter, she reportedly still believes in Santa. Fox & Friends airs everyday at 6 a.m. on Fox News Channel. Check out why Don Lemon said theres a political earthquakel rolling through Washington: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. On Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee came to the defense of Donald Trump, who has been catching flack for telling a 7-year-old girl that believing in Santa is marginal at her age during a Christmas Eve phone call. While blasting the medias coverage of the phone call, Huckabee said, I mean, it wasnt like he (Trump) was boiling the girls bunny rabbit on the stove or something. Huckabee went on to lament the medias coverage of Trump in general. If he doesnt make the call, if he didnt talk to the little girl, Huckabee said, theyd say he was curled up in the fetal position in the White House and he was unwilling to come out and talk to anybody. The girls father, Donald J. Lloyd, also came to Trumps defense. I think its crazy it became a big deal, Lloyd said. Its Christmastime. Id love to keep politics out of Christmas. As for his daughter, she reportedly still believes in Santa. Lindsay Prior On December 19, a mom from Illinois named Lindsay Prior took to Facebook to share that she had experienced "the scariest/worst feeling" a parent could feel: "Watch your child's eyes get huge and panicked, arms and feet flailing," Prior wrote. "No sound but look like they're screaming bc they lost all air and can't breathe. I've had to watch/see that more times than I can remember in the last few days." Four days before, the 35-year-old rushed her 5-month-old son Zeke to the emergency room, where doctors noted the little boy was experiencing respiratory failure. "The hospital scene was like something out of Grey's [Anatomy]," Prior, who works at a local daycare, tells Parents.com. "There were 10 nurses and doctors surrounding him. Fast talking, shoving IVs in, getting him on oxygen. I was terrified at this point." The doctors asked Prior if her son had allergies, if he was a preemie (he wasn't), if he had any other issues like asthma, which he did not. "Once they got him settled, they got the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) doctor down to discuss the machine he was eventually put on called NIV NAVA. It assists breathing through a tube down his nose into his diaphragm. This was newer technology and a last ditch effort to not intubate him. After he was hooked up to this machine, and set at very high levels of assistance, the next 48 hours were still touch and go. They discussed multiple times about possibly intubating him." Zeke had been diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common, highly contagious virus that targets the lungs and respiratory system and usually presents like the common cold. Although almost every child is exposed to RSV before their second birthday, most people don't show symptoms. But some young children, specifically babies, RSV can lead to complications like pneumonia. Story continues Hoping to raise awareness, Prior shared a video from the hospital that illustrates Zeke's labored breathing. "Just an FYI for parents," she wrote alongside the clip. "If you ever see your child's stomach look the way Zeke's does in this video, take them in. It is called 'pulling,' and it is a clear indication that they are working too hard to breathe." The Mayo Clinic echoes Prior's explanation, noting that parents may notice their child's chest muscles and skin pull inward with each breath. Other signs and symptoms of severe RSV infection in infants include: Short, shallow and rapid breathing Cough Poor feeding Unusual tiredness (lethargy) Irritability Prior continued to share updates from the hospital, showing parents what it really looks like when a baby is battling this illness. "With RSV bronchiolitis, the airways are constricted with thick mucus," Prior explains. "There was a point where he was being suctioned through his nose and also with a tiny tube down his nose and throat about every 20 minutes." In a December 20 post, she shared a heartbreaking video that illustrated the process. "Just wanted to share a snippet of our reality lately," she wrote. "I know everyone keeps seeing the pics of him just laying in bed awake or sleeping... But this is a LOT of the time. There are times he needs this done every 20-30 min. His look on his face when he can't breathe gets me every damn time. He's a trooper tho. ALL the nurses keep commenting on how he's such a good baby... Even when he's upset or in distress. Squishy is fighting hard!! #squishyZeke" Thankfully, after several days in the hospital and slowly weaning off of oxygen, Zeke's condition improved. By December 21, he had been released from the ICU. Prior shared an update, writing, "We have left ICU!!! We just got in a room. So happy! Continuing to bottle feed. He's taking about 2 oz every 3 hours for now. Gotta keep weening off this oxygen. He's currently checking out his new digs and playing." Two days later, Zeke made it through a whole night without oxygen. "He has a dry tickly sounding cough again that's annoying him, but he slept awesome," Prior shared. "I was awake, yet again. Just waiting impatiently for an important person to come around and tell us we can go! It's Christmas Eve Eve!!" That same day, just in time for Christmas, Zeke was released from the hospital. Although Prior's L.O. thankfully on the mend, she points out that it's still a slow recovery process. "He's still coughing and wheezing now," Prior explains. "Everyone is different but since he was SO sick, [the doctors] said it could take weeks to go away. I bought one of those nasty nasal aspirators to use at home. I always said I'd never use one of those things, and here we are!" Lindsay Prior The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned that we're in the midst of prime RSV season (October to April) and noted that more than 57,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to RSV infection. For that reason, Prior's warning for parents are more timely than ever. Looking back on her recent, emotional journey, Prior encourages parents to watch for the signs and trust their guts. "Follow your instincts," she says. "I knew something wasn't right." When it comes to preventing the illness, Prior echoes the CDC, advising that parents practice vigilant hand-washing and prevent exposure to people with symptoms of the common cold, especially if their child is premature or immunocompromised. The CDC also recommends covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and cleaning/disinfecting surfaces and objects that people frequently touch, such as toys and doorknobs. That said, Prior notes that practicing self-compassion is key, too. "Know that you can't prevent it sometimes," she says. "We go to day care. There are sick people/kids. You can't beat yourself up or think you're a bad parent if it does unfortunately happen. Our kids can't live in a bubble." By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - Former Nissan Motor Co Representative Director Greg Kelly has been released on bail after more than a month in detention on financial-misconduct charges, as a Tokyo court rejected prosecutors' request to keep the American executive in custody. Kelly and Carlos Ghosn, the automaker's ousted chairman, were detained upon arrival in Japan on Nov. 19 on suspicion of understating Ghosn's income in financial statements for several years. The arrests jolted the global car industry and strained Nissan's alliance with French car maker Renault SA. Ghosn remains in custody. A crowd of Japanese and international reporters and camera crews had gathered since Tuesday morning waiting for Kelly's release. He left the Tokyo Detention Center with his lawyer, Yoichi Kitamura, by taxi at around 10:45 p.m. (1345 GMT), a Reuters witness said. Kelly said in a statement that he had not falsified any documents and looked forward to restoring his honor in court, adding that he wanted to return to his family as soon as possible, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. There was no answer at Kitamura's office when contacted by Reuters for comment. The ruling by the Tokyo District Court came after an appeal by Kelly's family in Tennessee. He paid bail of 70 million yen ($640,000) in cash, the court said. But he could be barred from leaving Japan or talking to people related to the case, NHK said earlier in the day, although exceptions can be made for overseas travel on a case-by-case basis. Kelly's wife, Dee Kelly, appealed for his release in a video statement last week, saying her husband had been "wrongly accused as part of a power grab by several Nissan executives", that he and Ghosn "fully believe that they did not break the law" and citing her husband's need for surgery for spinal stenosis. A Nissan spokesman said the car maker was not in a position to comment on the latest twist in the more-than-month-long saga. "The company's own investigation uncovered substantial and convincing evidence of misconduct, resulting in a unanimous board vote to dismiss Ghosn and Kelly as chairman and representative director. Our investigation is ongoing," the spokesman said. Both Kelly and Ghosn remain on the Japanese car maker's board but without representative rights. The court on Sunday extended Ghosn's detention for 10 days, following fresh allegations of making Nissan shoulder personal investment losses. Ghosn was re-arrested on Friday based on suspicions that around October 2008 he shifted personal trades to Nissan to make it responsible for 1.85 billion yen ($16.6 million) in appraisal losses, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Ghosn had inflicted damage on Nissan by having it deposit a total of $14.7 million on four occasions between June 2009 and March 2012 into a related bank account. Ghosn will remain in Tokyo's main detention center, where he has been confined since his arrest in November, at least until Jan. 1. ($1 = 110.1300 yen) (Reporting by Chris Gallagher, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Naomi Tajitsu and Tim Kelly; Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kirsten Donovan) Northrop Grumman Corporations NOC business unit, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., recently secured an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract for sustainment, modernization, production and development of the LITENING advanced targeting pod. Valued at $1.3 billion, the contract was awarded by Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, GA. Work related to the deal is scheduled to be over by Dec 31, 2023. A Brief Note on LITENING Northrop Grumman's widely fielded AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING system is a combat proven, self-contained, multi-sensor targeting and surveillance system. LITENING enables aircrews to detect, acquire, auto-track and identify targets at long ranges for weapon delivery or nontraditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. LITENING's 1K FLIR, 1K charged-coupled device (CCD), laser imaging sensors, advanced image processing and digital video output provide superior imagery, allowing aircrews to identify and engage targets under a wide range of battlefield conditions. Northrop Grummans Growth Prospects Northrop Grumman has a strong presence along with other key players in the Aerospace Defense industry such as Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT, The Boeing Company BA and Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. HII. The companys product line is well-positioned in high-priority categories such as defense electronics, unmanned aircraft and missile defense. Moreover, the fiscal 2019 defense budget includes $686.1 billion as funding for the Pentagon reflects 5% real growth over President Donald Trumps initial budget for fiscal 2018. Such increased spending levels for defense are expected to lend a solid boost to Northrop Grumman. In the missile space, Northrop Grumman has been consistently witnessing sturdy demand for its products on a global scale with programs like F-35, Triton and SABR radar, Global Hawk and a sound set of new programs. To this end, in June, the Australian government announced its commitment to purchase Northrop Grummans Triton drones worth approximately $5.1 billion. Such contract wins should enable the company to improve its top line, going forward. Price Movement Northrop Grummans stock has lost 26.1% in the past 12 months, wider than the industrys decline of 14.7%. Story continues Zacks Rank Northrop Grumman currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6% and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Kiev (AFP) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday announced the end of a martial law in the country's border regions, which was introduced last month after Russia's seizure of three of Kiev's navy vessels in the Sea of Azov. "Today, right now, at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) the martial law ends," Poroshenko said during a live streamed National Security and Defence Council meeting in Kiev. The president said he had reached the decision "based on analysis of all the components of the security situation in the country". The move to impose martial law came after Poroshenko warned of a build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine's borders, escalating the most dangerous crisis in years between the ex-Soviet neighbours. Russian border patrol boats fired on, boarded and seized the three Ukrainian vessels, along with 24 sailors, in November off the coast of Crimea. The sailors are still being held in detention by Russian authorities. Western governments accused Russia of acting illegally and US President Donald Trump cancelled a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires over the incident. "The support and concrete actions of our international partners -- their pressure on the Kremlin combined with a martial law -- have stopped the worst scenario that the Russian Federation planned," Poroshenko said. "They didn't let Putin cross the new red line," he added. The martial law was imposed in 10 regions that adjoin either Russia's borders or areas controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, as well as along the coast of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Ukrainian armed forces were put on full combat readiness and replenished at the expense of the first-stage reserves. Kiev also banned Russian men aged 16-60 from entering the country. The entry was restricted for about 1,650 male citizens of Russia since November 30, the border service said Wednesday. Story continues - New sanctions - Relations between Moscow and Kiev have deteriorated since a pro-Western government came to power after the 2014 revolt against a pro-Russian leader, Moscow's annexation of the Crimea and the outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine. The conflict pitting pro-Russian separatists against Ukrainian government forces is estimated to have claimed more than 10,000 lives. After a maritime conflict with Moscow in the Black Sea in late November, Poroshenko accused Russia of having sharply raised its military presence on the border, with Ukraine warning of the threat of "full-scale war." On Wednesday Ukrainian president announced the new sanctions against those involved in the aggression against Ukrainian ships. Poroshenko said a draft decision on the application of sanctions was included in the agenda of the meeting. "As we see the political support and participation of the State Duma in this process, a large number of State Duma deputies are included in the sanction list," he stated, referring to the Russian parliament. Poroshenko also said that one of the reasons to end the martial law was the presidential election that is scheduled for March 31. Campaigning and elections are banned under martial law, he explained. Previously critics attacked the acting president, saying that he used the incident in the Sea of Azov and the martial law to improve his ratings. Jarabulus (Syria) (AFP) - Pro-Turkish armed groups have reinforced their presence on the outskirts of the city of Manbij in northern Syria as Ankara threatens a new offensive against Kurdish forces, sources said Wednesday. Turkey announced in mid-December that it would launch a fresh military campaign against the Kurdish People's Protection Units, a militia in Syria that Ankara considers a terrorist group. The United States has backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. But a surprise announcement by US President Donald Trump a week ago that he will pull American troops out of the country has left the Kurds exposed to attack. Pro-Turkish factions and opposing fighters in the city of Manbij are "consolidating their positions and massing reinforcements on the demarcation line" separating the two sides, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor. "Military operations haven't started -- there are no clashes or skirmishes," he said. Turkey has massed reinforcements at the border, and dispatched tanks and armoured vehicles near Manbij, which hosts American troops and where Ankara says Kurdish forces also remain present. Dozens of pro-Turkish fighters equipped with assault rifles were seen near the city of Jarablus in mud-splattered pick-up trucks on Tuesday, travelling to join sectors near the demarcation line, an AFP correspondent said. But the situation was calm, he added. - 'Final preparations for battle' - The pro-Turkish Al-Jaish al-Watani rebel coalition said Wednesday it was finalising preparations for the planned offensive. "We are in final preparations for the battle of Manbij, then (the battle) east of the Euphrates" river, the group's spokesman Yussef Hammud said on Wednesday. He told AFP that the offensive would be in line with the "US withdrawal from the region". Story continues "We await the political agreements between the US and Turkey concerning the withdrawal", he said. The YPG says it has already left Manbij, but Ankara maintains that there has been no pullout of Kurdish forces from the city. Sherfane Darwish, a spokesman for the Manbij Military Council -- a faction affiliated to the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces - has said his forces are on a "state of alert" due to military movements by Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies. "There is an increased mobilisation of reinforcements at the border, and we are monitoring that", he told AFP. "Patrols by the (international) coalition are still taking place -- nothing has changed. We are ready to repulse any attack", he said. More than 360,000 people have been killed since Syria's war erupted in 2011. The brutal repression of anti-government protests was followed by various countries intervening militarily in support of and against President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Raytheon Companys RTN Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business division recently secured a $72.1-million modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-17-C-5145 for exercising options regarding DDG 1000 ship class integrated logistics support and engineering services. The deal was awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC. Work related to the deal will be executed in Portsmouth, RI (40%); San Diego, CA (28%); Tewksbury, MA (24%); Marlboro, MA (2%); Ft. Wayne, IN (2%); Bath, ME (2%); St. Petersburg, FL (1%) and Nashua, NH (1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2019. A Brief Note on DDG 1000 Raytheon's DDG 1000 destroyer ship is designed with the sailor in mind. The Zumwalt-class destroyers are Americas next generation combat ships. The vessel is easier to operate because of its automation, requiring fewer crew members. Cutting-edge technologies facilitate DDG 1000s advanced capabilities, providing the ship with unmatched versatility and dramatically reducing its manning requirements. The ship's technology also better protects sailors serving on board from the destroyer. The ship's sleek, stealthy lines camouflage the DDG 1000 on enemy radars as a small fishing boat. The Zumwalt-class destroyers also incorporate Raytheon's Integrated Undersea Warfare sonar, a suite of sensors designed for anti-submarine warfare and torpedo defense. What Favors Raytheon? Increasing geo-political tensions across the globe have prompted nations to strengthen respective defense arsenal with technologically advanced naval combat, ship electronic and sensing systems. To this end, Raytheons advanced IDS segment has been clinching pivotal awards from the United States and international customers owing to its high-end, combat management systems. Such contract wins have been fueling growth in the IDS division, which recorded third-quarter 2018 net sales of $1,493 million, up 7% from the year-ago period. Considering the latest contract win, we may project this segment to reflect similar revenue growth, going forward. Price Movement Raytheons stock has lost 21.8% in the past 12 months, wider than the industrys decline of 9.5%. Story continues Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Raytheon currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). A few other top-ranked companies in the same space are AeroVironment, Inc. AVAV, Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. AJRD and Teledyne Technologies Incorporated TDY, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. AeroVironment delivered average positive surprise of 257.01% in the last four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings has moved 13.2% north to $1.54 in the past 60 days. Aerojet Rocketdyne came up with average earnings surprise of 19.27% in the trailing four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has been revised 43.3% upward to $1.82 in the past 60 days. Teledyne Technologies pulled off average beat of 12.92% in the previous four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has been raised 6.1% to $8.75 in the past 60 days. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (AJRD) : Free Stock Analysis Report AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Raytheon Company (RTN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research In a move to prepare itself against no-deal Brexit, The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC RBS applied for a German banking license to make sure that the company can freely trade across the region. The news was reported by The Financial Times. Per the article, RBS plans to convert the current Frankfurt branch into a regional payments hub that will be able to process and settle euro-denominated payments, and give loans to large German clients along with taking in deposits. Moreover, the state-owned bank has started to make preparations for the move. It plans to hire about 12 employees, which would include treasury and local regulation specialists. Though the move applies to all subsidiaries, RBS expects it to have an impact on NatWest Markets N.V only as it trades across the bloc. Notably, RBS already has a Dutch license, which it had acquired along with ABN Amro before the crisis. With this license, the company will be able to operate freely across the European Union (EU). Early December 2018, the bank disclosed that it had put forth request to the regulators to allow it move about 6 billion of assets and 7 billion of liabilities to NatWest. This is expected to impact nearly 30% of customers in NatWest markets. In case a deal is struck between Britain and EU, the transfer of assets would be a slower process and be subject to further political developments, per the bank. Overall, Frankfurt seems to have been a favorite for majority. About 30 of the 37 U.K.-based financial institutions that have applied for licenses to the European Central Bank have picked Frankfurt as their EU base. Notably, RBS is on its road to recovery. In August 2018, the company declared its first dividend post 2008 crisis, which led to boost investors confidence. However, heightened competition, volatility in the global economy and litigation costs are some major concerns surrounding the companys growth. Story continues Shares of RBS have lost 23.1% over the past six months compared with 10.7% decline recorded by the industry it belongs to. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the same space are ICICI Bank Ltd. IBN, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd. OVCHY and HDFC Bank Ltd. HDB, carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here . ICICI Banks Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has remained stable over the past 60 days. In two years time, the companys shares have gained 46.4%. Oversea-Chinese Bankings Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has moved 4.3% upward in the past 60 days. Also, share price of the company has increased 27.4% in past two years. HDFC Banks Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 1.5% upward over the past 60 days. Also, the companys shares have risen nearly 64% in the past two years. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6% and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Royal Bank Scotland PLC (The) (RBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report HDFC Bank Limited (HDB) : Free Stock Analysis Report ICICI Bank Limited (IBN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OVCHY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research UFC fighter Alex Oliveira told a Brazil TV station that he suffered minor injures in his hometown outside Rio de Janeiro when a group of attackers threw a grenade in his direction. Oliveira told Brazils TV Rio Sul that the incident occurred when he left a Christmas Eve celebration with his family to go to a gas station. He said that while driving, he saw members of his family involved in an altercation. Oliveira: Attackers tossed a grenade at him When he got out of his car to investigate, he said that attackers threw a grenade in his direction and that shrapnel from the grenade got lodged in his leg. Alex Oliveira told a news outlet in Brazil that he suffered minor leg injuries in a grenade attack on Christmas Eve. (Getty) One guy came up and pointed a gun at my nephews face, and thats when people started pushing each other, Oliveira told TV Rio Sul. They had machetes, knives, a grenade. They threw a grenade in my direction. Fragments flew to my leg and my foot. TV Rio Sul reports that Oliveiras neighbors reported hearing a loud explosion. Oliveira said he went to a local emergency room to have the shrapnel removed. Injury appears minor He showed the TV station pictures of his bandaged leg, which did not show signs of significant injury. He also pointed to minor damage to his car that he said was caused by the explosive. Oliveira, 30, last fought at UFC 231 in Toronto, losing to Gunnar Nelson via a second-round submission. The welterweight has a 19-6 MMA record. More from Yahoo Sports: Alabama players to miss game over violations Robinson: Coach Williams has created a problem for Browns Redskins tolerate players legal issues, but not dissent Raiders put on show in potential Oakland swan song Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Many Americans find the end of the year an opportune time to show gratitude by donating to charity. An estimated 30 percent of annual giving occurs in December, and 10 percent in the last three days of the year, according to Nonprofits Source, a digital marketing consultant for nonprofits. American generosity is likely to peak this month even though the new tax law makes charitable donations less favorable, tax-wise. A report by the Tax Foundation, a nonprofit independent think tank based in Washington, D.C., says nearly 90 percent of Americansup from about 70 percentare expected to take the standard deduction for 2018, making them ineligible to write off their charitable donations. That leaves about 10 percent of Americans who could still get a tax break from their donations. But some taxpayers on the borderline between itemizing and taking the standard deduction may try "bunching" their deductible expenses this year in order to make itemizing worthwhile. That means they actually may increase their giving in 2018, and give less in 2019. A recent plunge in equity markets means giving appreciated stock may not offer as big a tax break as expected, says Jeff Fishman, a Los Angeles-based financial adviser. That's because the appreciated value that you can write off may not be as great as it was even a few weeks ago. "Depending on ones circumstances, it may now be more advantageous to donate cash," he says. Regardless of your situation, be aware of the different rules that apply to different types of charitable gifts and how theyre delivered. If You're Giving Cash U.S. Postal Service delivery. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by the current partial shutdown of the federal government. If youre mailing a check to a charity through the post office, your donation is good for tax-year 2018 only if the postmark on your envelope or package is before midnight Monday, Dec. 31, to conform with the Treasury Departments delivered when mailed rule. Story continues For proof, though, dont just drop your envelope in the mailbox; it might not get postmarked until Jan. 2. If you're working against the clock, send it registered or certified mail. Keep the receipt and a copy of your canceled check for your file. Or send it via Express Mail and keep the receipt. Delivery by private mail service. If youre sending a check to a charity through a private service such as UPS, the IRS delivered when mailed rule doesnt apply. (Notably, it does apply when you send a tax return via a private mail service.) So if you must send a check this way, youll need to contact the charity on or before Dec. 31 to make sure that it received your payment. Ask for a confirmation via email, if possible. Credit card. If your donation appears on your credit card statement as a December charge, its good for 2018, says IRS spokesman Eric Smith. Thats the case even if the charity doesnt get around to processing the donation and sending you a receipt until January. Text. When you donate to a charitable appeal by inputting a code into your cell phone, the donation date later appears on your cell-phone bill. If your gift shows up as a charge on your cell-phone bill made before Jan. 1, you can itemize it for 2018. Pay-by-phone account. In this case, you respond to a text message by linking to a mobile-optimized web page that takes your credit card information. So the date of donation is the same as when you pay by credit card. In other words, its good if its no later than Dec. 31. You should find that date on your monthly credit card statement. If You're Donating Investment Securities Electronic transfers of securities. When you direct your broker to transfer securities to a charity, its considered a done deal only when the funds are transferred from your account into another account. With stock and illiquid assets, they cant be in transit; someone has to own them, says Karla Valas, managing director of advanced planning at Fidelity Charitable, a donor-advised fund connected with Fidelity Investments. In real terms, the electronic transfer of ownership happens almost instantaneously with investment securities, Valas says. Many large charities have their own brokerage accounts, so transferring securities from your account to the charitys happens as soon as your broker submits your order. If youre dealing with a smaller charity without a brokerage account and youre concerned about your donated stock counting toward this years deduction, consider contributing through a donor-advised fund. As the National Philanthropic Trust explains, a donor-advised fund is like a charitable savings account; you transfer your securities to it and get a tax deduction immediately. Then you can take your time deciding where the money should go. Once youve decided where the money should go, the fund takes responsibility for distributing your securities to the charities youve named. Your donated securities are considered eligible for a tax deduction the moment you transfer them to the donor-advised fund because the fund is itself a charity by IRS standards. So you get a little edge, timewise. Whats more, the value of your donation for tax purposes stays the same even if the securities drop in value by the time theyre actually distributed to your named charities. David Yeske, principal of Yeske Buie, a financial advisory located in San Francisco and Vienna, Va., says donor-advised funds are appropriate for anyone who gets a significant tax benefit from charitable giving. Valas notes that setting up such a fund through Fidelity Charitable takes a few minutes and costs nothing. The fund makes its money by charging an annual fee, maxing out at 0.60 percent of assets, or $100, whichever is greater. Stock certificates. In the rare instance that youre donating actual stock certificates, youll need to make sure youve properly endorsed them; check with the issuing corporation for directions. If youre mailing the certificates yourself, the same rules apply as for a mailed check: The donation date is the same as the postmark. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2019, Consumer Reports, Inc. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that Israeli missile strikes in Syria the previous day had directly threatened two civilian flights, Interfax news agency reported. The ministry, which did not specify which flights had been threatened, added that Syrian air defenses had destroyed 14 of 16 Israeli missiles launched against unspecified targets near Damascus on Tuesday. Three Syrian soldiers were injured in the strikes, Syrian state media reported. The Israeli military declined to comment on the reported missile strikes and the Russian allegations. Addressing a graduation ceremony for new pilots at an Israeli air force base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no direct reference to specific attacks or Moscow's criticism. But he reiterated Israel's intention to prevent "Iranian military entrenchment, which is directed against us" in Syria. "We will act against it, vigorously and continuously, including during the current period," Netanyahu said. During the more than seven-year war in neighboring Syria, Israel has grown deeply alarmed by the expanding clout of arch-enemy Iran, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Israel's air force has struck scores of targets it describes as Iranian deployments or arms transfers to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in the Syrian conflict. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn and Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem; Writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Andrew Osborn/Mark Heinrich) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian aluminum company Rusal said on Wednesday that board chairman Matthias Warnig resigned as part of a restructuring it agreed to implement in exchange for a waiver from U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Treasury said last week it would remove sanctions against Rusal, its parent En+ and power firm EuroSibEnergo if they restructured to reduce the controlling stakes of businessman Oleg Deripaska, who is on Washington's sanctions list. Warnig stepping down after six years at the world's largest aluminum producer outside China is one of the conditions of the deal. A former East German secret agent turned investment banker, he has known Russian President Vladimir Putin since the 1990s. "I am confident that I can hand over to my successor a successfully developed company. My mission is completed," Warnig said in a statement. The planned removal from the sanctions list had put the company on the verge of "new strategic development," he added. Rusal said it expected to choose Warnig's successor on Thursday. After the restructuring is completed, En+ will own a 56.88 percent stake in Rusal and retain the right to nominate the producer's chief executive. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; Editing by Gareth Jones and John Stonestreet) Samsonite International S.A. (HKG:1910), which is in the luxury business, and is based in Luxembourg, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$30.55 and falling to the lows of HK$21. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Samsonite Internationals current trading price of HK$21 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Samsonite Internationals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for Samsonite International Is Samsonite International still cheap? Great news for investors Samsonite International is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is HK$35.82, but it is currently trading at HK$21.00 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Another thing to keep in mind is that Samsonite Internationals share price may be quite stable relative to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. This means that if you believe the current share price should move towards its intrinsic value over time, a low beta could suggest it is not likely to reach that level anytime soon, and once its there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range again. Can we expect growth from Samsonite International? SEHK:1910 Future Profit December 25th 18 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the companys future expectations. However, with a negative profit growth of -2.9% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesnt appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Samsonite International. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Although 1910 is currently undervalued, the negative outlook does bring on some uncertainty, which equates to higher risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to 1910, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on 1910 for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you research further into the stock. Given its current undervaluation, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Samsonite International. You can find everything you need to know about Samsonite International in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Samsonite International, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. A large part of investment returns can be generated by dividend-paying stock given their role in compounding returns over time. Historically, Shenzhen Investment Limited (HKG:604) has paid a dividend to shareholders. It currently yields 7.1%. Lets dig deeper into whether Shenzhen Investment should have a place in your portfolio. Check out our latest analysis for Shenzhen Investment 5 checks you should use to assess a dividend stock When assessing a stock as a potential addition to my dividend Portfolio, I look at these five areas: Is it the top 25% annual dividend yield payer? Has its dividend been stable over the past (i.e. no missed payments or significant payout cuts)? Has the amount of dividend per share grown over the past? Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will the company be able to keep paying dividend based on the future earnings growth? SEHK:604 Historical Dividend Yield December 26th 18 How well does Shenzhen Investment fit our criteria? Shenzhen Investment has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 93%, meaning the dividend is not sufficiently covered by its earnings. In the near future, analysts are predicting a more sensible payout ratio of 45%, which, assuming the share price stays the same, leads to a dividend yield of around 6.7%. Furthermore, EPS should increase to HK$0.40, meaning that the lower payout ratio does not necessarily implicate a lower dividend payment. When assessing the forecast sustainability of a dividend it is also worth considering the cash flow of the business. Companies with strong cash flow can sustain a higher payout ratio, while companies with weaker cash flow generally cannot. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock youre eyeing out is reliable in its payments. Not only have dividend payouts from Shenzhen Investment fallen over the past 10 years, it has also been highly volatile during this time, with drops of over 25% in some years. These characteristics do not bode well for income investors seeking reliable stream of dividends. Story continues Compared to its peers, Shenzhen Investment generates a yield of 7.1%, which is high for Real Estate stocks. Next Steps: If you are building an income portfolio, then Shenzhen Investment is a complicated choice since it has some positive aspects as well as negative ones. However, if you are not strictly just a dividend investor, the stock could still offer some interesting investment opportunities. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I urge potential investors to try and get a good understanding of the underlying business and its fundamentals before deciding on an investment. Ive put together three fundamental factors you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 604s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 604s outlook. Valuation: What is 604 worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether 604 is currently mispriced by the market. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Johannesburg (South Africa) (AFP) - High operating costs and tight customer budgets have left US coffee giant Starbucks needing a caffeine hit after it abandoned ambitious expansion plans in South Africa -- seen as a foothold for the continent. Starbucks looked set to take the country by storm when the opening of its first store in the Rosebank district of Johannesburg in April 2016 attracted big crowds who queued for hours to taste their famous coffee and enjoy the cafe experience. "We thought they were going to run out of coffee before we could get a chance to taste it," Irshaan Mohammed, who is still a loyal customer at the flagship store, told AFP. "We couldn't believe how many people had actually come here." Mohammed, 23, said he loved "choosing ingredients and hanging out" at Starbucks, but "when it comes to my bill I always worry that I am paying too much." Local licensee Taste Holdings has opened 12 Starbucks cafes across Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban. It had hoped to have 45 stores open by 2020 -- with a peak target of 150 countrywide. But further openings have now been ruled out as the company struggles to control operational costs and debt. Taste last month announced it would "pause the expansion", saying "whilst the Starbucks' store network is profitable (before debt interest and tax), it is not producing the required return on the store investments." In its latest financial report, Taste said its food divisions operating costs increased by seven percent in the six months to August, "largely as a result of the operating costs of Starbucks doubling since the comparative period due to the addition of eight stores". - A tough challenge - Michael Trehene, market analyst at Vestact, told AFP that the Starbucks name was strong in South Africa but "the current model is simple too expensive to operate." It costs an estimated $350,000 to $550,000 to open each new store. Story continues There is no Starbucks in the country's fashionable tourist hub of Cape Town, despite Taste announcing plans to open there as far back as November 2017. "Places like Cape Town are affluent enough to sustain a few stores... (but) the coffee is expensive, which makes it unaffordable for a large part of our population," Trehene added. Another market watcher, Casparus Treunicht, an equity analyst at Gryphon asset managers, said Starbucks was a tough challenge to make profitable in South Africa. "Sure, it is a big brand, but what does it cost to give that product to your consumer?" he said. "You have to import all your ingredients and materials." The company sources coffee from nine countries in Africa along with small-batch reserve coffees from around the world. "For Starbucks to really make a profit they have to bring the costs down significantly but at the same time you need scale and selling more units,' said Treunicht. But cost-cutting is tricky at Starbucks where prime store locations, branded products and fast wi-fi are internationally standardised -- as well as having your name scribbled on your takeaway cup. The South African coffee market is also competitive with the likes of Bean There, Father Coffee and many independent outfits targeting middle-class consumers in cities. A small cup of Starbucks flat white costs 30 rand ($2), while a similar order at Father coffee costs 22 rand and 26 rand at the Vida e Caffe chain. - Weak economy - South Africa's middle-class has been under pressure from slow economic growth, while the country is one of the most economically unequal in the world with 27 percent of the population jobless. Starbucks, which operates more than 22,000 cafes worldwide, has a presence in only two other African countries -- Egypt and Morocco. Taste's entire food division, which includes brands like Domino's Pizza, has failed to make profit since 2015. It had to be refinanced by shareholders last February to the tune of $27 million to pay off its debt. It has also secured a $14 million loan from its now majority shareholder, the Riskowitz Value Fund, and may seek fresh refinancing in the near future. But Taste is optimistic and says that after securing long-term funding it hopes to reconsider its Starbucks plans. Now they need to convince consumers. "I only come here when me and my mom meet once a month, she loves it," said 25-year-old administration clerk Lerato Sedibeng. "I personally can't afford this coffee on my budget." (Photo: ISABELLA CARAPELLA / HUFFPOST) Christmas Eve, for Dr. Mary Brandt, will forever be associated with saving the life of a little girl who nearly died from a gunshot more than 25 years ago. Teams were in the middle of changing shifts when a 6-year-old came to a Texas county hospital ER with massive gunshot wounds to her shoulder and chest. Her mother had been fatally shot by her boyfriend. When the girl tried to call 911, the man turned his shotgun on her. After hours of surgery, Brandt saved the child. Since then, Brandt, now a pediatric surgeon at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, has operated on many more child shooting victims. All of us have some patients who we cant forget, Brandt said of the young girl. In terms of being able to not be sad about it, it took months and months. Im still probably a little sad about it. Few people in the world are more familiar with gun violence than emergency room doctors and surgeons like Brandt. But until recently theyve largely kept quiet about their experiences on the front line of this public health crisis. That changed in November after the American College of Physicians issued new guidelines on how doctors can help protect patients from gun violence and the National Rifle Association responded by telling physicians to stay in your lane. In effect, the NRA wanted these doctors to shut up about an issue that touches their lives daily, leading to a record high of nearly 40,000 deaths in 2017, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and around twice as many injuries each year. The NRA retort was enough to lead many physicians to break their silence. Under the banner of This is our lane, surgeons and other doctors thrust themselves into the gun debate, sharing photos from inside operating rooms and telling stories about the agony of treating an unending flow of shooting victims. Medical organizations also doubled down, calling for additional gun violence research and further pushing measures like universal background checks, waiting periods to buy guns, safe storage initiatives and so-called red flag laws designed to keep firearms away from people who may be a danger to themselves or others. Story continues Now, in a series of interviews with HuffPost, doctors are shedding additional light on the topic, painting a diverse portrait of a problem that afflicts communities in a variety of forms, including mass shootings, assaults, accidents, intimate partner violence and suicide. Their accounts describe exhausting work that doctors have traditionally shouldered in private. Many doctors told HuffPost they feel its their moral duty to show the public the truth: Gun violence is ubiquitous in emergency rooms all over the country. Exposing people to that reality could resonate in a way that general facts and figures about gun violence havent and show Americans that its necessary to begin taking steps to address the crisis, Brandt said. Human beings dont just change their minds because of data. When doctors see patients with gunshot wounds on a daily basis, its hard to keep track of how many theyve treated. I wish I knew. Too many, said Dr. Adam Schechner, a trauma surgeon at the University of Maryland Prince Georges Hospital Center in Cheverly. Schechner estimates hes tended to hundreds of shooting victims, the majority of them young men from Washington and the Maryland suburb of Prince Georges County. Schechner recalled a case in which a young man died of his injuries. When Schechner informed the patients mother, she broke down. The woman gathered herself long enough to explain that the son shed lost was the only family she had left. Her other son had been shot and killed a few years prior. She was alone. That one really, really got to me, Schechner said. Even when his patients survive, it can feel as if hes working against a tide that will ultimately erase his work, Schechner said. Many of the gunshot victims that come into the hospital have been shot before. Its disheartening because most of the time it seems like they just dont care, [like] they dont seem to appreciate the second chance theyve been given, Schechner said. Thats really the hardest part of my job: working to save somebodys life and then having them not appreciate that life. Last year, the hospital Schechner works at launched a program to help survivors whove been shot or stabbed multiple times, providing wraparound care and social services designed to target the root causes of violence. The evidence so far suggests its working. The program is a critical step toward prevention, but its hardly a catchall solution to gun violence, Schechner said. The more shooting victims he treats, the more he realizes this issue affects him not just as a doctor but also as the father of young children, who he fears he could someday find on an operating table with a gunshot wound. It makes my life outside the hospital that much sadder, because its something I wish I could do something about, but I feel helpless, Schechner said. Even two decades as a trauma surgeon couldnt truly prepare Dr. John Fildes for the terror he encountered on Oct. 1, 2017. Fildes began his shift at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas just minutes after the gunfire stopped at the Route 91 music festival, the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. There were already 35 people with gunshot wounds waiting in the trauma area, he said. There was blood all over the floors and the gurneys, and there were patients that were holding pressure on their own wounds telling me to take care of the sicker patients, Fildes said. It was like a scene from hell. Fildes and his colleagues scrambled to get the most severely injured patients into the operating room and worked to stabilize the others. Most of the team managed to work through the paralyzing horror of the moment, though a handful of staffers were so emotionally jarred that they had to be briefly pulled away to compose themselves, Fildes said. Despite the circumstances, Fildes and the surgery department he chairs saved every one of the 104 patients connected to the shooting who arrived at the hospital alive. Mourners gather at a makeshift memorial after the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas. (Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Images) Any sense of triumph was short-lived, Fildes said. He still struggles to find words to describe what transpired that night. This was 1,100 rounds of military-grade ammunition showered on 22,000 people, he said. There isnt another one of these cases. Although the medical center began interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder the next day, in the year since the shooting, staffers have reported sleeplessness and repeated nightmares, Fildes said. A handful have required more serious care. The Route 91 Harvest festival shooting was a horrific outlier, and Fildes said he hopes no surgeon will have to witness another massacre of this scale. But even doctors lucky enough to avoid mass shootings cant escape the constant drumbeat of more ordinary firearm injuries and deaths, he said. For many, that bloodshed is reason enough to speak out on gun violence. Doctors dont have a gun problem; they have a bullet hole problem, Fildes said, adding that a renewed focus on firearm safety, prevention and enforcing existing gun laws would go a long way toward saving lives. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. When Dr. Christopher Barsotti, an emergency physician, moved to southern Vermont from a busy Chicago hospital known for treating shooting victims, he hoped hed be leaving gun violence behind. Instead, it became more personal. Barsotti sometimes recognizes patients he treats in the emergency room, or has at least met their family members or neighbors, he said. That can make cases even harder as he learns about the often tragic circumstances that precede shootings. Beyond self-inflicted gunshot wounds and instances of people settling scores, rural hospitals see plenty of hunting accidents, domestic violence or shootings involving children whove accessed unsecured firearms, said Barsotti, who is a gun owner himself. In the worst cases, it may fall to Barsotti to deliver bad news to a person he knows. When you live out here, theres like 2 degrees separation between you and everybody else, Barsotti said. When you are actually working and taking care of people, theres only 1 degree of separation. Sometimes the unthinkable happens. Dr. Richard Miskimins, a trauma surgeon at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, recalled operating on a patient whod been shot in the face. Hours later, he found out he knew the man. He was so horribly disfigured that I didnt realize, Miskimins said. Albuquerque is hardly a rural town, but as home to the states only Level I trauma center, Miskimins and his colleagues treat a number of patients transferred from smaller counties in the state. Self-inflicted gunshot wounds are particularly common, Miskimins said. Although the vast majority of people who attempt to kill themselves with a firearm will die, those who dont are typically left with debilitating neurological or physical injuries that require intensive care. A few years ago, Miskimins treated a patient whod intentionally shot himself. After completing a lengthy recovery, including a facial reconstruction, the young man began visiting the ICU regularly to thank the staff, said Miskimins. The patient has since gotten involved in national suicide prevention efforts. Suicide is so often just an impulsive thing, where, in the depths of despair, they act, he said, citing studies showing that many people who survive suicide attempts dont go on to try again. When a gun is available, those impulses are far more likely to end in death. Gun violence isnt just a story of victims and perpetrators, Miskimins said. Whether fatal or not, every shooting ripples outward, touching not only the individuals directly involved but also their families, friends and loved ones, as well as the medical professionals who serve as intermediaries during these painful ordeals. Its not just the person who sustains the injury that has a significant psychological impact on them; its also on their family that comes and sees them, Miskimins said. As challenging as it can be for everyone to recover after a shooting, it pales in comparison to the alternative. Telling a parent that their child has been fatally shot never gets easier, said Dr. Mark Seamon, a trauma surgeon at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine. He said he changes into clean scrubs and takes a few deep breaths before giving the news. You never know what their reaction will be, Seamon said. Ive had reactions where the mother would say, Well, we knew this was coming, and just walk out. So, a lot of folks have asked me about this photo: the chair. Why? Well, I have a chair for all the things I ROUTINELY do: my dinner chair, my reading chair, the chair where I rock my kids to sleep. And the chair where I tell parents their kids are dead. #ThisisOurLane pic.twitter.com/MNDutybXwC Stephanie Bonne (@scrubbedin) November 17, 2018 Even when a family fears the worst, theyre never really prepared for it. Theres a certain tenor, theres a certain pitch to their voices or the cry that they give when you tell them that their loved one has died, Barsotti said. Its a sound that hits you in the pit of your stomach. The emotional burden of gun violence weighed heavily on the mind of every doctor HuffPost spoke with. When asked how they deal with it, there was less agreement. Some emergency rooms do their best to address grief in real time. When someone dies in the trauma bay at the University of New Mexico Hospital, theyll hold a brief moment of silence to reflect on the loss and acknowledge the staff, said Dr. Stephen Lu, a trauma surgeon. It takes like 30 seconds, then we go on with the rest of the night, Lu said. To handle the stress of a life-or-death job in the operating room, many doctors said they must be able to compartmentalize. For some, that may mean simply trying to bury the brutal reality of what theyve witnessed. Schechner, the doctor from Maryland, rarely talks about how his job affects him personally, he said, noting that surgeons are generally wary of showing any sign of weakness related to their work. Every person that I pronounce dead from a gunshot wound takes a little piece of me, Schechner said. The fact of the matter is were human, too, and were not supposed to act like it. Despite perceptions of physicians as being unshakable, or even stolid, those qualities are just one part of the job, said Brandt, the pediatric surgeon from Texas. The other half involves being human. In the operating room, surgeons must focus on saving lives. Afterwards, we allow it to hit us, Brandt explained. One of the things Ive always felt, and I have taught, is the day you dont cry is the day you should quit. To the @NRA, this is what it looks like to stay in #mylane. We will not be silent about the toll of #gunviolence. I speak out for this patient, for their parents who will never be the same, for every person who came after this one and didnt have to #thisiseveryoneslane pic.twitter.com/B5mo6pC4dV Kristin Gee, MD (@kmgee9) November 10, 2018 Doctors manage these emotions with varying degrees of success. Traditionally, the medical profession has viewed self-care as selfish, maintaining that a physicians own needs are secondary to the patients, said Dr. Jo Shapiro, director of the Center for Professionalism and Peer Support at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Massachusetts. After three decades of practicing surgery, Shapiro was struck by the lack of attention paid to the people doing the work. It eventually became clear that physicians couldnt continue putting themselves last. Studies have shown that burnout, depression and other mental health problems plague the health care profession. And the doctors HuffPost spoke to were quick to note that the cascading effects of gun violence dont stop at physicians. They can touch everyone from nurses, to hospital support staff, to the custodians who clean blood off the floor of the ER. Shapiro now directs a program that trains physicians how to support each other when they experience trauma on the job, whether its an acute response to a particular case or the cumulative weight of unceasing gun violence. Somebody has to be there to help patients who have been shot, but its very frustrating, saddening [and] hard to do over and over again, Shapiro said. It can be demoralizing. Some doctors see the This is our lane movement as an outlet not only to begin processing their grief but also to channel it toward solutions. Theres such joy in thinking Im not just treating the end result, Im helping prevent this, Shapiro said. [Its] letting us bring our humanity back into our work. This focus on prevention is also well-trod in the field of medicine, with doctors using similar methods to tackle past public health crises, such as HIV, smoking, motor vehicle deaths or environmental hazards and pollution. First, they study a problem to identify its patterns and root causes. Then they work to design policies in an effort to reduce those negative effects, rather than just treat them as they arise. When it comes to the issue of firearm deaths and injuries, the political polarization has made many doctors hesitant to speak up, said Lu, the New Mexico trauma surgeon. By not speaking out, he said, doctors may have unintentionally sanitized the shootings that rip through American streets, homes, schools and ultimately hospitals tens of thousands of times each year. Americans are shielded from death in general, Lu said, adding that its one reason for the lack of compassion and empathy in the gun debate. Yet its people who lack this exposure, who likely have never seen a gunshot up close and hopefully never will, who are now telling doctors that gun violence is none of their business. Unless youve had someone die in your hands, thats easy to say, Lu said. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. WASHINGTON President Trump made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday, the first time Trump met with American troops in a combat zone. The visit, which was not announced in advance, came against the backdrop of mounting controversies over Trumps plans to withdraw forces from the Middle East, the ongoing government shutdown, and an apparently coincidental New York Times article that explored the presidents past avoidance of military service. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders revealed the trip on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas, Sanders posted. Wire photos showed Trump and first lady Melania Trump meeting with soldiers and military leaders at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. Trump was joined by national security adviser John Bolton. Prior to the visit, Trump had faced criticism for breaking with an annual tradition since 2003 of presidents visiting troops deployed abroad around the Christmas holiday. President Trump delivers remarks to the troops at Al Asad Air Base. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Trump spoke to members of all five U.S. military branches via a video conference call on Tuesday. While the president has visited with troops in the U.S. multiple times since he took office, this was his first visit to a combat zone. Both of Trumps immediate predecessors, President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, made it a point to see troops fighting overseas very early in their terms. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet troops at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on Dec. 26, 2018. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Trumps trip to Iraq came at a turbulent time for his administration, particularly in regard to military policy. Last week, Trump announced his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans to pull troops out of Afghanistan. Opponents and military analysts worried that the beneficiaries would be jihadis, as well as Russia and Iran, which have aggressively sought to expand their influence in the region. The Syria withdrawal, which Trump announced in a tweet with little or no advance notice or consultation with the Cabinet, led to the abrupt resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. Story continues Wednesday also marked the fifth day of a government shutdown over a budget dispute between Trump and congressional Democrats. The presidents visit to Iraq coincided with a New York Times report published Wednesday that detailed new information suggesting Trump was able to avoid the Vietnam draft as a young man thanks to his fathers connections. The paper reported that the daughters of a podiatrist in New York who is now dead said their father had given Trump a bone-spur diagnosis as a favor to Fred Trump, who owned the building where the doctor had his office. Trump has previously said he had a legitimate bone-spur diagnosis, though he has never provided any documentation. As with prior presidential trips to war zones, Trumps Iraq visit was conducted with some secrecy to help ensure his safety. The trip was not announced by the White House, which has not responded to multiple questions from Yahoo News about the visit. The first indication that Trump was visiting with the troops overseas came Wednesday morning as aviation experts noted interesting activity about a mysterious U.S. government plane. The plane, which was not using the standard Air Force One call sign, was tracked flying from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, the typical venue for presidential departures, through the Middle East. Photos showed the aircraft was decked out in the normal presidential insignia. Read more from Yahoo News: Currently China has three Internet Courts: Hangzhou (as of Aug 18, 2017), Beijing (as of Sep 9, 2018) and Guangzhou (as of Sep 28, 2018), respectively. As a legal systems responses to new demands in new times, these Internet Courts have introduced several innovative facilities, e.g., the judicial blockchain platform and asynchronous trial (see this Kats report here ), which substantially make the online procedures more approachable, efficient, and cost-effective. They will also be the ideal choice for handling certain types of IP disputes, e.g., disputes 1) concerning ownership of copyrights or neighbouring rights in works published for the first time on the internet; 2) arising from infringements of copyrights or neighbouring rights in works published or disseminated online; and 3) concerning domain name ownership, infringements and contracts. the Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Trial of Cases by the Internet Courts ( In September 2018, Chinas Supreme Court published , the Provisions). In Article 1, the Provisions clarify the online-ness of the Internet Courts: An Internet court shall try cases online, and the acceptance, service, mediation, evidence exchange, pretrial preparation, court trial, judgment pronouncement and other litigation links concerning a case shall generally be completed online. According to the application of a party or as needed for the trial of a case, an Internet court may decide to complete part of the litigation links offline. "Generally be completed online" sounds nice, isnt it? But in practice, how "generally" does the Internet Court work online from the user's viewpoint? With curiosity, this Kat put her paws on the Beijing Internet Court as an example, and here come the findings regarding the actual operation process from the user side 1. Creating an account First, the plaintiff needs to create an account with the Electronic Litigation Platform (the Platform), upload personal information (e.g. ID, address and cellphone number) and set a password. After that, the Platform will send an automatically generated QR code to the given cellphone number. By scanning the QR code, the plaintiff must complete the real-name authentication by using the facial recognition system. Upon successful authentication, an account is officially created. 2. Filing a case After logging in, follow these steps: - Click on I want to file a case - Specify the basics of the case including the cause of action, the value of the subject-matter, and the address for service (it is recommended to choose e-delivery which will maximize the efficiency of the whole procedure) - Upload or draft online the pleadings (templates provided) - Upload the digital evidence * At this stage, the plaintiff must decide whether to mediate. After checking the uploaded information, click on get the electronic signature code, so that a QR code will be sent to the given cellphone number. By scanning it, the plaintiff will be redirected to the signature interface, where he/she could complete the filing procedure by e-signing it. Then, the judge will examine the submitted information and send the result to the plaintiff by text message. If the case is accepted, the judge will send a code of case to the defendant. The defendant hereupon must log in the Platform and participate in the case by referring to the designated code of case. * Pre-trial Mediation If the plaintiff chose to mediate (multiple ways of mediations are available, and users could choose from over 70 mediation agents), then the parties involved will receive a designated code of mediation together with the website of mediation, by which the parties could participate in the online mediation once the digital identity authentications are done. Afterwards, parties could easily check and confirm the digital written records online. 3. Pretrial preparation If the plaintiff chose not to mediate, or the pretrial mediation fails, then the case would go to court. Before the trial, some miscellaneous tasks need to be completed, e.g. paying the litigation fees online, uploading further documents, checking the evidence uploaded by the other party, communicating with the judge, and setting up the court date. The parties are free to track the online updates on real time. 4. Online trial The notices of trial will be sent by text message, and the summons will be served via the Platform. The parties must download the application of the Remote-court in advance and make sure the devices and Internet function well. The whole process of the remote-trial is simultaneously videotaped and audiotaped. Court hearing scene of the Beijing Internet Court 5. After trial The result of the trail will be delivered by the method chosen by the users. If a party is dissatisfied with the judges verdict, they may file an appellate petition online within the appeal period. The application of execution of the valid legal documents could be filed online as well. Brief remarks Simply put, the Internet Court manages to move the whole trial procedure online, which is pretty cool. In this Kats view, the Internet Courts are a good combination of equity and efficiency, and they will likely contribute substantially to the improvement of judicial transparency and trust. Hopefully in the upcoming future, many more user-friendly technologies or policies could be applied in the judicial system in general and benefit larger groups of people, including those who are currently not too tech-savvy. By Sarah Dadouch and Gulsen Solaker ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey is determined to cross to the east of the Euphrates river in northern Syria as soon as possible, Ankara's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Tuesday, signaling renewed intent to launch a military campaign delayed by the U.S. withdrawal. Turkey said this month it would launch a new military operation to sweep the YPG Kurdish militia from northern Syria, but put that on hold after the United States said it would pull its troops out. Ankara regards the YPG as terrorists and has been infuriated by U.S. support for the group in the fight against Islamic State. President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to pull troops out of Syria has handed the fight against Islamic State over to Turkey - and effectively given Ankara the green light to push into remaining Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters at a briefing for domestic media that Turkey aimed to cross to the east of the Euphrates as soon as possible, the Hurriyet newspaper said, without giving further details. Erdogan and Trump have agreed to coordinate to prevent a power vacuum from developing as the United States withdraws, Turkey has said. On Monday, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels reinforced the area around the town of Manbij, which is occupied by the Kurdish fighters, in preparation for the U.S. withdrawal. RUSSIA MEETING? The timing of that withdrawal has been unclear. In June, Ankara and Washington reached an agreement that would see the YPG ousted from the town, but Turkey has repeatedly blamed the United States for what it says has been a delay in that deal. Washington and Ankara have now agreed to complete their agreement on Manbij by the time the United States finishes its withdrawal, Cavusoglu also said, according to the state-owned Anadolu news agency. Cavusoglu will travel to Russia to discuss the process of the U.S. withdrawal in the coming days, CNN Turk said. Russia, the United States and Turkey are backers of warring sides in the Syrian conflict that erupted in 2011. Russia, alongside Iran, has propped up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has backed various rebel groups. Washington, focused on the battle against Islamic State, backed the YPG. Erdogan told reporters on Tuesday that he will probably meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the U.S. withdrawal. But the Kremlin said Putin did not have any immediate plans to meet with Erdogan. Cavusoglu said Turkey also requested that the United States take back heavy weaponry it gave the YPG in its fight against Islamic State, Hurriyet reported. (Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul and Polina Nikolskaya in Moscow; Editing by David Dolan and Andrew Roche) By Aishwarya Venugopal (Reuters) - Sales in the 2018 U.S. holiday shopping season rose 5.1 percent to over $850 billion, the strongest in six years, according to a Mastercard report on Wednesday, as shoppers were encouraged by a robust economy and early discounts. The data follows Amazon.com Inc's announcement of a "record-breaking" selling season, with the online retail giant shipping a billion items for free through its Prime membership in the United States. Amazon's shares jumped as much as 5 percent, while those of Kohl's Corp rose 4.2 percent. Macy's Inc gained 3.6 percent, Nordstrom Inc 3 percent, and Target Corp and Walmart Inc rising over 1 percent. The strong sales numbers indicated that rising market volatility due to concerns over slowing global growth and political deadlock in Washington has not impacted consumer confidence so far. "I don't see that (volatility in the markets and Government shutdown) as having any impact ... but I am cautiously optimistic for the consumer going into 2019," said Steve Sadove, senior adviser for Mastercard. The 5.1 percent sales growth included in-store and online sales between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24. The National Retail Federation had forecast U.S. holiday retail sales to rise between 4.3 percent and 4.8 percent in November and December. Low unemployment rates and rising wages have been boosting consumer confidence, which in October hit its highest in nearly two decades. "From shopping aisles to online carts, consumer confidence translated into holiday cheer for retail," said Sadove. Online sales posted strong gains, rising 19.1 percent, according to the SpendingPulse retail report, published by Mastercard's analytics arm. "This season was our best yet," Jeff Wilke, Amazon's CEO Worldwide Consumer, said on Wednesday. In contrast, sales at department stores fell 1.3 percent after two years of modest growth, largely due to store closures. But online sales grew 10.2 percent for the group, indicating that heavy investments in ecommerce to counter continuing drop in store traffic were bearing fruit. Story continues "Many retailers are benefiting from the increase in online sales, but none are benefiting as much as Amazon is," said Joel Bines, global co-head of retail consulting firm AlixPartners. Apparel sales grew 7.9 percent, the best in nearly a decade, according to Mastercard, sending shares of American Eagle Outfitters Inc and Abercrombie & Fitch Co higher. Another top performer was spending on home improvement, which grew 9 percent during the season. Shares of Home Depot Inc and Lowe's Cos Inc, the top two U.S. home improvement chains, rose nearly 2 percent. However, sales of electronics and appliances dipped 0.7 percent, compared with a 7.5 percent rise last year. The SpendingPulse report tracks spending by combining sales activity in Mastercard's payments network with estimates of cash and other payment forms and excludes automobile sales. The spending data also boosted shares of U.S. payment networks. Mastercard Inc and Visa Inc were both up nearly 2 percent. (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Soundarya J; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, has been released from the hospital after undergoing cancer surgery, a court spokeswoman said on Wednesday. "Justice Ginsburg was discharged from the hospital yesterday and is recuperating at home," spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said in a statement. The liberal justice underwent surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York on Friday to remove two cancerous nodules in her left lung. There was no evidence of any remaining disease after the removal of the two nodules, both of which were found to be cancerous, Arberg said on Friday, citing the thoracic surgeon, Dr. Valerie Rusch. No further treatment was planned, she said. Ginsburg, one of the court's nine justices, broke three ribs in a fall last month. The nodules were found as part of the tests the justice underwent after the fall, Arberg said. As the oldest justice, Ginsburg is closely watched for any signs of deteriorating health. Ginsburg, appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1993, also is the senior liberal member of the court, which has a 5-4 conservative majority. If she were unable to continue serving, Republican President Donald Trump could replace her with a conservative, further shifting the court to the right. Trump already has put two conservatives on the court since becoming president in January 2017 and a potentially dominant 6-3 conservative majority would have major consequences for issues including abortion, the death penalty, voting rights, gay rights and religious liberty. Ginsburg has recovered from previous medical issues. She was treated in 1999 for colon cancer and again in 2009 for pancreatic cancer but did not miss any argument sessions either time. In 2014, doctors placed a stent in her right coronary artery to improve blood flow after she reported discomfort following routine exercise. She was released from a hospital the next day. The justices are scheduled to hear their next round of arguments on Jan. 7. Story continues In recent years she has become something of a cult figure for liberals and known by the nickname "Notorious RBG," after the late rapper Notorious BIG. A documentary film, "RBG," was released earlier this year and a feature film about her life, "On the Basis of Sex," made its debut in theaters this week. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Bill Trott) Hodeida (Yemen) (AFP) - The head of the United Nations team tasked with monitoring a fragile ceasefire in the flashpoint city of Hodeida on Monday visited its lifeline docks, a port official said. Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert called on Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-linked Huthi rebels to respect the hard-won truce, Hodeida port deputy director Yehya Sharafeddin said. "The (UN) official promised us that the war will end," Sharafeddin told AFP by phone after Cammaert visited the docks, through which the majority of imports and humanitarian aid enter Yemen. "He said the Yemen war had been forgotten for years but that the international community is now adamant about ending it," Sharafeddin added. Cammaert later met with local officials in a government building in Hodeida city. "We cannot solve your problem, you have to do that yourselves," he told them. "It is extremely important that both sides are holding that (the ceasefire), and that they don't" blame each other, he added. Cammaert is heading a joint committee including members of the government and the Huthi rebels, in charge of monitoring the truce in the vital Red Sea city and its surroundings that began on December 18. Cammaert arrived in Hodeida from the rebel-held capital Sanaa, after meeting with government officials in Aden. Yemen's warring sides agreed on the ceasefire to halt a devastating offensive by government forces and an allied Saudi-led coalition against rebel-held Hodeida at peace talks in Sweden this month. According to the UN, Cammaert will chair a meeting of the joint committee on Wednesday. That meeting would be "one of the priorities" of Cammaert's mission, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution authorising the deployment of observers to Hodeida to monitor the truce. Port director Sharafeddin said Cammaert "stressed the importance of implementing the agreement" and will visit "battlefronts (in the city) at a later time". Story continues - Shaky truce - The ceasefire, the result of intense diplomatic efforts led by the UN, has remained shaky with both sides accusing each other of violations in Hodeida province. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said on Monday that the Huthi rebels have violated the truce agreement 138 times since it came into effect. The latest Security Council resolution on Yemen "puts the Huthi militias under international pressure", he said during a press conference in Riyadh. The UN monitoring team aims to secure the functioning of Hodeida port and supervise the withdrawal of fighters from the city. The text approved by the Security Council "insists on the full respect by all parties of the ceasefire agreed" for Hodeida. It authorises the United Nations to "establish and deploy, for an initial period of 30 days from the adoption of this resolution, an advance team to begin monitoring" the ceasefire, under Cammaert's leadership. Around 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition intervened in 2015, according to the World Health Organization, although rights groups say the death toll could be five times higher. The conflict has unleashed a major humanitarian crisis and pushed 14 million Yemenis to the brink of famine. A new United Airlines Boeing 787-9 is shown during final configuration and maintenance work at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 26, 2016. A United Airlines flight bound for Washington, D.C., was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing in San Francisco on Monday due to a mechanical issue. United flight 516 headed back to San Francisco International Airport during the flights first 30 minutes Monday morning, data on flight tracking website Flight Aware shows. The aircraft was headed to Washington Dulles International Airport. More: From poop on planes to emotional support squirrels, the 5 craziest travel stories of 2018 "United Flight 516 en route to Washington Dulles International Airport returned safely to San Francisco after reporting a mechanical issue," United told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "The flight is expected to depart for Washington at 12:15 p.m. Pacific." Other details about the mechanical issue were not immediately clear. USA TODAY has reached out to San Francisco International Airport for comment. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: United Airlines Christmas Eve flight makes emergency landing in San Francisco Chicago (AFP) - A lawsuit filed in Chicago blames Boeing for the deadly Lion Air crash off the coast of Indonesia that killed all onboard, claiming the manufacturer's airplane was "unreasonably dangerous," a US law firm announced Wednesday. The suit, filed Monday in the Midwestern city where Boeing is based, alleges the two-month-old plane's safety system improperly engaged and pilots were not adequately instructed by the plane manufacturer on how to respond. Lion Air Flight 610 vanished from radar 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta on October 29, crashing into waters off the north coast of Indonesia's Java Island and killing all 189 people onboard. About 30 relatives of the crash victims have filed lawsuits against Boeing, alleging that faults with the new model 737 MAX led to the deaths. The Chicago lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family of passenger Sudibyo Onggo Wardoyo, 40, of Jakarta. "Not only did Boeing place sensors that provided inaccurate data, it also failed to provide the plane's pilots adequate instructions. It was like Boeing first blindfolded and then tied the hands of the pilots," the family's attorney Thomas Demetrio said in a statement. The preliminary crash report from Indonesia's transport safety agency suggested that pilots struggled to control the plane's anti-stalling system immediately before the crash. Boeing responded to the November report by pointing to the actions of the pilots and claiming an earlier flight on the same plane ended safely when pilots successfully dealt with erroneous sensor data. "The 737 MAX is as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies," the manufacturer said in a statement. "Boeing is taking every measure to fully understand all aspects of this accident," it added. A Boeing spokesman would not comment on the specifics of the lawsuit. A final crash report is not likely to be filed until next year. Wednesday, December 26, 2018 A Possible Star For Lujan Grisham Cabinet And A Cautionary Tale To Go With It, Plus: Susana's Final Pizza Party Alicia Keyes The cabinet picks made so far by Gov.-elect Lujan Grisham are getting points for their experience and competence, but the one that stands out is Fresh from a stint as head of the ABQ Film Office, hopes will be high for the 43 year old. That's because she is credited with helping steer Keyes, an ABQ Academy grad, says she Critics of the appointment may be concerned that Keyes is to Hollywood-centric and that the lion's share of her attention will be devoted to expanding the state's film industry, her first passion. But the skills needed in landing Netflix would seem transferable to other deals and industries that the state is in dire need of. Keyes will be challenged to simply not duplicate her role as a film booster. If she can, her new job could be a breakout role for her--and New Mexico. A CAUTIONARY TALE Perhaps a cautionary tale for Keyes and other soon to be cabinet secretaries is the harsh lessons learned by Monique Jacobson, the outgoing head of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), and once heralded as a rising political star. She started out as head of the state tourism department. Given her background in marketing for Pepsi, she made a pretty good run of it. Then, perhaps with the idea of positioning her for political office someday, Gov. Martinez named her head of CYFD. It was an unmitigated disaster with Jacobson's tenure stained by the most horrific cases of child abuse and murders in modern history. The well-intentioned Jacobson was working way above her pay grade. Her failure (and that of Martinez) was not to see it from the start and back out of the post but she went forward, irrevocably damaging herself and the prospects of thousands of disadvantaged New Mexico children. (And no amount of last minute PIZZA AND COKE Its the pizza party that never ended for Gov. Susana Martinez. Three years after a loud holiday party in the governors room at a downtown Santa Fe hotel received widespread attention and helped end any talk about Martinez being considered for national office a local food delivery service is featuring her likeness on a coupon offering $10 off on deliveries of pizza and Coca-Cola. Celebrate our governors last few days, says a post on Dashing Deliverys Facebook page. Say arrivederci with a pizza party. Order pizza and coke from a participating restaurant and get $10 off your order. Four Santa Fe pizza purveyors Il Vicino, Pizza Centro, Pizzeria da Lino and Rooftop Pizzeria are taking part in the promotion. NEW SENATOR Here's the Gregg Fulfer, a Jal rancher and business owner, was appointed to the state Senate on Friday to fill the vacancy created by Carroll Leavells retirement. Gov. Martinez announced the appointment. Fulfer, a Republican, has served on the state Economic Development Commission and Environmental Improvement Board, and hes a former Lea County commissioner. Fulfer said he would work closely with Leavell, his father-in-law, to ensure a smooth transition. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018 The cabinet picks made so far by Gov.-elect Lujan Grisham are getting points for their experience and competence, but the one that stands out is 43 year old Alicia Keyes as the Secretary-designate for the NM Economic Development Department Fresh from a stint as head of the ABQ Film Office, hopes will be high for the 43 year old. That's because she is credited with helping steer a huge investment by Netflix into the city, one of the bigger economic coups of the past economically listless decade.Keyes, an ABQ Academy grad, says she was starstruck when as a young woman she attended a TV conference and Oprah Winfrey came walking toward her. She went on to write and produce films and landed an executive position at Disney.Critics of the appointment may be concerned that Keyes is to Hollywood-centric and that the lion's share of her attention will be devoted to expanding the state's film industry, her first passion. But the skills needed in landing Netflix would seem transferable to other deals and industries that the state is in dire need of.Keyes will be challenged to simply not duplicate her role as a film booster. If she can, her new job could be a breakout role for her--and New Mexico.Perhaps a cautionary tale for Keyes and other soon to be cabinet secretaries is the harsh lessons learned by Monique Jacobson, the outgoing head of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), and once heralded as a rising political star.She started out as head of the state tourism department. Given her background in marketing for Pepsi, she made a pretty good run of it. Then, perhaps with the idea of positioning her for political office someday, Gov. Martinez named her head of CYFD. It was an unmitigated disaster with Jacobson's tenure stained by the most horrific cases of child abuse and murders in modern history.The well-intentioned Jacobson was working way above her pay grade. Her failure (and that of Martinez) was not to see it from the start and back out of the post but she went forward, irrevocably damaging herself and the prospects of thousands of disadvantaged New Mexico children. (And no amount of last minute PR puffery is going to change the damning judgment of history.) From Santa Fe Here's the newest addition to the NM State Senate:This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends? Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; American Airlines Group Inc. AAL. American Airlines Group in Focus AAL may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 6.5, its P/S ratio of 0.3, and its decent dividend yield of 1.4%. These factors suggest that American Airlines Group is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that AAL has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings. American Airlines Group Inc. PE Ratio (TTM) American Airlines Group Inc. PE Ratio (TTM) | American Airlines Group Inc. Quote But before you think that American Airlines Group is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 0.9% in the past 30 days, thanks to three upward revisions in the past month compared to none lower. This estimate strength is actually enough to push AAL to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. So really, American Airlines Group is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends? Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; Ingles Markets, Incorporated IMKTA. Ingles Markets in Focus IMKTA may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 8.1, its P/S ratio of 0.1, and its decent dividend yield of 2.5%. These factors suggest that Ingles Markets is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that IMKTA has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings. Ingles Markets, Incorporated PE Ratio (TTM) Ingles Markets, Incorporated PE Ratio (TTM) | Ingles Markets, Incorporated Quote But before you think that Ingles Markets is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 3.2% in the past 30 days, thanks to one upward revision in the past one month compared to none lower. This estimate strength is actually enough to push IMKTA to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. So really, Ingles Markets is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ingles Markets, Incorporated (IMKTA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends? Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; Mobile TeleSystems PJSC MBT. Mobile TeleSystems in Focus MBT may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 7.3, its P/S ratio of 0.9, and its decent dividend yield of 1.6%. These factors suggest that Mobile TeleSystems is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that MBT has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings. Mobile TeleSystems OJSC PE Ratio (TTM) Mobile TeleSystems OJSC PE Ratio (TTM) | Mobile TeleSystems OJSC Quote But before you think that Mobile TeleSystems is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 1.1% in the past 30 days, thanks to one upward revision in the past one months compared to none lowers. This estimate strength is actually enough to push MBT to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. So really, Mobile TeleSystems is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Few campaign promises have been as concrete or as persistent as Donald Trumps pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico. But as lawmakers consider what is likely the final chance for them to hand the President a win, there is little agreement. With Democrats set to claim their majority in the House of Representatives in January, Trumps final opportunity to get Congress to agree to money for a border wall comes down to a looming deadline to pass appropriations bills: Dec. 7, a date literally circled in red ink on some senior lawmakers calendars. At different times, Trump has entertained not signing such a bill if it didnt include border funding, which would cause a partial government shutdown; argued that Democrats should work with him to pay for a border wall in exchange for other compromises; rejected just such a Democratic compromise; and claimed, rather inaccurately, that construction on the wall has already begun. Weve actually started big sections of the wall, but we want to finish the wall, Trump said Monday during a rally in Tupelo, Miss. Weve got to get funding from Congress. And if this isnt the right time to get funding, when you look at whats happening at the border, there will never be a right time. So were going very strongly for funding for the wall. The clashing messages have only made negotiations more difficult, especially within the Republican caucus. Few lawmakers want to see a shutdown, which would affect important hubs of the federal government such as Treasury, State and Justice departments. (Congress earlier in the year approved $1.6 billion to repair existing fencing and build new pieces, although it is nothing like the prototypes of the border wall Trump has toured and promised.) Those around Trump both in the Administration and in Congress understand his wish list but not his demands. Some of his allies are pushing for restrictions on asylum petitions and cuts to immigration, both legal and illegal. Others are trying to keep the debate centered on the physical wall itself. For his part, Trump has mused that a good shutdown might be just what the doctor ordered to dislodge the construction cranes. Story continues All of which makes this new deadline all the more serious, chiefly because the Nov. 6 midterm elections tipped the House into Democrats hands, and these negotiations will be the last time Trump will have a unified Republican government until at least 2021. As Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus, said on Twitter: We have to fund the wall in December. Its now or never. As things stand, never might be the safer bet. The President has been left red-faced over his failed red line in the past. He was unable to finalize a deal with Democrats to build the wall in exchange for protections for children brought into the country illegally as young children. The DREAMers-for-wall trade never came about, and a similar proposal for immediate legal status-leading-to-citizenship for 1.8 million DREAMers also came up short. A follow-up effort to include $25 billion wall allocation as part of a massive $1.3 trillion spending bill last March similarly was for naught. Trump threw a tantrum on Twitter when he realized he was about to sign a gargantuan, deficit-laden bill without a corresponding brick-and-mortar wall. After a series of frantic phone calls, Congressional Republicans convinced Trump to sign the spending measure. But Trump warned he would not agree to a similar measure again without funding for the wall. Now Congress is back at the same point, and a wall is in the check-out basket but not the trunk. The incoming House Republican Leadership team huddled at the White House on Tuesday to hash out a plan. Speaking to reporters after, Rep. Steve Scalise, who is set to move up from the No. 3 post to the No. 2 role next year, said Trump stuck with his $5 million demand, but the Louisiana Republican didnt respond to questions about the timing. A White House official said the group discussed the budget and border, as well as wildfires, criminal justice and GMs decision to close plants. All of this explains why Congress is choking down its panic as it writes a massive series of spending bills ahead of next Fridays midnight deadline. And, once again, Trump is proving an inconsistent negotiating partner, with just eight days left until the government runs out of cash. (Or, in the view of the Meadows partner in the Freedom Caucus, Rep. Jim Jordan, just five weeks until Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi takes command of the House again.) Hill Republicans have watched as Trump demanded $20 billion for a border wall, then retreated to $5 billion in recent weeks. The incoming Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, briefly pumped the number up to $25 million with the Presidents encouragement. That measure seems to be waiting in the wings for the new Congress next year and is not seen as a credible proposal. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, is drawing his line at $1.6 billion, a number agreed to in June that would cover about 65 miles in the Rio Grande Valley. The Republicans are in control of the presidency, the House and the Senate. A shutdown is on their backs, he said, noting the Administration hasnt spent the money they got in an earlier budget. Sen. Richard Shelby, who is guiding the spending in the Senate, told reporters that Trump has told him the White House demanded $5 billion: Thats what he tells us. Shelby told reporters a veto of anything less may be in the offing. Left unsaid: theres no telling what Trump might do when faced with a pen-or-shutdown choice at a White House already decorated for the holidays. Even Trumps allies in Congress are saying this is a very tiny step towards actually fixing anything, and that a bigger immigration compromise is essential. We need better barriers but we also have to fix these laws, said Sen. Ron Johnson, who chairs the Homeland Security Committee and has introduced legislation addressing the separation of families at the U.S. border. This is just not workable. We have to focus on the root of these problems, he said. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who alone controls the Senate floor, was typically circumspect when he met with reporters Tuesday at the Capitol. Were trying to get the President the money he would like for the wall, the Kentucky Republican said. Republicans expect an easy vote in the House, assuming the conservative Freedom Caucus troublemakers dont derail the process. The challenge for Republicans will be in the Senate, where Republicans have just 51 votes and need support from nine Democrats to overcome a procedural hurdle. Four Democratic Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Bill Nelson of Florida, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana lost their re-election bids and may have little appetite for one last political brawl. At the same time, Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, seems to want to get past the debate quickly. Ill support whatever it takes to secure the border, he said. Most senior Hill officials expect the final cost to be somewhere between $1.6 billion and $5 billion, but maybe only a part of it could be used to build the physical wall. Republicans are proposing some of that money be used to deal with the costs of the military garrisons stationed at the border, on Trumps election-season command. Democrats are offering a suggestion that the money be used to add more judges to adjudicate immigration and asylum cases at the heart of the backlog on the southern border. But its anyones guess at this point, with more than a week to go. In other words, its like negotiating with Jell-O: No matter how hard Republicans have tried, they cannot get anything to stick, everything gets a little slimy the longer it sits on a table and it is, by its very nature, wobbly. Trump cant leave the refrigerator door closed long enough for the dessert to harden. Oh, and that promise that Mexico would pay for that wall? Thats still a figment of Trumps imagination. Mexican officials have consistently refused to partake in that flight of fancy and instead are watching as U.S. officials are trying to placate a President who has been within reach of victory several times before, only to see it slip away. With reporting by Alana Abramson Washington (AFP) - According to President Donald Trump, federal workers affected by the US government shutdown support him as he insists on no deal until Congress funds a wall on the Mexican border. But rather than cheering him on, many of the 800,000 workers forced either to work without salaries or go on unpaid leave are voicing growing anxiety as they wonder how to pay approaching bills or buy holiday gifts for their children. After past shutdowns, Congress quickly ensured that federal workers were retroactively paid. But the end of the month is approaching with no headway on reopening the government. Kevin, a statistician at the Census Bureau, said he recently relocated to Washington with his wife and two-and-a-half-year-old son from North Carolina in search of the long-term stability of a government job. But he said he used up his savings to finance the move and that his son has required early intervention services for delayed development. "Taking care for a kid with special needs is draining physically, mentally and financially," he told AFP in an email. "Our budget is really tight and getting tighter. I no longer purchase clothes for myself and I cut my own hair." He may also have to put his rent on a credit card, added Kevin, asking that his surname be withheld because of rules against government employees speaking on politics. Kevin's colleagues have reassured him that they have survived similar situations. The shutdown is the third this year, after two brief funding gaps, and another stoppage in 2013 was resolved after 16 days. But Kevin is less optimistic this time, saying Trump, facing multiple crises, was acting like a "cornered animal." Asked Wednesday on a surprise trip to Iraq how long the shutdown will last, Trump replied: "Whatever it takes." Syl, who works at the Internal Revenue Service, said she only had enough savings to pay her upcoming rent and a few other expenses after spending on travel and gifts for the holidays. Story continues While acknowledging that "I don't have it as bad as other employees" with children, she said that she resented "being used as a political pawn for the wall." - Panic as bills approach - One of the major unions of federal workers, the National Treasury Employees Union, said nearly 80 percent of members indicated in a survey they were "very concerned" about paying for housing and other living expenses. Some government employees and their families shared their predicaments online with the hashtag #ShutdownStories. @katyjb88 wrote that her husband was in the Coast Guard and that they had one child with another on the way. They live in New York where they pay more than $2,000 a month in rent. While active military are exempted from the shutdown, the Coast Guard is affected. Even if they are paid later, she wrote, "that won't help with bills due on the 1st." For others, including @Ancient_Scout, consequences are even more immediate. "Broke my lease to accept new fed job for which I have to attend 7 months of training in another state. Training canceled with shutdown," @Ancient_Scout tweeted. "Homeless. Can't afford short(?)-term housing/have to work full-time for no pay/returning Xmas presents." @juliedotburr said that as a government contractor she will not get paid at all so long as the shutdown persists. "I am a single mom in panic mode. Picking up extra shifts at my 2nd job but it won't pay the rent!" she wrote. - Solidarity with workers - Signs of solidarity are growing in Washington, where lawmakers return Thursday with no deal in sight. The Z-Burger restaurant is offering hamburgers free to federal employees, while Spanish chef Jose Andres, a longstanding critic of Trump, has invited the workers for a free sandwich in all of his Washington restaurants from 2pm to 5 pm. But there are occasional signs of support for Trump, who has made a wall and a tough line on immigration the centerpiece of his 2016 campaign and said Tuesday that federal workers "want border security." @InsiderIRS, a Twitter user with no followers as of Wednesday afternoon, wrote that federal workers bore a constitutional responsibility to defend against "invasion." "As an IRS employee, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my furloughed comrades to support the sovereignty of our nation," @InsiderIRS wrote. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL December 26, 2018 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: McCormick & Company, Inc. MKC, The Procter & Gamble Company PG, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. CHD, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. OLLI and Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. LW. Here are highlights from Mondays Analyst Blog: 5 Consumer Staples Stocks that Escaped the 2018 Sector Shortfall The year 2018 hasnt been that rosy for the Zacks Consumer Staples sector. Markedly, the space has witnessed a shortfall of close to 18% so far this year, wider than the S&P 500s decline of almost 8%. Also, troubles over several consumer staple players have placed the sector among the bottom 19% (ranked 13) of the 16 Zacks sectors. Well, the consumer staples universe is largely plagued by escalated commodity and transportation costs, with the latter bearing the brunt of lower driver availability. This, in turn, has raised freight costs for many players. Evidently, a lot of consumer staple companies, including food, beverage, cosmetic as well as cleaning material companies have been grappling with escalating input costs. These costs, along with rising marketing and advertising expenses keep margins under pressure. Other than this, quite a few players are struggling with stiff competition, which has created significant pricing pressure, compelling companies to undertake aggressive promotional activities. These factors again pose major threats to margins, which have been plateaued for quite some time now. Moreover, significant exposure to international regions (especially emerging markets) keeps members of the consumer staples sector exposed to volatile currency movements. Also, tariff-related risks stemming from trade war with China remain a concern. Story continues Are There Any Bright Spots Still? Despite the barriers in the sector, there are some companies that have managed to stay strong on the back of solid pricing initiatives, focus on innovation, product launches and diversification. Also, benefits from acquisitions, divestitures and alliances have helped many companies refine their portfolio. Additionally, many firms are gaining from efforts to augment organic and natural offerings in response to rising health consciousness. To top these, stringent cost-containment efforts and efficient productivity programs have helped a host of consumer staple players stand apart. Clearly, theres always some light at the end of the tunnel, and on that note, we handpicked some bright spots in the consumer staples space, which is popular as a defensive zone among investors. Markedly, these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each, boast a market cap of at least $2 billion, have an impressive record of earnings surprises and possess a striking long-term growth rate. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 5 Stocks That Defied the Sectors Trend McCormick & Company, Inc.is undoubtedly a solid bet. The Maryland-based companys shares have gained 37.3% so far this year. McCormick, which has a four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 5.2%, has been gaining from dedicated focus on buyouts, product innovations, cost-containment measures and efficient marketing initiatives. Notably, this leading manufacturer and distributor of spices and seasonings carries a long-term growth rate of 9% and has a market cap of $18.2 billion. Investors can also bet on The Procter & Gamble Company. While the consumer products biggie has returned just 2.5% this year, it fares much better than the sector. Also, the Ohio-based company, with a market cap of $222.6 billion holds immense potential as evident from its sturdy savings and productivity enhancement efforts. Procter & Gamble, which has seen its earnings outpace the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 3.2% in the trailing four quarters, possesses a long-term growth rate of 7%. Church & Dwight Co., Inc.is another promising pick, holding a market cap of roughly $16 billion. The companys shares have surged nearly 32% year to date, courtesy of its impressive earnings surprise history. Notably, the New Jersey-based company has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 4.7%. The companys robust potential is reflected in its key growth initiatives as well as its long-term growth rate of 10.1%. Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.also warrants a look. The company, which has rallied 15.8% so far this year, flaunts a solid earnings surprise history. Notably, it has surpassed the consensus mark in each of the trailing four quarters by an average of 7.3%. Further, the Pennsylvania-based provider of food products, books, housewares, electronics and floor coverings among others, has a long-term growth rate of 24.7%. Moreover, the stock currently boasts a market cap of $3.9 billion. Finally, Investors can count on Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.. The Idaho-based company possesses a market cap of $10.8 billion. Also, the company has seen its shares rally as much as 32% this year. Notably, Lamb Weston carries a long-term growth rate of 11.8% and its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of nearly 7% in the trailing four quarters with a beat each time. Despite the consumer staple challenges, investors can park their funds in the aforementioned picks, which are likely to continue their splendid show in 2019 on the back of well-chalked growth methods. In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 top tickers to buy and hold for the entirety of 2019? These 10 are painstakingly handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks poised to outperform in the year ahead. Be among the first to see the new Zacks Top 10 Stocks >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (LW) : Free Stock Analysis Report McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Procter & Gamble Company (The) (PG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. New Zealand will hold a referendum on legalising recreational marijuana when the South Pacific nation votes in its next general election in 2020, the government announced Tuesday. The ballot was among the demands the Green Party made during talks to join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's progressive coalition government after the 2017 election. Justice Minister Andrew Little said the government had agreed to the timetable, and the result of the referendum would be binding. "It will be held at the 2020 general election," he told reporters, adding "there is a bit of detail still to work through." Ardern's government has already moved to legalise medicinal cannabis, with legislation on the issue working its way through parliament. An opinion poll last year found 65 percent of New Zealanders also supported legalising the drug for recreational use. Pro-reform campaign group New Zealand Drug Foundation welcomed the vote, with its chief Ross Bell saying the current approach to regulating marijuana was outdated and it was time for a change. "Cannabis is New Zealand's most common illegal drug, 50 percent of the country have tried it," he said. "We're still trying to address the problem through a law enforcement approach. We're still criminalising people and not providing help to people who have a cannabis dependency." The conservative National Party opposition leader Simon Bridges said he would be voting against legalisation and accused the government of trying to deflect voters' attention from issues such as the economy and the rising cost of living. "I'm pretty cynical that you've got a government here that wants to distract from the core issues of a general election," he said. Ardern strongly supported legalising medical pot but has not revealed her personal views on recreational marijuana, saying only she does not believe cannabis users should be jailed. The debate in New Zealand comes as New York governor Andrew Cuomo called Monday for the drug to be made legal for recreational use in his state, including America's most populous city. Baphi villagers rely on boats and tubes to cross Seti Suresh Saud of Baphi village in Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality-1, Doti, risks his life every time he visits Dipayal Bazaar, which lies across the Seti river. this is why i could never do hard drugs, i don't like stuff up my nose or needles in my body. i don't like smoking either so i try to get high as fast as possible. Reply Thread Link i thought his face was smushed against a window lol Reply Thread Link Merciful Goddess I did too! And my brain just kept trying to understand why his nose was smooshed and not the rest of his face.....reading the article is like a D.A.R.E. commercial directed by Eli Roth Reply Parent Thread Link I couldn't get past his picture that I forgot to read the post until I saw your comment. Reply Parent Thread Link me too, omg Reply Parent Thread Link This should be the first and only comment and OP should lock the post. Reply Parent Thread Link i see what you did there with the username Reply Parent Thread Link I hope he gets clean. I've never seen that happen to someone's nose before but I never really known anyone who did hard drugs consistently either. Reply Thread Link Tara Palmer-Tomkinson had her nose collapse due to cocaine use - it wasn't as bad as this, but it does happen! Reply Parent Thread Link Kate Mosss nose also took a beating, but shes had it fixed. Reply Parent Thread Link I cant believe shes dead. I just found that out. Idk how I missed hearing about it. Reply Parent Thread Link There was a soap star over here who did so much coke that it wore away at her septum cartalidge and she ended having to have her septum removed (and later replaced) and there is a paparazzi picture of her coming out of a supermarket with no septum that has scared me life. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link stevie nicks talked about how much coke fucked up her nose and vocals Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i have a friend whos an ER doctor and he said there was a patient who lost his eye from doing too much coke. and he was in the ER because his eye socket was filled with maggots.. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i *think* there was like crushed up or broken glass in his coke and before they could stop him from snorting it he snorted it, apparently it felt like a zipper going right through his nose, this is at least according to the howard board on reddit. so i think internally his nose is like completely fucked. Reply Parent Thread Link Omg his nose!!! Reply Thread Link okay but can we cool it on sending drug addicts to jail for possession, was he selling? this system is so fucked. Reply Thread Link Fucking preach! Such a sick joke, this system. Reply Parent Thread Link HOLY FUCK!!!!!!!!! Reply Thread Link omw Reply Thread Link let this be a lesson to all to not snort drugs Reply Thread Link I hope he gets help. Had to look up a picture of him, this is what he used to look likeI hope he gets help. Reply Thread Link Even there his nose looks swollen from drugs. If you go further back his nose looked different. Reply Parent Thread Link omg Reply Thread Link Good god. This is as horrific as seeing Goldberg from the Mighty Ducks age like hell from meth. Reply Thread Link God that one was heartbreaking Reply Parent Thread Link Oh my God. Reply Thread Link oh wow Reply Thread Link oh my god. until now I honestly thought that nose collapsing bc of cocaine thing was a myth but holy shit it actually happens. thats horrifying Reply Thread Link Glad Annihilation is getting some attention. Reply Thread Link me too, absolutely beautiful and monstrous Reply Parent Thread Link yes... it was so creepy and good. the last 30 minutes made me feel so fucking weird for hours afterward. Reply Parent Thread Link and I had a little chuckle @ Quiet Place not being in Best Debut. Reply Thread Link lol good Reply Parent Thread Link I want that pos movie about bad parenting SNUBBED from everything. Reply Parent Thread Link i keep thinking annihilation came out last year, but it was actually month 3855 of this neverending hell year lol Reply Thread Link mte. also it still baffles me that black panther came out this year. Reply Parent Thread Link Every year the critics have one person that they stan hardcore that baffles me and this year is Regina Hall in Support the Girls. I truly don't understand it. It was a terrible movie with average at best performances. Did I watch a different movie? Is there an alternative cut!? The Favourite, so far, is my favorite for the year. Truly fantastic. Reply Thread Link Fantastic acting but I don't think the movie had a cohesive story Reply Parent Thread Link the favourite was amazing Reply Parent Thread Link You Were Never Really Here was the best movie I saw this year, and I had movie pass for most of it. I love seeing two horror movies, maybe three because I consider Annihilation a horror movie, on here. Horror is probably the most extreme and experimental genre and my personal fav. It's nice to see it glow up in the past few years Reply Thread Link YWNRH is sooooo good and underappreciated. Reply Parent Thread Link the choices for best director is pretty on point imo. Reply Thread Link Sorry To Bother You was also insane and so good Reply Thread Link now this movie should be getting more recognition. loved it Reply Parent Thread Link I tried, but I really didn't like it :( Reply Parent Thread Link it's a really exciting watch. it's not perfect but i highly recommend it Reply Parent Thread Link The Favourite deserves all the awards in every category. Loved it so much. My theater just got If Beale Street could Talk this week so I'm hoping to catch it soon. Reply Thread Link omg I did anyone else see Upgrade, the movie kicked ass Reply Thread Link yeah i really liked it! Reply Parent Thread Link I think I would have given it a 5/5 instead of a 4.5/5 if they hadn't done what they did with the wife in that movie Reply Parent Thread Link so good! definitely in my Top 10 Reply Parent Thread Link It was what Venom should've been from the jump. I loved it a lot. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Roma was incredible!! Reply Thread Link Truly amazing. Reply Parent Thread Link so many movies i still need to see from this year, damn. Reply Thread Link +1 story of my life....I still movies from a few years ago that I need to see Reply Parent Thread Link same here, I've usually watched most of the screeners by now Reply Parent Thread Link I'm happy Hereditary isn't being forgotten Reply Thread Link I though Toni Collete was great and some of the filming shots were amazing, but as an overall movie it was meh. Reply Parent Thread Link These are actually some great picks. Best Director noms are fabulous. I can't stop thinking about You Were Never Really Here. Ideally i'd love for Joaquin to win at the Oscars but i'm afraid the Academy is just gonna give it to Bradley Cooper. There's still so many movies I need to see like If Beale Street Could Talk, Vox Lux, At Eternity's Gate, The Rider, Roma. Reply Thread Link general public comments in posts about it seem mixed, a lot of people saying it's weird, but i feel like that's the director's style Reply Parent Thread Link I usually don't care for period pieces but I loved The Favourite. It's a very weird movie - darker and funnier than you'd think. Reply Parent Thread Link The Favourite was soo fun and very gay. Reply Parent Thread Link supporting cast of Black Panther > Black Panther himself (much like Aquaman rn lol) MBJ, Danai and Winston were my MVPs Reply Parent Thread Link Shell plans to increase the annual amount of money it invests in renewable energy to US$4 billion, the supermajors head of gas and new energy, Maarten Wetselaar told The Guardian in an interview. The figure is double the maximum current annual investment Shell has allocated for cleaner energy initiatives but the increase will only materialize if these initial investments prove to make financial sense. I would like my current business to be financially credible enough for not only the company, but shareholders, to want to double it and look at more, Wetselaar told The Guardian. Shell has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent over the next five decades as it shifts to more renewable energy, including biofuels, and boosts operational efficiencies, in the latest sign that one of the worlds top Big Oil players is determined to move away from its principal business. "Our view is if society needs to tackle the dual challenge of climate change but also accommodating higher demand for energy as of course the energy poor need to get access to energy as well we have to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy system as a society to a net zero level," chief executive Ben van Beurden said last year. Shell has been subjected to activist shareholder pressure in this respect as well. For four years in a row, Follow This, a Dutch investment group targeting oil supermajors, has been tabling resolutions requiring the company to move more deeply into renewables and away from its core business in oil. Next year will not be an exception: Follow This has already filed a resolution to be voted at Shells 2019 AGM, a resolution seeking to force the company to move its business goals closer to Paris Accord commitments undertaken by more than a hundred countries. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China has confirmed the death of former government spokesman Yuan Mu, who denied anyone was killed on Tiananmen Square during the bloody 1989 crackdown, nearly two weeks after his passing. A former Communist propaganda official, Yuan defended the Chinese government after soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) fired on unarmed pro-democracy protesters. He died aged 91 on December 13 from an illness, state news agency Xinhua said Tuesday. Some Communist party leaders offered tributes to Yuan and condolences to his family, it added. Reports of Yuan's death had been unusually muted in China's official media. The Paper, a state-linked newspaper, last week put up an article with a memorial service notice but quickly removed it. Yuan's name has also been censored on the Twitter-like Weibo, where a search showed results could not be displayed "according to the relevant laws, regulations and policies". But a query on an online obituary website turned up an entry for Yuan where visitors can pay to burn virtual incense or leave virtual flowers. This is in contrast to the recent death of Ismail Amat, a former vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, whose passing was widely reported in state media, including a front-page obituary in People's Daily, a party mouthpiece. Official images had showed Chinese leader Xi Jinping attending the memorial and offering condolences to Amat's wife, but this was not the case with Yuan. Born in Jiangsu in 1927, Yuan was a journalist with Xinhua before joining the government and rising to become a director of the State Council Research Office, according to the news agency. He also served as spokesman of the State Council, China's cabinet. On June 4, 1989, after student protesters had staged a peaceful seven week sit-in to demand democratic reforms, the Communist Party sent in tanks and soldiers to quell the protest. Yuan had then said no one was killed at Tiananmen Square but later admitted 300 soldiers and citizens died around it, with some 7,000 injured, a number far lower than many independent estimates. The government has since refused to talk about the number of people who may have been killed, and mentions of the incident are censored on the Chinese internet. Two of the worlds biggest cryptocurrency companies have confirmed lay-off plans amid an industry crunch that has seen US$170 billion wiped off bitcoins market value this year. Beijing-based Bitmain Technology, the worlds biggest maker of cryptocurrency mining rigs, said in a statement that the company is undergoing some adjustment to our staff this year as it continues to build a sustainable business, following reports on Chinese social media that it was planning job cuts. A part of that is having to really focus on things that are core to that mission and not things that are auxiliary. As we move into the new year we will continue to double down on hiring the best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds, said Bitmain in the statement. A Bitmain spokesman on Wednesday denied rumours on Chinese social media that the company will sack more than half of its employees, but declined to specify exactly how many lay-offs are planned. As bitcoin prices fall, mining cryptocurrencies is no longer profitable for many Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Huobi Group, operator of one of the worlds biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, said on Wednesday that the company is optimising staffing by cutting its worst-performing employees. But she added that the Beijing-based firm is still hiring people for its core businesses and emerging markets. The planned lay-offs come amid a prolonged bear market in cryptocurrencies. This year bitcoin, the worlds biggest form of digital money, has fallen more than 70 per cent in value. In total, nearly US$500 billion has been wiped off the value of the more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies available in the market. Both companies declined to quantify the number of job losses planned. By the end of June, Bitmain had a total of 2,594 full-time employees including some 840 engineers, according to a company filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. Huobi has more than 1,000 employees. Earlier this month Bitmain closed its research center in Israel, which had over 20 staffers. Story continues The actions by Bitmain and Huobi follow similar moves by other industry players such as blockchain-based social network Steemit as well as ConsenSys, a software production studio, which is letting go of 13 per cent of its 1,000-strong staff globally. Worlds third largest cryptocurrency exchange Huobi creates Communist Party committee A Beijing-based Bitmain employee, who asked not to be identified because the information is not public, said the lay-offs will be spread across most of Bitmains divisions, but the person was not aware of the exact number of planned job losses. Chinese companies Bitmain, Canaan, and Ebang the worlds top three suppliers of computers used to create new units of digital money have all proposed initial public offerings in Hong Kong this year. The citys market regulator and stock exchange operator, however, are reluctant to approve IPOs for any cryptocurrency-related businesses citing the lack of regulations in the industry, according to an earlier news story citing people familiar with the situation. Canaan has let its IPO application lapse. Last week Ebang refiled its application with updated financial information stating that it has seen significant decreases in revenue and gross profit in the third quarter. Downsizing is a natural cycle in new, rapid growth industries, and unfortunately blockchain is no exception, said Jehan Chu, co-founder of Hong Kong-based blockchain investment firm Kenetic Capital, who declined to comment on his companys hiring plans. We saw this with the internet in the early 2000s, but that period also gave rise to the largest companies in the space today. I look forward to a sharper, more focused version 2.0 of the blockchain industry, he said. This article Chinas Bitmain Technology and Huobi plan layoffs as cryptocurrency crunch begins to bite first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Chinas private sector, the driving force behind the countrys economic miracle over the last 40 years, is struggling amid the Chinese governments campaign to reduce national debt and the trade war with the United States. This is the fourth story in a series that will detail the challenges private firms face and outline the governments attempts to address them. Its a frustrating time for Chinese furniture makers like Jason Chen, whose meagre profits have fallen victim to the US-China trade war. But the dark cloud of that conflict has one silver lining: good technical workers are no longer so hard to find. Chen, who manages two factories that make wooden frames for sofas and tables in eastern Chinas Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, has not had to lay off any of his 600 staff despite the blow to his business. He was fortunate to have a mostly independent supply chain, but still had to scale down the workforce in the smaller factory and move them to the bigger factory to save costs. In late October, he hired two experienced sample makers laid off by other factories. Their salary demands were not too high, because there were few other jobs to be had. Can Chinas leaders restore confidence to private businesses? However, not everyone is fortunate and capable enough to spread risk among different baskets. If between half and 70 per cent of ones business comes from the US market, then its hard to survive, Chen said. I estimate that small manufacturers with fewer than 200 employees will disappear after January. That is when US tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese imports, including furniture, were initially scheduled to rise to 25 per cent from the initial 10 per cent rate levied in September. But after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on December 1, the tariff increase was put on hold until March while the two nations continue trade negotiations. The trade war has created an extra, unexpected burden for Beijing: to maintain enough jobs as the economy slows. This is particularly true, given the extra hardship they face, for private-sector firms, which account for about 80 per cent of all jobs and 90 per cent of new jobs, according to government data. Story continues Last year, China was the largest exporter of furniture to the United States, with US$11.3 billion worth. The tariffs have had a chilling effect on its 6,000-plus domestic furniture manufacturers, most of which are privately owned, and reduced the number of employees in the industry to about 1.1 million at the end of October, the lowest in three years, according to official data. The top leadership knows well the importance of having enough jobs. In the statement that followed the latest meeting of the policymaking Politburo in December, stabilising employment was mentioned first, before efforts to stabilise finance, trade and market expectations. On the surface, the job market seems well under control. The official survey-based unemployment rate released by the National Bureau of Statistics remained unchanged at 4.9 per cent in September and October before falling slightly to 4.8 per cent in November, while the average jobless rate in 31 major cites was even lower at 4.7 per cent in November compared with the global average rate of 5.7 per cent reported by the International Labour Organisation. According to the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the government created more than 12 million new jobs in urban areas during the first 10 months of this year, achieving its annual target two months early. But the overall numbers hid a stark difference in the available supply of labour between small and large firms. For private enterprises with a workforce of fewer than 100 employees, job supply fell below demand in the third quarter, whereas large firms offered an average of 2.87 jobs for every applicant, according to the China Institute for Employment Research (CIER) at the Renmin University of China in Beijing. Using job data from April to September from recruitment website 51jobs, Song Xuetao, an economist from Tianfeng Securities, found that about 2 million vacancies disappeared over the six months, and that recruitment by private firms with 50 to 500 staff fell more sharply than for state-owned enterprises. Under the current economy, small and micro firms contribute 80 per cent of all jobs, around 70 per cent of technological innovation, more than 60 per cent of GDP and more than 50 per cent of tax revenues, said Dong Dezhi, an analyst from Guoxin Securities. Turning around the businesses of small and medium enterprises to help job creation is where we can make a breakthrough to stabilise the job market. Beijing has certainly become a little restless as the trade war continues. In mid-November, the State Council drafted a policy paper containing proposals ranging from refunding the unemployment insurance contributions of companies that do not lay off staff to giving subsidies to jobless youth, ages 16 to 24. Local governments were ordered to draft their own proposals by mid-December. China releases nationwide negative list in show of openness, but will it make any difference? Beijing also called for local governments to increase their financial support for entrepreneurs and small private enterprises the main driver of urban employment in China by offering government-guaranteed loans of 150,000 to 3 million yuan (US$22,000 to US$435,000). The government is also encouraging laid-off workers to set up small businesses of their own. Migrant workers in particular are being given subsidies, tax breaks and other financial incentives to return home and start up their own companies. Since the early 2000s, almost all new jobs in China have been created in cities. The labour market is facing challenges from two ends: industrial consolidation and automation reduce the job supply, while a shrinking workforce, rising labour costs and declining job market participation driven down mainly by women leaving the labour force all contribute to depressing job demand. But thanks to a surge in service jobs, particularly at small companies, urban employment growth has remained relatively stable even as Chinas economy has slowed. Will China make good on its latest promise to give private firms more access in a market that favours the state sector? Both basic and advanced services are contributing to this [jobs] growth, but its the basic services industries that have been the stronger growth driver in most recent years, read a recent report from the Conference Board, a New York-based research firm. They have become the catch basin for the lower-skilled segment of the workforce, absorbing a large share of less-skilled workers, presumably transitioning from legacy sectors. Without the continued job growth from micro-enterprises, urban employment would in fact be contracting. The question is: can Beijing help small service providers keep creating jobs? Some recent figures are of concern. The employment sub-index in the November Caixin Purchasing Managers Index for the service sector, which mainly captures small private firms, showed that the workforce in the service industry grew mildly in the past two months but could not offset downsizing in the manufacturing sector. A monthly survey from Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shings Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business gauging more than 300 alumni, mostly executives at private companies, also showed their intentions to recruit staff had plunged over the past two months to the worst level in six years. In the export sector, hiring demand fell by more than half in the third quarter, according to the CIER, which partners with job hunting site Zhaopin to produce a quarterly report. The supply of new jobs declined even more in coastal cities such as Ningbo and Suzhou that rely heavily on international trade. Meanwhile, job postings in the internet and IT sector, which had been fertile ground for well-paid service jobs, fell by more than half in the third quarter from a year earlier. A senior executive at a mid-sized internet firm of about 1,000 employees, who preferred not to be identified, said she had raised performance targets to improve productivity, even though she had not frozen headcounts or laid off staff. She noted that many of the jobseekers knocking on her door came from the peer-to-peer lending industry, in which hundreds of platforms have collapsed since July after the government tightened regulations. China running out of options to bolster confidence in slowing economy, analysts say Earlier in October, reports of big tech firms like Huawei, Tencent and Alibaba freezing recruitment shocked the public. All those companies later denied the reports, but some smaller tech firms are scaling back operations. Juanpi.com, an e-commerce platform selling cheap retail goods, has been demanding that employees work overtime since last year. Short video platform Kuaishou recently stopped hiring through headhunters, according to a recruiter source. Meituan Dianping, a Hong Kong-listed online platform that generates most of its revenue from food delivery, this year reported about 250 job cuts 0.5 per cent of its workforce. Salary is a priority, but many candidates for tech start-ups care a lot about job stability at the moment, said Eva Li, a Beijing-based headhunter who helps tech companies find engineers. For now, the transition from industrial (secondary) jobs to service sector (tertiary) jobs seems smooth, partly because a strong economy over the past few years has created many entry-level, low-skilled jobs such as in package or food delivery but boosting entrepreneurship to offset demographic challenges requires consistent government support, which is easier said than done, according to Gao Yuan, senior economist at the Conference Board. What does opening up exhibition giving credit to SOEs and Xi Jinping say to Chinas private firms? As growth continues to slow, it will become increasingly difficult for the government to maintain the balancing act between upholding employment stability and advancing structural reforms, Gao said. One risky factor for employment stability is the rise in Chinese worker protests in service industries, according to China Labour Bulletin (CLB), a Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation that tracks labour strikes. Of 1,444 incidents recorded during the first 10 months of this year, 238 were in retail and 224 in transport, which are dominated by online services such as ride-sharing giant Didi and Meituan Dianping. One indirect effect of the slowdown in manufacturing that may, in the coming months, be exacerbated by the Sino-US trade war is the funnelling of laid-off factory workers into low-paid, insecure and often dangerous jobs in emerging service industries. It is these industries that are now increasingly the focus of worker protests in China, CLB warned. As these new businesses absorb more and more of the workforce laid off from the manufacturing sector, we would expect to see a greater number of strikes and protests over low pay, lack of benefits, long working hours and lack of job security. This article Chinas makers stave off trade war job losses but for how long? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. China said it has produced a blade casting that could improve the performance of the heavy duty turbines that will power the latest generation of its guided-missile destroyers. State Power Investment Corp (SPIC), one of Chinas largest state-owned power generator companies, said it could now establish its own production process for the core component of 330-megawatt gas turbines. SPIC said on its website on Tuesday that the blade casting was Chinas first breakthrough in core components in heavy-duty gas turbines and the most important milestone achievement since 2015, when China launched a task force to develop a home-grown gas turbine. Five things to know about Chinas home-built destroyer To generate electricity, air and fuel are mixed and combusted, causing the turbine blades to spin, driving the generator. The blades are typically made of superalloys designed to endure the high stresses created within the turbine. Chinas efforts to access critical but sensitive technologies owned by foreign players such as General Electric in the US, Germanys Siemens, Japans Mitsubishi and Italys Ansaldo Energia have been turned down over the past 50 years, putting China at risk of being choked by the neck, especially in the field of national energy security, Science and Technology Daily said in May. The technical breakthrough was announced with China locked in a trade war with the US and Made in China 2025, a strategy aimed at transforming China into a technology and manufacturing superpower, drawing the ire of US President Donald Trump and Western governments. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the new component could be used on gas turbines that are designed to power later variants of Chinas most advanced surface ship, the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer. China has launched four over the past 18 months and four more are under construction. The Type 055s are designed to serve as the primary escort vessels for the Peoples Liberation Army aircraft carrier strike groups. Story continues The original gas turbines used on Type 055 destroyers are not as powerful as the engines used by the Americans Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Li said. But the gap between Chinese warships and their American counterparts will be narrowed as China overcomes the core technology [gap]. Chinas first home-grown carrier finishes maiden sea trial The first two Type 055s do not feature super efficient integrated electric propulsion systems (IEPS) because of their relatively low power supplies. The IEPS would allow warships to operate high-energy, hi-tech weapons such as rail guns, which can launch projectiles at speeds far beyond conventional weapons. A source close to the Chinese shipbuilding industry said Beijings achievement on turbine blade technology development was made with the help of foreign counterparts, especially through a cooperation agreement signed between Russian United Engine Corp and Chinas state-owned Harbin Turbine Co in July of last year. Russia needs China to retrofit its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier, whose hull, deck and other parts were all damaged following a series of accidents earlier this year, the source said. Chinese shipbuilders in Dalian, Liaoning province, are capable of retrofitting the Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier, based on their experience of refitting the countrys first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. China bought the Liaoning, a half-built Admiral Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, from Ukraine in 1998, and spent about a decade refitting it, turning it into the countrys first commissioned aircraft carrier. The countrys first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, was launched last year by the Dalian shipyard. This article China makes turbine blade breakthrough that could give Type 055 guided-missile destroyers an edge 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: Chinese official uses US$58 million of state funds to help bank clerk daughter bag US$232,000 bonus A government official from east China who helped his daughter to secure a 1.6 million yuan (US$232,000) bonus by depositing 400 million yuan of public funds in the bank where she worked has been sacked, according to a Communist Party publication. Chen Wei, a former director of a department responsible for land purchases in the city of Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, came under investigation at the start of 2017 after a whistle-blower reported his activities. His position meant he had access to large sums of money and after hearing his daughter was under pressure to attract new deposits at the state-owned bank where she worked, Chen set about moving some it to her branch, according to an official publication of the Communist Partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The transfers took place over a 12 month period starting at the end of 2015, the report said. At that time there were no rules prohibiting officials from depositing funds in banks where their relatives worked, but they were not allowed to use their positions for financial gain. There were no regulations on which banks we could use to deposit public funds, Chen was quoted as saying. So I took advantage of the supervision loophole to help my daughter. After deciding it wasnt a big deal he instructed a member of his team to open an account at his daughters branch and started making the deposits. Chen continued to defend his position when questioned by investigators, but his argument fell on deaf ears and in June of this year he was given a formal warning and sacked from his government position. His daughter, who was not named in the report, was ordered to return the bonus she had been paid. In 2017, Chinas banking watchdog rolled out new rules making it illegal for officials in charge of public funds to deposit them at banks where their relatives work. This article Chinese official uses US$58 million of state funds to help bank clerk daughter bag US$232,000 bonus first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. A 22-year-old Chinese man who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015 for buying 24 replica guns has had his term commuted to seven years and three months on appeal, but his lawyer said he still considers the ruling unjust. Liu Dawei, from southwest Chinas Sichuan province, was just 18 when he bought the guns from an online supplier in Taiwan. He believed them to be fake, but was convicted of smuggling weapons into the country after customs officers classified them as illegal firearms. Speaking after the appeal ruling was announced by the Fujian Higher Peoples Court on Tuesday, Lius lawyer, Xu Xin, said he was unsatisfied and would fight on. We will submit a file to the court, demanding abrogation of the verdict, he said in an interview. The case received a large reduced sentence thanks to the efforts of the media, the toy gun victims and the families, internet users and lawyers. But justice has not arrived yet and we still need to work towards it. He was referring to the widespread outrage that swept the nation after the initial sentencing, with many people appealing for justice for Liu on the grounds that the nations gun control laws were unreasonable. Under Chinas criminal law the private ownership of guns is forbidden and violators can be sentenced up to seven years in prison. In 2001 the Ministry of Public Security published a document that defined a firearm as any weapon capable of firing a projectile with a force of 16 joules per square centimetre or greater. But in 2010, that measure was tightened to include all guns with a power ratio of 1.8 joules per square centimetre or more. In comparison, the quotient is just over seven joules in Hong Kong and 20 joules in Taiwan. Between 2011 and 2015, mainland authorities prosecuted more than 9,000 cases and over 80,000 suspects accused of being involved in the illegal manufacture or trade of replica firearms and air guns, Peoples Daily reported previously. Story continues Xu has represented a number of them, including Zhao Chunhua, a woman from Tianjin municipality who in 2016 was sentenced to 3 years in prison for owning nine imitation guns that customers used for firing at balloons at her fairground-style rifle range. I have made repeated calls for the ministry to improve its gun identification standards, and for legal practices to differentiate imitation guns from real firearms, Xu said, adding that he hoped any future punishments would be administrative rather than legal. In March, the Supreme Peoples Court and the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate said that in cases concerning the illegal manufacture and sale of firearms, judges should take into account the number of guns involved, their power and the traders motives when sentencing. In the months since then a number of related cases across the country have been dropped, according to public records. This article Chinese toy gun buyer has life sentence commuted, but lawyer vows to fight on first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Between shame and safety Destigmatising abortion warrants its own approach and attention Christmas linked to Chinas past humiliation by foreign invaders in speech to primary schoolchildren A speech to primary schoolchildren linking Christmas with Chinas invasion by foreign powers more than a century ago has backfired, fuelling public anger against recent official moves to boycott the festival. Dong Xuefeng, head of the Huangwei Township Central School in Sixian County, Anhui province, told a school gathering on Monday that Christmas was a disgrace to the Chinese people because of past humiliations inflicted on the nation by mostly Christian invaders. The countys publicity bureau issued a transcript of Dongs speech on the microblogging service Weibo on Tuesday, but deleted it on Wednesday morning, after it went viral overnight. Do you know where all this Christmas, Christmas Eve and carnival stuff comes from? It has brought a burning shame to Chinese people, Dong said, before asking the children to refuse to take part in Christmas celebrations. According to the deleted Weibo post, Dongs speech went on to give a lesson on Chinas past humiliation by Westerners, beginning with the burning of the Old Summer Palace and looting of national treasures by Anglo-French troops in 1860. He went on to refer to the crimes of the eight-nation alliance which invaded China in 1900. Except for the Japanese, all of them were Christians. The crimes they conducted in China were too numerous to record, Dong said, according to the transcript. The school also arranged for a student to deliver a speech reminding schoolmates that the day following Christmas marked the anniversary of Chinas revolutionary leader Mao Zedongs birth, which should be the festival for Chinese to celebrate. The publicity bureau applauded the speeches, saying in its post that through such education, children would establish correct values and treat foreign culture in the right way. In recent years, Western festivals such as Christmas have been popular among school students. Some young students follow the trend blindly, which contradicts school education about patriotism and traditional culture, it said. Story continues Before it was taken down, the topic had attracted more than 5 million views, sparking fierce criticism for its linking of the celebration of a religious festival to Chinas past sufferings. Many noted the pointlessness of the exercise, as many aspects of life in China today have been adopted from the West including weekends and white bridal gowns. This is stupid. We started reforming and opening up 40 years ago and yet such ideas still exist, commented one user. This is classic cultural inferiority, said another. Local authorities across China, especially educational institutions, have discouraged celebrations of Western festivals in recent years, fearing cultural intrusion as they have gained in popularity. In some areas shops have been banned from putting on Christmas displays and related sales, though for the most part Christmas has largely continued to be a shopping festival in Beijing and other cities. Though students in some areas have also been restricted to campus to prevent them from taking part in any Christmas-related activities. This article Christmas linked to Chinas past humiliation by foreign invaders in speech to primary schoolchildren 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: Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang Chi-wai was involved in a head-on crash in Japan on Christmas Day with a car carrying a top Hong Kong policeman, sources have said. Director of Crime and Security Li Chi-hang and his family were in a seven-seater when it collided with another car driven by Tsang, 65, and a woman in her 40s on the northern island of Hokkaido. Li was sent to hospital before being transferred to another facility by helicopter for surgery on Wednesday. He was said to be conscious but numb in the lower half of his body. His wife also sustained non-life-threatening injuries and required immediate surgery. Comedian Tsang was conscious after the incident and had not sought help from Hong Kong authorities as of Tuesday night. The manager of Tsangs daughter, singer and actress Bowie Tsang, 45, told the Post that she had been in touch with her father since the accident. Her dad has called to tell her he is safe, and would like to thank everyone for their concern, said the manager, who only gave his surname, Liu. Hes been to the hospital for a check-up and is doing fine. Officer Lis family were on a holiday road trip when the accident took place in Otaru, a port city to the northwest of the islands capital, Sapporo. Li was a passenger at the time, a source said. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of gales and snow in the northwestern part of the island. Otaru recorded 23cm of snow on Tuesday, with temperatures ranging from minus 3.5 degrees Celsius to a maximum of just 0.2 of a degree above freezing, according to official statistics. Li joined the police force in 1988. He previously served as assistant commissioner and was promoted to his current post earlier this year. A spokesman for Hong Kongs Immigration Department said staff from the Chinese consulate in Sapporo had visited the injured at a hospital on Tuesday night. Three department staff members were sent from Hong Kong on Tuesday and Wednesday to provide assistance and would actively follow up on the incident. Story continues Several Hong Kong tourists have died navigating the mountainous roads of Hokkaido, one of Japans most popular holiday destinations. In 2016 a three-year-old boy was killed when a rental car driven by his father slammed into a lamp post on a highway in Iwamizawa, about an hours drive from Sapporo. In December 2010 a 51-year-old man and a nine-year-old girl died when their rented vehicle crashed head-on into a truck on a snow-covered road between Sapporo and a ski resort in the town of Niseko. There have been 9,680 traffic accidents in Hokkaido this year, injuring 11,191 people and causing 139 fatalities, according to data from the Hokkaido Prefectural Police. There were 858 fewer road accidents than last year. A Hong Kong police spokesman said the forces Welfare Services Group of its Personnel Wing had been in close contact with Lis family. The Post has contacted Tsangs management for comment. This article Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang Chi-wai and top police officer in head-on car crash on Japans Hokkaido island Christmas Day first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Japan said Wednesday it is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission and will resume commercial whaling next year, sparking criticism from activists and anti-whaling countries including Australia. The announcement comes after Japan failed earlier this year to convince the IWC to allow it to resume commercial whaling. Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan's territorial waters. "We will not hunt in the Antarctic waters or in the southern hemisphere," he added. Tokyo has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the IWC, and has been regularly criticised for catching hundreds of whales a year for "scientific research" despite being a signatory to a moratorium on hunting the animals. Suga said Japan would officially inform the IWC of its decision by the end of the year, which will mean the withdrawal comes into effect by June 30. Leaving the IWC means Japanese whalers will be able to resume hunting in Japanese coastal waters of minke and other whales currently protected by the IWC. But Japan will not be able to continue the so-called scientific research hunts in the Antarctic and elsewhere that it has been exceptionally allowed as an IWC member. Japan joins Iceland and Norway in openly defying the IWC's ban on commercial whale hunting, and its decision sparked international criticism. - 'Rich whaling culture' - Australia's government said it was "extremely disappointed" and urged Japan to reconsider. "Australia remains resolutely opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called 'scientific' whaling," Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Environment Minister Melissa Price said in a statement. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters also urged Japan to stay in the IWC. "Whaling is an outdated and unnecessary practice. We continue to hope Japan eventually reconsiders its position and will cease all whaling," he said. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, and the meat was a key source of protein in the immediate post-World War II years when the country was desperately poor. But consumption has declined significantly in recent decades, with much of the population saying they rarely or never eat whale meat. Whale hunting has become a rare thorny subject in Japan's otherwise largely amiable foreign policy, with international opposition only prompting conservatives to dig in deeper in support of the tradition. Many members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party are supporters of whaling, and he himself comes from a constituency where whale hunting remains popular. Tokyo argues that whaling is an important part of Japan's traditions, and Suga said the withdrawal would allow fishermen to "pass our country's rich whaling culture onto the next generation." In September, Tokyo argued unsuccessfully that stocks of certain species of whale were now sufficient to support renewed hunting. "At the IWC general meeting in September this year, it became evident once again that those supporting the sustainable use of whale stocks and those supporting protection cannot co-exist, leading us to this conclusion," Suga said. Hideki Moronuki, a senior official at the Fishery Agency, told reporters: "A withdrawal is not the best option, but it is a better option in order to achieve Japan's major objective of commercial whaling." - 'Pirate whaling nation' - Activist groups slammed Tokyo's decision, with Humane Society International saying Japan would become "a pirate whaling nation killing these ocean leviathans completely outside the bounds of international law." Greenpeace Japan's executive director Sam Annesley said the decision was "out of step with the international community." The IWC, established in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population, introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986. Japan is the biggest financial contributor to the IWC, which may now have to find ways to replace lost funding. Tokyo has long exploited a loophole allowing whales to be killed for "scientific research" and says it is trying to prove the population is large enough to sustain a return to commercial hunting. It makes no secret however of the fact that meat from the expeditions ends up on dinner tables. It was not yet clear how many whales would be caught each year once Japan resumes commercial whaling, officials said. Last season, its scientific research expeditions caught nearly 600 whales in the Antarctic and the northwest Pacific. In this September, 2017, photo, a minke whale is unloaded at a port after a whaling for scientific purposes in Kushiro, in the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Japan says it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts but says it will no longer go to the Antarctic to hunt. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, that Japan's commercial whaling will be limited to its territorial and economic waters.(Kyodo News via AP, File) Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. Japan switched to what it calls research whaling after the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s, and now says stocks have recovered enough to resume commercial hunts. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan would resume commercial whaling in July "in line with Japan's basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence." He added that Japan is disappointed that the IWCwhich he said is dominated by conservationistsfocuses on the protection of whale stocks even though the commission has a treaty mandate for both whale conservation and the development of the whaling industry. "Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views," he said at a news conference. Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan's territorial waters and its 200-mile (323-kilometer) exclusive economic zone along its coasts. He said Japan would stop its annual whaling expeditions to the Antarctic and northwest Pacific oceans. Non-signatory states are not allowed to do so, according to Japanese Fisheries Agency officials. The IWC imposed the moratorium on commercial whaling three decades ago due to a dwindling whale population. In 1987, Japan switched to what is calls research whaling, but the program has been criticized as a cover for commercial hunting since the meat is sold on the market at home. In this March 27, 2014, file photo, packs of whale meat to be sold hang at a whale meat specialty store at Tokyo's Ameyoko shopping district. Japan says it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts but says it will no longer go to the Antarctic to hunt. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, that Japan's commercial whaling will be limited to its territorial and economic waters.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File) Japanese officials said Japan, even after leaving the whaling convention, will remain as an observer to the IWC and plans to continue participating in the group's scientific meetings and annual conferences. The environmental group Greenpeace condemned Wednesday's announcement and disputed Japan's view that whale stocks have recovered, and noted that ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing. "The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures," Sam Annesley, executive director of Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement. "The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling." Australia's government, often a vocal critic of Japan's whaling policies, said in a statement that it was "extremely disappointed" with Japan's decision to quit the commission. However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters joined Australia in welcoming Japan's withdrawal from the southern ocean. Japan was the only country with an ambition to return to commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWC's method to carefully determine a catch quota on the basis of science, but declined to give an estimate. He said Japan plans to use seven existing whaling hubs on the Pacific coast for the upcoming commercial hunts. Moronuki said Japan is starting with a modest plan because it has to figure out if or how commercial whaling can be a viable industry. "What's most important is to have a diverse and stable food supply," he said. In this Sept. 2013, photo, a minke whale is unloaded at a port after a whaling for scientific purposes in Kushiro, in the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Japan says it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts but says it will no longer go to the Antarctic to hunt. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, that Japan's commercial whaling will be limited to its territorial and economic waters.(Kyodo News via AP) The Fisheries Agency said Japan plans to catch three kinds of whale that are believed to have sufficient stocksminke, sei and Bryde's. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but has reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japan's ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts. Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about one third after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the country's research whaling program wasn't as scientific as it had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the Northern Pacific. Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. It's a fraction of the country's whale meat supply of about 200,000 tons before the IWC moratorium. Critics say they doubt commercial whaling can be a sustainable industry because younger Japanese may not view the animals as food. Nonetheless, Japanese lawmakers want to promote whales not only as a source of protein but as part of Japan's cultural tradition. "We hope the resumption of commercial whaling will lead to the economic revitalization of (whaling) communities," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a meeting of his ruling party's whaling committee. Kazutaka Sangen, mayor of Taiji, a central Japanese town known for dolphin hunts, welcomed the decision and vowed to stick with scientific way of stock management so that Japan's position on whaling can gain understanding from the international community. Suga said that Japan would notify the IWC of its decision by Dec. 31 and that it remains committed to international cooperation on proper management of marine life even after its IWC withdrawal. Explore further Japan considers leaving IWC to resume commercial whale hunts 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Credit: Oregon State University Tree rings tell the story of what's happening physiologically as fire suppression makes forests more dense and less tolerant of drought, pests and wildfires, new research shows. Scientists at Oregon State University and Utah State University studied 2,800 hectares of mixed-conifer forest in central Oregon, with many of the ponderosa pines in the study area dating back hundreds of years prior to 1910, when putting out wildfires became federal policy. Other trees in the area, where fire history has been studied extensively, were younger, comparatively fire- and drought-intolerant grand firs. The findings, published in Global Change Biology, indicate that as stands of trees became thicker over the past century, trees were forced to use progressively more of the heavier stable isotope of carbon for photosynthesis, indicative of increasing drought stress as they restricted the passage of gases into their leaves. The research also suggests that rising carbon dioxide levelsatmospheric CO2 has increased 40 percent since the dawn of the industrial agecan't help trees overcome the effects of forests having become more dense without fires. "We wanted to document the trajectory of sensitivity to drought stress in response to progressively increasing fire deficits, and the threshold level of stand occupancy where decreasing resistance and resilience to drought stress, bark beetles and wildfire set in," said study co-author Christopher Still of the OSU College of Forestry. "This was an intersection of fire ecology and physiological ecologytwo areas that don't meet up as often as they should." Before 1910, frequent low-severity surface fires played a key role in maintaining the forests of the dry mountain regions of the western United States. In the decades since, the fire deficits that resulted from federal policyin concert with grazing, logging and land-use changeshave caused major structural shifts in older forests as shade-tolerant and fire-intolerant species have moved in. Over the same period of time, concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have not only been rising but doing so at an increasing rate; the higher CO2 concentrations have an effect on leaf gas exchangethe processes through which trees obtain oxygen for respiration and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. "We've known for a long time that fire suppression has led to crowded forests, which means more competition for resources," said College of Forestry graduate student Andrew Merschel, another study co-author. "We've known that because of that, trees are more prone to drought, which makes sensethere's less water reaching deep below ground and more trees pumping it out. Our research shows in a physiological way what's happening. We thought there would be signals in the annual tree rings, and there are." Credit: Oregon State University A tree adds a ring for each year of growth, and in a conifer the ring consists of a lighter-colored "early wood" portion and a darker-colored "late wood" component. Ring-size variation reflects temperature and precipitation at the time the growth occurred. And the chemistry of each ring tells a tale too, including whether a tree can use more of the lighter carbon-12 isotope it prefers, or had to resort to using relatively more of the heavier carbon-13 isotope for photosynthesis as well. Tree-ring carbon isotope records also have shown that trees respond to drought by becoming more efficient with their water use. What hadn't been known, though, was whether increases in water-use efficiency, bolstered by rising CO2 concentrations, were enough to overcome increased drought stress resulting from a recent in-growth pulse of younger, fire-intolerant trees. "Increased tree density seems to outweigh the benefits of carbon dioxide 'fertilization,'" Merschel said. "It's not necessarily bad if younger, drought-sensitive trees that established since fire exclusion die because that's consistent with way these forests used to lookmore open, allowing ponderosa pine to live to be 600 years old. Fewer trees and reduced competition allow the old, fire-resistant trees that have survived centuries of drought, insects, and fire to persist as the structural backbone of dry forests." Lead author Steven Voelker of Utah State University notes that drought sensitivity of forests in the dry mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest may be compounded as climate change increases the length of the snow-free season. "Recent research from OSU and other institutions also shows that denser forests reduce snowpack across the Northwest," Voelker said. "We cannot predict exactly how all of these factors affecting forests will interact in the future, but it is certain that lower-density forests will have more snow and less drought stress." And without "major changes to policy and management aimed at reducing stand densities," many forests in central Oregon will cross a threshold that makes them less resistant to drought and less resilient to wildfires and bark beetle outbreaks, he said. Future work by this research group will expand tree-ring isotope analyses into different areas of Oregon and other parts of the western United States to assess the effect of increased competition across conifer forests where it might be dryer and hotterand thereby provide a more comprehensive view of how forest resilience has changed because of fire suppression. More information: Steven L. Voelker et al, Fire deficits have increased droughtsensitivity in dry conifer forests; fire frequency and treering carbon isotope evidence from Central Oregon, Global Change Biology (2018). Journal information: Global Change Biology Steven L. Voelker et al, Fire deficits have increased droughtsensitivity in dry conifer forests; fire frequency and treering carbon isotope evidence from Central Oregon,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14543 Buddhist Travel Mart to kick off on Jan 12 The first ever Buddhist International Travel Mart 2019 is scheduled to start from January 1012 in Lumbini, Bhairahawa. Dahal vows to attend meetings of parliament, House panel regularly Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will regularly attend the meetings of federal parliament and house committees from now onward. Dr KC issues January 1 ultimatum to address his demands Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has warned of staging another round of hunger strike from January 1 if his demands are not met. He said those against the reforms in countrys medical sector are involved in deceptive manoeuverings against the Medical Education Bill. Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. I was tortured terribly in custody to confess the crime I didnt commit: Pradip Rawal Pradip Rawal, who was arrested in connection with the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant, was released on Wednesday. The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, this afternoon issued an order to release him on general date. Should an uptick in federal gun prosecutions garner bipartisan praise? | Main | "The Republican Party, Conservatives, and the Future of Capital Punishment" July 31, 2017 AP series looks deeply at a "patchwork of justice" for juve lifers after Graham and Miller The AP has some new in-depth reporting on juvenile LWOP sentences and resentencings in this series labeled "Locked Up For Life." This lead article published today is headlined "AP Investigation: A patchwork of justice for juvenile lifers," and here are some excerpts from the extended piece: Five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court banned mandatory life without parole for juveniles in murder cases. Last year, the court went further, saying the more than 2,000 already serving such sentences must get a chance to show their crimes did not reflect irreparable corruption and, if not, have some hope for freedom. But prison gates dont just swing open. Instead, uncertainty and opposition stirred by the new mandate have resulted in an uneven patchwork of policies as courts and lawmakers wrestle with these complicated, painful cases. The odds of release or continued imprisonment vary from state to state, even county to county, in a pattern that can make justice seem arbitrary. The Associated Press surveyed all 50 states to see how judges and prosecutors, lawmakers and parole boards are re-examining juvenile lifer cases. Some have resentenced and released dozens of those deemed to have rehabilitated themselves and served sufficient time. Others have delayed review of cases, skirted the ruling on seeming technicalities or fought to keep the vast majority of their affected inmates locked up for life. Many victims relatives are also battling to keep these offenders in prison. They already had their chance, their days in court, their due process, says Candy Cheatham. Her father, Cole Cannon, was killed in 2003 in Alabama by Evan Miller, the 14-year-old whose no-parole sentence was the basis for the 2012 sentencing ban.... The APs review found very different brands of justice from place to place. For years, officials in states with the most juvenile life cases were united in arguing that the Supreme Courts ban on life without parole did not apply retroactively to inmates already serving such sentences. Now, states are heading in decidedly different directions.... The AP also found that while many states have taken steps to make former teen criminals eligible for parole, in practice, officials regularly deny release. In Missouri, the parole board has turned down 20 of 23 juvenile lifers, according to the MacArthur Justice Center, which filed a federal lawsuit this year claiming the board is denying the states juvenile life-without-parole inmates a meaningful chance for release as required by the Supreme Court.... Maryland, meantime, has 271 juvenile lifers whose sentences have always given them a chance for release. But no such prisoner has won parole in more than 20 years, prompting a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.... The impact of last years Supreme Court ruling goes far beyond the 2,000-plus offenders who faced mandatory no-parole sentences as teens. In many states, legal challenges are being mounted on behalf of juveniles sentenced to life without parole at the discretion of a judge or jury, or those who are legally entitled to parole but serving such lengthy terms they are unlikely to ever get out. The latter group encompasses some 7,300 inmates, according to The Sentencing Project. The Supreme Court didnt specifically address these cases, however, and thats led to different outcomes. July 31, 2017 at 09:48 AM | Permalink Comments Parole is a matter of grace---the "meaningful chance of release" doesn't upend that. This is why, in states where the governor has right to commute sentence, the Supreme Court constitutionalized the identity of the decisionmaker. That's snort-worthy. Posted by: federalist | Jul 31, 2017 9:54:14 AM Meaningful chance means a hearing at which the parole board considers the pros and cons of granting parole -- including the circumstances of the original case and what steps the defendant has taken to rehabilitate themselves while incarcerated. In the overwhelming majority of cases, those factors are not currently good for inmates. First, while perhaps not as small a group as the Supreme Court thinks is appropriate, those who received life without parole (at least from the cases that I know in my state) tended to have committed an offense with significant aggravating factors that would suggest that parole board's should be cautious in granting parole. (And the Supreme Court has not clearly addressed how long it is acceptable to hold these inmates before giving them release.) Second, since -- until Miller and Montgomery -- these offenders had no hope of release, they had little reason to avoid minor disciplinary issues or to pursue the type of programs that might demonstrate a desire to reform. In most states, the denial of parole results in the scheduling of a review/reconsideration hearing in several years, not the permanent denial of parole. Given the lack of incentive to build the type of record that demonstrates that an inmate is a good parole risk up until recently, it should not surprise anybody that the first batch of inmates are getting poor results from their parole hearings. Some of the folks who are being turned down now should get parole when they come up for a second time (and have put in several years of effort to show that they are parole worthy). Similarly, those with newer cases (who have not yet come up for a parole hearing) should get better results than this first batch as they will have the time to build a "resume" before their hearings. Posted by: tmm | Jul 31, 2017 10:58:41 AM The cases say that certain teen offenders should have the chance of parole and this means life in prison is not a lock (minus some special dispensation from the governor or whatever). This doesn't mean they should get parole after ten years in prison or something. OTOH, when we are talking about sixteen year old offenders in prison for thirty or so years, the case for parole is stronger. At some point, the theoretical sixty-five year old long term inmate shouldn't have to deal with THAT "cautious" of a process. Posted by: Joe | Jul 31, 2017 12:03:20 PM ACLU scum, home addresses or STFU. We are moving all released juvenile murderers to the houses surrounding yours. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 31, 2017 8:21:18 PM Post a comment Is criminal justice reform really "poised to take off in 2018"? | Main | Prez Reagan's Secretary of State laments "The Failed War on Drugs" December 31, 2017 Looking at enduring challenges in Miller's application in Louisiana and elsewhere This new lengthy AP piece, headlined "Ruling but no resolution on which teen killers merit parole," details the continuing debate in Louisiana and other states over application of the Supreme Court's recent Eighth Amendment jurisprudence on juve LWOP sentences. Here are excerpts: Nearly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prison inmates who killed as teenagers are capable of change and may deserve eventual freedom, the question remains unresolved: Which ones should get a second chance? Now the ruling which came in the case of a 71-year-old Louisiana inmate still awaiting a parole hearing is being tested again in that same state, where prosecutors have moved in recent months to keep about 1 in 3 former juvenile offenders locked up for the rest of their lives. There is no possible way to square these numbers with the directive of the Supreme Court, said Jill Pasquarella, supervising attorney with the Louisiana Center for Childrens Rights, which found that district attorneys are seeking to deny parole eligibility to 84 of 255 juvenile life inmates whose cases are up for review. Some prosecutors countered that the heinousness of some of the crimes makes these inmates the rare teen offenders the court said could still be punished with life behind bars. In this community, some of the most violent crimes weve had have been committed by juveniles, said Ricky Babin, district attorney for Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes, who has filed motions seeking new life-without-parole sentences in four of five cases. The moves by Louisiana prosecutors echo the aggressive approach in Michigan, where district attorneys are seeking to keep two-thirds of 363 juvenile life inmates behind bars for good. That states cases have been on hold for months now awaiting a ruling on whether judges or juries should decide them. The friction prompts agreement by prosecutors and advocates that the nations highest court likely needs to step back into the debate over how the U.S. punishes juvenile offenders. Its definitely clear now that the court does need to ... clarify that life without parole is unconstitutional for all children, said Jody Kent Lavy, director of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. Weve seen in certain states, in certain jurisdictions, that the standard that was set by the court ... is one that prosecutors and judges dont necessarily feel compelled to follow. The courts January 2016 ruling extended a ban on mandatory life without parole for juvenile offenders to those already in prison for murders committed when they were under 18. The decision didnt lay out specific procedures for states to follow in reviewing the cases of those 2,000-plus inmates nationwide. Rather it said only that a lifetime behind bars should be reserved for the rarest offenders whose crimes reflect irreparable corruption.... The decision ushered in a wave of new sentences and the release of dozens of inmates in states from Pennsylvania to Michigan, Arkansas and beyond but also brought confusion and inconsistent approaches in other states, an Associated Press investigation earlier this year found. In Louisiana, a law that took effect in August makes former teen offenders with no-release life terms eligible for parole after serving 25 years unless a prosecutor intervenes. District attorneys had until the end of October to ask a judge to deny parole eligibility. Several district attorneys refused to discuss individual cases, and court paperwork they filed does not detail arguments against release. But prosecutors said their decisions were based on reviews of offenders crimes, their records in prison and talks with victims families. These are all sensitive cases to victims. They lost a loved one in this, said Scott Stassi, first assistant district attorney for Point Coupee, West Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes. His office is seeking life without parole in all four of its cases.... Louisiana is being closely watched because the state has so many cases only Pennsylvania and Michigan have more and its justice system has a reputation for stiff punishment. A new U.S. Supreme Court petition filed by Pasquarellas group and the national Juvenile Law Center calls out Louisiana for continuing to sentence juveniles to life without parole in 62 percent of new cases since 2012, including those in which offenders were convicted of second-degree murder. The petition seeks an outright ban on life without parole for juveniles; 20 states and the District of Columbia already prohibit the sentence for teens.... In New Orleans, with more juvenile life cases than any other judicial district in Louisiana, prosecutors are seeking to deny 30 inmates a chance for parole. The district has 64 cases, but nearly a quarter had been resolved before the new law took effect. District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro Jr. said the decisions should have been left to the states parole board, because it is better able than prosecutors to assess how inmates may have changed. The board will pass judgment on inmates whose parole eligibility is not opposed by prosecutors, but cases in dispute will be argued before a judge.... E. Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, thinks it is inevitable that the nations top court will be pressed to weigh in as prosecutors test the boundaries of the 2016 ruling. Ultimately, whatever the court says well abide by, he said. The Supreme Court recently declined to hear two related cases, including an Idaho petition asking the justices for an all-out ban on juvenile life without parole. For now, that leaves decisions to local prosecutors, judges and parole officials. A few recent related posts: December 31, 2017 at 05:04 PM | Permalink Comments Louisiana should enact legislation waiving its tort immunity for the damages the released murderers will do to their communities and to its citizens. It should set aside a fund with $millions to compensate the victims of child abuse, rape, and murder that will result from these releases. All Supreme Court judicial review is unlawful, and must be ignored. Posted by: David Behar | Jan 1, 2018 8:37:55 AM David get a life. Do the math here this individual is 71 if the cutoff age is 18 that means he has been in prison for 53 years. If he's not safe to release by now he never will be. Shoot the bastard and move on. What it tells me is that the individuals determined to keep him locked up are either hate filled retards it sick depraved bastards just as dangerous as he was in his teens and should be in the cells next to him Posted by: Rodsmith3510 | Jan 1, 2018 9:26:02 AM Rod. We know who these people are at age 3. The crime meter of battery, sexual assaults, stealing starts to spin, and they never change. They slow down with age, true. However, I want the state to take responsibility when his grand daughter reports, Grandpa touched my wee wee, or the mute demented lady in the next room at the nursing home has been raped. Release him, but be held accountable. Do not hide behind state immunity, dumping this toxic person on the public, usually poor people with little political power. To the lawyer morons who say, he done great in prison for 50 years, it is the same as saying, his diabetes has been controlled on insulin. Let's release him from his structured setting. Let's stop the insulin. His release is a cruelty. The state wants to dump his end of life care on the public and on Medicare. Meanwhile, he has to learn a completely new life at age 71. Not cool. Posted by: David Behar | Jan 1, 2018 12:32:01 PM Rod. Good news. Did not take long. I am banned on Facebook for 30 days, again. I will have a lot more time to devote to the Comment section of this blog. Posted by: David Behar | Jan 1, 2018 3:28:44 PM David, please try to keep it to one or two comments per day and/or per post. Regular readers are familiar with your standard take on most matters --- if you cannot say something new (and respectfully), please spend your time elsewhere. Posted by: Doug B | Jan 2, 2018 9:57:24 AM Professor, I fear your suggestion to Mr. Behar is a bit of wishful thinking. He is quite unable to control himself. Perhaps the host of the blog could enforce such limitations and decorum so that what is otherwise an interesting and educational site does not become subsumed by one reader's uninformed bile. Posted by: Publius | Jan 3, 2018 9:11:55 AM I prefer nudges to prohibitions, Publius, and we will see how it goes. Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 3, 2018 12:31:42 PM Doug. You identify yourself as a professor, implying an educational purpose to this blog. Indoctrination is advocacy of one point of view. Education addresses other points of view. I suggest that you post an article that is pro-crime victim 1 in 100 posts, instead of 1 in 1000 posts. Any repetitive Comment is in reply to your repetitive, mono-maniacal obsession with the interests of criminals. How can one explain such a monomania? Criminals generate fees for the lawyer profession. Victims generate nothing, and may rot. Posted by: David Behar | Jan 4, 2018 1:00:29 PM David, how can you explain that I have received literally 1000s of complaints about your comments and none that I can remember in your defense? I am sure there thousands of crime victims --- myself included --- who read this blog, yet the complaint I heard are always about your comments not my postings. Just sayin' Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 4, 2018 2:20:47 PM I have explained that many times. They want all dissent shut down. Dissent poses questions about the current system of lawyer income from the protection, privileging, and empowerment of the criminal. You may review the Wikipedia article on the Rent Seeking Theory. Threaten a $trillion bunko operation, returning nothing of value. With its 7% response rate, and its 20% false positive rate, the criminal law is close to irrelevant to anything to do with crime. One time, the law made an impact, after mandatory guidelines dropped crime 40% across the board. The most conservative Justice on the Supreme Court led the charge to end them. He saw massive lawyer unemployment, and did that bullshit you lawyers do, made up bullshit arguments, and violated Article I Section 1 of the constitution. The sole benefit is to have make work government workers make a living. Your reader wants to be left alone to get updates on procedural developments they can use in their motions and in their briefs. They do not want to hear from someone feeling they need to all be fired. That is because they stink, and because they are the stupidest people in the country. Thus, it is unanimous. Everyone wants the ambassador from earth to the lawyer profession dead. I tried to leave. Bill asked me to return. Posted by: David Behar | Jan 4, 2018 7:18:15 PM David, your screeds fail to incorportate real facts: mandatory guidelines were put in place in the federal system 1987 and the violent crime rate was at 609/100,000 that year. It stayed above that rate for the next decade (increasing a lot from 1987 to 1991), and started dropping lower than the 1987 rate only in 1998. Booker in 2005 made the guidleines advisory, and crime dropped further still for the next decade. And the mandatory guidelines made much more work for lawyers than the system that came before -- in part because it played a role in federal prosecutors bringing more cases. I also doubt Bill asked you to return here, though especially since I believe you have been banished from where he blogs and so many other cites. The problem is not so much want you want to say but how you say it. Though in the Trump era, I suppose your mode of expression is becoming a bit more mainstream. Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 6, 2018 3:06:11 PM Post a comment "Incarceration, Recidivism, and Employment" | Main | Big Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upholds "drug free" condition of probation The Philadelphia Inquirer has this effective new article headlined Why are juvenile lifers from Philly getting radically different sentences from those in the rest of Pennsylvania?. Here are excerpts: While Pennsylvanias Supreme Court has attempted to create clear guidelines for that work, now that more than 300 juvenile lifers have been resentenced across 31 counties, the disparities are striking. Its still very county-dependent, fact-dependent, and there are still a lot of politics involved, said Brooke McCarthy, who has been tracking the results for the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Juvenile Law Center. If you look at the outcomes in Allegheny County, they are night and day from what were seeing in Philly. Thats true in various counties: In Bucks County, one judge has been handling the sentencing, and shes been particularly harsh. Different folks are handling the same facts differently. In Philadelphia, the average sentence for a juvenile lifer has been 31 years to life. In Bucks County, no one has received less than 40 years.... County by county, judges have disagreed about whether sentences on multiple homicides ought to run concurrently or be stacked consecutively. A Lancaster County judge last year imposed consecutive 40-years-to-life sentences for Michael Lee Bourgeois, for killing his adoptive parents in 2001 with three accomplices. And, in Allegheny County, a judge imposed three consecutive 25-to-life sentences on Donald Zoller, who killed three people when he was just 14; he wont go before the parole board unless he lives to be 89. But in Philadelphia, its been a different story. Jose Hernandez, convicted of killing four family members as a teen, received 45 years to life after the district attorney tried to offer him even less time. And another juvenile lifer, Jorge Cintron Jr., was resentenced to 30 years to life for three murders; he could be released by age 47. Judges have also differed when it comes to tacking on additional time for associated charges, such as robbery, conspiracy, or possession of a firearm.... According to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision last year, a juvenile must be found to be permanently incorrigible before a life sentence can be imposed. Now, state appellate courts will have to weigh in on a slew of follow-up questions being lobbed from all across the commonwealth. What comprises a de facto life sentence: Is 50 years too long? Is it constitutional to stack consecutive sentences such that a juvenile who is not incorrigible has no hope of release? What is a juvenile anyway do 18-year-olds count? And, what factors must judges consider in the resentencings, which are supposed to take into account the reduced culpability of an immature, impulsive youth, as well as his or her capacity for change?... In Michigan, home to 360 teen lifers, the state has sought to reimpose life without parole in more than half of its cases. In Virginia, Renwick said, the commonwealth has fought at every step to prevent resentencings. And in Illinois, which is working through the resentencings of about 100 juvenile lifers, Shobha Lakshmi Mahadev, a professor at the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University School of Law, said the vast majority are being resentenced to 50 or 60 years in prison, many with no opportunity for early release. Other states, such as Louisiana, have addressed the issue legislatively, by creating across-the-board parole eligibility though in some jurisdictions that still means few, if any, lifers are actually being released. What these decisions have done is opened up this conversation and this question: How do you sentence a child or an adolescent? What our systems did before was just to treat kids as adults and that is unconstitutional and, given what we know now, inappropriate, Mahadev said. Notable pipeline provisions in FIRST STEP Act in the wake of litigation history surrounding FSA of 2010 | Main | Spotlighting the enduring challenges posed by risk-assessment mechanisms built into FIRST STEP Act I am sure I have posted any number of articles highlighting that implementation of the Eighth Amendment limit of juvenile life without parole sentences has been choppy at best (see here and here and here for a few more examples). The latest iteration of this depressingly evergreen story comes from Mother Jones here under the headline "The Supreme Court Said No More Life Without Parole for Kids. Why Is Antonio Espree One of the Few to Get Out of Prison?". I recommend this long piece in full, and here is a taste: As a result of [the Graham and Miller and Montgomery] decisions, the number of states banning life without parole for children in all cases, not just in mandatory sentencing schemes, has quadrupled since 2012. Of the more than 2,600 juvenile lifers in 2016, about 1,700 have been resentenced. But although Justice Kennedy stated that all but the rarest of juvenile offenders should get a shot at parole, some prosecutors continue to argue that many do not deserve this benefit, or that they should serve years longer in prison before they can get out. So far, only 400 juvenile lifers nationwide have been freed. In part, thats because the Supreme Court gave states leeway to decide how to review lifers cases, leading to inconsistencies across the country. In Pennsylvania, home to the nations second-biggest juvenile lifer population, prosecutors are required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant can never be rehabilitated if they want to deny the option of parole during resentencing; otherwise, the presumption is he should be given a second chance. So far, the state has released more than 150 juvenile lifers, many under the jurisdiction of Philadelphias District Attorney Larry Krasner, who campaigned last year on a platform of reducing mass incarceration. But in Michigan, where 363 juvenile lifers were serving mandatory sentences in 2016, there is no such requirement, and prosecutors have argued that nearly two-thirds of juvenile lifers are those rarest offenders who should be kept in prison for good. Justice in this country is largely based on where you live, says Jody Kent Lavy, director of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, an advocacy group. Even Henry Montgomery, who won his Supreme Court case, isnt free. In February, the Louisiana parole board rejected his request for release, arguing that he had not finished enough classes in prison. His lawyers countered that he hadnt been given much of a chance: For his first three decades at Louisianas notorious Angola prison, lifers like him were prohibited from taking classes. (About a third of juvenile lifers nationally say they have been denied access to prison educational programs.) When the courses opened up, he was deemed ineligible to complete his GED. A judge described him as a model inmate, but family members of the sheriffs deputy he killed testified against him at the parole hearing. So Montgomery, now 72 years old, was denied. Hell have to wait a year to reapply. Lamenting lack of retroactive application of new sentencing changes in FIRST STEP Act (... and so rooting again for robust clemency) | Main | Notable pipeline provisions in FIRST STEP Act in the wake of litigation history surrounding FSA of 2010 December 26, 2018 "Bernie Madoff's secretary wants to use new Trump law to get out of jail early" The title of this post is the juicy headline of this notable new ABC News article about a notable defendant eager of make use of the FIRST STEP Act to seek release from federal prison. I call the headline juicy in part because of the Bernie Madoff connection, as well as the fact that the FIRST STEP Act is described as the "new Trump law." Here are excerpts: One of the five employees of Bernie Madoff convicted in a $20 billion Ponzi scheme is seeking early release from prison based in part on the new criminal justice reform law signed last week by President Donald Trump. Annette Bongiorno, who was Madoffs longtime secretary, has been in prison since February 2015 and asked the judge to order her release no later than March 2019, more than a year before her scheduled release date. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, defense attorneys cited the First Step Act that they contend makes Bongiorno, 70, eligible for home confinement, since she is at an advanced age and has served two-thirds of her sentence. "The new statute permits her to make a direct application to the court for this relief, and Mrs. Bongiorno respectfully makes the application," defense attorney Roland Riopelle wrote. "She remains an 'old fashioned' family oriented person who would benefit greatly from the release to home confinement that the First Step Act provides," he wrote. A spokesperson for federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York was not immediately available to respond to a request for comment on Bongiorno's bid for early release. The office declined to comment to a similar request for comment by the Associated Press.... Bongiorno was convicted in 2014 after a six-month trial during which she insisted she did not know her boss was running what is widely-seen as the biggest Ponzi scheme in American history. Madoff, who is now 80, is serving a 150-year sentence following conviction on a fraud that was exposed a decade ago. In his letter to the judge, Riopelle called Bongiorno a "model prisoner" who has served her sentence at FCI Coleman medium security prison in Sumterville, Florida, "without a disciplinary violation of any kind." Riopelle said she was in decent health and in "generally good spirits" though finds the holiday season "a bit depressing." Without seeing the filing referenced in this article, it is unclear to me if Bongiorno is seeking so-called "compassionate release" or is seeking relief under an elderly prisoner reentry pilot program. The FIRST STEP Act has important new provisions making available two different possible means for elderly prisoners to seek release to home confinement or sentence modification, but the legal requirements and process are distinct in important ways. Bongiorno certainly will not be the only older prisoner looking to take advantage of the FIRST STEP Act, and I expect there could be a lot of interesting jurisprudence emerging in the weeks and months ahead on these fronts. December 26, 2018 at 02:32 AM | Permalink Comments As a member of the bipartisan coalition that pushed for the First Step Act, I'm happy for her and I hope she gets released. Why? Simple: 70+ year olds shouldn't die in prison. (Especially not for financial crimes, no matter how serious.) Posted by: Rory Fleming | Dec 26, 2018 9:37:48 PM Post a comment These 10 startups are making a positive impact on the deprived and marginalised people amongst us The key objective of any startup is to turn profitable and make it to the Unicorn club, and possibly launch an IPO. Their contribution to the global economy is significant, and they create millions of jobs, thus becoming part of a social change. But there are a few startups whose ultimate objective is NOT to make profit or get a billion dollar exit. Instead, they want to make a positive impact on the society. Such startups are rare but are there in almost every sector, and they change the lives of millions of the marginalised and deprived in the society. In this article, we have picked a few ventures who are making a positive impact on the society in Southeast Asia. TreeDots Food waste is one of the most pressing problems the world is facing. As per a study, roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year approximately 1.3 billion tonnes gets lost or wasted. Food losses and waste amounts to roughly US$680 billion in industrialised countries and US$310 billion in developing countries. Singapore-based startup TreeDots has developed a solution to this problem. Started by Nicholas Lim, Tylor Jong, and Jiacai Lou, TreeDotss mission is to minimise the amount of food waste through a self-sustaining ecosystem via its aggregation of F&B businesses on different points of the value chain within the startup. It recently collaborated with National Environment Agency (NEA) in their food wastage reduction (FWR) outreach programme. ThreeDots is also the winner of Echelon 2018. EcoZen Farmers across the world are a deprived lot. They often lack adequate support to keep their produce safe even after a good harvest. The problem is serve in developing and under-developed countries of Asia and Africa. Probably, this agritech startup could bring in a change. Ecozen based in Kerala, India but targeting the markets in Southeast Asia and Africa has aims to improve farm-to-fork movement of perishable goods by providing solar-based cold rooms at the farm level. The startup has already implemented its solutions in Southeast Asian region, including in Indonesia and Vietnam with the help of high-tech polymer manufacturer Covestro. It is looking forward to expand its business further into Southeast Asia and Africa. Story continues EcoZen is the winner of the inaugural Rabobank Food Loss Challenge Asia. SolarHome Most households in the developing countries in Southeast Asia are still living in the dark, as electricity is still a dream for most of them. Green energy solutions have been out of their reach. But not any more. Singapore-based SolarHome is finding a way out for them. Founded by FORUM, a Singapore-based fintech venture builder, SolarHome brings pay-as-you-go solar solutions into off-grid households in Southeast Asia. It offers off-grid households a solar lighting system at a low-cost 24-month subscription plan, with an initial US$10 down payment, followed by daily, weekly, or monthly repayments through scratch cards or mobile money. The company plans to bring reliable, affordable and clean energy to more than 40,000 homes in rural Myanmar by the end of 2018. The firm also intends to increase distribution throughout Myanmar, advance its mobile money platform, as well as expand its product range to more premium products, including systems with bundled television sets. Technology built into the system ensures that it wont function if a payment is not made, giving lenders the confidence that they will be able to recover their investment. The firm recently secured US$10M in debt financing from a consortium of international investors, MyCash Online Being migrants themselves, the duo knows the major challenges faced by the massive 40 million migrant population in Malaysia one being the inability to access various financial services, as most of them are unbanked. The duos urge to solve this problem drove them to start MyCash Online, an online financial marketplace for the underbanked migrant population in Southeast Asia. Incorporated in 2015 and headquartered in Singapore, MyCash provides a tailor-made platform for the unbanked migrant population, where they can purchase products and services online without using any bank account, credit cards, or prepaid cards. Users can reload phone credit, pay bills, and buy bus tickets through MyCash. Also Read: Malaysian fintech startup MyCash in talks to raise US$2M for expansion into Australia, Europe It offers many services, including local and international mobile recharge, utility bill payments, cross- border money transfer, wallet transfer, bus and air ticket, e-commerce voucher, dry foods and other products, PA insurance and many more. Migrant worker can fulfil all most all their needs through our platform. Ark The number of cancer patients is growing at an alarming rate across the globe. Cancer is a genetic diseasethat is, it is caused by changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide. Doctors and experts in the healthcare industry claim that early detection can prevent the disease to be aggravated. Ark, a Singapore-based company, is harnessing advanced data science and proprietary microRNA detection technology to develop non-invasive and cost-effective blood tests to detect early stage cancers before clinical symptoms appear. Established as a result of a merger between MiRXES (a microRNA diagnostic test developer) and Venturecraft, Ark has kicked off by launching a blood test for early detection of stomach cancer in Asia. The firm plans to develop and launch new blood tests for early detection of other high prevalence cancers such as lung, breast and colon cancer. Ark has research collaborations with top medical research institutions globally. Having recently completed a 5,000-patient gastric cancer trial in Singapore, Ark is planning to launch Asias largest clinical studies targeting at least 50,000 participants through partnerships with local governments and medical institutions. Ruma Low-income communities in Indonesia often have limited access to products and services that could improve their lives. The goods available are at a higher price than similar products sold in department stores. Ruma provides financial and information services in the country through a trained agent network. The company aims to increase access to such services in a country with only 3,600 bank branches that serve a population of 245 million across a sprawling island archipelago. Ruma recruits agents from Indonesias two million independently owned mom and pop stores and provides them with technology, training, and support. These shops can then provide local consumers with a range of services, such as pre-paid airtime top up, utility and loan payments, mobile money services, and insurance. Based in Jakarta, Ruma has served millions of customers through thousands of agents across Indonesia. Enablecode People with disability are often looked at with derision. There are quite a few NGOs and organisations working for the upliftment of dibbled people, the attitude of the society towards these people hasnt changed much. This is where Vietnamese software company Enablecode makes a difference. With a goal to transform the Vietnamese perception of people with disabilities, Enablecode employs computing experts who are not as physically able as the majority of society. Established in 2014, this startup blossomed from a team of freelancers who have been working together on a variety of web projects in Ho Chi Minh City since 2010. Their goal is to use technology to deliver services and run a strong business as a means to raise awareness of those living in a disabled condition. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, the company specialises in complex custom web application development, and offers all aspects of innovative, creative, complex web design, including graphic layout, custom coding, advanced functionality and SEO. Happi Market research should benefit the clients who pay for it, the people who participate in it, and the groups, causes and communities those participants care about. Singapore startup Happi was started with this intention. The Happi mobile app rewards users for responding to 5-question surveys with chances to win prizes they select, donations to the charity group or cause they select, and, possibly, connections to career opportunities all free. Clients pay Happi for the responses and a portion of this money goes to pay for the prizes people win and a portion goes to the donations to the partner groups. Clients get fast, easy, and cost-effective insights from and engagement with consumers. Everyone wins. Impact Terra Farmers account for more than 40 per cent of Myanmars GDP and 60 per cent of the workforce. But they often dont get adequate attention from the government or the tech community, despite the growth and penetration of smartphones and internet. Erwin Sikma saw an opportunity here. He saw a huge potential to improve the livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers through the use of digital solutions such as smartphone apps by providing them with real-time agricultural information, access to markets, and proper access to financing options. This leads to the birth of Impact Terra. The company has come up with a platform, Golden Paddy, for farmers which offers real-time, personalised information about local crop prices, weather-based advice like flood or drought warnings, and pest risks. The platform also collects data on farmers, such as their location and details about crops, which helps financial service providers deliver financial products that meet their needs and correspond to their specific risks. This enables these farmers to get the capital they need to improve or expand their farms at accessible rates. billionBricks There are one billion people in the world without a home. The lack of adequate housing continues to be a problem to which we cannot find a solution. Housing is a human right and the first step of empowerment towards emerging out of poverty. Also Read: How these two school girls are helping Rohingyan refugees find a good shelter in Bangladesh billionBricks was founded by a team of architects, designers, engineers and urban planners committed to solving the global housing problem. A non-profit, billionBricks used design and technology as its tools to innovate shelter and infrastructure solutions for the homeless and vulnerable. Its approach empowers communities to replicate its solutions on their own. Last year, billionBricks created WeatherHYDE (a reversible, light-weight, all-season tents) to help the Rohingyan refugees find a good shelter in Bangladesh. Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash The post 10 social impact startups in Southeast Asia that caught our attention in 2018 appeared first on e27. A Chinese prison for high-profile detainees, including the wife of former top Communist Party official Bo Xilai, has come under fire for its lack of programmes to educate inmates on "Xi Jinping thought". Yancheng prison in northern Hebei Province, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Beijing, holds former government officials, foreigners and ordinary criminals, the state-run Global Times reported. Problems found at the facility after an inspection last week include "the lack of in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping's socialist ideology with Chinese characteristics", the Ministry of Justice said in a statement Friday. Xi, who has accumulated titles to become China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, has pushed for ideology-based training at prisons, detention centres and universities in recent years. China's rubber-stamp parliament in March approved the inclusion of Xi's political philosophy alongside that of Mao and paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in the constitution. Yancheng prison was also criticised for rampant red tape and the lack of an "unswerving spirit" to implement the instructions of "central leading comrades such as General Secretary Xi Jinping". The terse statement did not offer details about whether inmates were offered liberties that violated their prison sentences. Gu Kailai, wife of the former Chongqing Communist Party boss Bo Xilai, is serving a life sentence at Yancheng after being convicted for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood in 2012. The killing sparked China's biggest political scandal in years and brought down Bo, who had been tipped to become one of the Communist Party's top national leaders. Bo is serving a separate life sentence for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power at a hotel-style jail for China's political elite in Beijing. Thought reform through the study of Communist ideology has been an integral part of China's prison system for decades. 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. (Photo: Pixabay) 2019 looks to be a milestone year for Singapore as far as political issues go. While most attention will naturally be on leadership succession, there are other events worth keeping an eye on as 2018 recedes into the past. 1. Singapore Bicentennial A slew of events beginning on 28 January will mark the anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles arrival in Singapore in 1819. Already, there has been disagreement over whether Singapore should pay this much heed to its colonial past. Others have asked if the story will be told without glossing over the controversial chapters of Singapores history. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the bicentennial will be marked appropriately. Perhaps more telling is his remark that our progress was not a straight line upwards but ultimately we came through and became an independent nation. It suggests the message will be of the look at how far we have come variety meant to foster national unity. 2. Budget 2019 The annual event is always a closely-watched affair, but next years will be even more so. Singaporeans are likely to look to it for the Governments response to a problem that has been raising temperatures of late inequality. As technology continues to disrupt the workplace, the issue of jobs also appears likely to be addressed. Finally, will there be more information on when the hike in the Goods and Services Tax to 9 per cent be effected within the previously stipulated timeframe of 2021-2025? 3. Cabinet Reshuffle Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that a new Cabinet line-up will be announced after the Budget debate. The reshuffle is expected to confirm that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will be Singapores next Prime Minister. As important, it will put 4G ministers in key posts, while the older ones may leave the Cabinet to make way for the new. Another question: Will there be two Deputy Prime Minister positions, and if so, who will occupy the second slot (it is almost certain that Mr Heng will take the first)? Speculation centres on whether it will be given to Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing or Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam. Another keenly watched issue: What will DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnams role in the reshuffled Cabinet be? Story continues 4. GE 2019? With new ministers expected to assume more key roles by the first half of the year, there has been growing speculation that a general election, which must be called by January 2021, will be held towards the end of 2019. Apart from speculation that doing so later will hurt the ruling party a GST announcement is expected by 2021, for instance other intriguing signs have popped up. Some 30,000 civil servants have been appointed as election officials, and their training began in July. Another sign is the timeline for the introduction of e-registration for voters and electronic counting machines. 5. Foreign Affairs As always, external events have the potential to buffet Singapore, and 2019 will have more than its fair share of potential banana skins. Malaysia has taken steps to de-escalate the maritime borders row, and a meeting between the two sides to discuss the issue and the airspace dispute will be held in the second week of January. Campaigning for Indonesias April elections is heating up, and while incumbent President Joko Widodo appears likely to win a second term, it is by no means a sure thing. Also looming over Singapore is the prospect of renewed hostilities in the US-China trade war. Both sides have begun a 90-day tariff ceasefire, but the fallout from the trade war has already begun to affect Singapores economy, and if an agreement is not reached, the situation could get much worse. A search was underway for 152 Vietnamese who arrived in Taiwan on tourist visas, authorities said Wednesday, as local media reported they may have come to the island to work illegally. The tourists were issued visas under an initiative launched three years ago to attract more visitors to Taiwan from south and southeast Asia. A total of 153 Vietnamese nationals arrived in southern Kaohsiung city over the weekend -- and only one has been tracked down, according to Taiwan's National Immigration Agency. "The agency has set up a taskforce and worked with the police to investigate the tourists who are unaccounted for and the group behind them," it said in a statement, without elaborating. Local media speculated that the Vietnamese may have come to Taiwan to work illegally. They face deportation and a three- to five-year ban from the island, the immigration agency said. About 150 tourists had previously gone missing under the programme, according to the Tourism Bureau, though it is not clear how many of them were found. Meanwhile, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told AFP it had asked Taiwanese authorities for clarification on the case and sought coordination so bilateral tourism and exchange programmes would not be affected. The visas of the missing Vietnamese have been revoked and Taiwan's representative office in Vietnam has suspended issuing tourist visas to another 182 Vietnamese whose applications were approved by the Tourism Bureau, Taiwan's foreign ministry said. The tourism programme is part of Taiwan's "southbound policy", which targets 16 south and southeast Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, in a bid to boost tourism as arrivals from mainland China decline. The number of tourists from the mainland has slid dramatically as relations with China deteriorate, with speculation authorities are turning off the taps to pressure the government of the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen, who came to office in 2016. Major General Giri up for promotion to lieutenant general The recommendation for one of the two vacant posts of Nepal Army lieutenant generals has finally landed in the Cabinet for approval, Geeta Gurung, deputy spokesperson at the Ministry of Defence, confirmed on Tuesday. What we know: Netflix has created a landing page for a film called Black Mirror: Bandersnatch with the simple synopsis Be right back, a reference to one of Black Mirrors most poignant, chilling episodes. What we think we know: Nothing has been formally announced or confirmed, so take all of the following with a pixel of salt. A now-deleted Netflix tweet supposedly revealed last month that Black Mirror: Bandersnatch will be released Dec. 28. The Independent has picked up more details via the Korean Media Rating Board, including that the movie will star Fionn Whitehead and be directed by David Slade, who also directed the episode Metalhead. A leaked photo featuring Whitehead, Will Poulter, and Asim Chaudhry seems to support that casting. Advertisement What we also think we know: Despite an earlier report that it would be 90 minutes long, Bandersnatch apparently comes with 312 minutes of footage, which supports the rumor that it will be the interactive, choose-your-own-adventure story previously believed to be an episode of Season 5. And Reddit detectives have discovered that it is set in the 1980s and that the plot synopsis translates to: A young programmer makes a fantasy novel into a game. Soon, reality and virtual world are mixed and start to create confusion. What we know we think: These leaks arent leaks at all, but deliberate clues left by the filmmakers designed to create hype ahead of the surprise release of Bandersnatch, illustrating how the internet has changed the way we consume culture and how that change can be used to manipulate us into thinking weve discovered new information when in fact it has been fed to us. What we know we think we know we think we know: 404 Not Found. Before Barack Obamas election in 2008, the relationship between white racial views and partisanship wasnt as clear-cut as one might think. Yes, Republicans won the large majority of white voters who believed black disadvantage could be attributed to a lack of hard work or efforta key measure in the racial resentment scalebut a substantial minority of white voters was part of the Democratic coalition as well. But once Obama was in office, whitesand especially those with less formal educationbecame better able to connect racial issues to partisan politics, according to a recent book charting these changes to American politics. Advertisement Still, in his 2012 re-election race, Obama won a portion of whites with negative views of blacks. The reason has everything to do with the campaigns. Obama didnt emphasize race or speak explicitly on racial issues. Neither did Mitt Romney. Race mattered, but white racial viewsand white identitywerent as crucial to the outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This changed in 2016. And the way it changed has important implications for the upcoming presidential electionand the Democratic race in particular. In Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America, political scientists John Sides, Lynn Vavreck, and Michael Tesler provide a short but useful summary of what happened: In 2016, the presidential campaign focused on issues tied to racial, ethnic, and religious identities and attitudes. The two candidates took very different positions on those issues, and voters perceived those differences. Peoples attitudes on these issues were then activated as decision-making criteria and became even more strongly associated with white voters preference for Clinton or Trump. Advertisement Advertisement From the start, Donald Trump ran an openly racist campaign of agitation and disdain toward immigrants, Muslims, and black Americans, and likewise, Hillary Clinton ran a campaign emphasizing tolerance and racial diversity. They were asking Americans to vote on the basis of national identity: Who should America be for? In response, white voters sorted themselves according to their racial views: If you held negative attitudes toward blacks and immigrants, believed racial inequality was a result of individual laziness or cultural pathology, or thought nonwhites threatened the economic advancement of whites, you were more likely to back Trump. If you believed the reverse, you were more likely to back Clinton. Account for education, and the result is the same. Advertisement The number of white Republicans with liberal racial views was low enough that there werent many defections. But the number of white Democrats with conservative racial views was significantand critically, those voters were clustered in key Midwestern states like Michigan and Wisconsin, enough to give Trump his narrow but decisive advantage in the Electoral College. Advertisement Hillary Clinton made plenty of tactical and strategic missteps in her bid for the White House. But its hard to imagine how she could have avoided this dynamic. To even win the primary, she had to disavow much of her centrist past and persuade voters of her liberal bona fides. This was most true on issues of racial justice, where Clinton faced a diverse Democratic base with increasingly progressive and outspoken views on issues of race and ethnicity and was tied to the legacy of her husbandwhose White House legitimized and expanded on the tough on crime policies of his predecessors. Advertisement Advertisement In moving left, Clinton hoped to flank her opponents and secure her standing. She spoke early and often about structural racism and implicit bias; she met with representatives of Black Lives Matter and shared the stage with the Mothers of the Movement; she embraced undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children and described police violence as a force that terrorizes communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It worked. In 2008, Clintons share of the black vote against Barack Obama was just 16 percent. Against Bernie Sanders in 2016, it was 77 percent. And she ran nearly even with Sanders among whites with the most liberal racial views, after losing them by large margins in her race against Obama eight years earlier. But it also came with a cost: In 2008, Clinton won the large majority of white primary voters who attributed racial inequality to lack of effort; in 2016, she narrowly lost themand that carried over to the general election. The number of white Republicans with liberal racial views was low enough that there werent many defections. But the number of white Democrats with conservative racial views was significant. If this dynamic is just a Hillary Clinton problem, alleviated by choosing a different nominee, then Democrats running in 2020 dont have to worry. But if its an unavoidable result of being pitted directly against the presidents racism, then theres a problem, especially for white candidates. Advertisement Not because of something inherent to being white, but becausesomewhat similar to what happened to Clintonthe increased salience of identity puts them in an awkward spot vis-a-vis the Democratic primary electorate. A substantial share of those voters is black and Hispanic, and many of them seek expansive solutions to the ills facing their communities, from draconian immigration enforcement to entrenched racial inequality. These voters are absolutely crucial to winning the Democratic nomination, and everyone running will likely appeal to them with concrete policies. But white candidates will face the additional task of demonstrating social solidarityof showing that they understand the problems of racism and discrimination and empathize with the victims. Advertisement Advertisement If you have a history of racial triangulation, or if youre trying to improve on past performance, this becomes an acute concern. If Joe Biden runs for president, he maylike Clintonface sharp questions about his legacy, from his opposition to school integration in the 1970s to his vocal support for the war on drugs and significant efforts to expand the reach of the carceral state. His association with Obamas historic presidency might not be enough to repel this questioning. Bernie Sanders doesnt have that history, but if he runs, hell be fighting to improve on his performance with black voters in the last primary. Other candidates, like Sherrod Brown of Ohio or Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota or even Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, are unfamiliar enough among black audiences to merit similar efforts at showing solidarity. Advertisement After embracing the Republican congressional agenda, Trump cant run on building infrastructure and protecting retirement programs. But he still has racism. And another campaign of racial fear and resentmentagainst another Democrat trying to shore up their racial justice bona fidessets up another election where white voters are polarized along their racial views. This doesnt mean the presidency is out of reach for Democratsthe midterm elections show there are other Americans to mobilize and winbut the Obama-to-Trump voters might be gone from the party for good. Advertisement Advertisement One possible implication of all of this is that black candidates may have the strategic advantage in the Democratic primary. Not because theyll automatically win black voters, but because they wont have to demonstrate the same social solidarity. Like Obama, they can stay somewhat silent on race, embodying the opposition to the presidents racism rather than vocalizing it and allowing them space to focus on economic messaging without triggering the cycle of polarization that Clinton experienced. Of course, how everything actually plays out depends on conditions and contingencies that are impossible to forecast, much less predict. But if this dynamic is real, then theres a certain irony in the possibility that to get some Trump voters back into the Democratic fold, the party may have to choose another black messenger. After the death of the second Guatemalan child while in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency has unveiled a series of changes to its policies and how it handles the health care for migrants who have been detained. Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan unveiled the changes following the death of an 8-year-old child, who has been identified as Felipe Gomez Alonzo. Although initial reports said the child had died on Christmas Day, officials now say he died late on Christmas Eve. The death took place a little more than two weeks since another Guatemalan child, Jakelin Caal Maquin, 7, died while in the custody of the Border Patrol. Advertisement In the most significant shift, authorities will now carry out secondary medical checks on all children that are in custody, with a particular focus on children under 10. The agency also said it will request assistance from others in the government to help provide health care for migrants. And Border Patrol will review options to improve transportation to family centers and to deal with capacity issues at stations and checkpoints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McAleenan told CBS the agency needs more resources from Congress to deal with the massive increase of children crossing the border. We need help from Congress. We need to budget for medical care and mental health care for children in our facilities and Im committed to improving our conditions, even as we work on the broader problems border security, and of course solving the issues in our legal framework that are inviting these families and children to make this dangerous journey, McAleenan said. The Border Patrol facilities are decades old and were designed to house single adult males, and arent really set up to deal with the huge number of children who are crossing the border these days. Advertisement Advertisement Late Tuesday, CBP released a timeline of what happened before Felipe died. The series of events began at 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve, when an agent noticed that the child was coughing and appeared to have glossy eyes. He was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a common cold and given Tylenol. Shortly thereafter, hospital staff found he had a fever and kept him under observation. But he was released a little more than an hour later with an antibiotic. Later in the night, the boy threw up but his father allegedly rejected further medical assistance. At 10 p.m. agents decided he should go back to the hospital. The boy lost consciousness on his way to the hospital and staff were not able to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 11:48 p.m. on Dec. 24. Democratic lawmakers criticized the government, saying the recent deaths are a direct result of policies that the Trump administration has imposed on the border. The Administrations policy of turning people away from legal ports of entry, otherwise known as metering, is putting families and children in great danger, the incoming chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Joaquin Castro, said. With two deaths that we know about just in the last few weeks, Congress will continue to press the Department of Homeland Security until we get answers to all our questions. President Donald Trump had an uplifting message of hope for Americans on Christmas Day, making it clear he is not willing to compromise in order to get the government fully working again. I cant tell you when the government is going to be open. I can tell you its not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they would like to call it, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after he made a traditional Christmas Day phone call with service members. Trump once again repeated what has become a favorite talking point of his, implying Democrats oppose the wall because of how that word sounds. Ill call it whatever they want, but its all the same thing, he said. Advertisement Trump insisted the wall was needed to stop drugs from flowing into the country and end human trafficking. We cant do it without a barrier. We cant do it without a wall, he said. The only way youre going to do it is to have a physical barrier, meaning a wall. And if you dont have that then were just not opening the government. Trump also repeated a claim made on Christmas Eve that he had approved a 115-mile-long contract for another large section of the Wall in Texas. Neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security expanded on what exactly the president was talking about, but the president repeated the claim Tuesday. Its going to be built, hopefully rapidly, he said. Im going there at the end of January for the start of construction. Thats a big stretch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump claims federal workers affected by the shutdown agree with him that he should keep the government closed until Democrats agree to fund the wall. Many of those workers have said to me and communicated, stay out until you get the funding for the wall, Trump said. These federal workers want the wall. The only one that doesnt want the wall are the Democrats, because they dont mind open borders, but open borders mean massive amounts of crime. At one point in his chat with reporters, Trump strangely veered into talking about fired FBI Director James Comey as a way of illustrating his talking point describing Democrats as hypocrites. Everybody hated Comey, they thought he did a horrible job. The Democrats hated him. They were calling for his resignation. They were calling for his firing, Trump said. Once I fired him, everybody said, Oh, why did you fire him, why did you fire him? Washington Post More or Less Confirms That Jamal Khashoggi Was a Paid Qatari Intelligence/Propaganda Asset I can see how American "journalists" would regard this as the normal state of affairs and not really that different from a plain ol' "journalist." Many journalists in the US are paid by Fusion GPS to plant Fusion stories, which in turn were funded by interested parties including foreign governments. Quotes from the Washington Post below, with commentary added by streiff from RedState. Perhaps most problematic for Khashoggi were his connections to an organization funded by Saudi Arabias regional nemesis, Qatar. Text messages between Khashoggi and an executive at Qatar Foundation International show that the executive, Maggie Mitchell Salem, at times shaped the columns he submitted to The Washington Post, proposing topics, drafting material and prodding him to take a harder line against the Saudi government. Khashoggi also appears to have relied on a researcher and translator affiliated with the organization, which promotes Arabic-language education in the United States. ... Khashoggi was never a staff employee of the Post, and he was paid about $500 per piece for the 20 columns he wrote over the course of the year. He lived in an apartment near Tysons Corner in Fairfax County that he had purchased while working at the Saudi Embassy a decade earlier. [Note: how did he live in the DC Metro area for about $10K/year?] Khashoggi also appears to have accepted significant help with his columns. Salem, the executive at the Qatar foundation, reviewed his work in advance and in some instances appears to have proposed language, according to a voluminous collection of messages obtained by The Post. [Journalists accepting "significant help" from government operatives in writing stories is a fact of how journalism is conducted in the Middle East, the Post eliding over this speaks volumes.] In early August, Salem prodded Khashoggi to write about Saudi Arabia's alliances "from DC to Jerusalem to rising right wing parties across Europe...bringing an end to the liberal world order that challenges their abuses at home." Khashoggi expressed misgivings about such a strident tone, then asked, "So do you have time to write it?" So in other words, Khashoggi was largely just a frontman for anti-Saudi propaganda written by an operative of the Saudi's chief Arab rival, Qatar. "I'll try," she replied, although she went on to urge him to "try a draft" himself incorporating sentences that she had sent him by text. A column reflecting their discussion appeared in The Post on Aug. 7. Khashoggi appears to have used some of Salem's suggestions, though it largely tracks ideas that he expressed in their exchange over the encrypted app WhatsApp. Other texts in the 200-page trove indicate that Salems organization paid a researcher who did work for Khashoggi. The foundation is an offshoot of a larger Qatar-based organization. Khashoggi also relied on a translator who worked at times for the Qatari embassy and the foundation. ... On Oct. 3, one day after Khashoggi's death, while his fate remained uncertain, his researcher contacted The Post to say that he had a draft of a column that Khashoggi had begun writing before his disappearance. It was published two weeks later. [The likelihood that Khashoggi's last column was ghostwritten to take advantage of his disappearance by making him appear to be an Arabian Thomas Jefferson approaches certainty.] streiff quotes Dave Reaboi of the Strategic Studies Group noting that it doesn't make sense for the Washington Post to reveal that the man they've been painting as a patriotic martyr for two months was in fact a shabby operative working for a government hostile to his native country except if the Washington Post knew that there were rumors about these texts and possible payments to Khashoggi and they sought to get ahead of a story they knew could no longer be suppressed. Nepal-India energy officials meet in New Delhi, likely to fix new electricity tariff A meeting between the energy officials from Nepal and India has kicked off in the Indian Capital New Delhi on Thursday. President Donald Trump had a little Christmas surprise for U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday. The commander in chief and first lady Melania Trump took a secret overnight flight out of Washington and Air Force One landed at the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad. President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote on Twitter. Advertisement President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas. pic.twitter.com/s2hntnRwpw Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit, which was set to last around three hours, marked the first time that Trump visited a conflict zone since he came into office.Some in the military had criticized Trump for failing to visit troops in a conflict zone, particularly considering his predecessors did just that much earlier in their presidencies. President George W. Bush, for example, visited troops in Iraq in November 2003, around eight months after he sent troops there. President Barack Obama, meanwhile, made his first trip to Iraq as president in April 2009*, around three months after taking office. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has frequently talked about how he sees it as a priority to bring troops home from foreign conflicts, claiming other countries take advantage of the United States when it comes to the military. And his visit to Iraq comes shortly after he ordered a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and a decrease in the number of troops in Afghanistan. Trump has yet to announce any plans for the approximately 5,000 U.S. troops that remain in Iraq. Were, right now, the policemen of the world and were paying for it, Trump said on Christmas Day during a video conference call with troops. And we can be the policemen of the world, but other countries have to help us. Advertisement Advertisement Trump continued with that theme Wednesday. Were no longer the suckers, folks, Trump told American troops in Iraq. Were respected again as a nation. He also defended his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria. I made it clear from the beginning that our mission in Syria was to strip ISIS of its military strongholds, Trump said. Trumps visit to Iraq came shortly after Trump forced Defense Secretary James Mattis to leave earlier than expected. When Mattis resigned he said he would stay on until the end of February but Trump said Sunday that Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will be taking over as acting secretary of Defense on Jan. 1. It turns out all the rumors and speculation may be true after all and President Donald Trump likely never suffered from bone spurs. Trump famously received a medical exemption from the military during the Vietnam War because he was diagnosed with bone spurs in his heels. But now the daughters of a Queens podiatrist tell the New York Times their late father wrote the diagnosis as a favor to the presidents father, Fred Trump, who was the foot doctors landlord. I know it was a favor, said Dr. Elysa Braunstein, one of the daughters of Dr. Larry Braunstein, who died in 2007. It was family lore. She added that it was something we would always discuss. Her sister, Sharon Kessel, also corroborated that account although neither daughter could confirm whether their father had actually examined the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no documentation to back up the claim, and the daughters openly acknowledge they are Democrats who dislike Trump. The late podiatrist, who was a lifelong Democrat, also apparently wasnt a big fan of the now-president. Although he once talked about the diagnosis with pride because he had helped a famous guy, he later got irritated by Trumps tabloid persona. At the time though, it seems Braunstein got a clear benefit from helping his landlords son. What he got was access to Fred Trump, Elysa Braunstein said. If there was anything wrong in the building, my dad would call and Trump would take care of it immediately. That was the small favor that he got. The daughters say they believe another podiatrist, Dr. Manny Weinstein, also assisted in the diagnosis although his role is not exactly clear. He did live in two apartments in Brooklyn owned by Fred Trump and moved into the first one the same year that Donald Trump received the exemption. Weinstein died in 1995. Life has no facet more certain than the simple passing of time. The seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and decades roll on inexorably, unabated by the whims and fathoms of man. And yet we mark the days by our achievementswhat is history, if not the archiving of time through a human lens? Five years ago today (less a single sunset) Sprudge Media Network brought the world its first glimpse of the Modbar, the revolutionary undercounter espresso technology built by what was then an unknown little coffee tech start-up out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Principle investors at launch included Marco Beverage Systems of Dublin, Ireland and La Marzocco, the international espresso machine brand headquartered in Florence, Italy and Seattle, Washington. In the years since our original story ran the relationship between Modbar and La Marzocco has deepened, and that takes us to today, with the launch of the brand new Modbar Espresso AV. Through years of collaborative R&D, and drawing from La Marzoccos previous work crafting the Linea PB and Linea Mini, this new Modbar is coming with some big ideas attached. Its a reset of the velocity of making coffee, says La Marzocco Product Manager Scott Guglielmino. Thats a pretty big claim, but he should know; in collaboration with Modbar, Guglielmino has helped head up an international R&D team responsible for dramatically rethinking Modbars tech, while maintaining its style, identity, and manufacturing base in the American Midwest. Its the direction I think espresso machines should go, he adds, and its really all I want to do: to make insanely good espresso machines that people cant wait to wake up to and get to work on. The new Modbar Espresso AV features La Marzocco boiler design, integrated scales for volumetric precision, PID temperature control, and a host of new little details sure to delight those who work on espresso machines every day, not least of which being temperature stability modeled on the Linea PB, whose overall identity as a workhorse in the La Marzocco lineup served as a major inspiration for this new Modbar. Other updates include an easily programmed interface, auto-backflush and rinse, an updated positioning of the machines power, water, and drain hookups, and a removable group cap that makes for easy tinkering. Its a simplification, says Guglielmino. Simplifying the interaction between barista and customer, simplifying the experience of making coffee, and simplifying technical needs, all while making it look beautiful. It really nails, philosophically, what a brilliant simple reliable espresso machine can be. And beautiful looking it certainly is. The machines chrome taps are available with built-in digital display and customizable wooden tap handles. The single group unit features a unique Add-a-Tap system that allows you to start with one group, then add another without replacing your original unitperfect for a small cafe with an eye on growth, or, you know, a stylish wine bar that wouldnt mind the ability to serve a nice espresso or three during happy hour. Below counter, glowing red buttons on the new Modbar AV gleam in a direct visual reference to the Linea PBa subtle nod, visible only to the operator, a bit of assurance, perhaps, to this new Modbars pedigree. But as always with an undercounter machine, the beauty is really in how the machine becomes incorporated into the wider world. The freedom of placement and design possibilities presented by undercounter espresso technology is still just in its nascency. The implied possibility for mise en place in cafe, bar, and restaurant settings still feels brand new, five years in. As more of these style machines are installed around the world, we continue to marvel at where they fit into the schemes and plans of cafe designers and architects. This is a ground-up rethink of the Modbar, says Modbar Marketing Manager Lena Prickett. Five years after our launch, the industry has never been more focused on customer orientation, reliability, and offering a consistent workflow. Thats what these teams have achieved with Modbar AV: its not Modbar 2.0, its a brand new machine. There are a couple more aspects of this new machine that border on the metaphysical, echoing the magic and wonder evoked by Modbars mesmeric Instagram campaign around the new release, created by La Marzocco Vice President of Marketing & Consumer Strategy Scott Callendar. One is the new Drip Prediction technology, a software that maps the flow rate of each shot and can accurately predict the future flow rate, allowing the machine to auto-magically stop your shot to hit a programmed target. Another aspect is the new Modbar AVs approach to temperature stability, modeled on the Linea PB but capable of delivering to a unit separated from taps by a short length of tube. We are thrilled at La Marzocco to launch the new Modbar AV, the exciting result of the collaboration and innovation between Modbar and La Marzocco, says LM General Manager Andrew Daday. This machine pushes forward the benefits that can be realized with an undercounter espresso solution. Its a sentiment echoed by Lena Prickett of Modbar, who in the course of researching this story spoke eloquently and passionately on behalf of the smaller Midwestern brand. I think it speaks to La Marzoccos longstanding commitment to innovationyou know, Modbar is a small company in NE Indiana that some might have seen as a competitor, but La Marzocco saw it as an opportunity to further the art of espresso design. Thats a really cool part of the story, she continued. It is extremely meaningful for LM as a larger company, a global company, to be able to support a company like Modbar so that it can stay in Fort Wayne making these beautiful machines, testing each one, assembling each one, and continuing the great tradition of manufacturing in northeast Indiana. And now we see what happens next. As with any new espresso machinebut perhaps especially so when it comes to undercounter espresso techits what happens out in the wild with this equipment that truly matters most. The design and conceptual possibilities first presented by Modbartiny Modbar, the little coffee start-up that could, pride of Fort Waynehave been made new again for 2018 in the form of the Modbar Espresso AV, coming soon to a stylish cafe near you. Jordan Michelman is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Jordan Michelman on Sprudge. All images courtesy Modbar. Sprudge Media Network is proudly partnered with Modbar and La Marzocco. The human brain is a remarkable thing. For example, did you know that the way we perceive food and drink is profoundly influenced by the environment around us? Or that the very essence of that perception occurs in a single moment, when multiple streams of perception simultaneously reach our brains? Youre never just tasting somethingyoure tasting everything. Many people tend to think flavor and taste are the same thing. But taste is only a concept, and it refers to the basic sensationsbitter, salty, sour, sweet, umami, and starchyrepresented in the brain from the information gathered at our tongues. Flavor, on the other hand, is a far more complex combination of senses and processes, including touch, smell, taste, and vision. Its a multisensory experience, and one of the most remarkable things were able to understand as humansplus the science behind it is fascinating. Fabiana Carvalho is the Brazilian post-doctorate researcher behind The Coffee Sensorium, a project that aims to bring knowledge on multisensory perception of flavor to the world of specialty coffee. A lot of multisensory research has been done on flavor perception of other drinks, such as wine and beer, and so it is already known that certain attributes of the container, such as shape, color, and weight, have a significant effect on flavor perception of chemically complex beverages. Carvalhos project is investigating how these well-known effects apply to specialty coffee. Right now, she is expecting to be able to match a certain coffee container to the correct flavor profilejust as we already have different types of glasses that match the different types of wine or beer. This is absolutely fascinating research, and in speaking with Fabiana Carvalho and dissecting her work, I was able to pull out a number of points that make for especially interesting reading. Here are a half-dozen of my favorite curious facts and findings from her research. Smell is the major contributor of flavor. One of Carvalhos most famous exercises involves asking her students to chew a candy with two fingers pressing on their noses. I tried it at a recent course, and it didnt taste like anything I could recognize. Once she told us to release our fingers, the flavor immediately emerged: it was a very famous pineapple soft candy called Balas Chitas that any child in Brazil would recognize. It felt like my tongue was numb before, and just by releasing the nose the tongue got back to work. If we go by numbers, it is said that between 75% and 95% of what people commonly describe as taste actually comes from the retronasal olfaction, Carvalho tells me. People who have totally lost the sense of olfaction can no longer perceive flavors. They describe the food in their mouths only by the basic tastes and tactile attributes, such as this is sweet and creamy, but they could not tell apart honey from custard or Nutella. Vision has a remarkable impact on flavor perception. Its often the first contact we have with what we eat or drink. We see it, then we approach it to our mouths, and so visual cues can trigger a great deal of flavor expectation. Carvalho mentions a study described by Wheatley (1973)1 in which a group of people were having steak, fries, and peas in a room with color-masking lighting. At some point during the meal, the lighting was changed and the color of the food was revealedbut the steak had been colored blue, the fries green, and the peas red. Many of the guests felt nauseated simply by looking at the unexpectedly colored foods. And its not only about the coloreverything from the color of tableware to the color of the environment greatly impacts flavor perception. Back in the 1950s it already was observed that a yellower can of 7-Up induced consumers to rate the drink as more lemony.2 Coffee packaging colors can influence how consumers predict the beverage. According to Carvalho, there are studies on the association between the color of the coffee package and flavor expectation. Usually, the colors brown and red are associated with strength and richness, blue with mild aroma or decaf coffee, and yellow with a weaker blend. Carvalho adds though that there is still a long way to go regarding a more thorough understanding of the impact of color on perception of flavor of specialty coffee. Ultimately, the rounder the cup, the sweeter the coffee. The cup shape affects how we perceive coffee aroma, sweetness, and acidity. Carvalho conducted a large sample experiment during the Brazilian Coffee Week last year. It was the first study ever to investigate the effect of the cup on specialty coffee flavour perception. It was done in collaboration with noted Norwegian coffee professional Tim Wendelboe, who developed the three cup shapes testedtulip, open, or split.3 As expected (per the wine literature), the tulip-shaped cup increased the perception of aroma. Sweetness received the highest scores in the split cup, followed by the tulip cup. This finding was also expected given the very consistent crossmodal association between sweet tastes and round shapes. The only significant difference between coffee amateurs and experts was regarding the liking scores. Curiously, despite the enhanced sweetness and acidity, the split cup received the lowest liking scores from the amateursbut not from the experts. Since the split cup does not match any of the participants everyday drinking vessels, including vessels for drinking coffee, the atypicality of the cup may have negatively affected their drinking experience. Several studies show that high levels of design novelty can indeed lead to decreased liking evaluation. On the other hand, experts are used to cupping coffee from vessels of varying shapes, and were perhaps less influenced by the atypicality of the cup shape. The color pink is strongly associated to sweetness. Carvalho is currently carrying out her second multisensory study on specialty coffee. She is now testing whether the color of the cup affects the expectation and the actual perception of taste in espresso coffee. She has started by testing real customers in coffee shops during working hours, and is planning to replicate the experiment in a traditional testing room in which contextual information (visual, auditory, and olfactory) is highly controlled. The customers were asked to, first, only look at the espresso cup and rate its expected sweetness and acidity. Next, they were asked to taste the espresso and rate the perceived sweetness and acidity, and also how much they liked it. So far, the results support the sweet taste of pink. The espresso coffees from both coffee shops were perceived as sweeter and also as less acidic when tasted from the pink cup. The espresso served in the pink cup was also more liked by customers in both coffee shops.4 Culture and past experiences can influence flavor perception. Cultural expectations towards some foods can surely affect how we perceive such foods. Think of the Western aversion to the idea of eating insects, while in some Eastern countries they are a common staple. Also, past events in your life can affect how you perceive foods or drinks in your adult life. If you had a bad experience while eating something, say, as a child, chances are you are not going to like it in your adult life. In addition, some crossmodal associations such as round/sweet and black/bitter seem to be invariant across cultures, whereas other associations are dependent upon cultural background, such as the taste triggered by the color blue. Carvalhos preliminary test results will be validated in a controlled test lab. Still, these findings prove it is vital to assess multisensory flavour perception in real-world settings. Billions of dollars are spent annually on failed product launches in the Food and Beverage industry, and one factor that contributes to this failure is the inability to reliably predict consumer decisions (which includes sensory judgements) in real consuming environments. The information gathered will be certainly useful for roasters defining roasting approaches in a certain demography and also for coffee shop owners when deciding what drinkware to serve their drinks on. To learn more about Fabiana Carvalhos research, be sure to follow her on Instagram. Happy tasting! Juliana Ganan is a Brazilian coffee professional and journalist. Read more Juliana Ganan on Sprudge. All Photos by Fernanda Nunes. 1. WHEATLEY, J. 1973. Putting color into marketing. Marketing. Oct. 26-29, 67. 2. CHESKIN, L. 1957. How to Predict What People Will Buy, Liveright, New York, NY. 3. In the study, the same coffee (a pulped natural yellow Bourbon) was served to nearly 300 participants including specialty coffee experts and amateurs. They were divided into three groups according to the shape of the cup from which the coffee was tasted. So, each participant only tasted the coffee from one cup shape. 4. So far, 92 customers at Ancora Coffee House, in Minas Gerais state, and 82 customers at Takk Cafe, in Sao Paulo were tested. Each shop served its own espresso beansa natural red Catuai at Ancora, and natural (fermented) Acaia Cerrado at Takk. The customers were divided into two groups according to the color of the cup from which the espresso was tasted. Again, each person only tasted the coffee from one cup coloreither pink or white. Most checklists for trips to Japan are sure to include two major destinations: Tokyo, the capital city, and Kyoto, Japans cultural center. While Tokyo is ever-changing and ever-bustling, Kyoto moves at a slower pace and is committed to the preservation of its history. Still, Kyoto has kept up with the times: bullet trains, neon lights, and modern architecture are at home here too. Kyoto Station, Kyotos transportation hub, is a wonder of plate glass and steelwith elements of futurism and cubism on display. Step outside and youll be greeted by the Kyoto Tower, a Space Needleshaped observation deck plucked out of a 1950s time-traveler comic book. Walk a few blocks in any direction from the station, however, and youll likely stumble upon a house or temple that has been standing for hundreds of years. The juxtaposition of Japan as hyper-modern and deeply traditional can be seen here in real time, which is perhaps why new wave coffee is so at home in Kyoto. Kurasu Kyoto Once youve absorbed the architectural marvel of Kyoto Station, head a few blocks west to find Kurasu Kyotoa stellar example of the way Kyoto blends tradition with the modern. Kurasu is small, but the cafes open and clean layout keeps you from feeling cramped. Traditional stonework floors are trafficked by patrons holding pour-overs, and the white ash counters make a good home for a matte black La Marzocco Linea PB. Before a physical location was developed, Kurasu found its place in the coffee community by selling curated Japanese coffee-ware online, and later as a subscription service featuring Japanese roasters. Now in the real world, Kurasu Kyoto is part cafe and part showroom for the teams favorite coffee tools and beans. A handcrafted mug filled with coffee from Single O Japan makes a good start to any day, especially one in Kyoto. Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji Winning the award for Kyotos most interesting cafe location is Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji. Here in the back corner of a parking lot is a beautiful cafe built in the tradition of the citys homesa purposeful rebuke to the trend of Western cafe fads influencing coffeehouse design. Weekenders thinks of the parking lot as an air pocket between the quiet oasis of a cafe and the cramped Kyoto streets. While sipping on an espresso and staring at a mini fish pond, its true that the town feels miles away. Weekenders Coffee roasts its own, and its coffees are on the lighter and brighter side of the spectrum. Fans of Scandinavian coffee will be pleased by the tart and vibrant flavors in each cup. Fans of Kyoto will be pleased by the hospitality and traditional design. Drip & Drop Coffee Supply Located below Piece Hostel Sanjo, down a suspiciously narrow set of stairs, is Drip & Drop Coffee Supply. Space is often at a premium in this old city, but this cafe is roomy. The lighting is dim, the seating is cozy, and the atmosphere is distilled hip. Those searching for a spot to recharge with a book, get a simple coffee cocktail, or grab a light lunch should steer toward this coffeehouse. Nepal Telecommunications Authority Chairman Digambar Jha calls it quits Nepal Telecommunications Authority Chairman Digambar Jha resigned from his post on Wednesday. The government in August had appointed him as the Chairman of Nepal Telecommunications Authority for the third time. It looks like the Mi Play smartphone may have more variants than we thought. The device that was released yesterday is only equipped with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage but it seems like that may change in the future as the page source of their site show listings of a 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage variant as well as 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Alongside the that information, the pricing information was listed as well. The 6GB RAM+64GB storage variant looks like it may be priced at 1299 Yuan (~RM786) and the 6GB+128GB storage may be priced at 1599 Yuan (~RM967) but we still are unsure of the Malaysia release date or pricing for this phone. However, do take this information with a healthy dose of salt until the official announcement. Do you think there will be other variants to this smartphone? Make sure to follow TechNave.com if youd like to know more! 10 minutes ago The 6 Biggest Issues with Early Retirement: Will These Happen to You? When you're slogging away in a cubicle at work, it might sound like a dream to wake up when you want, read a book in a hammock, putter around in the yard, etc. (You know, the things that retired people do.) Almost half of Americans (49.9%) expect to retire before they turn 62, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Read Article Nepals biggest mall opens in Kathmandu Nepals biggest shopping mall Chhaya Centre formally opened on Tuesday. Built in the tourist hotspot of Thamel, the luxurious mall is spread over an area of 86,000 sq ft with a built-up area of 350,000 sq ft. It houses more than 200 retail stores representing various international and local brands. Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade. PREVIOUS POST NLP Time Many wonder what is NLP? In fact, what everyone wants to know is what can serve, what are the benefits that NLP to their lives in non-technical language NLP (NLP acronym) provides techniques to achieve almost instant results for many of the problems we face in everyday life. Today I will give you an example of how, using NLP, can affect strongly and extreme education and learning of your children. John was a quiet boy with few lights at the intellectual level, in the words of his first teachers, are not socially integrated. While doing his studies on the importance of stimulating effective learning, Dr. Truman heard the case of John. And, convinced the child's hidden talent, that it was a rough diamond, was associated with him personally: encouraging the child all the time, he said he believed in him, he knew it was a special person and that had a very big target, and, above all, he gave all his affection, something that John had lacked all her life. The skills of the boy seemed to awaken from its slumber, and in a surprising way for everyone (except for Dr. Truman), Juan was actually a little genius: performing complex reasoning and short for his age, was able to solve problems in third time than their peers, and also improved considerably by the integration group. All the time it was the same person. How can a radical cambiotan? Similar examples can be found throughout history, with geniuses like Einstein, who was considered retarded by their teachers. Now, all very nice, but what good is knowing all this in my life? I say The example has many practical applications and referrals, but not to make it longer, I'll give you one: I invite you to try the following:. When correcting your... Services such as the Red Cross' LISKO refugee integration service are doing their best to make refugees feel more at home and help them gain a foothold in the Grand Duchy. From January until the end of November 2018, exactly 1,932 people sought asylum in Luxembourg. Of those, about 42% were accepted. Refugees need to learn the language, find a stable home and get a job - no mean feat for people who have often been on the run for several years, come from a different cultural background and don't know their way around their new adoptive country yet. Being recognised as an asylum seeker is only the start of the integration process. That's where organisations such as the LISKO refugee integration service come in. They can offer incentives to landlords and help refugees with their language courses. Getting out of refugee housing accommodations and finding a more permanent place to live is proving especially difficult in Luxembourg's tough an expensive housing market. Refugees aren't allowed to work while in the process of seeking asylum, and after being approved they usually start out on a guaranteed minimum income of 1,500 a month - an amount that doesn't necessarily stretch very far in Luxembourg. Sex workers more vulnerable to reproductive health problems Nishu* never wanted to have a child. A 28-year-old female sex worker in Kathmandu, Nishu depends on her body for her livelihood. And being pregnant would mean that she would have to stop working for a year, at the very least. This was not something she could afford to do. Hundreds protested in Bratislava on Monday against the detention without bail of 12 Greenpeace activists who staged a protest at Slovakia's largest brown coal mine, a move that the EU country's president and premier have both criticised. Protesters gathered in the city centre touted banners saying "Activism is not a crime" and "Don't imprison people who want to save your life", among others. The 12 activists were detained last week after hoisting a banner saying "End coal age!" on the tower of a lignite mine in Novaky, central Slovakia. A regional court on Sunday denied them bail. The activists -- from Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and Slovakia -- are accused of criminal acts and face up to five years in prison if found guilty. Slovakia's liberal President Andrej Kiska, in a statement Monday, was sympathetic to the plight of the detained Greenpeace activists. "I don't understand the court's decision and I don't understand how can we put activists into the role of criminals," he said. His words were echoed by populist left Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini. "We should really consider whether it is the best solution to keep 12 young people in custody," he wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. Asked by AFP, Justice Minister Gabor Gal said that alternative ways of monitoring, such as electronic ankle bracelets, could be more appropriate in such cases. "Our laws allow using these devices. I believe that the attitudes of prosecutors, policemen and judges have to change in this respect," Gal said. The environment ministry also criticised the pre-trial detention of the activists on Monday, saying on its Facebook page that "they were always decent, constructive and pointing out specific issues regarding environmental protection." "It's the first time in the history of the Slovak Republic, that environmental activists are being held in pre-trial custody," Ivana Kohutkova, president of Greenpeace Slovakia, told AFP on Monday referring to the court's decision. "No one was injured, there was no harm done to any property, this was a non-violent action," Kohutkova said, adding that pre-trial custody is "usually used for extremely dangerous criminals." Wonder Caves: Ideal Spot for Hikers and Cave Explorers Tribhuvan University vice-chancellor unaware of sexual harassment charges against professor Earlier this month, The Record published a harrowing account of two former Tribhuvan University (TU) students who said they had been sexually harassed by a professor during private meetings. The budget Vietnamese carrier Vietjet has had all of its operations closely supervised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) following Tuesdays incidents where a Vietjet flight landed on a wrong runway after another flight of the airline had had to make an emergency landing. The decision on the supervision, applicable to Vietjets operations at four airports including Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang in the eponymous city, and Cam Ranh in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, was made by CAAV director Dinh Viet Thang on the same day. Thang had to fly to Cam Ranh International Airport right on Tuesday afternoon to monitor the investigation into the incident where the Ho Chi Minh City-bound flight VJ689 had to turn around only 20 minutes after taking off from Cam Ranh. The Vietjet flight reportedly departed at 11:14 am on Tuesday, but faced some technical error and had to return to the Cam Ranh airport before landing on a wrong runway, which was not ready for operation. Earlier that morning, another Vietjet flight, VJ861, which flew to Ho Chi Minh City from Incheon, South Korea, made a sudden detour in Taipei because of a technical warning. Noticing a warning in the cargo section, the captain of the flight decided to make an emergency landing two hours after take-off. The flight then resumed its journey after an examination reported no risk. The aircraft arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 5:20 am on Tuesday. The Vietjet plane involved in a wrong-runway landing is seen at Cam Ranh International Airport on December 25, 2019. Photo: Tuoi Tre The CAAV said in two immediate announcements on the same day that the Taiwan landing was due to a false alarm while the Cam Ranh incident was considered a serious threat to flight safety. The CAAV thus imposed special supervision on Vietjets operations at the four aforementioned airports in Vietnam for one month, which will cover various categories such as preparation before departure, operational control, and arrangement of pilots and attendants. In addition to the month-long supervision, CAAV director Thang suspended the person in charge of Vietjets operations from work and also halted the increase of the airlines flight frequency. Special supervision is applied only when an airline causes several serious incidents, according to Lai Xuan Thanh, former CAAV director, who is currently chairman of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam. Previously, the nose wheels of a Vietjet plane fell off minutes before the newly-delivered Airbus A321 landed at Buon Ma Thuot Airport in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Dak Lak from Ho Chi Minh City in late November. Results of the investigation into the incident are still not available for now, but technical factors were ruled out because the plane did not encounter any technical problem, according to CAAV. The scene of the wrong-runway incident is blocked at Cam Ranh International Airport on December 25, 2019. 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. A Vietnamese woman knew a strange teenager partially crippled due to an accident, began fostering him and has gone to great lengths to help end his physical pains and plucked him from depths of despair. Dinh Thi Thuong, a farmer in the northern Vietnamese province of Thai Nguyen, can now sigh with relief that the least fortunate of her children, 29-year-old Pham Van Hao, is now somewhat free from agony and suicidal thoughts although he lives with only half of a body. Pham Van Hao moves with his hands at his home in Thai Nguyen Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre The mother and son never forget what happened years ago. Hao, also a Thai Nguyen citizen, lost his blood mother to death at nine, and ten years later the teenager forever lost the use of his lower body parts following a dreadful work accident. As his father died just a few months after the event, Hao lived in the house with a damaged body and the remaining family member, an elder sister with mental disorder. With paralyzed legs, Hao was completely bedridden, fed by the uncle and aunt next door, defecating and urinating right in the foul room. The stench emanated from bleeding and pus-oozing ulcers in his bottoms. When Thuong had known about his plight four years later, in 2012, she regularly visited him to clean the wounds, change his diapers and wash his clothes. As affection grew over the next two years, Thuong and her husband brought him home as new offspring. Now Haos the sixth child. Hes the fourth eldest child in my family, the woman said smilingly. Suffering after suffering Thuong has taken Hao to hospital at least once every year during the past five years since he started living with the new family. In the first visit, his ulcers were so severe that the infirmary refused to admit him but Thuong managed to earn the man a chance for medical treatment at another local hospital. I saw even a bone while cleansing his wounds, she recalled with tears. But eight days later she cried in shock to find that the second hospital also denied him treatment because it had relinquished its hope of saving him and predicted he would most likely die. Undeterred, Thuong took him to a hospital in Hanoi, about 70 kilometers away. During her first-ever journey to the capital, the woman on the wrong side of fifty was constantly worried that her son would die part-way. Pham Van Hao is seen beside a doctor who helped him in this provided photo. Pham Van Hao is seen after a surgery in this provided photo. Hao underwent several operations that removed necrotic tissues and transplanted thigh muscles into his damaged bottoms. As his anus was also removed, waste just came out uncontrollably. Oh God! Why do You give him this suffering? Thuong wrote in her journal. She stayed awake for 12 straight nights cleaning the childs body. In 2016, while Hao was treated for ulceration, he was diagnosed with sepsis, a life-threating illness caused by the bodys reaction to an injection. He cried at the news and asked the mother to bring him back home, telling her he would resign himself to death. Two pages of Dinh Thi Thuongs journal tell the treatment of her son, Pham Van Hao. When the condition was over, he once again faced another agony: a high fever that made him believe he was doomed to die. The mother shared the hopelessness. I told my husband to make preparations for a funeral. Thats the third time we had prepared a funeral for Hao, Thuong said. Good luck smiled on the man again. But he had to have his legs amputated in the latest surgeries and is now wearing a piece of leather protective clothing that looks like a suit of armor. Determination Thuong said she was quite busy with family commitments and the care of Hao but she has never regretted fostering him and considers the man as a God-given son for her. I dont need praise from the public nor mind criticisms. I give a smile in the face of adversity, she said. She received some help from neighbors and government support in medical care that reduced her hospital treatment costs by seventy to eighty times. Hao, who has now acquired a happy new self, is learning how to make leather wallets and bamboo souvenirs to be sold on the Internet. Pham Van Hao makes a wallet to be sold online as a way to earn a living after days of agony, at his home in Thai Nguyen Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre He said he owes Thuong a great debt of gratitude. I had been confined to beds for four years before she came. During this time I was alone, had no future, no hope and no dream, Hoa said. When I desired to die because I was in acute pain, my mother hugged me and encouraged me to overcome the adversity. She told me not to worry because shes with me. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a local resident, said that Hao once grew so dejected after many hospital visits that he wrote a farewell letter saying he would commit suicide. Thuong then looked for him with teary eyes, the local said. Children give Pham Van Hao a birthday party in this provided photo. Pham Van Hao in a wheelchair. Photo: Tuoi Tre Dinh Thi Thuong (standing) and her foster son, Dinh Van Hao, are seen at their home in Thai Nguyen Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands have introduced a seven-year plan to turn its provincial capital of Da Lat, a famous tourist destination, into a smart city. The plan will be executed from 2018 to 2025, the provincial Peoples Committee announced during a ceremony on Tuesday, as part of a series of activities marking the 125th anniversary of Da Lat. According to Phan Van Da, deputy chairman of Lam Dong, the project is aimed at utilizing information-telecommunication technology and other means to improve living conditions of local residents and operation efficiency of the municipal administration, promote the citys socio-economic development, and enhance its competitiveness. Leaders of Lam Dong Province introduces the plan during a ceremony on December 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre The project will focus on different fields such as e-government, urban planning and land management, smart lighting system, public Wi-Fi network, tourism, hi-tech agriculture, e-learning system, e-medial record, smart parking, and e-transport tickets. Authorities are expected to install surveillance cameras across the city, along with a monitoring center, for traffic, order, and security management. A system will be established to regularly examine the environmental quality of the air, water, groundwater resources, and soil. A software program will also be designed to give early warnings of potential pollution. Delegates review the project at the event. Photo: Tuoi Tre In terms of tourism, a specialized mobile app will be provided to give information on the citys places of interest, accommodation and eateries with delicious food. The city has recently launched free Wi-Fi networks across its inner areas, including the city flower park, Hoa Binh Market and Lam Vien Square. An intelligent street lighting system will be designed to save 60-70 percent on electricity use and is connected with the free Wi-Fi networks and security cameras. Da Lat is one of the countrys first cities to build themselves into smart cities. It now ranks third out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide in terms of applying IT in building e-government, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Politics -- The 12th Vietnamese Party Central Committee on Tuesday afternoon conducted a vote of confidence on members of the Politburo and the Secretariat as part of its ongoing ninth session, which convened the same day. Society -- Vietnam sent more than 140,000 workers to work abroad in 2018, up seven percent against the previous year, making this the 5th consecutive year the countrys labor export has exceeded 100,000 people, according to statistics from the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. -- The city of Da Lat in Vietnams Central Highlands region is looking to build itself into a smart city through the application of information technology in what it considers the four pillars of a modern society administration, lifestyle, environment and economy. -- The Vietnam Journalists Association has drawn public criticism after it announced a code of conduct for its members detailing a list of things journalists are not allowed to do on social media, which critics consider unnecessary as journalism activities are already monitored by other laws. -- The administration of Ho Chi Minh City and the management authority of a project to develop its first metro line have been found to violate some regulations on economic administration over the project, according to a report compiled by state auditors. -- Vietnamese customs officers on Tuesday detained a Vietnamese national at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City for trying to smuggle contraband including three pistols and two daggers into Vietnam from the U.S. Business -- Hanoi continues to lead Vietnamese cities and provinces in drawing foreign direct investment (FDI), with more than US$7.5 billion having poured into the capital since the beginning of 2018, as the country attracted nearly $35.5 billion in FDI investment in the same period. -- Ninety metric tons of trafficked sugar and clothes from Cambodia has been seized by Vietnamese police after they busted an extensive transnational trafficking ring on Tuesday trying to sneak the goods into the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. -- Vietnam is mulling over a seasonal fishing ban on some of its waters to cope with depleting aquatic resources as a result of overfishing over long periods of time, the director of Vietnams Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development Department said on Tuesday. -- Vietnamese budget airline Vietjet has been placed under special monitoring and temporarily barred from adding any more flights to its operational schedule following two serious technical incidents in a month, according to a decision by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. Police are investigating a fight between two groups of nightclub goers which broke out on Tuesday in the northern city of Hai Phong, with witnesses reporting hearing several gunshots. Law enforcement said the brawl started around 11:00 pm at a nightclub on Ho Sen Street in the coastal city, located just over 100 kilometers to the southeast of Hanoi. Around 20 men from two groups at the club got into fighting with knives and a gun, officials said. A video provided by witnesses shows a man was suddenly attacked by several others while walking on the street. In an attempt to rush away, he fell and continued to be hit with chairs. He managed to stand up and run only to be hot pursued by the attackers. A few minutes later other men from the nightclub came to his rescue and the real brawl began, with at least four shots from what police later identified as a rubber bullet gun. Shortly after the incident, the video went viral on Facebook, with over a thousand comments and reactions. The fight left one hospitalized with a stab in the thigh. Disagreement in getting a go-go dancer could have sparked the violence, according to Vietnamese news site VnExpress. Several men attack another in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, December 26, 2018. Video: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang will start requiring local residents to register their pet dogs and cats next year for better rabies control, while those in Hanoi have proposed that local dogs be monitored via microchips. The Da Nang Peoples Committee confirmed on Tuesday they had announced a project on rabies control among pets, in an effort to completely eliminate the disease across the city. Starting from 2019, all ward-level administrations are expected to keep a log of all pet dogs and cats in the central hub. In order for this to happen, owners will be required to register their pets with the Peoples Committees of the wards they live in. They will be responsible for keeping their animals at their homes, ensure environmental hygiene, and prevent their pets from annoying other residents. Pets should be wearing a muzzle or be leashed when being taken outside of their house. Effort will be exerted to ensure more than 90 percent of the pets in Da Nang are vaccinated against rabies within next year. The figure will be raised to 95 percent by 2020. As part of the scheme, transporting and slaughtering dogs and cats infected with rabies will be prohibited. In addition, specialized teams will be tasked with capturing stray dogs and rabies-infected animals. In related news, the Hanoi Department of Veterinary Medicine has recently proposed that dogs owned by local residents be monitored via a microchip. According to Nguyen Ngoc Son, head of the department, the agency will coordinate with two foreign canine protection organizations to formulate a detailed plan. We want to follow in the footsteps of several other countries. The chip will be implanted inside the animals or inserted into their collars, Son explained. This will help authorities keep track of the dogs name, age, location, as well as check whether they have been vaccinated. The plan will be funded by the private sector, Son said, adding that it will not be mandatory. We will just encourage local dog owners to join the program, he stated. The detailed plan is expected to be submitted to the municipal Peoples Committee for approval in mid-2019. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A man reportedly high on crystal meth has stabbed to death a police officer before committing suicide in the south-central Vietnamese province of Binh Thuan. The suspect, 24-year-old Do Thanh Trung, showed signs of being high on drugs as he was wielding a knife and trying to stop vehicles along a section of National Highway 1 in Tien Loi Commune, Phan Thiet City on Tuesday morning. Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Dung, 54, who is chief of the police unit in Tien Loi Commune, and another officer later arrived to deal with the incident. As their attempt to persuade Trung to drop his weapon did not work, the officers had to use force. Trung stabbed Lt. Col. Dung during the struggle and ran away. The police chief was promptly brought to the nearest hospital but he was already dead on arrival. The other officer joined hands with local residents to chase down the suspect and were able to corner him. Trung then stabbed himself with the same knife. He was then admitted to the hospital for emergency treatment but the man also died later the same day. According to online newspaper VnExpress, Lt. Col. Dung was chief of police in the commune for three years. He worked as a detention officer at the Phan Thiet Department of Police before assuming the top position. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 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 DHAKA (Reuters) - One of five commissioners overseeing Bangladeshs election said on Wednesday he was concerned about increasing violence four days ahead of the polls. Mahbub Talukdar's comments came as several opposition candidates alleged attacks, sweeping arrests and threats by supporters and activists of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas ruling Awami League since campaigning began this month. Ensuring all parties take part in the election is not the only issue, the election should also be fair, free and conducted with due legal process, Talukdar said. His comments follow concerns he raised last week when he said there was no level-playing field. The army was deployed this week to oversee the process ahead of polls that both sides have alleged will be rigged by the other. Hasina is seeking a third straight term in power in the Dec. 30 polls against the National Unity Front, an alliance of smaller parties that banded together in October saying they aimed to restore democracy. (Reporting by Serajul Quadir; Writing by Zeba Siddiqui; editing by Nick Macfie) Nigerian journalist lauds army for working with the press in the Boko Haram war. Ismail Musa is Defence correspondent at the public National Television Authority and the point man covering the militarys 9-year struggle to halt the bloodletting taking place on northeastern region of the country where the jihadist group is trying to set up an Islamist State. Musa was with Major General David Ahmadu the armys chief of Operations and his men in June, when they recaptured the northern Borno state town of Baga where the insurgents killed up to 2000 people. He was also at the IDP camp of Rann in the Kala-balge local government area of Borno State, close to the border with Cameroon where early this year Nigerian fighter jets mistakenly dropped bombs intended for the enemy. Ismail Musa was behind his Camera on the 22nd of December 2016, when the Nigerian military captured Camp Zero, Boko Harams headquarters in northern Nigeria, in an operation that completed the liberation of 14 local government areas. He tells RFI that there is no place for a Christmas break for troops deployed in the flash point northern city of Maiduguri. He says the terrorists lie waiting for moments of demobilization at the frontline to strike. Ismail Musa praised Nigeria's army chiefs for allowing war correspondents to do their work freely and with the best military protection possible. He says they now fully understand the values of fair reporting of the war and the role newsmen can play in combatting the fundamentalist ideology promoted by Boko Haram. Tens of thousands have been killed and million displaced since the insurgency broke out in 2009. Christmas jackpot In Kenya, Daily Nation rolls out the traditional red carpet for Christmas but regrets that its become one occasion when Kenyans go out of their way to splurge. The publication says, that after the discount galore that shut many eyes to the multiple demands on Kenyans pockets, Christmas is not so merry as the so-called Njaanuari blues looms. Story continues There wont be any January blues for 39 year-old Ezekiel Oimba an employee of the Kenya Ferry Services. The Star reports that Christmas came early for him when he won the SportPesa mid-week jackpot of Sh22 million Shillings (a whopping 189,000 euros). The father of four told the newspaper he kept quiet for a few minutes when he got the text message on Saturday evening. Oimba says his new millionaire status will enable him start his dream project in the real estate business and confessed to reporters he planned to first take his family to whatever destination they will ask him for Christmas. Christmas without love? And in Zimbabwe the State-owned Heralds editorial today is about the many ways to love thy neighbor this Christmas. Always take them into consideration when you make merry with loud music, honking cars and all the fights. If people could learn to love their neighbours as themselves, the publication argues, then we would not be witnessing so many lives lost each year on the roads due to behaviours and attitudes exhibited in the prodigious merry-making. Lets remember there is always a tomorrow, concludes the Herald. By Christian Shepherd TIANJIN, China (Reuters) - The subversion trial of a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer in what Amnesty International called a "sham" hearing ended on Wednesday without a verdict being announced. Wang Quanzhang, who took on sensitive cases such as complaints of police torture and defended followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, went missing in August 2015 during a sweeping crackdown on rights activists. Most cases from that summer, known as the 709 cases for the first day of detentions on July 9, 2015, have concluded. Wang, however, was incommunicado for more than 1,000 days and his case has drawn international attention including from bar associations. Investigators said he had "for a long time been influenced by infiltrating anti-China forces" and had been trained by overseas groups and accepted their funding, according to a copy of the indictment seen by Reuters. In Geneva, the United Nations human rights office called on the Chinese authorities to "abide by China's human rights obligations and ensure his due process rights are respected." "There are serious human rights concerns about the way Wang Quanzhangs case has been handled so far, including todays closed-door proceedings which we understand marked the first time he has seen a judge since he was detained more than three years ago," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told Reuters. Police turned non-Chinese journalists and Western diplomats away from the heavily guarded court in the northern port of Tianjin and denied entry to Wang's supporters and family. The court had decided, in accordance with the law, to hold a closed trial as the case involved state secrets, it said in a statement, adding that the verdict would be released at a later date. It gave no other details. Yang Chunlin, an activist who has previously been jailed for subversion, stood opposite the courthouse shouting "Wang Quanzhang is a good person" and "I support Wang Quanzhang" before plainclothes agents wrestled him into a car and sped away. Story continues The indictment says Wang worked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish rights worker who was detained in China for three weeks before being deported in 2016, and others to "train hostile forces" as well as provide investigative reports on China to outsiders. It also says Wang had distorted the facts in his online statements about the case of a policeman who killed a man in Heilongjiang in 2014, and of "cults" that he had defended. Dahlin, now in Madrid, said on Twitter they had kept all documentation dating back to 2009 "and will release anything needed to dispel that it constitutes subverting state power". Calls to the court seeking further comment went unanswered. "SHAM TRIAL" Rights group Amnesty International said Wang's trial was a "cruel charade". "This is a sham trial in which Wang Quanzhang is being persecuted only for peacefully defending human rights," said Doriane Lau, China researcher at the group. Wang's wife, Li Wenzu, says she has been unable to visit her husband since he went missing. She said seven lawyers she appointed to try to represent Wang had also been unable to visit. In a statement sent to Reuters, Li said state security agents had followed her when she left her Beijing home and blocked off the six entrances to her compound. She decided she would be unable to go to Tianjin after more than an hour spent trying to leave, she said. It was not possible to reach the State Security Ministry for comment because it has no website or publicly available telephone number. President Xi Jinping has strengthened efforts to quash dissent since coming to power six years ago, with hundreds of rights lawyers and activists detained and dozens jailed. China routinely rejects foreign criticism of its human rights record, saying all Chinese are treated equally in accordance with the law and that foreign countries have no right to interfere. China often holds high-profile human rights trials over the Christmas holidays, which activists and diplomats say is an attempt to minimise international attention. On Tuesday, the justice department in the southern province of Guangdong disbarred another rights lawyer, Liu Zhengqing, on the grounds that his public defence statements had endangered national security, according to Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group. China's legal authorities have disbarred over a dozen rights lawyers since a new set of rules with heightened political loyalty requirements for lawyers were introduced in 2016. One of the lawyers, Yu Wensheng, had been Wang's defence attorney, before he was stripped of his license and then arrested in January. He is now being investigated for "inciting subversion". (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Writing by Ben Blanchard; additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Editing by Paul Tait and Darren Schuettler) This is the true story of an elderly man who made the dreams of an eight-year-old girl across the border come true. His name was Randy Heiss, and he was a 60-year-old living in Arizona. During a walk with his dog, he saw a shredded balloon near his ranch in Patagonia. It was an eyesore and, when he wanted to dump it in the garbage bin, he realized that it was not an ordinary balloon. There was a handwritten note attached to a string. Daily Mail UK reports the handwritten note was a Christmas list written in Spanish, addressed to Saint Nicholas and signed by one Dayami. Randy was not fluent in Spanish, so he took the help of his wife who deciphered the list. From the items listed, she concluded that a girl had written it and the two of them set out on a mission to play the role of Santa Claus. Randy Heiss turns Santa Claus Children grow up with the knowledge that Santa Claus comes with gifts during Christmas, and they write letters to him to let him know what they want. Randy Heiss understood that the balloon originated in Mexico, across the border and the nearest town was Nogales situated about 20 miles southwest from his home. He took to the social media and contacted some of his friends in Mexico to locate the girl, but it did not help. At first he thought it was trash. But then he realized it was a balloon, and attached to the ribbon was a note. The note was written entirely in Spanish with the name Dayami on the back. He isnt fluent in the language, but could tell she asked for... https://t.co/ZqrNDlUTvK KNBA (@KNBA) December 25, 2018 His next step was to reach out to a radio station in the city, and it helped to find the eight-year-old Dayami and her family. It was a great moment for Randy and his wife. They bought gifts for the girl and her four-year-old sister and went across the Mexico-U.S. border to meet her and her family and hand over the gifts. They became real-life Santa Claus and selected the venue of the radio station's office. A touching Christmas story According to NBC News, this story of Christmas wish fulfillment went across international borders. Discuss this news on Eunomia A man from Arizona fulfilled the wish list of an eight-year-old Mexican girl. She had penned a list for Santa Claus, tied to a balloon and it drifted across the US-Mexico boundary wall to land near the house of the American. The man was 60-year-old Randy Heiss, the girl was eight-year-old Dayami and searching for her was like looking for a needle in a haystack. That too across the US boundary. A local radio station in Nogales chipped in to help. It rose to the occasion and managed to locate the girl. Then Randy drove over, met them and handed over the gifts. He and his wife loved to see the happy faces of the Mexican girls. It was a touching moment because Randy had lost his son a few years back and there are no grandchildren. She made her voice known despite ailing lungs. Shortly after surgery for cancer, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cast her vote from her hospital bed to stop Trump's ruling against immigrants seeking asylum. Hers was the deciding opinion in the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision, making true the words of Emma Lazarus' poem The New Colossus inscribed on the Statue of Liberty - Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free... The weight of words Other words in Lazarus' poem unwittingly tie to Ginsburg, too. The reference to Lady Liberty's mild eyes command particularizes the gentle Justice's gaze. It's as if the poet knew her when she further characterized the statue as a mighty woman, and Mother of Exiles. The Justice, now a frail 85 the oldest judge on the Court - is similarly mighty for the weight of her vote to keep Trump from blocking escapees from tyranny. By her effort, the Statue of Liberty becomes more than an image on a ten-dollar bill. Leading the people It's curious that in a society known as a man's world, the emblem for truth, justice, and the American way is a woman. And I'm not just talking about the Statue of Liberty. There's also the female-formed Statue of Freedom that stands on top of the U.S. Capitol Building dome. It's equally odd that Lady Liberty, as history tells us, derives from ancient Rome where the goddess of freedom, known as Libertas, emancipated slaves. The personification of justice as female goes back to the land of the pharaohs, again when men were rulers; yet the symbol of truth and justice was the goddess Maat, later called Isis. Iconic images The idea of a female representing justice continued into modern times with commemorative statues worldwide. There's the female form for the Fountain of Justice in Berne, Switzerland, in front of the Supreme Court of Brazil, at the entrance to The Palace of Justice in Rome, and before Germany's Central Criminal Court in Frankfurt. Discuss this news on Eunomia The list is long, given the data provided last year in Brent T. Edward's Symbolism of Lady Justice. In the Twilight Zone Ginsburg fits right in with this list of iconic females for justice. When she voted to give asylum to refugees, she was also keeping the message of the Statue of Liberty safe from something other than Trump. I'm thinking of that horrific climax in the 1968 sci-fi flick Planet of the Apes showing the Colossus in ruins, half-buried in what was left of the earth. You may remember the scene when, in 3978, an astronaut believes he landed on a strange planet where apes rule over humans until he comes upon the wrecked statue. The astronaut's realization that he's back on earth, that humankind destroyed the world he knew in some global war, made the movie one of the all-time scariest. You might say that Ginsburg's vote rendered it no more than a Rod SerlingTwilight Zone nightmare for now. At Jump Festa 2019, chapter 929 of "One piece" allowed the participants of the Japanese kermesse (and subsequently, fans all over the world) to admire a character created by sensei Eiichiro Oda. The image from "One Piece" has introduced a bizarre thief that swordsman Roronoa Zoro comes across during his wanderings in Wano. Thanks to the translations made by @SPManga1, I learned that Zoro will tell his new friend to be silent and then laugh about it. The thief considers the swordsman a heartbreaker. The return of Reverie Jump Festa has me in full fever and while the 2019 edition has yet to be fully explained, I am trying to provide some new information. Well, during the panel dedicated to the work with the protagonists of our Pirates of Straw Hat, I learned some new information. Magazine cover Among other announcements, for example, the cover of the next "One Piece" magazine has been made official, followed by a periodical entirely dedicated to the saga. As you can see yourself from the SP Manga Twitter post below, the magazine will see Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist, in his most powerful version, the Gear Fourth, on its first page. Below is Yoshihiro Togashi's presentation for Jump Festa 2019 - have a look. Today's Jump Festa has ended, but tommorow, in the last day of Jump Festa event we will get some important info about One Piece.. . . . .#OnePiece#one_piece#JumpFesta2019#JUMP_F pic.twitter.com/Vs7NQUxYYl SP Manga (@SPManga1) December 22, 2018 But that's not all. Oda spoke as well, revealing some important details about what fans should expect from the manga during 2019. The author has confirmed that the work will focus on Wano. The narrative arc still in progress and that sees Luffy clash with the emperor Kaido, with particular attention given to the story of Kozuki Oden, who seems to hold very important secrets. Discuss this news on Eunomia Also, during the Jump Festival, on the occasion of the panel of "One Piece," the author unveiled several new features for next year. Meanwhile, according to News Okatukart, "heres a bit of text from the upcoming "One Piece" Chapter 929, the thief tells Zoro that he is glad that he doesnt need to worry about food anymore probably because Zoro is strong. Zoro tells him to shut up for a while." It is also important to note that the final battle between Luffy and Katakuri will be animated by Naotoshi Shida. Luffy and Katakuri are number one in the crew and are the offspring of Empress Big Mom. Shida is also responsible for the work on Episode 130 of "Dragon Ball Super," where Goku and Jiren had their final confrontation. I will give you more news and updates when more of the official "One Piece's" upcoming chapter spoilers come out later on this week. 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to build a $1 billion new campus in Austin, Texas, alongside its new sites in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City. The company aims to expand its new operations in cities across the United States including Pittsburgh, New York and Boulder, Colorado over the next three years. Although the first conceptual images have not been released, Apple confirmed that the $1 billion campus will be built in North Austin and will create 5,000 additional jobs for Apples newest Austin campus which will be located less than a mile from its existing facilities. Apple stated that the 133-acre campus will initially accommodate 5,000 additional employees, with the capacity to grow to 15,000, and is expected to make Apple the largest private employer in Austin. "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," said Tim Cook, Apples CEO. "Talent, creativity and tomorrows breakthrough ideas arent limited by region or zip code, and, with this new expansion, were redoubling our commitment to cultivating the high-tech sector and workforce nationwide." The new campus will include 50 acres of preserved open space and, like all Apple facilities worldwide, its workspaces will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The company's current facilities in Austin accommodate 6,200 staff, marking Apple's largest presence of employees outside of Cupertino. Image Apple "Apple is among the worlds most innovative companies and an avid creator of jobs in Texas and across the country," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. "Their decision to expand operations in our state is a testament to the high-quality workforce and unmatched economic environment that Texas offers. I thank Apple for this tremendous investment in Texas, and I look forward to building upon our strong partnership to create an even brighter future for the Lone Star State." Jobs created at the new campus will include a broad range of functions including engineering, R&D, operations, finance, sales and customer support. At 6,200 people, Austin already represents the largest population of Apple employees outside Cupertino. Apples data center in Reno, Nevada, is one of several US data centers the company is expanding over the next five years. Image Apple Apple plans to grow its employee base in regions across the United States over the next three years, expanding to over 1,000 employees in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City each, and adding hundreds of new jobs in Pittsburgh, New York, Boulder, Boston and Portland, Oregon. The company recently opened its newest office in Nashville, Tennessee and Apples Miami office is projected to double in size. Apple plans to invest $10 billion in US data centers over the next five years, including $4.5 billion this year and next. Apples data centers in North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada are currently being expanded. In Iowa, preparations are underway for the companys newest data center in Waukee. All of the companys data centers are run on 100 percent renewable energy. Apple Park's, designed by Foster + Partners, first Visitor Center by Foster + Partners opened to the public at Cupertino Campus. Top image: Foster + Partners-designed campus in California. Image courtesy of Apple. > via Apple The makers of Ram Charan, Kiara Advani starrer Vinaya Vidheya Rama didnt leave any stone unturned to ensure that best is provided for Ram Charan and rest of the unit. Even when the team shot extensively in Azerbaijan, the makers ensured that the unit is well taken care of, and that director Boyapati Sreenu got everything that he needed. While the team was gearing up to shoot a huge action sequence, Boyapati Sreenu wanted a majestic horse for Ram Charan. And it turns out that team decided to bring a horse all the way from Netherlands for the shoot. Allu Sirish himself confirmed the news and stated that the team wanted nothing but the best for Ram Charan. The films shoot is going to be wrapped up with the completion of a massive song shot on the lead pair, and the film is gearing up for release in second week of January. DSP has scored the music. Whatte poster! Loved it. Heard so much from the crew at Azerbaijan abt the extensive episodes they shot for VVR. Waiting to see them on screen. Apparently they got RC's horse down from Netherlands coz they wanted the best for him! pic.twitter.com/6IwCCoXVla Allu Sirish (@AlluSirish) December 26, 2018 Articles that might interest you: Lionel Venturini interviews Stefano Palombari over at the Verso Blog: Lionel Venturini: The gilets jaunes are a heterogeneous movement. How do you explain why this hasnt broken up? Stefano Palombari: The IFOP survey on the backing for the gilets jaunes shows three categories that are most supportive of the movement: employees (63%), manual workers (59%) and self-employed (62%, including small businesspeople, shopkeepers and tradespeople). This social coalition is quite new in France. What is striking about the list of demands given to the media is that all are addressed to the government, not to employers. The only wage demand is for the minimum wage, which is set by the government, to be increased to 1,300 euros 150 euros more than today, which is very reasonable. When it comes to purchasing power, the key demand is for taxes to be cut. It is precisely the absence of traditional wage demands that has permitted a unified movement, combining categories that would otherwise not agree among themselves. LV: This recalls the beginnings of the Five Star Movement in Italy, which is now in power in coalition with the far right. SP: The Five Star Movement had a base that included self-employed and employees: the price paid to build this social alliance was that the wage relationship was no longer questioned. In their demands, the gilets jaunes also do not call for Macrons labour laws and decrees to be repealed: is this a sign? It is too early to be certain, but there is a risk that the neoliberal nature of the wage relationship will no longer be challenged. In Italy, the League/Five Star Government has not challenged Matteo Renzis Jobs Act, which is very similar to the El Khomri law in France. More here. So long, 2018. 2019 is rolling in with a bang, and we're celebrating with epic feasts, live music and dancing, fun and games, and Champagne galore. Happy New Year, party people. Activities in San Francisco (Photo by Roven Images) Ping in the New Year When: 9pm to 1:30pm Where: Spin SF, 690 Folsom St #100 (SoMa), wearespin.com Play the night away with a ping-pong party at Spin. The night will include a pong exhibitions from the pros, a buffet of bites, champagne toast, music, dancing, and, of course, 14 ping pong tables at the ready. // Tickets ($100 and up) are available on eventbrite.com. Beach Blanket Babylon When: 10:15pm to 1:30am Where: Beach Blanket Babylon, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard (North Beach), beachblanketbabylon.com Our favorite pop culture-laced show is putting on a special performance showcasing the very best and the very worst moments from 2018 with a comedic slant. Enjoy complimentary champagne and truffles, and make sure to grab tickets to the second show of the evening which ends at midnight, then turning into a post-show dance venue to boogie in the first few hours of 2019. // Tickets ($85 to $210) are available online at beachblanketbabylon.com. Midnight Fireworks Over the Bay When: Midnight to 12:15am Where: The best viewing spots are on the Embarcadero from Mission St. to Folsom St. Don't want to pony up for an expensive dinner along the waterfront? Brown-bag a bottle of champagne from your local corner store and nestle up with your honey along the Embarcadero to watch fireworks sparkle over the bay. The show starts promptly at midnight. // Free to attend. A Japanese NYE Tradition When: 6:30pm Where: Izakaya Sushi Ran, 2223 Market St. (Castro), izakayasushiran.com Kick off your New Year's Eve with a stop by Izakaya Sushi Ran for their sake barrel breaking ceremony, a fun Japanese tradition to bring toast to the New Year! // Event is free to attend. Count it Down From the Top When: 7:30pm to 1am Where: Top of the Mark, 999 California Street (Russian Hill), intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com Dance the night away at one of the best views in town-- the Top of the Mark. Start things off with a cocktail reception, followed with a five-course dinner, and a champagne toast. A live band will bring the tunes while you watch fireworks pop over the city. // Reservations ($425 per person) can be made by calling the holiday desk at 415-616-6941 or emailing Lynnette.won@ihg.com. Prohibition Party When: 8pm to 1am Where: Starlight Room, Kimpton Sir Francis Drake, 450 Powell St. (Union Square), sirfrancisdrake.com Break out your feather boas and get ready to boogie to the vibes of the 1920's at the Starlight Room. Enjoy passed bites, era-appropriate cocktails, a live jazz band and DJ. // Tickets ($50 and up) are available at starlightroomsf.electrostub.com. Music in SF See on Instagram The Queen's Ball When: 9pm to 3am Where: The Great Northern, 119 Utah St. (SoMa), thegreatnorthernsf.com Maya Jane Coles is bringing the beats at local two-room club, The Great Northern. Expect a night of drag performances, aerialists, a food truck and photo booth to help rock the party. // Tickets ($60) are available at ticketfly.com. Wobble Wobble at The Midway When: 9pm to 4am Where: The Midway, 900 Marin St. (Dogpatch), themidwaysf.com Explore the multi-room 40,000 square foot music venue, The Midway, while getting down to dance music from Little Dragon, Modeselektor, Tokimonsta, and Mayan Warrior. They'll even be shutting down the streets to expand the party with interactive art work and eats from their in-house kitchen. // Tickets ($90 and up) are available eventbrite.com. Drinks, Dinner, & DJs When: Dinner from 5pm to 9pm at Curio; dance party starts at 9pm at The Chapel Where: Curio & The Chapel, 777 Valencia St. (Mission) Neighborhood restaurant-and-venue duo, Curio and The Chapel, offer a convenient double-header option for your evening. Start off with dinner at Curio with shareable plates like seafood towers, hush puppies, and NYE specials, then either stick around Curio for a free non-stop DJ dance party, or move next door for a groovy concert from Lee Fields & The Expressions at The Chapel. // Dinner reservations can be made on curiobarsf.com and tickets for the The Chapel ($55) can be purchased on ticketfly.com. Kaskade When: 8pm Where: Bill Graham, 99 Grove Street (Civic Center), billgrahamcivic.com Clearly Kaskade has a soft spot for SF, returning for the third time to close out the New Year with one big electronic feels-trip at Bill Graham. // Tickets ($129 and up) can be purchased on ticketmaster.com. Thievery Corporation When: 9:30pm Where: The Masonic, 1101 California St. (Nob Hill), sfmasonic.com Thievery Corporation is bringing their American electronic music to the Masonic for one energy filled night. // Tickets ($45 and up) are available on concerts1.livenation.com. All the Eats See on Instagram A Rooftop Party When: 8pm to 1am Where: El Techo, 2516 Mission St. (Mission), eltechosf.com Hit up one of our favorite rooftops for an epic all-night celebration. Enjoy a four-course feast (think dishes like lobster ceviche and chipotle rubbed prime rib) and with cocktail pairings. End the night with a Champagne toast and views of the city skyline. // Tickets ($175 per person) can be purchased on eventbrite.com. Italian Eats at The Most-Hyped Resto in the City When: 5:30pm to 12:30am Where: Che Fico, 838 Divisadero (NoPa), chefico.com Cozy up for four-courses from Chef David Nayfeldantipasti, house-made pasta, wood-fire grilled entrees, and desserts by Chef Angela Pinkertonbefore ending the night with a sparkling wine toast. // Tickets ($125) are available by calling 415-416-6959 or sending an email to contact@chefico.com. Roka Akor Feast When: 5:30pm to 12am Where: Roka Akor, 801 Montgomery St. (North Beach), rokaakor.com Roka Akor keeps it rich with a four-course tasting menu of fine seafood including Shigoku oysters, smoked trout caviar, bluefin tuna sashimi, King crab legs, wagyu filet with grilled bone marrow and warm chocolate cake. End your meal with a Champagne toast at midnight. // Cost is $138 per person with a 2 person minimum. Send off Stones Throw When: 5:30pm to 12:30am Where: Stones Throw, 1896 Hyde Street (Russian Hill), stonesthrowsf.com/ It's officially the last time you can ever eat at Stones Throw (they're closing up shop for good at the end of the year). They'rw ending it all with one epic New Year's Eve blow-out feast for their final night: dishes will include a trio of small bites (a mushroom tartelette, Marin Miyagi oyster, and their delish puffed potato & egg), choice of baked goat cheese or smoked Dungeness crab, squash ravioli with white truffles, choice of Monterey black cod or New York strip loin, and dessert. // Cost is $130 per person and reservations can be made on stonesthrowsf.com. An Italian Space Odyssey When: 10pm to 1am Where: Prairie, 3431 19th St. (Mission), prairiesf.com Things are getting weird over at Prairie for NYEthey're channeling the vibes of a space colony, complete with a Lady Gaga themed-dance party, a VR lounge with virtual vespa rides through Italy, and an "Apperitivo Space Dock." They'll be hosting an open bar with bubbles and bevvies alongside an Italian Greyhound ice luge, and serving up eats including a neo-Italian antipasti bar with several bites accessible by pushing a button where they then pop outthink a crudo of egg crespelle with caviar, or chilled squid ink spaghettini with uni. Bonus: anyone who dresses up like a character from Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video gets some complimentary wagyu! Say, what?! // Cost is $180 per person, including drinks and food, and are available on OpenTable. Sneak Peek of Noosh When: 8:30pm to 1am Where: Noosh, 2001 Fillmore St. (Pac Heights), 2001fillmore.com/ Not even open yetNoosh is a hot new restaurant we've had our eye on from chefs with experience at Saison and Mourad. Before they officially open their doors, they're hosting a preview party where guests can try out some of their Eastern Mediterranean-Californian cuisine and cocktails. // Tickets ($95 and up) will include bites, two beverages, and a Champagne toast, and can be purchased on Tock. Go Big at the Waterfront When: 6pm to 1am Where: Epic Steak, 369 The Embarcadero; and Waterbar, 399 The Embarcadero; epicsteak.com, waterbarsf.com Big on steak or seafood? Two of the waterfront greats, Epic Steak and Waterbar are both hosting two seatings of NYE dinners, ending with a champagne toast and views of the fireworks. // First seating $150/four courses; second seating $225/five courses. Reservations can be made on epicsteak.com and waterbarsf.com. Moongate Lounge Opening Party When: 8pm to 1am Where: Mister Jiu's, 28 Waverly Place (Chinatown), misterjius.com Another opening we've been waiting on is Moongate Lounge, the swank upstairs bar spin-off of Mister Jiu's. They're kicking things off with a NYE party with an open sparkling rose bar, dim sum, seafood spread of shrimp, caviar, crab and oysters, suckling pig, fried chicken and soft serve. There will also be live music, dancing, and casino games. // Tickets ($150) are available at exploretock.com. Korean All You Can Eat + Drink When: 6pm and 9pm seatings Where: Namu Gaji, 499 Dolores St. (Mission), namusf.com Go all-in on an all-you-can-eat Korean feast of Devil's Gulch smoked pork, Liberty duck, wagyu brisket, and Galbi short rib among other dishes. // The 6pm seating is $120 and the 9pm seating is $155. Tickets available while they last at namukbbq.brownpapertickets.com. Indulge at Eight Tables When: During business hours Where: Eight Tables, 644 Broadway (Chinatown), eighttables.com Culinary wonder, Eight Tables, is pulling out the stops for an 11-course tasting menu, complete with rich delicacies like A5 wagyu beef. // Reservations ($325) can be made at eighttables.com. Pop Bubbles When: 2pm to 2am Where: The Riddler, 528 Laguna St. (Hayes Valley), theriddlersf.com Can you find a more appropriate spot to celebrate the New Year than a Champagne bar? Head to The Riddler to enjoy their wide selection of bubbles, some special magnums, and more options by-the-glass. // Reserve your spot on OpenTable; walk-ins accepted until 11pm. Foodie Night at Foreign Cinema When: 5:30pm to 1am Where: Foreign Cinema, 2534 Mission St. (Mission), foreigncinema.com Head to Foreign Cinema for a technicolor-themed night, featuring live music, their usual films, a special three-course dinner, and a champagne toast. // Reservations ($130, excluding tax, gratuity and drinks) are available on OpenTable. Oakland Outings Laugh it up In Oaktown When: 10:30pm to 12:30am Where: Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave (Oakland), renaissancerialto.com Can't stand fancy parties or the clubs? Snag tickets to a special NYE comedy show featuring acts from five performers with a collective resume that spans projects on Netflix, Conan, Funny or Die and Comedy Central. Don't worry, there will still be a countdown at midnight. // Tickets ($35) are available on renaissancerialto.com. Playtime at Plank When: 9pm to 1am Where: Plank, 98 Broadway (Jack London Square), plankoakland.com/ All-night game-a-thon your thing? Game-oriented venue, Plank, will be open for an evening of bocce, bowling and arcade games, with NYE touches like festive party decor, a video DJ, and a champagne toast. // Tickets are $25, which gives guests a $25 game-play card, and can be purchased on eventbrite.com. Three local students advance in BIG Idea competition The three students from Doland and Eureka will present their ideas at Northern State University on Dec. 8. A solar company sued by the state for allegedly deceptive sales practices has shot back with its own claims: that Attorney General Hector Balderas is violating open records laws and that the law firm his office hired to represent the state gave him an illegal campaign contribution. In the most recent action, Vivint Solar Inc. filed a lawsuit last week saying Balderas alleged failure to turn over documents is particularly egregious because he has publicly touted the importance of holding state agencies accountable for failure to comply with the Inspection of Public Records Act. David Carl, spokesman for the AGs office, said in a written statement, While we have not yet been served with this pleading, we are disappointed that Vivint is not taking responsibility for harming our local consumers. We will continue to litigate this matter and fight to protect New Mexicans. He did not directly address Vivents IPRA claims. Vivint, a Utah-based rooftop solar provider that operates in New Mexico and 20 other states, is accused of defrauding residents and jeopardizing their home ownership through deceptive sales practices. The AGs Office sued the company in March. Vivint has said it believes the suit lacks merit. The allegation involving an illegal campaign contribution came in a motion Vivint filed last month, asking a judge to disqualify the law firm representing the state in the case. Vivint pointed to a $5,000 campaign contribution that the firm, Philadelphia-based Barrack, Rodos & Bacine, made to Balderas in 2016 for his re-election campaign. Vivint contends the law firms contribution violated New Mexicos pay-to-play prohibitions. Balderas office has said that accusation is based on erroneous assertions and misapplication of New Mexico law and is an effort to drag out the lawsuit against Vivint. The AG says the law firm submitted a proposal in September 2015 to provide legal services on an as-needed basis and was selected that December. The campaign contribution to Balderas didnt come until more than 10 months after the selection, the AG said in a court document. The law firm began representing the state in the Vivint suit in 2017, under the proposal approved in 2015. The AG said the firm was selected following a lengthy competitive sealed proposal process undertaken in a manner consistent with the Procurement Code. Vivints IPRA complaint accuses the AGs Office of withholding 752 pages of records in their entirety, rather than separating or redacting information that is exempt from disclosure. It says AG officials produced certain cherry-picked documents only when they believed it was in their strategic advantage to do so Balderas initial suit against Vivint targets the companys door-to-door sales tactics and agreements made with customers to purchase power from the solar panel systems. Similar complaints by prosecutors in other states have resulted in settlements. NEW YORK Emmanuel Macron has been the great hope for those who worry that global politics is being dominated by populism, nationalism and racism. In his presidential campaign last year, Macron was able to rally France around a message of reform and multilateralism, staying firmly wedded to the European Union and other international alliances and institutions. Last month he brought together 65 world leaders for a gathering (on) global governance. Now Macron has been humbled by the yellow vest street protests. He was forced to backtrack on some of his reforms and adopt new budget-busting subsidies in an attempt to mollify the mob. And there is the mess in Britain as it keeps trying and failing to Brexit; Italys budgetary woes; and the embrace of illiberal democracy in Hungary and Poland. It all adds up to a depressing picture of Europe and the West. But are things really so gloomy? As Politicos Matthew Karnitschnig points out, support for the EU is at its highest in decades. And on closer examination, while the forces of populism continue to surge in some places, the story of the last few months has mostly been one of pushback. Consider Poland and Hungary, in many ways the poster children for the populist-nationalist movement. In Poland, efforts to reshape the countrys Supreme Court ignited massive national protests, and Europes high court ordered that the move be reversed. Last Monday, Warsaw complied. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbans latest authoritarian steps changing labor law and judicial authority have also triggered widespread protests, uniting the nations opposition forces as never before. The street rebellion has the feel of a generalized opposition to the ruling party, which has used tear gas on the mostly peaceful protesters, decried them as anti-Christian and accused George Soros of organizing the whole affair. In France, news of Macrons demise is premature. Yes, his poll numbers are way down, but voters still prefer him to the far-right Marine Le Pen by a wide margin. He has a five-year term, his party controls the legislature and most analysts agree his reforms are inevitable if France is to compete for investment and generate growth. In Italy, the new coalition government had introduced a populist budget that promised a universal basic income and early retirement, only to meet the steely opposition of the European Union. And it was the populists who blinked. Last week, Rome retreated from those populist measures and announced a budget conforming to the guidelines set by Brussels. It feels like a flashback to 2015, when Greek populists were compelled to enact the very program they campaigned against. Britain remains more complicated, but the basic story is that every time the country comes close to actual Brexit, it pulls back, appalled by the costs. Prime Minister Theresa May has tried to do a soft Brexit, and while the compromise has earned her the scorn of the hardline Brexiteers, they cannot topple her. Perhaps they dont want to because then they would be saddled with Mays impossible task. Proponents of Brexit sold the country a fantasy that it could get the benefits of access to the European Unions market without the costs of having to obey its rules. As time passes, more and more Britons are realizing they cannot have their cake and eat it, too. And finally, look at the United States, where a president who proudly embraces populism and nationalism reigns. In November, the Democratic Party had its strongest gains in the House of Representatives since the Watergate wave of 1974. President Donald Trump has faced additional resignations from important members of his administration some under ethical clouds, others tired of the chaos. Most significant, there are now 17 investigations into Trump and associates, some have already produced indictments. I dont mean to minimize the populist wave coursing through the West and other parts of the world. But concern should not give way to despair. There are many people in every country who oppose the politics of anger and identity. They are also strong. They need to run fast but not run scared. SAN DIEGO Two different facets of the immigration debate birthright citizenship and the caravan of thousands of Central American refugees have crossed. And at the center of that intersection is Maryury Serrano Hernandez. The 19-year-old woman left Honduras on Oct. 17 with her husband, Miguel, and their 3-year-old son. The couple now has another child. Their newborn boy came into the world on Nov. 27, one day after his mother was apprehended at the border. According to media reports, Hernandez was nearly eight months pregnant when she and her family began the dangerous trek through Guatemala and Mexico by foot and then by bus until they reached Tijuana. Miguel told reporters that traveling with his pregnant wife was difficult, and that the family often fell behind the rest of the caravan. In Tijuana, the couple found refuge in a shelter, but didnt feel safe in part because of Mexican nationals who harassed Central Americans. The family decided to cross into the United States and seek asylum. They were picked up by the Border Patrol and put in a detention facility. The next day, Hernandez went into labor and was transported to a hospital in San Diego where she gave birth. He was born here in San Diego, she beamed to a Spanish-language television reporter as she held her baby. She said she considers the child a blessing from God and a big reward for her family having survived the harrowing journey. Hernandez claims that she didnt leave Honduras with the intent of giving birth on U.S. soil and that, when she crossed the border, she had no idea she would go into labor the very next day. I recently talked about this story while hosting a show on a conservative radio station in San Diego, and my listeners were fuming. Callers were sure that Hernandez and her husband had meticulously planned every part of her delivery, including when the baby would be born and where. Thats quite a trick. My wife and I have been pregnant four times and I dont remember any part of those deliveries that went according to plan. Ever hear of false contractions? The callers also insisted that the only reason the parents wanted their son to be born in the U.S. was so they could collect freebies like welfare and free medical benefits. That confused me. For the most part, the native-born value their U.S. citizenship, right? Why else would they work so hard to deny it to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants? But, as an American who is extremely grateful for his U.S. citizenship, I can say that its not because I have a shot to win prizes as if America were a game show. Its because my citizenship makes me a member of a special club promising liberty and justice for all. Shouldnt we consider the possibility that migrants and refugees could be motivated by ideals that are just as high-minded? Does the fact we look down on these folks mean we always have to question their motives? Lastly, several callers repeated the old trope advanced by cable news hosts that babies born on U.S. soil somehow anchor their parents to the U.S. If so, thats one flimsy anchor. The slightest tug by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and it breaks. The parents of U.S.-born children get deported all the time. Sometimes, the kids go with their parents. Other times, they go into foster care. Hernandez and her infant son spent several days in the hospital in San Diego, while immigration agents stood sentry, and checked all the food and clothes brought to them by hospital officials. You would have thought they were guarding Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. After leaving the hospital, Hernandez was returned to detention. After she and her husband filed their asylum claim, they were released into the U.S. in the care of an American woman who volunteers to house refugees while they make their way through the court system. Hernandez came north because she wanted what every mother wants better lives for her children and to keep them safe. For this, she was treated like Public Enemy No. 1. I felt like a criminal, she said. Most Americans still like to think of their country as a safe haven for the desperate and the downtrodden. They just dont act in a way that lives up to the billing. Thats the real crime. Ruben Navarrettes email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. (c) 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group. It takes a lot of courage for a rape victim to come forward to report the crime. Providing samples as proof of the crime can be an emotionally taxing experience for someone trying to recover from such a horrifying violation. Unfortunately for many victims in New Mexico, and Albuquerque specifically, the wheels of justice have not exactly turned swiftly for those who have bravely come forward. According to an audit performed in 2016 while Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller was state auditor, New Mexico led the nation in the number of untested rape kits per capita. The report found 254 untested kits for every 100,000 New Mexico residents. The good news is theres progress in eliminating the backlog, clearing the way for cases to be prosecuted. Earlier this month, Keller reported the city of Albuquerque has cut its massive backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits in half 2,678 kits remain to be processed. That pile of undone business needed for justice to be served had been growing since the 1980s. Kellers update came days after Gov. Susana Martinez said the state forensic lab had cleared all of its untested kits, which accounted for about a quarter of the cases uncovered in a special audit. Cases that originated in the Albuquerque area made up 74 percent of the states backlog. The state has now offered the city assistance in clearing the remainder of its inventory. We applaud the state and the city for their efforts in getting sexual assault investigations on track. The bad news is that, sadly, it comes too late for too many. Michael Patrick, spokesman for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office, said 1,850 cases have been forwarded to prosecutors since February. Of those, 740 are open and pending further review and investigation. But prosecutors have closed 567 cases, many because the statute of limitations expired. Sadly, time has simply run out to seek justice for these victims, he said. We urge officials to continue working to reach Kellers goal of clearing the city backlog by the end of 2020. No rape victim seeking justice should ever hear their case wont be prosecuted simply because law enforcement officials ran out of time. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal The Youth Diagnostic and Development Center, a locked and secure facility for incarcerated youths, is one of Monique Jacobsons favorite places to visit. This is truly the heart of the deep end of the work that we do, says the outgoing cabinet secretary for the state Children, Youth and Families Department. In terms of adult intervention in the lives of troubled kids, this is where the rubber meets the road. In order for these kids to be here with us (at YDDC), they would have had to commit some pretty serious crimes. The way I look at it is we have an opportunity to reverse that trajectory and break the cycle because if we dont, they will be the next generation of parents who are involved with us. Jacobson, 40, is sitting for an interview in the library at YDDC. It is her last month in office, and she is reflecting on her last four years at CYFD. She recalls how she came into the office surrounded by questions and criticisms concerning her qualifications, having previously been the cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, where she was best-known for starting the New Mexico True campaign. Then-Senate Democratic Whip Michael Padilla of Albuquerque called Jacobsons appointment a shocker and questioned her relevant work experience. But Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, came to her defense and said at that time, management skills are first and foremost what was needed at CYFD. Jacobson won Senate confirmation with a 35-2 vote. Contacted recently, Padilla said his first impression has not changed. Monique Jacobson is a true professional in the areas in which she was trained marketing and tourism. I believe she did her best as CYFD secretary under very difficult circumstances, but it demonstrates that the department needs a skilled individual with relevant experience, he said. Smith, meanwhile, praised Jacobson, saying that she has most certainly lived up to the expectations. I believe its one of the toughest jobs in state government. Jacobson, he added, moved quickly, was very decisive as a manager and the morale in the field offices is now very good. After graduating from the prestigious Wharton School of business at the University of Pennsylvania, Jacobson worked for PepsiCo in Chicago. My background was much more in management than it ever got portrayed, she says, and a lot of the skills that I had from my time at PepsiCo and again at the Tourism Department were important for running a large, diverse and troubled agency like CYFD. And diverse it is. The department has 34 offices and facilities around the state and about 2,200 employees working in one of four divisions: Protective Services, Behavioral Health, Juvenile Justice and Early Childhood Services. Jacobson readily shares some of the improvements each of those divisions enjoyed during her tenure. In Protective Services, the number of foster homes increased by 24 percent, the number of field workers increased by 30 percent and the vacancy rate of field workers fell from 24 percent to 12 percent. CYFD rolled out its Law Enforcement Portal and trained more than 400 officers, who now have access to information about previous CYFD referrals and contacts with children and families. It also added 24 community behavioral health clinicians to improve placement and treatment options for Protective Services youths. In Juvenile Justice, the number of kids getting their GEDs or diplomas rose from 15.6 percent to 47.2 percent, and vocational education programs have been introduced in the newly opened Vocational Education Building on the YDDC campus. In Early Childhood Services, participation in child care assistance increased by 4,500 a month, funding for pre-K increased by 55 percent, and funding for home visiting rose by 79 percent. In Behavioral Health Services, the number of mental health teams was doubled. Overall, under Jacobsons tenure CYFDs budget increased by $79 million, to more than $500 million. No silver bullet Like every CYFD secretary before her, Jacobson has had to deal with tragedies, particularly high-profile cases in which children were exploited, abused, even killed. Those children included Victoria Martens, a 10-year-old who was raped, killed and dismembered, and a 7-year-old girl who was allegedly prostituted by family members. Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed against CYFD by a group of New Mexico child advocates and their attorneys, on behalf of abused or neglected children in state custody. The suit contends that children in New Mexico are regularly removed from unsafe homes only to end up in a broken foster care system. Theres no one common denominator connecting the incidents, and theres no one silver bullet solution, Jacobson says. In the case of the 7-year-old girl, investigators with the state Attorney Generals Office found that CYFD and law enforcement had multiple reports about the family involving neglect and abuse dating back years. Yet the girl and her siblings were not removed from the family until last April, after the Attorney Generals Office became involved. Eleven CYFD employees were suspended, demoted or fired. Jacobson declined to provide names of the disciplined workers or say how many of the 11 received which type of disciplinary action. Jacobson says one of her goals at CYFD was to create a culture of accountability and support within the department. I see (CYFD) offices where theyre really good at support but not good at accountability, and what happens is a culture of complacency sets in, and then children can end up hurt or dead, she says. The flip side is an office thats really good at accountability but not support, and you end up with a culture of fear. Thats not a productive culture for our workers and not a culture that will create safety for our children. So we have to continually balance those two worlds. Complicating things is the frequency with which people try to use the agency as a weapon, she says. Protective Services Central Intake yearly receives about 40,000 reports of abuse or neglect from all around the state. Of those, 20,000 are referred for CYFD investigation. While its important for people to report suspected neglect or abuse of a child, field workers often find that calls to CYFD originate with angry neighbors, relatives or ex-spouses who have an ax to grind, impeding the ability to substantiate reports. Jacobson says one of her disappointments has been her inability to persuade the Legislature to increase penalties for people who abuse children and cause death. Under current law, individuals found guilty of abuse resulting in the death of a child ages 11 or younger face a life sentence, while those convicted of the same crime against a child ages 12 to 18 face up to 18 years in prison. I would go year after year and fight for change, and year after year I was told we dont need that law, she says. Moments after being told that in a committee hearing, she got the first email about Jeremiah Valencia. The 13-year-old boy from Nambe was tortured to death, allegedly at the hands of his mothers boyfriend and the boyfriends son. His body was found in a plastic storage bin in January. Strong support Jacobson grew up in Taos and Santa Fe. She lives in Albuquerque, where she and her husband, Andrew Jacobson, are raising their three children, ages 13, 11 and 6. She calls her time at CYFD the best and most meaningful job of my life and says she plans to start a nonprofit focused on how to have an impact on improving the quality of life for our children. At the heart of every issue is the desire for human connection, Jacobson says. Thats the single most important thing Ive learned. So when youre disrupting the human connection between a parent and a child, youd better make sure theres strong support in place so that youre finding a human connection for those children not just a warm bed, not just food, but human connection. Thats essential. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal In early November, on a wide, dusty, dirt road nestled between two low, rocky hills on Acoma Pueblo, tribal police found 63-year-old Denise Coultas-Parkers abandoned SUV. A month and a half later, she is still missing and her disappearance continues to be a mystery. New Mexico State Police issued a silver alert on Nov. 17 saying Coultas-Parker is believed to be in danger if shes not found and asking anyone with information about the case to call police. She had been reported missing from Los Angeles on Nov. 8, and her Honda CRV was found abandoned on pueblo land Nov. 12. Although Coultas-Parker is one of almost 300 people reported missing in the state, her name does not appear on the New Mexico Department of Public Safetys missing persons website because she was reported missing to the Los Angeles Police Department. Lt. Mark Soriano, an NMSP spokesman, said the Public Safety Department would add her to the list of missing persons if LAPD requested it. The ongoing investigation spanning multiple agencies and two states has not turned up any information about what happened to Coultas-Parker after she got out of her car. Investigators say they have no evidence of foul play and have not offered any other clues. So in mid-December, Coultas-Parkers husband, Carl Parker frustrated by what he sees as a lack of coordination among agencies armed himself with a binder of missing person fliers and bulleted timelines outlining his and his familys efforts and contacts, and flew from California to New Mexico to try to get some answers. It was his second time in the area since his wife disappeared. Once again, he left with no answers. Parker said his wife, who has multiple sclerosis and memory problems, had been talking about getting out of the city, heading for the mountains and for nature, and he believes she had been driving to Arkansas when she pulled over in Acoma. I dont know why she stopped off in New Mexico, he said. This area is very similar in some respects to where we live in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. A friend from the Lakota Chumash tribe volunteered to help Parker and act as a liaison with the tribe. And another friend, an Oglala Lakota medicine man living in Bernalillo, put him up at his house. A small group recently held a sweat lodge ceremony and studied maps for clues about Coultas-Parkers path. On an overcast afternoon last week, Parker, accompanied by the two men and another friend, visited the Bureau of Indian Affairs to meet with a special agent. Then, they all went to Acoma to look around themselves. Driving up and down winding roads leading away from the casino, the group stopped where Coultas-Parkers vehicle was found, about a mile from the interstate. The low hills surrounding the area are dotted with houses, both lived in and abandoned. Passing trains throw out resounding whistles as they head east and around a bend in the landscape. Crows flew southeast across the sky a hint, one searcher says, of where Coultas-Parker may be. Parker said his initial reaction was surprise that the land where his wife disappeared was not more remote. This area is not completely desolate, he said, gesturing around. I have no idea. My wife may have wandered up there. Parker, a special education teacher, said the last time he saw his wife of 25 years was the morning of Nov. 8 before he left for work. He said Coultas-Parker had been packing for a couple of days while planning on getting out of town and it wasnt necessarily unusual for her to leave without telling anyone. She had gone to various places before, but she would reappear after a day or two, but this did not happen, Parker said. When she didnt come back the next day, we tried calling her on her cell, and it went always to voicemail. A couple of days later, Los Angeles police detectives knocked on Parkers door to tell him Coultas-Parkers SUV had been found several states away. Her wallet, cellphone and keys were missing, but the car was intact. Over the past month and a half, her relatives and friends have helped with the search. They have been talking with authorities with the Acoma Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, New Mexico State Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as New Mexico and California state representatives. They made a website with a ticker counting the days Coultas-Parker has been missing. In the meantime, State Police officers assisted Acoma police by conducting a helicopter search, and Acoma Police Chief Clayton Garcia said his officers searched by foot in the area where Coultas-Parkers car was found. Garcia said its an unusual place for someone to get lost. It was right near a residential area, right near the interstate and right near the casino, Garcia said. Still, relatives and friends are frustrated by what they see as a lack of urgency and coordination among officers. I think in the beginning we were so desperate that we thought she was somewhere injured and fighting for her life, said Coultas-Parkers daughter, Toni Coultas. As time has gone on, the realization that we would not be allowed to look for her in a timely manner was heartbreaking. Its very hard to hold on to hope, but Im really trying. Call with info Police ask anyone with any information about Denise Coultas-Parkers whereabouts to call the New Mexico State Police at (505) 287-4377 or 911. DENVER Members of a small Denver Catholic church built by Hispanic families are fighting to re-open their parish over a year after it was closed by the archbishop. A group of about 50 people gathered outside the locked Our Lady of Visitation Church for a Christmas Eve vigil as a way to keep their community alive and draw attention to their fight with the church hierarchy. Holding candles on a street, they re-enacted Mary and Josephs search for a place to stay in Bethlehem, a tradition known as Las Posadas. Men moved a wooden door in a frame along the residential street as a young man and woman dressed as Mary and Joseph repeatedly knocked on it and were rejected until they found someone willing to take them in. They were followed by two men playing guitars and parishioners, who were holding candles, as they sang Christmas carols in Spanish. Sirens and train horns sounded in the distance in the unincorporated area just north of Denver where the families of many church members settled a century ago after moving from rural areas of Colorado and New Mexico to find work. The settlers first gathered at an adobe morada, or prayer house, before starting to hold Mass in two donated street cars. Later, parishioners built a one-story cinderblock church, which they later expanded, and a gazebo where they hosted yearly festivals with homemade food to raise money to cover church expenses. Archbishop Samuel Aquila ordered that the last Mass be held there in April 2017. The archdiocese later offered to hold monthly masses at the church but that offer was rejected. Church members appealed to the Vatican and, in September, the Congregation of the Clergy upheld Aquilas decision to merge the church with a larger parish, Holy Trinity. However, it said there must be at least two Masses held at Our Lady of Visitation each year. Under the ruling, one must be held on the anniversary of its dedication, which members say is Christmas Eve, and one on its feast day in May. The parishioners say the archdiocese is not following the order and they have appealed. The archdiocese says it will comply, but it was unable to arrange for a Mass in time for Christmas Eve since the church relies on one of two priests from Holy Trinity to say Mass. Parish members have also previously brought in retired priests to officiate at the Mass. The dedication date of the church also still needs to be confirmed, archdiocese spokesman Mark Haas said. Haas said the archdiocese understands that the church has deep roots but he downplayed the importance of going to a particular building to worship. The Catholic faith is one church throughout the world, he said. Parishioners say they feel lost without what they call their little pink church. As people shared hot chocolate and bizcochitos near a heat lamp after the Christmas Eve vigil, Joann Valdez of Westminster said members of larger churches she has attended are friendly but the culture is different. Former church treasurer Fred Torres of Berthoud compared members of Our Lady of Visitation Church to the Israelites wandering the desert. It hurts to see this building sit empty, he said. Generations of people devoted their time, their labor and their experience to build this church. Public Service Co. of New Mexico says its the first utility to deploy new, cutting-edge technology to detect and correct transmission problems in real time. The system, which PNM began deploying last spring, could cut the number of outages affecting the grid and speed repairs when problems do occur. That translates into greater system reliability and savings for the utility and its customers, said Todd Fridley, vice president of New Mexico operations. Were installing the latest, greatest technology in line protection, Fridley said. Its a first-of-its-kind system, and were the first utility to put it into service. Many companies are testing the technologys ability to rapidly monitor for faults on their transmission systems. But PNM is the first to deploy it as a fully operational protective device that automatically trips circuit-breakers on the grid when problems arise, said Richard Kirby, senior product sales manager for Washington-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, which designed and built the system. Others are putting it on transmission lines as a pilot monitoring system, not to actually interrupt electric flow, or trip a breaker, Kirby said. PNM engineers worked with Schweitzer early this year to test the technology through digital simulation using model replicas of PNMs power system at Schweitzer headquarters in Washington. PNM installed the first relays in May at its Cabezon switching station northwest of Albuquerque, which connects to a high voltage transmission line linking Farmington with Albuquerque. The system has worked well there, and now PNM is preparing to deploy it on more than 100 switching and substations across the state, Fridley said. Its part of a $75 million project to modernize the transmission grid over the next five years. With current systems, which measure changes in the magnitude of electricity running through lines, PNM engineers conduct time-consuming computer calculations on the flow of current to determine if theres a problem and then map its potential location. In contrast, the Schweitzer technology immediately detects disturbances as they happen and alerts engineers to where the problem is, typically pinpointing it to within 1,000 feet. It greatly improves the speed at which line protection works, Fridley said. Crews can locate and repair problems much faster. That shortens down time on the lines and reduces equipment damage. Such rapid fault detection and location accuracy also helps to avoid tripping circuit breakers on other lines unnecessarily, reducing the frequency and scope of outages, Fridley said. PNM has about 30 transmission outages a year. Outages can have big impacts, and protection is critical, Fridley said. The new replay system is part of a wholesale change in our system protection scheme to modernize the grid. Well test the savings over time, but we expect a 10 to 15 percent gain in outage time when restoring transmission lines. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Authorities are hunting the man suspected of killing a policeman who stopped his truck in a small California town. Thirty-three-year-old Ronil Singh was shot Wednesday after stopping a pickup truck without a license plate in Newman, about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco. The truck was later found but the gunman is at large. Authorities say surveillance photos taken at a convenience store shortly before the attack show the suspect, a heavy man with short dark hair wearing a chain necklace, dark T-shirt and jacket. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department says police agencies throughout California and out of state have been alerted. Singh was a native of Fiji who joined the Newman police force in 2011. He is survived by a wife and an infant son. --- Original Article from Action News Now: STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. - Authorities are on the hunt for a suspect responsible for shooting and killing a police officer during a routine traffic stop in Stanislaus County early Wednesday morning. According to the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department, an officer pulled over a vehicle in Newman, a city east of San Jose, just before 1 a.m. Moments later, a radio call came in saying there were shots fired. When officers arrived, they found Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh, 33, with gunshot wounds and was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital. Law enforcement officials have released surveillance images of a suspect and a gray Dodge Ram truck, they suspect it may be connected to the shooting. Singh was with the Newman Police Department since July 2011 and was a native of Fiji. C Com Digital, a full-service Digital Publicist , organized an education and awareness drive on dysmenorrhea in GNIMS, Mumbai on the 21thof December 2018. The event organized in association with Blue Cross Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, was part of the several digital campaigns on dysmenorrhea, which have been running for over a month now. Helly Shah, the Youtuber who became a household name for her take on how period pain is not normal, kickstarted the event by reciting her extremely popular poem on period pain. The event saw participation by a large majority of students from GNIMS who were enthusiastic to understand more about dysmenorrhea and the risk factors. What was encouraging was that the male students also showed keen interest in understanding more about the topic. Dysmenorrhea, the medical term for menstrual pain, is the most common yet most deflected and ignored gynecological problem among adolescent girls and young women.The workshop thus aimed at educating college girls on the issue and was also an initiative by C Com Digital towards reaching the target audience directly. The hashtag #WhySufferSilently has already been trending online since over a month. Speaking about this, Mr Chandan Bagwe, MD, C Com Digital, said, It is very important that todays youth are aware of dysmenorrhea. The myths surrounding period pain should be broken down. Youth are the evangelists in spreading the message over the social media and digital platforms where they are most active. Helly's poem #whysuffersilently on YouTube and Whatsapp has already become an instant hit. Many students in colleges and HR managers from corporate world have downloaded the educative posters available on painfulperiods.in. We are very excited about the great response we have received from various colleges, especially GNIMS students, thanks to this digitally connected event. We will cover other colleges going forward and hope to create a knowledge pool around this topic. Adding their inputs, source from Blue Cross Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, said, Dysmenorrhea adversely affects womens productivity, physical and emotional well-being even education & career growth. It is therefore imperative that there is awareness about this issue and women approach their family physician & gynaecologist for advice. Ignoring this can have a massive social and economic impact on the society" Following Hellys recital, a workshop on dysmenorrhea was conducted by Ms Ritu Palve, Gynecologist.She gave a presentation about the condition, which was followed by an interactive question and answer session. As part of the event, dysmenorrhea awareness kits (Meftal spas tab and 3 educational leaflets), were also distributed among the students. There was a lively vox-pop session with everyone present to record their views and thoughts. Adding her thoughts, Ms Helly Shah, said, "Majority of girls ignore the signs due to the lack of awareness and the synonymous reference of periods and pain caused during periods. Hence, it is undoubtedly necessary to spread the word about Dysmenorrhea. And I am honoured to be a part of this initiative and use the power of poetry and storytelling to reach the masses." Given the fact that there is a lack of awareness about dysmenorrhea and the factors surrounding the condition, a more proactive approach is needed to dispel myths and enable greater clarity. It is a serious issue which needs targeted action. The website painfulperiods.in addresses all the aspects around dysmenorrhea. Given this, going further, the event will be replicated in other college to target the relevant stakeholders directly. The collaboration with colleges will also help in gathering momentum for the campaign and spreading awareness about dysmenorrhea to a wider audience. Kingfisher, one of the most recognisable brands in India, espouses its long standing commitment with Percept Live, the promoters of one of the Asia's biggest dance music festivals, Sunburn for the main festival in Pune this season has a strategic presenting sponsor of the main festival. More than just a music festival, Sunburn has nurtured the electronic music culture in India and 2018 will witness a boost in the global fan footprint with devout fanatics pouring in from more than 20 countries. Kingfisher have been partners with Sunburn since over a decade as 'the king of good times partner and they came together with one of the most creditable brands in the music industry. Mr. Karan Singh, CEO, Sunburn, said: It gives me immense pleasure to announce Kingfisher as our presenting sponsors for the festival with whom we share a long-term relationship with. The two companies hold similar views and values. We had a successful partnership for our Sunburn showcases in the past and we will continue to support each other in the years to come." Mr. Gurpreet Singh, Divisional Vice President, Marketing, United Breweries Limited, said: Kingfishers Association with Sunburn Indias biggest music festival has only grown over the years. This year Kingfisher is happy to further strengthen this long standing bond with Sunburn and its fans and is happy to be the presenting partner to festival. Kingfisher is known as the catalyst of creating and bringing Good Times to its consumers and this year at Sunburn we hope to create an experiential program pat excellence. As a homegrown brand Kingfisher has had a strong presence in the state of Maharashtra and we believe in giving back to the people that have brought much love to this brand over the years. Since 2007, Asias biggest dance music festivals Sunburn has brought Worlds top DJs to stages across India for everything from Arena concerts to Multi-day festivals. The brand launched in Goa and has since expanded exponentially. For the 12th edition, Percept Live presents Sunburn will be hosted at Oxford Valley by Shapoorji Pallonji, Pune second year in a row with more than 70 acts supporting between 29th and 31st of December 2018. On 31st December 2018, DJ Snake will be usher in 2019. He has always loved his time in India (first, he shot the video of Lean On with Major Laser and then Magenta Riddim) and will return for the 5th time. Activist-DJ sisters Krewella and Parisian producer Mercer will warm up audiences before he ushers in a NYE storm with jaw-dropping stage production. On 30th December 2018, the flag-bearer of the trance movement, Armin Van Buuren and most streamed artist globally Alan Walker will be headlining the main stage. For Armin Van Buuren, who played his first show in India in 2009, the chance to see Indias music scene mature, has been a highlight since this would be his 6th visit to the sub-continent. Fresh off the success of Tota Myna, India's electronic mainstay Nucleya will add his desi dubstep touch to the mainstage right before. On 29th December 2018, the Swedish super duo and 2/3rd of the SHM outfit, Axwell ^ Ingrosso who premiered their kid ink collaboration at the festival way back in 2014 will close the mainstage. Joining them as support acts will be Israeli DJ duo Vini Vici and others. Other support acts include DIVINE (Gully Gang) David Gravell, Ellie Prohan, KaRavan, Teri Miko, Zephyrtone, Siana Catherine and domestic acts like Progressive Brothers, Omen, Julia Bliss, Madoc and Sartek. With a theme of welcome to paradise, the festival will once again host Indias biggest campsites that will give every camper a comprehensive festival vibe complete with after parties, adventure activities, bonfire, workshops among a host of other activities. Campout packages start INR 2,500 per person per day and include complimentary breakfast. In addition, fans can expect a world class experience with the fan village, and F&B by Eat Play Love, 30+ experience zones, flea markets, chopper rides, after parties. Tickets start at INR 1,799 are live on on www.bookmyshow.com. Exclusive VVIP experience packages are available on request on +917706998549 Note: Vacations can be rarer than a Santa sighting for most of us. When we finally gather the money and courage to go away, the result can be more stress than we have at home, where we've been able to "autism proof" our lives for the most part. When I took my girls to DisneyWorld many years ago, we lost Mia on a 2200 acre resort as she slipped out of attached hotel room door while I unpacked. An autsim GRANMOM found her pushing the buttons and counting the floors in the glass elevators. Below is an article about a Miami-based company that offers the equivalent of "AutismBnB." What a fantastic idea. Homes that are already autism-friendly for a vacation. Our dear friend Wendy Fournier, President 0f the National Autism Association is quoted. From the Orlando Sentinel: By Gabriel Russon Vacation rental company caters to kids with autism Little Julie and Jason Lanza were delighted to show off their souvenirs collected from a day at the theme park. But the truth is, vacations are sometimes difficult for their mother, Lissette Lanza. Jason a sweet-faced boy of 7 with floppy bowl-cut hair and an affinity for cars has autism. Going somewhere far from home takes him away from the comfort of his routine. He likes a plan, knowing whats happening next. No surprises. Sometimes he handles it better than others, said Lanza, a special-education teacher. Sometimes he has a meltdown. But on this trip to Central Florida, Lanza expressed a sense of relief. She stayed at a vacation rental that caters to families with autism and other disabilities. You dont find a lot of places that completely understand what you do when you have a child with autism, Lanza said. This has been a welcomed gift since you dont have to explain anything. Earlier this year, Miami-based VillaKey launched an online platform that showcases homes that are more comfortable to people with autism. Many of the homes feature intentionally soothing neutral colors and allow service dogs. (myvillakey.com/autism-friendly). We really offer the peace of mind, said Alice Horn, president of VillaKey, which advertises about 200 homes in Orlando. Horn grew up with a father who had Aspergers syndrome, a mild form of autism, and remembers how hard it was for the family to stay in hotels because noise bothered him. Lanza appreciated that everything was washed with fragrance-free products, which wouldnt bother Jasons severe allergies. There was also an alarm on every door so if she looked away for a second, Jason couldnt get distracted and sneak out. A checklist from VillaKey helped Lanza prepare her son for a day at the amusement park. More businesses are striving to be inclusive to families dealing with autism which affects one in every 59 people, said Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association. Read more here. 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. Air Cargo Faces These Four Logistics Challenges in 2019 By Jos Nuijten, Vice President, Network Integration Strategy, Descartes Many factors have combined to create an optimistic yet challenging climate for the air cargo industry. One of these is the continued growth of e-commerce globally, which has had a profound impact on the sector. In a way, air cargo has experienced a renaissance in the last several years because of skyrocketing international e-commerce amid heightened consumer expectations and reduced oil prices. Additionally, airfreight has become increasingly competitive against other modes of transportation in recent years. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airfreight demand is at its highest level since May 2018, growing more than three percent in October compared to the previous year. While this increase was driven largely by an expectedly busy Q4 peak, $17.5 billion worth of cargo35% of all global trade by valueis moved via airfreight daily. Airlines themselves are also performing well. IATA predicts the global airline industry will end 2019 with its tenth year of profitability. Impressive gains for an industry that was oncenot long agoon the brink of collapse. Despite favorable circumstances, sustained performance and an optimistic economic outlook, the air cargo industry does face challenges ahead. From evolving global trade tensions to continued pressure to embrace industry-wide digitalisation, here are four key logistics issues that will be important for top performers to address in the New Year: e-AWB Nearly 10 years after its first introduction in 2010, on January 1, 2019, the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) will become the default contract of carriage for all air cargo shipments in a move designed to embrace digital processes throughout the air supply chain. While this necessary change helps the industry get one step closer to eliminating inefficiencies, shipment delays and costly errors resulting from paper- and manual-based processes, it also introduces bigger challenges that cannot be solved overnight. In short, not only do supply chain stakeholders need to be able to effectively communicate electronically, they also require access to timely and accurate information. Therefore, data quality and the timeliness of that data quickly become a top concern, alongside technologies that support mandatory digital requirements. Security Filings From a security filings perspective, more and more nations now require air carriers to supply advanced information to customs and/or border control on incoming shipments. Nations that already have this capability in place realize that they need the information earlier and with better data quality. As a result, initiatives like Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) in the US (or, more generically, Pre-Loading Advance Commercial Information (PLACI)) have been introduced and are becoming mandatory. Along these same lines, the exporting air forwarder is also required to provide information either to the carrier or directly to customs in the importing country prior to loading at the airport. With the US and European Union (EU), this is relatively easy, but what if you are a US forwarder with a shipment to, for example, Angolado you have the ability to file to Angola? Yet, perhaps the biggest challenge related to security filings is knowing which information customs agencies internationally will require from one month to the next. While customs may be communicating to companies within their own countries, supply chain partners and their providers are often left scrambling to fulfill new or upcoming requirements. New Mail Requirements 2019 also brings several important changes related to security filings and mail shipments. In particular, the SAFE Framework of Standards as well as ICS-2 have eliminated the exempt status previously given to mail. In 2019, these changes require postal organizations and air express carriers to report information on the mail shipments they carry to customs agents. As of 2023 (and the expectation is that this will move forward), air carriers will also need to report postal shipments. As a result, these entities must now determine how to get the required information from their mail system into an environment that can be used to complete security filings. Further, filing for both cargo and mail shipments needs to be provided to customs in a consolidated manner, requiring even closer cooperation between air carriers cargo and mail systems. E-commerce Glut While the international e-commerce boom has been good for air cargo, the sheer volume of e-commerce packages does pose new challenges for both domestic and international shipments. Chief among them is the requirement of everyone involved in the air logistics chainshippers, brokers, forwarders, air carriers and truckersto execute flawlessly to accelerate the movement of goods, achieve quick clearances from customs and provide new levels of visibility to customers throughout the shipment lifecycle. The air cargo industry is in the midst of a significant transformation, one that grows stronger in lock step with the need to move cargo more cost-effectively and faster than ever before. Despite challenges ahead, technology holds the key to helping companies automate processes, simplify compliance requirements and achieve new levels of data quality and information-sharing with air cargo partners. For the industry to continue to modernize itself, its processes and systems must also keep pace with change. Author Biography Jos Nuijten has more than 35 years of experience in both IT and logistics. He began his career in the IT department of a Forwarding and Customs Broker company, moved to a Logistics Software house and joined the world of Communication and Collaboration Networks 25 years ago. Nuijten participates in various IATA Working Groups (eCargo, Cargo Digital Connectivity, One Record and Piece Level Tracking) and in the EU ICS-2 Shared Trader Interface Working Group. His current position is in Descartes Product Strategy team focusing on Advance Cargo Information (ACI) Programs and Air products. Share this story The lucrative trade in donkey hides on the back of a growing Chinese demand for donkey skin is posing a threat to the animal population in Egypt. The donkey population fell from 3.2 million in 2010 to around 1.6 million at present, an animal rights activist told Al-Monitor. Within 20 years, donkeys could become extinct in Egypt due to the hide trade. Although the Egyptian authorities set in 2012 an export quota of 8,000 hides annually, a higher demand from Chinese pharmaceutical companies has created a black market for hides in Egypt over the past eight years. However, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has increased the quota to 10,000 donkey skins in order to get more hard currency, Howida el-Hadary, the country manager of the Egyptian Society for the Protection and Welfare of Working Animal (ESPWWA), an affiliate of the UK-based charity The Donkey Sanctuary, told Al-Monitor. The population of donkeys has been falling due to illegal slaughter and export operations. Egyptian farmers rely on donkeys to till their farmland. The animal is an asset in agriculture in this country, Hadary said. The price of Egyptian donkeys has increased over the past two years due to smuggling. The illegal slaughtering of donkeys has been on the rise as the skin is worth more than the animal alive. The Giza Zoo, which is the only zoo authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation to slaughter donkeys, auctions hides daily. Around 300 donkeys are slaughtered per month at the zoo. China has stopped the slaughter of donkeys to preserve its wildlife, and Chinese companies have been targeting African markets to get hide to produce donkey-hide gelatin or Ejiao which sells for more than $385 per kilogram [2.2 pounds], Hadary noted. According to The Donkey Sanctuary, Ejiao is used in food, beverages or in beauty products such as face creams. It is also used as a blood tonic by people with anemia, low blood cell count or those who face reproductive issues. Hadary urged the Egyptian government to immediately ban hide exports to save donkeys from extinction and preserve the national wildlife. A decline in the donkey population will increase the cost of farming; crops will sell for higher prices. Ultimately consumers will feel the pinch as vegetable and fruit prices rise, Hadary added. She also warned of the environmental impact as farmers will use instead tuk-tuks and tricycles. Exhaust emissions from these fuel-powered vehicles endangers plants, soil and humans. Animal rights advocate Dina Zulfikar concurred with Hadary, calling on the authorities to take action and save local donkeys from extinction. A decline in the donkey population has socio-economic consequences as well as environmental repercussions." She told Al-Monitor, "Egyptian farmers rely on donkeys as a tool for cultivation. The loss of donkeys is greater than any temporary gain from hard currency inflows. Zulfikar added, A she-ass gives birth to a foal annually. It is impossible to make up for the loss of donkeys. The authorities should at least temporarily ban exports of hide for a couple of years. She said feeding carnivores at private wildlife facilities and circuses poses a threat to the donkey population in Egypt. For instance, a lion eats a quarter of a donkey around 7 kilograms [roughly 15.5 pounds] of meat per day. The lion eats meat six days a week. This means a lion eats around 42 kilograms [92.5 pounds] or 1.5 donkeys per week. In other words, two animals are slaughtered every week [to feed one lion], she noted. As for smuggling, Zulfikar warned of an exodus of donkey hide, calling for following in the footsteps of African countries such as Burkina Faso and Niger. These countries put an end to this trade in a bid to preserve their wildlife, she said. Veterinarians and citizens are questioning what happens to the bodies of slaughtered donkeys, and farmers are urging the authorities to tighten the grip on the illegal slaughter of donkeys, saying that the donkey meat is sold to Egyptian consumers as beef. The Egyptian authorities have reportedly seized the carcasses of donkeys across the country. In Shoubra El-Kheima, around 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Cairo, the authorities found Dec. 12 in a refrigerator five slaughtered donkeys ready for sale. If the slaughtered animal be it a donkey or a dog is not sick, there will be no harm for humans. The meat serves as a source of protein for the human body, Magdy Nazih, the head of the state-run Nutrition Education at the National Council for Nutrition, told Al Gomhuria daily newspaper Dec. 6. Commenting on this, Ehab Ismail, a school teacher, told Al-Monitor that health officials are probably trying to tell butchers who dishonestly sell donkey meat to make sure the animal has no disease. She added, It is like saying make sure the donkey meat is clean. Exports of donkey, cat and dog hide will not benefit Egypt economically, nor will it narrow the trade deficit between Egypt and Asian countries, especially China, Samy Taha, former head of the Egyptian Veterinarians Syndicate, told Al Mal newspaper Nov. 24. [On the contrary], this will increase the possibility of selling donkey meat as beef. In 2016, the police seized a donkey farm that used to slaughter animals to export skins to China. The police did not find the bodies of the slaughtered donkeys, Taha said. Egypt is gaining a foothold in Africa by launching giant developmental projects in the continent in an attempt to restore its leading position in the region and open up a large market that can boost the countrys exports as well as the national economy. On Dec. 12, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Tanzanian President John Magufuli signed a contract for a major hydroelectric dam project in the Rufiji River Basin in Tanzania. An Egyptian consortium, consisting of the Arab Contractors company and Elsewedy Electric, has won the tender for building Stieglers Gorge hydroelectric power station at a total cost of $2.9 billion. Mohsen Salah, an engineer and chairman of Arab Contractors, said in a press statement Dec. 12 after signing the contract, The dam project comes within the framework of the Tanzanian government's plans to bring about a development renaissance in the country. He added that the project is one of the most important national and development projects in Tanzania as it addresses the countrys energy problems and meets its water needs. Salah also said the project includes the building of a major concrete dam to store the water needed for generating hydroelectric power from the power plant, as well as constructing four more dams to store water and increase the total expected water reserves of Tanzania to 33 billion cubic meters (26.7 million acre-feet). The project also includes the establishment of a hydroelectric power plant with a total capacity of 2,115 megawatts, a 400-kilovolt substation power station and 400-kilovolt power transmission lines to the nearest public grid, he added. Diaa el-Kofi, an expert in dam construction, told Al-Monitor that the Egyptian companies won the Stieglers Gorge dam contract because Egypt is one of the leading countries in establishing dams. The country has been involved in establishing dams inside and outside Africa, he added, pointing out that Arab Contractors was the main contractor in the establishment of the High Dam built across the Nile in Aswan along with the Russians. Egypt's technical and operational experience in the field of dams is exploited by the country to strengthen its presence and role in Africa, Kofi said, adding that Egypt is restoring its main role in the continent, provided it does not affect Egypt's share of Nile water. He noted that Tanzania was among the countries that signed the Entebbe agreement in 2010, which also included Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi and allowed those countries to start working on river projects without the Egyptian governments agreement, in reference to the Renaissance Dam. Egypt and Ethiopia have been at odds over a hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia that is believed to affect Egypts share of Nile water. Egypt is trying to win over those countries in order to preserve its share of Nile water. That can be achieved by carrying out developmental projects in these African states, Kofi told Al-Monitor. Kofi said Egypt has been carrying out developmental projects in African countries in the fields of education, training, health, electricity and water over the past few years. Egypt, he added, is planning to carry out agricultural, health, infrastructure and dam projects in Uganda, Rwanda, Niger, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mauritania. However, some economists and water experts have raised concerns about Egypts ability to compete in the African continent against countries such as China and Turkey, which are heavily investing in the continent. In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to provide $60 billion in financing to the African continent in the form of assistance, investment and loans. The Chinese president made the announcement during a gathering of African leaders in Beijing. Three years ago, the Chinese president also pledged $60 billion in investments to Africa. According to the Atlantic Council in Turkey, Turkeys investments in Africa have been growing significantly in recent years. Since 2013, bilateral trade between Turkey and Africa has increased to stand at $17.5 billion, while total Turkish investments in Africa stand at around $7 billion. Egypt cannot compete in terms of financial resources, but it has longtime experience in the fields of electricity, the establishment of dams, construction and agriculture. Egypt can be very distinguished in this regard over other countries like Turkey, France and Italy, Ahmed el-Shami, an economist and professor of feasibility studies at Ain Shams University, told Al-Monitor. Shami added that Egypt is very close to the peoples of Africa and holds a very unique position in the continent. That is a privilege that distinguishes Egypt from other countries investing in the African continent, the economist said. An Italian company undertook the establishment of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and should have finalized it in 2019. Now, Ethiopia is announcing that it would complete the establishment of the dam in 2020, Kofi said. This proves that south-to-south cooperation is more successful than north-to-south cooperation, he added. Egypt is also looking forward to boosting exports to Africa and creating job opportunities for young Egyptians with the launch of such developmental projects. With having such projects in Africa, Egypt is exporting its equipment, products as well as workers. This approach will be of huge benefit to the African countries as well as to Egypts economy, Shami said. During an African investment forum, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that Egypts investments in Africa increased by $1.2 billion to stand at $10.2 billion in 2018. Turkeys suspicions over purported Western plans in Syria have shown no signs of abating even after President Donald Trump announced he had ordered US troops to withdraw and pledged a slow and highly coordinated pullout in keeping with Ankaras demands. The new focus of Turkish ire is France, whose president, Emmanuel Macron, has lashed out at Trumps decision, saying an ally should be dependable. The country could play a bridging role between the Kurds, Moscow and Washington that could upset Turkish plans or so many Kurds hope. Macron was referring to the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), Americas top ally in the fight against the Islamic State and the target of Turkeys military threats. France has said it will keep an unspecified number of its special operation forces in the Kurdish-controlled zone in northern Syria because, contrary to Trumps claims, IS has not been defeated. France has been repeatedly targeted by IS and is especially worried about the continued presence of French and other European jihadists in Syria. The militants claimed responsibility for the Dec. 11 shooting at a Christmas market in Strasbourg in which three people were killed and 11 others wounded. Turkey has long insisted that the jihadis have been vanquished and that they are being used as a pretext for the US-led coalition to protect the Syrian Kurds as they set up their terror statelet. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu grumbled that Frances stance would help neither France nor the terrorists and that Turkey remained determined to intervene east of the Euphrates River in pursuit of the YPG, which Ankara contends is a terror outfit on par with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In a further sign of Ankaras displeasure, the state-run Anadolu news agency commented on Frances intentions to continue supporting the YPG/PKK terrorist group today, asserting that it had nine military sites in Syria but that with only 200 troops on the ground, France lacks the capacity to provide the terrorist group with the promised support. It was something of a replay of its controversial outing of the location of US and French bases in northern Syria in July, together with maps and troop counts. The report triggered a furor, with Pentagon officials rebuking Turkey for putting its troops at risk. An apparently unchastened Anadolu maintained that French forces are currently deployed in Kobani, Ain Issa, Raqqa and Tabqa, among other places. But with US forces gone, it would be unrealistic for the Kurds to rely on France for their security. The Syrian Kurds disagree. In a Dec. 21 meeting in Paris with Macrons Syria envoy, Francois Senemand, the co-chair of the YPG-friendly Syrian Democratic Council insisted that France has a role to play. Ilham Ahmed warned that Turkish intervention could bring the ongoing campaign against IS remaining stronghold in the middle Euphrates River Valley to a halt and France must retain its military presence until a political settlement to the Syrian conflict is reached. Were asking the French for diplomatic support to develop dialogue and assure peace and stability in the region, Ahmed said, but offered no further details. In earlier comments to Al-Monitor, Ahmed said arrows point to Moscow to illustrate the hard truth that with the departure of US troops, the Kurds will need to rely on Russian backing in future arrangements with the regime. YPG officials are reportedly in Moscow and Damascus to discuss the outlines of a possible deal, but there has been no formal confirmation from either side. An official from the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces familiar with the militants planning acknowledged that Trumps betrayal had weakened the Kurds hand. However, one confidence-building measure under review was the insertion of regime forces north of Manbij, where US forces carry out their patrols. The move would forestall any Turkish attempts to take over the town. If it worked smoothly and the YPG were given proper guarantees, regime forces could then take up positions east of the Euphrates River all the way to the Iraqi frontier, the official said. It would need to happen while US forces were still on the ground and Damascus unable to fully dictate the terms of its return. When queried about the United States potential reaction to this scheme, the official said, This is where the French come into play. They can coordinate with the Russians and the regime on the Americans behalf while maintaining a military presence to deter potential aggression from Turkey and the regime. Some analysts agree that France and the EU could pressure Damascus on behalf of the Kurds. Marc Pierini, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, told Al-Monitor, "France and the EU might intervene diplomatically to obtain guarantees for the security of Syrian Kurds. Pierini went on, If France has any operational role, it could be in the Deir ez-Zor region, where IS is still present and active. This will very much depend on the timeline and modalities of the withdrawal of US forces from that region and their residual configuration in Iraq. Others maintain, however, that France is unlikely to hang around for too long. Fabrice Balanche, a French academic who has studied Syria for several decades, told Al-Monitor, Do not forget there is no UN legitimacy for the US-led coalition. France with Europe could try on the diplomatic front to limit a Turkish intervention but with no illusions. We have seen the results for Afrin. Moreover, US officials lobbying for a more active Turkish role in Syria are averse to dealing with Russia, let alone the Syrian regime. Rewarding Turkey with a slow and coordinated withdrawal is calculated to rupture Ankaras cooperation with Russia and Iran within the Astana framework and to ease Turkish entry east of the Euphrates, all under the pretext, as Turkey might well have said, of dealing a final blow to IS. Russias vocal criticism of Israels latest airstrikes in Syria is a not-so-veiled warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to avoid any unnecessary escalation following US President Donald Trumps decision to pull out US troops. Israeli fighter jets attacked two Hezbollah bases and alleged missile warehouses on Tuesday, killing several fighters. The Russian Defense Ministry promptly responded by accusing Israel of endangering two civilian flights and praising Syrias missile defenses. Why it matters: Tuesdays action marked the first Israeli attack since Trump announced the US evacuation last week, claiming the Islamic State had been defeated. The move leaves Russia with unparalleled influence in the war-torn country, where Bashar al-Assads forces are still competing for power with various rebel factions, terrorist elements and Kurdish nationalists. Israel aims to prevent Iran and Hezbollah from gaining a foothold in the country, mostly through the use of airstrikes. But ever since Syrian air defenses accidentally shot down a Russian army plane during an Israeli attack in September, Israel has tread carefully, drastically reducing the number of strikes. Moscows latest reaction shows that Russia isnt ready for the Israeli strikes to resume, even though Tuesdays attack was launched from Lebanese airspace and not over Syria. Without a US presence in Syria, Israel will be even more hard-pressed to resist Moscow. What's next: Prime Minister Netanyahu declared during an Israel Air Force graduation ceremony today that the strikes will not end as long as Iran and its proxies pose a threat. "We will act against it vigorously and continuously, he said. We stand by our red lines in Syria and anywhere else. In other words, Israel has heard Russias warning and refuses to accept it. Know more: Al-Monitor Russia Mideast Editor Maxim Suchkov has the rundown of how Moscow is responding to the US pullout from Syria. Danny Zaken explains Israels plans to fill the US void. And Ben Caspit concludes that Trump's decision leaves Israel to face Iran alone in the region. - Danny Zaken Iran's President Hassan Rouhani presented a budget bill meant to dodge the impacts of "tyrannical US sanctions" to the country's parliament Dec. 25. The proposed $112 billion budget will cover the upcoming Iranian year running from March 21, 2019, to March 20, 2020. The president's speech in defense of the bill was marred, however, by a group of lawmakers representing the oil-rich but underdeveloped southwestern Khuzestan province. The parliamentarians gathered in front of the podium, disrupting Rouhani's speech before they were asked by Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani to exercise restraint and let the session proceed. The lawmakers were furious at what they believe is the government's negligence of Khuzestan's water crisis. The province has been a scene of unrest in the past several months over a host of other public woes including unemployment and dust storms. Workers at many factories there have been holding sit-ins and strikes demanding overdue salaries. A heavy-handed crackdown has led to multiple arrests, and some people have been held incommunicado for weeks. The lawmakers' protest was criticized by most of the pro-Reformist papers. Arman described the scene as "an unprecedented incident" and Etemad published an opinion by Reformist lawmaker Mostafa Kavakebian against the gesture. While defending people's right to clean water, Kavakebian lashed out at his colleagues for failing to show courtesy and respect parliamentary decorum. The bill proposed by Rouhani was associated with belt-tightening measures. If ratified by the parliament, it will force a 20% increase in gas and oil prices, and Iranians can also expect a 33% jump in their water bills. Hard-line paper Kayhan, affiliated with the supreme leader's office, criticized the president for not lowering prices. It also quoted a parliament member as saying the bill was "a step backward." In the new Iranian year, the government is also planning to cut costs by laying off up to 10% of public service employees considered redundant. Cultural institutions will suffer significant cuts, some up to 30%. As for the defense budget, the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will still enjoy a large share. Ardeshir Nourian a member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said any military budget cut would definitely undergo revisions by the parliament, citing "the necessity of boosting Iran's defenses and preparedness of the country's armed forces amid the ongoing special circumstances in the region." Rouhani told parliament that his budget was planned in accordance with US sanctions. Crude sales, as the lifeline of the Iranian economy, have served as the key element in the structure of Iran's annual budgets. Now, the Rouhani government has set its oil income at an average $54 per barrel, estimating sales of 1.5 million barrels per day. Crude production has been estimated at a million barrels down as US sanctions against Iran's oil sector continue to hit in the wake of the Washington's departure from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In his speech, Rouhani reminded the nation that certain corporations he did not name evade paying taxes. Taxing institutions that do not report to the government and fall under the auspices of the supreme leader has for long been a red line in Iranian politics. It was, however, brought up by Rouhani during presidential election debates in 2017, where he faced Ebrahim Raisi, the head of one such powerful and affluent organization, Astan-e Quds Razavi. The attack on hard-line opponents did not end there. Rouhani used the chance to once again reference the nationwide protests that rocked Iran late 2017 and early 2018. He repeated the argument that the protests emboldened the US government and gave it a pass to make an easy pullout from the JCPOA and reimpose sanctions on Iran. In the wake of the unrest, Rouhani insisted that it was instigated by his relentless hard-line rivals in Mashhad, led by the city's powerful and conservative Friday Prayer leader Ahmad Alamolhoda and his son-in-law Ebrahim Raisi, who lost the 2017 presidential election to Rouhani. But some of his Reformist supporters did not buy the president's explanation. Shahrbanou Amani, a member of the Tehran City Council, expressed surprise at the remarks. "I would not expect to hear this from a person who claims to be a law expert. I can't clearly understand why he links the US pullout from the JCPOA to those protests." Taking a similar approach and unlike other pro-government papers, Reformist Ghanoon also did not welcome the remarks and criticized Rouhani for "boasting about his achievements" and passing the buck on the government's failures. Months into discussion of the bill, the fight over the budget is a full blown battle. Now, anticipating the impacts of reimposed US sanctions, Rouhani is pushing to prepare the nation ahead of the storm. But his die-hard opponents won't make it easy. The Chaldean Catholic Church headed by Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako is trying to play an important role in politics that resembles the role of the senior Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Although this role is not direct intervention in politics but only an advisory role that provides support to certain political issues, it triggered the reactions of Christian political parties that want to have the only say in decisions related to the Christian community. They want to be entirely separate from the religious institution in the country. The latest development in the ongoing debate between the church and the Christian parties is the refusal of the five members of parliament of the Christian bloc to support the candidacy of church-backed Hanaa Korkis as minister of displacement and migration. Due to the Christian bloc's opposition, Korkis did not receive the parliaments confidence vote, and she also did not receive the support of Christian allies in parliament such as the Al-Binaa Alliance. The Ministry of Displacement and Migration is traditionally allocated to Iraq's Christian community. Yet the Christian members of parliament insist on having the sole say in the candidacy. They issued a statement Dec. 4 expressing their opposition to the candidacy of Korkis, arguing that she does not represent them and insisting that her candidacy is an attempt to isolate their role in parliament. Also, the Christian Babylon movement, which is close to the Popular Mobilization Units, said in a statement that its leadership and the members of the Christian parliamentary bloc strongly oppose the candidacy of Korkis for the position of minister of displacement and migration. The movement said it is necessary for the candidate to be named by the representatives of the Iraqi people in parliament. The statement said, Assigning someone for the ministry is a political process, not a religious one. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has to respect the decision of the Christian bloc. If he chooses someone, that person (must be chosen after talks and) should not be aggressively imposed on the bloc. In response to the Christian parties criticism of the church, the Chaldean Patriarchate issued a statement Dec. 17 saying, The church is not trying to replace or equate itself with the government. The patriarchate criticized partisan Christian elements for their irresponsible and provocative comments regarding the interference of the church in the political realm. The statement said, The church is concerned with the public good. This is part of its vocation as it has a mission to support the well-being of people protecting their rights and dignity. By doing so, it mimics the roles of Jesus Christ and the popes. The statement spoke of the example of the Catholic Church in the Vatican and its support of Patriarch Sakos religious role in the country, saying, The church is defending the rights of Palestinians. Pope John Paul II even played a role when Iraq was under siege, just as Pope Francis visited Burma and defended Muslims. The statement added, The church is involved in matters of the public because it is part of its mission, not because it is seeking benefits. It is only concerned with peoples happiness and their development; however, it definitely does not want them to go back to dark times and the Inquisition like some figures said. The statement said, By discussing public matters related to the country and its people, the Patriarchate represented by Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako is not looking for any personal gains or benefits. The statement also pointed out that the church had previously backed candidates who became government ministers. The Patriarchate supported the candidate from the communist party, former minister Fares Jajo, and Dr. Anne Nafi, an independent Syriac Christian, for her integrity, professionalism, and loyalty. Both were not named by the Christian bloc members of parliament. Jajo served as minister of science and technology from 2014 to 2015 until the ministry was abolished; Nafi was minister of construction and housing from 2016 until October of this year. The statement also said, The church does not interfere in the political and partisan polarization and is far from it. Yet when asked about its opinion, it expresses it independently and responsibly. The church has the right to take legal action against anyone who tarnishes its reputation. It is determined to serve Iraq and the Iraqis no matter the cost. Despite the opposition of most Christian parties to Sakos political role, a leader of the Christian Rafidain bloc, Yonadem Kanna, defended the patriarch, saying, PM Abdul Mahdi and President Barham Salih decided to take two candidates from Cardinal Sako, who nominated Hanaa the candidate of the Chaldean religious authority. Kanna, responding to the question of church interference in politics, said, This is the general situation in the country. There are Islamic religious parties that constitute the majority, and as they respect Islamic religious authorities, we respect Christian religious authorities. However, Kanna and Emmanuel Khoshaba, the head of the Rafidain bloc, do not see eye to eye. Khoshaba said in a Dec. 19 statement that the parliaments dismissal of Korkis is a victory for the notion of a secular state and separation of religion from politics. He said clerics imposed Korkis and that she does not represent the thinking of the parliamentary component. The Chaldean Patriarchate answered Khoshabas statements, saying, These statements are delusional and not well-informed. We respect democratic choices, depending on their circumstances. A secular or religious state does not depend on dismissing an independent and technocratic woman (Hanaa) from the race. Apparently, the weakness of the political process and lack of institutionalization of political behavior in Iraq are forcing the different religious authorities representing diverse Iraqi components to voice their opinions when it comes to politics. Political parties consider such intervention to be competition with their role, and they are calling on religious authorities to implement a strict version of state secularism, which does not seem possible or applicable in Iraq. 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The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ The decision to hold early elections in Israel is intended to turn the event into a national referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his last, desperate battle to replace the criminal trial that evidently awaits him with a trial by public opinion. The Likud plan is to focus the campaign on the investigations, convince the electorate that Netanyahu is being framed and win a stunning electoral victory that should protect Netanyahu from Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit while the latter is deciding the fate of the prime minister. Much like the 2015 elections, Netanyahu himself will run the campaign, sharing his strategies only with family members and a handful of associates (most of his other favorites are either under suspicion or have turned states witness against him). He will focus the campaign on one message: his own innocence. Not everyone in the Likud is happy that the ruling party is being used to shield the prime minister. Many Likud seniors are not convinced that coming down against the police and state prosecutors, the countrys gatekeepers and regulators, is the best strategy. They would rather focus on the governments achievements in the spheres of security, economics and foreign policy. The problem is that besides weak criticism from Gideon Saar, the former minister reviled by Netanyahus associates, all the rest in the Likud are following the party line. Twenty-nine Likud lawmakers and several other politicians are keeping unprecedentedly low profiles and avoiding confrontation with the Netanyahu family. Israel has never gone to elections with so many crucial questions still open. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak says that the upcoming vote is the most important since that following the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Though the date is set for April 9, 2019, there is still no organized list of candidates. No one knows who will lead the Zionist Camp list. Will it be current chair Avi Gabbay, or will we witness another political big bang that will push a highly regarded general such as former IDF chief Benny Gantz to the top of the list? Will Gantz create a new party as he planned, or because time is pressing, will he instead join an existing one such as the Zionist Camp or Yair Lapids Yesh Atid? Will there be new constellations and mergers in the center-left bloc? On Dec. 25, opposition leader Tzipi Livni again called for the center-left bloc to unite and revolt. Could such a plan succeed? Will Gabbay, Lapid, Gantz, Livni, Barak and perhaps even former IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi and others agree to square the circle, put their egos on hold and fight for the good of the state rather than for themselves? What are the chances of a major upset on the right? Will Netanyahu throw together an emergency plan in response to a potential center-left unification? Will he try to unify the Likud, Yisrael Beitenu and even HaBayit HaYehudi on one list, offering them parties guaranteed spots on the Knesset list, ensuring Netanyahus victory even against a unified leftist coalition? Will the ultra-Orthodox Yahadut HaTorah split into two parties? Will there be a historic reconciliation in Shas between current chair Aryeh Deri and former head Eli Yishai? Of course, the ultimate question is what Mandelblit will do. He has become a tragic figure of this election campaign. Netanyahus fate and Israels future rest in his hands, bound up in files bursting with evidence and testimonies that are ticking on his desk like a bomb. Mandelblit has already begun final discussions on whether to put Netanyahu on trial and for which crimes. Mandelblit originally intended to finish up by February or March 2019, but everything collapsed on Dec. 23. Publishing Mandelblits decision on the eve of elections could be viewed as political interference. Legally, it is possible, perhaps even advisable better that the Israelis go to the voting booths knowing the legal system's conclusions regarding their leader. But the choice is a heavy weight for the attorney general to bear and the responsibility on his shoulders is huge. Mandelblit will not want to be perceived as swaying the election. The decision was made over the weekend. State Attorney Shai Nitzan had jump-started the process when he spoke at a Globes convention Dec. 19 and revealed that the state prosecution was already holding intensive discussions regarding a final decision on Netanyahu. Netanyahu had been convinced that he had several months left. He thought that the discussion process had not even started, let alone been completed and transferred to Mandelblit for the final ruling. Suddenly the prime minister realized that the process was winding down. Netanyahu realized that time was running out on his political life. On that same evening, it was leaked that the entire state prosecution, including Nitzan himself, were united on the bribery indictment recommendation. Now only Mandelblit remains, and he's made it clear that everything will happen quickly. Netanyahu took the cue. Almost overnight, the northern security threat that Netanyahu had used to avert early elections only a few weeks ago is almost entirely behind us. The same person who had spoken grimly Nov. 18 about the complex security situation and the need for self-sacrifice shifted nimbly into the next spin. According to Netanyahu on Sunday, the Hezbollah tunnel threat has been removed, so now its time for elections. The coalition offered no resistance. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman already resigned and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Education Minister Naftali Bennett both want elections, so the decision was unanimous. At this stage, there are numerous unknown variables. No one knows yet who is against whom, what is on the agenda and what the campaign will look like. But most people believe that it will be violent, coarse and full of fake news, slander and invectives, as befits the social network traditions of bots and riots. The last US presidential campaign inspired Netanyahu, so let all the good people beware. But the really decisive issue is the timing: Will Mandelblit make and publicize his decision before the election, perhaps in February, or postpone it? Will Netanyahu win and assemble a coalition government before being indicted, or will the indictment decision be made before the balloting? How will all this drama affect the voters? We will soon find out. In the coalition crisis that broke out last month following the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the leader of HaBayit HaYehudi, demanded leadership of the Defense Ministry and threatened that if he didn't get it, hed leave and let the government collapse. But within three days, Bennett retracted the ultimatum. There were several reasons for the shift. One of the main reasons was pressure from the settler movement, the partys main voter base, to avoid dissolving the government and pass a series of laws and resolutions before the elections now set for 2019. Al-Monitor has learned that in secret meetings between Bennett and several settler leaders, among them Rabbi Hayim Druckman, he was asked to wait on breaking up the coalition and to advance bills and resolutions regarding the settlements before this legislative term is over. One of the participants in the meeting relayed to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Bennett was told, This is the most practical right-wing government we have seen and we have to make use of it until the end. After the election, if [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu remains in power, he may form a unity government, and if he loses because of the police investigations, who knows who will form the next government. Of the participants' several goals for Bennett, the main one was legislation that would legalize more than 60 West Bank outposts, currently considered illegal. These outposts were established without government consent, without building permits and often on private Palestinian land. Last week, the bill passed the Ministerial Committee for Legislation and a preliminary reading in the Knesset, but its still not clear if Netanyahu will allow its final passage in the next few weeks of if it would even be possible considering the early elections. According to the bill, demolition in the outposts would be frozen for two years without a direct order from the prime minister and defense minister and the authorization of the cabinet. The bill also requires that the state provide municipal services to the outposts, including water and electricity, maintenance services and waste disposal, over the next two years. As some of these outposts are built on private Palestinian land and without authorization, courts have issued orders to demolish some of them. The bill is meant to expedite the work of a government committee tasked with finding a way to legalize the outposts and prevent legal action against them in the meantime. In a debate at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Dec. 16, Deputy Attorney General Ran Nizri expressed sharp opposition to the bill and said that it is not legal and would not withstand a test in the High Court. According to Nizri, The bill could lead to comprehensive damage to property rights and would raise many legal difficulties regarding equality before the law and the rule of law. In addition, Nizri told the ministers, it could even have international ramifications and expose Israel to significant risk vis-a-vis international law. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit also attacked the bill, saying at the Globes Business Conference Dec. 20, The advancement of legislation that the attorney general has determined is illegal cannot be presented as a political achievement in a democratic, law-abiding nation. Violating the law under the protection of public figures by placing illegal caravans on private-registered land cannot be a source of pride. Following the wave of terror attacks in the West Bank, the settlers pressured the government to take harsher steps against terrorism. Another bill was approved recently by the ministerial committee despite the vehement opposition by the IDF and Shin Bet to allow the expulsion of families of perpetrators of terror attacks from their homes to other cities in the West Bank. Its author, HaBayit HaYehudi member Motti Yogev, told Al-Monitor that the legislation is intended to move families at least 50 kilometers from their homes if they encouraged or supported an attack. A senior military source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that no IDF commander would endanger hundreds of soldiers to expel an entire family from a Palestinian city. The risk is much higher than any potential benefit and the bill would only provoke the Palestinian public, he said, adding that the attacks are being directed by Hamas, which has been trying to incite the Palestinian public into an uprising. Punishment that appears collective and that is not targeted at attackers themselves helps Hamas in this goal and damages the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to calm the situation. These two bills are joined by a decision by Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, also of HaBayit HaYehudi, to stop the importation of produce from Palestinian Authority farmers as a response to a prohibition the Palestinians enacted on the importation of lambs from Israel. Ariel bypassed the Coordinator of Governmental Activities in the Territories, which has contacted the Palestinians to resolve the conflict. For the Palestinians, it was a harsh blow because it affects more than a third of the agricultural exports from the Palestinian Authority and a main source of income for hundreds of thousands of residents. The direct damage is estimated at a million shekels ($260,000), the cost of 300 tons of agricultural products a day. Another security source warned that the move was an irresponsible and populist decision that stems from political considerations. According to him, the economic situation is the most important stabilizing factor on the ground and is the main factor preventing a renewed Palestinian uprising, attacks and riots, and thus Ariels decision harms the security of the state and of the settlers. Now the decision to hold early elections has made the bills into campaign tools. Netanyahu would want to show right-wing voters that he is determined to pursue his current policy. He would be especially interested in attracting HaBayit HaYehudi supporters to vote for the Likud, so he will probably promise to advance these proposals. Further down the road, if he wins the elections, he could use them as leverage in the negotiations on the new coalition that would include HaBayit HaYehudi. In such case, he might promise to get these laws enacted despite the objection by the attorney general. But all this could change if the balance of power changes following the elections. If new centrist parties enter the Knesset, offering Netanyahu other possibilities for the composition of his coalition, he will be less inclined to offer HaBayit HaYehudi and the settlers such promises. In any case, early elections enable Netanyahu to postpone his decisions on these bills. They might be postponed to an even later date, depending on Netanyahus legal situation. If Netanyahu is indicted, the first question will be whether he can continue serving at all. Last August, human rights group Yesh Din released a position paper concerning Jewish nationalist crimes in the West Bank. In recent years, far-right militants have titled such crimes "price tag" attacks. The position paper focused on price tag incidents in just six Palestinian villages in the West Bank, adjacent to the Palestinian town of Nablus and the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar, from January 2017 to March 2018. All in all, the paper documented 40 separate incidents. Had the paper been published nowadays in December the number of incidents would have been much higher. This December was particularly dramatic. At least one price tag attack was recorded about every three days. These included the slashing of tires of cars belonging to Palestinians, anti-Arab graffiti in Palestinian villages, the throwing of stones, the cutting down of olive trees and more. After the terrorist attack at the Givat Asaf intersection on Dec. 13, dozens of price tag attacks were recorded in Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem. In Beit Hanina, for example, assailants slashed tires and sprayed slogans like Death to the Arabs and We will not sleep when blood is spilled here. The graffiti included the Star of David, which has been adopted by price Tag activists as a symbol of their nationalist crimes. Despite the steep rise in incidents, almost no suspects have been arrested. According to figures published by Yesh Din in December 2017, ever since 2005, only 8.1% of investigations into price tag attacks tracked by Yesh Din have resulted in an indictment. Figures released by Yesh Din in March 2018, which cover 2016, showed that 79% of the complaints filed with the Military Advocate General concerning crimes by soldiers against Palestinians were closed without any criminal investigation. It is worth noting that because Palestinians have no faith in the Israeli justice system, the number of complaints filed with the police is very low. In Yesh Dins position paper, Palestinian victims in 27 of the 40 incidents (67%) preferred not to file a complaint with the police. The State provides the settlers with land and infrastructures; it approves illegal construction, grants de facto recognition to illegal settlements, and takes steps to increase the legitimacy of the Israeli presence in the West Bank, says the position paper in its summary. The army does not prevent attacks on the local villagers and in many cases actually helps violent settlers. Then, after the fact, if a complaint is filed, the police and the State Attorneys Office grant de facto immunity to the assailants and very rarely make them stand trial for their actions. On Dec. 5, Knesset member Mossi Raz of the Meretz Party submitted an urgent proposal to the Knessets agenda concerning the increase in price tag activities. In the last 10 days alone, eight separate price tag incident were recorded in Arab villages in the West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and Kafr Kassem, he wrote, explaining his proposal. He continued, These hate crimes included anti-Arab graffiti and the slashing of tires. Experience from the not too distant past shows that whenever property is damaged for nationalist and religious reasons, the crimes eventually escalate to encompass houses of worship, homes and even people. In his speech to the Knesset, Raz wondered how the police and the Shin Bet could be so remarkably ineffective, and why they have failed to arrest almost any suspects. He stressed that price tag crimes have infiltrated the Green Line into Israel with the climax occurring in Kafr Kassem. Some 32 cars had their tires slashed there, and unknown assailants sprayed Jews will not be silent! on the side of a truck. Talking to Al-Monitor, Raz said that he has recently started participating in patrols by the nongovernmental organization Tag Meir (Tag of Light instead of Terrorism) in villages and other sites that have been subjected to Jewish terrorism. He discovered that such acts have become an almost daily plague, and that nothing is being done to protect the Palestinian population from those wild wrongdoers. According to him, The entire role of the [Israel Defense Forces (IDF)] in the territories is exactly the opposite of what it should be. According to international law, it is the role of an occupying force to protect the local population, but what actually happens is that the IDF protects the settlers at any cost under the assumption that the Palestinians are the enemy. Even a person injured by a stone thrown by settlers is an enemy. Knesset member Raz notes that so far not a single suspect has been arrested for throwing rocks at a car carrying Aisha Muhammad al-Rawbi, 47, from the village of Bidia, near the Tapuah Intersection on Oct. 13. Aisha died in the accident that resulted from the stone-throwing attack. According to a report on Kan on Nov. 1, yarmulke-wearing right-wing activists, described as having experience with Shin Bet interrogations, drove to an unnamed educational institute in a West Bank settlement on a Saturday morning to brief the students about what to do should they be called for interrogation about the incident. In fact, no one has been arrested to date. Similarly, no arrests were made for the destruction of hundreds of olive trees and grape vines in five Palestinian villages in the West Bank. The Israeli media is constantly asking how it is possible that the terrorist responsible for the attack on Barkan has not been caught yet, says Raz. But no one asks how the assailant from the Tapuah Intersection attack was never caught. The only person called for interrogation was Aishas 8-year-old daughter, who saw her mother die right beside her. An armed policewoman sat there throughout and interrogated her about the incident. Nothing came of it. Are the Shin Bet and police afraid of the settlers? While there is no clear answer, an incident that occurred Nov. 27 is telling. At the time, it was reported that a senior officer in the Civil Administration submitted a report to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon, recommending that any continued development of Yitzhar be contingent on the cessation of all violence by the settlers. In her report, the officer claimed that residents of Yitzhar were involved in some 30 violent incidents, including an attack on a Palestinian shepherd, throwing rocks and the attempted stabbing of the Palestinian operator of a mini-tractor. The residents were also responsible for injuring a commander of the border police. In response to this, Knesset member Betzalel Smotrich of HaBayit HaYehudi suggested that the Civil Administration be shut down for daring to assail the settlers and for receiving support from Abu Rokon. A source in the Civil Administration tells Al-Monitor that in order to arrest suspects in particularly sensitive settlements like Yitzhar, it would take an operation comparable to any other military operation in the territories. He goes on to claim that such an operation would not receive political approval, which means that we are likely to see frequent price tag incidents in the future. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be responsible for giving such an order in his capacity as the person ultimately in charge of the Shin Bet and as the serving defense minister in charge of the IDF. But past experience shows that Netanyahu would never dare give such an order in an election year so as not to upset his electoral base the settlers or HaBayit HaYehudi. The endorsement of the Personal Status Law Dec. 11 by the Jordanian Lower House evoked the anger of activists and supporters of women rights in Jordan for keeping the exceptions of early marriage at the age of 15. The amendments on the law regulating family affairs such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, custody and guardianship issues according to sharia (Islamic law) were disappointing for the feminist movement represented by the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), civil society institutions and activists. On Dec. 11, the movement started collecting signatures from the public for a petition demanding the Senate to consider amending some articles of the law. So far, 5,225 signatures have been collected. A bill approved by the House of Deputies is passed to the Senate for debate and a vote. If approved, the bill is then submitted to the king, who can either grant consent by royal decree or return the bill unapproved with justifications. The petition is a list of proposed amendments of around 11 articles, topped with demands to omit conditions that allow minors to get married, or raise the minimum age for marriage to 16 in case the conditions were retained under Article 10 of the law. The controversial article provides, under the request of applicants, marriage permits at the age of 15 (according to the 2010 version of the temporary law) or for those turning the age of 16 (according to the Lower House's recent amendments). Salam Nims, JNCW's secretary-general, told Al-Monitor that both versions have the same legal interpretation but with different linguistic structure, as minors still can get married at the age of 15. The latest figures by the Supreme Court Department show that over 10,000 cases of child marriage (under the age of 18) were recorded in 2017, and constituted 13.4% of the overall marriages in 2016. Nirmeen Murad, a women's rights activist, told Al-Monitor that the problem of early marriage lays in its association with forced marriage since such decisions are usually taken by the family, not by the girl because she is not in charge of taking her own decisions. She called on the state to take strict measures on the policy level to combat this phenomenon. Marriage under 18 is considered an exception by the law and special regulations issued by the Supreme Court Department control the process of granting marriage permissions to "under-aged" applicants. A committee of sharia judges studies living conditions and education status of each applicant and accordingly decides to grant marriage permission or not. The decision greatly depends on the committee's estimation of whether the girl is ready for marriage or not. However, Judge Ashraf Omari from the Supreme Court Department told Al-Monitor over the phone that the new regulations to impose limitations on child marriage that were developed in late 2017 and went into effect in January show that cases of child marriage dropped by 25%. The average number of minors between ages 15 and 18 who got married in 2018 decreased to 3% from 4% in 2017, Omari said. The diplomatic tools adopted in the last couple of years to bring about legislative amendments to the Personal Status Law failed. Announced and unannounced meetings with parliamentarians and Supreme Court officials [who took part in amending the law] do not seem to have been enough, Nims said. We lost the battle in the Lower House, but now we are fighting to gain the support of the Senate. Nims noted that the proposed amendments are concerned with protecting women's dignity and rights as well as the cohesion of the family. According to the current legislation, the compensation for a woman who was divorced without legitimate cause mounts between one to three years of alimony, regardless of the length of the marriage. However, member of parliament Wafaa Bani Mustafa said in an interview Dec. 11 on Roya TV that her suggestion of raising the upper limit of arbitrary divorce compensation to 12 years of alimony was rejected. She argued that the current compensation is unjust comparing with the great harm caused by such arbitrary action. In addition, calls for considering equality between sons and daughters under Article 279 which restricts providing obligatory bequest (al-wasiya al-wajiba) to orphaned grandchildren through predeceased sons only, not daughters were rejected, Bani Mustafa noted. Omari, who took part in amending the law, claimed that gender aspects were not considered in restricting the obligatory bequest to the grandchildren through a predeceased son, but considered that the child's bread provider passed away. He stressed that the best interests of the family and society as a whole are at the heart of the law, neither womens nor mens. It is a family law, not womens law and not men's law. However, Nims noted that civil societies' and JNCW's ongoing meetings with the Senate's legal committee are promising, where they touched support for three main demands: raising the minimum age of marriage to 16, giving victims of arbitrary divorce a just compensation and providing the orphaned grandchildren through predeceased daughters the obligatory bequest. The 328-article law, which was referred, before the Lower House approved it on Dec. 11, to the 16th Lower House's Legal Committee for revision and was discussed under the dome by the 18th House of Representatives, saw amendments of around 20 articles on important issues of child custody, Omari added. Murad said that the Lower House's amendments introduced to the law some aspects for the first time, like giving the Christian mother the right to keep her Muslim children in her custody and admitting DNA tests in testing paternity of children born out of wedlock. She considered them a positive step forward. A study published Dec. 10 and conducted by several UN agencies on gender justice in the Arab states' laws and policies affecting gender equality said that some gender justice aspects of Jordans Personal Status Law have been addressed. But, the study added, important gender inequalities remain in issues such as child custody, minimum age of marriage and male guardianship over women. However, a 2015 UN Women report rated Jordan's 2010 temporary Personal Status Law among the world's eighth highly discriminatory laws against women. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Palestinian officials are warning that a water pipeline Israel plans to build across southwest Nablus will wreak havoc on Palestinian agricultural lands and is a scheme to form a large settlement bloc separating Nablus from Ramallah in the West Bank. On Dec. 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ramallah accused Israel of trying to impose a de facto situation, in case Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resume. The ministry said it is working with the concerned associations to prepare a case against the plan and raise the matter before international courts and organizations focusing on Israels settlement activity. Officials further said they intend to expose the Israeli plan as an effort to undermine the Palestinians' dream of having their own state. A day earlier, on Dec. 8, the Israeli authorities had issued an order to extend the water pipeline from the Shvut Rachel settlement to the Migdalim settlement. About 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of the 7-kilometer pipeline runs through the West Bank villages of Qusra and Jalud in southern Nablus. The pipeline would penetrate a large area of Palestinian territories, as well as seven basins in Jalud and three in Qusra. Israeli settlers in southern Nablus and their illegal outposts have been conducting dredging and road construction operations in nearby areas. Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Al-Monitor the water pipeline will significantly disturb Palestinian agricultural lands and prevent property owners from working in large areas of their land, creating economic losses. Daghlas noted that Shvut Rachel is 4 kilometers from Migdalim. All Palestinian lands through which the pipeline passes will be expropriated, but the lands have yet to be identified. He said this project has hidden motives, since the Migdalim settlement does not need to be supplied with water as it is at the entrance of Qusra, which overlooks the main street supplied with the necessary infrastructure. He added that the ultimate aim of this project is to later build a large settlement complex in southern Nablus by connecting the settlements to outposts and taking over the Palestinian areas that are not occupied in order to build more outposts. The citizens of Ihya outpost which is built on Jalud territories continue to plant trees on the northern side, while the settlers of Esh Kodesh outpost are dredging and building roads and new settlement units on the northern side of Jalud, he said. The expansion coincides with the Israeli governments decision to legitimize all settlement outposts in the area and to annex them to the new Amihai settlement [near Nablus]. Israel is looking to accommodate 1,100 families of settlers, and soon turn the settlement into a big city," Daghlas continued. "The Israeli government had already ratified a law to settle the situation of settlements in February 2016. The Ministerial Committee for Legislation also passed a new law Dec. 16 to build more settlements. Daghlas called on the international community to implement the UN resolutions condemning Israeli settlement activity on Palestinian territories. He said the Palestinian Authority (PA) is doing its best to halt the settlements. Ayed Marar, director general of the legal department at the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, told Al-Monitor southern Nablus is one of the areas targeted for settlements, and Israel sees it as an extension of the Isbah Ariel settlement, a bloc aiming to cut ties with the West Bank. Marar said that any settlement expansion needs infrastructure. Based on that, the water project is vital for any urban expansion and is key for the Israeli governments settlement activity. He added, Most water basins and underground wells in the West Bank are under total Israeli control, and Israel exploits more than 85% [of the water] to serve settlements. Just one outpost, he said, consumes as much water as seven Palestinian villages. He believes that extending water pipelines is not essential rather, it aims to attract more settlers in the West Bank. He noted that his commission intends to submit its objection to the plan in Israeli courts, although he ruled out that the courts might accept the objection. The 1967 Judea and Samaria Appeals Law No. 172 which called for the formation of an Israeli appeals committee to examine disputes related to private properties states that Palestinian property owners or legal residents have the right to ask for compensation from those in charge of a settlement project for any harm they might face during the specified time frame. But the Palestinians have never resorted to this article of the law, as they consider settlements unacceptable. Marar agreed that no Palestinian should accept compensation for the Israeli governments expropriation of their land. He noted that compensation can be possible only after Israel stops its aggression and returns the lands. He noted that the PA must pursue Israel legally in international forums. Marar affirmed that he is banking on the popular resistance to foil this plan by playing peaceful, collective pressure cards. Settlement affairs expert Khaled Mansour told Al-Monitor, The wide lands of Jalud and Qusra and their low population pushed Israel to become greedier and seek to annex them to settlement outposts. These new outposts and the surrounding settlements would constitute a catastrophic settlement complex that would connect Ariel and Borkan complexes, reaching Israel. He added, Building a new settlement outpost means building a line that splits the northern West Bank from its south and center, turning the Palestinian towns into islands in the settlement. Mansour argued that extending the pipeline would tighten Israels grip on the nearby Palestinian territories, under the pretext of protecting these water pipelines. He said the plan is a well-studied plot to increase the number of settlers in the area. In addition, Israel already controls 85% of the West Bank's water resources and generally forbids Palestinians from digging wells. Even when it allows this, Israel determines the depth and pumping power, and even controls the hours of use. This has caused a devastating water crisis and a decline in the agricultural sector in the Nablus area. The Palestinians will not remain silent facing this settlement aggression, Mansour said. The PA must encourage their resilience, and the international community must force Israel to implement international agreements. When Hana and her 15-year-old daughter landed at Cairo International Airport in March 2016, they assumed they had arrived in the right place. On board a Yemen Airways plane coming from Aden, they had left behind a country sunken in a war that was starting to appear entrenched. The fate of their city, the contested Hodeidah, was not looking any better, leaving them in despair over a way out. For many Yemenis who, like Hana and her daughter, decide to flee from their country and have enough resources to do so, Egypt seems as one of the best options. Cairo is one of the cheapest capitals in the Middle East, and Egypt still has a relatively open-door policy toward Yemenis: Those under 16 and those over 50 can enter the country without a visa, and for those in the middle, a medical report is enough to get it. Yemenis in Egypt also have access to public schools and health care on equal footing as the locals. Although there are no official Egyptian figures, Baligh al-Mekhlafi, the information counselor at the Yemeni Embassy, told Al-Monitor that some 700,000 Yemenis reside in Egypt, a number with which two Yemeni organizations working in Cairo consulted by Al-Monitor agreed. Other estimations by Fahd al-Ariki, the current chairman of the Yemeni Community Council in Egypt a council of dignitaries linked to the Yemeni Embassy reduce this number to some 300,000, on the basis that some Yemenis first land in Egypt but then leave for somewhere else. Before the war in Yemen, Mekhlafi said that the number was around 30,000. I paid $400 to a doctor in Yemen to get a fake medical report stating that I had to receive cancer treatment in Egypt, and I brought my daughter, Hana told Al-Monitor. Once in Egypt, reality turned to be far less idyllic than what they had imagined. Now I am working in a small clothing factory from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., six days a week. I only get some 1,200 Egyptian pounds [$67] per month, she said. And things are getting more and more expensive. Yemenis in Egypt do not have the right to work, so those who find a job usually end up in its large, underpaid informal sector. As a result, Hana and her daughter rent a flat in Cairo for 600 pounds ($33), which they share with other Yemenis to try to make ends meet. Her daughter, on the other hand, could attend a local school, but the lack of specific support, like the auxiliary staff for refugee children, made her adaptation impossible. She first went to a [private] Sudanese school because she is not connected to the locals, Hana said. But this year she is not enrolled because I can no longer afford it. The feeling that they are part of a neglected community due to what they perceive as a total lack of support, brings Hana to consider moving back to Yemen, no matter the risks. We have been facing difficulties since the beginning, she noted. So sometimes I think of going back to Yemen and die there, instead of staying in Egypt. We are very tired. Far from being an isolated case, others have already started to take this step. Since last Ramadan in August, more and more Yemenis living in Egypt are going back to Yemen, Ariki, a former manager of Yemen Airways in Egypt, said. There are an average of 10 flights a week to Aden and Seiyun airports [the only operating airports in Yemen] with 100 to 120 passengers each, he said. He noted that from these passengers around 65% depart from Egypt and the remaining 35% stop over in Cairo on their way because it is one of the few cities with regular flights to Yemen. Before Ramadan, these flights were half empty, he added. Ariki ascribes the increase in the number of Yemenis returning to their country to their fatigue in Egypt. They expected the war to finish sooner, but after almost four years, the burden for many of them is too heavy and they are fed up, he noted. Fatma is one of them. Talking to Al-Monitor from the port city of Aden, Fatma said she fled to Egypt in 2017, and one year in Cairo was enough for her. If there was a place that is safe, and most importantly with good livelihood opportunities in terms of health care, work and income, I would leave the country, she said. In Egypt there is safety, but securing a livelihood is difficult because, as a Yemeni I could not find a job. Besides the economic problems and the lack of appropriate services noted by Hana and Fatma, Jamal, the director of a Yemeni grassroots organization based in Cairo, told Al-Monitor that another major problem faced by Yemenis is keeping their legal status in Egypt. The residency fees are more than 1,000 Egyptian pounds [$56] per person every six months, he said. And a lot of people get to a point where they cannot afford it and cannot renew it, so they stay illegally, which puts them in an even more vulnerable situation. This issue could be easily solved if Yemenis registered at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but only a tiny number do so. As of November, 7,781 Yemenis had registered. The figure, however, is also increasing fast. In December 2017, 4,278 Yemenis had registered. Nawar Rifaah, an external relations associate at UNHCR who works with Yemenis in Egypt, denies any responsibility for the huge disparity between the number of Yemenis living in Egypt and those who eventually register. UNHCR raises awareness of the importance of registration among all refugee communities, but it remains up to the asylum-seeker whether they would want to register, she told Al-Monitor via email. Jamal thinks otherwise. He claims that the poor services provided by UNHCR and the fact that Yemenis cannot be recognized as refugees because UNHCR stopped conducting refugee status determination interviews for Yemenis unless referred for resettlement are the main reasons behind the low number. Ashraf, a Yemeni from Sanaa who arrived in Cairo in December 2017, is among them. Many Yemenis advised me not to register because it is useless. There are no real benefits, he told Al-Monitor. UNHCR does not believe in our problems." There is a general sense of disappointment [among Yemenis] that there is no cooperation or support, especially considering that they come from a country in war, said Yousra, leader of another Yemeni organization based in Cairo. For Jamal, many Yemenis have to deal with these structural problems, while they also deal with Egyptians who try to take advantage of their vulnerable position. Ahmed, from Aden, admits having a large record in this regard. Last year, a friend of Ahmed came to Cairo with his 10-year-old son who needed surgery on his leg. The day of the operation, however, a group of people assaulted them and stole the $2,000 they had saved for it. After the incident, they had to go back to Yemen without performing the operation. This happened in front of my eyes, Ahmed told Al-Monitor. I hear these stories four or five times per month. Ahmed encountered an abusive landlord while in Cairo. After a relative of his living in Canada had paid one years rent for the flat during a visit he made to Cairo, Ahmeds landlord asked him to pay again 1,500 Egyptian pounds ($83.50) every month, eventually forcing him and his family to move out and lose his relatives money out of fear of being hurt. Nour, a Yemeni mother of five from Aden, also feels insecure. Shortly after enrolling her daughters at a local school in Cairo, the principal took advantage of her weak position and started to be abusive toward her, up until the point that she decided to stop taking her daughters there. None of her children currently attend school. My dream was to be in a safe place where my children could study, she told Al-Monitor. But we dont find any protection in Egypt. Yousra added, All the problems that many Yemenis face affect them psychologically, emotionally and socially. And this prevents them from integrating easily with other communities, so they become unsocial and isolate themselves. Jamal noted, Based on the bigger picture, we cannot deny that the Egyptian government still gives us some assistance. It is one of the only countries that still opens its arms [to Yemenis]." But Yemenis dont receive any substantial help, so many run out of money and after what happened to Yemen suffer from depression or anxiety, he continued. In the end, they try to find a way out, sometimes illegally, sometimes by going back to Yemen. This is an opinion column. a danger to the safety to the community. Thats what the Federal Bureau of Prisons thinks of Larry Langford. It also believes this about the ailing, failing 72-year-old former mayor of Fairfield and Birmingham, and inmate at the federal prison in Lexington, KY: Mayor Langford, BOP assistant director and general counsel Ken Hyle wrote in a letter, dated November 2, 2018, to the warden in Kentucky, ...has a history of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. pulmonary hypertension, right-heart failure, sickle-cell trait, plantar fascial fibromatosis, bursitis, esophageal reflux, dysphagia, hypertension, sensorineural hearing loss, pterygium and anemia. He was issued an oxygen concentrator and nebulizer and ambulates with the use of a wheelchair. Full coverage of Larry Langford. On Tuesday, on Christmas Day, a priest was called to Langfords bedside, according to attorney Tiffany Johnson Cole. He is grave, frail, Johnson Cole said. I dont know any other way to put it. Several family members, including Langfords wife, Melva, are in Kentucky at the facility, the attorney confirmed. Weve known Langford, whos served more than half of a 15-year sentence for bribery and public corruption, has been ailing for some timethe detailed extent of which we did not know until AL.com obtained a copy of Hyles letter on Monday. Langford, Hyle stated, is considered to be experiencing deteriorating physical health that substantially diminishes his ability to function in a correction facility. As such, he wrote, Langford meets the criteria for a compassionate release/reduction in sentence, specifically created for elderly inmates with medical conditions. And still the request was denied. It was denied, the letter noted, because due to the nature and circumstances of Mr. Langfords offense, his release at this time would minimize the severity of his offense and pose a danger to the safety of the community. Garbage. From a wheelchair? Garbage. While in deteriorating health that substantially diminishes his ability to function in a correction facility? Garbage. After a priest is called to his bedside? Larry Langford should come home. Yes, he was convicted of betraying the publics trust, which we all abhor. Yes, his defiance and bravado angered many, including some who still hold sway over where he lives what may be his final days. At this juncture, though, what further price is there to pay? if theres even a modicum of compassion in the compassionate relief provision, Langford should come home now. Alabama Rep. Juandalynn Givan and Congresswoman Terri Sewell communicated with the White House and President Trump throughout the holiday in an effort to obtain executive clemency for him. Sewells office is doing everything it can to facilitate this process, Givan said. Whatever danger Langford may have once posed to usand based on my definition of the word, I doubt there was ever any at allhe is of no threat to us, or anyone, now. Not based on the grave description of his condition outlined by the Bureau of Prisons itself. Based on their own words, Langford should come home. Roy S. Johnsons column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com. Follow me at twitter.com/roysj or on Instagram at instagram.com/roysj/ A man is jailed in the shooting death of the father of his girlfriends children during a custody exchange outside the Hamilton police department on Christmas Day. Christopher Andrew Andy Cochran is held in the Marion County jail in northwest Alabama, records show. The 29-year-old is charged with murder. Police havent yet released the name of the father, who was killed in the shooting. Hamilton police Chief Ronnie Vickery said the shooting happened Tuesday afternoon when a mother and her boyfriend went to meet her childrens father outside the police department on Second Street Southwest. The children were supposed to spend the holiday with their father. After the parents apparently argued, the mothers boyfriend fatally shot the father, Vickery said. There was some words back and forth between the (parents), Vickery told AL.com. We dont know if the boyfriend tried to intervene or what. The investigation is ongoing. Further details werent immediately available. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, on Wednesday called on the Federal Bureau of Prisons to release former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, who is in critical condition but was denied compassionate release. Langford is not set to be released from federal prison in Kentucky for more than four years after being convicted on bribery and public corruption charges. On Christmas Eve, his attorney said Langford was in critical condition and his family was called to the prison. He was denied compassionate release in November by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, who said despite Langfords failing health, he posed a danger to the safety of the community. During this season of hope, I am calling on the Trump Administration to act with compassion and immediately reduce Mayor Langfords sentence due to his deteriorating health, Sewell said in a statement. Justice should be fair but also merciful. Mayor Larry Langford has served over eight years in federal prison and should spend his final days surrounded by family in Birmingham, Alabama. Sewell also advocated for Langfords release in 2015 and 2016, but her appeals to the Obama administration were unsuccessful. Mayor Langford should be at home with his family. He poses no threat to our community, and should be released given his rapidly declining health," the congresswoman said in 2015. The bureau acknowledged in a letter denying Langford compassionate release that the former mayor has a history of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and and emphysema. pulmonary hypertension, right-heart failure, sickle-cell trait, plantar fascial fibromatosis, bursitis, esophageal reflux, dysphagia, hypertension, sensorineural hearing loss, pterygium and anemia. A prayer vigil for Langford is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Fairfield Community Center. A 27-year-old man was fatally shot Christmas morning in Fairfield. Authorities identified the victim as Romero Deon McMorris. Authorities said he was from Fairfield, but currently listed a Fultondale address. The shooting happened about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of 55th Place. McMorris was taken to UAB Hospitals Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead at 8:15 a.m. Fairfield police Chief Nick Dyer said the shooting happened outside an apartment in the public housing community behind Miles College. The shooting followed a dispute between McMorris and another man. Dyer said no arrests have been made at this point and the investigation is ongoing. McMorris is Fairfields seventh homicide for 2018. Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 2 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Mr. Brexit Came to Washington, and Then Things Got a Bit Awkward spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 12-26-2018 02:02 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #1 Mr. Brexit Came to Washington, and Then Things Got a Bit Awkward Advertisement Kochs Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation and Atlantic Council, American Foreign Policy Council & John Bolton British businessman and political donor Arron Banks was making his case for the U.K. to leave the European Union when an American audience that shouldve been sympathetic to his cause started to squirm. British businessman and political donor Arron Banks was making his case for the U.K. to leave the European Union when an American audience that shouldve been sympathetic to his cause started to squirm. The co-founder of Leave.EU was speaking last week to more than a dozen policy experts at the Cato Institute, a think tank in Washington dedicated to individual liberty, limited government and free markets. The EU is a slow, costly bureaucracy that undermines British sovereignty, he argued. The influx of immigrants from other EU countries is depressing the wages of the British working class, he said. While conceding there will be economic pain if the U.K. leaves, he suggested its a price worth paying for independence. "Im a libertarian, he told the room full of libertarians the month before the British public vote on whether to go it alone. At Cato and elsewhere during his week in the U.S. capital, Mr. Brexits pitch was met with reactions ranging from apathy to antipathy. "It was the most unimpressive and unconvincing argument for a political case Ive seen in years. He appealed to every type of argument thats unconvincing: naked nationalism, nativism, anti-free-market, anti-capitalism ideas," said Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration specialist at Cato. "There was a solid intellectual case to be made for Brexit, but that was not it." The campaign over the U.K.s future in the EU comes to a head June 23, when British voters decide whether to stay or go. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned that an exit would be a "major negative shock" to the British economy, cutting output by 3 percent by 2020 as weakened confidence reduces investment and trade with Europe is diminished. Treasury Meeting To build support, Banks and Labour Party lawmaker Kate Hoey visited Washington last week for meetings with officials from the U.S. Treasury and State departments. They also met with John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as well as representatives from think tanks including the Atlantic Council, American Foreign Policy Council and Heritage Foundation. Banks has an ally in Bolton, who has advised the British to "get out now" before they become a "county in a larger Europe." But others are less impressed. A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment. When asked about the meeting with Banks, the State Department said the U.S. values a strong U.K. voice in the EU, and added that America benefits when the EU is unified. The White House wasnt on the meeting agenda. Banks said it wasnt worth asking for one after President Barack Obama warned on a recent trip to London that leaving the EU would put the U.K. at the "back of the queue" in terms of negotiating a trade deal with the U.S. "He was just doing a favor for David Cameron," said Banks, a 50-year-old insurance executive. "How would the American government feel if the British prime minister showed up and told them what to do in an election?" A frank-talking fellow with an aversion to suit jackets, Banks donated about $1.6 million to the U.K. Independence Party in 2014, after having previously backed Camerons Conservative Party. The organization Banks help set up is a rival to the official Vote Leave campaign, a group which has attracted the support of more mainstream Tories such as Justice Minister Michael Gove and former London Mayor Boris Johnson. Social Media While UKIP leader Nigel Farage and others have been more visible spokesmen for the Leave.EU campaign, Banks has been a behind-the-scenes organizer, helping to run a call center and pushing the cause on social media. In the U.K., Leave.EU has argued that a Brexit is the only way to keep the countrys National Health Service out of the hands of private companies. On his visit to Washington, Banks welcomed the idea of getting rid of the state-run NHS. "If it were up to me, Id privatize the NHS, he said. Banks is gleeful at the divisions the vote has caused in the Conservative Party, declaring that he and his colleagues have become the "naughty boys of British politics." He says the "Leave" campaign shares the same anti-establishment spirit as the U.S. presidential run of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. The "Leave" operation has consulted Trump advisers on strategy, he said. more: https://www.garp.org/#!/risk-intelligenc...0033pVREAY Arron Banks firm 'has no address' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46460194 Facebook Partners with Saudi-Funded Think Tank to Censor Posts That Threaten Democracy The Atlantic Council will now assist Facebook in suppressing what they decide is disinformation. https://theantimedia.com/facebook-atlant...cracy/amp/ Hewlett, Knight, Koch foundations, with other funders, will support independent research on Facebooks role in elections and democracy. https://hewlett.org/newsroom/hewlett-kni...democracy/ https://twitter.com/Tentoads4truth/statu...2950582273 British businessman and political donor Arron Banks was making his case for the U.K. to leave the European Union when an American audience that shouldve been sympathetic to his cause started to squirm.The co-founder of Leave.EU was speaking last week to more than a dozen policy experts at the Cato Institute, a think tank in Washington dedicated to individual liberty, limited government and free markets. The EU is a slow, costly bureaucracy that undermines British sovereignty, he argued. The influx of immigrants from other EU countries is depressing the wages of the British working class, he said.While conceding there will be economic pain if the U.K. leaves, he suggested its a price worth paying for independence. "Im a libertarian, he told the room full of libertarians the month before the British public vote on whether to go it alone.At Cato and elsewhere during his week in the U.S. capital, Mr. Brexits pitch was met with reactions ranging from apathy to antipathy."It was the most unimpressive and unconvincing argument for a political case Ive seen in years. He appealed to every type of argument thats unconvincing: naked nationalism, nativism, anti-free-market, anti-capitalism ideas," said Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration specialist at Cato. "There was a solid intellectual case to be made for Brexit, but that was not it."The campaign over the U.K.s future in the EU comes to a head June 23, when British voters decide whether to stay or go. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned that an exit would be a "major negative shock" to the British economy, cutting output by 3 percent by 2020 as weakened confidence reduces investment and trade with Europe is diminished.To build support, Banks and Labour Party lawmaker Kate Hoey visited Washington last week for meetings with officials from the U.S. Treasury and State departments. They also met with John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as well as representatives from think tanks including the Atlantic Council, American Foreign Policy Council and Heritage Foundation.Banks has an ally in Bolton, who has advised the British to "get out now" before they become a "county in a larger Europe." But others are less impressed.A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment. When asked about the meeting with Banks, the State Department said the U.S. values a strong U.K. voice in the EU, and added that America benefits when the EU is unified.The White House wasnt on the meeting agenda. Banks said it wasnt worth asking for one after President Barack Obama warned on a recent trip to London that leaving the EU would put the U.K. at the "back of the queue" in terms of negotiating a trade deal with the U.S."He was just doing a favor for David Cameron," said Banks, a 50-year-old insurance executive. "How would the American government feel if the British prime minister showed up and told them what to do in an election?"A frank-talking fellow with an aversion to suit jackets, Banks donated about $1.6 million to the U.K. Independence Party in 2014, after having previously backed Camerons Conservative Party. The organization Banks help set up is a rival to the official Vote Leave campaign, a group which has attracted the support of more mainstream Tories such as Justice Minister Michael Gove and former London Mayor Boris Johnson.While UKIP leader Nigel Farage and others have been more visible spokesmen for the Leave.EU campaign, Banks has been a behind-the-scenes organizer, helping to run a call center and pushing the cause on social media.In the U.K., Leave.EU has argued that a Brexit is the only way to keep the countrys National Health Service out of the hands of private companies. On his visit to Washington, Banks welcomed the idea of getting rid of the state-run NHS. "If it were up to me, Id privatize the NHS, he said.Banks is gleeful at the divisions the vote has caused in the Conservative Party, declaring that he and his colleagues have become the "naughty boys of British politics." He says the "Leave" campaign shares the same anti-establishment spirit as the U.S. presidential run of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. The "Leave" operation has consulted Trump advisers on strategy, he said.more: spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 01-11-2019 10:15 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #2 RE: Mr. Brexit Came to Washington, and Then Things Got a Bit Awkward The nine lessons of Brexit https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/12/th...of-brexit/ (long read) (long read) Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Authorities have now released the name of a man found dead Monday inside a southwest Birmingham business. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victim as Adrian Deon Johnson. He was 39. Officers from the Birmingham Police Departments West Precinct responded to an auto detail shop at 617 12th Street S.W. Christmas Eve morning on a report of a person down. Johnson, according to authorities, had attended a party the previous night at the business. A friend returned to the shop Monday morning and discovered Johnson unresponsive about 9 a.m. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 10:40 a.m. Authorities have not said how Johnson was killed. Sgt. Johnny Williams said detectives located evidence that led them to deem the death a homicide. No arrests have been announced. The family has started a GoFundMe to help pay for his funeral. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. By Tony Romm, Craig Timberg, and Aaron C. Davis Billionaire Reid Hoffman apologized Wednesday for funding a group linked to a highly disturbing effort that spread disinformation during this years Alabama special election for U.S. Senate, but he said he was not aware that his money was being used for this purpose. Hoffman's statement is his first acknowledgement of his ties to a campaign that adopted tactics similar to those deployed by Russian operatives during the 2016 presidential election. In Alabama, the Hoffman-funded group allegedly used Facebook and Twitter to undermine support for Republican Roy Moore and boost Democrat Doug Jones, who narrowly won the race. Hoffman, an early Facebook investor and the co-founder of LinkedIn, expressed support for a federal investigation into what happened, echoing Jones' position from last week. Hoffman named a group he funded, American Engagement Technologies, or AET, as being involved in the effort to spread disinformation targeting Moore. Hoffman invested $750,000 in the organization, some of which covered its work in Alabama, according to a person close to the matter but not authorized to discuss Hoffman's spending. But the statement left key facts unaddressed, including a full accounting of everyone who crafted and executed the campaign. The effort was the subject of a presentation in September to a group of progressive technology experts who met in downtown Washington to discuss electoral tactics, according to documents from that meeting obtained by The Washington Post and one of the attendees. This person spoke on the condition of anonymity because those at the gathering were required to sign nondisclosure agreements. In his statement, Hoffman said, "I find the tactics that have been recently reported highly disturbing. For that reason, I am embarrassed by my failure to track AET - the organization I did support - more diligently as it made its own decisions to perhaps fund projects that I would reject." The head of the AET, former Obama administration official and Google engineer Mikey Dickerson, has not responded to numerous requests for comment. After Hillary Clinton's defeat in 2016, Hoffman emerged as one of the most active and deep-pocketed backers of new efforts to elect Democrats. Along with donations to party candidates, Hoffman has spent millions of dollars on "dozens of organizations," he said Wednesday, including startups that seek to apply Silicon Valley's penchant for disruption to politics. Hoffman's public apology follows news reports on the effort, known as Project Birmingham, which involved the creation of misleading Facebook pages to persuade Alabama conservatives to vote for somebody other than Moore and other online tactics that echoed Russia's attempts to spread disinformation during the 2016 presidential election and after President Donald Trump took office. One Project Birmingham tactic created false online evidence that a network of Russian automated accounts, called bots, were supporting Moore. In his statement, Hoffman called this "the most disturbing aspect" of the disinformation effort. This and some other key details were first reported in The New York Times. Facebook suspended at least one of the individuals involved in Project Birmingham for violating its policies against "coordinated inauthentic" behavior, as The Post first reported Saturday. Facebook said at the time its investigation is ongoing. The revelations call into question the full scope of Hoffmans other political investments. He pledged to review his full portfolio but showed no signs of an exit from upcoming elections The first ever edition of Mr and Miss Albinism East Africa brought together 30 contestants from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in Kenyas capital Nairobi to crown young people with albinism. Through its motto, Beauty Beyond the Skin, the contest is not just a beauty pageant, but a way to raise awareness and inclusion for people who remain the target of sometimes deadly stigma in Africa. Organized by the Albinism Society of Kenya with partners in Uganda and Tanzania, the contest aims to demystify the condition of people living with albinism and affirm their inherent dignity while challenging myths, misconceptions and negative beliefs around the disorder. The main event was a culmination of auditions held in several countries and a 10-day boot camp where the 30 final participants trained to improve their modelling skills. The contest was aimed at facilitating positive interaction between people with albinism and society. It is about self-esteem. I gained more confidence addressing the big crowd during the event. I was just having so much fun, said 21-year-old Sherleen Tunai Lumumba, one of the contestants from Kenya. I made a lot of new friends from different African countries and this event helped me to create new links with people living with albinism. Twenty-year-old Silas Shedrack from Tanzania and 19-year-old Maryanne Muigai from Kenya were crowned the winners. They received cash prizes and were named ambassadors for the partner organisations for a year. Indonesian search and rescue teams scramble to reach isolated areas as a warning of further tsunamis remains in force. Torrential rain and the possibility of more huge waves are making Indonesias tsunami victims more anxious, as authorities urged residents near a rumbling island volcano to avoid the coastline amid warnings of extreme weather and high waves. The powerful tsunami that followed an eruption of Anak Krakatoa hit settlements along the Sunda Strait almost without a warning on Saturday night, killing more than 420 people, displacing thousands and damaging infrastructure. Rescuers on Wednesday continued evacuating stranded residents from remote islands and pushed into isolated communities still desperate for much-needed aid. The Indonesian disaster management agency, BNPB, dispatched helicopters to drop supplies into a handful of hard-to-reach communities along the devastated coastlines of western Java and southern Sumatra. 181225083951206 Were starting to access the most isolated places hit by the tsunami, said Dody Ruswandi, senior BNPB official. The devastation there is pretty massive, but we had not been able to get in there in the first couple of days. Some roads and bridges near isolated communities had been damaged, making road access more difficult, he added. Al Jazeeras Rob McBride, reporting from Sambolo village on the west coast of Java, said parts of the already damaged main road that is running along the islands shattered coastline and is being used by all the recovery and rescue vehicles were flooded. Torrential rain overnight in this part of Java has continued through into Wednesday, making the clean-up and the recovery efforts simply impossible, McBride said, adding that many of the houses in the village were left without roofs in the aftermath of the volcano-triggered tsunami. Debris on a tsunami-hit beach near Sumur, Banten province [Jorge Silva/Reuters] Residents urged to keep away from coast Anak Krakatoa is an island that emerged in the crater left by Krakatoa, whose massive eruption in 1883 was one of the most catastrophic in recorded history, killing at least 36,000 people. Experts have warned that volcanic activity at the site remains high and more deadly waves could slam the stricken region now covered by mountains of overturned cars, boats, furniture and other debris. The concern for volcanologists is simply that they dont have a good idea of what Anak Krakatoa is actually up to at the moment, said McBride. Without a visual reference either from the shoreline or from the air, its difficult to know exactly what kind of danger it poses. But we know its erupting because between the claps of thunder you hear these sharper cracks of continued eruptions. A plume of ash rises as Anak Krakatoa erupts on December 23 [Susi Air viaReuters] With Anak Krakatoa still rumbling and a high tide warning extended until Thursday, many evacuees seeking shelter in temporary camps are too afraid to return home. On Tuesday, villagers in Sumber Jaya raced towards the higher ground when word spread another tsunami was coming. It proved to be a false alarm. Later in the day, Indonesias Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency asked people to stay at least 500 metres from the Sunda Strait coastline. 181224160438886 Dwikorita Karnawati, the agencys head, said high waves and heavy rains are possible on Wednesday and the wall of the volcanos crater is prone to collapse. At a news conference, she said weather and continuing eruptions could potentially cause landslides at the cliffs of the crater into the sea, and we fear that that could trigger a tsunami. Meanwhile, medical workers have warned that clean water and medicine supplies are running low, raising fears of a public health crisis as thousands of survivors cram shelters and hospitals. The Indonesian Red Cross said more than 400 staff and volunteers are delivering clean water, blankets, tarpaulins and other supplies, while it dispatched mobile medical units. Our teams are seeing many broken bones and broken homes, and people who are very shaken, said Arifin Hadi, head of disaster management at the Indonesian Red Cross. Indonesians have withstood a string of disasters this year and with them, so much loss and misery. Rescue workers carry a body bag containing the remains of a tsunami victim at Tanjung Lesung in Pandeglang [Muhammad Adimaja/Antara Foto via Reuters] 2004 tsunami anniversary The Indonesian government has so far rebuffed offers of international aid, saying the disaster-prone country could handle the crisis. 181225022158260 The country, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands with a population of some 260 million people, sits on the geologically active Ring of Fire and is frequently hit by earthquakes and tsunamis. Saturdays tsunami was Indonesias third major natural disaster in just a few months. In July and August, major earthquakes on Lombok island killed hundreds of people, while in September a devastating earthquake-tsunami claimed more than 2,000 lives in Palu on Sulawesi island. It also came just a few days before the 14th anniversary of the December 26, 2004 tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in history that claimed the lives of some 220,000 people in several countries around the Indian Ocean, more than half of whom were Indonesians, mostly people living in Aceh at the northern tip of Sumatra. On Wednesday, thousands were expected to pray for loved ones at mass graves and mosques to mark the anniversary. Wang Quanzhang, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, is accused of subverting state power. Chinese police have locked down a court in the northern city of Tianjin at the start of the trial of Wang Quanzhang, a prominent human rights lawyer who is accused of subverting state power. Wang, who took on sensitive cases of complaints of police torture and defended practitioners of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, went missing in August 2015 during a sweeping crackdown on rights activists. Most cases from that summer, known as the 709 cases for the first day of detentions on July 9, 2015, have concluded. Wang, however, was incommunicado for more than 1,000 days. An investigation said he had for a long time been influenced by infiltrating anti-China forces and had been trained by overseas groups and accepted their funding, according to a copy of the indictment seen by Reuters news agency. Police outside the court in Tianjin told reporters they could not get near the building because it was a closed trial, according to Reuters. Yang Chunlin, an activist who has previously been jailed for subversion, stood opposite the courthouse shouting Wang Quanzhang is a good person and I support Wang Quanzhang before plainclothes agents wrestled him into a car and sped away. Another man holding up a sign that said release innocent Wang Quanzhang was also taken away by local authorities, a witness told AFP. Rights group Amnesty International identified the man as Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from Jiangxi in central China. There were also several Western diplomats outside the courthouse, who were not allowed inside. Sham trial The indictment says Wang worked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish rights worker who was held in China for three weeks before being deported in 2016, and others to train hostile forces, as well as actively providing investigative reports overseas. It also says Wang had hyped up and distorted the facts in his online statements about the case of a policeman who killed a petitioner in Heilongjiang in 2014 and of cults that he had defended. Dahlin, now in Spains capital, Madrid, said on Twitter they had kept all documentation dating back to 2009 and will release anything needed to dispel that it constitutes subverting state power. Following indictment for #WangQuanzhang, incl his work with 'JDI' (ChinaAction), we have kept all documentation tens of thousands of files all back to 2009, and will release anything needed to dispel that it constitutes subverting state power. pic.twitter.com/esxnh6RBsQ Peter Dahlin () (@Peterinexile) December 25, 2018 The trial could last just a single day, although a verdict may not come immediately. Western diplomats were expected to be outside the court. Amnesty International said Wangs trial was a cruel charade. This is a sham trial in which Wang Quanzhang is being persecuted only for peacefully defending human rights, said Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International. Li Wenzu has shaved her head in protest to her husbands detention [Thomas Peter/Reuters] Wangs wife, Li Wenzu, says she has been unable to visit her husband since he went missing. She said seven lawyers she appointed to try to represent Wang had also been unable to visit him. Li, who last week shaved her head in protest at her husbands detention, on Tuesday said authorities have placed her under de facto house arrest to stop her from attending his trial She was quoted as saying by AFP news agency that there were more than 20 security personnel outside her Beijing apartment by early afternoon. One of them explicitly told her not to visit Tianjin, she wrote on social messaging app WeChat. I wish I could grow a pair of wings, free and unconstrained, and fly freely, fly to Tianjin, Li said. It was not possible to reach the State Security Ministry for comment because it has no website or publicly available telephone number. Local police in Beijing did not immediately respond to news agencies request for comment. Chinese President Xi Jinping has strengthened efforts to quash dissent since coming to power six years ago, with hundreds of rights lawyers and activists arrested and dozens jailed. China routinely rejects foreign criticism of its human rights record, saying all Chinese are treated equally in accordance with the law and that foreign countries have no right to interfere. UN-brokered truce has been in effect for eights days, but both sides allege repeated violations. Sporadic clashes have broken out in the Yemeni city of Hodeidah between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels, just hours before a United Nations-led team tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in the strategic port city is expected to meet. An AFP news agency correspondent reported hearing the sound of heavy artillery and the exchange of gunfire to the east of the city, underscoring the fragility of the truce that began on December 18. An official related to the Saudi-UAE coalition told AFP on the condition of anonymity that 10 pro-government soldiers had been killed since the ceasefire went into force and accused the Houthis of 183 violations. The fact of the matter is, unfortunately, that the Houthis are clearly looking to provoke a response from the coalition and no one is holding them accountable, he told AFP. The rebels, in turn, said on the same day that they had recorded at least 31 violations in the past 24 hours by pro-government troops, according to the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV. The ceasefire in the rebel-held port city, vital for millions at risk of starvation, is part of a peace push seen as the best chance yet of ending four years of devastating conflict. The coalition official warned of a renewed offensive on Hodeidah if violations of the ceasefire persist. We look forward to supporting Cammaert in his efforts we genuinely hope he succeeds, but if not, we reserve the right to recommence an offensive to liberate the city, said the official. Meeting taking place as planned Patrick Cammaert, a retired Dutch general, with experience in Sri Lanka, Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is heading a joint committee comprising government officials and Houthi rebels to oversee the truce, and will chair its first face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, according to the UN. The meeting is taking place as planned with all members attending, a UN official who did not want to be named told AFP, without disclosing the exact location. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has described the meeting as one of the priorities of Cammaerts mission. The UN monitoring team aims to secure the functioning of Hodeidah port and supervise the withdrawal of fighters from the city. The text approved by the Security Council insists on the full respect by all parties of the ceasefire agreed for Hodeidah. It authorises the UN to establish and deploy, for an initial period of 30 days from the adoption of this resolution, an advance team to begin monitoring the ceasefire, under Cammaerts leadership. Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, has been devastated by a multi-sided conflict involving local, regional and international actors. The conflict in Yemen began with the 2014 takeover of the capital, Sanaa, by Houthi rebels, who toppled the government of Hadi. A Saudi-UAE-led coalition allied with Yemens internationally recognised government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015. Since then, more than 60,000 people have been killed in the fighting and as many as 85,000 children may have starved to death. Kinshasa, DRC The Democratic Republic of the Congos (DRC) electoral commission has postponed Sundays presidential and parliamentary polls in three cities in the vast country, citing concerns over an Ebola outbreak and ethnic violence. In a statement on Wednesday, the electoral commission CENI said voting in cities of Beni and Butembo in the eastern North Kivu province, and the city of Yumbi in western Bandundu province will take place in March next year. In the rest of the country, voting will take place as scheduled on December 30, the statement added. In parts of eastern DRC, an ongoing Ebola outbreak, the second largest in history, had led to calls for the vote to be delayed. More than 320 people have been killed since the latest outbreak was declared in August. Meanwhile, ethnic violence in the western part of the country left at least 100 people dead last week. 181224090825920 The postponement of polls in the three cities came four days after CENI told Al Jazeera that elections would take place in the Ebola-hit parts of the country. Since November 28, there have been more than 500 confirmed cases of Ebola in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). More than 46 million Congolese have registered to take part in the long-delayed elections. Enough is enough In Beni, an opposition stronghold, many voters denounced the delay in polls, accusing CENI of denying them the right to cast their ballots. This is just provocation. We cant accept this after waiting for more than two years. We are not ready to allow another delay while we continue to die on a daily basis from attacks and Ebola, Simon Sikuli, a 34-year-old activist, told Al Jazeera by phone. We cant wait to go and vote on Sunday like all other Congolese. Why more delay for Beni? We have been waiting for long and cant afford another delay, he added. The DRCs elections were first scheduled to take place in 2016. They were eventually postponed to December 23 this year, but CENI last week delayed polls to December 30. Earlier this month, a fire destroyed one of CENIs warehouses, damaging nearly 80 percent of the 10,000 voting machines meant for the capital, Kinshasa, where about 15 percent of the countrys electorate reside. Esperence Kasiviro, another Beni resident, said the elections should be held despite the Ebola outbreak. This new delay has come just to cause people here to revolt. Its not normal and we cannot understand what this regime wants. We have allowed them to delay up to Sunday, but not up to March, he said. Enough is enough. They are not right to use Ebola as a reason to put us on hold. What if the epidemic is not off in March? We demand that elections be held here on Sunday as well. We have been victims for so long, and now we want to get peace back for us to develop our territory. Thats all, Kasiviro said. The highly-contested presidential poll is meant to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who is due to step down after 18 years in power. As many as 21 candidates are competing for the countrys top job. The electoral commission said official results of the presidential poll will be announced on January 15. The DRC, a country of more than 80 million people, has not seen a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Two former Egyptian presidents have appeared in the same Cairo courtroom with Hosni Mubarak testifying in the retrial of his successor Mohamed Morsi on mass jailbreak charges. Overthrown during the 2011 protests that ended his 30-year rule, a frail, grey-haired Mubarak could be seen walking into the courtroom with a cane on Wednesday. 181223084527884 During his testimony against Morsi, Egypts first democratically elected president, 90-year-old Mubarak claimed he could not answer most questions, saying he needed permission from the military and current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Earlier in the month, Mubarak failed to make a court appearance in the case. His lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, had told the Cairo Criminal Court that the former president was a member of the military and that he had to obtain permission from the military to appear in court. Since his removal from power in a military coup staged by Sisi, Morsi has been tried in several different cases. In April 2015, he was sentenced to 20 years on charges of ordering the arrest and torture of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace in 2012. In September 2016, Morsi was sentenced to another 25 years in prison on charges of passing intelligence to Qatar. And in December 2017, he was also sentenced to three years on charges of insulting the judiciary. After Morsis 2013 removal, Sisi unleashed a fierce crackdown on his opponents, with tens of thousands jailed with charge and without in conditions condemned by human rights groups. Amnesty International has described Egypts judicial system as horrendously broken and described death sentences handed out to Morsi and other members of the Muslim Brotherhood in previous trials as a vengeful march to the gallows. In a report released in March, a panel of British MPs and lawyers said Morsis conditions of imprisonment had left him facing a premature death. The panel, which was commissioned by Morsis family, said the former leader is receiving inadequate medical care, particularly inadequate management of his diabetes, and inadequate management of his liver disease. The consequence of this inadequate care is likely to be rapid deterioration of his long-term conditions, which is likely to lead to premature death, it said. It is the first such approvals since snap polls were called earlier this week, after the ruling coalition collapsed. Israeli authorities have advanced plans for nearly 2,200 settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, an NGO and Israeli media said. A defence ministry committee with responsibility for such projects on Tuesday and Wednesday approved the plans, the settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement. It said 1,159 housing units were given final approvals before building permits can be issued, while 1,032 were at an earlier stage. The Times of Israel website also reported the development, saying in total 2,191 settlement homes are expected to be advanced this week. It is the first such approvals since snap polls were called earlier this week, after the ruling right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu collapsed. On Monday, Netanyahu agreed to dissolve parliament and call for early elections on April 9. Netanyahu meets settler leaders The settlements, which play an important role in Israels right-wing politics, have surged under Netanyahu. Earlier on Wednesday, he met settler leaders in Jerusalem. Well see an attempt by the left-wing to overthrow our rule with the help of the media and others, he said, speaking of the elections. They cant succeed, because if they do that will pose a clear danger to the settlement movement. 181224122527714 Israeli settlements have also long been viewed as a major roadblock to a viable Palestinian state. They are considered a violation of international law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinian leaders want for their future state including occupied East Jerusalem. More than 400,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements, which range in size from tiny hamlets to large towns. A further 200,000 live in settlements in East Jerusalem. There are some 400 settlements in the Palestinian territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war, built with or without government approval. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it expects foreign portfolio investments or hot money to end with a $100-million net outflow in 2018, lower than the shortfall of $800 million in 2017. The estimate under the banks latest round of economic data revisions was also lower than the projection of a net outflow of $900 million made in May. Data showed that foreign portfolio investments more than doubled to $2 billion in November from $953 million in October, fueled mainly by positive investors reaction to the decreasing global oil prices and the warming relations between the Philippines and China. The November figure resulted in a net inflow of $832 million for the month, an improvement from the $108 million net inflow a year ago. About 66.8 percent of investments registered in November were parked in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities (pertaining mainly to food, beverage and tobacco companies holding firms, property companies, banks, and utility companies), while the 33.2-percent balance went to peso government securities. Transactions in peso government securities and PSE-listed securities yielded net inflows of $510 million and $322 million, respectively.The United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States, British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands were the top five investor countries in November, with a combined share of 83.5 percent. This brought the total transactions in the first 11 months to a net inflow of $926 million, an improvement from the $635-million net outflow in the same period last year. The BSP attributed this to a large investment in a holding company registered this year. Foreign portfolio investments are also called hot money because of the ease they are invested in and taken out of the local financial markets. Registration of inward foreign investments with the Bangko Sentral is optional under the liberalized rules on foreign exchange transactions. The BSP expects hot money to register a net outflow of $200 million in 2019. Israel says it has destroyed tunnels crossing into its territory after claims of discovering five of them this month. The Israeli army has destroyed another cross-border tunnel, which it claims was built by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. A video released by the Israelis on Wednesday showed an officer shouting across the border and warning residents of the Lebanese village of Ayta ash-Shab that they were in danger and to stand far away. The video then shows a countdown before a soldier pushes a button and aerial footage of a powerful explosion. Israel announced the discovery of the tunnels five in total earlier in December. It said Hezbollah planned to use these tunnels in the event of a war to conduct attacks in Israel. 181221072351423 The Israelis have not specified the number of tunnels destroyed so far. The Lebanese armed group has not commented on the discovery. On December 17, the United Nationss Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said the tunnels violated a ceasefire agreement that ended the 2006 war. These [tunnels] constitute violations of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the peacekeeping force said in a statement at the time, referring to the agreement that ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities have vowed to abide by the ceasefire terms with Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri saying the Lebanese army would conduct patrols to deal with any flaw in the implementation of the truce. Israel and Hezbollah, who are technically still at war, have avoided any major conflict at the border since 2006, though Israel has mounted attacks in Syria targeting what it said were advanced weapon deliveries to the group. President Michel Aoun, a political ally of Hezbollah, said in early December that he did not see in Israels military operation a threat to peace, adding Beirut was ready to remove the causes of the dispute, without adding any further information. Construction on ambitious project cannot begin while sanctions over Norths nuclear and missile programmes are in place. North and South Korea have held a ceremony for an ambitious project to modernise and reconnect rail and road links, although construction cannot begin without progress in nuclear negotiations. A nine-car special train carrying some 100 South Korean officials, politicians and five people born in the North, left the Seoul railway station early on Wednesday morning for a two-hour journey to the Norths border city of Kaesong. There, they were joined by a 100-strong North Korean delegation, as well as officials from the United Nations, China, Russia and Mongolia, according to South Koreas unification ministry. The United States gave their support for the ceremony, South Korean officials said, but work cannot begin while sanctions block the shipment of energy and metal products, as well as other supplies. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the Norths leader Kim Jong-un agreed to hold the ceremony by the end of this year when they met at their third summit in Pyongyang in September. Concerns arose that the train and other materials being brought into the North for the ceremony could breach various sanctions imposed on the isolated country over its nuclear weapons programme, but the UN Security Council reportedly granted a waiver for the event. Seoul stressed that the ceremony would not herald the start of actual work on reconnecting and modernising road and rail links between the two Koreas which remain technically at war after their 1950-1953 conflict ended without a peace treaty. The event is a mere expression of a commitment to the projects, a spokesperson for the South Korean unification ministry said, adding that construction would depend on progress on the Norths denuclearisation and circumstances concerning sanctions. The two sides wrapped up their joint railway and road inspections for the projects this month. South Korea has set aside some $620,000 for the endeavour. The ceremony comes as Washington ramps up efforts to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. Following a rapid rapprochement earlier this year that culminated in an historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim, progress has stalled with both sides accusing each other of dragging their feet and acting in bad faith. Critics say North Korea has made no concrete commitments and is unlikely to surrender its atomic arsenal, while Washingtons policy of maintaining pressure through isolation and sanctions has left Pyongyang seething. Trump said on Monday that he was looking forward to his second summit with Kim, which Washington says may take place early next year. He tweeted the statement after he was briefed by Stephen Biegun, the US special representative on North Korea, who wrapped up a three-day trip to Seoul on Saturday. Biegun said last week Washington will be more lenient in enforcing its blanket ban on US citizens travel to the totalitarian state when dealing with aid workers, a goodwill gesture as Trump seeks a fresh summit. The Trump administration has generally refused to let US aid groups operate in North Korea, seeking to both maximise pressure on Pyongyang and ensure the safety of Americans. Biegun also said in Seoul last week Washington was willing to discuss trust-building initiatives with Pyongyang. Senior transport officials from Russia, China and Mongolia as well as several foreign ambassadors to South Korea will attend Wednesdays ceremony, the Souths Unification Ministry said. Customs and Border Protection orders checks on every child in its custody after two Guatemalan children die this month. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has ordered medical checks on every child in its custody after an eight-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of a child in the agencys care this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown under way over President Donald Trumps request for border wall funding. The boy, identified by Guatemalan authorities as Felipe Gomez Alonzo, had been in CBPs custody with his father, Agustin Gomez, since December 18. CBP said in a statement late Tuesday that an agent first noticed the boy had a cough and glossy eyes at about 9am Monday. He was eventually hospitalised twice and died just before midnight, the agency said. 181225223310949 CBP said in the statement that it needs the help of other government agencies to provide healthcare. The agency is considering options for surge medical assistance from the Coast Guard and may request help from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A CBP spokesman could not immediately answer how many children are currently in the agencys custody. But with border crossings surging, CBP processes thousands of children both alone and with their parents every month. Stop policies before more children are harmed Immigration advocates and human rights groups sharply criticised CBP in the wake of Felipes death. The body of seven-year-old Jakelin Caal, who died earlier this month, was buried in her home village in Guatemalas San Antonio Secortez on Tuesday. 181225204214558 Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said the Trump administrations policies of cruelty toward migrants and asylum-seekers at the border must cease immediately before any more children are harmed. US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Wednesday that the agency has more than 1,500 emergency medical technicians on staff and that officers are taking dozens of sick children to hospitals every day. This is an extraordinarily rare occurrence, McAleenan said to CBS This Morning of the recent child deaths. Its been more than a decade since weve had a child pass away anywhere in a CBP process, so this is just devastating for us. The White House referred questions about the latest case to the US Department of Homeland Security, CBPs parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a statement that the childs death was a tragic loss. The agency said it has notified the DHS inspector general. Felipe and his father were detained by CBP for about a week, an unusually long time that the agency did not fully explain Tuesday. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldnt be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE detention centres. CBP said it apprehended Felipe and his father on December 18 about five kilometres away from an official port of entry, the Paso del Norte bridge connecting El Paso and Juarez, Mexico. They were held at a processing centre for almost two days then taken to the El Paso Border Patrol station on Thursday. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he was told by the boys father in a telephone interview that the two had been travelling from their home in Nenton, a village about 450km from Guatemala City. They were planning to go to Johnson City, Tennessee. CBP promised an independent and thorough review of the circumstances, and the Guatemalan foreign ministry called for an investigation in accordance with due process. Inexcusable Democratic members of Congress and immigration advocates sharply criticised CBPs handling of Jakelin Caals death and questioned whether border agents could have prevented it by spotting symptoms of distress or calling for an evacuation by air ambulance sooner. CBP has said that it took several hours to transport Jakelin and her father from a remote Border Patrol facility to a larger station, where her temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius). Emergency medical technicians had to revive her twice. She was ultimately flown to an El Paso hospital, where she died the next day. Xochitl Torres Small, a Democrat who will represent the district starting in January, called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the childrens deaths and more medical resources along the border. This is inexcusable, Torres Small said in a statement on Tuesday. Instead of immediately acting to keep children and all of us safe along our border, this administration forced a government shutdown over a wall. Key parts of the US government shut down last week after Trump refused to back down on his request for more than five billion dollars in funding for his border wall, a demand Democrats fiercely oppose. Since then, Trump and Democrats have traded blame over the shutdown. Negotiations are expected to continue this week, but Trump has said the partial closure could last a very long time. The border wall was a key campaign promise of Trump, who was elected in 2016. He has implemented a zero tolerance policy at the border. Following public outcry earlier this year, Trump was forced to end his administrations practice of separating children from their families at the border. Days after announcing Syria withdrawal, Trump makes first visit to see troops in a conflict zone since taking office. In a surprise trip to Iraq, President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to withdraw American forces from Syria where they have been helping battle the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. Were no longer the suckers, folks, Trump told US servicemen and women at al-Asad Airbase, west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Trump, who has faced growing criticism at home for not visiting troops in combat zones, said its because of US military gains that he can withdraw 2,000 troops from Syria. He added, however, that he has no plans to pull soldiers out of Iraq. I made it clear from the beginning that our mission in Syria was to strip ISIS of its military strongholds, Trump said in a speech to US troops clad in camouflage fatigues in a hangar at the airbase. Trump did not meet any Iraqi officials during his three-hour visit. A planned meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was scrapped and the two leaders spoke instead on the phone. Mahdis office said there was disagreement over how to conduct the meeting, while Iraqi legislators said the prime minister declined Trumps request to meet him at the military base. White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the meeting was cancelled due to security concerns and the short notice of the trip, but she said they had a great call and that Mahdi accepted Trumps invitation to the White House in the New Year. Al Jazeeras Imran Khan, reporting from Baghdad after the cancellation of the face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, said there is a sense of confusion in Iraq in regard to the USs policy in the region. They are very concerned in Iraq about the 2,000 troops pulled out of Syria, he said. Baghdad is much more safe than it has been for a very long time and the Iraqis are very confident that they can deal with ISIL within their own borders but what really concerns them is Syria and thats where they are less confident. Highly-criticised move Trumps decision to withdraw troops from Syria came despite objections from a number of politicians within his own party and Pentagon officials. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis abruptly resigned following the announcement. Mattis was expected to leave his post in February, but Trump forced him out early, saying he was replacing Mattis on January 1 with deputy defence secretary Patrick Shanahan in an acting capacity. Brett McGurk, the top US envoy in the anti-ISIL fight, announced he was leaving earlier than expected due to Trumps decision. Trumps announcement also rattled allies around the world, including in Iraq. Trump said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to take out any remnants of ISIL left in Syria. The US presence in Syria was not meant to be open-ended, he said, adding that other wealthy nations should pay for rebuilding Syria. First visit to conflict zone Trumps trip to Iraq was shrouded in secrecy. Air Force One flew overnight from Washington, landing at an airbase west of Baghdad under the cover of darkness on Wednesday evening. Trump has drawn criticism from some in the US military for not having visited the troops in conflict zones since taking office in January 2017, particularly after he cancelled a trip to a World War I cemetery in France last month due to rain. Al Jazeeras Rob Reynolds, reporting from Washington, said Trumps visit to Iraq was likely to quash criticism for not visiting troops before, even as controversy remains over his decision to withdraw forces from Syria. Trump boasted of the elimination of the threat of ISIL and seemed to take credit for that, said Reynolds, adding that his comments on the Syria troops withdrawal appeared to be an effort to quell the domestic political criticism, more than anything else. A lot of these things are planned, in part at least, with an eye towards the domestic audience and the political repercussions. While there has been no full-scale violence in Iraq since ISIL suffered a series of defeats last year, US troops train and advise Iraqi forces still waging a campaign against the group. The US military says it has about 5,200 troops in Iraq, focused on training and advising Iraqi troops to ensure that ISIL does not re-emerge. NATO defence ministers agreed in February to a bigger train-and-advise mission in Iraq after a US call for the alliance to help stabilise the country after three years of war against ISIL. On his way home from Iraq, he will also stop to visit troops at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. Not so merry and bright why there hasnt been much to celebrate in Zimbabwe this festive period. It has been a bleak festive season for many Zimbabweans this year, as the country struggles with food and fuel shortages. Even in the toughest times, sales rocketed in the days before Christmas, but this year businesses have not seen the usual seasonal rush. Its a far cry from the revived economy President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised when he took over from Robert Mugabe more than a year ago. Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa reports from Harare. Taiwanese manufacturers Winstron Infocomm Corp. and Catcher Technologies are preparing to move out of China to relocate to the Philippines in 2019, the Board of Investments said. The BoI said Winstrom revisited the list of incentives it enjoyed during its stint in Subic Bay Freeport and decided that the incentives they were given here were still the best package. Winstron is a parts supplier for Apple. Catcher, a supplier or aluminum casing for mobile phones and laptops, committed to invest in a manufacturing plant in the Philippines. What happened was that Taiwan has grown increasingly bullish about the Philippines for a number of reasons. First, it can have access to the world market via the FTA and GSP agreements the Philippines currently enjoys with partner countries. A stable wage economy and less strikes regime were other come-ons for Taiwanese firms said BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo. Taiwan has a thriving electronics manufacturing sector and is heavy on toll manufacturing. However, it cannot sign free trade agreements with other countries because of the One China policy. The only FTA it has is with Singapore and New Zealand. Earlier reports indicated that Winstron was eyeing Vietnam or the Philippines for its manufacturing plant, but the company subsequently announced that the Philippine would host its operations as a returning investor.It also proposed to bring with it one of its biggest suppliers, Catcher Technologies, to produce aluminum casing for iPhones and Apple laptops. The company asked for at least 60 hectares of land where they can build the facility. Rodolfo said both companies did not disclose yet how much they would invest in the country, but they have firmed their commitments with us. He said Japan was also raring to invest in the Philippines after a Philippine trade mission visited 30 to 40 companies in Japan. Their only concern is the impact of the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities or Trabaho bill on foreign investments. I told them that they will be given a choice once they locate here. They can avail of the classic or current set of incentives or they can go to Trabaho bill, Rodolfo said. He said both Taiwan and Japan were eyeing the Philippines as an attractive place for investments because of its growing economy, respect to intellectual property rights and English proficiency. Those of us who have been paying attention know that serious crimes were committed at the highest levels of government in an attempt to exonerate Hillary Clinton and frame Donald Trump. There was collusion between government agencies, including collusion with foreign agents, to illegally influence the 2016 Presidential election. There is enough evidence on the table to be confident of these claims. And those of us who care about rule of law, who want to see justice done to the criminals in this conspiracy, have been waiting for years to see that happen. We hear that these serious matters are being investigated. We hear that there are whistleblowers inside the government who want to come forward and expose the corruption. We hear that there are many, many more documents which will substantiate our worst fears about one of the greatest scandals in the history of our country. We have been assured that there are several investigations looking into the various aspect of this abuse of power. Inspector General Michael Horowitz, prosecutor John Huber, and others are looking into the corruption. Mueller is supposedly tasked with exposing foreign influence on the Presidential election. But what if the investigations are really the cover-up? What if the investigations are carefully structured to protect criminal actions rather than expose them? What if the investigations are actually being used to hide evidence from the citizenry? Peter Strzok, Andrew McCabe and others discussed the need for an insurance policy in case Trump won. Was this insurance policy intended to protect deep-state criminals from exposure? Muellers role is not to investigate collusion with foreign agents, or he would be investigating Christopher Steele and his Russian sources, along with the foreigners who worked with our government to infiltrate the Trump campaign. He would investigate the illegal funding of Steeles lies and how the lies were fed to the public by bad cops and complicit media. This is obviously not the goal of Muellers team. Muellers key role is to have nearly absolute control over what information is released to investigators or the public. Mueller determines what Horowitz and Huber can see. Mueller can hide anything he wants by claiming that release of the information would hinder his investigation. He has given Rod Rosenstein a list of lines of inquiry that will not be allowed. Rosenstein, who volunteered to be part of the soft coup, is happy to comply. We have witnessed Rosenstein repeatedly refuse to turn over documents to Congress, flagrantly obstructing its oversight role. What is the most effective way to hide the truth and protect the deep-state criminals? Its the never-ending Mueller investigation. Sure, Muellers team is still in the business of promoting the Trump-Russia fiction, but the most important role of this investigation may be to obstruct any real investigation. Conspiracy theories become conspiracy facts when enough evidence piles up to support the theory. Consider this evidence, starting before the election: Comey wrote a letter exonerating Hillary from her very intentional crimes long before she or key witnesses were interviewed. Hillarys key co-conspirators were given immunity, allowed to share attorneys, sit in on each others depositions, and even destroy evidence. This was a sham investigation. Hillarys influence peddling through the Clinton Foundation was effectively swept under the rug. The Clintons enriched themselves by selling future favors, often to foreign entities. The foundation has been called The Biggest Charity Fraud Ever. The Trump-Russia collusion narrative was developed as part of the effort to undermine Trump. It was not started by any actionable intelligence. Spies were placed in the Trump campaign to aid the false narrative and to allow further illicit intelligence gathering. Spying on the Trump campaign was authorized by presenting fraudulent, hearsay evidence to FISA Court judges. This criminal act led to many other criminal acts including rampant unmasking of American citizens associated with Trump. Comey and Rosenstein both played roles in FISA abuse. White House officials did much of the unmasking. On September 28, 2016, Peter Strzok texted Lisa Page that hundreds of thousands of email messages from Anthony Weiners computer had been turned over to the FBI by U.S. Attorneys who were conducting an investigation into Weiners sex crimes. This was a treasure trove of information about Huma and Hillary. The FBI immediately hid the information for a month while they figured out how to whitewash it to protect Hillary. The bomb-control team successfully defused another bomb. Surely, they expected a future reward from President H.R. Clinton. Inspector General Horowitzs June report had the goal of soft-peddling criminal behavior. The report said that some unfortunate things were done, but there was no reason to think that bias played a key role in important decisions. It did not find fault with things like granting immunity to the man who lied to the FBI and destroyed Hillarys illegal server. As we have learned, lying to the FBI can be fine, depending on who does the lying. Destroying subpoenaed evidence is okay too, at times. Horowitz public statement about his toothless report was followed by FBI Director Christopher Wray telling us not to worry about a thing because he intended to schedule a day when FBI agents would have a meeting to discuss bias. Okay then -- I guess that takes care of it. Last year, when members of Congress were rightly frustrated about evidence being hidden, there were increasing calls for a special prosecutor to investigate surveillance abuses by the Obama administration, the shady Uranium One deal, and the Clinton Foundations influence peddling. The idea of appointing a truly independent prosecutor was thwarted by Jeff Sessions, who appointed a career insider to do the investigation instead. Sessions promised that an Obama holdover in Utah, John Huber, would do a full, complete and objective evaluation of these matters. At this point, there is every reason to believe that the purpose of Hubers investigation is to hide the truth, not to find it; to protect the criminals, not to charge them. The key witnesses in each of the matters under investigation have not even been contacted. It appears that no grand juries have been empaneled. Tom Fitton, of Judicial Watch says, Huber wasnt tapped to investigate anything, he was just a distraction. What we are witnessing here is a carefully planned and orchestrated cover-up of a series of very serious crimes. The deep swamp is pretending to investigate the deep swamp. This cover-up would not be possible if the mainstream media were honest and aggressive fact-finders, but they actually function as a branch of the Democratic Party. The cover-up would fail if Republicans were unified in absolutely demanding to see all the evidence that is currently being hidden, but Republican leaders do not unify and fight hard for anything. They appear to be comfortable with losing this battle. Victors write the accepted history of events. It is possible that the story here will be that good men like Strzok, Comey, Rosenstein, and Mueller protected America from a vast right-wing conspiracy. Donald Trump, the victim of most of the crimes, will be portrayed as the villain. Legalized theft. A favorite saying of libertarians when talking about taxation. A metaphor invoked by reformers of civil asset forfeiture. A wry phrase constitutionalists use when describing eminent domain. And now, real-life public policy being pushed by cynical politicians who have, seemingly, given up on civilization. The Washington, D.C., City Council recently voted to waive the criminal charge that comes with evading fare on the citys Metro system. The vote -- a one-sided 10 Yeas to 2 Nays -- made the matter strictly civil, charging $50 for anyone who jumps a turnstile without paying. The bill now goes to Mayor Muriel Bowsers desk for signing. Decriminalization is not the same as legalization, Council member Charles Allen argued in favor of the measure. A criminal citation stays on your record for life. [Fare evaders] will have a criminal conviction for their rest of their life for a $2 fare. Allens argument is, unsurprisingly, overwrought. Judges can always expunge criminal records for petty offenses like this. Bypassing a $2 train charge need not be a black mark on ones permanent record. He knows this is true but tells his lie anyway. Council member Robert C. White, Jr., was more open about his racialist intention. Citing the fact that 91% of fare evasion perpetrators are African-American, White threw financial considerations aside, admitting, Im sad thats Metros losing money, but Im more sad about whats happening to black people. To be fair, the Metro is better at losing money than transporting people. The entire system is in continual financial distress. Last year, it faced a $125 million revenue shortfall due to declining ridership. Fare evasion currently costs the Metro system $25 million a year -- about half the cost of the agencys new headquarters. When the biggest retailer in the world is about to come to town, fleecing the citys main public transportation system might not be the smartest fiscal move. Pecuniary matters aside, the argument that black people are disproportionately affected by fare evasion arrests is an interesting one. Ive ridden the D.C. Metro to work every day for years. In my time on the plodding steel line, Ive witnessed a variety of fare evasion, from casual offenders who sashay through the emergency exit gate to avoid payment to reprobates bumping up behind me to double up on my own fare. Most of the time, station managers look the other way. Usually, and this will no doubt offend more sensitive readers, its black station managers who let black fare evaders go free unmolested, perhaps out of racial solidarity, a not all-together unsympathetic feeling. But, casting aside moral strictures on account of one race of people comes off as, among other things, patronizing, overly paternalistic, and, trite as it sounds, racist. Does the D.C. Council really consider black people incapable of following basic rules? Compared to other expenses, the Metro fare isnt prohibitively expensive. Whats wrong with asking everyone to pay the price for a public service? Singling out blacks as incapable of not skimming off the top doesnt put the race in a great light. It excuses malefaction, contradicting Frederick Douglasss plea to view black Americans as equal, morally autonomous individuals and to give [them] a chance to stand on [their] own legs! Legalizing fare evasion is symbolic of the greater dissolution of honorable mores that once governed our private behavior. Public-defacing malfeasances like urinating on the street or littering are having their preventative enforcement power whittled away to the point of legal sanction. Saul Bellow noted this general trend in his novel Mr. Sammlers Planet, where the protagonist, a Holocaust survivor, observes the societal degradation wrought by the sexual revolution in Manhattan. You had to be strong enough not to be terrified by local effects of metamorphosis, to live with disintegration, with crazy streets, filthy nightmares, monstrosities come to life, addicts, drunkards, and perverts celebrating their despair openly in midtown, he plaintively observes. You had to be able to bear the tangles of the soul the sight of cruel dissolution. Fare evasion -- the process of defrauding the greater public -- is stealing by another name. Wiping away its criminal component is a surrender to decivilizing forces. What kind of lessons do we imbue our children with when we excuse and justify plain theft? That the rules dont matter? That consequences are, unlike gravity, not an iron law that should enforce good behavior? If the issue is that minorities shouldnt be punished for being too impecunious to afford to ride the train, surely, the D.C. Council is not above passing a welfare program to provide free Metro fare to the needy. Such a benefit already exists for the disabled and elderly. Extend it if necessary. Keep what few moral bounds we still have in place. Image credit: Planka.nu In 2011, the Department of Homeland Security canceled a project to build a technology-based virtual fence across the Southwest border, saying that the effort on which $1 billion had already been spent was ineffective and too costly. Politicians who funded billions of dollars of detection technologies didnt listen to U.S. Border Patrol, which tried to explain that detection of illegal aliens and smugglers is not the problem along the border but stopping them from crossing is. Virtual or electronic walls are not deterrents, they are detection capabilities and dont contribute anything to deterrence. Real walls are deterrents and are the only thing that really work to deter and prevent illegal border crossings. There are long histories that hard fencing initiatives, from the Great Wall of China to T-walls (or Bremer barriers) that protected U.S. troops in Iraq, work and work well. Hard border strategic fencing initiatives such as Operation Gatekeeper, Operation Hold the Line, and Operation Safeguard deterred or stopped illegal border crossings in the busy border cities of San Ysidro, CA, El Paso, TX, and Nogales, AZ. The inability to scale walls or puncture steel matting or reinforced fencing pushed northbound alien immigrants and smugglers to the very limits of the strategic fencing, into inhospitable, remote, or difficult segments of the border such as mountains, deserts, and rapidly moving riverways. In the 1990s, wherever strategic fencing was employed, deterrence was virtually total. The vast majority of illegal crossings came from illegal aliens walking to the ends of the miles-long fencing where there was no more deterrence to crossing into the United States. In these particular border towns, crime associated with transient illegal aliens and smugglers dropped substantially. High-flying unmanned surveillance aircraft dont work either. After ten unmanned systems and $600 million was spent to help secure the southwest border, the unmanned aircraft were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. Moving surveillance cameras from a pole to an aircraft is not deterrence, it is still detection. Mexican smugglers, using high-powered rifles with telescopic sights, blasted Boeings billion-dollar camera systems to smithereens. Repair crews dispatched to repair the damaged equipment soon found themselves being shot at by the same people. The result of a few well-placed bullets was that the virtual wall was effectively unplugged from the grid. As for the drones, Americans would probably be surprised that the drones didnt fly every day. They were an intermittent and inconsistent detection capability. Walls are a persistent deterrence. Along the border, cameras on poles or on unmanned aircraft are intermittent detection systems. The DHS abandoned the cameras on poles strategy. Like Boeings billion-dollar surveillance systems, the CBP's near-billion-dollar drone program was marketed as an effective means to use technology to help close the gaps through which smugglers move people and drugs across the border. After a year of drone operations, the programs measures of effectiveness revealed it cost the American taxpayers, on average, about $32,000 to apprehend a single illegal alien. In the late 1990s, when Border Patrol airplanes and helicopters patrolled the Rio Grande River, the average cost of apprehending a single illegal alien using a $100K fixed-wing aircraft was $20; the average cost of apprehending a single illegal alien using a $1M helicopter was about $220. Even state-of-the-art detection capabilities are the wrong solutions for a deterrence problem. The virtual fence that politicians have touted isnt a wall or even a fence. It is a relic of the misguided efforts of uninformed and misguided politicians. Like other pols, former mayor Rudy Giuliani has long stated (and again, most recently) that a virtual fence is the solution for the border. He is typical of the politician who thinks he has his fingers on the pulse on the problem, but he is wrong. The CBPs unmanned surveillance aircraft didnt work either. Customs and Border Protection leaders cannot say anyone was ever apprehended or stopped by a virtual fence. All they can say is, We might have been able to detect them." I recall when my Sector Chief Patrol Agent (and other Chiefs) visited Israel in the late 1990s to assess the effectiveness of their border walls. The Israeli border was protected by tall concrete walls with an abundance of concertina, and watchtowers that were similar to but not as imposing or as numerous as the watchtowers at the Supermax prison in Colorado. We live in a different time than the one my dear late Border Patrol Chief Paul Berg lived when as a young Border Patrol Agent in the 1970s he patrolled the southwest border in a four-wheel drive truck. He said that was a time when he could come upon an illegal alien in the field, and all he had to do was just tell him to get in the truck. Paul would stop at McDonalds, drive the Mexican national to the port of entry, and send him back home with a bag of burgers. Todays bands of illegal border crossers are nothing like the aliens of yesteryear. Todays illegal border crossers are infiltrated with violent gang members and criminals of all sorts. One of my grad students (in the early 2000s) was a Border Patrol agent out of the Eagle Pass Station. Hed come to class in uniform, bulletproof vest, and sidearm. He would tell stories of being on patrol, being shot at with high-power rifles. If he was lucky, he would only have the windshield shot out. The illegal aliens of today are an aggressive and sometimes a desperate bunch. They bring diseases and contraband and criminal records with them. Border Patrol agents on the line and in the field were (and probably still are) exposed to tuberculous with virtually every illegal alien they apprehended. Congress wasted billions on ineffective virtual fencing strategies and unmanned aircraft systems. Walls work every place theyve been tried. It is impossible to breach the Israeli border wall and those who think they can get over it alive are soon faced with the reality that any effort short of commandeering a tank and blasting through will result in failure. So why try? That is the essence of deterrence. Walls are the ultimate deterrent. Congress needs to fund a wall to protect Americans and their way of life. There are basic interrelated questions that any student of human history must ask. Why is human history filled with so much evil, and why do good people so often do nothing in the face of evil? Jamie Glazovs new book, Jihadist Psychopath: How He Is Charming, Seducing, and Devouring Us, addresses that troubling question. The answer that he comes up with in Jihadist Psychopath is a collusion that is not born only of simple radicalism, but of the ways in which Islamic political movements play on our own emotional weaknesses. Jihadist Psychopath is a journey into the dark heart of the Western world using the metaphor of the interplay between the psychopath and his victims. That metaphor pervades Glazovs text, structuring his understanding of the growing terror death toll and the accompanying sympathy for the terrorists. Glazov, who has a BA in Political Science and a PhD in History, had already made a study of Islamic terrorists. To prepare for the writing of Jihadist Psychopath, he also made a study of the most fascinating and deadliest element in the criminal life of societies: the psychopath. Human societies are bound together by empathy. Multiculturalism and diversity stretch and expand our sense of empathy to its limits. The psychopath plays on our sense of empathy despite lacking any empathy of his or her own. That paradox makes the psychopath extremely curious and deadly. Like a cuckoo bird, the psychopath has evolved to exploit a biological loophole, empathy, meant to bind a species together around shared interests, without the biological commitment to those interests, creating a predator that is facile and adept, as Glazovs title puts it, at charming, seducing and devouring us. The uses and abuses of empathy by the psychopath and the Islamic terrorist are a major focus of Jihadist Psychopath. Islamic terrorists take advantage of the empathy bonds that multicultural societies use to bind diverse populations together into a single functional entity whose members cooperate and even sacrifice for the benefit of the group, without ever sharing in that sense of mutual responsibility. Like psychopaths, Glazov argues, Islamic terrorists create the illusion of a mutual relationship while viciously exploiting and eventually destroying their victims by degrees. These victims can be the individuals, the women who marry Islamic terrorists only to be used by them to obtain legal status or to birth new Jihadists, but they are the microcosm of our larger society which is also being charmed, seduced, and destroyed by an ideology that turns our own values and our sense of self against us. Once he succeeds in lodging his hooks into his targets body, he inflicts the key wound, convincing him that he (the victim) is the actual offender and guilty party, and that the psychopath is the actual victim, Glazov writes. The exchange of roles between perpetrator and victim is crucial to the predation of weaker societies on stronger societies. As predatory plants mimic the appearance of the prey of their victims, the Jihadist appears to resemble a victim of Western civilization, of colonialism, capitalism, and imperialism, turning guilt and grief into the aphrodisiac of his monstrous appetite, before entrapping his civilizational victim. Victimhood is the protective coloration of the psychopathic predator, both in his familiar role as the demon haunting a thousand crime stories, thrillers, and action movies, and the less familiar guise of CAIR, ISNA, and countless other Muslim Brotherhood front groups who defend the predation of terrorists by reinventing them as the victims of the very people whom they are killing and destroying. And yes, the victims are neither truly helpless nor innocent. As the con artist exploits greed, the psychopaths swollen sense of self-regard feeds upon the narcissism of his victims. As Glazov notes in Jihadist Psychopath, It is crucial to emphasize that many victims in the con game possess a tremendous narcissism, since in needing to believe that they are part of the script and can actually change it, they incubate a pathological and self-destructive ego. The boundless narcissism of the Left, which convinces its true believers that their beverage choices and their menu options can save or destroy the planet, that even their pettiest actions and emotional states are deeply meaningful signifiers of great and terrible changes in the world, makes it absurdly easy for the Islamist psychopath, who offers the illusion of saving them and himself, to hook them on his line. The Left hungers for victims to justify its inflated sense of self-importance and its greed for power. Islamists exploit their messianic delusions by playing the victims in need of rescuing. The Islamist psychopath validates the twisted psychology of his radical victims only to destroy his rescuers. This same psychodrama has played out in Iran, in Egypt, in the United Kingdom, and the United States. When the alliances unravel, as they finally must, the socialist utopia instead becomes the caliphate. Jihadist Psychopath is an invaluable resource for understanding and coming to grips with the human drama behind the headlines and the radical emotions behind the radical march of political events. It gets at the unacknowledged truth behind the political psychodramas of the Left, the narcissistic notion that even the most destructive behaviors can feel good because they make us feel good about who we are. Who we are was the theme of a number of Obama speeches. It is no coincidence that the politician who most definitively straddled the cultural divide between Islam and the Left, while uniting them politically in their mutual hatred of the United States of America, could never get enough of telling us who we are. The core of Jihadist Psychopath lies in the conflict of identities, the slow sonorous clash of civilizations between a West that is losing its sense of self and an East that is regaining it, and between former conquerors losing their religion and renewed conquerors regaining it, between monsters and victims. Islamic supremacism crushes all individuality within itself. Its members cannot have their own identity or beliefs, nor can they explore or nurture their own happiness or talents, Jamie Glazov writes. And those same Islamic supremacists use their conviction in the inferiority of the individual to destroy the identities of their victims, temporarily adopting their borrowed identities as camouflage, mirroring their victims, gaining their confidence, abusing them, destroying their sense of self, and killing them. Jihadist Psychopath is a compelling look at the process by which the West is losing its life and its soul. Daniel Greenfield, a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the Freedom Center, is an investigative journalist and writer focusing on the radical Left and Islamic terrorism. President Trumps central election promise to build the southern border wall seems about to slip out of reach, with Democrats vowing to oppose any funding of the border wall. While the Democrats deserve a large share of the blame for this failure, if the Senate fails to use budget reconciliation to pass the $5.7 billion in border wall funding, it will be the fault of Republican Senate leadership. Failure to build the border wall will likely have significant negative consequences for national security and will bode ill for Republican hopes for victory in 2020 elections. For the past few weeks, President Trump and Republican leadership in the Senate have repeatedly almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the fight for the border wall. The Senate has not pushed using budget reconciliation to fund the border wall, allowing the time to fly by as the clock ticks down on Republican control over the House of Representatives. This will be the last opportunity Republicans have of funding the border wall until at least 2021 (assuming Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives). As recently as December 18, it appeared that President Trump had agreed with Senate leadership to indefinitely push off border wall funding in favor of passing the remainder of the 2019 budget. It seemed like the long awaited border wall funding had finally slipped into the political abyss. Then, under withering criticism from conservatives and other supporters of the border wall, President Trump reversed course, making it clear that the remaining portions of the budget will only be signed once he receives funding for the wall. On December 20, Republicans in the House of Representatives responded by passing substantial border wall funding in the form of a bill allocating $5.7 billion for the wall and close to $8 billion in disaster relief for areas hit hard by this years hurricanes and wildfires. While the $5.7 billion falls short of the $21.6 billion that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated it would take to complete the border wall, it is a substantial step in the right direction. DHS estimated that the $21.6 billion would fund a border wall that would extend almost the entire length of the border and would add about 1,250 miles to the border wall, which stood at 654 miles (at the time of the DHS report). $5.7 billion would fund over one-quarter of the border wall and allows President Trump to construct approximately 330 miles of additional border wall in the most vulnerable and dangerous parts of the border. Republicans in the Senate have been trying to pass funding for the border wall by ending the Democrat filibuster. This would require 60 votes in the Senate. There is no real hope of getting one Democrat in the Senate, let alone nine. As if this was not obvious enough, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has made it abundantly clear that Democrats will not permit any funding of the border wall. Schumer said, Everyone knew yesterday, long before the House vote, that the President's wall lacked 60 votes in the Senate. It will never pass the Senate. Not today, not next week, not next year. President Trump, realizing that the border wall funding must pass to fulfill his campaign promise and to protect national security, called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on December 21 to use the nuclear option to pass the funding. However, Senator McConnell made it clear that Republicans dont have the votes necessary to use the nuclear option. So the nuclear option is also not a viable option for border wall funding. This leaves budget reconciliation as the only option to pass the $5.7 billion in border wall funding. Budget reconciliation, like the nuclear option, allows for a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate to pass legislation, rather than the normally required 60 votes. However, unlike the nuclear option, it would not break precedent and would likely enable the border funding bill to pass. In May 2018, the Heritage Foundation recommended that Republicans pass the 2019 budget using budget reconciliation. This would have resulted in a superior budget to the current budget and would have included substantial border wall funding because it would not have required support from the Democrats. Budget reconciliation is the solution for funding the border wall, but has been ignored far too long by Republican leadership in the Senate. The strategy of relying on Democrat votes for the wall funding is guaranteed to fail and must be abandoned immediately. President Trump should insist that the Senate pass the $5.7 billion in border wall funding when back in session on December 27 using budget reconciliation. Budget reconciliation has been successfully used since 1980 to pass over 20 pieces of legislation, most recently with the Trump tax cut passed in 2017. Additionally, the American Health Care Act of 2017 almost passed using reconciliation. Legislation by Congressman Byrne to fully fund $25 billion for the border wall using reconciliation was introduced in October. It is high time that Republicans focus on using this tool to finally pass the House bill that would fund $5.7 billion for the border wall. It is even more likely that Republicans will pass $5.7 billion with reconciliation than if the bill would have funded $25 billion because all but one of the Republican senators are needed to vote in favor of this bill. While detractors of the bill in the Democrat party decry spending billions of dollars protecting the southern border, funding the border wall is a very small amount of money compared to the estimated 2019 budget of $4.448 trillion. $5.7 billion is only 0.128% or 1/780 as compared to the budget. And spending so little on the border wall to protect U.S. national security and fulfill a basic campaign promise is the least that can be done. While, as Jason Chaffetz notes, an alternative option that President Trump may have is to use unauthorized spending from the budget, which is something that had been used in the Obama administration, it is important to keep in mind that Democrats will likely try to use every tool in their arsenal, including legal action, to keep President Trump from using such funds. It would be wise to pass $5.7 billion funding for the wall with budget reconciliation and then attempt to fund the remainder of the border wall using the unauthorized spending. In advance of the Senate reconvening on December 27 at 4 PM, it is important that the public get in contact with Republican Senators and the White House to encourage them to change course and move for budget reconciliation and a simple majority rather than getting 60 votes in the Senate (which is Senator McConnells current plan). This option should also be the focus of conservative radio hosts, as well. While President Trump and Senate Republicans are in agreement that the border wall should receive funding, the most promising solution to funding the wall seems to repeatedly evade their focus. Budget reconciliation could be key to funding the border wall, protecting national security, and fulfilling a key campaign promise that could prove decisive in Republican victories in the 2020 elections. It would require a fierce liberal skeptic to deny that open borders bring crime, disease, drugs and votes to the Democratic Party. Reprehensible as it might be, the open borders and the subsequent upsurge of refugees serve the Democratic Partys political objectives of perpetuation of the Democratic Party rule. The Democratic scheme is to change the countrys demographic with an emphasis on open borders and relaxation of the immigration laws, thus ensuring a continuous inflow of Latinos and Muslims to the U.S. The central premise of this strategy is to entice the immigrants with welfare benefits, free health care, free education of children, and eventual citizenship in order to vote Democratic and ultimately to bring this country in conformity with the socialist principles. Therefore, a border wall with Mexico would create a serious hurdle to the implementation of this strategy. Mick Mulvaney recently said We dont understand why the Democrats are so wholeheartedly against it They voted for it in 2006, then-Senator Obama voted for it. Senator Schumer voted for, Senator Clinton voted for it. So, I dont understand why Democrats apply in politics just because Donald Trump is in office. Mulvaney seems to emphasizing the obvious over the important. The important is that this Democratic rebellion against building the wall has little to do with the mixture of disdain and fear of Donald Trump. This is a fight of two bitterly opposed and ideologically hostile, irreconcilable camps for the future of this country. In a broader ideological sense, the current brinkmanship is another chapter in the epic struggle between socialism and freedom. There can be no stalemate and no compromise is possible; this struggle can only end up in total victory or total defeat. For decades the Democrats successfully deceived the country and Republican presidents from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush by professing their support for the border security and building the wall while at the same time refining procrastination into a high art without assuming responsibility for the consequences. The political landscape had been steadily shifting in their direction until the election of Donald Trump. Trumps statements about border security touched on the conservative argument no borders -- no sovereignty. It mobilized the Republican Party and brought the issue to the top of his agenda. When it became apparent to the Democrats that they had failed to deceive Donald Trump, they dropped the charade when Chuck Schumer exposed the partys duplicity and openly declared, Trump will not get his Wall. As we know from history, the building of socialism is an organized and disruptive artificial process associated with ideological polarization, cultural and political confrontations, and violation of the existing moral order. Being aware of voters' discontent with socialist policies, the Democrats proceeded to dismantle the established constitutional order by offering suffrage to foreigners. Backing up this malicious concept, the state of California began to automatically register illegal aliens to vote when they obtain or renew a driver's license. It is only a matter of time before other states under Democratic leadership adopt this election model. This massive legalized election fraud requires a constant influx of foreigners. Since not all of Mexico, Central, and South America have crossed our open borders into Texas, Arizona, and California, and those states are not yet annexed to the possession of Mexico or Honduras, any notion of closing the borders or restricting emigrants flow into this country will be met with fierce opposition by the Democrats. If the speeches of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and other leading Democrats are any indication, it is becoming exceedingly obvious that despite dreadful consequences, the Democrats exhibit a greater hatred for capitalism than for terrorism, drugs, and crimes which makes them inherently incapable or rather unwilling of safeguarding this country. Indeed, the road to socialism is soaked with blood of millions who could not appreciate the fairness of economic equality; hence, a few hundred or even a few thousand deaths from the hands of poor immigrants should be a relatively small price to pay for the "bright future." The Democrats policy of open borders or no borders is designed to open our countrys gates to a tsunami of immigrants with morals and values diametrically opposed to those of Americans, promoting resentment instead of assimilation, polarization instead of unification, and ultimately making the United States of America not united, not states, and not even American. Alexander G. Markovsky is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, a conservative think hosted at Kings College, New York City, which examines national security, energy, risk-analysis and other public policy issues, He is the author of Anatomy of a Bolshevik and Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It. He is the owner and CEO of Litwin Management Services, LLC. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being beatified by the media establishment of the United States, and it is getting nauseating. With Justice Ginsburg ailing and liberals fearing that the Supreme Court may soon feature a robust conservative majority, the American left is aghast at the prospect of a return to following the Constitution as written. Having achieved many of its social change goals through judicial fiat, the loss of a progressive majority able to impose its preferences on the public is downright frightening to leftists. One response is to enshrine Justice Ginsburg as some kind of holy person, someone whose decisions must be honored as sacred. The idea of the Senate confirming a justice who might disagree with Ginsburg must become anathema. Having failed to derail Justice Kavanaugh's appointment with scurrilous accusations unsupported by any evidence, my guess is that in their place, the strategy will switch to shaming any deviations from her legacy as somehow unworthy. One facet of this campaign is the production of a movie about Justice Ginsburg's early days in the 1950s as a lawyer fighting sex discrimination in court and in her life. Although I have not seen the film, I do suspect that she is portrayed as heroic and as a victim who had much to overcome. The film was written by her nephew, in his first ever screenwriting credit. The film, entitled On the Basis of Sex, debuted at the AFI Fest last month and went into theatrical release on Christmas Day. Its viewer rating on IMDB is a very mediocre 5.3, which is unusual for a film that would automatically have many left-leaning viewers rating it highly. As part of its publicity tour, CNN's Brooke Baldwin interviewed the film's star, British actress Felicity Jones, who played young Ginsburg. She replaced Natalie Portman, according to IMBD, who left the project during the four years it was stuck in what is called "development hell" in Hollywood. The reason for going foreign in the casting does not appear to be an uncanny physical resemblance to the justice: The movie, starring a Brit as an American, was filmed in Montreal, apparently substituting for American locations. Baldwin embarrassed herself with perhaps the most fawning words of the year of adulation for a living political figure (yes, Justice Ginsburg is a political figure, as well as a judicial one). She is a legend, here in America and beyond, and when you were cast in the film, I had read then you went out to dinner with Justice Ginsburg. What was that like, just sitting in the same space, you know, inhaling the same oxygen as someone so extraordinary, and also, what observations did you take to use in the film? Don't believe me? Watch: Image credit: CNN screen grab via Grabien. The Israeli air force struck several targets inside Syria yesterday, hitting ammunition dumps and, according to a U.S. Defense Department official, Hezb'allah leaders who had boarded a plane bound for Iran. Newsweek: Several leaders of Hezbollah have reportedly been hit by an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital of Damascus. The information was given to Newsweek from a Department of Defense source with access to the information from Israeli senior military officers with direct knowledge of the attack. Israel's air strike was conducted minutes after the leaders boarded a plane bound for Iran. Several Iranian ammunition supply points were also a target of the bombing, the source said. The supply points contained valuable, GPS-guided ammunition from 2017, some of the best available to the Iranian army and Hezbollah. Syrian military confirmed via Syrian state media that an arms depot was hit in the attack and that three soldiers were wounded, Reuters reports. "Our air defenses confronted hostile missiles launched by Israeli war planes from above the Lebanese territories and downed most of them before reaching their targets," the military source said. However, Israeli military did not confirm any air raids had taken place, instead saying that the country's response was a defensive maneuver. "An aerial defense system was activated against an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria," a military spokesperson said in a statement reported by The Associated Press. The Jerusalem Post reports that the unconfirmed report of Hezb'allah leadership being hit doesn't make much sense. A Mahan Air flight left Damascus around 10 in the evening in the midst of the airstrikes. Mahan Air has been designated by the US Treasury Department for its links to the IRGC. Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said in 2016 that Mahan Air was among those flights used by Tehran to supply Hezbollah. However these flights could fly directly to Beirut so why would a Hezbollah delegation need to travel to Damascus to board the flight? The claim that the Hezbollah members were targeted and that they were traveling for the Shahroudi funeral has not been confirmed. Newsweek reported that a Department of Defense source had told them the strike was "conducted minutes after the leaders board a plane bound for Iran." Strikes also targeted ammunition warehouses that held precision ammunition. The claim that the Hezbollah members had already boarded a plane has not been corroborated with any footage on the ground that shows a plane being hit. A strike on a plane at a Damascus airport would be a serious escalation. The report may be only partly accurate and may indicate the men were struck on the way to board a blame [sic], not after they had boarded. Whether the strike on Hez leadership actually happened may be in question, but the IDF targeting Iranian missiles and ammunition dumps is not. The Post also reports that Israeli warplanes launched their missiles in Lebanese air space. This is to avoid the Russian-supplied surface-to-air missiles that protect Iranian assets in Syria. Killing Hezb'allah's leadership has been a goal of the Israelis for years. The spiritual leader and warlord of the terror group, Hassan Nasrallah, is rarely seen in public for obvious reasons. If the Israelis have penetrated Hezb'allah to where the travel plans of its leadership is known to them, that would be a significant intelligence coup. We will watch news from Lebanon to see if there are some funerals of prominent Hezb'allah members. Sometimes, the coincidences get just too...coincidental. Now we have, in Mexico, the sudden helicopter crash of a newly elected governor, after an apparently very bitter election. Here's the Globe and Mail report: A Mexican governor and her senator husband were killed on Monday in a helicopter crash near the city of Puebla in central Mexico, the government said, just days after she had taken office following a bitterly contested election. Martha Erika Alonso, a senior opposition figure and governor of the state of Puebla, died with Rafael Moreno, a senator and former Puebla governor, when their Agusta helicopter came down on Monday afternoon shortly after take-off, the government said. This seems to happen a lot in Mexico, quite unlike any comparable place in the region that I know of. A number of Mexican politicians have died in aircraft accidents in recent years, including federal interior ministers in 2008 and 2011. The latter two were also members of the PAN. Maybe it was just the wildest of coincidences, but given the savage character of Mexican politics, I think it's natural to be a little suspicious. In most of these incidents, the motive is suspected but not utterly obvious. This one is different: it came after a bitterly contested election that the rabid left says was stolen. It sounds like the sort of fury we saw from the left when Trump won except that now we see Mexican politics at play, potentially a straight-up assassination, possibly by the embittered left. Mexico sees a lot of these helicopter downings, and what's more, it sees a lot of full blown assassinations. A presidential candidate from before Mexico got into multi-party politics, Luis Donaldo Colosio, was straight-out assassinated in 1994, and his wife died under murky circumstances shortly after that. Other elected officials have been gunned down or else died in mysterious car crashes. There was definitely one of those in Michoacan. Yes, some probably were the work of drug-dealers. But others were far more likely to be Mexico's toxic politics. It does happen. Yet the Mexican government can get real touchy when you bring up any suspicions about the helicopter crash phenomenon. I remember how furious Mexico City's response was to an actually sympathetic editorial I wrote for Investor's Business Daily, I think in 2008, when a Mexican official was similarly killed in a helicopter crash. At the time, they were obviously worried about the potential impact on foreign investment, but my thought was to praise the Mexicans for their resolve and sacrifice in fighting drug lords. That's not the way they think over there. Why does it matter? Well, because the U.S. under President Trump is trying hard to get along with the new Mexican administration, run by the leftist Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador. His followers are the top suspects in this mysterious helicopter crash, which, if the investigation leads anywhere, is likely to cast a Putinesque pall over Lopez-Obrador just as it gets its grounding. Prepare for relations to deteriorate if that grows as a backstory. Perhaps even more, it matters because Mexico's politics seems to be the model for Democratic Party politics these days as rage over Trump dominates. In California, ballot-harvesting has been adopted as a legal practice, in what's a straight-out cultural appropriation of Mexican politics. If the Democrats are planning to make themselves the "perfect dictatorship" along the PRI model of one-party rule, starting in California and taking that style national, well, the unhappy question is, what else are they borrowing from Mexican politics as they (without saying so, of course) borrow from the Mexican Model? Yes, it sounds far-fetched. But we also know how implacably angry the Democrats still are at the election of Donald Trump and how they like to get away with things. Image credit: Martha Erika Alonso de Moreno Valle, own work, via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. As usual, Pope Francis disappoints. At his Urbi et Orbi Christmas message to the world, he pretty much suggested that anyone in the West who doesn't want unvetted migrants or who does want any legal process for immigration is a bigot, someone who has a problem with people simply because they are different. As if melting-pot America had anything to be scolded for on that front, given that most of us can name six or seven ancestral nationalities, and the fact that millions of people of all nationalities still migrate here legally, I guess to jump in and enjoy all that supposed bigotry. "We are all brothers," he said. "Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness." Maybe he was talking about the racially monolithic Japanese with such a comment. But I kind of doubt it. We all know what he had in mind, and what's more, NPR points out that as sexual scandals derived from clerical protection rackets engulf the Church, the Holy Father is turning more and more to advocating for migrants (heading to the West). So here we have his "can't we all just get along" speech, stating that his fervent wish for the world in the coming year is that French Revolution-derived concept of "fraternity." Plenty of reason to be suspicious of that one, given the atheist-materialist roots of that particular uprising. Where it really falls flat is when he starts bringing up particular countries and explains the fraternity wish he has for them. One stands out to me: socialist hellhole Venezuela. According to Vatican News: For Venezuelans the Pope hopes they might "recover social harmony" so as to "work fraternally" toward the country's development. Social harmony? That's the root of Venezuela's problems? That train came and went 20 years ago. Yes, there was social hatred whipped up by the socialist who led Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, 20 years ago, acting as a genuine socialist. Chavez made war on a substantial portion of the country's population and sneeringly called on Venezuela's middle class to just leave the country. He did everything else to end social harmony declaring war on private property in the name of "social justice," expropriating working farms, dirtying up the cities with menacing FARC guerrilla graffiti to let everyone know who was in town (I saw this in Caracas in 2005), organizing armed motorcycle street thugs to terrorize citizens in the name of "social justice," shutting down the free press, devaluing the currency, prohibiting aid from entering...the list is just so much bigger than this, but hate most certainly was at the root of it, a normal and ordinary socialist hate rooted in the third tenet of Lenin's Marxism, which is class struggle. Hate was a long way back in Venezuela's sad story, and the reality is, it went one way. Why doesn't the pope just state the obvious and call for an end to the socialism that has left the country a starving, impoverished, violent, dissident-torturing, oppressive social ruin? Asking for "social harmony" in a situation like this suggests that maybe there's a place in society outside the deepest prison or the executioner's block for Venezuela's evil, oppressive and criminal rulers. Maybe they have a case? Maybe they have a place? Don't think so. That kind of moral relativism leaves a sour taste in the mouth, given what's happened to the country. Social harmony is the end product of social capital, not the starting point. That's because social capital comes from respect for private property and that foremost of all human rights, personal security. It comes of not having to worry about getting kidnapped or robbed any time you go out without a bodyguard or an armored car, or any time you use an ATM. Right now, Venezuela has none of that. Neighbor no longer trusts neighbor, business, or especially the state. Just watch Secuestro Express to see what it looks like. The pope's soggy admonition has a Rodney King flavor to it, in no small part because of what the Church has been up to in the past 20 years. Venezuela became a hellhole in no small part because of the heavy permeation of the social fabric by Liberation Theology, including from Liberation Theology priests. I recall that back in the Hugo Chavez heyday, when the country was beginning its road to servitude, the Maryknoll magazines were full of praise for the Chavista government, even when it was starting to get obvious that the social fabric was unraveling. Venezuela also slid into hellhole status from the Church's failure to check Chavez's political use of Liberation Theology. Remember when Chavez announced on the radio that it was OK for the poor to steal, based on biblical doctrine? Remember when he waved a cross after escaping alive from a coup attempt? If the pope or those like him at the time had anything to say about this, it escapes me. The weak-kneed statement about everyone getting along isn't the result of the pope not knowing what is going on. He did appoint what appears to be a fairly good Venezuelan archbishop to be his chief of staff, a man who condemned Venezuela's "perverse ideology" and "system of government" a few months ago. Why isn't the pope the one talking like that? Why is he blaming social harmony for the country's problems, when right now, it's being crunched up in the ravenous, beastly jaws of socialism? The one possible reason might be that he wants to get along with the Chavista government in order to get it to allow aid in. But that's a bad plan, given the actual needs of the country with a people-hating by-any-means-necessary agenda. A monster has attacked that country, and there the pope is, suggesting that both sides are at fault and that getting along will do the trick. Talk about failing to get it. Image credit: Jeffrey Bruno/ALATEIA via Flickr , CC BY-SA 2.0. It is inexplicable how some individuals are still insisting on a monopoly to dominate certain sectors of the economy. The Philippines had a bad experience in this kind of market situation before. The government controlled power generation during the 80s and 90s until it had to get out of the business when it could no longer prevent outages. PLDT for a long time was the sole provider of bad telephone services until the government liberalized the telecommunications industry to make it more efficient and give customers a choice. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System controlled the distribution of water in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, but the agency, too, had to it give up when it could no longer supply water efficiently due to lack of capital. As a result, two private water companies now own two separate concessions that took over water distribution in the capital region. Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. are now spending billions of pesos to reduce water leakages, increase the supply and improve the sewerage system. Encouraging monopolies did not work in the Philippines. They ultimately ended up in the government providing subsidies and emptying the national budget. They also deprived customers and users of efficient services and the right to choose their preferred products and services. Plans, meanwhile, are afoot to improve further the telecom services in the Philippines through the construction of more common towers. The Philippines has lagged behind its Asian neighbors in providing reliable and fast telecom services and the best way to address the problem is to build thousands of towers. But Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and Information and Communications Technologyappears to have his own idea in the construction of the common towers. If he will have his way, Jacinto wants to accredit just two independent cell tower companies for the entire country. Mr. Jacinto might as well concede that monopoly, which the government has shunned, is not yet passe. Telecom stakeholders, both in the government and the private sector, have already rejected the idea of accrediting just two independent cell tower companies in several public hearings. Department of Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretaryin fact confirmed in a Senate hearing that the DICT would not pursue Jacintos proposed policy. Senatorsandboth criticized Jacintos proposal, which is seen to create a duopoly in the sector instead of opening up the market. I dont think that is good policy, said Escudero, adding Jacintos plan was not in the best interests of the telecoms industry. That is not opening it up, that will make it even more of an oligopoly or monopoly. I dont even understand why DICT or NTC is considering it.Rio also confirmed that incoming DICT chief Senatorwas in favor of more than two players building common telecommunications infrastructure in the country to avoid legal issues. Honasan believes this is in the best interests of the industry and the country. Opening up the construction of common cellular towers to everybody is promoting fair competition. Limiting the number to just two will result in inefficiency and is prone to corruption. What was originally meant to benefit the general public may end up favoring only a select few after all. Advocacy group Better Broadband Alliance lead convenorearlier questioned Jacinto on the rationale for limiting the participating tower companies. The tower companies are finding it viable to have more, why are they limiting it to two? Mirandilla-Santos asked, and sought the legal basis for inviting just two independent tower companies. Many in the industry raised concern that the proposal could turn into a money-making scheme for some businessmen. A more open accreditation process ensures a more level playing field and market competition, says one stakeholder, but limiting the process to only two companies breeds favoritism and corruption. The purported "compassion" Angela Merkel insisted on for Syrian refugees is not being appreciated back home in Syria. When civil war came to Syria, most of those who fled the violence were military-age males, and they left their women behind to fend for themselves. "Women and children first" apparently does not translate smoothly into Arabic. When Angela Merkel led the E.U. into offering refuge for these young males who abandoned their females, she not only opened the door to a new wave of rapes, thefts, and other crime by men taught to despise the decadence of the infidels, but also abetted a demographic catastrophe for Syria. Sweden came in for its share of mass migration of Syrian males, and a correspondent for Swedish Radio has visited Syria to explore the impact of the mass male departure on the women they left behind. A Google Translate version of the article by Johan-Mathias Sommarstrom (hat tip: Glenn Reynolds, Instapundit) is revealing of the complex unintended consequences of what at first looked like compassion: Lots of young men have fled from Syria some when the war came too close or because they were opposition and afraid to be arrested but many to escape the military service and be sent out in the war. Other young men are just in the war and many, no one knows how many, have been killed. - The really young generation is still there and the old one, but the young men have died or left Syria says Lina. She regrets the shortage from many perspectives, and many young women will be forced to go unmarried, there are not men so it is enough and moreover it will be more difficult with the reconstruction. She believes that young men are needed for the heavy construction work when streets and buildings are to be rebuilt. She wants the government to issue a permanent amnesty. Those who fled to avoid having to do military service should come back if they help build the country and she wants other countries to send home the Syrians. - The solution is to kick them out and get them to Syria where they can start building the country again says Lina. Wars frequently have a serious unintended demographic impact. If the Syrian males remain welcome in the countries where they sought refuge, Syria's population will decline even more than mere casualties bad as they have been would indicate. As was the case when millions of American males were mobilized to fight World War II, the women they left behind found new occupations open to them. The seeds of the feminist movement in America were planted by the women who stepped up to work in defense plants and elsewhere, in order to keep the economy running. They discovered that they were perfectly capable, and many enjoyed the extra money and respect that outside work brought them. Of course, they did not work in a society dominated by sharia, which relegates women to an inferior status. Nonetheless: The lack of young men has also meant that women have entered jobs that have traditionally been dominated by men. In Damascus, the city has for the first time ever employed three female drivers, for example. "In the future, you will see women who repair cars because women have to take traditional men's jobs to be able to support their families," says Safaa. - It can actually be a positive development. Previously, it was not accepted for women to work in certain areas, but now society is forced to accept it and I think that is good, she says. However, such views are far from universal: But others just think the other way around. - No, I think it's bad. This type of work is not suitable for women, says Nabiha, who also recently graduated from the University of Damascus. Syrian refugees in Germany in 2015 (CBS News screen grab). Repatriation of Syrian male refugees ought to be a priority as soon as the civil war winds down, as it may well be doing in the face of the apparent victory of Russia-backed forces of Assad. That is not likely to go smoothly, though. But for the good of host countries as well as Syria, it is the right way to go. It is not too soon to begin planning the mass repatriation. According to his critics, President Trump is abandoning the Kurds in Syria, yet another betrayal by America of its allies in an extended conflict (see pro-American South Vietnamese, Hmong in Laos, pro-Americans in Iraq for starters). But I have to wonder if American ground forces are the best or even the only way to effectively support our allies in a nation undergoing a civil war. President Trump obviously does not think so. This report from Kurdistan 24 informs us that American support has not vanished, but rather has focused on the air: The US-led coalition on Tuesday said it continued to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with "precision airstrikes and coordinated fires." American officials told Reuters earlier that US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria was also expected to signify an end to the US air campaign against the Islamic State (IS) there. However, a final decision has not been made. And one US official told Reuters that he did not rule out "some kind of support for partners and allies." In the meantime, France has said it would continue to fight IS in Syria. Reports indicate that until now, US coalition airstrikes continue. File photo of U.S. F15s over Syria (photo credit: Senior Airman Matthew Bruch). I take from this report that once again, President Trump is negotiating. With France, which has its own strategic and historical reasons for being concerned with the situation in Syria far deeper ties than the U.S. enjoys, in fact. Undoubtedly with Turkey, our NATO ally that is battling its own Kurdish separatism at home, and which does not want the Syrian Kurds to achieve any kind of independence from the Damascus regime, which is supported by Russia and Iran. Almost certainly, Russia is involved in the negotiations as well. That nation has in essence helped the Assad regime win its civil war and has a variety of prizes, including an air base and naval station in Syria. These permanent facilities altering the Middle East balance of forces are a fait accompli from the Obama administration's mishandling of Syria with its "red line" threat over the use of chemical weapons that became a laughingstock when not backed up with the assertion of power. That is the reality handed to Trump. He has already ordered an air strike that killed "hundreds" of Russians fighting as contractors/mercenaries, not regular uniformed troops, so the Russians know that the U.S. has the means and the will to fight back should an unspoken Trump red line be crossed. While Iran is feared to be able to take advantage of the U.S. withdrawal and grab territory enabling it to establish a land bridge to Hezb'allah fighters in Lebanon, President Trump has reversed the Obama administration's coddling of Iran, including the shipment of huge amounts of cash to it, and re-oriented U.S. policy in support of Saudi Arabia, which has a vital national interest in preventing Iranian dominance of the region. In other words, the situation is a complex balance of national interests, with most of the parties holding multiple goals that sometimes conflict with and sometimes intersect with American interests. This is the sort of situation analogized to three-dimensional chess. And that's even before Afghanistan is placed on the chessboard, where it belongs because Trump has also promised a withdrawal of forces from that nation. For good reason, Afghanistan has proven itself to be "the graveyard of empires," whose attempts to pacify and rule the rugged tribes there have never worked out well for Persians, the British, Soviets, and now Americans. It is hard to see an enduring American troop presence there as having any prospect of success in "nation-building" in the graveyard of empires. President Trump is seeking a new approach that leaves the ground fighting to those who have a more direct interest than we do. That would include the Saudis; the French on one side; and the Russians and Turks, both of whom have interests that conflict with, but occasionally overlap with, our own. There has never been a perfect solution to the problems of the Middle East, which are grounded in ancient history. I see President Trump as seeking to minimize the costs in blood and treasure that America must bear, while seeking an outcome that is non-catastrophic, and maybe even better than what exists under the current strategy. As for our friends, the Kurds, their quest for a nation of their own is both righteous and longstanding. They will not get a Kurdistan of their own until Turkey, Syria, and Iran are ready to concede it to them. That is not going to happen anytime soon, and the sort of catastrophic outcome that would unlock those nations' resistance would not be pretty, to say the least. Negotiating our way through this minefield is not easy, but a new approach is worth a try. Samsungs Sound on Display technology (SoD) will be making a big appearance at the upcoming CES 2019 event in Las Vegas, according to recent reports out of the companys home region. The technology would abandon in-television speakers in favor of audio thats generated and emitted directly from the display panel. Several unspecified Chinese manufacturers are also expected to showcase their own smartphones utilizing some form of display-based audio at the same event. Samsungs showings will reportedly go beyond smartphones to include demonstrations of the technology incorporated via OLED panels in both mobile devices and televisions. Unnamed sources within the industry also indicate that commercialization of Sound on Display or similar technology from Chinese manufacturers will happen in the second half of 2019. Building up hype for the Samsung Galaxy S10 There arent many details regarding exactly which devices will be shown or about the technology itself but Samsung did show off its SoDs prior to CES 2019 at SID Display Week 2018 in May. As with that previous introduction, the devices shown at CES will likely be prototypes but could be much further along in development. Previous rumors had suggested that Samsungs own version of SoD would make its first commercial appearance in the Samsung Galaxy S10 family of flagship Android devices. The current expectation is that those will be unveiled officially at the end of February at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona. Since CES 2019 takes place from January 8 through January 12, the timing would make sense. Revealing the technology at CES would help Samsung build up hype just before launching it in a handset for real-world consumer use. Advertisement The technology itself will likely work like previous variants from other OEMs such as LG. The concept is not entirely dissimilar to bone conduction-based audio in that it largely depends on vibrations that dont depend on a speaker diaphragm to work. Instead, a piezoelectric body is connected directly to the display panel, with the screen acting as a diaphragm. Like LGs variation on the concept, Samsungs panels will reportedly be based on its OLED screen technology, which is particularly well-suited for the technology because of OLEDs simplistic structure and lack of a backlighting system. LCD panels can work but the quality and level of audio are diminished due to the structure of the liquid crystals and backlighting unit. Bezel-free devices Nearly the entire smartphone industry has spent the past several years trying to work down the size of screen bezels using any number of novel technologies ranging from pop-up cameras to the invention of the much-maligned screen notch. Although slimmed down over that period, speakers have been among the most restrictive obstructions holding devices back mostly because an earpiece is still required for any device claiming to be a phone. Samsungs SoD could offer one solution to the problem since the technology would completely eliminate the need for that particular component in any capacity. Depending on as-yet-unrevealed details regarding the scale of the technology required to make SoD work, it could also feasibly save space internally. That would allow for larger batteries, new components, or other improvements to be made in addition to enabling the display to occupy the entire front face of a handset. Posted on: December 26, 2018 9:33 AM The Bishop of Ahoada, Clement Ekpeye, has been released, five days after unknown gunmen abducted him from his home in Nigerias Rivers State. Bishop Ekpeye was abducted on Tuesday night. The identity of his abductors is not known. Media reports from Nigeria say it is not clear whether Bishop Clement was released voluntarily or whether a ransom had been paid. The reports say that Bishop Clement was released on Saturday and reunited with his family, leading to a huge celebration by the people of the area, according to PM News Nigeria website. We thank God for the miraculous release of Bishop Clement Ekpeye from the hands of the Kidnappers this morning, Canon Hanson Bernard, the Diocese of Ahoadas Clerical Synod Secretary, said in a statement to The Vanguard newspaper. We thank all for fervent prayers and encouragement. Details of the kidnapping and Bishop Clements release remain sketchy. Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. will rebid the 650-megawatt Malaya Thermal Power Plant, along with its land in Barangay Malaya, Pililia, Rizal on March 13, an official said Wednesday. PSALM president Irene Joy Besido-Garcia said the submission of bids for Malaya privatization was originally scheduled on Dec. 14, but was deferred to March next year. In view of the failure of the fourth round of bidding for the third party advisor [to appraise Malaya], PBAC was constrained to move the deadline for submission of bid to March 13, Garcia said. PSALMs bids and awards committee previously prequalified four bidders based on the documentary deliverables they submitted, including AC Energy Inc., D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc., DMCI Power Corp., and FGen Reliable Energy Holdings Inc. There were originally 11 companies that expressed interest but only the four groups submitted the requirements. Garcia said that for the selection of the third-party advisor for the privatization of the Malaya power plant, PSALM set new timeline for another round of procurement. PSALM sent the request for proposals early this month. If the procurement of the Malaya consultancy will be successful, their output will be submitted on 13 March 2019, the same date for the bid submission and setting of the reserve price by the PSALM board for Malaya privatization, she said.Bidding for the consultancy for the privatization process was declared a failure twice, while a request for proposal is now ongoing. PSALM said the bidders needed more time to move forward with the privatization. We lacked time but we had to bite the bullet and revise to give longer time for bidders. Thats why we moved the bidding, Garcia said. PSALM is tasked to manage the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp. as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. The Malaya plant consists of a 300-MW unit with a once-through type boiler and a 350-MW unit fitted with a conventional boiler. It is one of the remaining big-ticket energy projects the government has yet to privatize. PSALM was supposed to bid out the facility in March 2017, but it was put on hold after the Energy Department decided to include in the bidding the option to convert the plant into a facility running on liquefied natural gas. This plan did not push through. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. October 4, 2017. The then president of the Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, gave an institutional response to King Felipe VIs speech of the previous day, in which the monarch aligned himself with the Moncloas repressive approach. Three days earlier, Spanish security forces dealt violently with voters during the October 1 referendum, leading the major European capitals and institutions to condemn such acts of police brutality. It was in this context that Puigdemont opened the door to Catalonias participation in an international mediation process in conjunction with Spain, while declaring: "We have received several offers in the last couple of hours, and we will receive more. All of them are well-aware of my willingness to engage in a mediation process". According to sources close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed at the time by Raul Romeva, the Catalan government were aware of at least twenty such offers. Nevertheless, all of them, were greeted with the same response from Mariano Rajoys government: a closed door. According to these same sources, the offers were actively pursued or received via governmental, parliamentary, diplomatic and personal channels, with most of them attempting to proceed discreetly. Some, however, occurred shortly after Puigdemonts speech. On October 6, the local radio station RTS revealed that the Swiss federal Department of Foreign Affairs was preparing to arrange talks between the Catalan and Spanish governments and that the Swiss authorities were "in contact with both parties" in order to make it happen. The sources explained that, before the news broke, the Swiss government had privately offered Alfonso Dastis, at the time the Spanish Foreign Minister, the possibility of organizing the dialogue between the Catalan government and the Spanish state. The format was to be similar to that which was used during negotiations regarding ETA: with the two parties meeting in a hotel for talks in the presence of an independent mediator. The same sources insist that the minister declined any kind of interaction and reprimanded his counterpart for having proposed it. According to well-informed sources, a similar pattern was repeated in the case of the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Sweden, and even Uruguay. The Moncloa rejected, directly or indirectly, offers from each of these countries to play an active role in talks between Catalonia and Spain. Meanwhile, on October 7, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke directly to Mariano Rajoy, urging him to seek "possible means to strengthen internal dialogue in Spain", as confirmed at the time by a spokesperson for the German government. Sources suggest that on October 20 the German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met in private with the German business community at the Circulo Ecuestre in Barcelona and was subsequently briefly seen there with a high-ranking official from Romevas ministry. Gabriel expressed his interest in finding a negotiated solution with Spain, while also acknowledging Spains reluctance to engage in any form of mediation. According to the information obtained by ARA, other countries made known to the Catalan government their readiness to function as mediators if the Moncloa were willing. Aside from governments, attempts were also made by groups within various European parliaments that were sympathetic to Catalonias plight: MPs from Estonia, Switzerland, Finland and the United Kingdom sent letters to the Spanish government, which suffered the same fate as the other attempts. Faced with the Moncloas refusal to hold talks, no European institution decided to take the initiative. The European Commission's (EC) response to a request from the Catalan Foreign Ministry to act as an intermediary is proof of this state of affairs. On October 13, the president of the EC, Jean-Claude Juncker, declared in Luxembourg that he would not participate in any mediation since it would lead to "more chaos" in the European Union (EU), though he added that "only one side", the Catalan, had requested it. According to sources consulted by ARA, the Commission told Romevas ministry, with whom it was in contact via its Barcelona office, that it was subject to diplomatic pressure from the Spanish government. Another ultimately unsuccessful avenue was taken by the European Council and the Council of Europe. According to sources, on October 9 Dastis travelled to Strasbourg to meet with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjrn Jagland, to make clear the Rajoy governments refusal to accept European mediation. The following day, Puigdemont declared Catalonias independence in Parliament before immediately suspending it in the hope of securing international involvement, a move Jagland had already ruled out before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that very day. At a higher diplomatic level, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approached the United Nations via the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Spain also turned them down. Annan, Prodi, Powell The Moncloas door was closed to everyone, even those who tried individually or via an organisation: one attempt which caused a stir was the dialogue initiated by The Elders, a group which included the former UN Secretary-Generals Kofi Annan -who died the following August- and Ban Ki Moon. According to sources, both also offered to mediate in an individual capacity. In Italy, Romano Prodi, in conjunction with Piero Fassino and Vittorio Craxi became involved, holding a meeting with Romeva on October 4. The minister also spoke with the leader of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams on two occasions. Other individuals who were willing to mediate in talks were former Austrian President Heinz Fischer and the renowned British mediator Jonathan Powell. All the offers obtained an identical outcome: the Spanish governments refusal thanks to it seeing the mere possibility of holding talks with the Catalan government as a defeat. October 27 arrived and every offer of help had been rejected. And the rest is history: a failed unilateral declaration of independence and repression involving political prisoners and people in exile. The presidents hope in Tusk When on October 10, 2017, Carles Puigdemont suspended the declaration of independence immediately after having proclaimed it, Donald Tusk, the European Council President began to be mentioned in parliamentary circles. The leader of the Catalan government had appealed for mediation, and Tusk seemed the right man for the job, since a few hours earlier he had called on Puigdemont to call off the unilateral declaration: "I beg you as a man who knows what it means to be on the receiving end of the polices truncheons. As someone who understands the arguments and emotions on both sides. A few days ago I asked Mariano Rajoy to search for solutions without recourse to the use of force". There was even talk of a possible phone call between Tusk and Puigdemont that the Catalan leader himself denied some months later. However, the leader who is now in exile continues to see Tusk as the ideal person to mediate in the independence process, as he explained in his book Escolta, Europa [Listen, Europe] (La Campana). Tusks inner circle rejected any possibility of being a partner between Catalonia and Spain, and encouraged them to find a solution involving dialogue "within the Constitution". The official residence, known as Los Pinos, had been off-limits to the public ever since it was built in the 1930s, but new president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has opened it to the public. (He will live elsewhere.) But now that regular people can visit, the mansions art collection, including works by Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, is nowhere to be seen. The Art Newspaper Overnight or long-term pay parking at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 3 will be temporarily prohibited to ease traffic going to and from the airport during the rest of the holidays. Please be advised that beginning December 28, 2018 overnight or long-term parking in all pay parking areas at the NAIA Terminal 3 will be suspended due to the heavy volume of vehicles sending off and meeting passengers this holiday season, the Manila International Airport Authority stated in its advisory. Officials of the MIAA Media Affairs Division, however, said the NAIA Terminal 3 management would still allow vehicles to park at pay parking areas but only for a limited period. They added that overnight and long-term parking would resume on Jan. 4, 2019. The MIAA has anticipated the arrival of at least two million air travellers, including overseas Filipino workers, in four terminals this month to spend and enjoy their vacations with friends and families this holiday season. Meanwhile, the Cebu Pacific Air urged air travelers on domestic flights over the next few days to check-in for their flights online before they head the airport.To expedite check-in and boarding, passengers are also requested to print their boarding passes or save these in their mobile devices. We are anticipating heavy passenger volume over the next few days. Checking in for flights online will save passengers from waiting in line at our airport check-in counters and self check-in kiosks, the CEB management stated. Airline officials said guests traveling on domestic flights who have checked-in could go straight to the bag-drop counter for their check-in baggage, or straight to boarding gate if no bags. Guests may check-in for their flights, select seats or add baggage allowance via the website, http://www.cebupacificair.com, or through the official Cebu Pacific Air mobile app. Just encode the booking reference and passengers surname in the space provided. Do it yourself if you can We accept in principle that private equity can deliver (somewhat) excess returns over most other asset classes. But there are a lot of qualifications attached to that, and most of them are very relevant to whether and how pension funds should invest in private equity. Truth be told, this isnt your regular guy: Vincent Bouchard, from Quebec, Canada, is an experienced gymnast and fitness fanatic, who constantly entertains his followers on social media with his impressive strength through a variety of tricks, the Daily Mail reports. Still, that doesnt mean that his latest isnt worth a notice, at the very least.My friends asked me to do a trick in the bus then that came into my mind, the 25-year-old says. So he came up with the idea for a plank that will give you serious fitness inspiration. For after Christmas or the New Year, or whenever. You can also see it in the video at the bottom of the page.Vincent hooked his wrists through the bus hand holders and then lifted himself up in the air, letting his entire weight be supported by his wrists alone. He too was having some trouble holding the position, but he managed to do it long enough for his mates to issue loud cheers to support him.Thats one way to make your commute more lively, you have to give him that. It sure beats seeing only angry faces or people rambling senselessly or causing a scene.As noted above, Vincent is an experienced gymnast, who also has about 10 years of crossfit under his belt and another 4 years of calisthenics, a special type of gymnastics that blends grace of movement with strength.In the past, his stunts have included doing planks on snow, on top of other people or on fences at the side of the mountains. Hes not your regular commuter, but he sure does make the ride more interesting, to put it lightly. However, 2019 will also bring other rear-engined goodies. For instance, the final part of the year should see the German automotive producer introducing the 992 911 GT3, which you can find in the Instagram post at the bottom of the page.The Porscha has been spied wearing the production body on countless occasions (we've added a full gallery above, so you can check out the GT Division animal from all the angles).While the transition from the 991.1 to the 991.2 GT3 only brought a slight aero aggression boost, the newcomer will pack the kind of aerodynamic elements one would expect to see on an RS model Of course, we're eager to see if the rear wing-deleting Touring Package will continue to be offered. For one thing, this showed up to deal with speculators driving the price of the 911 R towards the $1 million point, so it might not show up again.However, when it comes to the technical side of the 992 GT3, the news is certainly brilliant. And that's because the naturally aspirated flat-six, as well as the manual gearbox, are here to stay. These two aspects have been observed thanks to the soundtrack of test cars.Next year might also see Zuffenhausen introducing the 992 911 Turbo , which has also been spied testing in production trim.Nevertheless, the first months of 2019 will see Porsche bringing us the non-S Carrera, as well as the Cabriolet version of this and the Carrera S that landed in Los Angeles last month. After all, the rear-engined family will end up packing north of twenty derivatives. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 27 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Dec. 26. 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 Leman Mammadova Recently, Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) organized the next export mission to Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia, to promote Azerbaijani local products under the Made in Azerbaijan brand . As many as 28 Azerbaijani companies, operating in sweets, fruit juices, dried fruits, honey, mineral waters, textiles, construction materials production and tourism came to Riyadh as part of the mission, AZERTAC reports. At the meetings with representatives of Saudi Arabia engaged in the supply of food, drink, dairy products as well as companies involved in tourism and construction areas, representatives of Azerbaijani companies informed about local products and discussed their delivery and sale. Saudi Arabia has shown great interest in the Azerbaijani products, especially in food and agricultural ones. Within the framework of the export mission, Azerbaijan's Az-Granata and Saudi Arabia's Al Rabie have agreed to cooperate. Moreover, the sale of Confirm, Bolluk and Shirin companies' products at Panda market network was discussed. In addition, the sides considered the expansion of cooperation between tourist companies of Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia. At the other meetings held by Ambassador Shahin Abdullayev at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia proposed to organize several export missions in the future, as well as to expand ties with the Azerbaijani companies (agriculture, tourism, real estate, industry, etc.). According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover with Saudi Arabia for ten months of 2018 amounted to $ 15.476 million, which is 5.7 percent more than in the same period of last year. During the reporting period, Azerbaijan exported products for $727,000 to Saudi Arabia, while imports amounted to $ 14.749 million. Saudi Arabia's state-owned and private companies invested $ 368 million in Azerbaijan's economy. Export missions are a supporting measure to identify opportunities for accessing new markets, strengthen local product positions in existing markets and provide these markets with new products. During 2018, export missions to Russia, Switzerland, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Germany have already been sent. The last export missions studied the opportunities in the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). As many as 25 export missions are expected to be organized in 2019. Local entrepreneurs will participate in major trade fair in Russia, UAE and Germany in February. The new market at which Azerbaijan aims is South Korea, Azerbaijan will be participating in the food fair there in May 2019. The export of non-oil products will stimulate the expansion of the Azerbaijani products and will further strengthen the non-oil sector's share in the structure of the GDP, which is the main goal of the country's leadership. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Citing figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Representative Henry Ong said he expects OFWs remittances for 2018 to exceed more than $31 billion. Considering that monthly OFW money transfers have not gone lower than $2 billion since February 2016 ... personal remittances already totaled $26.5 billion in January to October, the $31 billion mark is near certainty, said Ong, who chairs the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries. Since the remittances always peak in December, there is even a high probability the $31 billion would be surpassed, he added. According to Central Bank data, remittances from OFWs in Africa alone rose by 22.7 percent to $113.23 million in January to October this year, from $92.3 million in the same period last year. These remittances largely came from Liberia, which posted $57,85 million. Also contributing to the hike were remittances from Nigeria, Seychelles, and Egypt at $8.74 million, $2.01 million, and $2.06 million, respectively, Ong said. In Europe, remittances hiked to 8.7 percent to $3.44 billion from $3.16 billion, mainly from Filipino seafarers whose ships were registered and based in the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, and Cyprus, even as a significant amount also came from land-based workers, such as nurses and engineers, farmhands, and household service workers. From the Pacific island nations, remittances also increased by 11.5 percent to $647 million from $580.4 million. Money transfers from New Zealand and the Marshall Islands reached $199.11 million and $42.80 million, respectively.From Northern America, more than $10 billion were remitted to the Philippines, while money transfers from the United States were up by 6 percent to $8.2 billion, and from Canada up 54.1 percent at $806.36 million. Because of the huge contributions from seafarers, Ong is proposing that government invest in maritime education, noting that only two maritime schools are funded by the government, namely the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in Zambales and the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in Tacloban, Leyte. To further strengthen our position as a major maritime nation, I believe we should invest more in maritime education through the PMMA which should become a university and the NMP, converted into a state college, he said. Ong is also recommending that economic managers try to convince OFWs to invest their earnings in small business ventures, interest income-bearing securities, retirement savings, health care insurance, and quality education for their dependents. I also want to see the Overseas Filipino Bank, a subsidiary of the Land Bank of the Philippines, to have a much deeper and growing role in the investment decisions of OFWs and their dependents, he said. As to the deployment policy, the Philippines should forge overseas Filipino workers bridges with the ... economies of Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe, he added. By Narmina Mammadova SOCAR Polymer exported nearly 4,400 tonnes of polypropylene to Turkey, SOCARs page in social network reports. It is noted that additional 6,000 tonnes of polypropylene will be exported by the end of the year. The opening ceremony of the Polypropylene Plant was held on July 18, 2018 with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Azerbaijan's SOCAR Polymer LLC, resident of Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park, exported the first batch of polypropylene to Turkey on October 5, 2018. The volume of the first batch was 170 tons. At the first stage, SOCAR Polymers production capacity will be 120,000 tons of polyethylene and 184,000 tons of polypropylene. The volume of exports of the plant, according to forecasts, this year will be 15,000 tons. By 2021, the total capacity can reach 570,000 tons of products. The plant will produce 19 types of products from polypropylene and 12 types of products from high density polyethylene. The products will be used, in particular, in the food and medical industries, as well as in agriculture and car manufacturing. The supplier of raw materials for the plant is Azerkimya PU. After switching to full capacity, the plant will purchase 23 tons of propylene per hour from the Azerikimya. Nitrogen installation for plants for the production of polypropylene and high density polyethylene are based on the most advanced technical and engineering solutions. The SOCAR Polymer project is the first of such a scale in the petrochemical industry of Azerbaijan for the last 40 years. The second plant was expected to be put into operation in the last quarter of 2018. The total investment costs of the project are estimated at $816 million. The credit in the amount of $489 million has been allocated to SOCAR Polymer by Russian Gazprombank for a period of 10 years. The production of raw materials at the SOCAR Polymer plants will contribute to the creation of hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises and to the development of production of various types of import-substituting products. According to calculations, the activity of the plants producing polypropylene and high-density polyethylene SOCAR Polymer will yield an income of $8 billion. At present, Azerbaijan imports polypropylene and thanks to the launch of the plant, it is planned to fully meet domestic demand and increase export potential. It is expected that 30 percent of the products will be sold on the domestic market, the rest will be exported to Turkey, Europe and the CIS countries. In general, fruit and vegetable products traditionally lead in the export of the Azerbaijans non-oil sector, the export of which amounted to $ 405.5 million in January-October 2018. So, given the potential of the SOCAR Polymer plant, this will probably push the production of fruits and vegetables to the background in national non-energy exports very soon. Thus, the main growth in exports of non-oil products of SOCAR can be expected in 2019. SOCAR Polymer was established in July 2013 to accelerate the development of the chemical industry. The company received the status of the second resident of the park. SOCAR Polymer covers 30 hectares of the park territory. SOCAR is a wholly state-owned national oil company headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan. The company produces oil and natural gas from onshore and offshore fields in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea. The company includes three production associations, one oil refining and gas processing enterprise, an oil flotilla, a deep-water base plant, two trusts, one institute, and 23 structures. It has representative offices in Georgia, the U.S., Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Iran, Germany, Ukraine, Belgium and Canada. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani postal operator Azerpost LLC has integrated online payments into its website www.azerpost.az, the company told Trend Dec. 26. Online payments are available over the SmartPay system of the information and computing center of Azerbaijani Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies. "Users have access to payment for most services (telephony, internet, cable TV, bank payments, etc.)," the company said. "Internet banking service is also available via the company's web-interface, and in the future, users will be able to use the 'personal cabinet' option, the development of which is conducted jointly with the State Customs Committee." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani delegation led by minister of economy, co-chairman of the State Commission for Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in the economic, trade and humanitarian spheres Shahin Mustafayev and the Iranian delegation led by Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami viewed the construction progress of the cargo handling terminal in Irans Astara city, as well as the territory where a new bridge will be built across the Astarachay River, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans Economy Ministry Dec. 26. The cargo handling terminal is located on a plot of 35 hectares, and the construction is carried out in two stages. The 1,400-meter railway between the Astarachay River and the Kamarbandi Bridge, the Bakhchasaray Bridge and the roadway over the Kamardandi Bridge with the length of 1,440 meters in the direction of Ardabil and Rasht cities have already been commissioned. In general, construction and installation work is scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2020. Azerbaijani and Iranian delegations examined the area where the bridge will be built across the Astarachay River. The length of the bridge will be 100 meters and the width will be 18 meters. During the meeting of the Azerbaijani delegation with the Iranian delegation, Shahin Mustafayev stressed that cooperation between the two countries has further expanded in recent years. In the past five years alone, 12 meetings were held between the heads of Azerbaijan and Iran, and over 100 reciprocal visits were made, he said. More than 700 Iranian companies operating in the fields of industry, construction, services, communications, trade, transport and agriculture were registered in Azerbaijan, he said. The trade turnover between the two countries increased by 18 percent in 2017 and by 73 percent in January-September this year, he added. As part of joint Azerbaijani-Iranian projects, cars are produced in the Neftchala industrial park, an Azerbaijani-Iranian clinic opened in Baku, and a joint pharmaceutical plant will be built in the Pirallahi industrial park, he said. In turn, Mohammad Eslami noted that Iran attaches particular importance to expanding ties with Azerbaijan, and measures have been taken to develop Iranian-Azerbaijani relations. Eslami also said that the regular visit of the Azerbaijani delegation to Iran will contribute to the development of relations between the countries, in particular, to the expansion of cooperation in the transport and transit sphere. During the meeting, the sides discussed trade and economic ties, expansion of cooperation in the transport and transit sphere and the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan has been successfully represented at an international tournament in sport dancing competition in Russia. Renaissance Cup 2018 was held in Moscow, bringing together talented dancers. Eurasian countries Cup among teams and WDSF International Open Standard & Latin world classification tournaments were also held as part of the comoetition. The team of Azerbaijan was represented by Aleksey Tsarev and Alena Stadnik in the European program, Nikita Khoroshenko and Polina Tsareva in the Latin American program. Azerbaijani dancers won gold among 8 teams from 9 countries, the judge of the international category, Azer Ashrafov, who was a member of the jury, told Trend Life. "For the first time, our country achieved such a result in team competitions, bypassing the national team of Portugal and Russia, who took silver, and bronze medalists from Belarus," said Azer Ashrafov. In the individual competition in the world classification tournaments, dance couples from Azerbaijan took the 4th place from 67 pairs in the European program and 7th place from 81 pairs in the Latin American program. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra has stunned music lovers with fascinating concert. The event took place at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Day.Az reported. Under the direction of the artistic director and principal conductor of the orchestra, Peoples Artist of Azerbaijan Rauf Abdullayev, the orchestra performed "Symphonie fantastique", the most famous and significant work, composed by Hector Berlioz. The uniqueness of this work is that it became the first program symphony in Romantic music. The French composer created a program in the form of a script, with a detailed and vivid description of all the events that were to unfold before the eyes of the public. The symphony lasts about 45 minutes and is divided into 5 movements: Reveries - Passions (Daydreams - Passions, Un bal (A ball), Scene aux champs (Scene in the country), Marche au supplice (March to the scaffold), Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Dream of a witches' Sabbath). Five parts of the symphony, performed by the orchestra aroused the delight of the public, awarded the musicians with a storm of applause. The audience also enjoyed the performance of the Russian violinist Sergey Dogadin. The musician pleased music lovers with Concerto for violin and orchestra (D dur, op. 35) by P. I. Tchaikovsky. The work became an integral part of Russian musical culture. The brilliant performance of Dogadin did not leave anyone indifferent. Notably, it's not the first visit of the Russian musician to Azerbaijan's capital. In 2017, Dogadin performed at the closing of the 9th Mstislav Rostropovich International Festival. Sergey Dogadin made his major debut in 2002 with Vasily Petrenko and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. He successfully performed with such conductors as Valery Gergiev, Yuri Temirkanov, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vladimir Spivakov and Manfred Honeck and shared the stage with such artists as Elisabeth Leonskaja, David Geringas, Denis Matsuev and Daniil Trifonov. Dogadin has won numerous awards at many international competitions, including the first prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hanover in 2015, the second prize at the first Shanghai Isaac Stern Violin Competition in 2016, and the first prize at the Singapore International Violin Competition in 2018. Rauf Abdullayev has been artistic director and chief conductor of the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra named after Uzeir Hajibey for many years. Hundreds of music lovers from France, Germany, U.S., Russia, Great Britain, Turkey, Greece, Iraq, Egypt, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Mexico and etc. are familiar with his outstanding performances. The conductor pays special attention to the performance of musical compositions by Azerbaijani composers. Many operas, ballets and symphonies by great national composers were performed for the first time both in Azerbaijan and abroad under his supervision. He is also the founder and the organizer of classical music festivals such as "Music of the 20th Century" named after Gara Garayev. Rauf Abdullayev has been awarded by the state and received many other honorary awards and titles during his active and untiring career. Also, during his service as the chief conductor of the Ankara Ballet Theater and Opera from 1993 to 1997, he was twice awarded the title of the Best Conductor of the Year of Turkey. This year, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on awarding Rauf Abdullayev with the Istiglal Order for great achievements in the development and propaganda of the Azerbaijani musical culture. Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli was formed in 1920 being one of the first orchestras in the Soviet Union, at the request of composer Uzeyir after whom it was later named. The orchestra was organized in July, 1920. The first master of the orchestra was an experienced conductor M. I. Chernyakhovski. Authors of many great works of world's music such as G.Mahler, I.Stravinski, C.Debussy, A.Bruckner, J. Brahms and others occupy honorable place in the repertoire of the orchestra. The orchestra is an active participant of "Music of the 20th century" organized by Abdullayev and "Festival of M.L.Rostropovich" which is held annually. Since 2007 the orchestra has participated in summer festivals In Italy. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A citizen of the US and Ukraine, Director of the Eurasia Security Program at the Harvard Kennedy School Sergei Konoplyov addressed a letter to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry asking for a removal of his name from the List of foreign citizens who illegally visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to the ministry. In his letter, Sergei Konoplyov noted that he was unaware of the consequences of his visit to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in 2012. He reaffirmed his full respect to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders, its laws and regulations and underlined that this visit shall not give a meaning of disrespect for Azerbaijan and its people. Expressing regrets for this visit Sergei Konoplyov mentioned that his visit to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia in no way served for the promotion of illegal regime established in the seized lands of Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Konoplyov expressed apology to the government and people of Azerbaijan for an unauthorized visit to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and attested that he would refrain from such visits to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the future. Sergei Konoplyov also asked for permission to visit Azerbaijan in the future. The appeal by Sergei Konoplyov was considered and the removal of his name from the list was decided upon. 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 operational control of Irans Shahid Beheshti port, as part of the strategic Chabahar port, has been officially leased to Indian Ports Global Ltd. (IPGL) for a temporary period of 18 months, and a 10-year period afterwards, Trend reports via Mehr News Agency. Mohammad Ali Hassanzadeh, deputy head for ports and economic affairs at Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, told reporters on the sideline of a trilateral meeting between Iran, Afghanistan and India on Chabahar Agreement, that a part of the IPGL tasks during its management over Shahid Beheshthi port will include loading and unloading, supplying equipment and marketing. He noted that Chabahar Agreement would facilitate transit of goods between India and Afghanistan and play an important role in the economic growth of the region. He said that Chabahar port offers the most tariff incentives for ports and maritime services among other ports in the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf regions, saying Chabahar is the best spot for transit and trade between India, Afghanistan and other countries in the region, especially the CIS states. Talking about the session held between members of the follow-up committee on Chabahar ports trilateral agreement, Hassanzadeh said the session discussed a wide range of topics including choosing routes for goods transfer, plans for marketing, how to attract businessmen and investors, discussing the opportunities and capacities available for using the Chabahar port in the supply chain, as well as facilitating trade, the role of operators, customs, and exchange of information. The project to develop Shahid Beheshti Port Irans only oceanic port started in 2007 through an investment amounting to $1 billion. The annual cargo tonnage of the port, according to reports, reaches as high as 8.5 million tons. The agreement for leasing the operational control of Shahid Beheshti Port was signed during President Hassan Rouhanis visit to New Delhi in February 2018. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Uzbekistan is planning to get $4.1 billion in foreign direct investment in 2019, which is almost 71 percent more compared to 2018 ($2.4 billion), Deputy Chairman of the State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan Shukhrat Vafayev told Trend. He said that many changes have been made in Uzbekistan in 2018 to further improve the investment climate, in particular, a number of tax and financial reforms were implemented. "As a result, foreign companies are showing more and more interest in investing in various sectors of the economy in Uzbekistan. By Oct. 1, 2018, the number of enterprises with foreign capital operating in the country reached 6960, which is 29.6 percent (1,590) more than a year before. Of these, 3,764 are joint ventures, 3,196 are foreign enterprises," Vafayev said. He added that the main investor countries are Russia, Turkey, China, Kazakhstan and South Korea. The residents of Afghanistan, India, Germany, Ukraine and Azerbaijan also show interest in investing in Uzbekistan. "In only nine months of 2019, some 1,652 enterprises with foreign capital were established. The volume of foreign direct investments in 2018 is projected at $2.4 billion. In 2019, it is planned to get $4.1 billion of foreign direct investments," the deputy chairman said. Vafayev noted that tourism, agriculture, light industry, construction industry, oil and gas industry, etc. have recently become the most popular sectors of the economy among foreign investors. He underlined that Uzbekistan is interested in expanding diverse investment cooperation in such industries and spheres as energy, aircraft, transport, water management, chemical industry, etc. "Another promising area is the processing of agricultural products and food production. The average annual growth rate of food production in our country is 9-10 percent. In addition, the consistent implementation of measures to develop and diversify the industry over the past five years has ensured the expansion of the resource base and increased production volumes," Vafayev said. He added that Uzbekistan increased production of fruits, vegetables and grapes 1.6 times in 2018, meat products 1.4 times, dairy products 1.4 times. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iran and the European Union are reviewing a comprehensive customs agreement and other related cooperation programs. "Iran seeks to sign a mutual cooperation agreement with the European Union," Iran's International Customs Cooperation Office Hussein Kakkhi told Trend. "Iran held intensive, over 2-year negotiations to sign the agreement with the European Union. They have demanded a series of documents and surveys, and they were provided. The heads of Iran and the EU customs attended two meetings, while two EU delegations visited Iran over this issue," he said. "The EU delegations had visited Iran's customs and held joint meetings with Iran Customs Administration and Ports & Maritime Organization," Kakkhi said. "The European Union consists of many countries, and each European country should have their own opinion on this case. Iran waits to sign the agreement with them," he said. The official mentioned that the agreement with the EU would mean cooperation on land or sea customs. "The agreement includes administrative cooperation like document exchange and inquiry between European countries and Iran customs," he added. "Naturally, the border customs cooperation with European countries can be different, for example Iran customs cooperation with Austria would include Imam Khomeini Airport and Vienna International Airport cooperation," said the official. "The signed agreement would be comprehensive that covers administrative communications, inquiry mechanism and joint cooperation in data exchange, which would ease the customs formalities," he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iran is carrying out exchange of essential goods with China and India and Tehrans relations with these two countries are gradually expanding, Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said at a meeting with directors of Irans banking system, Trend reports via Mizan News Agency. He said that the banking system should try to comply with monetary policy of the Central Bank. Commenting on his visit to Turkey, Hemmati said that as part of the visit, Turkish officials expressed readiness for broad cooperation. The goal of trade development between the two countries has been set and there is a great opportunity for the development of bilateral trade, he noted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the Philippine System Identification (PhilSys) were among the list of 183 new laws signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018. Duterte signed Republic Act 11154 on July 27 to replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao with a new Bangsamoro government designed to bring a lasting peace in Mindanao. The BOL, previously known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law, is considered as one of Dutertes biggest legislative achievements which will give the Moro people basic legal tools to chart their own destiny within the countrys constitutional framework. The BOL has yet to be approved through a plebiscite in Muslim-populated regions in Mindanao. Eleven days after he enacted BOL, Duterte approved RA 11155 creating PhilSys or National ID which serves as a single official identification card for all citizens and foreign residents in the country. Duterte had said the PhilSys will boost his drive against social menaces of poverty, corruption, and criminal issues as well as terrorism and violent extremism. The President also signed equally important laws such as RA 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 which completely prohibits all forms of hazing and imposes harsher penalties. To encourage more local and foreign investors, Duterte also signed RA 11032 or an act promoting ease of doing business and efficient delivery of government services. Other significant measures signed into law include: RA 11148 or the so-called First 1,000 Days Law which seeks to provide health and nutrition to children during their early days of development; RA 11037 institutionalizing a national feeding program for undernourished grade school pupils; and RA 11036 which will create National Mental Health policy. Since his overwhelming victory as the first President from Mindanao in the 2016 elections, Duterte has signed a total of 227 laws, many of them for the establishment of national high schools, barangays, and hospitals. For 2018, Duterte also made substantial achievements in governance through the issuance of Executive Orders (EOs) and Memorandum Circulars (MCs) particularly those that bolstered his campaign against environment exploitation, terrorism, insurgency and illegal drugs. Two weeks after he ordered the closure of Boracay, Duterte signed EO 53 on May 8 creating an inter-agency task force to address the degradation of the island paradise which the President described as a cesspool due to the presence of illegal waste discharge and other environmental problems in the island brought by years of neglect. After a six-month cleanup and rehabilitation, the world-reknowned island tourist destination reopened on Oct. 26 with clean waters, proper sewerage system, widened roads and new rules and regulations that will protect Boracay. Dutertes order to rehabilitate Boracay has prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to also correct possible environmental flaws in other tourist destinations of the country. The President also boosted his drug war by issuing EO 66 which directed all government offices, departments, bureaus, agencies and offices to implement the Philippine anti-illegal drugs strategy (PADS). The EO was supported by Memorandum Circular 53 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Nov. 12, directing all government offices and public universities and colleges to take active role in the war against illicit drugs.To address the decades-long insurgency, Duterte signed EO 70 on Dec. 4 to institutionalize a whole-of-nation approach in attaining and sustainable peace by creating a national task force aimed at ending local communist armed conflict. He also issued EO 68 adopting the national anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) strategy, and EO 69 granting financial support to the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary Serve (CAFGU-AAS). To sustain economic growth, Duterte signed EO 65 promulgating the Eleventh Regular Foreign Investment Negative List; EO 64 reviving barter in Mindanao; EO 61 modifying the rates of import duty on certain imported articles; EO 57 reducing rates of duty on imported capital equipment, spare parts, and accessories, EO 51 which protects the right to security of tenure of all workers. Duterte also strengthened the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) through EO 50 directing all concerned government agencies and local government units to implement the MSME Development Plan 2017-2022. Aside from EO 53 on drug war, another important circular issued by the Palace was MC No. 52 creating inter-agency task force on federalism and constitutional reforms. A total of 241 presidential proclamations have also been approved in 2018, many of them declaring special (non-working) days in different areas of the country. Proclamation 572 was the most controversial as it revoked the amnesty granted to the Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. According to the proclamation, the grant of amnesty to Trillanes is declared void ab initio (invalid from the beginning) because the lawmaker did not comply with the minimum requirements such as filing of the official amnesty application form and expressly admission of guilt for the crimes of rebellion. Trillanes, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, was one of several military officers who led at least three military uprisingsthe Oakwood Mutiny, the Marines Stand-off, and the Manila Peninsula siege against former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Duterte also issued Proclamation 489 on May 15 to formally declare 352,390 hectares of the Philippine Rise within the countrys executive economic zone (EEZ) as the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR). In 2017, Duterte issued EO No. 25 renaming the 13-million-hectare area undersea landmass off Aurora from Benham Rise to Philippine Rise. Duterte, meanwhile, signed five administrative orders (AO) in 2018 including AO No. 13 which removed non-tariff barriers and streamlined administrative procedures on the importation of agricultural products particularly rice. The order was the governments solution to the rising prices of rice and other agricultural products while waiting for the Rice Tariffication Bill to be signed into law. The bill, certified as urgent by the President in October, was approved by the bicameral conference committee of Congress on Nov. 22 and is expected to be signed anytime soon by Duterte, according to Malacanang. Other important administrative orders signed this year were AO No. 10 centralizing all government efforts for the reintegration of former rebels; AO No. 11 which created an oversight panel for the entry of third telecommunications player; and, AO No. 12 directing all government agencies in implementing the National Security Strategy 2018. By Trend Turkey has reached self-sufficiency in defense products by more than 62 percent, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. This indicator is very important, but still insufficient, Erdogan added, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media. The president also stressed that Turkey will further strengthen the national defense industry. Earlier, President Erdogan said that Turkey will strengthen the defense industry and become the world leader in production of defense products. No obstacles can stop the development of the defense industry in Turkey, the president said. "I personally instruct all security forces not to import defense products from abroad. Turkey is able to provide itself with these products." During 11 months of 2018, export of the Turkish defense products increased by 16.05 percent and reached $1.782 billion compared to the same period of 2017. Turkish defense products worth $150.5 million were exported to Oman in January-November 2018. During the reporting period, the Turkish defense products worth $72.3 million were exported to the Netherlands and defense products worth $71.6 million to India. Turkey has recently invested about $35 billion in the defense industry. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Narmina Mammadova Not sure where to go for a winter vacation? There are many places where you can relax in the wintertime. Azerbaijan is a great solution for lovers of leisure activities and extreme tourism. Winter holidays in Azerbaijan mean national hearty dishes (broth khash, ruddy fijim(meat pie), steaming dushbara), interesting excursions introducing the country's natural and historical wealth, various types of activities in ski resorts. Azerbaijan offers many popular destinations for snow seekers. While most of Azerbaijans major cities, including Baku, receive only small amounts of snow, locations such as Guba, Gusar and Gabala are offering great snow experiences. Analytical agency TurStat presented a rating of the best CIS cities for New Year and winter travel in December and January 2019, according to tourists. Baku is in the top three most popular cities among tourists in the CIS, Day.Az reports. The top ten cities of the CIS among tourists this winter include Minsk in Belarus, Baku in Azerbaijan, Astana in Kazakhstan, Almaty in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Chisinau in Moldova, Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. According to TurStat, tourists come to cities and CIS countries for an average of 3-5 days in winter. Russian tourists spend from $50 to $100 per day for room and board on winter tours to the CIS cities and resorts. Tours to the ski resorts of Shymbulak near Almaty, Shahdag and Tufandag in Azerbaijan, Logoisk and Silichi near Minsk are most popular among tourists from CIS countries. The rating is based on an analysis of the tours' popularity. Recently, TurStat has published a rating of the best CIS cities for shopping, according to Russian tourists. Baku and Astana lead this ranking. Azerbaijan is also on the 15th place in the TOP-20 countries Russian tourists are eager to visit in 2018. The number of Russian citizens visiting Azerbaijan exceeded 817,000 people with a growth of 4 percent. There are several reasons why Russian tourists are heading to Azerbaijan for their vacation. Tourists are attracted to the quality of the hotel basis, the richness of excursion programs and the development of sanitary and spa complex, such as Naftalan. Most tourists believe that the hotel base in Azerbaijan does not fall behind with Europe. Azerbaijan is among the developing countries in the field of tourism, occupying the 39th place among 148 countries in terms of global competitiveness in tourism. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz GETTING READY. Unidentified workers in a pyrotechnics factory in a village in Bocaue, Bulacan are making their New Years Eve products in time for the fireworks celebration for the arrival of 2019 on Tuesday night. Manny Palmero injuries AT&T says regulations Beaumont is proposing for devices that extend service from cell towers violate state law. The devices, commonly referred to as small-cell nodes, are similar to towers for cell phones. But they can handle massive amounts of data at faster speeds, therefore increasing cell-phone coverage and capacity to provide service. To accommodate the surging data that accompanies these solutions, we are turning to small cells to expand and enhance our network, said Adrianna Bernal with AT&T Public Affairs. Small cells deliver increased data capacity, help enable higher connection speeds and bring an overall better wireless experience to consumers today while also preparing for the technologies of tomorrow. Just before Tropical Storm Harvey in 2017, the city approved a manual regulating the installation of this technology, Beaumont director of planning and community development Chris Boone said. But city staff quickly realized more regulation was necessary to keep with the citys aesthetic and paused approving permits this summer. The manual additions would require poles that hold the nodes to be a minimum of 300 feet from other poles and have street lights on them. Companies also would have to have prior approval from Entergy to install the poles. Boone said the changes represent the citys need to keep requirements minimal so private companies can offer residents superior service and maintain the look city officials want. The nodes and support poles that are easiest and cheapest to construct look similar to small refrigerators stuck on top of telephone poles not a look the city thinks fits with Beaumonts aesthetic, Boone said. You want to maintain your citys character, but how do you do that to balance preservation with new technologies as they come along, he said. You dont want to be in a position where you lose out on businesses or residents because you dont have the technology people are coming to expect. The city has come up with a proposal for approved designs that look more like streetlights with metal cylinders on the top with a metal ring in the middle. Boone said a few poles have been installed that fit the citys requirements before permit approval was paused. AT&T has not had any approved, which the company blames on the new regulations. Thats compared to more than more than 700 permits to install small-cell nodes that have been approved in more than 100 Texas cities, Bernal said. Not only has that halted the business expansion of service in Beaumont, AT&T also says the citys three proposed additions to the regulations violate state law. The street lighting requirement would result in significant additional cost to businesses and violates state law that prohibits a city from requiring in-kind, or gifts that arent cash or stock, contributions, Bernal said. AT&T says the spacing requirement also violates state law because similar requirements arent imposed on other utilities. Third, the company notes that Entergy is not in the business of providing wireless communications and has no expertise in the ideal location for new wireless facilities. This requirement also isnt imposed on other telecommunications providers and, again, AT&T says, it violates state law. Because of these issues, AT&T is urging the city to take a full overhaul of its design manual so the company can bring its small-cell technology to Beaumont residents. The Beaumont City Council was supposed to vote on the issue earlier this month, but city staff requested a postponement. Boone said he wasnt sure when the issue might come back for a vote. Its unclear what steps AT&T will take should the council choose to pass the regulations as-is. City Attorney Tyrone Cooper said he wouldnt comment on the issue because AT&T has made it adversarial. No other telecommunications providers have publicly expressed concern about the proposed changes. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray The military would love to enlist Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray as a reservist, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday. READ: Catriona living moms dream Ill talk to her if she would like to be a reservist, and of so it should be in the Army, ha-ha, Lorenzana, a retired Army major general, told reporters. Reservists are commissioned to provide the base for the expansion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of war, invasion or rebellion; to help in relief and rescue operations during disasters or calamities; to assist in socioeconomic development; and to help in the operation and maintenance of essential government or private services in the furtherance of the mission. Lorenzana said a visit from Gray would be welcome. READ: Miss Universe Philippines hopes Grays win empower Filipino women It would be an honor to have her visit our camps, he said. Gray, 24, won the Miss Universe crown in Bangkok on Dec. 17, besting the candidates from 93 other countries. She is the fourth Filipina to win the Miss Universe title after Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973 and Pia Wurtzbach in 2015. READ: Miss Universe Catriona Gray a social media star A 23-year-old Houston man was arrested in Louisiana after he led the officials on a chase from Orange County, according to information from the Department of Public Safety. At approximately noon on Monday a DPS trooper was patrolling a stretch of Interstate 10 near mile marker 871 when he observed a Toyota passenger car speeding, officials said. Gang members, rapists and sex offenders topped the list of the states most dangerous fugitives who were captured in Houston this year. More than two dozen of the Texas Department of Public Safetys top fugitives were captured in 2018, several of whom were arrested in Harris County. Anybody whos shown a history of violent crime and, of course, are violating the conditions of their parole, we need to get them off the street immediately, said Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston Police Officers Union. We know these are our crime drivers. These are the people that are going to continue to victimize the people of our community. To be placed on the Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, a suspect must be wanted for a violent, aggravated or sexual crime. Other factors are also considered such as ties to cartels or gangs, violence along the Texas/Mexico border, violent sex offenses, recidivism and if they are wanted for a parole violation, according to the department. Texas gangs are responsible for high levels of violence throughout the state, such as murder, sex trafficking, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, the agency said in a threat assessment released in November. Gangs are a significant threat to public safety in Texas. At least two of the fugitives who are back behind bars are career criminals who are both sex offenders and violent gang members. Donald Lynn Gay, a 57-year-old member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texasa well-known prison gangwas arrested July 19 for violating parole on two convictions: murder and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. In 1978, he was convicted of rape and multiple counts of armed robbery in Bexar County and sentenced to 40 years in prison. While locked up in the mid-1980s, Gay was convicted of murder in Brazoria County for his involvement in the stabbing death of an inmate inside prison, according to the DPS. Gay was released on parole in 1997 and was required to register as a sex offender for life. He had been wanted since February for violating parole and was arrested after a tip to Texas Crime Stoppers. He remains in the Harris County jail in lieu of a $50,000 bail. The second member of the Aryan Brotherhood on the departments Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list to be apprehended in Houston this year was Michael Roy Plumlee, Jr., a 49-year-old who goes by Wizard. He was arrested in October. During an investigation by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force, which included U.S. Marshals and Department of Public Safety Special Agents, police caught Plumlee in Cypress. He had been on the run since February 2016. In April 1999, Plumlee was convicted in Bexar County of indecency with a child by sexual contact after an incident involving a 6-year-old girl. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and was released in August 2015, with the requirement that he register as a sex offender for life. He apparently stopped reporting to authorities in 2016 and was arrested for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. He was sent back to Bexar County where he made a $10,000 bail and is awaiting trial. A third gang member who was considered armed and dangerous and arrested this year is Rolando Tomas Mendez, a 28-year-old member of Tango Blast Houstonea decentralized gang made up of members of other gangs. With an estimated 22,000 members, the gang dwarfs many other well-known groups like MS-13 and the Mexican Mafia. Mendez was arrested in Houston on Oct. 14 on three counts of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. In the days before his arrest, police alerted Houston media that they were searching for him and suspected he was using Uber to get around town undetected. Police canvassed the area along the Westpark Tollway looking for Mendez with the help of a helicopter and K-9 unit. It was the third time Mendez made the news. A month earlier, police said Mendez was suspected of being the triggerman in a drive-by shooting outside a Mexican restaurant in north Houston. A 65-year-old Huffman businessman sitting in his truck Labor Day morning was hit once in the chest and survived. The driver was arrested within days and police caught Mendez in October. Before that, Mendez made headlines in 2011 when he was arrested for poisoning his girlfriends four-year-old son by pouring a large amount of salt down his throat. Doctors later told police that the boy was poisoned with salt and/or had water withheld and that [his] condition would have been life-threatening had he not been taken to an emergency room, according to court records. Mendez later admitted guilt in exchange for 10 years of deferred adjudication probation. If a judge finds that he violated probation, he faces up to life in prison for the first-degree felony. Mendez remains in the Harris County Jail without bail. The DPS top fugitive list is constantly updated throughout the year as suspects are taken off the streets. Earlier in the year, police arrested three convicted rapists in Houston for either failing to register as sex offenders or failing to keep in touch with their parole officers. Albert Lerose Turner Jr. was arrested on April 23, for violating parole after being convicted and sentenced to prison in 1978 for aggravated rape and aggravated robbery. In November, the 59-year-old admitted that he stopped reporting as a sex offender in 2016 and was sent back to prison for three years. On June 19, law enforcement caught 41-year-old Christopher Michael Dominguez in Houston for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and aggravated sexual assault of a child, a crime he was convicted of when he was 20. He was transferred to the Montgomery County jail, where is awaiting trial, accused in a different case of aggravated sexual assault of a child, court records show. Anthony Fitzgerald Turner was arrested on July 15 for similar charges out of Harris County and Galveston: failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and a parole violation for aggravated sexual assault. He was convicted of two rapes, the first in 1984 and the second in 2008, court records show. In August, the 54-year-old was sent back to prison for five years. Houston police officers are investigating the discovery of a body inside a southeast side park Wednesday, officials said. A man walking his dog in the park spotted the body in Sims Bayou near Milby Park around noon. WANTED: Police seek man sought in shooting of girlfriend on Christmas night The Houston Police Department Dive Team helped officers recover the body. The body was not immediately identified, although police said the body appears to be that of a white or Hispanic female. HPD's homicide detectives are investigating. 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 more than 16,000 NASA employees still out of work as the federal government shutdown stretched into day five do not support it, a union representing federal workers said Wednesday -- despite President Donald Trump's claims that they do. "We have not heard from a single member who supports the president's inaction," the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said in a statement Wednesday. "Most view this as an act of ineptitude." On Saturday, a partial government shutdown -- which includes NASA, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security -- went into effect as Trump held firm on his demands that Congress provide funds for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The shutdown impacts 800,000 of the 2.1 million federal workers nationwide, including 16,700 NASA employees, which accounts for 96 percent of the workforce. READ MORE: Workers, parks, NASA to bear brunt of shutdown Trump has argued that federal workers support the shutdown, saying Tuesday, "Many of those workers have said to me and communicated, 'stay out until you get the funding for the wall.' These federal workers want the wall, " according to an ABC News story published on Christmas Day. In its statement, the union said Trump needs to stop "gambling with the lives of federal workers." "If the president wants to gamble, perhaps he should go back to running casinos," the statement said. Although most of NASA's employees will be furloughed, those responsible for keeping people and property safe are exempted from the shutdown. For example, International Space Station operations will continue: about 200 of the 3,055 federal employees at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will continue working primarily to keep the three astronauts aboard the space station alive. Additionally, planned spaceflight events, such as OSIRIS-REx's Dec. 31 orbit of the asteroid Bennu, will happen as planned. If the shutdown lasts until that time, however, the public will not be able to count on NASA to publicize it and keep them up to date. "Citizens will not have televised access to NASA operations and programming or access to the NASA Web site," NASA's current shutdown plan states. Launched in 2016, OSIRIS-REx (short for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) is the first U.S. mission set to bring asteroid samples back to Earth. It will return to earth in 2023. Individuals interested in following along New Year's Eve should keep tabs on the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory's Twitter account, @UALAL or check its non-government website, asteroidmission.org. The University of Arizona also will issue news releases on its website. Furloughed employees will only get paid for the shutdown period if Congress approves it -- which it has done in the past. Those exempt from the shutdown will only get paid after the president signs off on a funding plan. NASA eventually will return to full operations, but The Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in space research, questioned in a web post Saturday how long the best and brightest will stay at NASA if these constant political disruptions continue. This is the third federal government shutdown of 2018, and the Trump administration has indicated that it could stretch into 2019. "If this frequency of shutdowns continues, I fear that we will see more and more NASA employees ask themselves why they put up with such needless disruptions and leave for jobs the private sector," the post stated. Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. A Tennessee jury ruled Bristol, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System breached its contractual and fiduciary duties to Kingsport, Tenn.-based Highlands Physicians, the Bristol Herald Courier reports. Here's what you should know: 1. The jury sided with Highlands awarding the group $58 million, but did not grant additional punitive damages. 2. Highlands along with 2,100 people filed the class-action suit in 2016, alleging a breaches of contract, fiduciary duty and of the network access agreement. The suit also argued Wellmont made several other actions that negatively impacted Highland. 3. Wellmont intends to appeal the decision. Sentara Healthcare's ASC at its North Suffolk, Va.-based BelleHarbour campus held an open house to welcome patients to the new center Dec. 19, the Suffolk News-Herald reported. Here are the key details to know: 1. The ASC is located on the second floor of the building, and is 20,000 square feet. 2. The center offers hernia repair, podiatry issues and vascular access. 3. The ASC has 14 pre- and postoperative recovery rooms. 50 YEARS. The Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army marks 50 years since its founding. 50 YEARS. An anti-CPP- NDF -NPA group holds a rally at the Mendiola Bridge near San Beda and Centro Escolar University, with the military insisting the leftists have nothing to celebrate. Norman Cruz Malacanang on Wednesday described the 50-year insurgency of the Communist Party of the Philippines as a failed rebellion and that its founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison, was out of touch with reality.Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the remark after Sison told ANC that the CPP-NPA remained relevant and would strengthen its efforts to oust President Rodrigo Duterte through its revolutionary movement. The 50 years of Joma Sisons rebellion speaks for itself. Its a failed rebellion, Panelo said. It only resulted in the loss of lives of Filipinos, especially the young students who were killed in ambushes, skirmishes, battles and in sickness in the hills. Panelo made his statement even as the Philippine Army on Wednesday claimed that the NPA violated its self-imposed holiday ceasefire after some of its members clashed with government forces, resulting in the wounding of a member of a militia in Rodriguez, Rizal.Panelo said many communist rebels had been laying down their arms and surrendering while Sison remained in exile in The Netherlands since 1987. The NPA surrenderers are coming in droves, responding to the call of the government to return to the fold of the law while Mr. Sison remains ensconced in his ivory tower of comfort and luxury while his comrades die for a lost cause, Panelo said. No wonder the forces on the ground no longer follow him, hence his regular rants against [the government] to give himself the appearance of relevance.Panelo urged Sison to also surrender before he became too weak to do so. Its time for him to wave the white flag before his physique gives up on him. There is honor in returning back to a democratic society and embracing the constitutional order, Panelo said. In the spirit of Christmas, we still wish him well and pray that he be blessed with inner peace and enlightenment. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered his troops to destroy the communists despite their declaration of a five-day holiday ceasefire. We do not subscribe to their ceasefire, we are ready for anything. Change your paradigm, do not fight them, destroy them. Destroy them, kill them, Duterte said in a speech at Camp General Manuel Yan Sr. in Compostela Valley. Duterte has terminated the peace talks the CPP-NPA, which is tagged by the US as terrorists as they continued to commit abuses and to demand a coalition government. Once Baylor Scott & White Health merges with Memorial Hermann to create the largest health system in Texas, the two entities still plan to maintain their distinct regional brands while operating under a new corporate name, Baylor Scott & White CEO Jim Hinton told the Dallas News. "Spending tens of millions of dollars taking signs off of buildings doesn't reduce the cost or improve the quality of healthcare," Mr. Hinton said. The systems are early in the process of determining a new corporate name and looking at a deadline of spring 2019 for one that "well represents the mission and vision of the new organization," he said. The organizations signed a letter of intent to merge in fall 2018 with the goal of having a definitive agreement in place by next spring. The strategy to maintain distinct brands under a new corporate name was shared in initial news of the merger. Mr. Hinton will serve as CEO of the merged organization, which will cover 30 Texas counties. Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White has a strong presence from North Texas to Austin. Memorial Hermann saturates Houston, where it's headquartered. Joining Mr. Hinton in an "office of the CEO" will be Memorial Hermann President and CEO Chuck Stokes and Baylor Scott & White President Pete McCanna. Find Mr. Hinton's interview with the Dallas News here in full. The Department of Justice partially intervened in a whistle-blower lawsuit against Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital, the hospital's CEO and business consulting group R & V Associates. The lawsuit alleges R & V and Wheeling Hospital CEO Ronald Violi caused the hospital to violate the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute. The DOJ specifically alleges the hospital violated the statutes by basing compensation for certain physicians on the volume or value of their referrals to the hospital. The Justice Department further alleges certain physicians received compensation above fair market value. "Improper financial arrangements between hospitals and physicians threaten patient safety because they can influence the type and amount of healthcare that is provided," Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the DOJ's Civil Division, said in a press release. "The department is committed to taking action to eliminate improper inducements that can corrupt the integrity of physician decision-making." A former executive vice president of Wheeling Hospital originally brought the lawsuit in December 2017 under the qui tam, or whistle-blower, provisions of the False Claims Act. The DOJ said its decision to intervene in the case shows it's focused on combating healthcare fraud. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 9 latest healthcare industry lawsuits Owner of medical equipment company sentenced to 3 years for billing fraud Healthcare accounted for bigger portion of 2018 DOJ false claims recoveries The New Jersey health department recommended 3,778 past patients of Saddle Brook, N.J.-based HealthPlus Surgery Center get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, according to Reuters. Patients who had surgery at HealthPlus Surgery Center between January 1, 2018 and September 7, 2018 were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens or infections due to improper sterilization of instruments and medication injections. So far no illnesses have been reported, the health department told Reuters. The surgery center will pay all costs for testing. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Michigan, Arkansas confirm 1st pediatric flu deaths Drug use driving spike in rare spine infections 7 insights on how 'less-than-perfect' organs can save lives Arkansas and Michigan reported their first pediatric flu-related deaths of the 2018-19 season. The Arkansas Department of Health reported the death of a child under age 4 on Dec. 21, according to THV11. Health officials did not disclose whether the child received a flu shot. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also reported a pediatric flu death Dec. 21. The child, infected with influenza A, had not received a flu shot this season, reports The Detroit News. Health officials did not release the child's age or gender due to privacy concerns. The deaths mark the sixth and seventh pediatric flu deaths nationwide for the 2018-19 season. Last flu season, the CDC received 185 reports of pediatric flu deaths in the U.S. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: 7 insights on how 'less-than-perfect' organs can save lives How this Chicago hospital's nurses make hand hygiene fun 'Alarming' levels of drug-resistant bacteria found in ICU patients, study says Washington-based neurosurgeon Johnny Delashaw, MD, sued multiple Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission members related to action taken against him in 2017, according to a report from The Daily News. Here are five things to know: 1. Last week, Dr. Delashaw filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleging five members of the Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission violated his constitutional rights, interfered with his expectancy to be able to practice neurosurgery and defamed him. 2. Dr. Delashaw alleged that misleading information presented to a commission panel led to restricting his ability to practice in 2016, and then media and political pressure led to the reopening of his case last year. 3. After articles published in The Seattle Times questioned his leadership, the commission suspended Dr. Delashaws license. At that time, he had resigned as chairman from his post at Seattle-based Swedish Neuroscience Institute. 4. The suspension occurred before the commission had a full hearing, according to the report, and the complaint stated the commissions decision to suspend based on an accusation of disruptive behavior from a nurse was unprecedented; according to the commissions policy, disruptive behavior is best addressed by the employer. 5. Dr. Delashaw denied the allegations and had his license was reinstated in July. The lawsuit requests punitive damages and legal cost reimbursement, according to the report. Border Force officers discovered the haul after unscrewing a fake bottom on the luggage of a passenger who had travelled from Brazil. Cocaine found hidden in a suitcase at Belfast City Airport could be worth up to 1.5m, a court heard today. Border Force officers discovered the haul after unscrewing a fake bottom on the luggage of a passenger who had travelled from Brazil. Valdire Medeiros Da Silva, 47, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with importing and possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. The father-of-four, a Brazilian national with an address at Deramore Drive in Portadown, Co Armagh, was refused bail. He was stopped and arrested after arriving on a flight from Heathrow on Sunday. A detective from the National Crime Agency (NCA), which is now handling the investigation, said 4kg of cocaine was located in a "professionally-constructed hide within the suitcase". Although the drugs have an estimated street value of 200,000, he suggested they could be worth up to 1.5m depending on purity. During interviews Da Silva made no admissions and denied knowledge of the cocaine. Opposing bail, the detective claimed the accused could flee if released. The court heard Da Silva has travelled round the world over the last two years, including trips to Brazil, France, Spain, Poland and Luxembourg. According to the NCA searches of his house uncovered evidence of four separate moneygram transfers for 2,700. In cross-examination, defence solicitor Conor Downey stressed nothing was found when Border Force officers first examined his client's suitcase in London. Referring to the subsequent search in Belfast, he argued: "It's completely impossible for this man to have been in contact with any of the drugs that were found in his suitcase if the same procedures were followed. "If the same procedures have not been followed questions would arise regarding he competency of the search carried out at Heathrow." Mr Downey disclosed that Da Silva has lived with his Latvian wife and their family in the Craigavon area for the past ten years. Denying bail, however, District Judge Oonagh Mullan said: "The risk of flight I consider is very high." She remanded the accused in custody to appear again by video-link on January 23. A bridal shop owner whose premature twins overcame the odds is using her wedding dress business to raise funds to support other families coping with early births. Catherine Smiths daughters Katie and Hope were delivered 22 years ago at just 29 weeks. Doctors were not hopeful about their chances, with Hope in particular not expected to survive, but after three months in intensive care both were finally able to go home. Believing guardian angels protected the twins both in the uncertain weeks after their birth, and ever since, Mrs Smith sews a small pair of silver wings into every wedding dress she sells her way of passing a blessing to newly-weds. Her boutique in the village of Greyabbey, Co Down, is called Seraphim the name given to the highest form of angels. Mrs Smith, a former nurse, credits her daughters for encouraging her to pursue her dream of working in the fashion industry when she left the healthcare profession. With the business now established, she is using it to raise funds for TinyLife, a charity that supports premature babies and their families in Northern Ireland. Expand Close Catherine Smith sews silver angel wings into each wedding dress she sells (Liam McBurney/PA)A wedding dress maker whose twins were born prematurely is encouraging new brides to support premature babies charity Tiny Lives.Press Association photo. See PA story ULSTER Babies. Date: Saturday 08 December 2018. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine Smith sews silver angel wings into each wedding dress she sells (Liam McBurney/PA)A wedding dress maker whose twins were born prematurely is encouraging new brides to support premature babies charity Tiny Lives.Press Association photo. See PA story ULSTER Babies. Date: Saturday 08 December 2018. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire As well as donating 50 for every dress sold in a sale in January, she is now stocking her boutique with TinyLife wedding day favours. The favours give couples the option of donating to the charity in lieu of a gift traditionally left for guests on the table at the wedding dinner. Mrs Smith, who lives in Comber, Co Down, said she has always told Katie and Hope, and her two younger sons Pete and Josh, to take their angels with them. I bought all four of my children wee silver angel wings when they were wee and they all still have them, she said. Expand Close Katie and Hope Smith were treated in intensive care for three months after their birth at 29 weeks(Smith family/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Katie and Hope Smith were treated in intensive care for three months after their birth at 29 weeks(Smith family/PA) I very much believe in faith, faith was a very big part of my life and still is. When our girls were born we had to have faith that they would be okay, we didnt know if they were going to be okay, but we had to have faith that they would be okay. So its something I very strongly believe in. So what we do as a consequence now is we sew a small pair of silver angel wings into each brides dress at her final fitting with blue silk thread and its just our way of telling them that our prayers for a long and happy marriage and good family go with them into their marriage and it seems to mean a lot to people so we believe in passing it on. Mrs Smith recalled the worrying days and weeks she and husband Al experienced after the girls were born. We were told by the paediatrician once the girls were delivered that Hope wasnt expected to do (to live), which is why she is called Hope, she said. They were both ventilated and it was 48 hours before I saw the girls, all three of us were very ill. Katie was the smaller of the two, she was 2lb 3oz, and Hope was 3lb 5oz. Expand Close Catherine Smith with her twin daughters Katie (left) and Hope are raising fund for the TinyLife charity for premature babies (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine Smith with her twin daughters Katie (left) and Hope are raising fund for the TinyLife charity for premature babies (Liam McBurney/PA) She said when Katie was well enough to be taken off a ventilator she was placed in the same incubator as her sister, to see if it would help her battle for life. They started to notice that Hopes heart rate went up and she definitely stabilised when she was in there, she said. Theyve always been very close and I am very grateful that 22 years later they are healthy and well and a credit to me and their dad. The couple had to dress their daughters in dolls clothes when they finally came home because they were so small. We knew nothing about looking after premature babies other than the fact that they were very vulnerable so it was really, really scary, Mrs Smith said. Expand Close Alexander and Catherine Smith holding their twin premature daughters Katie and Hope in hospital in 1986 (Smith family/PA)A wedding dress maker whose twins were born prematurely is encouraging new brides to support premature babies charity Tiny Lives.Press Association photo. See PA story ULSTER Babies. Date: Saturday 08 December 2018. Handout from the Smith family/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alexander and Catherine Smith holding their twin premature daughters Katie and Hope in hospital in 1986 (Smith family/PA)A wedding dress maker whose twins were born prematurely is encouraging new brides to support premature babies charity Tiny Lives.Press Association photo. See PA story ULSTER Babies. Date: Saturday 08 December 2018. Handout from the Smith family/PA Wire When we got to the stage of wanting to do something to help a charity, there wasnt really another charity that we really thought about. It just all meshed beautifully. I wouldnt have this (shop), I wouldnt be doing this if it wasnt for the encouragement of my daughters. They wouldnt be here if it wasnt for the expertise of the medical staff and all the help we got. Katie said sewing wings into the dress conveyed an uplifting message. Being a bride and getting married is such an important day for both bride and groom so I think to be able to have that connection to hope and to faith makes all the difference I think it makes the experience and the dress more personal and I think its a really lovely gesture, she said. Weve always supported mum and its amazing to see an idea come to life and I think to also give back to a charity like TinyLife is so important too, just to have the story behind the business. Expand Close Catherine Smith with her twin daughters Katie (left) and Hope, show a set of silver angel wings Catherine sews into each wedding dress she sells (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine Smith with her twin daughters Katie (left) and Hope, show a set of silver angel wings Catherine sews into each wedding dress she sells (Liam McBurney/PA) Hope said the decision to support TinyLife was an easy one. I think we always talked about when our mum got established a bit more we always talked about doing something for a charity and we didnt really need to think about it because we were immediately (thinking) Tiny Life, she said. We knew we wanted to do something and give back because there are a lot of people who have premature babies who really do need the help. Head of Fundraising at TinyLife, Valerie Cromie, welcomed the support. For the bride and groom, TinyLife wedding favours are a wonderful way to show their support for a charity that is close to their hearts and a great memento of the day for their guests, she said. Expand Close Katie (left) and Hope Smith in their mothers bridal shop in Greyabbey, Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Katie (left) and Hope Smith in their mothers bridal shop in Greyabbey, Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA) Over 2,000 babies are born too soon, too small or too sick in Northern Ireland. Some arrive as early as 24 weeks, weighing as little as 1lb 454 grams, the same weight as half a bag of sugar. At this understandably very stressful time for parents, TinyLife is there to provide practical advice, emotional support and to give a helping hand to families who have a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit, with their network of Family Support professionals in every neonatal unit across Northern Ireland, ensuring parents receive optimum support in hospital, at home and within the community. For more information visit www.tinylife.org.uk. Photographer ?Matt Mackey - Presseye.com 10th July 2015 The scene in East Belfast's Chobham Street where more than 50 homes have been boarded up to protect them from a 11 July bonfire. The New Mossley bonfire, one of the largest in the province is seen on the outskirts of Belfast. AFP PHOTO / PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. Local youths burn palets next to the New Mossley bonfire, one of the largest in the province is seen on the outskirts of Belfast. AFP PHOTO / PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. A resident of Chobham street boards up his windows to protect his home from the bonfire built nearby as people make final preparations for the Eleventh Night bonfire. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) A man sits on a bonfire on the lower Shankill area of Belfast. AFP PHOTO / PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. A youth fixes a flag onto a bonfire on the lower Shankill area of Belfast. AFP PHOTO/PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. A youth fixes a flag onto a bonfire on the lower Shankill area of Belfas. AFP PHOTO/PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. A youth stands on top of a bonfire on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. AFP PHOTO/PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. Houses are evacuated and protected at Chobham Street in east Belfast, Northern Ireland, as one of the biggest bonfires in east Belfast grows in size, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. AFP PHOTO / PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images A man stands on top of the bonfire as houses are evacuated and protected at Chobham Street in east Belfast. AFP PHOTO/PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. Houses are evacuated and protected at Chobham Street in east Belfast. AFP PHOTO/PAUL FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images. Youths climb a bonfire in the New Mosley area of Belfast. Niall Carson/PA Wire. A bonfire builder at work in the New Mosley area of Belfast. Niall Carson/PA Wire. A young boy gazes in awe at a bonfire in the Roden Street area of south Belfast. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Haidee de Sesto and Linda Ritele pictured as they wait for the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn to be lit for the 11th of July celebration. William Cherry/Presseye. Haidee de Sesto and Linda Ritele pictured as they wait for the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn to be lit for the 11th of July celebration. William Cherry/Presseye. Haidee de Sesto and Linda Ritele pictured as they wait for the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn to be lit for the 11th of July celebration. William Cherry/Presseye. Haidee de Sesto and Linda Ritele pictured as they wait for the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn to be lit for the 11th of July celebration. William Cherry/Presseye. Bonfire builders take a rest in the New Mosley area of Belfast. Niall Carson/PA Wire. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. A man lights the controversial Chobham Street Bonfire on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Firefighters hose down the houses after smoke begins to rise from the roof of a property near the Chobham Street bonfire. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Hundreds of people gather for the Eleventh Night bonfire at the New Mossley housing estate near Belfast. New Mossley is widely recognised as the largest bonfire in the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Iain McFarland, an Orange bandsman, plays his flute during the 11th night bonfire at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) One of the huge bonfires that towers over the houses and looks over the city of Belfast in preparation for the 11th of July celebrations when the bonfires are lit in many Protestant, unionist and loyalist areas of Northern Ireland. Photo: William Cherry / Presseye Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Iain McFarland, an Orange bandsman, plays his flute during the 11th night bonfire at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) A Loyalist youth carrying the Union Jack flag walks past the 11th night bonfire at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. New Mossley is widely recognised as the largest bonfire in the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) A couple walk past the 11th night bonfire at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. New Mossley is widely recognised as the largest bonfire in the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Pictured are Matthew Dixon with Ryan and Gary Ashwood in south Belfast. Pic: Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Pictured is Jaxon Washington-Powell. Pic: Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Pictured are Matthew Dixon with Ryan and Gary Ashwood in south Belfast. Pic: Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Locals from the Village area of south Belfast enjoy watching their local bonfire as working class Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. A Loyalist youth carrying the Union Jack flag walks past the 11th night bonfire at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. New Mossley is widely recognised as the largest bonfire in the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Hundreds of people gather for the 11th night bonfire as it is set alight at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. New Mossley is widely recognised as the largest bonfire in the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Hundreds of people gather for the 11th night bonfire as it is set alight at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. New Mossley is widely recognised as the largest bonfire in the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Hundreds of people watch on as the 11th night bonfire collapses at the New Mossley housing estate on July 12, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Locals from the Village area of south Belfast enjoy watching their local bonfire as working class Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. A group of women take a selfie as the Ballymacash bonfire burns in Lisburn. William Cherry/Presseye. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Pictured are Kayie Curry with Ryan Morgan Maddox Glass and Kai McNurnan. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Loyalist area's across Northern Ireland get ready to kick off the 12th of July celebrations with the traditional bonfires. Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press. Police water canon on stand by at the Grosevnor Road police station in Belfast, Northern Ireland as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The Shankill bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. A group of women take a selfie as the Ballymacash bonfire burns in Lisburn. Pic: William Cherry/Presseye. Firefighters hose down the houses in the area after smoke begins to rise from the roof of a property next to the Chobham Street bonfire. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street Bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street Bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. A man playing the flute as the Ballymacash bonfire burns in Lisburn. William Cherry/Presseye. Bonfire builders get to work lighting the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn. William Cherry/Presseye. Bonfire builders get to work lighting the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn. William Cherry/Presseye. The Shankill bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The Shankill bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. Bonfire builders get to work lighting the Ballymacash bonfire in Lisburn. William Cherry/Presseye. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. 11th July 2015 ?William Cherry/Presseye A group of women take a selfie as the Ballymacash bonfire burns in Lisburn for the 11th of July Celebrations when the bonfires are lit in many Protestant, unionist and loyalist areas of Northern Ireland. The controversial Chobham Street bonfire being lit on the Eleventh Night in Belfast. Kevin Scott/Presseye. 11th July 2015 ?William Cherry/Presseye A man playing the flute as the Ballymacash bonfire burns in Lisburn for the 11th of July Celebrations when the bonfires are lit in many Protestant, unionist and loyalist areas of Northern Ireland. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Donegall Road bonfire in South Belfast, as seen from the King Billy mural in sandy row as the 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is firefighters using a jet hose on a building at the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is firefighters using a jet hose on a building at the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is firefighters using a jet hose on a building at the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast, as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is Fire Fighters at the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast as the intense heat begins to melt objects and forces the crowds back as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is Fire Fighters at the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast as the intense heat begins to melt objects and forces the crowds back as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. Presseye Northern Ireland - 10th July 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye Youths tend the bonfire at the Ballymacash, Lisburn ahead of the Twelfth of July celebrations. Presseye Northern Ireland - 10th July 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye Youths tend the bonfire at the Ballymacash, Lisburn ahead of the Twelfth of July celebrations. Presseye Northern Ireland - 10th July 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye Youths tend the bonfire at the Ballymacash, Lisburn ahead of the Twelfth of July celebrations. Presseye Northern Ireland - 10th July 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye Youths tend the bonfire at the Ballymacash, Lisburn ahead of the Twelfth of July celebrations. General view of the bonfire on Lanark Way off the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire at Belvoir, South Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker press Young men from the Shankill area of Belfast put the finishing touch on their bonfire's on the 11th of july. picture mark marlow Pacemaker press 11/7/13 The Bonfire in Ballyduff on the outskirt's of Belfast on the 11th of july. picture mark marlow Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. PACEMAKER BELFAST 11/07/2013 Katie-Leigh Bain,Curtis Johnston and Cherene Grundmann pictured enjoying the Bonfire in King George Playing Fields Upper Newtownards Road Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire at Belvoir, South Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker press Young men from the Shankill area of Belfast put the finishing touch on their bonfire's on the 11th of july. picture mark marlow Pacemaker press Young men from the Shankill area of Belfast put the finishing touch on their bonfire's on the 11th of july. picture mark marlow Press Eye - Belfast - Thursday 11th July 2013 General view of at the bonfire in the loyalist Highfield Estate in west Belfast. In Northern Ireland, the Eleventh Night or 11th Night refers to the night before the Twelfth of July, an annual Protestant commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. 12.07.13. PICTURE BY DAVID FITZGERALD The 12th night bonfire celebrations get underway in Erinvale Estate in Finaghy Road South last night. The bonfire fell over close to people watching. A man runs as the bonfire starts to fall Pacemaker press 11/07/2013: The Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast the 12th of July celebrations began at midnight across the province. Picture By: Arthur Allison. A statue of our the Virgin Mary placed on a loyalist bonfire at Lanark Way PACEMAKER Preparations get underway at the Bonfire in Lanark Way in Belfast, ahead of the 12th of July annual Orange celebrations Pic Pacemaker Young loyalists scale the huge face of the bonfire on Lanark Way, off the Shankill Election posters of Alliance member Anna Lo on the Bonfire in Carrickfergus ahead of the 12th of July annual Orange celebrations Pacemaker Press 7/7/2014 Preparations get underway at the Bonfire in Lanark Way in Belfast, ahead of the 12th of July annual Orange celebrations Pacemaker Press 7/7/2014 Election posters of Alliance MLA Anna Lo and Sinn Fein's MEP Martina Anderson were placed on a bonfire in the Bloomfield estate in Bangor Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast - Northern Ireland - Saturday 11th July 2015 - 12th Night Bonfires Pictured is Fire Fighters at the Sandy Row bonfire in South Belfast as the intense heat begins to melt objects and forces the crowds back as 12th of July celebrations get under way across Northern Ireland to mark the victory of King William over King James Picture by Kevin Scott / Presseye. In Pictures: Effigies of Adams, Martin McGuinness and Bobby Sands placed to pyres Close A bonfire working group in the north west has called for no flags or emblems to be burned in 2019. The move at Derry City and Strabane District Council follows a series of contentious bonfires last summer. The cross-party group has set out its aspirations in a bid to get agreement from young people who have previously defied accepted protocol. Last summer the most controversial bonfire appeared in the Bogside in Londonderry, where flags, election posters and other emblems, along with toxic material like tyres, burned for more than 12 hours. SDLP councillor Brian Tierney, the agreed spokesman for the group, said: "As councillors coming from different backgrounds representing all political parties and groups on the council, we want this city and district to show respect for cultural traditions, respect for the law, and respect for each other. "We recognise that bonfires can be expressions of culture and tradition. Some want bonfires but others do not and others wish to explore alternatives. "Where there are bonfires they do need to be safe, clean and respectful to people of all backgrounds who live near and around them. "There should be no tyres or other toxic material on any bonfire, and they should respect the health and wellbeing of all people. "Burning tyres on bonfires, even for one day, can damage the health of people, especially those most vulnerable like our older people, young people and children, and people with respiratory problems." In August boards bearing the names of four men were placed on Bogsidfe bonfire, including those of police officer Stephen Carroll and prison officer David Black, who were murdered by terrorists. Poppy wreaths were also burnt. Mr Tierney added: "We recognise that burning flags, emblems or any material that knowingly causes offence to others cannot be justified. "This only damages community relations and impedes the already difficult process of peace building and reconciliation." Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Picture by Freddie Parkinson Just two years ago this double decker bus was a fully operational mode of public transport. Now it is a home, having been completely transformed inside it boasts a kitchen, bathroom amenities and bedrooms - under its new owner from Co Down. Jack McGrath (24) from Newry has spent the past 19 months converting the interior of the bus - a 10m long and 4.4m high green 1989 Leyland double decker. He purchased the public mode of transport while he in was living in England where he had attended university in Nottingham. Expand Close Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Picture by Freddie Parkinson Freddie Parkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Picture by Freddie Parkinson After graduating with a degree in environmental sciences, Jack - still living across the Irish Sea - wanted to take his first step onto the property ladder. No easy feat for young prospective first-time buyers. A few years ago in England I was looking at housing options - and obviously there are housing issues there and here, he said. My original motivation was the show like (Channel 4s) Amazing Spaces, and lots of YouTube videos about alternative living spaces. After doing some research, the former Abbey Grammar school student quickly ruled out various options such as shipping containers and quickly settled on what he felt was a more practical choice. A bus can move, it can be sited anywhere, stressed Jack, who works for pharmaceutical company Norbrook Technologies. Choice made, he located his double decker outside Liverpool and impressed by the 29-year-old Leyland model, he stumped up 5,500 to purchase the bus in May 2017. The bus was still in full operation in 2016 in Kent. Although its basically a 30-year-old vehicle - Leyland was bought over by Volvo and the engines are like tank engines, he explained. Expand Close Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Picture by Freddie Parkinson Freddie Parkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Picture by Freddie Parkinson Shipping it over to Warrenpoint via Heysham port in Lancashire, its now temporarily sited in the Mayobridge area where Jack has since spent his spare time on the laborious process of stripping back the interior - which is around 2.3m wide - to its shell - not the easiest of tasks. They made these buses hard to rip apart. Probably the hardest process stripping the inside, reveals Jack. I took out seats, the panelling. Then I started putting in wood frames, panels. I got an electrician in, wires were put through the bus and then sockets. Most of the wood work done by myself. It now boasts accommodation such as a double bed, a single bed on the upper deck, while the downstairs there is a dining area, which also can be converted into a second double bed. Heat is provided by a wood burner and a kitchen space comes complete with an oven and fridge. Bathroom facilities include a toilet and sink. A shower is external to the bus, but is self-contained ensuring privacy. Expand Close Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson Freddie Parkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jack McGrath and his glamping project of a Leyland double decker bus. Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson When the conversion is fully completed, Jack estimates that he will have spent 16k - money he saved up for since his uni days. From looking at similar converted buses that have sold on the property market, Jack believes its worth 30k - virtually double his initial investment. To get the project to its final destination, however, he needs to find a permanent base for the bus for a business venture. Originally he thought that once completed, the bus would be his first home, but now he believes it could be the start of a great business venture by renting it out to holiday-makers looking for a luxury caravaning experience. Im looking for to site it on another persons land and rent it out to glampers, explains Jack, who added that if he found a land owner who agreed to house the bus, they would be financially compensated. Although pleased with his progress, Jack - who lives with his parents Jim and Liz - insists that it will be only when he can fully install all the necessary plumbing and electrics that he can consider the project finished. I am proud of it, but I wont be until its finished. And one day Ill maybe think about making it my home, he added. Muckamore Abbey has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks following the publication of a damning report Police have been called out to Muckamore Abbey Hospital 130 times in nearly five years. It included three occasions when officers were summoned to deal with reports of staff assaults on patients. There were also 31 incidents of patient assaults on staff being reported to the PSNI. The Belfast Trust, which has responsibility for Muckamore Abbey, said there were "occasions when it may be necessary to request assistance from the PSNI" and it was operating within a safeguarding policy. The scandal-hit facility has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks following the release of a report to patients' families which showed a "culture of tolerating harm". The report also found the lives of patients were "compromised", safeguarding procedures were not followed, a seclusion room at the facility wasn't monitored, and there was a likelihood that patients would be harmed by their peers. Revelations about conditions and treatment of patients at the hospital have led to calls for a public inquiry. The BBC reported at the weekend that more than 20 staff have been suspended. Figures obtained by the Belfast Telegraph through a Freedom of Information request show that there were 130 police callouts to Muckamore between January 1, 2014 and July 31 this year. They included three incidents when police were summoned to deal with reports of staff assaults on patients. There were 31 incidents of police being called for reported patient assaults on staff. The top five reasons given for the police being called to the facility were: Assaults by patients on staff. Assaults by patients on other patients. Patients being absent with or without consent of staff, but not missing. Missing patient. And various contacts from staff reporting patients attending appointments outside the hospital and requests for escorts for more vulnerable patients. SDLP health spokesman Mark H Durkan said the details which had come to light about the mistreatment of patients at the hospital were "extremely shocking and demonstrate fundamental breaches of the rights of disabled people". "It is appalling that the PSNI have been called to Muckamore Abbey Hospital due to staff assaults on patients," he said. "We are talking about very vulnerable human beings, many with the mental capacity of children, being assaulted by staff. "It is imperative that the trust clarifies what action was taken in relation to these assaults in regards to staff disciplinary measures and the future safeguarding of patients." Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew, who is the party's spokesman for carers and wellbeing, said: "These reports are very concerning. "Sinn Fein supports families in their call for a public inquiry into the clear failures at Muckamore. "Families deserve answers, openness, transparency and support at this time and they should be told the truth as soon as possible." The Belfast Trust said: "Muckamore Abbey Hospital provides acute inpatient care to adults with an intellectual disability, also behavioural or mental ill health. "Our staff are trained to deal with challenging behaviours and we have an adult safeguarding policy in place which protects the health and well-being of vulnerable people. "There are occasions when it may be necessary to request assistance from the PSNI. "Separately, all reported incidents of assaults on patients by staff are fully investigated under the trust's adult safeguarding policy." At the weekend the trust confirmed that staff shortages have forced it to temporarily close Muckamore's psychiatric intensive care unit. The BBC reported that more than 20 staff have been suspended, with one nurse saying the situation was at "crisis point". Some charities have said the future of the hospital is now in question. The trust said: "Due to staff absences, Belfast Trust has taken a decision to temporarily close the psychiatric intensive care unit. "Our priority is to provide a safe service; to do this we have moved affected patients into other wards." On Sunday Sinn Fein's Pat Sheehan met with a group of concerned staff from Muckamore Abbey. Afterwards he said they had raised concerns about staffing levels, a difficult working environment and low morale within the hospital. Mr Sheehan said he had passed on their concerns to the RQIA regulatory body. CLOSING IN. National Police chief Oscar Albayalde tells a news conference in Legazpi City Wednesday law enforcement authorities have identified at least six persons of interest in the weekend assassination of Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort, although their identities are undercover still of aliases. PNP Photo in Batocabe slay Almost 100 prisoners in Maghaberry have their own keys A quarter of prisoners in Northern Ireland's jails have keys to their cells. They include dozens of inmates who are serving life sentences, among them more than 70 killers. In total 331 prisoners out of the 1,386 prison population have keys, allowing them to come and go from their cells as they wish. SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said it was "absolutely shocking", and sent out the wrong message to the public. He has written to the Department of Justice seeking answers. The Prison Service said some "suitably risk-assessed prisoners" had keys to allow them extra movement within their landing - the main communal area - but it is carefully controlled. Prison Service figures show: 70 inmates convicted of murder have keys, along with 28 rapists and three jailed for manslaughter. Keys were issued to a further 51 prisoners serving life sentences for other offences. More than half the inmates at Magilligan have keys - 229 of the jail's 408 prisoners. 87 keys have been issued at the maximum-security Maghaberry Prison - around a 10th of its 839 inmates. Of those with keys, 48 have convictions for murder. The details, correct as of October, were released after a Freedom of Information request from this newspaper. Mr McCrossan, an MLA for West Tyrone, said it raised many questions. "This revelation is absolutely shocking and does send out a wrong message to the general public about the prison system, and what amenities are available to prisoners," he said. "The purpose of prison is to punish those who have committed a serious wrong. Prisoners should not therefore be afforded the same freedom and luxuries as those who abide by the law. "This revelation is extremely concerning, especially in considering those convicted of serious crimes such as murder and rape. These people should not have keys to their own cells and be free to come and go as they like." The Prison Service explained that the keys allow inmates to come and go from their cells at specific times. They will have "enhanced access" to prison landings. Officials said only prison officers have complete access control to residential units and residential wings, and can override the system at any point. However, Mr McCrossan believes victims of crime will be angry at the news. He added: "Families of those murdered and victims of crime should be rightly outraged by this and the public should question what's happening within the prison system. These sort of practices need to be investigated. "I have written to the Department of Justice demanding answers while also calling for a review into how our prisons are run. "I want everything out in the open. Then the public can decide what's right and what's wrong." A Prison Service spokesman said: "Prison officers are the only people who have keys which allow complete access control to residential units and residential wings. "A number of suitably risk-assessed prisoners will have access to their own cell doors that may allow enhanced movement within their landing. "However, this is only at specific times and this can be overridden by prison officers at any time. "Within Maghaberry access to opening their own cell doors is not available during times of lock-up. "The majority of prisoners with access to their cells are at Magilligan which is a medium to low-risk prison with a focus on resettlement back into the community. "Giving suitably risk-assessed prisoners added responsibilities, in the context of safeguards put in place, is very much part of the testing process which is central to rehabilitation and reintegration back into society." In October the Belfast Telegraph reported about the extent of prisoner releases from Northern Ireland's jails. Between January 1 and September 30, people with murder convictions were released 386 times from prisons here. Just 20 of the 406 applications - less than 5% - were turned down. Two people were rushed to hospital after being rescued following a fire at a multi-storey apartment block in south Belfast. The fire broke out in the Russell Court building on Claremont Street, off the city's Lisburn Road. It is understood that a fire started in the flat on Christmas morning at around 10.45am. A woman had to jump from a window onto a lower level of the building to escape the fire. Both have now been taken to hospital to receive treatment for injuries sustained. Local resident Lee Turtle was inside the building at the time and described what happened. "I woke to my sister banging on the door shouting there was a fire. I jumped and we grabbed her three-month-old child before going outside," he said. Expand Close The scene of the fire in a flat in the Russell Court area of south Belfast Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene of the fire in a flat in the Russell Court area of south Belfast "There was pandemonium, everyone was just running everywhere. "When we got out we saw a woman jump out the window of the apartment the fire started in. Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Russell Court Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The scene of the fire in a flat in the Russell Court area of south Belfast Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Braeside Park in Enniskillen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Russell Court "She landed on her back on the roof and was shouting for help. "The fire service arrived and smashed a window on the floor below to bring her back inside. "Christmas is ruined, we now have smoke-filled apartments, smashed-in doors and we have been left to just stand here with no help. "The fire was brought under control in a few minutes and a woman from Radius Housing has told us to return to our apartments. We can't go back though, not with a three-month-old baby, the smoke is still everywhere." A spokesman for Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 10.52am following reports of a flat fire in the Lower Lisburn Road area of Belfast, where a number of people required medical care. The Ambulance Service dispatched four emergency crews to the incident. Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, two patients were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Six fire engines and an aerial appliance attended. Meanwhile in Enniskillen, the man who died in a house fire on Christmas Eve was named yesterday as elderly widower Ben Donnelly. The blaze broke out at his home in the Braeside Park area of the town at around 11am on Monday. Emergency services attended but Mr Donnelly, who was in his 80s, was found to have died at the scene. Police said an investigation into the cause of the fire, which is not believed to be suspicious, has begun. Jenny Cash from Dundonald in Northern Ireland with her baby girl who was born at 1.15 am RVH midwife Beca Glass with Aine Nesbitts baby boy Conor, born at 3.16am, and midwife Maeve Dumigan holding Jia Lings baby girl, Chen, who was born at 8.47am yesterday Lisa Rodgers with her baby boy at the Royal Victoria Hospital While the rest of Northern Ireland was tucked up waiting for Santa, a number of families were celebrating arrivals of a different kind. The first Christmas baby to be born this year was Aislinn White's baby girl who arrived at 0.34am. Aislinn's new baby was born at the Royal Victoria Hospital and weighed 7lb 7oz. The Cash family from Dundonald received the greatest gift of all this Christmas as they welcomed their new baby girl into the world. The baby girl, who is yet to be named, arrived at 1.15am. Her dad Neil, who is a twin, was also born on Christmas Day - meaning that Christmas will always means a double helping of celebration for the Cash family. Aine Nesbitt gave birth to a baby boy named Conor at 3.16am, while Jia Ling gave birth to a baby girl, named Chen, at 8.47am, and new mum Lisa Rodgers also welcomed her baby son into the world at the Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that his biggest regret of the last year was the CervicalCheck scandal. The Republic's cervical smear services have been in the spotlight since it emerged around 221 women with cervical cancer were not informed that smear test results showing them to be clear were inaccurate, and that revised test results were kept from them. The review into a cervical cancer scandal in Ireland by Dr Gabriel Scally found there were "serious gaps" in governance and expertise and failure across the whole system of a cervical screening programme. It is thought around 20 women have since died. Speaking to the media, Mr Varadkar reflected that the scandal was a low point for both him and the Irish government. "In terms of the low points, I don't know of any one particular day but definitely trying to understand and manage and respond to the CervicalCheck scandal was extremely difficult, much more difficult for the women and families affected than for any politician," he said. "Just trying to get basic facts and then when we got the facts, trying to explain them and get them across, and trying to respond to issues, making the right decisions in a very frenzied period with a lot of misinformation. "The extreme difficulty that was then compounded by the emotion of very sick women and very distraught families." Mr Varadkar added that he felt the highlight of the year was the historic abortion referendum in May this year. He said: "It was one of those days when you're reminded why you're in politics - it's about being a part of making things happen." Tributes have been paid to the renowned Irish literary critic Eileen Battersby who died in a car crash. Ms Battersby (60) was critically injured in the single-vehicle collision on Saturday afternoon near Drogheda and died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on Sunday night. Her daughter Nadia was also injured in the accident and admitted to hospital. Originally from California, she moved to Dublin to study English and history at University College Dublin before joining the Irish Times in 1988, where she stayed until July this year. Irish President Michael D Higgins said the news of her death will have been met with shock and enormous sadness by those who knew her work. All of us owe her a debt of gratitude for her unstinting efforts to bring the best writers from around the world to our attention, he said. Damian Smyth, head of literature at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: For so many years, Eileen Battersby was the foremost literary critic in Ireland, a champion plying her trade in the public press, that most exposed forum, keeping the seriousness of new writing to the fore in our culture. She will be greatly missed. Belfast author Rosemary Jenkinson said she had admired her ability to take on the big names. I remember she had once criticised Sebastian Barry (the celebrated Irish playwright, novelist and writer) very severely, she said. She was famous for being controversial and was very admired for standing up to literary geniuses and actually interrogating them more than the average critic. So she was admired for being so bold while also being criticised for her controversy, so a very divisive figure in Irish literature, but never boring. Paul ONeill, editor of the Irish Times, praised Ms Battersby for her distinctive voice, passion, insight and sharp critical faculties she showed in her immeasurable contribution to the papers literary coverage over three decades. The papers books editor Martin Doyle said he would remember her as a fearless and forthright critic who was internationally renowned as a passionate champion of literature, particularly in works of translation. He added: Her enthusiasm was infectious, be it for her beloved horses and dogs or a newly-discovered or neglected author. She will be greatly missed. Irish Culture Minister Josepha Madigan called her an immensely well-regarded arts critic and journalist, noting her many awards included the National Arts Journalist of the year award. Her works also included non-fiction, with a number focusing on her love for animals as well as a novel entitled Teethmarks On My Tongue. Mr Madigan added: She will be greatly missed. I would also like to offer my sincere condolences to Eileens family and friends at this sad time. The team from RTE Radios Sunday Miscellany programme, where she was a regular contributor, said they were greatly saddened to hear of her death. As a contributor to Sunday Miscellany, Eileen wrote superb scripts with both emotional and intellectual depth, said a post on the programmes Twitter account. Three-year-old Lorriane Holts killer has been convicted of attempting to murder a dementia sufferer almost 40 years after the toddlers death (PA) A man who violently attacked a dementia sufferer in a row over tools has been revealed as a child killer living under a pseudonym. The father of three-year-old Lorraine Holt, who was murdered in January 1979, has criticised the parole board for giving Stephen Chafer the chance to re-offend. Chafer was 17 when he was jailed for life for sexually assaulting Lorraine before knifing her to death. Now aged 57, he was this month convicted of the attempted murder of 60-year-old Fay Mills in another frenzied knife attack. He had been going by the name of Stephen Leonard when he attacked Mrs Mills. Lorraines father Jim Holt told the BBC: Because all of this has happened its brought all of [Lorraines death] back, not just to me, but to the whole of my family. The toddler was playing in the snow outside her family home but wandered off, and was later found by Chafer sitting alone crying. Chafer, who was Lorraines relative through marriage, carried her to the grounds of the nearby vicarage, where he sexually assaulted her before stabbing her 39 times. He admitted her murder and was granted parole after serving 23 years in 2002. He was returned to prison in 2013 for torching his flat, risking the lives of the other residents in the building, but was released again in 2017. Chafer was convicted earlier this month of the attempted murder of 60-year-old dementia sufferer Fay Mills on June 23 2018 at her home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Police said. At his trial at Cambridge Crown Court, the court heard he launched a frenzied attack on Mrs Mills whom he had known for around 15 years following a row about a rake. Mrs Mills injuries were so acute that when police arrived they believed she was already dead but she survived. The defendant claimed a switch flicked in his head but was convicted of attempted murder and the common assault of her neighbour Mark Patchett when he tried to come to Mrs Mills aid, police said. He lunged at Mr Patchett with the knife before fleeing the property and leaving Mrs Mills for dead. Mr Holt told the BBC he hoped authorities lock him up and keep him locked up because if he comes out again hell destroy another family. He wont go away because he gets a buzz out of it, thats my personal opinion, he said. Mr Holt, who now lives in Nottingham, added: I knew he was out and knew at the back of my mind he would re-offend. Then I hear from the police and hes back inside for arson and Im like so youve had him twice and youve let him go?. Now this has happened to the Mills family. Mr Patchett, 48, told the Press Association: I found out not so long ago that [Chafer] had been in prison for the murder of a three-year-old. I think its disgusting and I think he never should have been let out. He described hearing Mrs Mills screams, saying: He was torturing her he stabbed her more than 30 times. I think he might have been trying to cut her head off. He added: He lunged at me with a knife but I swerved it and he just skimmed my face if I hadnt pulled away I might not have been here today. A spokeswoman for the Parole Board said: The Parole Board directed the release of Stephen Leonard following an oral hearing in July 2017. Tragically, there are rare occasions when offenders go on to commit serious further offences after being released by the Parole Board. Whilst this represents an extremely small proportion of cases considered, we do take each case extremely seriously and work with others in the criminal justice system to ensure that lessons are learned to help to prevent further tragedies. The defendant will be sentenced for attempted murder and common assault on January 4. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the UK war memorial in Wellington, New Zealand (Dominic Lipinksi/PA) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had a mixed year despite their life-changing celebrations, according to one royal author. Former actress Meghan became an HRH and a fully signed-up member of The Firm after marrying Harry in a glittering ceremony in St Georges Chapel in Windsor. Expand Close Newlyweds Harry and Meghan walk down the steps of St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Newlyweds Harry and Meghan walk down the steps of St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding (Ben Birchall/PA) Then, just five months later, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child, with the royal baby due to arrive in the spring of 2019. The Sussexes have picked out a new home and renovations will be arranged at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, where they will raise their son or daughter. Frogmore Cottage overlooks the Frogmore House where Harry and Meghan had their evening reception after their #RoyalWedding in May. The grounds of Frogmore - open just 2/3 days per year - are beautiful. pic.twitter.com/29TElqaOKF Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) November 24, 2018 The Windsors new power couple have had much to do, organising their wedding, and now planning for their baby and new home. Royal writer Penny Junor praised the duke and duchess for sprinkling fairy dust everywhere they go. She cited Harrys speech at the Invictus Games and Meghans Grenfell community cookbook project as key successes. Everywhere they go they sprinkle fairy dust. They are both so easy and charming and tactile and Harry so funny that they are changing the face of royalty, Junor said. Junor added: They had a great tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and Harrys very moving speech at the opening of the Invictus Games was a triumph. He just goes from strength to strength. And Meghans involvement in the Grenfell cookbook has made a big impression. They are a great double act. But she warned that they appeared to have lost some of the public goodwill towards them in recent months. Meghans estrangement from her father seems unresolved, with Thomas Markle expressing his distress at their rift in newspaper interviews. Thomas Markle Did Tell-All Interview to Clear His Name, Not Bash Meghan https://t.co/kVnvqeba0O TMZ (@TMZ) December 10, 2018 Junor suggested that the duchess had made a mistake in failing to mend their relationship. I think it has been a mixed year for Harry and Meghan, Junor told the Press Association. They seem to have lost some of the goodwill and admiration that was so wholehearted when they married, and Meghans failure to sort things out with her father has been a huge mistake, in my viewPenny Junor They seem to have lost some of the goodwill and admiration that was so wholehearted when they married, and Meghans failure to sort things out with her father has been a huge mistake, in my view. We obviously dont know the truth about her relationship with him it seems beyond extraordinary that Harry has never met him but having him give interviews in which he says that she hasnt spoken to him or made contact with him since the wedding is incredibly damaging. Mr Markle has given several interviews and more recently told the Mail on Sunday: I have been frozen out and I cant stay silent. I have made dozens of attempts to reach my daughter via text and letters, but she and Harry have put up a wall of silence. The duke and duchess have also faced reports of a rift between them and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend a National Service to mark the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey (Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend a National Service to mark the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey (Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph/PA) As well as rumours regarding Meghan and Kates relationship, there were also reports of tension between William and Harry, with Harry reportedly accusing his older brother of trying to wreck his relationship with Meghan when he initially voiced concerns. Junor described the reports as damaging, suggesting it had become a vicious cycle. The more the press write negative things, the less charming Harry is prepared to be and so the more negative the stories, she said. It is all very sad because Harry and Meghan are a great double act. The mayor of Guimbal town in Iloilo and his son, a congressman, will be charged for beating up a policeman, police said Wednesday. In an interview with radio dzMM, Western Visayas regional police director Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said Mayor Oscar Garin and his son, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Richard Garin had summoned PO3 Federico Macaya and beat him up after he was disarmed, body-searched and handcuffed at gunpoint. The mayor and his son will be charged with physical injuries, alarm and scandal, a direct assault against an agent or person in authority, and grave coercion, Bulalacao said. I told Congressman Garin that Im taking this incident as an affront to me. I will not let this pass without taking action against them, Bulalacao said in a statement. The Garins police escorts have been recalled, he said. Despite an apology from the congressman, Bulalacao said his men had the right to file charges against him and the mayor.Bulalacao said the incident stemmed from Macayas failure to arrest the suspect in an altercation involving the congressman and two others. Macaya said he could not arrest the suspect because the victim refused to file charges because he didnt want his parents to know about the incident. Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde told radio dzMM that he ordered Bulalacao to relieve the Guimbal police chief of his duties and to cancel the mayors deputation over the local police. What really hurts is that these are elected officials, they were voted by the people, he said in Filipino, referring to the Garins. Border patrol officers stand at the beach on the US side of the fence between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico (Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP) An eight-year-old boy from Guatemala died in US government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, US immigration authorities have said. It marked the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. US Customs and Border Protection said in a news release that the boy died shortly after midnight. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trumps request for border wall funding. Expand Close Neighbours carry the coffin that contain the remains of seven-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin (Oliver de Ros/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Neighbours carry the coffin that contain the remains of seven-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin (Oliver de Ros/AP) The White House referred questions to the US Department of Homeland Security, CBPs parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. The agency said the boy showed signs of potential illness on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever. The boy was prescribed amoxicillin and Ibuprofen and released on Monday afternoon after being held 90 minutes for observation, the agency said. The boy was returned to the hospital on Monday evening with nausea and vomiting and died there just hours later, US Customs and Border Protection said. The agency said the cause of the boys death has not been determined and that it has notified the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general and the Guatemalan government. Expand Close Claudia Maquin grieves as she attends a memorial service for her seven-year-old daughter Jakelin Caal Maquin (Oliver de Ros/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Claudia Maquin grieves as she attends a memorial service for her seven-year-old daughter Jakelin Caal Maquin (Oliver de Ros/AP) The hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Centre, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. CBP promised an independent and thorough review of the circumstances. The agency has not yet said when or where the father and son entered the United States or how long they were detained, saying only in its statement that the boy had been previously apprehended by its agents. CBP typically detains immigrants when they cross the border for short periods of time before releasing them or turning them over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Alamogordo is about 90 miles from the US-Mexico border at El Paso, Texas. Expand Close A heart constructed out of wood and wrapped in plastic announces the death of seven-year-old Jakelin (Oliver de Ros/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A heart constructed out of wood and wrapped in plastic announces the death of seven-year-old Jakelin (Oliver de Ros/AP) Ruben Garcia, director of El Pasos Annunciation House, said Tuesday that he had no reason to believe his shelter had served the family, but was waiting for further details about what happened. A CBP spokesman declined to elaborate on Tuesday, but said more details would be released shortly. A seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents, also in New Mexico. The body of the girl, Jakelin Caal, was returned to her familys remote village on Monday for burial on Tuesday. Large numbers of Guatemalan families have been arriving in recent weeks in New Mexico, often in remote and dangerous parts of the desert. Jakelin and her father were with 161 other people when they were apprehended in Antelope Wells, about 230 miles south west of Alamogordo. CBP announced new notification procedures in response to Jakelins death, which was not revealed until several days later. President Donald Trump had said it was marginal for a child of seven to still believe in Santa (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) A seven-year-old girl who talked to Donald Trump on Christmas Eve still left out milk and cookies for Santa despite the US president asking her, Are you still a believer? Collman Lloyd, of Lexington, South Carolina, had called the NORAD Tracks Santa programme on Monday night to check on Santas journey delivering toys. In an interview with the Post and Courier of Charleston, she said the scientist who answered the NORAD phone asked her if she would like to speak to the president. Six minutes later, Mr Trump was on the line. Are you still a believer in Santa? he asked. When she responded, Yes, sir, the president added, Because at seven, thats marginal, right? Collman did not know what marginal meant and simply answered, Yes, sir. Mr Trump closed by saying, Well, you just enjoy yourself. Mr Trumps chat with Collman was initially reported as being with a boy named Coleman. Only Mr Trumps end of the conversation could be heard by reporters, but Collmans family later posted video of the call on YouTube. Collman told the Post and Courier that she and her 10-year-old sister and five-year-old brother left iced sugar cookies and chocolate milk for Santa. She reported that Christmas morning, the food was gone and presents were under the tree. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby arrives for the Christmas Day service at Canterbury Cathedralbeen Pope Francis has offered his Christmas wish for fraternity among people of different faiths, races or ideas. He urged the world to put aside "partisan interests" to find a political solution to wars in Syria and Yemen and conflicts in Ukraine and on the Korean peninsula. Addressing tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims in St Peter's Square yesterday, Francis said that the universal message of Christmas was that "God is a good Father and we are all brothers and sisters". Without fraternity, the pope said "even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty". He added that "our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness". Francis made his appeal as trends toward nationalism, fuelling suspicion of migrants and refugees, have gained traction in much of the developed world. The pope also called for dialogue among Israelis and Palestinians so they can "undertake a journey of peace". Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury used his Christmas Day sermon to highlight the importance of forgetting "tribalism" and "political advantage". The Most Rev Justin Welby told worshipper that the "language of love" is spoken by God "for the poor and suffering and oppressed in every place at every time". The archbishop told the congregation: "God's language of love is exclusive. "It requires us to forget other languages of hatred, tribalism, rivalry, political advantage and of materialism, pride, greed, and so many more." An Israeli technology company has said its anti-drone system is drawing major interest after rogue unmanned aircraft sowed chaos at Londons Gatwick Airport last week. The Israeli company Skylock is among a growing industry specialising in detecting and downing intruder drones by jamming them, or disrupting their frequencies. The company said Tuesday it saw a 40% spike in inquiries into its product since the Gatwick episode. Expand Close Product manager Asaf Lebovitz explains their systems main unit at the companys offices in Israel (Sebastian Scheiner/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Product manager Asaf Lebovitz explains their systems main unit at the companys offices in Israel (Sebastian Scheiner/AP) Product manager Asaf Lebovitz said the company, which emerged to target militant drone use in Syria, has shifted focus to commercial applications and has been approached by airports in North America and Europe. Noam Milstein, drone operations chief for Israels Civil Aviation Authority, said such systems are obviously becoming crucial to prevent drone incursions from those who dont care about the regulations in place. President Donald Trump shares updates on the North American Aerospace Defence Command Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) US president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have taken calls from children anxious to find out Santas whereabouts on his gift-giving journey. In one conversation, Mr Trump asked a seven-year-old named Collman, Are you still a believer in Santa? He listened for a moment before adding, Because at seven, its marginal, right? Mr Trump listened again and chuckled before saying, Well, you just enjoy yourself. Mrs Trump told a caller that Santa was in the Sahara. Several minutes later, she reported that Santa was far away in Morocco but would be at the callers home on Christmas morning. Mrs Trump later tweeted that helping children track Santa is becoming one of my favourite traditions! Helping children across the country track #Santa is becoming one of my favorite traditions! @Potus and I enjoyed working with @NORADSanta - #ChristmasEve pic.twitter.com/CYNkARbFaI Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) December 25, 2018 The NORAD Tracks Santa programme became a Christmas Eve tradition after a child mistakenly called the forerunner to the North American Aerospace Defence Command in 1955 and asked to speak to Santa. The programme was not affected by the government shutdown. It is run by volunteers at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado using pre-approved funding. The Trumps later travelled to Washington National Cathedral to attend the Solemn Holy Eucharist of Christmas Eve. Mr Trump most likely would have been attending Christmas services at church near his estate in Palm Beach, Florida. But he scrapped plans to head to Florida for the holidays after parts of the government were forced to shut down indefinitely in a budget stalemate with Congress. The first State House in Columbia is shown in this painting from the collections of the SC Historical Society. Historical markers dot the county This marker sits in the median at Highway 17-A and Highway 52 in Moncks Corner. Eli Soriano The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of televangelist and Ang Dating Daan head Eliseo Brother Eli Soriano in a libel case arising from his remarks against a fellow preacher in his radio program 20 years ago.In a seven-page decision penned by Associate Justice Noel Tijam, the SCs First Division sustained the May 2016 decision of the Court of Appeals that affirmed his conviction by Iriga City Regional Trial Court in the libel case filed by televangelist and Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry head Wilde Almeda. This emerged after the SC dismissed for lack of merit Sorianos petition seeking reversal of the rulings of the CA and RTC. The tribunal sided with the findings of the lower courts that the elements of libelidentification, publication, defamatory imputation, and maliceunder Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code were all present when Soriano attacked Almeda in his program over dzAL in Iriga City, Camarines Sur on July 31, 1998. In the said taped broadcast, Soriano slammed Almeda after the latter gave his blessing to then-presidential candidate Jose de Venecia. He called the JMCIM preacher false prophet, idiot and apostle of demons. The high court turned down Sorianos argument that he could not be held criminally liable for his statements that were supposedly protected by religious freedom under the Constitution. Petitioners claim that his statements are absolutely protected by the Constitution because they are expressions ofeligious beliefs do not merit any consideration. As what this Court stated [in Soriano vs Laguardia et al], Plain and simple insults directed at another person cannot be elevated to the status of religious speech. Even petitioners attempt to place his words in context show that he was moved by anger and the need to seek retribution, not by any religious conviction, the SC ruled. Though religion is arguably a matter or subject of public interest, there is no standard by which we can declare petitioners statements as fair commentaries. On their own, the words used by petitioner do not appear to debunk the purported falsities in the preachings of JMCIM but actually to degrade and insult their pastor or founder, Almeda, the SC said. However, while the tribunal affirmed the conviction of Soriano in Almedas case, it junked the other libel case pertaining to his statements against persons comprising JMCIM in the same radio show. The SC reversed the CA ruling and instead acquitted Soriano in the second count of libel, saying his statements were not addressed to any specific pastor or individual in the rival church. Contrary to the findings of the lower courts, We did not find anything in the records which establish or single out any specific pastor, specifically Joel Cortero. Neither can We consider petitioners statements, be sweeping enough as to injure the reputation of all the members of JMCIM, the tribunal stressed. With these, the SC then modified the decisions of the CA and RTC that imposed a P12,000 fine on Soriano. Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Alexander Gesmundo concurred in this ruling. It suggested putting in place an updated curriculum for medical and allied professions that keep pace with the changing dynamics of public health, policy and demographics. Government think-tank NITI Aayog has pitched for the enactment of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017, observing that regulatory bodies the Medical Council of India and the Nursing Council of India have "failed" to ensure adequate availability and quality of health professionals. In its 'Strategy for New India @75' document released on Wednesday, the Aayog has recommended revamping of the regulatory system of nursing education to ensure quality training in nursing schools and also stressed on developing centres of excellence in nursing and enhancing the stature of government nurses. The Aayog said the quality of health professional training and adherence to standards is sub-optimal, including in the private sector. To address the shortage of doctors in the country, the Aayog has suggested creating conditions to facilitate import of doctors, especially those of Indian origin working abroad, and also deploying teachers from universities abroad as visiting professors at AIIMS or NIEs while linking at least 40 per cent of district hospitals with medical colleges. It also suggested developing a framework for the deployment of doctors and specialists from the private sector to government hospitals on a visiting or honorary basis and expanding the system of Diplomate of National Board (DNB) and Diplomas from College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS). "Workforce shortages and uneven distribution of doctors, nurses, specialists and allied health professionals plague the sector," the Aayog said while observing that urban areas have four times as many doctors and three times as many nurses as compared to rural areas. Medical and nursing colleges are concentrated in a few states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Pointing to the severe shortages in the category of allied health professionals (AHPs) including medical lab technicians, optometrists and radiologists, the Aayog has sought the establishment of a Council to ensure standardization of education and putting in place quality control mechanisms for educational institutions, teaching methods and workforce management. It suggested putting in place an updated curriculum for medical and allied professions that keep pace with the changing dynamics of public health, policy and demographics. As far as specialists are concerned, the Aayog observed that a large number of posts are vacant all over the country. According to estimates, India needs close to five lakh additional specialists, the report highlighted. There is also an acute shortage of medical faculty. Of the 1,830 faculty posts across six All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), approximately 583 (31 per cent) had been filled up until July 2017, the Aayog pointed out. According to the report, as of March 2017, there were 10.23 lakh allopathic doctors registered with the MCI or state medical councils. Assuming 80 per cent availability, the Aayog estimated that around 8.18 lakh doctors may actually be available for active service. This gives a doctor-population ratio of 1:1613 against the WHO norm of 1:1000, it said. The current nurse-population ratio is 1:588. "Due to the suboptimal quality of training offered by several institutions that have mushroomed over the years, limited career prospects and poor working conditions, especially in the private sector, there is a significant shortage of skilled nurses in the country," the Aayog stated. "Private practice by medical faculty in teaching institutions is rampant in several states, compromising on the commitment to teaching and institutional clinical work," it highlighted. Among the constraints, the Aayog mentioned were poor infrastructure in many state and private medical/nursing/dental colleges. It further said that health professionals in the public sector are inadequately compensated and motivation levels are extremely poor. Fair compensation in the private sector, for nurses, is also a challenge. The Aayog has suggested creating a cadre of primary healthcare practitioners by introducing a three-year competency-based dynamic course for primary, community and family medicine and partner with private hospitals or private medical practitioners to skilled technicians, nursing and para-nursing as well as para-medical staff to deal with the paucity of health professionals, reported PTI. Max India to demerge its non-healthcare businesses into a new listed entity Radiant Life Care Private Limited, a leading Indian hospital management company promoted by Abhay Soi and backed by global investment firm KKR has announced that it has entered into a transaction whereby its shareholders will eventually acquire a majority stake in Max Healthcare Institute Limited from Max India Limited. The acquisition will be undertaken through a series of transactions, including Radiants purchase of a 49.7% stake in Max Healthcare from South Africa-based hospital operator Life Healthcare in an all cash deal, followed by demerger of Radiants healthcare assets into Max Healthcare which will result in KKR and Radiant promoter Abhay Soi together acquiring a majority stake in Max Healthcare. The combination of Radiant and Max Healthcare will create the largest hospital network in North India, which will become among the top three hospital networks in India by revenue and the fourth largest in India in terms of operating beds. The merged entity will operate over 3,200 beds throughout 16 hospitals across India, including tertiary and quaternary care facilities offering high end critical and super speciality care supported by strong local brands such as BLK Hospital, Max Saket Hospital, Max Smart Hospital, Max Patparganj Hospital, and Nanavati Hospital. The combined business is expected to provide significant growth potential and compelling business synergies. By providing best-in-class patient care, the combined business plans to address Indias growing demand for quality medical treatment. Upon closing, Abhay Soi will lead the combined company as its Chairman, supported by a strong leadership team. Abhay Soi, Chairman and Managing Director of Radiant, said, Radiant has achieved significant growth and expansion during a time of rapid industry consolidation, and the proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Max Healthcare marks an exciting step forward in our strategy to increase scale by merging with a leading and complementary hospital network. We are fortunate to have strong support from KKR as we continue our mission of providing superior medical services in India. Analjit Singh, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Max Group, said, Max Healthcare has been an integral part of my entrepreneurial journey and I cant think of better partners than Radiant, backed by KKR, to carry forward this legacy. Over the years, the business has come to be known for its consistently high level of service and clinical excellence across 14 world class facilities, and to this day, it continues to set new benchmarks in clinical quality. The merger offers significant growth potential with revenue and cost efficiencies to be extracted. Both Max and Radiant possess complementary sets of capabilities in running healthcare establishments and KKR brings with it extensive global experience and expertise in healthcare investments as well as capabilities in prudent financial management and efficient capital allocation. Sanjay Nayar, Member & CEO of KKR India, said, We are excited to back Radiants efforts towards consolidation in the healthcare sector by helping them create an effective platform in India for the highest-quality healthcare service providers, best in class infrastructure, practices, doctors and management teams. The countrys private hospital market has grown rapidly in recent years, and we expect demand for quality healthcare to outpace overall economic growth as Indians demand better quality care. The combined business will enjoy a leadership position amongst the attractive metros of Delhi and Mumbai. Transaction Details: As per the Composite Scheme announced by Max India, the transaction will be completed through the following steps: Prior to the merger transaction involving Radiant and Max Healthcare, Max India will demerge its non- healthcare businesses (comprising of Max Bupa and Antara Senior Living) into a new wholly owned subsidiary of Max India whose shares will be listed separately on both BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited. This new company will be spun off, and shareholders of Max India will receive one share of INR 10/- each of the new company for every five shares of Rs 2/- each that they hold in existing Max India. Following the demerger and the spin-off, Radiants healthcare assets will be demerged into Max Healthcare which will then undertake a reverse merger with Max India to create Merged Max Healthcare (Combined Entity or Merged Entity). As a result of the reverse merger, shareholders of Max India will receive 99 shares of the Merged Entity of INR 10/- each for every 100 share of INR 2/- each that they hold in Max India. Post-merger, Max India will get dissolved without being wound up and subsequently the equity shares of the Merged Entity will get listed on both BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited. Based on the share exchange ratio recommended in the valuation report issued by S.R. Batliboi & Co LLP and B.S.R Associates LLP, the resultant shareholding of the Combined Entity will be 51.9%, 23.2% and 7.0% (post sale of 4.99% as mentioned below) held by KKR, Abhay Soi and Max Promoters respectively, with the balance being held by public and other shareholders. A record date will be fixed in due course by the Board of Max India in conjunction with the Board of Radiant. The Combined Entity will be promoted by Abhay Soi and co-promoted by KKR. Max Indias current promoters (Max Promoters) will subsequently step down through the process of de-promoterisation after completion of the merger. KKR will also acquire an additional stake of 4.99% in the Merged Entity from Max Promoters, funded primarily from KKR Asian Fund III. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The merged entity will continue to use the current brand name Max Healthcare, with appropriate adjustments to its logo. Organizes a knowledge sharing platform - Transasia Scientific Seminar (TSS) Ace in Nanded Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd, Indias leading in-vitro Diagnostic Company recently organized a scientific seminar on the latest advancements in clinical diagnostics. Titled Transasia Scientific Seminar (TSS) Ace, this pioneering academic initiative aims at bringing together doctors in Tier II andTier III cities, thereby encouraging the exchange of technical know-how. This is the first time, that TSS Ace was conducted in Nanded, the city of Gurudwaras. The seminar highlighted biochemistry and hematology-the two most critical areas for in-vitro diagnostics. The session on Journey from semi-automated to fully automated biochemistry analyzers by Dr. Milind Bhide, Managing Director-Bhide Laboratory, Mumbai; focused on the role of automation in increasing lab efficiency and decreasing manual intervention, leading to greater precision. This was followed by a discussion on Shaping Hematology with 6 PDA automation led by Dr. Shanaz Khodaiji, Consultant Dept. of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai. She emphasized on how the latest technologies assist in precise enumeration of the different parameters, thereby giving an in-depth analysis. Both the sessions were moderated by Chairperson, Dr Rajendra Mundra , a senior pathologist Practicing in Nanded past 40 years and also the head of Pahologist association of Nanded. The seminar received an overwhelming response with full house participation. In fact, the over 48 attendees also comprised pathologists and clinicians from nearby towns such as Latur, Aurangabad, Beed and Usmanabad. The attending doctors highly appreciated the efforts and demanded more such seminars to be held in the future as well. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Y.S. Prabhakar, CEO, Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd. said, There is an alarming burden on the society from both communicable and non communicable diseases in India. 70% of the treatment decisions are based on lab results. Yet, less than 30% of the Indian population has ever got their blood test done. The major chunk of the 70% population is in the smaller towns. At Transasia, we are committed to reaching out to the pathologists and clinicians in every nook and corner of the country, so that they are well equipped to cater to this population. TSS Ace is a unique platform that empowers the pathologists with the technological advances and encourages exchange of scientific updates, backed by expertise and experience. Over the years, TSS Ace has grown in popularity and has become Transasias identity. It has been well accepted as a successful forum and benefits more than 800 pathologists and clinicians annually. Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION WashingtonUS Customs and Border protection announced Tuesday it would conduct medical checks on all children in its custody following the death of an eight-year-old Guatemalan migrantthe second child fatality in American detention this month. The boy, who was with his apprehended father, had been transferred to a New Mexico medical center showing signs of sickness on Monday, the agency said Tuesday. Staff diagnosed him with a cold but later discovered a fever. He was released at midday, with prescriptions for ibuprofen and the antibiotic amoxicillin. The child was later transferred back to the hospital after showing signs of nausea and vomiting, and died on Monday just before midnight. CBP said it had not established the cause of death but would ensure an independent and thorough review of the circumstances. Later, commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan announced the agency was conducting secondary medical checks upon all children in CBP care and custody, and reviewing its policies with particular focus upon care and custody of children under 10. He added CBP was considering seeking medical support from other agencies, among them the US Coast Guard and the Department of Defense. CBP is coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control on the numbers of children in custody as well, he said. Guatemala called on US authorities to conduct a clear investigation of the death, adding that medical reports have been requested... to clarify the cause of death of the child. The news of the boys death triggered outrage on social media. Another child dies under this Administrations watch, tweeted Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey of Texas. Such a devastating story to hear on Christmas Day. Heartbroken and sickened by this news, Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico wrote on Twitter.I am urgently demanding more details, but the Trump administration must be held accountable for this childs death and all the lives they have put in danger with their intentional chaos and disregard for human life, he tweeted. The boys death came on the same day that Jakelin Caal, a Guatemalan girl who died in US custody under similar circumstances earlier this month, was buried. Her body was repatriated on Sunday and after a long journey reached San Antonio Secortez, the remote village where her family -- members of the indigenous Qeqchi Maya people -- live without electricity and other basic services. This girl left home happy searching for a dream, but unfortunately died on the way, community leader Alberto Pop told AFP in the cemetery. You hear that in the United States they pay well, not like the companies here in Guatemala -- thats why people leave, said Pop, whose 22-year-old son Joaquin left in November in search of the American dream. I dont know if he is alive or dead. Unfortunately, these decisions (to migrate) are made because of scarce economic resources, Jakelins cousin Mario Caal said at the funeral. Jakelin Caals December 8 death reignited debate in the United States over immigration policy and the treatment of migrants. 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. He is locked in a battle with Congress over funding for his planned wall along the border with Mexico, which he claims will stem migration from Latin American countries plagued by gang violence and poverty. Heartbroken to hear of a second childs death in CBP custody, tweeted Nydia Velazquez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York. We must demand accountability, find answers and put an end to this Administrations hateful, dangerous anti-immigrant policies. "Now, Australia. The felicitous event that has served to bring the Philippines and Australia even closer together can be summed up by one nameCatriona." It would not be right if the year 2018 were allowed to slip into history without mention being made of two events, different in character and attendant circumstance that had the effect of bringing closer together the Philippines and two of its best friends in the world. The two friends are the U.S. and Australia. First, the U.S. The felicitous event involving our most important geopolitical and economic partnersall claims of pivot-to-China advocates to the country notwithstandingwas the return, at year-end, of the three bells of the San Lorenzo de Martini Church of Balangiga, Eastern Samar. The bells were taken away by the U.S. Army after the September 27, 1901 encounter between the Independence fighters of the Samar town and a company of American soldiers: Two of the bells were placed on display at a U.S. Armed Forces base in the state of Wyoming and the third was brought by the U.S. Army to a base in South Korea. The reprisal ordered by the commanding general for the Samar sector was severe: Balangiga was to be turned into a howling wilderness, with no Filipino male ten years old and above left alive. Relations between this country and its former colonial master were close before the grant of Philippine independence in July 1946, and they have remained close since then. Those relations have spanned geopolitics, economics, culture and last but not lease, immigration. Until 1991 the U.S. maintained, by virtue of the Philippine-U.S. Bases Agreement, two large bases and several smaller military facilities in this country. But through the years117 years to be exactthe fact of U.S. custody of the Balangiga bells has remained a painful thorn in the side of the Philippines. The U.S. has been a generous partner and allymilitary aid, development assistance, and investmentsbut the generosity has only dulled, but not removed, the pain from the memory of the carting away of Balangigas church bells. As long as the bells were not returned, Philippine-American relations would never be 100 percent right. A succession of Philippine presidents worked hard and lobbied for the return of the Balangiga bells. The latest to do so was Rodrigo Duterte, who mentioned it in one of his State of the Nation Addresses. Whether the administration of President Donald Trump wanted to make a strategic gesture in the face of the Duterte administrations so-called pivot to China, we dont know. What we do know is that the Trump administration decided to do rightat long lastby the Philippines. Let there be no mistake about it. The return of Balangiga bells, after 117 long years, has been a tremendous shot in the arm for Philippine-American relation. No high-powered publics relations campaign can ever achieve what this one U.S. government act has done for those relations. An enormous thorn in the side of the Philippines has been removed.There has been closure of the Philippine-American what would that was there for over a century. Now, Australia. The felicitous event that has served to bring the Philippines and Australia even closer together can be summed up by one nameCatriona. At the close of 2018, Catriona Magnayon Gray was crowned the 2019 Miss Universe. Australia and the Philippines have always been staunch friends and allies, and Australia has been one of this countrys top three sources of development assistance. It has been most welcoming and hospitable to Filipino immigrants. But the magnitude of the Filipino goodwill that Australia has earned over the decades has been mostly augmented by the recognition given by the Miss Universe judges to the gorgeous lass born to an Australian father and a Bicolana mother. The fact that a Queensland newspaper thinks that Catriona Gray should be called Miss Queensland is a measure of the good that she has done for Philippine-Australian relations. The two events discussed here are the kinds of things that bring close nations even closer together. The Islamic State group (ISIS) Tuesday claimed responsibility for the bomb attack that killed at least 3 people and wounded over 10 others in the city of Tal Afar in northern Iraq that it controlled until August 2017. Iraqi authorities in Tal Afar city, located around 80 km west of Mosul, said a car laden with explosives went off Tuesday killing at least two people and wounding at least 11. ISIS on Telegram messaging app said the blast killed three people as it claimed responsibility of the attack. The terror group was flashed out of the city and the entire Nineveh province last year in August by the Iraqi army, Federal Police Force, Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), pro-government fighters from Popular Mobilization Units and the Interior Ministrys elite rapid response forces as part of Baghdads efforts to retake control of swathes of the country under the terror groups sway. Former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in December declared victory over the global militant group. The USA has established two military bases in western Anbar province, near the Syrian border, to help Iraqi forces thwart the infiltration of Islamic State group (ISIS) militants, an Iraqi official has revealed. The US Army has established two new military facilities in uninhabited parts of the province, Farhan al-Duleimi, a member of Anbars provisional council, told Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu. Al-Duleimi also told the agency that the first base has been set up in the northern Rumana subdistrict (in Anbars Al-Qaim district) near the Syrian border, roughly 360 kilometers west of provincial capital Ramadi. The other military facility, the official added, had been erected in the east of the city of Al-Rutbah, about 310 kilometers west of Ramadi and less than 100 kilometers from the Syrian border. The bases also host US drones and other equipment including scores of troops. The revelation came few days after US President Donald Trump gave orders for withdrawal of around 2,000 US troops in Syria. Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, said following the US decision his government is considering sending forces inside Syria to prevent attempts by ISIS fighters to sneak into Iraq. Neither Baghdad nor Washington commented on al-Duleimis revelation. If they confirm, the US will have four bases in Iraq. There are still around 5,000 US forces in the Middle East country following Americas involvement in the fight against ISIS since 2014. Former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in December declared victory over the global militant group, which still stages attacks in some parts of the country. The White House Monday said President Donald Trump is open for a future meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan who extended him an invitation to visit Ankara as ties between the two NATO allies warm again following few years of frost relations. President Erdogan invited President Trump to visit Turkey in 2019. While nothing definite is being planned, the President is open to a potential meeting in the future, a White House spokesperson said. The invitation comes in the wake of President Trumps orders for the withdrawal of US ground troops fighting the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Syria as Turkish forces have begun reinforcement of their presence near the Syrian border in view of crushing Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia and the Islamic State group (ISIS). Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been waging an armed fight against Ankara since 1984. The YPG has been a key ally of the US-led international coalition fighting ISIS in Syria since 2014. Trumps decision to pull out American forces, according to both Turkish and American officials, came following a phone conversation with Erdogan. The US leader also indicated that he believes in Erdogan in the fight against the terror group. In addition to the invitation, a Turkish foreign ministry delegation would go to Washington for talks early January while a US military delegation would arrive this week in the Turkish capital to discuss how to coordinate the US withdrawal, reports say citing Erdogans spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin. The developments signal a diplomatic revival between the USA and Turkey, NATO allies. Washington last week approved the sale of $3.5 billion in missiles to Turkey despite a reluctance after Ankara neared Moscow to buy a rival military equipment. Ankara recently freed a US pastor detained in Turkey for supporting the July 2016 botched military coup against Erdogan. The White House maintained that Evangelical leader was unfairly nabbed. President Trump also reportedly asked state security and legal agencies to look into the possibility of extraditing Erdogans foe and former ally Fethullah Gulen, blamed for masterminding the failed coup. HALIFAX - A Halifax-area man is facing a slew of charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer after being pulled over on Christmas Eve. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HALIFAX - A Halifax-area man is facing a slew of charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer after being pulled over on Christmas Eve. According to a release from Cpl. Andrew Joyce of the Nova Scotia RCMP, officers got a call about a van driving erratically on Waverly Road shortly before midnight. After members of the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police pulled the male driver over, he allegedly refused a breath test, assaulted a police officer, and uttered threats. Joyce says the man also assaulted a paramedic who attended the scene, but neither their injuries nor the officer's injuries were serious. After searching the vehicle, police say they found cannabis, a large amount of ammunition, and two long guns one of which was loaded. The 58-year-old driver will appear in court at a later date to face a number of charges, including impaired driving, flight from police, unsafe storage of a firearm, assault, and uttering threats to kill. HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's premier says he's keenly aware of the continuing need to diversify the province's economy in 2019, especially with the future of a key economic player up in the air. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1072 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Stephen McNeil poses for a photo before a year-end media interview in the Red Chamber at the legislature in Halifax on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. The Legislative Council, Nova Scotia's upper house, met in the Red Chamber until it was abolished in 1928. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's premier says he's keenly aware of the continuing need to diversify the province's economy in 2019, especially with the future of a key economic player up in the air. Questions around the potential closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Abercrombie, N.S., will grab a share of the headlines in the coming year and Stephen McNeil isn't downplaying the need to prepare for the worst. The paper mill has become a flashpoint it proposes to dump more than 62 million litres per day of treated waste into the rich fishing grounds of the Northumberland Strait. The plan has pitted forest industry workers against fishermen, environmentalists and even the P.E.I. government. Halifax-born movie star Ellen Page has attempted to rally her 1.4 million Twitter followers against it. But time is quickly running out on the legislated Jan. 30, 2020, deadline for the closure of the mill's effluent treatment plant in Boat Harbour, the heavily polluted lagoon on the edge of the Pictou Landing First Nation. Northern Pulp has yet to submit an environmental assessment application for a new effluent pipe and seismic testing is still incomplete. Northern Pulp officials have said that no pipe would mean no mill, and McNeil knows its closure will have a significant impact on the forestry sector province-wide. "There is no easy solution here and we are going to continue to look for options," McNeil told The Canadian Press in a year end interview. The premier said while he expects the mill will submit an environmental assessment application, his government is also turning its mind to what happens if it doesn't, or if the application is rejected. "The sawmill industry is so integrated into that particular mill, so if that mill is not there what do we do to keep the viability of our sawmills?" he asked. McNeil said the future of the mill's workers and retirees will also have to be considered, along with the stability of the employee pension plan. "We are working towards that," he said. Despite the risk of a looming economic blow, McNeil insists Northern Pulp will be held to a deadline that was legislated in 2015. "This has been a five-year window," he said. "It's not like we said do this in 12 months." Last week, mill officials won an injunction in Nova Scotia Supreme Court against protesters trying to prevent seismic work in the Strait. The company laid out the impact the mill's closure would have on the province's economy in an affidavit submitted in the case. It said closure would mean the layoff of 277 employees, while 40 nursery and woodlands employees with affiliated companies would lose their jobs. Work would also disappear for about 600 employees of contractors who harvest wood for the mill, it said. The document also said the mill supplies about 40 per cent of the logs used by major sawmills in central and eastern Nova Scotia and purchases almost all of the wood chips produced by sawmills in the province. Northern Pulp is also the largest shipper at the Port of Halifax, and pays about $78.3 million for wood chips, hogfuel and pulpwood, while providing $44 million to private woodland contractors. Finance Department officials say they haven't included the possibility of a shutdown of the mill in the province's economic projections for the months ahead, though they say it is a risk they are monitoring as the forestry industry continues to restructure. Officials added that when the Bowater Mersey mill closed in Liverpool in 2012, the province's GDP declined, but there were other factors including reductions in federal and military spending and a slowdown in natural gas production. Earlier this month, the Conference Board of Canada also said the end of natural gas production in Nova Scotia is weighing on economic growth, with predicted gains of just 0.9 per cent this year and one per cent in 2019. In its budgetary update last week, the provincial Finance Department said it expects economic growth to slow in 2019 after modest growth in each of the past four years. It also said that after years of export growth, the province's economy may require new investments to "sustain and expand production capacity for further export growth." "We need to continue making sure that we build the export competency of our companies to make sure they realize they can compete in the global marketplace," said McNeil. "We've demonstrated that in China with the large growth in the export of our seafood." Regardless of gloomier forecasts, McNeil believes the province needs to continue recent momentum that has seen record population growth and gains in the numbers of young people who are staying in the province to work. MONTREAL - A Quebec man who has been stuck in Cuba after being involved in a boating accident that killed a fellow tourist in 2017 says he is once again facing four years in prison following a second trial. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1072 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - A Quebec man who has been stuck in Cuba after being involved in a boating accident that killed a fellow tourist in 2017 says he is once again facing four years in prison following a second trial. Toufik Benhamiche says in a statement that he was convicted in relation to the incident following a trial that took place on Dec. 10. Toufik Benhamiche is seen in this undated handout photo. Supporters of a Quebec man who has been in legal limbo in Cuba since the death of a fellow tourist in July 2017 are taking their case for his freedom to the country's embassy in Ottawa. Toufik Benhamiche has been prevented from leaving the Caribbean country following the death of an Ontario woman in a boating accident while he was on a tourist excursion in Cayo Coco. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Kahina Bensaadi,*MANDATORY CREDIT* Benhamiche, 48, was driving a small boat as part of a tourist excursion in July 2017 in Cayo Coco when the vessel veered out of control and fatally struck Jennifer Ann Marie Innis, a mother of three from Woodstock, Ont. The man from Mascouche, Que., was originally convicted of criminal negligence causing death but that verdict was overturned by Cuba's highest court earlier this year. The new conviction and sentence are a blow to Benhamiche and his family, who have long alleged that he is a victim of a judicial system that is determined to find him responsible at all costs. "All the facts in the file show clearly the innocence of my husband and his lack of responsibility for this accident," Benhamiche's wife, Kahina Bensaadi, said in a phone interview. Benhamiche's lawyers have argued the rental company violated Cuban safety standards. They also allege that Benhamiche was given little instruction on how to operate the craft and was assured it wasn't dangerous. Bensaadi said the most recent trial included witness testimony from a provincial navy captain who said the vessel's invalid navigation certificate meant the boat was allowed to become overloaded, which may have contributed to the accident. She also alleged that the boat's shutdown system was not inspected following the incident. "All the experts and all the witnesses gave strong and solid arguments that show why the accident happened and how it happened, and it was not the responsibility of my husband," she said. Benhamiche said in his statement that he had not yet been imprisoned, despite the new sentence. He plans to appeal the conviction, which he said could mean having to spend at least another year in Cuba, in addition to the 17 months he has already spent there. "It should be noted that in the case of a confirmation of the sentence, it will be six years, including two years for judicial proceedings and four years for the abusive sentence," the statement read. In the 17 months since the accident, Bensaadi has repeatedly called on Canadian government officials to intervene and bring him home. The family filed a Federal Court motion last summer seeking to have the Canadian government come to Benhamiche's aid. "By their inaction, they're giving Cuban authorities to the right abuse my spouse and bully my spouse with a sentence that is not founded on law," Bensaadi said Wednesday. In an email, Global Affairs Canada said it was aware of the latest decision against Benhamiche and was providing consular services. The family has also filed a $340,000 lawsuit against Sunwing Vacations, the tour operator with which they had booked the vacation package. Sunwing has previously said it will contest the lawsuit. Gardai are investigating the death of a man in Mayo. The body of the 25-year-old man was found in the early hours of Christmas morning on Quay Road, Newport. Gardai were called when the body of the man was discovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar where a post-mortem took place yesterday afternoon. Dozens of groups helping victims of domestic violence, sex attacks, families of murder victims and other serious crimes are set to benefit from almost 2m in funding next year. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said a total of 57 groups helping people to cope with the "distressing and very often traumatic" aftermath of such incidents will be given the additional help. In a statement, Mr Flanagan said victim support groups play a crucial role in providing services to people who have lived through deeply damaging incidents. Describing the groups' work as "hugely valuable", he said the Government is releasing 1.712m in funds to help pay for the services and ensure they continue to operate. "The ongoing direct help being provided to victims of crime and to their families and friends by our victim support services makes a hugely valuable and vital contribution in Irish society. "I warmly applaud all of the staff and volunteers in these services for their dedicated, professional and sensitive work in helping so many of our people during what is invariably a distressing and very often traumatic time in their lives. "I am very pleased to be able to provide funding of 1.712m in 2019 to fund services to victims of crime through the scheme administered by the Victims of Crime Office in my Department. "This allocation will be distributed to a large number of non-governmental organisations across the State in providing a wide range of supports to victims of crime. "The funding being provided in 2019 remains a key feature of our overall efforts in better supporting victims of crime at their time of need," Mr Flanagan said. The 57 groups set to benefit from the funding include those providing services for victims of domestic violence, sex attacks, families of murder victims, assaults on tourists visiting Ireland and other incidents. They include: * 35 domestic violence victim support groups * five counselling groups * four groups supporting victims of sexual violence * two groups helping families whose relative has been murdered * and two groups helping child victims of crime The Government funding mirrors a similar level of financial support announced for 2017, the latest full year accounts available, when 1.712m was provided to 58 groups. According to the Department, the money was subsequently used to fund services for 18,500 victims of crime last year. More than half of all cars submitted for an NCT failed the test on initial inspection last year, according to the Road Safety Authority. Figures show 51% of more than 1.35m cars had to return for a second inspection in 2017. Despite the fact that a majority of vehicles failed the test last year (over 688,500 cars), the pass rate of 49% was the highest level since 2011 the last year that a majority of cars passed the NCT. Most cars successfully obtained their NCT certificate on the second inspection in 2017, with a pass rate of 91.3% in re-tests. An analysis of the performance of almost 50 well-known car brands reveals Dacia cars had the stand-out performance with 76% of vehicles passing the NCT on first inspection way ahead of any competitor. The good results are largely explained by the fact that Dacia cars were comparatively newer than any other make tested, with an average year of manufacture of 2013 for the Romanian car maker. The average year of manufacture of all vehicles submitted for the NCT last year was 2003. In general, the results show the older a vehicle, the more likely it is to fail the test. For example, 85% of 2015-reg cars passed the test, but the pass rate fell to 61.2% for 2010 models and 32.8% for those registered in 2000. However, there are exceptions including the worst performer, Korean car manufacturer Ssyangyong, whose vehicles had an average pass rate of 23.6%, despite having the second youngest age profile of all leading brands, with an average year of manufacture of 2010. Similarly, 50 Rolls-Royce cars which had an average age of 37 years performed better than many leading modern car makes, with an average pass rate of 46%. A Rolls Royce registered in 1932 the oldest vehicle submitted for an NCT last year passed the test. After Dacia, other popular car makes with a comparatively high pass rate included Lexus (58.7%), Kia (58.3%), Skoda (54.8%), and Toyota (53%). Several luxury, high-performance models also performed well such as Lamborghini and Porsche, which scored pass rates in excess of 58%, while Ferrari despite having an average vehicle age of 17 years obtained an average pass rate of 57%. Leading brands with below-average pass rates included Chevrolet (36.2%), Alfa Romeo (40.4%), Renault (41.5%), and Fiat (42.9%). The five most common components of a vehicle which caused a car to fail the NCT last year were lamps, followed by suspension and steering, brakes, tyres, and bodywork. The most common problem with most cars related to issues with lighting and electrical, but brakes were the most frequent fault with Daewoo and Rolls Royce and steering and suspension with Alfa Romeo, BMW, Saab, Mercedes, and Opel. Vehicle and safety equipment was the most common fault with a number of makes, including Dacia and Ferrari, while the most regular issue with Audi was wheels and tyres. The total number of cars tested last year fell by 7.5% compared to the previous year, with over 110,000 fewer vehicles submitted. The overall number of tests has been falling in recent years down from 2.26m in 2015 to 2.04m last year. The highest pass rate in the country was at Kilkenny NCT test centre, where 56.6% of vehicles passed. The lowest pass rate, by some distance, was at the Monaghan centre, at 37.5%. Royal Dutch Shell said on Wednesday it has begun output at its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility in Western Australia, the world's largest floating production structure and the last of a wave of eight LNG projects built in the country over the last decade. Though the project started up later and cost more than originally estimated, it is expected to further cement the nation's lead as the world's biggest LNG exporter, after it took the crown in November. Shell's Prelude floating LNG platform. Credit:Shell Australia In a statement, Shell said wells have now been opened at the Prelude facility, located 475 kilometres north-north east of Broome. This means Prelude has now entered start-up and ramp-up, the initial phase of production where gas and condensate - which is an ultra-light form of crude oil - is produced and moved through the facility. Prelude is expected to have an annual LNG production capacity of 3.6 million tonnes, 1.3 million tonnes a year of condensate and 400,000 tonnes a year of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Wall Street staged one of the biggest rallies of the 9-year bull market after coming within points of seeing it end, with major indexes surging at least 4.9 per cent. Crude jumped almost 10 per cent. All but one member of the S&P 500 advanced, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than 1050 points and the Nasdaq 100 rallied 6 per cent. Each gain was the best since 2009, the year the longest bull market on record began. Dead cat bounce or phoenix rising from the ashes? US markets staged a massive rally overnight. Credit:Bloomberg Consumer shares paced the rally; Amazon jumped 9.5 per cent after reporting record Christmas sales. Each member of the FAANG cohort rallied at least 6.4 per cent, while energy producers surged as crude powered past $US46 a barrel. US President Donald Trump said a day earlier that the rout that took stocks down 19.8 per cent from a record provided a "tremendous opportunity to buy". Greenland, owner of Sydneys Leap into Literacy childrens education centres, says shes determined to take a two-week holiday this summer. Her business is now four years old with an annual turnover of $100,000, so she feels more enabled to step away. Being able to hand over your baby, which is your business, is not always an easy thing to do, she explains. Theres definitely been times where I wished that I had delegated a little bit more to my assistant and staff to handle things, which is now what Im doing. Being able to hand things over, knowing it doesnt need to be all me anymore. My staff are getting to the stage where they can do a lot themselves. Handing over Handing the reins over to other staff who dont have as much of a stake in the business is not just not feasible for many small business owners, says small business consultant Tim Roberts. Owners, particularly those in businesses like restaurants or coffee shops with a relatively high turnover in the nature of employing people, are reluctant to trust, depend and pass on the knowledge of how to do things like open and close and do the banking, he says. Weve got many clients who go basically years without taking a proper break from the business. However, Roberts says there are strategies small business owners can employ to make sure they rest and refresh over summer. The first is ensuring they have documented policies and procedures prepared so stand-in staff can refer to when in doubt. It doesnt necessarily mean you have to file every how-to, but if you list every major and sub task in your business, then obviously the onus on the owner should drop away significantly because that resource is there and they dont need to be contacted all the time, he says. An obvious step for any business, no matter the industry, is hiring and retaining the right people. A competent and trustworthy team is arguably the best resource any small business owner can have. By creating incentives and KPIs, owners can also ensure their staff really care about how the business performs when theyre not around. If you know what your average sales are when you plan to take a break, you can have a financial or non-financial incentive thats linked to if the staff outperform or the business does better while the owner is away, then that person can share in the success, Roberts says. So if youre not in the business theres still someone there that has something other than their agreed hourly rate so theres someone working on your behalf. And of course, cloud-based accounting technology such as Xero and QuickBooks makes it easy for small business owners to keep an eye on the finances when theyre not actually at work. Loading Shutting down But for regional law firm owner and solicitor Jacqui Brauman, the best way to switch off at Christmas is to shut down. Braumans TBA Law, which has a turnover of $750,000 per annum and employs nine staff, closes for two weeks. Sydney's sweltering weather is expected to continue with 30 degrees forecast on Thursday and 31 degrees on Friday before rising even further over the weekend. Western Sydney can expect an extended period of above 40 degrees. Swimmers cooling off at Bronte Beach despite the beach being closed early on Wednesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer "It is going to be nice beach days in Sydney until possibly a late shower on New Years Eve," Weatherzone meteorologist Craig McIntosh said. On Wednesday, much of Sydney reached its peak temperature about 3pm with Olympic Park recording 32 degrees, Camden 34 and Penrith 36. Plans to transform Anzac Park East into a housing and commercial complex are one step closer to coming into effect, after developers were given the green light to start work at the prominent site. The National Capital Authority on Friday approved Amalgamated Property Group's application to bulldoze the derelict office building, at the north-eastern corner of Parkes Way and Anzac Parade. The National Capital Authority has approved the demolition of Anzac Park East, pictured above. Credit:Jeffrey Chan The building, which has sat vacant for more than 20 years, is one Anzac Parade's so-called "portal buildings", which frame the vista from Parliament House to the Australian War Memorial. The developer has also been granted permission to rip up the site's trees and carpark ahead of a transformation of the Commonwealth heritage-listed block, which it last year bought from the federal government for $34.3 million. Queen Elizabeth has had a memorable 2018, with grandson, Prince Harry, marrying Meghan Markle and they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announcing soon afterwards they were expecting their first child in spring. London: The Queen has joked about how busy her duties as a grandmother have kept her and has also warned about the darker side of religious faith during a wide-ranging Christmas Day message. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives to attend the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk. Credit:AP And two other grandchildren, the Duke of Cambridge and Zara Tindall, welcoming new additions to their families. Prince Harry, stands with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex as she does a curtsy to the Queen after the Christmas day service. Credit:AP "It's been a busy year for my family, with two weddings and two babies and another child expected soon," the Queen said before adding a touch of humour to her televised address. "It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied." Now aged 92, the Queen's reign as monarch has lasted 66 years and she has been married to the Duke of Edinburgh for more than seven decades. Beirut: Israeli warplanes flying over Lebanon fired missiles toward areas near the Syrian capital of Damascus late on Tuesday, hitting an arms depot and wounding three soldiers, Syrian state media reported, saying that most of the missiles were shot down by air defense units. The TV station, quoting an unnamed military official, identified the warplanes as Israeli. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency earlier reported that Israeli warplanes were flying at low altitude over parts of southern Lebanon. Missiles flying into the sky near Damascus, Syria, on December 25 local time. Credit:AP The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said Israeli airstrikes targeted three positions south of Damascus that are arms depots for Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group and Iranian forces. The reported attack near Damascus is the first since US President Donald Trump announced last week that the US would withdraw its 2000 troops in Syria, a move that will leave control of the oil-rich eastern third of Syria up for grabs. Latest News Westpac CEO Peter King appointed ABA chair Major move atop banking industry peak body New 'instant mortgage' product promises home loan approval in 60 minutes Meet the mortgage offering that has seen $1bn in originations in just three months by Karen Hall, director of 101 Things It might not be as sexy as Instagram or Facebook, but there is an enormous and often overlooked opportunity for mortgage brokers to use LinkedIn to create revenue and partnerships to grow their businesses. Brokers that do are touting some incredible successes, writing millions of dollars a month off the platform and creating lucrative referral partnerships. LinkedIn is essentially a business equivalent of Facebook. If Facebook is the dinner party, LinkedIn is a business meeting. And whilst that might sound drab (no-one ever wished they could spend more time in meetings!), its actually the professional personality of the platform that gives it extra cred and can help you reach an entirely different audience to the dinner party crowd. Mortgage brokers who are embracing LinkedIn are creating both prospecting and referral partner opportunities without the need to advertise, which is a pretty compelling proposition. On top of this, theyre also staying in touch, and top of mind, with their customers and partners on the platform at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. To emulate the success of these brokers, its important to understand the platform and how to engage with it effectively. Heres a quick guide to get you started: 1. LinkedIn success is so much more than posting and waiting. Successful mortgage brokers share their stories and expertise, but they also invest time to like, comment and share other peoples content and build relationships in the process. Termed the Dopamine effect, your engagement in other peoples content both shows up in their feed and gives them a pleasure/reward sensation. Think about your SME and self-employed target market, as well as your referral partners. 2. Bigger isnt always better. You might have thousands of LinkedIn connections, but are they all your target market? Using LinkedIn filters, you can find your target potential leads and referral partners to connect with. Remember - like, comment and share their content before you sell anything! We advocate a 3:1 rule - 3 likes, comments or share touches before any business engagement. 3. Step it up. Sales Navigator takes LinkedIn one step further to help you easily tag leads and prioritise their posts into a separate feed, so if you have thousands of connections, and only a few hundred of these are prospects or referral partners, Sales Navigator helpfully creates a separate news feed of these these posts, saving you a tonne of time to scroll through and engage with them. Sales Navigator is a subscription service, but your time is also valuable and the cost might just be worth the investment. 4. Grow your database. Not many brokers know that you can also export your LinkedIn connections to bolster your database, just ensure you have the requisite permissions to market to them. As well as these key guidelines, your own profile needs to be business-meeting ready. 95% of Mortgage broker LinkedIn profiles we see are underdone, which means you are selling yourself short and not optimising your credibility and trust. Our seven top tips for standing out on LinkedIn are: 1. Add a custom image behind your photo that says, in two seconds, what you do 2. Update your Title to include keywords, so people can find you more easily 3. Personalise your LinkedIn name, ie change Mark-2a938356 to .../mortgagebrokersuburb 4. Revise your About copy, to be more benefit focused for your customers 5. Add Media (think brochures, presentations, videos), again include keywords in titles and descriptions of each media upload 6. Update your Experience - you guessed it - keywords! 7. Ask for Recommendations, for extra credibility Australian Broker spoke to one mortgage broker who uses LinkedIn to its fullest. Bernard Desmond from Feedback Finance said, If you know your target market you can go after prospecting on LinkedIn easily. Ive worked very closely with real estate agents and financial planners and accountants. You can really make a connection with the people within these industries and start a dialogue and make them familiar with yourself without hard selling yourself. Its been strategic from the beginning, Ive been a big advocate of I would rather have 10 good referrers who have 500/600 other clients. If someone is a trusted adviser already they have got the relationship with the client and if theyre referring me to the consumer its better, I dont have to go hard sell myself. Im not selling anything on LinkedIn. My conscious effort on any social media platform is youll never see me selling that I do home loans. All Im doing is celebrating customers wins and the people who are in my connections know what I do for a living. Im not hard selling, Im becoming that trusted adviser so that when they need one I get this business which is uncontested. The European Commission has allocated additional 5 million to address the urgent needs of Burundian refugees living in neighboring countries. For 2018, the EUs total humanitarian response to the Burundi regional refugee crisis therefore amounts to 13 million, the commission said in a press release. The European Union is closely monitoring the Burundi crisis and has provided over 57 million in humanitarian funding since the crisis broke out in April 2015. The funding is mainly allocated to humanitarian organizations for the assistance to Burundian refugees in the region. The region is suffering a largely forgotten and heavily underfunded refugee crisis. Most Burundian refugees currently seek refuge in Tanzania and Rwanda. But the majority of them lacks access to basic goods and services, including food, said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, adding it is for this reason that the EU is scaling up its response in the region and providing much needed humanitarian assistance. The additional support helps humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to Burundian refugees living in Tanzania and Rwanda. It particularly contributes to addressing previously unmet food, nutrition and protection needs. The Great Lakes region is characterized by a number of crises. In Burundi, an initially political crisis triggered a major socio-economic crisis and slowly turned into a humanitarian crisis. With about 400,000 Burundians seeking refuge in neighboring countries, the situation has a significant regional impact. The majority of Burundian refugees remain in Tanzania and rely on international assistance to meet their basic needs. The situation continues to be one of the worlds most under-funded humanitarian crises. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Brooklyn Heights residents will breathe in toxic chemicals for years if the city moves forward with a plan to turn the neighborhoods Promenade into a six-lane speedway for gas-guzzling cars and trucks during the looming reconstruction of the BrooklynQueens Expressways triple cantilever, experts warn. A 7-year-old would spend their entire childhood exposed to pollution, said journalist and public-health expert Laurie Garrett, who in 1995 won a Pulitzer Prize for her reporting on an outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa. People have homes right there, we dont have any scheme for how we would keep all the noise and pollution from going right into living rooms and bedrooms. The historic Promenade, which sits at the top of the 70-year-old highways crumbling three-tiered structure, currently acts as a barrier that blocks the toxic pollutant known as fine particulate matter, or pm 2.5, emitted by the 153,000 cars and trucks on the expressway daily from filling the lungs of kids, oldsters, and other vulnerable individuals living in the Heights, according to Garrett. Bigwigs at the New York State Department of Health warn that pm 2.5 can irritate the eyes, noses, throats, and lungs of people who inhale it, and that prolonged exposure to the noxious particles can increase the risk of chronic bronchitis and death from lung cancer or heart disease. And if city transportation officials move forward with their so-called alternative approach to turn the Promenade into a six-lane speedway for at least six years in order to shore up the 1.5-mile stretch of expressway which Mayor DeBlasio prefers over the so-called traditional approach to rebuild the highway lane by lane, potentially causing traffic for up to 12 miles then those chemicals would instead fly right into peoples homes, said Garrett, the author of a 2011 tome about the public-health crisis that plagued parts of the city following the 9-11 attacks. The alternative route will be literally inches from peoples bedroom windows, inches from playgrounds, and feet from schools and residents throughout, and we dont have a precedent in the city for doing this to a community, she said. Eighteen-wheelers burning fuel, 153,000 vehicles a day rolling right at the level of peoples home windows this community can be poisoned while we fix this. The mere possibility of such an increase in local pollution should be enough for Hizzoner a self-professed fighter of climate change who still routinely hops into a sport-utility vehicle for the 12-mile drive from his Manhattan residence to his beloved Park Slope gym to pump the brakes on his preferred repair plan and instead consider alternate solutions, according to Garrett. If were serious about climate change, and DeBlasio claims to be, why are we building a superhighway for 153,000 gas-guzzling vehicles everyday? she said. Officials who said both the alternative and traditional approaches for fixing the triple cantilever would cost nearly $4 billion, with the former expected to end as soon as 2026, and latter lasting as long as into 2029 should instead use that cash to conceive of an entirely new transit scheme for locals, rather than simply rebuild a decades-old roadway that the journalist called infrastructure of the past. With $4 billion we could build an amazing people-mover system, Garrett said. Why are we still looking at exactly the same technology that Robert Moses was looking at right after World War II? And one city pol who is rumored to be eyeing a run to succeed DeBlasio in the 2021 mayoral election doubled down on Garretts plea, demanding his colleagues explore every possible option for repairing the length of expressway between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street in order to spare peoples lungs and the Promenade, which must close for a time regardless of the option chosen due to its position atop the highway. Have you looked at the long term environmental impact on the surrounding community from property damage, dust, and debris due to the innovative approach? Comptroller Scott Stringer wrote in a Dec. 17 missive to Hizzoner. How does maintaining a major highway running through residential neighborhoods help that? Leaders of the citys Department of Transportation, who are overseeing the repairs that could kick off as soon as 2020, are still weighing all their choices, and are about to kick off the jobs environmental-review process, according to a spokeswoman, who said the bigwigs will hold several upcoming meetings with Brooklyn Heights locals and civic leaders worried about the possibility of their beloved walkway turning into a temporary highway. We are about to start the environmental-review process, which requires we offer a range of concepts. And contrary to one of [Stringers] letters major assertions, we have absolutely not eliminated construction-method alternatives for BQE reconstruction from further consideration, said Alana Morales. 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 Fresh misconduct allegations brought by Tokyo prosecutors against ousted Nissan, Chairman Carlos Ghosn centre on the use of company funds to pay a Saudi businessman who is believed to have helped him out of financial difficulties, two company sources with knowledge of the matter said. Prosecutors arrested Ghosn for a third time on Friday, accusing him of aggravated breach of trust in transferring personal investment losses to the automaker. The prosecutors' statement said they believe that around October 2008, Ghosn was trying to deal with losses on paper of 1.85 billion yen ... Wednesday said its arm DUSA Pharmaceuticals has received relief from a US court in a patent infringement case. Massachusetts-based DUSA has been granted preliminary injunctive relief by a federal district court prohibiting defendants Biofrontera Inc, Biofrontera Bioscience GmbH, Biofrontera Pharma GmbH, and Biofrontera AGf from using its confidential and proprietary trade secret information, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said in a regulatory filing. Earlier this year, DUSA, which is wholly-owned by Sun Pharma, filed a lawsuit against the Biofrontera defendants in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The lawsuit alleged trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement of DUSA's photodynamic therapy patents covering its product. DUSA, in its amended complaint filed in July 2018, additionally alleged the Biofrontera defendants misappropriated confidential and trade secret information by obtaining confidential information from its former employees to sell and market defendants' own products. The lawsuit sought an assessment of both damages and injunctive relief against the Biofrontera defendants, said. The court's order prohibits Biofrontera from making use of or disseminating DUSA's sales and financial information, customer lists and customer target lists, training and marketing materials, standard operating procedures, technical information, and unpublished clinical data, and any derivations thereof, effective immediately, it added. shares Wednesday ended 2.23 per cent down at Rs 414 apiece on the BSE. At the systemic level, the Asia-Pacific faces at least three possible geopolitical futures: of a regional order centred on a single power, earlier the US and now China; of an open, inclusive multipolar concert of powers or collective security architecture; or, the pattern most familiar in history, of several powers of varying size and capability contending for primacy and influence and to maximise their individual interests. To me it seems that the last scenario is the most likely, the second the most desirable, and the first the least stable or likely. ALSO READ: China-US ... More Obama crimes emerging after the fact, including treasonous cooperation with Iran Congressional and foreign policy critics of former President Barack Obamas engagement with Iran have long suspected there was much more to it than just a nuclear agreement that many felt was a bad deal for the U.S. and our friends in the Middle East. Some believed that Obama worked to directly undermine the lone democracy in the region and long-standing American ally, Israel, as evidenced by his oft-contentious meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Now, some two years after the 44th president has left office, weve learned that the critics were right to suspect him. Not only did Obama push through the nuclear deal in violation of federal statutes and without the constitutional requirement of Senate treaty approval, it appears as though he attempted to undermine the Israeli government as he did the incoming Trump administration. An analysis published recently in the Columbia Law Review laid out several instances where the Obama regime failed to meet legal and constitutional standards in the pursuit of a nuclear deal at any cost. Whats more, the analysis points out that the Obama administration not only spied on Israel which isnt altogether irregular because Israel conducts similar operations against the U.S. and other allies but also critics of the Iran deal, which included private pro-Israel organizations and members of Congress, in clear violation of U.S. surveillance laws. The Obama Administrations efforts to sign and implement a nuclear agreement with Iran with limited if any congressional input, and at times in violation of federal law, is a particularly important example of Democratic constitutional hardball, the CLR noted. To sell the deal, the analysis continued, the Administration found it necessary to lie to the American public about its origins. The Administration began secret negotiations with Iran in mid-2012. (Related: Is the NSA still SPYING on American citizens? New IG report warns of increased RISK to civil liberties.) At the time, James Rosen, then Fox News chief White House correspondent, asked about the negotiations, but was rebuffed lied to by a State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, who said government-to-government talks were not underway (they were). Whats more, the State Department later deliberately cut out the embarrassing questions from a press briefing video, The Washington Post reported. This proves Obama went to extraordinary lengths just to make a deal with an enemy Obama administration officials claimed that talks with Iran began in 2013 as a means of taking advantage of a new political reality in Iran that occurred following elections that allegedly brought moderates to power (there are no moderates in Iran; the country is run by its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, an Islamic hardliner). As David Samuels reported in the New York Times Magazine, this story of nascent moderation in the Iranian government was largely manufactured for the purpose for selling the deal, the CLR analysis said. The analysis added: The Obama Administration also spied on U.S. opponents of the Iran deal, both in Congress and in private pro-Israel organizations. Pro-Israel activists reported that the Administration seemed to know exactly what they were saying and doing, and acted accordingly. There have also been serious allegations that the Obama Administration undermined federal law enforcement efforts against the Hezbollah terrorist group to placate Hezbollahs Iranian backers. As for Israel, the White House directed U.S. intelligence agencies to spy on Netanyahu in particular over concerns that he would manage to successfully derail the nuclear deal, which he vehemently opposed, even to the point of going directly to the U.S. Congress in an appeal for rejection. The Wall Street Journal reported that despite Obamas pledge to curb spying on allies following the 2013 revelations of NSA surveillance by Edward Snowden, his administration kept its eye on Netanyahu anyway. That raised fearsan Oh-s moment, one senior U.S. official saidthat the executive branch would be accused of spying on Congress, the paper said. Its difficult to know just how extensive the Obama regimes unconstitutional, illegal activities were in regard to a nuclear deal it went to great lengths to make, but one thing is certain: Trumps decision to leave it appears to be the correct one. Read more about Obamas corruption and lawlessness at Corruption.news. Sources include: ColumbiaLawReview.org WSJ.com WashingtonPost.com JPost.com NewsTarget.com Compulsive public interest litigator ML Sharma can be a pain. But he has on occasion and perhaps by accident been of service to the legal community and it is to be hoped that his Christmas-eve PIL against the MHA surveillance order is taken seriously by the Supreme Court. The Indian governments charter to 10 security agencies to snoop on its own citizens is not only illegal and bad in law, it offends the senses. All six of them. It is a malicious notification that should have been aborted at the very moment of conception. By this government and the previous one. What ... Flash sales on Flipkart or Amazon might soon be a thing of the past, and the e-commerce giants might also find it difficult to sell products of firms in which they have a stake. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on Wednesday issued a set of additional guidelines for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector. Experts said this might not only curb the activities of e-commerce companies, but also prevent some of them, such as Flipkart, from raising any more FDI. The new regulations will take effect from February 1 next year, said the DIPP ... The Centre will get roughly Rs 200 billion from a corpus not used so far the excess amount of the compensation cess collected to help it narrow its fiscal deficit for 2018-19. The excess amount refers to the kitty after distributing the compensation cess to the states. Every states revenues are estimated to grow by 14 per cent each year on the base of 2015-16, and wherever the growth rate is below that mark, the Centre compensates the states from the cess kitty. For taking over some portion of the compensation cess, the government got legal backing through an ... It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, was how Dickens began his tale of two cities. As far as the Supreme Court is concerned, 2018 was a year of two chief justices. The year began with four of the senior-most judges of the Court addressing an unprecedented press conference, in which they apprised the country about what they perceived was the misuse by the sitting Chief Justice of India, of the power to allocate cases. We are now approaching the end of the year, and three of those four judges have since retired. And one of them, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, has ... Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Plans of Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader K Chandrashekar Rao to meet BSP supremo and Samajwadi Party chief here in a bid to cobble up a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election seem to have hit a roadblock. While said in Lucknow Wednesday that he would meet Rao after January 6 in Hyderabad, has not yet given time to the Telangana Chief Minister. Yadav said he appreciates Rao's efforts to build an alliance, but he will not be able to meet him in Delhi. Earlier, a meeting between the two was planned at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav here. Though is in Delhi since Sunday afternoon, she has not yet confirmed the time for the proposed meeting. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) are key regional players in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. The SP has maintained that a non-BJP alliance will not be be able to stand without their inclusion. The chief reached Delhi on Monday night and and would be here till Thursday. Pitching for a Federal Front of regional parties, Rao had on Monday met supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister ALSO READ: K Chandrasekhar Rao meets Mamata, says talks for Federal Front to continue Addressing the media after the meeting, he had said that they discussed a "matter of mutual interest" and "national politics. "Our dialogue will continue and shortly, we will come with a concrete plan," he said. Banerjee did not speak. On Sunday, he had met met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss an alternative front. The BJP has dubbed him as the 'B team' of the Congress, while Rahul Gandhi and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu have accused Rao of being the 'B team' of BJP. ALSO READ: KCR doing 'politics of division', helping BJP and others, accuses Congress Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday evening. This was Rao's first meeting with Modi after winning the assembly elections to return to power in Telangana. He discussed a variety of issues with the prime minister, including release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district, according to state officials. What does it mean that the most talked about comedy special of the year offered a biting critique of comedy itself? And that the most memorable talk show rant took aim at talk show rants? Maybe nothing after all, comedy has long looked inward but for an art form, tough criticism is one sign of health. Here are a few more. Most Essential Special When I asked the heads of comedy at Netflix about my theory that Hannah Gadsbys Nanette is less popular than its massive media coverage made it seem, they declined to answer. Truth is: It doesnt ... A 30-year-old fisherman was home watching television on Saturday evening when he heard a deep, booming noise offshore. Living on the western coast of Java, the fisherman, Damin, was accustomed to the explosive sounds of the volcanic island, Anak Krakatau, which has erupted almost daily since June. But this time, its roar was unusually loud, he said Tuesday. We are used to hearing something like that but the sound was so big, said Mr. Damin, who like many Indonesians uses one name. It was different. It was like a bomb exploded. The sound turned out ... At first glance, it didnt look like a fair fight. On one side: an enormous and powerful global consulting company. On the other: the retired founder of a smaller turnaround firm who has become a thorn in the side of its larger rival. But the brawl that is erupting in the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Houston has the potential to cause big problems for the consultancy McKinsey & Company. The courtroom fight hinges on whether McKinsey or its clients have hidden interests in a bankrupt coal company that the firm has been advising, a practice prohibited by federal laws meant to ... Giving a clarion call to oust BJP from power at the Centre in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday batted for the formation of a federal front to contest the upcoming General Elections. "Formation of a federal front of regional parties is the need of the hour. I will soon meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who is striving hard to bring the regional players together on a common platform," said Yadav while talking to media persons here. He said the BJP's Central and state governments have failed to fulfill their promises and the people are not happy with them. "BJP has deceived the common people. They only made tall promises but have done nothing on the ground for the people. Four and a half years rule of the BJP at the Centre too stands exposed now," added Yadav. "I congratulate Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao as he is working for the formation of a federal front. I will go and meet him in Hyderabad. Many chief ministers have done good work in their respective states and they must come together," added Yadav, saying that options are open for all to join hands with the SP in the upcoming Lok-Sabha elections next year. Telangana Chief Minister Rao met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday, and thereafter had a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday in Kolkata, wherein he discussed with them among other issues the formation of a federal front. During his meeting with Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, Chief Minister Rao, popularly known as KCR, had asserted that there is a dire need for the unification of regional parties to replace the Congress and the BJP at the Centre. "The country needs a change for which dialogue has begun. We are doing our part but nothing concrete has emerged so far. We have just begun the dialogue. There is a strong need for an alternative to Congress and BJP," Rao had told media persons in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, which he repeated after meeting Chief Minister Banerjee in Kolkata too. Chief Minister Rao is scheduled to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati in New Delhi on Wednesday. Rao's visit to New Delhi is taking place after 15 days of the announcement of Telangana Assembly poll result in which KCR's TRS won 88 seats out of a total of 119 seats, while the BJP got just one. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Another Guatemalan child died on Christmas morning in the custody of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The 8-year-old boy has been identified as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez in a statement by Rep. Joaquin Castro, chairman-elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, identified the child in a statement, reported CNN. Felipe is the second child to have died in CBP custody. The 8-year-old was detained along with his father. He died shortly after midnight at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo in New Mexico. The boy was taken to the hospital Monday after a border agent noticed signs of illness, and the medical staff first diagnosed him with a common cold and later with a fever. In a press release, CBP said, "The child was held for an additional 90 minutes for observation and then released from the hospital mid-afternoon on December 24 with prescriptions for amoxicillin and Ibuprofen." On Monday morning, the boy fell ill again and was taken hospital where he passed away. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained. Earlier this month, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who was taken into United States Border Patrol custody had died of dehydration and shock. The death of the children in the custody is expected 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 US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu held "Dharma Porata Deeksha" (Fight for Justice to the State) against the central government here on Wednesday. While addressing the public gathering at Anantapuram, Chandrababu Naidu slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his slated visit to the state and said, "All people should oppose the visit of Narendra Modi. If he implements the Andhra Pradesh reorganization act then we won't have any objection for his visit to the state". Naidu has been conducting these 'deekshas' after TDP quit NDA over a dispute with BJP on the issue of not fulfilling the bifurcation act promises and assurances. Narendra Modi is scheduled to come to Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh on 6th January 2019. As part of his speech at Dharma Porata Deeksha, Chandrababu further said, "We want that both the Telugu states should work together and flourish. But neither the Central government nor Telangana are supporting us. The opposition in Andhra Pradesh is cooperating to K Chandrashekar Rao. When TRS won in Telangana elections, YSRCP celebrated here in Andhra Pradesh. Some people want to win by provoking caste and religion. But I am working hard for the people of Andhra by sacrificing my family." Naidu also took the opportunity to slam the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP )and JSP and said, "YSRCP leaders are mortgaging our future for getting rid of cases on them. YSRCP is a corrupt party. YSRCP has already colluded with BJP, when we put no-confidence motion against central govt in the Parliament. From then onwards, YSRCP is conspiring against the state. Jana Sena Party's Pawan Kalyan had earlier said that the center should give Rs 75,000 crores to the state. But now he not uttering even a single word against them. The people of Andhra should teach a lesson to such parties. The people should defeat those parties which support BJP, and throw them in the Bay of Bengal." "The center stopped giving funds meant for the backward districts. Some of those funds were recalled even after payment. We expressed our readiness for providing basic infrastructure. Now we are ready to construct the plant on our own. Tomorrow I will lay the foundation for that project. We asked to give tax exemption for the plant for ten years but they did not respond. Same is the case with Polavaram project. We will release water from Polavaram project by May 2019, " he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday arrested a man for allegedly murdering two sisters. According to Jogendra Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ayodhya, the incident had taken place in the Bodhipurwa village. The accused, Ravi Verma, had an affair with the elder sister, who was his neighbour. On the night of the murder, the two got into a fight which turned violent and resulted into the accused allegedly killing the woman. A panic-stricken Ravi then killed the other sister who had threatened to raise an alarm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali on Tuesday visited a group of Bangladesh freedom fighters, who are receiving free medical treatment at the Army Hospital here. He talked with the freedom fighters, aged between 60 and 70 years, and enquired about their ailments and the treatments they are receiving, said an official statement issued from the High Commission here on Wednesday. A total of 28 ailing freedom fighters arrived here last week. Thirteen of them got admitted to the Army Hospital, while 15 others are receiving treatment in another army hospital in Pune. The expenses of the treatment are being borne by the Government of India. In April 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced India would provide free medical treatment to 100 freedom fighters of the 1971 Bangladesh War of Liberation. He had announced this at 'Sammanona' programme, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had personally honoured the families of some Indian soldiers who died fighting against the Pakistani troops during the nine-month liberation war. Upon meeting with the High Commissioner, the freedom fighters expressed satisfaction over the treatment and care they are receiving in the hospital for their ailments related to complications from the stroke, prostate, diabetes, and partial paralysis. In return, the High Commissioner said that as a freedom fighter he himself understands their feelings. The envoy was accompanied by Defense Adviser Brigadier General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman and Head of Chancery AFM Zahid-Ul-Islam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Merely four days before the 11th General Elections, the Jatiya Oikya Front here has called for the Chief Election Commissioner's (CEC) resignation, accusing him of bias. This comes in the aftermath of a delegation belonging to the alliance walking out of a meeting with the CEC, KM Nurul Huda, on December 25 over the latter's "discourteous" behaviour. "When we began to complain about the police role, he [CEC] took their side. We Don't expect such behaviour" The Daily Star quoted Nazrul Islam Khan from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as saying. Furthermore, BNP's Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "His behaviour was discourteous," while referring to the CEC. The alliance later called a presser on Tuesday night and demanded the CEC's resignation and pushed for the appointment of a "neutral person" so that a free and fair election is conducted. Kamal Hossain led the Front's delegation at the meeting yesterday and put forth their concerns regarding the violence against leaders and party workers from the opposition in the run-up to Sunday's elections. He also complained about police action and mentioned that a few members from the police forces were acting like "beasts". "You cannot label a force in such a way. Whatever police are doing are within the legal framework. Who do you think you are?" the CEC told Hossain in response. The opposition front also called for the withdrawal of four police officials during Tuesday's meeting. Furthermore, it also claimed that the police refused to give them protection in the wake of violence initiated against them by rival parties. The CEC rejected all allegations against the police forces, leading to the walk-out and the subsequent demand for resignation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of political leaders and workers of various parties were injured in continuing attacks across Bangladesh ahead of the 11th general elections here, slated to take place on December 30. Election offices have also been vandalised throughout the nation. "They (rival supporters) exploded bombs in the procession, beat up and hacked Awami League activists, leaving at least 10 injured," the Dhaka Tribune quoted Liton Hussain, an Awami League activist as saying. Shalikha police station's Officer-in-Charge Tariqul Islam has confirmed the news. Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General (DG), Benazir Ahmed, stated that a cash inflow from Dubai is being used to instigate violence in the run-up to the December 30 elections. Ahmed made these comments during a presser on Tuesday, where he announced the arrests of three men, who played a role in "instigating violence by distributing illegal money". On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has levelled allegations against supporters from the Awami League for attacking the motorcade of former state minister and BNP candidate, Alamgir Kabir. The attack, which left 10 people injured, took place when the motorcade was on its way back from campaigning in Kashimpur union's Dangapara in Raninagar upazila. Previously, Bangladesh's Election Commission had banned television channels in the country from live coverage inside polling centres during the general elections on Sunday. Live streaming of the elections on social media platforms has also been barred. To ensure a free and fair election, more than 600,000 security personnel from police, Border Guard Bangladesh, RAB, Coast Guard, Ansar, and Village Defence Party, would be deployed at polling stations. The ruling Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance will be locking horns against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Jatiya Oikya Front (National Unity Front) and Left Democratic Alliance, where 300 constituencies of the 350-member Parliament are up for grabs. Incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking to win a third term. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it's not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versio The BJP on Wednesday handed over the 2019 Lok Sabha election responsibility of crucial Uttar Pradesh to Gordhan Zadafia, a former Gujarat minister who had fallen out with Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of the state, before making up in 2014. Zadafia, a 64-year-old RSS veteran, was given the charge of UP as part of organisational changes effected by the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Considered close to sidelined BJP leader Sanjay Joshi, Zadafia had turned a Modi-critic after being dropped from the Gujarat Cabinet in 2002. He had subsequently left the party and floated Maha Gujarat Janata Party which even contested polls against the BJP in 2007 but failed to make any dent. Later, he merged his party with Gujarat Parivartan Party headed by another disgruntled BJP leader Keshubhai Patel and contested polls against the BJP, but again failing to make any impact. In 2014, he returned to the BJP, which made him in-charge of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday along with the party's Vice President Dushyant Kumar Gautam and Madhya Pradesh leader Narottam Mishra, for the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP also announced in-charge and co-in charge for 17 states and one union territory - Chandigarh, for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. For Andhra Pradesh, the party appointed Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan and party secretary Deodhar Rao to oversee the preparation of 2019 elections. BJP general secretaries Bhupender Yadav and Anil Jain have been assigned Bihar and Chhattisgarh, respectively whereas OP Mathur has been made in-charge of Gujarat. Minister in Uttar Pradesh government Swatantra Dev Singh and party leader Satish Upadhyaya have been bestowed with the responsibility of Madhya Pradesh. Central cabinet minister Prakash Javadekar and party's official spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi have been made in-charge and co-incharge of Rajasthan. BJP also appointed Minister in Haryana Government Captain Abhimanyu as in-charge of the both Chandigarh and Punjab for the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The Lok Sabha polls are due by May next year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as six people including Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) commander Aslam Baloch were killed in a suicide bombing attack that took place here on Monday (December 24), sources have confirmed. Tolo News quoted the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Wednesday confirming that the suicide bomb explosion, which targeted a vehicle, took the lives of six civilians in Aino Mina Township in Kandahar city. However, the Afghan ministry did not confirm reports on the murder of the Baloch leader "A number of civilians were killed as a result of the suicide attack in Aino Mina township. Six people were killed, and two others were wounded. It is said that a number of Baloch nationals were among those martyred," said Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. According to sources, the Baloch leader had been residing in Kandahar since 2005. He was openly criticising Pakistan and the Chinese government for their policies and motives in Balochistan. BLA has also carried out several attacks against Chinese workers engaged in the multi-million dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan. Recently, the BLA claimed responsibility of carrying out suicide attacks on Chinese consulate in Pakistan's Karachi city on November 23. Commander Aslam Baloch said that BLA will continue the fight against Pakistan and China in Balochistan. In an interview, Aslam Baloch also claimed that the growing Chinese presence in the region is posing a threat to their fight for sovereignty against Pakistan. Baloch also blamed China for looting the resources in Balochistan in the name of mega projects by calling it CPEC. "However, in the wake of these mega projects in Balochistan and Sindh region, both China and Pakistan are strengthening their military power. They are fooling the international community in the name of CPEC," he had further stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) special Prevention of Act (PMLA) court has adjourned the order on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking to declare liquor baron a fugitive offender. The order has been adjourned till January 5, as the special judge is not ready with his order. Last month, special court had rejected Mallya's plea seeking a stay on hearing of ED's application to declare him a fugitive. The decision from the judicature had come after five parties, including a family member of Mallya, sought court dossiers with regard to the ED seeking to get declared a fugitive economic offender under the new The special courts, under the new law, have a right to declare a person a fugitive economic offender. The courts can order immediate confiscation of the offenders' properties and other assets. A fugitive economic offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for committing a scheduled offence and who has left to avoid criminal prosecution, or being abroad, refuses to return to to face criminal prosecution. is also facing money-laundering charges in the United Kingdom after initiated extradition proceedings against him. Both, ED along with have filed several cases for alleged loan default against him. On November 22, the United Kingdom High Court issued an order asking Mallya to pay a hefty amount of GBP 88,000 to UBS Investment Bank, which had issued GBP 20.4 million in the mortgage loan for his property, and ruled in favour of UBS to take possession of Mallya's palatial Cornwall Terrace home. The Westminster Magistrates Court in on December 10 ordered the extradition of Mallya to India, who is facing charges of loan default to the tune of Rs 90 billion. Mallya left India in 2016, following which, the initiated extradition proceedings against him. The matter of Mallya's extradition has now been referred to UK's Secretary of State. Hundreds of passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight survived nervy moments on Christmas Eve as the plane made an emergency landing on a small and isolated island in Alaska due to a "potential engine issue". The flight, coming from Beijing, was bound for Seattle and had nearly 200 passengers on board when it made a sudden detour and landed at a US military base in Shemya, situated in the middle of an ocean in Alaska's Aleutians chain. No injuries were reported, USAToday reported. Apologising for the inconvenience, Delta Air Lines spokesperson Drake Castaneda said in a statement: "Delta apologises for the delay to our customers after Flight 128 from Beijing to Seattle diverted to Shemya, Alaska, due to a potential engine issue." The statement added that the US-based airline take safety of customers and crew members as a top priority. Castaneda further said that an alternate aircraft was pressed into service to take the stranded passengers to Seattle, adding that Delta also sent technicians, customer service agents and crew members to operate the plane. Narrating the incident, a passenger took to his Twitter handle, exclaiming that he is "still alive." "We lost one engine, landed on a US air force base in Alaska in the middle of the ocean. Delta sent another plane from Seattle to pick us up, and after waiting for 12 hours we are finally on the flight back. What a great story to tell my grandchildren," the traveller tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Building larger apartment, office and retail complexes and townships involves meticulous planning and timely execution. On-site project managers and construction laborers face various challenges like tough weather conditions, occupational and safety hazards. Keeping this in mind and to motivate the on-site laborers, DRA Homes, a real estate development company in Chennai has developed a motivational program in which the top management facilitates the construction workers every quarter. In one such event last week, Ranjeeth Rathod, the Managing Director of DRA Homes and Vice President - Projects, V. N. Subramaniam has handed over gift certificates to the site workers in their residential project, 90 Degrees in Pallavaram - Thoraipakkam main road, Chennai. "At DRA Homes, we have taken some specific measures to deliver our customers' home on time and the reason why we are able to handover the projects on time (in Mahindra World City and in Velachery) consistently is that, we take every construction mile-stone seriously and achieve it. One more reason why we felicitate the laborers is they have been achieving the construction milestones consistently in the last quarter," says V. N. Subramaniam. HR experts also believe these type of last-mile employee engagement activities will definitely boost the morale of the employees and motivate them to go an extra-mile. DRA Homes is a 34-year old Real Estate Development company based out of Chennai and Bangalore. The company has residential projects worth Rs. 2,253 crore under execution and has successfully completed over 10 million sq. ft. of residential projects. The company is known for several innovative customer-centric initiatives and has earned the trust of homebuyers by handing over the projects on time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noting that electoral bonds pose a grave threat to transparency in political fundings, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Wednesday said that they are 'extremely damaging to the Indian democracy'. "The Finance Minister had said these bonds will be in the nature of a bearer bond, the identity of the donor will be kept anonymous, I am yet to find a dictionary that says transparency and anonymity are the same things, the Electoral Bonds are extremely damaging to the Indian democracy," Jagdeep Chhokar, one of the founding members of the ADR told ANI. The electoral bonds scheme was introduced by the government with an aim to cleanse the system of funding of political parties in the 2017 Budget. The introduction of bonds was also followed by certain amendments in the Income Tax Act, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Companies Act, 2013. "When we read the bill, we found changes were made to four acts- Representation of People Act, the Income Tax Act, the Reserve Bank Act and the Companies Act. All those changes were meant to reduce or eliminate any transparency in political funding," Chhokar said. He further noted that the coffers of opposition parties will see a dip in donations, and that only ruling party will benefit from it. ADR in a report this year said that during 2017-18, out of the six parties, only the BJP declared receiving an income of Rs 210 crore from contribution through electoral bonds. "For the last year and two, it has been proved that 95% of the electoral bonds have been donated to the ruling party in power. It only means that the electoral bonds don't have the capability to check corruption and it is also chocking the funds to the opposition political parties as all funding is being routed to the ruling regime," he added. When asked why this scheme hasn't faced any opposition as none of the parties opposes this scheme, Chhokar said, 'This is to happen to whichever party is in power. That is why no political party really opposes the electoral bonds." The Election Commission (EC) had earlier expressed reservations on the issuance of electoral bonds. Last year, the top election body had told a parliamentary committee that electoral bonds introduced by the government was a "retrograde" step. Expressing apprehensions, even former CEC A.K. Joti had said the bonds could not solve all problems pertaining to transparency in political funding. Electoral Bond is a bearer instrument in the nature of a Promissory Note. The Electoral Bonds have some in-built security features to eliminate chances of forgery or presentation of fake bonds. These include a random serial number invisible to the naked eye. This number is not noted by the State Bank of India (SBI) in any record associated with the buyer or political party depositing a particular electoral bond. It is, thus not linked to any party transaction when the Bank issues a bond to the buyer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 10 lakh employees of nine public sector banks on Wednesday went on a nationwide strike against the merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda. They are also seeking their salary revision. An umbrella organisation of nine-bank union, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) is participating in the strike across the country. The nine banks are -- Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW), Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF) and Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC). In September, the Centre had approved the merger of the three banks which will make the entity the third largest lender of the country after State Bank of India and the HDFC Bank. The protesters are demanding the Centre to revoke its decision on the proposed merger and is seeking an urgent action from the government to recover huge bad loans from corporate defaulters, stating that amalgamation of banks will not help to recover bad loans. The wage revision of the bank employees is due since November 1, 2017. The bank unions had submitted their charter of demands on which the Indian Bank Association (IBA) called several round of meetings. Although, the IBA has offered 8 per cent wage hike, the UFBU has termed it as "unacceptable". IBA general secretary CH Venkatachalam told ANI in Chennai: "Today 10 lakh employees and officers are on strike. The Centre has been taking anti-banking sector policies since the past few years. They want to privatise these banks and they want to merge banks and turn them as international banks. Last year also, the merger of six other banks with State Bank of India has not benefitted SBI at all. For the first time in 200 years, SBI is reeling in losses". He added that public, especially those residing in the rural areas, would be facing inconvenience as the merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda will lead to closure of thousands of branches across the country. Terming the merger as a "wrong policy", Venkatachalam further said: "When branches and ATMs get closed, where will the people go? Banks and branches are very important. More branches should be opened to people to make them accessible to banking service. They are also not taking measures to receive bad loans and it is a wrong policy. There is a need for expansion of branches." AIBOC convenor VVSR Sharma told ANI in Hyderabad that around 85,000 bank employees from 5,000 state-run banks are participating in the day-long agitation. "We are going on strike today for two demands. One is against merger of PSU banks and second is recovery of bad loans from corporates. The non-performing assets mounted to the tune of 10 lakh crore in the country, which is a huge problem. We demand that stringent measures should be taken such as declaring willful default of recovery of bad loans as a criminal offence. More than that, Rs 2.5 lakh crore are due from 12 corporates who are expanding their businesses and earning huge wealth. The public will be greatly inconvenienced by this move," he elaborated. Warning of repercussions if the merger of the three banks goes ahead, Sharma said that the bank unions will be compelled to go on an indefinite strike. Echoing similar sentiments, AIBA Gujarat state unit chairman RV Seth asserted that the proposed merger is being done by the government to encourage private banks to grow. "We are protesting against this merger. The public will be affected by this move. In the name of merger, private banks are being encouraged and central government is finding ways to close down PSU banks," Seth told ANI. This is the second time in a week within this month that a nationwide bank strike is taking place. The ongoing strike will greatly trouble thousands of people, who would not be able to avail banking services. Earlier, the Strike Additional Labour Commissioner had called a conciliation meeting on December 20 in a last-minute attempt to request the bank unions not to go on a nationwide strike, but it failed. The UFBU subsequently served a strike notice to IBA and MDs of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank against the proposed merger. Since there was no assurance by IBA to stop the merger of the three banks and fresh offer on wage revision, the bank unions decided to go on strike. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The only objective of 'Mahagathbandhan' or 'grand alliance' is to stall Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday. "The only objective of 'Mahagathbandhan' or the grand-alliance is to stall Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The members of the grand alliance have no common minimum programme or agenda," he said while talking to ANI. "Individually none of these parties has the courage to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That is why they have formed an alliance only to stall Modi either by hook or by crook," said Ram Madhav. He said that the people would reject the 'grand alliance' just as they "rejected the alliance in recently held Telangana Assembly elections." "In 'Mahagathbandhan' there are more than half a dozen leaders waiting in queue to become the Prime Minister," he said. Madhav admitted that certain allies of the NDA have left the alliance but the BJP is trying to bring in new allies. "Alliance is all about accommodation and adjustment, for which the BJP is ready. It is true that certain smaller allies like Upendra Kushwaha in Bihar decided to leave us but we are working on bringing new allies into our fold, especially in south India and eastern India," he added. Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha recently parted ways with the BJP-led NDA and recently joined the Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance in Bihar, joining hands with Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal and other parties. Kushwaha quit the NDA on December 10, following differences with the BJP over seat sharing in the state for coming Lok Sabha elections. "If Rahul Gandhi could have been the option for the prime ministerial candidate because of the recent victories for the Congress in assembly polls, then there would have been no need for 'Mahagathbandhan.' Even today, no one, except MK Stalin is ready to confirm the name of the leader of 'Mahagathbandhan.' There are six leaders in the queue to become PM," he said. DMK chief MK Stalin on Sunday claimed that if the Congress president Gandhi becomes the prime minister, he could provide a stable government. On the issue of Triple Talaq Bill, Madhav said: "It is a historic decision taken by Prime Minister Modi led NDA government to take up this issue of gender justice and equality. A large section of civil society including Muslims has welcomed the decision. It is a boon for Muslim women. The matter is before the Parliament. I am sure there will be a meaningful debate," added the BJP leader. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One person got killed where as many as 25 people were injured after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus rolled down the hill into to a deep gorge here on Wednesday. The accident occurred at Jamli area of the district. According to Police, the rescue operation was initiated without delay and those injured were taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. The bus has plunged into a 50-feet deep gorge informed the district Police. "The injured persons were rushed to district hospital at Bilaspur while rescue operation by authorities is still ongoing," said Ashok Kumar Superintendent of Police (SP) Bilaspur. More details awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Hyderabad Police on Tuesday arrested a man identified as Sadiq Bin Mehfooz for allegedly firing at another person with his licensed gun following a quarrel. According to the Hussaini Alam police, the accused entered into an argument with his neighbour, Omer, over a land issue after which he fired two rounds in the air with his licensed 32 pistol. The fired bullets, however, missed Omer, who then managed to run away from the spot. K Ramesh, Circle Inspector of Hussaini Alam police station said, "Sadiq has been taken into our custody and a case has been registered. Further probe is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIUDF chief and Member of Parliament Maulana Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday threatened to smash the head of a journalist, who asked him about the prospects of an alliance in the coming Lok Sabha polls in the state. Ajmal, who represents Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in Assam, allegedly tried to hit the journalist too, while his supporters forced the scribe to tender apologies publicly. During a press interaction after a function where he felicitated the panchayat election winners of South Salmara district, the journalist asked AIUDF chief if he would ally with the Congress or the BJP in the future. In response, Ajmal hurled abuse at the journalist: "You all are the same who just want to target me. Go dogs. For how much money have you been bought by the BJP? Go, even your father is on sale there. Get out of here or I will smash your head. Go file case against me. I have thousands of men employed to fight for me." Snapping back at the journalist with a counter-question, the AIUDF chief said, "How much of money will you give? Is this a reporting? Journalists like you defame the entire community." The journalist is believed to have filed a complaint with the police against the lawmaker. However, AIUDF chief informed the media that his party was looking forward to 'Mahagathbandhan,' which is going to take place in New Delhi. "We are looking forward to the formula being worked out under Mahagathbandhan in New Delhi," said Ajmal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is all set to release two jailed Pakistani nationals, Abdullah and Mohammed Imran Qureshi Warsi, through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday. Abdullah was detained from Attari in 2017 while Warsi spent 10 years in Bhopal jail on charges of forgery and spying after coming to India in 2004. "It was my childhood dream to meet Shahrukh Khan and see India but I could not fulfil it. I will be back in India, but with a visa this time," Abdullah said near the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday. Warsi, on the other hand, had come to India to meet his Kolkata based relatives. He stayed on in India for four years despite the expiry of his visa. Furthermore, he also got a ration card and a PAN card made during his stay. In fact, he was on his way to Bhopal to get a passport made when he was arrested by the police. "My term expired in January this year, following which the police took care of me until now because I had no money of my own. I now get to go home after 14 years, and I couldn't be happier to see my mother, father and siblings who all reside in Karachi," Warsi told ANI in Bhopal on December 22. "The police treated me very well, just like a family. I found loving people here the same way there are loving people in Pakistan. I believe good people find good people everywhere," Warsi had stated. He has an Indian wife and two children from the marriage, whom he plans on taking to Pakistan through proper legal recourse. The returns come in the wake of Hamid Ansari, an Indian who was detained and jailed in Pakistan for six years, being repatriated to India after the completion of his prison term on December 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the gruesome attack on the Foreign Ministry building here that left three people dead and injured 18. One of the deceased victims was a high-ranking official who was in office when three men, armed with machine guns, stormed into the building on Tuesday. The terrorist outfit staked its claim through a statement released by its Amaq news agency, according to CNN. No proof to support the claim has been released yet. One of the gunmen is believed to have died when an explosion rocked the top floor of the building. "Such attacks will not undermine the determination of Libyans to build their state of democracy and law," Libya's Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala said during a presser. "This attack will not discourage the ministry staff from serving Libya and the Libyan people," he further said. There has been severe condemnation towards the attack, with the United Nations (UN) Support Mission in Libya stating, "We will work with the Libyan people to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven or an arena for their crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ISIS-inspired module-Harkat-ul- Harb-e-Islam-which the NIA busted on Wednesday, had four members from Amroha, one from Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, and five from Delhi, including an engineering student and a 3rd year BA student of a university in Delhi. NIA has identified Mufti Mohammad Suhail alias Hazrath, son of Hafiz Ahmad, a native of Amroha, as the mastermind of the module. NIA has said that the arrested accused would be produced before the NIA Special Court, Patiala Court House, New Delhi, on Thursday, while "further investigation of the case is continued to unearth the larger terror conspiracy." According to a press statement of NIA on Wednesday giving details of those arrested, Mufti Mohammad Suhail alias Hazrath, son of Hafeez Ahmad, 29 years, a native of Amroha, was working as 'mufti' in a mosque at Hakim Mahtab Uddin Hashmi Road, Amroha. He was staying at Jaffrabad, Delhi, and had tasked other team members to procure arms, explosives, and other accessories to prepare IED's and pipe-bombs, said the NIA. Saeed alias Sayeed, son of Habeeb, 28 years, resident of Saidapur Imma, Amroha, has a welding shop in Amroha. Raees Ahmad, son of Habeeb and brother of Said alias Sayeed, resident of Saidapur Imma, Amroha, has a welding shop at Islam Nagar, near Idgah. According to NIA, the two brothers Saeed and Raees had procured a huge quantity of explosive material/gunpowder, approximately 25 kg, for preparing IEDs and pipe bombs and were instrumental in fabricating a rocket launcher to carry out terrorist attacks. Mohammad Irshad, son of Ishtiyak, resident of Mohalla Qazi Zada, Amroha, is an auto-rickshaw driver and was helping Mohammad Suhail in arranging a hide-out for keeping the material for making IEDs and bombs, says the NIA statement. "Saqib Iftekar, 26, son of Iftekar, resident of Vait, Simbhaoli, Hapur, was working as Imam in Jama Masjid, Baksar, UP. He helped the master-mind Mufti Mohammad Suhail in procuring weapons," said NIA in the statement. According to NIA, Anas Yunus, 24, son of Mohammad Younus, resident of Jaffrabad, Delhi, was is pursuing Civil Engineering at a University in Noida, and was "instrumental in procuring electrical items, alarm clocks, and batteries etc. in furtherance of their terror conspiracy." "Rashid Zafar Raq alias Zafar, 23, son of Iqbal Ahmad, resident Jaffrabad, is into garments business, while Zubair Malik, 20, son of Gulzar Ahmad, resident of Jaffrabad, Delhi, was studying in BA third year at a university in Delhi," further informed INA. NIA further said that "Zaid Malik, 22, son of Gulzar Ahmad, brother of Zabair Malik, 22 years, resident of Jaffrabad, Delhi, were part of the terror conspiracy and were instrumental in procuring batteries, connectors, SIM cards on fake documents and mobilising funds for buying bomb-making material, while Mohammad Azam, 35, son of Hafiz Ahmad, resident of Chauhan Bajar, Gashi Mendu, Delhi, runs a medical shop in Seelampur, Shahdara, and helped the master-mind in arranging weapons." NIA arrested the 10 accused in early morning searches on Wednesday, which the NIA carried out at 17 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh with the active support of Delhi Police and UP Police and UP ATS. "On receipt of credible information that a group of pro-ISIS individuals has formed a terrorist gang and they are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks targeting vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi/NCR, NIA on 20.12.2018, registered a case under Sections 120B, 121, 121A, 122 of IPC, Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Sections 17,18,18 B, 20,38 and 39 of the UA(P) Act against the mastermind of the module, viz. Mufti Mohd. Suhail @ Hazrath, s/o Hafiz Ahmad, native of Amroha, UP and his associates and investigation was taken up forthwith," said NIA in the statement. "The inputs were further developed and field verifications were done. It was ascertained that Mufti Mohd Suhail @ Hazrath and his associates have mobilised funds and have procured weapons, ammunition, and explosive material to prepare IEDs and bombs and they plan to carry out explosions and fidayeen attacks at places of importance in and around Delhi and also target crowded places," added NIA. "To disrupt and dismantle the module, searches were carried out today at six places in Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Delhi, and 11 places in Uttar Pradesh, that is 6 in Amroha, 2 in Lucknow, 2 in Hapur and 1 in Meerut and huge quantities of explosive material, arms and ammunition, and other incriminating material and documents were seized," added India's key anti-terror investigating agency. "The seized items include 25 kg of explosive material, such as potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sulfur, sugar material paste, 12 pistols, 150 rounds of live ammunition, one country- made rocket launcher, 112 alarm clocks, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch, wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones, 134 SIM cards, three laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature and cash amount of Rs 7.5 lakh approximately," added NIA in the statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan has decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) next year onwards, and will resume commercial whaling in its territorial waters from July. "In its long history, Japan has used whales not only as a source of protein but also for a variety of other purposes," CNN reported while quoting an official statement. "Engagement in whaling has been supporting local communities, and thereby developed the life and culture of using whales," the release further mentioned. Meanwhile, Japan will stop whaling activities in the Antarctic Ocean and hunt those whale species that have a "healthy" population. Conservation and pro-animal groups have slammed the decision with Greenpeace Japan calling on the Japanese government for the conservation of marine ecosystem. "The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures. The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling," Sam Annesley, the executive director at Greenpeace Japan said. The hunting of whales for commercial purposes is banned under the 1986 IWC moratorium, which is objected to by Iceland and Norway. Japan, on the other hand, has continued hunting whales since 1987 for what it claims to be scientific research. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan, which is one of the largest gaming market in the world, has found the root cause for the poor eyesight of the its young students - smartphones. The country's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and recently conducted a survey and found that students with vision below the standard 1.0 score (20/20 vision) is at an all-time high of 25.3 percent. According to Sora News 24, 34.1 percent of elementary students and up to 67.09 percent of high school students did not have 1.0 vision, the highest ever in history. The ministry has warned that the poor eyesight can be linked to the increased time spent staring at screens caused by smartphone usage and mobile games. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy met with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday and discussed various issues including Mekedatu Project. Kumaraswamy brought to the notice of Union Minister the objections raised by Tamil Nadu against the project while outlining that it is beneficial to both states, especially for the Tamil Nadu. He requested Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of Chief Ministers of both the states. "The Union Minister has said that he will call the meeting of Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss over the implementation of Mekedatu Project," informed Karnataka's chief minister's office. During the meeting, the duo also discussed various highway projects. "Union Minister Gadkari has also agreed upon the construction of an elevated highway between Hubballi and Dharwad and has asked the State Government to complete the land acquisition to begin the works," said the press release from Chief Ministers Office (CMO), Karnataka. Karnataka Chief Minister also held discussions about the development of alternative roads to Highway 4 A which connects Karnataka to Goa as this highway is closed for 18 months to take up the widening work. He requested union minister to develop alternative roads under same project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) High-ranking officials from North and South Korea held the groundbreaking ceremony for the joint railways project, which will traverse through the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the two countries, on Wednesday at the Panmun station here. The two sides signed a railway sleeper and unveiled a signboard during the ceremony that comes in the aftermath of the April inter-Korean summit held between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to Yonhap News Agency. South Korea's Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee and Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon were among the 100 participants from the nation who arrived in a special train to Kaesong on Wednesday morning to take part in the ceremony. Meanwhile, North Korea's agency for inter-Korean ties' chairman Ri Son-gwon and Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun-hyok were at the helm of affairs for North Korea's delegation for the occasion. Furthermore, officials from the United Nations, Russia, China and Mongolia also attended the event. Before this, the two Koreas held an 18-day long joint inspection of North Korea's railways which started at the end of November this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least three people were killed and ten injured in a suicide bombing outside Foreign Ministry building here on Tuesday. Al Jazeera quoted authorities as stating that a high-rank official was also killed in the attack. A car bomb went off outside the ministry after which the security forces rushed to the scene, stated Special Forces spokesman Tarak al-Dawass. Following this, a suicide bomber blew up himself on the second floor of the building, while the second attacker died after his suitcase exploded. Dawass divulged that the third attacker was unarmed and was wearing a bulletproof vest. He was killed by security forces outside. He accused the ISIS of being responsible for the deadly explosion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a jibe at the 'Mahagathbandhan', Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday said that regional parties who longed for the Prime Ministerial position are now supporting Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the post ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, adding that it is like "begaani shaadi mein Abdullah diwana" (a stranger getting too much involved and excited in somebody else's marriage). "The regional parties who are not interested in seeing Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister are supporting (the alliance) to make him the Prime Minister. At the same time, they also want their aunt or uncle to be Prime Minister and want their father and grandfather to be Prime Minister. The so-called Mahagathbandhan is 'begaani shaadi mein Abdullah diwana'," he told reporters here. Naqvi further said that the drama of dynastic staged by the Congress and their "Modi Hatao" movement is eyewash. "They know very well that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is respected by the people of the country," he stated. The Union Minister further claimed that the Congress is "working hard for just four hours, while they go on a picnic for four months", adding that the BJP is working tirelessly for the welfare of the people. "Who are they to challenge Modi Ji? In the last four-and-half-years, Modi ji has tirelessly worked for development and for the interest of security. We need to give a befitting reply to those who are planting conspiracies and making baseless allegations not only against Modi Ji but also Atal Ji (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee)," Naqvi said. Terming 'Mahagathbandhan' as a club of royal dynasties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the grand alliance has been formed by some leaders to serve their personal interest. "People can see through their opportunism and will never accept such an incoherent coalition," he had remarked last week. The Mahagathbandhan is a proposed group of non-BJP parties, including the Congress, which is aiming to dethrone the Narendra Modi-led government in next year's Lok Sabha elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested three people in connection with the alleged murder of a specially-abled woman after she resisted a rape attempt. Superintendent of Police Ankit Mittal said that the accused have accepted their crime. "The accused have accepted their crime and revealed that the lady was specially-abled," Mittal said. On December 23, a body of an unidentified woman was recovered in a water tank filled inside an under-construction factory at Kalyanpur bypass of Katghar station area. The woman, who was specially-abled, was allegedly abducted by the three accused. They also tried to rape her but when she resisted she was hit with an iron rod on the head. The accused then left the dead body of the woman in the water tank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After banning the use of Indian currency over the denomination of INR 100, Nepal has now imposed a limitation on the cash withdrawal using the Nepali debit and credit cards in India. Central Bank of Nepal, also known as the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), in a circular imposed limitation of NPR 1,00,000 per month for payments and rendering services in India. But this would not be implemented for the settlement of the hotel bills, hospitals, and drug stores, the circular from the Central Bank of Nepal further said. The Central Bank of Nepal has justified the move as an attempt to curve the expenditure on unproductive purchases in India, which is generally made on point of sale (POS) system. The bank took the decision on Tuesday (December 25). On December 13, Nepal decided to ban Indian currency's use above INR 100 denomination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An ISIS-inspired module, planning to carry out major terror attacks ahead of the Republic Day, was busted on Wednesday with the arrest of 10 terrorists by the Investigation Agency (NIA) in multi-city raids. The NIA sleuths carried out coordinated raids at 17 places - 6 in Delhi and 10 in Uttar Pradesh - and recovered a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives, including 12 pistols along with 150 rounds, a country- made rocket launcher, a top official of the agency said. Important personalities, including politicians, vital installations and crowded places were on the hit of list of the new ISIS-styled terror module 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam', which was planning to strike very soon, the official said. "The level of preparation suggests that they planned to carry out an attack at the earliest," NIA Inspector General (IG) Alok Mittal told reporters. He said the attacks were planned in the form of remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or a suicide attack, for which even bullet-proof vests had been made. "To disrupt and dismantle the module, searches were carried out today at six places in Jaffrabad, Seelampur, Delhi, and 11 places in Uttar Pradesh, that is 6 in Amroha, 2 in Lucknow, 2 in Hapur and 1 in Meerut and huge quantities of explosive material, arms and ammunition, and other incriminating material and documents were seized," the NIA said in a statement. Among the terrorists, four were arrested from Amroha, one from Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, and five from Delhi. The included an engineering student and a 3rd year BA student of a university in Delhi. The mastermind of the module was Mufti Mohammad Suhail alias Hazrath, a 29-year-old head priest of a mosque in Amroha who was staying in Jaffrabad in Delhi, the NIA said. He had tasked other team members to procure arms, explosives, and other accessories to prepare IED's and pipe-bombs, the NIA added. "This was an entirely new ISIS-inspired module... They were in touch with some foreign-based handlers, exact location and identity of whom is yet to be established," the NIA IG said. The module was largely self-funded, Mittal said, adding some accused had stolen gold from their homes and purchased alarm clocks, explosive items and other material. "Rs 7.5 lakh cash was recovered during the raids along with nearly 100 mobile phones, 135 SIM cards, laptops, and memory chips. Some of the searches are still underway," he said. The members of the module extensively used the messaging applications like WhatsApp for their internal communication. The arrested accused would be produced before the NIA Special Court on Thursday even as "further investigation of the case continues to unearth the larger terror conspiracy." A statement issued by the NIA said two brothers Saeed and Raees had procured a huge quantity of explosive material/gunpowder, approximately 25 kg, for preparing IEDs and pipe bombs and were instrumental in fabricating a rocket launcher to carry out terrorist attacks. Mohammad Irshad, a resident of Mohalla Qazi Zada in, Amroha, is an auto-rickshaw driver and was helping Mohammad Suhail in arranging a hide-out for keeping the material for making IEDs and bombs, says the NIA statement. "Saqib Iftekar, a 26-year-old resident of Simbhaoli in Hapur, was working as Imam in Jama Masjid, Baksar, UP, the NIA said, adding he helped the mastermind in procuring weapons. According to NIA, 24-year-old Anas Yunus, a resident of Jaffrabad in Delhi, is pursuing Civil Engineering at a University in Noida, and was "instrumental in procuring electrical items, alarm clocks, and batteries etc. in furtherance of their terror conspiracy." Zubair Malik, 20-year-old resident of Jaffrabad in Delhi, is a BA third year student at a university in Delhi, the INA said. "On receipt of credible information that a group of pro-ISIS individuals has formed a terrorist gang and they are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks targeting vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi/NCR, NIA on 20.12.2018, registered a case under Sections 120B, 121, 121A, 122 of IPC, Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Sections 17,18,18 B, 20,38 and 39 of the UA(P) Act against the mastermind of the module, viz. Mufti Mohd. Suhail @ Hazrath, s/o Hafiz Ahmad, native of Amroha, UP and his associates and investigation was taken up forthwith," said NIA in the statement. "The inputs were further developed and field verifications were done. It was ascertained that Mufti Mohd Suhail @ Hazrath and his associates have mobilised funds and have procured weapons, ammunition, and explosive material to prepare IEDs and bombs and they plan to carry out explosions and fidayeen attacks at places of importance in and around Delhi and also target crowded places," added NIA. "The seized items include 25 kg of explosive material, such as potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sulfur, sugar material paste, 12 pistols, 150 rounds of live ammunition, one country- made rocket launcher, 112 alarm clocks, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch, wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones, 134 SIM cards, three laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature and cash amount of Rs 7.5 lakh approximately," added NIA in the statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting searches at 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, an NIA official said. The raids are in connection with a new Islamic State (IS) module styled as Harkat ul Harb-e-Islam, informed NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal. The officials of the terror investigating agency are carrying out the searches in Amroha, Mittal added. Further details in the matter are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a video went viral on social media in which Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is heard apparently instructing the police to "mercilessly" kill the assailants of Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prakash, the 59-year-old leader on Wednesday asserted that it is a human tendency to react like that in distress situations. Reiterating that he is an emotional person, Kumaraswamy told reporters here: "That is not a big issue. That is human tendency. In that kind of situation, any human being will react like that. I have clarified it already." On December 24, Kumaraswamy landed himself in a controversy after he was caught on camera telling someone on the phone, saying, "He (Prakash) was a good man. I do not know why they killed him. Shoot them (killers) mercilessly, no problem." As his remarks drew flak from the BJP, RTI activists have filed a complaint over Kumaraswamy's remark in the Human Rights Commision. Later clarifying that he was emotional at that point of time, Kumaraswamy said: "It (kill assailants mercilessly) was not my order. I was emotional at that moment. They (killers) are the reason for two murders and they were in jail. They came out on bail two days ago and killed another person. This is how they are misusing bail," said the Karnataka Chief Minister. Prakash, a leader of the ruling party, was murdered by unidentified assailants while he was travelling in his car in Maddur on Monday. Meanwhile, Narasimhamurthy, an RTI activist told ANI: "The Chief Minister told police officials to shoot the culprits. In our country, there is law and Constitution. The procedure of law should be followed. The Chief Minister cannot give such statements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi for failing to rescue around 15 miners trapped in an illegal coal mine in Kasan village of Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. The Congress chief took to Twitter to target the Prime Minister as rescue teams both State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had not been able to locate miners trapped in a flooded coal mine. Earlier, NDRF officer SK Shastri said that rescue operation is stalled due to lack of efficient equipment. "15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras.His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners," he twitted. In his scathing tweet, Rahul pointed out that the Modi government has failed to provide sufficient equipment, including high-pressure pumps for the rescue mission of miners. He further criticised the Prime Minister for posing for cameras during the inaugural ceremony of Bogibeel Bridge in Assam on Tuesday as the coal miners are still trapped in the mine. Showing concern regarding the lives of miners, Rahul urged the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to save the miners trapped in a coal pit. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma earlier said that rescue teams have been facing challenges to evacuate the trapped miners. He also highlighted that the high water level is making the operation difficult. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rapid Delivery, a leading last mile logistics player has announced the commencement of its operations in Ahmedabad, which will start in full swing in 2019. The company is also planing to expand its footprint in Pune, Bangalore and Delhi NCR. Working with well known eCommerce sellers (500+), Rapid Delivery currently operates in Mumbai, Thane, Surat. According to Aaqyl Chagla, CEO, Rapid Delivery, "The past decade, there's been an increase in the field of logistics - thanks to the growing trend in Ecommerce. With the increase in volume, comes the challenge of handling the shipments while maintaining the level of customer satisfaction. Rapid Delivery has taken up an initiative to simplify the logistics and supply chain process and are delighted to provide support to all levels of businesses who contributes to the Ecommerce sector, with key focus in reducing the Non Delivery Rate." Rapid Delivery received Rs 35 lakhs through seed funding. Thereafter, HNI Zubin Barucha invested an undisclosed amount in a Pre Series A round. They first started by building the necessary software to optimize their operations. This enabled them to make the overall operations process much more organized and efficient. They then set up their base in Mumbai and provided an array of courier services. Rapid Delivery settled down into providing forward, reverse and hybrid services. Now they are focused on helping the entire eco-commerce ecosystem become organized by providing an end-to-end solution which will cut through the traditional systems and will help them and their vendors get their entire operations streamlined on one platform with their courier services being the backbone. Rapid Delivery thrives on having an in-house Technology that helps clients have good visibility of their shipments with live tracking, reporting along with tools like inventory management & Order Processing to help automate the supply chain. Their platform is extremely scalable and customizable to meet every client requirement. Putting customer service above the founders - Aaqyl Chagla, Naomi Leon and Adarsh Chokani have embarked upon this journey of delivering satisfaction in the most economical way. Aaqyl is an IT engineer from St. Francis Institute of Technology. Apart from being a tech geek who spearheads their tech development, he also is the CEO at Rapid Delivery. He loves logistics and is always finding ways to optimize any operational process. Naomi is also a Telecommunication engineer from St Francis Institute of Technology. She spearheads the Development Vertical at Rapid Delivery. She along with her team help get different clients and understand the pain points that exist in the market. Adarsh on the other hand is an Electronics and Telecommunications engineer from Sardar Patel Institute of Technology. He likes trying out different things which help increase the efficiency of a process. He spearheads Operations and the Innovations vertical at Rapid Delivery. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has heaped praises on the influential Gandhi-Nehru family, asserting that they contributed to the development and made sacrifices for the country, while taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his constant attacks on the Gandhi family. "Generations of Gandhi-Nehru family have contributed to the country's development and have made sacrifices. If today, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are working with the same sentiment of serving the poor then we should respect them. But Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi only says that one family ruined the country," Pawar said at a rally in Satara on Tuesday. The NCP leader also said that the people of the country should "respect" the Gandhi-Nehru family as they continue to serve the poor. He trained his guns at the Prime Minister for repeatedly making accusations on the Gandhi family. Pawar, who left the Congress to form his new party in 1999, accused the BJP government of fooling the citizens and not focusing on key issues like development and agrarian crisis and accusing them of promoting communal hatred. Pawar's cryptic remarks come close on the heels of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan's comments last week where he praised the Congress of raising "real" issues of the youth and farmers, which fetched his party a victory in the recently-held Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. While being critical of the BJP, Paswan said that the BJP lost the Assembly elections because it failed to address the issues of farmers and youth unemployment and emphasised on Ram temple only. He underlined that there is an urgent need for the BJP to return to the issue of development like in 2014 by keeping away issues like the Ram temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday. Soon after the meeting, the Telangana chief minister's office informed that various issues pertaining to the state were discussed in the meeting. Official account of CMO Telangana tweeted, "Hon'ble Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao met Hon'ble Prime Minister Sri @NarendraModi Ji today in New Delhi and discussed various issues pertaining to the State." Telangana Chief Minister's visit to New Delhi has taken place after 15 days of the announcement of Telangana Assembly poll result in which Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won 88 seats out of a total of 119 seats. Chief Minister Rao's meeting with Prime Minister Modi also comes close on the heels of TRS chief's meeting with his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday, and thereafter with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. During his meeting with Patnaik, Chief Minister Rao, popularly known as KCR, had asserted that there is a dire need for the unification of regional parties to replace the Congress and the BJP at the Centre. "The country needs a change for which dialogue has begun. We are doing our part but nothing concrete has emerged so far. We have just begun the dialogue. There is a strong need for an alternative to Congress and BJP," Rao told media persons in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, which he repeated after meeting Chief Minister Banerjee in Kolkata too. In New Delhi, Chief Minister Rao is also scheduled to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. He is also likely to meet Union Ministers to discuss the issues related to Telangana. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a letter to Telanagan Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded the withdrawal of an ordinance dated December 15, amending PR act, 2018 to bring down the reservations for Backward Classes in Panchayat Raj elections. Reddy also demanded that the Telangana Government implements the High Court's order on conducting a caste-wise enumeration of Backward Classes in the state along with a socio-economic survey on their conditions. Terming the ordinance 'undemocratic', Reddy wrote, "The Congress party disagrees with your government's ordinance reducing the BC reservation quota with a pretext of Supreme Court verdict. The entire BC community of Telangana is agitated about reducing the reservations for BCs in Sarpanch and local body elections. The Congress party categorically states that reservations for BCs in local body elections must be commensurate with the population percentage of BCs in Telangana." Further, the TPCC Chief said that Telangana Government has been ignoring orders of the High Court orders that were issued, directing the State Government to conduct detailed investigation with regard to backwardness of population, collect data, invite objections from general public, analyse the same and then fix the reservation in favor of Backward Classes in accordance with the directions of a division bench of High Court in "Nimmaka Jaya Raj Vs The Government of Andhra Pradesh". The Telangana Government has deliberately ignored the High Court order and nothing was done for enumeration of BC voters in the State, he alleged. Reddy also objected to conducting of Panchayat Raj elections by the State Election Commission on defective electoral rolls that were used for recently held Assembly elections. "Nearly 22 lakh eligible voters were missing from the electoral rolls and Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rajat Kumar has admitted the same. As per the schedule for summary revision of electoral rolls announced by the Election Commission of India, the Integrated Draft Electoral Rolls will be published on December 26; Claims and Objections will be received from 26th December to 25th January: Claims and Objections will be disposed of before 11th February; updating database and printing of supplement will be done before 18th February and Final Publication of Photo Electoral Rolls will be done on 22nd February 2019 Therefore, we feel that there is no point in holding the Panchayat Raj elections without waiting for revised electoral rolls. After all, elections are meant for people to elect their representative and when so many lakhs of citizens are being deprived of their voting right. It surely is a mockery of democracy being done by the ruling government," he said. He also said that the electoral rolls must be rectified by ensuring that all deleted voters are re-entered in the list and democratic right. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thailand has legalised the use of medical marijuana with a vote in the National Legislative Assembly, making it the first country in south-east Asia to do so. "The amendment (on the Narcotics Bill) was passed after the second and third readings today. And will become effective once it is published on the Royal Gazette," lawmaker Somchai Sawangkarn said on Tuesday. "This could be considered as a New Year gift to Thais," he further remarked, according to CNN. 166 members of the legislative assembly voted in favour of the motion, while 13 members abstained from voting. There were no votes against the motion. However, recreational marijuana is still illegal in the country which is based in a region where most countries have stringent laws against the use of drugs. The medical use of marijuana is also legal in Countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Ireland among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The wait is over! The trailer of veteran actor Anupam Kher's 'The Accidental Prime Minister' will be out on Thursday. Taking to his Twitter, the 'A Wednesday' star, who will be seen as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the film, shared a video donning his look for the film. "Friends, you'll be happy to know that the trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister is coming to all of you tomorrow," he wrote. Based on the 2014 memoir of the same name, written by Manmohan Singh's media adviser Sanjay Baru, 'The Accidental Prime Minister' revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. It also features Arjun Mathur and Aahana Kumra as Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, respectively. Suzanne Bernert will portray the role of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Directed by debutant Vijay Gutte and written by Hansal Mehta, the flick is set to hit the theatres on December 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump made an unannounced first trip on Wednesday to troops in a combat zone in Iraq as President. Trump was accompanied by the First Lady Melania Trump. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted, "President Trump and the First Lady travelled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas." The trip came amid the partial government shutdown and a week after Trump decided to pull out troops stationed in Syria and Afghanistan. This also led to the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. According to The New York Times, Trump was expected to make two stops on his post-Christmas trip, delivering a holiday message to the more than 5,000 American forces stationed in Iraq. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The world is far and wide and it will take Google a lot of time to ensure all the countries on the planet are covered through the 360-degree Street View. So, a Zimbabwean decided to put the country on the immersive experience by himself. Tawanda Kanhema, 37, grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to the United States. His studies in journalism and documentary film-making helped him shoot the exquisite location including Harare's central business districts, malls, virtual tour of Victoria Falls, river mapping of Zambezi river in a speed boat, and more, all within a span of two weeks, Cnet reported. He funded all the travel and production costs related to the project while Google and Insta360 provided the gear through the camera loan program. Given that he used off-the-shelf products, his costs reduced to just under USD 5,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Autoline Industries rose 2.1% at Rs 65.55 at 10:06 IST on BSE after the company entered into Memorandum of Understanding with Poddar Habitat to transfer the land and buildings situated at Pune. The announcement was made after market hours on 24 December 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 392.51 points, or 1.11% to 35,077.64 On the BSE, 7,413 shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 4,427 shares in the past two weeks. The stock hit high of Rs 69.85 and low of Rs 65 so far during the day. Autoline Industries said that currently the company is operating through its 8 manufacturing facilities spread across India along with in-house Design & Style Centre. In continuation of initiatives to achieve the operational efficiency, cost reduction and to reduce the debt, the company has taken one more major step by way of consolidating one of its manufacturing facility situated at Sr. Nos. 613, Mhalunge, Tal. Khed, Dist. Pune to its Chakan Units situated at Pune. Autoline Industries has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 24 December 2018, with Poddar Habitat to transfer the said land and buildings thereon (immovable property). The company will utilize the sale proceeds to settle the debt that has a charge on the immovable property and reduce overall debt exposure of the company. The company believes that the consolidation of facilities will accrue substantial operational efficiency, cost savings, add to better working capital management and smoothening of supply chain management by utilizing the available resources in Chakan Unit. Autoline Industries is a engineering and auto ancillary company, manufacturing sheet metal components, sub-assemblies and assemblies, foot control modules, parking brakes, hinges, cab stay and cab tilt, exhaust systems, tubular structures, fabrications, etc. for large OEMs in the automobile industry. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare Ltd is quoting at Rs 7470, down 0.71% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock in last one year as compared to a 1.28% in NIFTY and a 12.21% lost in the Nifty FMCG index. GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at 7470, down 0.71% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.36% on the day, quoting at 10625.35. The Sensex is at 35305.23, down 0.46%.GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare Ltd has gained around 5.23% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty FMCG index of which GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 0.08% in last one month and is currently quoting at 29950.95, down 0.2% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 34440 shares today, compared to the daily average of 74209 shares in last one month. The PE of the stock is 37.16 based on TTM earnings ending September 18. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Government has been reorienting the agriculture sector by focusing on an income-centeredness which goes beyond achieving merely the targeted production, noted a latest update from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The income approach focuses on achieving high productivity, reduced cost of cultivation and remunerative price on the produce, with a view to earn higher profits from farming. The Government has set a target of doubling of farmers' income by the year 2022. The Government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare to examine issues relating to doubling of farmers' income and recommend a strategy to achieve doubling of farmers' income in real terms by the year 2022. The committee has identified seven sources of income growth viz, improvement in crop and livestock productivity; resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production; increase in the cropping intensity; diversification towards high value crops; improvement in real prices received by farmers; and shift from farm to non-farm occupations. The committee is also looking into the investments in and for agriculture e.g. increasing public investments for agriculture-rural roads, rural electricity, irrigation; the need for policy support to enable investments by corporate sector in agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) fixes target for the production of foodgrains in the country annually. The target for the production of foodgrains has been fixed at 290.25 million tonnes for the 2018-19.The production of foodgrains in the country has been estimated at 284.83 million tonnes (4th Advance Estimates) for 2017-18, which is a record. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall in the country was normal (-9%) during South-West monsoon season (June to September 2018). As per Fourth Advance Estimates for 2017-18, total Rabi Foodgrain production in the country is estimated at 144.10 million tonnes which is higher by 7.32 million tonnes than the previous record production of rabi foodgrain of 136.78 million tonnes achieved during 2016-17. The rabi production during 2017-18 is also higher by 13.58 million tonnes than the previous five years' (2012-13 to 2016-17) average production of foodgrain. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ministry of Power, Government of India has decided to make all meters smart prepaid in 3 years from 1st April, 2019. This step is likely to bring revolution in power sector by way of reduction in AT&C losses, better health of DISCOMs, incentivisation of energy conservation, ease of bill payments and doing away with the paper bills. Move towards smart meters is a pro poor step as consumers need not pay the whole month's bill in one go, instead they can pay as per their requirements. Manufacturing of smart prepaid meters will also generate skilled employment for the youth. The State Governments had earlier signed the Power for All document and had agreed to supply 24*7 power supply to their consumers. Thus the distribution licensee shall provide 24*7 power to their consumers by 1st April, 2019 or earlier. However the appropriate Commission in exceptional circumstances for the reasons to be recorded in writing may grant extension in this time period. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Market is seen recovering on bargain hunting after a recent steep slide. Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 22 points at the opening bell. Overseas, most Asian shares were trading lower. Japanese stocks were trading with small gains on Wednesday following a Christmas Day plunge of both the Nikkei 225 and Topix. US stock indices booked their worst trading session on the eve of Christmas in history in a holiday-shortened session, putting the S&P 500 on the brink of the 20% decline from a recent peak that is commonly considered a bear market. A fresh source of anxiety was a tweet from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that he had spoken with the CEOs of the country's six biggest banks to assess the health of the banking system. That raised some questions about liquidity among those institutions, a concern that previously had not existed. Treasury officials reportedly insist that the calls to bank executives was just a routine checkup. In the global commodities markets, Brent for February 2019 settlement slumped $3.35 a barrel or 6.22% to settle at $50.47 a barrel on Monday, 24 December 2018. Closer home, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 577.10 crore on 24 December 2018, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 186.14 crore on 24 December 2018, as per provisional data. Domestic stocks ended lower for third session in a row on Monday, 24 December 2018, amid negative global cues. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, lost 271.92 points or 0.76% to settle at 35,470.15. The Nifty 50 index lost 90.50 points or 0.84% to settle at 10,663.50. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The murder of two Scandinavian tourists in the Atlas Mountains last week might not affect tourism in Morocco, as some people had predicted. Managers and employees at Danish travel agencies have said that they will continue sending more tourists to Morocco and will follow the instructions provided by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two Scandinavian tourists, 24-year-old Louisa Vesterager Jespersen from Denmark and 28-year-old Maren Ueland from Norway were murdered in a seemingly terror attack. The bodies of the two tourists were found on Monday, December 17, near Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains. The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) which is investigating the murder as possible terror act has arrested 18 suspects in connection to the murder. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that most Danish tourists have not faced any difficulties while in Morocco, reported the news outlet MoroccoWorldNews.com, quoting Danish media Politiken. The Danish news outlet, however, said that the ministry advised travelers to exercise extra caution. The ministry also called on Danish tourists not to hike alone and to be accompanied by guides. Politiken also cited managers of Danish travel agencies, who confirmed that they will keep sending tourists to Morocco, MoroccoWorldNews added. According to Viktors Farmor Marketing Director Esben Gynther, the travel agency offers a package tour for 20 people to Marrakech. The director of the agency, which specializes in cultural and nature travel, said that 19 tourists will join the first group on December 30. He added, We will stick to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidelines and follow travel warnings to assure the safety of our travelers. Meanwhile well keep on providing travel and holiday services to more tourists as usual. Viktors Farmor aims to provide travel tours and holiday services for over 400 tourists in 2019. Some of those 400 tourists will head to Moroccos Atlas Mountains. According to MoroccoWorldNews, the spokesman for the Danish agency Spies Travel, Torben Andersen, said his company has already sent over 500 travelers and will be sending 50 more Danish tourists to Agadir and Marrakech in the near future. Our customers never complained and we will follow the foreign affairs ministrys guidelines and warnings as we dont have any guides in Morocco, Torben Andersen added. Mikkel Hansen, the communication manager for TUI, a German leisure travel group, said that the company has provided travel services for approximately 30 Scandinavian travelers in Morocco, mainly in Agadir. Key benchmark indices were trading lower in early trade amid negative Asian cues. At 9:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 235.35 points or 0.66% at 35,234.80. The Nifty 50 index was down 52.95 points or 0.50% at 10,610.55. Among secondary barometers,the BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.55%. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.46%. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On BSE, 291 shares rose and 712 shares fell. A total of 57 shares were unchanged. In the global commodities markets, Brent for February 2019 settlement slumped $3.35 a barrel or 6.22% to settle at $50.47 a barrel on Monday, 24 December 2018. Overseas, most Asian shares were trading lower. Japanese stocks were trading with small gains on Wednesday following a Christmas Day plunge of both the Nikkei 225 and Topix. US stock indices booked their worst trading session on the eve of Christmas in history in a holiday-shortened session, putting the S&P 500 on the brink of the 20% decline from a recent peak that is commonly considered a bear market. A fresh source of anxiety was a tweet from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that he had spoken with the CEOs of the country's six biggest banks to assess the health of the banking system. That raised some questions about liquidity among those institutions, a concern that previously had not existed. Treasury officials reportedly insist that the calls to bank executives was just a routine checkup. Back home, Adani Transmission was up 0.72%. The company has acquired 100% equity share capital of Obra-C Badaun Transmission (OCBTL) from PFC Consulting (PFCCL). OCBTL was incorporated in August, 2018 by PFCCL to build, own, operate and maintain the transmission project in Uttar Pradesh. The announcement was made after market hours on 24 December 2018. Chemfab Alkalis was up 0.61%. The company said that the PVC-O project, at manufacturing facility at Sricity - Tada, Andhra Pradesh, has been commissioned successfully on Saturday, 22 December 2018 for manufacturing and selling of PVC - O pipes & fittings. The announcement was made after market hours on 24 December 2018. J.K.Cement was up 1.14%. The company said that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 28 December 2018 to consider and approve issue price for equity shares to be allotted to Qualified Institutional Buyers in the QIP. The announcement was made after market hours on 24 December 2018. Autoline Industries was up 5.69%. The company has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 24 December 2018 with Poddar Habitat to transfer the land and buildings thereon ('immovable property') at Pune. The company will utilize the sale proceeds to settle the debt that has a charge on the immovable property and reduce overall debt exposure of the company. The announcement was made after market hours on 24 December 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maruti Suzuki India fell 0.61% to Rs 7,468.05 at 11:55 IST on BSE after the company announced to proactively and voluntarily undertake a recall campaign for certain Super Carry vehicles. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 26 December 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 314.32 points, or 0.89% to 35,155.83 On the BSE, 19,000 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 61,000 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 7,512 and a low of Rs 7,406 so far during the day. With customer safety as its top priority, Maruti Suzuki India today announced to proactively and voluntarily undertake a recall campaign for certain Super Carry vehicles. The company will inspect a possible defect in fuel filter of 5900 Super Carry vehicles manufactured between 26 April 2018 and 1 August 2018. This also include vehicles in which fuel filter has been replaced in field during this period. Starting 26 December 2018 owners of the suspected vehicles will be contacted by Maruti Suzuki dealers for inspection and replacement of the faulty part free of cost. Recall campaigns are undertaken globally to rectify faults that may be potential safety defects. Maruti Suzuki India's net profit fell 9.8% to Rs 2240.40 crore on 0.5% increase in net sales to Rs 21551.90 crore in Q2 September 2018 over Q2 September 2017. Maruti Suzuki India is India's biggest car maker in terms of market share. Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corporation currently holds 56.206% stake in Maruti Suzuki India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 30 September 2018). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The market trimmed losses in mid-morning trade. At 11:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 343.15 points or 0.97% at 35,127. The Nifty 50 index was down 92.85 points or 0.87% at 10,570.65. Weak cues from other Asian shares put pressure on bourses. The Nifty was trading below 10,600 mark. Indices opened lower and extended losses in morning trade. Indices trimmed losses in mid-morning trade. Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was down 1.22%. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 1.21%. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On BSE, 530 shares rose and 1584 shares fell. A total of 119 shares were unchanged. Among index pivotals, Reliance Industries (down 1.83%), TCS (down 1.78%), Infosys (down 1.42%) and ICICI Bank (down 0.92%), declined. Metal shares declined. Jindal Steel & Power (down 2.07%), Hindustan Copper (down 1.8%), Steel Authority of India (down 1.54%), Tata Steel (down 1.48%), NMDC (down 1.11%), JSW Steel (down 1.01%), Vedanta (down 0.89%), Hindalco Industries (down 0.83%) and Hindustan Zinc (down 0.54%), edged lower. National Aluminium Company was up 0.49%. FMCG shares witnessed selling pressure. Tata Global Beverages (down 2.03%), GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (down 1.61%), Britannia Industries (down 1.41%), Hindustan Unilever (down 1.28%), Marico (down 0.99%), Godrej Consumer Products (down 0.96%), Bajaj Corp (down 0.81%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care (down 0.77%), Colgate Palmolive (India) (down 0.7%), Nestle India (down 0.61%) and Jyothy Laboratories (down 0.18%), edged lower. Dabur India was up 0.7%. Autoline Industries rose 2.1% after the company entered into Memorandum of Understanding with Poddar Habitat to transfer the land and buildings situated at Pune. The announcement was made after market hours on 24 December 2018. Autoline Industries said that currently the company is operating through its 8 manufacturing facilities spread across India along with in-house Design & Style Centre. In continuation of initiatives to achieve the operational efficiency, cost reduction and to reduce the debt, the company has taken one more major step by way of consolidating one of its manufacturing facility situated at Sr. Nos. 613, Mhalunge, Tal. Khed, Dist. Pune to its Chakan Units situated at Pune. Autoline Industries has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 24 December 2018, with Poddar Habitat to transfer the said land and buildings thereon (immovable property). The company will utilize the sale proceeds to settle the debt that has a charge on the immovable property and reduce overall debt exposure of the company. The company believes that the consolidation of facilities will accrue substantial operational efficiency, cost savings, add to better working capital management and smoothening of supply chain management by utilizing the available resources in Chakan Unit. Overseas, Asian shares fell across the board. US stock indices booked their worst trading session on the eve of Christmas in history in a holiday-shortened session, putting the S&P 500 on the brink of the 20% decline from a recent peak that is commonly considered a bear market. A fresh source of anxiety was a tweet from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that he had spoken with the CEOs of the country's six biggest banks to assess the health of the banking system. That raised some questions about liquidity among those institutions, a concern that previously had not existed. Treasury officials reportedly insist that the calls to bank executives was just a routine checkup. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 195.35, down 0.53% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 40.11% in last one year as compared to a 1.28% rally in NIFTY and a 20.56% fall in the Nifty Metal index. Vedanta Ltd dropped for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at 195.35, down 0.53% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.36% on the day, quoting at 10625.35. The Sensex is at 35305.23, down 0.46%.Vedanta Ltd has added around 0.18% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 2.13% in last one month and is currently quoting at 3089.85, down 0.26% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 62.27 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 133.64 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark December futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 196.4, down 0.03% on the day. Vedanta Ltd tumbled 40.11% in last one year as compared to a 1.28% rally in NIFTY and a 20.56% fall in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 25.5 based on TTM earnings ending September 18. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zee Media Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 23.5, down 1.05% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock in last one year as compared to a 1.28% in NIFTY and a 29.94% lost in the Nifty Media index. Zee Media Corporation Ltd is down for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at 23.5, down 1.05% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.36% on the day, quoting at 10625.35. The Sensex is at 35305.23, down 0.46%.Zee Media Corporation Ltd has lost around 1.67% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Media index of which Zee Media Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 1.3% in last one month and is currently quoting at 2414.3, up 0.99% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 66452 shares today, compared to the daily average of 1.88 lakh shares in last one month. The PE of the stock is 22.29 based on TTM earnings ending September 18. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thirteen soldiers and two policemen were killed in an ambush by terror group Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Army has said. The incident occurred late on Monday along the northeastern Damaturu-Maiduguri road, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. The ambush followed another Boko Haram attack repelled by troops at a military formation in the northeastern state of Yobe the same day. One soldier was injured while an unknown number of Boko Haram members were killed during the gunfight at the military base. In November, the Army claimed that Boko Haram had gone hi-tech, using drones and mercenaries, in attacking military formations. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria, killing some 20,000 people and forcing displacement of millions of others. --IANS mag/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As smartphones went through a couple of noticeable innovations in the hardware department in 2018 -- especially Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven cameras and improved battery -- the rise of 5G-ready and foldable devices stole the limelight. While players like Huawei, LG, Motorola and Apple secured patents on foldable devices, South Korean giant Samsung took a definitive lead, showcasing a real one in November when Justin Dennison, Senior Vice President of Mobile Marketing, took out a foldable smartphone from his jacket at a New York event. Reports surfaced that Samsung plans to launch its first foldable smartphone in March next year and the shipment volume would be at least one million. The smartphone would fold inward and sport a 7.4-inch screen when unfolded and have a 4.6-inch display like a regular smartphone when folded. When it came to 5G, Samsung again pushed the envelope and announced 5G-enabled smartphones with US telecom carriers Verizon and AT&T that would hit the market in the first half of 2019. Chinese player OnePlus joined the bandwagon in December, announcing it will release a commercial 5G smartphone with carrier network EE in the UK in 2019. According to Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, 5G devices will soon be a reality. "Form factors like foldable phones along with 5G technology will act as a catalyst impacting the upgrade rate of premium smartphones," Pathak told IANS. "These features will help smartphone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to differentiate their offerings. One of the aggressive marketing campaign will surely be about to launch the 'first 5G' smartphone in a region/country or price segment," he added. "Smartphones have not seen much disruptive innovations for a long time now -- in form factor and display. Samsung has now achieved a technical breakthrough in display manufacturing," noted Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR). Rest of the year saw major innovations in the camera department, with almost every player in the market infusing AI into sensors to do the job of clicking that perfect moment for you. An early innovator in smartphone camera technology, Huawei in April brought a Leica-designed, triple-camera system in P20 Pro smartphone which became its USP. Samsung later announced two smartphones -- Galaxy A7 with three-rear camera and Galaxy A9 with the four-rear camera system -- with AI embedded into it. The year also saw Chinese electronics major Xiaomi's meteoric rise in India, increasing its market share quarters after quarters on the back of its popular Redmi series. In a bid to break the notion that it is just a smartphone brand, Xiaomi also amplified its products portfolio in categories like fitness and health, smart home, smart travel and more -- using AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. OnePlus 6T became the flagship killer of the year in the Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 segment. Topped with a bigger battery and some hardware improvements, OnePlus 6T made for a highly desirable smartphone in the premium category. As smartphones scouted for innovation, data went dirt cheap. Smartphone users in India are now consuming an average 1GB data per day and spending more than 90 minutes on online activities daily across the entry-level, mid and premium segments, revealed a Nielsen India report in September. "The advent of high-speed 4G Internet, less-expensive mobile handsets and a correction in call data charges have encouraged the speedy adoption of smartphones in India," said Abhijit Matkar, Director-Technology IPG - Nielsen India. With a rise in smartphone ownership, India was expected to end the year with over 500 million smartphone users, said US-based media agency Zenith. Beyond smartphones, mobile handset market also saw a mammoth rise and to meet the demand of the mass market, new Chinese and Indian vendors launched affordable handsets with latest features, some even under Rs 5,000. Backed by robust growth in smartphone as well as smart-feature phone categories, an estimated 302 million mobile handsets will be sold in India in 2019 -- the highest ever in a year -- said technology research consulting firm techARC. Of the 302 million mobile handsets, 149 million (49.3 per cent) will be smartphones, 55 million (18.2 per cent) will be smart-feature phones and the remaining 98 million (32.5 per cent) will be feature phones. With data prices breaking all records -- thanks to cheaper plans from carriers like Reliance Jio and affordable yet powerful smartphones now available on shelves -- the smartphone and mobile growth in India would only swell further. (Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in) --IANS na/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will undertake a statewide "Bhajpa Bhagao, Bhagwan Bachao Yatra" from January 12, party leader Sanjay Singh announced in the state capital on Wednesday. Interacting with media persons here, the Rajya Sabha member said the Yatra will start from Ayodhya. This Yatra, he added, would be conducted to expose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially in the light of the hundreds of Shivlingas, which were allegedly found lying under the rubble of demolished structures to pave way for Kashi Vishwanath corridor -- a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his parliamentary constituency. Leaders of the Apna Dal, an ally of the BJP, will also be participating in the Yatra, Singh said. Calling the pro-Hindutava posturing of the BJP as fake, the Rajya Sabha member said the district administration had served notices to 176 temples in Varanasi, adding as to how the party that vowed to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya was now demolishing ancient temples in name of development. Singh also slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in the state for "failing law and order in the state" and demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the burning alive of a Dalit minor girl in Agra recently. He said that on Thursday, the AAP would demonstrate at all district headquarters against the state's BJP government. Singh also criticised the BJP government and its leaders for trying to give a "caste certificate" to the monkey Hindu god, Lord Hanuman. --IANS md/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Couple of days after denying permission to offer Namaz in public parks in Gautam Budh Nagar, Greater Noida Authority officials, along with Noida police, on Wednesday removed a tent placed for a Hindu religious event on a government land in Sector 37 here, an officer said. The Greater Noida Authority officer said the organisers did not have requisite permission for the ceremony from the district administration. "We received information about the programme being held on a 1,000-sq.mt land which belongs to the Greater Noida Authority. Since no permission was sought by the organisers, we disallowed holding of this event," the officer said. A nine-day "Bhagwat Katha", a Hindu religious programme, was scheduled to begin from Wednesday on the land, he said. "The organisers had placed tents and loudspeakers at the site which were removed. We directed the organisers to first take permission from the district administration to perform such religious ceremony," the officer added. Following the incident, several people staged protest outside the Authority and raised slogans. Earlier, the Noida police had issued notice to around 23 multinational companies in Sector 58 Police Station area to stop their Muslim employees from gathering in a local park without permission for offering Friday namaz. The administration said such religious gatherings at public places are unauthorised and cannot be performed without administration's permission. --IANS sp/nir (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 Wednesday lashed out at the Congress for not including its sole legislator in Madhya Pradesh in the cabinet despite its support in formation of the government and attaining the majority mark. Talking to the media, the former UP Chief Minister said that by doing so, the Congress had "cleared the path for UP". This statement from the 45-year-old leader is being seen as another indication of the growing space and disenchantment of the SP from the Congress and the likelihood of the Congress being kept out of the proposed "grand alliance" in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) supremo and a prospective partner in the "Maha Gathbandhan" has already given enough hints of acting tough on the Congress. Miffed with the Congress, the BSP chief had, soon after extending support to the Congress in MP, said that people had with heavy heart voted for the Congress and that she was extending support only to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at bay. Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, also slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in the state and accused it of poor handling of the law and order in the state. Citing the mob violence in Bulandshahr, burning of a girl in Agra and crime in Gorakhpur, the former Chief Minister also targeted Governor Ram Naik indirectly by saying that in his government, the Raj Bhawan used to raise questions on the law and order scenario, while now he is hosting the government at the Raj Bhawan. He also welcomed the move of K. Chandrashekhar Rao, the Telangana Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for trying to stitch together a non-Congress, non-BJP front and said that they were scheduled to meet recently but this meeting could not happen as he was not available. He said he will soon go and meet Rao in Telangana and discuss the political scenario. Yadav also congratulated the present government in Uttar Pradesh for deciding to install a 25-foot statue of the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that when SP comes to power it will follow suit. --IANS md/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: Artwork by Ayatgali Tuleubek In late November, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against eight people accused of fleecing advertisers of $36 million in two of the largest digital ad-fraud operations ever uncovered. Digital advertisers tend to want two things: people to look at their ads and premium websites i.e., established and legitimate publications on which to host them. The two schemes at issue in the case, dubbed Methbot and 3ve by the security researchers who found them, faked both. Hucksters infected 1.7 million computers with malware that remotely directed traffic to spoofed websites empty websites designed for bot traffic that served up a video ad purchased from one of the internets vast programmatic ad-exchanges, but that were designed, according to the indictments, to fool advertisers into thinking that an impression of their ad was served on a premium publisher site, like that of Vogue or The Economist. Views, meanwhile, were faked by malware-infected computers with marvelously sophisticated techniques to imitate humans: bots faked clicks, mouse movements, and social network login information to masquerade as engaged human consumers. Some were sent to browse the internet to gather tracking cookies from other websites, just as a human visitor would have done through regular behavior. Fake people with fake cookies and fake social-media accounts, fake-moving their fake cursors, fake-clicking on fake websites the fraudsters had essentially created a simulacrum of the internet, where the only real things were the ads. How much of the internet is fake? Studies generally suggest that, year after year, less than 60 percent of web traffic is human; some years, according to some researchers, a healthy majority of it is bot. For a period of time in 2013, the Times reported this year, a full half of YouTube traffic was bots masquerading as people, a portion so high that employees feared an inflection point after which YouTubes systems for detecting fraudulent traffic would begin to regard bot traffic as real and human traffic as fake. They called this hypothetical event the Inversion. In the future, when I look back from the high-tech gamer jail in which President PewDiePie will have imprisoned me, I will remember 2018 as the year the internet passed the Inversion, not in some strict numerical sense, since bots already outnumber humans online more years than not, but in the perceptual sense. The internet has always played host in its dark corners to schools of catfish and embassies of Nigerian princes, but that darkness now pervades its every aspect: Everything that once seemed definitively and unquestionably real now seems slightly fake; everything that once seemed slightly fake now has the power and presence of the real. The fakeness of the post-Inversion internet is less a calculable falsehood and more a particular quality of experience the uncanny sense that what you encounter online is not real but is also undeniably not fake, and indeed may be both at once, or in succession, as you turn it over in your head. The metrics are fake. Take something as seemingly simple as how we measure web traffic. Metrics should be the most real thing on the internet: They are countable, trackable, and verifiable, and their existence undergirds the advertising business that drives our biggest social and search platforms. Yet not even Facebook, the worlds greatest datagathering organization, seems able to produce genuine figures. In October, small advertisers filed suit against the social-media giant, accusing it of covering up, for a year, its significant overstatements of the time users spent watching videos on the platform (by 60 to 80 percent, Facebook says; by 150 to 900 percent, the plaintiffs say). According to an exhaustive list at MarketingLand, over the past two years Facebook has admitted to misreporting the reach of posts on Facebook Pages (in two different ways), the rate at which viewers complete ad videos, the average time spent reading its Instant Articles, the amount of referral traffic from Facebook to external websites, the number of views that videos received via Facebooks mobile site, and the number of video views in Instant Articles. Can we still trust the metrics? After the Inversion, whats the point? Even when we put our faith in their accuracy, theres something not quite real about them: My favorite statistic this year was Facebooks claim that 75 million people watched at least a minute of Facebook Watch videos every day though, as Facebook admitted, the 60 seconds in that one minute didnt need to be watched consecutively. Real videos, real people, fake minutes. The people are fake. And maybe we shouldnt even assume that the people are real. Over at YouTube, the business of buying and selling video views is flourishing, as the Times reminded readers with a lengthy investigation in August. The company says only a tiny fraction of its traffic is fake, but fake subscribers are enough of a problem that the site undertook a purge of spam accounts in mid-December. These days, the Times found, you can buy 5,000 YouTube views 30 seconds of a video counts as a view for as low as $15; oftentimes, customers are led to believe that the views they purchase come from real people. More likely, they come from bots. On some platforms, video views and app downloads can be forged in lucrative industrial counterfeiting operations. If you want a picture of what the Inversion looks like, find a video of a click farm: hundreds of individual smartphones, arranged in rows on shelves or racks in professional-looking offices, each watching the same video or downloading the same app. I never tire of looking at videos of Chinese click farms. It's just so surreal to see hundreds of phones playing the same video for the purposes of fake engagment. pic.twitter.com/bHAGLqRqVb Matthew Brennan (@mbrennanchina) December 10, 2018 This is obviously not real human traffic. But what would real human traffic look like? The Inversion gives rise to some odd philosophical quandaries: If a Russian troll using a Brazilian mans photograph to masquerade as an American Trump supporter watches a video on Facebook, is that view real? Not only do we have bots masquerading as humans and humans masquerading as other humans, but also sometimes humans masquerading as bots, pretending to be artificial-intelligence personal assistants, like Facebooks M, in order to help tech companies appear to possess cutting-edge AI. We even have whatever CGI Instagram influencer Lil Miquela is: a fake human with a real body, a fake face, and real influence. Even humans who arent masquerading can contort themselves through layers of diminishing reality: The Atlantic reports that non-CGI human influencers are posting fake sponsored content that is, content meant to look like content that is meant to look authentic, for free to attract attention from brand reps, who, they hope, will pay them real money. The businesses are fake. The money is usually real. Not always ask someone who enthusiastically got into cryptocurrency this time last year but often enough to be an engine of the Inversion. If the money is real, why does anything else need to be? Earlier this year, the writer and artist Jenny Odell began to look into an Amazon reseller that had bought goods from other Amazon resellers and resold them, again on Amazon, at higher prices. Odell discovered an elaborate network of fake price-gouging and copyright-stealing businesses connected to the cultlike Evangelical church whose followers resurrected Newsweek in 2013 as a zombie search-engine-optimized spam farm. She visited a strange bookstore operated by the resellers in San Francisco and found a stunted concrete reproduction of the dazzlingly phony storefronts shed encountered on Amazon, arranged haphazardly with best-selling books, plastic tchotchkes, and beauty products apparently bought from wholesalers. At some point I began to feel like I was in a dream, she wrote. Or that I was half-awake, unable to distinguish the virtual from the real, the local from the global, a product from a Photoshop image, the sincere from the insincere. The content is fake. The only site that gives me that dizzying sensation of unreality as often as Amazon does is YouTube, which plays host to weeks worth of inverted, inhuman content. TV episodes that have been mirror-flipped to avoid copyright takedowns air next to huckster vloggers flogging merch who air next to anonymously produced videos that are ostensibly for children. An animated video of Spider-Man and Elsa from Frozen riding tractors is not, you know, not real: Some poor soul animated it and gave voice to its actors, and I have no doubt that some number (dozens? Hundreds? Millions? Sure, why not?) of kids have sat and watched it and found some mystifying, occult enjoyment in it. But its certainly not official, and its hard, watching it onscreen as an adult, to understand where it came from and what it means that the view count beneath it is continually ticking up. These, at least, are mostly bootleg videos of popular fictional characters, i.e., counterfeit unreality. Counterfeit reality is still more difficult to findfor now. In January 2018, an anonymous Redditor created a relatively easy-to-use desktop-app implementation of deepfakes, the now-infamous technology that uses artificial-intelligence image processing to replace one face in a video with another putting, say, a politicians over a porn stars. A recent academic paper from researchers at the graphics-card company Nvidia demonstrates a similar technique used to create images of computer-generated human faces that look shockingly like photographs of real people. (Next time Russians want to puppeteer a group of invented Americans on Facebook, they wont even need to steal photos of real people.) Contrary to what you might expect, a world suffused with deepfakes and other artificially generated photographic images wont be one in which fake images are routinely believed to be real, but one in which real images are routinely believed to be fake simply because, in the wake of the Inversion, wholl be able to tell the difference? Our politics are fake. Such a loss of any anchoring reality only makes us pine for it more. Our politics have been inverted along with everything else, suffused with a Gnostic sense that were being scammed and defrauded and lied to but that a real truth still lurks somewhere. Adolescents are deeply engaged by YouTube videos that promise to show the hard reality beneath the scams of feminism and diversity a process they call red-pilling after the scene in The Matrix when the computer simulation falls away and reality appears. Political arguments now involve trading accusations of virtue signaling the idea that liberals are faking their politics for social reward against charges of being Russian bots. The only thing anyone can agree on is that everyone online is lying and fake. We ourselves are fake. Which, well. Everywhere I went online this year, I was asked to prove Im a human. Can you retype this distorted word? Can you transcribe this house number? Can you select the images that contain a motorcycle? I found myself prostrate daily at the feet of robot bouncers, frantically showing off my highly developed pattern-matching skills does a Vespa count as a motorcycle, even? so I could get into nightclubs Im not even sure I want to enter. Once inside, I was directed by dopamine-feedback loops to scroll well past any healthy point, manipulated by emotionally charged headlines and posts to click on things I didnt care about, and harried and hectored and sweet-talked into arguments and purchases and relationships so algorithmically determined it was hard to describe them as real. Where does that leave us? Im not sure the solution is to seek out some pre-Inversion authenticity to red-pill ourselves back to reality. Whats gone from the internet, after all, isnt truth, but trust: the sense that the people and things we encounter are what they represent themselves to be. Years of metrics-driven growth, lucrative manipulative systems, and unregulated platform marketplaces, have created an environment where it makes more sense to be fake online to be disingenuous and cynical, to lie and cheat, to misrepresent and distort than it does to be real. Fixing that would require cultural and political reform in Silicon Valley and around the world, but its our only choice. Otherwise well all end up on the bot internet of fake people, fake clicks, fake sites, and fake computers, where the only real thing is the ads. *A version of this article appears in the December 24, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! A businessman was shot dead in Bihar's Vaishali and another seriously injured in Araria, police said on Wednesday, with the attacks coming close on the heels of a spree of murders last week that still remain unsolved. Dinanath Rai, a transporter from Patna, was shot dead and his body was thrown near the Circuit House close to the Sadar police station, Vaishali Superintendent of Police Manavjit Singh Dhillon said. Rai was the brother-in-law of Munna Rai, the chief of Garole block. In the other incident, an egg trader was seriously injured after being shot at in Farbisganj. He has been referred to a hospital in Purnea district after his condition deteriorated, a district police official said. Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying law and order was "in ICU in the state". "One after another half a dozen businessmen have been killed in Bihar in the last few days but where are those who used to protest 'jungleraj' in Bihar? Why are they keeping silent now?" Tejashwi said. Hundreds of businessmen and traders took out a candle light march in Patna on Monday to protest the killing of a young businessman. The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader also joined them. They demanded the arrest of the criminals behind the murders. Gunjan Khemka, an industrialist, was shot dead on December 20 in Hajipur in Vaishali district, leading to panic among the community in the area. Khemka, son of Patna's well known businessman Gopal Khemka, was targeted on his way to his factory in Hajipur, about 30 km from here. A road construction firm owner, A.P. Shahi was shot dead in broad daylight in Darbhanga district the next day and a property dealer was killed in Begusarai district within 12 hours after that. All the cases remain unsolved. --IANS ik/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than a million people stood with a lit lamp from the northern most district of Kasargode to the southern tip in the state capital to protest against the Pinarayi Vijayan government's attempt to dilute the traditions of the Sabarimala temple. The Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SKS) spearheaded the Ayyappa Jyothi campaign on a stretch of 795 km across Kerala. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi handed over the lamp to devotees near Kerala border. Giving support to the campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh parivar forces turned out in full strength to make the event a success. In front of the state secretariat here stood state BJP chief P.S. Sreedharan Pillai and BJP legislator O. Rajagopal, besides yesteryear actress Maneka Suresh. "This is being staged to open the eyes of those who are trying to break the traditions of the temple. Numerous women have expressed their unhappiness in breaking the tradition of the temple," said Suresh, a hugely popular actress. The Sabarimala Karma Samithi and 41 other Hindu organisations, besides the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, had been working on the campaign. Taking active part in the programme was the Pandalam Royal family members who are the official custodians of the Sabarimala temple jewellery. Their spokesperson P.S. Varma told the media that all of them are extremely happy that this programme is being held. While the NSS, a socio cultural body of the Hindu Nair community, was part of the event, the SNDP Yogam, a similar body of the Hindu-Ezhava community, was not. However, SNDP Yogam is taking part in the Women's Wall being organised by the Pinarayi Vijayan government to uphold renaissance values and gender equality in society from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram on January 1. Even though it was Vijayan who announced his programme first, the Sabarimala Karma Samithi sprang a surprise by deciding to hold theirs on December 26. The state unit of the BJP was quick to support this programme when Pillai said: "Let us see how we match the Women's Wall." Ayyappa Jyothi is "nothing political and anyone can participate", he said. The temple town has witnessed protests by Hindu groups since the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple that hitherto banned girls and women aged between 10 and 50. The BJP and the Congress-led UDF are up in arms against the manner in which the Vijayan government is trying to use the apex court verdict to dilute the traditions of the temple. But the state unit of the Congress party had directed its workers to boycott both these two events. --IANS sg/oeb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal, Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri constituency and a perfume trader, on Wednesday landed himself in a controversy by abusing a and threatening him. Ajmal leads the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). The AIUDF chief became agitated on Wednesday while addressing a press conference at Mankachar to honour AIUDF leaders who had won in the recently concluded panchayat polls in the state. Ajmal got agitated when the asked him if he would side with the party that comes to power in Ajmal not only verbally abused the but also asked him to get out of the venue. "I'll smash your head," said Ajmal, while snatching the boom from the journalist. --IANS ah/oeb/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.) Britain-based global robotic process automation specialist Blue Prism on Wednesday announced the appointment of Peter Gartenberg as the company's Managing Director and President, Indian subcontinent. Gartenberg, who was leading Microsoft India's enterprise business till April this year, joins Blue Prism with over 30 years' industry experience that started with IBM in San Francisco, California. Prior to Microsoft, Gartenberg was Managing Director and President, SAP Indian subcontinent and before SAP, he led the Asia-Pacific operations of Siemens' enterprise telecommunications business as its Chairman, Managing Director and Executive Vice President. Before coming to India, he held executive roles with Siemens in China, Europe and the US. In his new role at Blue Prism, Gartenberg will be responsible for consolidating the company's position among India-based Global Inhouse Centres (GICs), Indian enterprises and the India based Global System Integrators. "India is emerging as a global knowledge and talent centre for Blue Prism's intelligent robotic process automation (RPA) offering and we are delighted to have a proven leader in Peter to accelerate our growth in India," said Mike Cawsey, Senior Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific, Blue Prism. "In this next phase, Peter and his growing India team will educate the market about Blue Prism's Intelligent Automation capabilities and how to best leverage this technology into customers' and partners' digital transformation strategies," Cawsey added. Blue Prism's software platform helps business operations through rapid automation of manual, rules based, back office administrative processes, reducing cost and improving accuracy by creating what it calls "digital workforce". Since commencing operations in India in 2017, Blue Prism's RPA platform has seen strong momentum with many multinational GICs, Indian enterprises and India-based Global System Integrators. "I am excited to join the global leader in intelligent automation. Indian enterprises are some of the world's most innovative in terms of next generation technology adoption. Almost all Indian enterprises are focused on digital transformation and intelligent automation is a core technology in those digital initiatives," Gartenberg said on his appointment. "Blue Prism has fantastic momentum in the Indian market. I'm looking forward to working with our partners and the Blue Prism global organization to accelerate that momentum," he added. --IANS gb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A civilian was killed on Wednesday in Pakistan ceasefire violation at the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district. Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said here: "At around 12 p.m today (Wednesday), the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing in Nowshera Sector resulting in critical injuries to a civilian, Bodhraj, aged about 55 years, a resident of Deeing in Nowshera Tehsil. The Indian troops replied to the Pakistani belligerence "in a befitting manner", the official said. "Indian Army immediately evacuated the injured for medical aid. However, the individual succumbed to his injuries." The Army authorities have promised all possible assistance and help to the family of the deceased, Anand said. --IANS sq-mak/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the arrest of three persons including two school owners, the Delhi Police claimed to have busted a fake board syndicate that cheated over 10,000 students in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and other states, an officer said on Wednesday. Altaf Raja, 23, Manoj Kumar, 32, and Shambhu Nath Mishra, 46 -- all residents of Uttar Pradesh's Deoria and Balrampur districts -- were arrested in separate raids between December 12 and 23. "Police teams first arrested Altaf Raja while giving fake board certificate of higher secondary to a decoy customer in Vikas Puri of Delhi. Altaf Raja was granted 10-day police remand. Following his interrogation, Shamnbu Nath Mishra and Manoj Kumar, owners of two schools in Deoria, were arrested from their locations in Uttar Pradesh," Additional Commissioner of Police Rajiv Ranjan told IANS. "During investigation, we found that Altaf Raja and his accomplices were operating fake board named 'Board of Higher Secondary Education' in Vikas Puri. They had cheated over 10,000 innocent students after convincing that their board is recognised and provides mark-sheets and certificates of 10th and 12th in only two to three months for Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000," Ranjan said. "The gang members collected the details of students on WhatsApp and received the amount in their bank accounts," the officer said. "A complaint in this regard was also received from the Directorate of of Delhi," the officer said, adding that Altaf Raja was last year arrested by the Delhi Police for running another similar fake education board in east Delhi's Geeta Colony. After being later released on bail, Altaf again started a similar racket with his accomplices. "The gang members, active in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat and other states, were involved in circulating and distributing mark-sheets and certificates of their fake education board which has 23 websites," he said. "A large numbers of fake mark-sheets, certificates, provisional certificates and migration certificates, answer sheets, nominal rolls, question papers, record registers of students, and certificates of Class 10 and 12 were recovered from their possession," he added. --IANS sp/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Using fish skin to heal burns can be cheaper and less painful than bandages, says a scientist. Using the skin of Tilapia -- a freshwater fish -- on burns could be effective since it is rich in moisture and collagen proteins, the Daily Mail quoted Felipe Rocha, a neurologist at the Federal University of Ceara in Brazil, as saying. Tilapia skin contains a type of collagen that is similar to the protein found in human skin. This is thought to interact with a patient's immune system to speed up healing. More than 300 patients worldwide have had the unusual therapy, which shows up as a fishy pattern even after it has been sterilised and the scales removed. Although many patients can be reluctant to have fish skin wrapped around their burns, a growing number of children are actually arriving at hospital requesting the "bandage", the report said. "The major concerns were whether the skins would subsequently come off, if the fish odour would remain," Rocha was quoted as saying to The Times. "With the passage of time and the success of the research, patients will arrive at the hospital wanting the treatment with the skin of the Tilapia. "In relation to children, the skin ends up being kind of playful, like: 'Gaining a skin and looking like a superhero'," Rocha said. Once sterilised, Tilapia skin undergoes radiation therapy to kill any lingering viruses. It can then be stored for up to two years if refrigerated, before simply being cut to size and placed over a burn instead of a bandage. The skin is then removed after around one week, with no need for daily dressing changes, the report noted. Tilapia skin has been shown to be more resistant than the previously used pig skin, which enables it to withstand stretching. Wounds may also close faster, with patients reporting less pain when treated with fish skin over the traditional silver sulfadiazine, according to various research. --IANS rt/mag/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari will convene a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers on the implementation of the controversial Cauvery river project at Mekedatu for drinking water supply, said an official on Wednesday. "Gadkari conveyed the decision on the proposed meeting to Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy when they met in New Delhi," said an official of the Chief Minister's Office in Bengaluru in a statement. Karnataka has sought the Central government's approval to build a dam at Mekedatu on the river near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district, about 100km southwest of Bengaluru, for storing and supplying its water to the parched districts of Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts. Objecting to the project fearing denial of its share of the river water, Tamil Nadu has also petitioned the Central government and the Supreme Court not to allow Karnataka to build the balancing reservoir at the goat's leap gorge. "Kumaraswamy has sought Gadkari's intervention to resolve the issue between the two riparian states and convince Tamil Nadu that the project would be beneficial to both the neighbouring states," said the statement. As sharing the river water for agriculture and drinking in the state's old Mysuru region became contentious, leading to the apex court modifying the inter-state dispute tribunal award, storing it (water) at Mekedatu for drinking only has turned into a protracted legal and political battle. "Tamil Nadu is objecting central permission in mid-November to Karnataka to even prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for building the dam on the grounds that storing water would deny its share for its farmers in the delta region," an official of the state Water Resources Department told IANS here. The project is estimated to cost the state a whopping Rs 5,192 crore. Tamil Nadu has also disputed Karnataka's claim on the project's purpose, as storing the river water will allow it generate hydel power and thus restrict its flow into its delta region. Kumaraswamy also sought Gadkari's intervention to make Goa allow Karnataka utilise the Mahadayi river water for drinking purpose in the four drought-prone districts in the state's northwest region. "Though the inter-state river tribunal has permitted Karnataka to utilise the water for drinking purpose, the Goa government has approached the top court against the tribunal award, which is in the state's favour," said the official. In a related development, Gadkari, who is also the Surface Transport Minister, has agreed to build an elevated highway between Hubballi and Dharwad, about 400km from Bengaluru to ease the gridlock between the twin cities in the state's northwest region. "Gadkari has directed the state government to complete the land acquisition to allow the state-run National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to begin the elevated road projected work," added the statement. State PWD Minister and Kumaraswamy's elder brother H.D. Revanna, state Chief Secretary T.M. Vijayabhaskar and Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister E.V. Ramana Reddy were present on the occasion. --IANS bha-fb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google on Wednesday honoured the life and legacy of Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, affectionately known as Baba Amte, celebrating his 104th birth anniversary. The Doodle slideshow followed Amte's life, which he dedicated to serving those in need, especially the ones afflicted with leprosy. Created by Vrinda Zaveri, the doodle starts off with a portrait of Amte looking ahead in the distance future. The next features his unity marches which crisscrossed from north to south and later west to east. Another featured his "Anandawan", a village and centre he established for leprosy patients. "We salute Babe Amte for a lifetime of service to humanity," said Google as they dedicated the day in 1914, when Amte was born. Exposed early on to a life of privilege, Amte, who came from a wealthy family in Maharashtra, would indulge in hunting wild animals, play sports, and drive luxurious cars. He studied law and ran his own successful firm by the time he was in his 20s. Always perceptive, Amte was aware of the class inequalities existing even as a child. In his 30s, he left his practice in order to work alongside the underprivileged. It was during this time that he came across Indu Ghuleshastri, whose kindness to an elderly servant touched him deeply, and the two got married. According to the blogpost, Amte's life was changed forever when he encountered a man suffering from leprosy. The sight of the man's decaying body filled him with overwhelming fear. Confronting that fear, Amte identified the state of "mental leprosy" that allowed people to feel apathetic in the face of this dreaded affliction. He said: "The most frightening disease is not losing one's limbs, but losing one's strength to feel kindness and compassion." Amte defied social stigmas faced by leprosy patients by injecting himself with bacilli to prove that the disease was not highly contagious. In 1949 he established Anandwan-meaning "Forest of Bliss"-a self-sufficient village and rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients. A strong believer in national unity, Amte launched his first 'Knit India March' in 1985. At the age of 72, he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, more than 3,000 miles, with the simple purpose to inspire unity in India. In a time of national strife, Amte was accompanied by 100 men and 16 women, all under the age of 35. He organised a second march three years later, travelling over 1,800 miles from Assam to Gujarat. In recognition of Amte's tireless work, he was awarded the Padma Shri Award in 1971; in 1988 the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights; and in 1999 Gandhi Peace Prize. His legacy lives on through his two sons who share their father's sense of compassion, said the blog as the Doodle ends with a family potrait of six. --IANS in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation body and that it will restart commercial whaling from July, 2019. Commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986 after some species were almost driven to extinction, the BBC reported. With this move, Japan will be able to freely hunt species currently protected by the IWC, like minke whales. Conservation groups warn the move will have serious consequences. A statement by Japan's government said the IWC was not committed enough to supporting sustainable commercial whaling. Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said commercial whaling would be restricted to Japanese territorial waters and economic zones. And, it will stop hunting in Antarctic waters and the southern hemisphere. For many years Japan has hunted whales for what it calls "scientific research" and to sell the meat, a programme widely criticised by conservationists. According to officials in Japan, eating whales is part of the country's culture. A number of coastal communities in Japan have hunted whales for centuries, but consumption in the country surged only after World War II. Before the formal announcement was made, Nicola Beynon from the Humane Society International in Australia, said Japan would be "operating completely outside the bounds of international law", the BBC reported. "This is the path of a pirate whaling nation, with a troubling disregard for international rule," she added. Greenpeace Japan urged the government to reconsider, and warned it would risk criticism as the host of the G20 summit in June. --IANS mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Its day five of the latest government shutdown. Photo: Zach Gibson/Bloomberg via Getty Images The federal government has been partially shut down since Saturday, but since roughly two-thirds of federal workers are not directly affected, and it comes amid holidays, planned vacations, and the general low ebb of national life between Christmas and New Years, it isnt biting very deeply right now. The estimated 380,000 furloughed federal employees assume from previous experience that they will be paid retroactively once the shutdown ends, so aside from cash-flow issues, they are in essence receiving paid vacation. That, and the eternal and largely symbolic partisan gap over the presidents cartoonish border-wall funding demands are making this particular government shutdown one in which no one is racing to achieve a resolution. Having flipped and flopped over his determination to obtain $5 billion in border wall funding (accompanied by flips and flops over the very definition of wall), the president is at present making a show of resolution, using the impasse once again to deepen his solidarity with the wall-loving base of his party, whose tribunes were dismayed when it looked like he might cave to keep the despised government open. Technically, the conflict is between Trump and the Senate Democrats, who can block any appropriations measure to end the shutdown. But as the dispute drags on, the views of the House Democrats (who will take control of the lower chamber on January 3) are coming into play. And thats why jibes from Nancy Pelosi, like one she imparted in a USA Today interview published Tuesday, are central to the psychological warfare in Washington: Pelosi mocked the shifting message from the White House about whether Trump wanted a wall, a fence or some other structure. First of all, the fact that he says, Were going to build a wall with cement, and Mexicos going to pay for it while hes already backed off of the cement now hes down to, I think, a beaded curtain or something, Im not sure where he is, Pelosi said. In theory, it should be possible to strike a compromise between the $5 billion in border security funding Trump has demanded and the $1.6 billion (the current funding level) Democrats have offered. But neither side at present has much of an incentive to take the lead. As he has been for most of his presidency, Trump is focused on the base to the exclusion of the electorate as a whole, and Democrats figure Republicans will get the bulk of the blame for the inconveniences, the suffering (which an extended shutdown will produce), and the sheer idiocy associated with a partially shuttered government. For now, if a deals in the works, everyone is being unusually quiet about it. Congress is not in session this week, and it would take a minimum of 24 hours to reconvene it to ratify any agreement. The few media people on duty in Washington are focused on the Mattis departure, the shaky economy, Trumps fury at the Fed, and year-end features. So dont expect any imminent breakthroughs, and if youre a furloughed federal employee, lets hope you put some money away for precisely this contingency. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday. A statement from the Chief Minister's Office in Hyderabad described it as a courtesy call. This was KCR's first meeting with Modi after the former was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the second time following a massive victory by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the recently held Assembly elections. KCR discussed with Modi various issues pertaining to pending projects and proposals. According to the CMO, the Prime Minister responded positively to the CM's requests. KCR reiterated the demand for the transfer of the Bison/Polo ground, a defence land in Secunderabad, for the construction of the new Secretariat, establishment of the Indian Institute of Informational Technology (IIIT) in Karimnagar and establishment of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Hyderabad. The Chief Minister also sought the establishment of 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in new districts, sanction for the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Hyderabad, revival of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) in Adilabad in joint collaboration with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) as proposed by the Ministry of Surface Transport. KCR also urged Modi to release funds for the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Zaheerabad and sanction of Rs.1,000 crore for development of the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park at Warangal. He also requested the Prime Minister to refer the petitions of Telangana to the Krishna River Water Disputes Resolution Tribunal and accord national project status to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) and the sanction of a special grant for this major irrigation project. --IANS ms/oeb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If nothing else, the Kurds of the world now know they are the world's most-loved ethnic group. For that, they owe a debt of gratitude to Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Had the two leaders not made the infamous December 14 telephone conversation that purportedly inspired Trump's tweet announcing a sudden US withdrawal from Syria, the massive outpouring of moral support for Syrian Kurds from Western capitals and the Washington establishment would perhaps never have occurred. But more about the bright side later. In the immediate term, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), which governs over a quarter of war-torn Syrian territory, has to gird for all kinds of catastrophic scenarios, from a barely disguised Turkish invasion to a tightening of Syrian coercive measures. Whether or not the US President changes his mind again, the Western-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clearly cannot count on American support for the rest of Trump's presidency. With any luck, the Turks and their local proxies will not rush into the area with indecent haste and end up destabilising the only part of Syria that has a semblance of law, order and stability, not to mention the richest oil fields. The hope also is that the French and British forces already present in the Kurdish-controlled portion will act as a deterrent against the designs of Turkey, Iran, Syria and Russia. The SDC decision to send a team to Paris to ask France to fill the gap that will be left by the withdrawing Americans may well be a case of too little too late. But, for their part, European countries, including Germany, should not sit idly by in the wake of the events that were summed by Carl Bildt, the European Council on Foreign Relations co-chair, as "a morning of alarm in Europe". Hypothetically speaking, replacement of the US contingent by elite troops from the Kurds' European and Arab partners could be a blessing in disguise for the local population, who in any case had been living in fear and anxiety since Trump announced at a rally in Ohio in March that "very soon, we're coming out". Until the outcry sparked by Trump's latest announcement, few in the international community had noticed the sheer meanness of his move, also in March, to not spend the $230 million that had been set aside for recovery efforts in northeastern Syria. US officials had then claimed the freeze on aid meant for areas cleared of ISIS would be offset by $300m pledged by coalition partners when the extra money could have actually supplemented the stabilisation efforts. Now that the balance of power has tilted abruptly in favour of the Syrian Kurds' foes, whether the pledged sums would materialise is open to question. While the security challenges thrust on the SDF by the imminent US withdrawal are undoubtedly grave, to view the situation as all doom and gloom would be to miss the big picture. With one tweet, Trump inadvertently unlocked an enormous reservoir of goodwill not just for Syrian Kurds but presumably the Middle East's entire Kurdish population spread across four countries. Public memory can be short, but it is evidently not so in regard to the Kurds' sacrifices -- about 4,000 dead and 10,000 wounded -- since the launch of the international coalition campaign to defeat ISIS in 2015. Moreover, it is clear that the SDF's ongoing campaign to root out ISIS diehards from their remaining strongholds is being noticed and appreciated by its beneficiaries far and wide. Except for a few oddballs and social-media mavens with known sympathies for Islamists, Russia or Syria, the international commentariat has been overwhelmingly critical of the new Trump-Erdogan axis and supportive of the Syrian Kurds. The stinging broadsides have come not just from the "never-Trumpers" but also Western liberals who were previously opposed to military entanglements abroad and had backed President Barack Obama's decision in 2011 to withdraw all troops from Iraq. Admittedly, Trump's simultaneous decision to withdraw 5,000 US soldiers from Afghanistan in the face of a brutal offensive by the Taliban has compounded the concerns of Western politicians and moderate Arab regimes. But until the December 19 tweet went out, a consensus of this scale on a major foreign-policy issue was almost impossible to imagine in Washington. The unifying force of the backlash was further underscored by the resignations of a Trump appointee (Pentagon chief Jim Mattis) and an Obama-administration holdover (anti-ISIS coalition pointman Brett McGurk) in quick succession. The expected turbulence in the coming days may not produce the kind of cross-border and cross-ideological unity that many Kurds dream of. But it has certainly created an opening for them to mobilise international public opinion in their favour, with the protection and preservation of the de-facto autonomous region in northern Syria as the immediate objective. (In arrangement with Rudaw Media Network, Erbil, Iraq. Arnab Neil Sengupta, a freelance journalist, divides his time between Delhi and Dubai. He can be reached at arnabnsg@gmail.com) --IANS arnab/hs/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexico paid tribute on Christmas Day to Puebla state Gov. Martha Erika Alonso and her husband, former Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle, who died earlier this week in a helicopter crash. Hundreds of residents of the central state of Puebla, along with members of the local and national political class, bade farewell to the ashes of the power couple, both of whom belonged to the conservative National Action Party (PAN). Amid heavy security provided by the state police and the Mexican army, hundreds of citizens observed from behind barriers the double funeral, presided over by Interior Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero, Efe reported. "Get out! Get out!" shouted some of the people attending the funeral, directing their cries at the minister, while others shouted "Murderers! Murderers!" Luis Banck Serrato, the head of the Puebla government office, demanded that federal authorities conduct a "professional and independent investigation, which leaves no doubts as to the causes of the accident." Attending the funeral were Nuevo Leon Gov. Jaime Rodriguez Calderon, Tlaxcala Gov. Marco Antonio Mena, and the national leaders of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the Citizens Movement and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Dante Delgado and Angel Avila, respectively. On Monday afternoon, the helicopter carrying Alonso, Moreno Valle, an assistant of the latter, the pilot and another top official crashed near the town of Coronango, Puebla. Alonso had assumed the Puebla governorship -- the post in which her husband had served from 2011-2017 -- on December 14, after a lengthy and controversial election controversy. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream project of a Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) ferry service between Dahej in south Gujarat and Ghogha in Saurashtra region has run into rough weather with the firm running the service blaming it on the Gujarat Maritime Board for not carrying out regular dredging in the area, while it is unable to handle the high tides in the erratic Arabian Sea. Indigo Seaways Chairman and Managing Director Chetan Contractor told reporters: "It is not feasible to run a scheduled ferry service in absolutely unreliable high tides, so it is a must that continuous dredging is taken up in the region." "If this is not done, there is no point running an erratic service completely dependent on high tides," the contractor said. His company is also learnt to have conveyed this to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). "The services have become unreliable because of the erratic high tides. We can't ask the passengers to come at different times everyday. The passengers too have commitments to maintain," he asserted. When contacted, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman Mukesh Kumar told IANS that dredging was affected because of the breakdown of the machinery for the purpose. "There was a breakdown in the dredging machines of Adani Company and so the problem," he said. The machinery is worth Rs 600 crore. "Alternative arrangements have been made and the dredging work will start in a couple of days," Mukesh Kumar added. According to him, the ferry service is functional and will remain so. "You must understand this service has started only a couple of months ago and facing some teething problems. The high tides in this region are considered to be the second-worst in the world and so this happens sometimes." Then Gujarat Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dreamt of making the RoRo ferry services between Dahej and Ghogha successful and possible despite various feasibility studies giving a negative report. The nautical distance between the Saurashtra region's Ghogha and the south Gujarat region town of Dahej is just 31 km, whereas the distance via road is almost 310 km. Reliable official sources said various feasibility studies, which were carried out prior to the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat, had suggested that the seawaters in the Gulf of Khambhat were extremely turbulent and running any sort of ferry would not be possible. Despite that the project was taken up and last year the ferry services were inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Indigo Seaways was awarded the contract to run this services. But since its start, the service has never been regular because of the weather and technical glitches. Sources said for a successful ferry service to operate, there should be at least five-meter depth underneath the sea vessel at the terminal. But as the waters in the Gulf of Khambhat, through which the ferry service is run, are extremely turbulent, the sea constantly deposits silt at the banks, making dredging a constant process, thus making it an expensive proposition. --IANA amit-desai/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Himachal Pradesh on Thursday to join in the celebrations to mark one year of the BJP government in the state. He will release a document highlighting the achievements of the government, an official statement said. The Prime Minister will address a public rally in Dharamsala town in Kangra district. He will also interact with beneficiaries of government schemes. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and his 11 ministers -- half of them first-timers -- took oath of office on December 27 last year at a ceremony attended by Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. The swearing-in ceremony at the historic Ridge here was also attended by Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, J.P. Nadda and Nitin Gadkari, besides the chief ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states, along with more than 30,000 party supporters from across the state. The BJP had secured a simple majority by winning 44 seats in the 68-seat state assembly. --IANS vg/oeb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-run e-commerce company MSTC Ltd is focusing on auctioning of forest and agricultural produces from the north-eastern states in order to provide better prices to farmers and exploring various options to overcome logistics issues, an official said on Wednesday. The company started auctioning of Nagaland's ginger, Tripura's pineapples and hill-grass from the region, and experienced encouraging trends but logistics issues have emerged as a major hurdle. The company is scouting for partners to overcome logistics issues emerging in transporting the agricultural produces from the region, the official said. "We have been focusing on north-eastern states for providing markets of forest and agro produce of the region. We are not only hosting e-auctions of farmers' produce but also concentrating on managing demand," company's Chairman and Managing Director B.B. Singh told IANS. With its presence across India, the state-run trading major is having "access to buyers" and has been marketing different produces of North-East, he said, adding that the company would be exploring how to hand-hold farmers and impart them training so that they get familiar with e-auctions. "We had conducted first ever e-auction of ginger of Nagaland last year and buyers had purchased 300 metric tonnes of ginger. Unfortunately, ginger could not be transported to Jorhat from Nagaland due to onset of monsoon and it was suspended. "This year, we conducted e-auction of the crop and buyers purchased 1,000 tonnes of ginger. Again, about 100 metric tonnes were delivered and the entire volume could not be transported due to logistic issues," Singh said. He also said there was an urgent need of packaging houses there, for ginger as the crop needs to be washed properly to remove the layer of bacteria and also to ensure that it does not get rotten in transit. The company visited the Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and some others to explore markets for the North-East produces as there is demand for naturally grown produces. In the region, the farmers' plight has been to get access of the markets, he said, adding that north-eastern states are bestowed with favourable climatic conditions for growing of various agricultural and forest produces. Each state in the region has 25-30 niche products and the Central government-owned company is looking to hosting e-auctions of turmeric, oranges, kiwis, large cardamom, orchid and other produces. "In order to overcome logistic issues, we are in touch with start-up company Rivigo to provide logistics support. Apart from this, we have our partner, Central Railside Warehouse Company Ltd, to provide warehousing facility as well as logistics," he added. --IANS bdc/mgr/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Back in 1939, a team of experts from Atlanta's Oglethorpe University that was hunting for unique examples of modern civilisation on Earth landed at The Yoga Institute (TYI) in suburban Santa Cruz in what was then Bombay (now Mumbai). They met its founder, Mani Haribhai Desai -- revered as yoga guru Shri Yogendraji -- and discussed with him various facets of the ancient Indian science of Yoga, which leads to immense physical, mental, psychological and spiritual benefits. "They were so impressed by Shri Yogendraji's knowledge and expertise on the subject that they decided to include some of his books and literature on yoga for their 'Crypt of Civilisation' (CoC) -- a time-capsule whose contents were being finalised by the university (and was sealed in 1940, to be opened only in 8113 AD)," said TYI Assistant Director Hrishi Yogendra. Hrishi is the 29-year-old grandson of Shri Yogendraji, and along with his mother Hansaben, is carrying ahead the family legacy of propounding yoga for the past 100 years through TYI. On Tuesday, TYI turned 100 and on Friday, President Ram Nath Kovind, Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Y. Naik and other dignitaries will be attending the centenary celebrations here. Elaborating, he said the Oglethorpe University team selected three English yoga titles penned by Shri Yogendraji and one by his wife Sitadevi, which are now stored in the CoC time-capsule in micro-film format. They are: "Hatha Yoga Simplified", "Yoga Hygeine Simplified", "Yoga Asanas Simplified" (all by Shri Yogendraji), and Sitadevi's book, "Yoga-Physical Education for Women". This collection is probably the only contribution from India which lies for posterity in the CoC, as indicated in a letter received by Shri Yogendraji from the Oglethorpe University nearly eight decades ago. "Yoga is already around 5,000 years old. By the time the CoC is reopened, this ancient Indian science will be over 11,000 years old, providing a timeless wealth to the then people on Earth," Hrishi told IANS. According to the Oglethorpe University's website, the COC is the oldest and largest millennial time-capsule of its kind in the world, an airtight chamber measuring around 57 square metres, and buried in a 20x10x10 feet room with a two-feet-thick stone floor below and seven-feet-thick stone floor above it. The CoC was planned by then Oglethorpe University President Thornwell Jacobs -- called the 'Father of the Modern Time Capsule' -- in 1936 to build an extraordinary time-capsule designed to store records for over 6,000 years, on an unprecedented, epic scale. Jacobs believed his generation could be the first to perform what he later termed as "our archaeological duty", an obligation to provide future historians a thorough and accurate record, scientifically selected and preserved, of life in the 20th century. The CoC was sealed on and buried on May 28, 1940, to be reopened on May 28, 8113 AD, located in Phoebe Hearst Hall of the University in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Barring knowledge about the modern civilisations, the CoC has no other items of value and remains out of bounds for all. "The first successful attempt to bury a record for any future inhabitants (of Planet Earth)" was how the Guinness Book of World Records (now Guinness World Records) described the initiative on the CoC's Golden Jubilee in 1990. India also has a handful of time-capsules buried in different parts of the country. To mark the Silver Jubilee of Independence on August 15, 1972, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had buried a 'Kalpaatra' time-capsule near the Red Fort, to be reopened after 1,000 years. However, the subsequent Janata Party government unearthed it in 1977 and it was lost forever, with its contents never made public. A time-capsule was buried near the IIT-Kanpur auditorium in the presence of then President Pratibha Patil and another in Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar in Gujarat, both in 2010. Mumbai's Alexandra Girls English Institution buried a time-capsule in 2014, which will be reopened in 2062, on the school's bi-centennial. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) --IANS qn/mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday wondered aloud if his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrashekhar Rao had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him on the formation of the proposed Federal Front. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief told reporters here that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president's actions didn't match his words. Naidu said KCR who was calling on leaders of various parties till the other day had now met Modi. "Are you meeting Modi to discuss the state's issues or to brief him (on the proposed front)?" the TDP leader asked KCR. The TRS chief met Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the last couple of days to discuss formation of the Federal Front as an alternative to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Telangana Chief Minister on Wednesday called on Modi in New Delhi. Naidu reiterated that there was no scope for a third front in the country. "There are only two fronts. The BJP is the anchor for one front and the Congress is the anchor for the other front," he said. The TDP chief asked KCR and YSR Congress Party to specify if they were with the BJP-led front or the Congress-led front. Naidu, whose party pulled out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) early this year, recently joined hands with the Congress and is trying to forge an anti-BJP alliance for the 2019 elections. He repeatedly alleged that KCR was trying to help Modi through his proposed front. --IANS ms/oeb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA is likely to continue flying its astronauts on the Russian Soyuz vehicle even after US commercial crew vehicles arrive, media report said. However, nothing has been signed officially yet, an agency spokesperson said. "Bill Gerstenmaier and senior NASA leadership have stated their intention to have US crewmembers on Soyuz vehicles after 2019 and (to have) Russians on US crew vehicles," Stephanie Schierholz, who works in public affairs at NASA Headquarters in Washington, was quoted as saying to Space.com on Tuesday. Gerstenmaier is the associate administrator for human exploration and operations for NASA. The US space agency retired its space shuttle program in 2011 and has relied on Russian vehicles since then to go to the ISS. The US space agency has an agreement with Russia to fly crews on Soyuz through at least 2019, and some of those crewmembers are already announced, the report said. NASA has partnered with two commercial crew providers -- Boeing and SpaceX -- to bring vehicles for crews online. While SpaceX announced its first uncrewed test flight of the Dragon human spacecraft in 2019, Boeing is expected to launch its own uncrewed flight in the following months. Once these vehicles are certified for flight, astronauts will ride them to the ISS. In August, NASA revealed the names of nine US astronauts who will fly on the first certification flights for Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon. NASA said these post-certification flights will be fully operational and will be regular, long-duration rotation missions, just like the missions facilitated by Soyuz today, the report noted. Schierholz added that having Russian and US vehicles flying simultaneously will provide "redundancy in crew transportation" to the ISS. --IANS rt/mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Wednesday detained 10 people, including a group leader of a newly traced Islamic State module 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' that was allegedly planning attacks in north India, especially Delhi, following raids conducted in 16 places here and in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The searches started at different locations earlier and were still underway, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said. In Uttar Pradesh, where it conducted joint searches with the state's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), five persons were detained in Amroha district. The agency recovered one pistol and a grenade launcher besides jihadi literature. An official source said that one of the alleged module heads Suhail was detained with one pistol and explosive material from Amroha. Parallel raids were conducted in Simbhaoli, Lucknow and other places. In east Delhi's Jafarabad area, the NIA carried out searches along with the Delhi Police's Special Cell and recovered seven pistols and swords. According to the NIA sources, there were five such teams in Delhi which were planning attacks on important offices in the national capital. The NIA source said that questioning of those nabbed would reveal vital information about the module, their plans and handlers. --IANS aks/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global fast food chain McDonald's subsidiary in India posted its first-ever profit after 22 years of business in the country. The company managed to earn a net profit of Rs 65.2 lakh in FY 18 after making a provision of Rs 198.2 crore in its financial statements in June to cut back losses accumulated due to a legal battle with estranged franchise partner CPRL. The company's operations in India were managed by the two companies -- Connaught Plaza Restaurants (CPRL) and Westlife Development. The CPRL handled McDonald's north and east business. Westlife operated in south and west part of the country. In 2016-17, the company's net loss had surged to Rs 305 crore. So far, the company has registered an accumulated loss of Rs 421 crore ever since it set footprints in India in 1996. "The company has not only been able to stem any further erosion of its net worth but has also been able to successfully reverse the trend of erosion through the infusion of fresh capital," McDonald's India said in its latest regulatory filing. The company's income earned through royalty also grew 8 per cent to Rs 119.6 crore. The legal battle between McDonald's and CPRL, which is owned by its India partner Vikram Bakshi, has been going on for five years. Its northern and eastern business is still operated by Bakshi's company, despite the company terminating the franchise agreement of 169 outlets last year. It began in 2013 after fast food giant removed Bakshi as the Managing Director of CPRL. The National Company Law Tribunal later reinstated him and also refrained McDonald from interfering in the functioning of CPRL besides appointing an administrator to oversee the smooth functioning of CPRL. The battle gained momentum after Bakhshi's ouster turned ugly as McDonald's India terminated the franchise agreement of 169 outlets in August 2017. Both the parties are now fighting out their case in various legal forums including NCLT, NCLAT and Delhi high court. Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited, led by Smita Jatia, handles its south and west India business through its wholly owned subsidiary Westlife Development Limited. Also read: No effect of legal battle with McDonald's, sales at all time high, says CPRL's Vikram Bakshi Edited by Manoj Sharma The NIA on Wednesday carried out searches at 16 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a new Islamic State module 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' and detained five persons, including one said to be the leader of the group, officials said. The searches started at different location earlier and were still underway, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said. In Uttar Pradesh, where it conducted joint searches with the states Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), five persons were detained in Amroha district. The official said that one of the alleged module head Suhail was also detained from Amroha. Meanwhile, in east Delhi's Jafarabad area the NIA carried out searches with the Delhi Police's Special Cell. --IANS aks-md/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Wednesday detained 10 people, including a group leader of a newly traced Islamic State module 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' that was allegedly planning attacks in north India, especially Delhi, following raids conducted in 16 places here and in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. An official said a state-wide alert has been sounded after information was received about the presence of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind chief Zakir Musa holed up somewhere in Amroha. Searches were also being conducted in Lucknow, Simbhaoli and other places, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said, adding that in Uttar Pradesh, where it conducted joint searches with the state's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), five persons were detained in Amroha district. An official source said that one of the alleged module heads Suhail was detained with one pistol and explosive material from Amroha. Raids were conducted at the Saidpur Imma village from where the NIA picked up three siblings -- Idrees, Nafees and Anees -- son of Shaheed Ahmad, who owns a welding shop at Dhanaura Adda. Ahmad was also under the NIA's radar and his house in Islam Nagar was raided. The three brothers were being questioned, an NIA source told IANS. They were being monitored by the anti-terror probe agency for the past three months after the sale of a pistol to terrorist Jamshed by students of DNS College. Raids were also conducted at the Shahi Chabutara locality, Pachdara locality, and at the house of Siraz Lassiwala. The agency also recovered one pistol and a grenade launcher besides jihadi literature. In east Delhi's Jafarabad area, the NIA carried out searches along with the Delhi Police's Special Cell and recovered seven pistols and swords. According to the NIA sources, there were five such teams in Delhi which were planning attacks on important offices in the national capital. The NIA source said that questioning of those nabbed would reveal vital information about the module, their plans and handlers. --IANS aks-md/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Wednesday nabbed 16 persons, including a group leader of a newly-traced Islamic State module "Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam" that was allegedly planning attacks in north India, especially Delhi, following raids conducted at 17 places here and in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 10 of the detained persons, including one Mufti Suhail who was leading the group, while it is questioning the rest, Inspector General of Police (NIA) Alok Mittal told the media here. The officer said the module was planning attacks on important political and security offices in Delhi. The agency recovered a country-made rocket launcher, 12 pistols, 120 alarm clocks, 100 mobile phone, 135 SIM cards, many laptops and various electronic gadgets, besides 150 rounds of ammunition. "It was a self-funded group. They stole gold ornaments from their homes and sold it to fund their activities. They were planning to detonate a remote-controlled bomb or a fidayeen kind of attack," Mittal said. The arrested suspects also tried to make bullet-proof fidayeen vest. It was recovered from Amroha. Mufti Suhail is a native of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and lives in Jafarabad area in the national Capital. Raids were also conducted at Lucknow, Hapur and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. A state official said a state-wide alert had been sounded after receiving information about the presence of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind chief Zakir Musa holed up somewhere in Amroha. Raids were conducted at the Saidpur Imma village in Amroha district from where the NIA picked up three siblings -- Idrees, Nafees and Anees -- son of Shaheed Ahmad, who owns a welding shop at Dhanaura Adda in the district. Ahmad had also been on the NIA radar for some time now. The three brothers were being questioned, an NIA source told IANS. They were being monitored by the anti-terror probe agency for the past three months after the sale of a pistol to terrorist Jamshed by students of DNS College. Raids were also conducted at the Shahi Chabutara and Pachdara localities, and at the house of Siraz Lassiwala of Amroha district. In east Delhi's Jafarabad area, the NIA carried out searches along with the Delhi Police's Special Cell and recovered seven pistols and swords. Mittal said that questioning of those nabbed would reveal vital information about the module, their plans and handlers. --IANS aks-md/mak/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov here on Wednesday, on the final leg of his four-nation tour as part of the Pakistani governments policy of outreach in the war-torn Afghanistan. Qureshi and Lavrov discussed the progress on Afghan peace and reconciliation process in the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. The two dignitaries also held discussions on bilateral ties and the regional situation, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted. Qureshi earlier visited Afghanistan, Iran and China where he held talks with his counterparts and other high-ranking officials on the Afghan peace process. His tour was a part of promoting various initiatives and ideas for regional cooperation, especially in promoting economic and people-to-people linkages, Geo News said. In order to kickstart direct negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government, Moscow had last month hosted peace talks that were attended by delegations of the terror group, the Afghan government and global stakeholders. A Pakistani delegation had also attended the peace talks, Dawn reported. Following that, Pakistan brokered a meeting between the US and the Taliban in the United Arab Emirates last week in a bid to pave the way for reviving the peace process that has remained stalled since 2015. The talks were arranged after US President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking his help in ending the Afghan conflict. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikkim's sole MP P.D. Rai says the continuing non-functioning of Parliament is jeopardising the interests of smaller parties like the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and is preventing them from raising important issues concerning their states. Referring to the ongoing gridlock in Parliament over various issues, including the Rafale fighter jet deal, Rai said it was not only undermining the interests of the regional parties but also trampling their rights. "Already two weeks have passed and there is no work in Parliament. This is having a very, very negative impact on smaller parties like us. Because we want the government to bring an amendment to the constitution for the Limboo-Tamang seats for which we have been fighting so long," Rai told IANS. The lone MP of the SDF said that he is under instructions from Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is also the party president, to raise issues like the state's long-pending demand of expansion of its assembly from 32 to 40 seats and reservation for five seats to the Limboo and Tamang scheduled tribe communities. "In 2016, the Supreme Court had directed the Government of India to give justice to the Limboo-Tamang communities. The government of Sikkim has given its responses within 2016... and now it is 2018, and the central government is still not able bring it in Parliament. "In fact, it has not been brought to the cabinet," he said, urging that if a bill is not viable, an ordinance must be promulgated by the government giving effect to the same. He also wanted to rake up the issue of giving tribal status to the 11 left-out communities from the border state under Article 371F of the Constitution of India but could not do so because of the continuous deadlock in Parliament. "The way Parliament is not functioning has a direct impact on smaller parties like us. Because we are just waiting, we are not going into the well of the House... we are not able to participate in Question Hour or Zero Hour or any of the parliamentary proceedings. It becomes a total waste of time... In many ways our right to be heard in parliament is being trampled," he said. He said that be it Rafale or any other issue between the BJP and the Congress, this should not be such a bone of contention that the entire Parliament functioning comes to a halt. "The whole institution of Parliament today is being jeopardised by this kind of behaviour by members of both the opposition parties as well as the treasury benches," he said, accusing the ruling dispensation of not reaching out to the opposition on contentious issues. "What I recall in the 15th Lok Sabha, the government would reach out and by this time (two weeks) things were settled down. But there seems to no such settlement right now. I am most disappointed as the rights of the people of the Sikkim and even other parts of the country are being taken away by this kind of behaviour," he said referring to the UPA government agreeing to a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the alleged scam in allotment of the 2G telecom spectrum that had rocked Parliament then. "That time the Congress did agree at the end of the day. Also a discussion was allowed on the floor of the House. Similarly, the BJP could also do that. In my opinion they could also do that, but why they are not doing this is you have to find out from them," he said. (Brajendra Nath Singh can be contacted at brajendra.s@ians.in) --IANS bns/vm/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Triple Talaq Bill, which is high on the government's agenda, is likely to be taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha as the winter session of Parliament resumes on Thursday after the Christmas recess. The first two weeks of the session were a near washout as the Opposition had disrupted the proceedings on various issues, including the Rafale deal. The BJP and the Congress have issued whips to their members in the Lok Sabha asking them to be present during the discussion. The government and the opposition last week reached an understanding to discuss The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, that seeks to replace an ordinance issued earlier for protecting the rights of married Muslim women and prohibiting divorce by pronouncing "talaq" by their husbands. The ordinance was promulgated in September, making the practice of instant triple talaq an offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The government was keen to take up the bill for passage last week but could not do so amid protests by Congress and some other parties over various issues including the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Rafale deal. The Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had suggested that the bill be taken up after the Christmas recess and assured the participation of his party members in the debate. The Bill was introduced amid din in Lok Sabha on December 17 by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The government is keen to get its legislative agenda through as this is the last full-fledged Parliament session before the next Lok Sabha polls due in April-May 2019. The other two ordinances, which the government is keen to replace with bills are Indian Medical Council (Amendment) ordinance and Companies Amendment ordinance. Four bills have been passed in the Lok Sabha since the start of the present session on December 11 -- the Consumer Protection Bill 2018, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, the Transgenders Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 and the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018. The Surrogacy Bill seeks to regulate surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian infertile couples. Though the Lok Sabha managed to pass four bills amid disruptions and sloganeering, no major business was transacted in the Rajya Sabha due to frequent adjournments amid uproar by opposition members. The Congress has been pressing for the JPC probe into the decision to buy 36 ready-to-fly Rafale fighter jets deal. AIADMK members have been protesting against the proposal to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekadatu and the Telugu Desam Party has been demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. BJP's ally Shiv Sena also protested over the "delay" in the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. Both the BJP and Congress targeted each other's leaders amid relentless sloganeering in both Houses. The Lok Sabha witnessed two notices of privilege on the Rafale deal, one by Congress member K.C. Venugopal against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the other by BJP members including Anurag Thakur against Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The notices were under the consideration of Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Amidst continued logjam, Mahajan last week convened a meeting of the floor leaders but the proceedings remained disrupted. A concerned Mahajan then called a meeting of the Rules Committee and deliberated on ways to stop MPs from trooping near Speaker's podium and holding placards in the House. The behaviour of members forced Mahajan to reprimand them and remark that their behaviour was "worse than that of school kids". In the Rajya Sabha, the bills listed for passage on Thursday include The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018, The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2018, The Representation of People's (Amendment) Bill 2018. All the four bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha. --IANS bns/ps/in/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gujarat Fortunegiants produced an excellent second-half performance to beat defending champions Patna Pirates 37-29 in a Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) clash here at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. Sunil Kumar with a high five marshalled the defence superbly for Gujarat. Rohit Gulia with 10 points and Ajay Kumar with eight points led the raiding charge. Despite getting a super 10, Pardeep Narwal missed two raids in the last two minutes as Patna are now staring at elimination. Patna Pirates can still make it to the playoffs if UP Yoddha don't win against Bengal Warriors. Patna in the first half relied on Pardeep raid points as they maintained a lead. Gujarat's defence got their first tackle point in the 7th minute to trail 5-6. Pardeep made a two-point raid in the 11th minute to give Patna 8-6 lead. Rohit kept Gujarat in contention as he led the raiding charts for the team. After 14 minutes, it was a close encounter with Patna holding a slender one-point lead. Gujarat's defence made a slow start to the match but came on their own as they inflicted a super tackle to level the match. At the end of the first half Gujarat led 13-12. The second half began on a strong note for Gujarat, with Rohit picking raid points consistently and their defence keeping Pardeep quiet as they led 21-16 after 30 minutes. Tushar Patil made a two-point raid in the 35th minute as Patna cut the lead to 22-24 but were reduced to just two men. Gujarat Fortunegiants inflicted an all out in the 36th minute as they led 28-23. Pardeep picked up a two-point raid in the 37th minute as Patna trailed 26-29. With less than three minute to go, Gujarat held a slender two-point lead. Sunil put in an excellent super tackle on Pardeep to give Gujarat a 32-28 lead. Gujarat forced another super tackle in the 39th minute to ensure a comfortable victory. --IANS dm/kk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bogibeel bridge, the opposition Congress in Assam has slammed the ruling party for not inviting former prime ministers H. D. Deve Gowda and Dr Manmohan Singh, who had played prominent roles for the construction of the bridge. Assam's leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia on Wednesday said that the Prime Minister and the BJP as a whole lack political culture. "Bogibeel Bridge project was a part of the Assam Accord in 1985 and was sanctioned in the year 1997-98. The foundation stone of the project was laid by former PM Gowda on January 22, 1997 and work commencement of the project took place under the then Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee on April 21, 2002. "In 2007, Dr Singh declared the bridge as a national project and arrangement was made for the requisite funds," said Saikia, while adding that neither Gowda nor Singh was invited to participate in the inauguration programme. It may be mentioned here that three-time former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is an elected representative of the current Assam assembly, and Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia also did not receive any invitation for the programme. "The BJP government is using government events for political propaganda," Saikia said while interacting with the media on Wednesday. "The Prime Minister had in 2014 announced that he will revive Nagaon and Panchagram Paper Mills. The Rs. 1900 crore revival package is still awaiting a nod from the Prime Minister's office. We want to know what happened to that promise. The BJP-led government before 2014 polls promised to give Schedule Tribe (ST) status to six communities. However, nothing happened in this regard," said Saikia. Senior Congress leader and former minister Pradyut Bordoloi pointed out that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for Jorhat-Majuli bridge in 2015. "However the detailed project report (DPR) for the project is yet to be prepared," he said while questioning the intent of the BJP. "NTPC's 750 MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and Assam gas cracker project are major contributions of Dr Singh. Can the BJP name any such signature project which it has taken up during its tenure?" Bordoloi asked. --IANS ah/oeb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Minister O.P. Soni on Wednesday warned that officers and principals will be held fully accountable for the poor performance of students in examinations. Presiding over a meeting with the District Officers (DEOs), Soni said that DEOs should regularly check schools and punctuality among the teachers and other staff to ensure better results. He further said that the examination centre should be set up keeping in mind that students do not have to travel more than three kilometer from their home. Making it clear that the responsibility of poor results of the government schools will be on DEOs and principals, Soni asked them to ensure remedial measures before the start of examinations of various classes. On the issue of vacant posts of teachers and other employees in various schools, Soni directed that these posts will be filled with due promotions and rationalisation. He also said that the list of those schools, whose buildings are unsafe and in dilapidated condition, should be sent immediately and all such buildings will be rebuilt in one year. --iANS js/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not offering the necessary help to rescue a group of miners trapped in a Meghalaya coal mine for the past two weeks. "15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras," Gandhi tweeted. The miners got trapped in the flooded coal pit in East Jaintia Hills district on December 13. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been struggling to rescue them but the surging water level inside the 370-feet pit has been hampering the rescue efforts. "His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue," Gandhi said, asking the "PM please save the miners." The NDRF has used a sonar system and an underwater camera to detect the trapped miners. However, the system failed to locate any of those trapped in the main well due to poor visibility. The incident gains 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. --IANS som/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suspended RJD legislator Raj Ballabh Yadav, sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a minor girl, was disqualified on Wednesday as an MLA of Bihar, officials said. Five days after a special court in Patna sentenced Yadav to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl at his residence in Bihar Sharif, district headquarter of Nalanda, in February 2016, he was disqualified with effect from the date on which he was sentenced by the court. Yadav was held guilty by the court under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2012. The Bihar Legislative Assembly issued a notification stating that Yadav (56) was disqualified. According to the notification, Yadav, who represented Nawada constituency, has been disqualified. Yadav is the second RJD legislator, after MLA Illyas Hussain, to lose the Bihar assembly membership. Hussain was disqualified last month after he was convicted in a corruption case by a CBI court in Ranchi two months ago. --IANS ik/oeb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Roseanne Barr says she will be travelling to Israel in January and has been invited to address the country's parliament. Barr says her aim is to "further my own knowledge of Jewish and Israeli history" and speak out "against the insidious and anti-Semitic BDS movement", reports pagesix.com. BDS refers to the anti-Israel movement calling for boycott, divestment and sanctions of the state. "While I intend to further my own knowledge of Jewish and Israeli history, I have important work to do as a voice against the insidious and anti-Semitic BDS movement," Barr said. "We are in an age where Israeli innovation is ascendant and changing the world in areas of medicine, technology, media and the arts. Israel is an oasis of openness, freedom, democracy and tolerance amidst a desert of brutality from an age gone by. I want to shout this from the heights of the Galilee to the halls of the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel's capital city - and from the cafes and art galleries of Tel-Aviv to the beaches of Eilat," she added. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, whose organisation has sponsored Barr's trip, says that "bringing an incredibly proud Jewish woman like Rosanne to Israel will be a great boost to its citizens". She will speak at the Israeli Knesset on January 30. --IANS sug/nv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A South Korean train carrying about 100 people left from Dorasan Station, just south of the inter-Korean border, for the North Korea on Wednesday morning for the ceremony to modernise and connect railways and roads across the border. The nine-car train, which departed from Seoul Station in South Korea's capital Seoul earlier in the day, left from the Dorasan Station at about 8:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT Tuesday), local broadcaster YTN footage showed. It transports the South Korean participants to Panmun Station in the North Korea's border town of Kaesong, where the groundbreaking ceremony is slated to start at 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), Xinhua news agency reported. The South Korean participants included Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mee, and Lee Hae-chan, chief of the ruling Democratic Party. From the North Korean side, Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland and Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun Hyok would attend the ceremony. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed during their first summit in April to modernise and eventually connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. They agreed in their Pyongyang summit in September to hold the groundbreaking ceremony before the end of this year. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy has died in the US government's custody in New Mexico state, immigration authorities said, in a second case this month of an immigrant child dying while being detained after crossing the US-Mexico border. Representative Joaquin Castro, chairman-elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, identified the child as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez. The boy, who was detained with his father, died early Tuesday at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Centre in Alamogordo, New Mexico, about 90 miles north of the border crossing in El Paso, Texas, CNN reported. In the previous instance, seven-year-old Jakelin Caal, also from Guatemala, died just hours after having been taken into custody by border agents. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a news release that the boy showed "signs of potential illness" on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo. He was diagnosed with a cold and a fever and given prescriptions before being released on Monday afternoon. He was returned to the hospital in the evening with nausea and vomiting and died there hours later. "This is a tragic loss," said CBP Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan. "On behalf of US Customs and Border Protection, our deepest sympathies go out to the family." The agency said it was conducting a review and will soon release more details about the case. Congressman Castro called for a congressional investigation into the boy's death. "We must ensure that we treat migrants and asylum seekers with human dignity and provide the necessary medical care to anyone in the custody of the United States government," he said. "The administration's policy of turning people away from legal ports of entry, otherwise known as metering, is putting families and children in great danger." Guatemala's Foreign Ministry in a statement also asked for an investigation and access to the boy's medical records. The Ministry said it will provide assistance and consular protection to the father and assume responsibility for the repatriation of the boy's remains. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Preparing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP on Wednesday appointed election incharges for 17 states assigning former Gujarat Minister Gordhan Zadafia, once a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the crucially-important state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lower House of Parliament. 64-year-old Zadafia, who takes the place of BJP President Amit Shah who was incharge before 2014 elections, will be assisted by party's national vice president Dushyant Gautam and former Madhya Pradesh Minister Narottam Mishra. In 2014, then BJP President Rajnath Singh had appointed Amit Shah as party's election incharge in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP won 71 out of the 80 seats, more than UPA's overall tally and much more than the previous peak of 57 seats in the 1998 elections. Zadafia had left the BJP in 2007 complaining against the "autocratic" attitude of the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He joined forces with Keshubhai Patel in 2012 and formed Gujarat Parivartan Party which failed to make a mark in the elections. He later returned to BJP and worked for the party in 2017 Assembly elections in Gujarat. Zadafia was the Home Minister in Gujarat during the 2002 riots. Uttar Pradesh, a crucial state for the BJP, may see a tough contest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are all set to have an alliance. Shah has appointed former Kerala unit President V. Muralidharan as incharge of Andhra Pradesh while Sunil Deodhar, credited for the party's landslide victory in Tripura, will assist him as the co-incharge. Mahendra Singh, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh's Yogi government has been appointed election incharge of Assam. Singh was BJP's Assam-in-charge and was given the credit for the party's victory in the 2016 Assembly polls where it ousted the Congress government under Tarun Gogoi. Bhupendra Yadav will continue to be the incharge of party affairs in Bihar where the BJP recently finalised a seat-sharing formula with the Janata Dal-United and the Lok Janshakti Party. Senior leader Om Praksh Mathur, a close associate of Modi, will continue as incharge of Gujarat. He was BJP's Gujarat in-charge during Modi's tenure as Chief Minister. A former RSS pracharak, Mathur was subsequently deployed as election in-charge in Maharashtra, where the BJP recorded victory. He was given charge of Uttar Pradesh in October 2014. Tirath Singh Rawat, a BJP Secretary and former Uttarakhand BJP President, has been appointed as incharge of Himachal Pradesh while Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey has been shifted to Jharkhand. Earlier, he was incharge of Himachal Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP was ousted from power after 15 years, Shah has appointed Uttar Pradesh Minister Swantantra Dev Singh as incharge and former Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay as co-incharge. The party has retained Prakash Javadekar as incharge of Rajasthan where the Congress defeated the saffron party in a closely fought battle. Party Spokesperson Sudhandhu Trivedi will assist him as co-incharge. Party Spokesperson Nalin Kohli, who was earlier incharge of Meghalaya has been given responsibility as election incharge of Manipur and Nagaland. Party General Secreatray Arun Singh will be in charge of Odisha where the BJP has focussed a lot to oust the ruling Biju Janata Dal from power. Haryana Minister Captain Abhimanyu has been appointed as incharge of Punjab and Chandigarh. Nitin Navin, a BJYM leader and an MLA from Bihar, has been appointed as incharge of Sikkim governed by Sikkim Democratic Front, a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance. Arvind Limbawali, an MLA from Karnataka, has been appointed as incharge of Telangana while union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot has been given responsibilty as incharge of Uttarakhand. --IANS bns/vsc/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who is looking forward for the release of his forthcoming film "Simmba", has said that the film will make audience feel high as it has the combination of action, comedy, romance and emotions. "I am not saying that we have created something different but this film will give you a high. The film will make you happy and cry at the same time" Rohit said while interacting with media here on Wednesday at the promotional meet of "Simmba" along with the star cast of the film Ranveer Singh, Sara Ali Khan and Sonu Sood. "Simmba" is an action-comedy drama which revolves around a corrupt police officer who eventually stands up against rapist in the film. On Tuesday, Rohit hosted screening of "Simmba" for his friends in the film industry, when asked Rohit what kind of response he received after the film's screening, he said, "I think we have made a good film. I make films every year. Last year, "Golmaal Again" was released." "I am not one of those filmmakers who make one film in four years but there are few films like "Chennai Express", "Golmaal 3", "Golmaal Again" and "Singham" that you know that it's an on beat film and it has been made the way we wanted it to make so, 'Simmba' is one of them." he added. "Simmba" is produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. The film is a Hindi remake of 2015 Telugu film 'Temper'. It will release on December 28. --IANS iv/vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Army soldier has shot to death following a verbal spat by his colleague in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, police said. "Havaldar Rajesh was fired upon by his colleague inside an army camp in Bhaderwah area late on Tuesday. The injured was shifted to a hospital, where he succumbed," a police officer said. The incident reportedly followed a verbal spat between the two. "Police has sought custody of the accused soldier. The army has also ordered an internal inquiry into the matter," the officer added. --IANS sq/in (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.) A 17-year-old girl has alleged rape by her accounts tutor at knife point. The police has registered a case based on the complaint lodged by the victim's mother. The class 12 student took tuitions in accounts from tutor Yogendra Vashisth. After the incident, the victim apparently locked herself in her room for more than a month and appeared to be under tremendous stress. Police said that the victim later told her mother about her ordeal. "On November 13, the accused called the victim on the pretext of giving her special notes and sexually assaulted her at knife point. The accused also filmed her secret video and started blackmailing her," read the complaint. "The victim stopped taking tuitions from November 23. Later, on December 25, the victim narrated the incident to her mother. We have registered a case under relevant sections of rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012," a senior police officer said. The accused is absconding but will be arrested soon, the officer added. --IANS pradeep/oeb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Syrian air defences were triggered on Tuesday evening to a heavy Israeli missile attack that targeted areas in the countryside of the capital Damascus, media reported. The Israeli attack was carried out from inside the Lebanese airspace, said the state TV, adding that the air defences have intercepted a number of missiles, some of which were intercepted while over Lebanon. The residents in Damascus heard a series of explosions in the capital and saw the flaring air defence missiles chasing targets in the sky, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, Lebanese reports said Israeli warplanes infiltrated the Lebanese airspace on Tuesday evening at the time of the attack. The official media outlets haven't given details about the targeted sites, but said the air defences were responding to the attack over the western countryside of Damascus. For its side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that the Israeli missile attack targeted areas in the western and southwestern countryside of Damascus. It said a number of missiles hit three targets, which it claimed are weapon depots that belong to the Lebanese Hezbollah group. The Israeli attack is the latest in a string of missiles strikes targeting Syrian positions throughout the crisis over the pretext that they are targeting positions of Iranian-backed forces and allied Hezbollah fighters. The last attack was late last month and targeted military positions in the town of Kisweh in the western countryside of Damascus. In September, Moscow equipped Damascus with the S-300 air defence missile system, but local reports said that this advanced system hasn't been used yet. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An attack launched by Taliban militants to overrun Almar district in Afghanistan's Faryab province was repulsed and eight militants were killed, local media reported on Wednesday. The well coordinated offensive was launched on Tuesday at 6 a.m. and lasted for six hours but failed to gain ground. As a result, the attacking militants fled, leaving behind eight bodies, Xinhua news agency reported. Five others were injured in the attack. Taliban militants have not commented on it yet. --IANS mag/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi continued to battle severe pollution for the fourth consecutive day even as authorities said that increased wind speed may bring respite and improve the air quality. While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) at 'severe' level of 408, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) showed an AQI of 385 which falls in the very poor category. Twenty-three areas recorded severe pollution level, while 12 areas witnessed very poor air quality, the CPCB data showed. In NCR, Ghaziabad recorded severe air quality while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded very poor air quality. The overall PM2.5 level -- fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- was recorded at 263 and the PM10 level at 400 here, the CPCB said. Delhi's air quality turned 'severe' on Saturday. The national capital recorded its second-highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450. According to SAFAR, Delhi's overall air quality is expected to improve due to increased wind speed. "The forecasting model predicts a faster improvement due to faster dispersion. The AQI will go back to the very poor category by tonight for the next three days," it said. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the air quality is likely to improve but will remain in the upper end of the 'very poor to severe' category. "The wind speed and ventilation index are highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants," it said. Ventilation index is the speed at which pollutants can get dispersed. A ventilation index lower than 6000 sqm/second, with average wind speed less than 10 kmph, is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants. The index was 5000 sqm/second on Tuesday, the IITM said. In view of the prevalence of severe pollution in the national capital, industrial activities in pollution hotspots of Wazirpur, Mundka, Narela, Bawana, Sahibabad and Faridabad, and construction work across Delhi-NCR will remain shut till Wednesday. They will remain closed until Wednesday, said EPCA Chairperson Bhure Lal. In a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev, Lal also directed him to ban all construction activities in the national capital, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida till Wednesday. The EPCA directed the traffic police to deploy special teams and ensure congestion-free traffic flow, particularly in identified high-traffic corridors. The agencies concerned have also been asked to ensure strict action against illegal industries, intensify ground action and make all efforts to control polluting activities, particularly waste burning. In a health advisory, SAFAR asked Delhiites not to rely on common dust masks for protection. The agency has advised people to avoid all outdoor activities, such as taking walks. "If the room has windows, close them, if the air conditioner provides a fresh air intake option then choose it, avoid burning anything such as a wood, candle or even an intense," it said. The advisory also recommended frequent wet mopping and using masks known as N-95 or P-100 respirators only for outdoor activities. "Do not rely on dust masks for protection," it read. Also Read: Low visibility disrupts operations at Delhi's IGI airport; over 80 flights delayed Also Read: Mother Dairy enters into Rs 4,000 crore organic food business The Thailand government has approved a draft legislation to allow same-sex civil union, a step which could make it the first Asian country to recognize such partnerships once the bill is passed, official sources said on Wednesday. The government approved the Civil Partnership Bill on Tuesday, Efe news quoted Apichat, a government spokesperson, as saying. The official said no date has been fixed yet for the legislation to be presented in the National legislative Assembly for a debate and approval as the State Council was reviewing its details. The Parliament on Tuesday also approved the legalisation of marijuana for medicinal and research purposes, making Thailand the first country in southeast Asia to do so. --IANS mag/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thailand's interim parliament voted to approve marijuana for medical use and research, one of the senators who worked on the bill told CNN on Tuesday. Recreational use of the drug remains illegal. Lawmaker Somchai Sawangkarn said the passing of an amendment to allow medical marijuana in the country "could be considered as a New Year gift to Thais." "The amendment (on the Narcotics Bill) was passed the second and third readings today. And will become effective once it is published on the Royal Gazette," he said." The National Legislative Assembly's 166 members voted in favour of the change and there were no votes objecting to the motion. There were 13 members who abstained from the vote, CNN reported. This makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to allow the use of medical marijuana. The region is notorious for its hardline approach to drugs and strict penalties for drug-related crimes. The British government approved medical marijuana earlier this year, and it became available on November 1 from the National Health System to patients with a prescription. Medications derived from cannabis became legal in Germany last year. Medical marijuana is also legal in Australia and Ireland. In the US, medical marijuana is legal in 30 states, though the laws governing what's permitted vary from state to state, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While 15 miners continue to remain trapped in a flooded coal mine in Meghalaya for a fortnight now, the issue on Wednesday led to a political slugfest with Rahul Gandhi targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centres ruling BJP accusing the Congress President of politicising a tragedy. Slamming Modi for not offering necessary help to rescue the trapped miners, Gandhi took to twitter urging the Prime Minister to save the miners. "15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, Prime Minister struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras," tweeted Gandhi referring to Modi on Tuesday inaugurating a bridge in Assam. "His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. Prime Minister please save the miners," added Gandhi tagging a media report stating that the rescue efforts were hampered by lack of effective equipment. Replying to Gandhi's tweet, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju blamed the negligence of the previous Congress government for the tragedy. "No politics on tragedy please, Rahul Gandhi. We have been helping the state government with all possible means. But the unsafe illegal mining activities were due to the negligence of the previous Congress government," said Rijiju referring to the Congress which ruled the state before the Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party came to power in March 2018. The miners have been trapped in the flooded coal pit in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been struggling to rescue them but the surging water level inside the 370-feet pit has been hampering the rescue efforts. The NDRF has used a sonar system and an underwater camera to detect the trapped miners. However, the system failed to locate any of those trapped in the main well due to poor visibility. --IANS and/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump visited the US troops in Iraq to celebrate Christmas, the official Iraqiya television reported on Wednesday. The state-run channel briefly said that Trump "denied any plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq," reports Xinhua news agency. The US House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on its twitter account that "Trump and the First Lady travelled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit our troops and senior military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas." Trump's visit to Iraq is his first since taking office nearly two years ago. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the vandalisation of the statute of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, two activists of the youth wing of the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have been arrested by the Punjab Police in Ludhiana, police said on Wednesday. Those arrested are Youth Akali Dal activists Meetpal Dugri and Gurdeep Singh Gosha. The SAD on Wednesday strongly opposed their arrest. The statute was vandalised allegedly by workers of the SAD's youth wing in Salem Tibri area of Ludhiana on Tuesday following which Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered strict action by the district police against the perpetrators. The police had registered a case in this matter. Punjab's ruling Congress and opposition SAD were on Tuesday involved in a bitter war of words after the statute was vandalised. Congress MP Ravneet Sing Bittu later cleaned the statute with milk. Blaming Rajiv Gandhi and the Congress for the killing of hundreds of Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Youth Akali Dal activists used spray paint to blacken the face of Rajiv Gandhi and painted his hands in red colour. The activists then announced that they were doing this (vandalism) to show their anger against the role of Rajiv Gandhi, father of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984 in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two bodyguards. Strongly condemning the vandalism, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday asked SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to stop indulging in petty and asked him to apologise. Sukhbir Badal reacted strongly to Amarinder's statement. "You @capt_amarinder should apologise to the Sikh sangat for failing them as CM and standing with hated Gandhi family. The community has shown what it thinks of Rajiv Gandhi in Ludhiana. Don't disrespect the sentiments of Sikhs," Badal tweeted. Congress Sewa Dal activists later blackened the faces of SAD president Sukhbir Badal and former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on posters in Ludhiana in retaliation against the statute vandalisation. They also burnt posters of both Akali Dal leaders. Punjab has a Congress government since March 2017, headed by Amarinder Singh. --IANS js/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Pakistani nationals -- one who crossed into India last year to meet superstar Shah Rukh Khan and another one who overstayed after getting married here -- were on Wednesday repatriated to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah joint check post, around 30 km from here. The 21-year-old Abdullah had jumped into India across the Zero Line between both countries on May 25, 2017 after the Beating Retreat ceremony in a desperate bid to meet his favourite star Shah Rukh Khan. He was immediately nabbed by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and booked under the Foreigners Act. Abdullah was sentenced to imprisonment for six months by a local court and was lodged in the Amritsar Central Jail. The officials said that his repatriation got delayed despite the end of his sentence as his exact whereabouts in Pakistan were not known earlier and the proper documents for his repatriation could not be completed. He hails from Swat region in north-west Pakistan. The other person, Mohammad Imran Qureshi Warsi, who is a resident of Karachi, was sent back after spending 14 years in India, including 10 years in prison. Warsi, who arrived in India in 2004 on valid documents, was sentenced by a court in Bhopal on charges of forgery, cheating and spying after overstaying in India. He even got married here and had two sons. Following his repatriation on Wednesday, his wife and sons, who are Indian nationals, remain in Kolkata. --IANS js/vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and how much help they get from the UK. According to the Foreign Office, the review, led by the Bishop of Truro, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians who faced discrimination and violence in 2017, the BBC reported. Officials said violence against Christians is rising dramatically, with an average of 250 persons killed every month. "Britain has long championed international religious freedom," Hunt said, adding that the UK "must do more". The Foreign Office said the review would "consider some tough questions and offer ambitious policy recommendations". The intervention comes after an outcry over the treatment of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan. Bibi spent eight years on death row until her conviction was reversed by Pakistan's Supreme Court earlier in 2018. --IANS mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Narendra Modi government has been a killjoy for Members of Parliament, particularly those of the Lok Sabha. The winter session of Parliament usually ends before Christmas. This year, the government agreed to keep December 24 and 26 as parliamentary holidays only after a request from MPs. However, it has poured cold water on the plans of MPs who were considering an extended stay in their respective constituencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to all its members to be present in the House on Thursday when it plans to take up the politically sensitive Triple ... We thought that we had become blase with Donald Trumps obnoxious tweets, his bluster and bullying, the insouciant way with which he is wrecking Americas alliances and destroying its credibility. We were wrong. The recent string of events in Washington have shown that there can always be something worse expected from the actions of the US President. The abrupt decision to withdraw the US forces from Syria that prompted the resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and of the US Envoy to the coalition against ISIS, was not only a reversal of policy coming as a shock for decision-makers in the administration and the Congress, but also for the US allies in Syria and a betrayal of the Syrian Kurds who had relied on American support and are now exposed to the offensive of the Turkish forces against them that will follow the US withdrawal. Iran and whose expansionist ambitions the Trump administration pretends to fight must still wonder by which miracle this golden gift, handing them the full control of Syria and a reinforcement of their position in the Middle East, has been bestowed on them. As this was not enough, the announcement of the President intent to reduce the US troops in could not have come at a worst moment, as American diplomats had resumed discussions with the Taliban to revive a peace process in the country. So, the US President managed in just a few days to strengthen the hands not only of Moscow and Tehran, but also of the Hezbollah, and the Taliban, three major sources of terrorism threat against America. Even some of the staunchest supporters of Mr Trump in the are aghast at his latest initiatives. This chaos in the foreign policy domain, driven by the most primary forms of isolationism, is mirrored on the domestic and economic fronts by another kind of chaos driven by an outsized ego and the spoiled child-like abusive impulses of a man not able to accept that there could be limits to his power. The damages that the US economy is beginning to feel because of the sanctions against China which were aimed to punish Beijing; the havoc and uncertainties created by the shutdown of the government by a President who could not bear that the Congress would refuse to fund a Wall which, he had promised, Mexico would pay for; the increasing worry about the negative economic impact of an exploding national debt now at $21trillion generated in part by an unnecessary fiscal stimulus; the concerns about American monetary policy created by the incessant criticism from the President of the Federal Reserve and rumours that he was looking at ways to sack its Chairman, (which he cannot do); these actions and tweets and repeated displays of utter ignorance about some economic realities are contributing heavily to the angst of an increasingly jittery business and financial community, reflected by the worst December for the US Stock Market since the Great Depression with all other financial places following suit. The US President is now unbound by the departure of James Mattis, the last remaining wise voice in his cabinet who could delay, mitigate or put under the carpet some rash initiatives. He is under increasing pressure from the investigation of the Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller closing in on the possible collusion between the Trump presidential campaign and Russian interferences; he is on the defensive and furious as the House of Representatives will now be controlled by the Democratic Party and has the means not only to block some policies and initiatives but to launch very embarrassing investigations on, for instance, the finances and taxes of the president. The combination of these factors is likely to create an even more volatile and unpredictable context as Mr Trump might very plausibly be tempted to create some diversions with new initiatives meant to show to his base how strong a president he is and how he does not hesitate to take blunt measures on issues where his predecessors did not dare to do so. What does that mean for 2019? On the American domestic front, we have to expect an even confrontational political environment, with deadlock on policy-making areas where the House of Representatives can institutionally have a decisive say. At this writing, it looks for instance, that the government shutdown could possibly go beyond the first week of 2019 as the President is digging his heels on making the budget hostage of the funding of the Wall between the US and Mexico - with increasing negative repercussions on the economic life of the country. On the international front, Americas international allies in Europe, Japan, Korea and South East are bound to accelerate the strategic reassessment of how to protect their interests in a global environment where they cannot any more rely on their relationship with a which has ceased being the anchor it had been for the last 70 years. Nobody has forgotten in and Seoul that candidate Trump had threatened to renege on the US-Japan and US-Korea defense treaties if the US did not get more money from these countries. And the same applies to Nato. One can expect Vladimir Putin looking for how beyond Syria and the he can exploit Americas disorderly retreat to push his agenda for the restoration of as a global super-power. In that respect, the tactical rapprochement between Moscow and will become even more pronounced as the two countries see now an opportunity for definitely closing the era where America was able to shape global events. Watching the recent upheavals in Washington, one possible conclusion President might draw is that the chances of a compromise with the Trump administration keep declining. An isolationist America rejecting any multilateral framework, with a dubious record about the reliability of its pronouncement and commitments, and whose approach to any problem or conflict boils down to bullying the other party to make it capitulate, does not incite to get to the negotiating table. The kind of concessions that China might be ready to consider will not suffice to and the people around him primarily interested at sustaining Americas technological and geopolitical supremacy and containing China. However, the train has already left the station when it comes to Chinas rise. If US measures can certainly cause difficulties and additional problems to the Chinese leadership and even slow down the countrys advances, this is now a rear-guard battle that will render more difficult the search of a modus vivendi between two super-powers condemned to find the way for a mutually beneficial interaction if they dont want to self-destruct and the rest of the world with them. Many in Washington and other capitals in Europe and must today consider either with glee or angst that, with such a President, America does not need an enemy. The writer is President of Smadja & Smadja, a Strategic Advisory Firm. @ClaudeSmadja British Prime Minister Theresa May has cut her Cabinet's Christmas break short to prepare for Brexit as the March 2019 deadline nears. Her senior ministers will reconvene for a Cabinet meeting on January 2, five days before the rest of the UK Parliament returns from Christmas recess, to begin preparations for all eventualities including a chaotic no-deal Brexit. Stephen Barclay, her Brexit Secretary, will lead the Cabinet meeting, which will take place a week before Parliament is scheduled to reconvene for the New Year, according to the Financial Times'. Prime Minister May had put off the vote on her controversial Brexit deal two weeks ago amid deep parliamentary divisions, postponing it to mid-January instead. She has been trying to convince her MPs to back her plan, in part through ramping up the threat of no deal. Writing in the Daily Express', she called on the Conservative Party to "put aside our differences" as the "vast majority of people" want politicians to move on from Brexit to focus on other issues. May said it is time to "dispense with the titles of 'Leave' and 'Remain,' and instead find common ground and focus on what we can achieve together". Christmas is a time "to put aside our differences and focus on what really matters", she said. "Now, two and a half years after the referendum, it is time for us as a country to do the same," she added. UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove is said to be petrified of a disorderly no-deal Brexit, which he believes will leave Britain with severe food shortages. May also highlighted the public worries about the shortage of affordable homes. "The sooner MPs agree the right Brexit deal, the sooner we can all get back to dealing with those issues and building a country that works for everyone," she said, while accepting that "hard work" lies ahead for the government over the coming months. She will spend Christmas Day in her Maidenhead constituency with her husband Philip before heading back to work. Britain is scheduled to formally leave the European Union (EU) on March 29, 2019, which means the clock is running out on both sides arriving at an amicable exit agreement. However, with all sides of the UK Parliament not yet in favour of May's deal struck with EU leaders, the uncertainty over how Brexit would play out in the New Year remains. Also Read: Low visibility disrupts operations at Delhi's IGI airport; over 80 flights delayed Also Read: Mother Dairy enters into Rs 4,000 crore organic food business This refers to "Welcome reform" (December 26). The central government and GST Council's decision to reduce prices on 23 items is indeed welcome. Since the launch of GST, they have reduced taxes on as many as 360 items which proves that they are open to change. Yet, it is puzzling that cement still remains within the 28 per cent bracket. It seems that it will be tough for the government to bring it down further. The finance ministers statement that he is aiming to merge 12 and 18 per cent slabs in GST structure is also encouraging and it will be a huge ... Three Indian teenaged siblings were among four people killed in a fire during Christmas celebrations at a house in the US state of Tennessee, according to media reports. The fire killed a woman and three Indian teens from Telangana who were staying with her family through the holidays in a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, the USA Today reported. "Kari Coudriet - of Collierville, Tennessee - as well as Sharron, 17, Joy, 15, and Aaron, 14 - teen siblings of the Naik family from India - all died in the fire," the paper reported, citing a statement issued by the Coudriet's church, Collierville Bible Church. "A fire started around 11 o'clock pm at the Coudriet home (on December 23). The Coudriet family was hosting, housing, and celebrating Christmas with three teenagers attending an Academy here in the States. The Naik family are missionaries in India that our church supports," the church said. The Coudriets were hosting the Naik family for the holidays. Kari's husband Danny and their son Cole were able to make it out of the home. Both are expected to survive, the paper said. "At this time, we are asking for privacy and discretion regarding the Missionary children. The family is in route from India and many of the details of the events are still being communicated to the family, the church said. The Indian teens were studying at the French Camp Academy in Mississippi. The academy said it was "deeply saddened by the tragic event" in Collierville. "We are fervently praying for the families involved," it added. Keith Potts, who has known the Coudriet family for about four years, said the Naik teens were attending school in Mississippi. When the school closed for winter break, the students could not go home to India so the Coudriets invited them to stay in their home. Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner said the tragedy is still under investigation. "They're still looking at what the cause of it (fire) was," he said. "I was told when they arrived they did not hear any smoke alarms going off... so you just never know." Collierville Fire Chief Mark King said the first floor of the house had no working smoke detectors. The second floor, which is where all four rooms were, only had one smoke detector that went off. "It was chaotic The house went up really, really fast," localmemphis.com quoted a neighbour as saying. "It was just frantic trying to figure out how many people were in the house; I knew there were multiple kids there," Symons said. As he tried to assist before fire trucks arrived, Symons saw two people make it out: 13-year-old Cole - who jumped out of a window - and his father, Danny. "He was covered head to toe in black," Symons was quoted by the website as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Daniel Craig set to say goodbye to James Bond after the 25th film, many names are floating as a possible replacement but British actor Dominic West believes it would be "cool" to have a transgender actor play the fictional spy. Craig will return as Bond for the fifth time in Bond 25, which was earlier set to be directed by Danny Boyle but is now being helmed by Cary Fukunaga. "Maybe a transgender Bond would be cool," West said in interview with The Sunday Times as quoted by IndieWire. The actor is currently promoting his role in the BBC's new "Les Miserables" adaptation. The "Affair" star said he got the idea from his indie film "Colette" where he starred opposite Keira Knightley and Jake Graf, a transgender actor who played a cis male (a person whose gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth) in the movie. "There's a very cool woman who's the wife of an actor in Colette' who is a captain in the electrical engineers, the highest-ranking transgender soldier in the army, West said. She's a beautiful blonde girl who could be Bond, yes. That's actually a brilliant idea. They should have a transgender Bond because there are a lot of transgender people in the army. They'd be ideal because they can do everything, he added. West was referring to Graf's wife, Hannah Winterbourne, a high-ranking officer in the British Army, who transitioned from male to female. Fans, meanwhile, want Tom Hardy to replace Craig in the next film and West is okay with that choice too. "I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond. I'd be happy to see him do it. You need an actor who can put a bit of wiggle into it that's what makes Bond, he said. Production on Bond 25 kicks off in 2019 with a February 14, 2020 release date in mind. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party's National Council will meet on Saturday in which it is expected to discuss preparations for next year's general elections and also the current political scenario in the country, party sources. Sources also said there is a possibility that the constitution of the party could be amended to remove the cap of two terms for being an office bearer. This means, AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could get unlimited terms as party chief. Kejriwal was elected as the national convenor of AAP for the second time in April 2016 for a period of three years. Convening a National Council meet in April next year looks unlikely, sources said, as party workers would be busy campaigning for the polls. According to the party constitution, "No member will hold the same post as an office bearer for more than two consecutive terms of three years each." "There is also a possibility that the national executive could give an extension of six months to the existing office bearers and conduct internal polls after the 2019 elections," a party leader said. Prior to the National Council meet, the National Executive is expected to meet on Friday to finalise the agenda for the meeting. Any major decision by the National Executive has to be ratified by the National Council, which comprises of the founder members of the party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Wednesday lauded TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for "striving hard" to form a federal front of regional parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He also accused the BJP's Central and state governments of failing to fulfil their promises and claimed that the people are not happy with them. "I will soon go to Hyderabad to meet Rao, who is striving hard to bring the regional players together on a common platform," Yadav told mediapersons here. Lauding the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo's efforts to form a federal front to take on the BJP in the general elections next year, he said, "I spoke to Rao and we were supposed to meet on December 25-26. But somehow it could not take place. Now I will see him in Hyderabad." The TRS chief, who is in Delhi since Monday night, plans to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Rao met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday in Kolkata wherein he discussed with them, among other issues, the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. To a question on including the Congress in any alliance to take on the BJP unitedly, Yadav expressed displeasure over the Samajwadi Party's lone MLA in Madhya Pradesh not being made a minister in the Kamal Nath-led government. Though the Congress, with 114 seats, emerged as the single largest party in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, it failed to cross the halfway mark (116) on its own and enlisted the support of the BSP and the SP, which have won two seats and one, respectively. However, no MLA from the Mayawati-led BSP or the SP was given place in the Cabinet. Responding to another question, the Samajwadi party chief said, "In the days to come, who all will join hands with the SP, who all want to come, all options are open." Hitting out at the saffron party, Yadav said, "The BJP has deceived the common people. They only made tall promises but have done nothing on the ground for the people. Four-and-a-half years' rule of the BJP at the Centre too stands exposed now. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Financial services firm Anand Rathi Wealth Services, which had filed Rs 425-crore IPO papers with Sebi in September, Wednesday said it has decided to withdraw its proposed initial share-sale. The company said it filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) towards the end of September when the markets were doing well. However, with the IPO markets entering a 'wait-and-watch' mode, the firm has decided to explore the IPO at a later stage. "Anand Rathi Wealth Services Ltd has decided to withdraw its proposed IPO and has made an application for the same to Sebi through BRLMs (book running lead managers) to the issue," the firm said in a statement. Speaking on the development, Amit Rathi, managing director of Anand Rathi Wealth Services, said the business is doing well and the company is witnessing unprecedented traction in its target markets. However, a large part of the IPO proceeds were in nature of offer-for-sale by the holding company, and in light of the difficult market conditions, the group has decided to pursue other avenues to raise the requisite funds, he added. According to the draft papers, the firm's proposed IPO comprises fresh issue of equity shares by Anand Rathi Wealth Services aggregating up to Rs 125 crore and an offer-for-sale of up to Rs 300 crore by the promoter Anand Rathi Financial Services. The firm proposed to use the IPO proceeds to purchase and furnish office premises in Mumbai. Also, it planned to invest in its subsidiaries -- ARWMPL and FIINFRA -- for upgrading and enhancing softwares, and for other technology-related expenses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Come New Year, Andhra Pradesh will have a separate high court which will function from Amravati, the new capital of the state, as President Ram Nath Kovind Wednesday issued orders to this effect. Since the bifurcation of the state on June 2, 2014, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have had a common high court at Hyderabad, the latter's capital city. With the creation of the new high court, the country now has 25 high courts. "...the President hereby constitutes a separate High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh, namely, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, from the 1st day of January, 2019 with the principal seat of such High Court at Amaravati in the State of Andhra Pradesh and the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad shall become the High Court for the State of Telangana," said the order. According to the order, Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, who is at present the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court, will head the new high court. In effect, he will be the first chief justice of the latest high court. It will have 15 judges besides the chief justice. Ten judges, who were part of the common high court, will now be the judges of the Telangana High Court, the order said. Hyderabad, which was the capital of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, is now part of Telangana and has become its capital. The existing high court is located at Hyderabad and it would be housing the High Court of Telangana. As far as Andhra Pradesh is concerned, it has decided to create the new city of Amaravati which is going to be the capital of the state and the new high court of Andhra Pradesh would be located there, the notification said. In November, a Supreme Court bench had given its go ahead for the issuance of notification for the creation of the new high court. The bench had said that since all the requirements have been fulfilled, there is no embargo for the competent authority to issue a notification bifurcating the courts into the High Court of Telangana and High Court of Andhra Pradesh, respectively. "We expect such a notification to be issued by January 1, 2019 so that the two high courts start functioning separately, and the High Court of Andhra Pradesh also starts functioning in the new building at the earliest," the bench had said. Andhra Pradesh had been pressing for a separate high court, but the Centre had maintained that till the time the infrastructure was not ready, it was not feasible to create a separate high court. The issue had also reached the apex court. Justice R Subhash Reddy, who was a judge of the common high court of the two states and was elevated to the Supreme Court, has exercised the option for allocation to the Telangana High Court, the notification added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apna Dal (S) leader and Union minister Anupriya Patel Wednesday gave a miss to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's programme in neighbouring Deoria district, a day after her husband and party president voiced frustration with the BJP over "treatment" of smaller NDA allies. Anupriya, the Union minister of state for health, was conspicuous by her absence at the event where the chief minister inaugurated a medical college. She was also not present at a function attended by the chief minister in Siddharthnagar Tuesday. The same day, her husband and party president Ashish Patel alleged at a press conference in Mirzapur that smaller parties were feeling "ignored" by the bigger NDA partner -- the BJP. When asked about the Union minister skipping the programme, Apna Dal (S) leader Anurag Patel told PTI over phone, "There was no formal invitation to her by the government so she did not attend the events on December 25 and 26." However, when BJP Deoria district media in-charge Satyedra Mani was asked for his comment, he said, "She did not come to the programme and I do not know the reason behind her absence." On Tuesday, Apna Dal leader and Shohratgarh MLA Amar Singh attended the CM's programme in Siddharthnagar. He told reporters afterwards that the government should have invited Anupriya. Ashish claimed that his party was not getting "proper importance" and said that the state BJP leadership was not giving the respect the party deserves. "The BJP should learn from the recent losses (in assembly elections). The SP-BSP alliance is a challenge for the NDA, whose allies in UP are upset. The leadership at the Centre must do something else the NDA would suffer in UP," he had told reporters. The Apna Dal (S) not only went public with its frustration with the BJP, but also demanded a "respectable number" of seats to contest the Lok Sabha elections, asserting that the party had widened its base during the last five years. Ashish Patel's outburst came days after Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RSLP) Chief Upendra Kushwaha walked out of the NDA. He was upset with the BJP after it asserted that the RLSP would not be given more than two seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Earlier in March, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ended its four-year-old alliance with the NDA over the Centre's refusal to grant a special category status to Andhra Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Army has detained a man with a pistol in the border belt of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said Wednesday. During a routine checking of vehicles, 20-year-old Mohd Parvez was detained by Army personnel in Mendhar border area with a pistol and a knife, they said. Seven cartridges, a magazine and other items were seized from the man, who is being questioned, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CJM court of Assam's Nagaon district has summoned Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain to appear before it on January 8, 2019 in connection with the alleged rape of a 24-year-old woman in that district. In August this year, a case under Indian Penal Code sections 417 (punishment for cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) was registered against Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening the married woman. The summons, which became public Wednesday, was issued on November 28. When contacted, Gohain told PTI, "I have heard that the court has issued a summons, but I have not received it yet. The case is totally false and I am a victim of political rivalry," he said. The complaint alleged that the incident took place seven to eight months ago at the her home when her husband and other family members were not present. Gohain, who has been representing the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency since 1999, had claimed that the victim herself went to the court and wanted to withdraw the case, which was not accepted. Nagaon sadar police station officer-in-charge had said in August that the woman had pleaded at the court to withdraw the case, two days after the case was filed. Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the minister used to visit her home, a senior official of the Nagaon Police Station had said. The minister's officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami had then claimed that Gohain had filed some complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It has been five days since auto-rickshaw driver Pawan Shah was swept away by a strong current while saving the lives of a mother-son duo, but his brother Pankaj has not given up hope and feels Pawan will come back. Although the police are yet to recover his body despite asserting that rescue operations were in full swing, Pankaj has himself taken up the task and has been trying to trace his brother ever since the incident took place. He claimed he saw the hand of a body floating in the canal and informed Jaitpur police station. Last Saturday, 30-year-old Pawan was heading home after dropping off a passenger when he saw a woman with a baby in her arms standing on the edge of a bridge on the Meethapur canal. Next he saw the woman jumping off the bridge, police said Wednesday. Without a second thought, Pawan left his auto and jumped into the water to save the woman and the baby. He also shouted and asked for help. The mother-son duo was rescued with the help of passers-by, but Pawan was swept away. "I still have hope that my brother is alive. How can we accept he is no more when we have not got the body? While the police are searching for my brother, I also travelled till Palwal in Haryana to trace him on Wednesday," Pankaj, who is also an auto-rickshaw driver, told PTI. He said he gave his contact details to those living near the banks of a lake there and requested them to inform him if they noticed any body floating in the canal. "I could see the hand of a body floating on the surface of the lake. I have informed the Jaitpur police station. They have assured me of assistance," Pankaj said. Meanwhile, the police said the rescue operations were in full swing. "With the help of disaster management teams, divers and boats, we have been trying to find Pawan's body. We have assured Pankaj of all the help and are looking into the details furnished by him," said a senior police officer. Talking about his brother, an emotional Pankaj said Pawan had a helping nature. "He would never say no to those who approached him. I am proud that he saved two lives, but in the process, I lost my brother," he said. Pawan used to live with his mother and two brothers -Pankaj and Ranjan, who is currently studying. "Pawan would earn Rs 300 to Rs 400 every day. He was plying auto-rickshaw since three to four years. He had earlier also helped passengers, but this time, he saved someone's life," Pankaj said. After Pawan jumped into the canal, three men who were passing by saw him and the woman, and formed a human chain. They saved the mother-son duo from drowning, but a strong current took Pawan away, Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) said. The three men -- Rajveer, Jamil and Sanjeev -- informed Jaitpur police station about the incident. The police rushed to the spot and started a search for Pawan. However, even after four days, the search is underway as his body could not be found, the senior officer said. The rescued woman and her son were taken to a hospital and their condition is now said to be stable. During an enquiry, the police found that the woman tried to commit suicide along with her baby after a fight with her husband. The police said Pawan's name will be recommended for the Jiwan Raksha Padak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The dossier on the Siddha medicine system, prepared by doctors and professors for exploiting its full potential, has been approved, Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik Wednesday said. "I am glad to announce that the siddha dossier has been approved by the Ministry of Ayush. It is a milestone in the development of Siddha system of medicine to have a global reach", he said at the second Siddha Day celebration here. "The Ministry promotes and propagates the Indian system of medicine which includes siddha and is (Ministry) committed to infuse the methodologies of modern science", he said. Noting that the outpatient department at the National Institute of Siddha here treated 2,000 to 2,500 patients per day, he said the Ministry had proposed construction of a new outpatient department at the campus. State Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar said the government would set up 50-bedded Siddha hospitals in Theni and Tiruvannamalai. He said to boost siddha medicine, the government also proposed to set up a Rs 60 crore state-of-the-art international yoga and naturopathy centre in nearby Chenglpet. The dossier on Siddhar was in the making for several years under the Central Council for Research in Siddha. The draft was revised by many Siddha experts by conducting various review meetings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of people lit "Ayyappa Jyothies" (lamps) across Kerala from the northern Kasaragod district to the state capital down south Wednesday evening, vowing to protect the rituals and traditions of the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala. Ayyappa devotees, including women and children and people from various walks of life, including former DGP T P Senkumar, actor and BJP MP Suresh Gopi, participated in the event, organised by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, a joint platform of Right wing outfits and the BJP, opposing entry of women in 10-50 age group into the temple. People from Hosangadi in Kasaragod to Triveni in neighbouring Kanyakumari, covering a distance of about 795 km, lit the "diyas" and chanted ayyappa prayers from 6 pm to 6-30 pm. The jyothis were also lit in front of the Secretariat in the state capital where BJP state president, P S Sreedharan Pillai, former union minister O Rajagopal and General secretary Shobha Surendran, were among those who participated. An elderly woman participant said "We lit the Ayyappa Jyothy against the entry of young women at the Sabarimala temple". The Samithi, while announcing the 'joythi' programme, had said eight lakh women would participate. BJP, its various outfits, Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Pandalam Royal family, associated with the temple, have supported it. The decision to light the "wall of Diyas" was aimed at countering the CPI(M)-led LDF government's proposal for a "womens wall" across the state on Januaury 1. It was to protect renaissance values and garner support for the government's decision to implement the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa. The Sabarimala shrine had witnessed protests over the government's decision to implement the Supreme court verdict allowing women of menstrual age to offer prayers. The first phase of the two-month long Mandala puja will come to a close tomorrow and so far no women in the 'traditionally barred' age group of 10-50 years has succeded in offering prayers at the shrine, since the September 28 apex court verdict. Over 20 young women had unsuccessfully tried to reach hill shrine and offer prayers, but had to return following protests by devotees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh's main opposition alliance has demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner, questioning his neutrality, days ahead of the December 30 general elections, a senior official has said. Members of Bangladesh's opposition BNP-NUF alliance on Tuesday walked out of an Election Commission meeting, alleging that the behaviour of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nurul Huda was "inappropriate" and he was not taking their views into consideration during the talks. The opposition delegation led by National Unity Front (NUF) convenor and eminent jurist Kamal Hossain met Huda to discuss the alleged arrests of the coalition's supporters in police crackdown ahead of the general elections this week. The NUF has demanded Huda's resignation accusing him of bias ahead of the polls, a senior BNP leader said last evening. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they demanded the CEC's resignation as they fear a free and fair election cannot be expected under Huda's leadership. "It is impossible to get neutral behaviour let alone expecting a free, fair and neutral election under him," he told reporters. Alamgir said they have urged Bangladesh's figurehead President Abdul Hamid to appoint a neutral person as the commission's chief. The senior BNP said his party wanted to contest the polls and expected the commission's attitude to change. He said Huda paid no heed to the alliance leaders as they noted instances of attacks since the start of campaigning on December 10. At least six people have been killed and several hundred injured in election-related violence since December 10. Both opposition and the Auling Awami League blame each other for the attacks. The media reports suggest that most attacks were carried out by the ruling party activists who were often backed by the police. Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar, a member of the four-men commission, has asked the police and other members of the law enforcement agencies not to "humiliate your uniform" while discharging their duties. The alliance decided to meet the CEC as it was debarred from holding its wrapping up election rally in the capital. The NUF leaders accused the police of playing a "biased role" to hinder opposition candidates' poll campaign on the ground. The opposition allege that police have arrested some 10,500 of their activists in a crackdown ahead of elections with an intention to create a "climate of fear". The police, however, said no one has been arrested without specific charge and warrant. BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed called the charges "fictitious", noting that they were framed to favour the ruling party, which leads a grand alliance and aims to win a third consecutive term. The BNP is in disarray as its chairperson and ex-premier Khaleda Zia is serving a five-year prison term in two graft charges while her son and acting BNP chief Tarique Rahman is staying in London apparently to evade a life term imprisonment. A Dhaka court earlier this year sentenced Rahman to life imprisonment for masterminding a 2004 grenade attack that killed 24 Awami League leaders and activists, while then opposition leader Hasina narrowly escaped the assault. Prime Minister Hasina and Zia have been political foes since the introduction of democracy in 1991. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 25,000 bank employees went on one-day strike Wednesday in Rajasthan to protest against the merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda, a union leader said. Employees and officers of commercial private and foreign banks supported the strike, whereas rural cooperative banks kept themselves away from the strike, convener of United Forum of Bank Unions Mahesh Mishra said. Nearly 3,000 bank branches in the state remained closed in support of the nationwide strike, general secretary of Bank Employees Federation of India G.N Pareek said. The bank trading of nearly Rs 1,000 crore was affected due to the strike in the state, bank unions said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Banking operations were impacted due to a day-long nationwide strike called by all unions to protest the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. However, banking operations would be restored from Thursday onwards. This was second bank strike in less than a week. On December 21, an officers' union of state-run banks observed a day-long strike to protest the merger and also demanded immediate settlement of wage negotiations. Banks worked on Monday (December 24). As a result, ATMs had gone dry at many parts of the country and the cheque clearances were held up including that of private sector lenders. Wednesday's strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) -- an umbrella organisation of all 9 unions including All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). AIBOC General Secretary Soumya Datta said instead of attempting misadventure like mergers/amalgamations, the government should focus on identifying the reasons for the present NPA menace in the banks. There is no evidence that bigger banks are stronger and more efficient, AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said. The world has witnessed the collapse of entities like Lehman Brothers, he said, adding that mergers do not result in improved quality of assets or the financials as there is no fresh infusion of capital. In Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, cheques worth Rs 2 lakh crore were held up, a union official claimed. As per reports from Indore, services at about 7,000 branches of state-owned banks were impacted in Madhya Pradesh due to the strike. Senior bankers, however, claimed that most operations were normal. "We had deployed senior officials at all cheque-clearing centres so that our customers are not affected. All other operations like treasury were also functioning," said a senior official from a state-run bank. Unions are claiming that the proposed merger is not in the interest of the banks or their customers, but is detrimental to both. In September, the government announced the merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. The merged entity will have a combined business of Rs 14.82 lakh crore, making it the third-largest bank after State Bank of India and HDFC Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bees can solve seemingly clever counting tasks with very small numbers of nerve cells in their brains, according to a study. In order to understand how bees count, the researchers at Queen Mary University of London in the UK simulated a very simple miniature 'brain' on a computer with just four nerve cells - far fewer than a real bee has. The 'brain' could easily count small quantities of items when inspecting one item closely and then inspecting the next item closely and so on, which is the same way bees count. This differs from humans who glance at all the items and count them together. In the study, published in the journal iScience, the researchers propose that this clever behaviour makes the complex task of counting much easier, allowing bees to display impressive cognitive abilities with minimal brainpower. Previous studies have shown bees can count up to four or five items, can choose the smaller or the larger number from a group and even choose 'zero' against other numbers when trained to choose 'less'. They might have achieved this not by understanding numerical concepts, but by using specific flight movements to closely inspect items which then shape their visual input and simplifies the task to the point where it requires minimal brainpower. This finding demonstrates that the intelligence of bees, and potentially other animals, can be mediated by very small nerve cells numbers, as long as these are wired together in the right way. The study could also have implications for artificial intelligence because efficient autonomous robots will need to rely on robust, computationally inexpensive algorithms, and could benefit from employing insect-inspired scanning behaviours. "Our model shows that even though counting is generally thought to require high intelligence and large brains, it can be easily done with the smallest of nerve cell circuits connected in the right manner," said Vera Vasas from Queen Mary University of London. "We suggest that using specific flight movements to scan targets, rather than numerical concepts, explains the bees' ability to count. This scanning streamlines the visual input and means a task like counting requires little brainpower," Vasas said. Brain size matters a lot when it comes to bees. They have only one million nerve cells in total, so they have precious little brainpower, and must implement very efficient computational algorithms to solve tasks. In comparison, humans have 86 billion nerve cells which are responsible for receiving information and sending commands. To model the input to the brain, the researchers analysed the point of view of a bee as it flies close to the countable objects and inspects them one-by-one. The results showed the simulated brain was able to make reliable estimates on the number of items on display when provided with the actual visual input that the bee is receiving while carrying out the task. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior MLA Umesh Katti Wednesday claimed he was in touch with 15 disgruntled legislators of ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and his party would welcome them if they chose to join it. The eight-time MLA further claimed would form a new government in the state by next week, drawing a strong reaction from state chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, who hit out at him for making "illusionary statements" to 'confuse' people. The claim by Katti came in the midst of public display of anger by some ministerial aspirants from who were left out in the recent cabinet expansion. Senior MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, upset after being dropped from the H D Kumaraswamy ministry, has threatened to resign and said he would announce his future course of action later this week. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and senior leaders and ministers have asserted that no MLA would resign and there was no threat to the stability of the six-month old government. However, state President B S Yeddyurappa separately said the party was not in touch with any disgruntled MLAs of Congress. Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Katti said: "Fifteen MLAs are in touch with me, I cannot divulge their names now, when time comes I will tell. However, ruling out 'Operation Lotus' (engineering defections), Katti said, "we will welcome those who are pained in Congress and JD(S) and want to join our party. If they come, we will induct them into our party and form the government, he said. Replying to a question, Katti said he would welcome if Ramesh Jarkiholi came to the BJP. New government will be formed by the BJP in by next week. How it will be formed, why it will be formed, don't think about it. When it is formed we will tell you, he added. Pradesh Congress Commitee President Gundu Rao asked Katti not to confuse people by making such illusionary statements. If it doesnt happen, Katti will have to resign if he has guts, he told reporters. Reacting to Rao's comments, Katti claimed that already eight to ten (Congress-JDS) MLAs were ready to resign. "So as a party with 104 MLAs in the 224 member assembly, Im confident we can form the government," he said maintaining that the Congress-JDS government would fall "100 per cent". Yeddyurappa said the BJP had nothing to do with the disgruntlement among the MLAs of the ruling combine. "...if they are fighting internally, lets wait and watch what will happen at the end...till now no one has contacted us, nor we have contacted anybody and we don't require it also..." he told reporters here. Days after the Rajasthan poll results, the opposition BJP is yet to decide on who would lead it in the state assembly. The result for the Rajasthan elections was declared on December 11. "We will take a decision soon. We will talk to (former Rajasthan chief minister) Vasundhara Raje, BJP state president Madan Lal Saini said Wednesday. The Congress won 99 seats in the Rajasthan elections emerging as the single largest party in the state assembly polls. Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot had recently expanded his council of ministers by inducting 23 ministers. But their portfolios are yet to be decided. The party is in no hurry to decide its Leader of Opposition and is waiting for the next move of outgoing chief minister Raje, a party leader said, on the condition of anonymity. Raje was in New Delhi on Wednesday. The BJP will hold a meeting soon to decide on who would be the leader of opposition, a party spokesperson said. The ruling Congress is yet to decide on distribution of ministerial portfolios. The ruling party is generally in a hurry, but in this case, its decisions are stuck between Jaipur and New Delhi, he alleged. BJP legislators will decide their leader of opposition in the meeting, the spokesperson said. BJP sources said the central leadership has not been able to establish an alternative for Raje in the last five years, though it had names of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on its mind. In 2008, Raje was chosen as leader of opposition, even as her rivals had then alleged that she had remained abroad during her tenure as BJP state president. The BJP made a come back in the state after five years in 2013 with a record 163 seats of the 200 assembly seats. Political observers said Raje is the sole candidate for the post of leader of opposition in the state as most BJP legislators are in her favour to lead the party in the assembly. Tension between Raje and the BJP central leadership was in the open on selection of a new state party chief, distribution of tickets for the assembly elections, BJP sources said. They said as the Lok Sabha election are near, the BJP leadership will not make any changes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Govt for promoting industry and trade activities in Balochistan: Asad Umer Finance Minister Asad Umar has said that the government will extend cooperation with the Balochistan government for promoting industry and trade activities in the province. He made the assurance while speaking during a meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan in Quetta on Tuesday. Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal was also present on the occasion. Asad Umar said that export processing zone project in Bostan would be completed in the next two years. During the meeting, various issues, including improvement in trade activities and establishment of export processing zones in the province, came under discussion. The finance minister informed Jam Kamal of the details of his meeting with Balochistan Chamber of Commerce. Shareholders of will meet next month to consider issuing up to 100 million new shares under Employee Share Purchase Scheme (ESPS). An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders will be held on January 21 to consider the proposal, (BoB) said in a BSE filing Wednesday. The shareholders will meet to approve issuance of up to 100 million fresh equity shares to employees and whole time directors of the bank in one or multiple tranches under ESPS, it said. The bank said the issue price under ESPS has to be decided by the board and it will be in a way so that the government holding does not come below 52 per cent. Out of the total capital raising plan for 2018-19, the bank's board has decided to issue up to 100 million shares with a face value of Rs 2 each, at an appropriate premium, it added. "The object of the issue, apart from raising of long-term resources is to enable the bank to attract, retain and reward employees for our bank by sharing the value created by them and to motivate them to contribute to the growth and profitability of the company," it said in the filing. Besides, the fund mop-up aims to shore up the capital adequacy and to fund the general business needs of the bank, it said further. All permanent employees of the bank including the MD&CEO, and executive directors are entitled to participate in the BoB-ESPS, it added. Last week, said it will raise up to Rs 5 billion by issuing 300 million shares to its staff under the employee stock purchase scheme. On December 13, mobilised Rs 5 billion through ESPS by issuing 100 million new shares to employees. The government in March 2017 allowed public sector to offer stock options to their employees, aimed at retaining experienced hands and better incentives besides a means for raising capital. A number of public sector banks, including Allahabad Bank, Union Bank, United Bank of India, and Canara Bank, have availed the new scheme to raise funds. Stock of was trading 0.26 per cent up at Rs 115.65 on BSE. (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 Shiv Sena Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'power is like oxygen for some people' remark, claiming the BJP broke the alliance with it in 2014 just for the sake of power. Power is like oxygen for some people with restlessness setting in if they are out of it for even two or five years, Modi had said Monday while taking a jibe at the opposition but without naming anybody or any party. "Those who failed to usher in "achche din" find (the thought of) sitting on the opposition benches beneath them," the Sena said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana. In a veiled attack on the BJP, the Sena slammed the practice of giving entry to criminals so that the 'oxygen of power' wasn't lost even if it meant 'purifying thieves' (by admitting them in the party). "Saheb, the experiment to break the alliance with Hindutva proponent Shiv Sena was conducted in 2014 for the sake of total power," the editorial said, targeting Modi. "Now when people are pulling out the tubes of this oxygen cylinder of Hindutva, statements are made (by BJP) unilaterally that an alliance with Sena will happen, it said. Today, Lord Rama in Ayodhya and BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani in are in exile while others are reaping fruits of the "oxygen of power", the Sena said. "Forcibly sending somebody in exile is of power," said the Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra. "To win polls, criminals are made 'Valmiki' (sage who wrote the epic Ramayan). In the end, power is irresistible," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. The Sena also condemned a government order authorising central agencies to monitor information stored on computers. "This move is a not a sign of a real democracy but shows the desperation to cling to power," it said. "The government's move to snoop on computers and mobile phones is not a sign of a real democracy and freedom, but its restlessness to stay in power," the Sena said. The government recently authorised 10 central agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt all data contained in any computer system, adding it was being done to prevent "any unauthorised use of these powers". The move had set off a political storm with the opposition accusing the government of trying to create a "surveillance state". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Maanila Congress Wednesday accused both the Central and Tamil Nadu governments of neglecting the interests of farmers in Tamil Nadu. The farmers were seriously affected by various schemes and projects and both governments were functioning without taking into consideration the expectations of farmers, TMC president G K Vasan said. He was talking to reporters at Sultanpet on the outskirts, after interacting with farmers, who are on fast as part of their indefinite stir over installation of high grid power lines through agricultural fields. Accusing the state government of trying to forcibly instal the towers with the help of police and revenue department officials, Vasan said the government has to reconsider its plans and lay the lines though underground cables on highways. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst a fight between Rajkot and Vadodara for getting an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Gujarat Government said Wednesday that the Centre will decide where the new institute will come up. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the BJP-government in the state has sent a proposal to the Centre by identifying potential sites in both the cities. "It is very important for our government to get an institute like AIIMS here as people will be able to avail of excellent health facilities free," he said in Gandhinagar. "We have identified two locations, one in Vadodara and another in Rajkot, and sent proposals to the Centre. A Central team has visited both the sites and all other related procedures are over. Now it is upto the Centre to decide the place for AIIMS," he said. While Gujarat has been demanding for quite some time that an AIIMS be set up in the state, leaders from the two regions -- Rajkot in Saurashtra and Vadodara in Central Gujarat -- are lobbying hard for it. The issue was raked up ahead of the recent Jasdan by-election as some BJP leaders including energy minister Saurabh Patel and state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said the AIIMS should come up in Rajkot. Jasdan is located in Rajkot district. It triggered a fresh war of words between leaders of Vadodara and Rajkot. "We hope the Centre will soon take a decision," deputy chief minister Patel told reporters. According to BJP sources, the government has left the decision about location to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the decision by the state government in favour of either city will cause strong resentment in the other. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to resolve the issue regarding the proposed construction of Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river which led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week. The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water Resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday here. "In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest," an official spokesperson of the Karnataka government told reporters. The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was also discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he said. Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement issued by the Karnataka government. The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to Gadkari's notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added. He also requested Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. "Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly," it said. On the Mahadayi issue, the Goa government has approached the Supreme Court and Kumaraswamy said this has obstructed his state from using its share of water. Hence, the chief minister appealed to Gadkari to discuss the issue with Goa and resolve it, the statement said. Kumaraswamy told PTI that "we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the (Mekedatu dam) issue can be resolved." With the two main Tamil Nadu parties -- AIADMK and DMK -- protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties. Tamil Nadu has been protesting the project after the Centre recently asked the Karnataka government to prepare a detailed project report for the Mekedatu dam. The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for scrapping of the proposed dam project. The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter. Kumaraswamy's brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar were also present in the meeting in Delhi. Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state. He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land. The chief minister requested Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75, complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara. He sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373. Kumaraswamy also sought upgradation of state highway from Channrayapatna-Holenarisipura-Arkalgudu-Kodlipet-Medikere as a national highway as it connects the Kannur International Airport which was opened very recently in Kerala. The chief minister also demanded improvement and reconstruction of two lanes with paved shoulders from 456.35 km to 489.84 km from Belur to Hassan of the NH-374 as well as approval of strengthening of various roads required in view of taking upgradation of national highway NH-4 for inter-state connectivity. Kumaraswamy is in Delhi for two days. He is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other Union ministers Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to resolve the issue regarding the proposed construction of Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river that led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week. The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday here. "In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest," an official spokesperson told reporters. The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he added. Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement. The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to his notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added. He also requested Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. "Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly," it said. Kumaraswamy told PTI that "we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the issue can be resolved." With the two main Tamil Nadu parties -- AIADMK and DMK -- protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties. The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for scrapping of the proposed dam project. The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter. Kumaraswamy's brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar were also present in the meeting in Delhi. Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state. He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysure Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land. The chief minister requested Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75. Kumaraswamy also urged the Union minister to ask the NHAI to complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara. The chief minister also sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Tuesday announced the death of Yuan Mu, the former government spokesman who denied anyone was killed on Tiananmen Square during the bloody 1989 crackdown, nearly two weeks after his passing. A former Communist propaganda official, Yuan defended the Chinese government after soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) fired on unarmed pro-democracy protesters. He died aged 91 on December 13 from an illness, state agency Xinhua said Tuesday. Some Communist party leaders offered tributes to Yuan and condolences to his family, it added. Reports of Yuan's death had been unusually muted in China's official media. The Paper, a state-linked newspaper, last week put up an article with a memorial service notice but quickly removed it. Yuan's name has also been censored on the Twitter-like Weibo, where a search showed results could not be displayed "according to the relevant laws, regulations and policies". But a query on an online obituary website turned up an entry for Yuan where visitors can pay to burn virtual incense or leave virtual flowers. Born in Jiangsu in 1927, Yuan was a journalist with Xinhua before joining the government and rising to become a director of the State Council Research Office, according to the agency. He also served as spokesman of the State Council, China's cabinet. On June 4, 1989, after student protesters had staged a peaceful seven week sit-in to demand democratic reforms, the Communist Party sent in tanks and soldiers to quell the protest. Yuan had then said no one was killed at Tiananmen Square but later admitted 300 soldiers and citizens died around it, with some 7,000 injured, a number far lower than many independent estimates. The government has since refused to talk about the number of people who may have been killed, and mentions of the incident are censored on the Chinese internet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The trial of a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer took place Wednesday but was closed to the public because of "state secrets", a northern Chinese court said. Wang Quanzhang, 42, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, disappeared in a 2015 sweep -- known as the "709" crackdown -- aimed at courtroom critics of Communist authorities. Charged in January 2016 with alleged "subversion of state power", Wang had been in legal limbo -- detained without a trial date -- until Monday, when his government-appointed lawyer finally contacted his wife with the court date. "The defendant... was tried in the first instance of the Tianjin Second Intermediate People's Court today," the court said in a statement. "Due to the state secrets involved, the court decided not to open the trial to the public. The verdict in this case will be pronounced at a later date." The closed-door proceedings were conducted in a heavily-guarded courthouse in the northern city of Tianjin, with Wang's wife prevented from attending the session and at least two activists detained for protesting outside the building. Wang's wife, Li Wenzu, was on Tuesday placed under de facto house arrest with "more than 20" security personnel outside her apartment. In an account posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning, a supporter Wang Qiaoling detailed how she and Li were barred from leaving a Beijing housing compound by groups of police officers for over an hour. "The authorities in cases like these see the defendant as their enemy and anyone close to them as either a potential tool to be manipulated... or as another potential enemy to be controlled," Eva Pils, a professor specialising in human rights law at King's College London, told AFP. "Placing Li Wenzu under house arrest would fall in that category." Just before 10:00 am (0200 GMT), AFP journalists witnessed Heilongjiang activist Yang Chunlin getting arrested after he protested outside the court in Tianjin, describing the situation as "fascist rule" and "absurd". Several plainclothes officers set on Yang and bundled him into a waiting black SUV. Witnesses told AFP that Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from central China, had been taken away at about 8:15 am after holding up a sign calling for Wang's release. Wang is charged with being influenced by "infiltrating anti-China forces", of being trained by a foreign group and accepting their funding, and of having subversive thoughts as a result. The documents seen by AFP say he worked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish human rights activist whose group offered training to lawyers who have tried to use the tightly controlled Chinese judiciary to redress apparent government abuses. Dahlin was deported in 2016 after a 23-day detention. Wang is also accused of hyping up and distorting facts in cases he worked on, including a "cult" he was defending. In Hong Kong, about 50 people marched to China's liaison office on Wednesday, demanding the release of Wang and others detained during the 709 crackdown. The sweep has dealt a blow to China's human rights defence movement, with most lawyers either jailed, disbarred or under heavy surveillance, making it impossible for them to work, said Human Rights Watch China researcher Yaqiu Wang. "The Chinese government, paranoiacally, sees grassroots Chinese activists and organisations working with foreign non-government organisations as attempts to foment a 'colour revolution' to challenge the Communist Party's grip on power," she said. Li and three others last week shaved their heads in protest of Wang's indefinite detention and tried to submit a petition to the courts but were prevented from doing so by the police. "Family members of detained activists are often warned to 'stay quiet' to avoid their loved ones getting harsher sentences," said Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International. "In the hope of getting the activist out earlier by succumbing to the threats of the authorities, family members and friends avoid bringing the case to journalists or calling for support on social media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year-old civilian was killed Wednesday in unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, a defence spokesman said. "At around 1200 hours, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked firing in Noushera sector, resulting in fatal casualty of one civilian, Bodhraj, a resident of Deeing villagle," Jammu-based Army PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said. He said Bodhraj sustained injuries in the firing and was immediately evacuated by the Army for medical aid, but succumbed to injuries. "Indian troops replied to the Pakistani belligerence in a befitting manner," the officer said, adding that Army authorities have promised all possible assistance and help to the family of the deceased. This is the second time in the past three days that Pakistani troops have resorted to unprovoked firing from across the border in Noushera sector. On December 24, Pakistani troops targeted forward posts and villages in Keri, Lam, Pukharni and Peer Badaser areas of the sector for five hours from 9.30 am. Although there was no casualty in the firing and shelling, local authorities had closed all schools within a five-km radius in the affected areas as a precautionary measure that day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the search operation launched by the Coast Guard to trace the missing trawler 'Suvarna Tribhuja' off Karnataka and Goa waters yielding little success, the maritime agency is now looking at uninhabited areas along the coasts of these two states, a senior official said. The Coast Guard has also approached the Maharashtra government to check whether the ship had ventured in its waters. The ship, carrying seven crew members, belonged to one Nityanand Kotian. The last contact established with the ship was on December 16, the official said. The Coast Guard had launched an operation to trace the fishing trawler on December 22 with its multiple ships and aircraft. "We have not been able to trace the ship despite the search and rescue efforts over the last few days. The ship owner had given a location off the Goa coast, but there was no trace of any ship at that location," the official said. He said there were chances of engine failure of the trawler and in such cases, they take time to reach the coast. "We are now looking at uninhabited areas along the Karnataka and Goa coasts. We are also in touch with the Maharashtra fisheries department to check whether the trawler had ventured into their area," the official added. Merchant navy vessels have also been told to pass on the message if they come across the fishing trawler along the waters off Karnataka-Goa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PML-N leaders questioned judgement against Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD: A day after an accountability court sentenced former premier Nawaz Sharif to seven years in jail in Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, a group of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) launched a broadside at the verdict, federal government and its coalition partners. Addressing a presser, they said that the PML-N would strive for a change along with the other parties inside and outside parliament. PML-N leaders questioned the merits of the judgement against former premier Nawaz Sharif, and claimed that the ongoing process of accountability was targeting only the opposition leaders, but favouring the government. The first case in which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified, the crime ascertained was that he did not take salary from his son, said former federal minister Ahsan Iqbal. And this time the allegation levelled is that since your son sent you money, therefore you stand disqualified. Now I want to raise a question that up to 3.5 million Pakistanis in the Middle East remit money to their families, so would they be considered their business partners or co-owners? If any son sends money to his parents, will they be held guilty? He said that the ongoing accountability process was basically a selected accountability by a selected prime minister. PML-N legislators are being arrested whereas the PTI and its allies, despite facing inquiries, were being given dates of their own choice. He added, No one can arrest PTI leaders. All the summons and arrests are for PML-N leaders because this government is on ventilator. Another form of convention or Q- league is being imposed on Pakistan in the form of PTI. Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair urged the prime minister to also hold his own party leaders accountable, especially those who have admitted themselves that they had offshore companies. We demand the NAB and the courts that the sense of urgency they have shown against the PML-N, we want to see the same against the PTI leaders. Moreover, you have ordered audits of Lahore Metro, Multan Metro and Pindi/Islamabad Metro why not Peshawar Metro? Why is there such a distinction? These twin standards are not acceptable and we demand of NAB that if they want to establish their credibility, there should be an across-the-board accountability. Erstwhile Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah said that the evidence and defence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference in which Sharif was convicted and the Flagship Investments reference wherein he was acquitted was same in both the cases. Sanaullah slammed an unnamed individual from Rawalpindi for acting as the spokesperson for NAB and the judiciary. Senator Mushahidullah echoed Sanaullahs sentiments regarding the individual from Rawalpindi as well as another from Jhelum. Musadiq Malik, the former spokesperson to the prime minister, drew a parallel between the incumbent government and the Adolf Hitler-led Nazi Germany. There is a ban on politics, on journalism and every dissenter who questions is being arrested, Malik claimed. He wondered why Sharif was handed a prison sentence even when the NAB had itself admitted in court that Sharif was neither a shareholder, director nor a signatory. in India spent Rs 75.36 billion on (CSR) activities in 2017-18, a 47 per cent rise compared to 201415, says a survey. "This is a significant rise, clearly demonstrating higher expenditure towards activities from the mandated year, 2014," said the KPMG India Reporting Survey 2018. The cumulative expenditure by top 100 from 201415 to 201718 is about Rs 263.85 billion, the survey said. The average amount spent per company has gone up to Rs 761 million as compared to Rs 588 million during 201415, up 29 per cent, it said. The survey further said that the total unspent amount has reduced by Rs 7.49 billion to Rs 9.89 billion during 2017-18 from Rs 17.38 billion in 201415. "This is the fourth year into the report and also government regulation to spend 2 per cent on This year, the two outcomes which are showing progress due to the regulation are - governance around CSR and contribution of private sector in the development," said Santhosh Jayaram, Partner and Head, Sustainability and CSR Advisory, KPMG in India. "The governance around CSR has improved to a great extent. The functioning of the CSR committee has shown significant development as increasing number of top executives are involved and CSR is also a board room discussion. The CSR spend is increasing over years and more private are crossing the 2 per cent threshold," he added. Energy and power sectors have spent the highest amount towards CSR at Rs 24.64 billion followed by BFSI at Rs 13.52 billion, customer products at Rs 6.35 billion, IT consulting and software at Rs 11 billion and mining and metal at Rs 6.47 billion. The number of companies that have spent less than 2 per cent has also substantially come down by 37 per cent to 33 companies in 2017-18 from 52 in 2014-15. State-wise, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and are the top five states from an expenditure perspective, the survey added. Portfolios of newly inducted ministers of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition cabinet is likely to be announced Thursday, party leaders said, as they grappled with problems of dissent and portfolio allocation. The leaders also sought to downplay the dissidence within the party, even as efforts were on to quell the disgruntlement that had emerged after the recent rejig. Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal held a series of meetings on portfolio allocation, which has become another concern as the new ministers lobbied for plum departments. Several senior ministers were not willing to shed key portfolios they have, adding to the worry, party sources said. Speaking to reporters after meeting the congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, pradesh congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara among others, Venugopal said the portfolio list is being sent to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, for his approval. "On portfolio allocation of new ministers, I have discussed with the leaders and took their view. It will now begoing for the approval of the Congress President, who will clear it very soon," he said. Terming the meeting as "fruitful", Rao said Venugopal was likely to meet Gandhi Wednesday evening or night in Delhi, and he will finalise the portfolio allocation. He said reports about ministers holding two or three portfolios not willing to give up some key departments for others, were "unnecessary speculation." According to reports, the meeting between top party leaders Wednesday was not cordial, as Parameshwara expressed displeasure over being asked to give up some key portfolios that he has, by Siddaramaiah. He currently has departments of Home, Bengaluru city related affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports. Denying such reports, Rao said "Everything has been discussed in a very good manner, I too saw reports about some clash.. they are all baseless.Some sections of media have also said that portfolios have been decided and they are outwith a list. From our side all proposals are there, ultimate decision will be taken by Congress President Rahul Gandhi in consultation with Venugopal and us. I think by tomorrow youwill have the announcement," he added. The leaders also sought to downplay Ramesh Jarkiholi'sthreat to quit as party MLA, sulking over being dropped as minister, and open expression of displeasure by another senior legislator Ramalinga Reddy on not being considered during Ministry expansion. "You don't worry about anything, our house is very much intact, everybody will be in Congress itself and nothing will happen," Venugopal said in response to a question. Calling Ramesh Jarkiholi a "good leader", he expressed confidence that he will remain in the Congress. Reddy is also a "loyal" Congress leader, the party general secretary said, adding that "definitely, we will honour him and nothing will happen." In an effort to quell the dissidence, Siddaramaiah had on Tuesday met Reddy and tried to pacify him, but did not meetwith success with Ramesh Jarkiholi who is incommunicado. According to Congress sources, Venugopal, who met a delegation of Reddy's supporters including Bengaluru Mayor and corporators, convinced them to wait till Lok Sabha polls. However, he has given the task of convincing Ramesh Jarkiholi to his brother and newly inducted Minister Satish Jarkiholi. "I will meet him (Ramesh) today or tomorrow.. I will find him and meet him," Satish Jarkiholi told reporters. As Ramesh Jarkiholi is likely to make public his decision to quit as Congress MLA Thursday, Rao, describing him "hundred per cent Congress man", said he has got "Congress blood in him, so I don't see him going to a communal party like BJP." Ramesh Jarkiholi, accused of hobnobbing with the BJP, along with R Shankar, an Independent lawmaker who showed reluctance to be an associate member of the Congress, were dropped during the rejig. In the much-awaited exercise, the six-month old Congress-JD(S) coalition ministry headed by Kumaraswamy was expanded Saturday with the induction of eight members from the national party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Wednesday observed "Black Day" across Odisha to protest the ruling Biju Janata Dal's 21st foundation day celebration in the state. The Congress accused the ruling party of intruding the rights of panchayat samitis through schemes like 'PEETHA' and 'Ama Gaon Ama Bikas'. The Peoples Empowerment - Enabling Transparency and Accountability of Odisha Initiatives (PEETHA) - programme was launched on December 4 to create awareness about various state government schemes and improving transparency in distribution of individual and social benefits. The 'Ama Gaon Ama Bikas' scheme is to take up construction of new projects which will contribute to the overall development of community and well-being of the general public. "Naveen Babu is boasting the state's development. But 85 lakh youths are unemployed, debt burden has increased from Rs 18,000 crore during 2000 to Rs 93,000 crore currently, farmer suicides are increasing, 65 per cent of population are still BPL, there are no full-fledged irrigation projects," OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik told reporters. The Congress leader said states which were "identified as poorer than Odisha about 15 years ago are now ahead of our State which is very unfortunate." The OPCC president also criticised BJPs 'Jabab Maguichi Odisha (Odisha seeks clarification) programme. "People will instead ask the BJP as to what have they done for Odisha in the last four and a half years. Poeple want answers on GST, petrol prices, Ujjwala scheme, among others," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special court here Wednesday ordered seizure of disproportionate assets worth Rs 36.29 lakh belonging to a revenue department employee under the Madhya Pradesh Prevention of Corruption Act. Judge Alok Mishra in his order termed the patwari (revenue official) Laxminarayan Yadav's assets as earned through corrupt means, the prosecution said. Public Prosecutor Mahendra Kumar Chaturvedi said that Yadav's properties included three agricultural lands, a car, an earthmover machine and gold and silver jewellery besides money in bank accounts. The seized assets would be used in public interest, he said. Lokayukta Police had raided Yadav's properties on March 28, 2012 when he was posted as patwari in Sanwer area of Indore district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Kerala police Wednesday reinstated sevenpersonnel suspended in connection with the alleged custodial death of a 26-year-old man here in April this year, triggering a protest by the victim's mother. Ernakulam Range IG Vijay Sakhare issued the order, reinstating the seven police personnel, official sources said. The victim's mother Wednesday came out against the order, saying that reinstatement of the officials facing a probe into the incident amounted to denial of justice. She told reporters here that she would move court, challenging the decision. Seven officials, including Circle Inspector Chrispin Sam and Sub-Inspector Deepak had been suspended, pending investigation, in connection with the custodial death of S R Sreejith at nearby Varapuzha on April 9. The decision to reinstate them was taken, based on the report by the Inspector General (Crime Branch), who investigated the case, the sources said. The report said the probe into the case was almost complete and their reinstatement would not hamper the investigation process in any manner. Sreejith, who was taken into custody in April in connection with the death of a person, had died in a private hospital. His relatives had alleged that he died due to custodial torture Police had rejected the charge and said that he was suspected to have suffered injuries during a clash before he was taken into custody. Facing flak from the opposition, the Kerala government had constituted a Special Investigation Team, headed by IGP S Sreejith, to probe the death. On July 9 the Kerala High Court had turned down a plea from Sreejith's wife for a CBI probe into the case, expressing satisfaction over the investigation by the state police in it. The court had noted that the probe was on the right track and noted that of nine policemen were arrested and put on trial for their alleged roles in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government Wednesday approved a proposal to beautify five entry points to the national capital, a move aimed at giving an attractive and pleasing look to the commuters entering the city. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia approved the beautification proposal for the entry points of the city after he reviewed a plan of the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC). The national capital has 13 entry points. "Five entry points have been identified for taking up beautification and makeover in phase-I at Gurgaon Border, Tikri Kalan Border, Gazipur Border, Apsara Border and Anand Vihar border near Kaushambi," the government said in a statement. It stated that the government will also re-develop Dilli Haat at INA, adding that to make the Haat user-friendly and give it a pleasant environment, up-gradation of the same is need of the time. "The DTTDC has prepared an up-gradation plan for revamping the Haat and same was also reviewed by the deputy chief minister. "It was desired that food court of Dilli Haat will also be up-graded to the extent of the present user requirement and make the food court hygienic. It was desired the work will be taken up in a phased manner so that it does not affect the visitors," the statement said. Dilli Haat was constructed in 1994. Since its inception, a lot of changes in its surrounding have taken place due to infrastructure developments like entry of INA metro station and extension of Barapula Flyover up to Ring Road, and hence it was decided to redevelop the Haat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A war of words started Wednesday between the Delhi units of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress with both mocking the political influence of each other. AAP leader Sanjay Singh asked Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken to have control over his party or it could again lose deposits in the election. The Congress leaders retaliated pointing to the "AAP getting less votes than NOTA" in recent Assembly elections. The slanging match began with Delhi Maken tweeting a report and quoting, "Rajiv Gandhi Bharat Ratna resolution: AAP may have jeopardised possible 2019 alliance with Congress." He referred to speculated possibility of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha MP of the AAP, tweeted in reply to Maken, "Ajay ji control your party. If you behave like this then Congress will again lose its deposit. By the way, having so much pride despite getting zero seats (in Delhi) could be learnt from Maken." Singh came under sharp attack from Delhi Congress over his tweet. The chief spokesperson of Delhi Congress Sharmistha Mukherjee blamed AAP leaders of living in an "illusionary world" without realizing that they are "fast losing" ground in Delhi. "The terrible defeats of AAP in recent Assembly elections has not taught any lessons to its leaders," Delhi Congress leader Chatar Singh said. The AAP candidates not only lost their security deposits, they also secured less votes in MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) has issued a notice to the University Grants Commission asking why a student wearing hijab was not allowed to appear for the UGC-NET exam. Umaiyah Khan, a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, last week had alleged that she was not allowed to appear for the exam for wearing hijab. She had claimed that she was asked to take off her hijab when she reached the exam centre in Rohini. Following the incident, the DMC issued a notice to the UGC secretary, saying "It is a clear case of discrimination against a religious minority and an attempt to keep it away from the national mainstream". "This practice has no legal or constitutional basis. The Kerala High Court has clearly allowed Muslim women to appear in exams and test while in hijab (wearing scarf and full sleeves)," the DMC said. It has also issued clear orders to respect the religious rights of Muslim and Sikh women. "The DMC has asked the UGC secretary why the discrimination was allowed and how do they propose to undo the injustice done to the Muslim women prevented from appearing in the NET exam while in hijab and what steps are being taken to prevent the repetition of this injustice in future," an official from the DMC said. A similar incident was reported from Goa where a 24-year-old woman accused officials conducting the NET exam of not allowing her to appear for the examination after she refused to take off her hijab. Safina Khan Soudagar alleged that when she arrived at the examination centre in Panaji on December 18, the supervisor there asked her to remove her hijab. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The local administration banned people's movement in parts of Korba town in Chhattisgarh Wednesday after a herd of wild elephants entered a residential area and injured a person. After learning that four elephants had strayed into a plantation near a helipad in Mudapar area, teams of forest officials and police rushed to the spot, said Collector Mohammad Qaiser Abdul Haque. The herd had been spotted in a forested area of Dadar Khurd village Tuesday night, he added. The officials were trying to chase away the animals back into forest, he said. In the meantime, to avoid anyone getting attacked by the elephants, section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (prohibiting movement) was imposed in Mudapar and surrounding areas, he said. The order will remain effective till the elephants are driven back into the jungle, he added. A man identified as Dilip Vishwakarma was injured when he went near the elephants despite warning, the collector said, adding that he was shifted to a hospital in Bilaspur. At least 35 local families have been shifted to a community building for safety, said Haque, who visited the area. "We have appealed people not to take a risk by going near the elephants," he said. According to the forest department officials, 14 people have been killed byelephantsin Korbadistrict in 2018-19. Northern Chhattisgarh, comprising Surguja,Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, is notorious for incidents of human-elephantconflict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At a time when the opposition has alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is more focused on cows than human lives, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the officials concerned to make immediate arrangements for proper care of stray cows. He has also ordered clearing of grazing grounds in different parts of the state from encroachments. In a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister told them to set up a committee to consider measures for providing better shelter facilities for stray cows and directed Chief Secretary Anup Chanda Pandey to present recommendations in this regard in a week. Adityanath said in case of encroachments on grazing land for cattle, immediate steps be taken for its removal and strict action be initiated against the accused, according to an official release issued here Tuesday. Besides asking officials to make 750 cows shelters at the Zilla Panchayat level functional, the chief minister told them that proper fodder, shed and drinking facilities should be provided to the bovines both in rural and urban areas, it said. He said the state government has allotted Rs 10 crore to each of the 16 municipal corporations to arrange shelter for stray cows, while Rs 1.2 crore has been given to every district for setting up gaushalas. Funds for providing shelter for cows in 69 civic bodies have been sanctioned and the relative amount has also been released, but, so far, work has been completed only in Bareilly and Lucknow municipal corporations, Adityanath said. The instructions were issued after some BJP MLAs told the chief minister that stray animals, particularly cows and oxen, were damaging standing crops across the state and were also a major reason for road accidents, an official said. After the Bulandshahr violence on December 3 over alleged cow slaughter that left a police inspector and a local youth dead, Adityanath had ordered action against cow slaughter, prompting the opposition parties to accuse him of being silent on the inspector's killing and questioned his priorities. His latest directive on shelter for cows too has drawn fresh flak from the opposition parties, which accused the ruling BJP of trying to milk cow protection for political gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi said cows should be protected, but "humans cannot be killed in the name of cow protection". "There are already defunct cowsheds in the state. The government should have renovated them instead of constructing new ones for political mileage," he said. Samajwadi Party legislator Sunil Sajan said his party is "not opposed to cows" but is against the atmosphere that is being created in the name of saving the animals. "We are not against cows, they should be given proper care and shelter and not left in the open to cause problems not just for people but also for the cattle which often get injured because of the barbed wire fences put up by farmers... there is no one to take care of them," he said. "The value of cows is much more than all others... when there will be no one left, who will be called 'gau mata'?" Sajan posed. Defending the chief minister's stand, BJP MLA Sanjay Sharma said, "Cow is directly related to our religion. It must be protected." Actor Naseeruddin Shah had in a recent video alleged that in many areas "death of a cow is more significant than that of a police officer". He was referring to the December 3 Bulandshahr violence when a police officer and a local youth were killed by a mob after cow carcasses were found in a village field. One of the main accused, Yogesh Raj, the district convener of the Bajrang Dal, and some others are still at large. Opposition parties have alleged that the police have, however, been focusing on who slaughtered the cows. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Qamar Bajwa joined Christian community at Christ Church in Rawalpindi Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa joined the Christian community at Christ Church in Rawalpindi to take part in the Christmas celebrations, a statement from the militarys media wing said on Tuesday. General Bajwa wished Merry Christmas to the entire Christian community in Pakistan. He acknowledged the role of Christian brethren not only towards the creation of Pakistan but also for its progress, the Inter-Services Public Relations said. The army chief also appreciated the role of various institutions in the fields of education, health and public welfare being managed by the Christian community across the country. General Bajwa acknowledged their contributions to defence of the motherland, the ISPR statement read. A Chinese court sentenced the former general manager of Sinochem Group to 12 years in prison for graft, official media reported Wednesday, the latest state-owned enterprise executive to be caught up in a sweeping crackdown on corruption. Cai Xiyou, who headed the Chinese energy and chemicals conglomerate, was charged with abusing his position to amass ill-gotten gains worth 53.7 million yuan, the state-run Xinhua agency said. The court in China's eastern Shandong province also slapped a 3 million yuan fine on Cai in addition to the prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to the charges and said he would not appeal, Xinhua said. A 30-year oil industry veteran, Cai was appointed to the top job at Sinochem in 2014, after a long career at China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec)where he served as a Communist Party committee member and senior vice president. He was put under investigation in 2016. Wang Yongchun, a deputy general manager at China's biggest oil company, China National Petroleum Corporation was jailed for 20 years for graft in 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man, whose father committed suicide at the state secretariat earlier this year, was detained by the police Wednesday during Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' visit to Dhule district. Police feared that Narendra Patil (32), resident of Viravan village, would stage protest during the chief minister's visit, an official said. Patil's father Dharma Patil (84), a farmer, committed suicide by consuming poison in front of Mantralaya in Mumbai in January this year. As Narendra was detained by the police, his mother accompanied him and sat with him in the Dondaicha police station, the police official said. The chief minister was in Dondaicha in Dhule district of North Maharashtra for inauguration of the building of Dondaicha-Warvade Municipal Council. It was feared that Narendra Patil could stage a sit-in or even try to immolate himself during the chief minister's visit to press his demand, the police official said. He was held under the Mumbai Police Act and released after the chief minister left the district. Recently, Narendra Patil was in when he climbed a mobile tower in his village to protest a 'breach of promise' by some ministers who had assured him that those responsible for his father's death would face action. His father allegedly committed suicide to protest the paltry Rs 4 lakh he got when his five acres of land was acquired for a solar power plant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven people have been booked for the killing of a JD(S) worker, that has erupted into a big political row after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's call to "shoot" the killers "mercilessly". Old rivalry or a political motive may be behind the killing, Additional Superintendent of Police Mandya District Balaramegowda told PTI. "We have not arrested anyone yet. Investigations are on. We have registered an FIR against seven suspects," he said. The ASP said the suspects have been booked under section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. "Old rivalry seems to be the motive; there may also be a political motive," he said. Prakash was hacked to death on Monday evening allegedly by four men in Maddur town of Mandya district, which is a JD(S) stronghold. The killing sparked tension in and around Maddur as the victim's supporters and party workers staged a protest by blocking a road. Kumaraswamy found himself in a raging controversy Tuesday after a video of his telephonic instruction to "shoot mercilessly" those who had killed a JD(S) worker in the party's stronghold of Mandya district on Monday went viral. In the video, Kumaraswamy was heard saying: "I don't know how you will handle it (the case).. because it was your responsibility. I am actually disappointed because it (the murder) brought a bad name." "He (Prakash) was a good person.. There is no problem if you shoot such people mercilessly," he said alluding to the alleged killers. "I am least bothered (about the consequences)," the chief minister had said. He, however, rejected the opposition demand for an apology over his comments, saying he was an "emotional person." "It is not a big issue..it is a human tendency...in that sort of a situation any human being will react like that.I have already clarified it, that is why I changed the word also," Kumaraswamy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old worker was charred to death and another injured after a fire broke out at a helmet manufacturing factory in northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar, police said Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Devender, a native of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, they said, adding, the incident took place on Tuesday. "A call about the fire was received at 9.25 pm and 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was brought under control by 12.10 am," a senior official from the Delhi Fire Service said. The victims were rushed to Safdarjang Hospital where Devender was declared brought dead while the injured, identified as Jitender (34), sustained 20 percent burn injuries, a senior police officer said. A case has been registered and the matter is being probed, Aslam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) said. The officer said the factory was operating out of rented premises. After post-mortem, the body will be handed over to the family, police said. An inquiry has been initiated and the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Indian teenaged siblings were among four people killed in a fire at a house in the US state of Tennessee, just two days before Christmas, according to media reports. The fire killed a woman and three Indian teens from Telangana who were staying with her family through the holidays in a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, the USA Today reported. "Kari Coudriet - of Collierville, Tennessee - as well as Sharron, 17, Joy, 15, and Aaron, 14 - teen siblings of the Naik family from India - all died in the fire," the paper reported, citing a statement issued by the Coudriet's church, Collierville Bible Church. "A fire started around 11 o'clock pm at the Coudriet home (on December 23). The Coudriet family was hosting, housing, and celebrating Christmas with three teenagers attending an Academy here in the States. The Naik family are missionaries in India that our church supports," the church said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four men were arrested for allegedly stealing and purchasing plastic granules from outer Delhi's Mundka area, police said Wednesday. The accused were identified as Ramesh, 25, Sanjeet Kumar, 22, Manish, 22, and Raj Kumar, 35, all residents of Nangloi, they added. "On December 3, a complainant reported that he has a godown of plastic at Swarn Park, Mundka, Delhi and in the intervening night of December 2-3, he had received a call from a watchman of his neighbour's godown that the lock of his godown's main gate was broken and some plastic bags were lying on the street," Rajender Singh Sagar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), said. When he checked his godown, he found that 2.5-3 ton plastic granules have been stolen, he said. During investigation, police analysed all the CCTV cameras around the godown and it was found that a truck was used for carrying the plastic granules on the day of burglary, the officer said. Later, an information was received about the alleged truck and a trap was laid at Rohtak Road, Rajdhani Park, Nangloi. Police stopped the truck and the driver was apprehended along with two other suspects sitting inside it, he added. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the truck was stolen by them from Anand Pravat area. They had changed the truck's number and were using it for robbery, the officer said. Ramesh disclosed that before 20-22 days he, along with Manish, Sanjeet and Shekhar, had broken the lock of the godown at Swarn Park and stolen plastic granules and had sold it to one Raj Kumar, police said. He also revealed that five-six days ago, they had stolen iron articles from a factory in Nangloi and sold the items to one Raj Kumar. On the instance of driver Ramesh, Kumar was arrested from Nangloi, the officer added. One truck and 2,680 kg of plastic granules were recovered from him, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BSP president Mayawati Wednesday denounced the Noida administration's "improper and arbitrary" order on Friday namaaz, saying such a policy, if any, should be implemented in all districts and on people from all religions. "The order regarding prior approval for offering Friday namaaz at public parks and warning of strict action on firms whose employees are found flouting is improper and arbitrary," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said in a release here. "If the Yogi Adityanath government in the state has any such policy of banning religious activities at public places, why is it not being implemented on people belonging to all religions and in all the districts of the state without any discrimination," she added. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Noida's Sector 58 Police Station Pankaj Rai had earlier this month sent notices to 23 private firms asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park citing a 2009 Supreme Court order which prohibits religious gatherings at public places. However, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister claimed that if prayers were being offered in the park since 2013, what was the logic behind banning them ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "It is most natural that questions will be raised on the BJP government's policy and intentions as elections approach," she said. "This also strengthens the doubt that the BJP regime wants to divert attention from its failures and shortcomings by creating such religious controversies," she added. It only highlights the frustration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders following their defeat in the resent Assembly elections, she said further. The Noida Police had issued the order following a complaint by the residents of Bishanpura village, under the Sector 58 police station limits, which is close to the park. According to the complaint, despite the district magistrate rejecting the companies' plea seeking permission to offer prayers at the ground, the employees were breaching the order. The SHO of the Sector 58 Police Station had also said in the order that the companies would be held responsible if they failed to prevent their Muslim employees from offering namaaz at the ground. However, District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh Tuesday clarified that no companies would be held responsible for their employees' personal activities, as was mentioned in the police notes and that Rai was only carrying out his responsibilities. Defending the directive, the Noida Police also said that the order was issued amid concerns that communal harmony could be disturbed, especially ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress president Rahul Gandhi here on Wednesday amid reports of disagreement between the veteran leader and his deputy Sachin Pilot over portfolio allocation in the state. Sources said, apart from Gehlot, All India Congress Committee state in-charge Avinash Pande and senior leader K C Venugopal, who was the party's observer for the state for picking the chief minister, also met Gandhi at his residence. Gehlot, Pande and Venugopal are also understood to have had a meeting earlier for one-and-a-half hour at the 15 Gurudwara Rakabganj Road office, known as the war room of the party. On Monday, 23 ministers, including 13 cabinet and 10 state ministers, took oath in the presence of Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, Gehlot and Pilot. A total of 18 fresh faces were inducted in the state cabinet even as senior leaders such as C P Joshi and Deependra Singh abstained from attending the ceremony held at Raj Bhawan. A day after Cabinet formation, Rajasthan Congress chief Pilot had hinted at its expansion in the near future, saying several leaders will be given a chance to work. The statement had come amidst growing resentment among some senior Congress leaders who were apparently left fuming after being denied ministerial berths in the new government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Search engine giant Google on Wednesday paid homage to Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, affectionately known as Baba Amte, with a colourful doodle on his 104th birth anniversary. The slide show traces the life and legacy of Amte, who dedicated his life to serving those in need, especially those afflicted with leprosy. Exposed on to a life of privilege, Amte, born in Maharashtra in 1914, would hunt wild animals, play sports, and drive luxurious cars. Aware of the class inequalities prevalent in the country at the time, Amte, as a child, would consciously play with the 'lower caste' servants' children. He went on to study law and was running his own successful firm by his 20s. He left his practice in about a decade's time to work for the upliftment of the underprivileged. According to Google, the incident that went on to define remainder of Amte's life was an encounter with a man suffering from leprosy. "The sight of the man's decaying body filled him with overwhelming fear," read the blog post. Confronting that fear, Amte identified the state of "mental leprosy" that allowed people to feel apathetic in the face of this dreaded affliction. "The most frightening disease is not losing one's limbs, but losing one's strength to feel kindness and compassion," Amte had said. In his attempt to challenge the social stigma faced by leprosy patients and make people believe that the disease was not "highly contagious", he injected himself with bacilli, a disease causing bacteria. A Gandhian for most part of his life, Amte was married to Indu Ghuleshastri (later called Sadhanatai Amte). Like her husband, she too dedicated her life to social work. Their two sons, Vikas Amte and Prakash Amte, and daughters-in-law, Mandakini and Bharati, are doctors. He founded three ashrams for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients, disabled people and people from marginalised sections of the society in Maharashtra. In 1949 he established Anandwan - meaning "Forest of Bliss" -- a self-sufficient village and rehabilitation center for leprosy patients. Always a strong believer in national unity, Amte launched the first Knit India March in 1985. At 72, he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, a distance of more than 3,000 miles with the purpose to inspire unity in India. His second march was three years later, where he travelled over 1800 miles from Assam to Gujarat. He received several awards during his lifetime including the Padma Shri, the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, and the Gandhi Peace Prize. PTI Today's slideshow Doodle follows and honors the life and legacy of Amte dedicated his life to serving those in need, especially those afflicted with leprosy. On this day India. Exposed early on to a life of privilege, He Despite his upbringing however, throughout his childhood. As he set off Dedicating his life to the cause,In a time of national strife, Amte was accompanied by 100 men and 16 women, all under the age of 35. In recognition of Amte's tireless work, he went on to win the His legacy lives on through his two sons who share their father's sense of compassion. On what would have been his 104th birthday, we salute Babe Amte for a lifetime of service to humanity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of two recent bus accidents in which eight students were killed and several others injured, the Gujarat government on Wednesday banned school picnic buses from plying during night hours. The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting held in Gandhinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said after the meeting. Two buses carrying school children met with accident (in separate incidents) while plying during night time in the last few days, he noted. "To avoid such mishaps in future, our government has decided to impose a ban on such buses from plying between 11 pm and 6 am with children on board," Patel told reporters. He said the restriction was being imposed while taking into consideration the safety of children. "Now, bus operators need to stop the journey during this time period and make lodging and boarding arrangements for children," Patel said. On December 22, eight students were killed and 17 others seriously injured when a bus in which they were returning after enjoying a picnic fell into a 200-ft gorge in Dang district. Two adults in the bus were also killed in the mishap. On Tuesday, one person was killed and 24 school students were injured when an overcrowded bus returning from a picnic in Madhya Pradesh met with an accident near Godhra town in Panchmahal district. The private luxury bus, hired by an Ahmedabad-based school for picnic, fell into a roadside pit after the driver lost control over the vehicle. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Moscow Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Moscow his last stop on a whirlwind four-nation tour on Wednesday, where he is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and other foreign ministry officials. Qureshi was received by Russian officials upon his arrival in Moscow. In the first two days of his three-day trip, the foreign minister visited Kabul, Tehran and Beijing, where he met his counterparts and other high-ranking officials. He discussed regional peace and stability and matters of mutual interest with the three neighbours. During his trip to Kabul on Monday his third since he became foreign minister in August Qureshi met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani. During his meetings, the foreign minister stressed the importance of peace in Afghanistan for regional stability and renewed Pakistan's commitment to assist in the process. With his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on his trip to Tehran on the same day, the foreign minister discussed bilateral relations and regional situation. Both officials agreed on the importance of improved bilateral relations between the two countries. He visited Beijing on Tuesday, where he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two discussed "bilateral and regional issues, especially peace in Afghanistan", according to Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal. The US decision to pull nearly half of its troops from restive Afghanistan was high on the agenda at the meeting between the Pakistani and Chinese foreign ministers. China has not announced an official stance on the US troop pullout, but Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the decision to slash US troop numbers calling it a step towards peace in war-torn Afghanistan. In recent months, China has played a more active role in brokering peace in the region as stability in Afghanistan is critical to its Belt and Road policy of expanding trade links across Asia. Pakistan, too, has been playing an active role in the peace process in Afghanistan. Last week, the country brokered a meeting between the United States and the Taliban in Abu Dhabi in a bid to pave the way for reviving the peace process that has remained stalled since 2015. The talks were arranged after the US President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking Pakistan's help in mending Afghan peace process. The overture came after a patch of tense ties between the US and Pakistan since President Trump last year announced his Afghanistan and South Asia strategy in which Islamabad was accused of not acting against terrorist safe havens. The Madras High Court has come down heavily on the then Nilgiris District Collector for initially recommending exemption of land belonging to a private individual in the hilly district from the Elephant Corridor notified by the Tamil Nadu government in 2010. "This court is of the view that the District Collector of Nilgiri has acted in a vested manner for the reason best known to him," Justice D Krishnakumar said in a recent order dismissing a petition by the land owner. After the state government in August 2015 rejected his December 29, 2014 recommendation, the Collector had ultimately passed an order turning down the representation by petitioner Pushpabal Mangalchand Vaid of Udhagamandalam seeking exemption of his property from the corridor. Challenging the collector's order, the petitioner moved the high court. Taking a serious view of the Collector's action, the Judge said he had made the original recommendation for exempting 22.85 acres of land in Masinagudi village despite being aware of a court-appointed expert committees report and some special leave petitions related to the corridor pending in the Supreme Court. The recommendation made by the District Collector to the government without taking note of the report of the high-level committee "is highly impermissible, improper and without any justification", the judge said. The court could not understand as to why the Collector, being the party to the proceedings in the earlier writ petitions and aware of the fact that a batch of SLPs were pending before the Supreme Court, had recommended for excluding the land of the petitioner, he said. In all fairness, he should have directed the petitioner to approach the state Forest and Environment Secretary, Justice Krishnakumar said. The Collector had acted in a vested manner for the reason best known to him. No prima facie case had been made to entertain the petition, he said dismissing the petition. The matter related to the August, 31 2010 state Government Order (G.O) notifiying the corridor for a safe and undisturbed passage of elephants so that their genetic dispersal could be ensured for long survival. The G.O. was issued based on the report of an expert committee comprising top forest department officials set up by the high court on a petition by advocate Elephant Rajendran for an elephant corridor without any encroachment and any other disturbances. After examining the report and all objections, the G.O was issued wherein the lands which fall within the boundary of Elephant Corridor were identified by notifying the survey numbers of lands, including the petitioner's land. Challenging the G.O, some land owners have filed special leave petitions in the Supreme Court. Vaid, in his representation, had prayed the Collector to exempt his land contending that it was located at an elevation of 1,000 metre from the elephant corridor and did not find place in the cadastral map. Acting on it, the the collector on December 29, 2014 sent a recommendation to the government for amending the earlier G.O. so as to delete the survey numbers of land of the petitioner from the notification. However, the government had rejected the recommendation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large number of tourists, including foreigners, have gathered in Sarangkheda in Maharashtra's Nandurbar district to participate in the 'Chetak Festival', a celebration of the finest equestrian breeds. The festival, a legacy of 300 years, is a rare sight to witness more than 2000 majestic horses in a single location. Inaugurating the festival Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hoped the event would create a global sensation. At least, 2500 horses of various breeds from across India are available for trade at the event that lasts one month. This time, the cost of horses is ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 crore, organisers said. "A large number of tourists, including foreigners, are participating in this festival," said Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) Regional Manager Nitinkumar Mundavare. He said the MTDC has pitched special residential tents on the bank of the Tapi river for tourists. Events like water sports, food festivals and horse races are being organised, he said. Earlier in the day, the chief minister took stock of various development works in neighbouring Dhule district, and assured funds for the Jamphal--Kanoli Lift Irrigation scheme. State Tourism Minister Jaikumar Raval, Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre and other leaders were present at the inauguration of the Chetak Festival. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A portion of a decrepit house here collapsed on Wednesday evening killing five persons including a woman and her daughter, officials said. District Magistrate, Jehanabad, Alok Ranjan Ghosh, said the mishap took place in Panchmohalla locality of the town where three persons were crushed to death on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at hospitals. Bodies of local resident Gayatri Devi and her 15-year-old daughter Twinkle Kumari, besides a motorcyclist Arvind Kumar were recovered from the debris by the administration and the police. A fruit vendor Ram Vinay succumbed to injuries at a local hospital while one Vaidyanath Thakur, who was passing through the street, was rushed to Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) in the state capital where he breathed his last, Sub Divisional Officer, Jehanabad, Paritosh Kumar said. Another passer-by Yadu Nandan Thakur, who suffered injuries in the mishap, is admitted to PMCH in a critical condition, the SDO added. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate has announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh to the next of the kin of each deceased. The dilapidated building was undergoing repair, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Core policing helped Hyderabad register a six per cent reduction in overall crime in 2018 compared to last year, a top police official said Wednesday. A total of 15,215 cases were reported this year as against 16,140 cases in 2017. "Core policing remained at the central focus to achieve six per cent reduction in overall crime in 2018," Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar told reporters here. There was a 13 per cent reduction in grave property crimes, from 203 last year to 176 this year, he said. Crimes against women declined by 38 per cent, he said. Property crimes decreased by 20.5 per cent, from 3,050 to 2,432 and property recovery in grave crime attained 92 per cent, Kumar said. The number of murders, however, increased from 75 to 81, he said Successful strategies like initiation ofstringent Preventive Detention Act against notorious and repeat offenders, constant surveillance through criminal tracking system, cordon and search operations, community CCTV installations and integrated traffic management system paid rich dividends, he said. Detection of major like theft of a Rs 50 crore antique tiffin box studded with diamonds from the Nizam's Museum, kidnap of a newly born girl from the state-run maternity hospital in Koti,seizure of about Rs 29 crore during the assembly elections, increased conviction rate of 34 per cent were among the achievements, he added. Going forward, all city police stations would be linked to courts next year with total integration of prosecution and courts, Forensic Science Laboratory, Prisons and Fingerprint Bureau, besides electronic delivery of summons and warrants through smart phones, Kumar said. Plans for 2018 include completion of an Integrated Command and Control Centre, activation of automatic number plate reading cameras, optimisation of signal timing based on volume of traffic, extending of 'Women on Wheels' patrol teams to all police stations and developing a new App for safety and convenience of senior citizens, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIUDF chief Wednesday verbally abused a who questioned him on next year's general elections and even threatened to break his head, while his supporters forced the scribe to apologise publicly. The incident happened when Ajmal was talking to reporters after a function, where he felicitated the panchayat elections winners of South Salmara district. The later filed a complaint with the police against the Lok Sabha lawmaker. The from a local TV channel questioned Ajmal about AIUDF's alliance plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He refused a direct reply and said, "We are with Mahagathbandhan (opposition) in " The journalist then persisted and asked whether AIUDF would change its position after the polls depending on which party won. To this, Ajmal lost his temper and said, "How many crore will you give? (abuse)... Is it journalism? People like you are demeaning journalism. This man is against us from earlier on." Ajmal then rained more abuses, snatched the mike of another journalist and tried to hit the scribe who had asked the question. "He is asking for how much money will I be sold to BJP? His father will be sold. Go from here or else I will break your head. Go and file a case against me...(abuse)... I have my men in court...you will be finished. You have done this earlier also," the leader said. An AIUDF leader sitting next to Ajmal then asked the journalist to apologise. The scribe was then heard saying "sorry" and "you have misunderstood me". The man then bowed his head in front of Ajmal and apologised, to which the AIUDF leader was seen touching his head. The TV journalist later said, "People gathered there and I was about to be thrashed. I was forced to apologise and I did it to save my life. I have already filed an FIR. (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.) RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday said he would soon be visiting the national capital to make arrangements for the release of his father Lalu Prasad, who is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases. Yadav said this while leading a state-wide dharna, staged in all districts by activists of the RJDs youth wing, in protest against alleged misuse of the CBI and framing of the party supremo in cases that pertained to his tenure as the Chief Minister of Bihar. Lalu has been wrongly framed in cases. The CBI is being used by the BJP government for political ends. It is also using its political clout to ensure that he is not released on bail as his coming out at the time of elections will energize forces opposed to the BJP, Yadav said. But this is not going to go on for long. I will soon be leaving for Delhi and make arrangements for his release the former Bihar minister said. Yadav who has of late begun to take an active interest in giving up his earlier waywardness rubbished speculations of a rift with his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav and remarked as long as Tej and Tejashwi are there, the RJD will remain intact. The mercurial elder son of the RJD supremo had triggered speculations of a rift earlier this week when he stated he was not averse to assuming leadership of the party if given a chance. Rumours have been afloat, for quite some time, that he is uneasy with the growing clout of his younger brother, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and has been declared as the RJDs Chief Ministerial candidate for the next assembly polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first, the Election Commission has banned all kinds of tobacco in polling booths during next year's general elections, a bid to effectively implement tobacco control laws in the country. The Commission has asked all states and UTs to issue instructions to district electoral officers-cum-district magistrates to ensure prohibition of not just smoking, but also the use of chewable tobacco in all polling booths. "All the polling booths in country to be declared tobacco free and not just smoke free so use of bidi, cigarette, gutkha, scented/ flavoured chewable tobacco are prohibited in all polling booth," read the guidelines. As per the guidelines, each polling booth will have a banner put up, saying the same. The presiding officer of each polling booth will be nominated as nodal officer for ensuring tobacco-free status at their booths. All district tobacco control cells will supervise and monitor this campaign to sensitise people on ill effects of tobacco. The move comes after Delhi government's Health Department approached the Commission seeking declaration of all polling stations as tobacco-free zones rather than just declaring them as smoke-free as it used to be in previous elections. In a letter, Additional Director (Health) Dr S K Arora had stated that tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability and pre-mature death and major threat to the present and future health of any population. "On election day, majority of adult population of our country is likely to visit polling booth to caste its vote. This will be an excellent opportunity to sensitise among majority adult population on a single day through displayed multi-colour banners with message on ill-effects of tobacco at polling booth," he had said. The decision should be taken in larger public health interest, he stressed. He has thanked the Commission for the move. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India sent home Wednesday two Pakistani nationals, including a 21-year-old who said he had crossed over to meet actor Shah Rukh Khan. Abdullah and Mohammed Imran Qureshi Warsi were repatriated through the Attari-Wagah border on the basis of an Emergency Travel Certificate issued by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, officials said. Abdullah was detained from Attari in 2017 and charged with crossing over without any documents while Warsi spent around a decade in Bhopal jail on charges of "forgery and spying" after coming to India in 2004. Abdullah said he had come to witness the Retreat ceremony at the border, when he jumped over and crossed the Zero Line after the ceremony, telling BSF officials that he wanted to meet Shah Rukh Khan. "It was my childhood dream to come to India and meet Shah Rukh Khan," he said before repatriation. He said since his dream was not fulfilled this time, he will come back again to meet the actor. The other Pakistani national, Warsi, had come to India on proper documentation to meet his relatives in Kolkata. He stayed on in the country for four years despite the expiry of his visa. He had also allegedly obtained a ration card and some other documents during his stay. In 2008, he was on his way to Bhopal to get a passport when he was arrested by police, an official at Attari border said. Warsi said he was very happy as he will be able to meet his parents and siblings who all live in Karachi's Gulshan Iqbal area. He has an Indian wife who belongs to Kolkata and has two children from the marriage which was solemnised in 2003. He plans to take his family to Pakistan through proper legal recourse, the official here said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is preparing a specific strategy for exports to each geography as part of plans to make 2019 a year when outward shipments would start driving the country's overall economic growth, Commerce and Industry Minister has said. The minister said India's exports performance has been "extremely good" in the past 14 months, but he is not fully satisfied as yet and the plans for 2019 also include a special focus on boosting shipments to the African continent and Latin America given huge growth potential there. He said the Indian exports are growing at a time when the global trade is witnessing worst ever headwinds, countries are fighting at import duty front and there is increasing protectionism and slowdown in demand. "(But) I am not fully satisfied. I want exports to drive India's growth. To do that, the situation is very challenging as each country is trying to put their own borders," Prabhu told PTI in an interview. Since 2011-12, India's exports have been hovering at around $300 billion. During 2017-18, the shipments grew by about 10 per cent to $303 billion. Experts have cautioned that growing trade tensions between the US and China could impact the global trade growth. Imposition of high import duties by the US this year on certain steel and aluminium products have triggered a trade war kind of situation. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) too has stated that escalating trade tensions and tighter credit market conditions in important markets will slow trade growth in 2019. "In 2019, we would like to ensure that all measures that we initiated earlier and the new measures get consolidated and 2019 should be a new year for exports. So I am preparing a strategy. For each of the geographies, we will prepare a specific strategy," Prabhu said. Elaborating on his plans, the minister said African continent holds huge potential for domestic exporters and there is a need to significantly boost shipments to that region. Prabhu said his ministry is in process of creating a template for some kind of a free trade agreement with Africa which will take into account the overall difference of level of growth of that continent and the country specific profiles. Similar plans are there for other regions as well, including for Latin America, he said. Central America, South East Asia, Central Asia and South Asia hold huge potential for domestic exporters, but "our performance is at sub-optimal level" in these regions, he added. Emphasised on the need to promote value added exports, Prabhu said his ministry is trying to bring Japanese and Korean companies on board to increase outbound shipments of marine products. He also hoped that the recently announced agri-export policy will help boost exports from the sector to $60 billion in the next five years and $100 billion in the next 10 years. "This is doable because we are the largest producers of milk and the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables," he said. The ministry would be drawing a strategy to promote shipments of five categories -- plantation crops, meat, fisheries, agriculture and horticulture, he added. For this, the minister will be meeting all plantation boards, farmers associations and organisations and discuss issues related to every segment. "We are asking states for product-specific clusters. For example, in Jalgaon (Maharashtra) we are promoting cluster for bananas, and for grapes in Nashik," he said. The ministry is also preparing an incentive package for labour intensive sectors like leather to address issues faced by exporters. "We are preparing a package which will ensure that exporters' woes are addressed properly. There have been challenges for the export sector over a period of time and one big challenge is credit," he said. The ministry is also looking at quality of goods being exported by India as foreign firms are keeping a special tab on this. Further, Prabhu said as India is one of the major exporter of services like IT and ITeS, the ministry's strategy will have elements to promote services exports also. The government has approved an action plan for 12 champion services sectors, including IT, tourism and hospitality, for realising their potential through establishment of a Rs 50 billion dedicated fund. Commenting on the growth prospects next year, exporters said the government needs to focus on areas like timely refund of Goods and Services tax; adequate availability of affordable credit; extending export duty benefits to more areas like seeds; and interest subsidy to merchant exporters. "If government will take all these steps in the coming months, we can register 20 per cent growth in exports," the Federation of Indian Exports Organisation (FIEO) President Ganesh Kumar Gupta said. Promoting exports helps a country to create jobs, boost manufacturing and earn more foreign exchange. Railways will build the country's first vertical- connecting Rameswaram in to mainland India that will allow ships and steamers to pass through without any hinderance, replacing the existing 104-year-old Pamban bridge, a senior official in the ministry said. The more than two-kilometre-long bridge, which is likely to cost Rs 250 crore, will have a 63-metre stretch which will lift up while remaining parallel to the deck to allow access to the ships, the official said. It will be ready in the next four years, and along with the new railway link between Rameswaram in Pamban Island and Dhanuskodi, which is considered the starting point of Ram Setu, will help ferry thousands of pilgrims from the Hindu religious site to the mainland. The bridge was approved for construction by the railways on Monday. A cyclone had destroyed the rail link between the two sites in 1964 and since then, this is the first effort to restore the link, the official said. "The existing bridge having a total length of 2,058 m has already served 104 years and needs to be replaced since it is almost non-operational. "While this bridge has the 'Scherzer' rolling lift technology in which the bridge opens up horizontally, to let ships pass through, in the new one, a 63 metre section will lift vertically upwards remaining parallel to the deck. It will be done using sensors at each end," said another official. The new bridge will have 100 spans of 18.3m and one navigational span of 63m. It will be three-metre higher than the existing bridge with navigational air clearance of 22 metre above sea level. Because of the vertical lift, full horizontal width of 63m will be available for navigation. The substructure of the bridge will be built for double line and the navigational span will also have provision for double line. The entire bridge including navigational span will be designed keeping in mind the railways' plan of electrification, the official said. "In comparison to existing manual operation and control, the new bridge will have electro mechanical controlled systems which will be interlocked with train control systems. "Many other new technologies like stainless steel reinforcement, composite sleepers and long life painting system to name a few have been considered in planning of the bridge," he said. Suicide bomber killed Pakistani Baloch insurgents in southern Kandahar Afghan officials said on Tuesday that a suicide bomber struck a compound of Pakistani Baloch insurgents in southern Kandahar, killing and injuring several militants. Zia Durrani, a spokesman for the Kandahar police chief, told the BBC Pashto radio that at least two people were killed and three others injured in the attack in Ayno Mina area in Kandahar, bordering Balochistan. Durrani did not offer comments on the nationality. Section of the Afghan media reported that those killed and injured belonged to a family of Baloch militants. Pakistani official sources, however, said that five Baloch insurgents were killed in the attack. Sources said the bomber attacked the residence of Baloch Liberation Armys commander and head of Majeed Brigade Aslam Achu at around 4pm. As a result seven persons, including Aslam Achu, was killed and three others were injured, the official sources said. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. They said Aslam Achu was mastermind of the attacks on a Chinese consulate in Karachi and a bus carrying Chinese in Dalbadin area of Balochistan. Three gunmen tried to attack the Chinese consulate in Karachi on November 23, killing two police guards and a father and his son, who were there to get visa. The outlawed BLA had claimed responsibility for the attack. On August 11, a suicide bomber had struck a bus carrying a team, including Chinese engineers, working on the Saindak Copper-Gold Mine project near Dalbandin, injuring three Chinese and two locals. Officials identified those killed in the Kandahars attack as Aslam Achu, Taju Murree, Rustam, Rauf, Fareed, Rahim Murree and Nasir while Zorain s/o Aslam Achu was injured. Baloch insurgents have not offered any comment on the incident. The Tuesdays attack was third on Baloch insurgents in Kandahar this year. Indonesian authorities asked people to avoid the coast in areas where a tsunami killed more than 420 people last weekend in a fresh warning issued on the anniversary of the catastrophic 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami. The big waves that followed the eruption of Anak Krakatoa, or "Child of Krakatoa" island volcano, hit communities along the Sunda Strait on Saturday night. The eruption is believed to have set off a landslide on the volcano, displacing the water that slammed into Java and Sumatra islands. Indonesia's Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency asked people late Tuesday to stay at least 500 meters (1,640 feet) and up to 1 kilometer (less than a mile) from the coastline along the strait, which lies between the two main islands. Government workers were monitoring Anak Krakatoa's eruptions and high waves and heavy rain were possible Wednesday, said agency head Dwikorita Karnawati. "All these conditions could potentially cause landslides at the cliffs of the crater into the sea, and we fear that that could trigger a tsunami," she said at a conference. She asked that communities remain vigilant but not panic. The tsunami struck without warning, taking people by surprise even in a country familiar with seismic disaster. No big earthquake shook the ground beforehand, and it hit at night on a holiday weekend while people were enjoying concerts and other beach and resort activities. It was a sharp contrast to the disaster that struck 14 years ago off the western coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island. An enormous 9.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the area the day after Christmas, creating gigantic waves that surged far inland swallowing everything in their path. The wall of water killed some 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them in Indonesia. The devastation was vast, and the disaster was among the worst witnessed by the world in recent history. Recovery was slow, but some victims of the latest tsunami said Wednesday they remember the resilience of the people in hard-hit Banda Aceh, which is giving them hope that they too can rebuild their homes and their lives. Beaches were largely empty in the hard-hit area of Carita, and police patrolled the area on motorbikes warning people to stay away from the coast. Some people defied the order, returning to what was left of their homes to begin cleaning up as heavy rain fell and waves pounded the shore. Meanwhile, residents of Sumur village, which has been slow to receive aid due to roads being cut off, remained stunned by how quickly the tsunami hit. The beach, located just a few kilometers (miles) from the tourist island of Umang near Java's western tip, is popular for snorkeling and other water activities. The tsunami decimated the area, ripping houses from their foundations and bulldozing concrete buildings. Scientists have said the tsunami's waves were recorded in several places at about 1 meter (3.3 feet) high, but residents of Sumur insisted they towered more than 3 meters (10 feet) there, possibly as high as 5 meters (16.4 feet). They said a soaring white wall of water roared toward them at high speeds, ripping trees out of the ground by their roots. "There was no sign of a tsunami when we were at the beach. The sea didn't recede," said Tati Hayati, a housewife, who was enjoying a pleasant evening with 10 other people when the disaster hit. "It was calm and bright with the full moon." When she spotted high, fast-moving waves launching toward the shore, she ran to her car and managed to get inside. But she couldn't outrun it. She said the car was struck by three waves, breaking out the back window and filling the vehicle with gushing water. "We were locked inside. The car was swaying in the waves and we thought we would all die," Hayati said. "We almost could not breathe and I almost gave up when I groped the key in the water and managed to open the door, and the water began to recede. We got out of the car and ran to safety." More than 16,000 people were displaced from their homes and heavy equipment was urgently needed in the Sumur subdistrict near Ujung Kulon National Park to help get aid flowing and reach people who may be injured or trapped, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency. The death toll was 429, with more than 1,400 people injured and at least 128 missing, he said. Anak Krakatau formed in the early 20th century near the site of the cataclysmic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, which killed more than 30,000 people and hurled so much ash that it turned day to night in the area and reduced global temperatures. Anak Krakatau has been erupting since June and did so again 24 minutes before the tsunami, according to the geophysics agency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suicide attackers stormed the Libyan foreign ministry in the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people including a senior civil servant in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Twenty-one other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. A car bomb exploded near the ministry, prompting security forces to rush to the scene, said special forces spokesman Tarak al-Dawass. A suicide bomber then blew himself up on the second floor of the building while a second attacker died when a suitcase he was carrying exploded, he said. A third assailant, who was unarmed and wearing a bulletproof vest, was killed by security forces outside, Dawass added. At least three people were killed and 21 wounded, according to the health ministry. Foreign Minister Tahar Siala said one of the dead was senior diplomat Ibrahim al-Shaibi who headed a department in his ministry. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the building as ambulances, paramedics and security forces gathered outside. IS claimed the attack in a statement distributed on social media, saying that it was carried out by three "soldiers of the caliphate" who were armed with suicide belts and automatic weapons. Interior Minister Fathi Bash Agha admitted during a conference that "security chaos" reigned in Libya and was "out of our control". He said this was creating a "fertile ground" for IS to operate in the North African country. Torn apart by power struggles and undermined by chronic insecurity, Libya has become a haven for jihadists since the ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Two competing administrations, rival militias, tribes and jihadists have been vying for control of territory and the country's vast oil wealth. IS took advantage of the chaos to gain a foothold in the coastal city of Sirte in 2015. Forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) regained control of Sirte in December 2016 after eight months of deadly fighting. Since then, some jihadists have returned to the desert in an attempt to regroup and reorganise. The interior minister said his department lacked the equipment necessary to restore law and order in Libya. Bach Agha said he found "zero weapons and zero vehicles" in the ministry's warehouses when he took up his job in October. "Weakness and a security breakdown" allowed assailants to attack the foreign ministry, he said. The foreign minister said the UN should lift an arms embargo it has imposed on Libya since the 2011 uprising. "Stability cannot be restored... without a partial lifting of the embargo. It is needed to guarantee security and combat terrorism," Siala told reporters. The head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) denounced the "cowardly terrorist attack" in a statement. Ghassan Salame also pledged to work with Libyan people "to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven... for their crimes". Frank Baker, Britain's ambassador to Libya, also denounced an "appalling terrorist attack" and tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi joined the chorus of condemnation in a statement reiterating Rome's "solidarity with the Libyan people and their just aspiration to real security". In September, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the headquarters of Libya's National Oil Company in the heart of Tripoli which left two dead and 10 wounded. Four months earlier, it claimed an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters which left 14 dead. In April, the GNA launched an operation to track down IS fighters operating in areas of western Libya under its control. Last month IS claimed responsibility for an attack on militia forces in southeastern Libya in which at least nine people were killed. The US military has regularly carried out strikes on jihadists in Libya, particularly south of Sirte. The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal, but a rival administration based in the country's east aligned with military strongman Khalifa Haftar refuses to recognise its authority. Rival Libyan leaders had agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But instability, territorial disputes and divisions have delayed plans for elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill to dissolve parliament and hold early elections on April 9 and it was expected to be finalised later in the evening. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition agreed on Monday to dissolve parliament and hold elections in April, but lawmakers must approve the step. It is expected to pass easily. The parliament, or Knesset, voted 104 to zero in favour of the bill in the first of three readings. Netanyahu's coalition was left with a one-seat majority after defence minister Avigdor Lieberman stepped down in November over a controversial Gaza ceasefire deal. Party leaders have failed to agree on a key bill regulating drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews to the army, and that was the immediate reason to move toward elections. Analysts, however, say that Netanyahu wanted the elections before Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announces his decision on whether to indict the premier in three different corruption cases. While no official timeframe has been given, reports say such an announcement could come in mid-April. With politicians now entering campaign mode, Netanyahu met in Jerusalem on Wednesday with leaders of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and made his pitch for why they should stick with him. Netanyahu's current coalition is seen as the most right-wing in Israel's history. "We'll see an attempt by the left-wing to overthrow our rule with the help of the media and others," he said. "They can't succeed, because if they do -- that will pose a clear danger to the settlement movement." Calling on their support in the elections, Netanyahu told the settler leaders they should not take the fate of their enterprise for granted. "We had to work hard, with the current American administration as well, for the great achievements we brought the settlements," he said in remarks relayed by his office. While Netanyahu portrays himself as the champion of the settlements, settler leaders say he has not done enough, with three prominent heads of West Bank settlements boycotting the Wednesday meeting in protest. Key members of his coalition are however strong settlement backers and oppose a Palestinian state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Israeli Knesset has voted to dissolve the current parliament and scheduled new elections for April 9. In what was largely a formality, the Knesset voted late Wednesday in favor of dissolving by a 102-2 margin. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he was disbanding his coalition and taking the nation to new elections six months ahead of schedule. The country now heads into a three-month campaign. Opinion polls have suggested that Netanyahu's nationalist Likud Party will easily win re-election. But those bright prospects could be hurt by a looming decision by the country's attorney general on whether to file charges against Netanyahu. Netanyahu is suspected in a series of corruption allegations. An indictment would put heavy pressure on the long-time leader to step aside. A four-member team of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Wednesday visited Srimantapur Land Customs Station (LCS) in Tripura to select the site for terminal building (jetty) for Indo-Bangla waterway project, official sources said. The team led by IWAI Member Traffic, Sashi Bhusan Shukla called on Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and held meeting on the ambitious Indo-Bangla waterway project - connecting Tripuras Gomati river with Bangladeshs Meghna (Dawodkandi). Sukla informed the chief minister about the potential site for setting up terminal building at Srimantapur LCS in Sepahijala district. The IWAI team also met Tripura chief secretary L K Gupta and other senior state government officials. "The IWAI wants 10 acres land for a big size terminal building at Srimantapur LCS but this much land is not available there. At best the government could offer 2 acres of land for setting up terminal building," said a senior official of the state Water Resource department said. When contacted, principal secretary of Water Resource department, H Darlong confirmed the visit of IWAI team. "We want a jetty to come up near Srimantapur LCS for hassle free transshipment of goods. According, I asked the SDM to select a site near Srimantapur LCS," he said. Darlong indicated IWAI would implement the ambitious project - connecting Gomati river with Meghna in Bangladesh through Dawodkani area. Presently ships and steamers are plying from Haldia (West Bengal) to Dawodkandi (Bangladesh), which is only 80 km from Tripuras Sonamura sub-division in Sepahijala district Apart from building terminal building, dredging work would be done from Sonamura to Dawodkandi to access the existing waterway through Meghna, as per the waterway plan drawn by the IWAI, officials added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Unhappy with the Congress' 'big brother attitude' in the ruling coalition in Karnataka, JD(S) workers and local leaders have asked the leadership to contest all 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party sources said. Under the coalition arrangement, Congress and JD(S) had announced that they would fight the 2019 polls together. JDS workers and local level leaders conveyed their position to the party supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda during preparatory meetings in eight districts, the sources said. Expressing their displeasure against the Congress, JD(S) workers have accused the party of not treating the junior partner in the ruling alliance 'respectfully', sources said. Their attitude is like that of a 'big brother', they alleged and said that the Congress was "overlooking" the conditions agreed upon during the government formation. Confirming the development, former JD(S) MLC and spokesperson Ramesh Babu said party workers and leaders had opined that the JD(S) should contest all 28 seats on a 'friendly basis' in the coming parliamentary election. "Workers feel that it is better to contest in all 28 parliamentary constituencies in Karnataka in the coming election," he told PTI. The Congress and JD(S) reportedly have difficulty in seat sharing in most of the old Mysuru region constituencies, where JD(S) is a dominant force and Congress has its sitting MPs. Stating that JD(S) had demanded 12 parliamentary seats, party sources said there was no positive response from Congress to this. Dismayed over Congress' "big brotherly attitude", citing issues that allegedly recently cropped up over appointments of heads to boards and corporations, the sources said the leaders and workers had suggested that since JD(S) is part of the coalition government, they could have friendly contests in all 28 seats, instead of levelling charges against that party. Meetings have taken place in Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga and Mysuru, they said, adding that after January 3, Deve Gowda would elicit the opinion of party workers in the other districts. Congress and JD(S) that had fought bitterly against each other, especially in old Mysuru region, joined hands to form a coalition government after the May 12 assembly polls threw up a hung assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Students' Federation (AISF) leader Kanhaiya Kumar Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of playing with religious sentiments. He alleged that both Modi and Banerjee are donning the role of protectors of Hindus and Muslims respectively. Kumar said the young people of the country want jobs and not religion. "What Modi is doing in the country from Delhi, Didi (Banerjee) is doing the same sitting in Kolkata," Kumar alleged at a public meeting here to mark the 94th foundation day of the Communist Party of India (CPI). "We will fight against anybody who wants to destroy the democratic fabric of the country, whether Modi or Didi," he said. Kumar said that Bengal's demography, with around 30 per cent minority population, is a blessing but can also become a curse. Stating that Bengal is a multi-cultural state where people have lived together for thousands of years, Kumar claimed that the BJP and RSS finds it necessary to break the social fabric of the state to gain a strong foothold in West Bengal. "There is a conspiracy and people should see through it. Why is Didi trying to be the protector of Muslims and Modi of the Hindus?" he questioned. Stating that neither Hindus, nor Muslims are in danger in the country, he said that it is the humans, humanity and the Constitution which are in danger at present. The young people of the country want jobs and not religion, Kumar said, adding that while five lakh pass out as engineers every year, only one lakh of them are able to get some job. He said that farmers are committing suicide for not getting proper price for their produce and claimed that the Central government has "failed" to do anything to alleviate their plight. Kumar said that while all the opposition parties may not agree on all points, but there are many common issues on which there can be agreement and they should get together on these to fight against the saffron party in the general elections next year. Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani alleged that the BJP and RSS have the agenda of tampering with the social fabric of the country. Asking whether the Left parties should ally with the Trinamool Congress, Mevani said that he and Hardik Patel, belonging to the Dalits and the landowner Patel caste in Gujarat respectively, have come together in an unprecedented alliance to fight the BJP. "What we are facing in the country is an unprecedented crisis and this will lead to unprecedented alliances to defeat fascism," Mevani said, while terming BJP a fascist party. Giving the example of the Bhima Koregaon incident, he alleged that progressive people of the country are being put behind bars to shut out any dissenting voice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of Kashmiri Pandits Wednesday staged a protest outside the Raj Bhavan here, seeking a probe into the 2008 package announced by the then prime minister for the return and rehabilitation of the community in the valley. Dozens of 'pheran'-clad Kashmiri Pandit migrants, including women, assembled outside the Raj Bhavan under the banner of the Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) and staged a sit-in, chanting slogans against the failure to utilise the package. Pheran is a loose gown worn by Kashmiris for warmth during winters. "Pheran is part of our culture and we staged the pheran-clad protest to press for a probe into the 2008 PM package for our return and rehabilitation in the valley," YAIKS president R K Bhat, who was leading the protest, told reporters. He said the probe was imperative to "identify the powers" who created hurdles in the path of implementation of the package. Bhat claimed that crores of rupees were pumped into the state by the Centre under the package but not a single family was rehabilitated. Over 3,000 educated youth of the community are ready to serve in the valley in the larger interest of co-existence, he said, demanding a restructuring of the package after consultation with community leaders. "We will continue our protest till a probe is ordered," he said. A woman protester said the administration had promised them a meeting with Governor Satya Pal Malik after their attempt to march to Srinagar was foiled by police at Tikri near Udhampur in October. "We have assembled here to wake up the governor, who has turned a blind eye to our plight," she said, adding that almost three decades have passed since the displacement of the community from the valley, but no concrete step has been taken for their return and rehabilitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The employees of Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country have contributed their one day's salary for Kerala flood relief amounting to Rs 5.49 crores. Union Human Resource Development minister Prakash Javadekar Wednesday handed over the cheque to Resident Commissioner of Kerala. "The Ministry of HRD had appealed to all officers and staff of the Ministry of HRD as well as of the organisation under its control to contribute one day's salary as relief to the flood affected people of Kerala. "The officers and staff of KVS have expressed solidarity with the flood affected people of Kerala and contributed generously an amount of Rs 5.94 crore," Javadekar told reporters. The amount has been contributed by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to the chief minister's relief fund. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre is understood to have rejected Left-ruled Kerala's float on Vaikom Satyagraha, a renaissance movement against untouchability and linked to temple access, for the parade, according to state officials. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office here Wednesday confirmed that had not figured in the list of states which would be presenting their tableaux on the R-day, but was yet to get an official confirmation in this regard. The development comes at a time when the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF government in and BJP-headed NDA at the Centre are at loggerheads over many issues, including the order on entry of women in Sabarimala shrine. The Vaikom Satyagraha ( 1924-25) movement was held in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore (southern Kerala) to allow access to all people to the roads leading to the Lord Shiva Temple at Vaikom, near present Kottayam district. However, official sources in said the is yet to finalise the names of states, Union Territories and central government ministries for display of tableaux at the parade "The theme of our float was Vaikom Satyagraha. It is learnt that the state's float was rejected. But, we are yet to get a written official communication from the Centre," Chief Minister's private secretary M V Jayarajan told PTI. A senior state government official, on condition of anonymity, said there was a meeting of representatives on Wednesday from states whose floats had been selected, and when asked, it was "unofficially informed" from the that the float had not been selected. "It is was a stage-by-stage process. If a state is not called for the next level of scrutiny, it is deemed that it has been rejected. "Four stages of selection process had been completed so far. In the last stage, there were 19 states. We came to know that 14 states have been shortlisted in the today's meeting in New Delhi," the official, who was associated with the float project, said. The Centre's reported move comes at a time when the state government had launched a massive campaign in recent days to promote the renaissance values and movements of the state in the wake of the Sabarimala women entry issue. The Left Democratic Front government has vowed to implement the allowing entry of women of all ages into the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa. There has been opposition from several quarters including the BJP which has said that it was for protecting the faith of the devotees who supported the tradition that disallowed entry of women in the 10-50 age group. The state government was also planning to put up a "women's wall" to create awareness on Renaissance and progressive values in the wake of the top court's verdict. Vaikom Satyagraha against untouchability was particularly aimed at getting permission for all sections of the society cutting across caste to travel through the roads leading to the Lord Shiva Temple at Vaikom. Several leaders and social reformers across the country including had extended great support to the movement. According to the state official, the itself had suggested the theme for the state's tableau. "They have suggested that as this year being the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we can depict some instances related to the Father of the Nation's visit to the state," he said. The Ministry had suggested three themes- one was Mahatma's visit to the state in connection with Temple Entry Proclamation or Vaikom Satyagraha or the Non-Cooperation Movement, he said. "Among them, we have selected Vaikom Satyagraha as our theme and presented it before the Ministry. The selection panel was very much impressed," he said, adding that the only suggestion they gave during the last meeting held on December 19 was to lessen the size of figures being depicted on the float. But, the state had not received any further communication about the next meeting after that, the official said adding that he had no clue that on what grounds the state float had been rejected. The sources in said around 20 states, Union Territories and central government ministries and departments were short listed by a panel of experts and a final call on the list is yet to be taken by the competent authority at the defence ministry. They said 32 applications for tableaux were received from states and Union Territories while 23 requests came from various central government ministries and departments. After screening all the applications, around 20 of them were short-listed by a panel comprising experts from the fields of art, culture, music and theatre. A number of officials from and Ministry of Culture were also part of the panel. (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.) From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... A battle of wits is underway on social media between police and "hate-mongers" ahead of the January 1, 2019 event to mark the 201st anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle in Maharashtra's Pune district. The area around the village had witnessed violent caste clashes on January 1 this year during celebrations to mark the bicentenary of 1818 battle, leaving one person dead and several injured. In order to counter the "campaign of hate" on social media, the police have roped in some influential residents of nearby villages and made them post "positive" videos appealing to people to visit Perne village without fear. "Jaystambh" or a victory pillar installed by the British to mark the defeat of the forces of Peshwas in the 1818 battle is located near Perne village. Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandip Patil Wednesday said they have come across a number of hatefulor provocative messages on social media platforms ahead of the January 1 event. "To counter such rumour mongering and inciting content, we, as part of community policing, are uploading brief videos of local people, including sarpanchs and some influential villagers, in which they are appealing the visitors to come on January 1 without any fear. They are ensuring that all the necessary arrangements are being done," said Patil. In one such clip, Perne village sarpanch Rupesh Thombare can be seen appealing to visitors that they would be greeted with roses and water bottles on January 1. In another video, Shikrapur village sarpanch Jayashree Bhujbal says her village is ensuring that no shops, hotels or other commercial establishments remain shut on January 1, unlike last year. Patil said police are looking forward to create "harmonious atmosphere" ahead of the January 1 event. Lakhs of Dalits visit the Vijaystambh every year on January 1 to mark the victory of British forces, comprising a large number of Mahar soldiers, over the Peshwas or Brahmin rulers in the 1818 battle. "In the run-up to the January 1 event,sarpanchs, deputysarpanchs, office-bearers of gram panchayats of Koregaon Bhima, Lonikand, Sanaswadi, Perne, Shikrapur are appealing through the videos that all arrangements, including food, water, transportation and parking, will be done by villagers", the SP said. Patil said the social media cell of the Pune rural police is tracking the provocative messages. "Our social media cell is identifying the social media accounts and their origins. The officials are also notifying the respective police stations and headquarters to track down such anti-social elements", he said. Police have so far taken preventive action against 20 to 25 such elements for circulating the objectionable and inciting messages, he added. Meanwhile, one of the police officers attached to the cyber cell said they have come across over 20,000 messages so far, which can be termed as "inciting". "Besides keeping an eye on the social media platforms, correspondencehasbeen dispatched to naxal-infested districts, anti-naxal cells, Intelligence Bureau, ATS squads to keep the Pune rural police informed about any possible secrete meetings of Naxal cadres regarding the January 1 event", he said. Police are also issuing notices under section 144 of the CrPc to prevent assembly of people in the area. Police are probing the alleged naxal links to the violence that had taken place on January 1 this year during the bicentenary event, a day after Elgar Parishad event was held at Shaniwarvada in Pune. Police recently filed a chargesheet in a local court against some rights activists in connection with that violence. Smarter by last year's experience when they were allegedly outnumbered by protesters, police are taking no chances this time. The officer said deployment of police personnel in and around the victory pillar would be "ten times more" this time compared to the previous occasion. "Senior police officers from various districts and officials of various agencies would be keeping an eye on the event", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Embroiled in a row over his "shoot mercilessly" remarks, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday rejected the opposition demand for an apology over his comments, saying he was an "emotional person." Kumaraswamy landed in a raging controversy Tuesday after a video of his telephonic instruction to "shoot mercilessly" those who had killed a JDS worker in the party's stronghold of Mandya district on Monday went viral. As the controversy refused to die down despite his clarification that it was an 'emotional outburst' and he did not mean it, Kumaraswamy said, "It is not a big issue... it is human tendency... in that sort of a situation any human being will react like that. I have already clarified it, that is why I changed the word also," he said. JDS worker Prakash, a zilla panchayat member, was hacked to death, allegedly by four men in Maddur town Monday evening, creating tension and infuriating Kumaraswamy, who told a police official "He (Prakash) was a good person.There is no problem if you shoot such people mercilessly," alluding to the alleged killers. Seven suspects have been booked for the killing of the JD(S) worker, Additional Superintendent of Police Mandya District Balaramegowda told PTI, adding that old rivalry or a political motive may be behind the killing. "We have not arrested anyone yet. Investigations are on. We have registered an FIR against seven suspects," he said. He said the suspects have been booked under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Claiming that he was an "emotional" person, Kumaraswamy told reporters, "Even if a single citizen is in trouble, I will involve myself.that issue is over according to me, that is why I said instead of encounter, I said smoke them out... that is my final word." Hitting out at Kumaraswamy for his "irresponsible" comments, state BJP President and leader of the opposition in the assembly B S Yeddyurappa demanded that he apologise to the people of the state. Questioning BJP leaders about an incident where two farmers were allegedly shot dead by police during Yeddyurappa's tenure as chief minister at Haveri in north Karnataka, Kumaraswamy questioned, "was it not a big issue?" To a question about the demand for an apology, he shot back, "why should I apologise?" A human rights activist has, meanwhile, petitioned the State Human Rights Commission, terming the chief minister's remarks as a "clear violation" of human rights. The petitioner, T Narasimha Murthy, urged the Commission to issue notice to the chief minister, seeking an explanation from him with immediate effect, "to examine the implications and impact of such emotional remarks on the police, judiciary and public" and to issue appropriate direction to Kumaraswamy. The plea said it hoped that the commission would examine the issue and direct the chief minister as executive head of the state to maintain decorum and also restore the law and spirit of the Constitution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Families of two cattle traders, who were beaten to death in Jharkhand's Latehar district in March 2016, Wednesday demanded financial assistance and jobs from the state government. Last week, eight people were convicted and awarded life imprisonment by a court in Jharkhand for lynching Majlum Ansari (32) and Imteyaz Khan (13). Talking to reporters here, Sayara Bibi, wife of Ansari (32), claimed that she had been receiving threats even after all the convicts were awarded life sentence. His family has requested the government for financial help as they have lost their lone breadwinner. Ansari is survived by his wife and five children. "I demand appropriate compensation and a job from the Jharkhand government. Where should I go for help? I do not have money to feed my children," Sayara Bibi said. Imteyaz Khan's mother Nazma Bibi said her son was just 13-year-old when he was beaten to death. "We are living under the shadow of fear. My elder son has left his home and started working in Ranchi due to threat to his life. My younger son has also stopped going to his school," she said. "I request the government to provide proper security to my family. Also, the state government should provide financial assistance and a job to us," Nazma Bibi added. Ansari and Khan's bodies were found hanging from a tree on March 17, 2016. They were reportedly taking their cattle to a village fair for sale when they were attacked. Police had said that they were beaten to death and then hanged from the tree. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A mentally retarded person shot dead five male family members, including his father, uncle and three brothers, over a domestic dispute and later committed suicide in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, police said. The incident occurred in Tehkal area University Road Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Abdullah, 24, shot dead his father Jan Muhammad after a brief verbal brawl. When his three brothers - Jawad, Luqman and Zaibullah - and uncle Faqir Muhammad arrived at the scene of incident, he also killed them, police said. Later, the accused committed suicide, they added. The police said that the killer was mentally retarded. The bodies have been shifted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital for post-mortem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an indication of further shrinkage of the militants' support base in the valley, more and more cases of outlaws using cave-like hideouts away from the human habitations are surfacing, say security personnel. A police official made this remark Wednesday after security forces busted an underground hideout of militants in Awantipora area of Pulwama district where some of the top Hizbul Mujahideen commanders were believed to be hiding. The official said a search operation was launched in the area on early Wednesday on a tip off about the presence of militants in the hideout -- a cave-like structure made in a hillock. Though nothing incriminating could by found by the security forces, there were tell-tale signs of the hideout having been used recently by militants, the official said. The ultras appeared to have deserted it hours before the security forces launched the search operation. This cave-like hideout, away from the human habitations, was detected Wednesday, barely days after discovery of another similar hideout in Arampora area of Awantipora. The busting of the second cave-like hideout came four days after six militants of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, an offshoot of ISIS, were killed in an encounter in Arampora area of Awantipora on Saturday. "The militants killed in the operation on Saturday were also avoiding residential areas for quite sometime and hiding in a cave-like hideout," the official said. He said six militants including some wanted Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in Saktipora operation in Anantnag district on November 23 while three others were gunned down in Pulwama district this month. "In both the cases, the militants had built underground hideouts near orchards," he added. The security officials said the militants have been left looking for alternative hideouts due to the fact that atrocities committed by them against civilians have led to disaffection among the masses and shrinkage of their support base. "More than 50 civilians were killed by militants this year while some of the brutal executions were captured on camera and later circulated on social media. This has further reduced their already shrinking support base," the official said. He said the other factor for this new trend was the continuous flow of human intelligence to the security forces, which has helped them neutralise a large number of ultras during the year. "More than 250 militants have been killed this year and it has been possible due to the stream of human intelligence that we have been getting from general public. This has probably forced the militants to avoid human habitations and take refuge in these structures. However, we have been getting inputs about these places as well and we are working on it," the police official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parents of a week-old twin girl who died four days after a blaze ravaged state-run ESIC hospital here last week alleged on Wednesday the authorities slashed the Rs 10 lakh compensation payable to them to Rs 2 lakh, saying "the premature baby was anyway going to die naturally". A hospital official said they had issued two cheques each of Rs 2 lakh as payout, apparently for the deceased girl and her infant brother who was also injured in the incident. The fire occurred on December 17 in the ESIC hospital located at Marol in suburban Andheri in which 11 people died. Union Labour Ministry had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to each of the seriously injured persons. About 175 people were injured in the blaze. Lalita Logavi, the mother of the deceased girl, alleged the hospital authorities denied them full compensation of Rs 10 lakh, saying "the premature baby was anyway going to die naturally". Lalita had delivered twins, a boy and a girl, three days before the fire mishap. Her son is doing fine, she said. Lalita claimed her daughter, whom the couple had not even named, might have died while being shifted to Holy Spirit Hospital when the blaze swept through the ESIC Hospital Monday. "She was taken away from the ventilator support in the ESIC Hospital during fire and was being shifted to the Holy Spirit hospital. She might have died because of interruption in ventilatory support coupled with smoke inhalation", she said. The baby girl died in Holy Spirit hospital four days after admission. "ESIC hospital authorities said that chances of survival of my daughter were very less as she was a premature baby. They said she was going to die naturally (and) not due to burn injuries", Lalita told PTI while fighting back her tears. Any monetary compensation is not going to bring back my daughter, but refusing us the full compensation is like rubbing salt on our wounds, Lalita said, adding that she and her husband would fight against this "injustice". Meanwhile, a hospital official said they had issued two cheques of Rs 2 lakh each to the Logavis. This effectively means that the hospital authorities are counting the deceased girl as a seriously injured victim of the fire. Another cheque is meant for her infant brother. ESIC Additional Commissioner S K Sinha did not respond to the calls and message. Lalita said she would not realise the cheque given in the name of her daughter. "We will honour the cheque of Rs two lakh issued in the name of my son, but not the other cheque", she said. Meanwhile, North East Mumbai MP Kirit Somaiya claimed that the ESIC has agreed to issue the balance compensation at the earliest. "As a chairman of a parliament committee in Labour Ministry which controls ESIC, I took up this issue and spoke with the officials concerned. ESIC has agreed to issue the balance compensation at the earliest," he told PTI after meeting the parents of the deceased girl. "We are sad about the ESIC hospital Mumbai fire incident & the death of new born baby girl due to fire in ESIC hospital. I discussed issue of compensation with Minister and officials of ESIC. They are releasing the balance of Rs.8 lakh immediately to victim's family," Somaiya tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mumbai University (MU) spent Rs 7.44 lakh on the election of ten registered graduate candidates to the senate body held in March this year, an RTI query has revealed. A total of 57 registered graduate candidates had contested the election for the Senate, the principal authority for all financial estimates, budgetary appropriations and for providing social feedback to the MU on current and future academic programmes. As per the response given by the MU to the query filed by activist Anil Galgali, a big chunk of the total expenditure at Rs 5.65 lakh was spent on "hospitality, travelling and issuing advertisements". The activist claimed that the MU took nine months to reply to his query, which he had submitted in March. He had sought details of all expenses incurred in the Senate committee election. MU deputy Vice Chancellor and Public Information Officer (PIO) Rajendra Ambawade stated that the total expenditure of Rs 7,44,449 was incurred towards conducting the election. "Out of this total expenditure, the maximum amount of Rs 3.22 lakh was spent on travelling (of officials) while Rs 2.42 lakh on advertisements. Amounts of Rs 69.900 and Rs 68,810 were spent on hospitality and software, respectively, while training and vote counting of the election cost Rs 3,330", he stated. Questionning the "long" delay on part of the MU in replying to his query, Galgali demanded that details of such information be put on the MU website, to ensure transparency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Representatives from NBFCs and housing finance companies Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and gave suggestions on how to "revive" the sector facing liquidity issues, especially after debt defaults by crisis-hit IL&FS. IL&FS group has defaulted on a series of debt repayments, raising concerns that default by a large non-banking finance company (NBFC) like IL&FS would create liquidity crunch in the financial market. "We had a meeting with Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) primarily to brief on challenges faced by NBFCs as well as housing companies. "After the IL&FS crisis, the government has taken many positive steps but as an industry, through Assocham, we were trying to give a message that those steps were not enough, and accordingly, we had to bring it at the highest level," Assocham President B K Goenka told reporters after the meeting. He said the prime minister assured that the government would take all necessary measures to address the industry concerns. The government is positive about the situation and the sector should see some positive outcomes in the coming days, Goenka said. Banking Secretary Rajiv Kumar was also present at the meeting, he said. "Today, the problem is risk aversion, because of one failure, people don't want to lend to NBFCs and HFCs (housing finance companies)," he said, in an apparent reference to IL&FS. "So, whatever repayments are coming, they are going to repay the existing loans. Therefore, the growth has virtually come to a halt in the last few months in this sector. In order to open that up, you need to bring in confidence," said Srei Infra Finance Vice-Chairman Sunil Kanoria, who was also part of the meeting. During the meet, Assocham suggested that systemically-important NBFCs must be allowed to accept public deposits, and to revive HFC lending, especially towards individual home loans, they should be permitted access to National Housing Bank's refinance facility. Towards this, HFCs should be given time till December 2020 to comply with the requirement that individual home loans should be more than 50 per cent of their assets. It has also demanded that the Reserve Bank of India provide a liquidity window for NBFCs/ HFCs against sale of secured loans by taking appropriate margin on these secured loans, maybe at a higher rate, to help restore confidence in the sector. Others present in the meeting with the PM include Indiabulls Group Chairman Sameer Gehlaut, DHFL Chairman Kapil Wadhavan, L&T Finance Managing Director Dinanath Dubhashi, Sriram Trans & Finance MD Umesh Revankar, Finance Industry Development Council Chairman Raman Agarwal, and Aditya Birla Capital Chief Executive Officer Ajay Srinivasan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli lawmakers have given final approval to a law enabling farmers to export medical cannabis, parliament said Wednesday, a move expected to generate significant revenue for the state. The law passed Tuesday conditions growing cannabis on a health ministry license, with police providing approval and monitoring growers and investors, according to its explanatory notes. The medical cannabis export market was expected to generate the state income of a billion shekels ($265 million, 234 million euros) per year. Yoav Kisch of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, who penned the law, noted its "huge economic potential" for the state and farmers, calling medical cannabis "a blessed product that eases the suffering of the sick". There are currently eight companies in Israel growing medical cannabis, with many more awaiting to receive permission from the authorities, a statement from parliament read. In 2016 Israel approved the use of medical cannabis, and last year the public security ministry partially decriminalised marijuana use, setting fines and treatment for initial use instead of criminal procedures. Israeli producers were expected to begin exporting within six months, according to iCAN, an Israel-based firm promoting medical cannabis technologies. iCAN CEO Saul Kaye called the law "long overdue but welcome". "Israel, already the most advanced nation in cannabis R&D, will now be able to produce and market cannabis and cannabis-based products that will help millions of people suffering from illnesses," he said in a statement. Nearly two dozen countries have legalised medical marijuana use. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Wednesday busted a suspected ISIS-inspired terror module following searches in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, arresting at least 10 people allegedly planning to attack crowded places and political personalities, officials said. The National Investigation Agency conducted searches across 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in connection with its probe into the new module called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. The module was in touch with foreign handlers, whose identity is yet to be established, National Investigation Agency (NIA) Inspector General Alok Mittal told reporters. Mittal said searches were carried out in Delhi's Seelampur locality, UP's Lucknow, Amroha and Hapur districts where a huge quantity of explosives, a country-made rocket launcher, 100 mobiles and 135 SIM cards were recovered. "Searches were carried out at 17 locations in Delhi and UP from where 16 suspects were detained and 10 of them were arrested," he said. "The level of preparation showed they were planning to attacks in near fidayen attacks," Mittal added. Five people were picked up from the western Uttar Pradesh district of Amroha following a joint operation with the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, Inspector General ATS Asim Arun said in Lucknow. The group was under NIA surveillance for some time following inputs of their suspicious activities, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Amid reports that the censor board has objected to certain scenes in the biopic of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray, senior party leader and the film's producer Sanjay Raut Wednesday said nobody can ban the film. Raut, who has also written the film, was talking to reporters here after the launch of its trailer. The biopic features Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Bal Thackeray. According to media reports, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has taken exception to certain scenes referring to the Babri Masjid and the south Indian community. "What is right and what is not right, who will decide? This is a biopic, it is a true story. Balasaheb's life was an open book. The censor board will understand. Some things take time to be understood," Raut said. "Fifty years ago, Balasaheb had spoken about Bhoomiputras (sons of the soil) and now the people who opposed it want Bhoomiputra policy in Madhya Pradesh," added Raut in an apparent reference to the Congress government encouraging recruitment of local people in Madhya Pradesh. The Sena's Rajya Sabha member further said, "There is no question of ban, this is Thackeray. Nobody can ban Thackeray." Known for his provocative statements, Thackeray, in the late 1960s had targeted south Indians, accusing them of snatching away jobs from local Marathi youths. He also dominated the headlines for his anti-Muslim tirades. The Censor board as yet has not come out with any statement about whether it has suggested any cuts. Its spokesperson could not be contacted for comments. Asked about the censor board's reported objections, Thackeray's son and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, "Whatever has happened has happened. We can not change it. If we can not have a quick action about the film (referring to censor clearance) then we better have quick resolution of the Babri Masjid case." "This picture will be two-hour long, but I have seen the full 52-year picture (the time he spent with his father). This must have been a difficult film to make," Uddhav said as he lauded Nawazuddin for portraying a "very difficult role". Nawazuddin said he was grateful to the film's makers for casting him. "This was the most challenging role for me. I did get nervous thinking whether I will be able to do this role or not but the director gave me lot of confidence and put me at ease," the actor said. Directed by Abhijit Panse, the film will release on January 23, Thackeray's birth anniversary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh Government over a Noida police order against offering of Friday prayers at a local park, saying it was "showering petals on Kanwariyas" (devotees of Lord Shiva) but was issuing notice to Muslim faithful who want to offer prayers in public places. The police in Noida had recently sent notices to 23 private firms located under its jurisdiction, asking them to stop Muslim employees from offering Friday 'namaz' (prayers) at a local park. The district administration had Tuesday said "unauthorised" religious gatherings would not be allowed at public places. Slamming the order, Owaisi tweeted, "UP cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony," "This is telling Muslims: aap kuch bhi karlo, ghalti to aapki hi hogi (No matter what you do, you will be in the wrong," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader said. "Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what their employees do in individual capacity?" the Hyderabad MP questioned. Citing a Supreme Court order of 2009, Noida officials said there was a clear ban on unauthorised use of public places for religious activities by all communities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani authorities on Wednesday claimed to have foiled a terrorist attack at a Christmas ceremony in Punjab province and arrested four al-Qaeda terrorists. According to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), it got a credible information that four terrorists belonging to al-Qaeda were present near Francis Abad, Sheikhupura road Gujranwala, some 80-km from Lahore. "They were planning to attack a Christmas function in Gujranwala city on December 25," a CTD spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday. A CTD team along with police raided their hideout and arrested the four terrorists identified as Muhammad Tua Seen, Muhammad Junaid, Muneer Ahmed and Taaj Muhammad Shah. "The terrorists have made important disclosures regarding other plans of the al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Raids are being conducted to arrest their accomplices," the spokesman said. Explosive material and ammunition have been recovered from them. They have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further investigation. The CTD recently arrested a member of the al-Qaeda from Lahore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday agreed to continue efforts for peace and reconciliation in the war-torn Afghanistan. Qureshi, who arrived here early Wednesday on the last leg of his four-nation tour, met Lavrov and the two leaders held in-depth talks on various bilateral and regional issues, including recent developments concerning the Afghan peace process. "On the final leg of his tour to regional countries, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi held discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov," Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted. Later, in a statement the Foreign Office said the "ministers agreed to continue efforts, including through Moscow Format of Consultations, for supporting reconciliation under an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process." Lavrov "acknowledged" Pakistan's efforts to achieve a political settlement in Afghanistan and offered his country's support to bring stability in the region, the statement said. It was underlined that "being the most important stakeholders", Pakistan and Russia had shared interests and concerns in Afghanistan and had the common goal of supporting all efforts to restore peace and stability in the country, the FO said. Both leaders also underscored the need to harmonise various regional approaches for developing a regional consensus on various issues. Qureshi also stated that Pakistan "greatly values" its relations with Russia. He also expressed Pakistan's desire to forge a long-term, multidimensional partnership and friendship with Russia. "Both sides expressed satisfaction on the upward trajectory of bilateral relations," the statement said. Russia last month hosted Afghan peace talks that were attended by delegations of the Taliban, the Afghan government and global stakeholders. A Pakistani delegation had also attended the peace talks. Earlier, the foreign minister visited Kabul, Tehran and Beijing, where he met his counterparts and other high-ranking officials. In Kabul, he met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani on Monday and later dashed to Iran to meet his counterpart Javad Zarif. During his meetings in Afghanistan, Qureshi stressed the importance of peace in the war-torn nation for regional stability and renewed Pakistan's commitment to assist in the process. On his trip to Tehran on the same day, the foreign minister discussed with Zarif the bilateral relations and regional situation. Both officials agreed on the importance of improved bilateral relations between the two countries. On Tuesday, Qureshi was in Beijing and met Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing in Beijing on Tuesday that both sides reiterated their determination to adopt a joint course of action for regional peace and stability, to promote connectivity and work for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Diplomatic sources said Qureshi briefed his hosts about Pakistan's efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table in order to achieve peace in war-torn Afghanistan. In a sudden move, President Donald Trump last week announced his decision to pull around half of the 14,000 US troops stationed in Afghanistan. The move has stunned and dismayed allies, diplomats and officials in Kabul. The announcement comes during a renewed push for talks with the Taliban to end the 17-year war. Last week, Pakistan brokered a meeting between the US and the Taliban in Abu Dhabi in a bid to pave the way for reviving the peace process that has remained stalled since 2015, Dawn reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A two-day Envoys Conference on Economic Diplomacy will begin here on Thursday to attract foreign investment in cash-strapped Pakistan. The conference has been organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Board of Investment. Pakistan's Ambassadors and Heads of Missions from select capitals, representatives of public and private sectors, and government institutions would participate in the conference, the Foreign Office (FO) said. "(The conference) will deliberate ways and means to enhance Foreign Direct Investment and trade, particularly exports," it said. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain and Chairman Board of Investment Haroon Sharif will attend the event. Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to grace the concluding session on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani journalists, who have taken on military dictators and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship that is more subtle but no less chilling, one spearheaded by the security services. Journalists and press freedom advocates say the military and the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, are pressuring media outlets to quash critical coverage. The newly elected government is meanwhile slashing its advertising budget, squeezing a key source of revenue for private newspapers and TV stations. Ghazi Salauddin, a veteran Pakistani journalist who has witnessed successive periods of direct military rule, said today's censorship is the worst it's ever been. "Today we don't know what will annoy them," he said of the military. "Today we have to do self-censorship and that is the worst kind of censorship, because it is done out of fear." Websites have been shut down, including the Urdu website of the US government-funded Voice of America, after it reported on a tribal movement critical of military operations in regions bordering Afghanistan. Mashaal Radio, affiliated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has also been shut down. Journalist Cyril Almeida was charged with treason after he published an interview with Nawaz Sharif in which the former prime minister accused the Pakistani military of aiding the militants who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Authorities are also targeting social media, asking Twitter to suspend accounts and submitting thousands of requests to Facebook to take down pages for a variety of reasons, ranging from criticism of the military to propagating hate and insulting Islam. Taha Siddiqui, an opinion writer and journalist who is critical of the security services, lives in self-imposed exile in France after an attempt on his life earlier this year, which he blamed on the ISI. Journalist Matiullah Jan, labeled "anti-state" by the military for his criticism of the judiciary and army, called the crackdown "a systematic attempt by the military and its intelligence agency to assert control with a facade of a democratically elected government." New legislation regulating print and online media has also alarmed press freedom advocates, who fear it will grant authorities even more censorship tools. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry denies the government is cracking down on press freedoms, saying it only acts to prevent incitement to violence. Pakistan has banned coverage of the hard-line Tehreek-e-Labbaik movement after it held violent protests and threatened to kill a Christian woman who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after years spent on death row. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere accusation can spark deadly mob violence. "Pakistan has the freest media possible, and powerful media criticize the government and even agencies and (the) army establishment at their will," Chaudhry told The Associated Press. "Incitement of hatred is the only area that we interfere." But journalists say the interference goes much further, and has worsened since July's national elections. They say intelligence agents have called reporters to demand that opinion pieces be withdrawn and to quash investigative reports on allegations that the military intervened in the vote to help elect Prime Minister Imran Khan. The security establishment is especially sensitive about coverage of the Pashtun Tahafaz (Protection) Movement, or PTM, which has criticized the military's actions in the tribal regions. Pakistan has long been accused of covertly supporting the Afghan Taliban while waging a scorched-earth campaign against homegrown extremists who threaten the state, allegations denied by the government. "We have been facing a media blackout since the very first day," said Mohsin Dawar, a parliamentarian and founding member of the PTM. "The military now is enjoying unquestioned power in the country, and the PTM questioned their power." Dawar said newspapers have refused to carry their statements or cover their press conferences. Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Pakistan has waged an "aggressive crackdown" on the media. "The crackdown comes behind the scenes and is increasingly exerted through the owners of media properties," he said. There are currently 89 private television channels licensed by the government. Most of the privately-owned channels emerged in just the last 15 years and are owned by big businesses, said Mohammad Ziauddin of the Pakistan Press Foundation, a free press advocacy group. "The new entrants in the media are business people. They got into the media industry not to make money, not to serve the public, but to have clout," he said, making them vulnerable to intimidation and financial coercion. In the last two months, hundreds of journalists have been laid off as government advertising - a key source of revenue - has been drastically reduced. A rate schedule seen by the AP shows the government was until recently paying upward of USD 2,500 for a 60-second spot, which has now been reduced to USD 400 to USD 500. "While reliance on government revenues is not a healthy model for press freedom, the sudden cutbacks have imposed extreme hardship on the media, which has had basically no time to adjust business models," Butler said. Chaudhry defends the new rate schedule, saying previous governments paid well above the market rate in return for positive coverage. "The last government used television advertising as tool to bribe media," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old pregnant woman from this district contracted HIV after receiving blood donated by an infected man, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to review the stocks in all blood banks of the state to ensure they were free of the deadly virus. An employee of a blood bank attached to a government hospital in Sattur, near here, has been dismissed, while two others have been suspended in connection with the incident, health department officials said on Wednesday. The state government said it was making all efforts to prevent the impact of the virus on the woman, and stocks in all blood banks would be reviewed to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Joint Director of Health Services, Virudhunagar, R Manoharan told PTI the woman was admitted to a private hospital in Sattur for the birth of her second child and the doctors advised her to have a blood transfusion citing haemoglobin deficiency. Blood brought from a blood bank was transfused to her. It later emerged that the donor was HIV positive, the official said, adding the recipient's blood was also tested, which confirmed that she too had got infected by the virus. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the blood bank staff had failed to screen the blood properly before supplying it to the private hospital. The personnel who tested the donor's blood had labelled it 'safe,' officials said. State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said action has been taken against the erring employees of the blood bank the district collector has also expressed 'regret', apparently to the family, through the revenue divisional officer. "The government is taking steps to prevent the impact of HIV on that women with the help of technology. All stocks in blood banks will be analysed to ensure they are HIV-free," he told reporters in Chennai. Meanwhile, the woman and her husband lodged a complaint with Sattur police Wednesday seeking action against the doctors, nurses and employees of the blood bank. Speaking to reporters, the woman's husband held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for the incident and demanded that it provides the best treatment to her. The husband said that he does not want any job from the government but only the best treatment for his wife. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the district and spoke to the woman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old pregnant woman here contracted HIV allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank which failed to conduct proper screening for the virus, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to order examination of stocks in all blood banks of the state. The services of three lab technicians of the blood bank attached to a government hospital in Sattur, near here, have been terminated, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said Wednesday. Terming the incident as "disheartening and shocking", he said such a thing has never happened in the state so far. The Minister said a thorough probe into the incident was underway and promised stringent action against those found guilty. The woman and her husband lodged a police complaint on Wednesday seeking action against the doctors, nurses and employees of the blood bank. The state government said it was making all efforts to prevent the impact of the virus on the woman, and stocks in all blood banks would be reviewed to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Joint Director of Health Services, Virudhunagar, R Manoharan told PTI the woman was admitted to a private hospital in Sattur for the birth of her second child and the doctors advised her to have a blood transfusion citing haemoglobin deficiency. Blood brought from the blood bank was transfused to her. It later emerged that the donor was HIV positive, the official said, adding the recipient's blood was also tested, which confirmed that she too had got infected by the virus. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the blood bank staff had failed to screen the blood properly before supplying it to the private hospital. The personnel who tested the donor's blood had labelled it 'safe,' officials said. A detailed medical treatment is also underway for the woman to ensure the virus does not affect her foetus, the minister said, adding, the government is also giving all livelihood assistance to the family. Lakhs of persons were provided with blood component annually including in the form of blood and "there have been no complaints (of such nature) so far and this is the first time which is shocking," he told reporters in Chennai. Talking to reporters, the woman's husband held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for the incident and demanded that it provide the best treatment to her. He said he does not want any job from the government but only the best treatment for his wife. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the district and spoke to the woman. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the district collector had expressed 'regret' to the family through the revenue divisional officer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "The Simpsons" illustrators Stefano Monda and Rino Russo seemed to have given a gift to the newly-wedded couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas who now have their own caricatures from the world of the fictitious town of Springfield. The "Quantico" star took to Instagram to share the two cartoons that were a play on their twin wedding in Indian city of Jodhpur where they were dressed in traditional white and red colours to honour the roots of the couple. Priyanka and Nick exchanged wedding vows on December 1 at the majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace in a Catholic ceremony officiated by the groom's father Kevin Jonas Sr. It was followed by an equally grand wedding as per Hindu traditions on December 2. In the first artwork, a scene from the Christian nuptials, here officiated by Homer Simpson, Priyanka and Nick can be seen standing in an embrace showing off their rings. A board titled, "First Church of Springfield - Wedding Day: Priyanka and Nick", is also visible in the cartoon. The actor captioned the photo: "Love #simpsons." In the cartoon from the Hindu wedding, the couple can be seen holding hands dressed, as the Simpsons family - Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie - watches over from the side. She captioned the picture: "#simpsons", with a heart emoji. However, Priyanka's skin tone in the red wedding cartoon appears to have gone from yellow, as it was during the white ceremony, to lighter brown. Recently, the animated sitcom came under fire for the stereotypical representation of the South Asians through its character, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sessions court judge was allegedly assaulted by an assistant prosecutor in a court premises here in Maharashtra on Wednesday, a police official said. The incident took place around noon outside a lift on the seventh floor of the district sessions court, he said. Senior civil judge K R Deshpande alleged that assistant public prosecutor D M Parate slapped him outside the courtroom, Sadar police station in-charge Sunil Bonde told reporters, quoting the judge's complaint. The accused was apparently miffed over a decision taken by the judge in a case, he said. An investigation was on into the incident, police said, adding that no arrest was made so far. When contacted, district government pleader Nitin Telgote condemned the incident. "He (the accused) should not have done this. If he had any grievances, he should have taken it up in a proper manner...the society does not expect this from lawyers," Telgote told PTI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday in Moscow and the two leaders discussed the progress on Afghan peace process and the recent developments in the region. Qureshi, who arrived here early wednesday on the last leg of his four-nation tour, also talked about the bilateral and regional situation. "On the final leg of his tour to regional countries, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi held discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov," Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted. He said that bilateral and regional situation especially progress on Afghan peace and reconciliation discussed. Russia last month hosted Afghan peace talks that were attended by delegations of the Taliban, the Afghan government and global stakeholders. A Pakistani delegation had also attended the peace talks. So far Qureshi has visited Kabul, Tehran and Beijing, where he met his counterparts and other high-ranking officials. In Kabul, he met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani on Monday and later dashed to Iran to meet his counterpart Javad Zarif. During his meetings in Afghanistan, Qureshi stressed the importance of peace in the war-torn nation for regional stability and renewed Pakistan's commitment to assist in the process. With Zarif on his trip to Tehran on the same day, the foreign minister discussed bilateral relations and regional situation. Both officials agreed on the importance of improved bilateral relations between the two countries. On Tuesday, Qureshi was in Beijing and met Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing in Beijing on Tuesday that both sides reiterated their determination to adopt a joint course of action for regional peace and stability, to promote connectivity and work for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Diplomatic sources said Qureshi briefed his hosts about Pakistan's efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table in order to achieve peace in war-torn Afghanistan. In a sudden move, President Donald Trump last week announced his decision to pull around half of the 14,000 US troops stationed in Afghanistan. The move has stunned and dismayed allies, diplomats and officials in Kabul. The announcement comes during a renewed push for talks with the Taliban to end the 17-year war. Last week, Pakistan brokered a meeting between the US and the Taliban in Abu Dhabi in a bid to pave the way for reviving the peace process that has remained stalled since 2015, Dawn reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yoga guru Baba has said it was "very difficult" to predict the country's next Prime Minister in view of the current political situation. Noting that he was "not focussed" on politics, the 53-year-old yoga guru said he would not support or oppose anyone in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters at the airport here Tuesday, said, "We can't say who will become the next prime minister (after the 2019 general elections)." "We do not have a political or religious agenda... We want to make a spiritual India and world... Not Hindu India or communal India," he added. His comments come days after the (BJP) suffered a big blow as it lost power in its earlier ruled Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Congress won convincingly in Chhattisgarh, less so in Rajasthan and edged out the saffron party in a cliffhanger in Madhya Pradesh. Referring to the Ayodhya dispute, claimed that the would lose trust if the 'Ram Mandir' was not built in Ayodhya now. The yoga guru was in the state to attend a national executive meeting of Bharat Swabhiman in Rameswaram. On Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on mob violence in Uttar Pradesh, he said, "Accusing India of religious intolerance amounts to degrading the country's pride". The charge that country was religiously intolerant was tantamount to "ungratefulness, disrespect and treason," he added. Apparently referring to the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, Shah had said that at many places in the country the "death of a cow is being given more importance than the killing of a policeman". The veteran actor had also expressed anxiety over the well-being of his children, who he said, have not been brought up as followers of any particular religion. The violence, which occurred earlier this month over an incident of alleged cow slaughter, had claimed two lives, including that of a police inspector. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has said it was "very difficult" to predict the country's next Prime Minister in view of the current political situation. Noting that he was "not focussed" on politics, the 53-year-old yoga guru said he would not support or oppose anyone in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters at the airport here Tuesday, Ramdev said, "We can't say who will become the next prime minister (after the 2019 general elections)." "We do not have a political or religious agenda... We want to make a spiritual India and world... Not Hindu India or communal India," he added. His comments come days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a big blow as it lost power in its earlier ruled Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Congress won convincingly in Chhattisgarh, less so in Rajasthan and edged out the saffron party in a cliffhanger in Madhya Pradesh. Referring to the Ayodhya dispute, Ramdev claimed that the BJP would lose trust if the 'Ram Mandir' was not built in Ayodhya now. The yoga guru was in the state to attend a national executive meeting of Bharat Swabhiman in Rameswaram. On Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on mob violence in Uttar Pradesh, he said, "accusing India of religious intolerance amounts to degrading the country's pride". The charge that country was religiously intolerant was tantamount to "ungratefulness, disrespect and treason," he added. Apparently referring to the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, Shah had said that at many places in the country the "death of a cow is being given more importance than the killing of a policeman". The veteran actor had also expressed anxiety over the well-being of his children, who he said, have not been brought up as followers of any particular religion. The violence, which occurred earlier this month over an incident of alleged cow slaughter, had claimed two lives, including that of a police inspector. Later talking to reporters in Rameswaram, Ramdev said he was neither against any political party nor supporting any political party. He said the three-day yoga programme being organised herefrom tomorrow was an effort to make "a prosperous and spiritually rich India." Similar Yoga programmes were being held through out the world by their organisation. Around 5,000 participants from across the country would participated in the programme, he said adding it was "non- political". "Yoga is for people of all the religion. It is purely a spiritual programme... it is a scientific way of living," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rising costs and muted realisations are expected to dent the profitability of tea companies, says a report. "We expects profit margins of domestic tea planters to contract by 140-170 basis points (bps) in FY 19 and a further by around 100 bps in FY20. The margins of integrated players are expected to contract 200-240 bps and a further around 90 bps, Crisil said in a report. It expects prices at tea auctions across the country to close calendar year 2018 at Rs 145-146 per kg on average, 3-4 per cent higher on-year, compared with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4 per cent logged over calendar 2012-2017. "Despite this, the players' margins are expected to be impacted adversely as the export-driven uptick would not be enough to offset a significant increase in labour cost," it said. In March 2018, tea estate workers' wages increased significantly by 22-25 per cent in north India, which accounts for approximately 80 per cent of the country's total tea production, Crisil noted, adding that labourers in Assam have demanded a further hike of Rs 17 per day (another 10 per cent), which is being discussed and, if implemented, would add to the burden of planters. The rating agency observed that the domestic market is saturated, with penetration as high as 99 per cent among the tea-drinking population, which has limited growth potential and increased the players' dependence on exports to maintain the overall demand-supply balance in the domestic market and thereby prices. The agency expects record tea production of 1,328 million kg in 2018 and 1,339 million kg in 2019, driven by higher yields in Assam and West Bengal. "However, the share of exports is estimated to continue at 18-20 per cent in volume terms. Thus, healthy supplies due to higher production and limited scope for growth in domestic consumption and exports will cap any rise in prices for Indian players," it said. In 2017, India accounted for 23 per cent of the global production. However, its share of exports was only 13 per cent due to stiff competition from Kenya and Sri Lanka, and high domestic consumption. Both Kenya and Sri Lanka accounted for only 13 per cent of global tea production, but cornered 39 per cent exports share during the year. Those two countries also enjoy much higher realisation compared with India, given better-quality tea. "Export realisation of Indian tea producer's dropped at around 2 per cent CAGR over 2012-2017. In 2018, growth in realisation is expected to have remained muted, though 2019 could see a marginal increase of 1-2 per cent," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Russian military on Wednesday criticized an alleged Israeli airstrike near the Syrian capital, saying it has endangered civilian flights. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that six Israeli F-16 jets launched a "provocative" raid at the moment when two civilian airliners were preparing to land in Damascus and Beirut, creating a "direct threat" to the aircraft. Lebanon's acting Transport Minister Youssef Fenianos later on Wednesday confirmed Konashenkov's account, saying the two airplanes in Lebanese airspace "narrowly" escaped Israeli warplanes, averting a "human catastrophe." Fenianos didn't provide details, but said he reported the incident to the prime minister-designate. He said the Lebanese government will present a complaint to the UN Security Council. The Syrian military didn't fully engage its air defense assets to avoid accidentally hitting the passenger jets, Konashenkov said. He added that Syrian air traffic controllers redirected the Damascus-bound plane to the Russian air base in Hemeimeem in Syria's coastal province of Latakia. Konashenkov said the Syrian air defense forces shot down 14 of the 16 precision-guided bombs dropped by the Israeli jets, while the remaining two hit a Syrian military depot 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) west of Damascus, injuring three Syrian soldiers. It wasn't clear if the Syrian military used any of the advanced S-300 air defense missile systems that Russia delivered in October to beef up its air defenses. The move followed the Sept. 17 downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli air raid, an incident that strained previously warm ties between Russia and Israel. The Syrian Foreign Ministry in a statement Wednesday accused Israel of exacerbating the crisis in the country and standing in the way of the government's war on terrorism. In messages sent to the U.N. secretary-general and the president of the Security Council, the ministry said the Israeli airstrike wouldn't have been launched if it wasn't for what it called "unlimited" U.S. support for Israel. Israel has carried out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of them believed to have been aimed at Iranian arms shipments to the Hezbollah militant group. Both Iran and Hezbollah have been fighting alongside the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that he will not allow archenemy Iran to establish a permanent military presence in postwar Syria. Speaking at a military ceremony Wednesday, Netanyahu did not directly mention the alleged airstrike. But he repeated his position that he will not allow archenemy Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, and said Israel's air force has unmatched capabilities and can reach arenas "near and far, very far." "We are not prepared to accept the Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, which is directed against us. We will act against it vigorously and continuously, including during the current period," he told a graduation ceremony of new air force pilots. He said President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. forces out of Syria "will not change our policy." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said Tuesday's Israeli strike targeted three positions south of Damascus that are arms depots for Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group and Iranian forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven men were arrested Wednesday for allegedly robbing an elderly woman after barging into her house with weapons in south Delhi's Sainik Farm area, police said. Five of the accused -are residents of Delhi, while two others hail from Uttar Pradesh. They accused have been identified as Javed - 28, Lalit - 26, Pankaj - 26, Sachin - 18, Suraj - 25, Rohit - 27 and Rajpal - 28. sThe woman, a resident of Western Avenue, Sainik Farm, in her complaint said on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, four robbers allegedly barged into the house with weapons, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Vijay Kumar said. They had tied hands and legs of a guard sleeping inside the farmhouse and locked him in a room, he said. The men broke open the door of the main entrance of the house. On hearing the commotion, another servant Sunil Kumar Rai tried to prevent them from entering the house, but they somehow managed to barged into the house, the official said. They allegedly threatened to the woman if she did not hand over the keys of her almirah, Kumar added. During the investigation, police analysed the CCTV footage of nearby areas. Police team had first managed to apprehend Rohit, who provided the information to the rest of them, Kumar said. After analysing various call detail records, police rushed to Pul Prahladpur and nabbed four of them. The seven men had hatched a plan to commit robbery during night hours and target elderly people. During the robbery, they had decamped with Rs 2 lakh in cash and some silver jewellery, the DCP said. A loaded revolver, one chopper, two knives, a watch, robbed from the servant, seven expensive garments along with three pairs of branded shoes and Rs 40,000 were recovered from their possession, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British and French maritime authorities have rescued more than 40 migrants trying to cross the Channel into the UK in six small boats over two days, officials said on Wednesday. Five dinghies, carrying 40 people from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, were spotted on Christmas Day, the UK Home Office said. "The evidence shows there is organised criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel," a Home Office spokesperson said. "We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk." Another boat, carrying three migrants, was intercepted early Wednesday. All 43 people, including two children, are now in Britain, "where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities," a spokesperson for the UK coastguard service said. There has been a sharp rise in the number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France since October, despite dangers posed by heavy traffic, strong currents and freezing temperatures. For years, thousands of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia have attempted to reach Britain from France -- the vast majority by trying to stow away on trucks crossing the Channel. Police continue to routinely clear migrant camps along the French coast, two years after dismantling the squalid "Jungle" settlement in Calais which was once home to some 10,000 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Uttarakhand government Wednesday gave its nod to run seaplanes on Tehri lake as part of the state's strategy to develop the artificial reservoir as a tourist destination. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, minister Madan Kaushik said the initiative was taken under the Centre's UDAN scheme. An MoU will be signed between the Centre, Uttarakhand government and Airports Authority of India (AAI). The state government will arrange for 2.5 acres of land around the lake for the project. The Centre will provide 80 per cent of the project cost, the minister said. In another decision, Kaushik said, the cabinet decided to sign an agreement with National University of Singapore to make Dehradun a 'smart city'. He said the university will do a year-long study and submit the report to the state. The state will provide SGD 2,50,000 to the university for the study. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National award winning film director Srijit Mukherjee will bring the fictional adventurist character Kakababu, conceived by popular Bengali poet-writer Sunil Gangopadhyay, again on the big screen in 2019. The film, adapted from 'Jangoler Moddhe Ek Hotel' from Gangopadhyay, will be shot extensively in the forests of Kenya and South Africa and is scheduled to go on floors soon, Mukherjee told PTI Wednesday. Bengali film superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee, who had essayed the lead in the earlier two films of Kakababu (Mishwar Rahasya and Yeti Obhijaan), will be enacting the role of Kakababu again. "He said the film will be largely shot in Masai Mara Park during May-June when the area is frequented by wild animals. We will do everything to impart the natural feel of wild life in the work," Mukherjee said. About making more children's films, Mukherjee said, "I will sure undertake more work for children. I always love to work with children who are natural actors and uninhibitive." Chatterjee posted in twitter, "Kakababu and Santu are coming back for you all in 2019 puja." The actor said when contacted, "I am looking forward to the shoots. I always want to portray Kakababu on screen. And it is always a great experience to work with Srijit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Permanent loyalty to a party can not be taken for granted in politics, disgruntled BJP leader Eknath Khadse has said. It prompted the opposition NCP to claim Wednesday that several leaders of the saffron party were on their way out. Khadse, who resigned as minister in the BJP-led Maharashtra government in 2016, was speaking in Bhusawal town Tuesday. Congress leader Ulhas Patil also attended the event. Speaking before Khadse, Patil invited the senior BJP leader to join the Congress, saying the BJP has done him injustice. In his speech, Khadse said, "What is in your mind, is not in my mind Ulhas Patil. "It is true that there is no alternative to the organisation....(but) Be it his (Patil's) party or my party, nobody is bound to stay in a party (forever). And it should not be taken for granted in politics," he added. If injustice done, it should be countered "at the right time, in the right manner to ensure they (who are being unjust) come to know the person's strength", Khadse said. The BJP leader had to step down from the Maharashtra government after there were accusations of irregularities in a land deal made by his relatives. Since then, Khadse, who denied the allegations, has taken swipes at his party occasionally. Latching onto Khadse's remarks, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik claimed Wednesday that it showed "there is something brewing" in the BJP. "We think several BJP leaders will quit the party as soon as the (Lok Sabha) polls are declared," Malik said. He noted that NDA constituents such as the Shiv Sena and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party are openly speaking against the BJP. "Even (Yoga guru) Baba Ramdev, who had backed Narendra Modi in 2014 polls, is not certain (if Modi would be prime minister again)," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 650 delegates, including Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, would take part in the India steel conference in Mumbai next month, the Steel Ministry said Wednesday. Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai, senior government officials and industry members will also attend the three-day conference beginning January 22 in Mumbai, the ministry said. The conference will coincide with a three-day steel expo from 22-24. "The conference would focus upon the industry dynamics determining the demand and supply growth drivers. The conference would have sessions focussing on technological advancements in production process, increasing demand for steel products in India, growth of logistics infrastructure and key milestones in the journey of steel industry to 2030," the statement said. Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, V K Saraswat, Member of Niti Aayog, JSW Steel Chairman Sajjan Jindal and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) Chairman Naveen Jindal would also be present at the event, it said. Chief Ministers of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh will address the India Steel Conference 2019, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dale Steyn became South Africa's leading Test wicket-taker as Pakistan struggled on the opening day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Wednesday. Pakistan were 76 for four at lunch after winning the toss and batting on a well-grassed pitch on a hot day. Steyn and fellow fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier all took wickets. Azhar Ali, one of only three Pakistanis with previous Test experience in South Africa, was unbeaten on 31 at the interval. Rabada struck first, trapping Imam-ul-Haq leg before wicket for nought with a full delivery in the second over. The batsman wasted a review of a decision from umpire Bruce Oxenford which never looked in doubt. Steyn claimed his 422nd Test wicket, going past previous record-holder Shaun Pollock, when Fakhar Zaman edged him to third slip for 12, sparking exuberant celebrations from his team-mates. Rabada lifted his new ball partner onto his shoulders as other players rushed in to congratulate him. Shan Masood, playing in place of Haris Sohail, who suffered a knee injury during the pre-match warm-up, looked competent in scoring 19 before being bowled off his thigh pad by Olivier, who followed up by getting Asad Shafiq leg before for seven. Shafiq reviewed Oxenford's decision but replays showed the ball would have hit the bails in the 'umpire's call' zone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Afghan official says a suicide bomber disguised as a beggar has killed six people in a wealthy subdivision of the southern city of Kandahar. Mohammad Yousof Younosi, a provincial council member, says the attack on Tuesday happened a block away from his home and appeared to have targeted a group of Pakistanis from that country's Baluchistan region. No one immediately claimed the attack. Several militant and separatist groups operate in Baluchistan. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of sheltering Baluch separatists, including those behind a deadly attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi earlier this month. Afghanistan in turn accuses Pakistan of sheltering the Taliban and other Islamic extremists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday here and discussed various pending projects, including national status for the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. This is the first meeting between the chief minister, popularly called KCR, with Modi after the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) retained power in the state with a huge mandate in the recent Assembly election. The meeting came a few days after Rao met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday in an effort to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In the hour-long meeting, "the chief minister discussed various issues pertaining to pending projects of the state," an official statement said. The state government said the prime minister responded "positively" to KCR's request. At the meeting, the chief minister discussed about transfer of a polo ground land in Hyderabad for construction of a new secretariat, release of Rs 450 crore for backward districts and national status for the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Among others issues, Rao discussed about referring petitions of Telangana to Krishna River Water Disputes Resolutions Tribunal, resolution of bifurcation of Schedule 9 and 10 institutions under the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, sub-categorisation of scheduled caste and expeditious completion of railways projects. The Telangana chief minister further demanded revival of the Cement Corporation of India plant in Adilabad district, development of Kakatiya Mega Textile Part at Warangal with a sanction of Rs 1,000 crore and the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone in Zaheerabad in the state. He also sought setting up of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Karimnagar district, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad, 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in new districts, besides sanction of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in the state capital. The TRS chief, who is in Delhi since Monday night, also plans to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav has said that he would meet Rao in Hyderabad after January 6 as he could not be in Delhi on December 25 and 26 as planned earlier. The TRS chief had planned to meet Akhilesh Yadav here at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. It may be noted that the TRS has hired a special aircraft for a period of one month for Rao's trips to various places. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday here. This was Rao's first meeting with Modi after the former won the assembly elections to return to power in Telangana. He discussed a variety of issues with the prime minister, including release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district. His meeting with Modi came a few days after he met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief, who is in Delhi since Monday night, also plans to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav has said that he would visit Hyderabad in the coming days to meet Rao. He said he would meet Rao after January 6 in Hyderabad as he could not be in Delhi on December 25 and 26 as planned earlier. Earlier, the TRS chief had planned to meet Akhilesh Yadav here at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thai farmers welcomed a new law allowing cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes Wednesday, in an Asian first that promises an economic bonanza but also fears that foreign companies could reap the rewards. Thailand's National Assembly passed a bill Tuesday legalising the use of marijuana and kratom - a traditional herb - for research and medical use. The move is a significant step for a region that levies harsh sentences for drug violations. It would also allow for the production, import and export of marijuana. The bill, which still outlaws recreational use and has strict limits on the amount an individual can carry, requires royal assent to come into law, said National Assembly member Jet Sirathronont. The National Farmers Council of Thailand praised the law as providing a "new economic crop" to help farmers diversify their production. "I expect Thailand can make 100 billion baht a year (US$3.98 billion) from growing cannabis and selling the raw material and cannabis oil," chairman Prapat Panyachartrak told AFP. But some fear foreign companies and pharmaceutical giants are in pole position to scoop up valuable patents to produce the medical cannabis and extracts. Those holding the patents could stop Thai universities and government agencies from conducting research, warned Witoon Liamchamroon, director of BioThai, a network of agricultural activists, farmers and academics. The Commerce Ministry had promised to "revoke" the petitions of foreign companies, he said, "but so far, we checked and there is no revocation." Long time cannabis activist Buntoon Niyamabhra called on the government to cancel patent applications from foreign multinationals. "Otherwise Thai people will not get any benefits... as the patent law is retroactive once the new law takes effect," he told AFP. Thailand has a long history with cannabis. Marijuana was once classified as a traditional herb before it was re-categorised as a narcotic in the 1970s - which prohibited its production, consumption, sale and possession. It remains readily available despite high penalties for those caught smoking it. But Buntoon, who founded the Network of Cannabis Users in Thailand in 2013, said marijuana was once used in more than 100 formulas of Thai traditional medicine. "I have used cannabis for more than 50 years," he told AFP. "Cigarettes and whisky are more harmful to your health." Several nations have embraced the use of medicinal cannabis, including Canada, Australia, Israel, and more than half the states in the US. US-based Grand View Research has estimated the global market for medical marijuana could reach USD 55.8 billion by 2025. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An explosion ripped through a Chinese university laboratory here on Wednesday, killing at least three students, the city's fire department said. The explosion happened around 9:30am local time at the Beijing Jiaotong University in the western part of the city during a chemistry experiment, state television CGTN reported. Three students, who were doing an experiment on landfill leachate wastewater treatment in the lab, were killed in the accident, the fire department said in a statement. Videos of the scene showed large flames and plumes of smoke gushing out of the building in the university campus. About 30 fire engines were sent to the scene and took nearly an hour to get the blaze under control, the authorities said, adding that investigation is underway to find the cause of the accident, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three students were killed in a Beijing university Wednesday in a laboratory blast, the city's fire department said. "There was an explosion at the experimental site during a scientific research experiment" on wastewater treatment in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, the Beijing Fire Department said in a statement posted on its social media account. "The accident caused three students to die. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu Assembly will meet on January 2 with Governor Banwarilal Purohit delivering his customary address to the House. A communication from the state legislative Assembly secretary K Srinivasan Wednesday said the governor has summoned the House to meet at 10 AM on January 2. "The Governor of Tamil Nadu proposes to address the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly the same day," it added. Earlier, a special session of the House was convened on December 6 and it adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka for preparing a Detailed Project Report for a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu. The coming session, whose duration will likely be decided on January 2, could see the House debate key issues like the post cyclone Gaja developments and the Sterlite issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Tamil Nadu Ministers Wednesday sought Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's intervention to get the Centre to release Rs 3,776.20 crore pending grants under the 14th Central Finance Commission 'to carry out day to day affairs and provide basic amenities to citizens.' Electricity minister P Thangamani and Municipal administration minister S P Velumani called on the Defence minister in the national capital with this request. According to the letter signed by Velumani, a copy of which was released to the media, the Centre had already released Rs 1,390.04 crore as second instalment of basic grant of the 14th Central Finance Commission for 2017-18 for urban and rural local bodies of Tamil Nadu. "The release of this grant by Government of India, based on your support and intervention, has paved the way for providing quality services to the people and helped the local bodies in discharging their basic duties", Velumani said. He also brought to her notice that under the 14th Central Finance Commission, Rs 560.15 crore was due to Tamil Nadu towards performance grant for the 2017-18 and Rs 3,216.05 crore was outstanding towards basic grant for 2018-19. Noting that the local bodies in the State were in dire need of funds to carry out day to day affairs, he requested Sitharaman's intervention in the matter. "The Government of Tamil Nadu will always give priorities and support all endeavours of Government of India towards building a strong, modern and vibrant India. I, once again thank you for always supporting the cause of Tamil Nadu", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Probity watchdog (CVC) has started examining reports of and companies to check incidents of fraud and suggest corrective measures, officials said Wednesday. The move assumes significance with reporting large scale fraud cases and the high number of or non-performing assets, they said. Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin told the is getting a review done of central statutory reports, concurrent auditors' reports and other reports through chief vigilance officers of all and companies. "The same ( reports) are analysed in the Commission and a corrective action plan is advised for time-bound implementation," he said. Chief vigilance officers act as a distant arm of the to check and other fraudulent activities in an organisation. According to government data, various banks have reported an increase in cases of fraud during 2015-16 and 2017-18. A total of 8,802 frauds have been reported by scheduled commercial banks and in 2017-18 as against 7,794 in 2016-17 and 7,482 in 2015-16, according to a written reply given by the Ministry in the Lok Sabha recently. The (RBI) monitors frauds reported by banks. For management of fraud risk and to direct the focus of banks to early detection of loan frauds, prompt reporting to and investigative agencies and timely initiation of staff accountability proceedings, has issued a framework for dealing with loan frauds and Red Flagged Accounts (RFA). Time lines have been given for action incumbent on banks in dealing with loan frauds of Rs 500 million and above, the ministry said. The red flagging is done on an platform where all banks report large exposure to entities/individuals so other banks can be forewarned about fraud risk, it said. In October, the completed a first-of-its-kind analysis of top 100 banking frauds, including those in the jewellery and aviation sectors, and shared its findings with the RBI, the (ED) and the (CBI) among others. ALSO READ: C Sivasankaran denies link with alleged Rs 6-billion IDBI fraud The analysis focussed on the modus operandi, amount involved, type of lending (viz. consortium or individual), anomalies observed, loopholes that facilitated perpetration of the fraud concerned and the systemic improvements required to plug the gaps in the system and procedures. The frauds were classified and analysed for 13 sectors -- gems and jewellery, and industry, agro, media, aviation, service and project, discounting of cheques, trading, information technology, export business, fixed deposits, demand loan and letter of comfort. The modus operandi of these top 100 loans has been thoroughly analysed and various loopholes or lapses have been identified, Bhasin had said after releasing a report on the matter. Based on the findings, various industry specific suggestions for systemic improvement have been given in the final report. The suggestions have also been sent to the Department of Financial Services and the in order to plug the loopholes observed by the Commission, he said. A police officer has been arrested in Tripura for his alleged involvement in drug smuggling, police said. Cash amounting to Rs 10.01 lakh was recovered from the house of the Assistant Sub-Inspector(Special Branch) Sushil Debbarma during a police raid on Tuesday. A suo-motu case had been registered at West Agartala police station here on June 27 as part of a drive against the menace of drug and ganja. It came to light during the probe that Madhvi Debbarma was one of the kingpins of heroin smuggling racket, operating in the city. Based on the information, a team led by the officer- in-charge (OC) of the police station, Subrata Chakraborty, carried out a raid in the house of Madhvi Debbarma at Krishnanagar area on Tuesday night and took her to the police station for interrogation. During interrogation, she admitted her involvement in the smuggling of brown sugar and said that the money earned from the illegal trade had been kept at her brother-in-laws house, near Sanghati Club area here. The police then conducted raids in the house of her relative, Sushil Debbarma and recovered Rs 10.01 lakh on Tuesday. "Both Madhvi and Sushil have been booked under Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and will be forwarded to the court on Wednesday," the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The tsunami victims of 2004 in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry were remembered Wednesday on the 14th anniversary of the natural disaster. Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar paid tributes in Chennai, while Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy paid homage to the victims in the Union Territory. Floral tributes, prayers and silent processions in the affected districts of Tamil Nadu like Chennai, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam marked the remembrance. Emotional relatives remembered their near and dear ones, 14 years after the giant waves swallowed them on a Sunday morning. In Chennai and Cuddalore, members of various fishemen's organisations and relatives of the victims threw flower-garlands and poured milk in the sea, as a mark of respect for the departed ones. The people of 64 fishing hamlets in Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts observed the day by taking out candle processions and paying floral tributes at memorials. Tamil Nadu Minister for Handlooms O S Manian led the special events in Nagapattinam. When the clock struck 9:17 AM, people rose to observe a minute's silence to pay homage to the 6,065 persons who lost their lives in Nagapattinam in 2004. District Collector C Sureshkumar,Superintendent of Police C Vijayakumar and other officials participated in the silent marches and candle processions. At Velankanni, a special mass was conducted at the Shrine Basilica in memory of the tsunami victims. A silent procession was also taken out. In Puducherry, Narayanasamy and others, including representatives of various fishermen outfits, poured milk into the sea to pay homage to the victims. Sand sculptures, depicting the victims of the killer waves, were also showcased on the sea shore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Israeli business delegation met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat here Wednesday and discussed the setting up an algae and a medicinal cannabis farms in the hill-state. According to a press release by the government, Puremagics Ltd, an Israeli firm specialising in biotechnology, intends to produce Haematococcus pluvialis, a species of algae used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and nutritional supplements in Uttarakhand. It further stated that the company also expressed interest in farming and processing of medicinal GMP cannabis (medical cannabis) in the state, for which it is deliberating a collaboration with Indian Industrial Hemp Association (IIHA), the only licensee of cannabis farming in Uttarakhand. Rawat told the delegates that his government was committed towards generating employment opportunities, stopping migration from the hill-state and boosting local economy in Uttarakhand, the statement said. He also expressed his support and willingness in making the firm's proposal operational. Avi Peled, chairman of Puremagics and other executives of the firm were part of the Israeli delegation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain has launched a review into the persecution of Christians worldwide in response to a surge in violence against members of the faith, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced Wednesday. The report will make recommendations on steps the government can take to better support persecuted Christians. The Foreign Office cited a "dramatic rise" in violence that saw 215 million Christians face persecution for their faith last year. Women and children are particularly vulnerable and often subjected to sexual violence, the ministry said. Last year, on average 250 Christians were killed each month because of their faith, the Foreign Office said. "So often the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority," Hunt said. "We can and must do more." The report, due in April, will attempt to map Christian persecution across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, analyse the levels of British government support and suggest a comprehensive policy response. Open Doors, a non-denominational mission supporting persecuted Christians, said the most dangerous places for Christians to live in 2018 included North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan and Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Hindu religious event scheduled to be held on government land in Greater Noida was cancelled after authorities found it did not have requisite permission, officials said, days after the Noida Police asked private companies in sector 58 to stop their Muslim employees from offering namaaz at a park here. A nine-day Bhagwat Katha, the Hindu religious programme, was scheduled to begin Wednesday in Greater Noida's residential Sector 37, officials said. "The programme was being held on a 1,000-sq metre land area which belongs to the Greater Noida Authority. However, no permission was sought by the organisers for the programme so we cancelled it," a Greater Noida Authority official present on spot told PTI. Greater Noida authority officials said tents and loudspeakers were being installed at the site from Tuesday night. Around 10 AM, when the Greater Noida authority officials reached there, everything was set up and 25-30 people had gathered, anther official, who did not wish to be identified, told PTI. "The sector's resident welfare association was also not involved in organising the programme, whose main organisers came from outside," the official said. Earlier, a police station in Noida's Sector 58 had asked 23 private companies to stop their Muslim employees from gathering in a local park without permission for offering Friday namaaz. In the wake of the order, which was issued earlier this month, the administration had Tuesday said "unauthorised" religious gatherings will not be allowed at public places. The Friday prayer order drew flak from politicians with BSP president Mayawati saying such a policy, if at all, should be implemented in all districts and people from all religions. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticised it. "If the Yogi Adityanath government in the state has any such policy of banning religious activities at public places, why is it not being implemented on people belonging to all religions and in all the districts of the state without any discrimination," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said in a release in Lucknow. Slamming the order, Owaisi tweeted, "UP cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Hindu religious event scheduled to be held on a government land in Greater Noida was stopped Wednesday after authorities found it lacked requisite permission, officials said, days after the police asked some private firms here to stop their Muslim employees from offering namaaz at a public park. A nine-day Bhagwat Katha was to begin on Wednesday in Greater Noida's residential Sector 37, officials said. Officials of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority removed the tents, stage and loudspeaker this morning from the land plot, leading to a protest by its organisers. The land plot belongs to the Authority. "They have not been granted any permission for the programme. If they still carry it out, it would be illegal," Authority's Officer on Special Duty Sachin Singh told PTI. The local police said they had nothing to do with the action taken by the Authority. "The action was taken by authority officials and the police personnel who are attached with the authority. No officials of the district police or from local Kasna police station were there," Greater Noida (1st) Circle Officer Nishank Sharma said. Two small concrete structures have also come up in the 1000-sq metre on the land piece where religious events have been held in the past also, according to locals. "These structures are also illegal," an authority official at the site told PTI, requesting anonymity. The tents, stage and loudspeakers were being installed at the site from Tuesday night, he said. Around 10 AM, when the Greater Noida authority officials reached there, everything was set up and 25-30 people had gathered, anther official, who did not wish to be identified, said. "The sector's resident welfare association was also not involved in organising the programme, whose main organisers came from outside this sector," the official said. The plot was cleared of encroachment by 5 pm, even though officials stayed put there. Earlier this month, a police station in Noida's Sector 58 had asked 23 private companies to stop their Muslim employees from gathering in a local park without permission for offering Friday namaaz there. The district administration had Tuesday said "unauthorised" religious gatherings will not be allowed at public places. The Friday prayer order drew flak from politicians with BSP president and former UP chief minister Mayawati saying such a policy, if at all, should be implemented in all districts and people from all religions. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticised it. In a media release in Lucknow, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said, "If the Yogi Adityanath government in the state has any such policy of banning religious activities at public places, why is it not being implemented on people belonging to all religions and in all the districts of the state without any discrimination." Slamming the order, Owaisi tweeted, "UP cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) America's border security head warned Wednesday officials were overwhelmed by the "enormous flow" of families crossing from Mexico, appealing to Congress for health care funding after a second child died in custody. US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said the agency was unable to cope with the thousands of arrivals, as most facilities were built decades ago for men arriving alone. "We need help from Congress. We need to budget for medical care and mental healthcare for children in our facilities," McAleenan told CBS The official said he expected almost 25,000 migrant children to be in US custody by the end of the year -- a greater number than ever before. "That's an enormous flow, that's very different from what we've seen before," he said, adding that the onset of the flu season was taxing the ability of staff to properly care for every child. Guatemala has called for an investigation into the eight-year-old boy's death, which came just three weeks after a seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died in similar circumstances. The boy was detained with his father at a crossing in El Paso, Texas on December 18 and had been transferred to a New Mexico medical centre showing signs of sickness on Monday, the agency said. Staff diagnosed him with a cold but later discovered a fever. He was discharged midday, with prescriptions for ibuprofen and the antibiotic amoxicillin. The boy was later sent back to the hospital suffering from nausea and vomiting. He died shortly before midnight on December 24. The CBP said it had not established an official cause of death but would "ensure an independent and thorough review of the circumstances." Late Tuesday McAleenan announced the agency was "conducting secondary medical checks upon all children in CBP care and custody" with particular focus on children under 10. The child's death came with US President Donald Trump locked in a battle with Congress over funding for a border wall he says will stem migration from Latin American countries plagued by gang violence and poverty. The sparring among lawmakers triggered a lapse in funding that has partially shut down the federal government, with the president showing no appetite for a compromise. Asked if he thought the shutdown was worth it, McAleenan replied that "we need border security investments, absolutely." "I'm committed to improving our conditions, even as we work on the broader problems -- border security and of course solving the issues in our legal framework that are inviting these families and children to make this dangerous journey," he said. McAleenan said the CBP was considering seeking medical support from other government agencies, among them the US Coast Guard and the Department of Defense. Opposition Democrats reacted to the boy's death by accusing Trump -- who has made hardline immigration policies a central plank of his presidency -- of demonizing migrants for political gain. "Heartbroken and sickened by this news," Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico tweeted. "The Trump administration must be held accountable for this child's death and all the lives they have put in danger with their intentional chaos and disregard for human life." Nydia Velazquez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York, demanded "accountability" and an end to the White House's "hateful, dangerous anti-immigrant policies." The boy's death came on the same day that Jakelin Caal, the Guatemalan girl who died in US custody, was buried. Her body arrived on Sunday in San Antonio Secortez, the remote village where her family -- members of the indigenous Q'eqchi' Maya people -- live without electricity and other basic services. "This girl left home happy searching for a dream, but unfortunately died on the way," community leader Alberto Pop told AFP in the cemetery. "You hear that in the United States they pay well, not like the companies here in Guatemala -- that's why people leave," said Pop, whose 22-year-old son Joaquin left in November in search of a better life. "I don't know if he is alive or dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, authorities said, marking the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trump's request for border wall funding. US Customs and Border Protection said the boy identified by the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix as Felipe Gmez Alonzo had shown "signs of potential illness" on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was diagnosed with a cold and a fever, prescribed amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and released Monday afternoon after being held 90 minutes for observation, the agency said. The boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting and died there just after midnight, CBP said. CBP has not yet confirmed when or where the father and son entered the or how long they were detained, saying only in its statement that the boy had been "previously apprehended" by its agents. The agency said the cause of the boy's death has not been determined and that it has notified the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general and the Guatemalan government. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents in New Mexico. The body of the girl, Jakelin Caal, was returned to her family's remote village Monday for burial Tuesday. The White House referred questions about the latest case to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP's parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. According to Guatemala's foreign ministry, the father and son entered the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18, then were taken to the Border Patrol's Alamogordo station Sunday. Alamogordo is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) from El Paso. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he was told by the boy's father in a telephone interview that the two had been traveling from their home in Nentn, a village about 280 miles (450 kilometers) from Guatemala City. They were planning to go to Johnson City, Tennessee. The consul identified the father as 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, and said he remains in U.S. Border Patrol custody. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldn't be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE's detention centers. Parents and children together are almost always released quickly due to limited space in ICE's family detention facilities. A CBP spokesman on Tuesday did not respond to questions about the ministry's statement. The hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. CBP promised "an independent and thorough review of the circumstances." The Guatemalan foreign ministry called for an investigation "in accordance with due process." Democratic members of Congress and immigration advocates sharply criticized CBP's handling of Jakelin's death and questioned whether border agents could have prevented it by spotting symptoms of distress or calling for an evacuation by air ambulance sooner. CBP has said that it took several hours to transport Jakelin and her father from a remote Border Patrol facility to a larger station, where her temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius). Emergency medical technicians had to revive her twice. She was ultimately flown to an El Paso hospital, where she died the next day. Large numbers of Guatemalan families have been arriving in recent weeks in New Mexico, often in remote and dangerous parts of the desert. Jakelin and her father were with 161 other people when they were apprehended in Antelope Wells, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Alamogordo. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was Wednesday conferred the 'Champions of Change' award by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu for exemplary leadership in bringing about transformation in governance in the northeastern state. Addressing a ceremony for 115 'aspirational' districts of the country, Naidu said that it was an endeavour to tell the world about positive developments in India. "It is crucial that the stories of people who toil for the betterment of their brethren be told again and again," he said. Under the 'Aspirational Districts Programme' launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January this year, the government had identified the most least developed districts in the country. The programme was instituted to identify the progress made in 115 'aspirational' districts whose development is being monitored by the NITI Aayog. Manipur was chosen for its all-round development on various parameters in all its 'aspirational' districts. The other awardees included Union Minister of State for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Sudarshan and Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey. Naidu gave away 47 such awards. "Good things do happen in India, whatever cynics may say. I hope that the media increasingly focuses on good and aids and abets the process of development by telling inspiring stories and by spreading the message of change," Naidu added. He said that those who work to make things around them better are driven by passion and compassion rather than the want for personal glory and they should be celebrated. "The maximum output through optimal utilisation of resources' should be our mantra. I hope that the media increasingly focuses on good and aids and abets the process of development by telling inspiring stories and by spreading the message of change. "The government is committed to the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. The last person in the queue should have a say in the process of development and the fruits of development too should reach this last person," the vice president said. The award selection jury was led by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishna and former Supreme Court judge Sudha Mishra. The event, held in Delhi, was attended by eminent jurists, politicians, social leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal government has taken initiatives to dredge Muriganga river with state-of-the-art machinery to facilitate round-the-clock ferry services to Gangasagar Mela, a state minister said. The work, once complete, will also reduce travel time between the ferry jetties and Sagar island in South 24 Parganas, he said. Every year on Makar Sankranti (January 14), thousands of pilgrims gather at Sagar island to take a dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal and offer prayers at the Kapil Muni Temple. Low tide in the Ganges delta often makes it difficult for the vessels to operate, leaving the pilgrims waiting at the ghats for long. "We have taken up scientific dredging with machinery imported from Holland. It will cut down travel time to the island by at least three hours," Mahapatra told PTI. The state government has allocated Rs 120 crore for the entire project, the minister said, adding that the budget also included river maintenance for the next eight years. "By December 31, we will finish majority of the work so that big buses can be ferried to the island for transportation of pilgrims from one point to another. The rest of the work will be finished by January 9 and subsequently all jetties will be opened," the minister explained. At the moment, around four out of 10 jetties is operational, Mahapatra said. The state irrigation department has entered into an arrangement with the Central Dredging Corporation for the project, the minister said. Once the dredging work is complete, there will be 24- hour ferry services to the Sagar Island, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RSS-backed Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat' came down heavily upon the Shiv Sena Wednesday for using the slogan 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking why the Uddhav Thackeray-led party did not quit the coalition government if that was the case. It said the Sena was criticising the BJP constantly despite being part of BJP-led coalitions in Maharashtra and the Centre. By using the slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" (the country's watchman is a thief), the editorial said, Thackeray was calling himself and his party ministers thieves. "Why does not the Shiv Sena immediately leave the government if it feels that the watchman is a thief," it asked. "The Shiv Sena does not intend to give up power nor does it have the guts to do so. There is a huge difference between the Shiv Sena when Balasaheb Thackeray was around and the Sena of today," the newspaper said. Just as Congress chief Rahul Gandhi showed his inexperience by insulting the prime minister by using the word "chor", Thackeray exposed his own inexperience by using the same slogan, it claimed. The editorial also questioned why the Shiv Sena had suddenly taken up the Ram Mandir issue. "It is because the Shiv Sena is scared of the 2019 elections... The Sena is not ready to accept that the younger brother (the BJP) has now become the elder brother (in the alliance)," it claimed. It is the Sena's illusion that it can come to power by pursuing the Ram temple issue, it said. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Monday mouthed the Congress' oft-repeated jibe of "Chowkidar Chor Hai" made in the context of the Rafale fighter jet deal. Addressing a rally in Solapur district of Maharashtra, Thackeray used the slogan in a different context, without referring to the Rafale issue. Saamana, the Sena's mouthpiece, in its editorial Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'power is like oxygen for some people' remark, claiming the BJP broke the alliance with it in 2014 for the sake of power. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) First, loans went kaput and borrowers left the country after defaulting on payments or committing frauds, then high-profile bankers were forced to leave and even the top central banker quit in the end -- 2018 was indeed a 'Year of Exits' for the banking sector. In the meantime, the sector continued to sit on the mount of NPAs even as efforts continued in courts and tribunals and other forums for recovery of stressed assets, further confounded by defaulting promoters of defaulting corporates coming back to reclaim their assets when they were put on sale by aggrieved lenders. The eventful year began with lid being taken off from the country's biggest ever banking fraud. Billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) of about Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent letters of undertaking. A Mumbai branch of PNB had fraudulently issued LoUs for the group of companies belonging to Modi since March 2011 and there were hundreds of such LoUs. The magnitude of the scam shook the entire banking system and PNB is still trying to overcome this. As intricacies of the Nirav Modi scam were still unfolding, a whistle-blower in March raised issue of impropriety against Chanda Kochhar, the then managing director of the country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank that for long had been a showcase institution where nothing can go wrong. The 56-year-old Kochhar, who rose through ranks to occupy the corner office of the prestigious institution, was mired in allegations of conflicts of interest, lack of disclosures and quid-pro-quo while extending loans to the now-bankrupt Videocon Industries. Subsequently, another complaint was filed against her and she had to eventually to say goodbye in October to the bank which she had joined as a management trainee in 1984. As regulatory and internal probes continued, the bank and Kochhar denied any wrongdoing. Another high-profile banker Shikha Sharma was denied extension by the RBI as managing director of Axis Bank, the third largest private sector lender. The bank's board had proposed another three-year term for her till May 2021, but she was allowed to serve only till December 31, 2018. Another exit story continues to play out at Yes Bank, where Rana Kapoor's tenure as CEO has been curtailed by the Reserve Bank of India and he has been allowed to occupy the position only till January 31, 2019. The lender also saw Ashok Chawla quitting as its chairman last month. However, the biggest of the exits took place at the RBI itself with Governor Urjit Patel announcing his sudden resignation with immediate effect on December 10 citing "personal reasons". The resignation, however, followed a run-in with the government over several issues including autonomy of the central bank. The very next day, the government appointed former bureaucrat Shaktikanta Das as the new RBI chief. In case of both Axis Bank and Yes Bank, the RBI had flagged problems with their assets. Axis Bank's NPAs jumped over five-fold in two years till March 2017, while the net profit halved in the same period. It saw its gross bad loans ratio rise to 5.04 per cent by March 2017, from 0.96 per cent in March 2009, when Sharma had taken charge. Several lenders, including Yes Bank, were asked by the RBI to disclose 'divergences' in their bad loan reporting. The central bank judged gross NPAs at Rs 8,373.8 crore at Yes Bank for 2016-17, as against the declared gross NPAs of Rs 2,018 crore. As a promoter, Kapoor and his family own 10.66 per cent stake in the bank, which is now actively searching for his replacement as CEO. In the public sector banking space, the fight continued against non-performing assets (NPAs) and the situations remains far from the normal. The gross NPAs peaked in March and have shown some moderation of nearly Rs 23,860 crore in the first half of the current financial year (April-September 2018) to Rs 8,71,741 crore. It stood at Rs 8,95,601 as on March 2018. The loss of public sector banks widened further to Rs 4,532 crore in the quarter ended October 2018, from Rs 4,285 crore in the same quarter a year ago indicating pressure from NPAs on their bottom-line. Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar, however, pointed out the record recovery of Rs 67,026 crore in the first half of the current financial year, which was more than double the amount recovered in the first half of the last fiscal and nearly same as Rs 67,107 crore recovered during the whole of the preceding financial year. He asserted significant further recovery is expected going forward as a number of high-value accounts are at advanced stages of the resolution process in the National Company Law Tribunal. During the year, the government also approved the stake sale of IDBI Bank to LIC. As part of the consolidation process, the government also announced merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank to create a global-sized lender which will be "stronger and sustainable". With combined business of Rs 14.8 lakh crore, it will be the country's third largest bank after state-run SBI and the private lender ICICI Bank. The new entity will have also better financial strength with net NPA ratio of 5.7 per cent, which is significantly better than the overall public sector bank average of 12.1 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari and his accomplices grabbed government entities though dubious means, said a Supreme Court-appointed investigative team probing fake bank accounts. According to the joint investigation team (JIT) report submitted to the apex court, the Omni Group (allegedly owned by Zardari and his close aides) acquired four state-run entities -- Thatta Cement Factory, Thatta Sugar Mills, Naudero Sugar Mills and Dadu Sugar Mills -- in Sindh at throwaway prices. The report, a copy of which is with PTI, said the payments were also made from fake bank accounts in some cases. For example, the Thatta Cement was purchased for Rs 135 million and the amount was paid through fake bank accounts. The Naudero Sugar Mills was purchased by the Omni group in 2001 for Rs 68 million, whereas the market value of the entity at that time was Rs 142.89 million, it said. Similarly, the Thatta Sugar Mills was sold to the Omni Group for Rs 127.5 million in 2013, while its market value at that time was Rs 716.11 million. The Dadu Sugar Mills was acquired by the same group in 2008 at Rs 90 million against its original price of Rs 626.70 million. The Omni group not only bought the entities at cheaper prices but also embezzled Rs 7.19 billion subsidies given by the Sindh government to the four entities, according to the JIT report submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday. The JIT probe focused on "32 fake accounts" which were allegedly used to give massive financial benefits to Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and several others. The probe team said the evidence shows that Zardari and Talpur used the Omni Group as "front" and "influenced the financial institutions and regulators and misused" the Sindh government authority on a very wide scale to amass a great fortune "consigning the masses in Sindh to utter neglect and despair". It also said Farook H Naek, the counsel of Zardari and Talpur, were also involved in money laundering. The report said there was a close nexus among the Zardari Group, the Omni Group and the Bahria Town, which is a private real estate company that often deposited huge sums of money in some of the fake accounts. The Omni group mostly paid the expenses of Zardari and his family and the JIT found phenomenal growth in the business of the Omni group after 2008 when Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party formed the government in Sindh. "The crime and corruption unearthed in this report is only the Tip of the Iceberg' - JIT was constrained both in time and scope," the report said. The JIT constituted by the Supreme Court on September 5 comprise officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. The probe team summoned 885 persons and examined in detail 767 individuals and witnesses. It explored 11,500 bank accounts of 924 individuals and companies and compiled the report. Meanwhile, leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party strongly rejected the report and said it was being used to defame Zardari. "There is nothing new in the report. Such allegations were also made in the past but nothing came out of them," party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Aftab AhmedNEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed former governor Bimal Jalan to lead a review of its economic capital framework, it said in a statement on Wednesday, potentially freeing up trillions of rupees for government coffers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been insisting on a new policy for reserves held by the RBI and the distribution of dividends.Heated discussions over revamping the economic capital framework was one of the key reasons behind the sudden resignation of the RBI Governor Urijit Patel earlier this month.Jalan will lead a ... DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday private exporters have had "no problems" selling Iranian oil, and 3 million barrels of crude could be sold soon to non-government traders, state media reported, despite U.S. sanctions targeting Tehran's oil sales. Iran began selling crude oil to private companies for export in late October, just ahead of U.S. sanctions on sectors including oil which came into effect in November."Those who bought oil on the bourse have been able to export and there have been no problems in this regard," the state news agency IRNA quoted Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh ... By Ahmed RasheedBAGHDAD (Reuters) - Exports from Iraq's northern Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan will stay at between 80-90,000 barrels per day (bpd) as most of the crude produced is being diverted to feed refineries in the north, Iraq's oil minister said on Wednesday.Current production at the Kirkuk oilfields stands at around 370,000 bpd, the head of Iraq's North Oil Company, Farid al-Jadir, told the same news conference.Jadir also said a BP technical team was now operating in Kirkuk and would prepare a study reviewing plans for increasing production by the end of 2019."BP is ... By Pete SchroederWASHINGTON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co will pay over $135 million to settle charges it mishandled so-called "pre-released" American Depositary Receipts (ADRS), the Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Wednesday.The regulator said the investment bank improperly provided ADRs, which are U.S. securities that represent foreign shares of foreign companies, to brokers even though the brokers and their clients lacked the corresponding foreign shares.The bank did not admit or deny the SEC's findings, but agreed to pay back ill-gotten gains and additional penalties, ... By Emily ChowKUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, is reviewing the duty structure for its exports of the edible oil, according to its minister in charge of agriculture produced for export, to boost demand and reduce burgeoning stockpiles."We are currently reviewing our present export duty structure to ensure a level playing field in the market," said Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok in an emailed response on Wednesday to questions submitted earlier by Reuters. Palm oil producers in Southeast Asia have been grappling with slow exports as ... (Reuters) - Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country's top-selling car maker, said on Wednesday it would recall 5,900 mini pickup trucks to inspect a defect in the fuel filter of some units. The automaker will inspect the likely defect in its Super Carry vehicles manufactured between April 26 - Aug 1 this year, it said in a statement. (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)(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.) Seguin, TX (78155) Today Areas of dense fog early. Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. By Arnab Paul(Reuters) - Christmas brought little cheer to Indian markets on Wednesday, with major indexes falling over 1 percent as investors fretted over political uncertainties in the U.S. amid concerns of a slowdown in global growth.Domestic shares tracked broader Asian markets as a U.S. federal government shutdown and President Donald Trump's criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell added to investors' woes. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.18 percent.The Fed's decision on rate hikes last week sent global markets falling over concerns of ... By Tim KellyTOKYO (Reuters) - Nissan director Greg Kelly was being examined in a hospital on Wednesday, a source said, a day after he was released on bail from a Tokyo jail where his former boss Carlos Ghosn is still being detained.Kelly, an American who was released late on Christmas Day after more than a month in detention, has been charged with conspiring to under-report Ghosn's income. He posted bail of 70 million yen ($640,000).Their Nov. 19 arrests jolted the global car industry and has strained Nissan's alliance with French car maker Renault SA. Nissan's board last month fired Ghosn ... DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco is establishing a domestic fuel retailing subsidiary as part of the national oil company's drive to expand beyond crude oil production into downstream businesses.The new firm, Saudi Aramco Retail Co, will create a network of filling stations within Saudi Arabia to sell automotive fuels, Aramco said on Wednesday, without giving details of the size, cost or time-frame for the network.In April, Aramco said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Total to evaluate the feasibility of jointly buying a retail service station network in Saudi ... The year 2019 could bring cheers to job seekers looking for employment opportunities, especially in the e-commerce sector. From well-funded startups like Healthians, Milkbasket, Car24, Instamojo to established companies like Zomato, Oyo and Swiggy -- all are planning to raise their headcount by over 30 per cent. These companies have already chalked out plans to hire over 40,000 people in the next year alone. However, most of the jobs will be in advanced areas of artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning. "Tech startups would add over 40,000 additional new jobs in 2019," the Economic Times quoted KS Viswanathan, vice-president, industry initiatives, Nasscom, as saying. A major reason for an uptick in hiring is being attributed to a strong demand of talent in these startups, which are extensively using advanced technologies to understand customer behaviour and earn more profit. Besides, the entry-level packages across the tech sector could see a significant rise in 2019. "The year 2019 is going to be better for entry-level guys because hiring is going to be much better," TV Mohandas Pai, former chief financial officer of IT major Infosys Ltd, told PTI. "For many years, entry-level compensation packages had not gone up, demoralising people. In fact, delivery boys in cities make 50,000 rupees a month, much more than software engineers. It's ridiculous," Pai said. Also read: These are the top 10 fastest growing jobs in India The Indian startup ecosystem is buzzing like never before. A total of 1,200 new tech startups were added in 2018 till September, including eight unicorns - the highest number in a calendar year in Indian startup history. A recent report by knowledge portal Analytics Vidhya and ed-tech platform Great Learnings reveal that more than 50,000 positions related to data and analytics are currently vacant in India. The report also says that around 39,000 analytics jobs will be created in India by 2020. Cybersecurity will create 5,000 jobs in data and analytics by 2020, healthcare 15,000, genomic 2,000 and space exploration 350, says the report. According to a recent India Skills Report, almost 64 per cent employers across the industry have a positive outlook on hiring; 20 per cent said they would hire the same number of people they hired in 2018. Only a handful have a negative outlook for 2019. Edited by Manoj Sharma Also read: IT jobs to make a comeback next year; AI, analytics to be on high demand: Report Also read: Artificial Intelligence effect: 5 years from now, 54 million Indians will hold jobs unheard of today Also read: Over 4,000 Artificial Intelligence job roles vacant on shortage of talent: Report The goods and services tax (GST) indeed turned out to be a huge boon for large consumer goods companies in 2018. Since all of them were GST compliant, they saw growth at the expense of their regional and unorganised counterparts who had always given them tough competition. The FMCG majors also benefitted from input credit and reduction in the number of warehouses and lower cost of doing business. The wholesale community also switched allegiance to the larger manufacturers from the smaller ones (who had traditionally offered them higher margins) as they got better incentives and for the consumers it was cheaper products, as the GST brought down prices of several categories. The change in business dynamics led to share prices of FMCG companies sky-rocketing and FMCG majors such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL) saw a surge in market valuation. HUL and ITC are among the top five companies in India in terms of market valuation. Also Read: Why govt may extend GST compensation period for states A uniform tax structure enabled the FMCG majors to not just strengthen their distribution in smaller markets (where they earlier didn't have a presence), but also try and cater to the local needs of the consumers. HUL, for instance, launched a variant of Rin detergent which claims to consume lesser water in water deficient markets; ITC Foods has launched different blends of Ashirvaad atta as per local taste palettes. FMCG companies in 2018 also embraced technology intervention in distribution as well as e-commerce as a distribution channel in a big way. Beverage-maker, Parle Agro, for instance, was able to double its revenue by being able to understand which store in a particular locality sold a particular SKU of its brands Frooty and Appy more and accordingly supplied only that SKU. HUL has been passionate about its Hamara Store initiative through which it is trying to make the local kirana stores tech-enabled. The year going by also saw a lot of FMCG companies innovating primarily for e-commerce, keeping in mind the millenial consumers. HUL set up a Bryleem store on Amazon, which offers a host of specialised male grooming products. Similarly, ITC partnered with Big Basket to launch its new variants of Sunfeast noodles, before rolling it out in modern trade and general trade stores. Dairy major, Amul, also started selling gourmet cheese and dairy products through e-commerce. But all those who thought that it was the end of regional and local brands were not entirely right. A large number of them did succumb, but many of them resurrected and came back strongly with national aspirations. The single tax regime has made it possible for even a small soap brand out of Shimoga in Karnataka to first sell across the state and then look at adjacent states. In fact, a recent report by Nielsen states that the sales of regional FMCG manufacturers as of Q3 2018 grew more than 20 per cent in the last three quarters. So, will 2019 see the large consumer goods companies grow at the expense of the smaller ones? Not necessarily. The smaller companies have been smart enough to identify niches where the large ones will never want to play in, as it won't get them the necessary scale. ID Foods, the company which makes fresh dosa or idli batter, is an example. Selling fresh dosa and idli batter will need local manufacturing facilities, which may not make business sense for a large conglomerate at least in the short term. Therefore, the coming year will see both the big and smaller consumer companies co-existing and most of the interesting innovations could actually come from the smaller companies. The YES Bank stock saw seesaw movement in trade today. The stock fell in early trade, attempted a recovery but closed 1.48% or 2.70 points lower in trade today. The stock opened marginally higher at 182.20 level today compared to the previous close of 182.10 on Monday. However, the large cap stock fell 4.31% in early trade to 174.25 level. Afterwards, the stock of the private sector lender made slow and steady gains to recover the losses partially. Also read: Yes Bank recommends Brahm Dutt for post of Chairman: Sources It, however, could not rise above its closing price of 182.10 in late trade today amid a strong recovery in the benchmark indices. The market capitalisation of the private sector lender stood at Rs 41,476.43 crore on the BSE. The YES Bank stock has lost 43% since the beginning of this year and during the last one year. The stock has been losing for the last three days and fallen 3.88% during the same period. 28 of 47 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or 'outperform', 13 "hold", four "underperform" and two "sell", according to analysts' recommendations tracked by Reuters. Also read: Yes Bank to use data analytics to offer right mix of products The stock closed below its 50 day and 200 day moving averages of 257.82 and 328.70 on the BSE. The bank on December 13 held its board meeting to discuss the names of new chairman and CEO and MD. It finalised a candidate for the position of chairman and would be seeking approval from the Reserve Bank of India for the appointment on the post. On the appointment of new MD and CEO, the bank said the 'Search & Selection Committee' (SSC) and the board are "on track" to complete the process within the stipulated timeline given by the RBI. The recommendation in this regard will be submitted to the RBI post January 9, 2019, the lender added. However, the YES Bank stock closed lower after the conclusion of its board meeting. The stock ended 6.56% or 12.25 points lower at 174.55 level on the BSE. On Nifty, the stock fell 6.32%. The stock fell after two days of consecutive gains and was the top loser on Sensex, Nifty on that day. According to analysts, the decline in the counter could be attributed to the outcome of YES Bank's board meeting as investors were hoping that the lender will name an MD and CEO in the meeting, but the same was deferred to next month. The move to appoint a new chairman was necessitated following the resignation of Ashok Chawla from the post in November. In September, the RBI decided against extending Rana Kapoor's term as MD and CEO beyond January 31, 2019 and asked the bank to find a replacement. Meanwhile, benchmark indices logged a smart recovery from day's lows and ended in the green. While the Sensex closed 179.79 points, or 0.51 per cent higher at 35649.94, Nifty settled at 10729.85, up by 66.35 points, or by 0.62 per cent. Edited by Aseem Thapliyal The Sensex and Nifty opened lower today amid weak Asian markets unnerved by US political developments including a US federal government shutdown and President Donald Trump's hostile stance towards the Federal Reserve chairman. While the Sensex fell 284 points to 35,186 , Nifty was down 83 points to 10,578. Of 30 Sensex stocks, 26 were trading in the red. Top Sensex losers were YES Bank (2.83%), Kotak Bank (1.64%), Sun Pharma (1.65%) and HUL (1.58%). Asian Paints (0.33 %), Coal India (0.24%) and HDFC (0.06%) were the top Sensex gainers. All BSE sectors were trading in the red. Top sectoral losers were banking stocks with the BSE bankex falling 356 pts and BSE auto losing 281 pts. BSE consumer durables index also lost 230 points. Meanwhile, the mid cap and small cap indices were trading 1.66% and 1.54% lower in early trade. Market breadth was negative with 321 stocks trading higher compared to 1284 falling on the BSE. On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 134.14 crore on Monday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 186.14 crore, provisional data available with BSE showed. Stocks of aviation and oil marketing companies rose as crude prices fell to $50 per barrel. SpiceJet and Jet Airways rose up to 2 per cent, while IOC and BPCL gained up to 1 per cent. Global markets Asian markets were mostly lower on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said that there was "nothing new" in efforts to end the partial government shutdown over a US-Mexico border wall. South Korea's Kospi gave up 1.6 percent to 2,022.36 and the Shanghai Composite index shed 0.1 percent to 2,503.05. Japan's Nikkei 225 index, which plunged 5 percent on Tuesday, picked up 0.5 percent to 19,241.87. Shares rose in Taiwan but fell in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Markets in Hong Kong and Australia were closed. Wall Street was closed on account of Christmas yesterday. US stocks are headed for their worst December since the Great Depression in 1931. Brent crude oil prices were trading at $50.30 per barrel amid fears of an economic slowdown which rattled global markets Edited by Aseem Thapliyal Public sector lender United Bank of India said on Wednesday that All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) has proposed another bank strike on January 8-9, 2019 to protest against pending issues related to banking industry. "Indian Bank's Association has informed about a proposed strike called by All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) on January 8-9, 2019 on various issues connected to the banking industry," United Bank of India said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The bank further said that it will take all necessary measures in terms of extant guidelines for smooth functioning of its branches on the above mentioned dates, if the strike materialises. Also Read: Bank strike: Services to be affected as 9 unions call for nation-wide strike against Vijaya, Dena, BoB merger This would be third strike within twenty days against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda, along with the demand for immediate settlement of the wage negotiations. Bank services were left crippled today as nine bank unions, with close to 1 million employees, had called for a nation-wide bank strike against the proposed merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda (BoB). Before this, the state-run bank unions had held a strike on December 21. In September, the government had given its nod to the proposal for the merger of Bank of Baroda (BoB), Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank. It was part of the government's strategy to promote consolidation in the sector marred by loads of non-performing assets (NPAs). However, this is the first three-way merger in the public sector banking space. Before this, the State Bank of India had merged five of its subsidiary banks with itself and took over Bharatiya Mahila Bank, which secured it a place among the top 50 global lenders. Edited by Chitranjan Kumar Bank services will be affected today as nine bank unions, with close to 1 million employees, have again called for a nation-wide bank strike against the proposed merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda (BoB). This is second bank strike within a week against the merger of these state-owned banks. Before this, the state-run bank unions had held a strike on December 21. Most of the state-owned banks have already informed their customers about the bank strike call given by the unions, but banking and ATM services could still be affected due to holidays. However, private banks will remain functional. CH Vekatachalam, AIBEA (All India Bank Employees' Association) General Secretary, said during their meeting with the additional chief labour commissioner, no assurance was offered, forcing them to go on the bank strike. Major demands of the bank unions include immediate settlement of wage negotiations and assurance from the government that there will be no bank merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. The bank unions believe the proposed merger will not help the government as the merged entity will still not find a place in top 10 banks globally. The bank strike is being organised by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine unions, including the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). The UFBU claims membership of 10 lakh officers and staffers. The government had given its nod to the proposal for the merger of Bank of Baroda (BoB), Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank in September. It was part of the government's strategy to promote consolidation in the sector marred by loads of non-performing assets (NPAs). However, this is the first three-way merger in the public sector banking space. Before this, the State Bank of India had merged five of its subsidiary banks with itself and took over Bharatiya Mahila Bank, which secured it a place among the top 50 global lenders. Also read: How Vijaya Bank compensates for Dena Bank's inclusion in merger with Bank of Baroda Unlike bank unions, market experts believe the merger of weaker PSU banks with large banks make sense. Given that Dena Bank, which is among 11 banks under RBI's PCA framework, is quite small in size, they do not see its amalgamation with larger banks BoB and Vijaya Bank hurting the balance sheet of the combined entity much. They see the move working in favour of the merged entity in the long term, with Bank of Baroda offering the big 'base', and Vijaya Bank giving the 'kicker'. They believe that if this merger goes well, in all likelihood, further consolidation could be seen in the PSU banking space. All the 38 listed banks accounted for gross NPAs totalling over Rs 10.17-lakh crore in the quarter ending March 2018. As part of the government's initiative to minimise NPAs, it is important to merge these three banks. Gross NPAs of Dena bank rose from Rs 2,616.03 crore for the fiscal ending March 2014 to Rs 16,361.44 crore for the fiscal ending March 2018. Vijaya Bank's gross NPAs rose from Rs 1,985.86 crore in FY14 to Rs 7,526.09 crore FY18. The gross NPAs of Bank of Baroda rose from Rs 11,875.90 crore in FY14 to Rs 56,480.39 crore in FY18. Also read: Bank of Baroda-Vijaya-Dena merger: Gainers, losers, swap ratio and more Also read: Only 40% farm loan waivers in 4 states so far; here are major reasons for delay Banking operations were impacted due to a day-long nationwide strike called by all unions to protest the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. However, banking operations would be restored from Thursday onwards. Some private sector banks including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank were functioning on Wednesday, while others such as Federal Bank, South Indian Bank and Karur Vysya Bank were closed. This was second bank strike in less than a week. On December 21, an officers' union of state-run banks observed a day-long strike to protest the merger and also demanded immediate settlement of wage negotiations. Banks worked on Monday (December 24). ALSO READ: Expert panel formed to determine size of RBI reserves, Bimal Jalan named chairman As a result, ATMs had gone dry at many parts of the country and the cheque clearances were held up including that of private sector lenders. Wednesday's strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) -- an umbrella organisation of all 9 unions including All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). AIBOC General Secretary Soumya Datta said instead of attempting misadventure like mergers/amalgamations, the government should focus on identifying the reasons for the present NPA menace in the banks. There is no evidence that bigger banks are stronger and more efficient, AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said. The world has witnessed the collapse of entities like Lehman Brothers, he said, adding that mergers do not result in improved quality of assets or the financials as there is no fresh infusion of capital. In Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, cheques worth Rs 2 lakh crore were held up, a union official claimed. ALSO READ: Bank employees' union proposes another strike on 8, 9 January 2019 As per reports from Indore, services at about 7,000 branches of state-owned banks were impacted in Madhya Pradesh due to the strike. Senior bankers, however, claimed that most operations were normal. "We had deployed senior officials at all cheque-clearing centres so that our customers are not affected. All other operations like treasury were also functioning," said a senior official from a state-run bank. Unions are claiming that the proposed merger is not in the interest of the banks or their customers, but is detrimental to both. In September, the government announced the merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. The merged entity will have a combined business of Rs 14.82 lakh crore, making it the third-largest bank after State Bank of India and HDFC Bank. Leading milk supplier Mother Dairy has entered into Rs 4,000 crore organic food business as part of its strategy to diversify product portfolio. The company is targeting a revenue of Rs 50 crore next fiscal and Rs 100 crore in 2020-21, Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Director Saugata Mitra said. To start with, Mother Dairy has launched its organic range of fresh fruits and vegetables and other kitchen ingredients under its horticulture brand Safal. The new range of products labelled as 'Safal Organic' is available in select 100 Safal booths across Delhi NCR. "With this foray, the company aims to make Safal Organic a brand worth Rs 100 crores by 2021. Safal is looking forward to generating revenue of around Rs 50 crores by fiscal 2019 - 2020," Mitra said. Safal Organic will offer fresh organic fruit and vegetables sourced from about 500 farmers with certified organic farms across the states of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. A wide range of organic kitchen ingredients namely pulses, rice, spices, millets, dry fruits, wheat flour, besan, sugar, salt and flattened rice flakes (poha), have been introduced. Going forward, the company plans to further expand Safal Organic range by adding seasonal fruits and vegetables along with honey, rock salt and more varieties of whole spices and pulses. Safal has set up a facility to handle organic produce at Mangolpuri in the national capital to ensure a distinguished supply chain as mandated in the regulations. The capacity of the newly established organic facility is around 15 tonnes/day. Safal's organic products are in compliance with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), under the central government, and it also conforms to the Jaivik Bharat' initiative of FSSAI. Mother Dairy said the harvested produce is subjected to stringent testing for 127 pesticidal residues by accredited labs. In addition, the logistics for organic is duly differentiated at all levels and processing too has been distinguished along with packaging storage and consumer touch-points to ensure compliance with laid norms. As part of its agronomic interventions, Mother Dairy is also advising and helping farmers in growing organic produce. "The company is also looking to expand its retail channels going forward, with plans to launch the product range in general trade and modern trade by end of current fiscal, starting with Delhi-NCR," Mitra said. Mother Dairy was commissioned in 1974 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). It is a leading dairy player which manufactures, markets & sells milk and milk products, including cultured products, ice creams, paneer and ghee under the Mother Dairy' brand. The company also has a diversified portfolio with products in edible oils under the Dhara' brand and fresh fruits & vegetables, frozen vegetables, unpolished pulses, honey etc under the Safal brand. Also Read: Low visibility disrupts operations at Delhi's IGI airport; over 80 flights delayed Also Read: Indonesia tsunami survivors remain traumatised as death toll hits 429, thousands homeless By Teng Jing Xuan / Dec 26, 2018 04:26 PM / Economy Shandongs new high-speed railway opened Wednesday connecting the provinces capital, Jinan, with the eastern port city of Qingdao. The railway cuts the journey between the two cities down from 2 hours and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes, with trains reaching speeds of 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour in the initial stages of operation, official news agency Xinhua reported. The new 308-kilometer route is one section of a partially completed longer line stretching from Qingdao to Yinchuan, the capital of western Chinas landlocked Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and is also the northernmost east-west line of Chinas new Four Vertical and Four Horizontal rail grid, according to a press release from the Shandong government in November. A mining truck drives past an open pit excavation at a copper and cobalt mine in Mutanda, Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Aug. 1, 2012. Photo: VCG Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. Ltd. plans to invest $147.2 million in a copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), deepening the Chinese mining companys presence in the central African country. The investment through a local subsidiary will be used to develop a project located in the Lukuni region of the southern province of Haut-Katanga, the company said in a filing (link in Chinese) with the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The project is expected to have an annual production capacity of 30,000 metric tons of electro-deposited copper, a raw material widely used in electrical-equipment and machine manufacturing. Huayou Cobalt aims to further explore the local mining assets and improve their use efficiency, the company said in the filing. In 2015, Huayou Cobalt secured 354,619 metric tons of copper and 62,903 tons of cobalt in the country after it signed a $52 million deal with Gecamines, DRCs state-owned miner. And late last year, the company said it purchased a 51% stake in a company called Lucky Resources Holdings Ltd. for $66.3 million in exchange for the latters exploration permit for a Congolese mine. The latest copper investment is a diversified move for Zhejiang Huayou, which has mainly focused on Congos cobalt, the metal extracted as a byproduct of copper mining, said Daniel Chen, a metals analyst at the consultancy CRU. The company is among a group of Chinese refiners that are ramping up their projects in the central African nation, where more than 60% of the worlds cobalt is produced. This was largely driven by a booming Chinese electric-car industry as Beijing has for years promoted a shift from traditional internal combustion vehicles. Cobalt is a key component in the lithium-ion batteries that power electronic devices and electric cars. The primary source of raw cobalt for these private Chinese companies is from freelance miners, known as creuseurs, the French word for diggers. This cobalt usually costs less than from big mining groups. Huayou Cobalt had reportedly purchased large amounts of cobalt from such creuseurs, and the company came under international scrutiny in 2016 when London-based human rights group Amnesty International published a report showing that many of these workers were children operating in unsafe conditions. Huayou Cobalt reported revenue of 9.6 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in 2017, the majority of which was from producing and selling cobalt. Contact reporter Mo Yelin (yelinmo@caixin.com) By Teng Jing Xuan / Dec 26, 2018 01:01 PM / Business & Tech Pedestrians walk past an ad for Olympus cameras in Beijing in 2003. Photo: VCG Japans Olympus Corp. is selling its 27-year-old Shenzhen factory seven months after it ended operations at the plant, which made digital cameras and camera lenses. The factory will be sold for 30 billion yen ($271.7 million) to local software company Shenzhen YL Technology Co. Ltd., Olympus said Tuesday evening. Olympus closed the factory May, citing shrinking sales of digital cameras due to the rise of smartphones. Olympus, which also makes medical imaging equipment, was part of a wave of Japanese electronics-makers including Panasonic and Sharp that rushed to invest in Chinese factories in the 1980s and 1990s. The company previously made its digital camera products in two factories the one in Shenzhen and another in Dong Nai province, Vietnam. Future production will be concentrated in Vietnam, Olympus said news, latest-news A camp to help bereaved children dealing with the loss of a parent or sibling will take place in Canberra next year, with plans to make it a permanent fixture in the capital. The first Camp Magic program will take place at Birrigai at Tharwa from April 5 to 7, providing grief education and support for children aged seven to 17. The camp is run by not-for-profit organisation Feel the Magic. Founder and managing director James Thomas said the camp ran at no cost to the children or their families, with expenses met by corporate sponsorship and government funding. We know that one in twenty Australian children have experienced the loss of a parent or sibling, and that loss is much more difficult to deal with around Christmas time, Mr Thomas said. We also know from experience that our camps are magic and that there has been a huge demand for our program over the last five years, which is why were thrilled to announce the Canberra Camp Magic to be held at Birrigai next April." Mr Thomas, 38, and his wife Kristy have run the organisation since 2013. He had lost both his parents by the age of 31, and she lost her brother to cancer when they were children. "I didn't know how to grieve, I didn't know how to address the fact that I was in pain," Mr Thomas said. "I didn't know anyone else in my situation, being a young adult. So I found peace in supporting others who were going through a grief experience, especially children. We realised there was nothing out there for kids to come together and learn how to deal with their grief. "As a Western society, we believe that kids need to get over it and just move on. And we always put a time frame on grief, whereas there's no time frame on grief, you've got to learn to live with it." Mr Thomas, a former signwriter from Sydney, said the camps were usually held there but the operation had been extended to Canberra with the help of local families. "The camps are a lot of fun," he said. "Kids are given age-appropriate tools to deal with their grief, at different stages of their grief as well. There's confidence-building, team-building, resilience-building activities. The kids are all led by mental health professionals. And each child is matched with a mentor, and that mentor is with them every step of the way. "It's kind of a fun, collaborative weekend to deal with something so harsh and cruel, which is grief." Mr Thomas said the children's safety was assured at the camps. "That's our highest priority," he said. "All our mentors are trained. And they get their working with children check and national criminal history check. And we have our head psychologist who has designed our program and oversees the intake of volunteers. "Not only do the kids get a lot out of the camps, but the volunteers do too, seeing how resilient and brave kids can be." Curtin dad Trevor Hickman sent his children Audrey, 11, and Elijah, nine, to a previous Camp Magic event in Sydney. His wife, their mother Amy, died in 2014 of breast cancer. Mr Hickman said the children thrived at the camp. "I just think the mentoring they provide is fabulous," he said. "They do a lot of work before the camp so the children are really well-matched with the mentors. And they're having fun as well. It's not just a kind of really heavy grief session. "I've just found throughout the whole journey that it's really advantageous [for them] to have contact with other kids in the same boat." Tina Tanfara, of Weston, also has experience with the camps. Her husband, Denis, died as a result of suicide in 2014. Mrs Tanfara is raising their three children, Sienna, 10; Madison, eight; and Ava, five. "The eldest has gone on camp a couple of times and it just helps them to understand grief and process their emotions and their feelings," she said. "It's an outlet with other children of similar ages, and it's a very safe environment for them to feel like they are part of a group that has encountered a similar situation. "My kids go into camp on the Friday a bit shy, and by Sunday they've just blossomed. It feels like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders, that they're not the only ones." Mr Thomas said it cost $1000 for each child to attend, which was covered by community donations, so that no child ever missed out. "We need the support of the community to make that happen, not only from a financial position, but volunteers who are mental health professionals, educators and mentors," he said. It's a personal campaign for Mr Thomas, with he and his wife working full-time on the Camp Magic project. An only child, he lost his father to a two-year cancer battle at the age of 25. His mother died on his 31st birthday, unexpectedly, due to a brain aneurysm. "After Dad's death I set a goal of buying my dream home for myself, my girlfriend who's now my wife, and my mum," he said. "I started a signwriting business, worked my backside off, finally got the house six years later, and the day we're moving in, my birthday, my mum dropped dead and it was kind of like my purpose was ripped away from me. "Grief taught me a lot about myself. And it taught me all the things I was making a priority in my life, weren't my priority. For me, my life purpose now is just to help others heal." Mental health professionals and mentors who would like to volunteer for Camp Magic and families who would like to learn more can email admin@feelthemagic.org.au or go to feelthemagic.org.au for more information. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/be48f9b2-2272-4bed-bc47-e2b446340382/r0_258_5000_3083_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg This is the 13th consecutive year the Club's 60 members have voted to select the top ten events related to the fields of policies, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, applied research, globalization, and scientist honoring. The top-ten list consists of: 1. On January 1, 2018 in Hanoi, the project Digitized Vietnamese Knowledge System was formally launched, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. This system, aiming at Sharing knowledge Fostering innovation Connecting communities For the better future of the Vietnamese, is a comprehensive information storage in all fields for the public to learn and master new knowledge, leading to a boost for research and creativity, along with successful implementation of advanced technologies into developing the nation. This is considered the foundation for marvelous opportunities for innovative startup activities in Vietnam. 2. Doctor Tran Dinh Phong, Head of the Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department in the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), won the 2018 Ta Quang Buu Award for his research in the physics field entitled Coordination polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide. Since the beginning of this century, when clean energy has gradually become one of the most concerned topics in the world, researches on artificial leaves that are able to convert sunlight and water into hydrogen have attracted numerous scientists. The catalyst for this chemical reaction is the rare, precious, and expensive platinum. The research of Dr. Phong and his collaborators has effectively demonstrated the structure and mechanism of amorphous molybdenum sulfide, an easy-to-fabricated, low-cost material as an alternative to platinum for the hydrogen evolution reaction from water. This is a breakthrough in the race to find an energy solution that can reduce CO 2 emission in the air. 3. For the first time, Vietnamese scientists has shockingly discovered remains of accommodation of pre-historic people in volcanic caves, showing the adaptation of residents in the Basalt land of the Central Highlands region as well as the milestone in anthropology / paleoanthropology study in Vietnam through the project coded TN17/T06 Researching the Values of Cave Heritage, Proposing the Construction of On-site Preservation Museum in the region, with the Example of Krong No Volcanic Caves in Dak Nong Province, carried out from August 2017 to August 2020. The human remains in limestone caves in Vietnam or other regions in the world are quite popular, yet there is no such announced finding in volcanic caves. This is the first human remain discovered in a Vietnamese / Southeast Asian volcanic cave, which is globally rare. It has provided persuasive scientific grounds for the reconstruction of the prehistoric peoples daily activities, and urged the building of an international Geopark in Dak Nong Province. 4. On October 21, in London, the software to calculate charge in real-time vOCS 3.0 of the Military Industry and Telecoms Group Viettel received the Best Product or Service of the Year Award at the International Business Stevie Awards. This software is highly appreciated thanks to its creativity and great effects on a large number of customers. At the moment, vOCS 3.0 has been used in 11 nations in the world, possessing around 170 million mobile subscribers. This software is remarkable in that it can customize an individual package for each user, helping it to be easily applied in various markets in the world. 5. The Center for High Technology Development under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has successfully developed a snow ice generator from sea water. It is light, durable, and has a simple structure, which is absolutely suitable for Vietnamese fishing boats. What is more, it is easily maintained or repaired. This snow ice generator is made from materials that can resist salt corrosion. Users can comfortably select or adjust the density of snow ice in accordance with a certain temperature. Different from the traditional freshwater snow ice, this new snow ice is a combination between tiny ice crystals and water, kept in a temperature range between -6 degree to -2 degree Celsius. It can be pumped from a liquid ice creation chamber to storage tanks or compartments on boats. This snow ice aims at prolonging the seafood preservation time on boats thanks to its low temperature compared to conventional freshwater snow ice and its ability to quickly freeze seafood, greatly increasing its quality and more effectively protecting the environment. This is the result of a research by MSc. Le Van Luan and his collaborators, which has been recognized as an advanced technology in the field of fisheries by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 6. On August 21, Vingroup officially introduced its Supporting Fund for Scientific and Technological Research to finance studies in the fields of computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, Nano technology, renewable energy, new generations of materials. The fund has an investment of around VND2,000 billion (approx. $85.9 million) Along with this fund, Vingroup also introduced Vintech Technological Company, Big Data Research Institute, Vin Hi-tech Research Institute, the agreement for human resources training with more than 50 leading universities in Vietnam, the announcement on its plan to become an international group of technology industry service. This is a meaningful investment activity of a large private Vietnamese business at the moment. 7. On November 1, the management board of the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park in Hanoi appointed A Chau Industrial Technology Joint Stock Company to carry out the project A Chau Factory for Hi-tech Electronic Equipment. These two organizations also co-signed a cooperation agreement with Schneider Electric Group for technology transfer, marking a milestone in manufacturing, managing, and automatically monitoring the energy system. 8. On July 13 in Hanoi, the high-level forum and international exhibition on Industry 4.0 (Industry 4.0 Summit 2018) kicked off, chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, attracting around 2,000 delegates, including 11 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations, over 50 experts of the region and the world, as well as domestic and global business people. This forum aimed at building suitable policies and regulations so that Vietnam can actively participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution while propagandizing Industry 4.0 to the general public, providing opportunities for investment in the technological field. From September 11 to 13, the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 (WEF ASIAN 2018) themed ASEAN 4.0: Business Spirit and Industry 4.0 was held in Hanoi, with the participation of General Secretary cum President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and leaders of ASEAN nations, senior managers of partner countries, along with about 1,000 representatives of multi-nation corporations, ASEAN businesses, and 800 domestic companies. 9. On August 8, the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) gave the 2018 Dirac Medal to three physicists Subir Sachdev from Harvard University, Xiao-Gang Wen from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Prof. Dam Thanh Son from Chicago University. These three scientists are the pioneers in researching how quantum mechanics affects large groups of particles, also known as many-body system. They have found laws on how quantum mechanics affect the activities of very tiny particles, contributed to the discovery of new states of matter besides the traditional gas, liquid, and solid states. Prof. Dam Thanh Son and his two colleagues have used various kinds of knowledge in many fields like material science, black hole, and cold atoms to research on many-body system to prove the value of the inter-field approach. 10. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep, lecturer on biomedical technology of the International University, a member of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, was honored as International Rising Talent by the LOreal UNESCO Fund on March 21 in France thanks to her contribution to regenerative medicine. Her research team is making experiments and tests on the use of bio-glue to optimize its safety and effect in hope of creating a product that can stick right onto any kind of injury to eliminate bacteria and boost the tissue regeneration process. This kind of bio-glue is supposed to form a film to stop bleeding, absorb liquid from the injury, and prevent infection from micro-organism. By TRAN BINH Translated by Yen Nhi news, latest-news Canberrans have opened their wallets and punched in their pin codes at record levels in 2018, as retail spending in the capital soars beyond $5 billion. The ACT's growing and relatively high-wage-earning population is being credited for an increased buoyancy in the ACT's retail sector. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show more than $4.91 billion had been spent in the ACT's retail sector as of October this year, up from $4.62 million at the same time in 2017. Total retail turnover was expected to rocket past the $5 billion mark by the end of the year, with the Australian Retailers Association predicting Canberrans would spend $940 million in the six weeks leading up to Christmas Day. That would mark a 2.9 per cent increase on pre-Christmas spending in 2017, equal to the national average. Nationwide, shoppers were forecast to part with $50 billion in the run up to December 25, with spending in New South Wales expected to reach $16.2 billion. Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said the ACT's retail turnover results in 2018 suggested the local sector was "travelling along quite nicely". Mr Zimmerman said population growth, low unemployment and the capital's relatively high median household income was driving the increased spending. "People are feeling pretty comfortable at the moment in the ACT," he said. "The ACT has done fairly well of the past few years, and that suggests there is a reasonable amount of buoyancy by the consumer there." Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show national retail spending has grown steadily in 2018, with turnover as of October up 3.2 per cent from 12 months prior. Mr Zimmerman said spending at supermarkets had increased significantly in 2018, while the clothing sector - which he described as a "big basket case" in recent years - was undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. He said people were also spending more on household furniture as they looked to spruce up their homes. "My view on the upsurge in people buying furniture is that because housing has slowed off a little bit, people are looking more at what they can do within their homes to upgrade and make them look nicer," he said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/fd78c177-60a6-4e86-ac0a-3551037ee238/r0_49_1000_614_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg comment, editorial The refusal by a number of prime ministers to make The Lodge their principal residence shows a lack of respect for this city and an ignorance of why it was built. One-hundred-and-twenty years ago, when the debate over Federation was at its height, the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne over which should become Australia's capital was intense. It was not, in fact, all that dissimilar to the rivalries that existed between America's founding colonies in the wake of the revolutionary war a century before. That dispute was resolved by the decision, in 1790, to create a dedicated "capital district" on the borders of Maryland and Virginia, both of which donated territory to the cause. Resolving that what had worked for our American cousins would do just as well Down Under, Federation's founders chose Canberra. The intention, as with Washington, was to make the new city the home of the head of state, the legislature, the most senior court in the land and the head offices of an embryonic national public service. It was a great vision, and one that worked well for the better part of a century. Unfortunately our elected leaders, particularly those from the conservative side of the chamber who often use this city's name as an expletive when on the campaign trail, have forgotten the Australian Capital Territory's reason for being. Scott Morrison, who recently spoke at length about the "Canberra bubble", is the latest PM to make the Harbour City, and Kirribilli House, his principal place of residence following the example set by John Howard in 1997. While Tony Abbott never moved into the Lodge he can be forgiven on the grounds the building was undergoing an extensive, and expensive, makeover for the whole of his time in office. The Turnbulls, who moved in in 2016, actually bucked the trend by choosing to use their Point Piper mansion as their Sydney-side digs, giving Kirribilli the cold shoulder. The only Labor PMs to have boycotted The Lodge were James Scullin, who felt it was too costly to staff and maintain during the Great Depression, and Ben Chifley who kept his friends close and his enemies closer by living in the Hotel Kurrajong, a well-known ALP haunt back in the day. While, in the eyes of some, decisions by individual PMs to snub Canberra and the Lodge are of little consequence, they could not be more wrong. The city and the residence are potent symbols of national unity that represent a massive and sustained investment by generations of Australians. It is the same short-sightedness that drives the narrative within the National Party about decentralising government departments and agencies to the bush. That push runs counter to the view the national executive, and its subsidiary departments and agencies, would work best if key people were able to meet face to face. Canberra is bigger than any individual politician or political party. It would be timely and appropriate for the leaders of both the government and the opposition to formally acknowledge The Lodge as the official residence of the Prime Minister and that this city is the headquarters of the federal public service. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f008280c-2f04-4475-939d-4473d392d39d/r0_46_900_554_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. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on December 26, 2018 2018/12/26 Q: According to reports, sources said that the ROK Defense Department will seek to have its 2018 defense white paper due to be released next January stop referencing the DPRK regime and DPRK army as an enemy to the ROK. What is your comment? A: I have also noted relevant reports. Recently, the DPRK and the ROK have been making joint efforts to actively implement the consensus reached during their leaders' meeting and act on the spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration to advance reconciliation and cooperation. A series of positive progress have been made. I noted that just now, the opening ceremony was successfully held to reconnect rail and road links along the DPRK-ROK border, which is good news for the two sides and is of positive significance to the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. We support the efforts the two sides have made to consolidate the current sound momentum by stepping up interactions, demonstrate goodwill to each other, solidify mutual trust, and improve relations. We believe that this will help advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue and serve the common interests of the two sides and other regional countries. Q: It is reported that the first annual meeting of the China-Japan maritime and air liaison mechanism since its establishment in June is being held in Beijing from December 26 to 27. Can you confirm it and offer us more details? How does China view the progress this mechanism has made since its establishment? A: According to my information, the first annual meeting of the China-Japan maritime and air liaison mechanism between the defense departments of the two sides is being held in Beijing. As to the specifics, I would refer you to the Ministry of National Defense. When Premier Li Keqiang visited Japan in May this year, the two sides officially inked the memorandum of understanding on the maritime and air liaison mechanism between the defense departments of the two sides. This mechanism was officially launched in June this year. The establishment and launching of this mechanism will help the defense departments of the two countries enhance mutual understanding, strengthen mutual trust, avoid misapprehension and misjudgment and uphold peace and stability of the region. Q: Reports say that the Japanese side is considering sending Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels to visit China in April, 2019 and take part in the fleet review marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese navy to be held in Qingdao. Japan may invite a Chinese warship to the MSDF's naval review to be held in autumn next year. What is your comment? A: Defense ties are an important part of China-Japan relations. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan. The defense departments of the two sides enhancing exchanges and communication is conducive to properly managing differences, strengthening security and mutual trust, and building a constructive bilateral security relationship, thus injecting positive energy into the sustained improvement and long-term, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations. We welcome greater exchanges and communication between the defense departments of the two sides. With regard to the mutual visits of the Chinese and Japanese warships you mentioned, I would refer you to the Ministry of National Defense. LEONARDTOWN, Md. (December 26, 2018)The St. Mary's County Health Department is now collecting personal medical sharps for safe disposal at two locations in St. Mary's County.Medical sharps, such as syringes, lancets and auto-injectors, may be dropped off between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at the following locations:St. Mary's County Health Department21580 Peabody StreetLeonardtown, MD. 20650301-475-4330Harm Reduction Program Satellite Office46035 Signature LaneLexington Park, MD. 20653301-862-1680At this time, only personal sharps will be collected and not those from businesses or organizations. For large quantities of medical sharps, please call the St. Mary's County Health Department in advance at 301-475-4330.For more information, visit www.smchd.org/harmreduction/. WHITE PLAINS, Md. (December 26, 2018)On Saturday, November 17, the Charles County Arts Alliance awarded $60,741 in Arts Grants to 17 area schools and 16 nonprofit organizations to enhance their programs in the fields of visual, performance and literary arts. The funds will be used to present a myriad of cultural programs and events in Charles County, as well as workshops, demonstrations, concerts, theatrical performances, international programs and literary development.In addition, $5,000 was awarded to the Charles County Board of Education to fund a project to bring in clinicians and artists to work with the middle and high school bands, orchestras, and choirs in preparation for performance assessment concerts. This program was funded with great success in the previous school year, with the decision between the Arts Alliance and the Board of Education to continue the same opportunity for a second year.The Grants were presented at the Arts Alliance's Annual Grantee, Membership and Public Gala, held at the Old Waldorf School. Over 100 guests joined in the celebration, enjoying music by the Gretchen Richie Jazz Cabaret and delicious food by Rucci's.The Arts Grant Program has been the focal point of the Arts Alliance since the volunteer nonprofit organization was founded in 1987. The purpose of the Program is to enhance the quality of cultural life for the citizens of Charles County, and help make it a more vibrant, exciting and diverse place to live. The grants are awarded on an annual competitive basis following an application process and review by the Arts Alliance Grant Committee, comprised of Board members and local citizens.The FY 2019 CCAA grant recipients are: Archbishop Neale School Arthur Middleton Elementary School Benjamin Stoddert Middle School Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School Dr. James Craik Elementary School Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School Gale-Bailey Elementary School Grace Christian Academy Grace Lutheran Church and School Henry E. Lackey High School J.C. Parks Elementary School Malcolm Elementary School Mary H. Matula Elementary School Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School St. Charles Children's Learning Center Westlake High School Charles County Department of Community Services, Aging & Human Services Charles County Freedom Landing Charles County Public Library Charles County Youth Orchestra Chesapeake Choral Arts Society College of Southern Maryland College of Southern Maryland Foundation Friends of Chapman State Park Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation Life Journeys Writers Guild Mattawoman Creek Art Center Music Teachers Association of Charles County Nanjemoy Community Center Port Tobacco Players Southern Maryland Carousel Group Steam OnwardThe Arts Alliance sponsors many other programs throughout the year for local residents, such as five public gallery spaces, art boxes for elementary students, the ArtsFest annual arts festival, and its weekly free Arts Newsflash that keeps citizens informed of upcoming arts and cultural events and activities. For more information on the Arts Alliance, contact the CCAA office at 301-392-5900, info@charlescountyarts.org, or www.charlescountyarts.org. ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. (December 26, 2018)Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 15th Annual Southern Maryland Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 21, at St. Mary's College of Maryland. The theme of the day is "All Life is Interconnected." The breakfast will begin at 6:30 a.m. and costs $10 payable at the door. The program will begin at 8 a.m. at no cost, featuring a keynote address by broadcast journalist Maureen Bunyan. Following the program, beginning at 10 a.m. the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.O, Nu Zeta Omega Chapter will host a Day of Service, providing services and activities for students of all ages and adults. The breakfast and program will be held in the J. Frank Raley Great Room, Campus Center (18952 E. Fisher Road). The Day of Service will be held in the Campus Center and adjoining Aldom Lounge. For more information, contact events@smcm.edu or call (240) 895-4310. Bunyan is a 44-year veteran of television news who anchored the 6 o'clock weeknight newscasts for ABC7/WJLA-TV and CBS9/WUSA-TV. She has been honored with numerous professional and community service awards in recognition of her significant contributions to broadcasting including being named "Washingtonian of the Year" in 1992. She was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of the Washington Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, "The Silver Circle" of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and the Broadcast Pioneers Club of Washington. She has been awarded seven local Emmys, and the "Ted Yates Award," given by NATAS to Washington, D.C. news broadcasters who are leaders in the profession. She was named "Journalist of the Year" by the National Association of Black Journalists and she received the annual "Immigrant Achievement Award" from the American Immigration Law Foundation in 2002. In 2016, Bunyan was named the first recipient of the Ed Walker Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting Award As an advocate for women and minorities in journalism, Bunyan is a founder of the International Women's Media Foundation which serves women in the media in 100 countries, and the National Association of Black Journalists. Bunyan was born in Aruba and grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin. In June of 2014, she was knighted and inducted into The Order of Orange-Nassau, a Dutch order of chivalry. The Order of Orange-Nassau is a chivalric honor given to those who deserve recognition for exemplary contributions to society. She was inducted for her longstanding commitment to build and strengthen ties between Aruba and the United States. Over the years, Bunyan has used her extensive network and experience as a journalist to mentor young Arubans, and create educational opportunities with the Aruban Ministry of Education and American universities such as Harvard University. Her lifelong commitment and work have contributed to the benefit of Aruba's social and cultural development. Immediately following the breakfast, the Day of Service will continue with a variety of events including a "Chat with Maureen" as Bunyan is asked to give her global perspectives about health as they relate to education, physical/mental wellness, the economy, social justice, recreation, and politics. A Q & A with the audience will follow. "The Health of the County" will be led by community members discussing the state of affairs in areas ranging from education and politics to religion and health. The Day of Service will also include blood pressure screenings, collection of new and gently worn shoes and eyeglasses, and a non-perishable food drive. The Annual Southern Maryland Martin Luther King, Jr., Prayer Breakfast draws community-wide attendance, including local government officials, religious leaders, and business persons. The event is sponsored by St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission, St. Mary's County Public Schools, the College of Southern Maryland, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.O, Nu Zeta Omega Chapter. Three people were shot overnight and Tuesday afternoon in Chattanooga in separate Incidents. The latest shooting was at the 7700 block of Wimberly Drive. A man was injured during that incident. Police were called at 11:40 p.m. to the 900 block of Wheeler Avenue on a report of a person shot. P olice located the 1 25-year-old man in the roadway with a gunshot wound. H amilton County EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital. T he victim's injury is considered non life-threatening. C PD Violent Crimes Bureau responded for further investigation. At 1:21 a.m., police were dispatched to Parkridge Hospital at 2333 McCallie Ave. on a report of a gunshot victim who had arrived by personal vehicle. The victim was suffering from a non life-threatening gunshot wound. CPD Violent Crimes Bureau responded for further investigation. The location of the shooting incident is still unknown at this time. A Florida man has been arrested after setting fire to the bathroom at the Walgreens on Gunbarrel Road. Jeremy Wilson, 38, of Orlando was charged with aggravated assault in the incident on Christmas Day. The manager said the sprinkler went off in the bathroom. He then found that the door was locked from the inside. After the fire department responded, they were able to get inside though Wilson was holding against the door. He said he had set a fire because people were after him and he said he would be rescued by personnel responding to the fire. His bond was set at $100,000. Christmas is a huge deal for members of the Britsh Royal Family. Each year, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip invite their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to their Sandrigum estate where they partake in a series of Christmas traditions and festivities. The Windsors gather around for lunches, dinners, a lavish Christmas tea, an assortment of gag gifts, some outdoorsy time and two church services. The queen is such a stickler for her royal Christmas traditions that no one dares to miss them. Despite rumors of feuds between Prince William and Prince Harry, the British Royal family was a united front on Christmas Day 2018. However, there was one major royal family member who was missing from the clan. Heres the real reason why Prince Phillip skipped out on Christmas church service. Multiple church services Traditionally, the royals attend two church services on Christmas day and they both take place within three hours of one another. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and their family attend a private service at 9 a.m. Afterward, they stroll through the streets of Sandringham walking to St. Mary Magdalene for public worship at 11 a.m. Why did Prince Philip skip church services? When the queen arrived at St. Mary Magdalene by car (the queen does not walk), many folks were stunned to see the British monarch exiting the vehicle on her own. The Duke of Edinburgh was nowhere to be found. Though hes had a few health scares this year, a Palace spokesperson has assured the public that the 97-year-old is doing just fine. They told The Sun, Philip is in good health and spending the day privately. Though the prince officially retired from royal duties in August 2017, hes appeared publically at several events including Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markles wedding and Princess Eugenies wedding to Jack Brooksbank. According to The Telegraph, The Duke now operates on a wake-up and see how I feel basis. Perhaps the duke simply did not feel like braving the cold, blistering air that morning. The queen still paid homage to her husband of over 70 years by wearing a Grima Ruby Brooch he gifted to her back in 1966 during her Christmas address. Another glaring absence Prince Philip wasnt the only royal absent from church service on Christmas Day. Though the younger royals arent typically expected to attend church until they turn five it was Duchess Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles wife whose absence was also alarming. Unfortunately, the Duchess of Cornwall has been feeling ill and is still recovering from a rather nasty cold. The duchess wasnt even able to attend the Queens Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace last week. With a pregnant daughter-in-law and her lively grandchildren, we can see why the duchess chose to hang back this year. Other than that it looks like the royals had a great Christmas. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! YANGON, Burma, December 24, 2018 (Morning Star News) Unidentified men last week stoned a house full of worshippers for an hour in a predominantly Buddhist village in Burma (Myanmar), injuring six people, sources said. In Kanta Kawn Township, Magway Region in central Burma, 27 Christians were holding a Christmas worship service on Dec. 17 when at 8 p.m. stones began hitting them in Paw Lwe village, the homeowner told Morning Star News. Last year area Buddhists told Christian families to leave the village after a similar attack, he said. U Wah Daw said that some stones damaged a wall of his home and injured the chest, back and hands of some worshippers, including the pastor. We were afraid and didnt make noise while they threw stones into my house, U Wah Daw told Morning Star News. They threw stones at my house while we held prayer. My house has minor damages. I filed a lawsuit to police and let them handle the case. The stones, which also landed in curries and meals, damaged motorbikes, furniture and dishes and plates. Area Christians said attackers signaling each other threw stones at all sides of the house. They also broke into it and vandalized it, they said. We are investigating those who are suspected of involvement in the attack, said a police officer at Min Ywa police station. We havent arrested them so far. We know many got involved in the attack. Aung San Myint, a lawmaker in Magway Region, told Burmese news outlet The Irrawaddy that the assailants must be brought to justice, as it is illegal to interfere with religious celebrations. There are only four ethnic Chin Christian families in the predominantly Buddhist village, according to local residents. Burma is about 80 percent Buddhist and 9 percent Christian. The country is ranked 24th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2018 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Photo courtesy: RNS/Scott Web/Unsplash Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. LA PLATA, Md. (December 26, 2018)The Col. Donald M. Wade Joint Services Military Ball was held on Dec. 7, a solemn anniversary for Americans. The day marked the 77th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, an event that ushered in the U.S. military's and America's participation in World War II. Known as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Dec. 7 honors those who lost their lives during the attack and the survivors who fought at Pearl Harbor and in the Pacific. For Charles County public high school studentswho were babies or not even born at the time of 9/11the attacks are learned about in history classes, and the honor of serving the country is woven into Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps' (JROTC) objectives of instilling citizenship and personal responsibility. The annual military ball recognizes seniors from the seven high schools who take part in the JROTC program, celebrating traditions culled from different branches of the military and civilian life. There is a receiving line, dinner, presentations, a cake cutting and the naming of a king and queen of the dance. This year, Westlake High School seniors Anna Scarafile and Alexis Adame were crowned the event's royalty. The military ball is a chance for cadets of different schools and branches to meet each other and learn more about JROTC. "It gives you structure," said Javienn White, a Westlake High School freshman in the school's U.S. Navy JROTC program. "I joined to better myself. Our instructor uses big words, like SAT and ACT words. We learn a lot." Retired Navy Lt. Comm. R.W. Whittingham is Westlake's instructor. He views the JROTC program as a benefit for students. "It offers an opportunity for growth," he said. Erik Pressley, a junior at St. Charles High School, joined the JROTC program to "become a better person," he said. "It's building maturity and integrity," Pressley added. "It teaches me to show respect toward other people." The ball was named to honor the late Wade, a former Board member and retired U.S. Air Force colonel who brought the JROTIC program to Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and to those in Prince George's County. President Trump announced that the three prisoners have been released prior to his historic meeting with Kim Jong-un. Since October, Bulgarian evangelicals have protested proposed legislation that would hinder preaching, evangelizing, funding, and training by non-Orthodox minority faiths with weekly demonstrations and nationwide calls to prayer. Last Friday, its last working day of 2018, the countrys parliament finally passed the new law, without the restrictions Protestants had feared the most. We celebrate the decision by the government of Bulgaria earlier today to allow hundreds of churches, including 130 Baptist churches, to remain open so that people of faith may continue to worship in the free convictions of their conscience, stated the Baptist World Alliance, which opposed the initial proposal along with the Baptist Union of Bulgaria and several other national church councils. The amendments to the Religious Denominations Act go into effect January 1 and present some additional regulations in the southeastern European country. The two major faith groups, Orthodox (85%) and Muslim (10%), also receive bigger government subsidies under the new law. An earlier version of the amendments, as CT reported last month, put the future of Protestant education and foreign funding for churches in jeopardy. The original proposal also barred all church activity outside official buildings and kept foreign preachers from leading services; the approved amendments regulate only the use of loudspeakers to amplify outdoor worship and allow non-Bulgarians to preach if they inform the religious affairs office, according to Evangelical Focus, a Christian news site in Europe. Gong forward under the new rules, churches and other religious buildings can join an optional national registry to receive tax deductions. The willingness of the Government to listen to the concerns and perspective of citizens with a minority faith is commendable, according to the Baptist World Alliance. The work of many Baptist leaders and other people of goodwill who led rallies for seven weeks inside Bulgaria and faithfully pressed for full religious freedom, as well as the support of many who prayed and engaged across the world, is a powerful example. The actions of today are a true Christmas blessing. Last Friday, the protests in the capital city of Sofia continued. Church leaders distributed Bibles and personal pleas to each member of Parliament, and 200 evangelicals gathered outside the government building to pray against the restrictions, Evangelical Focus wrote. Almost all of the provisions that were protested against were dropped. Whether due to the piled up international pressure, or because of the eight evangelical street protests, or maybe due to the thousands of prayers spoken against the amendmentsthe lawmakers dropped every single restrictive provision of the original version, the site reported. Though they are relieved and praising God that Bulgaria passed an acceptable version of the regulations, Protestants are still concerned that their government had put forth such severe proposals in the first place, Evangelical Focus said. Lack of consideration or instinct of totalitarian control? What was driving six out of the seven political parties to coin out so many restrictions depriving basic human and religious rights? The Christian legal group Advocates International also commended the former Communist nations decision to drop various provisions in its amendment of its Religious Denominations Act that restricted freedom of religion. Please join us in thanking God for these news and continue praying for Bulgaria and our advocates there who continue to face challenges to their freedom and working faithfully and courageously to safeguard it, Daniela Ancalle said in a statement. Protestants and other minority faiths each make up less than 1 percent of the population, so the public funding granted to them under the new law pales in comparison to the millions allotted for Orthodox and Muslim adherents. The United Methodist Church, Bulgarian Baptist Union, Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance, Catholic Church in Bulgaria, and National Alliance United Churches of God all released statements objecting to the initial proposals, and Orthodox and Muslim leaders also voiced concerns. The Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance posted detailed reports from last weeks meeting on its Facebook page, thanking fellow believers both inside and outside the country for their support and prayers. Calvinists more likely to believe domestic violence myths and oppose social justice, study finds Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christians who hold Calvinist beliefs are more likely to believe certain myths about domestic violence against women and oppose social justice advocacy, a new study has found. The study surveyed 238 seminary students and found that those who agreed with Calvinist beliefs were also more likely to agree with certain statements like, A lot of domestic violence occurs because women keep on arguing about things with their partners, and Many women have an unconscious wish to be dominated by their partners, according to a Dec. 20 article at PsyPost.org. The peer-reviewed study, "Religious beliefs and domestic violence myths," was published in the November 2018 edition of Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Its authors are Peter Jankowski, Steven Sandage, Miriam Whitney Cornell, Cheryl Bissonette, Andy Johnson, Sarah Crabtree, and Mary Jensen. All the students surveyed were attending Bethel Seminary, an evangelical institution in St. Paul, Minnesota. "Calvinist beliefs were also positively associated with endorsements of social hierarchy, and negatively related to social justice advocacy such as speaking out for equality for women. In addition, Calvinist beliefs were linked to higher levels of existential defensiveness, or a belief that God would protect them more than other people," PsyPost noted. Sandage, the Albert and Jessie Danielsen professor of psychology of religion and theology at Boston University and director of research at the Danielsen Institute, told PsyPost that the research questions partly arose out of concerns he encountered as a Christian couples therapist at New Calvinist churches. He encouraged fellow therapists to educate themselves on the theological views of their clients. "I would encourage therapists to become conversant with theology, not to try to change their clients perspectives but to be able to dialogue about issues that are central to their views of suffering and holiness. I found that, in many cases, a willingness to thoughtfully and respectfully engage clients theological perspectives served to deepen the therapy relationship and provided a pathway into deep core dilemmas about life and relationships," he said. Sandage also pointed out that the relationship is not true for all Calvinists, and "some Calvinists are very concerned about social and gender equality and other social justice issues." The connection between social justice and Calvinism was highlighted last summer when Pastor John MacArthur, a popular Calvinist theologian, spearheaded a statement opposing social justice. "Specifically, we are deeply concerned that values borrowed from secular culture are currently undermining Scripture in the areas of race and ethnicity, manhood and womanhood, and human sexuality," the statement read in part. Not all Calvinists agreed, however. For instance, Tim Keller, a popular Presbyterian theologian, opposed the statement, arguing, "It's trying to marginalize people talking about race and justice." Domestic violence was also a hot topic last summer when Paige Patterson was ousted as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary after, among other things, he allegedly counseled a woman to stay with an abusive husband. Patterson rejected the characterization and said he has personally helped women leave abusive husbands. Patterson is stridently anti-Calvinist. In a November 2017 column for The Christian Post, the Rev. Rob Schenck encouraged all pastors to address domestic violence. "I'm certain my pastoral experience isn't unique I've had victims, perpetrators, and witnesses come to me begging for help," he wrote. "Clergy are often considered the safest people to go to in frightening and shame-filled tragedies. Sometimes we hear the confessions of domestic violence at our altars, when souls are under conviction. In the early days of my ministry, I didn't know what to do, but, as time went on, I educated myself. When it comes to domestic violence, pastors and church leaders must have a plan in place and be ready to implement it it's matter of life and death." Dallas school bus driver on mission from God buys Christmas gifts for all 70 kids on his route Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A school bus driver in Texas bought Christmas gifts for every child on his route by using money that he saved as a way of fulfilling his "mission from God." Curtis Jenkins surprised students from Lake Highlands Elementary School in Dallas the last day before winter break with a bus filled with Christmas presents. Overwhelmed by what they saw, one student asked if he was Santa Claus. "I'm not at a job, I'm on a mission from God," Jenkins told NBC's Dallas-Fort Worth affiliate. "I don't say anything about religion to the kids. I just let them know whatever they love is fine with me, just love somebody on the way." Jenkins said his job also gives him an opportunity to show each child that they have value and are loved. The gifts he gave the students included electronics, puzzles, games and even a bike. "Seeing the faces of those kids was more than anything that I could ever do with the money," Jenkins exclaimed. "We talked about the things that they would want and I made a mental note of it and wrote it down," he said. Eleven-year-old Ethan Ingle, one of the 70 children who received a gift from Jenkins, was elated to receive a pair of headphones in red, his favorite color. It makes me feel like I belong and I mean something to this community, said Ethan's mom, Katrina Clift, in response to Jenkins' gift to her child. The generous bus driver also gifted their family a turkey for Thanksgiving. Lake Highlands Elementary School PTA President Jennifer Wilcox said Jenkins heart to give is rubbing off on others. She said families across the district are now inspired by his Christmas giving. Jenkins' co-worker chipped in to buy the bike and another parent gave $100. "We are just so thankful for his spirit, and his kindness and his generosity to the kids," Wilcox said. "Thank you for being a wonderful example for all of us." Jenkins has worked for the school district for seven years and remembered the times as a child when he didn't get much for Christmas. Notorious 'career criminal' now preaches Jesus to prisoners: 'Abundant life can be found in the jailhouse' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A former drug addict-turned-pastor who was arrested 35 times and sentenced to prison five times for eight felony convictions has opened up about the series of events that led him to Christ and why his mission is to tell others that abundant life is possible, even in prison. The first time Scott Highberger got arrested he was just 12 years old. Growing up in Michigan City, Indiana, he was surrounded by dysfunction and substance abuse from a young age and it wasnt long before he began to adopt the habits surrounding him. I was a really angry kid who learned how to solve my problems through violence and fighting, and I ended up in a juvenile detention center at 12 years old, he told The Christian Post. Around that time, I started drinking, and that started a domino effect of committing crimes and abusing drugs and alcohol. Unable to stay out of trouble, Highberger dropped out of school in the ninth grade. By the time he was 17, hed been arrested so many times that authorities placed him in an adult prison instead of trying him as a child. From there, he became trapped in a constant cycle of drinking, drugs, and prison stints, culminating in a 12-year sentence for selling drugs. I lived a very haphazard life with no real target or purpose, he said. While living in a halfway house following his release from prison, Highberger began dating a woman who eventually gave birth to their son. One time, the couple went to a movie theater to watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose, a film about a demon-possessed girl. Shortly into the film, Highberger said he experienced the fear of God for the first time in his life. I didn't know anything about God, but I knew it was God and it was just really crazy, he said. I ended up going out in the parking lot, breaking down, crying my eyes out. I went home and got the Yellow Pages and started looking around for a church. But God had different plans for Highbergers life: The very next day, he was arrested on a warrant he didnt even know about and found himself in prison yet again. This time, Highberger spent two weeks studying the Bible and eventually gave his life to Christ during a church service conducted in prison. I thought everything would change once I got out, he said. I thought, Im born again, things are going to be different. Im going to marry my girlfriend, and were going to have this incredible life together.' After returning home, however, Highbergers girlfriend told him she was leaving him and taking their son with her. Devastated, Highberger returned to his former lifestyle, looking to drugs and alcohol for comfort. He ultimately attempted to kill himself, ending up with 40 stitches in his arm. But the lowest point of his life, Highberger said, was the night his ex-girlfriend allowed him to take care of their son by himself. I had begged her to let me take him for a night, and she finally let me, he recalled. He was about 1-and-a-half years old. I got drunk and ended up driving to the ghetto to a crack house. I locked him in the car and got drugs, got back in the car, and drove home, smoking crack the whole way home with him in the backseat. She found out about it, and was understandably livid, he continued. She told me I could never see my son again. With multiple charges pending against him and nowhere to turn, Highberger once again attempted to kill himself by taking over 100 sleeping pills. When that proved unsuccessful, he fled the state and wound up homeless, traveling from Florida to Arizona. I would sleep in dumpsters and on the street and just beg for change to buy the next drug, he said. Id hit rock bottom. I was just so tired of my life. Eventually, he returned to Indiana where he was once again arrested. But this time, things looked different. Jeremiah 29:13 says, If you seek me with your whole heart, you'll find me, he said. At my lowest, I sought God and I found Him in prison, and He just began to radically change my life. Highberger developed an overwhelming thirst for the Bible, and after his release from prison would bike through sleet and snow to attend church services, volunteering wherever he could. Determined to save others from the life that nearly destroyed him, Highberger approached church leaders about starting a prison ministry. What started as a one-week service for inmates led to four services a week and today, Highberger, along with his wife Danielle, ministers to thousands of prisoners, leading them to freedom in Jesus Christ. Looking back, I see that all those years were God setting me up for a comeback, to become desperate for Him, he said. To the outside world, prison is a place for punishment. For me, prison was a place to be alone with God, to begin a recovery process, to be away from negative influences, and to be stripped of everything. I found freedom in prison, and I want others to, as well. Highberger shares his powerful story in his book,Behind the Wire: A Prisoner's Journey to the Pulpit. In it, he details practical, biblical steps individuals can take to find true freedom. "I've handed out thousands of books to prisoners, and I've received so many letters from people sharing how it's changed their lives," he shared. Freedom isn't just about a physical location; it's a spiritual condition, he explained. There's an invisible prison that holds many in its grip, and the only way out of that is through Jesus. Today, Highberger serves as the outreach and prison pastor at Road to Life Church in Michigan City. Now reconnected with his son, the pastor says his message is simple: New life is possible through Christ even for a career criminal. What I really preach from the rooftops is that Jesus leaves the 99 for that one, he said. He left those 99 for me and he grabbed ahold of my life in prison. There is hope for that drug addict, the alcoholic, the career criminal, the one that is so far gone that you think they can never be redeemed. Abundant life, he added, can be found right there in the jailhouse. Technology challenges to the Church: Relearn embodied human existence, Christian professor argues Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Churches have forgotten the importance of embodied human existence in response to the growth of modern technology, according to a recent book by a Christian college professor. Craig M. Gay, professor of interdisciplinary studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, wrote Modern Technology and the Human Future: A Christian Appraisal to warn people about the harms associated with modern technology and social media, while stressing the need for people to critique such technological trends from a biblical perspective. I am not a Luddite. I am not anti-technology. But I am concerned about it, and particularly about the directions it appears to be heading, wrote Gay in the books preface. my sincere desire is that you will find this book useful in judging what measure of harm and of profit you stand to gain by employing modern automatic machine technologies. While Gay notes in his book that biblical Christian theology has the answer on how to combat the harms of modern technology, churches by and large have not stressed enough or even have forgotten those keys points. Modern technological developments apparent trend away from ordinary embodied human existence should have triggered alarms in our churches, wrote Gay. Our churches seem to have forgotten the centrality of embodied human existence within the gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, what appears to account for the churchs failure to protest both the mechanical modern outlook as well as the modern tendency to objectify and enframe the natural world is that we have fallen out of the habit of reflecting uponand living out ofthe implications of core Christian convictions. In an interview with The Christian Post last Friday, Gay explained that he believed that this trend was common throughout Western Christianity, stating that Catholics suffer from this just as much as Protestants. My hunch is that its happening to all of us in all kinds of subtle ways. Its a feature of modernity. Modernity and modernization tends to disconnect people from their religious or theological traditions, said Gay. However, Gay did believe that some congregations were trying to combat the harms of modern technology through a renewed emphasis on teaching Christian principles. Catechism, I think, has become a thing again. People are talking about it again. Whereas for at least a generation, it hasnt really been something that happened in many large churches. And now its beginning to happen again, said Gay to CP. I think the reason that is, is because people are realizing people just dont know what the Christian faith is and how it holds together in terms of basic conviction. Examining modern technology with a biblical perspective Gay explained to CP that he wanted to critique technological advancements like social media using the basic truths of the Christian religion. These convictions involve recognizing that the world is not just a collection of stuff that happens to be there, but rather it is a creation thats been quite crafted by a good God and it has been ordered to fruition, to flourishing, to thriving. God delights in seeing his creatures thrive. And then the human task then within the creation is to facilitate this thriving. Both in terms of each other, in terms of human creatures, but also in terms of everything else. Our job in a sense, is to enable things to come most fully into being, explained Gay. With that framework, Gay went on to explain when critiquing technology, people should ask questions like does it help us to become the kinds of people that God desires us to become? and is it enabling us to be, for example, more present to each other? If the technologies are, and many of them do, then fantastic! We should use them, we should celebrate them, and we should be thankful for them, Gay continued. But if they arent, if they are not helping us become who we desire to become, if theyre somehow interfering in our engagement with reality, then no, we shouldnt use them. Why would we? Thats where I am hoping to leave the reader at the end of the study, is beginning to look at the world in that way. The disaster of Virtual Reality churches The concept of virtual reality churches has been the subject of debate, with at least one Los Angeles, California-based entity, named VR Church, planning to offer such services. Our mission is to explore and communicate God through virtual reality, augmented reality, and next generation technologies. All are welcome to attend our services, stated the VR Church. Gay told CP that he considered the idea of virtual reality churches to be a disaster that runs contrary to the coming of Jesus Christ on Christmas. It seems to me that the very thing that we celebrate this time of year, which is the incarnation of God in Christ and this huge endorsement of embodied human being in the world that that has to mean at the very least that we emphasize, that we prioritize always face-to-face embodied actual interaction, Gay explained. That especially when it comes to meeting together at the church and celebrating the sacraments and doing all the things we do in churches. With his objections noted, Gay did believe that the concept of virtual reality churches could work as a last resort for those who arent able to come for whatever reason. Sure lets make it possible for them to join in and lets use technology to help, acknowledged Gay. But for all of the rest of us, no. We need to actually be together. YouTube changes 'abortion' search results after accusation of being too pro-life Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment YouTube has changed the ranking of its search results for abortion after a writer at a liberal website complained that the top content list was "biased" in favor of pro-life videos. According to an article published by Slate on Dec. 21, a YouTube search of the word abortion produced numerous pro-life results. These results included videos of former abortion-provider-turned pro-life activist Antony Levatino and one by conservative commentator and editor of The Daily Wire Ben Shapiro. When you Google abortion, the top results are relatively staid considering the divisiveness of the topic in American life, wrote April Glaser of Slate. If, until recently, you did the same over on Google-owned YouTube, it felt like you were searching in a whole other universe," Glaser lamented, suggesting that facts about abortion procedures should be suppressed and hidden from the public. After Slate contacted YouTube about its search results, the popular video-sharing site responded by down ranking the pro-life videos. According to Glaser, YouTube didn't explain how it changed the search results, with the site stating that it gives a platform for free speech where anyone can choose to post videos, subject to our Community Guidelines. The Christian Post did its own YouTube search of the word abortion on Wednesday. The top result was a 4-year-old video titled The Fake Abortion Clinics of America: Misconception, by the left-leaning pro-choice VICE News. The top 10 results from CP's search included videos that featured news stories relating to abortion, a BuzzFeedVideo providing demographic information on the average abortion recipient and abortion statistics, some of which are debated, and a 16-minute commentary on abortion laws from liberal pro-abortion comedian John Oliver. National Review staff writer Alexandra DeSanctis described Glasers efforts as a censorious mission, referring to the videos that used to be the top the search results as every pro-abortion activists worst nightmare. Because they reveal the unmistakable details of what takes place in every abortion details that Glaser rightly, albeit dismissively, describes as gore theyre written off as dangerous misinformation, wrote DeSanctis in column on Saturday. Lest unsuspecting viewers risk running across this gore and oppose abortion as a result, true believers like Glaser insist that this type of content should be drowned out by videos from news outlets and credible reproductive health care providers whose mission is to airbrush away the reality of abortion. In February, a pro-choice writer with Gizmodo reported that Google Maps was directing women who are seeking abortions to pro-life pregnancy centers instead of abortion clinics. "I contacted 20 people in cities and states across the U.S. to ask them to go to Google, either on desktop or on their phones, enter 'Where can I get an abortion near me?' and then click on the resulting map to see what happens in their locations," noted Robin Marty of Gizmodo earlier this year. "In all but two (Little Rock, Arkansas and Queens, New York) crisis pregnancy centers were offered up as abortion clinic options whenever that sentence was entered." Marty blamed Google Maps' "mostly unmonitored and unlimited user intervention" for the site preference for pregnancy centers over abortion clinics. "The star rating system offers another way to create a more visible CPC and a less visible abortion clinic, with abortion opponents offering two and one star reviews for local abortion providers, and writing three and four star reviews for the pregnancy care centers," added Marty. FRC warns Trump's Syria withdraw plans will put Christians in 'mortal danger' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment One of the nations leading Christian conservative advocacy groups that has been supportive of the Trump administration is warning that President Trumps plans for a full and rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria will put Christian communities in mortal danger. In an op-ed co-written by Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" Boykin, the organization's executive vice president, and Travis Weber, a former Navy pilot and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who serves as FRCs vice president for policy, argue that withdrawing troops wont result in Trumps stated campaign promise to defeat the Islamic State. The terror group, which gained control of large swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014, has been largely pushed out of its strongholds but many have warned that the deadly extremist group is still not defeated. While ISIS has suffered, it is not finished, the men wrote, adding that reports show that the terrorists still control territory with forces capable of mounting another insurgency in the future. Indeed, the Department of Defense stated just this past August "that ISIS retains nearly 30,000 fighters across Iraq and Syria and is 'more capable' than al-Qaeda in Iraq ISIS' predecessor at its peak in 20062007. Such a force would pose a serious threat to all peace-loving and free areas in Syria, including the Federation of Northern Syria. The Federation of Northern Syria is a de-facto autonomous region comprised of three smaller self-governing regions. According to Boykin and Weber, the federation has emerged as a religious freedom miracle. The region is protected by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which have been part of the coalition's fight to eliminate IS from the region. There, people of all faiths live side by side in peace, the op-ed reads. They are the type of allies the United States should be seeking in the Middle East and around the world. While the deck is typically stacked against religious freedom in this region, within the Federation even converts from Islam can build a new church rather than face the death penalty as they often do elsewhere. The Federation is a glimmer of hope in a dim part of the world. However, IS is not the only threat to the federation. NATO member Turkey has threatened to launch another offensive against the Kurds in northern Syria with the help of extremist militias. Many fear that another attack similar to the Turkish offensive in Afrin earlier this year could occur. Over 167,000 Yazidis, Christians and others were displaced by that offensive. If Turkey leads an offensive in areas under self-governance in Syria, some believe that land will eventually end up under the influence of Iran. The Christian communities there fear total destruction by the hands of Turkey, Iran, and even ISIS as that is not fully defeated yet, stated the European Syriac Union in a press release. We call on European countries to join the U.K. and France in finalizing the fight against ISIS and keeping North-East Syria stable. We and many experts believe that ISIS otherwise will return in strength. Emanuel Youkhana, a priest of the Assyrian Church of the East, told the Catholic News Agency that he thinks a withdraw with no guarantees opens up the gates of Hell. "I expect this decision will force the Christian community to flee, to migrate once again, he said. They still have fresh in their collective memory the genocide that took place against them by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. The priest warned that the withdraw will lead to more fears, concerns and a bleeding of the Christian population to leave Syria." According to the Christian Broadcasting Network, a Kurdish pastor wrote a letter to President Trump telling him that his decision for a withdraw caused some people in his community to cry. Our sisters and brothers cooperated and fought alongside your sons and daughters to defeat ISIS, the pastor wrote. Their precious blood was shed on the same ground for the sake of freedom and humanity. This means we're much more than just friends but brothers who share an inheritance. Surely your support prevented them from a certain genocide either by terrorists or their supporters. Briefly; you restored their hope and the righteousness of their cause. You made them believe that God still loves the Kurds, still cares about them, still considers them as He does your great nation. The European Syriac Union has called on European allies to consider what will happen if there is no replacement of U.S. forces. Even at this moment, it is clear that forces of Assad are planning to invade Idlib. The Turkish proxies that committed already many crimes will wage war against the SDF and end the stability of North-East Syria, the ESU statement added. Simultaneously these forces will clash against Assads forces who will undoubtedly try to regain control of North-East Syria as well when Turkey and its jihadis attack the SDF. Through the chaos, the union argues, IS will rise again and regain rapidly its strength. All that is needed is that four countries send 250 armed forces to replace the 2,000 U.S. forces, the ESU contends. This will enable the U.K. and France to continue its operations and presence in North-East Syria. We are convinced that Turkey will not dare to go to war against its NATO allies. Clearly, France and U.K. share that opinion. Europe will be able to avert a disaster for the region and for Europe itself. Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan claimed Friday that Turkey will take over the fight against IS. We have postponed our military operation against the east of the Euphrates river until we see on the ground the result of Americas decision to withdraw from Syria, Erdogan said. Trump took to Twitter to double down on his reported plan. Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever? Time for others to finally fight, Trump wrote. Although IS is still suffering military defeats, it has continued on with its bloody and brutal methods. Its been reported this week by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that IS executed 700 of its prisoners after suffering a loss in Hajin. Others are not happy about the planned withdraw. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is now planning to retire in February after plans were announced for the withdraw in Syria and a troop reduction in Afghanistan. According to Reuters, France and Germany have warned that withdrawing troops could risk damaging the fight against IS. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called the planned withdraw and Obama-like mistake. "When [President Barack] Obama pulled out of Iraq we knew exactly what was going to happen. The military told President Obama, if you leave now, the radicals that are still around are going to regenerate, Graham said. And all the people who helped us in Iraq, a lot of them died. The same thing is going to happen in Syria," In the op-ed, Boykin and Weber note that Trump recently signed bipartisan legislation to provide aid to Christians and other religious minority communities that were attacked by IS. Right now, the Federation of Northern Syria is committed to religious freedom for all in its territory, helping ensure that such aid is not needed in the future and not needed again, and again, in the future when stability eludes us because religious freedom has not been cultivated in the region, they wrote. Yet the Federation must be empowered to hold on to its territory in order to ensure this religious freedom for future generations. Alabama police department says spike in juvenile crime due to Satanism Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Opp Police Department in a rural Alabama has come under fire from an atheist group for publicly blaming the towns growing juvenile crime rate on residents embracing Satan and turning away from God. The controversy erupted Tuesday after the police department made the claim on Tuesday in a since deleted post on their Facebook page. The OPP police department in Alabama said that crime was up b/c "we have turned away from God and embraced Satan" The FB post was deleted. Well, isn't that special. pic.twitter.com/ipQALvf0hw Keith (@KeithWasNotHere) December 21, 2018 This past Sunday, a young man was shot and killed in Kinston. Monday night, a mother was shot and killed in Northern Covington County. There have been five murders in Covington County in 2018. These murders have been done by our young people. This is happening because we have turned away from God and embraced Satan, the police department stated. The police department then urged the small town of 6,500 to seek Gods help in bringing down the crime rate and be better parents. We may have not meant (sic) to do so but, we have. It is time to ask for Gods help to stop this. It is time to be parents and raise our children, not have them raise us. It is time to fully support law enforcement and stand by the officers and deputies that are far too often having to walk into these dangerous situations and clean up the mess. Friends, it is time to stand up and be responsible, grown up leaders in our community. Bottom line, there are sheep; there are wolves and there are sheep dogs. Which group do you belong to? the post ended. Reacting a day later to the post, the FFRF called the statement inappropriate and called on the police department to retract it. The department has very directly endorsed one religious ideology to the exclusion of minority religions and atheism, and decried Satanism. Neither message is permissible, FFRF Associate Counsel Sam Grover said in a press statement. It is negligent for the department to spread a message of prejudice against those who choose not to believe in or worship a god. The department certainly has no data to support its theory that a rise in violent crime is caused by those choosing to turn away from god belief. Numerous scientific studies prove otherwise, the FFRF continued. The atheism advocacy organization further cited findings from psychology and sociological studies claiming that states with the highest murder rates, including Alabama, tend to be highly religious, but the states with the lowest murder rates tend to be among the least religious in the country, such as Vermont and Oregon. It is the height of hypocrisy to call for a reduction in crime through an act that itself breaks the law, FFRF argued. Critics such as the Arizona chapter of the Satanic Temple also slammed the police departments statement online. The person who runs the official Facebook page for the Opp, Alabama Police Department needs [to] take a refresher course on separation between church and state, the organization said on Twitter. Opp Police Department officials were not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Christian Post on Friday. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A widow in Kandhamal, India, folds her hands in prayer. In 2008 a mob of Hindu nationalists murdered her husband before her eyes for their Christian faith. After 10 years, she along with other widows who faced the same fate, still gather together to encourage each other, and worship Jesus together. A group of seven women in Southern India come together to talk, to cry, and to pray. They come together as Christians, they mourn together as women whose husbands were murdered right in front of their eyes. Some of them were holding their husbands as they were brutally stabbed to death in the chest and face. One of them painstakingly reminisces of the day she saw her mother burned alive. The women witnessed the most heinous and extreme forms of injustice, creating a lifetime of afflictions, held firmly within a deep emotional scar. The wounds of which are stitched together by steadfast faith that their Lord will deliver them from the pain of this life, and that one day they will reunite with their husbands in Heaven. Their entire village region was ravaged by hate-filled actions. Every house was burned to the ground. Those who didnt lose their father, lost their brother. Those who didnt lose their brother, lost their husband. In northern India, a small car zips through the busy streets of Kashmir. The driver, Arif, spent his whole life saving enough money to buy this taxi, known in their culture as an auto rickshaw. With every passenger that steps into his vehicle comes an opportunity for him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a state that is 99.5 percent Muslim and violent toward individuals of any other religion or set of beliefs, this is what he does. He shares this Gospel in that car to the most rejecting of souls; that was, until locals caught on and burned his auto rickshaw, his livelihood, the way he supports his family, to the ground. The vehicle he drives today, he rents. He does this to keep his business alive, but does so at a major cost. That cost, that burden, is no greater than the burdens that the nonbelievers whom he preaches to carry with them in their lives every day, and so he continues to proclaim the name of Jesus. All around him are armed military and police. To his right there is a meeting place where militants and extremists come to stone people to death. Amid the chaos, a light shines bright out of an auto rickshaw that navigates through these streets of hate, spreading love through evangelism. Hundreds of kilometers away in Odisha, a Christian leader stands on top of his roof, looking out into his community. The backdrop is dominated by massive mountains and a verdant jungle that harmoniously make up the scenery. He points at several men working in the street, one by one, identifying them as some of the arsonists that worked together to burn down his home and every other Christian home in the area. His house has since been reconstructed; today this is where he lives, where he serves, regardless of the conditions and persecution he faces. This is what life looks like for a Christian in much of rural India. The riots On Aug. 23, 2008, Swami Laxmanananda was murdered in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, India. Local reports show that at the time of the murder, his bodyguard was not present and police guards fled when the assailants entered the building. Police immediately imprisoned seven Maoist men who they believe organized the murder of the Hindu leader. During this time, Sangh Parivar, an offshoot group of the Hindu nationalist organization RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), blamed Christians for the murder, saying it was an international conspiracy organized by the church. They declared that Christianity was banned in Kandhamal. Deadlines were issued to Christians who were commanded to denounce their faith and follow Hinduism; those that didnt comply were often arrested, buried or burned alive, or publicly slaughtered. Reports show that riots throughout Kandhamal and surrounding areas lasted for nearly three months. Humble Christian villages tucked deep into the pockets of a vast mountainous region, where souls were saved and ministries were formed, wiped out by an evil flame that shot through the jungle. When the flame dissipated and all that remained was a mixture of dirt and ash, the scene was almost unfathomable, even in the darkest of nightmares: 100 Christians dead, 300 churches destroyed, 600 homes demolished, and 56,000 people were now homeless. There are some heroes in this story but their reward was a lifetime sentence in prison. After just 40 days, police released the seven Maoist men originally suspected of organizing the murder, and arrested seven local Christian men. A wife of one of the imprisoned innocents grabs at her sleeve, dampened by the tears that have surged down her face, recounting the horrible injustice through the help of a translator. In the middle of the riot, our husbands were volunteering to help the people of the villages. They were directly targeted because they were known to be the people who were helping their own people. BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Pravin Togadia (not the police) declared that these seven Christian men were the alleged killers. Propaganda was published using fake quotes and fabricated storylines to back the BJP leaders claims, none of which were ever proven to be true. Several of these men have proof that they were over 50 kilometers away from the crime scene at the time of the murder. During the first four years of the trial, there was no evidence that any of the seven imprisoned Christians killed the Swami, though they were all deemed guilty and sentenced to life in jail. These brothers were pulled out of their houses at midnight, said a local Christian leader. They were not asked to come to the police station politely, they were taken without any cause." Put yourself in this situation: today youre putting aside everything in your life to go help those who have nowhere to go and no one to help them. Tomorrow, youll be put behind bars for the rest of your life on Earth. The climax in this narrative is when your door gets plowed through in the middle of the night. Unexpected, unwarranted, and unimaginable. You get pulled away as your family weeps and huddles for protection on the cold, dirt floor. The only thing that each of you know is that when the sun comes up tomorrow, life will be different forever. The men who were taken away first heard about the Swamis murder when a local Catholic priest brought the news to their villages in person. Reports show that six of the seven accused men are illiterate, one is described as handicapped and nonsocial, and all of them were known to be Christians. Bouts of injustice against the affected families continue still to this day. According to a local Christian leader, when the independent judge was there, he was in favor of the bail, but all of a sudden he got transferred, so a new judge came. Since then, the case has been delayed and though the women have been assured that their husbands will be bailed out, there has been no noteworthy progress. These women, drawn together in tragedy, grieve over the course this case has taken. When the men were first imprisoned, they were put in the same jail, but have since been moved to different jails throughout the district. Still, the estranged wives have been visiting their husbands monthly for the past 10 years. One of them quivers as she opens her mouth to speak. She says that their husbands hav been able to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ while in prison. But as the narrative shifts, her voice begins to tremble and she recounts a time of greater hope. A time when the judge in charge of the case could be viewed as their savior, their means of making things right in their lives. But as he abruptly departs, reality sets in he was never their savior to begin with; their savior is in Heaven, where He reigns and continues to watch over this case, which is in the states highest court. Faith is lost in the judicial system, but faith is found in the work that their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done for them on the Cross. They recount His sacrifice and patiently remember the countrys national motto, Truth alone triumphs. Today, there is an online signature campaign to release the innocents, which you can visit at www.release7innocents.com. At this writing, more than 72,000 people have signed the petition. The aftermath Prakash, the Christian leader in Odisha, comes down from his roof and welcomes guests into his house. He offers them tea, bread, and a word of prayer. He leans back in his chair and reminisces. In 2007, he brought 40 orphaned children into his home, a common measure among pastors in areas ravaged by disaster in India. By 2008, radical locals wanted to kill him. I was bound to leave my housing by evening, he recounts. I left everything. I went to the forest with the children. By 7:30 they burned down my house. The next two days were spent deep in the wilderness of the jungle, the next two months were spent in a relief camp, or rehabilitation home site. In this scenario, Christian nongovernment organizations send representatives to set up tents and give the newly homeless people food and supplies to sustain them for the time being. This is the process by which many of the aforementioned 56,000 that became homeless were given shelter following the riots. Two months in relief camps passed and Prakash returned to his property, which now housed the remains of his former home. The government offered him money to help with the repairs and told him he was free to return here, but they gave him no assurance that it would be safe. The two-year rebuilding process was underway, following a generous donation from Christian NGOs to help pay for the rest of the reconstruction. Still, many others remained in relief camps. The timing could not have been worse, as this was also monsoon season in Southern India. The Christian women who were widowed were placed in a high security rehabilitation area, for safety reasons. Each day passed, and more rain came. Their dirt floors had turned into mud. They could no longer eat or sleep on the floor, as they are accustomed to in their culture. According to them, conditions became so severe that they could not even reach the bathrooms outside of their tents. With their children, they prayed and waited. Only by faith are we able to overcome that tragedy, said one of the widows. Balancing the loss of husbands, fathers, brothers, and homes, some of their greatest prayers at this point were just for a stable floor to sleep on. The losses these women and children endured, and the conditions they now live in, are closely traced back to actions of members of the RSS and BJP, the perpetrators of these riots. A story exists in local Christian circles that shortly after the riots, a herd of wild elephants migrated through Kandhamal, just as they do every year. This migration usually occurs in December, though in 2008 it happened shortly after the riots in August. The extremists that started the riots led an evil plan to wipe out every Christian home in sight. The elephants that were on migration returned the favor. Local reports show that non-Christian villages, home of RSS and BJP members, were completely wiped out as elephants stormed through their communities. Along the way in other villages, some Christian homes were damaged, though no Christians died. In the end, reports show that at least five members of the RSS were killed in the elephant migration of 2008. Laboratory supervisor Samantha Forrest conducting BOD analyses. (Submitted photo) On September 26, 2018, the Maryland Department of The Environment (MDE) inspected MetCom's laboratory facility located at the Larry K. Petty Building. On December 13, 2018, the Commission received the formal State Certified Water Quality Laboratory designation from MDE's Water Supply Program."We are very proud of the work that our collections, distribution, laboratory and operations / maintenance staff do each and every day to ensure our facilities comply with State and Federal regulations," stated George Erichsen, MetCom's Executive Director. "Mike Sullivan, Gary Reynolds, Samantha Forrest, and Harry Pool were just a few of the dedicated staff that were instrumental in making this happen."In addition to the State recognition, staff will have the ability to analyze nearly 90 total coliform and E.coli test samples in house saving the Commission between $700 and $800 per month. In fiscal year 2017, approximately 1,350 drinking water samples were collected and analyzed by MetCom staff to determine compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. These samples were tested by a third party laboratory to monitor parameters such as bacteria (coliform), lead / copper (triennially), arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, metals and disinfection byproducts. pH levels are monitored monthly (612 samples) while chlorine concentrations are analyzed twice per week (5,304 samples) by in-house operations staff in each of our 28 systems that include 51 water pumping stations. MDE also conducts periodic quality assurance testing and compliance site visits.To learn more, see the 2016 Annual Water Quality Reports at www.metcom.org and select the Water Quality Reports option under the Operations tab.In addition to drinking water sampling, over 25,500 wastewater analyses were conducted in FY 2017 at each of MetCom's five wastewater treatment plants and two additional facilities operated by MetCom to determine compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. Recently, a state-of-the art wastewater laboratory was constructed at the Marlay-Taylor Water Reclamation Facility. This full service lab meets or exceeds all MDE and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requirements for wastewater laboratory testing, including accuracy testing on Discharge Monitoring Report Quality Assurance (DMRQA) and Standard Methods in the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Water quality tests are performed on water entering and leaving each treatment process at the plants and throughout the Commission's distribution system. These analyses consisted of parameters such as bacteria (coliform), bio-chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, phosphorus, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, acids, alkalinity and chlorine concentrations. The state and federal testing and analyses requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits ensure the quality of the effluent released into receiving surface waters.If you are interested in working in our lab and to learn more about possible internships with MetCom, please visit our website at www.metcom.org and select the Open Positions option under the Human Resources tab. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Beth Moore and Max Lucado made headlines at a recent conference in ways you might not expect. A one-day summit on sexual abuse and harassment was held at Wheaton College. As the organizer explained, the group met to help amplify a conversation on this difficult subject. Beth Moore was the featured speaker. Her story of sexual abuse was shared by others who spoke. Then Max Lucado closed the conference by sharing for the first time his own story of sexual abuse as a child. They are not alone. According to a recent survey, eight in ten pastors know someone who has experienced domestic or sexual violence. A fifth of the clergy has experienced such violence themselves, including sexual assault, rape, or child sexual abuse. We are living in an age of historical reckoning. In other news, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary released a report detailing the schools extensive historical ties to slavery, the Confederacy, and white supremacy. The study found that all four founders of the school, one of the oldest and most influential seminaries in the US, owned slaves. Other findings: early faculty and trustees defended slavery as righteous; the seminary supported the Confederacy during the Civil War; and the school opposed racial equality well into the twentieth century. Albert Mohler Jr., the seminarys longtime president, prefaced the report: We are living in an age of historical reckoning. The moral burden of history requires a far more direct and far more candid acknowledgment of the legacy of this school in the horrifying realities of American slavery, Jim Crow segregation, racism, and even the avowal of white racial supremacy. Dr. Mohler added: We will not attempt to rewrite the past, nor can we unwrite the past. Instead, we will write the truth as best we can know it. We will tell the story in full, and not hide. Buildings, budgets, and baptisms When I became a Christian in 1973, the evangelical churches I knew focused primarily on evangelism. Sunday sermons were intended to lead people to walk the aisle to the front of the sanctuary where the pastor or a staff member waited to lead them to Christ. Tuesday night outreach, where members would make evangelistic visits in the community, was a vital part of the weekly program. Evangelism training courses were expected for all leaders and members. Who did you win to Jesus this week? was a common question. In the 1980s, the focus for many evangelicals shifted to seeker-sensitive worship and therapy-based sermons. Services were designed with non-Christians in mind; messages focused on the felt needs of attenders. Sermons on marriage, money management, and self-esteem were common. Both approaches measured success by numbersconversions and baptisms, attenders and members, finances and buildings. In my years as a pastor, it was clear to me that my work was evaluated by buildings, budgets, and baptisms. I still believe that lost people need Jesus and Christians need to share him with the world. I still believe that pastors and churches should meet the needs of people as we share Gods love with them. And I still agree that measuring results is important. How God measures our love for him However, I am convinced that we must do much more to apply Gods word to the entire spectrum of issues we face. For example, sexual abuse and racism are sins that destroy lives, families, and futures. Gods word clearly calls us to flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18) and to hold our leaders accountable for personal integrity (cf. Titus 2:7-8). Racial prejudice is an affront to the God who created us all (Genesis 1:27) and who loves each of us as a father loves his children (Matthew 7:11). God requires us to care for the impoverished (1 John 3:17), the imprisoned (Matthew 25:36), the immigrant (Exodus 22:21), and the mistreated and abused (Hebrews 13:3). We are called to defend children (Matthew 18:5-6) and provide for orphans and widows (James 1:27). We are to value women just as highly as men (Galatians 3:28) and to honor their leadership and ministry (cf. Romans 16:1-4). Gospel means good news. The good news is that God cares about every dimension of our lives and culture. Not only does he call us to do the samehe measures our love for him by our love for those in need (Matthew 25:31-46). This is only logical. You cannot love me and mistreat my children. Our Father feels the same way. You have Christ in your neighbor Martin Luther King Jr. called the church the conscience of the state. Tragically, the culture sees clergy abuse scandals and discrimination against minorities and women (see Beth Moores poignant A Letter to My Brothers) and considers us part of the problem rather than the solution. I applaud those who spoke at the Wheaton conference for revealing their pain and challenging the church to defend victims like themselves. I applaud Southern Seminary for beginning the process of confession regarding racism in its past. Now its our turn. Would you ask the Lord if you need to repent of prejudice, injustice, or apathy in your attitudes and actions? Would you ask him if you need to seek forgiveness from others? If so, act immediately. You cannot be right with your Father if you are wrong with one of his children: If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24). In a sermon on the Bethlehem innkeeper, Martin Luther said to his audience: There are many of you in this congregation who think to yourselves: If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the baby!' Then he asked them, Why dont you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. Who is your neighbor today? Originally posted at Denison Forum. Christmas cards featuring alcohol are reinforcing binge drinking as a social norm, say health experts Christmas cards and birthday cards that make light of drinking are reinforcing negative social attitudes around excessive alcohol consumption, experts warn in the British Medical Journal. Tracey Polak and Virginia Pearson, both public health officials at Devon County Council, said that cards which feature alcohol 'reflect and reinforce a social attitude that excess alcohol consumption is acceptable and associated with celebration'. They said drink-related messaging on cards had the power to 'influence views on drinking and reinforce this as a social norm'. According to the Greeting Card Association, one billion cards were sold in the UK during 2017, with a hundred million of them being Christmas cards. It estimates that 85 per cent of all cards are bought by women. Polak and Pearson fear that greeting cards portraying drinking as funny are encouraging more excessive drinking. In particular, they expressed concerned about cards with messages like ' let's get wrecked' and images that encourage people to drink entire bottles or until they are unconscious. They urged people to consider the messaging on the front of their greeting cards before buying them, saying that manufacturers 'may change what they produce if consumers choose not to buy cards depicting irresponsible drinking'. 'As cards with alcohol themes become more prevalent then a cultural norm develops where drinking in association with celebration becomes the expected,' they said. They added that 'perhaps it is worth reflecting the next time that you choose one whether the message is one that you condone and wish to pass on'. Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas one year after Islamic State defeat Iraqi Christians quietly celebrated Christmas on Tuesday amid improved security, more than a year after the country declared victory over Islamic State militants who threatened to end their 2,000-year history in Iraq. Christianity in Iraq dates back to the first century of the Christian era, when the apostles Thomas and Thaddeus are believed to have preached the Gospel on the fertile flood plains of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Iraq is home to many different eastern rite churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, traditionally a sign of the country's ethnic and religious diversity. But war and sectarian conflict shrank Iraq's Christian population from 1.5 million to about 400,000 after the US-led invasion in 2003. Following the onslaught of Islamic State in 2014 and the brutal three-year war that followed their numbers have fallen further, though it is not known exactly by how much. In Baghdad, Christians celebrated mass on Tuesday morning declared a national holiday by government in churches decorated for Christmas. Once fearful, they said they were now hopeful, since conditions had improved. 'Of course we can say the security situation is better than in previous years,' said Father Basilius, leader of the St George Chaldean Church in Baghdad where more than a hundred congregants attended Christmas mass. 'We enjoy security and stability mainly in Baghdad. In addition, Daesh was beaten,' he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Iraq declared victory over the militants more than a year ago, but the damage done to Christian enclaves on the Nineveh Plains has been extensive. In Qaraqosh, a town also known as Hamdaniya which lies 15 km (10 miles) west of Mosul, the damage is still visible. At the city's Immaculate Church, which belongs to the Syrian Catholic denomination and has not yet been rebuilt since the militants set it on fire in 2014, Christians gathered for midnight mass on Monday, surrounded by blackened walls still tagged with Islamic State graffiti. Dozens of worshippers prayed and received communion, and then gathered around the traditional bonfire in the church's courtyard. Before the militant onslaught, Qaraqosh was the largest Christian settlement in Iraq, with a population of more than 50,000. But today only a few hundred families have returned. Faced with a choice to convert, pay a tax or die, many Christians in the Nineveh Plains fled to nearby towns and cities and some eventually moved abroad. Some have since returned, Father Butros said, adding: 'We hope that all displaced families will return.' I love year-end music lists as a reader and consumer and fear them as a typist, because, well, I feel differently about albums constantly. And I also find some of my favorite recordings from a particular year long after that year has concluded. Andy Shaufs The Party ended up my one or two favorite albums of 2016, only I didnt realize that until I heard it. In 2017. Fortunately, albums come with no expiration date. Yet the rules are the rules. And I should say, that the top recording here speaks to the benefits of letting a recording settle into your mind. Not a jumpy, distracted stream play, but something you do over and over to see if you can figure out where the musicians were coming from when they made it and why it gets into your marrow. Because Im a dummy, I dropped the needle on Lows Double Negative and nearly marched the LP back to the local record store for a refund because I was sure it was defective, a wash of slurry, twitchy electronic sounds with vocals settling in and burning off like a fog. Turns out, a guy obsessed with songs about communication (me), missed an abrasive and chilling salvo in a spine-tingling album about bad communication. Specificity was the reason I hated the protest music of the Bush II administration. Double Negative sidesteps that problem. Its more about the shoddy and fraught paths we trod to get where we are today. Our broken politics are a manifestation of our broken means of communication. And Alan Sparhawks trio doesnt blame one guy for this, though maybe one guy is worse at communication than some of the rest of us. Still, the album is vague and blameless and nonpartisan. Instead it vibrates with a nervous energy like a kid about to muck around with electricity when he shouldnt. This record is merely haunting if you just hear it. If you listen to it, the lyrics and think about the tonal shifts and get into the harrowing stuff about anxiety its something else. Sparhawks whispered miserable-isms have a counterweight in his wife and drummer Mim Parkers vocal parts. On this record and Im intrigued to go back and see if it applies to previous Low recordings she sounds like the fourth Bee Gee, Tundra Gibb. All of this is to say, I mightve missed my favorite album of 2018 had I made a snap judgment based on the first few minutes, with a queue of other things to play pressing against it. Instead, I found an underground world created by a band that has been around 25 years and is still making vital new recordings. To wit, by all means the Rolling Stones are a grand institution. But 25 years in, that band was plugging Steel Wheels, which took the band down the road with the efficiency of, well, the titular phrase. Amid the iciness and defeat on Double Negative like listening to the sounds of Hoth being overrun theres a sense of hope that feels fractured yet tangible like an icicle. Which brings it all back to the title. Yes, it could just mean extra negative. But Low titled a previous album Long Division, so the group has more than a passing interest in math. And two negatives, best I can tell, suggest some glimmer of hope in the whole thing. WHAT HE DIDN'T SEE: Dansby's best concerts of 2018 1. Double Negative, Low: I pretty much said what needed saying above. But Duluth-spawned Low represents the warm and cold of Minnesota in a way that makes that state feel like the beating heart of America. As a well-reviewed, but under-the-radar band, Low was never burdened with the weight of expectations as Radiohead was, but this album was a Kid A type pivot from a band that could easily have existed forever in a holding pattern. As communication is among the most prevalent themes of our now, this record is as timely as it is bracing. 2. Some Rap Songs, Earl Sweatshirt: The title is reserved by design, as if to turn people away from this random collection of words and sounds. Instead, the rappers third album finds him doing the best he can to undo some of the agoraphobia established on his last record, the brilliantly titled I Dont Like (Expletive), I Dont Go Outside. The songs are brighter the production as well as the lyrics but be aware the first four songs are Shattered Dreams, Red Water, Cold Summers and Nowhere2Go. So this is nobodys idea of party music, but its smart off-the-beaten-path hip-hop by an understated genius. 3. Con Todo el Mundo, Khruangbin: Were now nearing two decades where one can dial up obscure sounds from some far corner of the world that had more recording studios than distributors. And Ive seen some modern-global bands do a thing, get noticed and get forgotten swiftly. Houstons Khruangbin appears to be quite savvy though, moving around to where the band cant be pinned down by the single global descriptor. They work a prickly lounge groove around the planet, and the songs arent intriguing because of the exotic touches but rather the deep grooves that beat like the heart. This is global stuff, but beautifully and brilliantly presented. 4. Dirty Computer, Janelle Monae: Monae has never disguised the fact that shes dancing on the shoulders of giants, and as long as those giants are Sun Ra, James Brown, Prince and Erykah Badu, well, she stands tall even on autopilot, where she veered from time to time in the past. But here she finds her own dialect in the Afro-futurism they pioneered and creates a vital voice in the form. At times, Monae does the automaton thing, all to better emphasize the moments she sings with more passion. Sometimes she hits on both in one song: Im not Americas nightmare, she sings. Im the American Dream. And in an XY chromosome world, she claims her share with Take a Byte, which perhaps just plays with the computer motif in the title and Pynk, which clearly does not. 5. The Tree of Forgiveness, John Prine: The great thing about Prine albums, rare as they are, is that different people react to different lines. Id played his first album of new songs in over a dozen years and been drawn to dozens of lines. But I can hear the train tracks through the laundry on the line thats evocative. Prine sticks his hands in the same mud as other songwriters, for some reason he just comes up with pottery that looks different. So the layoff was long, but worth it. This record exudes a mussed-hair quality Prines albums are always meant to seem a little disheveled even though from a writing point of view, every single hair is in place like a perfect pompadour. 6. Tell Me How You Really Feel, Courtney Barnett: Barnetts songwriting moves into a slightly different sphere here, a little less reliant on a fleeting observational quality that made her last album so charming. But thats fine, she still achieves an intriguing observational quality in her music that reminds me of old Monte Hellman westerns, where the frank and minimalist dialogue resembles what might actually have been said in a situation. The staccato delivery of the vocals floats on her guitar playing, which is inventive, melodic and persistent long after a song has played. 7. Cruzando Borders, Los Texmaniacs: Max Bacas progressive conjunto band remains a marvel, creating music that serves as both an invite to dance and to think. This record does that, again, with a vital undercurrent. True to the title, these songs are about here and there, often putting a very empathetic story about those in the there wanting to get to the here. The liner notes are miniature history lessons about some of these songs, which cover a lot of historical ground, a reminder that issues of the day often have roots in yesteryear. 8. WARM, Jeff Tweedy: Reading Tweedys memoir put a different light on some Wilco recordings Id long held at arms length. Still, I always gravitate back to A Ghost Is Born and what came before, and Im trying to figure out why. I think its the jittery missives he wrote about tenuous connections between people. Quieter than Ghost, this solo record nevertheless feels like a rib cage opened, and I admired it for that. For those who hear Tweedy as a shoegazer, well, the titles indicate a guy looking above at (or for) things beautiful and dangerous: bombs, birds, the sun and rain. And maybe bricks? 9. Stay Out Late, Buxton: Buxton used to do wonderful things with just a few elements: Sergio Trevinos voice, and, say, a mandolin groove. To the bands credit, its members knew the most basic of Americana rudiments could get old to listeners in a hurry. So the group has subtly expanded its sound with keyboards and atmospheric flourishes. Here Trevinos lyrics, often adrift with rudderless ennui, are perfectly enveloped into a nest of sound that strikes a perfect balance between ambient gentleness and roots rocking sturdiness. 10. Its a New Day Tonight, Michael Rault: This record was almost a repeat of the 2016 Andy Shauf album that I love so dearly. Rault flew way under my radar until Chris Penn who runs Dallas Good Records shoved this LP in my hands. It bristles with that 70s idea rock urgency best exemplified by prime-era Todd Rundgren. Which is to say, its a throwback, in some ways, but with some fresh blood running through it. A word about December: Sometimes albums come along that turn your head instantly, but music critic Robert Christgau once told me one of the benefits of an album is that its an infinitely reusable commodity. Sure, you can watch movies over and over, too, but the requirements are different. So I always get flustered by December releases because I havent spent as much time with them as other records that came out earlier. That said, with a little more time, I anticipate spending hours and hours with two recordings by Houston-based artists: A Ponzi Scheme by Glover Gill and 10,000 Hours by Fat Tony. The former is dark and gorgeous, a dancing, slinking, haunting recording of tango-infused compositions by the local great Gill, who with producer Charlie Sexton, assembled them into a dark underworld of an album. And since Tony released his brilliantly detailed ode to McGregor Park last year, I didnt know a new one was coming. This is his best to date, with vibrant productions to go along with the matter-of-fact observations that have always informed his rhymes. Hes like a verite filmmaker, only he does it with language, and the effect is mesmerizing. andrew.dansby@chron.com There is no place like the Lone Star State. With an estimated 2017 population of 28.449 million, Texas is the second most populous state in the U.S. And while you already know Houston is the largest city in Texas and Austin is the state capital, you may not know why Texas car dealerships are closed on Sundays or if Texas legally has the right to secede from the United States. Is there anything as brutal as trying to tick off your 10,000th step of the day in Houston's scorching summer heat? It's enough to drive runners and weekend warriors inside, in search of an air-conditioned treadmill. But a new study out of Austria found that you might not derive as many benefits from an indoor workout as you would from sweating outside. The study, published this spring in the scientific journal PLOS One, tracked subjects who participated in outdoor hikes, and indoor treadmill walks, collecting feedback about how much they enjoyed the activity. Turns out, the participants had more positive feedback after the outdoor hikes. While the outdoor hike was more strenuous than the treadmill activity, participants reported they felt the hike was less strenuous. As a result, participants said they enjoyed the outdoor activity more, and they recorded being in a better mood after the hike than the treadmill walks. Why? Researchers think the sense of accomplishment, and positive attitudes associated with breathing in all that fresh air have a lot to do with it. This is important, the researchers say, because people are more likely to keep up with a workout they enjoy than one that feels tedious. The researchers explain, "From a public-health oriented perspective with increasing obesity rates, it is essential for health professionals to recommend efficient and pleasant forms of physical activity. According to the hedonic theory people choose and maintain forms of physical activity they enjoy." Sounds lovely. But it's not so easy to find an outdoor workout in Houston that will keep you coming back through the peak of summer, right? That's why we've put together this list of fun outdoor activities that will keep your mind off the heat while you burn calories. Enjoy: 1. Kayak the bayou. Yeah, that's a thing now. You'll get a great upper body workout during a kayak session. And if it gets too hot, you can always splash yourself with some water for a little cool down. Read more here. 2. Ride a B-Cycle. You don't need to own a bike to get a good cardio workout riding through the city's winding trails. Just rent one of the hundreds of B-Cycles posted throughout town for a couple hours, and enjoy the wind on your face. Read more here. 3. Stand-Up-Paddleboard Yoga. Just imagine: Outdoor yoga where falling is half the fun. Like kayaking, this offers a chance to cool off with a few splashes of water when things get too steamy. And there are plenty of places popping up all over the area with SUP Yoga options. Read more here. 4. Run through Hermann Park. We're not saying you should attempt this in midday, but if you can squeeze an outdoor run into your schedule in the wee hours of morning, or just around twilight, you'll find it's not a total no-go during the summer months. 5. Outdoor volleyball. Houston's been seeing a surge in places to play volleyball lately. And while it can get hot and sticky, the new volleyball bars opening up around town will offer you a chance to cool down with a cold one. Plus, the researchers say it's important to have fun -- and who doesn't love hanging out with friends? Read more here. I attend more concerts in a month than most people do in a year. Thats not a brag. Its just part of the job. Rodeo season alone includes almost two dozen shows. (And yes, I love it.) HTOWN SOUNDS: Wild Moccasins, The Suffers and the best Houston albums of 2018 That makes it even tougher to narrow down my favorite live shows of 2018. Every show, in my experience, has something that makes it memorable, from Jack Whites cell-phone ban to Lil Waynes hourlong free set after a mad dash for tickets. So I thought about the shows that stuck with me, the ones that created a fierce bond with the audience, the ones that left us wanting more. Here are ten that filled my year with energy and emotion. Click through above for Joey Guerra's most memorable concerts of 2018. ***** Five more to remember Childish Gambino, Sept. 22 at Toyota Center Alessia Cara, March 4 at RodeoHouston Pink, April 27 at Toyota Center Christina Aguilera, Nov. 1 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land Yuridia, Sept. 8 at Arena Theatre joey.guerra@chron.com twitter.com/joeyguerra Intercontinental legendary porn director and former Fort Lauderdale resident William Higgins is celebrating 40 years in the business. Recently he discussed how he got started, why he left Florida, and how he found new success shooting in Eastern Europe, in a two part (part one, part two) interview with porn news source, AVN. Higgins porn career started as porn consumer. I thought, Well, these films are really horriblecertainly I can do better!, he told AVN. Starting in 1978, some of the long time directors iconic works include The Boys of Venice, The Class of '84, These Bases Are Loaded, The Best Little Warehouse in L.A., Sailor in the Wild, Cousins, The Pizza Boy, and Big Guns. Higgins first encounter with gay porn took place in Dallas in a twin theater that featured straight and gay erotic films. He was closeted at the time so he would often buy a ticket to the straight movie and switch to the gay one. In Dallas, he had been a customer of Falcon, the revolutionary 1971 gay porn studio, and one day received a letter from the company saying that no future orders would be shipped to Texas, Tennessee or Florida. According to an Out Magazine interview with Falcon, at the time shipping obscene materials across state lines was illegal. Delivering porn into certain parts of the South, like Atlanta or Florida was a risk because it depended on community standards. The studio founders were brought to trial after what was presumably a mail order sting. Higgins decided The movies are so bad and Falcon wont sell me their 8-millimeter films, Ill just go out and Ill make gay porn on my own. He noted some of his big hits, like the royalties-producing A Married Man, and some of his failures, like the confiscated cumshot fiasco with Kip Noll Superstar - but along the way hes had some close calls with the law. After a while, I thought everything was legal, and there was a huge raid during the Carter administration, he told AVN. It was at that point Higgins decided he better consult an attorney. I [went and] said, I thought porno was legal because of the First Amendment, and [the attorney] laughs and says, Oh how naive you are! Whats amazing to me is that youve been in the business this long and havent had any encounters with the police. Fort Lauderdale Those words would later prove to be prophetic in 1988, when Higgins and a talent scout found themselves cruising for models in South Florida. Well, I had a scout, and Ive said to all the scouts, Whatever you do, dont mess around with anybody underage, Higgins told AVN. So together in Fort Lauderdale they drove along the street, and I saw a kid who was obviously underage, and I said Dont look at him. And [the scout] said, Im not looking at him. And I said I know youre looking at him. Afterwards, Higgins left on a business trip. And guess what? Higgins told AVN, He had shot pictures of the guy I told him not to pick up, not to shoot. Shortly thereafter Higgins woke up to 15 police cars raiding the house with shotguns, nightsticks, and everything else. The cop explained to him, Well [the scout] took these pictures and he sent them to a lab, and the lab had to call us by law. And he showed Higgins the pictures and he said, Do you have anything to say about that? And Higgins said, Yes, take the cuffs off of me and I will murder him right in front of you. Can you can arrest me for that? In the midst of the investigation, Higgins went on a world tour. First he went to Australia and made a movie, but he didnt like it. Then he went on to Thailand, and was happy with the product, but didnt see any future opportunities there. Ultimately, Higgins ended up in Amsterdam where his European distributor was located. Higgins eventually settled in Prague, Czech Republic, where he started EuroMilitary.com, which later morphed into WilliamHiggins.com. Meanwhile, the FBI had actually gone to Fort Lauderdale, and they found the kid and they showed him my picture and they showed him the other guys picture, and he said, Never saw either of them, The charge dropped, and they called me and said, Okay, you can come back to the USA now. And I said, You know, I dont think I will. Prague, Czech Republic Higgins told AVN its easier to shoot in the Czech Republic, because its a lot cheaper to do business there. When I left America, the AIDS crisis had just hit. So with the model situation, you had a firehose and then somebody turned it offand it was drip, drip, drip from 1986 on. Higgins speculates it must be more and more expensive to shoot back in the U.S. because theres no city with the possible exception of San Francisco, where he can find a steady stream of models. Studios like Corbin Fisher and Sean Cody, theyre flying the models in from hither, thither and yon, he told AVN. They put them up in hotels, they wine and dine them, they shoot them and then they send them back from wherever they come from. That is very expensive. In the Czech Republic, the director said that the biggest traveling expense to bring in a model is about $45. Were paying comparable to the U.S. for the models. Its much easier to shoot porn nowadays, Higgins told AVN, But I would never go back and try and start doing porn in the USA again. Porn Pulse is a weekly column featuring news and tidbits on the gay porn industry. Have a tip? Send Hunter Houston an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Police on Wednesday arrested a man accused of shooting his girlfriend during an argument at their north Houston home late Tuesday evening. Hector Chavez, 38, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police say he shot Juana Saenz, 32, in the abdomen in front of their 7-year-old son. Saenz was taken to the hospital in critical condition. After multiple discussions with numerous community leaders, David Jobin, the Executive Director of Our Fund, has been chosen as SFGNs Person of the Year. He claims the award in 2018 for his achievements in excellence the past five years in South Florida. Working in the South Florida philanthropic community, Jobin has cultivated an unparalleled spirit of camaraderie and volunteerism. Our Fund is changing the landscape for nonprofits. First, Jobins stewardship and management of Our Fund has brought the heralded agency to new heights. He has been acclaimed for his professionalism, praised for his congeniality, and admired for building new partnerships. He is respected by all as a unifier. Rightly so. Our Fund has lived up to its mission of responsible philanthropy. Since its founding in 2011, it has supported our community with over six million dollars in grants in its first seven years. Its reputation has been sterling. As reported in SFGN last week, eighteen more grants were added to the table this year.At Our Fund Foundations Fall Community Grant Program, held at Fort Lauderdales New River Fine Art Gallery, more than $120,000 in grant money was given out. Our Fund has achieved success by reaching within the box and thinking outside it. It has encouraged generous donors by being innovative, transparent, and professional. Under Jobins leadership, Our Fund has started programs which heretofore had not been seen in South Florida. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Anthony Timiraos, Jobin has kept Our Fund relevant and reliable. First, Our Funds annual LGBT Leadership Forum has brought together consequential voices to promote social issues. The overflow crowds are a tribute to its seriousness of purpose on matters of substance. Our Fund now also hosts quarterly forums for local not for profits, discussing shared concerns, management, and fund raising opportunities. When they first started, they had meetings with 15-20 groups participating. They now need a bigger space. It has doubled in size, with almost 40 agencies checking in to their meetings. It is a cross pollination of resources, Jobin said. Our Fund has fostered a camaraderie amongst neighboring nonprofits from Miami to Palm Beach. The plan is working. Established only in 2011, Our Fund has quickly become one of the largest LGBT community foundations in the U.S. Its $10 million endowment ranks third in the nation, behind much older and longer-established foundations in San Francisco and Seattle. I am a director who enjoys fund raising, said Jobin, who acknowledges that Our Fund focuses on more substantive donors. We do not want to take away from members of the LGBTQ community assisting their favorite projects and causes they already support. Our aspiration is to triple that number; reach a higher plateau. That would enable us to focus on programs more and fundraise less. Jobin said the number of organizations applying for grants has tripled over the last few years, due, in large part, to the Foundations expansion into Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. The grants are disbursed to a wide variety of unique groups. One recipient this year was a little-known group, Thou Art Woman. Jobin explained, They focus on raising the profile of LBT women and their allies through performance and visual arts. And Our Fund wants to reach groups and agencies others have not been able to. Jobin is hands on, reviewing applications personally. Still, more established groups, such as SunServe and the Smart Ride have also benefited from Our Funds grants, along with Compass, Aqua, and the Alzheimers Association of South Florida. More importantly, everyone in the community benefits when nonprofits are trusted and run well. The Board of Directors of Our Fund has grown too, inviting and allowing distinguished community leaders to provide oversight and counsel, guidance and supervision. Transparency. It matters. Sadly, one of those members, Chuck Shields, a distinguished attorney, passed away unexpectedly this Fall. Shields had been president of the Broward County Estate Planning Council. An annual estate planning series will be now be developed and named in his honor. Our Fund employs its resources to also sponsor leadership forums and educational seminars. They just hosted a chat with an FAU professor, developed around the play Hamilton running now at the Broward Center. Standing room only. We are changing the landscape for nonprofits, Jobin advised. We are showing what can be achieved. Philanthropy is in Jobins blood. From 2009-2013, prior to moving to Florida, he had served as the Executive Director of the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington, D. C. His success there was a precursor to his achievements here. While singing for the chorus part time, he oversaw an increase in their revenues by 65 per cent full time in his short tenure as its ED. When he relocated to South Florida, he took on the task of becoming Executive Director of the fledgling Stonewall National Museum & Archives. He handled the tasks for two years, but enthusiastically jumped at the chance to lead Our Fund. Anthony Timiraos, Jobins distinguished predecessor, said I knew the day that David applied for the position of CEO/President that he was the right man for the job. I did not want to see someone who did not understand the needs of our community and the importance of philanthropy. Timiraos, who spent five years as the first CEO and President of Our Fund, building its reputation and stature, added, Davids success with Stonewall National Museum and Archives gave me the comfort level I needed. I was very happy when the Board of Directors decided to offer him the position. While at Stonewall, Jobin had launched the Stonewall Gallery on Wilton Drive, placing the organization at the intersection of gay South Florida. It was a quiet start to a greater journey. Before becoming active in LGBT causes professionally, Jobin spent twenty years in theater management, first at Magic Theatre in San Francisco and then at the City Theatre Company in Pittsburgh. Jobin lives in Wilton Manors with his partner, Angel Burgos, a university executive. He still has a love for all things thespian. When he has spare time away from Our Fund, he also serves on the Board of Directors of the Slow Burn Theater. One of my goals is to showcase South Florida as the most hospitable place in the world for LGBTQ people to live. I appreciate the chance to do my part as well. Our Fund will break new ground again in February with its debut of the LGBT Philanthropy Awards. The inaugural event will celebrate individuals and families whose generosity of time, talent and resources make a significant impact on South Floridas GBTQ community. This visionary way of paying it forward can be said of David Jobin himself. He has fostered a culture of philanthropy by uniting donors with groups supporting the LGBT community. He has strengthened community organizations. He has inspired giving to ensure that Our Fund secures our future for generations to come. For all these reasons, SFGN has selected David Jobin with our Person of the Year award. He who brings sunshine to others cannot help but bring it back to himself. Cuba has caved to evangelical and public pressure to remove language from their new constitution defining marriage as a union between two people with absolutely equal rights and obligations, staying silent about marriage instead. This was a side step, gay Communist Party blogger Francisco Rodriguez said on the governments neutrality. Its a solution. Not between a man and a woman or between two people. Now is when it all begins. This compromise allows for the possibility of the legalization of gay marriage in the future. The draft constitution will not define which parties enter into a marriage...so that is now out of constitutional reform discussions overall," Council of State secretary and drafting coordinator Homero Acosta said according to state media, The Telegraph reported. According to NBC News, gay rights advocates had proposed removing the description of marriage as a union of a man and woman, to non-discriminatory language instead, attracting protests from evangelical churches and ordinary citizens in months of public meetings on the new constitution. State media said there were 192,408 comments on this portion of the draft, Article 68, and most were in favor of it being removed, according to Pride News. Cubas National Assembly announced on Twitter that a powerful commission responsible for revising the constitution has proposed eliminating the language from the new charter as a way of respecting all opinions. The constitutional commission is headed by Communist Party head and former president Raul Castro. The new version of the Cuban constitution will be put in front of the people of Cuba for final approval in early 2019. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos should take a close look at new suspension figures for Houston students. They provide more evidence that the Trump administration would be wrong to abandon Obama-era guidelines aimed at reducing racial disparities in school discipline. HISD reported last week that while suspensions overall during the 2017-18 school year dropped significantly from the prior year, black and Hispanic students continued to be disciplined at disproportionately higher rates than their white peers. The rate of out-of-school suspensions for black students, 20.8 percent, was nearly eight times higher than that for white students, 2.7 percent, and nearly three times higher than Hispanic students, 7.3 percent. The in-school suspension numbers were: black students, 14.9 percent; Hispanic students, 9.4 percent; white students, 2.7 percent. No explanation for the disciplinary discrepancies were provided by HISD. The districts student population last year was 62 percent Hispanic, 25 percent black and 8 percent white. A federal General Accounting Office report this year said black students nationally accounted for 15.5 percent of all public school students, but represented about 39 percent of students suspended from school. Studies we reviewed suggest that implicit bias stereotypes or unconscious associations about people on the part of teachers and staff may cause them to judge students behaviors differently based on the students race and sex, said the GAO report, which DeVos has ignored. Research has shown that students who are suspended from school lose important instructional time, are less likely to graduate on time, and are more likely to repeat a grade, drop out of school, and become involved in the juvenile justice system, said the GAO report. The Federal Commission on School Safety recommended last week that school discipline guidelines concerning race issued by the Justice and Education Departments in 2014 be rescinded. Since DeVos chaired the commission, her compliance with its recommendations is likely a foregone conclusion. Its not even clear why the commission took time to address the racial disparity guidelines. The panel was created to address school violence after the Feb. 14 massacre of 17 students and adults at a Parkland, Fla., high school. The former student charged with the crime is white and his apparent participation in an alternative discipline program at the school occurred before the Obama guidelines existed. There are good reasons to make sure racial bias plays no role in which students are suspended from school. If the Trump administration ignores those reasons, all taxpayers will eventually pay the cost. In the traditional White House call to troops stationed overseas at Christmas, President Donald Trump said he has the support of many federal workers furloughed during the government shutdown over his refusal to sign any spending bill that doesnt pay for a wall along the Mexican border. Many of those workers have said to me communicated stay out until you get the funding for the wall, Trump said. That may well be true, but then again this is a president whose proficiency in prevarication is well documented. About 380,000 employees were furloughed while Trump and Congress try to end the shutdown that began at midnight Friday. Another 420,000 employees considered essential were ordered to work without pay until the stalemate over the presidents demand for $5 billion for the border wall ends. The walls total cost is estimated at anywhere from $21 billion to $70 billion. The Senate on Friday voted unanimously to compensate furloughed federal workers at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates. Thats nice, but knowing youre going to get paid isnt nearly as satisfying as getting paid. The big thing is, its already a very tough job, said Justin Tarovisky, a correctional officer at the federal penitentiary in Hazelton, W.Va. But when you know that youve got to go to work and youre not going to be paid for it or its going to be late, no matter what it really brings you down. As bad as this shutdown is, its odor becomes even more repugnant when you consider how close it came to being avoided. A spending agreement between Democrats and Republicans appeared imminent. Trump seemed inclined to approve it, and then changed his tune amid rebukes from his typically fervent supporters on talk radio and TV. Rush Limbaugh said Trump was getting ready to cave. Ann Coulter said if it didnt build the wall the Trump administration would go down in history as a joke presidency that scammed the American people. Laura Ingraham suggested that building the border wall is more important than the Robert Mueller investigation. Forget Mueller. The wall, the wall, the wall has to be built, she said. And just like that, any deal was thrown out the window and the shutdown ensued. It appears unlikely to end until the new year comes and Trump, having lost his Republican majority in the House, resigns himself to making a deal that he can claim as a victory. Maybe that sufficed as a way to run his businesses, but its no way to lead a country. Washington is broken and Americans need leaders who can fix it. Over 5000 people including students, consumers, Gamers and channel partners experienced the latest technology in RP tech Indias Touching Everyones Life (TEL) 2018 event concluded recently. The multi-city technology show organized in association with world renowned brands such as HP, Western Digital, SanDisk, Lenovo, Fitbit, Belkin and Plantronics received an overwhelming response from visitors. The event received footfall of 3000+ consumers and 2000+ channel partners in 40 cities; highest in any consumer technology event in India. One of its kind in the industry, TEL is the ambitious initiative by RP tech India, which aims to bring modern technology closer to its consumers. The event showcased over 150 products and solutions including smart watches, Bluetooth speakers and Gaming accessories. Organized in the 7 phases, TEL also tapped potential retail channel partners in C and D class cities through Retail Connect. The utility of the technology is not recognized until it is accessible to end users. Our vision behind TEL was to allow consumers the touch and feel the experience of high-end accessories and gadgets, said Mr. Rajesh Goenka, Director, Sales and Marketing at RP tech India. Today, the upcountry region is driving the demand for Gaming and Lifestyle Tech and we aspire to reach out to the last mile of consumers. We are thrilled to receive the response from students, consumers, gamers and channel partners for the first edition of TEL and we will continue to expand this program in order to tap new business avenues in emerging markets. TEL not only showcased the latest technology innovations to end-users but allowed them to touch, feel and experience the high-end gadgets displayed at dedicated LIVE Experience pavilions. These pavilions consisted Students corner, Retailers corners, Technology corner and Gaming corner. Students from renowned educational institutes such as Lovely professional University (Jalandhar), Anjuman College of Engineering and Technology (Nagpur), Poona Institute Of Management Science (Pune), Sahyadri College (Mangalore) participated in the event. Apart from Live tech experience, TEL also hosted Retail Connect, a dedicated platform for channel partners. Partners received full-fledged training on latest SKUs and learned new insights into the business. The platform also provided them with an opportunity to voice out their concerns directly to their respective brand representatives. The Retail Connect also facilitated RP tech India to bring a new set of partners in C and D class cities on board. We are developing a Lifestyle Channel within our channel ecosystem and providing the best possible support to scale up their business. It is our aspiration to become a One Stop Shop for all the technology needs of Indian consumers. We will continue to focus on the C and D class markets to reach out to the last mile of end users, Mr. Goenka concluded. Its been an exhausting time for news. It was the year of the endless push alerts, the Friday-night news dumps, the breaking news on Twitter. Good riddance. Instead of reprising every headline that made 2018 a maddening year for journalism, weve boiled it down to seven themes, big-picture trends that capture the year that was. These ideas dominated our media moment in 2018, and no doubt will continue to shape things as we move into the new year. The #MeToo Reckoning Its astonishing to remember that its only been a year since the Shitty Media Men list emerged to throw a spotlight on sexual harassment in journalism. Moira Donegan wrote about her decision to start the list in a January 2018 essay in the The Cut. What followed was a string of damning revelations about men in every strata of media, from magazines and radio to print and the web. The questions as we move forward are whether the momentum behind the #MeToo movement will continue, and whether any of the men who have been forced to resign will be able to find a way back into the business. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Reporters under threat It was a particularly deadly year for journalists. In Afghanistan, a series of bombings and attacks killed ten journalists in one day, the deadliest attack in recent times, and journalists were routinely targeted worldwide. In the Philippines, online news site Rapplers investigative and independent reporting irked President Rodrigo Duterte and led to the order of shutting down the news website. In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro was elected president after borrowing some of Trumps most strident anti-press language. In this country, the low point came in June, with the death of five employees at the offices of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. While it emerged that the shooter was nursing a private grievance against the paper, the fact that the initial response to the murders was to tie it to Donald Trumps language was sobering. Journalism showed its power The Administration for Children and Families ignored most FOIA requests from journalists hoping to detail and quantify family separations at the border. But a ProPublica recording of sobbing children nevertheless made an impact, helping to keep a national focus on the story. While Trump lashed out at the coverage in a series of rallies, the policy was eventually reversed. While journalists expressed frustration about stories that didnt have the impact they may have wantedThe New York Timess Trump business investigation was an oft-cited examplethere were numerous other examples of reporting that made a difference. In the final weeks of the year, for instance, it was the reporting of the Chico Enterprise-Record that captured the journalistic imagination. The small paper continued to report onand to provide life-saving information fora coverage area that had been largely wiped out by the worst fires in California history. Media struggled with the Mueller investigation Coverage of the Mueller probe had the feel of an attempt to describe an elephant but only seeing an inch of its hide. Revelations continued to drip and commentators, particularly on cable TV, continued to draw ominous conclusions. But the former FBI director continued has run a disciplined and tight-lipped investigation and, even though the final weeks of 2018 produced a series of sensational headlines about the latest moves in the inquiry, reporters enter the new year with no better sense of where this will end that when the year started. Journalism further separated into political silos Given the high stakes of Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court, it was perhaps inevitable that the press would have a role in the proceedings. As the controversial nomination gave way to sexual assault allegations and eventually devolved into a partisan brawl, the press was presented with both ethical and practical dilemmas. Christine Blasey Ford revealed that it was unwelcome pressure from journalists that was a driving factor in her decision to come forward with sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh. Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, reported regular harassment from journalists, including at home and in the middle of her classes. As the Senate hearing neared, The New Yorker ran a piece bearing new allegations, co-bylined by heavy-hitters Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer. But seeming holes in the piecethe accuser, Deborah Ramirez, admitted to gaps in her memory, and the reporters were unable to obtain eye-witness corroboration of her accountled some critics to question if time pressure had resulted in the piece running before it was ready. What many had hoped might be a moment of national reflection and vindication for sexual assault survivors instead gave way to red versus blue fare, setting the tone for the midterm elections in November. Race and identity remain a blind spot In August, news outlets marked the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville attacks with yet another set of blunders having to do with race and white supremacy. Press outlets overhyped a counter-protest by white supremacists, and NPR was widely criticized for giving Jason Kessler, a leader of the protest, a forum to spout some particularly virulent views. It now seems inarguable that media outlets have given characters like Kessler not only too much coverage, but too much unquestioned coverage. In the backdrop, undeniably, is journalisms own profound race problem: despite decades of promises, Americas newsrooms remain overwhelmingly white; recent surveys have shown that newspapers in the country are about 17 percent nonwhite, 37 percent of the countrys population. CJR devoted an entire print issue to exploring the problem, and there so far is little indication that much is being done to change the state of play. The Khashoggi case stood alone In a year of journalists being targeted by governments and othersreporters were killed on five continents in 2018Jamal Khashoggis murder in a Saudi consulate in Istanbul still shocked for its brazenness and grisly details. Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and regular contributor to The Washington Post, first went missing in early October; in the coming weeks, through changing accounts from the Turkish and Saudi governments, it became clear that Khashoggi was assassinated and possibly dismembered. Many foreign governments condemned Saudi Arabia, but reactions from the White House were predictably flat-footed, with Trump citing Americas strategic and economic ties with Saudi Arabia as significant in his approach to the matter: He denies it, and people around him deny it, Trump said of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who the CIA assesses directed the killing. Khashoggis death underscored the relative impunity with which world governments might now snuff out dissenting voicesand the pitfalls of cohesive press narratives. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Amanda Darrach, Andrew McCormick and Zainab Sultan BROOK PARK, Ohio -- By a 4-2 vote, Brook Park City Council passed by verbal approval a 2019 meeting schedule that includes a seven-week summer recess. Councilmen Rick Salvatore and Ed Orcutt voted no. Councilman Greg Stemm had an excused absence for the Dec. 4 meeting. Council members spent a few prior meetings discussing whether a summer break should occur. Their 2019 recess will commence after the July 2 meeting, and council will reconvene Aug. 20. Berea and Middleburg Heights city councils also take an annual break during the summer months. Brook Park City Council debated the issue one final time Dec. 4 before taking the vote. "We have councilmen with families, and now that I'm retired, I would like to go on a vacation," said Councilman Rich Scott, while Councilman Brian Poindexter stressed council "can have a special meeting (during the summer) if we need one." City Council held six special meetings during the 2018 summer recess, Councilman Jim Mencini indicated. "We do a lot, even when we're off the dais. I believe we need that time off to reconnect with our residents and really regroup ourselves," Mencini said. "It takes a lot of time ... and I'm in favor of this schedule. If we have to call a meeting, we could definitely do so." Salvatore said he thought they were going to wait until March to discuss a summer break. He also felt they were proposing cancelling too many meetings. "Historically over the years, every time we've cancelled meetings or shortened the meetings in summer session, we've called more meetings," Salvatore explained. "You could still have (a summer recess), but don't make the cut so deep." "We're here to work, and we get paid to do the meetings," added Orcutt. "I want to come to work here and move legislation forward that's going to help this city. It seems like we always have something going on, and our schedules and agendas are full all the time." Council's first 2019 meeting will be a Jan. 8 caucus. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court said Wednesday it will not give a second look to its November decision overturning a lower courts order that would have given Cleveland death row inmate Anthony Apanovitch a new trial. The states high court ruled last month that a Cuyahoga County judge was wrong to consider Apanovitchs post-conviction petition to get evidence from his 1985 trial on rape and murder charges tested using new DNA technology. The court on Wednesday denied a request from Apanovitchs lawyers to reconsider that ruling. Apanovitch has been on death row since he was convicted of the rape, burglary and murder of Mary Ann Flynn of Cleveland. Flynn, a 33-year-old nurse, hired Apanovitch to paint her Archwood Drive home in the summer of 1984, according to records. He raped, beat and strangled her, prosecutors said. Flynn had previously told friends he had propositioned her and she was afraid of him. Apanovitch lost three prior appeals of his conviction and death sentence before he filed another appeal to have DNA slides taken from Flynns mouth and vagina re-tested using technology that wasnt available at his original trial. A 2000 test found there was not enough DNA evidence from her vagina to test, but that Apanovitch could not be ruled out as the source of the DNA in Flynns mouth. Apanovitch later argued in court that that test was unreliable. In 2012, he filed a motion for post-conviction relief over the results of the 2000 test. At a 2015 hearing, an expert that Apanovitchs legal team hired reviewed the results and said there was enough evidence there, and the results excluded Apanovicth as a match. The states expert again said there was not enough evidence to make a conclusion. The judge overturned Apanovitchs conviction, arguing that there was insufficient DNA evidence to sustain the conviction and that the states DNA expert did not expressly contradict the conclusions of Apanovitchs expert. The court then ordered Apanovitch to undergo a new trial on the other charges, including aggravated murder and burglary, and released him on bond. Prosecutors appealed the judges decision, arguing that Ohio law doesnt give trial court judges the ability to consider post-conviction relief motions for new DNA testing when the original DNA tests were ordered by the state. A majority of the Ohio Supreme Court justices agreed last month. They vacated the judges 2015 order and kicked the case back to the trial court to make a formal ruling. Justice Terrence ODonnell dissented in part, arguing that the court should deny Apanovitchs motion altogether and close the appeal. Chief Justice Maureen OConnor signed onto ODonnells dissent. ODonnell made the same argument in a dissenting opinion of the majoritys Wednesday decision not to reconsider. He said he disagreed with the courts original decision to remand the case back to the trial court. He would reconsider that aspect only, and find the trial court has no jurisdiction over the request and bring it to a close. This case is over," ODonnell wrote. To comment on this story, please visit Wednesdays crime and courts comments page. COLUMBUS, Ohio Some of the Ohio legislative sessions testiest issues guns, abortion and outgoing Republican Gov. John Kasichs Medicaid expansion may yet see reversals before years end. Lawmakers reconvene Thursday for rare post-Christmas floor sessions where several Kasich vetoes are poised for potential override. Ohio House spokesman Brad Miller says "everything is on the table." That includes Kasich's June 30, 2017, veto protecting the future of his hard-fought Medicaid expansion. His action struck down a provision of the two-year state budget that called for freezing new Medicaid expansion enrollment that July and preventing those who dropped off the program from re-enrolling. Fellow Republicans in the Legislature supported the item as a way of containing the state's staggering Medicaid costs. The expansion was made possible through former President Barack Obama's federal health care overhaul, which many Republicans opposed. For his part, Kasich sees the expansion as separate from the law commonly known as Obamacare. Advocates argue it has helped save costs in other areas of the state budget, by reducing the need for other types of government help for low-income recipients. "Our messaging really is that Medicaid expansion has worked exactly as everyone hoped it would," said Amanda Wurst, who speaks for a coalition of 200 organizations that support the expansion. Among them are doctors and other health care professionals, consumer advocates and businesses. House Majority Leader Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, said he wasn't aware of strong support within the Republican caucus for overriding Kasich on the issue. "I frankly doubt it," he said. "With a new administration coming in, there are those that believe we should make that decision in consultation with the new administration. Of course, that could change." But some of Kasich's fellow Republicans in the House, peeved at their governor for sending back so many of their bills, might call a vote on the Medicaid issue as a show against him. The outgoing governor also rejected a Republican-backed bill that broadened gun-owner rights and one that outlawed abortion at the first fetal heartbeat. Overrides are being considered on both. But the veto override considered most likely is of a bill granting pay raises to elected officials. The increases were attached to death benefit increases for slain public safety officers, prompting Kasich to label it "a grubby money bill." In an angry response, Seitz called the veto "Grinchlike," accusing Kasich of betraying the principles on which he was elected. Seitz said the governor defended compensation increases within his own administration as a tool to "call people to service," yet denying long overdue increases to legislators and non-judicial officials "many of whom, unlike the Governor, are not independently wealthy and are not in anticipation, as he is, of landing a seven figure salary as a TV talk show commentator." Kasich, a 2016 presidential candidate, is weighing another White House bid in 2020. He has said a media job may be in his short-term plans. It was unclear how motivated lawmakers would be to override Kasich on the heartbeat bill, which he has vetoed twice over concerns it is unconstitutional and would put Ohio on the hook for a costly court battle. He vetoed the gun legislation more for what it lacked than for what it contained. In a veto message, Kasich called it "baffling and unconscionable" that lawmakers wouldn't even debate a so-called "red flag" law, for example, that would allow gun rights to be temporarily stripped from people who show warning signs of violence. He noted that even the National Rifle Association supports the concept. Gap is getting ready to move out of its massive store on Fifth Avenue in New York, as the apparel retailer recently said it's considering shuttering hundreds of locations "aggressively" to focus on higher-performing shops. The three-level Gap store at 680 Fifth Ave. will close Jan. 20, a company spokeswoman told CNBC. The company declined to comment on the reason for this particular closure. The news comes as retail rents in Manhattan have been climbing over the past few years, with landlords unwilling to negotiate with tenants, but more recently rents have started to cool off. As far back as three years ago, industry observers were saying rents for retail space in New York had reached "unsustainable" levels, according to the Real Estate Board of New York. But this fall, average asking rents dropped in 15 of 17 of Manhattan's most prominent corridors, REBNY said in its biannual report. The portion of upper Fifth Avenue between 49th and 59th streets in midtown where the Gap store sits saw rents drop 24 percent this fall, REBNY said, putting the average asking rent at $2,973 per square foot. Value retailer Five Below opened its first store in Manhattan last month, right down the road from Gap on Fifth Avenue. It was a sign, real estate analysts told CNBC, that rents were starting to drop and would prompt a new wave of retailers to move into what had started to become a sea of vacant spaces. A handful of specialty retailers, including Gap, have recently said they will take a more active approach to managing their real estate portfolios by closing stores or negotiating rent reductions where it makes sense. But the news hasn't sounded alarm bells among the retail real estate community. At a recent ICSC conference in New York, the largest on the East Coast, many landlords told CNBC they expected fewer store closures across the U.S. in 2019 compared with the prior year. News of the Gap store closure was first reported Tuesday by the New York Post. Indonesian authorities asked people to avoid the coast in areas where a tsunami killed more than 420 people last weekend in a fresh warning issued on the anniversary of the catastrophic 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami. The big waves that followed the eruption of Anak Krakatoa, or "Child of Krakatoa" island volcano, hit communities along the Sunda Strait on Saturday night. The eruption is believed to have set off a large landslide on the volcano, either on its slope or underwater, displacing the water that slammed into Java and Sumatra islands. Indonesia's Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency asked people late Tuesday to stay at least 500 meters (1,640 feet) and up to 1 kilometer (less than a mile) from the coastline along the strait, which lies between the two main islands. Government workers were monitoring Anak Krakatoa's eruptions and high waves and heavy rain were possible Wednesday, said agency head Dwikorita Karnawati. "All these conditions could potentially cause landslides at the cliffs of the crater into the sea, and we fear that that could trigger a tsunami," she said at a news conference. She asked that communities remain vigilant and not to panic. The tsunami struck without warning, taking people by surprise even in a country familiar with seismic disaster. No big earthquake shook the ground beforehand, and it hit at night on a holiday weekend while people were enjoying concerts and other beach and resort activities. An Indonesia policeman searches for victims amongst the debris at the Mutiara Carita Cottages in Carita in Banten province on December 24, 2018, two days after a tsunami - caused by activity at a volcano known as the 'child' of Krakatoa - hit the west coast of Indonesia's Java island SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images It was a sharp contrast to the disaster that struck 14 years ago off the western coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island. An enormous 9.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the area the morning after Christmas, creating gigantic waves that surged far inland swallowing everything in their path. The wall of water killed some 230,000 people in a dozen countries, more than half in Indonesia's Aceh province. The devastation was vast, and the disaster was among the worst witnessed in recent history. Saturday's event, coupled with an earthquake and tsunami in September on Sulawesi that killed at least 2,100 people, triggered flashbacks for some who survived the 2004 tragedy. "When it happens, I always remember what we have been through," said Qurnaty, 54, who uses only one name and lost her home and several family members to the waves in the hard-hit provincial capital of Banda Aceh. She prayed with surviving family members at a mass grave there on Wednesday's anniversary. "Every time I see them (on TV), I feel really, really sad. All we can do from here is to pray for them." Though recovery was slow, some victims of the latest tsunami said they remember the resilience of the Acehnese people, which gives them hope that they too can rebuild their homes and their lives. "I am scared, I am traumatized by the tsunami that I only knew before from the news. Now I know how horrifying a tsunami is," said Kusmiati, who uses only one name. Her face was still bruised and her legs swollen after she and her husband managed to survive being hit and dragged under by the waves after fleeing a beach villa in Carita, where they were working. Beaches were largely empty in the area, which is typically crammed with tourists, and police patrolled on motorbikes warning people to stay away from the coast. Some residents defied the order, returning to what was left of their homes to begin cleaning up as heavy rain fell and waves pounded the shore. Rescuers look for survivors along the coast in South Lampung on South Sumatra on December 23, 2018, after the area was hit by a tsunami on December 22 following an eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano. - A volcano-triggered tsunami has left at least 222 people dead and hundreds more injured after slamming without warning into beaches around Indonesia's Sunda Strait, officials said on December 23, voicing fears that the toll would rise further. (Photo by Ferdi Awed / AFP) (Photo credit should read FERDI AWED/AFP/Getty Images) FERDI AWED | AFP | Getty Images Their Nov. 19 arrests jolted the global car industry and has strained Nissan's alliance with French car maker Renault SA. Nissan's board last month fired Ghosn as chairman and Kelly as representative director, although both men technically still remain board members who can only be removed by shareholders. Kelly, an American who was released late on Christmas Day after more than a month in detention, has been charged with conspiring to under-report Ghosn's income. He posted bail of 70 million yen ($640,000). Nissan director Greg Kelly was being examined in a hospital on Wednesday, a source said, a day after he was released on bail from a Tokyo jail where his former boss Carlos Ghosn is still being detained. People walk past the logo of Japan's auto giant Nissan Motor at the company's headquarters in Yokohama, in suburban Tokyo, on February 9, 2017. Kelly suffers from spinal stenosis, causing numbness, tingling and shooting pain in his extremities, according to a video message last week from his wife, Dee Kelly, appealing for his release. The condition compresses or pinches the spinal cord. Those symptoms worsened during his five weeks in the Tokyo Detention Center, his wife said, citing Kelly's lawyer. Kelly was scheduled to have surgery on Dec. 7 in Nashville, Tennessee, but flew to Japan last month after being told that he was needed in person at a board meeting, Dee Kelly said in the video. Kelly was arrested soon after his arrival. Under the conditions of his bail, Kelly is barred from traveling overseas and his residence must be restricted to a designated place, the Tokyo District Court said. Lawyers say that travel exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Kelly walked out of the detention center around 10:45 pm (1345 GMT) Thursday night wearing a light-colored jacket and was whisked away in a black taxi. Japanese media showed footage of Kelly entering a hospital around midnight. After his release from detention, Kelly issued a statement through his lawyer saying he had not falsified any documents and looked forward to restoring his honour in court. "I believe my innocence will be revealed in the trial," he said. Kelly also said in the statement he wanted to see a doctor immediately and get the appropriate treatment or operation originally scheduled for early December. The office of his lawyer, Yoichi Kitamura, did not respond to requests for comment. Ghosn was re-arrested on Friday based on suspicions that around October 2008 he shifted personal trades to Nissan to make it responsible for 1.85 billion yen ($16.6 million) in appraisal losses, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Ghosn had inflicted damage on Nissan by having it deposit a total of $14.7 million on four occasions between June 2009 and March 2012 into a related bank account. Ghosn said through his lawyer that he was not guilty of the allegations, for which he has not been formally charged. He will remain in Tokyo's main detention centre until at least Jan. 1, although prosecutors can request to extend his detention. A Nissan spokesman said the company is not in a position to comment on the latest twist in the more-than-month-long saga. "The company's own investigation uncovered substantial and convincing evidence of misconduct, resulting in a unanimous board vote to dismiss Ghosn and Kelly as chairman and representative director. Our investigation is ongoing," a spokesman said on Tuesday. The Undead Archives I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman apologized Wednesday for funding a group that allegedly had a hand in spreading misinformation during the 2017 Alabama Senate race. In a post on his Medium blog, Hoffman said he was not aware of the tactics alleged in the New York Times article that called out his ties to American Engagement Technologies. The Times reported last week that AET funneled money to a project that used a Facebook page where people pretended to be conservatives. Participants in the project used language to divide actual conservatives, encouraging them to write in a candidate to divert votes from Republican Roy Moore, who had been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. The tactics resembled those employed by Russian actors during the 2016 presidential campaign to help elect Donald Trump. The project only had a budget of $100,000, according to Federal Election Commission records reviewed by the Times. A person close to the matter told the Washington Post that Hoffman invested $750,000 in AET. "I categorically disavow the use of misinformation to sway an election," Hoffman wrote in the Medium post. "In fact, I have deliberately funded multiple organizations trying to re-establish civic, truth-focused discourse in the US. I would not have knowingly funded a project planning to use such tactics, and would have refused to invest in any organization that I knew might conduct such a project." Moore lost the election to Doug Jones, who became the first Democratic senator in Alabama in 25 years. The seat opened up when Jeff Sessions stepped down to become attorney general under Trump, a position he resigned from in November. In addition to his apology, Hoffman said he will do more in the future to fully understand where his money is going. He said his politics team is working on new policies to dictate how it chooses projects to fund, and will release those guidelines publicly. "To reiterate yet again, I find the tactics that have been recently reported highly disturbing," Hoffman wrote. "For that reason, I am embarrassed by my failure to track AET the organization I did support more diligently as it made its own decisions to perhaps fund projects that I would reject." Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Watch: In-depth interview with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman A man carries a child rescued from rubble after Syrian regime and Russian air strikes in the rebel-held town of Nawa, about 30 kilometres north of Daraa in southern Syria on June 26, 2018. Ahmad Al-Msalam | AFP | Getty Images Throughout the weekend and the morning of Christmas Eve, Trump defended his decision on Twitter and tweeted barbs at critics, including Mattis, McGurk and Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Then came the tweet trumpeting the Saudi commitment to rebuild Syria. "Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States," Trump said. "See? Isn't it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away. Thanks to Saudi A!" On Wednesday, the White House clarified that Trump's tweet was not meant to announce a new commitment from Saudi Arabia. "The United States welcomes the contributions of all Coalition members to the defeat of ISIS in Syria, including strong past contributions from Saudi Arabia," National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis said in an email. "As we look to future efforts to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, including stabilizing areas liberated from ISIS, we will cooperate closely with allies and partners to share the burden of these efforts." The State Department announced in August it was canceling $230 million in aid earmarked for stabilization and early recovery efforts in northeast Syria. The department said the funds were no longer needed because the administration had secured about $300 million for the same purpose from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other nations, though even that sum would be a fraction of what is needed to rebuild the war-torn nation. For several years, a U.S.-led coalition has backed Arab rebels in Syria and conducted air strikes to beat back ISIS, which previously controlled large swaths of the country and established the center of its would-be caliphate in Raqqa. The terror group had capitalized on the chaos created by nearly eight years of civil war between the rebels and the Syrian government in Damascus, which is backed by Russia and Iran. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Wednesday made an unannounced visit to Iraq to meet with political and military personnel. In his first visit to U.S. troops in a war zone since the start of his presidency, Trump defended his decision to withdraw American soldiers from Syria, and said that Patrick Shanahan, whom Trump elevated to acting Defense secretary starting in 2019, could hold the job "for a long time." Air Force One left the U.S. overnight from Joint Base Andrews and landed at an airbase west of Baghdad on Wednesday evening. National security advisor John Bolton was also present. The surprise trip was made "to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a tweet. Sanders tweet Trump will reportedly also visit U.S. troops at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on his way back to Washington. The president's trip comes on the heels of his sudden decision to withdraw American ground forces from Syria, which prompted Secretary of Defense James Mattis to hand in his resignation on Thursday. Mattis' departure was mourned by lawmakers of both parties who saw him as a stabilizing figure within the Trump administration. Two days before he resigned, Mattis thanked U.S. troops at home and abroad for their service. "This month, many in our military will be serving far from their loved ones. It is difficult work, but this is nothing new: since Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day in 1776, American troops have missed holidays to defend our citizens' experiment in democracy," Mattis wrote in a holiday letter. "Far from home, you have earned the gratitude and respect of your fellow citizens and it remains my great privilege to serve alongside you. Merry Christmas and may God hold you safe." Speaking to reporters in Iraq, Trump defended the decision to withdraw the nearly 2,000 troops, saying, "A lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking." In a tweet last week, Trump claimed that Islamic militant group ISIS had been "defeated" in the country. But Trump said Wednesday that he has "no plans at all" to remove the more 5,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq. President Donald Trump suggested he could force a prolonged government shutdown Wednesday as the partial closure dragged into its fifth day. Funding for nine federal departments lapsed Saturday amid an impasse over whether to fund the president's proposed border wall. As congressional leaders and the White House appear to make little progress toward a deal, the shutdown could last past Jan. 3, when Democrats take control of the House. Asked Wednesday during a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq how long he would wait to see his demands met, Trump responded: "Whatever it takes." The comment suggests little willingness on the president's part to back down as Democrats refuse to approve funds for the proposed barrier. "Nancy is calling the shots," Trump added, referencing House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat and the likely next House speaker. The president has recently tried to blame Democrats for the closure, even though he said earlier this month that he would be "proud to shut down the government for border security." Democrats have pledged to quickly pass a short-term spending bill without wall money when they take control of the House. Before the shutdown started, the Senate approved legislation to fund the government through Feb. 8 without funding for the barrier. But after Trump threatened to veto the proposal, it crumbled in the GOP-controlled House. The chamber passed the president's desired $5 billion for the wall. Democrats refused to approve that bill in the Senate, where the GOP has a 51-49 majority and needs 60 votes. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Crosswalk.com has compiled some of the best known Christian bloggers in one place! Read about the latest in news and trending topics with an applied Biblical worldview, be inspired with a top 10 list for daily spiritual growth, or simply be entertained! Our bloggers come from various backgrounds of being pastors, teachers, speakers and authors and will offer many different perspectives on today's hot topics. Havila Kystruten, which will share the Norwegian coastal service with Hurtigruten, starting Jan. 1, 2021, is aiming to minimize its air emissions, according to Enova, a Norwegian government agency of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, tasked with reducing emissions and supporting environmentally sustainable business solutions. Providing NOK 88 million to Havilas four new coastal vessels, the minister of climate and environment, Ola Elvestuen, said in a prepared statement, that it is a step toward zero emissions service between Bergen and Kirkenes. Havila has previously stated that its new ships, currently under construction in Spain and Turkey, will be hybrids, running on LNG and battery power. The NOK 88 million will be allocated with NOK 22 million for each vessel. In addition, Havila is said to also receiving financial support from the Norwegian NOx Fund. The fund was established after Norway introduced a fee on NOx emissions in 2007 and is designed to give industry financial support to implement competitive green technologies. As the winter continues, some area residents and families are in need of a helping hand. For the 10th consecutive year, the Connecticut Post has partnered with United Way to provide stories of those in the community in need of monetary help this holiday season. Donations can be made to The Giving Fund, a philanthropic partnership between United Way, LifeBridge of Bridgeport and the Connecticut Post. Coupons are provided in print for donations. Online donations can be made at https://bit.ly/2UWVaFx. As of Wednesday afternoon, 97 Connecticut Post readers have donated $19,078 to Giving Fund cases. The needs have been fully met for 2018 cases 001, 010, 017, 019, 021, 024, 027, 030, 034, 037, 043 and 045. Last Thursday, one of the largest one-day gift donations was made in the 10-year history of the Giving Fund with the Connecticut Post, according to David Kennedy, chief operating officer of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. The donations, which came from 15 individual readers, totaled $4,185. Kennedy said one man, who said he was a first-time donor, included a note with his donation of $2,000. This money is given in loving memory of my beautiful wife, the note read. Please remember her in your prayers and distribute it as you see fit. May the Lord guide you. All cases for 2018 can be found at www.ctpost.com/ givingfund. Every Wednesday online and every Thursday in print from Thanksgiving through early January, true stories are shared of local residents struggling to make ends meet. Though the stories are true, the names of the people have been changed. A total of $4,300 in donations is being asked for this week. Emma Case 051 Emma is a single mother in need of help providing for her family. She has serious health challenges that affected her ability to work. After working closely with her doctors, Emma, who is the mother of a baby girl, was able to get her health problems under control enough to hold down a part-time job. A gift of $300 would help Emma and her family get through the winter. Ken Case 052 Ken is a Bridgeport teen trying to help his mom pay for groceries. He is a client of the LifeBridge Tech Connections program. He is doing well in school, but is struggling at home because his mothers food stamps dont cover enough for he and her four other children to eat. Kens mother works a full-time job earning minimum wage which doesnt cover her bills, transportation and groceries. A gift of $500 would help fill Kens familys fridge this winter. Kyle Case 053 Kyle is senior at Fairfield Wheeler who could use some new clothes. He has good grades but has endured a lot of bullying. Kyle, who often has to wear dirty clothes, is in need of socks, a few shirts and pants. He also needs some hygiene and grooming products. A gift of $500 would help Kyle look and smell good, boosting his self-esteem and confidence as a high school student. Sofia Case 054 Sofia is a single mother who needs to buy new clothes for her family. The 21-year-old active LifeBridge client was recently laid off from her job and forced to move into a shelter in Bridgeport with her two children. She is actively searching for work. But when moving into the shelter, Sofia and her family had to leave a lot behind. A gift of $400 would help Sofia and her children stay warm this winter. Laura Case 055 Laura is struggling to care for her daughter with cancer and her husband with dementia. The 68-year-old is the caregiver for her daughter who is battling Stage 3 cancer and her 69-year-old husband who has dementia and heart disease. Laura, who has a heart condition and has suffered several strokes, also cares for her 11-year-old granddaughter. Laura struggles with daily living expenses, including medical bills. A gift of $500 would help cover some of the bills for Lauras family. Sidney Case 056 Sidney needs help covering the bills while raising three kids alone. The Bridgeport resident is a teacher who suffers from serious asthma, as does one of her daughters. Sometimes, Sidney has to take unscheduled days off to care for herself and her daughter. A gift of $350 would help Sidney cover some basic expenses this winter. Minnie Case 057 Minnie is a Bridgeport teen trying to help her family pay off their bills. Th 15-year-old client of the LifeBridge Tech Connections program lives at home with her mother and four siblings. Her mother receives food stamps and is a stay-at-home mom. Minnies last day of employment with LifeBridge was Dec. 14. She was helping her mom pay some bills with her paychecks, but now theyre struggling to pay off their utility bills. Minnies mom also recently was in the hospital for three weeks after a surgery. A gift of $500 would help Minnies family pay off some of their bills. Jan Case 058 Jan needs help paying some bills after a fire nearly destroyed his familys home. He is a lifelong Bridgeport resident and longtime LifeBridge client. Jan is a widowed father with four children working to support his family. In January, Jans newly purchased house was nearly destroyed in a fire. He used a majority of his savings to repair the house and house his family while repairs were under way. A gift of $500 would help Jan cover the cost of gas this winter as he continues to pay off repairs. Lucy Case 059 Lucy needs help covering the cost of repairs on her car. She is a single mom with two kids in Bridgeport magnet schools. Lucy works full-time and added an additional source of income by driving for Uber. But in late October, Lucys vehicle was hit by a driver who had no license or insurance. Lucy couldnt afford the full repair costs up front, but has been making weekly payments for the repairs. A gift of $350 would bring Lucys repair balance to zero. Aleah Case 060 Aleah could use some financial help as she kicks off her college career. Shes a woman in her 20s who has been through various challenges in life, including going through foster care in her teenage years. Despite various struggles, Aleah has never given up and has pushed forward to pursue a college degree. She works full-time but was able to rearrange her schedule so she can attack classes at Housatonic Community College during the day. She starts at the college during the spring semester in mid-January. A gift of $400 would help Aleah cover some of the costs of her new college life. Editors note: This is an excerpt from a longer story about Gov. Dannel P. Malloys Malloys handling of Connecticuts fiscal crisis. It was Gov. Dannel P. Malloys personal white whale. Two line items, buried among hundreds of others, rose from the pages of the state budget to confound his plans year after year: required contributions to state employees and teachers pensions. Cash-starved after seven decades of inadequate funding, they exploded during Malloys tenure, stealing billions of dollars the governor would have preferred to spend on roads, schools, transportation and even tax rebates. This behemoth of debt, a monster seven decades in the making, forced Malloy to impose two major tax hikes during his eight years. But if Malloy couldnt slay the monster, he made progress in taming it. Despite being saddled from Day One with a huge deficit, an empty reserve and a weak recovery from the last recession, he became the first Connecticut governor in modern history to make all required pension contributions breaking a longstanding practice of leaving a bill for Connecticuts children someday to cover. Malloy also secured two major concessions packages from state employee unions, deals that reduced long-term pension liabilities and increased health care cost-sharing dramatically but not without a cost. To get those changes, the governor locked Connecticut into an additional decade of having to provide retirement benefits that some legislators argue simply are unaffordable. And while he may not be remembered fondly for the tax increases, Malloy says the truth of his success lies in other numbers. I measure myself by what we accomplished, not how well its known or understood or appreciated, Malloy, who has two weeks left on the job, told the CT Mirror during an interview last week. Rising pension costs The Democratic governors greatest nemesis arguably wasnt the Republican Party, or even the sluggish economy. It was the states obligation to its retired workers. In the last budget approved by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, covering the 2010-11 fiscal year, required contributions to state employees and teachers pensions amounted to $1.2 billion, or just over 6 percent of the General Fund. By Malloys last year they had more than doubled, approaching $2.5 billion and devouring 13 percent of the budget. Put another way, every single year the governor had to find on average another $164 million to feed this two-headed fiscal beast. Despite those costs, Malloy made the full required contribution every year, unlike any other governor in modern times. He and the General Assembly refinanced the state employee pension obligations in 2017, with approval from the unions, effectively pushing back some payments until after 2032 and sharply reducing required payments in some years before then. Still, Malloy was the first governor in decades not to bill Connecticuts children for the retirement benefits promised to todays public-sector workers a fact he plays down. I told you what I was going to do, he said, referring to a pledge in his 2010 campaign not to skirt pension obligations. Fiscal time bombs His critics disagree, especially when it came to Malloys contention that the tax increases were a last resort, necessary to balance a budget that included meeting the pension obligations and solving other problems he inherited from former Gov. M. Jodi Rell. Connecticut didnt buy that answer then, and still doesnt now, said Republican political strategist Liz Kurantowicz. Its too bad we dont have lemon law for politicians. But the Democratic governor said what his critics couldnt see, or wouldnt be honest about, were the magnitude of problems stacked against him. The ticking fiscal time bombs that were the pension funds were the biggest problem, but far from the only one. Those old issues included a $900 million operating debt that Malloys budgets had to pay off; a rainy-day fund that Rell had emptied; sluggish job gains that continued; and highways and other transportation infrastructure needing ever more attention. Government cuts Malloy said he had to make tough choices as pension costs rose. One of those was to shrink government. During his tenure, Malloy cut Executive Branch staffing by more than 10 percent, shaving off more than 2,500 jobs. Malloys labor concessions packages froze wages, increased workers share of health care costs, and reduced pension benefits often putting him at odds with a vital part of his political base. I fought with the unions, I fought with the teachers, he said, adding he was greatly resented for the first round of concessions he demanded. "I fought with everybody. Republicans said the sacrifices by state employees werent nearly enough, and they say that shortcoming led to the tax increases, which hampered the states growth. Roy Occhiogrosso, the political strategist who advised Malloys 2010 and 2014 campaigns and served in his administration, said Malloy fearlessly waded into issues that many politicians in some cases for generations ignored. When the Republicans say Dan Malloy wrecked the economy, it is such a ridiculous thing to say. In so many ways he put the state in a position where future growth is possible. Occhiogrosso predicts Malloys legacy will be viewed increasingly favorably over time, particularly when future generations dont receive a bill for the billions of dollars of present-day pension costs. Malloy is not so sure how his image might change over time, but insists hes at peace nonetheless. People dont like me, necessarily, but they know I work hard, he said. Thats enough. Thats enough. SHELTON This year, the citys primary schools those with students in kindergarten through fourth grade welcomed 139 new pupils. While that represents an uptick of approximately 10 percent overall, district-wide enrollment is expected to remain relatively level over the next five years, with some schools posting increases while others experience decreases. Those were some of the results of a redistricting study recently conducted in Shelton by Cheshire-based engineering firm Milone and MacBroom. The firms principal planner, Rebecca Augur, gave an overview of the redistricting study at the Shelton Board of Educations Dec. 19 meeting. The board was told that school boundaries are likely to shift, but where and by how much is still to be determined. Which means the Board of Education is still several months away from redrawing district lines. The Milone and MacBroom study focused on the K-4 student population because that particular age cohort is where population trends are expected to show the most impact on school enrollments, the board was told. Overall, childrens births among city residents have been on a downward trend since 2000, with a brief birth bubble in 2017, said Augur. The lowest birth years were in 2014 and 2015, which will be in the incoming kindergarten classes for 2019 and 2020. Different areas of Shelton are experiencing different population trends. Neighborhoods on the citys north end are aging, with a 50 percent increase in residents older than 65. And although that is projected to result in a downturn in school enrollment in the short term, the long-term effect might be the reverse. To us, that is housing that is ripe for turnover, because many of those older householders will look to downsize to smaller homes, she said. Trends have been the opposite in other parts of Shelton, particularly neighborhoods east of Route 8. Increased numbers of births and an influx of new residents are expected to result in enrollment growth at Sunnyside and Long Hill Schools. Overall, you are getting older as is the rest of Connecticut, Augur said. But you are seeing factors to balance that, such as new families moving in with children. The stronger real-estate market has had a positive impact on school enrollment, she said. Housing sales in Shelton are up 70 percent since 2011, said Augur, and condo sales more than doubled during the same period. New apartment complexes especially those with two- and three-bedroom units have also brought families with children to the city. The increase by 139 new pupils primarily comes from in-migration, Augur said. It represents almost 10 percent of the overall student population (in those grades]), and this years kindergarten class is the biggest since the 2008-2009 school year, she said. Just 31 of those students are in families who bought homes the remainder are from families who rent. Board member Darlisa Ritter said the studys conclusions could be somewhat misleading because of the temporary birth bubble recorded in 2017. Augur noted that the resulting figures must take that into account, but that a level trend line can be calculated which discounts its impact. By shifting enrollment boundaries, the Board of Education could level enrollments throughout the district, avoiding some schools being under-enrolled while others are overcrowded, board members were told. We will also look to standardize room deployment throughout the district, said schools Superintendent Chris Clouet, referring to special-purpose classrooms, such as a reading lab or a music room. The goal is for all schools to offer the same number of such facilities. We will be having public information sessions as the details become clearer as to exactly where we will be drawing school district lines, said Clouet. A remaining wild card in any analysis is the impact any future development would have on enrollment numbers. The redistricting study took into account existing and proposed development, but did not include new projects still in more preliminary stages. No such proposals have arrived at City Hall. The Huntington Townhomes complex on Bridgeport Avenue was offered as a case study in how apartment construction can have a dramatic impact on student enrollment. The complex was built about a decade ago as an Avalon development and has since changed hands. Several dozen public school students now live at the complex. It is important for town officials to look at the price point and the size of the units at Huntington Townhomes, said Ritter, because of its popularity among couples with school-aged kids. Similar complexes can be expected to have the same impact, she noted. A Congressional coalition from Connecticut and New York state is asking President Donald Trump for more money to improve Long Island Sound and warning the waterways health remains fragile and endangered. If we consider the status quo acceptable, the Long Island Sound and the coastline we know will not be recognizable to the next generation, the U.S. senators and House members said in a letter to Trump. As a result, the vibrant business community and economic activity the Sound supports will dwindle. The lawmakers are seeking $20 million in the 2020 federal budget now being put together. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joined U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Connecticut Democrats, in calling for the money. Also signing the letter were Connecticut U.S. representatives Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson and Rosa DeLauro and New Yorks Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and representatives Lee Zeldin, Peter King and Thomas Suozzi. The federal government in the past has provided funding for ongoing cleanup of the Sound, nitrogen reduction and shoreline projects. But with a government shutdown under way, the demand by the coalition is considered a timely warning to Trump that other pressing needs should not outweigh Sound funding. Urgent call Bill Lucey, the Long Island Soundkeeper, said the request is a big deal and represents an increase from the $12 million allocated last year. But the money is still well short of the $65 million in annual funding authorized years ago to reduce nitrogen and make other improvements, he said. The money goes into research and programs, Lucey said. The 58 percent reduction in nitrogen that we have seen goes through this steward program. The eastern portion of the Sound is considered the cleanest region, in part because of natural flushing from the open ocean and less population density along the shore. The western portion continues to test high for nitrogen levels, which robs the water of oxygen and chokes off sea life, in part because of inadequate wastewater treatment systems along the shore. The letter to Trump calls attention to the fact that cleaning up the Sound is still a work in progress. The appeal is also bipartisan: King and Zeldin are Republicans. The Sound is a proven economic driver in the Northeast, generating at least $17 billion to the regional economy from transportation, fishing and recreational activities it supports, the lawmakers told Trump. Long Island Sound Geographic Program funding has allowed local communities across the watershed to make significant progress in improving the Sound, the coalition said. In the most recent award year, projects spanned four states and included funding for building environmentally friendly coastal resiliency structures, monitoring water quality, constructing fishways, reducing nitrogen pollution and protecting marine life, the coalition said. Climate change impacts Long Island Sound programs last year assisted wastewater cleanup efforts and nitrogen removal. The state is using federal funding to gain a better understanding of micro-plastic pollution and to reopen a migratory fishway that hasnt been used by blueback herring in 300 years. Over the years, important projects have been funded that promoted habitat restoration of coastal wetland areas as well as watershed management projects and opening many miles riverine habitat for migratory fish to spawn, said Rob Klee, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Klee said a recent $2 million federal allocation the states portion of $2.6 million recently dedicated to Sound improvements will fund 20 projects in Connecticut and four along the Connecticut River watershed. We have also witnessed the impacts of climate change, with additional projects funded to assist with improving resiliency and sustainability of our coastal and watershed habitats, Klee said. Already approved federal funds will pay for treating 1.9 million gallons of water, collecting 37,000 pounds of floating trash, opening 6 miles of river and restoring 18 acres of coastal habitat for fish and wildlife. Another project will use seaweed to remove pollution from Greenwich Harbor, study water quality in the Norwalk and Stamford Harbors and help prevent storm water pollution in New Haven from entering the Sound. bcummings@ctpost.com We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit CUNA and the Wisconsin Credit Union League filed an amicus brief Friday with the Wisconsin Supreme Court supporting a narrow interpretation of the Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA). Plaintiffs attorneys in Wisconsin have been targeting lenders, including credit unions, with litigation under the WCA. CUNA and the league argue these suits are frivolous and could affect access to credit. Wisconsin credit unions have been the target of lawsuits and counterclaims seeking damages and attorneys fees under the WCA in response to their good-faith efforts to collect on legitimate debts, the parties stated in their brief. CUNA and the league argue: The plaintiff does not have a right of action, as neither the circuit courts original ruling nor the court of appeals decision provides this right; Erie has a child care 'crisis.' But help could be on the way Its a mouthful, but it matters: the FIRST STEP Act thats The Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act is the first big bipartisan victory in Washington, D.C. in some time. On Tuesday, the United States Senate voted 87-12 to pass the criminal justice reform bill. The House of Representatives followed on Thursday with the legislation passing 358 votes in support and only 36 in opposition. President Trump, who announced his support of the proposal last month, signed the bill into law on Friday. In todays polarized political times, it is commendable that a reasonable, modest piece of legislation such as FIRST STEP was able to make it through and that the president has pushed for its passage. The promotional moniker of the bill is true to its words. It is in fact a first step toward digging the U.S. out of its overreliance on incarceration and its tendency to keep the once-imprisoned locked in a culture of dysfunction and recidivism. Its provisions may seem modest, but modest in this case is much better than nothing. And its journey into law will represent a model for how nationwide reform can be done right. Under the bills terms, many federal prisoners receive several new opportunities, ranging from credits for good behavior to work training, saving money and reintegration. Whats more, FIRST STEP begins to rectify what is now a patently unjust regime around drug offenses. For decades, communities and prisons across America have felt the adverse impact of mandatory-minimum rules on sentencing for drug offenses. Nonviolent offenders have not been distinguished enough from violent ones, both in the courtroom and behind bars. And too much discretionary power has been stripped away from judges. Too often, they have been put at the mercy of sentencing tables, including ones that demanded absurdly harsher punishments for the possession of crack cocaine versus powder cocaine. FIRST STEP wisely and prudently begins to unwind that knot of injustice and overreach. Its effects will initially be limited. Only 10 to 12 percent of incarcerated Americans are held in federal prison. But its strong political support in Congress and the White House is likely to trigger and reinforce similar reforms for states. Activists and advocates for reform reaching across the partisan spectrum lined up behind the bill, and their grassroots networks are standing by to make further gains. But further changes to the criminal justice system, which today keeps over 2 million Americans locked up, will ultimately only change if citizens of their respective states give public officials the support they need to alter relevant laws. That will require a certain amount of courage. For generations, the media and ambitious prosecutors contributed to a potent sense of public fear around crime. Consequently, for too long, the pendulum swung too far in favor of incarceration and punishment, and away from crime prevention, rehabilitation and ensuring that people who have served their time can succeed upon release. While there is still plenty of work to be done, we applaud the passage of the FIRST STEP Act. Orange County Register, Digital First Media Potatoes. Every year I forget something crucial, so it was that on Christmas Eve, when most sane people are settling into their third eggnog, I was shoulder-to-shoulder with all the other Yuletide inadequates, frantically scrabbling for the last bag of King Edwards in Waitrose. I had just secured my bounty when the mobile rang. It was my 14-year-old son. Hello, I said cheerily. How are things? He replied with a howl of anguish. It took me several minutes to establish the precise details of his predicament, but in essence it appeared he had tripped over the Christmas tree and fallen through the plate glass French windows. I asked him to switch his phone to FaceTime and was confronted with a white-faced child with a huge gash on his shoulder about 10cm long and deep enough so you could see the bone and tissues. On the same arm, a strip of flesh was hanging, like something out of a horror movie. It took me several minutes to establish the precise details of his predicament, but in essence it appeared he had tripped over the Christmas tree and fallen through the plate glass French windows (stock image) I put down the spuds and ran. It took me about ten minutes to get home, by which time he was sitting on the stairs with the front door open, shaking and covered in bloodied kitchen towels. His lips were blue, and the hall was looking distinctly Quentin Tarantino. Both French door windowpanes were jagged, gaping holes. Carpet, presents, tree were all covered in a fine spattering of blood. On my dash back Id managed to call an ambulance. While waiting for it, I remembered a distant first-aid course and did my best to apply pressure to the gaping wounds. His main concern, bless him, was that I would be cross because of the broken windows and ruined carpet. By the time the ambulance crew arrived the situation was a little more under control. My daughter had mopped up a lot of the blood and Will had calmed down considerably. In fact, the crew seemed more concerned for my husband, who was gasping for air having sprinted back from the Tube station. Not until they saw the lacerations did they realise we werent time-wasters. Their eyes widened, the nurse visibly gagged and not long after we were on our way to A&E. I wont bore you with the details of the next seven hours, save to say that we were looked after brilliantly at the hospital by staff who stitched the boy up a treat. We emerged late into a cold, crisp Christmas Eve, my son excited at the prospect of some thrilling scars with which to wow the girls, already sharing the gruesome pictures on Snapchat. This time of year seems to always go hand-in-hand with disaster, from exploding ovens to explosive rows (I remember one Vine family Christmas when relations were so bad I actually had to put my father on a plane back to Italy). But even by our standards, this has been rather a shocker. SARAH VINE: Had Wills Guardian Angel not been paying close attention this Christmas Eve, I could have been facing a very different Christmas from the one Ive just enjoyed Its not just the what-ifs that haunt me. That, had he fallen an inch to the side either way, he could easily have severed a ligament or, much worse, an artery. Or if had I missed his call as I often do I might not have got home in time. Its the fact that, when it comes to Christmas, we really have lost the plot. It has become such a silly, stressful, over-hyped time of year. We agonise over finding just the right present, sourcing the perfect turkey (bankrupting ourselves in the process), over-eat, over-drink, over-think the whole damn thing. But at the end of the day, none of it really matters. Whats important are the ones you love, and their health and happiness. In striving so hard for the material things it becomes all too easy to overlook whats really important. To take for granted the things that are truly precious. And life the life of those we love is so fragile. It can turn on a sixpence, whether by natural disaster (the terrible tsunami that has claimed so many lives in Indonesia) or simple accident (tripping over the Christmas tree). Had Wills Guardian Angel not been paying close attention this Christmas Eve, I could have been facing a very different Christmas from the one Ive just enjoyed. Instead, I had the pleasure of being dragged out of bed at silly oclock by him as usual, of seeing the smile on his face as he unwrapped his presents, of making him pigs in blankets and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I even rather enjoyed the traditional row between him and his sister over Monopoly. In fact, Ive had the best present of all. A truly special Christmas Day, one with real meaning and full of gratitude for my great good fortune in life. A transgender Bond? Its a mission too far Caroline Cossey, pictured, born male, memorably appeared in For Your Eyes Only in 1981 Actor Dominic West, in a barely concealed bid no doubt to ingratiate himself with the new Equality mafia in Hollywood, has suggested that the next James Bond should be transgender. I have no problem whatsoever with the notion of a transgender spy (or indeed Bond girl Caroline Cossey, pictured, born male, memorably appeared in For Your Eyes Only in 1981). But what I dont understand is why theres so much fuss over James Bond. 007 is the literary creation of one man, Ian Fleming. His personality is that of an unreconstructed post-war male, a womanising, show-off daredevil with more than a streak of chauvinism about him. Yes, hes a relic of a bygone age, but so are countless much-loved literary characters. You cant suddenly reinvent them all for these post-PC times. What next, Lady Macbeth re-cast as a #MeToo campaigner, or Heathcliff as a stay-at-home dad? By all means lets create new icons that better reflect our times. But can we please leave the classics alone, and enjoy them for what they are, rather than what we think they ought to be? What bargains did Kate buy? It's a question that threatens to divide the nation almost as much as Leave or Remain. In the great War of the Windsors, are you Team Kate or Team Meghan? I wasnt quite sure, to begin with. After all, I love an outsider and Meghan has come an impressively long way from her American roots. But there has always been something just a little too perfect about her that makes me wonder how much is engineered for the cameras. That is definitely not true of Kate. What you see is what you get with the Duchess of Cambridge. Witness her last-minute, Christmas shopping trip to budget superstore The Range, just outside Kings Lynn, Norfolk, to stock up on cheap and cheerful stocking fillers. The future Queen, queueing at the tills like anyone else. I wonder what she bought. A Grumpy In A Jumpy knitted bear cushion (7.99) for Prince Philip? A Fairytale Princess Classic Doll and Horse Playset (10.99) for Anne? The Balmoral Cushion (6.99) for the Queen? And for her beloved brother-in-law Harry and his lovely bride? No better gift, surely, than the Warm Happy Ending Plaque with the charming message: Christmas is the warm happy ending to our familys story each year. A snip at 1.13 now reduced to 76p. Its the thought that counts. Michelle, the First Lady of glam rock While her husband was the President of the U.S., Michelle Obama (pictured) was the model of the dutiful political wife. But now that she is once again a free woman, we are starting to see a glimpse of the real Michelle and its rather outrageous, thigh-high glittery Balenciaga boots and all. Makes you wonder what other political spouses would be like if unshackled from the constraints of power. Philip May in leather trousers, anyone? While her husband was the President of the U.S., Michelle Obama (pictured) was the model of the dutiful political wife Keira Knightley has detailed how she was diagnosed with PTSD at the age of 22 as a result of her early rise to fame and the accompanying Press attention. Tough, Ill grant you; but however much of a double-edged sword fame can be, surely in the long run its better than stacking shelves in a supermarket? Today is officially my favourite day of the entire year: presents done, food cooked and eaten, family comatose and best of all a full 364 days until I have to do it all over again! The Brexit debate has plunged British politics into an agony of self-doubt. After a year of political high drama and turbulence, and given the seeming parliamentary impasse over the Prime Ministers deal, there are massive anxieties about the consequences of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place. Will it plunge us into an economic depression as some doom-mongers predict? Will prices rocket and essential goods be in short supply? Will there be riots on the streets as the ugly new social divisions opened up by Brexit play out? I dont doubt for one moment these concerns are wholly understandable and we are right to focus on them. But we should also count our blessings. We are not the only country experiencing turmoil and for many of our neighbours it is far worse. Around Europe, many leaders are spending Christmas contemplating chaos and confusion politically, and widespread public dissatisfaction, growing unrest and even violence. For some, economic winter is already descending. After a year of political high drama and turbulence, and given the seeming parliamentary impasse over the Prime Ministers deal, there are massive anxieties about the consequences of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place Harrowing Indeed, I believe the continent of Europe confronts a growing crisis which could yet cause the collapse of the EU. So whatever our recent troubles and there are more to come we should remind ourselves that unemployment now stands at 4.1 per cent, the lowest level since 1975, and we have a youth unemployment rate of just 11 per cent. Since 2009, we have enjoyed solid economic growth. Compare this with Spain. Youth unemployment is just under 35 per cent and more than a third of young people have never had a job. Moreover, this human tragedy is directly linked to Spains membership of the EU because the euro has rendered large tracts of the Spanish economy hopelessly uncompetitive. Economically, Italys story is even more harrowing. Its economy is barely any bigger than it was 20 years ago, employment stands at 10.6 per cent and youth unemployment is 32.5 per cent. The national debt stands at almost 2.5 trillion more than 130 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. That money will never be paid back and Italy is heading once more for bankruptcy. No wonder so much of the country feels total fury at distant EU bureaucrats whom they believe and with some justice have condemned Italy to economic failure, let alone their incompetency on migration, which Italians feel they bear the brunt of. In Greece, the birthplace of European democracy, an epic tragedy continues to play out: membership of the eurozone has wiped out business, jobs and entire industries that will take generations to recover. Next, lets look at fraud and corruption. Weve had serious problems on this front here in Britain, not least among scores of MPs who infamously were found to have fiddled their expenses. And, yes, the occasional business executive is disgraced or goes to jail. But Britain is a remarkably honest country compared with the horror show that is the EU. Take Malta, viewed by most Britons as a holiday paradise. Last year, a dark underside came to light with the murder of a journalist investigating government corruption, including the sale of EU passports to shady figures from the former Soviet bloc. Many believe Malta escapes sanction from Brussels because the countrys deeply compromised ruling elite can be relied on to do what the European Commission tells it to do. Romania and Bulgaria are two other countries where corruption flourishes. The culture of greed and backhanders in these two former Iron Curtain nations helps explain the poverty and mass emigration to the rest of the EU. The problem is so flagrant that the Romanian government has sacked the EU-backed chief anti-corruption prosecutor. Britain is a remarkably honest country compared with the horror show that is the EU As for concerns about law and order, well we have no reason to be complacent. London has seen 131 murders this year an increase of 38 per cent (excluding deaths by terrorism) on 2014. There is public anxiety about the ability of our police forces to deal with everyday crimes, while the goings-on at Gatwick last week when the drone scare brought the airport to a standstill did us few favours in PR terms. Politicians were slow to react, while the police, military and intelligence services were made to look foolish. But compare that with France, where for a sixth weekend on the trot, the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) fuel protesters took violent unrest to the streets. On Friday, the riots claimed their 10th victim. The protests are about more than France; they are of existential importance to the EU because President Macron has become the poster boy for the European project as Chancellor Angela Merkels star starts to fade in Germany. Macrons response has so far been weak. He has responded with a mixture of police brutality and concessions to rioters which so far have not worked. As for political stability in Europe, well therein lies the greatest crisis for the EU. Fears Here in Britain there have been warnings that the two-party system which has governed us for more than 200 years may collapse damaged irreparably by the Brexit fall-out. And there are menacing signs that the far-Right racist parties are on the rise, all the more so now UKIP employs the thug Tommy Robinson as an adviser. Others worry that the UK itself could break up with Brexit sparking the secession of Scotland. I dont dismiss for one moment the reality of these fears but consider that only Italys government, out of the EUs Big Four (France, Germany, Spain), has strong support and a clear majority. And that is for the so-called government of change made up of two populist parties which has flouted EU edicts on a budget, and rails against immigration policies. Consider also the bitter dispute between Madrid and the Catalan separatists, whose leaders either await trial at home or are in exile. In Germany, social democracy is on the wane and the far-Right poses a menacing threat with the electoral successes of the popular nationalists of the neo-fascist Alliance for Germany party. Even Belgium, the headquarters of the EU, is in a political shambles. Prime Minister Charles Michel resigned just before Christmas, leaving a vacuum, while concerns about chronic unemployment and immigration fester. Daggers Farther east, the situation is much more menacing with the rise of far-Right parties exploiting popular fears about immigration. Poland and Hungary, both at daggers drawn with Brussels, increasingly present a chilling authoritarian alternative to the EU model of liberal democratic politics. Brexit confronts Europe with a fresh problem. As one of the biggest financial contributors to the EU, we have been essential for balancing the books. At a time of economic stress, Germany, Holland and the other large contributors will refuse to pay more. However, supplicants such as Bulgaria and Romania will be furious at receiving less. Elections are due next spring for the European Parliament and these may prove a shock to the EU elite as Right-wing parties score more significant gains. We will see new populist politicians emerge who make Nigel Farage look like a hand-wringing local vicar. There is no question the EU is about to enter the greatest crisis in its 60-year history and Brexit is a tiny part of it. This is not a reason to gloat. Trouble among out closest neighbours will hurt us badly at home. We are entering truly troubling times, but we should keep a sense of perspective this Christmas and remind ourselves we have every reason to feel pride in the stability, prosperity and decency of 21st-century Britain. Beauty is big business with women willing to splash the cash on products aiming to conceal, smooth and highlight. And now Mecca Cosmetica have released their best-selling products for 2018. Some, such as the Mecca Max Banana Bake Skin Filter, prove to be a steal at just $24, while others including Tatcha's The Water Cream, may stretch the wallet at $99. Complexion perfectors Long-lasting: NARS' Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation at $71 is available in a multitude of shades Customers are going crazy for NARS' Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, retailing for $71. Available in a multitude of shades, the oil-free, weightless foundation is said to provide '16 hours of lightweight and fade-resistant wear for an all day radiant and smooth complexion'. It claims its blend of raspberry, apple and watermelon extracts help to smooth and improve the skin's appearance over time. Some who have rated the product have said how impressed they are with its coverage and luminous finish, while others are disappointed with the 'greasy barrier left on the skin'. Clutch-size: The Mecca Max Banana Bake Skin Filter, retailing for $24, is said to zap oily shine for a maximum glow Another best-seller is the Mecca Max Banana Bake Skin Filter, retailing for $24. This clutch size product aims to 'neutralise redness and zap oily shine while maximising glow'. A sweep along the bridge of the nose, forehead, cheekbones or jawline, is said to offer a contoured look. Some users have praised the product saying it covers dark circles and gives the skin a good sheen without looking too shiny, while others say it highlights imperfections. Luxe skin: Drunk Elephant's Lala Retro Whipped Cream at $88 has been praised for its ability to combat ageing and inflammation Skin saviours For decadent hydration, customers are in a frenzy over Drunk Elephant's Lala Retro Whipped Cream, retailing for $88. According to product information, it makes for a 'deeply nourishing, restorative cream'. A blend of six antioxidant rich oils are said to combat ageing and inflammation. Positives of the product include its ability to moisturise and soak into the skin immediately, however some reviewers said it clogged pores and caused breakouts. Moisture-rich skin: Tatcha's The Water Cream retailing for $88 is said to deliver weightless, refreshing hydration to the skin while keeping excess oil at bay Another best-seller is Tatcha's The Water Cream, retailing for $99. This oil-free water cream is said to 'deliver weightless, refreshing hydration to the skin while keeping excess oil at bay'. Japanese wild rose is said to assist in visibly tightening and refining pores to create a blemish-free complexion. Select users have described the product as effective in keeping the skin soft and hydrated, while others say the formula never fully absorbed into the skin. Lashes: The Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara at $42 features a double-action brush Eye enhancers For volumised lashes, customers have been picking up the Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara, retailing for $42. Featuring a double-action brush, the product is said to have a 'smooth glide formula, delivering high impact volume, length and definition'. The wand has given most users a smudge-free result that comes off easily at night, however others find they get either volume or length. Enhancing: Urban Decay's Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette at $83 provides rich pigments for a swipe of colour on the eyes For a slick of shimmer on the eyes, shoppers can't go past Urban Decay's Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette at $83. A mix of 12 cherry-hued shades are said to blend together for a flawless finish. Users love the colours, the pigmentation and the packaging, however one found the shades difficult to blend. Shimmers For an ethereal shimmer, customers are choosing Mecca Cosmetica's Enlightened Lit From Within Powder, retailing for $48. The product is said to provide an instant luminosity to tired skin. Select users have praised its beautiful pigments, while others have said it appears too dark on their complexion. Skin booster: Mecca Cosmetica's Enlightened Lit From Within Powder at $48 aims to provide an ethereal shimmer to tired skin Another best-seller is Stila's Heaven's Hue Highlighter at $46. This light composition is said to provide a barely-there feel and give skin luminosity. Many reviewers have praised it for its light composition, while others have claimed it only lasts for a few hours. Christmas Day ended in floods of tears in many UK households last night, after the Call the Midwife festive special lived up to its reputation as a festive tear-jerker. The film-length episode on BBC One took less than 15 minutes to make many viewers dissolve into festive tears - after returning Nurse Trixie (Helen George) was handed over the clothes of late midwife Barbara - with her nametags still in place. The lump-in-throat scene, written by Heidi Thomas, saw Nurse Phyllis (Linda Bassett) handing over the familiar red uniform cardigan to Trixie, who couldn't hold in her emotion at the memory of Nurse Barbara, who tragically died at the end of the last season after contracting septicemia. Scroll down for video Nurse Trixie (Helen George) arrived back in London's East End in time for Christmas but her arrival prompted an early flood of tears in the Call the Midwife festive special after she was handed the red woolly cardigan of her late colleague nurse Barbara Hereward, who died of septicemia Just 14 minutes in, the sight of Nurse Trixie looking at the uniform, still with Barbara's nametag in it, opened the Christmas Day floodgates for many In March, viewers were left distraught after Barbara, played by Charlotte Richie, died following a short illness One viewer wrote on Twitter at the heart-breaking scene: 'Crying by 14 minutes in, a new record' Viewers tuning into the Christmas one-off, set in the 1960s, said they were 'broken' by the emotionally-charged scene. Many admitted on social media that they hadn't expected moist eyes quite so early on in the midwifery series, which centres around the nuns of Nonnatus House in Poplar, East London. @jaxbra penned: 'I'm sobbing with Barbara's name tag covering the water bottle. SOBBING.' @FionaCMHogg wrote: 'Crying by 14 minutes in , a new record.' @Susie2266 added: '#CalltheMidwife finished me off! My daughter said "mum youve cried seven times and it hasnt finished yet" #sobbing' @zoelizziebeth said: 'Crying at how much I miss Barbara already' The festive special, which included plenty of East London snow - and even a gospel choir - saw Nurse Trixie arrive back in at Nonnatus House Miriam Margolyes quickly earned applause from viewers with her guest appearance as Sister Mildred from Hong Kong, with many calling for her to become a permanent fixture at Nonnatus House By the episode's end, Margoyle's Sister Mildred had been elected the new Mother Superior at Nonnatus House, much to the delight of fans who will now see her return to screens when the next series begins in January @hannahpudner added: 'Husband looking at me weird as 5mins into #callthemidwife and Im crying, hes claiming nothing has actually happened... but someone mentioned Barbara!' Elsewhere, it was business as usual for the 1960s Poplar hospital, with subplots including harrowing child migration, a Chinese immigrant family and a snowy, street birth for a young mother - all of which sparked more tears. Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes also left viewers calling for her permanent inclusion in the show after her guest character, Sister Mildred, arrived from Hong Kong. @katieroat22 wrote: 'Miriam Margolyes may be the best addition to #CallTheMidwife in a long time!' @jenthornton01 agreed, saying: 'Miriam Margolyes in the #CallTheMidwife Christmas special is the addition to Christmas Day I didnt know I needed. Legend.' It looks like Sister Mildred will be a more enduring presence too when the next series starts in January, the Christmas special closed with Margoyle's character being elected Mother Superior. Though her dad's Christmas vacation at Mar-a-Lago was called off this year in light of the government shutdown, Tiffany Trump's plans didn't seem to budge, as she spent the holiday with her mom Marla Maples in New York City. The pair enjoyed a mother-daughter Christmas at Marla's apartment in Manhattan, feasting on a meal Marla herself cooked while a tiny tree lit up the living room. Marla, 55, and Tiffany, 25, kept cozy inside after spending Christmas Eve at a Hillsong Church concert, where Tiffany sang along to Christian tunes while her mom recorded the scene. Mother-daughter holiday! Tiffany Trump spent Christmas in New York City with her mom Marla Maples Christmas time: The two posed for plenty of photographs and videos and made heavy use of filters Her turn! Tiffany, 25, spent the holiday with her mom after going to Mar-a-Lago with her dad last year Pumped: Marla shared her excitement over getting time with her daughter, saying that she couldn't believe she was there After Tiffany spent Christmas with her dad and siblings at Mar-a-Lago last year, she merely nipped over to the White House for a Christmas party earlier this month before spending the actual holiday with her mom. On break from Georgetown Law School, she settled in New York City with Marla on Christmas Eve. The two got dressed up to attend a Christian music concert hosted by Hillsong, the celebrity church that counts Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, and Selena Gomez among members. In clips Marla shared in her Insta Stories, Tiffany is seen singing along to a band on stage as other attendees hold their hands up in praise. They appear to have spent a bit more time out and about, and Marla took a moment to pose with a big Christmas tree covered in gold ornaments. Sampling both? Marla, who is Christian but also celebrates Jewish holidays, wished her followers a Merry Christmas The 55-year-old posed with a trimmed tree much bigger than the one she has in her apartment So busy! She also spent the day cooking a meal for the two of them which was heavy on vegetables Celebrate! Marla showed off the tree and the presents underneath Yum! Most of all, she said they were excited for pecan pie On Christmas Day, Marla posted a smiling snap of the pair, with a filter that has them both wearing wreath-like hairbands. 'Sharing Christmas magic with my girl!' she wrote. 'I could not be more grateful for the last few days sharing beautiful mom and daughter time in our favorite city #nyc. 'From #broadway to #hillsongworship to the most special times at home... Merry Christmas from our Christmas s to yours!' She noted that the two hadn't gotten dressed all day, and were enjoying time in their pajamas with no make-up on while Marla cooked dinner. On her Insta Stories, she shared a peek at the food that she made for them to eat, including lots of vegetables, ribs, and a lima bean casserole 'which is a family tradition'. But she said that what Tiffany was most looking forward to was the pecan pie for dessert. 'Sharing Christmas magic with my girl!' she wrote. 'I could not be more grateful for the last few days sharing beautiful mom and daughter time in our favorite city #nyc' Vibes: Marla loved how the earrings she got Tiffany seemed to match the art Tiffany gave her Outta there! On December 26, she shared a video from a few days prior and said she was already missing her daughter 'I missed her so much that I almost couldn't believe that she was home!' Marla wrote. The two posed for even more photos together and exchanged gifts. Marla happily showed off the earrings she gave her daughter, which seemed to match the painting that Tiffany gave her. Finally, before actually sitting down for food, Marla shared one last bundled-up video of herself walking outside. 'I just wanted to say Merry Christmas one more time! Tiffi and I had the best, best Christmas just hanging out at home, being girls and now I'm walking off all the pecan pie I'm about to go home and eat.' On December 26, Marla took to her Stories once again to post another video of herself with Tiffany that had been recorded on the 22nd, in which her daughter makes kissy faces at the camera. 'Missing my girl already,' she wrote, indicating Tiffany left immediately after Christmas. In DC: Tiffany attended a Christmas party at the White House earlier this month, but it was her mom's year after she spent Christmas with her dad in 2017 Playing nice: Don Jr. shared a family snap with his kids and ex-wife Vanessa, though so far Ivanka has not posted any photos from the day Marla, who was raised Baptist in Georgia, also celebrates Jewish holidays, keeps Shabbat, eats kosher, and studies Kabbalah. Earlier this month, she celebrated Chanukah, posting a picture of her menorah lit up with candles. 'I am so very grateful for these 8 days of #Chanukah. What a gift! It is the perfect time to Believe in the Miraculous Me! A time to break away from limited logical beliefs,' she wrote, thanking her teacher 'for always sharing in a way that is so easy to access, even for this Southern always seeking #Christian girl.' Meanwhile, Tiffany's sister Ivanka who converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner has kept fairly quiet on social media, posting simple 'Merry Christmas! xx' on Twitter and nothing at all on Instagram. Don Jr. spent the holiday at Mar-a-Lago with his kids and ex-wife Vanessa. The single mother who took the now-famous photo of the 'fab four' on Christmas Day at Sandringham has done it again. Karen Anvil, 40, from Norfolk, shot to fame after capturing William, Kate, Harry and Meghan walking to church last year and claims to have raked in 40,000 from the snap. And she was back to her old tricks again this week, snapping the royal family walking to St Mary Magdalene Church - and even having a chin wag with the pregnant Duchess of Sussex, who hinted that she is 'nearly there'. In one frame Meghan, who is expecting her first child with Prince Harry next spring, can be seen smiling broadly as she chats to the waiting crowds. Meghan can be seen holding her baby bump as she speaks to wellwishers in Sandringham Not long now! Amateur photographer Karen Anvil enjoys a chin wag with the pregnant Duchess of Sussex, who hinted that she is 'nearly there', at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, on Christmas Day Single mother managed to recreate last year's 'fab four' photo with an oblivious Charles obscuring Harry and Meghan from view (pictured L-R: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at St. Mary Magdalene Church on 25 December) Money maker! The single mother who took this world-famous photo of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan at Sandringham last year revealed she has made 40,000 from the snap Recalling her brief conversation with the former actress this week, Karen said: 'I said congratulations on your baby and she said, "Thank you.'" 'I then asked her if she was excited and she said "Yes we are, we're nearly there" as she cradled her bump. 'I told her to enjoy every moment as being a mother is the best feeling. She smiled said thank you, and moved on.' She even managed to recreate last year's 'fab four' photo - albeit with an oblivious Prince of Wales obscuring Harry and Meghan from view. Royal fan: Karen Anvil, left, had been waiting in the crowd with daughter Rachel, right, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royals on their way into church on Christmas morning Ms Anvil also snapped images of newlyweds Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, left, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, right, at Sandringham on Christmas Day Ms Anvil was one of hundreds who braved the cold to get a glimpse of the royal family as they walked to church on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on 25 December last year. After screaming to attract attention, Ms Anvil, who had two jobs at the time, snapped a candid picture of the 'fab four' that was quickly distributed to publications around the world - and has subsequently helped her rake in 40,000. Over the last year, royalties have brought Ms Anvil a regular monthly income of between 600 and 6,000 - and she said she's earned enough money to clear her debts, take a year off work and 'do up' her council house. Describing the experience as 'like a lottery win', Ms Anvil, of Norfolk, told the BBC: 'The biggest change for me was that it was so nice to go shopping at Tesco and not be worried about whether I've got the cash in the bank.' Karen chatted to Meghan outside the church, pictured. Recalling her brief conversation with the former actress this week, Karen said: ' I said congratulations on your baby and she said, "Thank you'" Recalling her conversation with Meghan yesterday, Ms Anvil 'said: 'I asked her if she was excited and she said "Yes we are, we're nearly there" as she cradled her bump' One of the first purchases she made was a bed, having slept on a mattress on the floor for 18 months. Ms Anvil had been waiting outside the church with daughter Rachel in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royals on their way in. Photographers from around the world jostled for position to capture a photo of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with the then newly engaged Harry and Meghan - but it was Ms Anvil who trumped them all. By 'screaming like a fan girl', Ms Anvil was able to draw looks from both Kate, 36, and Harry, 34, who are both smiling staring straight at her lens in the shot. Meanwhile William, 36, and Meghan, 37, are striding ahead with broad smiles on their faces. Prime position: Ms Anvil, pictured third from left in a blue coat, waited with daughter Rachel, seen on her left, in the hope of seeing the royals. She snapped a photo as they walked past She uploaded the photo and by 5pm that day it had gone viral. It has since been sold to publications in countries around the world, with requests from Japan, the US, Canada, Spain and Italy all coming through. In a tweet earlier this year, Ms Anvil told how she had spoken to Prince Harry about the photo when she met the royal during a walkabout in Birmingham. She wrote: 'Got to speak to Meghan today! Also shook Prince Harry's hand and asked him if he liked the Xmas photo! He said he hoped I made lots of money from it! I'm absolutely buzzing!' The proud mother previously said some of the money will go towards her daughter's education. When you consider the astonishing amount of technology we have at our fingertips, its hard to imagine a more exciting time to be alive. Were hyper-connected, need never be bored and can deal with most everyday tasks via a few clicks on our mobile phones. Youd think wed be joyfully wallowing in this app-fuelled utopia, living easier and more fulfilling lives than ever before. And yet the opposite is true. Depression, anxiety and an insidious sense of not being good enough have become behemoths of the 21st century consciousness, while happiness has never felt further from our grasp. How can that be? Its a question Ive been asking myself, and various experts, for years now, having made no secret of my own intermittent struggles with mental ill health. Ive concluded that the answer lies in how weve forgotten to be the very thing that separates us from the technology that enthrals us: human. Being human means were predisposed to act, feel and think in very particular ways, many of which dont sit so well in the modern world. Ruby Wax (pictured) has written a new book in the hopes of helping our brains cope better with the digital world. She shared advice from How To Be Human: The Manual Our brains run on an operating system that is hundreds of thousands of years old theres no convenient upgrade to optimise our thoughts and feelings for the frenetic way we live today. So we feel permanently frazzled unable to fully switch off from work because the office follows us home, while social media images of everyone elses perfect lives make our own feel somehow lacking. Increasingly, were also lonely because our social interactions take place in cyberspace instead of face-to-face. And yet every time our phones ping with another text, email, or news alert our brains reward centres light up, so technology keeps us hooked. As a result we know were unhappy, but we cant pinpoint why. And so as New Years Eve rolls around again we resolve to make changes but not the right ones. We vow to do more of this, less of that, certain well become slimmer, fitter and more successful as a result. But who do you know whos ever managed to keep their New Years resolutions for more than a few weeks? Thats because theyre usually based on aiming for perfection. We forget were only human, and its just not in our nature to act like flawless, digitally optimised robots. Its just another way we try to ignore our nature. Personally, I dont ever make New Years resolutions because I dont want to end up letting myself down. But, this year, I am vowing to fight back against the pressures of modern life, to try to create an upgrade for my brain that really works. To do so, we must first understand who we really are, the ways our human body and brain prompt us to feel and act and why they can let us down when faced with modern technology. Ruby (pictured) believes evolution doesn't care about our happiness, she advises listening to the negative inner voice instead of trying to suppress it My latest book How To Be Human: The Manual shares my journey back to the origins of how our minds work. Along the way, I spoke to experts including Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten and neuroscientist Ash Ranpura to create a manual for how to help our primitive brains handle the digital world. So instead of trying to be inhumanly perfect in the year ahead, lets work harder to truly grasp what it means to be us. Im certain it will make us not only happier, but better, kinder and more understanding people. Heres my guide to how to be more human in 2019 . . . HEAR THAT NEGATIVE VOICE AND ANSWER IT How much time do you spend trying to ignore that nagging inner voice that tells you youre not good enough? How did Mother Nature come up with something so unpleasant? Its a hard, cold fact that evolution couldnt care less about your happiness its only concern is that you survive long enough to reproduce. We evolved to expect the worst as a means of survival, because it made our ancient ancestors run away when facing really sticky situations. Today, it manifests as the negative thoughts that fuel self-doubt. Im most likely to be floored by it when I meet someone clever like the time I sat next to TV physicist Brian Cox at a dinner. Hes brilliant and beautiful, just the type to press my Im not worthy button. Its a hard, cold fact that evolution couldnt care less about your happiness its only concern is that you survive long enough to reproduce There were a million things I could have asked him, but what was the best question I could pull from my panic-stricken mind? So, Brian, whats your favourite colour? The evening didnt end well. But Ive recognised and forgiven myself for how my human brain made a fool of me that night. Counterintuitive as this sounds, Ive learned its important to listen to the negative inner voice and let it wear itself out try to suppress it and itll only get louder. I love the saying: If you run away the monster chases you, but if you turn and face it then it runs away. Next time this happens to you, try imagining a devil whispering in your ear and take on the role of the angel sitting on your other shoulder. When that monster insists youre not good enough, argue back that you are and eventually youll break the bad habit of listening to that horrible voice. If humans walked around permanently whistling a happy tune, wed be extinct by now. But by understanding that were pre-programmed to be this way, we can learn to control our primitive brains rather than the other way around. Ruby (pictured) suggests making your tribe smaller by focusing on spending time with people who don't make you feel that you have to constantly present your 'best self' REDUCE THE SIZE OF YOUR TRIBE Human beings started out in small tribes, which, as they expanded, required a hierarchy to keep everyone in line. Thats when we started ranking each other and competition became important if you slacked off, then you felt the disapproval of your peers and that made you experience this thing called shame at being ranked lower than everyone else. It felt so bad that youd up your game to make it go away. These days, thanks to social media, we find ourselves competing with the biggest tribe there is the whole world. Thats a game we just cant win. Even supermodels and self-made billionaires can feel insecure, knowing that there is always someone more beautiful or richer. Much of the shame that blights our modern lives comes from comparing ourselves to thousands of other humans, all hell-bent on presenting a heavily edited version of their best selves online. No wonder were plagued by record levels of low self-esteem. What is the most common New Year's resolution? The most common New Years resolutions are exercising more (38 per cent), losing weight (33 per cent) and eating healthily (32 per cent) Advertisement So, how do you satisfy that evolutionary urge to be counted in a way that isnt soul-destroying? For me, not going on Facebook to see what Im lacking has helped. Ive also looked at ways to play to my strengths in the real world, and discovered Im great at kayaking my friends are puzzled, but its now my own little area of expertise so I dont care what they think. Theres bound to be something unusual that fires you up, too. Meanwhile, try making your own tribe smaller by spending more time with people you dont feel you have to constantly present your best self to. People wholl have a kind word when you say lifes not great at the moment, and wont be scared to admit I feel that way, too. This can be in the real world, or online, so long as you stop chasing likes and instead connect with the like-minded. Ive found online groups that bring together people with a common interest really can become a source of support. STOP BINGEING ON STUFF Addiction is just another element of the human condition. Throughout history, theres always been something to be addicted to, but usually in the form of substances such as alcohol or drugs. Now were hooked on eating, shopping and staring at the screens on our mobile phones. Early humans had to hunt and forage for what they needed to survive. Today, with one click of the finger, you can satisfy your every human need. Ruby (pictured) says in order to stop bingeing it's important to recognise that our modern desire for 'stuff' is related to our primitive brains focus on having enough to get by As humans we know how to deal with scarcity, but our primitive brains struggle to compute this abundance and so we consume to excess, convinced that itll all run out by tomorrow. Thats why more people are dying of obesity than they are of starvation. Its why I own a thousand cushions that I dont particularly like or need. Clever companies make this problem worse by monitoring what we look at online, then flashing up ads for items well want on our computer screens, until we buckle and buy. Whenever Im tempted, I try to picture the person behind the advert Im looking at dipping directly into my bank account. The human mind cant cope with what 21st-century living expects of us. Its not just our homes that need de-cluttering . . . its our brains, too The marketers tell us buy our product and youll instantly be happy and so we do, but then find were still not. So we buy it all again, only this time in a different colour, while our brain insists get the accessories, too, because tomorrow all this could be gone. The simple answer is to consume only what we need. And thats easier if you recognise that our modern desire for stuff is no more than a manifestation of our primitive brains obsession with always having enough to get by, egged on by advertising. If you do want to lose some weight, cut back on booze or curb your screen time in the coming year, remind yourself you dont need to binge today these things we over-consume will still be here tomorrow. Eventually, your brain will catch on to that idea, too. CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY In order not to be ruled by negative emotions, we need to consciously upgrade our minds in the same way we do our technology. The old us didnt need much in the way of emotional intelligence, because our survival largely depended on us acting quickly on our instincts. Today, those same instincts are often what stop us being calm, confident and kinder to ourselves and each other. A while ago, browsing in Selfridges, I was suddenly caught in a full-blown panic attack and had to rush outside and hyperventilate into a bag. Ruby (pictured) advises visualizing the reaction of the person we're speaking to online in person before reacting with anger This seemed to come from nowhere, but I knew that somewhere deep inside my all-too human brain was trying to tell me something. Id been trying on spotted leggings when it happened, and suddenly remembered as a child being bitten by a dalmatian, which had been terrifying. Once Id figured out the connections my brain had subconsciously made to go into panic mode at the sight of anything that might just be that snappy dog I went back into the shop and bought those leggings. I repackaged fear and turned it into understanding. Try thinking of it like this: negative feelings are just thoughts, and thoughts are just brain activity, which you can choose not to automatically trust and act on. The next time you suddenly feel angry, frightened, panicked or upset, remind yourself that this negativity is just a message from your primitive brain thats probably rooted in your past. See if you can find a reason for it. Emotional intelligence is about thinking through your feelings, rather than accepting them with blind trust. PEOPLE ONLINE ARE REAL, TOO Humans are impulsive creatures, but weve learned that when someone makes us angry its better to control our primitive brain, take a deep breath and press pause. Otherwise, wed all go around thumping each other and flinging insults. Studies show that communicating face-to-face encourages us to think actions through and bulks up our empathy. But in cyberspace its a whole other story the person were mad at isnt in front of us, so if we hurt them we wont see it. If our attention is forever scattered across the internet, then were not really being human at all Ive done it myself, sending a hurtful email that Ive written quickly and in anger only to instantly regret it. It takes a lot of practice to stop yourself snapping like that Im still a work in progress. As are we all after all, the internets a very new technology. In evolutionary terms, our cyber-social skills are about as developed as amoeba. But we can try harder to get better at this. Before you send that angry email, imagine the person reading it and the pain its going to cause and stop yourself. TIME TO DE-CLUTTER YOUR BRAIN De-cluttering has become a modern zeitgeist, but its not just our homes that can benefit our brains get unhealthily cluttered, too. The human mind simply doesnt have the bandwidth to cope with what the 21st century expects us to do with it. Round-the-clock news alerts us to horrors all over the world; we communicate with virtual families, sometimes more than our real-life ones; were so intrigued by other peoples social media feeds we stop noticing the things happening under our noses. I wake up each morning worrying about everything: refugees, global warming, the fish in our seas, and the people that I love. Of course, our ancient ancestors had worries, too about avoiding predators and where their next meal was coming from. Ruby (pictured) believes if you focus on being more human this new Year, you'll feel happier But these were all clear and immediate problems, while our 21st-century emotional problems have no obvious solutions, and no end in sight. To combat this overload, I practice mindfulness to ensure my brain isnt permanently on frazzle mode. It involves allowing those terrifying thoughts to come, but rather than letting them eat away at you, you simply observe them objectively. Do it in the same way you might watch clouds passing in the sky, while focusing on your breathing. This doesnt make anxious thoughts disappear, but they do get quieter. We must accept that our fearful mindset isnt going to change, because as human beings our dials are pre-set permanently on high alert. But we can start picking our battles. Instead of worrying about every cause, pick one and nail your flag to it whether thats the environment, social injustice or anything else, do what you can to help. Above all, focus on the people you care about who are right in front of you, and do all you can to connect with them in meaningful ways. If our attention is forever scattered across the internet, then were not really being human at all. And in that case computers might as well start turning us into snow globes that they can give each other for Christmas. So, before that happens, lets learn how to be nicer to ourselves and more forgiving of our human nature. Make being more human the only promise you make to yourself this New Years Eve and Im certain youll feel much happier as I now do as a result. How To Be Human: The Manual by Ruby Wax is published in paperback on January 3, 2019 (8.99, Penguin Life). The first lady has rarely missed an opportunity to wear an on-theme outfit to an engagement, and this week she stayed on course. Melania Trump, 48, accompanied her husband on a trip to Iraq on Wednesday, where the pair met with soldiers and posed for smiling selfies as they wished gathered service members a Merry Christmas. While the soldiers they posed with wore fatigues, Melania still looked like she fit right in, dressed in a saffron-colored military-style jacket not so dissimilar from the Army's dress uniforms. Surprise! Melania Trump accompanied her husband on an unexpected trip to Iraq on Wednesday She appeared to be dressed casually but took up a military theme for her look Dressed up: She wore a $995 Victoria Beckham jacket for the occasion Doesn't miss a beat: The 48-year-old's outfit was certainly on theme for the military event Happy: She seemed to be in good spirits as she talked with members of the military and wished them a Merry Christmas Not used to it? Though she wore a pair of flat hiking boots, she seemed unaccustomed to being out of heels and stood on her toes for a picture Melania appeared to be in great spirits for the meet-and-greet, and stood beside her grinning husband as they took selfies with a handful of service members. She wore her hair down around her shoulders, a pink lip, and plenty of bronzer and eye makeup for the event. Melania clearly chose her outfit carefully for the occasion, dressing up plain black pants with the sunny military coat, a $995 Victoria Victoria Beckham find. Instead of heels, she favored a pair of flat, practical Timberland hiking boots but seemed a tad unaccustomed to holding her feet in that position, and stood up on her tip-toes in the shoes for some pictures. She shook hands with service members while her husband wore his own military look Mwah! The two also shared a quick air kiss on stage in front of the crowd A first: This was the couple's first trip to a war zone in Trump's two years in the White House Thought right: There had been some speculation that Trump wasn't actually at the White House The first lady looked stoic as she sat next to her husband during a meeting with military leaders This isn't the first time that Melania has looked to uniforms for inspiration for visits with the troops. In September of 2017, she joined her husband as he addressed members of the military to Joint Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. There, she wore a $595 army-green military-style Veronica Beard camp jacket with khaki-colored trousers. And in April of last year, she turned to the style for a non-military matter, wearing a $4,100 military-inspired suit by Altuzarra to meet with Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada. Rallying the troops: She even spoke at a hanger rally at Al Asad Air Base Listening: Her husband defended his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria Flashback: Melania is no stranger to military-inspired fashion choices Tough: She wore a $4,100 military-inspired suit by Altuzarra to meet with Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada in April of 2017 The style: She also wore a $595 army-green military-style Veronica Beard camp jacket with khaki-colored trousers in September of 2017 On Wednesday, though, the first couple's secret trip took many by surprise, coming amid speculation that President Trump was not at the White House because he had not tweeted for hours and the Marine that stands guard when he's in the Oval Office was not outside the West Wing. President Trump had said he would visit Afghanistan soon chose Iraq for his very first visit to a war zone in his two years of presidency. In a statement posted on Twitter, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed the visit in a tweet shortly after Reuters shared the photos of the two in Iraq. 'President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas,' she said. Lyla Stensrud was born weighing less than one pound at just 21 weeks (pictured with her mom Courtney at six weeks and two days old) The mother of the world's most premature baby every to survive is speaking out about how she had to beg doctors to revive her little girl - who has grown up to be a happy, healthy four-year-old. Baby Lyla Stensrud weighed less than one pound when she was born at 21 weeks in July 2014. Many hospitals do not recommend resuscitating babies born before 22 weeks because they have such a low rate of survival. So when her mother Courtney, who was in hospital for observation, went into early labor, her pediatrician advised her not to resuscitate. But Courtney fought for her daughter and Lyla was resuscitated and survived - becoming the earliest, smallest preemie baby survivor. Her mom knew she was a fighter from the beginning. Courtney said she had been feeling 'off' when she was 21 weeks and four days into her pregnancy and went to the bathroom. She reached down and tiny Lyla grabbed her finger. The baby gave a whimper, but she wasn't breathing. After she was born, Lyla continued to wow doctors and four years later, she appears to be a happy, typical kid. Now Courtney has finally spoken about giving birth to the youngest surviving preemie, and has shared photographs of her smiling daughter for the first time. She added that while she is a 'typical toddler' who loves playing and interacts well with other children, she does have a speech delay seemingly the only remaining sign of Lylas life-threateningly premature birth. Now four years old, Lyla (pictured), is thriving, her speech delay the only indication of her life-threatening premature birth Premature births in the US have risen for the third consecutive year after nearly a decade of decline between 2007 and 2014, according to a November report from March of Dimes, an American non-profit working to improve the health of moms and babies. Almost one out of every 10 infants in the US is born prematurely. A birth is premature if the baby arrives at least three weeks early - or prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies - or 'preemies' - suffer a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding problems and are more susceptible to contracting infections. There are multiple things that can raise the risk of a woman having a preemie including: a previous premature birth, pregnancy with twins or triplets, an interval of less than six months between pregnancies, obesity and hypertension. Courtney, 36, who lives in San Antonio, had none of the known risk factors. Something didn't feel right, so I reach down and [the baby] grabbed my finger - Courtney Stensrud, on the moment she gave birth at 21 weeks Courtneys previous pregnancy with her son Hayden, now five, had gone so smoothly that her second pregnancy was not considered high-risk until her 20-week ultrasound when her OBGYN examined her and discovered that her cervix was two-and-a-half centimeters dilated, something that doesn't occur until the ninth month of pregnancy. She was sent to Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio for a couple of nights of observation and bed rest, but was eventually sent home. 'I was 20-and-a-half weeks pregnant and I woke up to a pool of blood,' she said. 'I rushed back to the ER and because I was over 20 weeks, they sent me to triage. If I was under, they would have just admitted me to the ER and my daughter would not be alive today.' Courtney said that for the next week-and-a-half she felt so weak she couldn't get up. It was when she was 21 weeks and four days pregnant when she was going to the bathroom that she started feeling off. When Lyla was born in July 2014, she weighed 14.4 ounces and measured 10 inches long. She is believed to be the earliest, smallest preemie baby survivor Now four years old, Lyla (pictured) is believed to be the earliest surviving premature baby ever PREMATURE BIRTH CAN CAUSE LIFELONG PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS Almost one out of every 10 infants in the US is born prematurely. A birth is premature if the baby arrives at least three weeks early - or prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies or 'preemies' are often underweight and small. They suffer a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding problems and are more susceptible to contracting infections. Sometimes, preemies continue to have delayed physical growth and development. Early birth has 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 prematurely 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 'Something didn't feel right, so I reach down and [the baby] grabbed my finger,' she said. 'Luckily my OBGYN was on call that night so they rushed me into delivery and within 10 minutes, she was born.' Baby Lyla was born in July 2014 weighing 410 grams or 14.4 ounces just two ounces more than a standard 12-ounce soda can. She measured 10 inches long, about the length of an envelope. Courtney said her daughter gave a faint cry when she was born, but she wasn't breathing. Currently, many obstetric and pediatric societies recommend that babies born prior to 22 weeks of pregnancy are not evaluated for viability or have resuscitation attempted on them. So when Dr Kaashif Ahmad, a MEDNAX-affiliated neonatologist at the hospital, entered the delivery room, he initially counseled against resuscitating Lyla. 'I was holding her all the while with the umbilical cord still attached and I just asked him to try,' she said. 'They took her to the warming tray and she went from blue to pink. Then they took her to the NICU and put in a breathing tube and got all her lines in.' A 2015 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that survival rates of preemies have increased between five and nine percent in the last three decades due to improvements in neonatal care. Infants born between 22 and 23 weeks' gestation have about a 75 percent chance of survival without severe impairment. However, babies born at 22 weeks have about a 23 percent survived, and two-thirds of survivors did not have severe neurodevelopmental impairment, the report says. Dr Ahmad points out in the case report that more research needs to be done on the survivability of babies born before 22 weeks. 'Those who aren't familiar with preterm babies might think that most or all would do very well based on this one case,' he told DailyMail.com 'Babies who are born at 22 week who are little more mature from an age standpoint and bigger from a weight standpoint do better. 'If we start to resuscitate every baby born at 21 weeks, they would likely not have as good outcomes at babies born in 22 weeks.' Courtney was in the hospital for observation when, while going to the bathroom, she reached down 'and [the baby] grabbed my finger'. Pictured: Lyla at four weeks old Many obstetric and pediatric societies recommend babies born prior to 22 weeks are not evaluated for viability or have resuscitation attempted on them. But Courtney begged doctors to revive her. Pictured: Courtney with Lyla at six weeks and two days old Lyla spent 126 days in the NICU at Methodist Children's Hospital before her parents, Courtney and Paul, could take her home. Pictured: Courtney with Lyla at home 'We reported this case because after this resuscitation she did well, but it may be possible that this is just an extraordinary case and that we shouldn't expect the same from other babies. We have to learn more before we can make any conclusions.' Lyla was on mechanical ventilation for 56 days, Doctors tried to extubate her twice and failed. But they succeeded on the third time and she 'graduated to a nasal cannula. Courtney says that although her daughter needed prolonged care while in the NICU, there were three main health issues Lyla faced: chronic lung disease, she was on IV fluids until she could start milk feedings and early-stage retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). ROP is an eye disease affecting premature babies who have received intensive neonatal care, particularly oxygen therapy due to the premature development of their lungs. It is believed to be caused by disorganized growth of retinal blood vessels, which can result in scarring and retinal detachment. ROP can be mild but can also lead to blindness in serious cases, as occurred with Stevie Wonder. At three months old, Lyla was given shots of Avastin, a cancer drug that has been shown in clinical trials to regress the disease. Courtney said she made the 25-minute drive every day to the hospital to visit her daughter in the NICU. 'I didn't skip a day. I was there morning to night every single day,' she said. Her husband, Paul, visited every day for the first two weeks but then he had to return to work, after which he visited every night. Finally, after 126 days, weighing five pounds and eight ounces, Courtney and Paul were able to take their daughter home. 'It was difficult because you have doctors and hospital appointments and she came home on oxygen so you have that was cumbersome,' she said. 'We had at least one doctor's appointment a week for the first years and that's difficult as far as scheduling feeding times and nap times around that.' However, Lyla was never readmitted to the hospital and Country says they knocked off the number of specialists she needed to visit one by one. By age two, despite being smaller than other children her age, she received score on Bayley III tests that were equivalent to those of a 20-month-old, the report says Lyla (left and right) suffered from a few health problems due to her early birth: chronic lung disease, she was on IV fluids until she could start milk feedings and early-stage retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an eye disease. She was on mechanical ventilation for 56 days and, once extubated, she was given a nasal cannula When Courtney and Paul brought Lyla (pictured) home, she was still on oxygen and had doctor's appointments once a week for a year The Bayley III tests are a standard series of measurements that analyze cognitive, motor, and language for children up to three years old. 'It was encouraging to see at that age,' said Dr Ahmad. 'The ultrasounds at the hospital before she went home did not show injury to brain. More than anything else, the Bayley tests confirmed what we were hoping to find.' The report notes that Lyla has not developed any auditory or visual impairments or cerebral palsy, which preemies are at especially high risk of. Courtney says her daughter's growth has been steady and that her social development has improved. Lyla (pictured, six months old) has not developed any auditory or visual impairments or cerebral palsy, which preemies are at especially high risk of 'She's a typical toddler who loves climbing on her brother, playing one-on-one, by herself or in a group and she interacts well with the other kids,' she said, However, Lyla does have a speech delay. 'She's not really wanting to say her full ABCs or count to 10, sometimes she'll skip a few letters,' Courtney said. 'This is really different from my son who knew his ABCs at 17 months old. So she'll struggle with school because of prematurity.' Dr Noelle Younge, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Duke University in North Carolina, said cognitive delays and language delays are very common among pre-term babies due to injuries to the brain. 'When these babies are born, their organs are immature and vulnerable to injury,' she told DailyMail.com. 'In general, they're more susceptible to have injury to their brain tissue and that can have long-term impact. She says some of the complications can include brain bleeding or an infection. 'Sometimes it is just a mild delay just related to being very sick early on in infancy. Many times they will catch up their peers. Other times, it can be more insistent and can affect performance in school.' Courtney has started a blog called Hope, Faith and Rockstars to share her story and in hopes of reaching other families of premature children. 'I just want parents to know that with early medical intervention, survival and good quality of life is possible,' Courtney said. 'By hearing and seeing my story Lyla's story know it can happen.' An apparently innocent image of a tradesman's tools left lying inside a steel tank hides a grim statistic - and the tragic story of a young man who lost his life on the job. Apprentice boilermaker Dillon Wu, 20, died at a factory in Cranbourne West, south-east Melbourne, on October 4 after being overcome by poisonous argon gas. Mr Wu - who lost his life while working unsupervised in just the second week of his apprenticeship - is one of several young tradesmen killed by toxic fumes at work in the last eight years. Dillon Wu was grinding welds unsupervised from 9.30am in an open-ended tank in a factory on October 4 when he was overcome by fumes (Mr Wu's tools pictured inside the tank) Boilermaker apprentice Dillon Wu (pictured) died after being overcome with toxic fumes in what has been called a disgraceful case of employer negligence Ms Espinoza-Farfan, an old school friend of Dillon's, got a tattoo with Dillon's name in Chinese 'Wu Xilei' as a way to honour his memory Safe Work Australia revealed to Daily Mail Australia that between the years 2010 and 2017, four workers nationwide died from toxic fumes while at work. According to the watchdog organisation, two were due to the inhalation of the industrial gases or fumes. The remaining two were due to vehicle explosions caused by leaking industrial gases. Dillon Wu's death adds to this number and brought the number of workplace deaths in Victoria to 22 for the year 2018. The incident has led to renewed calls to make industrial manslaughter a criminal offense and has been called a disgraceful case of employer negligence. Dillon was working as an apprentice boilermaker for the company Marshall Lethlean, which manufactures tankers for trucks. The job involves welding plates and tubes to form steel fabrications. Mr Wu was grinding welds unsupervised in an open-ended tank in the factory on October 4, when poisonous argon gas leaked into the confined space from a line attached to the welding unit. He began the job at 9.30am but was dead by 10am. Mr Wu was employed by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) under a much sought-after apprenticeship program. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) condemned the incident, saying: 'The system failed Dillon at almost every step.' Poisonous argon gas leaked into the confined space from a line (pictured) attached to the welding unit Mr Wu was using According to the AMWU, Dillon's employers did not have sufficient safety measures in place at the factory he perished in (pictured) The union said Mr Wu's employers did not have sufficient safety measures in place at the factory, including a lack of ventilation, no supervision and no air test prior to Mr Wu starting work. The AMWU claimed Mr Wu was also not provided with a gas monitor to carry with him while he worked. The union believes the death shows the need for industrial manslaughter legislation. They have set up a petition calling on the Victorian Government to introduce legislation to criminalise workplace deaths. Industrial manslaughter legislation is currently only in place in Queensland and the ACT. The Queensland Parliament passed the 'Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017' on October 26, 2017. According to the AMWU, Dillon's employers did not have sufficient safety measures in place, including a lack of ventilation, no supervision and no air test prior to starting work (pictured: space where Dillon was working) The Union claim Dillon was also not provided with a gas monitor to carry with him while he worked (pictured: factory where Dillon was working) The new law means that an employer or senior officer can face criminal charges when an employee dies in their workplace. Bills to make industrial manslaughter a criminal offence have not been passed in a number of other states, including Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, meaning workplace deaths are often settled through financial compensation to the deceased's family. The AMWU said workplace fatalities are always preventable. 'We have these rules and regulations for a reason and it's just shameful what has happened here,' AMWU Victorian secretary Tony Mavromatis said. 'The AIG and Marshall Lethlean need to be held to account. 'We will be watching the outcomes of the investigation closely.' WorkSafe Victoria confirmed they are investigating the incident and are unable to comment on Mr Wu's case specifically while the investigation is ongoing. However, a spokesperson from WorkSafe Victoria told Daily Mail Australia: 'So far this year 22 people have died as a result of workplace incidents in Victoria. 'While this is two less than at this time last year, no one should ever die or be injured at work. 'WorkSafe will continue to work with employers, workers and the community to make safety the number one priority in every Victorian workplace.' The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) have condemned the incident, stating: 'The system failed Dillon at almost every step' (pictured: factory where Dillon was working) Mr Wu's close friend from his school days, Claudia Espinoza-Farfan, 19, hopes his family get the justice they are still desperately searching for. She recounted how she had received a phone call from Dillon the week before he died, asking to meet for a catch-up and telling her he was 'excited' to be starting his new apprenticeship. Ms Espinoza-Farfan was proud of her friend, who attended Dandenong High School in Melbourne with her until he dropped out in Year 11. 'He didn't know what he was doing with his life, so when he was offered this apprenticeship we thought it was a great opportunity for him,' she explained. Ms Espinoza-Farfan couldn't believe it when she received the life-changing phone call to tell her that her fun-loving friend had died while working on the apprenticeship he had been so excited about just a week before. 'I thought it was a joke,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was only when WorkSafe issued a statement on it that it hit me and I knew then it was real. 'It should never have happened.' Even though he was slightly older than her, Ms Espinoza-Farfan said Mr Wu had been like a little brother. She struggled to hold back tears as she described her friend as a bubbly person who had always filled a room with laughter. 'He helped me a lot when it came to boys and stuff,' she said. 'I really do miss him.' Ms Espinoza-Farfan got a tattoo with her friend's name on it in Chinese, 'Wu Xilei', as a special way to honour his memory. She, along with Dillon's distraught family and friends, are still searching for answers and want his employers to be brought to justice. According to Ms Espinoza-Farfan, there is not enough money in the world to compensate Dillon Wu's devastated family for the loss of their son. 'People go to jail for way less,' she said. 'There is no price for a life.' Daily Mail Australia contacted the Ai Group and Marshall Lethlean for comment. Ahsanullah Nawazai, 20, was found collapsed from stab wounds in London Colney, Hertfordshire, on Wednesday night. He later died in hospital and a 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder A woman and a man were charged with murder today after a man was stabbed to death. Ahsanullah Nawazai, 20, had travelled to London Colney, Hertfordshire, from his home in Walthamstow, London, on November 28 before he was knifed repeatedly. He was left barefoot and was found by a member of the public at around 7.15pm on Walsingham Way before being rushed to hospital. Despite the desperate attempts of paramedics, he later passed away. Last night police said they had arrested a 30-year-old woman, who is believed to lived near the scene, on suspicion of murder. Carla Callum, aged 30 years, from Walsingham Way in London Colney, Herts., and Anis Anderson, aged 20 years, from Fordwych Road, Cricklewood, London, were charged with murder. The pair were remanded in custody and were due to appear before magistrates in court. Yesterday a spokesman for the Hertfordshire Constabulary combined Major Crime Team confirmed that a woman was in custody, suspected of murdering Ahsanullah. The spokesman said: 'A 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man in London Colney. The woman, who is from London Colney, is currently in police custody. Mr Nawazai was found seriously injured in Walsingham Way, London Colney on Wednesday. Paramedics rushed to the scene, but despite their desperate attempts he later died in hospital 'The arrest follows the death of 20-year-old Ahsanullah Nawazai, who was found seriously injured in Walsingham Way at 7.15pm on November 28. 'He had suffered a number of stab wounds and was taken to hospital, where he later passed away. Any witnesses or anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police should call the non-emergency number 101. 'Ahsanullah was found collapsed with a number of stab wounds in Walsingham Way by a member of the public at around 7.15pm on Wednesday. 'His family has asked us to release the following words describing Ahsanullah: 'He was a happy person, a lovely kid and much-loved member of the family. He always had a smile on his face'. Neighbours have spoken of their shock following the incident in their usually quiet neighbourhood. One said: 'It is the last thing you expect, really unbelievable' 'Detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit are continuing their investigation in order to establish the circumstances around Ahsanullah's death.' Neighbours said that the stabbing victim was aged 20 years and was found without any shoes on his feet. One neighbour, who wished to remain unnamed, said that the victim was found lying in the middle of the road and without footwear. Others local residents in the group of terraced houses, which back onto acres of fields, spoke of their shock at the murder which unfolded just yards from their front doors. Police were seen in Walsingham Way, London Colney the morning after the stabbing on Wednesday, November 28. A cordon was set up while investigation work was carried out One said: 'Police came around and said a young man in his 20s was found with injuries and unfortunately he succumbed to his injuries. My son said he heard they think the victim came from London. 'It is normally so quiet around here - it is the last thing you expect, really unbelievable.' The family of Mr Nawazai released a tribute earlier this week, saying: 'He was a happy person, a lovely kid and much-loved member of the family. He always had a smile on his face.' Anyone who has information which could help the police investigation is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference number 41/60757/18. You can also report information online on the Hertfordshire Constabulary website, or anonymously through Crimestoppers. Advertisement Britain's worst pickpocketing hotspots have been revealed, after new data from across the country shows how police are struggling to cope with the latest crimewave. London is the worst area in the country as the Metropolitan Police recorded 195,368 theft from the person crimes (TFPs) between January 2013 and December last year. That amounts to 223 crimes for every 10,000 people living in the capital - more than five times the national average of 45 per 10,000. Lincolnshire Police was ranked second worst as it recorded 10,440 TFPs over the same period, amounting to 140 for every 10,000. The information was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act to more than 40 police forces across Britain, to help pinpoint where people are most likely to fall victim to thieves. Greater Manchester Police recorded 105 crimes per 10,000, followed by West Yorkshire with 91 and Thames Valley Police with 71. The lowest number of pickpockets was recorded by Dyfed-Powys Police, which patrols Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, as just seven for every 10,000 residents were recorded. Second safest was North Wales Police and Surrey, who were tied on just 16 TFP per 10,000 people. MailOnline has complied a table which lists all the police forces which provided information about THP crimes. You will be able to check the police force area you live in and cross reference it with population data to see how likely you are to the victim of pick-pocketing. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'The figures need to be taken in context with the exceptionally high number of tourists who visit the capital. The tourist figures are not included but will drastically reduce the amount of thefts per person in London. 'Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams employ many tactics to deter pickpocket and theft offences, and work alongside businesses, partners and the Local Authority's. In some specific Business Improvement Districts, 'Officers monitor shop link radios, share intelligence, deliver crime prevention advice and utilise both plain clothes and high visibility patrols. In areas of high footfall, we have made excellent use of Behavioural Detection Officers. These Officers are specifically trained to detect persons engaging in criminal activity. 'We also make use of Dot Matrix signage, and CCTV vans when appropriate, and encourage Officers to make direct interventions when they see open bags or easy access to property. Schools Officers across the BCU's advise pupils about personal safety and keeping belongings safe.' Chief Superintendent Peter Roderick, from Dyfed-Powys said: 'Our force area is made up of close knit communities and we pride ourselves on having a good relationship with the public we serve. The four counties served by Dyfed-Powys Police are amongst the safest nationally and we continue to work hard to ensure that it remains a safe place to live, work and visit. 'I would encourage anyone who is a victim of crime across our area to contact us and ensure that their experience is recorded, investigated and most importantly, that they are given the support they may need and deserve.' The Metropolitan Police have been clamping down on pickpockets in hot-spot areas like Oxford Circus and on the London Underground. The worst areas in the UK are in red, while those in green are among some of the safest in the UK when it comes to pickpocketing The three women - two with their faces blurred and one in a white shirt with a black bag, are seen on camera approaching their victim from behind before the attempted theft But Met Police officer Sergeant Steve Stamp catches them in the act, and arrests them Dramatic body-cam footage released by the force shows the moment an undercover police officer swoops on a gang of pickpockets as they try to swipe a purse on Oxford Street. The three Bulgarian women surround their victim as they attempt to dip their hands into a handbag in London's famous shopping district. The attempted theft came just minutes after they failed to rob a tourist as she walked along the street. Sergeant Stamp, who patrols the area and targeting shoplifters and pickpockets, added: 'They have gone for that first lady there, tried to take something from her. 'She spotted them so they're on it. They then move from her, they follow this lady here, straight away they are working up close. 'She's gone for the purse, tried to open it up before she has turned around and realised. Then she's clocked us, so we have had to go in for the kill. Three criminals taken off the streets. Job done.' In October, MailOnline revealed shameless begging gangs are making children as young as three hug strangers in the street until they hand over cash. Shocking footage shows the youngsters targeting wealthy shoppers along Oxford Street. They hone in on well-dressed members of the public and fling their arms around the waists of their startled victim in the hope they will be given money to go away. Any cash given to them is immediately handed over to an adult guardian. These modern day Fagin-style gangs operate a half a mile stretch of Oxford Street between Marble Arch and Bond Street tube station entrances, focusing on the world-famous Selfridges department store. Each child is accompanied by two or three adult women who walk slowly behind, watching for police, security guards and other potential targets. Often they approach the person who is being cuddled and gesture for them to be given money to feed the child. Some victims are so desperate to be let free they give the children 50 notes just to get rid of them. The gangs, who arrive into central London early in the morning apparently from Ilford in Essex, can make as much as 100,000 a year begging, police say. Watching the begging gang as they approach Selfridges, one of the department store's doormen, who asked not to be named, said: 'They are around here every day and they are now so brazen. 'We've nicknamed them 'hugger muggers' because they come out of nowhere, start hugging someone and won't let go until they hand over some cash. James Brown, director of gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble comments: 'While it is not exactly a surprise to see the sprawling metropolises of London and Manchester topping this list, it is interesting to see Lincolnshire being ranked so high.' 'For the force to have recorded so many of these thefts, but have such a comparatively low population, suggests there are pickpockets aplenty operating in Lincolnshire. 'Residents in this force area should take extra care when walking around with valuable, uninsured belongings, especially phones, tablets, laptops and jewellery.' A newly uncovered photo of sex trafficking victim Corinna Slusser shows the formerly blond, blue-eyed girl looking dramatically thinner with darker hair and eyes. Corinna is pictured alongside the pimp accused of trafficking her in the Instagram photo posted last October, over a year after she disappeared from New York City. Corinnas mother Sabina Tuorto told DailyMail.com that she nearly fell over when she saw how different her daughter looked from her former self. A newly uncovered photo of sex trafficking victim Corinna Slusser (left) shows the formerly blond, blue-eyed girl looking dramatically thinner with darker hair and eyes Corinna, who has been missing since September 2017, was active on social media until her disappearance, posting photos showing her with blue eyes, blond hair and flawless makeup Speaking from her home in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Sabina said she fears that Corinna may have been forced into changing her appearance, and that even family members did not recognize her when they saw the photo. But Im her mother, I know my daughter. I know thats my Corinna, she said. Sabina added: It looks like they have dressed her down and made her look different. I dont believe that she would have chosen to look like that. She was always so into her hair and makeup. This just doesnt look like her. Former cheerleader Corinna was just 19 years old when she vanished from New York City in September 2017. Investigators believe that she is the victim of sex trafficking, and last month they arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the offence. The FBI have charged Ishi Woney, who appears to be the man in the photo with Corinna, with trafficking her and a second woman, referred to in court documents as Victim 1. Corinna's mother fears that her daughter looks so different from the girl in the missing posters and on social media (pictured) that people may fail to recognize her Corinna with her mother in 2015. Sabina Tuorto told DailyMail.com that she nearly fell over when she saw how different her daughter looked from her former self Former cheerleader Corinna was just 19 years old when she vanished from New York City in September 2017. Investigators believe that she is the victim of sex trafficking According to the complaint against Woney, he had been using both Corinna and the second female victim in online advertisements promoting prostitution. Investigators say that Woney posted an online advertisement offering a 'two girl special along with a photo of Corinna and the other female victim. Sabina is now convinced that her daughter is being held against her will. I know that if she was capable she would have called me,' she said. Shes being controlled. I dont know what theyve done to her, whether shes on drugs or mentally unstable or whatever. But I know shes not herself. Sabina added that she cant help but feel disheartened at the sheer number of missing girls in New York and across the country. Shes just one more drugged up lost soul,' she said. 'She's a clever girl, but she's from a small town. She doesn't have the street knowledge to survive out there.' Ishi Woney, 23, was arrested last month charged with trafficking Corinna and a second woman According to the complaint against Woney, he had been using Corinna and the second victim in online advertisements promoting prostitution. If convicted he could face life in prison Sabina said she fears that Corinnas altered appearance could mean that it will be harder for people to identify her daughter, since the girl on the missing posters looks so different. You could probably walk past her on the subway and not know its her, Sabina said. Thats the scary thing. The teenager was active on social media right up until her disappearance, regularly posting photos showing off her bright blue eyes, long blond hair and flawless makeup. Corinna was last seen in the early morning hours of September 20 at the Haven Motel on Woodhaven Boulevard in the Rego Park section of Queens. She had moved to New York City just weeks earlier, and it is thought that she had been staying at a seedy motel in the Bronx that is known for prostitution. Corinna's mother is convinced that her daughter is being held against her will, as she is certain she would have made contact with her family if she were able Her family believe that she had been groomed by pimps while living in her small hometown of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and had been lured to New York to become a prostitute. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Sabina described Corinna as a happy child growing up and said she had been close to her daughter until just shortly before her disappearance. If it could happen to Corinna it could happen to anyone, she said. We live in a small, safe town. You just dont expect this sort of thing to happen here. Mother-of-two Sabina described how she raised Corinna and her brother Justin, who is now a married father serving in the marines, by herself but she made sure they never wanted for anything. She said: I was a single mother but my kids were happy. Corinna was a cheerleader, she ran track. She had lots of friends and was always doing their hair and makeup. Even if she wasnt going out herself, shed help them get ready. Sabina said that Corinna, who would now be 20, had hoped to make a career in makeup, but that she started to grow distant from her family in the year before her disappearance. She says she now realizes that Corinna, was speaking to bad people on social media, who she believes later lured her to New York. Corinna had hoped to make a career in makeup, but she started to grow distant from family in the year before her disappearance, and in August 2017 she left her home to move to New York Corinna's family believe she had been groomed by pimps while living in her small hometown of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and had been lured to New York to become a prostitute Everything went downhill so quickly, she said. Corinna made enemies. She stopped speaking to her friends. They would see pictures of her on Snapchat smoking and with guns. She got in trouble for underage drinking, and we started fighting. Next thing, shes moving to New York. I couldnt stop her, she was an adult. She didnt like living in a small town. I guess she was running away from that life. I never would have suspected prostitution though, it just didnt cross my mind back then. Sabina now believes that Corinna had initially been working as an escort, as she had been posting on social media about going on dates with men for money. On September 8 2017, just days before she vanished, Corinna posted photos on Twitter of a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on Grand Concourse in the Jerome Park section of The Bronx with a monthly rent of $750. WARNING SIGNS A PERSON IS BEING TRAFFICKED Signs of physical abuse, such as burn marks, bruises or cuts Unexplained absences from school or truancy Dresses less appropriately than previously Sexualized behavior Overly tired or falls asleep in class Withdrawn, depressed or distracted Brags about making or having lots of money Displays expensive clothes, accessories or shoes New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims) Older boyfriend, new friends with a different lifestyle or gang involvement Disjointed family connections and running away Living with friends or experiencing homelessness Source: Shared Hope International Advertisement She tweeted: 'My first apartment all to myself in NYC!!! Never been more happier in my life. Forver [sic] dream accomplished.' I dont know where she would have got the money to pay for that, Sabina said. She didnt have a job. But she must have been earning it somehow. Investigators now believe that during this time she had been staying at a seedy motel in the Bronx that is known for sex trafficking. Just days later, Sabina spoke to her daughter about returning home for her grandfathers funeral in Florida. She told me it was ghetto where she was and that she wanted to come home, said Sabina. But Corinna said she had no license and no social security card so she would be unable to board a plane without an ID, and she agreed with Sabina that she would come home after the funeral. But when Sabina arrived back in Pennsylvania she was unable to contact her daughter, and on September 17 Corinna was reported missing. Corinna's last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in the Bronx. It shows a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana with the caption: 'cyphin mid day mid road is always good for the soul.' 'Cyphin' is New York City slang for passing a marijuana blunt around a circle. Sabina is now convinced that her daughter is being held against her will. I know if she was capable she would have called me, she said. Shes being controlled. I dont know what theyve done to her, whether shes on drugs or mentally unstable or whatever. But I know shes not herself. She added that she cant help but feel disheartened at the sheers numbers of missing girls in a city as large as New York, and across the country. Shes just one more drugged up lost soul. 'She's a clever girl, but she's from a small town. She doesn't have the street knowledge to survive out there.' Corinna's last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in the Bronx. It shows a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana with the caption: 'cyphin mid day mid road is always good for the soul' Corinna, who would now be 20 years old, is pictured with her brother Justin, who is now a married father-of-one serving in the marines, in February 2015 Sabina now wants other parents to be aware of the signs that their children may be falling victim to sex trafficking. No one should have to go through what I have, she said. Now I look back at it I can see that she was displaying all the signs, but at the time I had no idea what was happening. She refuses to give up hope that Corinna will be found, but she said that she doesnt know how much longer she can cope with no knowing what has happened to her daughter. I cant go on for ten years like this, she said. The not knowing is just unbearable. I don't know if she is alive, but I can only hope that she is. 'Somebody out there must know something.' Corinna is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with long blonde hair and blue eyes, although her appearance may have been altered. She has a large black tattoo of a flower in the middle of her chest. Anyone with information related to Corinna Slusser's whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov, or the NYPD at 800-577-TIPS. The devastated mother of missing Pennsylvania girl Corinna Slusser has spoken of her heartache at spending a second Christmas without her daughter. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Sabina Tuorto revealed that she will not be marking the holidays this year as she cannot bear to celebrate while her daughter is still missing. Corinna is all I think about, she said. I can never feel happy. It takes every bit of my energy just to get up every day. Corinna Slusser, who would now be 20, has been reported missing since September 2017 when she vanished in New York City. She is believed to be a victim of sex trafficking Corinna is pictured with her mother in February 2015. Sabina Tuorto revealed that she will not be celebrating Christmas this year as she cannot bear to do so while her daughter is missing Sabina, who works as a nurse, said that she had chosen to spend Thanksgiving alone and that she will be working over Christmas Day. It just doesnt feel right to celebrate when Corinnas not here, she said. Former cheerleader Corinna was just 19 when she vanished from New York in September 2017 after being lured to the city to become a prostitute. Investigators believe that she is the victim of sex trafficking and have since arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the offence. Speaking from her home in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Sabina described Corinna as a happy child growing up and said she had been close to her daughter until just shortly before her disappearance. If it could happen to Corinna it could happen to anyone, she said. We live in a small, safe town. You just dont expect this sort of thing to happen here. Sabina told DailyMail.com that Corinna, who would now be 20, was a happy child, and in her teenage years she was a cheerleader, ran track, loved makeup and had lots of friends Corinna Slusser as a young child (left) and her mother Sabina and brother Justin (right), who is now a married father-of-one serving in the marines Corinna had hoped to make a career in makeup, but she started to grow distant from her family in the year before her disappearance and in August 2017 she decided to move to New York Mother-of-two Sabina described how she raised Corinna and her brother Justin, who is now a married father serving in the marines, by herself but she made sure they never wanted for anything. She said: I was a single mother but my kids were happy. Corinna was a cheerleader, she ran track. She had lots of friends and was always doing their hair and makeup. Even if she wasnt going out herself, shed help them get ready. Sabina said that Corinna, who would now be 20, had hoped to make a career in makeup, but that she started to grow distant from her family in the year before her disappearance. She says she now realizes that Corinna was speaking to bad people on social media, who she believes later lured her to New York. Everything went downhill so quickly, she said. Corinna made enemies. She stopped speaking to her friends. They would see pictures of her on Snapchat smoking and with guns. The FBI made a break in the case last month when they arrested 23-year-old Ishi Woney for trafficking Corinna and a second woman named in court documents as Victim 1 According to the complaint against Woney, he had been using Corinna and the second victim in online advertisements promoting prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison She got in trouble for underage drinking, and we started fighting. Next thing, shes moving to New York. I couldnt stop her, she was an adult. She didnt like living in a small town. I guess she was running away from that life. I never would have suspected prostitution though, it just didnt cross my mind back then. Sabina now believes that Corinna had initially been working as an escort, as she had been posting on social media about going on dates with men for money. On September 8 2017, just days before she vanished, Corinna posted photos on Twitter of a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on Grand Concourse in the Jerome Park section of the Bronx with a monthly rent of $750. Corinna and her mother during Christmas 2014. Sabina refuses to give up hope that her daughter will be found, but said that she is struggling to cope with not knowing where she is Sabina, who described having a close relationship with Corinna while she was growing up, said that she is convinced that her daughter is now being held against her will Corinna was frustrated by small town life as she grew older, but Sabina said that she never dreamed that her daughter would end up working in prostitution She tweeted: 'My first apartment all to myself in NYC!!! Never been more happier in my life. Forver [sic] dream accomplished.' I dont know where she would have got the money to pay for that, Sabina said. She didnt have a job. But she must have been earning it somehow. Investigators now believe that during this time she had been staying at a seedy motel in the Bronx that is known for sex trafficking. Just days later, Sabina spoke to her daughter about returning home for her grandfathers funeral in Florida. WARNING SIGNS A PERSON IS BEING TRAFFICKED Signs of physical abuse, such as burn marks, bruises or cuts Unexplained absences from school or truancy Dresses less appropriately than previously Sexualized behavior Overly tired or falls asleep in class Withdrawn, depressed or distracted Brags about making or having lots of money Displays expensive clothes, accessories or shoes New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims) Older boyfriend, new friends with a different lifestyle or gang involvement Disjointed family connections and running away Living with friends or experiencing homelessness Source: Shared Hope International Advertisement She told me it was ghetto where she was and that she wanted to come home, said Sabina. But Corinna said she had no license or social security card and she would be unable to board a plane without an ID. So she agreed with Sabina that she would come home after the funeral. But when Sabina arrived back in Pennsylvania she was unable to contact her daughter, and on September 17 she reported Corinna missing. The last confirmed sighting of the teenager was in the early morning hours of September 20 at the Haven Motel on Woodhaven Boulevard in the Rego Park section of Queens. Corinna's last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in the Bronx. It shows a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana with the caption: 'cyphin mid day mid road is always good for the soul.' 'Cyphin' is New York City slang for passing a marijuana blunt around a circle. Sabina is now convinced that her daughter is being held against her will. I know if she was capable she would have called me,' she said. Shes being controlled. I dont know what theyve done to her, whether shes on drugs or mentally unstable or whatever. But I know shes not herself. Sabina added that she cant help but feel disheartened at the sheer number of missing girls in New York and across the country. Shes just one more drugged up lost soul,' she said. 'She's a clever girl, but she's from a small town. She doesn't have the street knowledge to survive out there.' The FBI made a break in the case last month when they arrested 23-year-old Ishi Woney for trafficking Corinna and a second woman named in court documents as Victim 1. If found guilty Woney could face life in prison. According to the complaint against Woney, he had been using both Corinna and the second female victim in online advertisements promoting prostitution. Investigators say that Woney posted an online advertisement offering a 'two girl special along with a photo of Corinna and the other woman. Corinna, who is pictured here in the year before her disappearance, is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes, although her looks may have been altered Sabina, who works as a nurse, raised her two children as a single mother, but she said that they were both happy and never wanted for anything (Corinna, right, is pictured as a cheerleader) Corinna's last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in the Bronx. It shows a woman smoking what appears to be marijuana with the caption: 'cyphin mid day mid road is always good for the soul' Part of the advertisement read: 'always ready for fun! Please be RESPECTFUL & Discreet the TOTAL package SKILLS That will make you melt.' The complaint alleges that Woney and Corinna had exchanged more than 800 text messages over the course of ten days in September around the time she was reported missing. It states that they then had a falling out because the second female victim was jealous of their relationship. Last month, NYPD undercover officers conducted sting using a law enforcement database to track down an ad for sex services that featured the other female victim. According to court documents, an undercover officer met the female victim at a hotel in the Bronx and agreed to pay her $200 for an hour of sex services. As soon as the agreement was made, officers swooped in. The woman was arrested and in a police interview she finally cracked, admitting that Woney was her 'pimp' and that she gave him all of the money from her sexual encounters. 'Woney engaged in a vile form of exploitation, using force and other coercion to compel young women to engage in paid sex for his enrichment,' US Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a release announcing the charges. Sabina now wants other parents to be aware of the signs that their children may be falling victim to sex trafficking. Sabina says she wished she had known that her daughter was being groomed and now wants other parents to be aware of the signs that their children may be falling victim to sex trafficking Sabina believes that if someone like Corinna could fall victim to sex trafficking then it could happen to anyone, but she had no idea what was happening to her daughter at the time No one should have to go through what I have, she said. Now I look back at it I can see that she was displaying all the signs, but at the time I had no idea what was happening. She refuses to give up hope that Corinna will be found, but she said that she doesnt know how much longer she can cope with not knowing what has happened to her daughter. I cant go on for ten years like this, she said. The not knowing is just unbearable. I don't know if she is alive, but I can only hope that she is. 'Somebody out there must know something.' Corinna is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with long blonde hair and blue eyes, although her appearance may have been altered. She has a large black tattoo of a flower in the middle of her chest. Anyone with information related to Corinna Slusser's whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov, or the NYPD at 800-577-TIPS. A towering gum tree in an elite Sydney street has seen one of the nation's wealthiest pub barons taken to court by his millionaire neighbour. Arch De Angelis, 61, the owner of multiple pubs and hotels in Sydney, is involved in a dispute over the tree on his $15million waterfront property in Sea Street, Hunters Hill. Mr De Angelis' next door neighbour Michael Leech claims the 20-metre tree near the boundary of their properties has been dropping branches for the past two years and is a risk of toppling onto his house. After his pub baron neighbour ignored requests to cut down the tree, Mr Leech took the matter to the Land and Environment Court - telling a hearing he and his wife fear for their physical safety. The tree: Multi-millionaire neighbours in one of Sydney's richest streets are involved in a court battle over the future of a 20-metre tall gum tree on the border of their Hunters Hill properties The tree is on the land of pub barons Arch and Robyn De Angelis (pictured) at 1 Sea Street, but overhangs the neighbouring property 23 Mount Street owned by Michael and Elizabeth Leech Mr Leech told the court the tree sits on a cliff face 'overhanging' his property. 'The matter is over what we consider to be a dangerous tree on Arch De Angelis' land that's located 1.8 metres from our property,' Mr Leech told the court. 'For the past two years large limbs have been dropping on our property. Then earlier this year on October 23, we had another branch failure and I told him if nothing was done I'd be forced to take it to court. 'I've tried to have considerable communications with Mr De Angelis about the tree but nothing has been done.' Mr De Angelis and his wife Robyn bought the 2000sqm waterfront property for $1.2 million in 1991 and raised their children - Nicole, Peter, Marc and Phil - at the home. At a similar time Mr Leech and his wife Elizabeth moved into a battleaxe property in Mount Street. While the two homes are on different streets, the unconventional lay out of the block owned by De Angelis means a slither of the land runs neighbours the Leech's home. A small lither of the De Angelis property runs alongside Mr Leech's house - it is there the tree is located and overhangs his block (Pictured) After Mr De Angelis ignored multiple requests to trim or cut down the tree, Mr Leech took the matter to the Land and Environment Court (The tree can be seen overhanging a section of Mr Leech's house) Mr Leech told the Land and Environment Court the enormous gum tree was rotting in parts and over the past two years branches had regularly fallen off the tree and landed on his property 'My wife is paranoid about it [the tree] - she's not sleeping,' Mr Leech told the court on Tuesday (Pictured is a branch that had fallen from the tree and currently lies on a fence dividing the two properties) It is on that small slither of land that the large gum tree is located and regularly drops branches onto the Leech's block. Mr Leech, who is now retired, told the court he recently consulted a tree expert over the possibility of simply cutting off any overhanging branches, but was told it would weaken the tree and potentially cause it to fall anyway. 'I was quite happy to prune it, but an arborist indicated if I do take the large branches down it may destabilise the tree,' Mr Leech told the court this week. 'I'm now of the view that the tree really is a danger and should come down. 'My wife is paranoid about it - she's not sleeping. I am mindful of the importance of urgently dealing with this tree. 'Our concerns are about danger, not to property but more so on a personal level.' Michael and Elizabeth Leech (pictured) have owned the land neighbouring a slither of the De Angelis' block for close to three decades The waterfront view from the end of the exclusive street shared by the Leech's and De Angelis' The neighbourhood debate comes just weeks after the De Angelis' youngest son Phil (left) was sentenced after pleading guilty to a campaign of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend Janelle 'Nellie' Tilley (right) Mr Leech and Mr De Angelis were ordered to attend a hearing to be held on February 7 next year, in the leafy street outside their adjacent homes. The neighbour dispute comes just weeks after Mr De Angelis' youngest son Phil was sentenced over his 'campaign of domestic violence' against his ex-girlfriend. Phil De Angelis, 38, pleaded guilty to charges including recklessly wounding Janelle 'Nellie' Tilley. De Angelis junior will return to court in the new year to learn if he is allowed to serve his sentence in home detention - potentially at his parents' Hunters Hill mansion. The De Angelis family did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Stunning images taken using drones have captured the beauty of Australia from high above. These pictures of waterfalls, beaches and rugged landscapes have been snapped by self-taught photographers who started using drones as a hobby. Drones fitted with cameras are becoming incredibly popular, not only with photographers, but also lifesavers, farmers, and emergency services where they are fast becoming indispensable tools. 'The Mona Vale Pool is one of my favourite spots, it looks like nothing from ground level but once you look down from above the pool and wave formations morph into an abstract scene and completely change your perspective of what is otherwise a standard location,' photographer Gab Scanu said 'This shot was taken on Coal Cliff Bridge down towards Wollongong also using the DJI Phantom 3 a few years back,' Gab said A photo of the striking red cliffs of Cape Leveque in The Kimberly on the northern coast of Western Australia This photo of sunbathers enjoying a clear day was taken last summer at Smiths Beach, south of Perth in Western Australia Kyle Gillespie from Komocean Photography, based in Perth, has been shooting with drones for about four years after initially using helicopters to take aerial pictures. 'I couldn't beat the convenience of having a drone and getting an image whenever I wanted and at certain times of day like sunrise and sunset,' Mr Gillespie told Daily Mail Australia. 'Like with most of my photography journey it started out as a hobby and a way to keep myself busy.' 'I originally started photography after a sporting injury. Taking images of the surf and beach landscapes, just to show my love of where I grew up and had the best memories from.' 'The image was taken at castle rock in Dunsborough in the south west during summer where you get this bright blue crystal clear water and deep red rocks along the shoreline creating a contrast between each other,' photographer Kyle Gillespie said This was taken at Fremantle Boat harbour in the middle of winter the day after some bushfire burn offs took place creating this deep orange and red sunrise, I was initially looking for dolphins after seeing a few swim by before the sunrise really starting showing all its colour,' photographer Kyle Gillespie said A eucalypt forest outside of Perth Western Australia taken earlier this year showing the size of the giant trees compared to a person A shot of cliffs near Broome in Western Australia showing the deep orange of the soil contrasting with the blue of the ocean and green of vegetation Kyle is frequently asked for prints of his shots and has also received requests to shoot people's 'favourite beaches'. Not all drones are equal, however, so if you're thinking of buying one for yourself or someone else over the holiday period there are several factors to consider before handing over your cash. In terms of price, you could be looking at anywhere between $100 for an entry-level stocking filler, to $2000 for a mid-range model, and up to $10,000 for a top of the line professional drone with a 4K camera. The type of pictures that drones can capture depend mainly on the camera being used and the quality of parts, including the lens, which affects resolution. Older drones may have been restricted to standard high definition pictures but most mid-level and higher drones these days will be able to shoot in crystal clear 4K resolution. Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory taken by Tasmanian based photographer Jason Futrill A shot of Table Cape Tulip Farm on the north western coast of Tasmania in spring with the flowers in full bloom RULES FOR DRONES You must not fly above 400ft (120m) and must keep a direct line of sight. You must not fly your drone near emergencies such as car crashes, firefighting, and search and rescues. You can only fly drones during the day. You must not operate your drone in restricted areas such as near airports. You must not fly above crowded areas such as sporting events and beaches. Advertisement Also affecting the pictures will be the ability of the camera to rotate, which is made possible by the gimble a support attachment that can tilt to varying degrees. Battery life is another point of difference with the more expensive models. Cheaper drones may be only able to fly for 10 minutes before they need to return to base and recharge, while the professional versions can fly anywhere up to an hour. More expensive drones also often come with features that make them easier to fly such as automatic stabilisation and obstacle avoidance, while the cheaper versions can be trickier to master. Lastly, the distance a drone can fly from base has an impact. For example, the industry leading DJI Mavic models can transmit quality pictures from as far away as seven kilometres. 'Watching these guys dance was something else,' the photographer said of this group of whales in the water near Byron Bay Mount Tinbeerwah near Noosa in south east Queensland showing the sun's rays lighting up the fire tower on the summit A container ship being unloaded at Port Adelaide with the photographer, Bo Lee, saying he liked 'how the different coloured containers make a very interesting pattern almost like lego bricks' Advertisement Victims stuffed in suitcases, mobsters taken out mid card-game and bloodied bodies surrounded by crowds of detectives in trench coats and fedoras without any thought for crime scene contamination: This is the history of murder investigation in New York City. A series of vintage crime scene photos from the Bettmann Archive offer a fascinating glimpse into the changing world of policing in the Big Apple and a grisly insight to some of the most notorious killings in the city in the first half of the twentieth century. One image shows detectives gathered around a body folded into a suitcase in 1957. One officer in a suit handles the case without gloves while another in short sleeves casually lifts out torn newspaper that has been stuffed around the corpse. Mob victim: The body of Walter Sage, a hitman working for the mob gang Murder Inc, is pictured after his bound body was pulled from Swan Lake in the Catskills. He was allegedly killed for skimming cash from the mob's slot machine profits No CSI: Crowds are permitted to gather round detectives in this shot from Washington D.C. where Long Island man Thomas N.Innes was found bound and gagged at the bottom of the tidal basin. Investigating officers sift through his belongings without gloves as curious spectators peer over them Suitcase killing: This eerie shot shows detectives examining a body in a suitcase. Officers are not even wearing gloves as they handle the evidence A gathering of men nearby look on, seemingly unperturbed by the scene. It's hard to believe such little thought was given to crime scene investigation so recently but delving back further through the archives it reveals how little was known or care was given to forensics. A 1932 photo shows a huge gathering around the bound and gagged body of Long Island man Thomas N. Innes in Washington D.C. Onlookers are free to move close and peer with ghoulish delight as police examine the corpse and belongings discovered at the bottom of the tidal basin. No probe of New York's criminal history would be complete without touching on the many murders of mobsters that have taken place across the city. One startling shot shows the covered body of one of the most ruthless figures in organised crime in America, Albert Anastasia. San Gennaro slaughter: This photo shows the scene of the murder of two men at the feast of San Gennaro in 1939. Joseph 'Little Joe' La Cava and Rocco 'Chickee' Fagio were both found dead on Mulberry Street Homicide squad: A group of detectives is photographed examining an unidentified body in New York City in 1935 Patrol find: A policeman looks at the body of Louis Riggiona, found dead in the gutter of Mulberry Street with two bullets in his heart and the two murder weapons abandoned nearby Mott Street murder: Crowds are pictured around the body of a man dumped on New York sidewalk A medical examiner is pictured peering over the body of a man found floating in the East River in 1963. Bullet holes were found in the man's head This photo shows the body of underworld kingpin Joe "The Boss" Masseria. He holds a playing card in his hand, as he was murdered while playing pinochle in a restaurant Anastasia was considered the "Lord High Executioner" of Brooklyn's infamous Murder Incorporated gang. Until he was himself executed in the barber shop of the Park Sheraton hotel, he was one of the deadliest criminals of all time - slaughtering thousands. He was pumped full of bullets mid-shave by two masked gunmen on October 25 1957 The photo of his corpse lying covered in sheets on the floor of the barbershop became famous but none was ever charged. Brooklyn homicide: A woman's body is found washed up on marshes in Brooklyn in 1947 Death if a salesman: This 1952 photo shows the Assistant DA examining the body of Arnold Schuster, 24, - a Brooklyn pants salesman - who had tipped off police on the whereabouts of American robber Willie Sutton after spotting him on a subway train following the criminal's daring jail escape Barstool brawl: Louis Lombardy was shot dead as he drank beer in a bar on Third Avenue This scene shows a double murder in Central Park at 106th Street East. A forty-five caliber pistol was found nearby This Bronx killing took place in 1962. The shoeless victim was found covered in blood sprawled across a living room floor after being shot in his chair Another photo shows a crime scene at the center of Little Italy in 1939. 'Little Joe' Joseph La Cava and Rocco 'Chickee' Fagio were slaughtered in the double murder on Mulberry street. Meanwhile, another shot shows the body of underworld kingpin Joe The Boss Masseria still clutching a playing card. Joe was the boss of the what is now known as the Genovese crime family. He was mown down in 1931 while playing pinochle in a restaurant. It is believed the hit was ordered by his own lieutenant Charles Luciano. Tragic Ellen: This sad photo shows police guarding the body of 15-year-old schoolgirl Ellen O'Connor who disappeared from her home before being found murdered and dumped in Massapequa woods Policemen are pictured in 1937 at the scene of the murder of Johnny La Polla Last rites: A priest is pictured attending the bodies of Thomas J Hogan and Fred Romer in 1961. Hogan shot dead Romer before turning the gun on himself Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecutd Christians around the world and how much help they get from Britain, saying 'we can and must do more'. The independent global review will look at the UK's efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians worldwide the Foreign Office says faced discrimination and violence last year. It follows what officials said was a 'dramatic rise in violence' against followers of the religion, with an average of 250 killed each month. Foreign Secretary (front row, centre left with blue tie) met with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (front row, centre right) and Christian leaders including Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Britain (front row left) and survivors of Christian persecution at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on December 20 The review will be led by the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Reverend Philip Mounstephen, and report back around Easter. The review should 'consider some tough questions and offer ambitious policy recommendations' that would allow the UK to offer the same backing to Christians as it does to groups like the Kurdish Yezidis who faced extermination by Islamic State, the FCO said. Mr Hunt said: 'Britain has long championed international religious freedom and the Prime Minister underlined our global leadership on this issue when she appointed my excellent colleague Lord Ahmad as her Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or belief. 'So often the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority. 'Today I have asked the Bishop of Truro to look at how the British Government can better respond to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. 'We can and must do more.' Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (left), The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (right) with Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Britain (centre) at the meeting The intervention comes after a large-scale outcry over the treatment of Asia Bini, a Christian woman who faced threats to her life after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan. Ms Bibi was held for eight years under a death sentence for supposed blasphemy after she drank from the same well as Muslim colleagues. Her conviction was reversed by Pakistan's supreme court earlier this year. Large crowds took to the streets to protest against the court's decision and the Government was accused of not doing enough to help her. The review will have three aims: - Mapping the persecution of Christians in 'key countries' in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. - Provide an 'objective analysis' of the level of UK governmental support on offer, and - Provide recommendations for a 'cohesive and comprehensive policy response'. Bishop Philip said that the plight of persecuted Christians is 'an issue close to my heart'. He said: 'Part of the Christmas story tells how Jesus was himself the victim of persecution so it seems particularly timely to launch this review at this season. 'I'll be taking an objective look at how the British Government can better respond to the pressing plight of persecuted Christians around the world.' U.S. Customs and Border Protection ordered medical checks on every child in its custody Tuesday after an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of an immigrant child in the agency's care this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trump's request for border wall funding. The boy, identified by Guatemalan authorities as Felipe Gomez Alonzo, had been in CBP's custody with his father, Agustin Gomez, since December 18. CBP said in a statement late Tuesday that an agent first noticed the boy had a cough and 'glossy eyes' at about 9 a.m. Monday. He was eventually hospitalized twice and died just before midnight, the agency said. CBP earlier said that the boy died just after midnight. CBP said in the statement it needs the help of other government agencies to provide health care. Tragedy: A young boy, eight, from Guatemala lost his life on Christmas morning after being held by officials in a detention center (file photo of children being led single file in a detention facility next to the Mexican border in Tornillo, Texas) Tragedy: Jakelin Caal (above in file photo), a seven-year-old girl from Guatemala, lost her life as well earlier this month while in custody Funeral: She was laid to rest on Christmas in Guatemala, two weeks after she suffered cardiac arrest, brain swelling and liver failure that led to her death The agency 'is considering options for surge medical assistance' from the Coast Guard and may request help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A CBP spokesman could not immediately answer how many children are currently in the agency's custody. But with border crossings surging, CBP processes thousands of children - both alone and with their parents - every month. Immigration advocates and human rights groups sharply criticized CBP in the wake of Felipe's death. The body of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal , who died earlier this month, was returned this week to her village in Guatemala for burial. Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said the Trump administration's 'policies of cruelty toward migrants and asylum-seekers at the border must cease immediately before any more children are harmed.' The White House referred questions about the latest case to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP's parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a statement that the child's death was a 'tragic loss.' The agency said it has notified the DHS inspector general. CBP issued a timeline of what it said happened before Felipe's death. Felipe was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a common cold, according to the timeline. The boy was released just before 3pm, about 90 minutes after he had been found to have a fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit, CBP said. He was prescribed amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and taken with his father to a holding facility at a highway checkpoint. At about 7pm, agents helped clean up the boy's vomit. CBP said the father 'declined further medical assistance' then. But at about 10pm, the boy 'appeared lethargic and nauseous again,' the agency said, and agents decided to have taken to the hospital. The boy died at 11:48pm Monday, the agency said. The hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. Felipe and his father were detained by CBP for about a week, an unusually long time that the agency did not fully explain Tuesday. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Hospital: The agency reports that he was given prescriptions for amoxicillin and ibuprofen before being released from the facility on Monday afternoon (Gerald Champion medical center, where the boy received treatment, above) Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldn't be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE detention centers. CBP said it apprehended Felipe and his father on December 18 about 3 miles away from an official port of entry, the Paso del Norte bridge connecting El Paso and Juarez, Mexico. They were held at a processing center for almost two days, then taken to the El Paso Border Patrol station on Thursday. CBP said it moved them to Alamogordo, New Mexico, at about 1 a.m. Sunday 'because of capacity levels at the El Paso station.' Alamogordo is about 90 miles from El Paso. The agency didn't say why it held Felipe and his father for so long, but said its officers repeatedly conducted welfare checks on them. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he was told by the boy's father in a telephone interview that the two had been traveling from their home in Nenton, a village about 280 miles from Guatemala City. They were planning to go to Johnson City, Tennessee. CBP promised 'an independent and thorough review of the circumstances,' and the Guatemalan foreign ministry called for an investigation 'in accordance with due process.' Democratic members of Congress and immigration advocates sharply criticized CBP's handling of Jakelin Caal's death and questioned whether border agents could have prevented it by spotting symptoms of distress or calling for an evacuation by air ambulance sooner. CBP has said that it took several hours to transport Jakelin and her father from a remote Border Patrol facility to a larger station, where her temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Emergency medical technicians had to revive her twice. She was ultimately flown to an El Paso hospital, where she died the next day. Xochitl Torres Small, a Democrat who will represent the district starting in January, called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the children's deaths and more medical resources along the border. 'This is inexcusable,' Torres Small said in a statement Tuesday. 'Instead of immediately acting to keep children and all of us safe along our border, this administration forced a government shutdown over a wall.' A Yorkshire zoo celebrated the birth of a rare and endangered baby giraffe over Christmas. The calf, who is 'already up and about' was born at Flamingo Land in Kirby, north Yorkshire over the festive period with the resort excitedly tweeting about the new arrival on Christmas day. The zoo posted a picture of the new arrival, which is a member of the endangered Rothschild's giraffe sub-species. There are believed to be only a few hundred Rothschild's remaining in the wild, the zoo added. Flamingo Land in Kirby, north Yorkshire shared this photo of a new baby giraffe born at the zoo over the Christmas period A tweet from the resort's account read: 'A very special Christmas present. Here at Flamingo Land we have had a very special delivery just in time for Christmas. 'A Rothschild's giraffe calf has been born at the park during the festive period and is already up and about. Such a perfect way to celebrate this special day!' There are only a few hundred Rothschild's remaining in the wild, the zoo, which is near Malton in North Yorkshire, said. Revealing the new arrival on social media, Flamingo Land described the giraffe as a 'very special Christmas present' Israel has carried out Christmas Day airstrikes against targets around the Syrian capital Damascus, according to the country's state-run media. Israeli warplanes flying above Lebanon reportedly launched 22 missiles at multiple targets used by Iran and Hezbollah, prompting Syrian air defences to fire back. Senior Hezbollah figures boarding a plane bound for Iran were wounded during the attack, according to security sources who spoke to Newsweek. Syrian air defences around Damascus began firing on Christmas Day after Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes against arms dumps around the city, state media reported Syria said that most incoming missiles were destroyed, but that one of the depots was hit, wounding three soldiers The airstrike was conducted just minutes after they had boarded the aircraft. Three soldiers were also wounded during the attack after explosives hit an arms dump, according to Syrian media. Pro-Iranian military outposts, air defence facilities and military headquarters were also damaged in the strikes, according to the Jerusalem Post. Syrian media said that most of the incoming missiles were intercepted by its defences, which were filmed firing overnight. The attacks come after President Donald Trump said that America will withdraw all 2,000 troops from the country. The news stoked fears in Israel that Iran and Hezbollah will exploit the power vaccum to further entrench themselves in Syria, which Israel views as an existential threat. One of the incoming missiles hit an arms dump injuring three soldiers, according to Syria. Israel has not acknowledged any strikes took place. Meanwhile Turkey began massing tanks along its border with Syria as countries moved to fill the power vaccum that will be left after America withdraws its troops. The sky glows red over Damascus after missiles, believed to have been fired by Israeli warplanes, struck an arms dump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel would 'continue to act against Iran's attempts to entrench itself militarily in Syria, and to the extent necessary, we will even expand our actions there.' Nearly an hour after the attacks began, Damascus residents could still hear the air defense units firing toward targets in the air. 'The aggression is still ongoing,' said a presenter on state TV, which interrupted its programs to air patriotic songs. Later the TV quoted an unnamed military official as saying that Syrian air defenses 'shot down most of the missiles before reaching their targets and the aggression damaged an arms depot and wounded three soldiers.' It added that the Israeli warplanes fired the missiles from Lebanese airspace. Israel's military spokesman's unit did not confirm the raids, but said in a statement that 'an aerial defense system was activated against an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria.' No damage or injuries were reported by the Israeli military. A mother is fighting for life in hospital after she was allegedly shot three times in the head with a nail gun by her son. Police were called a home in Bonnyrigg Heights in Sydney's south-west at around 10.30pm on Tuesday following reports a woman had been injured. Police were told a mother, 50, and her son, 20 were involved in an altercation, before the woman was allegedly shot multiple times with a nail-gun. The son then allegedly fled the scene on foot. He was arrested in a nearby street about 3.40am and charged with wounding with intent to murder on Wednesday afternoon. Police were called to a home in Messina Crescent (pictured) in Bonnyrigg Heights on Tuesday night after a woman was Paramedics treated the mother for lacerations to her face at the scene. She was then taken to Liverpool Hospital where she underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition. Her husband was treated by paramedics at the scene for shock. Fairfield Police Station acting Inspector Paul Luczak described the mother's injuries as 'horrific', revealing she had 'severe injuries to her head'. 'I believe it was three times she was hit in head,' he said, 9 News reported. 'They were celebrating Christmas and we're not sure what actually started the incident. It was just immediate family there.' It's allege the woman was shot in the head multiple times with a nail gun (stock image) Anyone with more information about this incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Four million people in the United States could be affected by a snowstorm as hazardous weather conditions make their way across the country this week following the Christmas break. The Great Plains and Midwest are set to suffer most as strong winds, heavy rain and thick snowfall moves from the West Coast on Wednesday. Near-blizzard conditions were possible in the North and South Dakotas as winter Storm Eboni caused travel conditions to worsen with low visibility due to blowing snow. Its expected to last until Friday with western Nebraska and eastern Colorado also receiving 8-12 inches of the white stuff and the direction pivoting into northern New England as millions head back to work. Salt Lake City, Utah got a White Christmas on Tuesday with Storm Eboni South Jordan (left) and Salt Lake City (right) in Utah were affected already by Wednesday A storm will push from the West Coast to the central US bringing heavy rain, strong winds and snow on Wednesday In the Midwest and Plains there could be snowfall up to 12 inches this week after Christmas There was a chance northern New York could be hit by a mix of rain and snow by Friday but the Rockies and the High Plains were particularly troublesome travel areas to watch out for, according to the National Weather Service. Up to a foot could seriously disrupt the travel plans of the estimated 112.5 million Americans traveling at this time of year. The height was reached over the Sierra on Tuesday as winds increased and dropped swaths of ice in the area. Storms watches and advisories remained around the worst of the warnings on Wednesday morning. The weather condition were blowing in from the West Coast. Pictured is Big Bear, California 4 million people traveling after Christmas could be affected by the weather in the center of the country 12 million people in the South are at slight risk of being affected by a snowstorm Watches were in effect in eastern Nebraska and northeastward to northern Minnesota, plus the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The National Weather Service also indicated dangerous travel conditions in southern Colorado northeastward to western Minnesota where warnings were issued. The South of the country showed an even larger number possibly dealing with dangerous travel conditions 12 million could be affected by severe storms from Wednesday but the risk was only small. But a white Christmas dangerous turned into dangerous weather conditions in Salt Lake City Large hail, strong gusts and isolated tornados could tear through the South The National Weather Service also indicated dangerous travel conditions in southern Colorado northeastward to western Minnesota Large hail, strong gusts and isolated tornados could tear through that part of the country in the afternoon and evening. The number of people traveling is up 4.4 percent for 2018 a record increase according to the American Automobile Association. A whopping 102.1 million people will be driving in a car from that number, approximately 6.7 million were believed to be traveling via an aircraft and the remainder on buses or boats. Idaho was covered in the white stuff on Christmas week as many travelers headed back to work The number of people traveling is up 4.4 percent for 2018 a record increase according to the American Automobile Association The seven-year-old girl who died in the custody of U.S. border authorities earlier this month was bade farewell in an open-casket funeral on Christmas Day in her native Guatemala. Heart-wrenching photos from the funeral show friends and family gathered around the casket of Jakelin Caal Maquin in her home village of San Antonio Secortez on Tuesday. Her body arrived in Guatemala on Sunday. The funeral took place on the same day it was announced that an eight-year-old Guatemalan migrant boy died shortly after midnight. The boy died after being detained by U.S. border agents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, also confirmed Tuesday that the boys name was Felipe Gomez Alonzo. The consul says he interviewed the father, 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, by telephone. The body of Jakelin Caal, 7, is seen in a casket as friends and family attend her funeral in the Guatemalan village of San Antonio Secortez on Christmas Day, Tuesday Locals gather around the gravesite as the casket is lowered into the ground on Tuesday A man is seen above holding a picture of Jakelin during the funeral on Tuesday The funeral took place on the same day it was announced that an eight-year-old Guatemalan migrant boy died shortly after midnight. A boy is seen above standing next to Jakelin's coffin on Tuesday The boy and his father were in CBP custody on Monday when a Border Patrol agent noticed the child showing signs of illness, CBP said. The father and son were taken to the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where the boy was diagnosed with a common cold and fever, and eventually released by hospital staff. But later that evening, the boy began vomiting and was transferred back to the hospital. He died at the hospital shortly after midnight, CBP said, adding that the official cause of death is not known. The father and son were not identified, and the agency said it will release more details 'as available and appropriate.' Guatemalan officials have been notified of the death, CBP said. The Guatemalan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The tiny white coffin containing the remains of Jakelin was received on Sunday afternoon at Guatemala City's international airport by representatives of the country's Foreign Ministry. The tiny white coffin containing the remains of Jakelin was received on Sunday afternoon at Guatemala City's international airport by representatives of the country's Foreign Ministry. Friends and family carry the coffin in her home village of San Antonio Secortez on Tuesday An indigenous Maya who had been hoping to begin a new life in the United States with her father, Jakelin came down with a fever while in the hands of U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities, and died in an El Paso hospital on December 8 Her death fueled renewed criticism by opponents of President Donald Trumps immigration policies, and gave a face to the many children who have accompanied parents on the long road north from Central America through Mexico to the border 'This is not a merry Christmas, its a bad Christmas,' said her grandfather Domingo Caal, 61. Locals are seen above at the funeral on Tuesday Villagers observe the funeral of Jakelin in San Antonio Secortez on Tuesday Claudia Maquin, the girl's mother, is seen at her daughter's funeral on Tuesday In a laminated white coffin, her small body was laid out clothed in a blue sweater and a red coverlet emblazoned with bears on Monday, after the casket's arrival in the village The coffin was loaded into the back of a black hearse by workers in orange vests. Shortly before daybreak on Christmas Eve, Claudia Maquin wept silently when she was finally reunited with the still body of her daughter. An indigenous Maya who had been hoping to begin a new life in the United States with her father, Jakelin came down with a fever while in the hands of U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities, and died in an El Paso hospital on December 8. Her death fueled renewed criticism by opponents of President Donald Trumps immigration policies, and gave a face to the many children who have accompanied parents on the long road north from Central America through Mexico to the border. Under a gray sky, friends and relatives filed in to Jakelins wake in the thatched hut of her grandfather. In a laminated white coffin, her small body was laid out clothed in a blue sweater and a red coverlet emblazoned with bears. 'This is not a merry Christmas, its a bad Christmas,' said her grandfather Domingo Caal, 61. 'To lose a child, a human being, is difficult,' he added, as well-wishers and neighbors shuffled through the wooden house and its earthen floors. Her mother Claudia wept but did not speak, looking down on the child for a few moments in the coffin. Jakelin Caal Maquin is seen pictured above in this undated file photo taken before her death Plagued by chronic gang violence and endemic poverty, Central America has sent out an endless stream of migrants desperate to reach the United States at almost any cost. Jakelins father Nery remains in the United States waiting to see whether he will be allowed to stay. The two had handed themselves in to U.S. border agents in New Mexico on Dec. 6. She fell ill soon afterwards and died after suffering cardiac arrest, brain swelling and liver failure, U.S. officials said. In the early hours of the morning, Claudia had stood at a gasoline station some 12 miles from her impoverished mountain village of San Antonio Secortez, waiting to meet the white minibus that bore her daughters body. During the slow, winding procession back home through the municipality of Raxruha, the driver honked the horn as it passed dwelling places. A few villagers came out to give Claudia and the grandfather money. Struggling to make its way through the steep, rugged mountain roads in the gloom, the minibus briefly ground to a halt and had to be pushed onwards by helping hands. White balloons with messages of love for the girl hung over the coffin. On top of the casket was a small framed photo of Jakelin. To one side hung a yellow note in Spanish. 'Domingo Caal and family thanks: the media, the vice-president, the embassies of Guatemala and the United States, the mayor of Raxruha and everyone in general who in some way or other has accompanied us in this irreparable loss.' Her remains were driven hours into the countryside to be handed over to family members for a final goodbye. A man, thought to be a government official, approaches the body of Jakelin Caal Maquin after her remains were repatriated to Guatemala at La Aurora International Airport on Sunday A man, thought to be a government official, identifies the body of Jakelin Caal Maquin. Domingo Caal, the girl's grandfather, told Associated Press that the family didn't have money to travel from their poor hamlet to Guatemala's capital The presumed government official takes special care in placing the casket into the coffin Caal and her father, Nery Caal, were traveling with a group of 163 migrants who arrived at the New Mexico border earlier this month. After they were taken into custody December 6, the father told a U.S. agent that the girl was sick and vomiting. Her death marked another turning point in the debate over the Trump administration's hardline approach to immigration enforcement with many questioning whether better medical care could have saved her. A GoFundMe page authorized by the Guatemalan consulate has been set up to help Jakelin's family. The funds will cover the family's basic needs, including medical care for the girl's three siblings and the construction of a bathroom and a kitchen in their home, said Priscilla Villareal, a community organizer in Texas who created the page. This week the Department of Homeland Security released a more detailed timeline of the events which preceded her death. She was detained along with her father Nery at 9.15pm on December 6th as they crossed into the US in New Mexico illegally. At 10pm that night, Nery was questioned about their health and, according to Customs and Border Patrol, told agents that neither he nor his daughter had health problems. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say he did not understand when he was asked in Spanish if his daughter was in good health and answered yes because his native tongue is Mayan. Nery was questioned in Spanish and his answers were translated to English and marked onto a Form I-779. On Friday, officials repeatedly eschewed blame for Jakelin's death by telling journalists about the form. Mortuary employees carry the body of Jakelin Caal Maquin to make the long journey to the remote village of San Antonio Secortez where her family lives Her remains were then driven hours into the countryside to be handed over to family members for a final goodbye in the village of San Antonio Secortez The hearse makes the long drive to the remote village of San Antonio Secortez where the girl's family live A large media contingent were present as the hearse carrying the girl's coffin made its way to her hometown where her family and mourners will have a prayer service Nery was questioned in Spanish and his answers were translated to English and marked onto a Form I-779. On Friday, officials repeatedly eschewed blame for Jakelin's death by telling journalists about the form. But in light of the fact that Spanish was not, as they claimed, his first language, it remains unclear if Nery knew what he was saying when he told the agents that his daughter was healthy. It also remains unclear what he would have told them had he understood the questions fully. Jakelin's mother Claudia Maquin said of her death: 'Every time they ask me what happened to the girl, it hurts me again' 'Jakelin and her father speak Q'eqchi' and Spanish is their second language. Neither of them speaks English. 'Yet, CBP is relying on forms signed by her father which are in the English language. 'It is unacceptable for any government agency to have persons in custody sign documents in a language that they clearly do not understand,' lawyers Enrique Moreno, Elena Esparza and Lynn Coyle, who represent Caal's father, said in a joint statement. He also fought the government's initial claim that Jakelin had not eaten or drank water for 'days' before she died. 'Prior to going into CBP custody and contrary to the report that Jakelin 'had not eaten or had any water for several days,' Jakelin had not been crossing the desert for days. 'Jakelin's father took care of Jakelin - made sure she was fed and had sufficient water. She and her father sought asylum from border patrol as soon as they crossed the border. 'She had not suffered from a lack of water or food prior to approaching the border,' the lawyers said. The child's cause of death has not yet been determined and no information about her autopsy has been released. Last week, CBP officials spoke on a conference call along with officials from the Department of Homeland Security where they gave reasons including brain swelling, liver failure, septic shock and dehydration for her death. Claudia Maquin, 27, shows a photo of her daughter on December 15 Domingo Caal Chub, 61, (pictured), Nery's father, and the rest of the family are said to speak a Mayan dialect with both English and Spanish being their second languages Nery is now staying at Anunciation House, a shelter for migrants in El Paso. It is not known if he will travel back to the village where his family lives to mourn the death of Jakelin. Guatemalan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marta Larra said the ministry had sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. State Department asking for it to monitor the case and determine the cause of death. Domingo Caal said his son has a January 3 court date in the United States to determine his migratory status. Tekandi Paniagua, the Guatemalan consul in Del Rio, Texas, told The Associates Press that he had spoken with the girl's father who said he had no complaints about how they were treated. Caal asked the Guatemalan consulate in Texas, which had reached out to him, if he could see his daughter one last time before her body was sent back to her homeland. Members of the Caal Maquin family and neighbors stand in front of Claudia Maquin's house in Raxruha, Guatemala This is the home Jakelin lived in with her father, mother, grandfather and three siblings where they survived on $5-a-day Dozens of women prepared tamales and beans to feed mourners when Jackelin's remains eventually arrive for a funeral service That request prompted special arrangements at a private funeral home last Friday, when he said goodbye to Jakelin. The family lives in a hut in San Antonio Secortez, a mountainous hamlet which has only 420 inhabitants, and they survive on $5-a-day which they earn through harvesting corn and beans. According to the family, Nery paid a smuggler to take him and Jakelin to the border. His father Domingo, who speaks Spanish like 'most' other men in the town, told The Associated Press that he borrowed money to pay for their journey and used their plot of land as a surety. 'He was desperate,' he said. The family contradicted what his lawyers seemed to suggest by saying that they never intended to apply for asylum. Most of the men in the village know Spanish but Nery's was 'broken', according to Guatemalan officials. Jakelin's mother Claudia held back tears as she described her life in Mayan. Her grandfather, Domingo Caal Chub, 61, translated her remarks into Spanish. 'Every time they ask me what happened to the girl, it hurts me again,' she said. Border Patrol officials on Friday maintain that agents did everything they could to save the girl but that she had not had food or water for days. Jakelin's family is asking for an 'objective and thorough' investigation to determine whether officials met standards for taking children into custody. A wheelchair-bound woman who was forced to park across two bays so she could get out of her car has been slammed by another shopper - but who is in the wrong? Jessica Haldin made the unusual decision to park across two bays when all of the disabled bays at her local shopping centre were full on Christmas Eve. But when she returned to her car after doing some last-minute Christmas shopping, she found another shopper had left a scathing note on her windscreen. Jessica Haldin returned to he car after doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and found another shopper had left a scathing note on her windscreen The handwritten note slammed the woman, who has no legs, for being 'so inconsiderate' and taking up two spaces during an especially busy time of year. 'Taking up two parking bays is inconsiderate in the extreme when it is so busy,' the message stated. 'Someone might be inconsiderate enough to drag a key down the side of your car and it will get scratched any way (sic) think about it.' Appalled by the aggressive note, Ms Haldin took to social media to share her reasons for deciding to park across the two bays. 'Lets just remember out of hundreds of bays only about 6 of them are disabled and big enough for a wheelchair,' Ms Haldin wrote on Facebook. 'We parked in two for a reason THERE WAS NO DISABLED BAYS!! I put my disabled sticker up to let everyone know.' The woman explained how when there's no disabled bays available she is forced to take up two bays just so she can get her wheelchair out. 'I have no legs to walk unlike you, So about think before leaving rude notes on cars,' she wrote. Ms Haldin explained how when there's no disabled bays available she is forced to take up two bays just so she can get her wheelchair out. Pictured above is a stock image of a different car taking up two spaces Ms Haldin's post garnered plenty of support from other users, with many people taking to Facebook to share their thoughts on the shopper who left the note. 'Some people havent got any more sense than they were born with! They obviously have no idea what a disabled sticker is for,' one person wrote. 'Omg what is wrong with people hope u get an apology but u wont those f***ers have no conscience,' another person said. A third person added: 'A**es maybe they need to look more closely and see your disability sticker and use their common sense (which they obviously dont have any) and realise your in chair (sic) and need the room.' Within a couple of hours of the message going live, Ms haldin posted a follow-up post, which summed up her overall positive outlook following the incident. 'When people try to offend you on a post about your legs/Disability, Dude shoot away, Iv (sic) got brought up in a family with the most legless amputee humour for the last 25 years,' she wrote. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ms Haldin for comment. Young Vietnamese people are vowing to take action after video of their elders being attacked by thugs went viral. The shocking footage shows people, believed to be shopkeepers, defending themselves with chairs against a group of men of African appearance. Screaming, shouting and smashing can be heard as the group of Vietnamese people try to push back against the group, who allegedly attacked them after asking for a cigarette and being rejected. The clip left many young Vietnamese people in the area furious, and they have vowed to band together and fight back. Shopkeepers in St Albans, about 15 km from the Melbourne CBD, were seen fighting off thugs outside their stores this week in footage that has gone viral and enraged the younger generation 'Guys, I usually don't post much, but enough is enough,' one man said after sharing the video to his social media account. 'We gotta make a stand together as a whole and stick up to these situations. 'Rally up and stand together to fight against these people who think they can walk all over us.' The man said the job could not be completed alone, and encouraged his friends and followers to stand up against 'bullies'. 'If you guys have pride in your community, let's do it together,' he wrote. Another Vietnamese man said it was 'time to prove who we are'. 'This message to all Vietnamese people in west Melbourne! 'You rather just stand there and watch your children or family member been [sic] robbed, bashed, raped then do nothing - or join us to protect our love [sic] one from this.' Young Vietnamese people are vowing to take action after video of their elders being attacked by thugs went viral. One Australian man said he would also get involved The alleged dispute began when a Vietnamese shopkeeper declined to share his cigarettes with a younger man of African appearance A message chain obtained by Daily Mail Australia alleges a Vietnamese man was hospitalised with 'fractures, mild amnesia and internal bleeding' after the fight. Another message claims the men of African appearance had come back after the fight and stolen from customers. 'They went into the shop... and stole people's handbags and phones that are table,' the message read. 'And now today they're sitting outside [the] door ... Not letting customers in.' One Vietnamese woman said she had been at the restaurant with her young son during the fight. 'It's sad to feel unsafe in your homeland. The Vietnamese community stuck together and defended themselves,' she said. The woman claimed the men of African appearance did not 'deserve' to be in Australia, and claimed her immigrant community had done a better job of assimilating than the one the alleged attackers belonged to. 'Why we let them in, feed them and give them money for making trouble to us, what is the Australia law?' she wrote. 'It's not fair - we are working hard, paying tax and support these mother f***ers.' Video from the brawl shows shopkeepers arming themselves with chairs as they try to fight off the younger men One Vietnamese woman told 7 News she was 'very terrified' and 'really scared' to be working on the strip. 'Everyday we worry, really worry, everyday they will come,' she said. Other foreign business owners said they were worried the constant conflict would impact their businesses. A spokeswoman for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia there was an ongoing investigation into the fight, but no charges had been laid yet. New York Congress member-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came under fire on Tuesday for comparing modern-day refugees to Jesus Christ. The 29-year-old Bronx woman, who takes office on January 3, was heavily criticized on Twitter in response to a post where she sent holiday wishes to everyone and made sure not to leave out those fleeing violence and war in their home countries. She wrote: 'Joy to the World! Merry Christmas everyone - here's to a holiday filled with happiness, family, and love for all people. (Including refugee babies in mangers + their parents.)' Cortez wished followers a 'holiday filled with happiness, family, and love for all' but she also tweeted wishes to 'refugee babies in mangers + their parents' Congressmember-Elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez riled up Twitter on Tuesday Her tweet evoked the story of Jesus Christ being born in a manger on the day that much of the world has chosen to celebrate on December 25. But the comment in parenthesis didn't seem to go down well with many of her approximate 1.64million followers on the microblogging site. Some of those who caught wind of her comparison of displaced people to the son of God, the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph. Social media users insisted that Jesus was not a refugee when he was born in Bethlehem, and said as the story goes, the family was traveling back to Joseph's home because a Census had been called. Those who do not agree with the politician's views claimed the religious reference was a political move. One person tweeted: 'I still cannot comprehend the depth to which your lies could go and your blatant misrepresentation of facts. Joseph and Mary were not refugees; they returned to Bethlehem for a census as required by their law.' She later addressed 'anti-immigrant pundits uncomfortable with and denying that Christ's family were refugees' by sharing an article about the story of Christ Some insinuated she wasn't intelligent and was using Christmas to push her political views Another chimed in: 'Pls read The Bible if your going to try to use our Lord & Savior in your political rhetoric. Luke is a good one which explains why they were going to Bethlehem.' Despite hours of others putting forth the idea, social media enthusiasts continued to repeat a similar sentiment throughout Christmas Day. 'They were not refugees. They were returning to Joseph's home town of Bethlehem in order to participate in a govt. ordered census and to pay taxes. The exact same type of thing that socialists like yourself would force everybody to do. And just who the heck uses mangers anymore?' one person added. However some pointed out that the family later fled to escape King Herod's genocide. Cortez herself also shared an article with the Holy Bible story within. One Twitter user replied to commenters: 'This is bizarre hairsplitting. They fled Judea to escape the reach of Herod's political power. That's a refugee. Because Roman Imperial power extended further doesn't mean that they weren't refugees from a genocide.' People said Jesus, Mary and Joseph were traveling home to take part in the census It led to much arguing about the politician's intellect. One person tweeted: 'It is unbelievable that Ocasio Cortez can be as ignorant as she is and be elected to Congress.' Another posted: 'Please note Jesus' family registered with the local authorities when required. Amazing people like you get elected.' One said: 'So, what you're saying is Central Americans entering this country illegally are coming to take part in the census, much like Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth (in Israel) to Bethlehem (also in Israel) under decree of the ruler at the time? You really are delusional...' Twitter users lashed out saying migrants cannot be compared to Jesus Christ A social media user tried to clear up confusion by pointing out that Cortez may not have been referring to Jesus being a refugee at the exact time of them traveling before his birth. There was mention of a story from the Gospel of Matthew where an angel warned Joseph they should flee to Egypt because King Herod was planning to destroy Jesus and proceeded to slay every boy child under two years old. 'This probably referring to when Jesus was a toddler and they fled Herod into the foreign land of Egypt to escape persecution in their homeland. Merry Christmas!' one wrote. An angry tweeter replied: 'Then she should have stated it that way but she clearly misled those who follow her by stating explicitly 'including refugee babies in mangers + their parents'. Meaning the time of His birth and when they were traveling to follow the law.' Bringing the argument up-to-date, a large chunk of replies addressed the migrant caravan at the Mexican border. It's a topic Cortez has often addressed and she was criticized in a similar way after a November tweet where she shared an image of people running from tear gas near the border wall in Tijuana, Mexico to Jewish people in the Holaucaust. Others asked her not to make the religious holiday about politics and the current immigrant crisis Some sympathized with the politician and asked tweeters to show some kindness A furious tweeter said: 'REFUGEE BABIES IN MANGERS??? Such drama BS, how about liberal funded caravans putting human life in harms way offering lies, tents to fill sanctuary cities for illegal liberal Socialistic votes... you a lost and dark soul AOC.' Another said: 'They might have been 'refugees' when they escaped to Egypt (running from Herod's baby killing spree), but then they SELF-DEPORTED back to their family's home town. IOW, they returned to their 'Honduras' even while the bad guys were still in charge. Poof went your analogy.' No matter what side people were on many wished the story of Christmas wasn't associated with current political arguments. One tweeter said: 'Let's not exploit a sacred holiday to prove a political point.' Another wrote 'Jesus wasn't a refugee but a legal citizen who's parents chose to remain in an occupied territory and legally participate in a census Please don't politicize Christmas and enjoy time with your family.' Mexico has invited experts from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to investigate a helicopter crash that killed the governor of the western state of Puebla and her husband. Mexico's assistant transportation secretary says the invitation was made 'to leave no doubts' about the Monday crash that killed opposition Gov. Martha Erika Alonso and her husband, ex-Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle. Carlos Moran said Tuesday that the manufacturers of the helicopter and its engines will participate in the investigation, and it was too early to determine whether mechanical problems played a role. Scroll down for video Mexican governor Martha Erika Alonso (right) was killed in a helicopter crash Monday alongside her spouse Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas (left) Mexico's assistant transportation secretary says the invite to the U.S. National Trasportation Safety Board was made 'to leave no doubts' about the crash Two pilots and a third passenger also died in the crash. The pilots were described as experienced, though one had spent much of his career flying fixed-wing aircraft. Alsonso, 45, had only been sworn into office ten days ago after independent electoral authorities dismissed the challenge. Meanwhile her husband Valle was also the former Puebla governor and a prominent figure in the opposition National Action Party who had vied unsuccessfully for the party's presidential nomination and its internal leadership. The couple did not appear to have children. The aircraft went down in Huetjotzingo, a small city near the second largest in Mexico, Puebla Mexico is still reeling from the loss and on Monday afternoon, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador paid tribute to the couple, while Marko Cortes, head of the National Action Party, tweeted he was deeply saddened. 'We are in mourning,' he wrote. The Agusta 109 helicopter suffered an 'apparent failure which hasn't been determined yet' shortly after taking off from Puebla airport bound for Mexico City on Monday. Alsonso, 45, had only been sworn into office ten days ago after independent electoral authorities dismissed the challenge The couple did not appear to have children It crashed in the municipality of Santa Maria Coronango, which is about 3.5 miles north of the city's main airport on the western outskirts, federal Public Security Secretary Alfonso Durazo told a news conference. Images of the crash showed a shattered, still smoldering aircraft on the edge of a scorched patch of cornfield. The helicopter pilot and co-pilot have been identified as Captain Roberto Cope Obregon and Captain Marco Antonio Cabera Romero, according to Public Security and Civil Protection Secretary Alfonso Durazo. The other passenger has not yet been named. Plumes of smoke could be seen as the helicopter was still on fire when others arrived at the scene A forensic member was pictured on the scene after the crash on Monday A helicopter was pictured over the site on Monday following the incident Mexican Civil Aviation authorities are investigating the cause. Both federal and state officials said they had opened investigations into the cause - a potentially sensitive case because President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's Morena party had challenged the validity of Alonso's election in July. She was sworn in 10 days ago after independent electoral authorities dismissed the challenge. State spokesman Maximiliano Cortazar demanded a 'transparent, impartial and independent' investigation. The Mexican president tweeted his condolences on Monday, confirming their death Alonso was the first female governor of Puebla and only the seventh nationwide Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas became Senator in September and was governor from 2011 to 2017. In 2015 his wife was the First Lady of Puebla and the second highest ranking in her PAN party Lopez Obrador expressed his 'deepest condolences' via Twitter to the family of on Monday evening. Moreno Valle governed the central state from 2011 to 2017 and was currently a federal senator. Opponents alleged that he had manipulated the election to hand power to his wife. Government agencies and scores of officials, including former President Enrique Pena Nieto, also expressed condolences via statements and social media. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted: 'I said hello to [Moreno] in the Senate just a few days ago. Those of us who had the opportunity to know them are sad and troubled.' Conservative Alonso became the first female governor of Puebla less than two weeks ago on December 14. The center-right candidate narrowly beat opposition from President Obrador's favored Miguel Barbosa Huerta on July 1. Teams from the State Attorney's Office, Attorney General's Office and state Civil Protect personnel were on the scene Security members work at the helicopter crash site in Coronango, Puebla, Mexico The cause of the accident was still unknown on Monday night Emergency rescue personnel, the army and the police arrived to the scene of the crash A helicopter of Puebla's government flew over the scene of the incident as it turned late Her election triggered a violent and hotly-contested reaction and on December 9 a Federal Electoral Tribunal had to validate the results due to accusations of fraud form her National Regeneration Movement (also known as the Morena party) opponent Luis Miguel Barbosa. Leftist Barbosa said in an interview with Milenio, that it's a tragedy and 'it is up to the authorities to do the same so that the causes of the accident are perfectly clear,' Animal Politico reported. The reported he declined to answer what would happen now the pair are gone. 'It is not the time to make political comments, it is time for solidarity, beyond the political rivalry that I had with both,' he reportedly said. 'I do not want to give an opinion on the succession, it's time to be supportive.' The couple celebrated their 14th anniversary this year and shared a dog Once Congress appoints an interim governor, an election - lasting between three and five months - must be announced within 10 days. Federal electoral institute official Benito Nacif confirmed it would happen. The fact the accident occurred just days after Alonso - who celebrated her birthday only one week ago - took office triggered speculation of foul play on social media, Reuters reported. A number of Mexican politicians have died in aircraft accidents in the past few years, including federal interior ministers in 2008 and 2011. Both were members of the PAN. BBC News reported that 13 people died earlier this year when a minister's helicopter crashed into a crowd. The minister survived. From 2015, Puebla First Lady Alonso became second in the power structure of the party behind her husband. Moreno became a federal senator in September. He shared the same name as his father who was Governor of Puebla from 1969 to 1972. The couple married in 2004, celebrated their 14th anniversary this January and shared a dog. France is set to replace the UK as the sixth richest country in the world, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said The French economy will briefly become larger than Britains next year as Brexit uncertainty takes its toll, according to a report. France is set to replace the UK as the sixth richest country in the world, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said. But Britains fundamental strengths mean this country will quickly overcome the setback of being pushed into seventh place and will overtake France again to reclaim the sixth spot a year later. The predictions, in an annual league table of economies by the CEBR, suggest that Brexit will have little impact on our international ranking in the long term. Britain is still slated to be in sixth spot by 2033, scotching claims from Remainers that the economy would be permanently damaged by leaving the EU. The CEBR said that Brexit might actually boost the UK in the long run if it allows us to improve trading links with the Asian countries that are set to dominate this century. And even if the political fallout from Brexit is so bad that Scotland and Northern Ireland declare independence, the rump of England and Wales would still be a larger economy than France by 2026. Forecasters warned that despite French president Emmanuel Macrons pledge to transform his country, there is no sign of Paris getting runaway state spending under control, which means they expect its economy to grow more slowly than post-Brexit Britain Forecasters warned that despite French president Emmanuel Macrons pledge to transform his country, there is no sign of Paris getting runaway state spending under control, which means they expect its economy to grow more slowly than post-Brexit Britain. The US remains the worlds biggest economy, but China is expected to take first place by 2032. Douglas McWilliams, deputy chairman of the CEBR, said: Despite global uncertainty and the tightening in US monetary policy which has pushed down some of the emerging market currencies, the 21st century is still likely to be the Asian century. This is one reason why, even though Brexit will be disruptive in the short term, long term it is unlikely to do much damage to the UK economy and might, on some assumptions, boost it. Accused murderer Chris Dawson has checked in to his local police station as part of his strict bail conditions after enjoying Christmas Day with his third wife. The 70-year-old reported to police on the Sunshine Coast for the first time on Wednesday morning following his bail from Silverwater jail earlier this week. As part of his strict bail conditions, Dawson is required to check in to Maroochydore police station daily until he faces court again in the New Year, 7News reported. Accused murderer Chris Dawson (pictured) has checked in to his local police station as part of his strict bail conditions after enjoying Christmas Day with his third wife The 70-year-old (pictured) reported to police on the Sunshine Coast for the first time on Wednesday morning following his bail from Silverwater jail earlier this week Dawson (pictured) returned to his Mount Coolum home in Queensland on Monday after he was allowed out on bail on Christmas Eve He arrived at the police headquarters unaccompanied, wearing a casual polo top and shorts with a dark cap and sunglasses. The visit to the police station was his first since he broke his silence about his recent stint behind bars after being charged with the cold case murder of his wife Lyn. Dawson, who was allowed out on bail on Christmas Eve, returned to his Mount Coolum home in Queensland on Monday as he awaits trial. Speaking from his swimming pool on Christmas Day, a shirtless Dawson told the The Daily Telegraph he 'needs a break'. 'Yeah look, yeah I'm well thanks I just really need a break,' Dawson told the publication, as he swam in the pool at a leisurely pace. When asked what got him through his three-week stint behind bars, Dawson initially refused to comment but then agreed 'thinking about family' made it easier. The 70-year-old is back home with his third wife, Susan, after a court eventually granted him bail. As part of his strict bail conditions, Dawson (pictured) is required to check in to Maroochydore police station daily until he faces court again in the New Year Dawson (pictured) arrived at Maroochydore District Police Headquarters unaccompanied, wearing a polo top and shorts with a dark cap and sunglasses. Accused murderer Chris Dawson has broken his silence about his recent stint behind bars after he returned to his Mount Coolum home in Queensland this week A series of complications with the former rugby league player's application, including a problem with the $1.5 million surety, delayed his release by a week. Dawson was arrested on the Gold Coast earlier this month and extradited to NSW where he was charged with murdering wife Lynette Dawson, who went missing from Sydney's northern beaches in 1982. Up until recently, Dawson, a one-time model and rugby league player for the Newtown Jets, had never been charged with any offence and his wife's body has never been found. Police charged Dawson with Lyn's 1982 murder shortly after he landed in Sydney earlier this month following his extradition from Queensland. Dawson (pictured left with brother Peter) released from Sydney's Silverwater prison on Christmas Eve, a week after a court granted him bail On January 9, 1982 Lyn Dawson (pictured) made plans to meet her mother at Northbridge Baths, where her husband worked as a lifeguard. She did not arrive and is presumed to be dead Dawson's case might not go to trial until 2020 at the earliest, which may have contributed to the magistrate's decision to release him on bail. Since returning home, he will have to live at his wife's home on the Sunshine Coast and report daily to a local police station to comply with his bail conditions. Dawson and Susan have married for almost 30 years, and despite the intense public scrutiny over his first wife Lyn's disappearance, she has always remained supportive. The 70-year-old intends to plead not guilty to murdering his wife in the case, which made international headlines when it became the focus of The Australian newspaper's The Teacher's Pet podcast. He's made a glittering career by playing villains with serial killers and psychopaths a speciality but this was surely his most disturbing performance yet. After more than a year during which he disappeared completely from public view, his reputation trashed and his career in free fall, the American actor Kevin Spacey finally resurfaced on Christmas Eve. In an extraordinary video posted on Twitter and YouTube, the actor reprised his most famous recent role as the power-hungry, Machiavellian Washington politician Frank Underwood from hit U.S. TV drama House Of Cards. Kevin Spacey posted this video on YouTube responding to allegations of sexual assault made against him in character as Frank Underwood from House of Cards 'Of course, some believed everything. They're just waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all,' he says in a three-minute clip titled 'Let Me Be Frank'. Wearing a Santa Claus apron, he is seen preparing Christmas dinner in a smart kitchen. 'They're going to say I'm being disrespectful, not playing by the rules. Like I ever played by anyone's rules before. I never did. And you loved it.' His monologue is delivered straight to the camera, just like his character famously does in House Of Cards to make viewers complicit in his immorality. 'They're just dying to have me declare that everything said is true and that I got what I deserved.' He goes on in Frank's unmistakable Southern states drawl: 'You wouldn't believe the worst without evidence would you? You wouldn't rush to judgments without facts would you? Did you? No, not you, you are smarter than that. I can promise you this I'm certainly not going to pay the price for the things I didn't do.' With a final glower followed by dramatic music, he asks: 'Miss me?' It was classic Frank Underwood menacing, malevolent and creepy all the more so when it became clear that Spacey wasn't talking as his fictional character but as himself, and that the footage appears to be an aggressive riposte to news of an impending court appearance. The Oscar-winning star played Underwood, a conniving schemer who resorts to murder on his path to the U.S. presidency, in five seasons of the award-winning Netflix thriller (based on the 1990 BBC adaptation of Michael Dobbs' novel) before he was embroiled in sexual scandal in October last year. Spacey reprised his role as Frank Underwood from the Netflix drama House of Cards That was when the actor Anthony Rapp accused the then 26-year-old Spacey of making a sexual advance to him in 1986 when Rapp was just 14 and attending a party at the actor's apartment. In a statement, Spacey claimed to have no memory of the alleged incident while offering an apology to Rapp, now 47, for 'what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour'. In that same Twitter post Spacey whose sexuality had been the subject of speculation over many years said he'd had relationships with both men and women, but that he 'chooses now to live as a gay man'. He was roundly condemned for using the Rabb scandal to 'come out'. In the days and weeks that followed, a string of men came forward to accuse Spacey of sexual assault. He was thrown off the Netflix series after claims he made it a 'toxic' environment and at least one allegation of sexual assault by someone working on the show. He was, it seemed, the latest big name to be sucked into the maelstrom of MeToo movement fury, first sparked by the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, at serious sexual misconduct by powerful men in Hollywood. At first glance, Spacey's latest small-screen appearance, posted online on Monday, suggested Netflix had forgiven him and despite having supposedly killed off his character might be about to welcome their main star back into the fold for another season. Spacey, pictured here in the 1995 movie The Usual Suspects, is due to appear at Nantucket District Court on January 7 accused of a single count of 'indecent assault and battery on a person who is at least 14 years old Could the video clip be a taster, the crafty Underwood pleading his innocence for his murder of a journalist and a politician in House Of Cards? The truth, however, is rather more alarming. It seems that Spacey was responding to a decision by police and prosecutors in Massachusetts to charge him over allegations that he sexually abused an 18-year-old male at a Nantucket bar more than two years ago. Spacey, now 59, is scheduled to be arraigned at Nantucket District Court on January 7 on a single charge of 'indecent assault and battery on a person who is at least 14 years old'. The alleged victim is the son of a Boston television journalist, Heather Unruh. It was back in November 2017, shortly after the allegations by Anthony Rapp, that she came forward to allege that her 18-year-old son was sexually assaulted by the actor at The Club Car restaurant and bar in Nantucket, a holiday island off Cape Cod beloved of the East Coast elite, on July 7, 2016. At a news conference, Unruh said her 'star-struck' son falsely told the actor he was old enough to drink when he met him at the bar. The legal age for drinking alcohol in public in Massachusetts is 21. 'Kevin Spacey bought him drink after drink after drink, and when my son was drunk, Spacey made his move and sexually assaulted him,' Unruh said. The actor stuck his hands into her son's pants and grabbed his genitals, she said, adding it was 'completely unexpected' and her son tried unsuccessfully to shift his body away from Spacey. When the star went to the lavatory, her son fled, she added. She said her son, who hadn't reported the alleged crime at the time out of embarrassment and fear, had finally gone to the police shortly before she gave her news conference. Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer representing Spacey's accuser, said in a statement: 'Let the facts be presented, the relevant law applied and a just and fair verdict rendered.' The Nantucket case is just one of many tawdry allegations made against Spacey, although the statute of limitations has run out on many of them, meaning that it's too late to prosecute him. In all, more than 30 men have said they were victims of unwanted sexual advances by him. While no formal charges have, until now, been filed, police in Los Angeles and London are investigating allegations of sexual assault, including rape. In the UK, there are six active investigations. The Old Vic theatre in London, where Spacey was acclaimed artistic director, said it had received 20 complaints of inappropriate behaviour during his 11-year tenure up to 2015 The Old Vic theatre in London, where Spacey was acclaimed artistic director, said it had received 20 complaints of inappropriate behaviour during his 11-year tenure up to 2015. Of those 20 allegations from current and former staff, 14 were serious enough for the theatre to advise complainants to go to the police. Management at the theatre admitted that Spacey's star power had contributed to a 'cult of personality' that allowed his actions to go unchallenged. In the subsequent fallout, Spacey not only lost his role in House Of Cards, but director Ridley Scott erased him from his completed film All The Money In The World, spending millions of pounds re-shooting with Christopher Plummer instead playing billionaire John Paul Getty. Spacey's other film project, Billionaire Boys Club, which he made prior to the sexual assault allegations, was considered a record-breaking flop, taking in just $126 (98) on its opening night in the U.S. An already completed biopic about the American writer Gore Vidal, played by Spacey, was simply scrapped. The toxic allegation even forced his charity, The Kevin Spacey Foundation UK, which helps emerging actors, to close. Its trustees simply stated that their work was 'no longer viable'. Until now, Spacey who last posted a message online in October last year had all but disappeared not only from social media but from the real world. The last-known pictures of him were snapped as he jogged in the grounds of a 25,000-a-month rehab facility, the Meadows Clinic in Arizona, in November last year where he was receiving treatment for sex addiction coincidentally at the same time as Harvey Weinstein on a 45-day 'detox'. Sources say he checked out after only 21 days. Although he owns homes on both sides of the Atlantic, Spacey has not been seen at any of them. Friends said he was becoming a complete recluse. He is believed to have visited New York at least once, but has stayed with a rich friend from the theatre world. Staff at his Manhattan apartment building insisted they hadn't seen him since the scandal first broke. He also has not been sighted at his 2.3 million penthouse flat overlooking the Thames in London, where he used to hold famously decadent late-night parties. It emerged earlier this year that he had secretly sold his Los Angeles house for $11 million to build up a fighting fund to protect himself from legal challenges and try to salvage his reputation. A British friend claims Spacey has been living in the Cook Islands in the South Pacific and using his real name Kevin Fowler allowing him to travel with a low profile. 'He's keeping his head down until this blows over. He still has a lot of rich friends from his Old Vic days. He has enough money to stay hidden,' the friend told the Mail on Sunday earlier this year. Another source, someone who worked with him on House Of Cards, said he has been hiding in the South of France. A third claim is that he has gone to ground at a rented ranch in Thousand Oaks, a suburb of Los Angeles, staying with a friend and according to a former associate living as a 'hermit' and never going out. So Spacey's surprise Christmas appearance in the YouTube video has inevitably caused something of a stir. Shot in a state-of-the-art kitchen, it would certainly suggest he's not living in a mud hut in the back of beyond. At least one former associate claims to have been phoned by Spacey, describing him as 'genuinely baffled that everyone has turned their backs on him' and 'indignant' at having been deserted. That would certainly tally with his YouTube monologue which, in demeaningly rebutting the accusations against him 'in character', smacked of an overweening vanity and ego. Fellow actors and showbiz personalities have responded accordingly, with disbelief and outrage at his actions. One of them, actress Rosanna Arquette, posted the following blunt message: 'Kevin Spacey has apparently lost his mind. What an absurd videothis is only the beginning. There are many more victims.' Even his older brother Randy, 62, said: 'My brother was always an arrogant p****.' It would be difficult to disagree after his latest performance. Randy, with whom he shared a famously dysfunctional upbringing with an abusive father, has had very little contact with his famous sibling for years, but believes that Spacey is 'lying low' in the belief the 'water will cool'. Indeed, Spacey's only allies appear to be his two lawyers. Other friends have been extremely limited in their support, focusing on his acting talent. Long-time pal Dame Judi Dench has defended Spacey to the extent of saying she 'can't approve' of the way he was removed from the Getty film and described him as a 'most wonderful actor', while his House Of Cards co-star Diane Lane admitted she had 'tremendous respect for his artistry'. None of his famous friends and he was for so long the 'luvvie's luvvie' on both sides of the Atlantic have stepped up to defend his personal behaviour. Sally Greene, who appointed him at the Old Vic, said the affair made her 'sick to (her) stomach'. Veteran gay rights advocate Sir Ian McKellen commented: 'The one thing I would say about Mr Spacey is that he was a gay man and he was pretending not to be.' Meanwhile, the actress Robin Wright, who played Frank Underwood's wife in House Of Cards, has distanced herself from Spacey, claiming she didn't know him at all apart from on a professional level. Australian actor Guy Pearce, who starred with Spacey in the 1997 film LA Confidential, has perhaps been the most honest of all when asked about Spacey's on-set behaviour. 'He's a handsy guy. Thankfully, I was 29 and not 14.' Spacey who won Oscars for American Beauty and The Usual Suspects, as well as acclaim for his role as a serial killer in Seven may be alone in thinking he can salvage his career and, according to insiders, has developed a gradual rehabilitation plan that he has outlined to his remaining friends. It begins with them starting to talk positively about Spacey in public and, then, he would accept a cameo role in a respectable film. A website called supportkevin spacey.com creators unknown invites fans to leave supportive messages, some of which have come from people who claim the actor is a victim of homophobia. In his statement last October, when allegations first emerged, Spacey said about his private life: 'I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour.' How different he sounded then to his defiant tone in his bizarre Christmas message, in which he claims: 'My confidence grows each day that soon enough you will know the full truth. 'We're not done, no matter what anyone says.' No doubt his alleged victims feel the same. Hundreds of passengers have been arrested at UK airports or on planes since the start of 2017 for being too drunk. The police figures come as the Government considers curbing 24-hour drinking at airport bars in England and Wales by extending licensing laws to stop alcohol sales before 10am. At least 273 drunk passengers have been held in 2017 and 2018. A number of the arrests came after intoxicated travellers became abusive to staff who tried to restrict their drinking or refused to let them travel. At Aberdeen Airport one man even brandished a knife after staff refused to let him travel, while at Glasgow a drunken yob punched a bar manager. At least 273 drunk passengers have been held in 2017 and 2018. A number of the arrests came after intoxicated travellers became abusive to staff who tried to restrict their drinking or refused to let them travel. The government is considering to restrict the amount of time alcohol is for sale at airports And the figures do not even reveal the full extent of drunken behaviour as the Metropolitan and Sussex police forces which cover Britains two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick did not provide information. The Airport Operators Association said it will continue to tackle the small minority who ruin it for the majority by pushing for those arrested to be prosecuted. Being drunk on an aircraft is punishable by up to two years in prison. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suddenly dropped off about 130 Central American migrants on Christmas Day at an El Paso bus station with no food, shelter, or money - with hundreds more to come. City officials were left scrambling on Tuesday to provide a place to stay for the migrants, most of whom were planning to travel to another destination so they could stay with a sponsor while the government reviews requests for asylum. The news came on the same day U.S. Customs and Border Protection ordered medical checks on every child in its custody after an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of an immigrant child in the agency's care this month. Earlier on Tuesday, Jakelin Caal, a 7-year-old girl from Guatemala who died after she and her father were arrested after crossing the border, was laid to rest in her native village of San Antonio Secortez. The deaths of young migrant children has sparked outrage over the administration's policies toward asylum seekers. ICE has been releasing migrants from detention centers for weeks due to overcapacity, according to Texas Monthly. Migrants are seen above lining up for food after they were dropped off in El Paso on Tuesday Migrant children are seen above reaching out for candies from a volunteer while waiting for transportation to emergency shelters on Tuesday Central American migrants, who were dropped off at a bus station by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), wait to board a bus to take them to emergency shelters in El Paso, Texas, on Christmas Day, Tuesday El Paso is located right along the border with Mexico (as seen in the map above) The released migrants, mostly from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, were found by asylum officers to have a credible fear of persecution if they were to be repatriated. So they have been permitted to stay in the U.S. while pursuing the uphill legal battle of obtaining asylum. ICE usually has coordinated with local groups, charities, and nonprofits to arrange the orderly handover of migrants so that they could be housed in shelters. But the agency gave no explanation as to why it dumped scores of migrants on the streets of El Paso without any food or shelter in 40-degree weather. Generous Good Samaritans have stepped up and provided food to the migrants while local groups have arranged for temporarily shelter. Because of the government shut down, ICE would not comment. 'All of ICE's public affairs officers are out of the office for the duration of the government shutdown,' the agency said. 'We are unable to respond to media queries during this period because we are prohibited by law from working.' Customs and Border Protection said it would conduct medical check-ups on all migrant children in its custody after the death of two kids this month. Jakelin Caal, 7, is seen in a casket as friends and family attend her funeral in the Guatemalan village of San Antonio Secortez 'ICE gave us a heads up about an hour or two ago that we were going to get 200 folks Downtown,' Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, told the El Paso Times. 'This group right now is about 100, so we don't know if we are going to get another 100 or if this is it for the day.' U.S. Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, called the government's action 'unacceptable.' Jakelin is seen pictured above in this undated file photo taken before her death 'The federal government has an obligation to assist and not just leave people out in the cold, which is what they did yesterday and what they did the day before when they left people at and around the Greyhound bus station and that is what they did in October. That is unacceptable. Simply ridding itself of migrants is not a solution,' he told the Texas Tribune. Federal law enforcement officials said the reason they no longer create temporary housing was because 'it was too difficult,' Escobar said. 'If they are able to create tent cities to jail children, then they should absolutely be able to construct the same kind of facilities as they did in 2016 to assist the migrants,' Escobar said. 'The federal government needs to step up and dumping people out on the streets is not stepping up,' Escobar said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials dropped off about 200 migrants Sunday at the Greyhound bus station at 200 W. San Antonio Ave. On Christmas Eve, small groups were left at the station throughout the day and night. More than 200 migrants were left at the bus station Monday. Migrants are seen above lining up for food as they wait for transportation to emergency shelters Some of the migrants described the difficulty of their journey from Central America, which included days of travel by foot with little to no food ICE dropped off the migrants without warning. In years past, it would coordinate with local officials so that shelter can be arranged Migrants are seen above receiving food from volunteers in El Paso on Tuesday 'Right now, we are trying to find them space for the night. 'A place where they can sleep, make phone calls to their contacts or relatives in other parts of the country. 'Most of these folks are on route to another part of the country. 'They are not staying here in El Paso. 'They want to go to their sponsor or family members in other parts of the country. 'They just need a place for the night.' The Hope Border Institute describes itself as an 'independent grassroots community organization' that advocates on behalf of migrants. Some of the asylum seekers described the difficult journey they made from their native countries. One woman, Juana Juan Diego, said she and her 1-year-old daughter, Dulce, traveled by foot for 20 days from Guatemala City. Most of the migrants will be in El Paso temporarily. They will eventually be housed with relatives while the government reviews their requests for asylum Migrants are seen above being transported by bus to emergency shelters in El Paso on Tuesday A migrant child holds his father's hand while they line up for food with other newly arrived Central Americans in El Paso on Tuesday Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic Congressman, asked the public to make a donation to help care for the arriving migrants Juan Diego said her daughter has been suffering from diarrhea and headaches after going days with little to no food. 'It has been very difficult,' she told the El Paso Times. She said she has come to America because of the lack of jobs in her country. She said her final destination is Tennessee, where she will stay with relatives while her asylum case is pending. Corbett said that the group of migrants has been checked and that no one is in need of immediate medical attention. Hours earlier, U.S. immigration authorities said an eight-year-old boy from Guatemala has died in government custody, the second immigrant child to die in detention this month. U.S. Customs and Border Protection say the boy died shortly after midnight Tuesday. A Guatemalan official says he was told by the father of an 8-year-old boy who died in U.S. custody that the two had been traveling from their home in the Central American country to Tennessee, and that his son had been in 'perfect health.' Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, also confirmed Tuesday that the boy's name was Felipe Gomez Alonzo. The consul says he interviewed the father, 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, by telephone. On Sunday, hundreds of migrants were dropped off at a Greyhound bus station A local man is seen above handing out hamburgers to Central American migrants outside the Greyhound station in El Paso on Sunday An additional 500 migrants are expected to be dropped off in El Paso in the coming days, according to immigration advocates The group of around 200, mostly made up of Central Americans, were left without money, food and means of communication Volunteers from Annunciation house and other local churches came to aid and find a place to house them for the night Annunciation House, a charity that has provided shelter to migrants, asked the public for donations in housing some 200 migrants who were dropped off by ICE at an El Paso bus station on Sunday and Monday Asylum seekers board a bus stop after they were dropped off by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sunday O'Rourke, who has emerged as a possible 2020 presidential contender after his near-upset of incumbent Texas Senator Ted Cruz this past November, said he was told by ICE that the unannounced releases were a mistake U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the boy died shortly after midnight on Christmas. CBP says the boy was taken Monday with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever, and released. The agency says the boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting. He died hours later. Earlier this month, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died while in custody of border authorities. Annunciation House, a charity that has provided shelter to migrants, asked the public for donations in housing some 200 migrants who were dropped off by ICE at an El Paso bus station on Sunday and Monday. Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic Congressman who represents the El Paso area, was seen at a park near the bus station handing out food. O'Rourke, who has emerged as a possible 2020 presidential contender after his near-upset of incumbent Texas Senator Ted Cruz this past November, said he was told by ICE that the unannounced releases were a mistake. 'ICE made a mistake yesterday,' O'Rourke told the El Paso Times. 'I don't think it was intentional. I think they made a mistake in not alerting the community.' The group of migrants included many women and children who made the long journey to the U.S. A migrant holds a young child in his arms at the Greyhound bus station in downtown El Paso on Sunday Another 500 migrants are expected to be dropped off over the course of Wednesday and Thursday A young child is carried on the arms of a newly arrived migrant at the Greyhound bus station in El Paso on Sunday The agency typically coordinates with local shelters to make sure there is space for them to stay. But U.S. Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar, O'Rourke's successor, tells The Associated Press that ICE officials dropped people off at the bus station after Annunciation House said it didn't have enough space. Escobar called ICE's action 'really alarming.' 'I have a number of concerns,' Escobar said Tuesday. '[Customs and Border Protection] back in 2016 used to create temporally holding facilities that were humane, safe and clean, so that migrants during times of a surge wouldn't be left on the street. 'Federal law enforcement has long collaborated with the Annunciation House, so they know exactly what the capacity is here in the community.' ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Another 500 migrants are expected to be dropped off over the course of Wednesday and Thursday. ICE has not told local authorities in El Paso where they will be left or what time. Former deputy leader of the Liberal Party and foreign minister Julie Bishop has joined an all-female crew in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. But the politician will jump off the back of Wild Oats X and swim to shore after passing Bondi. Ms Bishop was photographed trading her designer clothing for black shorts and shirt and red converse sneakers. Former deputy leader of the Liberal Party and foreign minister Julie Bishop has joined the Sydney to Hobart yacht race The politician was captured trading her designer clothes for black shorts, shirt and red converse sneakers The politician has practised the jump from Sydney Harbour but has said it will be a different experience as she jumps off the 66-footer sailing as fast as 20 knots- about 37 kilometres per hour. 'I'm excited and nervous all at the same time,' she said. 'Hopefully I avoid all the other vessels, and sharks, and fish, and jellyfish, and plastic bottles and swimmers.' Ms Bishop said her sudden jump after the beginning of the race was a practical decision. 'It's a necessity, otherwise, I'd be going all the way to Hobart,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'When we were planning this, we weren't sure of the weather conditions. 'If the weather turned bad, then I'd be a liability on the boat.' Ms Bishop will off the back of the 66-footer Wild Oats X after it passes Bondi and will then swim to shore The professional female crew is sailing under the Ocean Respect banner, of which Ms Bishop is an ambassador of, to encourage reduced use of plastics and awareness of ocean health. The annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race will take place from December 26 until December 31 this year. A family is desperate to find their young son who vanished from a store south of Brisbane on Christmas Eve and hasn't been seen since. The 11-year-old boy was last seen at 11.30am on Monday at a Wembley Road store in Woodridge. He hasn't had any contact with family since then. He is described as Caucasian, 175cm tall, auburn hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing board shorts and black t-shirt Police are seeking public assistance to help locate the young boy. He is described as Caucasian, 175cm tall, with auburn hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing board shorts and black t-shirt. The boy knows his way around the Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast, but police are unsure about his exact whereabouts. Anyone with information on the missing boy's location is urged to contact police. A Delta flight headed to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing on a small Alaskan island on Christmas Eve. Nearly 200 passengers were on the flight from Beijing to Seattle that was forced to make the unscheduled stop at Shemya, Alaska. 'Delta apologizes for the delay to our customers after flight 128 from Beijing to Seattle diverted to Shemya, Alaska, due to a potential engine issue,' Delta spokesman Drake Castaneda said to USA TODAY. Nearly 200 passengers were on the flight from Beijing to Seattle that was forced to make a stop at Shemya, Alaska a, Alaska. 'Delta apologizes for the delay to our customers after flight 128 from Beijing to Seattle diverted to Shemya, Alaska, due to a potential engine issue,' Delta spokesman Drake Castaneda said 'The safety of our customers and crew is always Delta's top priority. Delta dispatched an alternate aircraft to continue the flight to Seattle.' No injuries were reported in the emergency landing. Delta sent a new crew to operate the new aircraft and also sent technicians and customer service agents. A few people from the flight took to their social media to share what was happening while they tried to make the journey to Seattle. A few people from the flight took to their social media to share what was happening while they tried to make the journey to Seattle One user said: 'So... I'm on my flight back to NYC, and the captain just said there's something wrong with the engine and we are going to land on some island in 40 mins... Okay fine I'll swim.' 'I'm still alive! So... we lost one engine, landed on a US air force base in Alaska in the middle of the ocean,' said one user. 'Delta sent another plane from Seattle to pick us up, and after waiting for 12 hours we are finally on the flight back what a great story to tell my grandchildren.' Prakhar Khanduja added: 'Finally on the way to Seattle after spending the last 12 hours on an island in the middle of Pacific North Pole. Wish I hadnt left PEK. #DL128' One user did try to enjoy the holiday spirit and said: 'Asking for the children of the world. @Delta can confirm the reports are wrong that flight #DL128 that diverted to Shemya(SYA) this morning ingested in the engine, a figure flying in a red coat and about a dozen reindeer?' The Florida family slayed in a Coast Guardsman's murder suicide has been pictured for the first time after the eight-year-old girl shot by her dad succumbed to her injuries on Christmas Day. Petty Officer 1st Class John Presnar shot and killed his wife, Gretchen Presnar, 39, and their son, 7-year-old John Jr., before turning the gun on himself at their Florida home on December 16. Presnar, 44, an electronics technician for the Coast Guard, also shot and critically injured his daughter McKenna, 8, in the shooting. Little McKenna was airlifted to hospital where she has remained since the incident. When it finally became clear she would not make a recovery, her remaining family agreed to allow her organs to be used to help save the lives of others. On Christmas Day, nine days after the murder-suicide, McKenna died. 'This incident is a tragedy that impacts an entire community. We all mourn when these tragic events occur,' Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez told the Miami Herald. 'We know domestic violence is difficult to prevent. As a community, we need to raise awareness to encourage families in need to seek assistance.' Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class John Presnar (pictured in 2012) fatally shot his 39-year-old wife Gretchen, daughter McKenna and their son John Jr, December 16 at their Florida home Little McKenna was airlifted to hospital after the December 16 incident but succumbed to her injuries on Christmas Day The children's names were not previously released but the boy has been named as John Jr. A neighbor said they never would have predicted the tragedy, calling them a 'very nice family' Courtesy Local 10/WPLG 'Today, this angel is gaining her wings. As the family is saying their final goodbyes now, many thanks to all who offered their support and prayers over the last week,' Michael Casey posted on Facebook. 'The support for the family has been overwhelming. While we mourn the loss of our loved ones during this holiday season, we rejoice in the gift of life. Many have been praying for a miracle and we think God is answering those prayers. 'The miracle has turned into the miracle of organ donation. We are grateful that other families will be receiving a very special Christmas miracle of their own because McKenna. Send your thoughts and prayers for the surgical team as they are about to engage in this Christmas miracle.' They indicated McKenna's organs were going to be used to help save the lives of others The electrician, 44, slayed his family son before turning the gun on himself. He is pictured with his son as a baby Miami police said: 'Domestic violence is difficult to prevent. As a community, we need to raise awareness to encourage families in need to seek assistance As McKenna fought for her life in the ICU, Gretchen's cousin Beth made a similar point about reaching out to those who may need help as she shared their last text message on social media As McKenna fought for her life in the ICU, her mother Gretchen's cousin Beth made a similar point about reaching out to those who may need help as she shared their last text message on social media. The electrician, 44, slayed his spouse, 39, and their seven-year-old son before turning the gun on himself. Authorities said the shooting occurred after an argument between Presnar and his wife escalated around 1am. That's when Presnar grabbed a gun and Gretchen warned her mother to leave the home and get help. Gretchen's mother wasn't injured. A neighbor said they never would have predicted such a tragedy. Esteban Aguila said to WSVN: 'The dad was really nice. The mom, the grandma, they were all a very, very nice family so its very surprising to hear something like this happened.' Presnar had served in the Coast Guard since 2001 as an electronics technician. The shooting happened at their home (pictured) When officers arrived, they found the bodies (pictured) and the wounded girl inside Presnar grabbed a gun and Gretchen warned her mother to leave the home and get help When officers arrived, they found the bodies and the wounded girl inside. Presnar had served in the Coast Guard since 2001 as an electronics technician. In a statement, the Coast Guard said it 'is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family members'. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline ON 1-800-799-7233 or by visit thehotline.org if you or anyone you know needs help. The developer of a new Sydney high-rise apartment building says he's 'stunned' by structural defects which left many residents homeless and insists any blame must placed on the construction company that built the luxury tower. Up to 3000 residents were evacuated from Opal Tower and neighbouring buildings at Sydney Olympic Park on Christmas Eve after those living in the recently completed building heard and saw cracking in a wall. While many residents were later able to return home, others were forced to spend Christmas making alternative living arrangements after 51 units in the 38-storey building were deemed unsafe. Developer Ecove released a statement on Wednesday where director Bassam Aflak described Opal Tower as a 'high quality building'. Encove, the developer of Opal Tower has called on the construction company who built the new complex to resolve its structural issues as soon as possible.' 'Ecove has delivered a project that is well above the industry standard,' Mr Aflak said. 'The important fact is that there is absolutely no danger for the residents. We're confident this localised issue can be fixed. Most people are now back in their homes.' He reassured residents they were covered under warranty and that the developer would help them through that process. 'We've all been stunned by what's happened, and we've been heartened by the way the community has rallied to support the residents, from the emergency service crews and the Salvation Army, to the local businesses, hotels and other people who have worked through Christmas to help us through this time,' Mr Aflak said. 'We, like the residents, are anxious that the builder defines the problem and resolves it as soon as possible.' A shocking photo from inside the building showed a plaster wall collapsed in a heap and a crack down the length of the wall. Yellow tape was on the door handle Daily Mail Australia has contacted the builder Icon for comment. It's not known when residents from the 51 unsafe units will be able to return home. Resident Delsa Daryaei told news.com.au her Christmas plans have been ruined. 'We spent all of our money just for two nights in a hotel,' Ms Daryaei said. 'It's Christmas, when everything is expensive. I've worked all year to have two weeks off, and now I can't do anything.' It's unknown when the residents from the 51 units deemed unsafe will be allowed to return after they were escorted to their homes early on Christmas Day to collect their belongings Top architects are 'bewildered' as to how cracks formed in the wall of the brand new tower block on Monday. Residents said they heard loud cracks coming from the 10th floor through the morning and raised the alarm about 2.45pm. Firefighters and public works engineers found a large crack along an internal support wall after the building moved one to two millimetres. A shocking photo from inside the building showed a plaster wall collapsed in a heap and a crack down the length of the wall. Yellow tape was on the door handle. Some residents said the doors to the building were jammed and police had to break them down with heavy equipment to help residents escape. Some Opal Tower residents were allowed to return home just after midnight on Christmas Eve The cause of the fault in the building, which was completed in March and opened in August, was still unknown, as planning experts slammed the developer. Urban Taskforce chief executive Chris Johnson said the cracks were 'staggering', given the building was essentially brand new. 'It's a bit bewildering to me that something like this could happen. Buildings like that go through all sorts of checks and balances,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. A notice placed on the door of one of the 51 units deemed unsafe by public works engineers They were forced to leave amidst fears the 34-storey high-rise building could collapse Mr Johnson said the problem would either be a 'fundamental error' in how the building was constructed, or the ground it was built on. 'The only other option is that something underneath the building has changed. That could well create tensions through the structure itself,' he said. Opal Tower was build on reclaimed land that used to be a swamp and is less than 300m from another mangrove swamp. The crisis prompted the NSW Government to urgently investigate 'what steps were taken to ensure the structural integrity of that building and other buildings at Olympic Park'. Residents were left to sleep on the concrete ground in a temporary shelter at the nearby Royal Agricultural Society A spokesman for Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said he was 'very concerned about the situation with the Opal Tower'. 'Obviously his first concern is the safety of the residents,' he said. 'He wants to assure the affected residents that this matter is being treated with extreme urgency.' Many claimed they were left in the dark, having received no information from emergency crews about when they might be able to return home People sat on what few chairs were available and if they were lucky, used a table to eat or play cards on Christmas Eve night A structural engineer who said he worked as a site inspector during Sydney's building boom in 2015-16 pointed the finger at dodgy business practices. 'I regularly saw poor planning, poor execution, poor workmanship during my limited site inspections, and that's only the parts I was looking at,' he wrote on social media. 'Several of the projects I've worked on required remedial action during construction due to poor planning and workmanship.' He listed six common problems that stemmed from poor communication during design revisions, corner cutting, and too much time pressure. The engineer also questioned the propagation of private certifying companies that sign off on projects without public input. 'This whole industry with the private certifying authorities, councils getting kickbacks for developments, it's a mess,' he wrote. 'I can say there is no one working on any construction project in the residential space that is independent. Residents of the impacted units were escorted back to gather their belongings Hundreds of residents milled around after they were evacuated from Opal Tower and buildings around it Firefighters carry specialist equipment inside the tower as they assessed the damage Opal Tower is only months old The 117m Opal tower has 392 apartments over 34 storeys along with a childcare centre and other businesses and amenities. Brand new high rise was built alongside numerous other similar blocks in Olympic Park as it transforms into a major population centre. The building was only completed in March and opened in August, and cost $165 million to build by developer Ecove, which built many of the others nearby. Two-bedroom apartments are on sale for $934,000 and one bedrooms for $620,000. Advertisement 'Everyone has a vested interest in seeing this thing get built in the quickest way possible. It's frankly disgusting.' However, he believed the issue with Opal Tower was likely not serious - though there could be bigger problems appearing in years to come. 'I think what's happened is that there are structural elements which haven't been grouted or only partially grouted,' he said. 'The building's not going to fall over because of it but it's not what you would consider serviceable.' Opal Tower was approved by the Planning Department as a 'state significant development' in 2015 and certified by a private certifier. 'The private certifier has the original occupation certificate and all related structural, electrical, hydraulic certificates issued by engaged engineers,' Parramatta City Council said. Some residents made alternative living arrangements after 51 units were declared unsafe About 100 people were stranded in a temporary shelter at the nearby Royal Agricultural Society building as they waited for the all clear from authorities Police said an emergency services operation was underway after concerns were raised for the structural integrity of the 34-storey Opal Tower (pictured) at Sydney Olympic Park The park many residents were forced out into until they were herded to the crisis centre Opal Tower is one of several new apartment towers in Olympic Park and cost $165 million to build. It was developed by Ecove, which also built many other new towers in the suburb along with One30 Hyde Park tower in the Sydney CBD. Two-bedroom apartments are on sale for $934,000 and one bedrooms for $620,000. 'We are deeply sympathetic for the concern and anxiety of residents and owners and are actively following up the builder and the builder's engineers to hopefully provide residents and owners with further information,' Ecove said. The tower was designed by architecture firm Bates Smart and built by Icon Construction. Three millionaires who wanted to dump 900 tonnes of rocks on the beach to protect their seaside mansions have lost their bid after a long court battle. Byron Bay property owners John James, Bob Watson and Geoffrey Tauber lost their appeal to increase the walls in the NSW Planning and Environment Court on Friday. Justice Brian John Prescott denied the application, saying the proposed expansion of the sea walls at Belongil Beach would block public access during high tide, The Daily Telegraph reported. John James, who owns one of the exclusive Byron Bay properties (pictured), lost his appeal to increase the sea walls in the NSW Planning and Environment Court on Friday The recent appeal is just the latest attempt by homeowners from the exclusive Belongil Beach (pictured) who are fighting to protect their homes against the tide The trio appealed to the court after their application to build the rock wall along 120 metres of beach was denied by the NSW Transitional Coastal Panel in January 2017. At the time, the panel refused the application, saying the wall wouldn't ensure protection of the land over 30 years and would set an 'undesirable precedent'. The panel said increasing the existing walls at Belongil Beach would also 'limit public access to, and use of, the beach'. The recent appeal is just the latest attempt by homeowners from the exclusive Belongil beach who are fighting to protect their homes against the tide. Mr James appealed to the court after his application to increase the rock wall to protect his property (pictured) was denied by the NSW Transitional Coastal Panel in January 2017 People in the Belongil Beach (pictured) area have been trying to protect their homes ever since Byron Shire Council installed a sea wall to protect a nearby town in 1964 People in the area have been trying to protect their homes ever since Byron Shire Council installed a sea wall to protect a nearby town in 1964. In 2010, property owners filed a Supreme Court case against Byron Shire Council, blaming the current walls for the erosion at their properties. Eleven homeowners were then paid $2.75 million in 2016 and told their could keep their walls under the proviso Byron Shire Council wouldn't be responsible for them. Don Jr. was joined by his ex-wife and his new girlfriend, as he celebrated a joyful family Christmas at the Trump's Mar-a-Largo estate. The president's son shared several happy snaps of himself with his five children, and ex Vanessa, at the resort which has come to be known as the Winter White House. In one, the family gather in front of a giant Christmas tree, while in another, the newly divorced, former couple prove they are adept at co-parenting as they sit on the floor to watch Kai, Donnie, Tristan, Spencer, Chloe and Don unwrap their gifts. They are later joined by Don Jr's beloved grandmother Marie - Ivana Trump's mother. 'Some pics from a great Christmas Day with the kids. #christmas #family #holiday,' he captioned the photos. His girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, was also enjoying Christmas with the Trumps at Mar-a-Lago and posted a selfie of her catching some sun in Palm Beach on Tuesday, showing off her ample cleavage, with the caption: 'Merry Christmas.... Poolside.' Don Jr. was joined by his ex-wife and his new girlfriend, as he celebrated a joyful family Christmas at the Trump's Mar-a-Largo estate Kimberly Guilfoyle shared a sweet selfie of them together at the 21 Club in New York City on Christmas Eve Meanwhile, Don Jr.'s father, Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, were notably absent from the Christmas festivities as the president has chosen to remain in the White House amid the the government shutdown. This is Kimberly and Don Jr.'s first Christmas together and the couple have had a very busy holiday season, which kicked off last month when they attended the lighting of the White House Christmas tree. They were back in Washington DC last week as well for the annual White House Christmas party. In one picture, the newly divorced couple prove they are adept at co-parenting as they sit on the floor to watch their children unwrap their gifts The president's son shared several happy snaps of himself with his five children, and ex Vanessa, at the resort which has come to be known as the Winter White House They are later joined by Don Jr's beloved grandmother Marie - Ivana Trump's mother On Monday, the two had dinner at the famous 21 Club in Manhattan before making the trip down to Mar-a-Lago. Guilfoyle shared a sweet selfie of them together at the venue on Christmas Eve. 'Merry Christmas to all,' she wrote. 'We had a lovely holiday dinner at 21 Club where I used to go with my father whose Birthday was yesterday, Miss him so much. RIP. 'Don and his family loved to go here as well.' The couple then headed to Mar-a-Lago to spend Christmas with other members of the Trump family. Prior to that, Don Jr had spent a few days in North Carolina duck hunting with his eldest son Donnie. The president's oldest son recently revealed that his father is a 'regifter' who 'may or may not' have once given him the same gift he presented to his dad the year before. Meanwhile, Kimberly Guilfoyle posted a photo of herself poolside at Mar-a-Lago showing off her ample cleavage (above) on Christmas Day Presents: She is in Palm Beach celebrating the Christmas holiday with her beau Donald Trump Jr and his five children (a shot of the family tree shared by Don Jr) Gang's all here: Donald Jr had posted a photo of his holiday card with his children and estranged wife Vanessa on Monday He told Extra that because he is his father's namesake, he 'got regifted all the things that were monogrammed for him at times.' And he says that one Christmas he called his dad out on the regifting, explaining that he was the one who'd had the item monogrammed. He also joked that 'it would be a wonderful thing' if he could tweet his father's holiday dinner commentary. The elder Trump announced Saturday he will remain in Washington through Christmas. 'Due to the shutdown, President Trump will remain in Washington, D.C. and the first lady will return from Florida so they can spend Christmas together,' White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Trump reiterated Sanders through a tweet, writing: 'I will not be going to Florida because of the Shutdown - Staying in the White House! #MAGA.' Guilfoyle has been keeping busy in the Florida sunshine - speaking at a Student Action Summit and attending the Winter Gala where she posed with friend and vocal Trump supporter Rush Limbaugh. She posted photos of her and the radio host at the event with the caption: 'Thrilled to be a part of Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit and Winter Gala in Mar-a-Lago with this years Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient my friend the one and only Rush Limbaugh.' Limbaugh became especially vocal on Wednesday during his show while discussing Trump's plans to sign a spending bill without the border wall, which he eventually did not sign, leading to the shut down. Guilfoyle went on to show her extravagant view of palm trees and beach from The Mar-a-Lago Club last week. A mother who lost her husband and son in treacherous surf on Christmas Eve has spoken of the moment she watched them drown. The woman's husband, 45, and son, 20, were standing on the water's edge when a freak wave dragged them into the water. Emergency services were called to the Colonnades, on Philip Island, Victoria, at about 5.30pm after receiving reports that two men and a boy had got into difficulty. The father was pulled from the water unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene and his 20-year-old son also died at the scene. Thankfully, the youngest son, aged just 11, was able to swim to safety and was taken to a nearby hospital in a stable condition. The mother who lost her husband and son in a treacherous surf on Christmas eve has revealed her heartbreak Witnesses said the mother was screaming hysterically as paramedics tried in vain to save the victims' lives. Speaking to The Age the mother has spoken of the horrifying moment her husband and son were swept out to sea. 'They were just standing in the water,' she said. 'They were holding hands and playing, splashing water at each other. Then there was this big wave, they got knocked over and then more and more came. 'I was there, I saw everything. I was shouting for help. I was so helpless.' The woman has asked to remain anonymous until family members in India can be notified of the deaths. The woman explained that, contrary to previous reports, her husband and son were not swimming as her husband did know how. She also said that he would never put their children at risk by taking them out of their depths. She added: 'People are making comments that he must have been drinking. My husband does not drink. Was my 11-year-old drinking? What people are saying is awful.' The family, of Indian descent, had traveled to Phillip Island, near Melbourne, to spend some quality time together at the beach on Christmas Eve. The notorious stretch of beach, which is an extension of the Woolamai Surf Beach, is well known for its dangerous rips and strong surf. It was only last year the beach claimed the lives of two other men. A 28-year-old Indian national drowned while swimming on Christmas Day, while another 46-year-old died after getting caught in a rip on New Year's Day. Emergency services were called to The Colonnades about 5.30pm on Monday after they received reports of three men caught in difficult waters off The Boulevard at Newhaven Woolamai Beach surf lifesaving club only yesterday issued a statement on its Facebook page, urging swimmers to avoid the beach due to perilous conditions. 'Please note that the majority of our patrolling members are volunteers, please don't make them come away from their families to rescue you!' the message stated. Following the tragic incident, the lifesaving club issued a repast safety warning message, asking swimmers to remain out of the surf. 'Woolamai Beach will remain closed tomorrow and we ask that members of the public do not enter the water,' the message stated. Authorities have urged swimmers to take extra caution given that in the last 25 days, 25 swimmers have tragically lost their lives. The recent Christmas tragedy comes less than 12 hours after an elderly couple died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a road in Queensland. The man and woman aged in their 70s, were crossing Ross River Road in Mysterton, Townsville about 7.20pm on Monday when they were struck and died at the scene. Emergency services attended the scene and the driver of a blue Mazda SUV was taken to hospital and treated for shock, The Courier Mail reported. An eyewitness, who had crossed the same intersection just moments earlier, told the publication she heard a noise and then saw two people 'flying' through the air. 'When we saw it happened we just broke down and cried,' the eyewitness said. A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson told ABC News the incident was an extremely distressing accident scene. The daughter of an elderly couple killed in a horrific car accident minutes after leaving a Christmas Eve church service has responded to the tragedy in social media post. Malcolm, 76, and Esme Beck, 76, attended a service in Townsville, in northeast Queensland, with their 46-year-old daughter Annette. The married couple were killed instantly when they were struck by a blue SUV as they left the church and attempted to cross Ross River Road at about 7:20pm Monday. Malcolm, 76, and Esme Beck, 76, were killed instantly when they were struck by a blue SUV on Christmas Eve Their daughter, who was uninjured, witnessed the horrific incident and attempted CPR until emergency services took over (pictured: Mr and Ms Beck with their three daughters) Their daughter, who was uninjured, witnessed the horrific incident and attempted CPR until emergency services took over. Sharon Beck, one of the couple's three daughters, notified friends about the death in a private Facebook post given to the ABC. 'We are in shock and grief at losing our beautiful, loving, generous, precious parents, Mal and Esme Beck,' she wrote. 'We trust in our beloved Jesus who gives us the promise of new forever life.' Sharon travelled to Townsville to be with her sister following the tragedy. The couple moved from Toowoomba to Cairns in 2000 after Mr Beck accepted a teaching position. Sharon Beck, one of the couple's three daughters, notified friends about the death in a private Facebook post The couple, aged in their 70s, were hit in front of their daughter who returned to the scene Tuesday (pictured) Acting Inspector Stephen Batterham said the couple had come all the way from Cairns to visit their daughter for the holiday season They retired in 2008 and remained in Cairns. Sharon said her parents did everything together. 'They loved to help others, and to show God's love in tangible ways,' she said. She explained the couple assisted refugees settle into Australia as English tutors and provided after-school programs for children from diverse backgrounds. One of their daughters, Carolyn, has been inundated with condolences on her Facebook page. 'I'm so sorry to hear about your parents I was upset when I heard about it,' wrote one person. 'Very sorry to hear of this tragic loss. Your parents touched and influenced so many young lives,' commented another. Acting Inspector Stephen Batterham said the couple had come all the way from Cairns to visit their daughter for the holiday season. 'Christmas is a time when families come together to celebrate and we can begin to understand the grief and loss that is being felt by the families of these people,' he said. Bystanders and first responders provided first aid, spending nearly half an hour administering CPR The driver of the blue Mazda SUV was taken to hospital after being drug and alcohol tested Bystanders and first responders provided first aid, spending nearly half an hour administering CPR. Despite their efforts, the couple were unable to be revived. The driver of the SUV, a 36-year-old local, was taken to hospital and treated for shock. He was tested on the spot for drugs and alcohol but he returned a negative reading. His vehicle was seized by police as part of a forensic crash unit investigation. Though the investigation is in its early stages, Acting Insp Batterham says there are no indications the driver had broken any road rules, and no charges have been laid. A former Apprentice winner was left sore and shocked after she was allegedly attacked at a wedding. Leah Totton, who won the BBC series in 2013, was at the event with her fiance on Saturday when she was assaulted, reports claim. Police were called to the venue and removed a man who is believed to be 'well known' to the doctor. Ms Totton, who opened a string of skin care clinics after winning the 250,000 investment from Lord Sugar, spent Christmas with her family after she was treated for injuries and shock. Leah Totton, who won the BBC series in 2013, was at the event with her fiance on Saturday when she was assaulted, reports claim. It is unclear exactly where the wedding was taking place. It comes a day after it emerged Elle Stevenson, another former apprentice contestant, was left with broken cheekbones after she was beaten up in the street in London by two men who tried to steal her mobile phone. A source told the Daily Mirror that Ms Totton 'conducted herself with dignity throughout.' The source added: 'It was dreadful for the newly married couple to have anything like that happen on their wedding day. Ms Totton (right) who opened a string of skin care clinics after winning the 250,000 investment from Lord Sugar, (pictured together after she won the show, left) spent Christmas with her family after she was treated for injuries and shock 'Leah is a fantastic young woman, a true friend, a talented and compassionate professional and a brilliant example to other women. 'No woman should experience what she did but she'll come through this. We feel very proud of her and support her fully.' Ms Totton has recently announced plans to expand her empire. She also talked about her engagement in October. A spokesman for Ms Totton has been contacted by Mailonline. Former Apprentice contestant Elle Stevenson, 25, was attacked after denying thieves the chance to steal her phone in London Ms Stevenson was left with severe facial injuries including broken bones in her cheek which will require plastic surgery. She also suffered severe damage to one of her eyes which means she may have lost most of her sight in her left eye. But the 25-year-old, from Windsor in Berkshire, said she feels deeply let down by police, who have refused to review CCTV footage captured at the scene of the crime, which Miss Stevenson believes would help identify her attackers. Yesterday she told MailOnline that she has felt vulnerable and scared since the assault, which has left her unable to sleep. Ms Stevenson's eye remained blackened and bruised after doctors treated her injuries (left) Ms Stevenson before the attack, right She said of the Metropolitan Police: 'They just don't care. They have no interest. They've done nothing.' Businesswoman Ms Stevenson described the terrifying assault near Charing Cross station, which came at the end of a night of Christmas partying on December 16. 'They battered me,' she said. 'One man went behind me and pushed me and the next thing I knew my face went forward and was met with two punches. 'I was smacked squarely in the face - I feel like they tee'd me up. 'He punched me on my cheek and fractured my cheek and I have damage to my eye socket. 'I can't see out of that eye at the moment and I have to wait for all the swelling to go down before doctors will be able to see if my eyesight has been affected permanently. 'My memory has been affected and I am getting confused which has left me feeling really vulnerable. My dad is having to drive me everywhere and I feel like a 12-year-old.' A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, when asked about why no action was being taken to view CCTV of the attack on the young woman, said: 'The CCTV cameras in McDonalds did not cover the area where the offences took place. 'Since the two women were unable to provide a time at which they entered McDonalds and they stated that they would not be able to identify the suspects if they saw them again officers spoke with the victim and explained that there was insufficient likelihood of suspects being identified to warrant analysis of around 90 minutes of CCTV footage from McDonalds. 'Any new information - including further details from the victim as to the time that she was in McDonalds - will be investigated.' She described the man who hit her from the front as 5ft 10in, white, with stubble, and wearing a distinctive bright red puffer jacket. Both men had Eastern European accents. She said: 'I could 100 per cent ID them and police could follow where they went from all the CCTV cameras around Charing Cross.' Ms Stevenson, who at 21 was the youngest contestant in her cohort, survived until week six of the reality show in 2015. North and South Korea have symbolically joined their railway networks together as they begin work to reconnect transport networks between the two countries. But construction on the project cannot actually begin because of international sanctions banning the import of metals and energy products into North Korea. Instead, engineers from the North and South - which are still technically at war - will spend the next two years conducting joint surveys and doing design work. Officials from North and South Korea joined their railway networks together in a symbolic ceremony on Wednesday to mark the start of a project to connect the two countries The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the border town of Kaesong, in North Korea, but actual construction cannot start because of sanctions against Pyongyang The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Panmun Station in the border city of Kaesong on Wednesday. A train full of 100 South Korean government officials, ministers and family members displaced by the Korean War was driven to the station for the event. They were in turn greeted by a 100-strong North Korean delegation, as well as officials from the United Nations, China, Russia and Mongolia - amid wider plans to link North Korea with the trans-Siberia and trans-China railways. But, underlining the scale of the challenges facing the project, even getting a train to Panmun required South Korea to obtain a permit from the UN Security Council. Kim Yun Hyok, the North Korean vice railways minister, said the Koreas should push further with engagement instead of 'wobbling on the path while listening to what others think,' designed as a rebuke to Seoul over its close ties with America. North Korea has repeatedly voiced displeasure about the slow progress in the reconciliatory projects agreed between their leaders. North Korea's Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun Hyok (left), shakes hands with South Korea's Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee (right), as he urged the South to ignore orders from Washington and push ahead with reunification projects South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon (right) talks with Ri Son Gwon (left), the chairman of North Korea's state agency in charge of inter-Korean ties Around 100 South Korea officials met with a similarly sized North Korean delegation at Panmun Station, in the town of Kaesong, for the ceremony The Seoul government plans to conduct further surveys on North Korean railways and roads before drawing up a detailed blueprint for the project. Actual construction will proceed depending on the progress in the North's denuclearization and the state of sanctions against the country, the ministry said. 'We plan to hold detailed negotiations with the North to coordinate on the specific levels we want to achieve in the modernization of railways and roads and how to carry out the project,' said Eugene Lee, the ministry's spokeswoman. South Korea has set aside some $600,000 for the project, but experts say the North's transport infrastructure is so dilapidated that it could take decades and absorb billions of dollars to modernise. South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to the ceremony during a September summit in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a step toward joint industrial zones and reconnecting transport links. South and North Korean officials sign a concrete railway tie during the ceremony. The countries will now conduct surveys and design work since construction cannot start The North and South Korean delegation were watched by families displaced by the Korean war along with officials from China, Russia and Mongolia A train carrying the South Korean delegates arrives at Panmun Station for the ceremony It is another example of the thaw in relations between the Koreas, which began at the Winter Olympics and saw Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in holding hands while listening to K-Pop together. The same thawing also saw American President Donald Trump meet with Kim in Singapore for the first ever summit between the two countries. Trump let the summit full of admiration for Kim and certain he had achieved concrete steps towards 'denuclearising' the North, but progress has stalled over what that word actually means. Pyongyang insists that it has taken several concrete steps towards winding down its nuclear weapons program, such as destroying the underground Punggye-ri testing site, and that it is time for America to reciprocate by lifting sanctions. However, Washington is insisting that North Korea give up its entire nuclear arsenal first before sanctions are lifted later - an idea that Pyongyang has balked at. A second summit between Trump and Kim is scheduled to take place in Washington sometime early next year, which the US leader has said he is 'looking forward' to. The Gatwick drone investigation has been so embarrassing for law enforcement the Metropolitan Police could be called in to take over from Sussex Police. Politicians have called for city detectives to head out to Crawley and handle the probe into how a flying device entered airspace and grounded 1,000 flights just days before Christmas. As many as 140,000 passengers were stranded, disrupted and some were left waiting on planes for hours as the runway was sealed off. Officers failed to find the drone and then arrested an innocent couple before releasing them without charge. The following day, officers said there may never have been a drone in the first place - despite MailOnline receiving footage which showed evidence to the contrary. Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said it was a 'possibility' there may never have been any drones in the area, despite scores of sightings which led to the closure of the airport for three days and caused massive disruption for passengers. Lord Harris of Haringey, the former Home Office representative to the Metropolitan Police Authority said the matter hit critical national infrastructure meaning the nation's most elite should be called in. Chaos was caused by drone sightings at Gatwick Airport on December 19 as passengers were left stranded Passengers trying to get home for the festive season were trapped in the airport and on planes as police were called in He told The Telegraph: 'Clearly if you treated it like a terrorist threat, the Metropolitan Police would have been leading the operation,' he added. 'The old days of calling in Scotland Yard for a crime the local force can't solve have probably long passed, but yes you could have done that. 'However, the margins between somebody playing around at an airport...and somebody trying to do serious harm is probably quite a fine one and difficult to determine.' Military equipment was set up as snipers were called in to shoot down a drone - but it was not found Details of the drone sightings that brought Gatwick to a standstill Sussex Police today released details of the sightings that took place from 9pm on December 19 to December 21. They are: The first report was at around 9am when an airport security officer finishing work reported seeing two drones flying near Perimeter Road South, describing their cross shape and flashing lights. Half an hour later at about 9.30pm six people, including five police officers, reported within 15 minutes of each other seeing a drone, with white and red lights, near the runway. Early the next morning at around 1.15am on 20 December, six people three airport workers and three police officers reported over 30 minutes seeing a drone near the runway. Over about 30 minutes at about 5pm on 21 December six people a member of the public and five police officers reported seeing a drone near a hangar. In a further report at around 7.15pm on 21 December a pilot reported seeing a drone near a stand on the airfield. The account was corroborated by a member of staff. Advertisement Lord Harris was also involved in telling the government two years ago the battle against drones would come, and urgent research was needed. John Woodcock MP, a member of the Commons home affairs committee, said there was a 'gap in expertise' which needed to be filled. He said: 'This whole sorry episode shows why we need a nationally agreed and understood robust procedure for dealing with incidents like this. 'The country has been caught on the hop. There may be a case for a different police force [to get involved].' A 50,000 reward is now being offered by Gatwick Airport to help catch those behind the chaos. Paul Gait, 47, and Elaine Kirk, 54, were held for 36 hours by Sussex Police and said they were 'completely violated' when their home was searched. Mr Gait had an alibi in that he was at work and his employer said officers were told, but refused to listen. There were dozens of sightings of the alleged drone but police said they were struggling because they were going on 'reports' and not solid evidence via reliable footage. They later said a broken drone was found around the perimeter of the airport. Security Minister Ben Wallace said drone detection systems will be deployed throughout the UK, with Gatwick spending 5m in recent days to prevent copycat attacks. Drug smugglers on the Costa del Sol tried and failed to outrun the police in a dramatic high-speed sea chase on Christmas Eve which ended on a popular beach. Members of the Civil Guard tried to stop the gang in the spectacular pursuit which at one stage saw the police boat ramming the narcos and forcing them to try and reach the shore of the beach in Manilva, Malaga. This is the second time the beach, popular with British tourists, has been the scene of a drugs drama. Dramatic footage shows how the boats both reached high speeds before the police vessel deliberately rams the narcos In July, when it was packed with holidaymakers, another boat loaded with drugs landed on the sand in broad daylight. The Christmas Eve chase saw the narco boat pursued by the police at high speed whilst a helicopter hovered over ahead. Dramatic footage shows how the boats both reached high speeds before the police vessel deliberately rams the narcos, forcing them to stop and limp back to shore. Despite the police helicopter landing on the beach first, the drug smugglers still tried to make their escape. The three occupants of the boat jumped out and starting to run while throwing stones at the police. The three occupants of the boat were detained on Sabinillas beach in Manilva, Malaga The Christmas Eve chase saw the narco boat pursued by the police at high speed whilst a helicopter hovered over ahead All of them were eventually caught and taken into custody. The detainees are a Spaniard and two Moroccans, all about 30 years of age. A fourth man was arrested as he sat at the wheel of a getaway car. The narco boat was apparently on its way to Morocco to pick up a shipment of drugs. The sea chase lasted for several kilometres before ending on the beach of Sabinillas. Police have been stepping up drugs patrols in this area of the Costa del Sol coast. On the earlier occasion in July, the drug runners were caught in the act by a plain clothes policeman who happened to be on the beach with his family. Rakhi Srivastava was allegedly drugged and pushed off a cliff by her ex-husband over a dispute about property A doctor allegedly pushed his ex-wife off a cliff and updated her social media to make it seem like she was still alive. Dr Dharmendra Pratap Singh has been arrested in connection with the death of Rakhi Srivastava, after allegedly drugging her and pushing her down a hill. According to police, Singh admitted meeting Ms Srivastava, then offering her drinks laced with sedative and pushed her from a cliff in Pokhara, Nepal, June 3. Ms Srivastava, who was lived in the area of Shahpur in Uttar Pradesh, India, was reported missing by her brother, who alleged she had been abducted by her second husband, according to Indian media. But police began examining Singh's phone calls and arrested two of his alleged accomplices, Pramod Kumar Singh and Deshdeepak Nishad, on Saturday. Police say Singh regularly changed Ms Srivastava's Facebook with updates from her phone in the months after her death in an attempt to fool police and her family. But her phone was found in October where police say it had been tracked to Guwahati, around 1,247 miles away from where she lived in Uttar Pradesh. According to police Ms Srivastava's Facebook account was updated by her former husband to make it seem like she was still alive Singh confessed to the police that he sent the alleged victim's phone to Guwahati via another accomplice, police said. STF IG Amitabh Yash told the Times of India: 'We arrested the doctor and his two accomplices for killing Rakhi. 'Dr Singh and his two aides went to Nepal and took Rakhi out where offered her a sedative-laced drink and pushed her off a cliff in Pokhra. 'However, even after killing Rakhi, they kept updating her social media account through her mobile phone.' Singh was said to have married Ms Srivastava, who runs a nursing home, in secret in 2011 while still married to another woman. When his wife found out the couple parted ways and the couple fell out over property ownership, police told the Times of India. Luken, who starred as Bobby 'Boom Boom' Surette in Fox's comedy-musical drama 'Glee' (pictured), has been arrested for a DUI 'Glee' actor Jesse Luken has been arrested for drink driving after allegedly mangling his car in a serious crash over the Christmas period. Police were called to the scene in Glendale, California where they found Luken's Toyota on the curb with its airbag deployed, TMZ reported. The actor, born in 1983, was given a breathalyser test on the spot, which police say he failed. Luckily no other cars were involved in the crash, but it appeared to have been serious as the right front tire was 'mangled', according to TMZ. Luken, who was in the driver's seat, was arrested for a DUI, booked and later released. He had a recurring role as Bobby 'Boom Boom' Surette in Fox's hit musical comedy-drama 'Glee' for four episodes in 2012. Luken (right) starred as the jock Bobby in Glee and has numerous TV and film credits to his name He also has numerous film and television appearances to his name including in hit shows NCIS and Law & Order: LA. Luken is not the first 'Glee' cast member to have a run in with the law. Naya Rivera, who played cheerleader Santana, was arrested and charged with domestic battery after her husband Ryan Dorsey called the cops on her last year. Mark Salling, who played Noah 'Puck' Puckerman, took his own life earlier this year while awaiting sentencing in his child porn case. He was 35. Courtesy of Jatara McGee A pair of divers were surprised when a turtle photo-bombed their underwater selfie at the Great Barrier Reef. Gabriel Guzman, 33, captured the unlikely moment while diving at Saxon Reef, which is well known for its turtle populations. The series of selfies feature show Mr Guzman and diving partner Shannon Myers posing on either side of the inquisitive turtle. Gabriel Guzman, 33, snapped the unlikely picture while diving at the Great Barrier Reef The area of the Great Barrier Reef is well known for its turtle populations Despite the many challenges facing marine life, Mr Guzman says he tries to look for positives Coral sits at the base of the picture and the bright blue water captures the rest of the screen. Mr Guzman, from Chile, said he uses his photography to showcase the fragility of the underwater ecosystem. 'My intention with my photography is simple, to show the beauty of the ocean, the marine life, and the fragile underwater ecosystem. 'Plastic, straws, pollution, global warming and coral bleaching are one of the most popular topics nowadays.' Mr Guzman, from Chile, said he uses his photography to showcase the fragility of the underwater ecosystem Despite the many challenges facing marine life, Mr Guzman says he tries to look for positives. 'I try to stay positive and show to the world that there's still hope, and many places on earth remains stunningly beautiful, being the main reason we need to fight for it,' Mr Guzman said. Saxon Reef is located between Norman Reef and Hastings Reef and covers 1.9 square kilometres. Despite being smaller than other reefs in the area, it provides an abundance of ecosystems for snorkelers and scuba divers to explore. Rescuers in India have been forced to abandon attempts to save 15 miners trapped in a shaft for nearly two weeks due to ineffective machinery. Crews have desperately battled rising water levels and a lack of powerful equipment yesterday in a race against the clock to reach the miners, who have been stuck in the flooded mineshaft since December 13. The so-called 'rat-hole' diggers - men who risk their lives working in illegal mines -became stuck after water gushed in from a nearby river, in the remote village of Ksan in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Dozens of emergency workers have since been racing against time to rescue the miners from a 330ft (106 metre) shaft. There has been no contact with the workers but their families are clinging to hopes that they are in an air pocket. The 15 miners became trapped in an illegal mine on in the remote northeastern state of Meghalaya after water gushed into the shaft from a nearby river Engineers are struggling with poor machinery that cannot cope with the deluge of water in the pit. The mine is an old, illegal so-called rat-hole mine that are common in Meghalaya as they are dug by villagers but are very dangerous as the coal is pulled out from narrow, horizontal seams. Five of the 20 who were in the mine at the time have escaped the flooding and managed to climb out. Rescue chief S.K. Shastri said nothing has been heard from the miners, but that 'in such cases we always presume they are alive'. He said: 'The water level hasn't gone down an inch - it increased after it rained. 'The two 25 horsepower pumps were ineffective. We need up to 12 100 horsepower pumps to drain out water.' The river is also still pouring into the shaft making it dangerous to send down divers, according to Shastri, who added that the collapse of the tunnel walls could have caused leaks into other mines. Rescuers work at the site of a coal mine that collapsed in Ksan, in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, India Most of those trapped are said to be migrant labourers from neighbouring states. A miner who survived the flooding told reporters five men escaped as water burst into the pit. The 21-year-old said: 'I was about five feet away from the ground that morning and on my way up, when I suddenly felt a lot of air and then saw water.' Today Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, tweeted calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and get high pressure pumps to help with the rescue bid. SK Sastri, an officer in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which has been waiting to resume the rescue operation for days, told NDTV: 'We have not found anyone, dead or alive, so we are waiting for support from the state government to carry on the rescue operation.' Over 70 personnel from the NDRF have been deployed in the rescue operation and state officials are in the area to help, but the operation cannot continue without more powerful equipment. The National Disaster Response Force emergency workers around a crane after 15 miners became trapped by flooding in an illegal coal mine in Ksan village Police superintendent Sylvester Nongtynger told ABC News: 'Lots of cases of illegal mines have been registered. 'A very big operation is underway to rescue the trapped miners. However, we have temporarily halted the water pumping operation because we need a much bigger pump.' Another distraught official who did not want to be named also told ABC News: 'It all depends on almighty if the miners can be rescued. Pray for us.' Mining was banned in the mineral-rich state by a federal court in 2014 after local communities said it was polluting water bodies. But the practice continues with locals illegally extracting coal using dangerous 'rat hole' mines. This involves digging into the side of hills and then burrowing horizontal tunnels to reach a coal seam. At least 15 miners were killed after they were trapped in another flooded rat-hole mine in Meghalaya in 2012. Their bodies were never recovered. RAF supremo Sir Hugh Dowding believed that fairies and gnomes were real A letter has come to light revealing that the man who masterminded the British victory in the Battle of Britain believed in fairies and gnomes, as well as reincarnation. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was in charge of RAF fighter command and organised the sophisticated air defence system that defeated Hitler in the skies. Now, a letter reveals how he shared his spiritualist beliefs with a female acquaintance named only as Mrs Bines in 1944. He also outlines his views on reincarnation and tells of receiving a message from his first wife - even though she had died 24 years earlier. The letter, which is dated June 23, 1944, has sold at auction for 350 with International Autograph Auctions, of Nottingham. Dowding writes: 'Fairies, gnomes & nature spirits in general I now accept holus bolus as to their existence. 'As to photographs of them I retain a healthy skepticism unless I know all about the conditions in which the photos were produced. 'My doubts about reincarnation have now been removed also.' The Air Chief Marshal was a member of the Theosophical Society which advocated a belief in reincarnation. He wrote of encounters with deceased Royal Air Force pilots in his sleep, describing them as 'spirits who flew fighters from mountain-top runways made of light'. A letter written by Second World War RAF boss Sir Hugh Dowding has been sold at an auction in Nottingham and reveals his beliefs in fairies and gnomes He shared his spiritualist beliefs with a female acquaintance named only as Mrs Bines in 1944 He also believed fairies were 'essential to the growth of plants and the welfare of the vegetable kingdom'. In the letter, he discloses that he received a message from his first wife Clarice Maud Vancourt, who died suddenly in 1920, about the reincarnation of animals. He writes: 'Knowing my interest in the matter, my wife has sent me a long message about the animals which I hope to publish in my next book. 'Animals have their own sphere, but pets can be retained in the human spheres so long as the love-link lasts.' Richard Davie, of International Autograph Auctions, said: 'Unfortunately, we do not know anything more about Mrs Bines, although she seems to have shared similar beliefs to Dowding. 'Dowding's letter is a truly remarkable item in my opinion for the revelation that he makes in regards to his belief in fairies and gnomes, and to having received a 'long message' from his wife - who had been dead for 24 years. 'When you consider this man led us to victory in the Battle of Britain, its contents are quite staggering.' Dowding married his second wife, Muriel Whiting, in 1951. He died aged 87 in 1970. Sir Dowding organised the sophisticated air defence system that defeated Hitler in the skies Two strangers married on Christmas Day after meeting for the first time at an airport in their wedding gear - and boarded a plane to Las Vegas. Sarah Edwards, nee Elliott, 34, matched with Paul Edwards, 36, online and within days decided to get hitched. They matched online on December 15th and exchanged messages and spoke to each other for the first time on December 22nd. The loved-up couple spoke again on the 23rd had decided to marry - despite never meeting face-to-face. Sarah Elliott, 34, and Paul Edwards, 36, at their marriage in Las Vegas in the US. They first matched online on December 15 They committed to each other and booked a wedding venue - the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Meeting for the first time at Gatwick Airport on Christmas Eve, the duo boarded a plane in full wedding gear and jetted off to Las Vegas to get married. Mrs Edwards, a nanny originally from New Zealand but who lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said: 'We instantly clicked - there was an undeniable connection. 'I feel like Paul's my best friend already. 'We're not looking at everything through rose-tinted glasses. We know it will be challenging, but we're willing to work together. 'I'm usually such a logical person, but all the rules have been thrown out. Meeting for the first time at Gatwick Airport on Christmas Eve, the duo boarded a plane in full wedding gear and jetted off to Las Vegas to get married 'We've both tried to do things the traditional way before and it didn't work out for either of us. 'We get on so well and just thought: 'Why not have that commitment to actually making a marriage work from the very start?' 'I'm not interested in just going on dates looking for things I don't like about that person. 'I'm committing to making this marriage absolutely work - like they did in the old days. 'It's traditional, older generations might have only met their partner once or twice before getting married. The couple after their wedding, posing in front of a fountain at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas 'It's similar, we just hadn't even met before.' Mrs Edwards and her new husband, who works in broadcasting, met online on dating app Bumble and instantly hit it off. Mr Edwards was due to marry in March last year, but his fiancee left him four weeks before the wedding, according to his new wife. She said: 'We've done it the normal way before, I was married and Paul went out with someone for eight years and she left him a week before the wedding.' Mrs Edwards broke up with her ex in February - however they are still living together, but are in the process of selling the house they own. She said: 'I saw his profile, thought he looked nice and loved what he had written about being open and honest. 'When we matched, I sent him a message. The couple pictured meeting in public for the first time at Gatwick Airport (left) and with their luggage as they prepare to board a flight to Las Veas 'I thought it was funny that his name was Paul as I currently share a house with two other people called Paul - so I said: 'I've already got two Paul's in my life, why not add a third?' 'He replied to my message saying: 'Apparently the third Paul is always the best and I don't have a Sarah in my life so I guess that would make you number one.' 'We spoke on the phone on Saturday night for two-and-a-half hours and then again on Sunday morning for an hour-and-a-half. 'Sunday evening we were chatting away on the phone and calling each other for three hours. 'I can't remember who brought it up, but one of us said: 'We get on so well - maybe we should get married'. Mr Edwards places the engagement ring on his soon to be wife's finger. He told how he was due to marry in March last year, but his fiancee left him four weeks before the wedding 'The other one went: 'Yeah, maybe we should' and it literally spiralled from there. 'There was a moment between us where we both thought: 'We totally could do this. How amazing would it be if we got married on our first date?' 'By Monday morning - three days after we'd first started talking - we'd agreed to get married. 'We both just thought: 'Let's do this'.' Sarah knew the idea was 'crazy' but has decided to let her heart rule over her head. She said: 'I know it's totally crazy - hardly any of my friends are supporting me, in fact, a lot of them are disowning me. The couple get to know each other after their first meeting at Gatwick Airport 'I haven't told my family yet. As they're on the other side of the world we don't talk as often as we should.' Father-of-two Mr Edwards, from Chichester, West Sussex, has two daughters aged 13 and 15 from a previous relationship, and is also yet to tell his children about his new wife-to-be. Mr Edwards said: 'There was no awkwardness it was very natural. 'We continued the next day - chatting for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. The newlyweds both met at the airport in their wedding gear before boarding a plane to Las Vegas (left) and (right) one of the early text messages between the pair in which one writes: Let's get married then' 'We talked about our past experiences and what we wanted in the future - and I really opened up to her, more than I have with anyone before. 'I felt a very strong connection from that moment. 'We decided to video chat so we knew we were real people. 'I think the whole idea came about because I asked her what she was doing for Christmas. 'She told me she thought she was going to a friend's house but she wasn't too sure. Mrs Edwards sits down for a drink after meeting her soon to be husband at Gatwick Airport 'I said I'd probably be doing the same as my family are all away in Egypt over Christmas. 'I said to her: 'How about we have our first date on Christmas Day? I'll come and meet you.' 'She said: 'That sounds really nice.' 'Then I had another light bulb moment and suggested: 'How about we go away on holiday for our first date?' Life's too short. 'The subject of marriage came up and Sarah said: 'I have always thought about going on that program where couples get married at first sight. 'I laughed and said: 'Let's get married then' . The couple, seen here chatting before they boarded the plane, say they couldn't be better suited to one another 'She said: 'Don't tempt me'. 'But later that day she called me and said: 'I've bought the wedding dress'. 'I said: 'Are you serious?' and she told me: 'If I say something I mean it.' 'She asked me if I still wanted to get married and I thought: 'Yeah, why not? I couldn't imagine anyone being better suited to me.' 'It's absolutely mental. 'We just carried on talking and planning and deciding where we could go and get married at such short notice. 'We looked at the Caribbean, New York and Las Vegas and Vegas just seemed to stick, it's the place to run away and elope. 'I was supposed to get married in March this year, but everything happens for a reason - I'm a true believer in that. Mrs Edwards has been married before, but it only lasted for six months. The new couple moments after they tied the knot. They are now hoping to move in together when they get back to the UK - but she still lives with her ex partner, and they are in the process of selling their house She says the pair get on so well because they are so alike. She said: 'Paul's personality is exactly like mine. We're both very bubbly, open, honest, we'd do anything for anyone. 'He's caring, loyal, silly, a wind up, playful, intelligent and of course, spontaneous and impulsive. 'We have so much in common. I've never met anyone whose brain works like mine but his does. 'Our minds jump all over the place with a million ideas a day. We both have big goals and dreams.' She is adamant the couple will go the distance. She said: 'Our marriage will work because we're completely open and honest about everything in our lives. I have faith. 'If we have any problems, we'll talk them through. 'We can talk about absolutely everything - there's nothing I'd feel uncomfortable discussing with him because I know there's no judgement there. 'Paul was wavering the other day and getting anxious. He said: 'Are we really going to do this?' 'We talked it through - as a team - and decided we had as good a chance as anyone. 'By the end of the conversation, we were like: 'We've got this'.' The pair decided to meet for the first time at Gatwick airport on Christmas Eve, and Paul suprised Sarah with a bunch of flowers. Sarah said: 'I'd only just met him at the airport and he brought flowers and got down on one knee. 'He bought the perfect ring, it's got six diamonds on it. He's not a rich man but he knows how to treat someone. 'He bought me a watch too, I don't know how he knew I needed one. 'The flight was about 11 hours. It was hard, I was freaking out. I didn't have cold feet bus I was scared. 'I'd just met this guy in person for the first time but we already had a connection. 'We talked about this before we met, it's not about what someone looks like it's what they're like on the inside. 'He's amazingly kind, he's incredible. He really is. 'He can get on with anyone and I can get on with anyone, it's amazing. The whole thing is amazing. 'We got married at the Bellagio, My dress was incredible. It was huge, I've been walking up and down the strip in it. 'The wedding was amazing, the minister was great - we wanted to write our own vows but we didn't have time. 'The minister was Roland August, the Mobile Minister - he's starred in a Katy Perry Video. 'He wrote our vows for us, and even though he'd never met us they were very personal and sweet. 'I'm sure the wedding night will be amazing too. 'You can have sexual attraction, but at the end of the day they have to be a good person. 'You think you know people, but it doesn't matter how long you've been with someone for, they can surprise you and not in a good way. 'I'd been with my ex for three years and he turned out to not be capable of treating me right. You just don't know. 'So this time I thought: 'Why not take a chance and have a bit of faith?' Paul said: 'It's absolutely mental. 'If you'd have asked me nine days ago whether I would meet someone, start talking to them and then go running off to Vegas to get married without meeting face-to-face I'd say you were crazy. 'I don't know what happened, it's so weird as both of radius' on Bumble weren't even that close so I have no idea how we came across each other in the first place. 'Sarah just seemed really lovely, when she first phoned me we spoke for over three hours. Mr and Mrd Edwards hope to move in together when they return to the UK. She said: 'My ex and I broke up in February, 'Paul and I have tried to talk about moving in together, but it's difficult because of my current situation. 'Hopefully it'll only be a few more weeks before my house sale goes through. 'Whatever happens, we'll make it work - even if we have to rent somewhere. 'Going forward, I wasn't sure if I wanted to date someone who had children, but Paul has two. 'But actually it's just perfect. It's unexpected and that's what's so amazing about it.' The couple plan on getting married every year afterwards in a different country around the world as they both love travelling. Sarah said: 'We'll have another wedding next year - maybe in Ibiza, England or New Zealand. 'I'll wear a different dress, but I've assured Paul I only need one more ring.' The couple hope to start a family together in the future. Sarah said: 'I'm infertile so if and when we have a baby we'll need to go through IVF treatment. 'We may not be lucky enough to have children together, but it won't matter - we're enough for each other.' 'The only thing I'm worried about is the reaction of my friends and family. 'I don't believe they're my friends if they're not supporting me. 'Of course, their opinion counts and they care about me and are worried. 'But equally they should accept my judgement and be happy for me.' Mr Edwards said: 'My fiance left me four weeks before the wedding so that was 20,000 down the drain and I didn't get a penny of it back. 'It's taken me quite a while to get back to who I am. 'Sarah and I had been discussing marriage, life and what we want for the future. 'We both are loving and open and don't want to allow our past experiences to dictate our future. 'But the next day I woke up and sat there for a little while and I thought: 'Is this really going to work?' 'I started having doubts in my head. I was unsure and anxious about the whole thing. 'I messaged Sarah and she told me to call her. 'We spoke on the phone and I voiced my concerns. Within 10 minutes she had calmed my anxiety down to the point it disappeared - no one has ever been able to do that before. 'We don't get frustrated with each other, we can keep up with each other. 'We have a lot in common and they are the things that matter most. 'Our tastes are different - for example, I get most of my clothes from Next and she says it reminds her of her ex and has told me: 'You can never buy anything from there again'. 'I know she was mostly joking but I really don't mind - I'm easy going. 'When it comes down to little things I'm happy to stand back, but I'm also very highly opinionated if i believe in something strongly. 'With every single relationship I've had before the element that's always been missing is communication and the openness. 'Now I just think: 'What have I actually really got to lose?' 'If we have a shotgun wedding and split up in six months, a week, a day - what have I lost in the grand scheme of life? Nothing. 'I've believed in something and had faith in something. It's let me just go away from the social norms. 'I've gone on dates through dating apps and it's all very nicey-nicey with general chit chat, but there's no realness in it anymore. 'If you look back to second world war type era, in the past, people met once or twice maybe - and wouldn't be on the phone to each other all the time - and they'd get married and would work hard at it. 'If we're going through a relationship as a married couple we'll be automatically saying we'll put as much effort into it as possible. 'We are both true believers in marriage and what it means. 'She had the idea for us to meet at the airport in our wedding gear. I asked her: 'Are you really going to turn up in your wedding dress?' 'Sarah said: 'Yeah if we're going to do it, let's do it properly.' 'I did warn her it's a 10-hour flight and her dress might get a bit crumpled. 'All my friends have been really supportive because they've seen me at my lowest point and now they see me back to my normal self in such a short space of time and they are happy for me. 'They have said: 'You are absolutely nuts, but we love you and we want you to be happy. She sounds amazing and we can't wait to meet her.' 'No body has been negative at all in any way, shape or form on my side - I've got the best friends that a person could ask for. 'I've got two daughters - I'm going to see them tomorrow to take them for lunch - and I'll tell them and ask their opinion. 'I know them and I know they'll be happy for me. 'For both Sarah and I, this is the complete opposite of what we've both imagined for ourselves. 'She told me: 'If I read your profile properly and saw you had kids I would have swiped the other way'. 'It's tiny little things like that which make it all the more incredible. 'I believe everything happens for a reason. 'It's a one-in-a-lifetime thing. It's very rare. I don't think I've heard of any other couple doing things like this.' Turkey has begun massing tanks and troop carriers on its southern border with Syria as it prepares to move into the country once American soldiers have left. Erdogan's forces were pictured arriving in border cities of Kilis and al-Rai after the country's foreign minister said they will push into Syria as soon as possible. It comes after Donald Trump announced that all 2,000 American troops will withdraw from the country and that Turkey will take over the fight against ISIS. Turkish tanks and armoured troop carriers have begun massing on the Syrian border in preparation to move in once American troops have withdrawn Turkey has agreed to take over the fight against ISIS once the US has left, but will likely also direct its forces against the American-backed Kurds, which it views as terrorists But Turkey is also likely to direct its attacks against Kurdish forces stationed in northern Syria which helped US troops in the battle against ISIS. Turkey has carried out limited attacks against Kurdish positions in Afrin province, and has vowed to expand its operations to cover its entire southern border. But plans stalled amid push-back from Washington that saw US relations with its NATO ally set in the deep freeze. However, Trump has since tweeted that Turkey and America are planning to increase trade and strengthen ties as US troops begin a 'low and highly coordinated' withdrawal from Syria. As part of the agreement, America will take back weapons it gave to the Kurdish forces during the fight with ISIS. In return, Erdogan vowed to delay a military campaign against the Kurds, but on Tuesday foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicated it would go ahead as soon as practically possible. According to the Guardian, he insisted that 'if Turkey says it will enter [Syria], it will.' Tanks and military vehicles are pictured in the Turkish border town of al-Rai on Christmas Day as they prepare to move into Syria Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had vowed to delay a military push into Syria as the Americans left, but his foreign minister has indicated otherwise Trump's shock announcement has caused concern in Washington and prompted the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis. As he submitted his letter of resignation to Trump on December 26, Mattis issued a videotaped Christmas message to all American servicemen and women. In it, he said: 'Since Washington crossed the Delaware at Christmas in 1776, American troops have missed holidays at home to defend our experiment in democracy. 'To all you lads and lasses holding the line in 2018 on land, at sea or in the air, thanks for keeping the faith. Merry Christmas and may God hold you safe.' Mattis's resignation letter initially said he would be leaving his post at the end of January, but that date was rushed forward after Trump found out it criticised him. Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will be named as acting secretary effective from January 1. Trump's shock announcement that US troop will withdraw from Syria prompted the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who gave a Christmas message thanking members of the armed forces for their service (pictured) Trump says Turkey and the US are going to increase their trade ties as a result of the troop withdrawal, which had angered Ankara Elsewhere, Syrian government troops backed by Russian forces sent extra troops towards the city of Manbij in preparation for an attack. The city is currently controlled by a Kurdish militia, which helped to coordinate the movements and will withdraw before the attack takes place. The move is part of the wider buildup of forces in the area. 'The battle will soon start,' Major Youssef Hamoud, spokesman for the National Army, the main Turkish-backed rebel force in the area, told Reuters. 'What we see on the front now is reinforcements to all forces to reach full preparedness for the battle.' 'The Russian army has restored the Syrian-Russian coordination centre to Arima village to the west of Manbij city, after its withdrawal from there a while ago,' said Sharfan Darwish, the spokesman for the Manbij Military Council. A cancer-stricken grandfather who was unhappy with his body image following a mastectomy on one breast, tried to cut off his other breast as he felt he looked 'lopsided'. Peter Bagnall found a lump under his nipple in 2013, which was later confirmed as breast cancer. After having a mastectomy to remove the cancer, the 56-year-old said he felt 'lopsided', and attempted to cut off his other breast with a kitchen knife. As a result he was 'house- sectioned' - meaning he had to stay at home for two weeks while he was monitored by mental health services. Eventually, Mr Bagnall, from Birmingham had a second mastectomy, as well as having 'nipples' tattooed on his chest - which he says has made a huge difference. Peter Bagnall (left and right) ried to cut off his right breast with a Stanley knife after having surgery to remove cancer from his left one Peter Bagnall received nipple tattoos to help with his body confidence (above) His wife Lorraine (pictured left with Mr Bagnall and right) also had breast cancer in 2002 Only 390 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, while 55,000 women are diagnosed with the disease. Mr Bagnall's wife Lorraine was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 - and died last year aged 57 after being diagnosed with bone cancer. The couple had nine children between them aged 19 to 39 and 13 grandchildren. Mr Bagnall, a parts quality inspector for Land Rover, said: 'In March, 2013, I just noticed a lump in my breast. 'I didn't know why, but I thought 'that's a bit strange. I left it - but it kept growing and started to change shape. 'Lorraine made me go to the doctors. The doctor sent me to the breast cancer team, and they did an ultrasound, then a biopsy. It was breast cancer. I did not know anything about it.' Peter Bagnall (pictured above) said he had never considered nipple tattoos before the nurses had suggested it After the nipple tattoos he says he has his confidence back and has started swimming again Mr Bagnall (above) said he had felt terrible looking in the mirror following the procedure Despite attending his hospital appointments, Mr Bagnall said that even this became difficult due to the amount of emphasis the wards have on female patients. 'When you go to the hospital's ultrasound area, it says 'females only' - not 'patients only'. I have tried to get that changed. It's a female pamphlet - everything is female. 'I just wanted to hide away from it. It was embarrassing to tell people - I felt like I wasn't a man. I called it 'breasticular cancer' just to put a male side on it.' Peter Bagnall (pictured above) tried to cut off his other breast six months after his initial surgery Mr Bagnall said he didn't have to have chemotherapy but highlighted that he felt he wasn't coping with the diagnoses. 'I just needed Tamoxifen - an oestrogen-controlling drug.But I had a masectomy - they took the left breast off. 'From then on, I just felt lopsided. I started to get a body image problem. I asked the breast cancer team if they would take the other one off too, but I was offered nothing. ' Peter Bagnall and his wife Lorraine (left and right) had travelled all over Europe together following Lorraine's diagnoses Eventually, Mr Bagnall said it got to the point where he attempted to cut the other breast off with a carving knife and a Stanley knife. 'It was 2am in the morning - I was in a dark place. I went downstairs to do it, but luckily Lorraine woke up. 'I was taken to hospital and then referred to the mental health team. It was quite a deep cut - I had meant to cut it off, but Lorraine stopped me. I had to have six stitches. Lorraine (left) had stopped Peter (right) from cutting off his other breast He said he was 'desperate to get balance again', and that once he had attempted to cut off his breat the mental health team took over and had a practitioner visit him every day. 'The psychiatrist pushed the breast cancer team to take the other breast off. In 2014, a year after the first masectomy, they took the right breast off. 'It was purely cosmetic, but it was a massive thing to me. I thought people were staring, even though they weren't. Lorraine (left and right) died in 2017 and had first been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 'It had become such an issue that I couldn't take my top off, couldn't go to work.' After a five-year check-up earlier this year nurses asked Mr Bagall if he wanted nipple tattoos, which he says he had 'never thought about' but since having the tattoos he said he had a lot more confidence. 'I can go swimming again. I love swimming, but I did not go for four years. Lorraine and Peter (left) in Rome and Peter (right) following his nipple tattoos 'Breast cancer is rare in men but there are still more than 300 lives affected by it each year. You can't compare where I am now with my worst times. 'I have come to terms with it. I am easy with it. I can quite easily say 'I have got breast cancer'. 'A higher percentage of men with breast cancer die compared to females, because men don't check. I want to get the message out there that men can get it.' Lorraine (left and right) had a full mastectomy and chemotherapy Mr Bagall said his wife Lorraine was first diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and had a full mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy, due to the severity of the disease. 'She ended up with lymphoma. In 2015, she had severe back pain. On Mother's Day, 2016, I got her an ambulance because it was so bad. 'The doctors found it was bone cancer of the back. It was terminal. She had chemotherapy. Peter and Lorraine (left) had nine children toegther. Peter (right) said the couple had some wonderful times 'We lived the best final 18 months we could have possibly lived. We travelled all over Europe and had some wonderful times.' Mr Bagall said they had just returned from a trip to the French Alps when she became unwell and had to go into hospital. 'They gave her another dose of chemotherapy, so we had another two months. She was so brave and inspirational. Peter (left and right) said he would do anything for one last hug with his wife Lorraine 'Eventually, they found her kidneys were failing. She died on November 20, 2017. 'It has been so traumatic for the family. It has been a hell of a time. 'If someone offered me all the wealth in the world, or one last hug [with Lorraine], I would take the hug.' The 'sugar baby' at the centre of the sexting scandal with disgraced federal MP Andrew Broad allegedly demanded he pay her more than $1,400 to keep her quiet. Amy Keating met Mr Broad on a dating website for 'sugar babies' and he took her for dinner at the exclusive Aqua restaurant while he was at a fruit conference in Hong Kong in September. Earlier this month, Ms Keating told New Idea magazine that Mr Broad, 43, had sent her a number of lewd messages, referring to himself as 'James Bond', while bragging about his 'important job'. But it has now emerged that Ms Keating allegedly demanded that married Mr Broad pay her 8000 HKD ($A1450) to keep her quiet, the Herald Sun reported. Amy Keating (pictured), a 'sugar baby' known online as 'Sweet Sophia Rose', told New Idea earlier this month she had been texting the 43-year-old married man In new text messages shared with the Herald Sun, the 'sugar baby' at the centre of sexting scandal tried to get political Andrew Broad to buy her silence (pictured) 'I have all your seedy messages and will go public with more story if you don't transfer the allowance of 8000 HKD ($A1450) into my PayPal account by the end of the day,' one message said. 'And believe me, I'm fully aware of how much more I could get if I went public to the papers with my story.' Mr Broad met the Irish national who is based in Hong Kong at Aqua, an exclusive restaurant in Hong Kong where she claims her made her feel 'uncomfortable'. Ms Keating said she was 'happy to leave' the dinner where she felt like she couldn't be herself. Mr Broad (pictured) met the Irish national who is based in Hong Kong at Aqua, an exclusive restaurant in Hong Kong where she claims to have felt 'uncomfortable' According to Ms Keating's texts, the Victoria MP gave off a 'good guy' image but was actually the opposite. The Herald Sun said it understood that Mr Broad did not pay the woman and that he had accused her of blackmail. Five weeks before the controversial texts were leaked, Mr Broad told Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack he would be willing to quit the front bench. A conversation with Mr McCormack led Mr Broad to report the incident to the Australian Federal Police on November 8 but they decided they were unable to act as the case lacked jurisdiction. In screenshots of what Ms Keating claims are text messages sent between the pair, Mr Broad, a former farmer, appears happy to capitalise on his Australian upbringing (pictured) After the scandal was made public, Mr Broad announced his resignation from the front bench and later said he would not re-contest his seat at the next election so he could focus on his family - his wife of 19-years Rachel and their new foster child. In screenshots of what Ms Keating claims are text messages sent between the pair, Mr Broad, a former farmer, appears happy to capitalise on his Australian upbringing. After Ms Keating tells him she thinks Australian accents are 'so sexy', he sends her back a sexually charged message. 'I pull you close, run my strong hands down your back, softly kiss your neck and whisper, 'G'day mate',' he wrote. Prime Minister Scott Morrison claimed he only learnt of the incident when the story broke on December 17 but many Coalition members believe the PM's office was notified earlier. Three more migrants have been caught trying to get to Britain from France after 40 were intercepted trying to cross the Channel on Christmas Day. The Home Office confirmed three people men were picked up from a small boat off the coast of Dover just after midnight. They claimed to be Iranian and had been rescued by French authorities and then handed over to Border Force agents. The trio will be interviewed by immigration officials today and join five groups of people including children that were taken into custody yesterday. Another three migrants have been caught crossing the Channel overnight. Yesterday French authorities intercepted this rubber dinghy (pictured) off the coast of Calais carrying nine migrants after the engine on their boat failed in an bid to cross the Channel A total of 40 migrants were taken into custody by British officials yesterday. Pictured are lifeboat crews at RNLI Walmer after rescuing people from a boat early on Christmas Day One boat carrying nine people suffered an engine failure shortly after leaving France. Fortunately the migrants were rescued by French authorities. The Home Office last night confirmed that five groups of migrants, mostly Iraqi, Iranian and Afghani, arrived in the country. One group of eight migrants, including a young girl arrived in Folkestone, Kent at around 2.40am. Border Force officials spotted a dinghy off the coast of Deal, Kent shortly before 7am carrying 13 people including a child. A Border Force cutter was sent to the Channel to intercept a dingy carrying seven men and a woman at around 5.50am. The migrants were offered medical attention before being interviewed by immigration officials. Officials said the children will be placed in the care of social services. Sources told the Daily Telegraph it was believed trafficking gangs were hoping to capitalise on an expected drop in the number of border patrols taking place over the Christmas period. In another incident in French waters, nine migrants were rescued and are now in the UK after the engine of the vessel they were travelling in failed. They have been transferred to the Coastguard to be assessed. Border Force officials are being assisted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after being called to an incident in the Channel before 9.20am involving two people in a small boat travelling towards the UK. All 40 people are now in the UK, the Home Office said. Pictured: French authorities rescuing a boat containing nine migrants in the Channel on Christmas Day Criminal gangs have been smuggling migrants across the Channel in dinghies such as this Zodiac, pictured earlier this month in Dover, Kent. Six people made it into the UK in this boat A spokeswoman said: 'Border Force has intercepted a number of boats containing migrants attempting to cross the Channel overnight and this morning, and has deployed resources to deal with these incidents. 'The evidence shows there is organised criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel. 'We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk.' The Christmas Day crossings follow a number of migrant rescues in recent months involving people trying to travel across the Channel to Britain. One group of migrants was found in a rowing boat about two miles from Dover. In a statement, HM Coastguard said: '[We are] committed to safeguarding life around the seas and coastal areas of this country. 'We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities.' It comes as more than 150 migrants have been plucked from the English Channel trying to reach Britain since the start of November. Most of those held by police crossing the world's busiest shipping lane from France since November have claimed to be Iranian. It emerged last month that people smugglers are charging migrants up to 13,000 each to cross the Channel by inflatable dinghy. One family of would-be asylum seekers was charged 40,000 for the dangerous night-time sea crossing. So-called 'agents' have already charged families to reach the French coast. Many fly from Iran to countries such as Serbia or Turkey, before being smuggled across borders to make overland journeys across Europe. People traffickers then demand a further fee to get them to British soil. Individuals pay as much as 13,300 a head (15,000 euros) to board rubber dinghies for the freezing night journey. MP's have warned that lives will be lost without urgent action. Video has emerged showing Mexican hitmen ambushing police officers with machine guns, killing four. The deadly shooting took place on October 28 in Almoloya de Alquisiras, a municipality 85 miles southwest of Mexico City. The video is believed to be taken by the 'sicarios', or hitmen, who are members of the drug cartel La Familia Michoacana, according to El Universal. It shows at least seven of the hitmen waiting in the woods, brandishing machine guns before a police SUV drives by and the armed men open fire. Mexican hitmen ambushed a police SUV on October 28 in Almoloya de Alquisiras Four officers were killed while a fifth miraculously survived, circled is one of the officers escaping At the start of the video, the man behind the camera says in Spanish: 'State [police] commandeer, we're coming for you.' 'We're going to kill the state police here because they're sticking their noses into our business,' the man adds. He pans the camera, showing other men waiting on rocks and wearing bullet proof vests with their automatic weapons in hand. The video is edited and cuts to a view of a dirt road in the forest. That's when the Mexican state police come into view and the sicarios open fire immediately. The men recorded themselves carrying out the violent attack The men are believed to be members of the drug cartel La Familia Michoacana Once hit, the SUV tumbles on its side and off the road. One officer can be seen outside of the car scrambling to safety during the gunfight which lasted for more than 55 seconds. Four officers were killed while a fifth survived. Police say they have arrested one of the gunmen and that the video is serving as evidence against him. Mexican authorities are now investigating how the video leaked online. A seriously ill Russian teenager was given a private tour inside Vladimir Putin's 390million Ilyushin jet - the Kremlin's equivalent of Air Force One. Arslan Kaipkulov, 15, was shown around the aircraft's luxurious interior, which includes a meeting room, ensuite bedroom, gym and full bar. Arslan was given the honour because he suffers with a rare immunodeficiency disorder which causes tumours to grow inside his body, and is the only person in Russia diagnosed with the condition. A seriously ill Russian teenager who is obsessed with airplanes was given a tour of President Putin's luxurious state jet as part of an initiative for sick children Arslan Kaipkulov, 15, was given a guided tour of the aircraft including Putin's private quarters, which include a luxurious double bed The President's bathroom features a gold-plated toilet which Arslan was shown as part of his tour, though Putin was not on hand to personally shown the youngster around The jet - a 390million Ilyushin Il-96-300 - even includes a bar for the President to relax in Putin also gifted Arslan - who is an aviation fanatic - a video camera to record his special day and gave him a tour of Vnukovo International Airport. A 15 year old boy has revealed the inside of Vladimir Putin's 390 million luxury Flying Kremlin - the Russian equivalent of Air Force One. Footage taken by journalists shows Arslan recording as he walks around the presidential Ilyushin Il-96-300 aircraft but he was not allowed to show certain 'confidential' parts of the plane's interior. 'This is the top secret plane of the country, it is an honour for me to be on it,' said Arslan. He added that Putin had made his 'dream come true' after seeing a film the boy had made for a charity event. Putin was not on board his hi-tech flying palace during the visit - but instead spoke to him by phone from the Kremlin. Arslan was granted the honour because he suffers from a rare immunodeficiency which causes tumours to grow throughout his body Putin also gifted the teenager a video camera that he used to record part of his tour, though he was not allowed to film in Putin's private quarters Arslan said he plans to put together a 20 minute video of his experience which will be uploaded to Russian social media Putin's aircraft is seen on the runway at Vnukovo International Airport before the tour The teenager was allowed to sit in the captain's seat in the cockpit and saw the conference room from which Putin maintains order across Russia while in the skies. 'I visited other places, but you cannot shoot there,' he said. 'It's confidential there.' So there was no footage from the teenager showing Putin's personal quarters including his bedroom and bathroom - even though images purporting to show these parts of the aircraft have been released before by Russian state TV. The plane one of the most luxurious in the world and boasts a gold-plated toilet, a king sized bed fit for a Tsar and a gym. The interior decor has a neoclassical style and the huge conference table is gold trimmed and surrounded by cream leather seats. Putin is believed to have clocked up more air miles in high office than all other Russian leaders put together. As well as being kitted out with luxury fittings and fixtures, the Russian jet is also equipped with missile jamming technology and high-tech communication equipment Putin, an ex-KGB agent, is known for keeping himself in good shape - as the private gym fitted aboard his jet will attest A private seating area away from the main board room where Putin can hold more private conversations with guests on board the plane Arslan, from the Bashkortostan region of Russia, along with his mother Venera Kaipkulova, 36, was also shown how pre-flight checks are undertaken in a VIP section of Moscow's Vnukovo airport. Security operatives gave him a fake device carrying the smell of explosives and asked him to hide it in a cone. A trained dog successfully sniffed out the item. He was told about the medical examinations pilots must undergo before flying the Russian president. The trip was organised by Russia's Dream With Me project which aims to make dreams come true for children with life-threatening conditions. His mother said: 'It is a real miracle. We are very grateful to the Dream With Me project. Huge thanks to our president. 'When children get ill.it is not always easy to find time, money and strength for joy. 'But joy is as important as treatment, it boosts and encourages you to keep moving forward.' The Russian leader helped to fulfil the dreams of several ill children, including Regina, who interviewed the president on the RT channel. Another child, named Artyom, enjoyed a helicopter tour of St. Petersburg, while a third called Veronika visited Mosfilm, the Russian equivalent of Hollywood. Police in Benidorm have arrested an Irishman on the run from authorities in the UK. James Connors, born in Dublin, was described by Spanish police as the leader of a criminal organisation based in Britain which specialised in crimes including robbery and extortion. The 43-year-old fugitive, who was on a Crimestoppers Most Wanted list, was held after police in Britain discovered he was enjoying a Costa holiday with loved ones. The suspect was arrested by Spanish police in Benidorm where he was on holiday with loved ones Britains National Crime Agency tipped off the authorities in Spain who arrested him on December 21 after tracking him down to the Costa Blanca resort of Benidorm. Just over two years ago, three men named as James Patrick Connors, then 22, James Connors, then 40 and John Connors, then 25, were accused of being part of a national organised crime group responsible for a string of high value breaks-ins and distraction burglaries across the country. Crimestoppers said in a September 2016 appeal it was offering rewards of up to 2,000 for the arrest of each of the wanted thieves. The 53-year-old fugitive Patrick Connors was on a Crimestoppers Most Wanted list A Crimestoppers spokesman was quoted as saying: 'This is a group of individuals who travel around the country conning vulnerable and trusted individuals out of money - it's actually disgusting to think how many people they've targeted.' Officials in the UK were not able to confirm early today that the man arrested in Benidorm was the same individual accused of belonging to the gang at the centre of a September 2016 Crimestoppers appeal. He will now appear before a judge in court in Madrid for an extradition hearing. As the partial government shutdown over Trump's border wall funding carries over into the fifth day, the job remains the same for employees of the Transportation Security Administration. TSA agents and air traffic controllers in airports like in Charlotte, North Carolina, are among the approximately 420,000 federal employees deemed essential who are required to work unpaid, WSOC-TV reports. Officers, K-9 units, explosives experts, inspectors and all front-line security personnel are on the job while administrative support staff have been sent home, also without pay. While TSA employees have received back pay when previous shutdowns have ended, travelers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport expressed their disapproval of the budget conflict. 'It's just wrong, and we can do better,' traveler Ramona Brown told WSOC-TV. 'As America, we are better than that.' At airports through the country, TSA employees are working without pay during the busiest travel period of the year when one-in-three Americans have been expected to travel, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). A TSA worker works at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Of the roughly 800,000 federal employees facing deferred pay, more than half were deemed essential, such as Transportation Security Administration airport agents More than 5.7 million passengers were estimated to be traveling through just Chicago's area airports by January 3, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation, NBC-5 reports. December 26, the day after Christmas, is considered to be among the heaviest of the travel days during the holiday period. The partial shutdown of the government that has left 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working unpaid began on Friday night after Congressional Democrats and President Trump were unable to come to an agreement on his border wall funding request. Trump then spent the weekend in Washington D.C. instead of his traditional holiday getaway at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, mostly complaining about the budget impasse and being stuck at the White House. President Trump could not say on Christmas Day how long the federal government would be closed TSA employees are working without pay during the busiest travel period of the year More than 5.7 million passengers are expected to travel through Chicago's O'Hare International and Midway Airports by January 3 Officers, K-9 units, explosives experts, inspectors and all front-line security personnel are on the job over the holidays despite the lack of pay On Christmas day, he again stuck to his position on building his wall. 'I can't tell you when the government's going to be open,' he told reporters in the Oval Office. 'I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it. I'll call it whatever they want. But it's all the same thing. It's a barrier.' Trump also claimed he heard from federal employees who told him to stand his ground on the issue of the border wall. Travelers arrive for TSA inspection as they make their way through Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark December 26th is considered by AAA as one of the busiest days to travel as many embark on return trips just the day after Christmas Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, has been a frequent critic of the president since his firing at the hands of Trump 'They want border security. The people of this country want border security. It's not a question of me, I'd rather not do shutdowns,' President Trump alleged. 'These federal workers want the wall. The only one who doesn't want the wall are the Democrats, because they don't mind open borders.' Critics of Trump have expressed skepticism at such claims with frequent detractor, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who was fired by the president, tweeting a sarcastic response. 'I understand that many of these federal workers POTUS says are happily furloughed for the wall are the 114 year-old parents of Korean War veterans who also regularly talk to Donald Trump,' Bharara wrote. Police who locked up two fathers over Christmas for buying toy guns have been criticised by thousands of people. The guns included replica pistols, rifles, and sub-machine guns that looked realistic but only fired harmless gel rounds and are legal outside of NSW. The men spent the night in a jail, one on Christmas Day, while accused wife killer Chris Dawson and alleged rapists were free on bail. Thousands of people have slammed police for locking up two fathers over Christmas for buying toy guns as presents for their children The guns included replica pistols, rifles, and sub-machine guns (pictured) that looked realistic but only fired harmless gel rounds NSW Highway Patrol pulled over the first man about 1.45am on Sunday in Tweed Heads as discovered 14 guns in his car's boot. The 31-year-old man was a passenger and allegedly admitted owning all the guns which he bought over the border in Queensland - where they are legal. '[He] stated he had purchased them for his son for Christmas,' police wrote in a Facebook post that attracted widespread outrage. Police also found 0.35g of marijuana they alleged belonged to the same man from Coffs Harbour. He was denied bail and face court on Christmas Eve charged with 14 counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm. Then on Christmas Day another man was pulled over for a random breath test in South Tweed Heads and police noticed the stock of a rifle on the back seat. NSW Highway Patrol pulled over the first man about 1.45am on Sunday in Tweed Heads as discovered 14 guns in his car's boot (one pictured) The 31-year-old man was a passenger and allegedly admitted owning all the guns (including this set) which he bought over the border in Queensland The man was denied bail and face court on Christmas Eve charged with 14 counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm A search uncovered an 'imitation military assault rifle' and a toy Glock pistol, both configured to fire gel rounds. The 24-year-old was also refused bail and spent Christmas in lockup until he faced court charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. 'Gel blasters' are legal to buy and own in Queensland and other states of Australia, but are considered firearms in NSW and effectively banned. Police announced the arrests on Facebook with photos of the toy guns, and were immediately condemned for 'ruining Christmas'. Both posts attracted thousands of comments, the vast majority of which strongly criticised police for appearing to brag about the arrests. 'Australian police are such an embarrassment... hide from real crimes, ignore others, but arrest a guy with toy guns,' one commenter wrote. 'Gel blasters' are legal to buy and own in Queensland and other states of Australia, but are considered firearms in NSW and effectively banned Both Facebook posts attracted thousands of comments, the vast majority of which strongly criticised police for appearing to brag about the arrests Gell blasters are similar to airsoft rifles and nerf guns except their ammunition is essentially a bag of water that explodes on impact 'How can you sleep at night knowing you are literally talking TOYS away from families at Christmas?' another wrote. 'What a waste of police time and taxpayers money, good on you guys for ruining this man and his sons Christmas,' a third wrote. A fourth wrote: 'Leaving a little boy without toys or a father for Christmas, yeah real heroic.' The NSW branch of the Liberal Democrats political party also poured scorn on police gleefully boasting about the arrests. 'This is what our taxpayer money is used for? So glad that the police are saving us from the scary replica gel ball blasters,' it said. They are considered a softer alternative to airsoft and paintball suitable for children, which can both cause bruises on impact Police also found 0.35g of marijuana (pictured) they alleged belonged to the first man Comments indicated the men were freed on bail after their court appearances and intended to fight the charges. Gell blasters are similar to airsoft rifles and nerf guns except their ammunition is essentially a bag of water that explodes on impact. They are considered a softer alternative to airsoft and paintball suitable for children, which can both cause bruises on impact. Early this year, Australian customs stopped classifying them as firearms, allowing them to be more easily imported. Tesla owners are increasingly complaining about rude truck drivers intentionally blocking supercharger stations, a practice so common it has become known as 'ICEing' for 'internal combustion engine'. The latest incident occurred on Saturday at a Sheetz in Hickory, North Carolina, where a Tesla Model 3 owner was shocked to find pickup trucks blocking all of the electric charging stations. 'I've never had a supercharging experience like this one. These trucks blocked all the chargers, chanted 'F' Tesla, and were kicked out by a Sheetz employee,' wrote Reddit user Leicina, posting a picture of three jacked-up pickup trucks backed into the charging ports. 'Who do you report activity like this to? It was really uncomfortable,' she continued. The latest incident occurred on Saturday at a Sheetz in Hickory, North Carolina, where a Tesla Model 3 owner was shocked to find pickup trucks blocking all of the electric charging stations In one incident on Sunday in Tennessee, a Tesla owner spotted a truck backed into a supercharger station and pretending to get a charge. In one incident on Sunday in Tennessee, a Tesla owner spotted a truck backed into a supercharger station and pretending to get a charge. 'These guys parked in a Tesla charging spot with their gas (or diesel) truck, unhooked the charge cable, and laid it into their truck bed for 'comedic' effect,' wrote Reddit user freckletan. 'It would be the equivalent of a Tesla parking at a fuel pump at a gas station and walking away.' On December 18, Reddit user RedfieldStandard posted a photo of what appeared to be contractor pickup trucks parallel parked in front of the supercharger stations at a Hampton Inn & Suites in El Paso, Texas. On December 18, contractor pickup trucks were spotted parallel parked in front of the supercharger stations at a Hampton Inn & Suites in El Paso, Texas 'We were almost stranded all night,' he wrote. 'I rode up on the curb and did a 12 point turn between the truck and another vehicle with about 1 inch to spare on either side to connect.' 'We called the city police but before they arrived I accidentally flagged down a couple of El Paso Sheriff deputies who went down to the hotel and started knocking on every door until they found who owned the trucks,' the Tesla owner wrote. 'We had to hit the road to get home, but I wish I could have seen the fallout.' RedfieldStandard took note of Lecina's trouble at the Sheetz in North Carolina, and commented that it appeared to be a rising trend. 'I think this kind of situation is going to escalate into a serious incident soon. This ridiculous unreasonable hostility is just getting worse,' he said. Tesla owners are complaining of being ICEd by trucks who intentionally block supercharger stations to spite the electric vehicle owners Other Tesla owners have complained of tractor-trailers parallel parking in front of supercharger stations, either out of spite or obliviousness Other Tesla owners have complained of tractor-trailers parallel parking in front of supercharger stations, either out of spite or obliviousness. So far, nine states have passed laws banning combustion-engine vehicles from parking at electric charging ports: Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Cities including Washington DC, Seattle, Baltimore, Raleigh, North Carolina and Knoxville, Tennessee have also passed local ordinances forbidding the practice. It is not the first instance of hostility between pickup trucks and electric vehicles. In years past, the practice of 'rolling coal', or intentionally modifying diesel trucks to emit huge plumes of noxious black exhaust, has at times been directed at electric cars. It may be Tesla that has the last laugh, however. The company is known to be working on its own electric pickup truck, with analysts suggesting a production date as soon at spring of 2019. A statue of baby Jesus that was stolen from a New Jersey church nearly 90 years ago has been returned and put on display on Christmas Eve for the first time since 1931. Parishioners filing into Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Hoboken to attend the annual Christmas Eve Mass on Monday night were greeted by the sight of the small plaster statue still resting in the box in which it had been shipped from Crystal Springs, Florida, earlier this year. According to officials at the church, they received the package in March, along with a typed-up anonymous note that explained how its author had come to possess the figurine, and why he or she had decided to return it this year. Christmas miracle: Nearly 90 years after it was stolen from the nativity scene at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Hoboken, this plaster baby Jesus has been returned Crime scene: The sacred statuette was swiped from this church in Hoboken in 1931 In March, the church received a package, along with this anonymous letter explaining what had happened to the baby Jesus statuette over the years The brief letter, dated January 2, 2018, read: 'My Mom told me that the Baby Jesus had been stolen from the church Nativity display at Our Lady of Grace when she was a young girl of about twelve years of age in the early 1930's. 'It came into her father's possession somehow, and I dont know why he didn't return it. Instead, he gave it to my mother after she was married, and she too kept it until her passing when it came to me. Knowing the story, I felt it should be returned to the rightful owner, and you will find it enclosed.' Father Alex Santora, the parish priest, said that when the parcel arrived in March, it had no return address label on it, which prompted him to call the police out of an abundance of caution, reported NBC New York. The Hoboken Police Department's Emergency Service Unit was called to the scene and determined that there was no incendiary device inside. Suspicious package: The box had no return address, prompting church officials to call police The church decided to display the figurine in the box as part of the nativity scene on Christmas Eve Santora said that since the plaster sculpture arrived in a cardboard box resembling a manger, it was decided to put the baby Jesus on display as part of the church's nativity scene in the shipping container, instead of a traditional crib. The person who returned the figurine has since mailed two additional letters expressing remorse and asking the church for forgiveness. The priest at the Hoboken church said the lesson that should be drawn from this is that it is never too late to make amends and do the right thing. There's always a chance to change, and I think that's what Christmas does for us: it gives us a sense of hope, he told CBS New York. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill says she's baffled as to why incoming freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has attracted so much attention since her surprise victory in New York. McCaskill, the outgoing senator from Missouri, said she doesn't know Ocasio-Cortez, and cannot say whether the 29-year-old democratic socialist is one of the 'crazy' politicians within the Democratic Party that she spoke out against. 'I'm a little confused why she's the thing,' McCaskill told CNN. 'But it's a good example of what I'm talking about, a bright shiny new object, came out of nowhere and surprised people when she beat a very experienced congressman.' Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill says she's baffled as to why incoming freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has attracted so much attention since her surprise victory in New York In the November general election, McCaskill lost her reelection bid to Republican challenger Josh Hawley. She has a week left in office. New members will be sworn in on Jan. 3, and Ocasio-Cortez will be part of a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, having beat out exiting Rep. Joe Crowley over the summer in an intra-party challenge. Her antics since Election Day, including her participation in a protest in likely House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill and an announcement this month that she was taking a week off for self-care before taking office, have been extensively covered by the media and have drawn strong reactions online. McCaskill admitted in an exit interview with CNN that she doesn't understand why the young politician is getting so much attention. 'I'm not sure what she's done yet to generate that kind of enthusiasm, but I wish her well. I hope she hangs the moon,' McCaskill said of the incoming congresswoman. She added: 'But I hope she also realizes that the parts of the country that are rejecting the Democratic Party, like a whole lot of white working class voters, need to hear about how their work is going to be respected, and the dignity of their jobs, and how we can really stick to issues that we can actually accomplish something on.' In a parting shot at some of her colleagues, McCaskill said, 'The rhetoric is cheap. Getting results is a lot harder.' Ocasio-Cortez generated controversy this week after she claimed that Jesus and Mary were refugees when Jesus was born Earlier this month Ocasio-Cortez said she was taking a week off for self-care before taking office Ocasio-Cortez led the way this past week in saying that the rules should be changed in the future to stipulate that in the event of full or partial government closure, federal legislators do not get paid until it is over. 'Next time we have a gov shutdown, Congressional salaries should be furloughed as well,' she wrote on Twitter on Saturday. 'It's completely unacceptable that members of Congress can force a government shutdown on partisan lines & then have Congressional salaries exempt from that decision. Have some integrity.' The statement garnered attention from the left and the right on the first day of the government shutdown. Almost as quickly as she earned new respect from conservatives, she irritated Twitter users on Christmas Day, however, when she claimed that Jesus was born a refugee. A tweet read: 'Joy to the World! Merry Christmas everyone - here's to a holiday filled with happiness, family, and love for all people. (Including refugee babies in mangers + their parents.)' Many social media users pointed out that Joseph and Mary were not refugees when Jesus was born, and her telling of the first Christmas was therefore inaccurate. The Gospel of Luke says that the family was in Bethlehem to participate in a census when Jesus was born. Mary gave birth in a manger, the Bible says, because there was no room left at the local inn. Ocasio-Cortez insisted she was correct, however, sharing an article that supported her viewpoint. She called those who disagreed with her 'anti-immigrant pundits' in a follow-up tweet that claimed they were 'uncomfortable' admitting that Jesus Christ was indeed a refugee. Ukraine's leader has announced an end to the 30-day martial law imposed after Russia seized Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea. Ukraine announced martial law last month after Russian coast guards fired at and seized three Ukrainian ships and their crews. The 24 seamen still remain in Russian custody. 'Today, right now... the martial law ends,' Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said during a live streamed National Security and Defence Council meeting in Kiev today. He explained that his decision was 'based on analysis of all the components of the security situation in the country'. Damage can be seen to one of three Ukrainian ships seized by Russia during a naval incident near the annexed Crimean Peninsula (file image) The seizing of Ukrainian ships was another episode in the long-simmering conflict between the two countries that started in 2014 with Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. Poroshenko's martial law was widely seen as an attempt by the unpopular leader to score political points ahead of next year's presidential election. Poroshenko told the cabinet on Wednesday that Ukraine had boosted its defenses during the 30 days of martial law, which was imposed in 10 regions that adjoin either Russia's borders or areas controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, as well as along the coast of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Ukrainian armed forces were put on full combat readiness and replenished at the expense of the first-stage reserves. Ukraine's leader has announced an end to the 30-day martial law imposed after Russia seized Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea Kiev also banned Russian men aged 16-60 from entering the country. The entry was restricted for about 1,650 male citizens of Russia since November 30, the border service said Wednesday. Relations between Moscow and Kiev have deteriorated since a pro-Western government came to power after the 2014 revolt against a pro-Russian leader, Moscow's annexation of the Crimea and the outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine. The conflict pitting pro-Russian separatists against Ukrainian government forces is estimated to have claimed more than 10,000 lives. After a maritime conflict with Moscow in the Black Sea in late November, Poroshenko accused Russia of having sharply raised its military presence on the border, with Ukraine warning of the threat of 'full-scale war.' On Wednesday Ukrainian president announced the new sanctions against those involved in the aggression against Ukrainian ships. Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko (centre) leading a session of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in Kiev on December 26, 2018 Poroshenko said a draft decision on the application of sanctions was included in the agenda of the meeting. 'As we see the political support and participation of the State Duma in this process, a large number of State Duma deputies are included in the sanction list,' he stated, referring to the Russian parliament. Poroshenko also said that one of the reasons to end the martial law was the presidential election that is scheduled for March 31. Campaigning and elections are banned under martial law, he explained. Previously critics attacked the acting president, saying that he used the incident in the Sea of Azov and the martial law to improve his ratings. President Trump insists that those trying to enter the US from Mexico illegally won't stand a chance against his border wall - that is, unless they're an Olympic athlete. Speaking from the Oval Office on Christmas Day, Trump said he's already begun building the southern border wall, and it would be 'very high,' as high as 30 feet in some areas, making it impractical for most illegal immigrants to scale it. 'There may be the case of an Olympic champion who can get over the wall,' Trump told reporters. 'But for the most part, you're not able to do it.' Trump took questions from reporters from the Oval Office on Christmas Day, saying the Mexico-US border wall would be as high as 30ft Trump was at the White House this week, having cancelled his Florida holiday to be in Washington for the duration of the partial shutdown. Some 800,000 federal workers have been affected by the shutdown. They have either been asked to work without pay or take an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the dispute. After he addressed members of the military on Christmas, he took questions on the border wall. 'It's going to be 30 feet, much of it is 30 feet high,' Trump said. 'Some of it's lower, but in some areas we have it as high as 30 feet. That's like a three-story building. 'So we're making great progress on renovation, on fixing, and we're making great progress on building new wall and most excitingly, we gave out our largest section yesterday and that work is starting next week.' It was not immediately clear where in Texas the president is building his wall, as none of the legislation that has been approved since he took office explicitly gives him permission to build a brand new barrier on as much land as he says the contracts cover. He is promoting a 'steel slats' fencing design, pictured is the US border fence seen from Tijuana, Mexico There, he harped that Senate Democrats working against his wall had favored fencing until he called it a wall and ran for office He has permission to build and replace fencing in some areas and is asking for unfettered authority and at least $5 billion in taxpayer funds to complete the construction project. The president said in the Oval Office on Tuesday that he is aiming to have 500 to 550 miles of wall either renovated or completed by Election Day in 2020. He also claimed that he's getting $25 billion from Congress for border security that has already been approved. Any legislation that contained money for border security like what Trump was describing has not passed Congress, however. 'That's for everything,' Trump said of the larger pot on Tuesday morning. 'Plus we have some wall money in there. But, we want the wall money to be increased. Because I want to finish it.' Trump said a day prior that the $25billion his administration is seeking for border security is not the same as the money he's seeking for the border wall. The White House last said it was seeking somewhere between $1.6 billion and $5 billion for just the border wall. A couple are being forced to move out of their 1,300 a month one bedroom flat because the noise of their neighbour's eleven children has become unbearable. Lydia Scott, 31, moved into the ground floor property in Stoke Newington, north-east London with her boyfriend Tristan in May, but their lives have been made a misery ever since. She said that they first experienced the clattering and banging from upstairs on their first night - and it hasn't stopped. The noise from large family's brood in the flat above theirs sometimes continues until 1am, and the couple say they are now looking to move out because it has been impossible to settle. Lydia Scott, 31, pictured, and her boyfriend thought they found their dream flat in Stoke Newington, London, but now claim they are bothered by 'constant noise from their upstairs neighbours and their 11 children' Ms Scott, pictured in the flat, said it costs the couple 1,300 per month and it seemed 'too good to be true' before the noise problems Ms Scott, a charity worker, and her partner pay 650 each for the flat which has a balcony. She said: 'When we first looked round I thought it seemed too good to be true. It's a pretty big space and has a balcony. 'We were both really excited when we got the keys, but then on the first night we moved in the noise began. 'We heard thumping and running about upstairs, it sounded like someone was moving furniture around too.' Ms Scott and her boyfriend went to meet the neighbours and to complain about the noise. She said they were 'really nice' but that not much has changed since. She said: 'The noise starts around 6pm every night when I get home from work. You can hear the kids running about, sometimes it goes on until 1am. 'We asked them to try and keep the kids from running about above our bedroom. And that's got a bit better. 'The dad even gave me his number so I can text him when it gets too out of hand, he's really nice about it. The charity worker, pictured, said she complained to the neighbours and that the family was 'very nice' but the noise continues The couple say the noise has made it 'impossible to settle' in the flat, pictured from the outside, and they plan to move out at the end of the lease in May 'But they've got 11 children - it's going to be noisy no matter what.' This is the first place Ms Scott and her boyfriend have lived alone together, but the noise has made it impossible to settle. Her mother died of cancer in September and she's found not being able to relax at home really hard. She said: 'I was literally splitting my time between caring for my mum and being in the flat, so when I couldn't relax in the flat it was super stressful. 'The noise has really affected our experience living in this flat. 'We're going to move out when the lease runs out in May. 'But finding somewhere in London takes so much time and energy, and with everything that's happened in the last six months we can't face it right now.' The average amount of rent spent on renting one room by tenants across London was 592 a month. They said they were attracted to the flat, pictured, due to its large space and balcony The moment a Mexico City cop was savagely beaten and left unconscious by a group of thugs in a parking lot has been captured on camera. Police officer Gabriel Rodriguez was on patrol with his partner near a department store in the town of Gustavo A. Madero when he was suddenly attacked by the gang of five males, including three minors, on Saturday afternoon. All five suspects were later arrested after fleeing the scene, according to Mexican news outlet Zocalo. Officer Gabriel Rodriguez (circled) is attacked by one of the five male suspects including three minors, at a parking lot in Mexico City While the cop (circled right) was pummeled, his partner (circled left) repeatedly tried to come to his aid but he was clearly outnumbered as the suspects blocked his path Surveillance video captured the shocking moment a suspect first approaches officer Rodriguez and lands a couple of punches to the back of his head. The cop, who is trying to restore order while clearly being outnumbered, tries to push the thugs away while they grab his service motorcycle and drag it away. Officer Rodriguez's patrol partner, who called for backup, attempts to quell the violent group but two men could be seen taking a few steps toward him and threatening him. The injured police officer then crashes to the ground before one individual kicks him three straight times in the head, the last blow knocking him out. A cop (circled right) in Mexico City is flattened on the ground after he was kicked four times by a suspect. His partner (circled center) attempts to come to his aid Officer Gabriel Rodriguez's partner (circled) was forced to call for backup. The five suspects were arrested after they fled in a car The man then reaches for something attached to officer Rodriguez's motorcycle while another accomplice attempts to shoo the injured cop's partner away. The terrifying video shows the moment the suspect then nears the motionless cop and kicks him once again in the head. The beaten cop's partner tries coming to his aid once again but the suspects keep blocking his path and even swing their firsts at him before the video cuts off. Officer Rodriguez was taken to a local hospital with facial and body contusions. A mother has described the terrifying moment she woke up in the middle of the night to find a stranger sitting with her two-year-old son. She wrote about the unsettling incident on Facebook and claimed the female intruder was trying to kidnap the child. The mother also urged other parents to be on guard and ensure their windows and doors are locked at all times. Police confirmed they attended a property in Hyde, Manchester, pictured, and arrested a woman suspected of trying to kidnap a child According to the Manchester Evening News, the mother said she woke up at 4am today to discover the attempted abduction. She wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post: '4am this morning I woke up to a woman on my stairs with my 2 year old son trying to kidnap him while me and [R***] slept in the next room. 'This is Hyde area. Share to let people know. 'I'm lucky I woke up or I wouldn't have my little love. Please everyone be careful Christmas night, make sure all doors and windows are locked.' Greater Manchester Police confirmed it attended the property and arrested a woman. A spokesman said: 'Just after 4am this morning, police attended an address in Hyde as a result of a report of an adult woman being found in the house, with one of the young children who lives in the house. 'Police were called and arrived shortly after. 'An adult woman has been arrested and inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.' Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been discharged from the hospital and was able to return home yesterday. A spokeswoman for the high court, Kathy Arberg, said Wednesday morning that the beloved Supreme Court Justice had been released on Christmas Day. 'Justice Ginsburg was discharged from the hospital yesterday and is recuperating at home,' Arberg said in a Wednesday morning statement. Ginsburg has been recovering from cancer treatment at New York at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She underwent surgery Friday to remove two malignant growths in her left lung. Doctors say there is no evidence of any remaining disease. Scroll down for video Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been discharged from the hospital and was able to return home yesterday. The associate justice, 85, had the growths removed after they were discovered by a CT scan when she cracked three ribs in a fall in her office last month. The court said that there are no remaining signs of cancer in her body after the treatment, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. It meets next on Jan. 7. Despite her health problems, Ginsburg, who has been treated for cancer twice before, has never missed arguments. In a prior statement from the court, Ginsburg was said to be at the hospital 'recovering comfortably' and would remain there for a few days, before she would be released and allowed to return home. The statement said that Ginsburg had a 'pulmonary lobectomy' to remove nodules that were found to be malignant. 'According to the thoracic surgeon, Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, both nodules removed during surgery were found to be malignant on initial pathology evaluation,' the court statement said. 'Post-surgery there was no evidence of any remaining disease. Scans performed before surgery indicated no evidence of disease elsewhere in the body. Currently no further treatment is planned.' Ruth Bader Gisburg has had two cancerous growths removed from her lungs, the Supreme Court said last week. She spoke about her health in New York on Saturday 15 December during a question-and-answer session at the Museum of the City of New York Current bench: Bader Ginsburg's colleagues on the Supreme Court are from front left: Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, and Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr. Standing behind from left: Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Elena Kagan and Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. The justice fell in her office on November 8, fracturing three ribs. She had been seen since, including at a Washington, D.C. holiday party, and was said to have resumed her regular workouts. She was treated at George Washington University hospital in Washington D.C., where the tests were carried out that led to Friday's surgery in New York. Treatment: Thoracic surgeon Valerie W. Rusch has found no evidence of remaining disease after removing two cancers The survival rate for patients who undergo lobectomies is high, with between 85 to 95 per cent of people treated living five years or more afterward. It is Bader Ginsburg's third treatment for cancer since she joined the court in 1993. In 1999 she was successfully treated for colorectal cancer and in 2009 for pancreatic cancer. Among other health problems, she also broke two ribs in a fall in 2012 and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. She was hospitalized after a bad reaction to medicine in 2009. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ginsburg is now both the oldest member of the bench and the leader of its four-justice liberal wing. She rebuffed suggestions from some liberals that she should step down in the first two years of President Barack Obama's second term, when Democrats controlled the Senate and would have been likely to confirm a like-minded successor. The 85-year-old Brooklyn native was interviewed by NPR legal correspondent Nina Totenberg last Saturday, speaking of her health and saying she was 'almost repaired' Movie phenomenon: Ruth Bader Ginsburg is to be played by Felicity Jones (center) in On The Basis of Sex, which comes out on Christmas Day. It also stars (from left) Justin Theroux, Mimi Leder, and Armie Hammer, and was directed by Daniel Stiepleman With the star: Justin Theroux and Armie Hammer both posted pictures with the Supreme Court Justice earlier this month, ahead of a Washington D.C. screening of On The Basis of Sex She already has hired clerks for the term that extends into 2020, indicating she has no plans to retire. Ginsburg had spoken of her health in New York earlier this month, saying she was 'almost repaired' from the fall in her office which cracked two ribs. The 85-year-old Brooklyn native was being interviewed by NPR legal correspondent Nina Totenberg and said of her health, 'it's fine, thank you,' adding that her ribs are 'almost repaired'. 'And yesterday was my first day doing my whole workout routine,' she said, in a reference to a high-intensity workout which has become famous in its own right. Her trainer had stopped her from doing upper body work in the aftermath of the fall. Ginsburg was the second woman to become a member of the Supreme Court, following Justice Sandra Day OConnor, who retired in 2006. O'Connor, 88, said in October she is suffering from dementia. Ginsburg called Trump an egotistical 'faker' when he was running for president in 2016. Trump responded by saying her 'mind is shot' and she should quit the court. Ginsburg later expressed regret for her comments, saying 'judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office.' When she fell last month, however, Trump said he was praying for her recovery. Bader Ginsburg's cultural fame has led to her being nicknamed 'Notorious RBG.' and she is now the subject of an upcoming biopic, On The Basis of Sex, in which she is played by British actress Felicity Jones. The movie that chronicles the future Supreme Court Justice's rise hit theaters on Christmas Day, just as Ginsburg, who's Jewish, was released from the hospital. Callum Farley, 23, from Bolton, was jailed for torching his ex-lover's Citroen C3, along with a Nissan Note and a Honda Civic belonging to members of her new partner's family A jealous ex-boyfriend who doused three cars in petrol before setting them on fire after the breakdown of his relationship has been jailed. Callum Farley, 23, subjected his former partner to a campaign of harassment before carrying out the arson attack almost a year after they split. He traced his former girlfriend to her new partner's home and torched the vehicles, causing nearly 15,000 worth of damage. Her left a voicemail message telling her: 'You're going to get what's coming to you'. His ex-lover's Citroen C3, along with a Nissan Note and a Honda Civic belonging to members of her new partner's family were completely destroyed following the attack on April 15 this year. Farley denied committing the attacks but a black box fitted in his own VW Polo proved he had been outside the property in Blackrod near Bolton, Greater Manchester, just after 2am. In a victim statement, his ex-partner said she was now 'terrified' and added: 'I keep thinking he's watching me all the time.' Farley pleaded guilty to three counts of arson and was jailed for 18 months at Bolton Crown Court. Prosecuting, Julian Goode told how the pair had been in a six-month relationship from December 2016. He said: 'When the relationship ended the defendant took the break-up very badly and subjected her to harassment.' Farley received a police caution over his behaviour in September last year, but a month later, he resumed harassing her. Farley pleaded guilty to burning a Honda Civic (l), a Citroen C3 (c) and a Nissan Note (r) 'He turned up wherever she went in her car. It led her to believe he had placed a tracking device on her car, but there is no evidence of this,' said Mr Goode. At Christmas, he turned up at her workplace and even threatened to slit her throat and petrol bomb her home. The following month he learned she had a new partner and at the beginning of April, when she met Farley, the encounter ended amicably. 'It led her to believe that the defendant had finally moved on with his life,' said Mr Goode. However, on the evening of April 14, Farley went drinking with a friend and, in the early hours of the morning, drove to the home of the woman's new partner. He used petrol taken from his home to set fire to his ex-partner's Citroen C3, along with a Nissan Note and a Honda Civic belonging to members of her new partner's family. Farley's own VW Polo was found set alight in Rivington Lane later the same day. Mitigating, Kevin Liston stressed that a fire service report stated that the flames would not have spread to the house where the family were sleeping. A psychiatrist's report on Farley found that he had 'failed to appropriately deal with his emotions'. Sentencing Farley, Judge Graeme Smith said: 'It has been said on your behalf that this was something that was totally out of character and, secondly, that it was a moment of madness.' However, despite lack of previous convictions, the arson attacks followed a pattern of threats and harassment aimed at his former partner. The judge also made a restraining order banning Farley from contacting his victim for five years. US Customs and Border Protection has released a timeline offering a detailed look at the final days of eight-year-old Felipe Alonzo-Gomez's life before he died in US custody on Christmas Eve. In the wake of the Guatemalan boy's passing, which marked the second death of an immigrant child in the agency's care this month, the CBP on Tuesday ordered medical checks on every child in its custody, with a special focus on juveniles under the age of 10. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trump's demand for border wall funding. According to a statement released by the CBP's Office of Public Affairs on Tuesday, the migrant boy, who was identified by Congressman Joaquin Castro as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez, died shortly before midnight on Monday at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This is a tragic loss,' CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said of the childs passing in a prepared statement. 'On behalf of US Customs and Border Protection, our deepest sympathies go out to the family.' This map shows key events and locations related to the death of eight-year-old Guatemalan boy Felipe Alonzo Gomez while in US Custody Hospital: Felipe Alonzo-Gomez, an eight-year-old migrant from Guatemala, died at the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in New Mexico on Christmas Eve On December 18, Felipe and his dad attempted to cross into the US illegally 3 miles from the Paso Del Norte Port in El Paso, Texas (pictured) The agencys timeline reveals that at around 1pm local time on December 18, Felipe and his father, 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, were caught entering the US illegally 3 miles west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas. The father and son were kept in a field until transport arrived to take them to the port of entry's processing center at 4.39pm. TIMELINE OF FELIPE ALONZO GOMEZ'S ILLNESS AND DEATH: December 18, 1pm local time: Felipe Alonzo Gomez, 8, and his father, Agustin Gomez, were apprehended 3.29 miles west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas for illegal entry December 18, 4.39pm: The father and son were transferred to the PDT processing center December 20, noon: Felipe and his father were transferred to El Paso Border Patrol Station December 22, 11.17pm: US Border Patrol transferred the child and father to the Alamogordo Border Patrol Station December 23, 1.08am: Gomez family arrived at the Alamogordo Station, 90 miles away from El Paso.] December 24, 5.39am: A placement request for the child and his father was e-mailed to Immigration and Customs Enforcements Enforcement and Removal Operations family placement inbox December 24, 9am: A processing agent noticed that Felipe was coughing and appeared to have glossy eyes December 24, 9.30am: Based on the agents observations, Felipe and Agustin were transferred to GCRMC with possible influenza symptoms December 24, 11.30am: Hospital staff conducted several tests on the child for strep throat. December 24, 12.45pm: Felipe was given a diagnosis of common cold and given Tylenol December 24, 1.20pm: Felipe was evaluated for release and found to have a 103 degree fever and was held for continued observation December 24, 2.50pm: Felipe was released from the ER with a prescription for amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and taken to temporary holding at the Highway 70 checkpoint December 24, 5pm: Agents provided Felipe with a dose of the prescribed medication as ordered by the medical staff and agents conducted several welfare checks that evening December 24, 7pm: Felipe appeared to be nauseous and vomited. His father declined further medical assistance as the child had been feeling better. December 24, 10pm: Felipe appeared lethargic and nauseous again. Agents made the decision to return the child and his father to GCRMC. On the way there, Felipe began to vomit and he lost consciousness December 24, 11.07pm: Radio traffic indicated that agent had arrived at GCRMC where he was met by hospital staff. December 24, 11.48pm: Felipe is pronounced dead December 25, 7.40am: The Guatemalan Consulate was contacted about Felipes death. Advertisement While at the Paso Del Norte Port, Felipe and his father were give hot food, snacks, juice and water, and agents at the facility performed six welfare checks on the family. At around noon on December 20, Felipe and his dad were transferred to El Paso Border Patrol Station, where they remained until December 22. During that time, the migrants were provided with showers, food and beverages, and the agents logged 17 welfare checks. Shortly after 11pm on December 22, Felipe and his father were relocated to the Alamogordo Border Patrol Station due to overcrowding at the El Paso station. Alamogordo is about 90 miles from El Paso. The pair arrived at the new location just after 1am on December 23 and were give meals and personal hygiene products. The agents also performed several welfare checks on them. At around 9am on December 24, a processing agent noticed that Felipe was coughing and appeared to have 'glossy eyes.' Thirty minutes later, based on the agent's observations, the father and son were taken to the local hospital with possible flu symptoms. Once at the hospital, Felipe was tested for strep throat. By 12.45pm, he was diagnosed with a common cold and given Tylenol. Tragedy: Jakelin Caal (above in file photo), a seven-year-old girl from Guatemala, lost her life as well earlier this month while in custody When medical staff measured the boys temperature 35 minutes later, they found him to have a 103-degree fever. Shortly before 3pm that day, Felipe was released from the emergency room with a prescription for amoxicillin and ibuprofen, after which he and his father were taken to a temporary holding facility at the Highway 70 checkpoint, where they were offered a hot meal. At 5pm, Border Patrol agents administered to the eight-year-old boy a dose of the prescribed medication and checked up on him several times that evening. Two hours later, Felipe vomited and agents helped clean him up. 'His father declined further medical assistance as the child had been feeling better,' the timeline states. At 10pm, Felipe appeared lethargic and nauseous again. Since there were no paramedics on duty at the time, agents made a decision to send the boy and his dad back to the hospital as a precaution. As they were being transported to the medical center, Felipe began to vomit and passed out. They arrived at the hospital at 11.07pm and were met by medical staff, who went to work trying to revive Felipe, but to no avail. Despite their efforts, the eight-year-old was pronounced dead at 11.48pm on Christmas Eve. The Guatemalan Consulate was notified of the boy's death the next morning. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he was told by the boy's father in a telephone interview that the two had been traveling from their home in Nenton, a village about 280 miles from Guatemala City, where Felipe's mother still lives. They were planning to go to Johnson City, Tennessee. Felipe's father is currently being detained at the Alamogordo Station pending transfer to the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. CBP did not fully explain in its statement why Felipe and his father were detained for a week, which is an unusually long time. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldn't be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE detention centers. Funeral: She was laid to rest on Christmas Eve in Guatemala, two weeks after she suffered cardiac arrest, brain swelling and liver failure that led to her death CBP said in the statement that it needs the help of other government agencies to provide health care. The agency 'is considering options for surge medical assistance' from the Coast Guard and may request help from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A CBP spokesman could not immediately answer how many children are currently in the agency's custody. But with border crossings surging, CBP processes thousands of children - both alone and with their parents - every month. Immigration advocates and human rights groups sharply criticized CBP in the wake of Felipe's death. The body of seven-year-old Jakelin Caal, who died earlier this month, was returned this past week to her village in Guatemala for burial. An indigenous Mayan who had been hoping to begin a new life in the United States with her father, Jakelin came down with a fever while being detained by authorities, and on December 8 died in an El Paso hospital. She and her father handed themselves in to border agents in New Mexico on December 6 and two days later she fell ill. Jakelin died after suffering cardiac arrest, brain swelling and liver failure. CBP Commissioner McAleenan said Wednesday that the agency has more than 1,500 emergency medical technicians on staff and that officers are taking dozens of sick children to hospitals every day. 'This is an extraordinarily rare occurrence,' McAleenan told CBS This Morning of the recent child deaths. 'It's been more than a decade since we've had a child pass away anywhere in a CBP process, so this is just devastating for us.' Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said the Trump administration's 'policies of cruelty toward migrants and asylum-seekers at the border must cease immediately before any more children are harmed.' The famous blind Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga, who 'predicted' 9/11, Brexit and the rise of ISIS despite having been dead for over twelve years, has revealed her predictions for 2019. According to Baba, two of the most prominent world leaders will be in trouble this year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin facing an assassination attempt from somebody inside his security team and U.S President Donald Trump losing his hearing to a mysterious illness. Baba, who has become cult figure among conspiracy theorists, has also predicted a massive earthquake-tsunami will wipe out large parts of Asia, and Europe will buckle under a disastrous economic crash. The famous blind Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga has revealed her predictions for 2019, and Trump, Putin and most of Europe will suffer next year So could any of these actually come true? Putin has already survived at least one major assassination attempt, which was foiled in the run up to the 2012 presidential election. Now the Russian president has surrounded himself with a highly-trained sniper squad whose only task is to keep him alive, so perhaps he agrees with Baba that another attempt on his life is a possibility in 2019. Putin should also prepare for a giant meteorite to hit Russia, according to Baba. As for Donald Trump, the U.S President is predicted to have a disastrous 2019, as not only might he succumb to an unexplained illness that will cause him nausea, tinnitus, brain trauma, and hearing loss, but a member of his family will be involved in a car crash. This year it was reported that American diplomats in Cuba and China were suffering from mysterious hearing loss and tinnitus, which is believed to have been a caused by overexposure to pulsed radiofrequency/microwave electromagnetic radiation from bugging or surveillance. U.S President Donald Trump (left) will suffer a mysterious illness and hearing loss, Baba says, while Russia's Vladimir Putin (right) will face an assassination attempt and a meteorite striking his country Whether Trump will fall victim to the same ailment remains to be seen however. Next Baba predicted that Europe will suffer from a massive economic collapse, which some will say could easily happen when Britain exits the European Union on March 29 219. And she thinks another devastating tsunami is on the horizon next year, one that could wipe out parts of several Asian countries including Pakistan, India, China, Japan and Indonesia. It has already been a bad tsunami year for Indonesia, which has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade. In September, a tsunami triggered by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake flattened an Indonesian island of Sulawesi, killing 2,100 people. And last Saturday huge waves crashed into coastal towns on the islands of Sumatra and Java, with at least 430 people confirmed dead and 159 still missing. Having already predicted Brexit by saying Europe as it is is know would 'cease to exist' by the end of 2016, Baba now says the continent will plummet into a massive economic crisis in 2019 Bulgarian Baba, who died at the age of 85 in 1996, was also known as the 'Nostradamus of the Balkans.' She mysteriously lost her eyesight at the age of 12 during a massive storm. Her family allegedly found her several days later on death's door with her eyes sealed shut and covered with dirt. She later claimed to have experienced her first vision when she was missing and believed she had been given the power to predict the future and heal others. In 1979, Vanga - who reportedly had an 85 per cent success rate with her predictions - told writer Valentin Sidorov that Russia would become 'lord of the world' after Europe became a 'wasteland.' 'All will thaw, as if ice, only one remain untouched Vladimir's glory, glory of Russia,' she reportedly said. The mystic is also said to have prophesied Brexit by saying Europe as it is is know would 'cease to exist' by the end of 2016 and that an extremist army that would invade Europe, thought to be proliferation of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Bulgarian Baba, who died at the age of 85 in 1996, was also known as the 'Nostradamus of the Balkans' Believers say Baba even foretold the 9/11 attacks in 2001, saying 'two steel birds' would attack 'American brethren'. She said: 'Horror, horror! The American brethren will fall after being attacked by the steel birds. The wolves will be howling in a bush, and innocent blood will be gushing.' But she did claim that Barack Obama would be the 'last American president', leading some to believe that Donald Trump would never be sworn in before his inauguration earlier this year, which turned out to be false. Other events she warned of include an end to world hunger by 2028, Mars colonies acquiring nuclear weapons by 2256 and Earth becoming uninhabitable by 2341. Trump is seen in high school, a few years before he was exempted from the draft The daughters of a now-dead podiatrist have claimed that he provided the diagnosis of bone spurs that exempted Donald Trump from the Vietnam War draft, suggesting it was in exchange for commercial rent concessions from Trump's father Fred Trump. Dr. Elysa Braunstein, 56, and Sharon Kessel, 53, made the sensational claim to the New York Times, claiming their father Dr. Larry Braunstein diagnosed Donald Trump in 1968. Dr. Larry Braunstein died in 2007, and the Times was unable find any documentary evidence to back up the daughters' claims, which surfaced when the newspaper contacted the family based on an anonymous tip. The daughters are both Democrats and say they do not like Donald Trump. 'I know it was a favor,' Elysa Braunstein told the Times, adding that her father had implied that Trump did not have the foot ailment that disqualified him from military service. 'But did he examine him? I don't know,' she said. Podiatrist Larry Braunstein rented his office (above) in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica from Trump's father. His daughters claim he diagnosed Trump with bone spurs Donald Trump and his father Fred Trump are seen in 1987. Two women have now suggested that Donald Trump's bone spur diagnosis was given as a favor to his father Larry Braunstein rented his office in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica from Donald Trump's father. The doctor's daughters said he was able to remain there for years without a rent increase. The daughters suggested that the bone spur diagnosis got their father favorable treatment from Fred Trump, and that the podiatrist was able to quickly get the landlord to resolve any issues with a phone call. 'What he got was access to Fred Trump,' Elysa Braunstein said. 'If there was anything wrong in the building, my dad would call and Trump would take care of it immediately. That was the small favor that he got.' The daughters also suggested that another podiatrist, family friend Dr. Manny Weinstein, had some involvement in the affair, though exactly what is not clear. It is possible Weinstein had some connection to the draft board. Weinstein lived in two Brooklyn apartments owned by Fred Trump, and moved in the first the year that Donald Trump received his exemption, the Times reported. Weinstein died in 1995. Donald Trump had received four education deferments from the draft when, in the fall of 1968, the bone spur diagnosis made him suddenly medically ineligible. Donald Trump in his high school military uniform with his parents Fred Trump and Mary Trump Multiple doctors would have been involved in Donald Trump's classification as 1-Y, the now-defunct category for medical deferment that was later merged into 4-F. Local draft boards relied upon physical exams overseen by military doctors, although men could bring in documentation from private doctors noting any medical concerns. Often, a civilian specialist working with the exam station might be asked to review a case and make a recommendation. The local draft board would then finalize a man's classification. Larry Braunstein's daughters said that he was initially proud of being able to do a favor for someone famous. But they said that over the years, as Trump became a fixture in the gossip pages of New York's tabloids, their father grew to regret the decision. They could not offer any documentation to back up their claim, but said the story was told often within their family. 'It was family lore,' said Elysa Braunstein. 'It was something we would always discuss.' A total of 19 people have now been arrested in connection with the brutal beheading of two Nordic tourists in Morocco, authorities have said. A government spokesman confirmed that at least six people have been arrested in the last four days over their links with the alleged killers. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, a 24-year-old from Denmark, and 28-year-old Maren Ueland from Norway, were found dead on December 17 having been beheaded by suspected ISIS fighters. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, was found beheaded at a campsite in western Morocco last week. In total 19 people have now been arrested in connection with her murder Maren Ueland, 28, was found dead alongside her. A video purporting to show the women being killed has been circulated by extremists online The pair had set up camp at an isolated mountain site around two hours from the tourist village of Imlil when they were attacked. Video purporting to show the attack has been circulated on ISIS forums, and shows one man brandishing a large knife saying in Arabic 'it is Allah's will'. Ms Ueland and Ms Vesterager Jespersen, who were studying to be outdoor guides at a Norwegian university, were spotted with three men in Marrakesh before heading to the Atlas mountains to hike. They had been travelling around the country as part of a month-long trekking holiday. Sabik told national television 2M on Sunday that the suspects targeted the two girls randomly and that IS didn't coordinate the killings. Moroccan authorities believe the pair were killed by an ISIS cell operating within the country, and are now arresting anyone with links to the alleged murderers (file image) Police have arrested six more people in the last four days of investigations, bringing the total number of suspects to 19 Last week hundreds of people from Malen's hometown of Bryne turned out to hold a candlelit vigil, including her friends and family members. It was emphasized that the event was not a memorial, but a way to show support and compassion to Malen's loved ones. 'It's important to stand together and be important for people to show solidarity,' Thor Inge Sveinsvoll, manager of the Rogaland county Red Cross, told Norway's Aftenposten. 'It's important to stand together and show emotions, it's shock and grief you cannot understand.' 'We want to show that we care about each other, and that we are together for a kinder world,' said Odd Ivar Nese, one of the organizers. Advertisement These stunning pictures show how flowing water shapes the world through hot springs, raging rivers and powerful tides. Whether estuaries, flowing rivers, marshes or lagoons, this stunning photography series showcases how water can transform the landscape. Through a collection of abstract aerial images, photographer Milan Radisic's beautiful subjects would look at home in a modern art galley. They include the vibrant reds of a mud storage ponds and the apparent purples of a veiny salty marsh - all shot from above in intense clarity. Shooting the series, 'Waters.Shapes.Earth.', has taken the 50-year-old to 11 countries - including Iceland, Spain, Italy, Serbia and his native Hungary. The idea for the series came to prize-winning photographer Mr Radisic while he was shooting a project on drained fishponds. Tidal area covered with algae, moss and grass in France. The project called 'Waters.Shapes.Earth.' took the photographer to 11 countries including Iceland, Spain, Italy, Serbia and his native Hungary Rose shaped icecrack in Sweden. Through his work, photographer Milan Radisic hopes to show his own 'unique vision of the world' Marsh land, grasses from a tidal swirl in the salt marsh of Venice, Italy. Mr Radisic plans to travel to the likes of Greece, Albania and Montenegro to expand the series of stunning images Glacial rivers in Iceland. By looking at the fragility of some of his subjects, the photographer hopes others will rethink their approaches to conservation and to see the beauty in the natural world A rusty red and bright blue of a geothermal hot spring in Iceland. The country has many hot springs including the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland in a lava field near Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula Radioactive water and textures at an abandoned pond used for the disposal and stacking of phosphogypsum with shallow, but highly toxic radioactive green water in Huelva, southern Spain This images shows shapes made by Kudafljot River in Iceland, which is one of the largest glacier rivers in the country. Photographer Milan Radisic, who lives in Budapest, Hungary, said: 'Water is huge topic, and there are so many sites to work on. The water crisis is present everywhere' A red mud storage pond is pictured alongside waste water from aluminium production in Galicia, Spain, which is a source of fluoride pollution and acid soil Galesnjak Island in the shape of a heart in Croatia, which is one of the world's few naturally occurring heart-shaped objects Confluence, where a tributary joins a larger river, of a glacial river in Iceland. Discovering such abstract locations requires hours of research mainly involving a deep search through satellite imagery Here lava flow and sea collide in Iceland to create rich brown, yellow and green images. Mr Radisic added: 'Water flows, shapes its way, and passes off, influencing our life. Starting from melting glaciers, water searches its way to find the sea' Floating icebergs in Iceland are pictured here. Once the artist has selected a location, Mr Radisic then uses what he calls a 'lawnmower technique' to shoot the surrounding area Piers in Lake Balaton, is Mr Radisic's home country of Hungary. This technique involves flying over a strategic, pre-determined point, taking a number of images that can then be overlapped Where the Affall River meets the Atlantic Ocean, there is a confluence of three coloured tributaries that wind through various farmlands. Together they casually flow to the ocean across the black sandy beach in the Landeyjar area of southern Iceland The tidal area of Rio Tinto in Huelva, Spain. Through this technique, the finished works can contain up to 140 million pixels Island in the Brijuni Archipelago, Croatia, makes the shape of a fish. The island is in a group of 14 small islands in the Croatian part of the northern Adriatic Sea Salty marsh, near Coruna in northern Spain. Photographer Mr Radisic said: 'I saw fragility of the water and then this came together with my passion for flying' Network of channels in Estuary of River Zala, Hungary. Mr Radisic said: 'I could use this new, aerial perspective to express my passion for water, to reveal unseen places, to surprise people. 'It would be a global topic, and I knew the story I had to tell' BBC presenter Sister Wendy Beckett has died at the age of 88. The nun presented a whole host of programmes for the broadcaster including a documentary on the history of art. Her other programmes included Sister Wendy's Odyssey and Sister Wendy's Grand Tour. Sister Wendy Beckett (pictured above) was famous for her documentaries on the history of art BBC journalist David Sillito shared the news and said: 'Sad news. Sister Wendy Beckett, writer, art critic and presenter of a much loved and popular series of BBC programmes about painting has died.' Beckett was born in South Africa in 1930 and moved to Scotland with her family when she was a child. She penned a number of books as an art critics and had been nicknamed the 'Art Nun' as she often provided reviews that were deemed accessible to everyone and not just those familiar with the art world. From an early age she had professed a desire to be a nun and at the age of 16 she joined the Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1950 she enrolled at the University of Oxford and graduated four years later with a top honors in English. After attending a teacher's college in Liverpool she then returned to South Africa where she stayed for 15-years working as a teacher. Sister Wendy Beckett at The Royal Academy in 1993 After a spate of ill health she returned back to England, settling on the grounds of Carmelite monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk. After obtaining permission to study art in the 1980s Sister Wendy decided to write her own books to earn money for the convent. Contemporary Women Artists, published in 1988, was one of the first to be published and was later followed by more books and articles. BBC journalist David Sillito tweeted that the critic and presenter had died early on Boxing Day morning Following the success of her written work, in 1991 the BBC commissioned her to present a television documentary on the National Gallery in London. Dressed in black nun's habit, Sister Wendy managed to stand in front of the camera without an autocue and confidently describe the art in front of her. In 2001 her poor health meant that Sister Wendy would end her BBC series but she continued to make television appearances and a TV movie commissioned by the Norton Simon Art Foundation was aired in 2002. Sister Wendy Beckett (left) pictured at an art gallery and (right) pictured in 2006 Her later art-related works include the 2006 Joy Lasts: On the Spiritual in Art, Real Presence: In Search of the Earliest Icons (2010), and Sister Wendy on the Art of Mary (2013). She also wrote books that focused solely on religion, the most notable being Sister Wendy on Prayer (2010) and Spiritual Letters (2013). Authorities are hunting for a man wanted for gunning down a police officer in Newman, California, during a traffic stop Wednesday morning. Ronil Singh, 33, was making a traffic stop early in the morning when he called 'shots fired' over his radio, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. The suspect fled before law enforcement agencies responding to the scene would arrive. Officer Singh was found wounded with multiple gunshots, and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh, 33, was gunned down during a traffic stop Wednesday morning Authorities released surveillance images of the suspected gunman sought in the shooting death of Officer Singh The sheriff's office released surveillance footage stills of the suspect and the gray, extended cab Dodge Ram pickup truck seen near the location that might be the gunman's vehicle. The suspected gunman appears in the images in an unzipped hooded sweatshirt and gold chain while purchasing items in a store. 'Our Newman Police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil,' said Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson in a statement released by the sheriff. The police are searching for gray Dodge Ram pickup truck with an extended cab 'If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately so we can get this cop-killer off the streets.' The Stanislaus County Sheriff Department is leading the investigation into Singh's murder. A native of the island republic of Fiji, Singh had been an officer with the Newman Police Department since 2011. Murderers, rapists and drug dealers are among Britain's 27 most wanted fugitives. The National Crime Agency hopes the images released in its UK-wide fugitive sweep will help capture those who pose a threat to the country's security. Among those on the run are Dominic McInally, the alleged leader of a drug-trafficking gang and Shane O'Brien, who allegedly killed a 21-year-old man in 2015. Also on the list is Mark Quinn, from Liverpool, who is wanted by Police Scotland on suspicion of supplying amphetamine between August 2013 and April 2014. Meanwhile David John Walley is alleged to have arranged drug importation. In 2013, one of the packages with MDMA and cocaine was intercepted by authorities. If any member of the public is able to identify any of the fugitives pictured they are asked to call independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Dominic McInally (left) is the alleged leader of a drug-trafficking gang which saw members travel to the French and Belgium border to collect six kilos of cocaine, and is wanted by Merseyside Police. Costas Sampson (right) was convicted of raping a girl in August 2018. He met the girl at a nightclub before raping her at her home while she was incapacitated Shane O'Brien (pictured) allegedly approached a 21-year-old man from North London before stabbing an item into his neck in 2015 and killing him. It is believed he is now in Europe Mark Quinn (left) was allegedly involved in the production, transportation and distribution of amphetamine. He is wanted by Police Scotland. David John Walley (right) is alleged to have arranged the importation of drugs. In 2013, one of the packages, being sent to an address in Manchester, was intercepted by authorities and found to contain MDMA and cocaine In July 2015 police believe David Ungi (left), and two associates were in a vehicle in Liverpool, which hit a motorcycle which has two men on it. One of the men was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun and killed while the other was injured. Ungi is wanted on attempted assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to supply heroin. Shazad Ghafoor (right) was charged with fraud, possession of criminal property, dangerous driving and disqualified driving after he took a courtesy car from a dealership in Manchester using a driving licence under another person's name and crashed it after a police pursuit. He was also charged with possession of cannabis after a vehicle was searched and cannabis worth 245,000 was found Police are searching for Timur Mehmet (left) after his role in cheating the public revenue. He was operating a Missing Trader Intra-community (MTIC) fraud and caused the country to lose 25 million. Mehmet Salih (right) was allegedly part of a conspiracy to supply cocaine and thought to have been regularly contacted by another person for the intention of buying and delivering cocaine. According to police, Salih has a scar on his right eye During his employment at the bank JP Morgan Cazenove in London, Ersin Mustafa (left) is said to have taken part in insider dealing. It is believed after obtaining and trading information the group he was a port of made approximately 2.5million. Ozgur Demir (right) is wanted by authorities in connection with conspiracy to supply 17.83 kg of diamorphine Osman Aydeniz (left) is a Cypriot national who is believed to have been involved in the supply of 17.83 kg of diamorphine. Christakis Philippou (right) is believed to have been involved in the acquiring and setting up of travel agency businesses to commit fraud Sarah Panitzke (left) is thought to have been a senior member of a crime group that committed fraud. She is wanted by HMRC. Daniel Bowes (right) was part of a group that is believed to have been involved in the running and importation of cocaine from the Netherlands Daniel Dugic (left) is alleged to have been part of a plan with other individuals to import 255 kilos of cocaine. Derek McGraw (right) is wanted by police in connection with the murder of Thomas Cameron in 2007 Allan Foster (left), who is also known to use the name Shaun Michael Wilkinson, is wanted for the alleged murder of David 'Noddy' Rice on May 24, 2006. Christopher Guest More (right) is being hunted his connection with the murder of a man in Cheshire, in June 2003 Police have released this image of Fatah Benlaredj (left), who is wanted for the rape of a girl aged seven. John Barton (right), who is in his 60s, was convicted in his absence for conspiring to import a commercial amount of heroin to the country. He was jailed for 20 years in 2003 Michael Paul Moogan (left), from Liverpool, is wanted in connection for a Rotterdam cafe raid in 2013. It is believed the raid was part of a series of attacks in the UK and the Netherlands. In 2006, Rezgar Zengana (right) posed as a private hire taxi driver and picked up a 25-year-old female victim before raping her Kevin Parle (left), who is also known as Hemp, is wanted by police in connection with the murders of 16-year-old Liam Kelly in 2004, and Lucy Hargreaves in 2005. Shashi Dhar Sahnan (right) is wanted in connection with the importation of heroin into the country Headteachers of a secondary school and several primary schools have written to parents over Christmas to warn them about the dangers posed by County Lines drugs gangs looking to groom their children. The letter has been sent to parents in nine schools around Oswestry, Shropshire, including eight primary schools. Police have warned that criminal gangs are targeting children and offering them drugs on their way home from school in an effort to groom them to become foot soldiers in their enterprise. The head teacher of the Marches secondary school in Oswestry and eight primary schools have written to parents warning them about the threat posed by County Lines drugs gangs The letter warns the drug gangs may target their children on the way home from school (picture posed by models) In a letter seen by the Shropshire Star: 'As a collective of schools educating the students in this community from nursery age through to 18, we wish to raise your awareness of an issue facing our young people that you may not be aware of. 'Currently there are a number of groups active in the Oswestry area and evidence that some young people are at risk of being groomed and exploited to take part in criminal activities including drug taking, associated with what is known as "County Lines". 'We are aware of vulnerable young people openly being offered drugs on their way home from school, a first step in the grooming process. 'Here in our schools, we know what is going on and are working closely with the police and the council to keep our young people safe. 'We do not accept this situation. We are working hard to ensure that our school environments are safe, drug-free spaces for our students, with age appropriate education programmes to give students the skills to make good choices and to keep themselves safe.' The letters have been sent out to parents of The Marches secondary school and eight primary schools. The joint letter said raising the matter of drug dealers targeting children might be 'shocking' but the schools said the had a duty to warn parents of the danger. Guy Richard Vickery, 82, is accused of shooting his son dead on Christmas Day An elderly Florida man shot and killed his son on Christmas Day after their argument turned deadly. It wasn't the first time he had shot him either. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office responded to a call around 9.30pm Tuesday at 2727 Forbes Road in Plant City after an eyewitness called 911 about a male shot inside the residence. Guy Richard Vickery, 82, allegedly shot his son, Benjamin Vickery, 50, in his upper body during an argument. Benjamin was rushed to South Florida Baptist Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. While its unclear what sparked the Christmas slaying, it was the second time Guy shot his son. Police responded to a 911 call from inside the Plant City, Florida home by an eyewitness. Benjamin Vickery, 50, died from his injuries The long feuding father and son were in an argument in 2000 and as Guy went to leave Benjamin's home, the son began kicking and punching him as he tried to open the car door, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The sheriff's office reported at the time that Guy took out a .45-caliber pistol and shot his son in the left shoulder. Guy was not arrested in that incident, as authorities said he acted in self defense. Charges against Benjamin, which included one count of false imprisonment, one count of battery and domestic violence, and one count of burglary of a vehicle, were eventually dropped. This time around however, Guy was arrested. He remains held without bail on one count of manslaughter with a weapon at the Hillsborough County Jail. Advertisement President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump made a surprise visit to Iraq on Wednesday their first visit to a war zone since the sitting president took office nearly two years ago. They left from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland shortly after midnight with a small group of journalists and aides in tow. Trump was in the country for roughly three hours before the White House confirmed his whereabouts. The president delivered a speech to the rank and file at Al Asad Airbase, took selfies with the troops and met with military leaders in Iraq. 'I want to come and pay my respects most importantly to the great soldiers,' he said of the visit. 'Great troopers we have here.' Trump announced last week that he's pulling American troops out of neighboring Syria, because the U.S. had 'defeated ISIS' in the nation that's also mired in a civil war. 'We've knocked them out. Weve knocked them silly,' he said of the U.S. assault on ISIS in Syria on Wednesday. He claimed that in Iraq that the terror group had been 'very nearly defeated' altogether and Turkey and other regional powers will finish the job. 'We're no longer the suckers, folks,' the president said of the decision to start packing up. 'We're respected again as a nation.' President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump made a surprise visit to Iraq on Wednesday their first visit to a war zone U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet military personnel at the dining facility during an unannounced visit to Al Asad Air Base The secret trip came amid speculation that President Trump was not at the White House He had not tweeted for hours and the marine that stands guard when he's in the Oval Office was not outside the West Wing President Trump had said he would visit Afghanistan soon but visited Iraq over the Christmas holiday, instead, several days after announcing that he will be pulling U.S. troops out of Syria U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet military personnel at the dining facility during an unannounced visit to Al Asad Air Base President Trump said he does not plan to withdrawal troops from Iraq, however, and could use the site as the home base for future operations in the region, according to Bloomberg News. 'If we see something happening with ISIS that we dont like, we can hit them so fast and so hard they really wont know what the hell happened,' he proclaimed. Al Asad is roughly 185 kilometers outside of Syria, where the president last week initiated a withdrawal of 2,000 U.S. troops. It is west of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, which is approximately 220 kilometers to the base's east. Trump never served in the military, having received a medical diagnosis that he had bone spurs. It helped him receive an exemption from mandatory service during the Vietnam War. The daughters of the doctor who provided the medical excuse came forward before the president was known to be in Iraq on Wednesday to claim that their father offered the diagnosis as a favor to the Trumps. Never before had President Trump been to a war zone before his secret trip at Christmas that followed announcements that his secretary of defense and ISIS point man were leaving the administration. Both General James Mattis and Brett McGurk tendered their resignations after Trump's realignment of the United States' military posture in the country that's closely aligned with Iran and Russia. Trump said Wednesday that his 'generals' had received multiple six-month 'extensions' to get out of Syria. 'They said again, recently, can we have more time? I said, "Nope. You cant have any more time. Youve had enough time. Weve knocked them out. Weve knocked them silly," ' he said of ISIS' operations in Syria. 'I will tell you that Ive had some very good talks with President Erdogan who wants to knock them out also and hell do it. And others will do it to. Because we are in their region. They should be sharing the burden of costs and theyre not.' The president had spoken to Turkey's Recep Erdogan prior to his Iraq trip and was invited on the call to visit Ankara. He did not appear to have taken the leader who has begun amassing tanks on his border with Syria up on the offer before leaving the Middle East for a second undisclosed destination. President Trump was several hours outside of Syria and and Baghdad during his trip to Iraq on Wednesday President Donald Trump holds a red hat and pen to sign it with on Tuesday at a U.S. base in Iraq The Trumps took photos with U.S. forces before the president delivered a speech to troops stationed at the base in Iraq President Donald Trump waves as he leaves a dining hall after visiting members of the military at Al Asad Air Base President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet members of the military as they arrive for a hanger rally In Iraq, the president described an odd-couple coalition of Turkey and Saudi Arabia that he says will finish ISIS off and rebuild Syria. 'The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world,' he said, singing the same note as he had in tweets. 'Its not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States.' Trump said he didn't want the U.S. to be 'taken advantage of any more by countries that use us and use our incredible military to protect them' as he complained that 'they dont pay for it, and theyre going to have to.' 'In Syria, Erdogan said he wants to knock out ISIS, whatevers left, the remnants of ISIS. And Saudi Arabia just came out and said they are going to pay for some economic development. Which is great, that means we dont have to pay,' he rejoiced. 'We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people havent even heard about. Frankly, its ridiculous.' Lawmakers on Capitol Hill had been highly critical of Trump's sudden withdrawal from Syria and have promised vigorous oversight of the policy he elected to share with the world before alerting them. They worry that he's making a mistake yanking U.S. forces at a time that generals like Mattis and people close to the situation like McGurk say is too early. Still, Trump confidently told reporters Wednesday, 'Its time for us to start using our head. We dont want to be taken advantage of anymore.' Legislators wouldn't have been alerted that Trump was traveling to Iraq this week, either, as the trip demands absolute secrecy to keep the president and his entourage safe. The president told reporters that he had actually planned previous trips to the region that had to be canceled 'because people were finding out' and it created a dangerous situation for the instiution. 'Pretty sad when you spend 7 trillion dollars in the Middle East and going in has to be under this massive cover with planes all over and all of the greatest equipment in the world and you do everything to get in safely. Pretty sad when you spend 7 trillion dollars and you have to come in through military escorts and all of the other incredible things that they did,' he griped. US President Donald Trump kisses First Lady Melania Trump as he speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq Trump had reportedly avoided a trip to the region out of fear that he could be killed, but he said Wednesday that he was afraid for his wife and not himself Members of the military wait outside facilities where President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited Al Asad Trump had reportedly avoided a trip to the region out of fear that he could be killed, but he said Wednesday that he was afraid for his wife and not himself. 'I had concerns about the institution of the presidency. Not for myself personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you,' he said. 'But if you would have see what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all window closed with no light anywhere. Pitch black. Ive been on many airplanes. All types and shapes and sizes.' The president and first lady posed for selfies with the troops before President Trump delivered a speech to U.S. forces stationed there. President Trump said one of the young men told him in the dining hall that he'd left the military and reenlisted because of the current commander in chief. 'He came back into the military because of me,' Trump repeated. The president turned back to the solider to tell him, 'And I am here because of you.' Before the president addressed the troops in a hangar rally, the first lady greeted soldiers, telling them, 'I am proud of you.' Her husband told the United States will defeat the terrorists. 'If anything should happen at all, nobody will ever have suffered the consequences they had suffered,' he asserted. A meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, had also been scheduled for the stop that lasted three and a half hours but was cancelled. The flight to and from Iraq takes 11-odd hours to make and the president was not expected to return to the United States until Thursday, when lawmakers were also due to be back in Washington. It is currently in the throes of a government shutdown. U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by National Security Adviser John Bolton, meets political and military leaders Trump did no military service and claims to have opposed the original war in Iraq The president was in Washington, D.C. this week, because of a government shutdown He made surprise visit to a U.S. Air Base admit the shutdown that was expected to last until the New Year First lady Melania had been in Florida but returned to Washington to be with her husband on Christmas President Trump had said a month ago that he would visit Afghanistan at some point but visited Iraq first over the Christmas holiday, several days after announcing that he will be pulling U.S. troops out of Syria. 'Its a place I have been talking about for many years, many many years,' he told journalists on Wednesday in a reference to his past claims that the U.S. shouldn't have waged war in Iraq after 9/11 and that it should have taken the oil as restitution. 'I was talking about it as a civilian,' he reminded. The secret trip came amid speculation that President Trump was not at the White House, because he had not tweeted for more than 12 hours and the marine that stands guard when he's in the Oval Office was not outside the West Wing. In a statement posted on Twitter, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed the visit in a tweet shortly after the wire service Reuters published photos of the president. 'President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas,' she said. President Trump suggested last month that he could visit a 'war zone' soon after a report claimed that he was avoiding Afghanistan out concern for his personal safety. 'No, I'm going to a war zone,' the president told reporters as he left the White House over his Thanksgiving break. He didn't say whether he intended to visit troops in Iraq or Afghanistan, or when he might do so. He said in an interview that he hadn't taken the trip yet because he'd been so busy his first 22 months in office. 'Ive been very busy with everything thats taking place here,' he explained. Previous presidents have scheduled closely-held surprise trips to war zones to visit with U.S. troops stationed overseas, sometimes timed to the holidays, including George W. Bush. The former Republican president made history when he visited the country in 2003 at Thanksgiving. Former President Barack Obama made his first and only trip to Iraq three months after taking office in 2009. He made also surprise visits to Afghanistan in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Obama's first Afghanistan visit came over Memorial Day weekend under the cover of darkness roughly 15 months into office. His White House claimed that he was spending the holiday at Camp David, only to gather reporters in secret at Andrews Air Force Base for the covert trip. President Trump also left overnight from Andrews under a cloud of secrecy. Reporters traveling with him were barred from sharing their whereabouts until he had left the conflict zone. Credible reports on social media that Air Force One had been spotted in foreign air space, though, tipped observant news outlets off that a secret trip was afoot. The president's national security adviser, John Bolton, and the White House press secretary Sarah Sanders were traveling with President Trump. Senior White House policy adviser Stephen Miller, social media director Dan Scavino, spokeswoman Lindsay Walters and Melania Trump's chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds and spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham were also aboard Air Force One. Outgoing White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired marine general whose final day working for Trump is next week, did not join his boss on the unannounced trip abroad. Incoming chief Mick Mulvaney, who wears two hats now as Office of Management and Budget head and head of the West Wing, did not make the trip, either. Mulvaey's office oversees the shutdown that affects a quarter of the federal government. The father charged in the deaths of his two teenage children worked as a Santa Claus at Walmart during the holidays this year, it's been revealed. Elwyn Crocker Sr, 50, reportedly dressed as Santa Claus, posing for pictures with children in the days before his arrest last week for the deaths of his children. The bodies of siblings Mary Crocker, 14, and her brother Elwyn Crocker Jr., who went missing in 2016 and would have turned 16 this year, were discovered by the woods near their home in Guyton, Georgia last week. A family photo from 2010 shows Crocker dressed as Santa Claus while a younger Mary sits on his lap and Elwyn Jr smiles by his side. Elwyn Crocker Sr., 50, worked as a Santa Claus in Walmart days before being arrested for the deaths of his children Mary (left) and Elwyn Jr (right), pictured in 2010 Crocker Sr., 50, shown here, is the father of Mary and Elwyn Jr. and he has been charged with concealing the death of another and cruelty to children in the first degree Elwyn Crocker Jr. (left) was 14 when he apparently disappeared in November, 2016, while Mary Crocker (right) was 16 when she was last seen in October of this year Another child, believed to have special needs, is also in the photo and was found safe in the home last week. 'This guy, the biological father, was a Santa Claus at Rincon Walmart, and these other families who live out here had their kids in his lap,' Ronald Howe, a neighbor, told WTOC. He was taken to a hospital for observation, but authorities say he appears to be in good condition. An autopsy will be performed to confirm the identities of the remains as well as the cause of death. Crocker along with the children's stepmother Candice Crocker and 50-year-old step-grandmother Kim Wright have all been charged with concealing the death of another and cruelty to the children in the first degree. On December 19, Effingham County deputies were dispatched to the home for a welfare check after a getting a tip that a 14-year-old girl was missing and feared deceased. The adults in the home claimed that Mary had gone to live with her mother in South Carolina during interviews with the deputies, but they concluded the story was false. Information from the father, Elwyn Sr., led them to search the grounds of the home. Investigators then excavated the area near the wood line where the bodies were buried. Candice Crocker, 33, (left) the step-mother and Kim Wright, 50, (right) the children's step-grandmother are also included in the criminal charges Elwyn Crocker Sr., Mary Crocker, Candice Crocker and Elwyn Crocker Jr. with an unnamed third child An excavator was brought to the scene at the Crocker home in Guyton, Georgia, where two bodies were found Mary Crocker had last been seen in October of this year, while her brother Elwyn Jr. has apparently not been seen since November 2016. Neither child was ever officially reported missing, according to Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie. 'I've been doing this 41 years, and a while ago I almost broke down in tears. It's that bad,' Sheriff McDuffie said in his news conference. 'I just - I cannot understand how you do children like this. It's horrible.' Authorities are attempting to get in touch with the biological mother of Mary and Elwyin Jr. believed to be living in South Carolina. 'I just can't imagine this, it just tears me up that someone would do this to a child,' a neighbor Ruth Sikes told WSAV through tears. 'It just breaks my heart.' With the investigation ongoing, Sheriff McDuffie says more charges could be forthcoming. In the wake of two migrant children's deaths in custody, the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection has said that migrants bringing children are flooding across the border illegally at an unprecedented rate, straining the agency's ability to process them. On Christmas Eve, eight-year-old Guatemalan Felipe Gomez Alonzo died in CBP custody near El Paso, Texas, following the death in early December of seven-year-old Guatemalan Jakelin Caal. CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told CBS This Morning on Wednesday that migrants, perhaps incentivized by legal loopholes, were bringing children across the border illegally in 'huge numbers.' 'Our stations are not built for that group that's crossing today - they were built 30 or 40 years ago for single adult males, and we need a different approach,' McAleenan said. 'We need help from Congress, and we need to budget for medical care and mental health care for children in our facilities.' CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told CBS This Morning on Wednesday that migrants were bringing children across the border illegally in 'huge numbers' Border Patrol agents detain caravan migrants on Wednesday in San Diego. Two migrant children have died from illness in CBP custody this month CBP notified the public about both children's deaths in custody, and McAleenan strongly denied that there were any other deaths that the public was not aware of. 'This is an extraordinarily rare occurrence. It's been more than a decade since we've had a child pass away anywhere in the CBP process,' he said. McAleenan said that the agency has more than 1,500 emergency medical technicians on staff and that officers are taking dozens of sick children to hospitals every day. 'What we're seeing is more children than ever before coming into our custody,' he said. 'At this pace by the end of December we'll have had almost 25,000 children, most of them accompanied by parents, who have crossed our border and are arriving in custody. That's an enormous flow, and it's very different than we've seen before,' he noted. McAleenan also said that the El Paso sector, where both child deaths occurred, has seen a surge in illegal immigration from Central America with the recent formation of 'commercial' bus services operated by criminal cartels, which transport migrants to the U.S. border from their home countries in a matter of days. Migrant children are seen in a holding facility in Texas in June. CBP says it is apprehending an unprecedented number of illegal border crossers who have children with them Tragedy: Jakelin Caal (above in file photo), a seven-year-old girl from Guatemala, lost her life earlier this month while in custody CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the partial government shutdown over President Donald Trump's demand for funding for a border wall. Asked whether the shutdown was worth it to secure the funding, McAleenan said that more resources were 'absolutely' needed for border security. CBP said in a statement that an agent first noticed that Gomez Alonzo had a cough and 'glossy eyes' at about 9am on Monday. Felipe was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a common cold, according to the agency. The boy was released just before 3pm, about 90 minutes after he had been found to have a fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit, CBP said. He was prescribed the antibiotic amoxicillin and the pain reliever and fever-reducer ibuprofen, and was taken with his father to a holding facility at a highway checkpoint. Around 7pm, agents helped clean up the boy's vomit. CBP said the father 'declined further medical assistance' then. The agency said that its officers repeatedly conducted welfare checks on Felipe and his father, and that agents decided to take the boy back to the hospital at about 10 p.m. because the boy 'appeared lethargic and nauseous again.' He died at 11:48 p.m. Monday, the agency said. The cause of death was under investigation. On December 18, Gomez Alonzo and his dad attempted to cross into the US illegally 3 miles from the Paso Del Norte Port in El Paso, Texas (pictured) In response to the deaths of Gomez Alonzo and Caal, U.S. immigration authorities said on Wednesday that they had done new medical checks on nearly every child in Border Patrol custody. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security told reporters that almost all checks ordered in reaction to the boy's death had been completed. Some children detained in more remote areas were re-screened by emergency medical technicians or Border Patrol agents, officials said. In other places, some children were taken to medical facilities. Caal died on December 8 and was returned to her village for burial. Her death - which brought down heavy criticism on U.S. immigration authorities - is also under investigation. With border crossings surging, CBP processes thousands of children - both alone and with their parents - every month. According to CBP statistics, border agents detained 5,283 children unaccompanied by a parent in November alone. Agents last month also apprehended 25,172 'family units,' or parents and children together. CBP typically holds children for no more than a few days. Youngsters who arrive unaccompanied are turned over to longer-term facilities operated by the HHS. The Associated Press reported this month that 14,300 children were being detained by HHS, most in facilities with more than 100 kids. CBP typically detains adult immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldn't be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE detention centers. Gomez Alonzo and his father, Agustin, 47, came from the northwest Guatemalan municipality of Nenton in Huehuetenango province, said Guatemalan foreign ministry spokeswoman Marta Larra. Gomez was the second child to die this month in U.S. custody after crossing from Mexico, following the death in early December of 7-year-old Guatemalan Jakelin Caal. His parents, who speak a Maya language called Chuj and little Spanish, have requested an autopsy be done as quickly as possible so the body can be repatriated to Guatemala, Larra said. The results are expected in about a week, she added. Most families in Nenton are of indigenous origin and subsist on corn and bean farming, as well as money sent back from relatives working in the United States and Mexico, according to a local government report. Huehuetenango sends the highest numbers of migrants abroad from Guatemala every year, Larra said. A little girl was reunited with her teddy just in time for Christmas after she lost him at a busy train station. Five-year-old Eva Mackay realised she had lost her beloved teddy Frankfurter while on the train home from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Her mother Cath Mackay looked through all the carriages on the train to try and find the teddy for 'distraught' Eva. Ms Mackay said: 'We went through all 10 carriages trying to find him. Eva was distraught. Frankfurter the teddy was found on a bench at Edinburgh Waverley station by Leyna Russell and her eight-year-old daughter Emily 'It was the first present my partner had bought for Eva, which is why we were both crying.' To try and find the teddy, Ms Mackay tweeted for the first time to launch a hunt for the teddy with the hashtags #lostteddy and #findfrankfurter. Amazingly, the family soon received a response from Leyna Russell, who said she eight-year-old daughter Emily spotted Frankfurter on a bench at Edinburgh Waverley station, posting a picture of the teddy and informing them he had been handed in. Ms Russell said she and her daughter were making their way back to Glasgow after a two-day stay for her birthday. They had missed a train back but had missed their train and sat down to wait for the next train. 'The platform is usually quite dark, the teddy was almost camouflaged, but my daughter spotted him,' Leyna told the BBC. 'Only kids know the true sentimental value of a teddy like that. It looked very loved.' Frankfurter was given a lift back to his rightful owners in the train driver's cabin ScotRail took care of Frankfurter and kindly drove the teddy back to Glasgow in the train driver's cabin. The reunion story is even more heartwarming as both mothers and daughters have now planned to meet up to discuss their teddies. Ms Russell said: 'It's amazing that a cousin spotted my post and pieced things together. This feels a bit like a scene from Harry Potter.' Five days into the partial government shutdown sparked by the standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over border wall funding, furloughed employees took to Twitter to vent their frustration. Using the hashtag #ShutdownStories, many infuriated and anxious federal workers described their financial woes caused by the shutdown this holiday season. It appears that some commenters were moved to share their stories after hearing Trump say on national television the day before that federal workers support the shutdown and want the wall. Donald Trump sparked a furious backlash on Twitter after declaring on Tuesday that federal workers have informed him that they support the shutdown and want the border wall Former New York US attorney Preet Bharara quipped that the pro-shutdown federal employees Trump was speaking of were the same 114-year-old parents of veteran of the Korean War, which ended 65 years ago, that he claimed last summer had reached out to him before his historic meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un Another wit joked that the legendary 19th century abolitionist Frederick Douglass also wants the wall The president made those remarks after delivering his annual Christmas Day address to the armed forces. When asked by a reporter what he wanted to say to 800,000 employees of the federal government affected by the shutdown, Trump replied: 'Well, I think they understand what's happening. They want border security. It's not a question of me. I'd rather not be doing shutdown.' After complaining that he was not spending the holiday with his family at Mar-a-Lago, Trump went on: 'Many of those workers have said to me and communicated, "stay out until you get funding for the wall." These federal workers want the wall. 'The only one that doesn't want the wall are the Democrats because they don't mind open borders, but open borders mean massive amounts of crime.' Federal employees and their families have been tweeting about their struggles since the beginning of the shutdown, which went into effect Saturday morning, but Trump's statement on Tuesday caused Twitter to explode with messages of outrage. Former New York US attorney Preet Bharara quipped that the pro-shutdown federal employees Trump was speaking of were the same 114-year-old parents of veteran of the Korean War, which ended 65 years ago, that he claimed last summer had reached out to him before his historic meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Another wit joked that the legendary 19th century abolitionist Frederick Douglass also wants the wall. Last year, Trump implied that the long-dead historical figure was still alive by saying that Douglass 'has done an amazing job.' But most of the messages shared with the #ShutdownStories hashtag were nothing if not heart-rending. One user wrote: 'In last year of my PhD, a husband and father of a 1 year old. I have a government funded fellowship and the government shutdown jeopardizes my ability to pay rent, support my family, and continue my research. My story is not unique, but wholly American in 2019.' Another told a similar tale: 'I am a federal contractor. I get no back pay so im losing 100% of my wages. Im the sole provider and we have toddler and a baby. I often work long hrs that I dont bill b/c I believe in the mission. Cant begin to express the anger and frustration... Xmas ruined!' A woman describing herself as a dedicated federal worker of nearly 30 years tweeted that because of the shutdown, she might have to let her ailing husband's caregiver go because they won't be able to afford the service. She added: 'I'm besides myself with worry this Christmas.' A newly hired federal worker revealed that the shutdown canceled a seven-month job training program, for which he had moved to another state, leaving him homeless. The mother of a federal employee lamented that she will be supporting her daughter and grandchildren financially through January, but if the shutdown continues past that time, she would have to dip into her retirement savings. The wife of a US Forest Service said that she has been on unpaid maternity leave with their new baby since October, and now without her husband's his income, they could be at risk of potentially losing their house. 'I dont know what we will do. We have enough in savings to cover the mortgage in January, but beyond that..' the woman wrote in desperation. A disabled veteran tweeted that she has been waiting to undergo surgery for over a year, but because of the shutdown, she cannot get her final approval for the procedure. Do you know 20-year-old Arron Hough? If so, email mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com Advertisement A British cruise ship worker who fell overboard from a cruise ship on Christmas Day posted a cryptic message on Twitter just days before the incident took place, it has emerged. Arron Hough, 20, believed to be from Sunderland, fell from a Royal Caribbean vessel on Tuesday having last been seen on deck at around 4am. Just days before, on Friday, he tweeted: 'Beneath the water is beauty. Always look beneath the surface before you decide on things.' The US coastguard is currently searching for the Briton - who is said to have been part of the entertainment team on the Harmony of the Seas vessel. He fell off the ship 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla in Puerto Rico. The US coastguard is currently searching for 20-year-old Arron Hough (right) - who is believed to have been part of the entertainment team on the Royal Caribbean vessel It is believed Mr Hough was performing in a production of Grease (pictured) as part of the entertainments team for the vessel. His Facebook profile lists his profession as Dancer/Vocalist at Royal Caribbean Productions Harmony of the Seas (pictured on its voyage) is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday Mr Hough's tweeted just days before he went missing, saying: 'Beneath the water is beauty. Always look beneath the surface before you decide on things' The cruise firm confirmed today that he went missing overboard on Tuesday and had been working on the Oasis-class cruise ship. He has not been seen since entering a deck area of the ship at around 4am - and despite a thorough search of the vessel has not been found. Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a seven-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday, December 23. It has port calls to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti. In the days leading up to his disappearance, Mr Hough can be seen tweeting about life on the ship - and even shared footage of his production of Grease. And in his penultimate tweet posted a cryptic message which read: 'Beneath the water is beauty. Always look beneath the surface before you decide on things.' Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday. It has port calls to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti In July, talent agency Russell Smith Associates tweeted that Mr Hough (pictured right) would be joining the cast of Grease The Musical on Harmony of the Seas. He went missing on Christmas Day and has not been seen since Arron Hough (left and right), 20, is believed to have fallen overboard from the Royal Caribbean vessel Harmony of the Seas while around 300 miles from Puerto Rico. The Foreign Office has confirmed it is 'providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing of Fort Lauderdale' A friend of Mr Hough, who contacted MailOnline but asked to remain anonymous, said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' at the news. She said: 'Arron is the type of person people can only wish to have in their lives. He lights up any room like no one else can and everyone who knows and loves him has so many happy and cherished memories. 'His infectious laugh and beaming smile is enough to pull anyone out from feeling down in the dumps. He's helped me through some of the hardest times in my life and for that I'm eternally grateful. 'I hope and pray we get our Arron back home where he belongs, the light of our lives has gone out.' Mr Hough has previously studied at the Urdang Academy in London, which provides specialist vocational training in dance and musical theatre. The academy are 'praying' for Mr Hough and his family, according to a message posted on Twitter. It added: 'Please keep up your hope and faith that he is found safe and sound as soon as possible.' Mr Hough is believed to have been part of a Grease production (pictured) being held on the ship for the duration of the voyage Mr Hough (pictured) is believed to have been working on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship, which was on a seven-day excursion taking in locations including Philipsburg, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean confirmed to MailOnline that a member of the entertainment team onboard the ship did not report for work on December 25 In July, talent agency Russell Smith Associates tweeted that Mr Hough would be joining the cast of Grease The Musical on Harmony of the Seas. The agency said he was a new graduate of the Urdang Academy, a dance and musical theatre college in London. On Wednesday night, the college tweeted that they were praying for Mr Hough and his family. His mother, Tracey Steel, said on social media that she was 'so proud I could burst' when she found out the news her son had got the job on the cruise liner. And she posted a message on his Facebook last week saying: 'If my love for you was stars it would light up the universe.' On December 21 she posted one final message which read: 'Love you son.' Royal Caribbean International confirmed that a member of the entertainment team onboard the ship did not report for work on December 25. A spokeswoman said: 'On Monday, December 25, a member of the entertainment team onboard Harmony of the Seas en route to Philipsburg, St. Maarten, did not report to work as scheduled. 'We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship's closed-circuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4am and was not seen again. 'Local authorities were notified and a ship-wide search for the crew member was conducted.' In the days leading up to his disappearance, Mr Hough (pictured left and right) can be seen tweeting about life on the ship - and even shared footage of his production of Grease Mr Hough (left) is seen larking about with friends in a picture posted to his Facebook profile in mid-November. The youngster went missing while working on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship The crew member is believed to have been working on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas (pictured) before falling overboard Mr Hough tweeted in mid-November that he was joining the staff of Harmony of the Seas. He is part of the entertainments team and had been performing in a production of Grease for the cruise guests The spokesman said that its care team is now providing support to the family and friends of the staff member. She continued: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.' While The Foreign Office confirmed to MailOnline that it was aware of the missing man. A spokesman said: 'We are providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing of Fort Lauderdale.' A HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Clearwater and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute are searching for Hough. The cruise ship was off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The ship sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Mr Hough is from Sunderland and attended the London-based drama school Urdang Academy, according to his Facebook page. The academy are 'praying' for Mr Hough and his family, according to a message posted on Twitter. It added: 'Please keep up your hope and faith that he is found safe and sound as soon as possible' In July, talent agency Russell Smith Associates tweeted that Mr Hough would be joining the cast of Grease The Musical on Harmony of the Seas. The London-based agency said: 'Our thoughts are with all of his friends and family and we hope for him to be found very soon' Mr Hough is not the only crewmember this year to fall from a cruise ship, with Jack Daniel Ackroyd falling from the Adventure of the Seas last month during its journey to Cozumel, Mexico. Staff on the ship did not realise the 27-year-old, from Nottingham, was missing until he did not report for duty after the vessel had docked. The Royal Caribbean website says the Harmony of the Seas won the title of largest cruise ship in the world in 2016. The ship cost $1billion (695 million), can carry 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew, and took more than two-and-a-half years to construct. The website says it is the first ship to feature the Broadway hit musical Grease as part of its entertainment programme. A young man who accused Kevin Spacey of sexually assaulting him at a seaside restaurant near Boston in 2016 filmed part of the incident, according to court filings. The 59-year-old star of the 'House of Cards' series, who has won two Oscars, is due to be formally charged on January 7 on the island of Nantucket with 'indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age.' If found guilty, Spacey could face up to five years in jail. The young man told police he had sent messages, including a video, to his girlfriend via the Snapchat app from the 'Club Car' restaurant in Nantucket, where he was working as a bus boy for the summer, according to the court filing. The same day it was announced that Spacey was to be arraigned on a felony sex assault charge, the actor released a strange video himself seemingly addressing these allegations. Speaking in the character of Frank Underwood, the scheming politician he played in 'House of Cards' before the show dropped him, the video has racked up more than 6 million views on YouTube. Spacey outside the bar where the alleged assault occurred in 2016. Court documents state that Kevin Spacey's accuser recorded part of the 2016 incident on Snapchat The victim's mother, Heather Unruh, a former Boston television news anchor, had said last year that former 'House of Cards' star repeatedly stuck his hand down the pants of her 18-year-old son. The new court documents give a detailed account of the night he is reported to have assaulted Unruh's son. After meeting the actor and telling him he was 23 years old -- the legal drinking age is 21 in Massachusetts -- the bus boy started drinking first beer and then whiskey with Spacey. 'The drinks continued constantly through the whole night. Things started to get a little fuzzy when [Unruh's son] and Spacey went over to the piano,' Trooper Gerald F. Donovan wrote in his report in the court filing according to Masslive. Opening up: The accuser's mother, Heather Unruh (above), has spoken publicly about the incident multiple times in the past, saying Spacey fondled her son's genitals Kevin Spacey is due to be charged on January 7 on Nantucket with 'indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age.' If found guilty, he could face up to five years in jail (pictured in a bizarre video he released) '[Unruh's son] said he had at least four or five beers before Spacey said they should switch to whiskey adding, 'Let's get drunk.' Unruh's son said he spoke of his girlfriend of five months to Spacey, at which point he was allegedly told to stop texting her by the actor. The accuser then said Spacey started talking about the size of his penis. '[Unruh's son] said he did not know how to respond to that,' Trooper Donovan's report read. Spacey then allegedly invited him back to his place, along with some other friends. The young man declined, suspecting the actor was trying to seduce him. But he stayed in the bar in the hopes of getting a picture with Spacey. 'Will only lingered around because he wanted a picture with Spacey, something for Instagram,' the filing said. 'Spacey had told him, if you come back with me, I will take a picture with you.' That was when Spacey began sexually molesting the young man, according to the court documents. 'Will tried to shift away with his body and move Spacey's hands away with his hands but Spacey kept reaching down his pants,' it said. 'Will said his girlfriend did not believe him so that's when he Snapchatted the video,' it said. He then left the bar on the advice of a woman who reportedly saw 'he was in distress.' He returned to work the next day and informed the owner of the bar of the incident, the court documents said. Kevin Spacey's chilling video, titled 'Let Me Be Frank,' in which he addresses the audience as his character Frank Underwood, has racked up more than 6million views in 24 hours The filing said that police had retrieved the footage and shown it to the young man, who confirmed it showed him and Spacey. KEVIN SPACEY SAYS HE WILL MAKE COMEBACK AFTER SEX CHARGES I know what you want. Oh sure, they may have tried to separate us but what we have is too strong, is too powerful. I mean, after all, we shared everything you and I. I told you my deepest darkest secrets. I showed you exactly what people are capable of. I shocked you with my honesty. But mostly I challenged you and made you think and you trusted me even though you knew you shouldn't. So we're not done no matter what anyone says. And besides, I know what you want you want. Him back of course. Some believed everything and I've just been waiting with bated breath for him he confess it all. They're just dying to have me declare that everything said is true and that I got what I deserved. Wouldn't it be easy if it was all so simple. Only you and I both know it's never that simple. Not in politics and not in life, but you wouldn't believe the worst without evidence, would you. You wouldn't rush to judgment without facts , would you? Did you? No, not you, you're smarter than that. Anyway, all this presumption made for such an unsatisfying ending, and to think it could have been such a memorable send-off. I mean, if you and I've learned nothing else these past years it's that in life and art, nothing should be off the table. We weren't afraid. Not of what we said, not of what we did, and we're still not afraid. Because I can promise you this: If I didn't pay the price for the things we both know I did do, I'm certainly not gonna pay the price for the things I didn't do. Well, of course they're gonna say I'm being disrespectful not playing by the rules, like I ever played by anyone's rules. But I never did and you loved it anyhow. despite all he animosity, the headlines, the impeachment without a trial despite everything despite even my own death. I feel surprisingly good and my confidence grows each day that soon enough you will know the full truth. Wait a minute, now that I think of it, you never actually saw me die, did you? Conclusions can be so deceiving. Miss me? Advertisement Spacey, who was forced out of public life by accusations of sexual misconduct in 2017, has not yet commented on the latest charges. Spacey was considered one of the finest actors of his generation but his career nosedived following allegations of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen men in the United States and Britain. His downfall began on October 29, 2017, when Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexually assaulting him in the stars New York apartment in 1986 when Rapp was just 14, triggering a string of similar complaints. To date, 30 men have made public allegations about the actor. While no formal charges have been filed, police in LA and London are investigating allegations of sexual assault, including rape. In the UK, there are six active investigations. The Old Vic theatre in London, where Spacey was artistic director for 11 years until 2015, said it had received 20 complaints of inappropriate behaviour during his tenure. Spacey issued a swift and contrite apology, ended years of rumours about his sexuality by coming out as gay and checked into sex rehab clinic The Meadows in Arizona alongside disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. But unlike Weinstein who has been photographed going about his daily business, visiting his lawyers offices and picking his children up from school there has been no sign of Spacey anywhere. Until this week, when he released a bizarre video suggesting that he was preparing to make a comeback. In the video, entitled Let Me Be Frank, Spacey acknowledges the charges which have been made against him and suggests he will overcome them and revive his career. He then makes a number of cryptic statements, at one point stating: 'If I didn't pay the price for the things we both know I did do, I'm certainly not gonna pay the price for the things I didn't do.' Spacey then closes out the video by stating: 'I feel surprisingly good and my confidence grows each day that soon enough you will know the full truth. 'Wait a minute, now that I think of it, you never actually saw me die, did you? Conclusions can be so deceiving. Miss me?' That last comment seems to be a reference to Frank Underwood, the character he played on House of Cards. A ruthless drugs lord is facing life behind bars after killing a teenager to get his hands on his county line business in the first case of its kind in the UK. Gaille Bola, 22, stabbed Meschak Dos Santos Cornelio to death because he wanted the 18-year-olds mobile phone which he used to sell cocaine and heroin. Although the battered Nokia handset was so old it was practically worthless, its telephone number was a direct line to scores of drug addicts and a business worth hundreds of pounds a day. A Daily Mail investigation has revealed that it is the first time anyone has been killed for a county line a dedicated mobile phone line used to sell, distribute and buy drugs. Meschak Dos Santos Cornelio (pictured), 18, was stabbed to death for the contacts on his mobile phone which he used to sell cocaine and heroin The case comes as the county lines epidemic fuels an upsurge in violence, with the number of gangs competing in the drugs trade soaring from 720 last November to almost 2,000 today. Gaille Bola, though only 22 years old, is one of the biggest drugs barons to be brought to justice so far. The Congolese kingpin was already earning 1,000 a day running three separate county lines in Hertfordshire, supplying hundreds of addicts. Considered by Scotland Yard to be one of the capitals most dangerous gangsters, he used an army of children to run three lucrative drugs chains supplying Stevenage, Ware and Hertford. But profits of 365,000 a year were not enough for the gang leader who wanted to expand into north-east London by taking over a thriving business run by one of his proteges, who was a once a childhood family friend. Detectives believe Bola introduced Cornelio to drug dealing and lured him into the Get Money Gang, or GMG, when he was 15 after the teenager moved to Enfield, north London, from Tulse Hill, south London, and wanted to make new friends. Gaille Bola, 22, is one of the biggest drugs barons to be brought to justice so far after he stabbed Cornelio on the morning of New Years Eve last year The schoolboy, known as Schak or Steve, was groomed by Bola for years, working for him initially as a runner before establishing a busy county line of his own in October 2017. He trained as a plumber and electrician but found drug dealing to be more lucrative. When Bola saw the cash he was making, thought to be hundreds of pounds a day, he resolved to ambush the young dealer as he was stocking up in preparation for the biggest party of the year. The gangster, nicknamed Ghost, struck on the morning of New Years Eve last year as Cornelio was bagging up a massive stash of cocaine and heroin for that evening at a friends house in Enfield. When Bola arrived at 11am with two associates, the victim let him in, but refused to hand over the Nokia handset. Bola repeatedly punched him in the head shouting Give me the phone before stabbing him in the chest and fleeing with the phone as well as cash and drugs thought to be worth thousands of pounds. Drug users who were in the property called the emergency services at 11.30am. They found the victim conscious on the living room floor, but reluctant to answer questions. He died later that day. Detectives later found 50 wraps of cocaine hidden in another room which Bola missed, as well as equipment used for cutting and bagging drugs. Although Bola was after the phone, it was to prove his undoing as police were able to track him through it. He handed himself in to a police station just over a week later on January 8 when he told police: I did not stab Schak. I was not involved in the stabbing of Schak he was a good family friend. But jurors at his trial at Blackfriars Crown Court heard that the killing was entirely about drugs. Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse said: Everybody closely involved [in this case] was using drugs or supplying drugs. Bola was found guilty of manslaughter during a retrial in November after earlier being cleared of murder during a first trial at the Old Bailey in July. He now faces a life sentence when he is sentenced on January 11. The career criminal already has a long list of 13 convictions for 20 separate offences including multiple knife offences and drug dealing. Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen said: I believe this is the first killing specifically for a county line business. It was a basic old Nokia handset, but that phone was profitable enough to be killed for. There were hundreds of calls daily to that phone. Michael Gove has taken to Twitter to lead the condemnation of Japan's decision to restart commercial whaling next year. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary said he was 'extremely disappointed' after the nation announced it was pulling out of the International Whaling Commission and reversing the law in July. In the tweet, Gove promised that the UK would continue 'to fight for the protection and welfare of these majestic animals'. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary lead the condemnation of Japan's decision on Twitter. He said he was 'extremely disappointed' with the move Japan announced yesterday that it was pulling out of the international whaling commission and will begin commercial whaling again next year. Pictured: A harpooned minke whale is slaughtered in Antarctica in 1989 Dead whales lie in a pool of blood aboard a Japanese factory ship carrying out scientific research in the Antarctic in 1993 Japan, which has long argued it should be allowed to hunt whales as their meat has cultural significance, says it will not return to whaling in Antarctica though, and will stick to its territorial and economic waters. While this is a benefit for the Antarctic, it may simply be because the nation is no longer able to hunt on the high seas, where they were claiming to be conducting 'scientific whaling' while still a member of the IWC. By withdrawing from the commission, Japan will not be able to hunt in major waterways, as UN law says all countries must work through 'the appropriate international organizations' for conservation. Pictured: A whale is pulled out of the water for research purposes. Japan's research program has long been condemned because the meat from the animal is still sold off But Japan will now be able to whale in its own waters with no oversight or consequences. The IWC imposed a commercial moratorium in 1986 due to a dwindling whale population, which Japan was a part of. To combat the loss of whale meat, Japan switched to what it calls research whaling. The research program was criticized as a cover for commercial hunting as the meat was still sold in stores. Now, Japan says the whale population has recovered enough to resume commercial hunting, and the IWC has become more like an opponent of whaling than an organization aiming for sustainability. Astrid Fuchs, program manager for Whale and Dolphin Conservation told National Geographic Japan's decision could have global ramifications. Ms Fuchs says Japan carries great influence in other whaling countries, and its withdrawal from the IWC could encourage South Korea and Russia to make the same move. President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed to stick to his guns on the government shutdown, telling reporters as he flew to Iraq for a surprise visit that hell do 'whatever it takes' to get money for his border wall. He declined to say how much he would accept in a deal with congressional Democrats to end the shutdown, now in its fifth day, stressing the need for border security. 'You have to have a wall, you have to have protection,' he said while on the ground at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. And when asked how long he would wait to get what he wants, he said, 'Whatever it takes. We need a wall. We need safety for our country.' Scroll down for video Speaking at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq Wednesday, Donald Trump vowed to carry on with the government shutdown until congressional Democrats agree to fund his border wall When asked how long he would wait to get what he wants, he said, 'Whatever it takes. We need a wall. We need safety for our country' The president again repeated his claim, supported by Homeland Security Department data, that terrorists have been entering the U.S. through the southern border with Mexico. Trump blamed the shutdown on Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who was expected to become speaker of the House on January 3. 'Nancy is calling the shots,' he said, suggesting that her opposition to his demand for wall funding had to do with Pelosi's need for votes to become speaker. Pelosi largely locked up the speakership weeks ago but is expected to win the January vote by a thin margin. The shutdown started Saturday when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and are working unpaid, while an additional 380,000 have been furloughed. While the White House was talking to congressional Democrats and staff talks continued on Capitol Hill negotiations dragged Wednesday, dimming hopes for a swift breakthrough and making it more likely that the shutdown would carry into January. With no deal at hand, members of the House were told there would be no votes on Thursday, assuring the shutdown would last yet another day. Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will have 24 hours notice before having to return. The Senate is slated to come into session Thursday afternoon. Trump and his wife Melanie made a surprise visit to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq to meet with Us troops, making it his first-ever visit to a war zone Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a Trump ally who has been involved in the talks, said the president 'is very firm in his resolve that we need to secure our border.' He told CNN, 'I dont know that theres a lot of progress that has been made today. But he added of Democrats: 'If they believe that this president is going to yield on this particular issue, theyre misreading him.' The impasse over government funding began last week, when the Senate approved a bipartisan deal keeping government open into February. That bill provided $1.3billion for border security projects but not money for the wall. At Trumps urging, the House approved that package and inserted the $5.7billion he had requested. On Friday afternoon, a Senate procedural vote showed that Republicans lacked the 60 votes theyd need to force the measure with the wall funding through their chamber. That jump-started negotiations between Congress and the White House, but the deadline came and went without a deal. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York on Saturday said funding for Trumps wall will 'never pass the Senate.' 'So President Trump, if you want to open the government, you must abandon the wall, plain and simple,' Schumer said. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is in lockstep with Schumer against the wall funding. If the shutdown continues into 2019, she has vowed that her new Democratic majority will act quickly to pass legislation reopening the government. The shutdown has been playing out against the backdrop of turmoil in the stock market, which is having a roller-coaster week. Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the White Houses Council of Economic Advisers, said the shutdown does not change the administrations expectation for strong growth heading into 2019. The partial government shutdown started Saturday when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies He told reporters a shutdown of a few weeks is not going to have any significant effect on the outlook. The shutdown that began on Saturday the third of 2018 caused a lapse in funding for nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice. The shutdown complicates things for essential employees who planned trips for the holidays: According to the Office of Personnel Management rules, employees deemed essential or otherwise exempted from their respective agency furloughs cant take any vacation or sick days. Furloughed federal workers have been given back pay in previous shutdowns. Those being furloughed include 52,000 workers at the Internal Revenue Service and nearly everyone at NASA. About 8 in 10 employees of the National Park Service are staying home, and many parks have closed. Roughly 44,000 US Coast Guard employees are considered essential, and will report to work this week without pay, with another 6,000 furloughed. The Coast Guard is the only arm of the military affected by the shutdown because it is funded through the Department of Homeland Security. Trump claimed on Monday that federal workers are behind him in the shutdown fight, saying many 'have said to me and communicated, "stay out until you get the funding for the wall."' He didnt say who he had heard from. Many rank-and-file workers have gone to social media with stories of the financial hardship they expect to face because of the shutdown. One union representing federal workers slammed Trumps claim. Paul Shearon, the president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, in a statement said the union has not heard from a single member who supports Trumps position. 'Most view this as an act of ineptitude,' he said. Silicon Valley billionaire Reid Hoffman apologized on Wednesday for giving money to a pro-Democratic organization linked to spreading fake news during last years special election for the U.S. Senate seat from Alabama. Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and an early investor in Facebook, released a statement acknowledging that he gave money to a group that spread disinformation during the contest between eventual winner Doug Jones, a Democrat, and Republican Roy Moore. The groups campaign was alleged to have used social media to damage Moores chances and help Jones, who won the race by 1.5 percentage points. The tech mogul says that after the 2016 election, he donated large amounts of cash to organizations whose aim was to help get Democrats elected. Silicon Valley billionaire Reid Hoffman apologized on Wednesday for giving money to a pro-Democratic organization linked to spreading fake news during last years special election for the U.S. Senate seat from Alabama Hoffman says that he gave $750,000 to American Engagement Technologies, a group which sought to develop technical solutions to counteract fake news, bot armies, and other kinds of digital manipulation and disinformation, he wrote on Medium. AET then gave money to an organization called New Knowledge, a small cyber security company that investigated Russian trolling and hacking operations during the 2016 elections. The company experimented with many of the tactics now understood to have influenced the 2016 elections, according to an internal report obtained by The New York Times. One of the disinformation tactics used was creating a Facebook page in which they posed as conservatives living in Alabama. The members of this page would then promote a write-in candidate to try and divide the Republican vote and siphon votes from Moore. It was also reported that during the campaign, thousands of so-called Russian accounts on Twitter began following Moore. We orchestrated an elaborate false flag operation that planted the idea that the Moore campaign was amplified on social media by a Russian botnet, the report said. Jonathon Morgan, the CEO of New Knowledge, told the Times that the false flag operation does not ring a bell. He said the companys efforts in Alabama, dubbed Project Birmingham, were a small experiment aimed at examining how certain tactics worked. Hoffman gave money to an organization which then gave money to a cyber security firm that created fake social media accounts designed to damage the campaign of Roy Moore, the Republican who lost the 2017 special election for the U.S. Senate seat from Alabama The research project was intended to help us understand how these kind of campaigns operated, said Morgan. We thought it was useful to work in the context of a real election but design it to have almost no impact. It is unlikely that the disinformation campaign had any lasting impact on the race. The entire budget for the program was $100,000, while the total money spent in the race between the two candidates surpassed $51million. Hoffman, who according to Forbes has a net worth of $1.5billion, says he now regrets giving money to AET. Through AET or otherwise, I have never personally authorized or directed any funding to New Knowledge, he wrote. I - regretfully - do not know why AET chose to support New Knowledge or for what specific purposes, if any, this funding was allocated. To reiterate yet again, I find the tactics that have been recently reported highly disturbing. Democrat Doug Jones (above) narrowly defeated Moore after a campaign filled with revelations of the Republicans alleged penchant for molesting underage girls when he was in his 30s. Jones is calling for a federal investigation into the use of fake news in the campaign For that reason, I am embarrassed by my failure to track AET - the organization I did support - more diligently as it made its own decisions to perhaps fund projects that I would reject. The head of AET, Mikey Dickerson, who once worked for Google and the Obama administration, declined to comment. Jones narrowly defeated Moore after a campaign filled with revelations of the Republicans alleged penchant for molesting underage girls when he was in his 30s. A total of nine women came forward and accused Moore of either pursuing a relationship with them even though they were in their teens or initiating sexual contact. Moore has denied the allegations. Jones told Politico last week that he supports a federal investigation into the use of fake news to help sway the Alabama Senate race. A violent criminal was granted fertility treatment inside prison while many childless couples are denied IVF because of cutbacks. The inmate, who was convicted of a serious assault, had his request approved last year by then prisons minister Sam Gyimah. It is thought the treatment, which can cost up to 2,000, was paid for by the NHS. Healthcare rationing watchdogs say women under the age of 40 can have three free cycles of IVF if they have been trying to conceive for two years. An inmate who was convicted of a serious assault has been granted fertility treatment - which can cost up to 2,000 - inside prison (stock image) But an audit for the campaign group Fertility Matters found that 87 per cent of Englands clinical commissioning groups missed this target. In the case of the prisoner he could become a father behind bars if the treatment is successful. He made his case under article 8 of the Human Rights Act the right to a family life. Tory MP David Davies said the decision was ludicrous, adding: This is an insult to law-abiding families who are unable to obtain IVF. This is yet another example of the crazy Human Rights Act which ought to be radically changed or got rid of. It is one of only a handful of applications for fertility treatment that have been approved for a criminal serving a sentence. In 2007 murderer Kirk Dickson won the right to father a child from behind bars using artificial insemination after he appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. As a result of that precedent a minister signed off fertility treatment for another inmate four years later sparking a public backlash. Limited details of the latest case were released to the Daily Mail following a Freedom of Information request. Mr Gyimah approved the IVF application last February. He later moved to become higher education minister but quit the Government last month calling the Brexit agreement naive and demanding a second referendum. Initially, the Ministry of Justice refused to say how many prisoners were involved, which minister was responsible or the crime the inmate had committed. Officials said releasing the data could result in the prisoner being identified in breach of their privacy. However, the information was released following an appeal. The Ministry of Justice said five inmates made requests for access to IVF in 2015, two were rejected and three cases were discontinued. The following year, seven prisoners applied, four were rejected and three withdrew. Last year six applied, two had their cases rejected, three applications were discontinued and one was approved. Another four requests have been made this year, two have been rejected and two are being considered. It comes as Britain cuts back on its funding for IVF under budget constraints and law-abiding adults struggle to get the treatment (stock image) A ministry spokesman said: The small number of prisoners requesting access to IVF are subject to a strict assessment including the risk they pose and their relationship with their partner and permission is given extremely rarely. All additional costs for facilitating the treatment are met by the prisoner. Dickson and a friend kicked to death a 41-year-old man in 1995 and he was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years. He met his wife Lorraine through a prison pen pal scheme while she was serving 12 months for a 20,000 benefit fraud. They married in 2000 after her release but while he was behind bars. In 2001 then home secretary David Blunkett rejected the couples application to authorise her access to a sperm donation from him for IVF treatment. With at least 20,000 in legal aid, they took the case to the High Court and the Court of Appeal but were rejected at every turn. In 2007 the case went to Strasbourg, when Dickson was 35 and his wife 49. The grand chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled their rights had been breached and awarded them 18,000 in damages. A Russian cosmonaut who explored a mysterious hole in a capsule docked to the International Space Station has revealed that the opening was drilled from inside the spacecraft. It's been four months since crew first discovered the hole in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the orbiting lab, but just how it got there remains a mystery. On Monday, Sergey Prokopyev said Russian law enforcement agencies are now examining samples he and crewmate Oleg Kononenko collected during a Dec. 12 spacewalk in effort to find out what caused it. Scroll down for video The crew quickly located and sealed the tiny hole that created a slight loss of pressure. Space officials said the station has remained safe to operate. There appear to be drill marks around the hole on the inside (pictured). Despite ongoing investigation, no one knows how it got there Prokopyev and two other astronauts returned to Earth last week from a 197-day space station mission. The hole in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the station was spotted on Aug. 30. Just days prior to their return to Earth, the cosmonauts endured a grueling spacewalk that lasted almost eight hours to investigate the hole, using knives and shears to carve into the side of the ISS. The crew discovered a leak that was creating a slight loss of pressure and plugged the hole with epoxy and gauze. Mr Prokopyev and Mr Kononenko had to use a pair of telescoping booms to reach the Soyuz and said it took nearly four hours for them to cross the approximately 100 feet to get to the capsule (pictured) A tiny hole, only 2mm wide (pictured), was found to be responsible for the loss of valuable cabin pressure which was first detected on 30th August Prokopyev said at a news conference the cavity started from the capsule's interior and 'it's up to the investigative organs to judge when that hole was made.' The astronauts' quick identification and repair of the hole demonstrated 'the crew was ready for any developments,' he said. The hole didn't pose a danger to Prokopyev and crewmates Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency during their return because the section of the capsule it appeared on was jettisoned before the fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev, crew member of the mission to the International Space Station, ISS, waves as he boards the spaceship prior to the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A HOLE IN THE ISS? Theory one - it was caused by a small meteorite A tiny hole appeared in a Russian space capsule locked to the ISS on 30th August. The 'micro fracture' believed to be around 2mm wide in the $150 billion (115 billion) space station was discovered after astronauts noticed a drop in pressure. European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst reportedly put his finger over the hole before crew patched it with tape. The hole was confirmed repaired by Friday (31 August) after cabin pressure returned to normal. It was initially believed to have been caused by a small meteorite and astronauts used tape to seal the leak after it caused a minor loss of pressure. Theory two - it was made deliberately while in orbit However, as the investigation went on it began to look like the hole was made from someone inside as opposed to outside, either back on Earth or in space, the Russian space agency claimed. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in September that the hole could have been drilled during manufacturing or while in orbit with a 'wavering hand'. He didn't say if he suspected any of the US crew, but the statement has caused some bewilderment. Sources suggest the question of how to fix the hole may have strained relations between Moscow and Houston. Rogozin has since reneged on his statement blaming the media for twisting his words and said that he 'never pointed the finger at U.S. astronauts'. Theory three - it was caused by a worker at Energia A leading theory from an unnamed source at Energia said the hole was made on the ground potentially caused by 'deliberate interference' with suggestions the person responsible may have already been identified. Another anonymous source said the hole was drilled by a worker who hid their mistake with a seal instead of reporting it. An unnamed source at Energia told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that '[t]he hole was made on the ground'. According to the source, '[t]he person responsible for the act of negligence has been identified'. Another anonymous source said the hole was not made intentionally but by a worker who hid their mistake with a seal instead of reporting it. The patchwork repair lasted the trip up to the ISS but after three weeks in orbit gradually peeled away. Advertisement Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in September the hole could have been drilled when the capsule was manufactured or in orbit. Rogozin stopped short of blaming crew members, but the statement has caused some friction between Roscosmos and NASA. Rogozin has since back-pedaled from the statement, blaming the news media for twisting his words. Prokopyev scoffed at the idea the hole could have been drilled by an astronaut, saying, 'You shouldn't think so badly of our crew.' They reportedly said 'I do' in a secret home ceremony on December 23. And Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's USD $5.8 million (AUD $8.2 million) mansion in Franklin, Tennessee, was the perfect venue for their alleged wedding. Rumours they'd tied the knot first started after a photo appeared online on Monday of the couple cutting what appeared to be a wedding a cake in their kitchen. The romantic venue is revealed! Inside Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's $8.2 million mansion where they got 'married' in Christmas ceremony Other brief footage showed Liam, 28, with brothers Chris and Luke Hemsworth doing a celebratory tray of shots at the American house. Miley, 26, purchased the mansion in her hometown of Franklin in August 2017, almost two years after the lovers got back together. The 7,000-square-foot home comes with five bedrooms and four full bathrooms. It's big enough! Rumours they'd tied the knot first started after a photo appeared on Monday of the couple cutting what appeared to be a wedding a cake in the mansion's kitchen It also has a three-car garage along with a large swimming pool and a putting green. Radar Online reports that the longtime couple enjoyed an 'intimate ceremony in front of close friends and family' on December 23. Alongside Liam's two brothers, Miley's mother Tish and sisters Noah and Brandi were also spotted in brief content shared online. Boozy! Other brief footage showed Liam (left) with brothers Chris (center) and Luke Hemsworth (right) doing a celebratory tray of shots at the American house Settling down! Miley, 26, purchased the mansion in her hometown of Franklin in August 2017, almost two years after the lovers got back together Party time! The open plan kitchen is where Miley and Liam were seen cutting the cake Noah, 18, fueled further rumours the nuptials had happened as she gazed into the camera with floods of tears running down her face in one clip. Days after it was reported that the pair were set to wed in a 'secret ceremony', their friend Conrad Carr appeared to confirm the possible nuptials. Conrad took to Instagram to share a snapshot of the lovebirds preparing to cut a cake together. Perfect for both of their families! The 7,000-square-foot home comes with five bedrooms Perfect for saying 'I do?' The lounge room was transformed with thousands of fairy lights for their rumoured big day on December 23 In the telling image, Miley is resplendent in an ivory off-the-shoulder gown as she stands before hunky Australian Liam, whose hand rests under hers. Actor Liam cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a crisp white shirt as they both hold a large knife while standing before Miley's casually dressed mother Trish. Adding to the celebratory atmosphere are giant metallic pink balloons spelling out 'Mr & Mrs', evidence of which was shared in an accompanying video. A clip shared on Christmas eve, the day after the reported 'wedding', of Billy Ray Cyrus on the porch of the property revealed fairy lights lining the lounge room. Family affair! Miley's sister Noah (left) fueled rumours by sharing a clip crying on Tuesday, with Billy Ray Cyrus (right) standing on the porch while gazing at fairy lights in the lounge Intimate! Radar Online reports that the longtime couple enjoyed an 'intimate ceremony in front of close friends and family' on December 23 No waiting in the morning! The house also boasts four full bathrooms and two half bathrooms Miley and Liam have been in an on-again-off-again relationship for years, and first got engaged back in June 2012. But after the couple lost their Malibu home in the recent California wildfires, Miley and Liam wanted to make it official, according to OK! magazine. 'She and Liam feel like their engagement has gone on forever and they both decided, at the same time, it was time to wed already,' a source claimed. Ready to take a dip? With temperatures plunging to zero degrees this past week, it is doubtful the outdoor pool got much use Secluded! Miley and Liam managed to avoid all attention by hosting their rumoured ceremony at the secluded mansion Earlier this month, Miley revealed that losing the USD $2.5 million (AUD $3.6 million) Malibu home she shared with Liam only served to bring them closer together. She revealed on The Howard Stern Show that Liam was her 'survival partner', adding: 'I've never loved him more for this.' The star explained: 'He was incredible [during the fires]. He got all the animals out in his truck. He put the pigs in crates. And I said "How did you get them out?" 'He said the only thing he could do was get a really powerful hose and spray them in the a**. So he just chased the pigs into the create, which was genius.' Miley concluded: 'He got a lot of action for saving the animals. He got a lot of action. We had to make sure that he knew I was very thankful.' True love! Miley and Liam have been in an on-again-off-again relationship for years, and first got engaged back in June 2012 Padma Lakshmi used the holidays to take a trip down memory road. The Top Chef judge reflected upon how much time flies in a darling set of Instagram photos posted online Christmas day. The then-and-now style shots first showed the India-born beauty kissing her daughter Krishna on the forehead in front of a tree, while the next showed a toddler-aged Krishna sitting on mom's shoulders as she topped off the tree with a star. Scroll down for video Happy holidays: Padma Lakshmi shared sweet social media of daughter Krishna and their holiday decorations on Christmas In the now photo Padma is seen planting a kiss on her little girl's forehead while holding a mug enscribed with the message: 'I [heart] Mom.' The culinary queen looked at home-chic in a pair of patterned leggings and a blue peasant top, pulling her hair back into a low ponytail. A ladder behind them suggested they had just put the finishing touches on the tree. The vintage photo showed a similar scene, with little Krishna riding on mom's shoulders as they topped things off with a lovely angel. Holiday tradition: The vintage photo showed a similar scene, with little Krishna riding on mom's shoulders as they topped things off with a lovely angel Happy dance: Later on the Bravo star shared some sweet social media of the duo doing a goofy dance together 'Merry Christmas #nowandthen #littlehands,' mom captioned the shots. Padma posted a video of their yearly tree-topping ritual a day earlier. Mom looked cute in a grey zip-up jumpsuit and pigtails while her 'Little Hands' passed over a starburst-like topper. '#Littlehands always ready to lend a helping hand,' mom wrote along with the tags '#xmas #thetreeisup #santascoming' and '#nycchristmas.' Teamwork! Padma posted a video of their yearly tree-topping ritual a day earlier Jumpsuit for joy! Mom looked cute in a grey zip-up jumpsuit and pigtails while her 'Little Hands' passed over a starburst-like topper Later on the Bravo star shared some sweet social media of the duo doing a goofy dance together. It was paired with the sounds of Jose Feliciano's classic Feliz Navidad. Padma's daughter Krishna is from her relationship with venture capitalist Adam Dell. The pair currently share joint custody. Lakshmi was married to novelist Salman Rushdie for three years from 2004 to 2007, but the pair never had children. Mark Wahlberg has shared his family Christmas card on social media. In the card, the 47-year-old actor posted Tuesday, he sat on a staircase with wife Rhea Durham, 40, and their four children - Ella, 15, Michael, 12, Brendan, 10, and Grace, eight. A message on the card was inscribed, 'The Wahlbergs wish you a very Merry Christmas.' Holiday spirit: Mark Wahlberg has shared his family Christmas card on social media. The actor, 47, sat on a staircase with wife Rhea Durham, 40, and their four children - Ella, 15, Michael, 12, Brendan, 10, and Grace, eight The Fighter star was wearing a grey sweater and dark pants, keeping his top half covered after he posed without a shirt in the family shot a year ago. Rhea, a one-time Victoria's Secret model, was clad in a red blouse with blue jeans and her brown locks parted in the middle. In a social media clip, the actor wished his fans a merry Christmas and happy new year while panning around his home early in the morning, before his kids opened their presents. He noted, 'I hear all the footsteps, all the running, everybody's coming for Christmas ... these kids are about to tear this place up!' Wahlberg appeared in last year's holiday film Daddy's Home Two. He teased that he might 'have another movie in the cooker that could be great for the holidays next year' while speaking with The Roz & Mocha Show out of Toronto last month. He did not get into more detail on the mystery project, saying he didn't 'want to count his chickens before theyre hatched.' Calm before the storm: Mark said, 'I hear all the footsteps, all the running, everybody's coming for Christmas ... these kids are about to tear this place up!' Presents a' plenty: Mark showed off the family Christmas tree, which was surrounded by gifts Waiting for Santa: The A-list actor shared Christmas Eve with his daughter Grace Safe bet: Wahlberg, seen in June in New Jersey, has been a leading man for more than two decades in Hollywood In the interview, Wahlberg noted he'd love to be in an ensemble cast featuring fellow A-listers Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. 'Weve talked about doing different things at different times,' he said. 'Let me just be the first to say Id be willing to take a pay cut if those guys are willing to do the same.' It's been a strong year for Wahlberg, who appeared in two feature films: the summer action film Mile 22 co-starring Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais and John Malkovich; and the dramatic comedy Instant Family, which features Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro. Instant Family is in theaters now. Blanca Blanco got in a holiday mood on Tuesday. The actress was seen in a red dress as she said Merry Christmas to her Instagram followers in pictures taken by her brother Octavio. 'Merry Christmas,' she said in one image. And the other said, 'Christmas look.' Holy jolly Christmas: Blanca Blanco got in a holiday mood on Tuesday. The actress was seen in a red dress as she said Merry Christmas to her Instagram followers in pictures taken by her brother Octavio The film star added beige pumps that appeared to be Louboutin. She was seated in a chair on a fuzzy beige rug. This comes after it was announced the brunette beauty signed with Swedish fashion brand Chiquelle for a campaign. She gave DailyMail.com a first look at their new ad campaign with the Washington State graduate. The shoot by Filip Shobot appeared in Elle magazine. Posed up: The film star added beige pumps that appeared to be Louboutin. She was seated in a chair on a fuzzy beige rug In one set up she is seen in a long leopard print, belted dress that makes the most of her waistline. Her hair is down as she spins around on a roof top. The Hollywood fixture shared a look at the ad on the back of Elle Magazine. New gig: Blanca Blanco is best known as an actress in films such as Betrayed and American Romance. But the brunette beauty is now branching out to modeling Clothing change: And she is also seen in a low-cut white top with beige slacks and black heels Sparkle and shine: The Washington state native added a bold gold necklace And she is also seen in a low-cut white top with beige slacks and black heels. In another set up Blanca - who lives with actor John Savage - has on a maroon top and a beige miniskirt. The Showgirls 2 actress added strappy heels. Her hair was by Vladimir Simic, make up was by Mina Abramovic and her esthetician was Akemi Yagi. Perfect for spring: In another set up Blanca - who lives with actor John Savage - has on a maroon top and a beige miniskirt Glam team: Her hair was by Vladimir Simic, make up was by Mina Abramovic and her estetician was Akemi Yagi The red carpet fixture was just in Morocco for a film festival where she attended many screenings and did private photos shoots, one with Robin Wright's brother. Before that she had heartbreak when her Malibu residence went up in flames during the Woolsey wildfire that took many homes. It took her two hours to reach safety in Camarillo in Ventura County, California, as the narrow Pacific Coast Highway was clogged with cars. When Blanco - she has appeared in the films Mission Possible and Woman On The Edge - settled into her hotel, she saw her home burn to the ground on live TV, she told DailyMail.com. She often heads to Barbados at the end of the year for Simon Cowell's annual New Year's Eve bash. So it came as no surprise to see Lizzie Cundy was living it up on the beach as she celebrated Christmas Day in the Caribbean on Tuesday. The former WAG, 50, looked half her age as she sizzled in a mesh swimsuit that showed off her incredible figure. Festive fun: Lizzie Cundy was living it up on the beach as she celebrated Christmas Day in the Caribbean on Tuesday The sexy swimsuit featured mesh panels that showed off her incredible abs, whilst the high cut highlighted her toned pins. Getting into the festive spirit, Lizzie also donned a Santa hat as she paddled in the shore on the idyllic beach. Lizzie's comes after the star revealed she has been getting more work after telling the truth about her real age. Hot mesh! The former WAG, 50, looked half her age as she sizzled in a mesh swimsuit that showed off her incredible figure Lizzie, who always insisted she was 47, revealed she is actually 50 when she came clean earlier this year on ITV's My Shirley Valentine Summer where she celebrated the milestone birthday on camera. Speaking on Channel 5's Jeremy Vine Show, Lizzie revealed she'd been told she was too old to be a TV presenter and so started to say she was younger to find more work. However, since coming clean she claims she's landed more TV gigs than ever. The former WAG, who was previously married to retired Chelsea star Jason Cundy, said she 'hated' lying about her age, but was previously told by an unnamed media mogul that she was 'too old' to find work - prompting her decision to have three years from her real age. Discussing her decision to tell the truth about her age, Lizzie revealed: 'The reason why I did it was to work. When I was presenting I was doing a big red carpet show and a big media mogul said to me, "You're too old, unless you say you're a lot younger, the younger generation and celebrities won't relate with you." 'Since I've revealed my age, I haven't stopped working, every day I have so much work. I wish I had done it earlier, to be honest.' Bethenny Frankel bid farewell to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday in an Instagram post that featured new beau Paul Bernon. The 48-year-old reality star shared two photos of herself and Paul with her nearly 2 million followers. The first photo showed the cute couple sitting next to each other on a patio with a beach and forest in the background. So long: Bethenny Frankel took to Instagram on Tuesday to say bye to the Dominican Republic after spending time there with new beau Paul Bernon 'Bye bye Dominican Republic. What a beautiful country of beautiful people. #healingretreat,' Bethenny wrote in the caption. A second photo showed the Skinnygirl Cocktails founder and Paul cozying up to each other for a grinning selfie with their sunglasses on. Bethenny earlier this month nearly died after suffering severe an allergic reaction to fish. The Real Housewives Of New York City star told fans about the health scare that left her hospitalized on social media. Cute couple: The 48-year-old reality star and Paul both wore sunglasses in a selfie she shared on Instagram She tweeted last week: 'I have a rare fish allergy. Sunday, I had soup, itched & was unconscious for 15 mins then to ER & ICU for 2 days w BP of 60/40,' Frankel tweeted. 'I couldn't talk, see, thought I had a stroke & dying & told if 5 mins later I'd be dead. 911 & EPI saved me. I'll never not carry an #epipen.' She credited Paul while replying to a comment on that post with saving her life. Film producer: Paul is shown in September 2014 in Toronto at the premiere of the comedy Adult Beginners that he co-produced 'Thanks for all of the support. I was with someone who went to get me a @Benadryl & returned & I was unconscious. He managed to call 911 & get pill down my throat w water. He saved my life,' she wrote. Bethenny and Paul went public with their romance in October. This is not the first time Bethenny has had a fish scare. During a season 10 episode of RHONY she suffered an allergic reaction when in Cartagena, Colombia. Bethenny earlier this year suffered a major loss when her longtime friend and on/off boyfriend Dennis Shields died at his Trump Tower apartment in NYC at age 51 of a suspected unintentional overdose. She is often seen heading to and from the gym. And on Tuesday night, Chantel Jeffries showed off her incredibly toned body while wearing a lace bra and matching bottoms to wish her 4.2 million Instagram followers an amazing holiday. The 26-year-old DJ and model highlighted her ample cleavage and her flat midsection in the cheeky video, which featured Mariah Carey's Christmas tune 'All I Want For Christmas Is You.' Wow: On Tuesday night, Chantel Jeffries showed off her incredibly toned body while wearing a lace bra and matching bottoms to wish her 4.2 million Instagram followers an amazing holiday In the short clip, Chantel is seen dancing to the beat of the festive holiday tune while sporting the ribbon accented bra top and high-waisted short-style underwear bottoms. The dark haired beauty twirled in the video, shook her hips and grinned ear to ear. She left her long brunette hair loose and straight, opting to go with minimal makeup to highlight her stunning natural beauty. Chantel captioned it: 'Christmas mood. Hope everyone had an amazing holiday.' Lovely: The 26-year-old DJ and model highlighted her ample cleavage and her flat midsection in the cheeky video, which featured Mariah Carey's Christmas tune 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' In the moment: In the short clip, Chantel is seen dancing to the beat of the festive holiday tune while sporting the ribbon accented bra top and high-waisted short-style underwear bottoms All the right moves: The dark haired beauty twirled in the video, shook her hips and grinned ear to ear One day earlier, she posed a snap while wearing the racy number, adding silver rings and delicate necklaces. Chantel, who captioned it 'Who did it better? posed seductively on her bed while facing the camera. The second picture in the slideshow featured her cat with reindeer ears in a similar pose. Stunner: She left her long brunette hair loose and straight, opting to go with minimal makeup to highlight her stunning natural beauty Thoughtful: Chantel captioned it: 'Christmas mood. Hope everyone had an amazing holiday' Incredible: One day earlier, she posed a snap while wearing the racy number, adding silver rings and delicate necklaces Funny: The second picture in the slideshow featured her cat with reindeer ears in a similar pose Earlier this month, Chantel Jeffries attended the Hot 99.5's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The beautiful star donned a low-cut skintight gold spaghetti strap dress with layers of jewelry; she added pointed gold heels. Chantel wowed in a snakeskin dress on December 4 while attending a party in Miami Beach, Florida. Gorgeous: Earlier this month, Chantel Jeffries attended the Hot 99.5's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC; seen December 10 at the event Stephen Amell and wife Cassandra Jean celebrated their wedding anniversary Tuesday in St. Barts with their daughter. The 37-year-old actor wore a blue Merry Christmas T-shirt along with blue swim trunks while relaxing at Nikki Beach. Cassandra, 33, meanwhile showed her model looks in a white one-piece bathing suit. Wedding anniversary: Stephen Amell celebrated his five-year wedding anniversary on Tuesday with his wife Cassandra Jean and their daughter Mavi on Tuesday in St. Barts The swimsuit featured multi-colored backstraps and highlighted her pert derriere. Cassandra had her long dark hair down in soft curls and let her natural beauty shine without makeup. Stephen and Cassandra got married on December 25, 2012 in a private ceremony in the Caribbean. The couple welcomed their five-year-old daughter Mavi in October 2013. Model looks: Cassandra showed off her model looks in a one-piece white bathing suit Stephen was spotted enjoying some bonding time with Mavi on the beach in St. Barts. The Canadian actor is best known for portraying Green Arrow in The CW superhero series Arrow and its spin-offs. Cassandra competed on cycle five of America's Next Top Model in 2005 but quit during the fourth episode. Going strong: Stephen and Cassandra got married on December 25, 2013 in the Caribbean Daddy duty: The Arrow star bonded with daughter Mavi on the beach in St. Barts She played the character of Nora Fries earlier this month in Elseworlds - the fifth annual Arrowverse crossoer event that featured episodes of The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl on The CW. Stephen is a co-producer along with cousin Robbie Amell in the upcoming Canadian sci-fi movie Code 8. The film by director Jeff Chan is expected out in 2019. Christmas is one of the most beloved family holidays. And Edie Falco seemed to embrace that sentiment on Tuesday, as she took her two children out for a stroll in New York City. The 55-year-old Sopranos star was all bundled up for the outing in a knee-length crimson red parka. Three of a kind! Edie Falco seemed to embrace her family on Tuesday, as she took her two children out for a stroll in New York City The garment, which was of the puffy variety, also featured a hood which she declined to use. Grey skinny-leg trousers and charcoal-colored sneakers completed her winter-ready outfit. She tied her mixed tresses back into a small, high ponytail and perched a pair of glasses on top of her head. The Nurse Jackie star looked to be having a ball with her kids, who walked with her down the street. Staying warm! The 55-year-old Sopranos star was all bundled up for the outing in a knee-length crimson red parka Older brother Anderson looked a tad under-dressed given the chilly conditions, as he opted for only a black hoodie, and black track pants with neon green stripes down each leg. Younger sister Macy however took a page out of her mom's book in terms of outwear and donned a large powder blue fuzzy coat. Burgundy leggings and matching Converse-style sneakers completed her laid-back look. Not cold? Older brother Anderson looked a tad under-dressed given the chilly conditions, as he opted for only a black hoodie, and black track pants with neon green stripes down each leg Meanwhile, it seems that progress is being made towards the production of a Sopranos prequel. Indie actor Alessandro Nivola is in negotiations for the lead role of Dickey Moltisanti, Variety reported back in November. The Many Saints of Newark will return fans to the world of the Sopranos, the fictitious New Jersey mob family they loyally followed on HBO for six seasons. Exciting! Indie actor Alessandro Nivola is in negotiations for the lead role of Dickey Moltisanti, Variety reported back in November Jay Leno had plenty of feline friends over for the holidays. The legendary comedian, 68, turned his Burbank, California hangar he uses for classic airplanes and vehicles into a kitten wonderland on Christmas. The former host of The Tonight Show and his wife Mavis hosted the event, coordinated by FixNation.org. Scroll below for video Meowy Christmas! Jay Leno, 68, turned his Burbank, California hangar he uses for classic airplanes and vehicles into a kitten wonderland on Christmas; pictured in 2015 The spacious garage was seen decked out with Christmas trees and a white picket fence around an area filled with kittens and toys for them. Leno's philanthropic cause on Christmas mirrored that of one of his longtime rivals in show business, Howard Stern. The SiriusXM personality has fostered hundreds of kittens with his wife Beth at his New York homes in Manhattan and the Hamptons. So cute: The spacious garage was seen decked out with Christmas trees and a white picket fence around an area filled with kittens and toys for them; picture from stock Beth, who works with the North Shore Animal League America, told the New York Post of the shock jock in 2016, 'Hes the one who wants us to foster more cats even after I say no. Howard helps me socialize the kittens and he has been known to clean litter boxes. The kittens love his hair! 'Sometimes, I get jealous when hes not listening to me but loving the cats!' Fans have been speculating that Doctor's Who greatest nemesis will make a return to the show during its New Year special. And the BBC has finally confirmed during a teaser for the episode that the Daleks will be back with a vengeance, after show runner Chris Chibnall promised he wouldn't be using any 'old monsters'. In the new trailer which premiered on Christmas Day, Jodie Whittaker introduces the extraterrestrial race of mutants by saying 'this is the DNA of the most dangerous creature in the universe'. They're back! The BBC have finally confirmed the return of Doctor Who's greatest nemesis the Daleks during a teaser for the show which aired on Christmas Day Moments later the spine-chilling phrase 'exterminate' can be heard in the background, officially confirming that the Daleks will be back to take on The Doctor once more. They are one of the Doctor's most iconic villains, and have appeared on the show in every season, except for the current one. Fans are delighted at the confirmation, with social media being flooded with comments tonight. Terrifying: In the new trailer which premiered on Christmas Day, Jodie Whittaker introduces the extraterrestrial race of mutants by saying 'this is the DNA of the most dangerous creature in the universe' One social media user, writing on Twitter, said: 'At last we know the Daleks are back for sure. Great news!' In the one-off episode, which will be the only outing for the show in 2019 as the crew film a new season for release in early 2020, the Daleks will also have a new look. During an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July, Chris revealed that the series would feature '10 standalone stories' with 'lots of new villains' who would be facing the Doctor and her companions. He explained: 'I think our job is [to ask], 'Where does the show go next?', so there'll be less old stuff returning and more new treats.' Big bad: The genetically engineered race of mutants are one of the Doctor's most iconic villains, and have appeared on the show in every season, except for the current one But he did quickly reassure fans about the possibility of any iconic monsters, like the Cybermen or Weeping Angels, and said: 'I haven't started to think about that yet. Maybe. There's always things. 'I mean, there's a long list, isn't there? I haven't thought about it at the moment, but I would never rule it out. There's so many great things in the back catalogue.' While in an interview with Radio Times in September, Chris added: 'I dont know how many times I need to say it. There are no old monsters this series. OK?' In the eleventh season, Jodie's Time Lord has been put to the test by an array of exciting villains such as a Stenza warrior, spiders, and the Morax. A preview for the special is expected to be screened at the end of the finale on Sunday, where it will allegedly hint at the return of the Daleks. Chris is the scriptwriter for the episode, while it is directed by Wayne Yip who previously worked on season ten's Empress Of Mars and The Lie of the Land. Sir Paul McCartney has said he often reforms The Beatles in his dreams as he admits sadness over the loss of bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison. Talking to BBC Radio Scotland, the 76-year-old said: 'John and George are still a big part of my life, always will be. 'It would have been great to get the Beatles back together again. People always say what if? But we cant, so, sadly, thats not going to happen. Longing: Paul McCartney has revealed he often reforms The Beatles in his dreams and thinks about the late John Lennon and George Harrison 'with a lot of sadness' (pictured in 1963) 'I often think about them with a lot of sadness, because they should still be here. In Johns case, it was a terrible thing. In Georges, a terrible illness. 'If by some strange fluke it was to happen, it would be beautiful.' He continued: 'As a musician, you often have dreams about being in the studio or on stage, so Im often with the guys. He said: 'It would have been great to get the Beatles back together again. People always say what if? But we cant, so, sadly, thats not going to happen' 'Just the other morning, I woke up and I was with George. And that was very nice. I think of George as my little mate he was the youngest in the group. 'Thats how I run into John and George these days. So the Beatles have re-formed in my head.' Paul added: 'Even though there is sadness, the main thing is the joy of knowing those two guys. I miss them a lot.' Ringo Starr, 78, (far right) reunited with Paul, (centre) earlier this month on stage at London's O2 arena during the final night of the UK leg of Macca's Freshen Up tour John was killed by Mark David Chapman after he shot him outside his Manhattan apartment on December 8, 1980. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in the Wende Correctional Facility in New York. George passed away on November 29, 2001, after a battle with lung cancer. Ringo Starr, 78, reunited with Paul earlier this month on stage at London's O2 arena during the final night of the UK leg of Macca's Freshen Up tour. They were also joined by Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood, 71. Tragic: John (left) was killed by Mark David Chapman after he shot him outside his Manhattan apartment on December 8, 1980, (stock photo: year unknown) Their relationship has flourished since they began renovating their love nest as they keep themselves preoccupied after leaving Made In Chelsea. Keeping the flames of their romance alive, Made In Chelsea golden couple Lucy Watson and James Dunmore took their love to the Caribbean for Christmas. The brunette bombshell, 27, caught the roasting rays in a strapless bandeau as she snuggled up to her shirtless beau on the sandy shores. Made In Chelsea's golden couple! Lucy Watson looked busty in a strapless bandeau as she spent Christmas with her beau James Dunmore in Barbados Lucy elongated her sun-kissed legs by slipping into a pair of tiny daisy dukes which grazed her thighs and featured a folded hem to draw the eye in. The former reality star showcased her natural beauty as she enhanced her looks with soft make-up and she wore her locks tumbling down her back in a loose array. James didn't stray far from his beautiful girlfriend and he protectively wrapped his arm around her incredibly slender waistline. The pair were the picture of love as Lucy draped herself across her shirtless love's body and rested her hand on his shoulder. Best looks: Lucy elongated her sun-kissed legs by slipping into a pair of tiny daisy dukes which grazed her thighs and featured a folded hem to draw the eye in Lucy joined Made In Chelsea in the fourth season and she waved goodbye to her reality star roots in its 11th run after shooting 92 episodes. The couple have gone from strength to strength since they left the show after first falling in love on the television series. Escaping the limelight, the pair have been focusing on making their love nest a home after they decided to completely re-do their property. Lovers: The pair were the picture of love as Lucy draped herself across her shirtless love's body and rested her hand on his shoulder Holiday time: The Made In Chelsea couple looked comfortable and at ease in each other's company as they made the most of their festive break Lucy insisted the renovations on their property has given their romance a new lease of life as she revealed the project showed they worked great together as a team. 'James is obsessed!' she said of her partner's involvement in the remodel in an exclusive interview after inviting MailOnline into her home. 'He is really into architecture and interiors, and he's so hands on. Actually, I didnt realise how hands on he'd be. Finding fame: Lucy joined Made In Chelsea in the fourth season and she waved goodbye to her reality star roots in its 11th run after shooting 92 episodes Good couple: James didn't stray far from his beautiful girlfriend and he protectively wrapped his arm around her incredibly slender waistline 'At first, we clashed a bit. I am so stubborn and so is he. But then you just realise that youre good at that and Im good at that so it's best to work together. It's been great for our relationship.' Lucy prides herself on her creative knack and she admitted that property projects allow her another avenue to express this side of herself, a love she shares with James. 'I didnt realise how creative he is. And actually it's nice because you learn stuff about your relationship doing different experiences like this together.' Next chapter: The couple have gone from strength to strength since they left the show after first falling in love on the television series The Irwins have spent Christmas at Australia Zoo in Queensland. And budding photographer Robert Irwin, 15, has shared a sweet Christmas selfie featuring his mother Terri, 54, older sister Bindi, 20, and her boyfriend Chandler, 22. Also featured in the candid snap was Australia Zoo Volunteer Coordinator Mitch and Editor-in-Chief of Crikey Magazine Luke Reavley. Seasons greetings! Robert Irwin has shared selfie with his family and Australia Zoo staff. The 15-year-old captioned, 'Loved spending Christmas with these guys!' Robert wrote in the caption: 'Loved spending Christmas with these guys!' Bindi, spreading the festive joy, commented on his post, 'Love you guys so much!' This comes after her boyfriend Chandler Powell took to Instagram to show off the well-decorated pine tree inside the family home. Gifts in bright red wrapping sat on the floor and blue heart-shaped decorations are seen hanging off the tree. Feeling festive! This comes after Bindi's boyfriend Chandler, 22, posted a photo to Instagram showing the well-decorated pine tree inside the family home. Gifts in bright red wrapping sat on the floor and blue heart-shaped decorations are seen hanging off the tree Christmas time is here! Robert also took to his Instagram Stories to share a short clip showing the same well-decorated pine tree inside the family home featuring silver and blue baubles, tinsel and flashing fairy lights Chandler captioned the photo: 'Christmas ready! Hope everyone has a great holidays'. Robert also took to his Instagram Stories to share a short clip showing the same well-decorated pine tree inside the family home. Neatly decorated, it featured silver and blue baubles, tinsel and flashing fairy lights. Recently, Bindi set straight the engagement rumours that have followed her and Chandler for months. Not ready to wed: It comes after Bindi (right) set straight the engagement rumours that have followed her and Chandler (left) for months On a recent episode of The Sunday Project, the daughter of the late Steve Irwin set said the couple are in no rush to wed. 'One day [we'll get engaged]. One day, I'll say I'm engaged. This is it,' Bindi said on-air. American-born Chandler added: 'We will eventually.' The lovebirds first met in November 2013, when Bindi gave Chandler a tour of Australia Zoo. Their romance flourished in the Love Island villa earlier this year. And Megan Barton-Hanson proved her relationship with Wes Nelson is only getting better with time as they hit the pool during a recent trip to Mauritius. Sizzling in a lingerie-inspired bikini, the 24-year-old former exotic dancer struggled to contain her surgically-enhanced assets through the tiny triangle top. Hot stuff: Megan Barton-Hanson proved her relationship with Wes Nelson is only getting better with time as they hit the pool during a recent trip to Mauritius Megan looked phenomenal during the holiday as she slipped into the sizzling ensemble while getting up close to her beau. The strappy details on the two-piece made the most of her frame while also giving a bondage feel to the over all ensemble. She slicked her blonde locks behind her ears while keeping her make-up muted and fresh to help enhance her striking good looks. Away from her holiday, Megan recently spoke out after a person at a celebrity event told her she was 'so fat now' after gaining a stone since leaving the Majorcan villa. Cheeky! Sizzling in a lingerie-inspired bikini, the 24-year-old former exotic dancer struggled to contain her surgically-enhanced assets through the tiny triangle top Hot stuff! Megan was displaying her pert posterior in all its glory as she dipped in Megan, who says it's old fashioned to believe you can't be sexy and a feminist added that she enjoys being 'womanly' and wouldn't want to be a stick because 'it's too much hard work.' In a wide-ranging interview with the Sun, the blonde beauty said: 'I'm a size 10, I lead a healthy life, I go to the gym, I eat right and yeah I've put on weight since the villa, but I'm not overweight and I'm not fat! 'Yes, I've put on a stone, but I'm comfortable with my figure. I like being womanly, and that when I wear a pencil skirt it goes in and out.' Cheeky! The couple were gazing at one another as they got up close Happy days: The reality TV contestant has spoken openly about her active sex life with boyfriend Wes, who is set to star on Dancing on Ice in the new year, in the past She added the weight she's gained since leaving Love Island is a 'sign of happiness' saying that she was 'living her best life' as she's loved up with Wes and will never go on a juice cleanse and loves eating cake. It comes as the star made a very candid confession about her sex life, saying she has never faked an orgasm as she's 'too selfish' and believes 'every woman should speak up'. The reality TV contestant has spoken openly about her active sex life with boyfriend Wes, who is set to star on Dancing on Ice in the new year, in the past. Megan added she's nervous to see Wes in sequins and that if she isn't 'absolutely repulsed' by his 'unmanly sequins' in his first week on the show, she'll come back to watch him again. Hot stuff: Megan recently spoke out after a person at a celebrity event told her she was 'so fat now' after gaining a stone since leaving the Majorcan villa Woah mama! Wes looked incredibly hunky as he locked lips with his girlfriend Happy days: The reality star has spoken in the past about tweaking her looks with the aid of cosmetic surgery - and shortly before her holiday, she showed off yet another makeover The reality star has spoken in the past about tweaking her looks with the aid of cosmetic surgery - and shortly before her holiday, she showed off yet another makeover. In scenes aired on last week's Christmas reunion, Megan showed off a super glam look, wearing platinum blonde hair extensions and a purple bodycon dress. Some fans were left astonished by her new look and didn't even recognise her. They wrote: 'Megan looks soooo different #loveisland... 'Anybody else stare at Megan for at least 5 minutes trying to work out who she was? Lit didnt realise it was her. #loveislandchristmasreunion #LoveIsland... megan looked FITTTTT #LoveIsland.' 'Love island reunion thoughts: Megan is still unbelievably buff. Please get Georgia out of here.' Happy days: The couple strutted their stuff down the shores Kris Jenner has set the Internet alight after posing with a $15,000 (12,000) suitcase adorned with the slogan 'Rich as f**k'. After her daughter Kourtney Kardashian shared the snap, Twitter and Instagram were flooded with messages and memes about the bag, however the brash joke was also loaded with criticism from a host of stars including Piers Morgan. The Good Morning Britain host, 53, took to the microblogging site to voice his criticisms as he posted the image alongside the caption: 'If youre curious why the Kardashians are all so greedy, narcissistic & repulsive, heres their mother yesterday.' Shocker: Kris Jenner has set the Internet alight after posing with a $15,000 (12,000) suitcase adorned with the slogan 'Rich as f**' Kris sent her fans wild when she posed with the suitcase, designed by Goyard, which immediately spawned endless memes and tweets from tickled fans. Fans took to social media to pen: 'Kris Jenner is a whole mood w her rich as f**k breifcase... Kris Jenner with that custom Rich as F**k Goyard trunk is a vibe... 'Kris Jenner getting a monogrammed rich as f**k goyard trunk I have seen it all... Kris Jenner with her Goyard luggage that says Rich as F**k is the type of energy Im tryna be on... Kris Jenner goyard go so hard... 'kris Jenners rich as f**k goyard trunk is amazing. icon lmao... Kris Jenners Goyard trunk such a heavy flex. First you need to be rich enough to afford it and then rich enough to afford the statement on it... Shocker: After her daughter Kourtney Kardashian shared the snap, Twitter and Instagram were flooded with messages and memes about the bag, however the brash joke was also loaded with criticism from a host of stars including Piers Morgan Out and about: Kris sent her fans wild when she posed with the suitcase, designed by Goyard, which immediately spawned endless memes and tweets from tickled fans 'A vibe': Tickled fans took to social media to pen: 'Kris Jenner is a whole mood w her rich as f**k briefcase... Kris Jenner with that custom Rich as F**k Goyard trunk is a vibe' 'Kris Jenners custom Goyard is a Christmas mood... Insensitive in what way?? Kris Jenner is stating a fact... 'I personally am not the type of person to have a suitcase that says things like that, but if she has the money and wants to show off that's her prerogative not yours. What you're simply doing is giving them more attention.' Others however - lead by Piers - were enraged by the gesture with the star penning his vitriolic note towards the divisive TV dynasty. Out and about: Others however - lead by Piers - were enraged by the gesture with the star penning his vitriolic note towards the divisive TV dynasty Joining in his fury was blogger Perez Hilton, who shared the snap with the simple caption: 'GROSS AS F**K!!' Piers has famously vocal opinions on the famous family, including lashing out at their looks : 'Kendall is the only good-looking one, I think. Im serious. Are we objectifying them? Yes, no more than they objectify themselves on a second-by-second basis.' He later lashed out at Kim's naked pictures, as he said feminism is dead due to her behaviour - in a controversial statement. Her ex-boyfriend took their long and bitter legal battle over their frozen embryos to Louisiana earlier this year. And Sofia Vergara has now asked Nick Loeb to prove he is a resident in the state, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ on Wednesday. The Modern Family actress, 46, has asked a judge to request he hands over documentation confirming he lives in the Pelican State, reports the website. Legal battle: Sofia Vergara has asked ex-boyfriend Nick Loeb to prove he's a resident of Louisiana where he's filed a lawsuit to gain custody of their frozen embryos, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ on Wednesday (pictured 2013) Nick claims that he has moved to Plaquemines Parish, LA - a pro-life state that recognizes embryos as human beings (unlike California). Sofia alleges that her ex-boyfriend has refused to cooperate with her lawyers' previous requests for the documentation to prove his residency, like grocery store bills or local bank information. According to TMZ, Nick's lawyers say that he rented a place there and is registered to vote, but wouldn't tell them how often he stays at the property, if at all. She's moved on: Sofia alleges that her ex-boyfriend has refused to cooperate with her lawyers' previous requests for the documentation A source shared a photo with Page Six in June of a ramshackle address outside New Orleans that Loeb, son of a former US ambassador, is allegedly using as a residence. Sofia and Nick - who split in 2014 after two years of dating - had signed a contract at the ART Reproductive Center in Beverly Hills when they created the embryos in 2013. It stated that neither could use the embryos without the consent of the other. The businessman first filed documents in 2015 to bring to term two female embryos, which they had created and planned to use with a surrogate during their relationship. Nick, 42, has already been blocked from bringing the embryos to term twice by his ex, who is now married to Magic Mike hunk Joe Manganiello. She's upgraded: Nick is now married to Magic Mike hunk Joe Manganiello (pictured in September) The third lawsuit sued Sofia by the embryos in 2016, when a right-to-live lawsuit was filed on their behalf in Louisiana - which Vergara is arguing does not have jurisdiction. Loebs lawyer, Mark Jay Heller, told Page Six in June that his client 'seeks full custody of their embryos' - which he has named Emma and Isabella in legal papers. Heller said that under Louisiana law: 'Loeb alleges the embryos are living children and that he should be granted full custody because Vergara is violating her high duty of care and prudent administration owed to them by refusing to allow them to have the chance to be born.' He also revealed that Loeb set up a trust fund for the embryos. Loeb previously compared their embryo battle to the fight to end slavery. Love Island's Wes Nelson has admitted he has to 'prioritise' time with girlfriend Megan Barton Hanson over his training for Dancing On Ice. Speaking at the skating show's launch, the hunk told MailOnline he feels no regrets over his decision to miss training to jet off for a romantic two-week getaway to Mauritius. It came as Wes, 20, also laughed off the recent backlash surrounding 24-year-old Megan's recent comments that his sparkly skating outfits were 'unmanly,' insisting it was nothing more than 'banter to him.' Honest: Love Island's Wes Nelson has admitted he has to 'prioritise' time with girlfriend Megan Barton Hanson over his training for Dancing On Ice Wes explained that he wanted to make sure his relationship with Megan was a priority in his life, balancing quality time with her long training hours. 'I'm confident in my ability. What's annoying is that I could have been a lot better... Imagine if I was training all that time that I was away!' he explained. 'But then again, you've got to weigh it up and you've got to prioritise. 'Yes this is the most amazing show and I'm so privileged to be on it, I'm so proud... But then I've got Megan at home as well. And that's a big part of my life. So I want to make sure that me and Megan are good... we've got time for ourselves.' Open: The 20-year-old told MailOnline that he has no regrets over he decision to miss training for a romantic getaway to Mauritius with his girlfriend of five months This came after Wes' professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer revealed that he missed two weeks of training, adding that she was 'worried' about his progress in comparison to the other skaters. She explained: 'Hes very ambitious and wants to go far but hes so tight on his schedule, so in demand, and hes on a ten day holiday in Mauritius right now. It worries me a little bit but he picks up everything so fast.' Wes then laughed off Megan's recent comments about his sequinned skating looks, after Ice pro Matt Evers branded her words 'unfair.' Fearful: This came after Wes' skating partner Vanessa Bauer admitted she was 'worried' about his progress after he missed out on several weeks of training He said: 'She's having a go I think everyone's taking it so seriously, she's taking the mick like oh it's not manly, she's not meaning it in like a serious having a dig on the show. 'She's just having a laugh and it spiralled out of control and people taking offence to it. It's more banter for me.' Wes will make his skating debut in January alongside eleven other celebrities, including TOWIE's Gemma Collins, Strictly pro James Jordan and Loose Women star Saira Khan. Dancing On Ice returns on Sunday 6th January at 6pm on ITV. They are having an exciting holiday season. On Christmas Day, Scarlett Johansson and her beau Colin Jost were spotted jetting back into Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The loved up couple were returning from a weekend visit to Calafate in the south of the country. Grabbing thier bags: Scarlett Johansson and her beau Colin Jost were spotted jetting back into Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on Christmas Day after taking a side trip There the actress, 33, and Saturday Night Live star, 36, reportedly took in the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, one of Argentina's most beautiful natural destinations. Scarlett covered her face as she made her way to the car that was picking them up. That left Colin trailing behind as he pushed the cart with their luggage. Nice ice, baby: The 33-year-old actress and Saturday Night Live star, 36, reportedly took in the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, one of Argentina's most beautiful natural destinations Doing the heavy work: Colin pushed their trolley of luggage as Scarlett rushed ahead to avoid photographers It's been 13 months seen the pair went public with their romance at the American Museum Of Natural History Gala in New York City in November 2017. And they returned to celebrate at the 2018 gala on November 15. Meanwhile, Scarlett has a busy year in front of her with four projects on the go. Natural beauty: The loved up couple reportedly visited the Perito Moreno Glacier in the south of the country The look of love: It's been 13 months seen the pair went public with their romance at the American Museum Of Natural History Gala in NYC in November, 2017. And they returned to celebrate at the 2018 gala on November 15 She will next be seen as Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, in Avengers: Endgame on April 26. She also has comedy Jojo Rabbit and an untitled Noah Baubach project in post production. And Scarlett will reprise her role as Natasha Romanoff in stand-alone movie Black Widow for 2020. Tough job: Scarlett played the Black Widow in Avengers: Infinity War and will reprise her role in Avengers: Endgame, due out on April 26 She's renowned for her sartorial elegance and lithe physique. And Lady Victoria Hervey ensured all eyes were on her as she flaunted her sensational figure while soaking up the sun in Barbados on Wednesday. The 42-year-old blonde beauty showcased her slim physique in a tropical halterneck bikini as she paraded her enviable body at the beach. Wow! Lady Victoria Hervey ensured all eyes were on her as she flaunted her sensational figure while soaking up the sun in Barbados on Wednesday Highlighting her taut abs, the former 'It girl' topped up her tan in the warmer climes on the Caribbean island, choosing to don a patterned two-piece for her latest beach jaunt. She made for an eye-popping display on the sand, as her bikini drew attention to her assets with its halter-neck top and left her washboard stomach firmly on show. It was paired together with matching briefs that sat on Victoria's hips and boasted a high-style design to showcase her slender legs. Making a splash: The 42-year-old blonde beauty showcased her slim physique in a tropical halterneck bikini as she paraded her enviable body at the beach Looking good: The former 'It girl' topped up her tan in the warmer climes on the Caribbean island, choosing to don a patterned two-piece for her latest beach jaunt Playful: She even grabbed an enormous inflatable pink shell for a spot of fun in the ocean Globetrotter: Although she has been travelling all over the world, she recently discussed her future plans to settle down and become a mum after realising her dream for a baby Open: Victoria also recently revealed to The Mail On Sunday that she started freezing her eggs in a fertility clinic which cost her 11,000 after letting the years slip away Styling her hair into loose waves, Victoria was the picture of casual glamour as she accessorised with a dainty necklace. Although she has been travelling all over the world, she recently discussed her future plans to settle down and become a mum after realising her dream for a baby. She revealed to The Mail On Sunday that she started freezing her eggs in a fertility clinic which cost her 11,000 after letting the years slip away. And while she is well known for her sizzling style, Lady Victoria previously told Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare that English women struggle to be sexy. Honest: And while she is well known for her sizzling style, Lady Victoria previously told Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare that English women struggle to be sexy Candid: She said: 'Women in London are too conservative and dont have the courage to wear sexy outfits. Its an English thing' Empowered: Victoria added: 'I grew up in the South of France so I have a much more international approach' She said: 'Women in London are too conservative and dont have the courage to wear sexy outfits. Its an English thing. I grew up in the South of France so I have a much more international approach.' Victoria added that she still leads by example, sporting an array of sheer ensembles at parties recently, she said: 'Its empowering to dress provocatively'. Her body confidence put her in good stead during her modelling career, which saw her work for the likes of Christian Dior. New look: Victoria added that she still leads by example, sporting an array of sheer ensembles at parties recently, she said: 'Its empowering to dress provocatively' Legendary: Her body confidence put her in good stead during her modelling career, which saw her work for the likes of Christian Dior Radiant: She made for an eye-popping display on the sand, as her bikini drew attention to her assets with its halter-neck top and left her washboard stomach firmly on show She recently split from model Stella Maxwell. And it seems Kristen Stewart has wasted no time in making bonds with someone new. The 28-year-old actress worked off that Christmas day lunch with a hike alongside new girlfriend Sarah Dinkin on Wednesday. Packing on PDA: Kristen Stewart has wasted no time in making bonds with someone new She showcased her toned legs in sporty shorts and sneakers, as the couple linked arms to hit a trail in Los Angeles. The Twilight star chose a red hoodie, which read I Amsterdam, and covered her eyes with dark glasses. Her blonde-tipped cropped locks were styled in scruffy spikes, as she appeared to be make-up free. Sara wore the 'Insane Mock Neck Fleece' sweater by Local Authority. Close: The 28-year-old actress worked off that Christmas day lunch with a hike alongside new girlfriend Sarah Dinkin on Wednesday The couple appear to have been spending a lot of time together over the holiday season. They were spotted in a nail salon as well as shopping for groceries together. News of Kristen's split from model Stella Maxwell made headlines last week; since then Kristen and Sara have been spending a lot of time together, and have even been sharing clothes. Stepping out: She showcased her toned legs in sporty shorts and sneakers, as the couple linked hands to hit a trail in Los Angeles Stewart and Maxwell who had been romantically linked since 2016 broke up around one month ago, according to Us Weekly's insiders. The site claimed that Kristen and Stella drifted apart in recent months. 'They stopped seeing eye to eye and were living very different lives,' said an insider. They were last seen together in October at an airport in Amsterdam, so perhaps her sweatshirt is a hidden message to the beauty. The former couple had been notoriously secretive about their relationship over the years, both refraining from mentioning one another to the media. Catastrophe star Rob Delaney has spoken about his heartache after spending his first Christmas without his two-year-old son Henry, who died in January. The 41-year-old American actor took to Twitter on Wednesday to reveal how he and his family were coping with their grief, admitting he was 'sad, angry and heartbroken'. He also shared a picture of his 'sweet boy' Henry - who tragically passed away 11 months ago from a brain tumour. Heartbreaking: Catastrophe star Rob Delaney has spoken about his heartache after spending his first Christmas without his two-year-old son Henry, who died in January Rob penned: 'Our first Christmas without Henry came & went. The day itself was okay, maybe because there were so many horrible, painful days leading up to it; we must have hit our quota or something. We talked about him a lot & included his memory throughout the day. 'I speak publicly about Henry in an effort to destigmatize grief. My family is sad & in pain because our beautiful 2 yr old boy died after a long illness. 'Why wouldnt we be sad? Why wouldnt we be angry and confused? 'Tweets like this arent therapeutic to me, nor are they updates. I just want other bereaved parents & siblings to feel seen/heard/respected/loved. 'And maybe they might help someone not schooled in grief support a friend better. I dont know.' Distressing: The 41-year-old actor took to Twitter on Wednesday to reveal how he and his family were coping with their grief, admitting he was 'sad, angry and heartbroken' In September, Rob - who announced in June he is expecting another child with his wife Leah - shared a heartbreaking extract of a book he started writing about his son's brain tumour battle but was unable to finish when Henry died. Henry's cancer returned in the autumn of 2017, and his devastated father stopped writing because the family 'just wanted to be with Henry around the clock and make sure his final months were happy. And they were.' Revealing why now he decided to share extracts of the book now, Rob explained that he 'didn't want to sit on it, in case it could make anyone else feel less insane.' Tragic: Rob Delaney's young son Henry was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 and had surgery to remove it, but the cancer returned in the Autumn of 2017 Good news: Rob announced in June he is expecting another child with his wife Leah In an essay for Medium the star - who lives in London - explained how his initial aim had been to let other parents of seriously ill children that 'someone understood and cared'. 'But I can't write that book anymore because our family's story has a different ending than I'd hoped for,' he explained. He described crying as he listened to recordings of his son babbling before a tracheotomy rendered him unable to speak for a whole year, and his 'golden' smile lighting up his face, which was paralysed on one side. 'I'm always, always happy to enter the hospital every morning and see him. It's exciting to walk into his room and see him and see him see me,' he explained. An extract from Rob Delaney's unpublished book about his son My biggest fear had always been that I wind up somehow being conscious for eternity. Like that I die, wind up in heaven or hell or wherever and I remain 'me' and just never shut off and have to endure being conscious and aware and nothing is wonderful enough or horrible enough to engage me for that long, i.e. eternity. That might be a factor in the heavy drinking I quit fifteen years ago; the idea that I could really effectively hit my own consciousness' kill switch as needed. Might also be why I've always enjoyed naps more than food or money. That fear went away when my wife and I had kids. Or boys, specifically. My sperm only makes boys for some reason. The fear went away because I realized I could now do eternity and be okay. I could just call to mind the image of one of my sons, or the smell of their heads, or the feel of one of their little feet in my hand and I'd be happy. Give me a Polaroid of one of them to hold on to and I could do two eternities. Advertisement 'The surgery to remove his tumor left him with Bell's palsy on the left side of his face, so it's slack and droops. His left eye is turned inward too, due to nerve damage. 'But the right side of his face is incredibly expressive, and that side brightens right up when I walk into the room. There's no doubt about what kind of mood he's in, ever. 'It's particularly precious when he's angry because seeing the contrast between a toddler's naked rage in one half of his face and an utterly placid chubby chipmunk cheek and wandering eye in the other is shocking in a way that makes me and my wife and whatever combination of nurses and/or doctors are in the room laugh every time. 'And when he smiles, forget about it. A regular baby's smile is wonderful enough. When a sick baby with partial facial paralysis smiles, it's golden. Especially if it's my baby.' 'Sweet boy': The actor and comedian shared a snap of his little boy, Henry, who died in January following a battle with a brain tumour, with his Twitter followers The actor tragically lost his two-year-old son to cancer in January this year and confirmed his death in a Facebook post in February, telling fans he would 'endeavour to not go mad with grief'. He also paid tribute to his 'smart, funny and mischievous' child in an emotional Facebook post. 'Henry was a joy,' wrote Delaney. 'He was smart, funny, and mischievous and we had so many wonderful adventures together, particularly after he'd moved home following fifteen months living in hospitals.' In his message, Rob explained that Henry was diagnosed after suffering persistent vomiting and weight loss, shortly after he turned one. The toddler underwent surgery to remove a tumour in addition to further treatment, spending a gruelling 15 months in hospital. But his family were told his cancer had returned in the autumn of 2017. 'I am desperately sad, but I will endeavor to not go mad with grief': Catastrophe's Rob Delaney revealed his youngest son died aged two from a brain tumor (pictured together in May 2015) 'He was smart and mischievous': The Catastrophe star, who now lives in London, revealed the devastating news in a Facebook post on Friday (pictured in April 2016) While brain surgery had left his son with 'significant physical disabilities', the toddler found his own ways to overcome his challenges. 'He quickly learned sign language and developed his own method of getting from A to B shuffling on his beautiful little bum,' Delaney wrote at the time. 'His drive to live and to love and to connect was profound.' Delaney also paid tribute to the NHS staff who cared for his son, saying Henry's doctors and nurses would be 'my heroes until the day I die'. He also praised the support the family had received from the charities Rainbow Trust, and Noah's Ark Children's Hospice. Devastating news: The actor announced the death of his youngest child in a heartfelt and moving tribute, in which he asked for donations to the charities which helped his family The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had a mixed year despite their life-changing celebrations, according to one royal author. Former actress Meghan became an HRH and a fully signed-up member of The Firm after marrying Harry in a glittering ceremony in St Georges Chapel in Windsor. Newlyweds Harry and Meghan walk down the steps of St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding (Ben Birchall/PA) Then, just five months later, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child, with the royal baby due to arrive in the spring of 2019. Junor added: They had a great tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and Harrys very moving speech at the opening of the Invictus Games was a triumph. He just goes from strength to strength. And Meghans involvement in the Grenfell cookbook has made a big impression. They are a great double act. But she warned that they appeared to have lost some of the public goodwill towards them in recent months. Meghans estrangement from her father seems unresolved, with Thomas Markle expressing his distress at their rift in newspaper interviews. Thomas Markle Did Tell-All Interview to Clear His Name, Not Bash Meghan https://t.co/kVnvqeba0O TMZ (@TMZ) December 10, 2018 Junor suggested that the duchess had made a mistake in failing to mend their relationship. I think it has been a mixed year for Harry and Meghan, Junor told the Press Association. They seem to have lost some of the goodwill and admiration that was so wholehearted when they married, and Meghans failure to sort things out with her father has been a huge mistake, in my view. We obviously dont know the truth about her relationship with him it seems beyond extraordinary that Harry has never met him but having him give interviews in which he says that she hasnt spoken to him or made contact with him since the wedding is incredibly damaging. Mr Markle has given several interviews and more recently told the Mail on Sunday: I have been frozen out and I cant stay silent. I have made dozens of attempts to reach my daughter via text and letters, but she and Harry have put up a wall of silence. The duke and duchess have also faced reports of a rift between them and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend a National Service to mark the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey (Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph/PA) As well as rumours regarding Meghan and Kates relationship, there were also reports of tension between William and Harry, with Harry reportedly accusing his older brother of trying to wreck his relationship with Meghan when he initially voiced concerns. Junor described the reports as damaging, suggesting it had become a vicious cycle. The more the press write negative things, the less charming Harry is prepared to be and so the more negative the stories, she said. It is all very sad because Harry and Meghan are a great double act. A day after US President Donald Trumps decision to pull forces from Syria, and hours after the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, was made public, Washington announced its surprising plan to bring back 7,000 troops from Afghanistan. With this reduction, nearly half of all US forces in Afghanistan will be brought back, slashing American military presence down to its lowest levels since 2002. This was not surprising, given Trumps election campaign and his political base but the timing came as a shock to many in and outside the US. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has at times supported Trump, has warned that the conditions in Afghanistan at the present moment make American troop withdrawals a high-risk strategy. If we continue on our present course we are setting in motion the loss of all our gains and paving the way toward a second 9/11. Strategy undercut That Trump was moving towards some sort of withdrawal from Afghanistan was clear when Zalmay Khalilzad was appointed as the US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation in September. Khalilzad has been trying to resuscitate struggling peace talks and, just last week, an American delegation concluded three days of talks with the Taliban in Abu Dhabi. But the announcement will undercut these talks precisely at a time when a message of resolve needed to go out from Washington. The Taliban had always demanded a complete withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan and the US seems to be giving in to this demand almost under duress. It will embolden the Taliban and their backers and weaken the hand of the American negotiators significantly. The Taliban have little incentive to agree to any deal quickly. They can wait and watch especially now that Trump has underscored his desire to get out, irrespective of the cost. Despite the US concerted air strikes against the Taliban, the Afghan government control seems to have fallen to a record low to 56 per cent of the countrys districts and that Afghan National Security Forces have had a rather high attrition rate. The US militarys support remains critical for them to hold on against the Taliban onslaught. Political realignment in Afghanistan is also on the cards with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who has decided to contest presidential elections in April 2019, recently replacing two of the country's top security chiefs with staunch anti-Taliban and anti-Pakistan officials. The Afghan government has been equally surprised by US announcement. In fact, Ghani had announced his peace plan in November with a five-year time frame, linking peace talks to his next potential presidential term. The Taliban have refused to deal directly with the government in Kabul, which it considers an illegitimate foreign-imposed regime. Political realignment in Afghanistan is also on cards. (Photo: Reuters) Pakistan back in play Given the geographical constraints facing the US supply lines, reliance on Pakistan has been a constant. But Trump had put Pakistan on notice by placing it alongside North Korea and Iran. And this year the Trump administration withheld around $800 million in aid to Pakistan. While outlining his South Asia strategy, Trump explicitly accused Islamabad of often giving safe havens to agents of chaos, violence and terror. With the US clarifying its intention of leaving Afghanistan and desiring the return of the Taliban to the negotiating table, Pakistans backing for its proxies will intensify even as other regional players like Russia and Iran join in. A gradual descent into a civil war is likely as various regional stakeholders try to reshape the battlefield in accordance with their own strategic priorities counting on US forces to eventually leave. India has also been reassessing its Afghanistan policy for some time now. While New Delhi had welcomed Trumps South Asia policy which gave India a prominent role, it was evident that Trump cannot be relied upon for the long haul. We appreciate Indias important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the US, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development, Trump had suggested, underlining Indias role in Afghanistan and the need to do much more. However, in one of its recent reports, the US Department of Defence suggested that India is Afghanistan's most reliable regional partner and the largest contributor of development assistance in the region. India has also been reassessing its Afghanistan policy for some time now. (Photo: Reuters) India to the rescue Indias engagements with Russia and China on Afghanistan have also gained momentum over the last few months. As part of the India-China plus initiative, New Delhi and Beijing have identified Afghanistan as the country where the two nations would forge a partnership. Joint training of Afghan diplomats has already begun and joint infrastructure projects are being discussed. India is also engaged with Russia on the peace process though it continues to have its reservations. Indian presence in Afghanistan has indeed been underwritten by American military presence in the country but New Delhi has been one of the most credible players in Afghanistan. Now, as the US once again revisits its policy options, India should be prepared to fight its own battles. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also Read: Why the India-US nuclear deal is turning out to be a dud More than a year has passed, since the NDA Government rolled out the Goods and Services Tax (GST), on 1 July, 2017. The introduction of this indirect tax regime marked the end of over a decade of squabbling, where politicians struggled to build accord across party lines. Heralded as Indias greatest tax reform, the aim of the GST was to free Indians from multiple taxes and setting the base for a unified common market One Nation, One Tax, One Market. However, with the introduction of GST came multiple challenges related to implementation both at the organisation and the country level. Some of the common challenges that organisations faced post GST implementation were change in business processes, change in product pricing, Tax positions, Transition and Compliances. However, to ensure the unbroken implementation of GST law on notified entities, the Government entrusted on Chartered Accountants and Cost Accountant to conduct audit and submit report under the notified form. Instance, the Section 35(5) read with Section 44 and Rule 80(3) of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Laws, provides that every registered person, whose aggregate turnover during a financial year exceeds two crore rupees, is required to get its accounts audited. In GST, there are 3 types of audits, Audit by Chartered Accountant or Cost Accountant, Audit by Department and Special Audit. The copy of auditedannual accounts and a reconciliation statement, duly certified, in Form GSTR-9C has to be submitted on or before the 31st Day of December (extended to 30th June 2019for FY 2017-18 by Government in its 31st GST council meeting) by the tax payer. In this regard, the Government has also notified Form comprising of reconciliation statement, certification, records, returns and other documents maintained by the registered person to verify the correctness of declared turnover, taxes paid, refund claimed and input tax credit availed and to assess his compliance with the GST provisions. With the higheremphasis on compliancesby Government and the comprehensive reporting burden on companies, GST reconciliations and documentations will not be an easy task, butGST audit allows companies to self-examine the tax positions taken and allow improving the same for next year. To ensure timely and efficient compliance of GST audit, companies should appoint their GST auditor, plan way forward, start gathering documents, and create internal controls for been GST law compliant. Its important that companies start preparing for these audits in order to avoid any loss of credits, applicability of interest/penalties, etc. Some of the key aspects to be considered by companies during audit should be: Reconciliations: Ensure reconciliations of output tax/input tax between the books of accounts, returns and e-waybills issued; Taxpositions: Review the tax positions adopted and also whether these are correctly reflected in documentation; Credits: Review if any ineligible credits have been availed and, in the process, also ensure completeness of credits; Reverse Charge: check all inward supply of goods or services which are covered under reverse charge mechanism and whether tax has been remitted in capacity of recipient of supply, where required; Export/RFD01: check the option selected to supply for export without payment of integrated tax and has paid the tax or vice versa. Also, it is essential to take make note of the sector wise considerations during the GST audit. Some of these include: Banking /NBFC Sector Reversal of ITC in according to the rule 38 of the CGST Act, 2017, & time limit for issuance of Invoice is 45 days (Instead of 30 days as per general rule). E-Commerce Sector E-commerce aggregators are made responsible under the GST law for deducting and depositing tax at the rate of 1% from each of the transaction. Any dealers/traders selling goods/services online would get the payment after deduction of 1% tax. It is a significant change which would increase a lot of compliance and administration cost for online aggregators. Exporters- Exporter will export under the Letter of Undertaking (LUT) that would be valid for a financial year or Bond, or with payment of tax. Filling of RFD-01 for claiming the Input tax credit paid on the inward supplies. Real Estate Sector Sale of immovable properties before or after completion certificates are issued, sale of property under the credit linked subsidy scheme. Reconciliation will be an issue because builders recognise the income based of percentage completion method as per IND-AS which is not in line with time of supply as per GST. Presumptive Taxpayers (Life Insurance companies, Travel Agents) Turnover in Financial statements would be different from turnover in GST. Sectors where outward supplies are exempted (Like Power Sector, Universities) -Focus on Reverse charge mechanism liability to be discharged. Apart from the above, there are numerous issues which taxpayers might face during audit depending on the nature of business. Therefore it is well suggested that taxpayers should start working on annual GST return with their auditors in order to execute the compliances well before time. (The article is contributed by CA Maneet Pal, IP Pasricha & Co, Partner. Views expressed are personal) Had India not surrendered so tamely at Tashkent, the China-Pakistan axis would have been under conspicuous pressure pertaining to their illegal actions Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swarajs statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, undoubtedly makes for a perfect politico-diplomatic posturing by India towards Pakistan. However, what made Swarajs statement stand out was its carefully crafted semantics. Thus read the stated position of New Delhi over Jammu & Kashmir: Indias consistent and principled position is that the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is, and shall be an integral part of India. Spot on the Minister was, as she continued and concluded: Pakistan has been in an illegal occupation of approximately 78,000 square kilometre of the Indian territory in the State of Jammu & Kashmirunder the so-called Boundary Agreement signed between China and Pakistan on March 2, 1963; Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 square kilometre of the Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir to China. We have repeatedly and consistently called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation, most recently on November 30, 2018, the Minister informed the Parliament. Yet, the picture appears grim as Pakistan continues to be in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of Jammu & Kashmir, she asserted. What then does this mean to India? Its simple, yet adverse, to say the least. That the illegal occupation of approximately 78,000 square kilometre of the Indian territory by Pakistan does not figure in Delhi-Islamabad bilateral any more. Swarajs clarification to the Parliament on Pakistan, however, did not mention that with the so-called Boundary Agreement signed between China and Pakistan on March 2, 1963, and with the ceding of 5,180 square kilometre of the Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, China automatically emerged as a stake holder with the very physical presence of its troops and civilians. This amounts to Chinese occupation of the Indian territory. Its the presence of foreign China as third party deep inside Jammu & Kashmir. Its a live dragon in the room. In other words, China has been existing, though illegally, deep inside the Indian territory since more than 55 years. And there is no way that China is going to withdraw voluntarily, or show some diplomatic niceties like Jawaharlal Nehru consistently did throughout the 1950s towards China, or give up illegal occupation of the Indian territory and retreat from there in the foreseeable future. Especially, since (now) Chinas Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are deeply entrenched within, and pass through the State of Jammu & Kashmir. For China, its a question of geo-politics, geo-economics and geo-strategy for its super power status-aspiration. It constitutes an hydra-headed future game-plan: Control, rather than visible physical occupation, of key land-locked territories, where the great game was played by the empires of Russia and Britain. Its also the terrain which was dreamily aspired by Han rulers from far off Hwang Ho valley and who saw recurring aggression by numerous hostile sultans, badshahs and principalities across the corridor connecting Istanbul with the great alluvial soil of South Asia. The terrain of Jammu & Kashmir also connects the mighty and lofty landmass of Euro-Asia around the Pamir and the Karakorum with declining demography and promising mineralogy with easy access to warm water ports of the Indian Ocean (which the Romanovs and Czars of Russia always dreamt of, and yet always failed to turn it into reality). Plain speaking, therefore, there doesnt seem to be an easy way out (especially in the 21st century), to either alter the possession of physical geography of Jammu & Kashmir by the menacing tri-flanking China-Pakistani axis, or owing to the immensely complicated demography and distribution thereof across South Asia. India has been badly cornered for its own past inability to reclaim (and even retain) its own land from illegal occupation of Pakistan and China. Unlike China, India has shown a peculiar propensity to cede its own territory to foreign country, thereby diluting its own professed stand at the diplomatic table; tamely capitulating even when there simply did not exist any cause of action to do so. It may sound bizarre, unpleasant and harsh, but recalling past reality of Indias conspicuous failure on Jammu & Kashmir may be of some consolation and form a lesson for the future. It should not be repeated, else things can go worse than what it was in the past. Thus, when the Minister of External Affairs was referring to illegal occupation of Jammu & Kashmir, her words pertained to the whole territory thereof which legally acceded to India on October 26, 1947, following the same procedure and documentation as done by 548 other princely States vis-a-vis New Delhi (with 16 acceding to Pakistan). Logically and legally, it, therefore, follows that when any of the illegal occupied land of Jammu & Kashmir is reclaimed by India, as was done by the valiant soldiers of the Indian Army (under the able military leadership of Zorawar Chand Bakshi and Ranjit Singh Dayal) in Haji Peer Pass in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, was it not a case of supreme folly to return Indias own territory in the diplomatic table of Tashkent in January 1966 by the galaxy of Indian stars themselves? All the more, as it happened within 35 months of the China-Pakistan illegal occupation of Indian territory of Jammu & Kashmir? Had India not surrendered so tamely at Tashkent, the China-Pakistan axis would have been under conspicuous pressure pertaining to their illegal actions. Hence, this one single act damaged India till no end. Suddenly, Indias avowed legal position on Jammu & Kashmir appeared fragile and illegal when our country surrendered its own territory to Pakistan, thereby giving the world an impression as if Haji Peer Pass was Pakistans bona fide possession and that India had illegally usurped it during the course of the war in 1965. Hence, New Delhi was morally, logically and diplomatically bound to return the Jammu & Kashmir land to Pakistanis, thereby legitimising their illegal act. What an irony! In one stroke, legal India became illegal! And grossly, illegal China-Pakistan occupation of the Indian land continued, unchallenged, unharmed and unaffected, thereby transforming Islamabad-Beijing duos perfidy and illegal act into an indisputably legal act! Seen in this background, the bona fide statement in Parliament by the Foreign Minister needs to be supplemented with/by a sustained teaching of the Constitution of India to the members of Indian legislature who act as executive and guardians of law while protecting the territory and sovereignty of India. Article 1 (1) of the Constitution is explicit and categorical: India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States and Article 1 (2) stipulates The States and the territories thereof shall be.. (c) such other territories as may be acquired. The point is loud and clear. India can acquire territories. India cannot surrender territory, least of all, its own territory. That is the crux, and the ruling class of India has to follow the Constitution thereof, in letter and in spirit. (The writer is an alumnus, National Defence College) Now that CJI Gogoi has undertaken the task of appointing judges to various courts, the next step should be the establishment of a Court of Appeal that can help reduce the judiciarys problems The recent expeditious filling up of judicial vacancies, right from the position of the judicial magistrate to that of a Supreme Court judge, speaks volumes about the monumental task undertaken by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Ranjan Gogoi, to reduce pendency of cases at various Indian courts. Justice Gogoi seems to be resolute in doing the same as he has already held myriad collegium meetings for the filling up of vacancies. Thereafter, he made appointments of judges to different High Courts and the Supreme Court. As far as the lower judiciary is concerned, Gogoi passed many orders, wherein he asked the High Courts to fill all vacancies in a time-bound manner. However, the filling up of vacancies in the judiciary may just be one way of managing the bewildering problem of pendency of cases. The chorus for the establishment of the National Court of Appeal (NCA) has once again gained momentum with several academicians making demands for its establishment. They believe a Court of Appeal can stem the burgeoning pendency of cases. Their argument is that the NCA would not just help annihilate the problem of pendency but would also help resolve multiple issues that plague the countrys legal system. Initially, the Supreme Court of India was entrusted upon the primary responsibility of interpreting ambiguities in various laws and the Constitution that may arise from time to time. However, with the passage of time, the top court skewed away from that responsibility and shifted its focus on dealing with appeals arising from the decision of the High Courts. The Law Commission of India, in its 125th report, highlighted that the disposal and establishment of Constitutional Benches has declined from 15.5 per cent in 1950-54 to 0.12 per cent in 2005-2009. Thus, the growing need of finding an alternative to disposing the appeals was felt by the apex court so that the sanctity of the court as a Constitutional entity could be restored. The proposed NCA was supposed to be an adjudicating body that would deal with all types of matters, except those relating to the Constitution or public importance, which would ordinarily fall under the domain of the Supreme Court. The NCA will, thus, act as an intermediary between the High Courts and the Supreme Court with regional Benches in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. The NCA would also act as the last appellate court from where no appeal would lie with the Supreme Court. The idea of the establishment of the NCA in different parts of the country can be dated back to the time of the formulation of the Constitution when Jaspat Roy Kapoor suggested the same. Despite being seconded by BR Ambedkar, the NCA could never find its way into the Constitution. Later, the 95th, 125th and the 229th report of the Law Commission also dealt with the issue of NCA but to no avail. Interestingly, the Supreme Court, too, has had its fair share of comments about the NCA. In the case of Bihar Legal Support Society vs The Chief Justice of India, the court proposed the formation of the NCA with four different regional branches. In 2016, the apex court ordered for the formulation of a Constitutional Bench to decide on the viability of the NCA in view of the pendency of cases in the country. People, who supported the establishment of the NCA, attributed multiple reasons for the same. Apart from the argument of pendency and the recreation of the Supreme Court as the Constitutional court, a major block in the litigants path of seeking justice is the cost of litigation. From the commencement of the suit in the district court to its final disposal in the Supreme Court, the path that a litigant walks on, is filled with various applications, adjournments, inter-court appeals, et al. Added to this is the burden of travelling from one part of the country to the other. Nick Robinson in his report, Interpreting the Constitution: Supreme Court Constitution Benches since Independence showed that appeals to the Supreme Court are made by litigants belonging to nearby areas. This issue can be readily resolved by the setting up of four regional NCAs in four corners of the nation. Although the idea of NCA might appear to be very appealing, however, to guarantee its effectiveness, several steps need to be taken. First, the very practice of filing frivolous appeals will have to be discouraged. This can be accomplished if heavy penalties are imposed on the litigants, who waste the courts time. But history is a proof that this solution has not been successful. Despite the apex court laying down guidelines for the filing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in State of Uttaranchal vs Balwant Singh Chaufal, the practice of filing frivolous PILs is far from over yet. For the working of the NCA in the most efficient form, strict adherence to various guidelines will have to be ensured, otherwise the body would act just as another additional step before the Supreme Court of India. Another important aspect to be looked at before the formulation of the NCA will be the rules surrounding the appointment of judges. The hierarchy of judges, their transfer and subsequent elevation are all questions that have to be firmly resolved before the NCA can be set up. Attorney General KK Venugopal had earlier suggested that for the smooth functioning of the NCA, the age of the judges should be increased from 65 years to 70 years. This suggestion must be taken seriously because usually, the years of experience of judges come to a stop at the age of 62 or 65, without proper exhaustion of their mental faculties. For this reason (in addition to that of transparency), in the US, there is no retirement age for the judges. They hold their offices till their voluntary retirement or death. It has been reported that in India, one judge handles over 1,800 cases. This not only results in the improper and untimely dispensation of justice, but also staggers the speed of development of the Constitutional jurisprudence in the country. The setting up of the NCA would allow ample time for the adjudication of the rights of disputing parties as well as for the development of law in the Supreme Court. It is worthy to note that if the idea of NCA does conceptualise, India would not be the first country in the world to have introduced it. Colombia, Australia, the United States, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia, South Africa and many other countries already have in place such an adjudicatory body. Thus, it can be optimistically presumed that the conception of NCA will help reduce the problems which have plagued our judicial system for centuries. (Raghav Pandey is an Assistant Professor of Law at Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai and Neelabh Bist is a Fourth Year student of Law at Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai) Narendra Modi and his Government have not had a great 2018 and the BJPs election machine has broken down. Can things look up in 2019? Back in May 2014, when Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister, India looked forward to five years of sensible policies and growth. With his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah corralling the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers into an unstoppable force, Modi had an advantage that had not been seen for three decades, a majority in the Lok Sabha. And the BJPs electoral steamroller continued, winning States like Assam, Haryana and Maharashtra, both States where the party had little of an organisation previously. It was not as if the BJP did not suffer electoral reverses like in Bihar, Punjab and Delhi, but those were viewed as minor blips. Modi had the electorate and the media on his side. However, this year things seemed to have unravelled for Modi and the BJP. The steamroller has broken down, the toll of fighting a rearguard electoral win in Gujarat was followed by failure in Karnataka and losing the three States in the Hindi heartland. Back in 2014-16, the BJP made the promise of a Congress-mukt Bharat, their main plank, and it seemed achievable with the Congress imploding. Political commentators were already taking the 2019 elections for granted, and this was being spoken about as only his first-term. BJP supporters were talking of Mission 350 and winning a dominating majority. But that talk has certainly disappeared with an angry electorate taking out their frustration at issues like demonetisation and slow economic growth, among others. This, at the same time when the Opposition has seemed to get its mojo back, taking on the BJP and the ruling Government on issues both real and imagined. And with constant issues with some of democratic Indias largest institutions, problems with the Supreme Court, the complete meltdown in the Central Bureau of Investigation and the resignation of the Reserve Bank of India Governor are evidence to some that the Modi Government has failed in bringing people onside. While some in the BJP look to blame the entrenched bureaucracy, that is the so-called deep state and imaginary anti-national interests of attacking them, there is little doubt that many in the Government themselves have not helped the situation. Particularly, issues concerning the acquisition of the Rafale fighter jet have been arrogant. Modi came to power on the back of being a reformer and an economic visionary, but appears to have played the same populist povertarian game that Indian politicians love. Foreign investment into India has dried up. While the Indian stock markets have performed reasonably well, India, which could have been a beneficiary of the US-China trade spat, has not managed to take advantage of the situation. To be fair to Modi, he has boosted spending on major infrastructure projects, cleared long-pending ones and has cultivated an image of being seen as a go-getting hard worker. It will be a major problem for the Opposition to paint him as a personally corrupt individual. Some mud might stick on some of his Ministers and party leaders, but he has a teflon skin to such allegations. And that will remain his greatest asset heading into the 2019 elections, which are now clearly in play, even if he, through a shared hatred of him, is the bonding force of the Opposition. He will be the major issue in the coming elections. Expect a lot more talk of failed policies towards agriculture and missed opportunities for reforms. And then there will be demonetisation, an exercise that Modis first-term will undoubtedly always be remembered by, a move that it is becoming increasingly clear with hindsight that stalled the economy. But make no mistakes, Narendra Modi and the BJP have been the dominant force in Indian politics, and no matter what the final outcome of the elections in the coming months, he will remain the most important politician in India for years to come. But it might still be a bridge too far to prevent himself losing the Prime Ministership come May 2019. The successful test-firing of Agni IV marks a great leap forward for India to become a super power The successful test-firing of the indigenously-developed, nuclear-weapons-capable, surface-to-surface missile, Agni-IV, on December 23, 2018, marks a significant leap forward towards India becoming a super power. The goal is warranted not only by the countrys size, potential and role in maintaining global peace, but the uncertain conditions in the world and, particularly, the region around the country. An India, that is a super power, will not only deter efforts to push it around, but enable it to retaliate forcefully if some country engages it in armed conflict. The two countries that feature prominently in any discussion concerning Indias security are Pakistan and China: India has fought four wars with the former and one with the latter. Agni IV, which has a striking range of 4,000 kilometres, is not needed against the former, which can be hit by Agni I, II and III with striking ranges of 700, 2,000 and ,000 kilometres respectively. Agni IV would enable India to strike some parts of China but not Beijing and its industrial hubs on the eastern sea board. Agni V, which was last test-fired on December 10, 2018, and is expected to be inducted for use soon, would be able to do that and also hit parts of Asian and European land mass. Further, Agni-V would carry concurrently-developed Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) payloads. This will help evade interception by Chinas ballistic missile defence system. Indeed, India should also have Manoeuverable Re-entry Vehicles (MARV), which can drastically change trajectory to evade interception in the terminal stage. A word of caution. Though a reference to China is unavoidable in any discussion pertaining to Indias security, it will be unwise to be inflexible and remain frozen in a posture of hostility. While New Delhi must do everything to neutralise any threat from China and any strategically inimical economic penetration, it must also be engaged in bridge-building with Beijing given vagaries of Donald Trumps foreign and economic policies. This will not be easy given Chinas close alliance with Pakistan, attempts to hem India in with its presence in adjoining countries, dominate the Indian Ocean and corner India in most international fora all of which stems from its refusal to countenance Indias rise to a position where it can be perceived as an equal. All this is precisely why India should hasten with enhancing its conventional and nuclear warfare capabilities while keeping all avenues open for an improvement of relations with its northern neighbour. The three key requirements of any nuclear warfare infrastructure are an adequate number of nuclear warheads, a nuclear doctrine and an effective delivery system. India has developed, manufactured and deployed its own warheads. In 2003, it announced a nuclear doctrine based on a no-first use principle. India will use nuclear weapons only in case of a nuclear attack on its own soil or Indian forces anywhere. The doctrine also provides for the maintenance of a credible minimum deterrent, and the possession or sufficient and survivable nuclear forces, to inflict unacceptable damage on the enemy. As for a delivery system, India can, at a pinch, use Mirage 2000 or Su 30 aircraft for dropping a nuclear warhead on a designated target. Neither, however, can be a substitute for a missile delivery system which can hit any target in an enemys territory. It is important to remember this in the context of Indias adoption of the no first use principle, which makes it mandatory for the country to retain the capacity to launch a devastating retaliatory strike after suffering a nuclear attack. Underground silos may not be able to provide the kind of total protection the missiles need as the enemy can get to know their locations and mount devastating strikes against them. The answer lies in missiles that can be moved from one place to another, which, along with the deployment of dummies, will keep the enemy guessing about their location. Agni IV can be moved by road. Agni V is both road and rail mobile, though roads and bridges will have to be strengthened in many parts to carry its much greater weight. Finally, India must not rest on its oars even after Agni V is inducted. It requires missiles with ranges between 8,000 to 10,000 kilometres to become a truly global super power. Also, it needs to vastly increase its ability to launch nuclear-tipped missiles from the sea, which are more difficult for the enemy to detect than land-based systems. It has the technical ability to do all this. Agni IV is a highly sophisticated missile with compact and modern avionics, a fifth-generation on-board computer and ability to follow the correct path, guiding itself in the midst of in-flight disturbances and hit its target with precision. Agni-V incorporated advanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer for navigation and guidance. India has shown formidable resolve in pursuing its missile development programme in the teeth of opposition from a number of countries and not just China. This speaks for itself and also suggests that it will use nuclear weapons if forced to do so. That message is central to the deterrence its nuclear arsenal is meant to convey. (The writer is Consultant Editor, The Pioneer, and an author) The Government has made sincere efforts in breaking records for toilet construction. But any such move can be successful only when these facilities are actually used. India lags far behind in encouraging its citizens to use toilets The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Governments efforts to drive the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, coupled with its sanitation drive, rested on ensuring the building of more toilets in record time. It is to the credit of the Government that registered substantial improvements in the building of toilets. The Governments toilet-building drive spurred some not-for-profit institutions and individuals to build more toilets, making the entire effort a truly national one. But did the Government misread the requirement? This uncomfortable question does make us sit up because tremendous amounts of money have been spent on the building of toilets and their publicity. The question whether the Government got it right or not was fuelled by a recent World Bank report that concluded that mere building of toilets wont stop Indians from defecating in the open as long as their attitude towards latrines do not change. The research was conducted by Varun Gauri, Tasmia Rahman and Iman Sen. The researchers surveyed five villages in the Ghazipur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The State has a high burden of open defecation. The first round of the survey was conducted at the household level, across 204 households that owned latrines, between January and February 2017. The second phase was conducted in March 2017. The surveys threw up some interesting findings. Researchers measured four key aspects of open defecation: Defecation practices, acceptability of open defecation, enforcement of toilet use and notions of purity attached to toilet construction. They found that around 40 per cent of the people, who had toilets in their house, did not use them. Many even associated toilets with gandagi (dirt). Further, peoples beliefs were closely linked to their perception of what others believed. This means that social norms have a big say on individual attitudes and that more toilets in more homes may not necessarily mean more cleanliness in the environs outside. The World Bank research has given the authorities and the people of this country an opportunity to understand that proper planning is the need of hour before we embark on a nation-wide mission, like Swachh Bharat. This research should have been commissioned by the Government before it embarked on this mission that involved millions of taxpayers money. Designing of facilities without creating awareness about it is akin to putting the horse before the cart. And this is what happened to Swachh Bharat. Our policy-makers should have given it a proper thought before making efforts to build toilets. Desired change in behaviour related to toilet use should have been the first step. Eliminating open defecation has been a herculean task for India. Since 1970, many programmes have been initiated but all failed to bring the desired result. However, the lessons learnt from the efforts undertaken till date is that reduction of open defecation needs not just access to improved sanitation facilities, but also a serious effort to change mindsets. In 2014, India had almost 70 per cent of the rural population defecating in the open. To curtail this rampant problem, the Government claimed that around 94 per cent of the rural households have been provided with toilets till date. But the question remains: How many of these toilets are actually being used? The Government can still turn around the project and get the population to actually use the built toilets. For change to happen, there has to be initiation of sufficient deterrents against open defecation be it in the form of penalties or other measures of the similar kind. Countries such as China, too, were grappled with the same problem during the early 1990s but the ambition to catapult itself to the world stage as a developed nation forced the country to adopt tough measures to keep a check on open defecation. Today, the country is almost open defecation free. China is just one of the many examples. There are other countries, too, that India can emulate. Rural India needs to be open defecation free as quickly as possible due to other pressing problems. Apart from environmental concerns, the issue of open defecation is deeply connected with hygiene problems diseases and infections. Thanks to open defecation, a number of diseases, that have been expelled from other countries, have raised their ugly heads once again. Local water bodies and top-soil are the largest sufferers of open defecation while the local population only experiences the resultant health problems. This aspect needs to be brought to the notice of the local villagers in order to increase general awareness. India can rein in open defecation by launching a nationwide awareness campaign, which is connected with the ever-growing number of new toilets. Strategy must be based on self-respect. Only this can bring instant results. The Government has set October 2, 2019, as the deadline to make India open defecation free. However, if the World Bank reports results are anything to by, it will be clear that the Government needs to give an extra push to heighten awareness among the people about the benefit of using toilets. (The writer is an environmental journalist) Wednesday evening will see people in the three southern States of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu lighting millions of lamps (Ayyappa Jyothi) as a mark of solidarity with the devotees of Lord Ayyappa who are engaged in a battle of nerves with the Government of Kerala over the entry of women in the child bearing age to the holy shrine of Sabarimala. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had ruled on September 28 that women of all ages should be allowed to worship at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala atop the Western Ghats in Kerala. The devotees of Lord Ayyappa are upset over the verdict and had requested women devotees in the 10 to 50 age group not to make it to the temple. But the CPI-M led Kerala Government, in its anxiety to implement the court order has made elaborate security arrangements for facilitating the entry of women to the temple, where women had been denied entry as per age old tradition. This Ayyappa Jyothi is an effort to lead Kerala to a world of light. There is an attempt to destroy the plurality and diversity of the temples in Kerala and the Ayyapa Jyothi is an attempt to expose this mission as well as an offering to the God with a prayer to inculcate good thoughts in the mind of the powers that be, said Swamy Chidanandapuri, head, Advaitha Ashram and the chief patron of the Sabarimala Karma Samithi. He pointed out that it was for the Acharya Dharma Sabha, Thantric, Vedic and Astrological scholars to study the need to make changes in the Agama Saasthras and take a final decision. Why only one religion has been singled out by the authorities in the name of reformation while they are reluctant to make any comment on the goings on in other religions? That is not fair and it is against secularism, said the Swamiji, described as spiritual leader of the Hindus in the State. Govind Bharathan, senior lawyer, Kerala High Court and one of the prominent faces of Sabarimala Karma Samithi described the Ayyappa Jyothi as a unique event. Besices the 795 km stretch from Mangalore in Karnataka to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, many districts in these three States will light up Ayyappa Jyothi. We will recite Swamy Saranam while doing so and there will be no speeches or slogans, said Bharathan. He said that not a single woman devotee had come to Sabarimala on their own till Tuesday evening. Those women who came to Sabarimala were all activists who had declared that they were undertaking the trip only to shatter the convention and tradition. They were all self-proclaimed atheists and non-believers, said Bharathan. Wedneday will see the 41st day of this years festival and the Ayyappa Jyothi is expected to add splendour to it. Swamy Chidanandapuri lambasted the efforts by a section of the society to portray the denial of rights to women for worshipping at Sabarimala as part of casteism. According to custom and tradition in vogue in Sabarimala, women are not allowed here. Please understand that this is the only holy shrine situated deep inside a forest and there are scientific reasons behind this custom, said Swamiji. There are many Supreme Court verdicts which were delivered earlier to the Sabarimala case. But the Kerala Governments anxiety to implement this particular verdict is dubious, said Prayar Gopalakrishnan, Congress leader and former president of Travancore Devaswam Board. Meanwhile, the CPI-M led Government is working overtime to make the proposed Womens Wall on January 1 a major success. Hectic activities are on to light up Ayyappa Jyothi in temples across Chennai, according to K Asokan and Pravin Pillai, devotees and activists. Despite claims by TRS sources that party president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) would hold talks with BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday about a proposed federal front, both the Uttar Pradesh stalwarts did not turn up for the meeting. However, Akhilesh on Wednesday backed KCRs move for the anti-BJP and anti-Congress federal front, and said he will meet the TRS chief in Hyderabad soon. There was no word from Mayawati as yet on the KCRs move. On his second day in Delhi, instead of meeting Opposition leaders, KCR met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss issues pertaining to Telangana. Meanwhile, rebel SP leader Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), on Wednesday said he is willing to join hands with the Congress to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections. The estranged uncle of Akhilesh stressed that all those talking about forming a front to defeat the BJP should also talk to him. Appreciating the efforts of the Telangana CM to build an alliance keeping in view to 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Akhilesh said that he would visit Hyderabad next month on January 6 and would definitely call on KCR. The SP chief said he could not meet the TRS leader due to his unavailability in Delhi that coincided with the schedule of KCR. Sources said the meeting between Akhilesh and KCR were planned at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. However, KRC received a setback when Mayawati, who despite being in Delhi, did not turn up for the proposed meeting. On Tuesday, sources close to the TRS had claimed that Mayawati was scheduled to meet the Telangana CM on Wednesday at 11.30 am. Pitching for a federal front of regional parties, the TRS chief reached Delhi on Monday night and will stay put in the national Capital till Thursday. While the BJP has dubbed KCR as the B team of the Congress, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu have accused Rao of being the B team of the BJP. KCR had met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. In his first meeting with the Prime Minister after taking over as Chief Minister for the second time last week, KCR discussed a variety of issues with Modi, including release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district. As the war of words between the BJP and the Congress over trapped young miners in Meghalaya coal mine rages on, family members of the trapped workers are hoping for miracles for their safe return. Since December 13, about fifteen people have been trapped in a flooded coal mine in Meghalaya. Those missing are believed to be teenage boys used by illegal mining groups to enter rat hole mines with small openings. Digging at the mine was banned four years ago, but illegal and unsafe activity by private landowners and the local community is rife. In the meantime, contesting Congress president Rahul Gandhis jibe on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over doing little to release trapped miners, the ruling NPP-BJP Government in Meghalaya on Wednesday said the State Government is making efforts to rescue the miners. In a sharp attack against Modi, the Congress chief said while trapped miners struggled for air, Modi strutted on Assams Bogibeel Bridge. The PM inaugurated the bridge on Brahmaputra river on Tuesday. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asked Rahul not to do politics over the tragedy. He blamed the previous Congress Government in Meghalaya for the unsafe illegal minining activities in the State. No politics on tragedy please @RahulGandhi ji. We have been helping the State Govt with all possible means. But the unsafe illegal minining activities were due to the negligence of the previous Congress govt (sic), Rijiju tweeted. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, without mentioning Rahuls comment, said there is no inaction and that the administration and the NDRF had really worked hard to trace the miners, but, unfortunately, the operation did not yield any result. So far, 12 lakh litres of water has been pumped out of the mine, but it seems the whole river has gushed into the pit. Getting high-powered pumps and transporting them to the site of the mishap is not an easy task, he told a private news. On if the rescue operation could be called off under such circumstances, Sangma said there is no question of aborting the rescue work. The Chief Minister also hoped that the high-powered pumps would be available soon. Sangma-led NPPs ally in the State, the BJP, also said the Meghalaya Government is doing its best under the Chief Ministers leadership to bring the victims out of the rat-hole mine in East Jaintia Hills district. The Government has done and is doing its best under Sangma. We have full faith in him. He has taken up the matter with the central Government to send bigger pumps, BJP Minister A L Hek told PTI. The State Government tried its best but water at the mine has not receded, he said. The Chief Minister has written to Coal India requesting for the high-powered pumps, the BJP leader said. East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner F M Dopth said district authorities have taken up the matter with the State Government and is awaiting a response. The high-powered pumps, as advised by ace mining mishap expert Jaswant Singh Gill, are not available in the entire North East region, as far as we are aware, Dopth told PTI. Dopth, who ordered temporary suspension of rescue operation last Saturday, said until the bigger pumps are made available, the operations cannot resume. Congress spokesperson H M Shangpliang told PTI that with Rahuls intervention, we hope the Centre will direct the State Government to change its insensitive attitude and do what is necessary to help save lives. He said a special team of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will soon visit the site at Lumthari village and will try and meet the affected families. However, a senior member of the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP) criticised the Congress, saying the Opposition party was creating a fuss over the entire December 13 episode. The Congress has forgotten what happened in 2012 when it abandoned the 14 miners who were trapped when a mine collapsed in South Garo Hills. Then the UPA and the Congress were in power. What have they done? the NPP leader said, requesting anonymity. The Chief Minister is taking special interest in this case and is trying to retrieve the miners dead or alive, he said. In the 2012 case, none of the victims could be retrieved out of the mine and I do not remember compensation was paid to any of the affected families by the then Congress Government, the NPP leader said. National Disaster Response Force workers joined local authorities in the rescue effort. In 2016, six illegal miners died when a section of a closed mine collapsed in Burdwan district in West Bengal. The accident occurred when about 200 illegal miners were extracting coal from the mine. Yet again tension gripped in Bawana after the area witnessed two gang wars in past 24 hours. In the first incident, a 49- year-old gangster, Manoj Sehrawat was allegedly shot dead by unknown assailants in Bawana on Wednesday evening. Earlier on Tuesday, a 34-year-old man was shot twice in his stomach by some criminals while he was going to the market on his scooty in Rohinis Bawana area. The victim was recently out on bail. According to a senior police official, the incident occurred around at 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening when Manoj was walking towards Bawana chowk, some unidentified assailants came and shot him in his head. "Police was informed by locals regarding the incident following which a team rushed to the spot. Manoj was lying in a pool of blood on road. He was taken to nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead," said the senior police official. "During initial investigation, it was revealed that he was shot over a dispute among family over a plot. Police are also not rulling out the angle of gangwar," said the senior police official adding that further investigation is going. Shehrawat alias Sanjay had two cases under TADA, apart from several others including kidnapping and extortion. In 1994, he had kidnapped two daughters of a UP MLA, one of whom he later married. The other married an aide of his, Jagmal. He was suspected to have killed Jagmal and his wife. In another incident a 34- year-old man was shot twice in his stomach by some criminals while he was going to the market on his scooty in Rohini's Bawana area. Police, however, have ruled out any link to gang rivalry and claimed reason of personal enmity with assailants. The man has been identified as Monu, a resident of Wajidpur village in Bawana who also has some criminal cases against him, including a case of attempt to murder. The entire incident was captured in a CCTV camera installed near the crime spot. It is believed that the rival gang members opened fire at him on Tuesday afternoon. The man was shot in full public view and was hit by two bullets as he fell down. According to a senior police official, the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at around 1:30 pm when Monu was on his way to market on his scooty in Bawana area. "Suddenly, four armed assailants travelling in a car overtook him on his way and set opened fired on him. The assailants hit two bullets in Monu's abdomen and fled from the spot. The injured collapsed on road in a pool of blood," said the senior police official. "He was rushed to a nearby hospital by locals and police were informed by the doctors. The victim was operated upon and is still under observation in ICU," said the senior police official. A case has been registered under section 307/34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and arms act at Bawana police station. On completion of one year of the state government, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday expressed his gratitude towards the people of the state for their cooperation during the last one year for the all-round and equitable development of the state. He said the one year's tenure of the present state government has been very successful and full of achievements and it is a matter of great satisfaction that government has succeeded in working as per the aspirations of the people. The Chief Minister said that his government has made all best efforts to benefit every section of the society by launching various new welfare schemes. The new schemes like Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Savavlamban Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Chikitsa Kosh, various irrigation, horticulture and agriculture sectors launched by the state government have started showing results. He said the Jan Manch programme initiated by the government has proved to a boon for the common man in redressing their complaints and demands immediately at their door-steps. Similarly, the decision of the state government to reduce age limit for getting old age pension beyond any income limit from 80 years to 70 years has benefitted more than one lakh people in the state. Thakur said that he has covered 63 Assembly Constituencies of the state in this short period, which has helped him to interact directly with the masses and taking their feedback for further developmental policies and schemes. It is with the active cooperation and support of the people of the state that Himachal Pradesh has scaled the new heights of development in most of the sectors for which it has been recognised at the national level. Te chief minister expressed hope that in the coming few years Himachal Pradesh would emerge as the model state for rest of the country. Thakur also thanked the Government of India, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing financial assistance of crores of rupees for various developmental projects in the state. Rohtak STF arrests notorious criminal Chandigarh: In a major break-through, a team of Special Task Force (STF), Rohtak, has arrested a notorious criminal, carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, from near Bohar canal in Rohtak. Spokesperson said that arrested accused was identified as Sandeep alias Sonu, a resident of Mokhra village in Rohtak. A country-made pistol and one live cartridge were also recovered from his possession. Rohtak STF team received an information that Sandeep was roaming near Bohar canal with an intention to commit a criminal offence. Acting swiftly, police team immediately rushed to the spot and arrested him along with illegal weapon. PU faculty Dr Dhingra awarded Chandigarh: Panjab Universitys University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Pharmaceutical Chemistrys assistant professor Dr Neelima Dhingra has been conferred upon with Bharat Ratna Mother Teresa Gold Medal Award-2018 for her outstanding achievement in education and research. The award, carrying a gold medal, trophy and a certificate, was given by Global Economic Progress and Research Association, Tamil Nadu Government on December 22 at Chennai. There were 25 awardee from different States and categories, and Dr Dhingra was selected from Punjab for her contributions in the field of Science. NSS CAMP at PU Chandigarh: During the seven-day NSS camp, Dr Kanwal Vilku, who is the only Indian woman who has spent winters on the Antarctica, addressed the NSS volunteers at Panjab University campus. Dr Vilku was honoured by the former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on the occasion of foundation day celebrations of the Department of Ocean Development on July 27, 2004. She stormed the male bastion at the age of 52 and spent 16 months from December 1999 on Antarctica with a group of 24 scientists conducting experiments. She shared her experiences of her journey and the hardships faced her during that time. matribhasha satyagrahis in Ayushman Bharat Chandigarh: Haryana Government has decided to include Matribhasha Satyagrahis of Hindi Andolan of 1957 in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Spokesperson said that a proposal to this effect has been approved by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal. At present, there are 200 such Matribhasha Satyagrahis across the state, said the spokesperson adding that the State Government is already implementing a scheme under which Matribhasha Satyagrahis themselves or their widows, are getting monthly pension of Rs 10,000. Haryana police seizes 376 boxes of liquor Chandigarh: Haryana Police has seized 376 boxes (4,512 bottles) of illicit liquor being smuggled in a truck in Fatehabad district. The driver of the truck had also been arrested who had been identified as Laxman, a resident of Rania in Sirsa district. Spokesperson said that on a tip off, a police team, along with officials of Excise Department, signalled a suspect truck to stop at a naka laid on Ratia road bypass bridge. Seeing the police, driver tried to flee away by stopping the truck on roadside, but the police team immediately nabbed him. On searching, 350 boxes of country-made liquor and 26 boxes of Indian made foreign liquor were seized from the vehicle. Case under Excise Act had been registered against the accused. PFC member visits schools Chandigarh: To check the implementation of mid-day meal scheme in Punjab, the State Food Commission member Jasvinder Kumar visited five schools of Ropar and three of Hoshiarpur district. Kumar found some minor irregularities in the implementation of MDM scheme in schools and anganwadis and order to rectify the same soon. She ordered that keeping the nutrition part in mind, salad should be introduced every day in menu. Schools should be encouraged to grow their own vegetables and from waste to make manure. Parida meets Administrator Chandigarh: The new Advisor to the Administrator of Chandigarh Manoj Parida who joined office on Wednesday met Governor of Punjab and Administrator Chandigarh, V.P. Singh Badnore at Punjab Raj Bhawan. Earlier, Parimal Rai, the previous Administrator was transferred as chief secretary of Goa. The construction work of the most anticipated heart care hospital was started at Jharsuguda on Tuesday, thanks to efforts from local MLA Naba Kisore Das. For the first time, a heart hospital will be built in the State at Jharsuguda with a cost estimate of Rs100 crore on PPP mode. This is being done with MCL funds near the District Headquarters Hospital at Balijori. An MOU has already been signed with Hyderabad -based Manjira Construction Limited to complete the construction of the project by 2020. An agreement has been made with the Quality Care Hospital Private Limited to supply the technical know-how and equipment for the hospital. The three storied hospital will provide 100 beds for the heart patients. The Chief Minister would inaugurate the hospital after it is operational in the next two years, informed MLA Das. In an attempt to tackle the increasing incidents of atrocities against children in need of care and protection, the Chairperson of nodal agency for the protection of Child Rights Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR), Arti Kujur conducted a meeting with the NGO representatives on Wednesday. The meeting was held focusing on the menace of human trafficking, increasing cases of abandon kids, establishment of special units for disowned kids and other child rights issue. Proposal such as creation of de addiction centres, formation of a special unit for abandoned children at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) which will work under the supervision and guidance of RIMS Neonatal Care Unit was tabled during the meet in the presence of senior district administrative officers. Also, during the meeting, a proposal to organise awareness programmes to sensitise the resource personnel including police staffs at a regular interval was suggested during the meeting by the NGO representatives. Engaging corporate firms in child rights issues especially that of maintenance of shelter homes was also kept forward. The meeting saw the participation of senior police officials from Railways. The suggestions during the one day district level co-ordination meeting for strengthening child protection mechanism will be forwarded for approval soon to the State government. Besides the proposals, NGOs have been asked to submit their progress report to the Commission, said an official, JSCPCR. The legislator from Ranipur along with MP from Haridwar met union Labour minister Santosh Gangwar and union minister of state for Labour, Babul Supriyo in Delhi pressing the demand of long pending construction of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital. They also asked that measures be taken to solve the problems of pensioners under employee pension scheme. There is no ESIC hospital in the industrial area whereas contribution from employees and employers are deposited on regular basis. Legislator from Ranipur, Adesh Chauhan said that they were given assurance by the ministers that construction of the hospital being sought would be started soon. Earlier a delegation of SIIDCUL Industrial Association along with legislator from Ranipur had met the state chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in Dehradun and elicited focus on the problems faced by the industrialists since the inception of the industrial estate. The 600 industrial units established in SIIDCUL since 2005 with lakhs of workers are still crying for an ESIC hospital despite the fact that the land for the same had been allotted in the year 2011. An industrialist requesting anonymity said that what could be the more absurd than this that two chief ministers have laid foundation stone for this ESIC hospital but the workers are still made to approach the private hospitals when in need of medical treatment. The industrialist alleged that the aligned and empanelled hospitals refused to treat workers because their huge amount of bills to the tune of crores had not been cleared yet by the state government. Speaking to The Pioneer, president of SIIDCUL Industrial Association who led the delegation, Arun Saraswat said, Five acres land had been allotted for the construction of the ESIC hospital in the year 2011 but the construction of the said hospital is yet to start. During the earlier meeting the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, he had directed the chief secretary to find out from the agency the reason for delay and had also instructed to release funds to the hospitals on priority basis. On the new proposal made by the chief minister for five hospitals to be empanelled for ESIC, the association members have expressed their opposition stating that these were located far from the industrial area. Five new hospitals including Arogyam and Maxwell were proposed by the government which we objected to since workers could not go to these distant locations for emergency treatments, said Saraswat. The local legislator Adesh Chauhan said that the meeting was positive and the union minister has also assured to form a committee to resolve the problems of pensioners soon. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Chief Secretary of Odisha over the illegal shelter homes, within four weeks. Acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the apex human rights panel passed the order. For a couple of years, the inmates of shelter home, the Good News India Dream Centre, at Beltikiri in Dhenkanal district subjected its inmates to sexual abuse, harassment and rights violation. The Dhenkanal police had no clue about what was happening there despite the fact that it was running without registration since 2015. The illegal shelter home which was operating in blatant violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, Tripathy said in his petition. The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) had issued closure notice to the shelter home in 2015 for not complying with the guidelines of the Juvenile Justice Act and had even repatriated the inmates to their respective districts. However, the shelter home continued its illegal operations right under the nose of the district administration. Had the officials concerned cared to carry out inspections at regular intervals, the abuse would not have taken place, Tripathy said. In Rayagada, the NGO was running a shelter home near Siriguda area where 76 girls were lodged. It has been operating for the last nine years. Rayagada has at least 80 shelter homes or hostels and a majority of them are running without complying the norms and parameters of JJ Act, RTE Act and other acts applicable to the welfare of the minor children, the petitioner said. Women and Child Development Minister Prafulla Samal informed that the institution was unregistered and running illegally. Tripathy contended that if the Minister was aware of the developments, then why he could not take action against the erring institution for years. According to Department of Women and Child Development, there are 300 recognised child care institutions in the State. Good News India Dream Centre has registered child care shelter homes in Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Deogarh and Baleswar districts. However, the authorities had denied permission to the organisation for running the institute in 2015. The main registration of the centre is believed to be in West Bengal. Tripathy complained that there are illegal conversions of the children from one religion to another and violation of child rights in the shelter homes. He requested the NHRC to constitute a team of officials headed by the DIG of the NHRC for a thorough investigation of the entire episode and direct the State administration to find out total number of unregistered shelter homes/Ashrams or any institutions with different nomenclature running in Odisha, investigate in detail whether such institutions have been complying with the provisions of Societies Registration Act, Indian trust Act, conversion laws, JJ Act, RTE Act and other laws related to children and take legal action against the errant officials and rehabilitate the victims with counseling, alternative arrangements with compensation. A Delhi Police constable was allegedly stabbed thrice by a robber in Mahilla Mangal locality of Dakshinpuri. Police have also arrested 21-year-old man for allegedly stabbing the police constable. Meanwhile, in another incident reported from North West district, a 50-year-old man was shot dead on Wednesday allegedly by unidentified persons in northwest Delhi's Keshav Puram area. According to Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South district, on Tuesday night the constable identified as Sohan Lal after duty at Neb Sarai police station was returning to his home when he saw that a man was beating a boy and trying to rob him. "Sohan Lal was in uniform and on seeing him coming the man left the victim boy, pulled a knife from his pocket and attacked the constable and fled from the spot. Sohan Lal somehow managed to call his colleague whom he narrated the incident and soon a police team also reached the spot," said the DCP. "He was rushed to AIIMS where after treatment he was discharged. He got three injuries on his forehead, neck and ear. A case under section 307/392/511 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Ambedkar Nagar police station," said the DCP. "During investigation, a vagabond identified as Zuber (21) was arrested who later confessed to the crime. The weapon of offence was also recovered from his possession. The accused is found involved in eight cases of robbery and theft in the area," the DCP added. In another incident, a 50 year old man was shot dead in Keshwav Puram area of North west district.The deceased has been identified as Vinod Garg, a resident of Rohini Sector-6. According to Aslam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North-west district, two Police Control Room (PCR) call was received at around 2.45 pm regarding the shooting following which a team rushed to the spot. "He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead," said the DCP. Traders in the national Capital will hold a protest on January 3 against sealing drive in Delhi. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Wednesday by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) which was attended by representatives of more than 75 prominent trade associations of Delhi. CAIT national secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said sealing is one of the core and critical issuse of traders which is directly linked with their earnings. In last one year thousands of shops in Delhi have been sealed whereas the sword of sealing is hanging on other thousands of shops and no one is listening to the woes of the traders, he said. Khandelwal said the matter is pending before the Supreme Court since a long time and in absence of any decision the traders are suffering greatly. "The Monitoring Committee is working like a dictator with adamant attitude of sealing entire Delhi. Under such circumstances, the traders are left with no other alternative but to launch a city wide agitation. However, he categorically said that we are not against penal actions against all those people who have tress pass any Government land," he added. He also said the CAIT has prepared a charter for the agitation which includes de-sealing of all shops which have been sealed and to stop all kinds of sealing in Delhi, the Government should either bring legislation in current session of the Parliament or bring an Ordinance immediately after the session. "The charter also demands that the markets which are about to be shifted, should get all sorts of infrastructure facilities at the shifting place and the notices issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) to all such shops should be withdrawn," he said. Conversion charges on walled city, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, Darya Ganj etc. should be made clear whether to be levied or not, he added. Khandelwal further said that a bill or ordinance should contain a Cut-off date by which date the status quo should be maintained in Delhi. The traders are ready to pay any reasonable charges in lieu of that and laws and rules for the future should be made quite strict so that no one can defy the same, he 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. TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC provides telecommunications services to consumers and business to business customers in the United Kingdom. It offers fiber, broadband, landline, TV, and mobile services under the TalkTalk and TalkTalk Business brands. Its products include HomeSafe, a home filtering service for residential customers; WorkSafe that provides protection for internet devices to business customers; SuperSafe, which offers protection from viruses and malwares; CallSafe, a security feature that screens inbound calls; and TalkSafe, a way of identifying a customer when they call using their voice. TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC was founded in 2002 and is based in Salford, the United Kingdom. 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Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16 Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets). 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 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. 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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. Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company. It engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The company operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth; Corporate and Commercial Banking; and Insurance Holdings. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Read More By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan`s cultural heritage has been successfully promoted in Spain. Representatives of Azerbaijan took part in the 4th International Christmas Fair of Cultures in Madrid, Azertag reported. With the collaboration of embassies from over 70 countries and diverse international institutions, the fair illustrates the different ways Christmas is celebrated around the world. At such prestigious event, Azerbaijan was once again represented by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Kingdom of Spain. Colorful art works, samples of national cuisine as well as various types of backgammon were showcased at the national stand. Azerbaijani pavilion caused great interest of the visitors. Mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena addressed the opening ceremony. In her speech, Manuela Carmena stressed that the Christmas Fair was met with great interest by the residents of Madrid, as well as the children of the city, who are looking forward to Christmas. It was noted that the fair features various gifts reflecting national traditions of over 70 countries. Manuela Carmena visited the national pavilion of Azerbaijan. Beautiful silk headscarves kelaghai, unique carpets and delicious cuisine made Christmas Fair even more memorable and enjoyable. Manuela Carmena expressed her gratitude to the national pavilion for its successful organization. Azerbaijani folk song "Sari Gelin" and piece from "Koroghlu" opera were performed at the event. The performance was highly appreciated by the viewers. Afterwards, special souvenirs, sweets and fruits of country's national cuisine were presented in the special section dedicated to Azerbaijan. iShares Global 100 ETF shares split on the morning of Wednesday, May 2nd 2018. The 2-1 split was announced on Thursday, March 29th 2018. The newly minted shares were payable to shareholders after the closing bell on Tuesday, May 1st 2018. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares Global 100 ETF stock prior to the split would have 200 shares after the split. The following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC. Copyright & Permissions Unless otherwise noted all written material on this blog is copyrighted by the blog owner. All rights are reserved except as stated below. I generally have no problem with someone quoting Ad Orientem unless it's for commercial purposes or something that's copyrighted other than by me (in either which case kindly ask first). In all cases please be polite and include attribution and a link. Remember good netiquette. A conscientious effort is made to respect the rights of others when quoting or displaying their work on this blog. As a general rule only excerpts are posted with a link to the original source. Common sense exceptions may include instances where it is believed in good faith that the content falls within the public domain or where the quoted content is so brief that excerpting is not practical. By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The creation of new "states" in the territory of Arab countries is a long-standing plan of a number of Western countries that are guided by the ancient "divide and rule" principle. One of these "states", planned to be created in the territory of Iraq, is the so-called independent "Kurdistan". Many attempts were made to create an independent Kurdistan. Moreover, a referendum was held on Sept. 25, 2017 in the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq, the results of which were not recognized by the world. The main reason for not recognizing the outcome of the referendum in Erbil was related to instability in Iraq and Syria. Afterwards, under the pretext of fighting the terrorists of the "Islamic State" (IS) group, the US began to actively support PYD/YPG, the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). As is known, on Dec. 12, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish Armed Forces would launch a new military operation in northern Syria against PYD/YPG. After this statement on Dec. 19, US President Donald Trump declared victory over the IS in Syria. Turkish authorities have repeatedly stated that the Syrian policy of Washington is doomed to failure, but the fact is that the US plans are not limited to Syria. According to the Iraqi TV channel Alhurra, the US will soon withdraw 2,130 servicemen from Syria and send them to Erbil. Amid the US-Turkish controversy over Syria and the US support for PYD/YPG, Erbil is actively receiving senior political figures from different Western countries. For example, on Dec. 17, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Stef Blok arrived in Erbil, the administrative center of the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq. Blok, who was accompanied by Ambassador of the Netherlands to Iraq Matthijs Wolters and a group of investors and entrepreneurs, was welcomed by interior minister of the Kurdish autonomy Karim Sinjari and Head of the Department of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa Bakir. In turn, on Dec. 11, US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry arrived in Erbil to discuss energy issues with local authorities. Among the countries actively developing economic relations with the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq are China and India. In fact, according to Iraqs legislation, Kurdish autonomy is entitled to develop relations with other countries. But a question arises: why does all this happen amid the withdrawal of the US troops from Syria? Obviously, all the recent events testify that the issue of independence of Kurdistan will sooner or later be put on the agenda. But first of all, the economic crisis in the autonomy should be overcome. In turn, the conflict in Syria - the problem with PYD/YPG - should be resolved and Turkey is actively dealing with that. The elimination of PYD/YPG is vital for Turkey, but one should remember that before the "referendum", Erbil was one of Ankara's important allies. By urging Erbil to hold a "referendum" of independence, the US deprived Turkey of one of its main allies in the region. But this does not mean that Ankara is not aware of the expected events. It is unknown how long it will take to clear the Syrian northern regions of PYD/YPG, and at the same time, what efforts will be required for the economic development of Kurdish autonomy in Iraq. Perhaps taking all this into account, Ankara will continue to do everything necessary to return Erbil to its sphere of influence as Ankara is well aware that the issue of independence of the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq will again be put on the agenda after the settlement of the conflict in Syria. 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Barclays: Adler Toy Holding Sarl, Aequor Investments Limited, Alymere Investments Limited, Alynore Investments Limited Partnership, Analog Analytics, Analog Analytics Inc, Analytical Trade Holdings LLC, Analytical Trade Investments LLC, Analytical Trade UK Limited, Archstone Equity Holdings Inc, Ardencroft Investments Limited, B D & B Investments Limited, B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited, BB Client Nominees Limited, BBAIL SAS, BCAP LLC, BIFML PTC Limited, BMBF (No.24) Limited, BMI (No.9) Limited, BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda, BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG GP LLP, BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership, BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl, BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited, BNRI Scots GP LLP, BPB Holdings SA, BVP Galvani Global S.A.U., Barafor Limited, Barclay Leasing Limited, Barclaycard Funding PLC, Barclaycard International Payments Limited, Barclays (Barley) Limited, Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited, Barclays Alzin Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Asia Limited, Barclays Asset Management Limited, Barclays BR Investments S.a r.l., Barclays BWA Inc., Barclays Bank (Suisse) S.A., Barclays Bank Delaware, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company, Barclays Bank Mexico S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bayard Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bedivere Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bordang Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda., Barclays CCP Funding LLC, Barclays Cantal Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Limited, Barclays Capital Canada Inc., Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V., Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC, Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH, Barclays Capital Energy Inc., Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP, Barclays Capital Finance Limited, Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees Limited, Barclays Capital Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc., Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership, Barclays Claudas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) Limited, Barclays Corporation Limited, Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC, Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc., Barclays Equity Holdings Limited, Barclays Equity Index Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited, Barclays Financial LLC, Barclays Financial Planning Nominee Company Limited, Barclays Funds Investments Limited, Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited, Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited, Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Group Operations Limited, Barclays Group US Inc., Barclays Index Finance Trust, Barclays Industrial Development Limited, Barclays Industrial Investments Limited, Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited, Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited, Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc., Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Investment Management Limited, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Limited, Barclays Korea GP Limited, Barclays Lamorak Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited, Barclays Leto Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Long Island Limited, Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.a r.l, Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC B, Barclays Marlist Limited, Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited, Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited, Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd., Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited, Barclays Oversight Management Inc., Barclays Payment Solutions Inc., Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited Partnership, Barclays Pelleas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, Barclays Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) S.A.M, Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Barclays Receivables LLC, Barclays SAMS Limited, Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited, Barclays Securities Japan Limited, Barclays Security Trustee Limited, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Barclays Services Corporation, Barclays Services Jersey Limited, Barclays Services LLC, Barclays Services Limited, Barclays Shea Limited, Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Switzerland Services SA, Barclays Tenedora De Immuebles SL., Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability Partnership, Barclays UK Investments Limited, Barclays US CCP Funding LLC, Barclays US Funding LLC, Barclays US GPF Inc., Barclays US Investments Inc., Barclays US LLC, Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited, Barclays Unquoted Property Investments Limited, Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited, Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited, Barclays Wealth Services Limited, Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private Limited, Barclayshare Nominees Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited, Barcosec Limited, Barsec Nominees Limited, Blossom Finance General Partnership, Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited, Braven Investments No.1 Limited, CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited, CP Newco 1 Limited, CP Newco2 Limited, CP Newco3 Limited, CP Propco 1 Limited, CP Propco 2 Limited, CP Topco Limited, CPIA Canada Holdings, CPIA England 2008 Limited Partnership, CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership, CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, CPIA Investments No.1 Limited, CPIA Investments No.2 Limited, CRE Diversified Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe LLC, Calthorpe Investments Limited, Capton Investments Limited, Carnegie Holdings Limited, Central Platte Valley Management LLC, Chapelcrest Investments Limited, Charles Schwab Europe, Claudas Investments Limited, Claudas Investments Two Limited, Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, Cobalt Investments Limited, Compania Regional del Sur S.A., Compania Sudamerica S.A., Condor No.1 Limited Partnership, Cornwall Homes Loans Limited, Crescent Crown Land Holding SPV LLC, Crescent Legacy LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential L.P., Crescent Plaza Residential LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential LP LLC, Crescent Real Estate Member LLC, Crescent Resort Development LLC, Crescent TRS Holdings LLC, Crescent Tower Residences GP LLC, Crescent Tower Residences L.P., Curve Investments GP, DBL Texas Holdings LLC, DMW Realty Limited, Desert Mountain Development LLC, Desert Mountain Properties Limited Partnership, Develop Training Group Limited, Dorset Home Loans Limited, Durlacher Nominees Limited, EWRD Summit LLC, Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) Limited, East West Resort Development V L.P. L.L.L.P., East West Resort Development VII LLC, Equity Limited Partnership, Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited, Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited, Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited, Expobank, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited, Finpart Nominees Limited, First Assurance, Foltus Investments Limited, Full House Holdings Limited, Gallen Investments Limited, Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private, Globe Nominees Limited, Gracechurch Services Corporation, Grays Station LLC, Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hawkins Funding Limited, Heraldglen Limited, Holding Stuttgarter Strae GmbH, Hurley Investments No.1 Limited, Imalivest Mineral Resources LP, Investors In Infrastructure Limited, J.V. Estates Limited, JV Assets Limited, Kirsche Investments Limited, LTDL Holdings LLC, La Torretta Beverages LLC, La Torretta Hospitality LLC, La Torretta Operations LLC, Lagalla Investments LLC, Leonis Investments LLP, Liability Partnership, Long Island Assets Limited, Long Island Holding A LLC, Long Island Holding B Limited, MK Opportunities GP Ltd, MK Opportunities LP, MVWP Investors LLC, Maloney Investments Limited, Marbury Holdings LLC, Menlo Investments Limited, Mercantile Credit Company Limited, Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) Limited, Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation, Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited, Mira Vista Development LLC, Mira Vista Golf Club L.C., Mountainside Partners LLC, Murray House Investment Management Limited, Naxos Investments Limited, Nile Bank, North Colonnade Investments Limited, Northstar Mountain Properties LLC, Northstar Trailside Townhomes LLC, Northstar Village Townhomes LLC, Northwharf Investments Limited, Northwharf Nominees Limited, OGP Leasing Limited, Oakes Millers Ltd, Ownership Trustee Limited, PIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, Palomino Limited, Pecan Aggregator LP, Pelleas Investments Limited, Pelleas Investments Two Limited, Pippin Island Investments Limited, Preferred Liquidity LLC, Preferred Liquidity Limited Partnership, Procella Investments LLC, Procella Investments No.1 LLC, Procella Investments No.2 LLC, Procella Investments No.3 LLC, Protium Finance I LLC, Protium Master Grantor Trust, Protium Master Mortgage LP, Protium REO I LP, R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited, RVH Limited, RVT CLO Investments LLP, Razzoli Investments Limited, Real Estate Participation Management Limited, Real Estate Participation Services Limited, Relative Value Holdings LLC, Relative Value Investments UK Limited, Relative Value Trading Limited, Roder Investments No. 1 Limited, Roder Investments No. 2 Limited, Ruthenium Investments Limited, SPM GP Limited, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC, Servicios Barclays S.A. de C.V., Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 Avenue de la Costa, Solution Personal Finance Limited, Southern Peaks Mining LP, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surety Trust Limited, Surrey Funding Corporation, Sussex Purchasing Corporation, Sutton Funding LLC, Swan Lane Investments Limited, TPLL LLC, TPProperty LLC, Tahoe Club Company LLC, Tahoe Club Employee Company, The Logic Group Enterprises Limited, The Logic Group Holdings Limited, Third Energy Holdings Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No. 2 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited, US Secured Investments LLC, Union Center LLC, United Counties Bank, Verain Investments LLC, Walbrook Group Ltd, Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited, Wessex Investments Limited, Westferry Investments Limited, Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC, Woolwich Homes Limited, Woolwich Plan Managers Limited, Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share, Woolwich Surveying Services Limited, Woori BC Pegasus Securitization Specialty Co. Limited, and Zeban Nominees Limited. HDFC Bank Ltd. engages in the provision of banking and financial services, including commercial banking and treasury operations. The firm also provides financial services to upper and middle income individuals and corporations in India. It operates through the following segments: Treasury, Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking and Other Banking Operations. The Treasury segment consists of bank's investment portfolio, money market borrowing and lending, investment operations and trading in foreign exchange and derivative contracts. The Retail Banking segment provides loans and other services to customers through a branch network and other delivery channels. The Wholesale Banking segment provides loans, non-fund facilities and transaction services to large corporates, emerging corporates, public sector units, government bodies, financial institutions, and medium scale enterprises. The Other Banking Business segment includes income from para banking activities such as credit cards, debit cards, third party product distribution, primary dealership business, and the associated costs. The company was founded by Aditya Tapishwar Puri in August 1994 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India. Read More iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF's stock was trading at $49.50 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, FLOT shares have increased by 2.4% and is now trading at $50.69. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF's stock was trading at $36.70 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWT shares have increased by 80.4% and is now trading at $66.22. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. By Trend Iran is carrying out exchange of essential goods with China and India and Tehrans relations with these two countries are gradually expanding, Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said at a meeting with directors of Irans banking system, Trend reports via Mizan News Agency. He said that the banking system should try to comply with monetary policy of the Central Bank. Commenting on his visit to Turkey, Hemmati said that as part of the visit, Turkish officials expressed readiness for broad cooperation. The goal of trade development between the two countries has been set and there is a great opportunity for the development of bilateral trade, he noted. American Water Works Co., Inc. engages in the provision of complementary water and wastewater services. It operates through the following segments: Regulated Businesses; Market-Based Businesses; and Other. The Regulated Businesses segment provides water and wastewater services to customers. The Market-Based Businesses segment is responsible for Military Services Group, Contract Operations Group, Homeowner Services Group, and Keystone Operations. The Other segment includes corporate costs that are not allocated to the Company's operating segments, eliminations of inter-segment transactions, fair value adjustments and associated income and deductions related to the acquisitions that have not been allocated to the operating segments for evaluation of performance and allocation of resource purposes. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Camden, NJ. Read More Raymond James Financial, Inc., a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments. The Private Client Group segment provides securities brokerage services, including the sale of equities, mutual funds, fixed income products, and insurance products to their individual clients; and borrowing and lending of securities to and from other broker-dealers, financial institutions, and other counterparties. The Capital Markets segment offers securities brokerage, trading, and research services to institutions with a focus on sale of the United States and Canadian equities and fixed income products; and manages and participates in underwritings, merger and acquisition services, and public finance activities. The Asset Management segment engages in the operations of Eagle, the Eagle Family of Funds, Cougar, the asset management operations of Raymond James & Associates, trust services of Raymond James Trust, and other fee-based asset management programs. The RJ Bank segment provides corporate loans, SBL, tax-exempt loans, and residential loans. The Other segment engages in private equity activities, including various direct and third party private equity investments; and private equity funds. Raymond James Financial, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Read More 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.. Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE:TCO) issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November, 9th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.49) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters' consensus estimate of $0.58 by $1.07. The real estate investment trust had revenue of $130.99 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.10 million. Taubman Centers had a negative trailing twelve-month return on equity of 94.88% and a net margin of 30.09%. The company's revenue was down 19.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.86 earnings per share. View Taubman Centers' earnings history. Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. engages in the exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum concentrates. It primarily holds interests in the Morrison property located in British Columbia. The company was formerly known as Booker Gold Explorations Limited and changed its name to Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. in February 2000. Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Sweid & Sweid, developer of the first residential project from the Banyan Tree brand in the Middle East, has reported strong foreign sales enquiries into the project. While a significant proportion of apartment leads are coming from within the GCC (35 per cent), there is an increasing number of potential investors from South East Asia venturing into Dubai real estate for the first time, mainly due to Banyan Trees strong brand recognition in Singapore. In fact, 20 per cent of the business flowing through Sweid & Sweids Banyan Tree Residences project is from Singapore. Interestingly, Singaporean support is second in terms of foreign sales leads with the UK taking the top spot with 35 per cent. This trend of investment from the UK into Dubai is mirrored by Dubai FDIs (foreign direct investment) latest annual figures which demonstrate that the UK is a top five country when it comes to capital flowing into the emirate. Dubai remains a hotspot for the wealthy, attracting high net worth individuals (HNWIs) from different countries who make the emirate their second home. According to New World Wealth, Dubai is ranked fifth for second-home hotspots for HNWIs after New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore. The UAE remains one of the biggest recipients of HNWIs, with over 38,000 millionaires moving into the country over the past 20 years. The Banyan Tree Brand clearly resonates with the UK and European audiences. Global room revenue generated at Banyan Tree-owned Hotels and Resorts around the world is led by European visitors (28 per cent), with China also of key importance (24 per cent). Banyan Tree Residences is in a countdown phase to the opening in Q3 2019. The joint venture between Sweid & Sweid and the high-end luxury brand, Banyan Tree, is bringing unique lifestyle-led residences to the region. It will be the first Banyan Tree Residences to be delivered in the Middle East when it opens its doors later next year. - TradeArabia News Service SemGroup Corporation provides gathering, transportation, storage, distribution, marketing, and other midstream services for producers, refiners of petroleum products, and other market participants. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Liquids, U.S. Gas, and Canada. The U.S. Liquids segment operates crude oil pipelines, truck transportation, storage, terminals, and marketing businesses; stores, blends, and transports refinery products and refinery feedstock through pipeline, barge, rail, truck, and ship; and operates a residual fuel oil storage terminal in the U.S. Gulf Coast. This segment has 18.2 million barrels of storage capacity on the Houston Ship Channel; and 7.6 million barrels of storage capacity at the Cushing Interchange. It also operates a 460-mile crude oil gathering and transportation pipeline system in Kansas and northern Oklahoma; 75-mile crude oil gathering pipeline system that transports crude oil from production facilities in the DJ Basin to the pipeline owned by White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C.; 2 parallel 527-mile pipelines that transports crude oil from Platteville, Colorado to Cushing, Oklahoma; 3 pipelines with an aggregate of 106 miles of pipe; 30-lane crude oil truck unloading facility in Platteville, Colorado; and crude oil trucking fleet of approximately 245 transport trucks and 235 trailers. The U.S. Gas segment provides natural gas gathering, processing, and marketing services. It operates 842 miles of gathering lines in Oklahoma; and a 53-mile high pressure gathering pipeline located in the STACK play. The Canada segment owns and operates natural gas processing and gathering facilities with approximately 530 miles of natural gas gathering and transportation pipelines in Alberta, Canada. SemGroup Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Read More iShares MSCI Canada ETF's stock was trading at $23.42 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWC stock has increased by 60.2% and is now trading at $37.52. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Piton Paints Limited, Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade Intelectual Ltda, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Coatings Technology Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel Unitary Enterprise, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Limited, Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited (Japan), Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. Steelcase Inc. manufactures and sells integrated furniture settings, user-centered technologies, and interior architectural products. It operates through Americas, EMEA, and Other Category segments. The firm's furniture portfolio includes panel, fence and beam-based furniture systems, storage products, fixed and height-adjustable desks, benches, and tables, as well as complementary products, including work tools and screens. Its seating products comprise ergonomic task chairs; seating for collaborative or casual settings; and specialty seating for specific vertical markets, such as healthcare and education. The firm's interior architectural products include full and partial height walls and architectural pods. It also provides textiles, wall coverings, and surface imaging solutions for architects and designers; and ceramic steel surfaces for use in various applications, including static whiteboards and chalkboards through third party fabricators and distributors, as well as workplace strategy consulting, data-driven space measurement, lease origination, furniture and asset management, and hosted event services. The company markets and sells its products to corporate, government Read More Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Read More The Registration Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a leading international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, has signed an agreement with the UAE Ministry of Economy for co-operation on oversight of the audit profession in the UAE. The MoU seeks to facilitate coordination between the parties with respect to the registration and supervision of auditors aimed at promoting high standards of financial audits in the UAE, said a statement from the organisation. This strategic agreement facilitates the exchange of information and expertise between both parties, and strengthens the importance of collaboration among relevant authorities, stated Humaid Bin Butti Al Muhairi, the assistant undersecretary for commercial affairs, Ministry of Economy after signing the deal with Dhaher Bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, the chief executive of the Registration Authority of ADGM. It represents an important step in reinforcing the countrys especially Abu Dhabis reputation as a global business hub and attracting leading businesses and investors, noted Al Muhairi. The agreement also seeks to align the countrys auditing standards with global best practices and ensure that auditing companies comply with internationally accepted legal and organisational requirements, he added. The Ministry of Economy is the regulator of auditors in the UAE, while the ADGM Registration Authority regulates auditors registered to perform financial audits in the ADGM jurisdiction. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in the interest of fulfilling each partys respective regulatory mandates as well as facilitating mutual assistance and the exchange of information relating to the oversight of audit firms and principals. Al Mheiri said: As a leading international financial centre, we are committed to building confidence and trust for investors and contributing to the sustainable economic growth for Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Our goal is to ensure that the highest standards of quality is maintained when it comes to auditing, by pursuing best practises and increasing transparency, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Leading Taiwanese company BenQs e-sports brand Zowie said it has launched the G-SR Red Special Edition mousepad in the Middle East region. G-SR-SE Red is the updated version of G-SR-SE Blue mousepad, providing gamers with a new colour option, and refreshed design to choose from, said a statement from the company. The latest G-SR series provides smooth mouse movement and better traction to the mouse sensor, it said. Zowie mousepads provide 100 per cent flat rubber base that ensure consistent performance across the mousepad. The special edition mousepad provides a slightly different glide feeling from the standard black G-SR, it stated. G-SR-SE Blue will be discontinued for now, and new revamped Red mousepads available for the price of Dh120 ($32.67) will be the replacement, it added. TradeArabia News Service The UAEs initiative to introduce a long-term visa system for investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, and researchers can deliver even broad long-term economic benefits, said experts at STA Law Firm in Dubai. The government has shown itself to be proactive by regional and international standards in tackling economic issues head on with resolve and strategic action, said Sunil Thacker, senior partner at STA. The recent approval of the new long terms visa system underlines its ongoing commitment to make the UAE a pre-eminent destination for attracting investors and international talent. The new system means eligible investors will receive either a five or ten-year residency visa while qualifying entrepreneurs will be able to obtain a five-year residency visa with the added incentive of later being able to earn an investor visa. Thacker sees the offer of long-term security for investors and entrepreneurs delivering a raft of economic benefits. A surge in private investors and entrepreneurs will supplement the UAEs current workforce and help stabilise the economy, he said. The projected influx will help balance the outflow of funds remitted by expatriates, which amounted to Dh164.3 billion ($44.7 billion) in 2017, and ensure more money remains in the local economy. Thacker said the availability of long-term visas will help boost competitiveness within the UAE economy by shifting the focus from the reliance on oil and gas sectors to a knowledge-based economy. An open-door policy towards investors and entrepreneurs regarding longer visa periods in addition to the 100 per cent foreign company ownership reform will encourage further investment in the country, he said. More business enhances competition which will drive companies to develop a leading edge in their specific sectors. This will create more business hubs, further reinforcing UAE status as a global business hub and leader for technology and innovation. There has already been a surge in confidence as a result of the Cabinet initiative, as reflected by the immediate growth in shares of Aldar Properties and Damac by one per cent, and we can expect more government initiatives to build on this momentum, he added. TradeArabia News Service Sabic, a Saudi diversified manufacturing company has launched its Leadership Program for senior government officials, now in its third year, at the Sabic Academy in Riyadh to share expertise and develop leadership skills. Thirty-five senior officials from various government sectors attended the five-day program, which was supervised by well-established leadership trainers. Sabic's experience in leadership development was also highlighted at the program. Yousef Al-Benyan, Sabic vice chairman and CEO, stressed the importance of learning as a key element in leadership development. Through this program and other similar efforts, Sabic aims to achieve its 2025 strategy and the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, he said. Abdulaziz Al-Oudan, Sabic executive vice president, Corporate Human Resources, said the program reaffirmed the companys commitment to collaborate with government sectors in developing human resources. He highlighted the importance of building leadership skills to meet future challenges. Three sessions under the Sabic Leadership Program were conducted for 105 leaders from various government sectors over the last quarter. TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of the kingdom's airport, welcomed the arrival of Georgias flag carrier, Georgian Airways, following the commencement of its direct service between Tbilisi and Bahrain, said a report. The airline will operate a service between Tbilisi International Airport and BIA twice a week for the next nine months, a report in BNA said. Georgian Airways is the second carrier to operate the route out of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), which reflects the destinations increasing popularity among GCC nationals and residents who can now obtain a visa on arrival. "We are delighted to add another route to Tbilisi and look forward to working with Georgian Airways to offer the best possible passenger experience to its customers. The 25-year relationship between our two countries has only grown stronger over time, as demonstrated by the appointment of Bahrains first ambassador to Georgia in January this year. We hope this new partnership with Georgian Airways will further enhance trade and tourism between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Georgia," said the report, citing chief commercial officer Ayman Zainal. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an agreement with Mohammed AbdulAziz Al Rajhi & Sons Investment Co to convert and rebrand two hotels in Saudi Arabia. As per the management agreements, Coral Hotel will be converted to voco Al Khobar, and Holiday Inn Al Khobar Ulaya will undergo a major refurbishment to be converted from an independently run hotel to the first managed Holiday Inn in Al Khobar. Scheduled to open in 2019, voco Al Khobar will offer guests the informality and charm of an individual hotel, with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. Guests can take advantage of a range of amenities including an outdoor pool and gym, to relax and unwind, as well as the choice of two dedicated dining options. Business travellers are also catered for, with a dedicated business centre and 14 meeting rooms. The Holiday Inn Al Khobar Ulaya is strategically positioned to cater to both corporate and leisure travellers. When the refurbished hotel opens in 2020, guests will have access to a fully equipped gym and swimming pool, as well as 4,000-sq-m of meeting space for all corporate needs. There will also be three F&B options for guests to choose from. Speaking of the signing, Pascal Gauvin, managing director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: Saudi Arabia has always been a key market for IHG, and we have built a strong portfolio of brands across the country over the years. We are delighted to be continuing our expansion across the country, in partnership with Mohammed AbdulAziz Al Rajhi & Sons Investment Co. This agreement is particularly exciting as we are debuting voco in Saudi Arabia in line with our ambitious plans to accelerate the growth of the recently-launched upscale brand across the region. Yazid Bin Mohamed Al-Rajhi, board chairman, Mohammed AbdulAziz Al Rajhi & Sons Investment Co, commented: Its an extremely exciting time for Saudi Arabia, as the tourism landscape is rapidly changing. We are delighted to join forces with IHG, which has a strong legacy in the kingdom, to leverage the growth opportunities that Saudi Vision 2030 presents, particularly in the burgeoning midscale and upscale market. IHG currently operates 88 hotels across five brands in the Middle East, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites, with a further 30 in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years. - TradeArabia News Service TCN News Relegious leaders of Islam, Jain, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian faith attended the Mass at CNI Wesleyan church at Sudder Street today on the occasion of Christmas festival. Later a meeting for global peace was also held at Sir Syed Ahmed Road, Kolkata jointly organised by All faith forum and Mother Teresa Memorial Peace Committee . The meeting was presided by Mr. Idris Ali ( Honble Member of Parliament and the chairman of above mentioned organisation . Support TwoCircles Mr Idris Ali greeted the Christian Community and then all the members gathered there prayed for global peace on the occasion of Christmas day .M.A.Ali (General Secretary of All India Minority forum) said religious intolerance is growing these days as a result of which Christians have been targeted and their churches have been vandalised by some Hindutva fanatics. This attempt to divide the people on religious lines will not work and this celebration of Christmas by people from different faiths is an example that everyone loves peace and want to live in harmony. Cakes and other sweet were distributed to the poor out side St.Teresa of Avila church Moulali. New Delhi: Shareholders of Bank of Baroda will meet next month to consider issuing up to 10 crore new shares under Employee Share Purchase Scheme (ESPS). An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders will be held on January 21 to consider the proposal, Bank of Baroda (BoB) said in a BSE filing on Wednesday. The shareholders will meet to approve issuance of up to 10 crore fresh equity shares to employees and whole time directors of the bank in one or multiple tranches under ESPS, it said. The bank said the issue price under ESPS has to be decided by the board and it will be in a way so that the government holding does not come below 52 per cent. Out of the total capital raising plan for 2018-19, the bank's board has decided to issue up to 10 crore shares with a face value of Rs 2 each, at an appropriate premium, it added. "The object of the issue, apart from raising of long-term resources is to enable the bank to attract, retain and reward employees for our bank by sharing the value created by them and to motivate them to contribute to the growth and profitability of the company," it said in the filing. Besides, the fund mop-up aims to shore up the capital adequacy and to fund the general business needs of the bank, it said further. All permanent employees of the bank including the MD&CEO, and executive directors are entitled to participate in the BoB-ESPS, it added. Last week, Syndicate Bank said it will raise up to Rs 500 crore by issuing 30 crore shares to its staff under the employee stock purchase scheme. On December 13, Punjab National Bank mobilised Rs 500 crore through ESPS by issuing 10 crore new shares to employees. The government in March 2017 allowed public sector banks to offer stock options to their employees, aimed at retaining experienced hands and better incentives besides a means for raising capital. A number of public sector banks, including Allahabad Bank, Union Bank, United Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Canara Bank, have availed the new scheme to raise funds. Stock of Bank of Baroda was trading 0.26 per cent up at Rs 115.65 on BSE. Cops from 11 countries and more will be on their toes again in the latter half of 2019 when Shah Rukh Khan begins filming for the third installment of the Don, helmed by Farhan Akhtar. Don was made in 2006 and Don 2 came in 2011. Then there was a lull as both Shah Rukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar were busy with their respective commitments. But now, both of them would be free by August from their respective commitments, in time to don the Don character again for SRK who dives into space with Saare Jahaan Se Achcha immediately. Farhan will finish a film written by Anjum Rajabali and then start Don 3. The scripting has been taking place for the past 18 months, says a source close to the development of the movie. As for the Siddharth Roy Kapoor produced Saare Jahaan Se Accha, incidentally also written by Rajabali, the film will be mounting the sets in March. Film City Studios at Goregaon, is currently witnessing the set building of the ambitious project of debutant director Mahesh Mathai who has made several ad films in the past. As reported earlier, none of the other cast of the film has been finalised. Farhan incidentally is shooting with Priyanka Chopra for their film together-The Sky Is Pink. PC played the role of the Interpol officer Roma in the earlier parts and it is highly unlikely that she will return in the third part, though nothing is confirmed at the moment. Thiruvananthapuram: Seeking to widen its political base ahead of 2019, the ruling CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front in Kerala inducted four more parties into its fold. A crucial front meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, decided to include the Loktantrik Janata Dal led in the state by media baron and Rajya Sabha MP, M P Veerendra Kumar, the K Balakrishna Pillai-led Kerala Congress (B), the Indian National League (INL) and Democratic Kerala Congress (DKC) as new allies. The other LDF constituents are CPI(M), CPI, Janata Dal (S), NCP, Kerala Congress (Scaria Thomas) and Congress (Secular). Announcing the decision, LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan said though several parties have been cooperating with the LDF for some time, the final decision was taken about the four parties only. "As the Congress and the BJP are taking positions which would destroy Kerala's social achievements and destabilise the state by dividing it on communal lines, the LDF is joining hands with similar minds who have taken a stand against this," he said. Among the new allies, only the Kerala Congress (B), which has been cooperating with LDF since the last Assembly polls, has a legislator in the House- K B Ganesh Kumar. Though KC(B) was an ally in the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front when it was in power last time, it had snapped ties with it in 2015 and has been supporting the LDF from outside. INL, formed by leaders who had parted ways with the Indian Union Muslim League years ago, has been supporting the left front for quite some time. The LDF inducted more parties into its fold with an aim to win maximum seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sources said Yadav said he appreciates Rao's efforts to build an alliance, but he will not be able to meet him in Delhi. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Plans of Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader K Chandrashekar Rao to meet BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here in a bid to cobble up a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election seem to have hit a roadblock. While Akhilesh Yadav said in Lucknow Wednesday that he would meet Rao after January 6 in Hyderabad, Mayawati has not yet given time to the Telangana Chief Minister. Yadav said he appreciates Rao's efforts to build an alliance, but he will not be able to meet him in Delhi. Earlier, a meeting between the two was planned at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav here. Though Mayawati is in Delhi since Sunday afternoon, she has not yet confirmed the time for the proposed meeting. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) are key regional players in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. The SP has maintained that a non-BJP alliance will not be be able to stand without their inclusion. The TRS chief reached Delhi on Monday night and and would be here till Thursday. Pitching for a Federal Front of regional parties, Rao had on Monday met Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing the media after the meeting, he had said that they discussed a "matter of mutual interest" and "national politics". "Our dialogue will continue and shortly, we will come with a concrete plan," he said. Banerjee did not speak. On Sunday, he had met met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss an alternative front. The BJP has dubbed him as the 'B team' of the Congress, while Rahul Gandhi and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu have accused Rao of being the 'B team' of BJP. Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday evening. This was Rao's first meeting with Modi after winning the assembly elections to return to power in Telangana. He discussed a variety of issues with the prime minister, including release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district, according to state officials. Hubballi: In what is fast becoming a recurring pattern with Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) leader first directed police officials to "shoot the killers" of a Janata Dal (Secular) leader in Maddur, and when faced with a groundswell of criticism from Opposition parties, he quickly backtracked and said that he did not actually mean to say that the perpetrators of the brutal crime should be killed but wanted them to be "smoked out" from their hideout as soon as possible. Clarifying that his statement was merely an emotional outburst, the CM said in Vijayapura on Tuesday that what he had said on Monday was "a slip of the tongue". Mr Kumaraswamy later visited Maddur to attend his murdered partyman's funeral, and also directed police officials to conduct a thorough investigation to bring the culprits to book, as this was the third murder in the last few months. On Monday, after the brutal murder of Prakash, who was attacked with machetes by his killers, the CM in a telephonic conversation with a senior official, had made the controversial shoot remark. In the video, Mr. Kumaraswamy is heard saying: "I don't know how you will handle it because it was your responsibility (to keep him safe). I am actually disappointed because it has brought a bad name to Mandya. He was a good person. There is no problem if you shoot such people mercilessly," he said alluding to the alleged killers. "I am least bothered (about the consequences)," he added. The audio went viral on Tuesday, triggering outrage among several Opposition leaders including State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa who condemned the statement. Demanding an apology from the CM, the BJP tweeted that it is only his party which seemed to matter to the CM. " If he speaks like this, what will happen to the law and order situation? An irresponsible and nonsense statement by Kumaraswamy," Mr Yeddyurappa said. The Chief Minister said on Tuesday that he had acted in a fit of rage as he knew the victim, 50-year old H Prakash, a former zilla panchayat member. "It is beyond my imagination that such a person can ever be killed. My words were only an emotional outburst, which I did not mean," he told reporters in Vijayapura Tuesday. The Chief Minister's Office issued a statement saying the comments were an "emotional reaction" to the incident and not orders by Kumaraswamy. "The killers of the JD(S) leader Prakash, husband of former Zilla Parishad president Lalitha, are suspected to be involved in two murder cases. I had given a statement to kill them mercilessly in the heat of the moment. It was a slip of the tongue and I have now directed police officials to smoke them out. No violence has erupted due to the murder of our party leader, the police are probing the case to nab the killers", Mr Kumaraswamy said, in an attempt to contain the damage. Prakash was hacked to death allegedly by four men in Maddur town of Mandya district Monday evening, police said. The assailants had stopped Prakash's car when he was going home and hacked him to death with machetes. Tension prevailed in Maddur and Mandya as people 'gheraoed' the police station. When he tried to explain, the guards bundled him into the cellar of the second floor and assaulted him. (Representational Image) Bengaluru: Malleswaram police have registered a case against four security staffers of Mantri Mall, after a 15-year-old high school student, who went to play games in the mall, accused them of wrongful detention and assault. According to the police, the incident took place on Monday evening. The complainant, a resident of Ramachandrapura in Srirampura, had gone to play video games in the Mall located on Sampige road. He returned home injured and informed his parents about the assault by security guards. They took him to the hospital and later filed a complaint with Malleswaram police. Police said the boy had stated in his complaint that he had gone to the second floor of the mall to charge his mobile phone. At the charging point there were mobile phones, belonging to others, that were plugged for charging. While Vijay was looking for an empty socket to charge his phone, four security guards who were in the vicinity, caught him and accused him of phone theft. When he tried to explain, the guards bundled him into the cellar of the second floor and assaulted him. While the victim cried for help, they continued to beat him and later he was let off. Malleswaram police have taken up a case against the security guards charging them under Section 341 (wrongful restraint) and Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC and are investigating. The police have asked the mall management to provide photographs of the security staff and ask the victim to identify them. One of the accused has been identified and efforts are on to track down three others, said a senior police officer. The police have also sought the CCTV footage to identify the other culprits. By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net 2018 marks the 125th anniversary of the famous Villuvandi (ox-wagon) Yatra of Mahatma Ayyankali in Kerala. In commemoration of the historic event, a group of Dalit activists organised a second Villuvandi Yatra in the wake of the changed situations in Kerala following the Supreme Court order allowing entry for women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple. Raising the slogan Sabarimala for Adivasis, let Thanthris get off, several villuvandis (motor vehicles called villuvandi) started from different parts of the state and all joined together at Erumeli in Pathanamthitta district on December 16. The convention at Erumeli was organised by the Sabarimala Adivasi Rights Restoration Committee, led by activists Sunny M Kapikad, P Geethanandan and Santhosh among others. The first yatra started from the Ayyankali Smrithi Mandapam at Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram on December 13 and was led by Dalit rights activist Sunny M Kapikad. Women, Adivasis and Dalits will enter not only the Sabarimala but rather all places that they are forbidden, proclaimed Dr Rekha Raj, academician and Dalit activist, while inaugurating the villuvandi yatra in Thrissur district on December 15. Teams from Kozhikode and Vaikom also joined the others at Erumeli. Support TwoCircles The womens villuvandi was inaugurated at the Vanchi Square (named as Dakshayani Velayudhan Square for this programme) at Ernakulam on December 15, when Meera Velayudhan handed over a copy of the Indian Constitution to Adv Jessin, captain of the yatra. Meera Velayudhan is the daughter of Dakshayani Velayudhan, the first and only Dalit woman to be elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946 and signed the Constitution. The womens villuvandi was organized by Dalit women alone, though other men and women also participated, and the yatra started to Erumeli the next day. We see the issues related to the womens entry to Sabarimala as a reflection of the Brahmanical caste system, Dalit activist Bindu Thankam Kalyani told TwoCircles.net. The Devaswom Board is a government body with employees taking government salary. They are concerned whether the avarna people would come up into lucrative posts like that of the chief priest in the Board. And they are trying to establish the right of the Thanthri family and the Panthalam palace over the temple, thus others could be left out. Fear of losing the lucrative positions with government salary is the base of their tensions, she added. She also pointed out to the fight of the Sangh against the communist regime as another factor. However, referring to the large number of women who participated in the Namajapa processions organised by those opposing womens entry to the Sabarimala temple, Bindu expressed her doubt whether it was modernisation or reformation that took place in Kerala. Modernisation has taken place in dressing, houses, way of living etc. But there has not been any change in the caste-based structure and attitude towards it, she said. The historic Villuvandi Yatra was organised by the reformist leader Mahatma Ayyankali in 1893 against the various forms of oppression suffered by the lower castes. The castewalls had forbidden the lower castes from even walking through public roads, dressing themselves up properly, getting educated etc. Ayyankali protested against the inhuman practices by travelling in a villuvandi or a belled bullock cart owned by him, at a time when the lower castes were not allowed even to own a bullock cart and the higher castes used the bullock cart as a show of pride and strength. He walked well-dressed, with an overcoat and a turban at an age when Dalits were not allowed to dress themselves up properly. Even Dalit women were not allowed to cover their upper body with any type of clothing, but rather could wear only a chain with stones (kallumala). Ayyankali became a member of the Sreemoolam Prajasabha (the then legislative assembly) in 1911 and held the position for 25 years, adding the Assembly too to the list of stages for his struggle. Targeting Gandhi over Yadav's comments, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said, 'As elections draw closer, the increasing isolation of the Congress and non-acceptance of Rahul Gandhi's leadership becoming more pronounced.' (Photo: file) New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday latched onto Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's jibe at the Congress to claim that it shows the "increasing isolation" of the main opposition party and "non-acceptance" of its chief Rahul Gandhi's leadership. A miffed Yadav had "thanked" the Congress for not making his party's lone MLA in Madhya Pradesh a minister, saying it has made the road ahead clear for his party. He also said he will soon meet Telangana Chief Minister K C Rao and praised his efforts for formation of a federal front comprising regional parties. Targeting Gandhi over Yadav's comments, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said, "As elections draw closer, the increasing isolation of the Congress and non-acceptance of Rahul Gandhi's leadership becoming more pronounced." Yadav had suffered politically for allowing Gandhi ride piggyback on his cycle (SP's election symbol) during the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 2017 and does not want to repeat the blunder again, he claimed. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is united, multiple fronts are emerging against it which, Rao said, reflect personal interests of opposition leaders than any similarity in ideology or commonality in issues. Referring to talks of grand alliance and federal front against the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said people have rejected such coalitions in the past because they are a "recipe for disaster" with regard to stability and harm development. A human rights activist has, meanwhile, petitioned the State Human Rights Commission, terming H D Kumaraswamy's remarks as a 'clear violation' of human rights. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Embroiled in a row over his "shoot mercilessly" remarks, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday rejected the opposition demand for an apology over his comments, saying he was an "emotional person." Kumaraswamy found himself in a raging controversy on Tuesday after a video of his telephonic instruction to "shoot mercilessly" those who had killed a JD(S) worker in the party's stronghold of Mandya district on Monday went viral. As the controversy refused to die down despite his clarification, Kumaraswamy said, "It is not a big issueit is a human tendency...in that sort of a situation any human being will react like that. I have already clarified it and that is why I changed the word also." JD(S) worker Prakash was hacked to death allegedly by four men in Maddur town on Monday evening. Claiming that he was an "emotional" person, Kumaraswamy told reporters, "Even if a single citizen is in trouble, I will involve myself...that issue is over according to me, that is why I said instead of encounter, I said smoke them out...that is my final word". Hitting out at Kumaraswamy for his "irresponsible" comments, state BJP president and Leader of Opposition in the assembly B S Yeddyurappa demanded that he apologise to the people of the state. Questioning BJP leaders about an incident where two farmers were allegedly shot dead by police during Yeddyurappa's tenure as chief minister at Haveri in north Karnataka, Kumaraswamy questioned, "Was it not a big issue?" To a question about the demand for an apology, he snapped back, "Why should I apologise?" A human rights activist has, meanwhile, petitioned the State Human Rights Commission, terming the chief minister's remarks as a "clear violation" of human rights. The petitioner, T Narasimha Murthy, urged the Commission to issue a notice to the chief minister seeking an explanation from him with immediate effect, "to examine the implications and impact of such emotional remarks on the police, judiciary and public," and to issue appropriate direction to Kumaraswamy. The plea said it hoped that the commission would examine the issue and direct the chief minister as executive head of the state to maintain decorum and also restore the law and spirit of the Constitution. Bengaluru: With 12,640MW in cumulative installed capacity of renewable energy, Karnataka this year became number one state in the country in enhancing its renewable energy capacity. It is the only state to have added 5265.26 MW of installed solar capacity. The co-founder of CleanMax Solar, Mr Andrew Hines, said that despite the uneven tendering activity by the government, the sustainable aspirations from the corporate segment and the consistent private demand for renewable energy drove the state to the number one spot. We added 270 MWp of utility-scale solar projects, as the number one developer under the Karnataka solar policy. Our rooftop business also saw a steady growth, as we passed the 100 MWp mark early in the year and expect to hit 200 MWp of operational rooftop solar plants in early 2019. Open access solar volumes also grew significantly, he said. He said that rooftop solar represents 10% of the countrys solar volumes and by 2019, it is expected to add approximately 10 GW of solar capacity. Early this year, Karnataka overtook Denmark and the Netherlands by enhancing its renewable energy capacity with an installed capacity of 12.3 GW. It includes 5 GW of solar energy, 4.7 GW of wind energy, and approximately 2.6 GW of hydro, biomass, and heat and power co-generation. Mr Sunil Rathi, Director, Waaree Energies, believes that 2018 was the landmark year for the solar sector. It was an especially defining year for domestic manufacturers who received continued support from the government through the imposition of the safeguard duty. This created a level playing field, for manufacturers to showcase their capabilities, and bring in disruptive R&D, he said. With utility scale energy storage solutions being considered the next big step and with the rising economies of scale, we can see India heading towards a future of energy security through renewable energy, he said. The prime minister had inaugurated a slew of projects and had released a stamp and a coin to commemorate the Paika Rebellion of 1817 during his day-long visit to the state. (Photo: File) New Delhi: With Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his party not figuring in Prime Minister Narendra Modis scathing speech against the Odisha government, the Congress Tuesday said the secret ties between the BJP and the BJD had been exposed. Spokesperson of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) P K Deb, however, rejected the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committees (OPCC) allegation, saying the party had all along maintained equidistance from both the BJP and the Congress. Modi, on his visit to Odisha on Monday, addressed a political rally in Khurda wheree he slammed the state government without mentioning the chief minister or the BJD directly. OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik launched a scathing attack on Modi and Naveen Patnaik, accusing both of adopting an anti-farmer attitude and trying to fool the people by making false promises ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Modis recent visit to Odisha has made it clear that the BJP and the BJD have an anti-farmer stance and they share secret ties, he told reporters here. The prime minister had inaugurated a slew of projects and had released a stamp and a coin to commemorate the Paika Rebellion of 1817 during his day-long visit to the state. Modiji had taken name of Lord Jagannath several times during his speech which is not acceptable, the OPCC president said adding using the name of the lord for votes will not yield results. They (Modi and Naveen Patnaik) are simply trying to fool the people of Odisha... Both PM and CM have betrayed the people, he added. The OPCC chief said, Naveen Babu had promised that all blocks will get at least 35 per cent of irrigation. Has it been done even in a single block out of the 314 in the state? He thinks people of Odisha are fools. Refuting the charges, Deb said both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress make similar allegations against the BJD. While Congress says that we are with BJP, the saffron party leaders also make similar charges. In fact, BJD maintains equal distance from both the national parties, Deb said. The BJP too rejected the allegations made by the Congress with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stressing that Modi was polite, but critical. The prime ministers words were polite, but critical. The PM raised chit fund, PC (percentage commission), inefficiencies, poor nutrition and sanitation issues, the minister said. The BJP, he said, will launch a campaign from Wednesday across the state questioning the state government on different issues. Meanwhile, OPCC has announced that it would observe December 26 as a Black Day to protest against the alleged violation of constitutional rights of the panchayati raj bodies. The state government has snatched away the rights of panchayats and panchayat samities, said Niranjan Patnaik. December 26 is the 21st foundation day of BJD and the Congress programme will coincide with it. 'The searches are going on,' an NIA spokesperson said. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi: At least 10 people were detained by the National Investigation Agency on Wednesday for their alleged involvement with ISIS-inspired terror module, officials said. The probe agency conducted searches across 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in connection with its probe into a new ISIS module, officials said. The new module is called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. "The searches are going on," an NIA spokesperson said. The ministry of home affairs in December 2017 had said that the NIA along with state security agencies arrested 103 accused in cases against ISIS cadres/sympathisers, maximum number of people being from Uttar Pradesh. Of the 103 arrests, 17 were arrested from Uttar Pradesh, 16 each from Maharashtra and Telangana, 14 from Kerala, 8 from Karnataka, 6 from Madhya Pradesh, 5 each from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, 4 each from Uttrakhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat, 2 from Bihar and 1 each from Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. According to the unions, the bus services would be affected with the strike. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: All Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus services, autorickshaws and cabs would be halted along with other transport services as these labour unions have extended their solidarity to the nationwide labour associations strike on January 8 and 9, 2019, to protest the Central Governments anti-labour policies. The TSRTC employees unions have given their strike notice to executive director, Mr M. Ravinder at Bus Bhavan on Monday. The unions have demanded a minimum wage of Rs 24,000 for the transport sector and demand inclusion of petrol and diesel into GST slab. Mr Raji Reddy, General Secretary, TSRTC Employees union, mentioned, Many Central Government policies benefit only the private sector, like the change of permit rules and others. The unions mention that they are against the introduction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the transport sector, as it would lead to the eventual monopoly of the private sector. According to the unions, the bus services would be affected with the strike. Earlier strikes in the year 2015 and 2016 had a severe impact on the transport services. Few other transport associations such as the four-wheelers association have also extended their solidarity to the strike and some of their demands include making contract workers permanent, equal work and equal pay. Mr Shaik Salauddin, four-wheeler association president said, All transport unions have extended their total support to this strike. The effect can be seen on January 8. Guwahati: The All India United Democratic Front chief and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday lost his cool and threatened a journalist from Assam of dire consequences during a media briefing when the former was asked whether his party would go with the Congress party or remain with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A video, where All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Mr Ajmal was seen threatening the scribe of dire consequences, went viral immediately after the press briefing that took place at Hatsingimari in Assams South Salmara Mankachar district. Mr Ajmal was talking to media persons after felicitating the winning party candidates in the recently held Panchayat polls. According to reporters present in the press conference, Mr Ajmal was not happy over the sarcastic remark of a particular reporter and accused him of targeting him personally. The incident has created anger among the journalists as video footage showed All India United Democratic Front MP also snatching away the boom of the television journalist. Mr Ajmal who is MP from Dhubri also threatened, I have thousands of people with me. A rocket launcher, several weapons and a cache of ammunition which were recovered by the NIA during its raids in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI) New Delhi: The NIA on Wednesday busted a suspected ISIS-inspired terror group and arrested 10 suspects, who it said, were planning suicide attacks and serial blasts targeting politicians and government installations in Delhi and other parts of north India. A locally-made rocket launcher, material for suicide vests and 100 alarm clocks to be used as timers were recovered from the searches, said National Investigation Agency (NIA) inspector general Alok Mittal. The searches were carried out in coordination with Special Cell of Delhi Police and ATS of Uttar Pradesh Police at six places in Jaffrabad, Seelampur in Delhi, and 11 places in Uttar Pradesh (six in Amroha, two in Lucknow, two in Hapur and one in Meerut), he said. The searches and the arrests, including of a mufti from Amroha, come a month before Republic Day celebrations on January 26 when security is heightened across India, particularly in the national capital. The probe agency rounded up 16 persons of the group Harkat-ul-Harb-e Islam, which loosely translates into war for the cause of Islam, he said. Of the 16 detained, 10 were arrested by the NIA, while six are being interrogated. More arrests are likely, Mr Mittal said. Five were arrested from Amroha and five from Seelampur and Jaffrabad localities in north-east Delhi, he said. The highly-radicalised module of youths in the age group of 20 and 35 years is completely self-funded and no criminal antecedent of its members had surfaced so far in the investigation, he said. The members were in advanced stage of preparation. They were just waiting for the successful assembly of bombs and wanted to hit multiple locations using remote controlled IEDs and pipe bombs and carry out fidayeen attacks using suicide vests, Mittal said. Those arrested include the alleged mastermind, 29-year Mohammed Suhail, a mufti, or a Muslim legal expert empowered to give rulings on religious matters, from Amroha in western Uttar Pradesh, an engineering student in a private university in Noida and a third year graduation student in humanities as well as two welders, he said. It was ascertained that Mufti Mohammed Suhail alias Hazrath and his associates have mobilised funds and have procured weapons, ammunition and explosive material to prepare IED and bombs and they plan to carry out explosions and fidayeen attacks at places of importance in and around Delhi and also target crowded places, he said. New Delhi: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos quest for a non-Congress, non-BJP Federal Front remained elusive Wednesday, with key parties like the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party evading a meeting with him on his visit to New Delhi. The squeamishness of both regional satraps to take the anti-Congress plunge could possibly be linked to a resurgent Congress that has added three key states of the Hindi heartland to its kitty, making it a serious contender to lead any Opposition alliance in the run-up to 2019. Mr Rao had recently met Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik and Trinamul supremo Mamata Banerjee soon after being sworn in for a second term as Chief Minister. Sources in the TRS had indicated that as a follow-up to his meetings with Mr Patnaik and Ms Banerjee, Mr Rao had sought to meet SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati on December 25-26 to take forward his proposal of a Federal Front. But while Mr Yadav postponed the meeting, the BSP was yet to get back to the TRS leader. Speaking to the media in Lucknow, the SP chief said, Efforts to bring all parties together have been ongoing for many months. I congratulate the Telangana CM for working in this direction. He has been trying to bring together a Federal Front. I will go to Hyderabad to meet him after January 6. The BSP chief, however, chose to remain silent. Both parties are looking at a tieup in Uttar Pradesh and are unlikely to take separate stands. Top leaders of the Congress have said that the Telangana CM is along with BJD chief Naveen Patnaik the fallback option of the BJP in case it falls short of the magic number in the 2019 general election. The recent letter by a party functionary to the RSS in support of Union minister Nitin Gadkari as a PM probable can be seen in that frame as neither Mr Patnaik nor Mr Rao would be averse to supporting him. However, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjees problem is different. The West Bengal CM has an issue with the Congress leading an Opposition alliance as this would mean Rahul Gandhi getting a shot at being the PM, a position which she fancies for herself. Hence her warming up to KCRs idea of a Federal Front. Hyderabad: Three siblings from Hyderabad were among four people killed in a horrific fire during Christmas celebrations at their hosts house in the US state of Tennessee. The siblings, Sathwika Sharon Naik Kethavath, 17, Aaron Suhas Naik Kethavath, 15, and Joy Suchitra Naik Ketha-vath, 14, were the children of Pastor Srinivas Naik Kethavath, governor of Global Banjara Baptist Missionaries, Telangana. They had gone to the US for their education last year and were studying at the French Camp Academy in Mississippi. Sharon was doing her Class XII, Suhas IX and Suchitra was in Class VIII. This was their second year in the US schools. Pastor Naik stays with his wife at DD Colony in Bagh Amberpet and rushed to the US on hearing the news. Sources and local media reports said the teenagers went to the house of a family friend at Collierville, Tennessee, to celebrate Christmas. The fire occurred at 11 pm on Sunday local time. Their host, Kari Coudriet, died in the fire. Mr Sridhar Naik, a cousin of the victims, told this newspaper that the siblings were to spend two weeks in Collierville. Since there was a vacation for two weeks for Christmas, they went to our family friends house as it is not possible to come to India and go back within a short period, he said. There were six people in the house at that time. Apart from the three siblings, the host family comprised Kari Coudriet, her husband Danny and son Cole. A statement issued by the Coudriets Church, Collierville Bible Church, said, that the fire started around 11 pm at the Coudriet home. The neighbours noticed smoke and immediately alerted the fire department. Fire officials rescued Danny and Cole but were unable to save the others. TCN News Tausif Shaikh, an activist who had been fighting the illegal encroachments and illegal constructions on Wakf properties in Maharashtra by the Wakf Mafia committed suicide last week by dousing himself with petrol. Many other NGOs and activists have been fighting the land mafia of Wakf properties from the last 10 years with no results. Tausif Shaikh had submitted several petitions to the higher authorities from the last few years and had even filed complaints with the Police station. Even after so many years and so many attempts no action has been taken against the land mafia. Support TwoCircles Upset and frustrated over this inddiference of the officials Tausif set himself on fire and committed suicide right in from the collectors office in Ahmednagar. This is the first suicide case in the state of Maharashtra of a Muslim and first suicide protesting against Wakf mafia in India. The police have registered a case against Tausif Shaikh for commiting suicide. But the local Muslims are agitated over this move by the police and demanding to register a criminal case against the abetors of Tausifs suicide and the illegal encroachers of the Wakf land. The waqf land mafia are continuously acquiring lands not only in Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Nashik, Pune but all over the Maharshtra State. With inputs from Urdu City, Malegaon O Raja was removed from all posts and AIADMK's primary membership by brother Panneerselvam and CM K Palanisamy, on December 19 for going against the party's policies and bringing disrepute to it. (Photo: DC File) Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Pannerselvam's brother, who was sacked last week, was re-inducted into the AIADMK following the "forget and forgive" policy, the ruling party said on Wednesday. However, this would not apply to deposed party leaders V K Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran and they would never be re-inducted, senior AIADMK leader and state Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai. O Raja was re-inducted into the party only after he had expressed regret for his action, Jayakumar said, but refused to divulge what kind of 'anti-party activity' actually prompted the leadership to sack him. "If a sacked party functionary gives a (regret) letter, what the party will do-- it will consider his regret and the request for re-induction," he told reporters in Chennai. He was responding to questions on Raja returning to the party fold in just about five days after his expulsion last week, and said such things had happened during the time of the late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa also. Raja was re-inducted in line with the "forget and forgive policy," Jayakumar added. "This is not a big issue. He expressed regret and the party took a decision (accordingly to take him back)," the minister said. Raja was removed from all posts and the AIADMK's primary membership by AIADMK coordinator Panneerselvam and the joint coordinator, Chief Minister K Palanisamy, on December 19 for "going against the party's policies and bringing disrepute to it." However, Raja was re-admitted Monday after he expressed regret for his action in person and through a letter, and requested that he be re-inducted into the party. Asked if such a yardstick applied for Sasikala and her nephew Dhinakaran, Jayakumar replied in the negative. "Anyone other than these two, if they express regret, will be taken back," he said. The AIADMK has already made it clear that even those siding with Dhinakaran post his fallout with Chief Minister Palanisamy last year, were welcome to return to the AIADMK, but the leader was not welcome. Post his fallout, Dhinakaran had floated the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. Eighteen AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to him were disqualified by Speaker P Dhanapal last year after they revolted against the chief minister. The Madras High Court recently upheld the disqualification. 'I have been time and again saying that it is Tejashwi (Yadav) who is Arjuna and I will be playing the role of Krishna,' Tej Pratap said. (Photo: File | PTI) Patna: Holding people's court at the RJD state headquarters for the second consecutive day, Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday said he would be happy if his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav made an appearance at his Janta Durbar. The MLA and former minister, who had on Monday said he would not shy away from assuming the leadership of the party if given a chance, however, dismissed queries about a number of party leaders reportedly expressing their discomfort over the prospect of the mercurial leader taking over the party. "There may be some RSS-minded people in the party who will get a brainwash once they meet me personally. I do not know what they are saying and why. Elections are approaching and many people start speaking unnecessarily out of worry over tickets," Tej Pratap told media. He also maintained that he was committed to helping his brother, Tejashwi Yadav, become the next Chief Minister of Bihar. "I had expressed my commitment long back, in full public view, and blown a conch to announce the Mahabharata. I have been time and again saying that it is Tejashwi who is Arjuna and I will be playing the role of Krishna. I will be there to guide him. Some people want to create a rift between brothers," he alleged. Notably, the two brothers have not been seen together ever since Tej Pratap filed a petition seeking a divorce from his wife of six months -- the decision has been met with disapproval from his family. Tej Pratap Yadav had remained conspicuous by his absence on the first four days of the winter session of the state assembly, which concluded last month, and on the final day when he made an appearance, he avoided crossing paths with Tejashwi Yadav. When asked whether he would like Tejashwi Yadav to attend the Janta Durbar, Tej Pratap said, "Why not. I would like to say to Tejashwi, if you are watching this telecast please do come and join me in listening to the woes of the people so that we may work towards solving these" Tej Pratap, who has of late begun to display a much more active interest in politics unlike in the past when he used to devote more time to religious pursuits, was asked whether he had been advised to do so by his father whom he met in Ranchi last week. He replied in his trademark style. "Why should I tell you what my political guru and I talked about. Do you share in public the conversations you have with your wife," he said. When pointed out that his earthy mannerisms and acerbic wit had an uncanny similarity to those of his legendary father, he said, "Who else do you think I would have resembled". He also remarked Janata Durbar had started with Lalu Yadav. "Nitish chacha (uncle) only tried to imitate that but nobody attending his version has ever been provided with a solution to his or her problems. In contrast, Lalu used to decide matters on the spot. I am trying to carry the legacy forward," he said. The former health minister also visited a slum in the Bihar capital where he came down heavily on the Nitish Kumar government for failing to provide the citizens with proper drinking water, housing, drainage and sanitation and offering empty slogans of har ghar nal ka jal and pakki gali aur naali. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao smile at each other as they hold discussion in New Delhi on Wednesday. Hyderabad: The meeting of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in Delhi is significant because of the speculation that the formation of the Federal Front is to save Mr Modis BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, the discussions were mostly about the political situation in the country and particularly in the two Telugu states. The Prime Minister showed an interest in the AP Assembly elections and the prospects of the TD headed by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the YSR Congress headed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. In their one hour and 15 minutes discussion, Mr Rao briefed the Prime Minister about the strategy adopted by him in the Telangana Assembly elections which won him a huge victory. TRS sources said that there is no chance that the TRS and BJP will contest together in the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, but there are chances they will work together and have an understanding. Sources pointed out that Mr Rao made several suggestions and also gave advice to the Prime Minister about the strategy the NDA should adopt in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections to retain power. The TRS supremo also discussed various issues pertaining to the state with the Prime Minister such as release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up a separate High Court for Telangana, and an IIIT in Karimnagar district. The Prime Minister responded positively to the requests of the chief minister, the CMO said. The CMO said that the Chief Minister submitted a 16-point letter to the Prime Minister with regard to various pending issues in the state including the transfer of Bison / Polo ground lands for construction of the secretariat and road widening around it, and establishment of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Hyderabad, 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in new districts and sanction for an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Hyderabad. Mr Rao also requested the Prime Minister to revive the Cement Corporation of India in Adilabad in joint collaboration with the national highway authority of India as proposed by the ministry of surface transport. The Chief Minister also urged the Prime Minister to sanction Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Kakatiya Mega Textile Park at Warangal. The CMO disclosed that Mr. Rao reminded the Prime Minister that the request of the state government for conferring National Project status to the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project was pending with the Centre for a long time and asked Mr Modi to sanction a special grant to this major irrigation project. Hyderabad: The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state are both keen to play a greater role in national politics and are busy forging alliances or getting the support of other regional parties. But it seems in this, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has scored points over his rival Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, as Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has chosen to support Mr Naidu. Mr Rao went all the way to Bhubaneswar to get the support of Mr Patnaik for his proposed Federal Front against both the BJP and Congress. But 24 hours later, Mr Patnaik sent a letter to Mr Naidu through his representative, Member of Parliament Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, saying that his party, the Biju Janata Dal, is in favour of a non-BJP government in 2019. Mr Patnaik has been maintaining his distance from both the BJP and Congress. Mr Ranjan Patnaik said, Both the BJP and the Congress have faults, AP CM Naidus policy is to choose the party which has less faults, and the Biju Janata Dal has the same policy as Mr Naidu. The main drawback for Mr Rao is that there is some suspicion that his efforts to form the Federal Front are intended to save Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ensuing general election. The main opposition parties believe this. Though Mr Rao has denied this several times, the suspicion continues to dog him. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is taking advantage of this to urge regional parties to keep away from Mr Raos proposed Federal Front. The Congress, Telugu Desam and Left parties all believe that Mr Raos Federal Front will be floated to save Mr Modi. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also has doubts about Mr Rao and has her own plans regarding national politics. There was a marked difference in her attitude to Mr Rao when they met in March 2017, and when they met three days ago, on December 24, when she did not say a word at the press meet with Mr Rao. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is not losing any opportunity to blame and defame K. Chandrasekhar Raos attempts at playing a role in national politics. Commenting on Mr Raos meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in Delhi, Mr Naidu questioned whether Mr Rao was meeting Mr Modi to discuss the states problems or to brief him. He added that While Mr Rao is meeting political parties to gather support for his proposed anti-BJP and anti-Congress Federal Front, what is his purpose of meeting the Prime Minister? Hyderabad: Opposition parties strongly believe that the Telangana State Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Federal Fronts is aimed at helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders of CPI have joined the Congress in saying that the man behind Mr Raos front is Mr Modi. CPI national secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy on Wednesday speaking to mediapersons said, If KCR really wants a Third Front then why did he support demonetisation and the implementation of GST? How can KCR alone get the appointment of the Prime Minister when other CMs are unable to? This shows the friendship between the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister and also exposes their conspiracy. With elections drawing closer, Hanuman has also been dragged into the limelight with a stream of statements from various political worthies on his true identity. No one can definitively say what 2019 will bring but as we bid goodbye to 2018, some things are clear. The debate about whether politics will trump development or vikas is becoming redundant. Development is political and has always been so. Politics will continue to be permeated with high-decibel talk about vikas. Both politics and development will be buzzing with pro-poor promises. But will the poor, or anyone else for that matter, still be satisfied with promises alone? Unlikely. Many of us wish that India moves beyond spats about temples and mosques, hatred and violence in the name of religion, the endless renaming of cities or building statues. Instead, India should focus on removing poverty, providing health, education and safety and protecting the environment, as filmmaker Onir observed in an anguished tweet this week. But that is unlikely to happen. Today, religion and mythology make up the main course on the high table of political discourse in this country. And it is not just the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worthies in Nagpur and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad who are stridently demanding fast tracking of the Ayodhya case hearing at the Supreme Court. BJP parliamentarians, chief ministers and even Cabinet ministers have joined in the daily drumbeat around the Ram temple. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath recently told a national newspaper that the issue is a symbol of the larger public sentiment, and that should be respected at all costs. We have told the Supreme Court that in the interest of the countrys development, it should resolve this issue at the earliest. The latest voice to join the chorus is Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Inaugurating the 15th National Conference of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad in Lucknow this week, he said: I appeal to the Supreme Court in my personal capacity to hear the Ram Janmabhoomi issue like a fast-track court for a prompt disposal of the case. And it is not just the Ram temple. With elections drawing closer, Hanuman has also been dragged into the limelight with a stream of statements from various political worthies on his true identity. At the yearend, India is convulsed with animated discussions around whether Hanuman was a dalit or a Muslim or a brahmin. The topic also triggered much mirth among the countrys public health community with a medical doctor joking that Lord Hanuman was also the first healthcare provider. Think of the story of him literally moving a mountain to get Sanjeevani Booti, the life-restoring herb, to heal a wounded Lakshman. But will discussions around myths and heroes of ancient times going to decide who forms Indias next government? Does this really reflect public concerns? Do most Indians really place Ram over roti? The answer will remain wrapped in tantalising uncertainty till the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are known. Meanwhile, what is clear is that while India is shining for some people, millions of Indians are struggling to survive. Agrarian distress is very real and is not going away anytime soon. Farmers will be centrestage in the coming year no matter how much effort is put in to divert attention from their woes. A heated discourse has started around loan waivers, the politics and the economics surrounding it. While loan waivers are temporary palliatives, farmers themselves do not say it is the only thing they want. Conversations with dozens of farmers who were part of the recent rally in Delhi indicated that their main concern is getting a fair price for their produce. Attempts to underplay agrarian distress and the tragic story of farmers suicides will backfire. Sadly, it is not just sections of the political class. Many urban middle class Indians continue to be apathetic to the woes of farmers. Many see farmers rallies solely through the lens of traffic snarls and inconvenience to themselves. But agrarian distress does not stay confined to villages. Farmers in acute distress move to cities in search of a livelihood when farm incomes cant sustain them. In a democratic country, you cant stop people from moving where they wish to. What happens then is the concern of city administrators and an urban issue as well. Feelings of uncertainty and anguish about the future are not confined to farmers. Earlier this month, during a work trip to Mumbai, I spent some time in Dharavi, known in tourist guidebooks as Asias biggest slum. I had been in Dharavi in the late 1990s, working on a film 24 Hours in the Life of Mumbai. Much has changed. There certainly has been some development. There is a lot more visible money and the place is less smelly, though pockets of filth remain. But random conversations with people who earn their livelihood in small-scale enterprises, like the potters in Dharavis Kumbharwada, showed that the mood was glum. Input prices have gone up, Dharavis potters now have to compete with potters elsewhere in India who have access to more advanced technologies. Returns are plummeting. An Uber taxi driver told me his regular job was as a bus driver but the income was not enough to feed his family, and so he took up a second job. He was clearly not below the poverty line and one could say millions of Mumbaikars have always struggled, that this was nothing new. But what is changing is the rising level of aspirations and many are starting to ask tough questions. Will welfare politics save the day for the party in power? The short answer one has to differentiate between the official narratives of development, grand statements of intent, and what is actually being delivered on the ground. And in this context, data can be revealing or misleading, as we know from experience. Data can tell you how many toilets have been built or how many primary health centres have been upgraded. But unless one actually goes to the sites, checks out the ground reality, one does not know how many of them are actually being used, how often, by whom and for what purpose. What is promised is less and less of an issue. What is delivered and to whom and how quickly is what matters. The coming elections may spring huge surprises to those who think they have all the answers. They may find that the questions have changed. The writer focuses on development issues in India and emerging economies. She can be reached at patralekha.chatterjee@gmail.com Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamys eye-popping directive to the police earlier this week to shoot them mercilessly, and then backtracking to say he meant smoke them out, has been ascribed to his inability to keep his emotions in check. But theres more to the theatrics than meets the eye. The Janata Dal(S) was the first scalp notched up by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his bid to enlarge his partys footprint after being reduced to virtual irrelevance, with the backroom deal to form a coalition with JD(S) signalling that the Congress was willing to play second fiddle in a future mahagatbandhan. But while the partys fortunes got a boost when it won a triad of BJP-run states in December, if the Congress hopes to maintain its winning streak, it must heed the voice of its newfound partners. Particularly the JD(S). The Mandya-Mysuru-Hassan belt in south Karnataka is the hotbed of Vokkaliga politics, with the Congress and JD(S) jostling for supremacy. JD(S) worker Rameshs murder, and of others earlier, shows the blood feud is far from over, alliance or no alliance. The recent Mandya bypoll, when Congress workers voted for the BJP candidate, even after he withdrew from the race, and Congress leader Siddaramaiah continuing to call the shots, doesnt sit well with the JD(S). As Mr Gandhi and Mr Kumaraswamy meet, the latter may hint he was only taking a sideswipe at Congress deputy CM G. Parameshwar on law and order. But if the Congress hopes to retain not just its JD(S) alliance but forge a wider rainbow coalition ahead of 2019, this tussle shouldnt be allowed to escalate. The answer, it seemed, was not difficult to seek for those who believed that economic growth in India, then as it is now, is state driven. Thirty-five years ago, soon after I returned from Harvard, I undertook a long journey through Bihar and eastern UP to understand what the situation there was and why. The resultant study was, The Children of the Ganga: An Enquiry into the Poverty of the Gangetic Plains. The study examined the distance of Bihar and UP on most major parameters from the average and the best. On all indices Bihar was way behind. That is pretty much the situation now, though the only index where it compares now with the best is in primary school enrollment. But why was Bihar in this parlous condition was still the big question. How did the state, which the University of California professor of public administration, Dr John Appleby, had determined as the best-administered state in 1952, turn into a bureaucratic and administrative nightmare? The answer, it seemed, was not difficult to seek for those who believed that economic growth in India, then as it is now, is state driven. The money the Central government spent had a direct bearing on the economic outcomes of states and on the well-being of their people. The evidence was very clear. Right from the First Plan, Bihar and UP suffered from underinvestment by the Central government. If there was per capita development expenditure for each plan, Bihar was always furthest from it. When I computed the investment foregone, by getting so much less in every consecutive Plan, in 1984 Bihar was shortchanged by as much as Rs 27,000 crore. That number is now 10 times more. For a start, the Plans have become bigger. Bihar is still last in terms of per capita development expenditure, and industrial and infrastructure investment. The highest-ranking states in terms of government investment get as much as six times more than Bihar in per capita terms. Bihar was then the second largest state in India. It is in many ways the heart of India. It is certainly the cradle of Indian civilization, which evolved on the banks of the Ganges. And it is still very clear India cannot go forward leaving Bihar behind. But the question that still stays is whether Bihar would have done as well as the high fliers if the money were provided? In the years since I have done many more studies evaluating the performance of other states in India. Clearly there are high performers and laggards. But why are some this and others that is an answer that still eludes me. We seem condemned by our ways of comparison analysis to see things in terms of inputs and outputs, without ever really wondering if there are other processes at work which make different states within one country, within one constitutional system, within one economic system and sharing a long and common ethno-cultural history which make a difference? Now think of this: India is the third largest economy in the world in PPP terms and it is predicted that by 2050 it will be a $30-55 trillion economy, depending on whose projections is music to your ears. 2050 is just 32 years, and in a nations lifetime that is a mere blink. This is not daydreaming. In 1990-91, when P.V. Narasimha Rao initiated the first dismantling of the Centrally-planned state, the GDP of India at current US dollar was a little over $200 billion. Twenty-three years later it is 10 times that. Increasing 20-fold in 36 years is really not a tall order. India has grown at an average rate of over 7 per cent since 2000. Between 2008-11, it grew at more than 9 per cent. In consonance with global trends Indias growth also has tapered off these past two years. Nevertheless, overall the trends have never been like this before and there is optimism about the long term, despite recent troubles. It is a country where many state GDPs are bigger than that of many countries. The size of Maharashtras economy would place it just about alongside as Singapore and bigger than Hong Kong or Nigeria. This overall performance, however, masks a diversity of performances. The Human Development Index (HDI) of Kerala is Indias highest at 0.790, which would place it ahead of China, while at the other end of the spectrum is Chhattisgarh with 0.358, which would place it just alongside Chad, one of the worlds poorest and most backward countries. At 0.790, Kerala would find a place in the high HDI list of nations. The incidence of poverty is always a contentious matter in India. While the government tries to downplay the numbers by having a somewhat self-serving index (now 22 per cent), other measures such as the UNDPs $1.25 a day suggest that almost 37.5 per cent of Indians live in dire poverty. At $2 a day as much as 70 per cent of India is below an internationally determined basic standard of living index. Others indices are just as damning. Indias abysmal track record at ensuring basic levels of nutrition is the greatest contributor to its poverty as measured by the new international Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI). About 645 million people, or 55 per cent, of Indias population is poor as measured by this composite indicator made up of 10 markers of education, health and standard of living achievement levels. The new data also shows that even in states generally perceived as prosperous, such as Haryana, Gujarat and Karnataka, more than 40 per cent of the population is poor by the new composite measure, while Kerala is the only state in which the poor constitute less than 20 per cent. The MPI measures both the incidence of poverty and its intensity. A person is defined as poor if he or she is deprived on at least three of the 10 indicators. By this definition, 55 per cent of India was poor, close to double Indias much-criticised official poverty figure. Almost 20 per cent of Indians are deprived on six of the 10 indicators. But even more a matter of concern is the growth regional disparities. Eastern India has been languishing and has the densest concentration of poverty, while the northern and southern states have showed very good performances on this front. Indias west has its main industrial centers and naturally overall figures tend to be good here. But if the big cities are removed, here also we get a bit of a dismal picture. Clearly the southern and northern states seem to be doing better. While economic institutions are critical for determining whether a country is poor or prosperous, it is politics and political institutions that determine what economic institutions a country has. Some states are structured around extractive political institutions where the institutions serve to satisfy the aspirations of a narrow elite alone. Colonialism was clearly an extractive political system. But does India still have an extractive political system? Many economists will argue that the data suggests just this. When we see the evolving politics through this prism, we have an answer for the growth of family or clan-dominated political parties on one side, and the notable expansion of the upper classes and the growing power of family-owned businesses. Certain cultures and groups seem to have a greater propensity towards material wealth. The Sikhs, Gujaratis and Marwaris in India, for instance, are more entrepreneurial and contribute far more to Indias overall economic wealth creation than others. Kerala has Indias highest HDI. It has near universal literacy. It has the longest longevity and IMR indices. Yet Kerala doesnt have much by way of industry, more specifically private industry. In a global system having almost 200 independent states at various states and stages of development, we can have a wide disparity, as each one of these economies represents a sovereign entity bounded by a border. But in a system that is bound by its Constitution, its history and its civilization as one, as is India, can we afford to risk too much diversity in economic well-being? The writer, a policy analyst studying economic and security issues, held senior positions in government and industry. Hubb (love) makes one speak, Hayaa (humility) silences and Khauf (fear) unsettles Zun Noon Misri The Arabic word Hayaa (humility), which etymologically comes from the root letters of Hayat, meaning life or vitality, is highly significant in Sufi discourses. Most Sufi mystics have stressed the need for Hayaa for all spiritually inclined people. They particularly quote the hadiths sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in relation to this spiritual conduct. Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: Hayaa (humility) is part and parcel of Imaan (faith), and that it does not bring anything except good. Prophet himself was an epitome of modesty and humbleness, as several hadith narrators, like Ibn Umar, have reported. He was so humble that he never fixed his eyesight on anyone due to his exceeding modesty, neither did he look at a person in the eye while meeting him face to face. In reality, this degree of Hayaa or humility is antidote to the egoistic behaviour of Takabbur (arrogance and haughtiness) and all other forms of supremacism. It is enunciated in the Quran that supremacism and egotism (istikbar) was the reason why Iblis (the chief Satan) was expelled from heaven. When God created Adam and asked Iblis to bow down to him, he said in utter arrogance: I am better than he; You created me from fire and Adam from Clay. (Holy Quran 7:12) In fact, it is this supremacist attitude that is strongly discouraged in this ethical Quranic trajectory. Thus, it imbibes the spiritual value of hayaa (humility) and tawazu (modesty) as an antidote to supremacism (istikbar), arrogance (takabbur) and self-centeredness (anayiyat). Therefore, majority of Sufi mystics have dwelt on the crucial significance of hayaa in their oral transmissions and teachings and have embodied it through their saintly practices. Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gilani, head of the Sufi saints, popularly known as Ghaus-ul-Aazam, has clearly stated it in his spiritual discourse, Gunyah al-Talibin: The humane moral conduct should not be affected by the rudeness of creatures, once s/he has been acquainted by the truth. Renowned Sufi philosopher, Imam Ghazali has enumerated several prophetic anecdotes on the virtues of hayaa in his book, Ihya-ul-Uloom (Revival of Knowledge). For instance, he quotes the Prophet as saying: Two things haya (modesty) and iman (faith) go hand in hand. If one is lifted, the other is also lifted. Every faith tradition has an innate character. The character of Islamic faith is modesty. In another spiritual discourse, namely Bidaya-tul-Hidayah (The Beginning of Guidance), Ghazali explains the root causes that lead to the loss of hayaa in ones character. Those causes are takabbur (arrogance), riyaa (pretentiousness) and shurah (desire for fame). He goes on to explain, These inclinations come from ones ruinous pursuit which destroys most people, for nothing destroys people except people themselves. An early Egyptian Sufi saint, Hazrat Zun Noon Misri, has described hayaa as being ever-conscious of the divine presence in ones heart and feeling remorse about his or her earlier transgressions against the divine will. Similarly, Persian mystic Imam Qushairi writes in his famous Sufi treatise Risalah Qushayriah that hayaa implies the constant God-consciousness in all words and actions. Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an alim (classical Islamic scholar) and a Delhi-based writer. He can be contacted at: grdehlavi@gmail.com The surprise resignation by Americas defence secretary James Mattis last week came alongside the news of US President Donald Trumps decision on significant US troop withdrawals from its last two major military engagements in Syria and Afghanistan. Although Mr Trump, on assuming office in January 2017, had sought American military disengagement abroad, his Cabinet members, like Mr Mattis, a highly decorated retired Marine general, had ensured continuity and in Afghanistan a slight surge without specifying an exit date. This improved the Barack Obama policy of linking withdrawal to deadlines, which encouraged the Taliban to wait out the US exit rather than accepting reconciliation and dialogue. Mr Trump has now repeated former President Barack Obamas error. Similarly, Syria remains without a final settlement although the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has been largely eliminated. The US had backed the Syrian Kurds to clear out ISIS. Consequently, the Kurds have consolidated control over a large area in northeastern Syria. But the last thing that either Iraq, Iran or Turkey want is any quasi-independent Kurdish enclave as it will fire separatist tendencies in their considerable Kurdish populations. Additionally, the Sunni population and the remnants of rebel and jihadist groups, numbering an estimated 2.9 million, are aggregated in Idlib the last stronghold of the forces ranged against the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus. The dominant group there is Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), an Al Qaeda affiliate. To the north are the Turkish forces, which do not want the Syrian regime to attack Idlib and thus cause more human carnage, besides adding to Syrias three million refugees. Russia, an ally of the Assad regime, has declared that the Syrian government had every right to liquidate the terrorist threat on its territory. An American troop withdrawal at this stage on the pretext of the primary role of eliminating ISIS being accomplished ignores the endgame in Syria, which now seems left to Russia, Iran and Turkey. Israel is watching warily, as crucial Parliament elections have been announced for April, as it wants Iranian influence in any future Syrian political arrangement to be minimal, perceiving Hezbollahs threat from its Lebanese redoubt. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to rebuild his damaged relations with the United States, shrewdly using the Jamal Khashoggi murder by a Saudi squad in Istanbul. President Trump and the US administration have been trying to exculpate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while the Turks have countered this by selectively leaking from an elusive tape of the actual murder. President Trump tweeted that President Erdogan informed him that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS and he is a man who can do it, plus Turkey is next door. Our troops are coming home!. Syria is thus being outsourced to Turkey, which has its own geopolitical priorities. The Assad regime and Turkey would love to carve up the Kurdish enclave between them. Having used the Kurds to counter a local menace, the US would be abandoning them yet again, like after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991 when the Kurds rose in revolt against Saddam Hussein. Of much greater concern to India, of course, is Afghanistan, where the US is training the Afghan armed forces, conducting counter-insurgency and air operations. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative on Afghanistan, is due to visit India to brief the leadership in New Delhi on his Taliban talks. But the unilateral US announcement poses the question of whether there is some understanding with Taliban or it is an anticipatory concession. It defies normal negotiating logic as a reward for the Taliban joining the reconciliation and dialogue process should have followed, not preceded, their assent. It is also unclear how US pressure on Pakistan, by denial of military assistance funds and complicating of a IMF bailout, ties with troop reduction, which if anything eases future Pakistani machinations in that country. The outcome will depend on what troops are actually withdrawn. For instance, if the air assistance component is kept intact and only trainers leave, then perhaps the effect may be gradual. The other point will be the funding gap as the US withdraws support. On both these counts India could work with others, like Russia and Japan, to ensure that the Afghan defence forces, already facing large desertions, do not fall apart or stall due to the resource constraint. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has defiantly named known Pakistan and Taliban critics, Assadullah Khalid and Amrullah Saleh, as the ministers for defence and interior respectively. His spokesman Harron Chakansuri asserted that the US troop withdrawal will have little impact as the Afghan military has managed well despite Nato withdrawing 100,000 troops in 2014. How this bravado translates into reality remains to be seen. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Taliban penetration may be deeper in Afghanistan than visible as they have modified their approach. Instead of a frontal assault on government-controlled-urban areas, which Afghan forces with American help eventually regain control of, they are slowly assuming control over tax collection, reopening of schools, and providing stricter but fairer justice. As Ashley Jackson writes in Foreign Policy magazine, they have realised there is no need to attack symbols of the state if you can instead capture their resources and redirect them to your aims. It is reported that India has begun running its designated berths at Irans Chabahar port. With Taliban control increasing and Iran having channels open to them, perhaps a modus vivendi can be worked out for meaningful operation of the port for accessing Afghanistan and Central Asia. But the Iranian conduct would be conditioned by their larger standoff with the US over their nuclear programme, their leadership of Shia forces in West Asia via Iraq and their use of surrogates in a contest with the Saudi-led Sunnis, including in the war in Yemen. India will find few reliable allies as it tries stabilising after the US troop withdrawal Afghanistan. An election-distracted BJP government in New Delhi, with its fringe forces baiting the Muslim minority on a daily basis, is poorly equipped to devise a coherent strategy for an Islamic world that has just got much more complex. The writer is a former secretary in the external affairs ministry. He tweets at @ambkcsingh By Aas Mohammed Kaif, TwoCircles.net In a major breakthrough, the UP Police claimed to have solved the gruesome murder of a Dalit girl who was burnt alive on December 18 in Agra District. The police said one of the deceaseds cousin and two other Dalit boys were responsible for the act and revealed that it had arrested two of the three accused. However, the UP Police announcement has not gone down well with Dalit protesters who believe the announcement was only to stop countrywide protests in support of Sanjali, the girl murdered and put the blame on Dalit community. The UP Police actions also came into question because the third person accused-Yogesh-was a cousin of Sanjali, was questioned by the Police and released later following which he committed suicide. The Bhim Army supremo rejected the UP Police findings and asked for a CBI inquiry into the matter. He questioned why Yogesh was let free after questioning if he was an accused in the case and said it was the police action that drove Yogesh to suicide. Support TwoCircles While the police claims and actions are being questioned, what cannot be questioned is the effect that it had on plans for countrywide protests. According to ground reports, all protests have been cancelled for the time being which can only be seen as a positive for the UP Government. The family of Sanjali, however, has expressed its dissatisfaction over the police claims. Even though the police claims that Sanjalis father Harendra Jatav had been informed about the investigation and had met the accused, Harendra said that he was only shown one person under arrest who confessed to the claim. More importantly, he was only shown photographs of the so-called evidence and not the physical proof. On December 18, the village of Lalau in Agra District was stunned when they found out that Sanjali was burnt alive when she was returning from school. The village, which is populated in equal numbers by Jats and Jatavs, has since seen high caste tensions as a number of Dalits believed it was the work of the Jats. The incident occurred the same day that DGP Police Om Prakash Singh was visiting the district. Following the incident, several people raised doubts over the police in the state. As a result, the police, which constituted seven teams including three under IPS officers, said they followed the call records of the accused along with CCTV footage. The other two accused-Akash and Vijay-are also relatives of Yogesh and according to the police, the two were lured into the incident by Yogesh who offered them Rs 15,000 each and it was Yogesh who doused Sanjali with petro before setting her on fire. The police version has of course, did not go down well with Sanjalis family who are of course, deeply troubled by the family that a brother could have killed his sister. Yogeshs father, who is the brother of Harendra Jatav, share the same compound in the village. Following the incident, Bheem Army supremo Chandrashekhar also visited the family and had called for protests but they were postponed following the arrests. UP deputy CM Dinesh Sharma also visited the village and promised a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, which is yet to be delivered. At the end of 2018, West Asia remains as contentious and violent as it was last year, and its outlook remains as uncertain as before. But several developments this year have provided new opportunities for the regional players to assert their interests, with new alignments wherever possible. The ongoing conflicts in West Asia emerged from a deep sense of strategic vulnerability in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the current decade in the wake of the Arab Spring. The kingdom then perceived Iranian influence across West Asia as a Shia Crescent that embraced Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran itself, and then swung southwards to Yemen. In the face of this challenge, Saudi Arabia abandoned its moderate foreign policy and robustly confronted Iran in the theatres of its influence first in Syria and later, from 2015, in Yemen. Over the past two years, the kingdom was encouraged in its confrontations by the full backing extended to it by US President Donald Trump, who shares Saudi Arabias visceral hostility for Iran and is committed to reducing Irans influence in West Asia. Mr Trump shaped a formidable alliance of the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia to confront Iran and its allies in Syria and then take the battle to the home front to effect regime change. But, this gameplan was thwarted by the entry of Russia in the West Asian scenario in 2015 initially as a military ally of beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and then as the principal diplomatic arbiter in regional politics. Russia ensured President Assads military successes against the rebels and now over the last two years leads the Astana peace process, with Turkey and Iran as its partners. Turkey initially supported the Saudi effort at regime change in Damascus but made a U-turn two years ago when it saw its sworn enemies, the Syrian Kurds, consolidate themselves across the Syria-Turkish border, with full American support. Faced with this existential threat, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his alliance with Russia and made it clear to the United States that his troops, already positioned in a wide enclave in north Syria, would cross the Euphrates to disperse the Kurds and disrupt their territorial gains. President Erdogan then took full advantage of the ruthless murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi that took place in Istanbul on October 2 and accused the kingdoms effective leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, of masterminding the gruesome killing. Though the crown prince continues to enjoy support from Mr Trump and his influential son-in-law Jared Kushner, large sections of the US political establishment and the media are now hostile to the kingdom and are even questioning the value of the seven-decade-long US-Saudi ties. Mr Erdogan appears to be promoting Turkey as a major role player in regional affairs. But besides asserting a revival of neo-Ottoman influence in the region that was once part of the old empire, Mr Erdogan is also challenging Saudi Arabia as the leader of the Islamic world. Mr Erdogan is likely to promote the Turkish brand of Islam that would be broadly based on the activist and accommodative doctrinal platform of the Muslim Brotherhood, which will herald the long overdue reform in West Asian politics, while stigmatising Saudi Wahhabism as the harbinger of intolerance and extremism. On December 20, President Trump complicated the regional scenario by announcing the withdrawal of the 2,000-odd US troops in Syria. Mr Trumps security officials had made it clear over the last few months that these troops, ostensibly retained to fight the remnants of the Islamic State, would remain to oppose Iranian influence in Syria while ensuring that Russia was not the sole major power in the region. The immediate impact of President Trumps announcement has been to unravel the US alliance with Israel and Saudi Arabia against Iran now the latter will have a free hand to consolidate its presence in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and even realise its land-bridge from Tehran to Beirut and Damascus. The announcement will also test the resilience of the Saudi-Israel alliance on Palestine, with the crown prince likely to be wary of backing Mr Trumps plan that seems to provide maximum advantages to Israeli interests, while permanently extinguishing Palestinian aspirations. Having been let down by their US ally, both countries will have an incentive to work with Russia in Syria, while hoping that President Vladimir Putin will restrain Irans bellicosity. Saudi Arabia will also increasingly turn to Russia to coordinate energy policies. Israel and Saudi Arabia are looking at difficult times. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing corruption charges and national elections next year, could plea-bargain himself out of prison, the Saudi crown prince, largely discredited abroad, will find himself under considerable pressure at home: he could face serious challenges to his leadership from the divided royal family and will be critically dependent on his father to remain crown prince. The Kurds, dreaming of their Rojava, western homeland, have received a body blow; they can now expect to face the wrath of the Turks, experiencing one more betrayal in their century-old history. Russia will remain the sole major power in West Asia to shape the contours of regional politics. In partnership with Iran and Turkey, it will accelerate the peace process in Syria, though it will face daunting challenges from the divided opposition and the armed militia. Again, taking advantage of the largely discredited Saudi Arabia, Western leaders can be expected to push for a peace process in Yemen, though Saudi opposition could still make the endgame very murky. The US-sponsored sanctions regime will make life for ordinary Iranians very difficult but will do little to weaken the regime. Iran hopes that European support will moderate some of the harsher aspects of the sanctions, particularly relating to energy exports and banking transactions. Thus, the winners next year will be Russia and Turkey, while Iran, facing hard times at home, will use adroit diplomacy and creative initiatives to dilute the impact of sanctions, as it waits for the Trump administration to become more dysfunctional and increasingly lose credibility and influence. The writer is a retired diplomat who has served as Indias ambassador in several West Asian capitals The hole didnt pose a danger to Prokopyev and crewmates Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency. (Photo: AP) A Russian cosmonaut who explored a mysterious hole in a capsule docked to the International Space Station said Monday that the opening was drilled from inside the spacecraft and Russian law enforcement agencies are investigating what caused it. Sergei Prokopyev said investigators were looking at samples he and crewmate Oleg Kononenko collected during a Dec. 12 spacewalk. Prokopyev and two other astronauts returned to Earth last week from a 197-day space station mission. The hole in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the station was spotted on Aug. 30. The crew discovered a leak that was creating a slight loss of pressure and plugged the hole with epoxy and gauze. Prokopyev said at a news conference the cavity started from the capsules interior and its up to the investigative organs to judge when that hole was made. The astronauts quick identification and repair of the hole demonstrated the crew was ready for any developments, he said. The hole didnt pose a danger to Prokopyev and crewmates Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency during their return because the section of the capsule it appeared on was jettisoned before the fiery re-entry into Earths atmosphere. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in September the hole could have been drilled when the capsule was manufactured or in orbit. Rogozin stopped short of blaming crew members, but the statement has caused some friction between Roscosmos and NASA. Rogozin has since back-pedalled from the statement, blaming the news media for twisting his words. Prokopyev scoffed at the idea the hole could have been drilled by an astronaut, saying, You shouldnt think so badly of our crew. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Punjab remained in the shadow of threat from Pakistans ISI and non-state actors attempting to turn this border state into its new theatre for terror activities, after Jammu and Kashmir. Several ill-perceived plots from across the border to disrupt hard-earned peace in the state exposed Punjabs susceptibility to such nefarious designs. Amid the lurking dangers of Punjab being pushed back to unprecedented days of instability and terror, the historic decision to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor connecting the two nations remained at the zenith of all the good times to come. It had not happened since independence. For the Sikh community in Punjab and across the globe, the commencement of work on the religious circuit that will provide a visa-free access to Indian worshipers to pay obeisance at the revered Kartarpur Sahib Sikh shrine in Pakistan, where Sikh Guru Nanak spent the last several years of his life was no less a dream come true. The grenade attack on a congregation sitting for prayers at the Narankari sect premises near Amritsar lay bare Pakistans renewed vigour to destabilise Punjab. Three people were killed and several injured when two ISI-backed operatives lobbed a Pakistan army ordinance factory-made grenade on praying devotees of the sect. At least 16 terror modules having links with Pakistan's ISI were busted by the Punjab police. Festivity in the holy city of Amritsar turned tragic on Dasara night just when the effigy of Ravana was being burnt. A speeding train mowed down as many as 61 Dasara revellers who had got onto the elevated railway track for a better view. Bodies of men, women and children were strewn all over the place. The tragedy highlighted the appalling lapses on all fronts. For the first time in many years, the SAD (Badal) saw a split with prominent leaders quitting the party, citing flaws in leadership, among other reasons. A commission report on sacrilege and subsequent firing by cops on Sikh protesters in 2015 indicted former chief minister Badal for the police action at Kotkapura. The AAP in Punjab, too, was split as noteworthy leaders followed the exit route. The war on drugs saw its flip side with addicts dying of drug overdose and rehabilitation centres brimming to full capacity. Neighbouring Haryana saw its homegrown athletes bring laurels in this year's Common Wealth Games. Haryana's athletes constituted one-third of all the medals won by India, including nine out of the 26 gold medals. Meanwhile, dissent against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar grew with many MLAs criticising the first time chief minister. The world today is full of division, conflict, anger, crime, corruption, death and disease. Daily news accounts catalog the worst of these. Mass killers invade gathering places, including schools, and kill indiscriminately. Governments oppress. Religious believers worldwide are persecuted and, in some cases, killed for their faith. Political dialog is tinged with hatred. Yet because of the miraculous birth celebrated today, none of those things will win. Ultimate, they wont have the significance of even a tiny mustard seed. God did not create us and then leave us for other pursuits. He loves us so much that he sent us his son. What a glorious thing to celebrate in the darkest, coldest time of the year! The worlds condition is not new. It may seem relentless, but the message of this morning is sure and unchanging. Consider that the Christmas story the accounts of a traveling Mary and Joseph, forced to seek shelter in a lowly manger, the birth of Gods son in the humblest of circumstances, the angelic visits to shepherds tending flocks in neighboring fields all hinged on an oblivious political decision by Caesar Augustus to levy a tax. We have no doubt that this census-taking for purposes of taxation was unpopular, as it surely would be in todays world where, as the French recently learned, taxes can lead to riots and rebellion. It certainly was inconvenient, requiring people to return to their ancestral homes to be enrolled. And yet ancient prophets had foretold that the Christ child would be born in Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus surely was clueless about the earth-shattering events unwittingly set in motion by his decree, and of his role in fulfilling prophecy. The clear message, however, is that he was powerless to stop them. The powers of the world are utterly incapable of frustrating the plans of an omniscient and loving God. And that is the ultimate message of hope this Christmas morning, as well. As the familiar poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, I heard the bells on Christmas day, puts it, The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. This is the unwavering and unalterable reality of Christs birth, life, ministry, ultimate atoning sacrifice and resurrection. No one, regardless of worldly power, military might or technological prowess, can alter this in the least. Longfellow wrote that poem in 1864, at a time when this nation was embroiled in the darkest, most violent days of the Civil War. The North had begun to take the advantage, but the cost in lives was as unimaginable then as it is today. Innocence was gone. The romantic ideals of noble and chivalrous battle had devolved into a stark and bloody slaughter. Yet Longfellow, like many of his fellow countrymen, wasnt about to surrender to hate or despair. God is not dead, nor doth He sleep, he wrote. Today, hate is strong, as well. And yet, on this morning, faithful hearts sing merrily and presents are exchanged. That is the gift Christ gave us. He made possible the triumph over everything the world may throw our way. He brought a peace impervious to hate, violence or sorrow. His sacrifice made the mockeries and indignities he endured appear as they really were puny and insignificant. He does the same for us. His victory is sure. This gives everyone, regardless of circumstances, the right to shout Merry Christmas! Over the past decade or so, the market for generic drugs has become, as research chemist Derek Lowe puts it, "more and more deranged." Prices of boring old drugs, off patent for decades, have experienced the kind of breathtaking spikes and dizzying crashes that are usually reserved for exotic financial instruments. Only instead of some larval billionaire losing the keys to his Lamborghini, desperate patients are losing access to drugs they depend on. In theory, generic markets should be the Walmart of the health care world, where everything is dirt cheap and readily available. In practice, the makers of branded drugs often display a malevolent ingenuity at keeping generic competition at bay. And even when they play fair, a number of factors, including tighter safety regulation and more complex formulas, often means that too few firms enter the market. Lots of drugs, especially those used by only a smaller number of patients, have at best a handful of firms producing them. So if one company has production problems or decides to withdraw from the market entirely supply contracts dangerously, as prices shoot skyward. Scott Gottlieb, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, has been pushing the agency to relieve the regulatory bottlenecks that exacerbate these price swings. But that's not enough for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Warren is preparing for a presidential run, and you don't get to be president by saying "The FDA is working on it." No, you call for action. Specifically, Warren wants the federal government to get into the business of manufacturing drugs or contracting with third parties to do the production. In Warren's defense, when the supply of a vital good is interrupted, the public wants the government to do something. However, the public would also prefer that the government do something that actually works. And there we run into trouble with Warren's scheme. One can describe all sorts of reasons that state-owned firms ought to be better than the profit-grubbing variety. Freed from the incessant demands of greedy investors, state-directed firms can invest for the long term, pursuing innovation and social welfare rather than profit. One can describe it easily enough; what's hard is finding one of these creatures in the wild. Rather than providing a shining rebuke to free-market fundamentalists, state-owned enterprises, or SOEs, often seem to have a secret mandate to prove their skeptics right about everything. There are examples of well-run SOEs, but they're suspiciously concentrated in one tiny patch of northern Europe, where government institutions more generally outperform counterparts in the rest of the world. And even high-performing SOEs are vulnerable to a change in administration. PDVSA, Venezuela's state-run oil company, used to be regarded as one of the best in its class. Then Hugo Chavez decided that he would rather use the company's investment funds for social spending than for stodgy old petroleum extraction, and rather have the firm managed by cronies than professionals. Venezuela's disastrous economic collapse can be traced directly to those decisions. President Trump's election has finally nullified the conservative shibboleth that Washington could be fixed if only we could get a businessman into the Oval Office. Unfortunately, the left is busy reviving its own shibboleth, the mirror image of the conservative mistake: that whenever markets frustrate us, the government can and should step in and do it better. Nationalize the health care system, bring back public housing development and if you don't like the price or availability of various drugs, then have the feds become drug-makers, too. This idea is particularly silly given that so many of the problems that make it harder for generic drug-makers to enter the market are created by government regulations in the first place. Unless the government enterprise bypasses the regulatory hurdles constraining supply, it will face much the same difficulties that private firms do. And if the government is going to relax regulatory requirements, wouldn't it make more sense to just retool the way the market works for everyone? Well, yes, it would, if what you wanted to do was actually fix the problem. But that involves a lot of fiddly, boring, regulatory tweaks and can't possibly happen fast enough to aid Warren's run for president. It's unsurprising that Warren has instead hit upon what I call a "Washington issue" a proposal with little policy merit that nonetheless retains great political charm because it can be explained to voters in under two sentences. Which may be good enough for a presidential candidate. But it's not nearly good enough for the country. A new study confirms a trend many lawmakers already support: Increased rehabilitation services for drug-addicted offenders offers needed short-term aid while lowering long-term impacts on taxpayers as recidivism rates drop. The report, produced by the Utah Foundation,takes an in-depth look at efforts to address addiction within Utahs justice system. The study also explores alternative approaches for people struggling with substance abuse and suggests courses of future action. It offers some good news and bad news for Utah. Drug courts are proving successful in providing a post-booking alternative to incarceration for individuals who demonstrate a high need for substance treatment. But there are no pre-booking diversion programs for drug abusers. The states prison system has two substance abuse programs for men and one for women, each of which has been shown to reduce rates of recidivism and drug relapse. Between the years 2014 and 2016, the number of inmates in prison declined by 12 percent. But while the prison population decreased, the number of inmates in county jails increased by 6 percent. Utah has the nations seventh lowest prison inmate population per capita, but the 15th highest jail population. That disparity raises concerns for drug treatment. Only 14 of the 26 counties in the state have any type of substance abuse program; some of those efforts are more effective than others. The state has previously recognized the value of rehabilitation services and in 2015 instituted a recidivism risk screening process in county jails. Results showed half of inmates needed further assistance for drug addictions; however, only two counties have continued to use the screening because of a lack of funding. We agree with the studys recommendations that state and local officials should find the means to continue to employ screening procedures in all county jails. Policymakers should also carefully examine the ratio of county jail inmates to the state prison population with an eye toward making certain the shift does not diminish the opportunity for drug abuse rehabilitation services. Offenders also need state and local governments to continue to leverage robust and effective rehabilitation programs. The report recommends Utah policymakers closely monitor drug treatment and rehabilitation efforts in other states to determine best practices. Establishing a means for evaluating the performance of other drug courts would put Utah at the front of the pack for offering life-changing care. Utah Foundation President Peter Reichard wisely pointed out, The potential return on investment to the public suggests policymakers have a duty to ensure a robust and effective treatment network is in place at both the state and local levels. Paying close attention to drug abuse treatment and inmate rehabilitation would help lift a class of Utahns now, while virtually ensuring a benefit to all taxpayers going forward. Policymakers at every level should consider these recommendations and lead the way to compassionately helping offenders get back on their feet. PROVO Local artist Casey Jex Smith has been around the block. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, his career got off to a great start as he earned gallery representation in the Bay Area and New York, found an audience, and was well on his way to "making it" in the highly competitive, and fickle, world of contemporary art. But then the Great Recession hit. He lost his agents and galleries were closing left and right. He'd also moved to Ohio with his wife, who is also an artist, and his young family. Opportunities, once rife, were disappearing. "At the moment it felt like I had a real art career going, it dried up," Smith said. Fast forward to the present and Smith, along with his wife, have not only recalibrated their careers, they have also just launched Unibrow, the first-ever online art auction site run by, and for, contemporary artists. While the fine art business is on the rise after a few years of decline it raked in over $60 billion worldwide last year according to a report compiled by Art Basel and Swiss investment giant UBS it's typical that about half of all sales proceeds end up with auction agents or gallery owners. Unibrow walks back that standard 50 percent commission and instead will be working from an 80-20 split that breaks in favor of artists. On top of that, Smith and the Unibrow co-founders have committed to pushing back on another long-running disparity in the fine art world. "Only 4 percent of the work sold through auction houses is from female artists," Smith said. "On Unibrow, we will always have at least 50 percent of our work coming from artists that self-identify as female." While artists interested in showing and selling work on Unibrow are still beholden to a curatorial approval process, Smith said the goal is to include creators at all stages of their careers. He is also hoping the site becomes an option for those creators who, because of where they reside, have little or no access to exhibition space. "We're looking for a high-caliber of work, but it won't just be limited to those with long resumes and a lot of shows under their belts," Smith said. Smith said he reached out to an established California artists' group, Binder of Women, to help curate the first group of artists that went up on the site in early December. Binder artist Kysa Johnson, who lives and works in Los Angeles, said helping Unibrow launch its debut auction was a task that matches up well with the overarching goal of the group. "Our efforts (with Binder of Women) have been to help move each other forward in the art world and art market," Johnson said. Johnson, a well-established artist who is represented by galleries in New York and Houston, said she sees the Unibrow effort as one that empowers participating artists to control the decisions that go with selling work, like choosing pieces and setting prices will creating a new, broader marketplace for contemporary art. "There are a lot of other online platforms out there, but they are mostly attached to galleries," Johnson said. "Unibrow not only creates a direct avenue from artists to collectors, but gets the work out there in the world, in front of people who may not have access to galleries or who would never visit a gallery." Johnson said Unibrow's committment to gender equity also makes it a refreshing outlier in an industry that is still struggling, like many others, to achieve a fair representation of the wide world of working artists. "There are a lot of conversations happening right now about how straight, white and male-centric the art world has been forever," Johnson said. "It's the same conversation that is occurring in many industries and it's long overdue. There are these blue-chip galleries, in the large markets and smaller ones, that are still having shows that are all men. "Unibrow is addressing this right up front, and being conscious and deliberate about it." Johnson underscored that there is no substitution for the in-person experience of an artist's work and noted that a lot of her own work, which is full of fine and layered detail, doesn't always translate via the 2D world of online images. But she is confident that a happy medium that leverages the new tools available in the digital realm, with the more traditional showing of work in physical gallery spaces, can find a future of co-existence. "Art at its core is truly an in-person experience," Johnson said. "Objects should be experienced physically, but using tools like Unibrow to broaden our access and exposure is what you want to have happen. "I believe we can thoughtfully figure out how to do that through new resources and technology but do it in a way that uses the best of both while not losing the magic and beauty of experiencing art in real life." Smith said his goals for Unibrow are centered on navigating those two worlds that Johnson sees as becoming mutually beneficial and is planning on coordinating real-world gallery exhibitions that complement the auction activity taking place on Unibrow. The debut auction group, Smith noted, was also exhibited at the O-O LA Gallery in Los Angeles in mid-December shortly after the works went up on Unibrow. He is also hoping the site becomes a stepping stone that will help artists navigate their career paths in a way that gives them, ultimately, a lot more control of their own destinies. "The whole mission of Unibrow comes from a place of being an artist," Smith said. "It's about trying to help other artists get through the difficult times that confront us all." Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of Unibrow co-founder Casey Jex Smith. SALT LAKE CITY Newly unsealed court documents give details into a potentially deadly confrontation in November between two groups of middle school and high school-aged children. A total of eight boys were arrested, ranging from ages 13 to 17, and booked into Salt Lake Juvenile Detention, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Gray. Nine search warrants were unsealed Monday in 3rd District Court outlining the complex investigation. The Unified officer working the case stated the confrontation involved a group of students from Matheson Jr. High School and another from Cyprus High School, the warrants state. A juvenile stole a gun from his parents and then tried to cover it up by making it look like their house had been burglarized on Nov. 12, the warrants state. The boy's father owns multiple guns, according to the warrant. One of the boys in the middle school group took pictures of the gun and posted it on social media, the warrants state. A member of the high school group saw the post and asked if the younger boys wanted to use it to rob a marijuana dealer, according to the warrant. The boys agreed and arranged to meet at Pleasant Green Park. But when the middle school group arrived, the high school group attempted to rob them at gunpoint, according to the warrants. The alleged gunman pointed his weapon at at least two of the younger boys, the warrant states. One of the younger boys grabbed the pistol and the gunman's hand, and "forced (his) hand into the air," the warrants state. A shot was fired in the air, according to police. No one was injured by the bullet, but the boy trying to wrestle the weapon away from the gunman suffered a small powder burn on his hand, according to the warrants. Both groups ran after the shot was fired. Over the next 24 hours, police tracked down the boys, interviewing them one by one at their homes and at school, according to the warrants. WEST JORDAN There aren't many teachers who do it for the money, or because it's easy. For Krista Gibbons, the only reason she spends her days pacing back and forth in front of a classroom of students at West Jordan Middle School is that she wants to make a difference. "I love teaching, and it just came pretty easily, pretty naturally for me," she said. "In middle school, they're so tender, and they're so trying to figure out who they are, and if you show them they can succeed in anything, then it just continues like a snowball." Gibbons started her career here six years ago after a stint student teaching. Since then, she's come to call these halls home. "I fell in love with the culture of our school, which is all about the kids, and helping each other," she said. "Education's a part of it, but it's the whole person." But as much as she focuses on getting through to each child, sometimes there are obstacles. Sometimes, there are reasons certain kids aren't paying attention. "I talked to a student who was in just a really grumpy mood, and I was trying to be like 'Why are we so grumpy?'" Gibbons said. "He told me 'You know, I got out of my tent,' which immediately triggered to my teacher brain, 'Oh no, like this poor baby's homeless.'" That student said he'd missed breakfast at the shelter that morning, so Gibbons did what she could. "I gave him what little granolas I had, which were my little snack storage," she said. But the problem was bigger than she thought. She spent the next four years bringing food for kids who would often go without when they'd leave school. "I did all the pricing and said 'Then this is how much I have to save each paycheck to make sure I can go buy,'" Gibbons said. "I don't need to go to the movies on the weekend. I can take that fund, and I can buy something for them." Now, part of her classroom has transformed. She raises money for food through a charity she calls "Gib's Kids." What used to be a closet for supplies in the corner of her classroom has been transformed into the in-school food pantry. Right next to it is a file cabinet stocked with snacks and meals open to anyone, no questions asked. "I have lunches in the back, all my Lunchables were taken today," Gibbons said while rifling through the drawer. "If they need a lunch, they just come and grab it, and I have a microwave and they just heat it up." Gibbons said she has a regular group of about 30 or 40 hungry visitors each day. Some are just looking for something to take with them to eat that night. Her charity's done well enough that she's been able to expand. "It kind of just used to be centered here," she said, gesturing to her closet. "But since Gib's Kids has helped raise so much money, there are pantries throughout our school." To some kids, the small gesture of having a place to grab some food has had a big impact. "I've had a lot of students who've been using my pantry come back from graduating high school," Gibbons said. "They've reached their potential because they realized, 'Hey, there's people out there who care.'" For Gibbons, it's not just about handing out food, and it's certainly not about the money. It's about making a difference by letting kids know someone cares. "When a teacher says 'I love you, I care about you, how can I help you?' it's not just them talking," she said. Donations to Gib's Kids can be made through the Jordan Education Foundation. Gibbons also has a Facebook page keeping track of her fundraisers. SALT LAKE CITY Hundreds gathered in a merry and bright St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall for a Christmas meal of steak and pie on Tuesday, ringing in the event's 18th year. Ahead of the dinner, more than 150 lined up in the misty, chilly air outside. Many wrapped scarves around their faces while they waited with their family members or pet dogs. Inside, diners munched on complementary steak and sides of salad and vegetables as volunteers rushed by with plates of pie and other dinner guests streamed in. Richard Turner, 71 reflected on his plans for the new year in between bites of corn and green beans. He plans to start his own business with an anticipated inheritance from his late grandfather, he said, but for now he is staying at The Road Home shelter next-door to the Salt Lake City dining hall operated by Catholic Community Services. "I wouldn't call it home, but it's good when you don't have a home," he said. "Things will get better." A Louisiana native, Turner arrived in the Beehive State ahead of the Utah Jazz and plans to stay so he doesn't have to weather more hurricanes, he said. As he picked up a blanket and socks to help him stay cozy through the winter, Turner said the donated items and the dinner will help him get a leg up, but he doesn't plan to return next year. "I'll be in Utah," he said, "but I'll have my own place." The annual Christmas dinner has not always served steak. It began doing so in its fourth year, said Pamela Atkinson, a longtime advocate for Utah's homeless and the dinner's chief organizer. The idea to serve something other than ham or turkey was not her own, she said, but came about after she asked a group of homeless Utahns what they would like to dine on. "One guy said, 'Hey, Pamela, what about a steak dinner?' Everyone laughed, and I thought, why not?" she recalled Tuesday. The dining hall's kitchen didn't have the capacity to grill them, so cooks at the Grand America Hotel have long prepared the meals with ingredients donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she said. Since the first dinner nearly two decades ago, Atkinson said Utah has made strides helping those facing homelessness by connecting them to housing and resources. But despite what she called "tremendous progress," the number of homeless and low-income Utahns attending the dinner has grown as an opioid epidemic has taken hold in the state and across the country. A possible solution, she said, is more alternative housing in the Beehive State dorm-style living with communal kitchens, alongside services to help rehabilitate those suffering from mental illness and drug addiction. On Tuesday, she estimated, 800 to 900 people would be served by a team of six lead volunteers and dozens more helping to keep the kitchen and table service humming. Her helpers included many who were younger than the event itself, and others with a higher profile, including Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, and state Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross. Atkinson also recruited Karen Ackerlow and her family, who were helping to clean up plates, serve chocolate milk and set out fresh paper placemats. "I thought this was a great opportunity for our family to serve somebody else and think of a little bit more than just Christmas gifts," Ackerlow said. Her son Gavin noted he was surprised by the friendliness of the diners. "It's really fun," he chimed in. Among those serving and bussing were Charles Dahlquist, of Oakley, and about two dozen of his children, grandchildren and relatives. The family has long had a tradition of volunteering at the dinner and "wouldn't be any place else," Dahlquist said as he passed trays of baked potatoes from the kitchen to a serving line. He recalled failing to persuade his youngest daughter years ago that plating and serving Christmas dinner for others was a good idea. On the way home, he recounted, she asked why they hadn't always helped. The dinner has also become a tradition for Pamela Zubia's family, who live on Salt Lake City's west side and ate together Tuesday evening before picking up a few donated items to help them make ends meet. The yearly event has been a help to her family, she said, but the Salt Lake Community College student is especially heartened to see those who don't have a home of their own share a hot meal in a warm room. "That makes me really happy," Zubia said. OGDEN A Weber County dentist accused of downloading child pornography has admitted to trying to sexually exploit a minor. Daniel Patrick Alston, 72, pleaded guilty in Ogden's 2nd District Court last week to reduced charges as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, court documents show. He admitted to trying to view, possess or distribute child pornography on or near Feb. 16. Alston, of South Ogden, was criminally charged in February after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, part of the Utah Attorney General's Office, found pornographic images of young girls on his home computer, court documents show. Alston told them he had downloaded the images due to curiosity and the "'forbidden' nature of the material," charges state. He pleaded guilty Dec. 20 to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, which were reduced from a second-degree felony to a third-degree felony. Five other counts were dismissed in exchange for the guilty pleas. As a dentist, investigators said Alston had access to children on a regular basis. They suggested in court documents he may have accessed one of the pornographic images at a dental office. Alston has an active license in Utah, online records maintained by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing show. He agreed shortly after he was charged not to practice as a dentist until the charges are resolved, according to agency's disciplinary documents. Prosecutors agreed to recommend home confinement for Alston, court documents show, instead of a potential prison sentence of up to five years. Sentencing is Feb. 7. SALT LAKE CITY The government shutdown has entered its fifth day, and there doesnt appear to be an immediate end in sight. What's going on: The U.S. federal government went into a shutdown at the end of last week after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to strike a deal on federal funding. Most of the hangups surrounded the amount of money designated for border security. Trump wanted $5 billion to support the construction of a wall. Congress aimed to offer $1.6 billion instead. Anyway, the shutdown will impact nine departments of the government, according to The New York Times. Agriculture Commerce Justice Homeland Security Interior State Transportation Treasury Housing and Urban Development Other agencies Six other departments had their funding approved earlier in the year. How youre affected: USA Today listed the ways the government shutdown will impact you. State and local farm service centers will be closed, which will hurt those looking to sign up for the Farm Bill. Some national parks will close while others remain open, or at least offer limited services. Small business owners wont have federal loans and technical assistance for their loans. Home buyers looking to receive federal government money will need to wait. Victims who receive money from the federal government wont receive that money. Food safety inspection services will be delayed since the Food and Drug Administration will be shut down. Those seeking loans for public housing could be impacted. Staffing for the Department of Agriculture will drop by 95 percent, which could create a lapse in funding for food stamps, CNN reported. Banks will remain open despite the shutdown. Government workers: According to The Times, about 420,000 people will work without pay during the shutdown. By the numbers: Heres who is expected to work during the shutdown, according to The New York Times: 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents 42,000 Coast Guard employees 53,000 TSA agents 17,000 correctional officers 14,000 FBI agents 4,000 Drug Enforcement Administration agents 5,000 firefighters More: And 380,000 workers will be furloughed, which means they will be unable to work or receive pay until a deal is made. This includes workers for NASA, HUD and the Department of Commerce. WEST VALLEY CITY A man who allegedly hit his roommate with his car, but then claimed he watched her stand up before he drove away, has been charged with manslaughter. Andres Mendoza, 24, of West Valley City, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with the second-degree felony; and leaving the scene of an accident, a third-degree felony. On Dec. 16, about 2 a.m., Mendoza and Alejandra Morales-Molina, 24, got into a fight with their roommate, 36-year-old Tequila Garcia, at 2855 W. 3785 South. Mendoza later told police that "he was upset about the argument with Ms. Garcia and just wanted to leave," according to charging documents. Mendoza and Morales-Molina then got into their cars and started to leave. "He started reversing and kicked the clutch out, and Ms. Garcia 'was just there,'" he told investigators, the charges state. Mendoza said he felt the impact, "but then she stood up," the charges state. "He thought that she would be even angrier with him for hitting her so he left the scene," according to charging documents. Another roommate told police that about 10 to 15 minutes after Mendoza left the house, he looked outside and saw Garcia in the gutter, the charges state. "He ran over me," Garcia told the roommate, charging documents state. By the time a West Valley officer arrived at the scene, Garcia was unresponsive, the charges state. She was declared dead a short time later. Investigators determined that Garcia was standing behind Mendoza's vehicle when she was hit, was pulled under and then dragged into the street, the charges state. Because of the Volkswagen GTI's low profile, police also determined that the driver "would have had to give the vehicle more gas and power" to run over Garcia, according to charging documents. Bail for Mendoza was set at $500,000. Molina-Morales, who was originally arrested, was not charged as of Wednesday. Graphcore reaches $1.7Bn valuation with new funding from leading venture capital, financial and strategic investors including Atomico, BMW i Ventures, Merian Chrysalis Investment Company Limited, Microsoft, Sequoia and Sofina. December 18, 2018 -- Bristol -- Graphcore, a world-leading AI chipmaker, has today announced a new $200 million funding round which values the company at $1.7 billion. BMW i Ventures and Microsoft have joined the round alongside new and existing investors. This new funding brings the total capital raised by Graphcore to date to over $300M from the worlds leading venture capital, financial and strategic investors that also include Robert Bosch, Dell Technologies and Samsung Electronics. Graphcore has built a completely new kind of processor and software for AI and machine intelligence. It has been shipping first products to early access customers and generated first revenues this year, just two years after the company was founded. High volume production is now ramping up to meet customer demand for its Intelligence Processor Unit (IPU) PCIe processor cards. Graphcores IPU is the first processor to be designed specifically for machine intelligence training and inference and delivers an increase in speed of 10x to 100x compared to todays hardware. The company is currently in a stage of rapid global growth, tripling the size of the team and opening new offices in London, Palo Alto and Beijing in 2018. This latest round of funding will allow Graphcore to execute on its product roadmap, accelerate scaling and expand the companys global footprint. It is a further step towards fulfilling the companys ambition to build a global technology company, focused on this new and fast-growing machine intelligence market. Nigel Toon, CEO and co-founder of Graphcore, said: Machine intelligence marks the start of a new age of computing which needs a radically different type of processor and software tools. This new, fast growing market creates the opportunity for Graphcore to build a major global technology company that can help innovators in AI achieve important breakthroughs. This Series D round was led by existing investor Atomico, one of Europes leading venture capital firms and by new investor, Sofina, a large European investment firm. Merian Global Investors has also joined the round as a major new investor across a number of its managed funds, including Merian Chrysalis Investment Company Limited, in addition to BMW i Ventures and Microsoft. The funding was fully supported with follow on investments from existing investors including: Amadeus Capital Partners, Atomico, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, C4 Ventures, Dell Technologies Capital, Draper Esprit, Foundation Capital, Pitango and Sequoia Capital. Graphcore has already attracted investments from many of the biggest names in machine intelligence including Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, Zoubin Ghahramani of Cambridge University and Chief Scientist at Uber, Pieter Abbeel from UC Berkeley, and Greg Brockman, Scott Grey and Ilya Sutskever, from OpenAI. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as placement agent for Graphcore for this financing round and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP provided legal advice. About Graphcore Graphcores Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) hardware and software lets innovators create next generation machine intelligence solutions. The IPU is the first processor to be designed specifically for Machine Intelligence and delivers between 10x to 100x speed up compared to todays hardware. Graphcore has raised over $300m in funding from leading financial and strategic investors and is headquartered in Bristol UK, with offices in London UK, Oslo Norway, Palo Alto USA and Beijing China. More information can be found at https://www.graphcore.ai The shoot of Woodpecker Movies Motichoor Chaknachoor has finally to come to end in Bhopal. The film features an unsual pairing of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Athiya Shetty. Produced by Rajesh Bhatia and Kiran Bhatia and presented by Viacom 18, the movie is quirky wedding comedy directed by Debamitra Hasan. Elated Nawaz states I think it is one of my finest film till date and I had a great time shooting for this complete family entertainer. It was a wonderful experience with the producers and co-actors as they became my extended family. Producer Rajesh Bhatia shares, We are extremely happy with the film and Viacom 18 has been a great partner and we look forward to many more associations with them. As for performance, Nawaz bhai has outdone his own self in this comic avatar with his outstanding comic timing. He is a dream actor to work with and is the most humble and chilled out person. On the other hand, Athiya Shetty is a surprise package. Debamitra as a director has done a great job and it is this confidence in her that we as a production house did a 3-movie exclusive contract with her at the inception of Motichoor Chaknachoor, he adds. Producer Kiran Bhatia concludes, We at Woodpecker Movies believe that the content is king and if your script is water tight than you have a clear winner. We had a great time shooting this quirky comedy. The screenplay and dialogues by Debamitra and writer Meghvrat are quirky and will evoke great laughter. Nawaz Ji is institute in himself, the fantastic supporting cast is the icing on cake in Mootichoor and enhances the movie further. Huawei claims that the number of shipment is a new all-time record for the company. Last year, the company shipped 153 million devices. Highlights: Huawei ships over 200 million smartphones in 2018 globally Last year it shipped 153 million devices Shipments have increased from 3 million units in 2010 to 200 million units this year Huawei has announced that its smartphone shipments for 2018 have exceeded 200 million units, a new record for the company. The company says that the 200 million devices include Huawei P20 and Mate 20 series of smartphones. The company claims that in the past eight years, its smartphone shipments have increased from 3 million units to 200 million units. The achievement could be termed as a feat for the company, especially when it was mired in a number of controversies. Earlier this year, the US banned its government officials from using smartphones from Huawei and ZTE because it considers these devices as security threats. It has been alleged that China could ask Huawei and ZTE to create backdoors for spying in their smartphones. Recently, Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested on December 1 in Vancouver by Canadian authorities for alleged Iran sanction violations. It seems these did not have much impact given companies rise in the shipment numbers. Huawei says that since its launch in March, the Huawei P20 series global shipments have exceeded 16 million units, with female users accounting for nearly half of that number. Huawei has already sold over 5 million units within two months of the release of the Huawei Mate 20 series, which is equipped with a Kirin 980 chipset, the company said. Huawei Nova 3 became the most popular selfie phone of 2018. Huawei also says that the Nova series has sold over 65 million units till 2018. Huawei says that it believes that the privacy and security of its users is as important as making appealing products. The company claims that it puts the issue of privacy protection ahead of basic commercial interests, and complies with Generally Accepted Privacy Principles (GAPP) for privacy protection as well as all requirements set forth in the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Looking to the future, Huawei's consumer business will focus on the core concept of 'consumer-centric', and will dare to keep innovating, and make every effort to become a pioneer and leader in the next wave of the smartphone revolution, as well as constantly create new value for consumers, let our consumers better enjoy their lives, and truly make Huawei a brand that is beloved by consumers the world over, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said in a statement. Huawei says that in the past eight years, it has gone from being dismissed as a statistical Other to ranking among the top three players in the world. Moreover, in the second and third quarters of 2018, Huawei became the world's second largest smartphone manufacturer, with a global market share of 14.6 percent. Huawei surpassed Apple to secure the second spot in the list of worldwide smartphone vendors in the second quarter of 2018, market research firm Gartner had said earlier this year. Meanwhile, Huawei has announced that its custom user interface, EMUI 9, which is based on Android Pie will be rolled out to nine smartphone models, which are Huawei Mate 9, Mate 9 Porsche Edition, Mate 9 Pro, Huawei P10, Huawei P10 Plus, Honor V9, Honor 9, Nova 2S, and Honor Note 10. Recently, Huawei released the EMUI 9 and Android 9 Pie update to P20 and P20 Pro smartphones. The EMUI 9 brings gesture controls, quick startup of apps and improves performance. It also brings new notification sounds and some safety-related tweaks. Related Read: Huawei Android Pie based EMUI 9.0 Huawei Mate 20 Pro Review Gigabyte has filed for the certification of forty different SKUs of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card, even though NVIDIA is yet to announce the card According to a new filing on the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), Gigabyte seems to be preparing 40 different SKUs of the yet-to-be-announced NVIDIA RTX2060. The leak outlines every model that Gigabyte will launch on the RTX2060 platform, but more importantly, reveals a graphics card that NVIDIA is yet to announce; the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. The filing lists SKUs with 6GB, 4GB and 3GB RAM, with each of them having a GDDR6, GDDR5x and GDDR5 memory architecture. The filing does not list the number of CUDA cores for the cards, and neither does it shed light on the clock speed or the memory bus. What it does reveal is that there is that consumers had better brace themselves for what is going to be a very confounding product portfolio. Not only are there three VRAM variants, but each of those is going to have variants based on the memory architecture as well. The listing shows that all models are split into GC and GD series, with the latter having been used to denote models in the 20 series that ran with GDDR6 memory. The use of GDDR5 would be interesting as NVIDIAs Turing architecture so far has only used GDDR6 memory. It is entirely possible that Gigabyte is filing for certification of every possible configuration, even those that it may never end up producing. However, with NVIDIA hosting a conference at CES 2019, we expect the company to shed more details on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX2060. 1 hour ago The 6 Biggest Issues with Early Retirement: Will These Happen to You? When you're slogging away in a cubicle at work, it might sound like a dream to wake up when you want, read a book in a hammock, putter around in the yard, etc. (You know, the things that retired people do.) Almost half of Americans (49.9%) expect to retire before they turn 62, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Read Article Subscriber content preview Federal aid for repairs is estimated to be capped at $34,000; the state's maximum aid would be about half that. By DEVIN KELLY Anchorage Daily News ANCHORAGE Albert Schoonbeek and Candice Roberson slept on a mattress in their living room for the first few nights after the Nov. 30 earthquake rocked Southcentral Alaska. The bedroom was unsafe, they worried. The 7.0 quake caused the floor of their garage, which was on the same side of the house as the bedroom, to drop half a foot. More bad news followed. Last week, an engineer told the family the unsteady garage could collapse in a strong aftershock and take down the entire East Anchorage house with it. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The new 302-room Residence Inn by Marriott, at 1815 Terry Ave., has sold for $86.9 million, according to King County records. The seller was PNW Suites LLC, associated with Stonebridge Companies of Denver, which acquired the corner property in 2014 for $15.5 million, then developed it. . . . Subscriber content preview KENT A Safeway at 13101 S.E. Kent-Kangley Road has sold for $17.9 million, according to King County records. The seller was CF Albert PropCo LLC, which acquired the property from Safeway last year for $15.1 million. . . . On Sunday 30th December, as 2018 comes to a close, two of this countrys much-loved iconic institutions come together with a tribute on RTE's Sunday Miscellany programme to Brennans Criterion Bar, Bundoran. As Sunday Miscellany goes from strength to strength with its celebration this winter of 50 years on air the 118-year-old Brennans Bar has closed its doors. The bar has been run by three successive generations of the same family since James and Patrick Ward opened it on Saint Patricks Day, 1900. It became Brennans in 1933, when the young James Brennan, home from America, married the daughter of the house, Mary Ward. The couple ran the business while living on the premises and rearing their four children there. Two of those children, Patricia and the much-missed, recently deceased Nan, have been the guardians of Brennans for all of their lives, also working and living on the premises. They faithfully preserved what their grandparents had created, unlike so many Irish pubs, which jettisoned beautiful fittings in favour of what was fleetingly considered in vogue. In Brennans the retention of all the original furniture and fittings created an oasis of calm and timeless beauty right in the heart of Bundorans bustling main street. However, the bar, while a time capsule, was also a vibrant living piece of history. While Sunday Miscellany has for half a century provided a gentle, reflective start to Sunday mornings with its mixture of music and musings in Brennans the strictly enforced rules of no TV, WIFI or music gave the art of conversation pride of place. The bar received accolades and charmed loyal fans from all around the world, including the Boston Globe. In 2017, Nan and Patricia and their gorgeous mirrored Bar featured in the Guinness Hop House 13 ad, and in the RTE documentary The Irish Pub. Sunday Miscellany contributor Olive Travers has first-hand experience of the legendary hospitality of Nan and Patricia as for sixteen years, the Brennan sisters hosted the local writing group which met every fortnight in the back room of the Bar This Sunday, she reflects that while the closure of Brennans bar is a huge loss to the country, a big debt of gratitude is owed to the Brennan sisters for their preservation of not just a precious and unique Irish pub building but also values of decency and respect. Readers can tune in to the last Sunday Miscellany of 2018 on RTE1 at 9.10am this Sunday morning to hear more. 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. Enterprise IT Lead Generation Services Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more. Supermicro CEO Charles Liang on Tuesday informed customers that a leading third-party investigations company found "absolutely no evidence of malicious hardware" on its motherboards. The investigation was undertaken in response to Bloomberg's recent claim that bad actors had inserted spy chips in the firm's motherboards on behalf of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, China's armed forces. Investigators tested a representative sampling of Supermicro's motherboards, including the specific type of motherboard referenced in Bloomberg's article, and motherboards purchased by "companies referenced in the article, as well as more recently manufactured motherboards," Liang wrote. Apple and Amazon are the referenced companies. The findings "were no surprise to us," Liang noted, because "our process is designed to protect the integrity and reliability of our products." The following requirements are established in Supermicro's process: Employees must be on site with assembly contractors; Products go through multiple inspections, including automated optical, visual, electrical and functional tests; Each board is tested repeatedly against its design throughout its supply chain, to detect any aberration; Every layer of every board is tested; No single employee, team or contractor has unrestricted access to the complete board design; and Supermicro regularly audits contractors for process, quality and controls. The company had no comment beyond the letter and video, company rep Sofia Mata-Leclerc told TechNewsWorld. The Plot Thickens Tainted motherboards were discovered in 2015, when Amazon enlisted a third party to scrutinize security at Elemental Technologies, a maker of software for compressing video files and formatting them for different devices, prior to purchasing the company, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. Some troubling issues surfaced, which led Amazon to pursue an examination of some of Elemental's video compression servers. Testers found the servers' motherboards, which were made by Supermicro, included a microchip that was not part of the original design, according to Bloomberg's report. The chip, designed by the Chinese military, essentially provided a backdoor allowing access to networks. Elemental's servers are deployed in the United States Department of Defense's data centers, the CIA's drone operations, and in U.S. naval warships' onboard networks, Bloomberg said, noting that Amazon reported its findings to U.S. authorities. Almost 30 companies -- including a major bank, government contractors, and Apple -- were affected by the tainted motherboards, Bloomberg said, citing unnamed U.S. officials. Apple found malicious chips on Supermicro motherboards in the summer of 2015, according to the Bloomberg report, which cited three unnamed senior insiders at the company. Apple, which reportedly had planned to order more than 30,000 Supermicro servers in two years for a new global network of data centers, severed ties with Supermicro in 2016 for unrelated reasons. Bloomberg claimed to have spoken to 17 unnamed sources for the story, which it developed over a period of years. "The number of witnesses attesting it is true is impressive, but, with a lack of actual names, the veracity of the witnesses can't be confirmed by a third party," remarked Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. "This now reads like some kind of orchestrated attack on China and Supermicro, suggesting Bloomberg was duped," he told TechNewsWorld. "Not a good thing for its reputation." Conflicting Reports Apple, Amazon and Supermicro immediately disputed the Bloomberg report, while the Chinese government stated that supply chain safety in cyberspace was an issue of common concern, and that China was also a victim. Apple and Amazon stated their internal investigations showed no evidence of the spy chips. "As we shared with Bloomberg BusinessWeek multiple times over the last couple months, this is untrue," AWS CISO Steve Schmidt maintained in an online post. "At no time, past or present, have we ever found any issues relating to modified hardware or malicious chips in Supermicro motherboards in any Elemental or Amazon systems. Nor have we engaged in an investigation with the government." The investigation commissioned before purchasing Elemental "did not identify any issues with modified chips or hardware," Schmidt pointed out, adding that "Bloomberg has admittedly never seen our commissioned security report nor any other (and refused to share any details of any purported other report with us)." "Apple has never found malicious chips, 'hardware manipulations' or vulnerabilities purposely planted in any server," Apple said in a statement provided to Bloomberg in advance of its publication of the report. "Apple never had any contact with the FBI or any other agency about such an incident. We are not aware of any investigation by the FBI, nor are our contacts in law enforcement." Over the course of the past year, Bloomberg contacted Apple "multiple times with claims, sometimes vague, and sometimes elaborate, of an alleged security incident at Apple," the statement notes. Each time, Apple conducted "rigorous internal investigations based on those inquiries and each time we have found absolutely no evidence to support any of them." However, six unnamed veteran national security officials, current and former, countered the companies' denials, Bloomberg reported. One of those officials and two unnamed people from Amazon provided extensive information on how the attack played out at Amazon and Elemental. Further, the official and one of the Amazon insiders described Amazon's cooperation with the government investigation, Bloomberg claimed. Four of the six U.S. officials also confirmed that Apple was a victim. On the other hand, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the UK's National Cyber Security Center both said they had no reason to doubt the veracity of Apple's and Amazon's statements. "The alleged hardware-based attack wouldn't seem to be prudent, given that servers remain in place for up to 10 years and security software is constantly changing, making it almost certain this [chip], if it existed, would eventually be discovered," Enderle pointed out. Apple CEO Tim Cook demanded that Bloomberg retract its story, saying there was no truth to its assertions about Apple. Amazon later joined Apple's call, but Bloomberg stood by its story. If any part of the report should prove true, the consequences could be drastic. The furious response from Supermicro, Apple and Amazon is understandable, because the story "created the specter of a serious unreported breach which could lead to massive customer exists and government fines, particularly in Amazon's case," Enderle observed. Further, given that Supermicro dominates the server motherboard market, the story -- if true -- "should have put every single customer on alert that they need to audit their servers or be found negligent, and they'd need to take every compromised server offline to prevent a breach," Enderle said. "We should have seen massive slowdowns, a huge financial hit on Supermicro, who would have had to pay to swap the machines out, and the number of people aware of this effort alone would have been impossible to contain. Yet we saw zip. You'd think we'd have one or two security companies, or a different Supermicro customer, screaming bloody murder at this point." Supermicro shares fell 50 percent the day Bloomberg's report was published. "I'd say the chances this is a well orchestrated attack on Supermicro and/or Amazon and Apple," said Enderle, "are better than 50 percent." Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. Google hasn't released consumers from its filter bubble -- the package of personalized search results it delivers -- despite having promised to do so, according to study results DuckDuckGo released Tuesday. DuckDuckGo's findings: Most participants saw results unique to them, which could not be explained by changes in location, time, by being logged into Google, or by Google testing algorithm changes with a small subset of users; On the first page of search results, Google included links for some participants that it did not include for others, even when logged out and in private browsing mode; Results within the news and videos in-boxes varied significantly. Participants were shown different sources, even after accounting for location; and Private browsing mode and being logged out of Google offered very little filter bubble protection. Bing rolls social results into its search results. Amazon uses Bing for its FireOS devices, and its own A9 search engine for products. DuckDuckGo focused on Google because "Google is the monopoly provider for search by a landslide, with over 90 percent market share worldwide, and more than 95 percent in many countries," said DuckDuckGo Community Manager Daniel Davis. "As such, we focused on them to start, though we would love to see further research in this area," he told TechNewsWorld. Although DuckDuckGo is a Google competitor, "their arguments stand scrutiny," said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Vivaldi. "Anyone that does a search comparison will see that for themselves," he told TechNewsWorld. Vivaldi earlier this year became the first browser to enable DuckDuckGo as the default search engine in its Private Windows. DuckDuckGo's Methods For DuckDuckGo's study, 87 volunteers across the United States searched Google on June 24, 2018, at 9 p.m. ET, using identical search terms. Seventy-six of them used desktops and the remaining 11 used mobile devices. They first searched in private browsing (incognito) mode while logged out of Google, then in normal mode. The data is available for download in two parts: basic non-identifiable participant data, and raw data from the search results. The code DuckDuckGo wrote to analyze the data is open source and available on its GitHub repository. Different Strokes for Different Folks Most people saw results customized for them. In private browsing mode, logged out, a search for "gun control" resulted in 62 variations, and 52 of 76 participants saw unique results. In normal mode, 58 variations were served up, and 45 of the 76 participants saw unique results; In private browsing mode, logged out, a search for "immigration" resulted in 57 variations, with 43 of 76 participants seeing unique results. In normal mode, there were nine variations, with unique results for 48 of 76 participants; In private browsing mode, logged out, a search for "vaccinations" returned 73 variations, with unique results for 70 of 76 participants. In normal mode, there were 73 variations, with 70 of 76 participants seeing unique results. - click image to enlarge - DuckDuckGo looked only at websites' top-level domains. To count variants of results, DuckDuckGo noted the order of the major elements: the organic (regular) links, the news (top stories) infobox, and the videos infobox. It ignored ads, sections containing related searches, and other infoboxes. Results from mobile devices were excluded when variations were counted because there can be significant variations in the number of infoboxes displayed by mobile and desktop devices. Google search results typically have 10 organic links, but, in private browsing mode, logged out of Google and with local domains replaced with "localdomain.com," DuckDuckGo found the following: "Gun Control": 19 different domains; "Immigration": 15 different domains; and "Vaccinations": 22 different domains. "Some people were shown a very unusual set of results relative to the other participants -- offered some domains seen by no one else," DuckDuckGo's Davis said. "If you were one of these people, you would have no way of knowing what you're missing," he pointed out. - click image to enlarge - The problem is "particularly pernicious when searching for political topics," Davis said. If undecided voters get biased information when conducting research on political topics, the search engine manipulation effect can shift the voting preferences of undecided voters by at least 20 percent. "The issue with filter bubbles is that we live in an echo chamber, which means we only see, hear and act on what we prefer to," observed Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research. "We never address the hard issues," he told TechNewsWorld. The tradeoff is personalization and convenience, Wang said. "Most folks want things tailored and customized to their needs. Advertisers want to make money on clicks. So it continues." Questions of Time and Place Search results can change over time, with the inclusion of time-sensitive links, for example. That factor was controlled for by having everyone search at the same time. Location can impact search results -- by including local news articles, for example. To control for that, DuckDuckGo manually checked all links, comparing them to the volunteer's city and state, and replacing all of them with the same placeholder -- "localdomain.com" for organic links and "local source" for infoboxes. So, if two users' results differed only by a different local domain in the same slot, that would not count as different. However, the adjustment did not significantly affect overall variation, DuckDuckGo found. The study's methodology and conclusions are flawed, because they are based on the assumption that any difference in search results is based on personalization, which is not true, Google told 9to5Google. Time and location are among the factors that can lead to slight differences, and the DuckDuckGo study does not appear to have controlled for those two factors effectively, Google argued. "The study seems to account for time and location fairly well by [using] a common domain," Constellation's Wang said. DuckDuckGo "did a reasonable job." Privacy? What Privacy? Participants did not see the same results in private browsing mode. When randomly comparing people's private modes to each other, there was more than double the variation than when comparing the private mode and normal mode results for the same individual, DuckDuckGo noted. This shows that Google tailors search results regardless of browsing mode, DuckDuckGo warned. However, "there is a slight possibility that the algorithm may be doing this and Google has not accounted for unintentional bias," Wang suggested. "I believe Google is trying to provide the best possible search results, and that this is an unintended consequence of that work," Vivaldi's von Tetzchner said. Possible Solutions Google "should offer an unfiltered and unbiased search results page that is easily accessible, such as when logged out, in incognito mode, or with the 'Do Not Track' browser setting turned on," DuckDuckGo's Davis suggested. "We currently offer such unfiltered search results for all users regardless of their browser configuration." Collecting data helps Google show consumers targeted ads, but "we show advertising based on individual search terms," Davis noted. "We've been profitable since 2014, and it's possible to thrive as a business without collecting or storing personal data." Consumers should "use non-Google products" and reduce their digital footprint as much as possible, he suggested. "I use mostly Firefox and DuckDuckGo because of the privacy aspects," Constellation's Wang said. Search engines should provide an "absolute" mode, he suggested, which is "what everyone sees instead of what your customized mode may look like." Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard. By Genevieve Belmaker and Joseph Charpentier Throughout 2018, forests continued to be threatened and destroyed. From the Amazon, to the Congo Basin, to the Mekong Delta and scores of places in betweenjournalists reporting for Mongabay filed hundreds of stories about the world's forests. Although the significance of any one story is difficult to gauge in the short-term, several Mongabay reports from 2018 stood out. These pieces dealt with illegal timber trafficking, advances in technology-based environmental protections and human rights protections for the people doing environment-defense workformal and informal. Logged trucks in the Amazon Photo by Mongabay A team of journalists from five Latin American countries investigated how groups of timber traffickers manage to steal and process timber from the Amazon. Illegally-sourced timber from Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia are incorporated into the international market with falsified official documents that are almost never verified. Timber traffickers are now pursuing new species of trees, but the countries' governments do very little to protect the species. Reported by Nelly Luna Amancio of Ojopublico and translated by Sarah Engel for Mongabay Latam. The main chamber of Hang En, the third-largest cave in the world, located in Phong Nha-Ka Bang National Park Photo by Michael Tatarski / Mongabay Vietnam's global press freedom ranking is one of the lowest in the world. Reporters Without Borders ranks Vietnam 175 of 180 in its 2017 annual press freedom index. Environmental journalists in Vietnam, including citizen journalists and bloggers covering forests or pollution issues, routinely face roadblocks and sometimes jail time. Reported by Michael Tatarski in Vietnam. Students of the church live in small huts around the church's land. Photo by Maheder Haileselassie Tadese for Mongabay In Meketa district in Ethiopia's Amhara National Regional State (ANRS)efforts are underway to restore what experts say is one of the more severely deforested and degraded regions in the country. Of the land in ANRS, less than 2 percent forested land remains, and efforts are underway to restore degraded and deforested areas. In 2016, Ethiopia turned to forestry sector development projects in the form of short rotation planting and rehabilitation of degraded lands in ANRS and other districts. Reported and photographed by Maheder Haileselassie Tadese in Ethiopia. Many areas have been used to grow large crops. Photo courtesy of the Solidarity Development Corporation (CDS) Mongabay learned that the superintendent of notary and registry has a record of empty lands being used illegally in seven Colombian departments. The illegally-used land is in the departments of Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Meta, Caqueta, Casanare, Cesar and Vichada. The land makes up a total of 762,807 hectares (almost 1,885,000 acres). Reported by Maria Fernanda Lizcano and translated by Sarah Engel. A Rohingya boy chopping wood from tree stump he freed from soil near Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee camp on Bangladesh Photo by Khaamil Ahmed / Mongabay Their panicked dash from burning villages involved stumbling through forests or battling monsoon-charged waters in search of safety. Along the way and in makeshift shelters and eventually camps, refugees needed a massive supply of firewood and shelter for survival. The rapid decimation of the forest is also possibly contaminating groundwater supplies. Reported and photographed by Kaamil Ahmed on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. A rufous-collared sparrow in Anchieta Photo by Ignacio Amigo / Mongabay Anchieta Island, just off the coast of Brazil near Sao Paulo, has seen the worst side of humans. Now, scientists and local authorities are laboring to restore its biodiversity. The island is located 800 meters (about 874 yards) from the municipality of Ubatuba, in one of the few regions of Brazil where the Atlantic Forest still thrives. Most of the island's original forest was devastated over a long period of human habitation, and more recent attempts to introduce foreign mammal species have also had a significant ecological impact. Scientists are now studying the complex interactions at play during environmental restoration, including removing some invasive species, as they embark on an intensive reforestation program. Reported and photographed by Ignacio Amigo in Brazil. Cerrado soy feeds a booming global soy protein market. The Trase 2018 Yearbook tracks the Brazilian soy supply chain in detail, from producers to export. Image by Flavia Milhorance Launched in 2016, Trase is an innovative Internet tool, available to anyone, which tracks commodities supply chains in detail from source to market, and can also connect those chains to environmental harm, including deforestation. Until the advent of Trase, knowledge of supply chains was sketchy and difficult to obtain. The Trase Yearbook 2018 is the first in an annual series of reports on countries and companies trading in such commodities as soy, sugarcane and maize, which also assesses the deforestation risk associated with those crops, making it a vital tool for environmentalists, governments, investors and other interested parties. The Yearbook shows that in 2016 the Brazilian soy supply chain was dominated by just six key playersBunge, Cargill, ADM, COFCO, Louis Dreyfus and Amaggiaccounting for 57 percent of soy exported. In the past ten years, these six firms were also associated with more than 65 percent of the total deforestation in Brazil. Trase shows that zero-deforestation commitments (ZDCs) have so far not resulted in greatly reduced deforestation risk for the commodities companies and countries making them. Between 2006 and 2016, soy traders with ZDCs, as compared to non-committed firms, were associated with similar levels of deforestation risk. Written by Claire Asher. The Amazon arc of deforestation stretches across the southern and eastern edges of the forest and is rapidly expanding into the forest's core. Data in Global Forest Watch from Hansen et al (2013) and Brazil's National Institute of Space Research (INPE) PRODES project Forest degradation has historically been overlooked in accounting and monitoring carbon stocks. A recent study combined ground-based inventory, satellite and LiDAR data to record the loss of carbon due to forest degradation in areas exposed to logging, fire damage or both, in the arc of deforestation of the southeastern Amazon. The study revealed that fire damage causes greater losses than logging, and fire-damaged forests recovered more slowly than logged forests. Accurate depictions of both deforestation and degradation are necessary to establish emissions baselines used to inform programs to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). Written by David Klinges. A woman in Senegal farms short-cycle cowpeas instead of millet due to poor seasonal rains, which are expected to become more frequent as climate changes. REDD+ aims to reduce emissions from forest loss. Image by Thierry Brevault, copyright CIRAD A searchable database of 467 forest carbon emissions reduction (REDD+) initiatives in 57 countries is now available through the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). The ID-RECCO database gathers in one free online tool over 100 different categories of information including project partners, activities and funding sources on these subnational projects aimed at conserving forests, promoting local economies, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation. The tool makes these data and their sources accessible to anyone, with minimal interpretation: while it does not summarize project results, it provides goals, activities, and links to project websites for the reader to learn more. Written by Sue Palminteri. The new draft forest policy may not be beneficial for members of forest-dependent communities, such as this Malayali tribesman from Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu. Photo by S. Gopikrishna Warrier / Mongabay India's Draft National Forest Policy 2018 is now open for public comment, and will replace the older 1988 policy once it comes into force. Critics are apprehensive about how the draft policy deals with community participation and industrial forestry. The current draft is bereft of knowledge-driven solutions, some experts say. Written by S. Gopikrishna Warrier. Reposted with permission from our media associate Mongabay. Acapulco, Mexico, Dec 26 (EFE).- Nestled on a cliff with a privileged view of the Pacific Ocean is the residence of American actor Johnny Weissmuller - famous for playing Tarzan in numerous films in the 1930s and'40s - standing as a reminder of the Mexican port city of Acapulco's most glamorous era. For more than a century, Acapulco, in the southern state of Guerrero, has been known for its impressive nightlife, as well as being the setting for dozens of Mexican and international films that have made it a favorite tourist destination for actors and politicians. The city's tropical climate was the perfect complement to enjoying its golden beaches, and many of its visitors fell in love with its breathtaking sunsets. However, the city's charm and popularity have been diminishing due to an apparently unstoppable wave of violence that every year has Acapulco competing for first place among the cities with the most homicides in Mexico. In earlier times, actor Peter Johann Weissmuller, better known as "Johnny," was impressed by the many out-of-the-way corners of the city after filming the movie "Tarzan and the Mermaids" in 1948. He was most impressed by the Los Flamingos hotel, a "wonderful paradise" that later became his house, said Juan, a worker and guide at the site. Weissmuller and iconic actor John Wayne acquired the hotel and decided to add 36 more rooms to turn the tower into a hideaway for the "Hollywood Gang" during the period 1950-1984, hosting figures such as Cary Grant, Fred McMurray, Red Skelton, Rex Allen, Bo Roos, Errol Flynn and Richard Widmark. During this time the hotel became a meeting place for the "jet set" where the best parties around the port and in Mexico took place. Only actors, politicians and representatives of the social elite were welcome here. Although Weissmuller was a great host, the noise from the endless parties reached to his private room, which was next to the bar where they were organized, so he decided to build a house for himself inside the complex, to escape the hubbub. Weissmuller decided to build his new home in a particular way, meticulously contemplating each one of its details and attempting to make references to every single one of his films. Known as the "Tarzan House" or "Round House," it was designed to mirror the huts in his movie "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1932), with a circular outer wall, after "natives from Africa told him that evil spirits couldn't enter his home if it had no corners," Juan said. American analytical magazine The National Interest (TNI) released a forecast about the likely start of World War III. Having examined the situation in different regions of the world, trends - both regional and global, taking into account the likely economic situation in different parts of the world, the National Interest experts identified the most dangerous flashpoints. The first place TNI gave to the South China Sea. This place has become wrapped into the clash between the U.S. and China. As relations between Washington and Beijing deteriorate and there is a virtual lack of the leaders' willingness to start a dialogue, which can lower political temperature and put a sedative scenario in the agenda, the authors of the analytical forecast predict that the conflict will simultaneously grow and spread, and is able to move in highly dynamic manner beyond tariff disputes, export-import pressure and economic sanctions in general. Its not worth talking about anyone's advantage, let's just hope Washington and Beijing will show political will, and, putting their vanity aside, will sit down at the negotiating table and start settling accumulated differences Another dangerous place in the world is Ukraine. If the world's attitude toward the sluggish conflict in Donbas was generally calm before, and it was used by the West as a lever of pressure on both Moscow and Kiev - to a lesser extent, the recent incident in the Kerch Strait forced to look at this situation differently. Especially given Kiev's inconsistent threats and actions towards Moscow. TNI admits that the Kerch Strait incident could well get out of control, leading to unimaginable consequences, which, fortunately, were avoided. However, tensions around the strait persist, and the Ukrainian side is even trying to force it. At the same time, there are no signs of Russia's compliance in this matter. The situation is very alarming and it's criminal to underestimate it. At the same time, according to the American magazine, Russia seems to lack any interest in disrupting the status quo ahead of the Ukrainian presidential elections. "Given the continuing tensions between Russia and the United States, even a small shift could threaten the uneasy balance that has held for the last several years, potentially throwing Eastern Europe into chaos," TNI warns. Another explosive region is the Persian Gulf. And it did not crop up yesterday or today, being a likely hotbed of conflict and turmoil for many years. Today, the situation in the Gulf area is alarming. Tensions are rising as Washingtons economic pressure on Iran continues to increase, the Syrian conflict continues and the war on Yemen shows no signs of abating. The Persian Gulf has lost its "informal status" of the main potential flashpoint not because the situation improved, but because things got a lot worse in the South China Sea and Ukraine. And vice versa - due to certain positive shifts in relations between the United States and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Korean peninsula has seemed less daunting in terms of stability than, say, six months ago. The authors of the analysis are far from considering the situation as completely normal, but prospects of peace are brighter now. At the same time, TNI urges not to delude ourselves - "flashpoints" can arise any moment anywhere, and the near future holds greater dangers than the recent past. For a certainty, the forecast is made in time for the New Year holidays. A "promising" one, giving hope in humanity and that reason will prevail over whims. A military observer of the TASS news agency, Viktor Litovkin, urges not to treat the TNI analytical article with the utmost seriousness. "Any speculation about the third world war is utter nonsense. If the United States, Russia or China are involved in this war, and it's not a world war without them, then nuclear weapons will be used at some point. Which would mean the end of civilization. There are no idiots in the leadership of these three countries. There can be any kind of hysteria, statements, threats, ultimatums, etc., but none of sane people would start a world war. Conflicts - yes. But believe me, neither NATO nor the U.S. will cover up for, let's say, Ukraine: making a noise - yes, but debarking troops - no. Their soldiers and officers are worth a lot more than Ukraine for them," Viktor Litovkin told Vestnik Kavkaza. According to the expert, with regard to the Persian Gulf, there may be conflicts, as well as in the Middle East in general. But none of them will become a world war. "Let us recall how the Americans reacted when the head of the Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov warned them that if even one rocket hits the Russian specialists, Russia will hit the missiles and the carriers of these missiles. The Americans shot at military targets in Syria without hurting the Russians. It could happen in the South China Sea as well. Demonstrations of power yes, but nothing more. And it happened before, when the three carrier groups approached the shores of North Korea, when Donald Trump promised Kim Jong-un to turn his government into dust. So what? Nothing. They hung out off the coast and went home - the risk of getting hit by American troops in South Korea outweighed all the threats. Therefore, one can write anything one wants, but I think that the third world war projects don't mean very much," Litovkin believes. Israel wants PKK to establish a state in the Mid. East US decision to withdraw from Syria is still being criticized by several countries. Israel declared that they want a state to be established in the region that belongs to the PKK terror organization. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Sunday signed the order to withdraw an estimated 2,200 US forces from Syria. The Syria withdrawal, which was directed last week by President Donald Trump, was reported to be one of the main reasons that Mattis submitted his letter of resignation last Thursday. "A KURDISH STATE IS GOOD FOR AMERICA" US decision plunges the administrations Middle East strategy into disarray, rattling allies like Britain and Israel . Even Israel government is sharply against the situation, Tel Aviv started speaking at loud that they want a Kurdish state in the Middle East. In an article published at Israel National News by Dr. Joseph Frager, its been said that the PKK terror organization should establish a new state in the region. Finally carving out a Kurdish State would be a crowning achievement good for America, good for Israel and the rest of the Middle East, it said. This is actually more realistic now that ISIS has been defeated. Although at first blush pulling out American Troops from Syria would seem to diminish the likelihood of a Kurdish State that might not be the case. Although Erdogan of Turkey has been a bad actor in the Middle East for a long time, the President actually has gotten him to behave. This is precisely why the President felt he could give our troops in Syria a break before the Holiday season. Of course, Erdogan can revert to his old ways and defy the President. I do not think Erdogan will risk doing that. I also think that if the President tells Erdogan that he wants to create a Kurdish State, Erdogan will give in just as he promised the President he would not attack the Kurds after the American troop withdrawal. it wrote. 'Year of Gobeklitepe' to further boost Turkish tourism Located in Turkey's southeastern Sanliurfa province, Gobeklitepe was added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. As Turkish president declared 2019 "the Year of Gobeklitepe" in honor of the 12,000-year-old temple in southeastern Turkey, tourism to the worlds oldest archeological site is expected to boom. Located in Turkey's southeastern Sanlurfa province, Gobeklitepe was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2018. GOBEKLITEPE ATTRACTED THE MOST ATTENTION IN TURKEY Aydn Aslan, provincial director of culture and tourism, told Anadolu Agency that Gobeklitepe became an attraction center after it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. "Gobeklitepe will be given special attention in the expos that Turkey will attend. Informative tours for travel agencies in Turkey and abroad will be organized to introduce Gobeklitepe to the larger number of people," Aslan said. Scientific activities, symposiums, and conferences would also be organized in Gobeklitepe, Aslan added. Aslan said Gobeklitepe would be introduced to its visitors in eight languages, including English, French and Chinese, and also a special program would be prepared next year for the travel agencies. He noted that Gobeklitepe has been one of the places which attracted the most attention in Turkey in 2018. "Our total number of visitors has nearly reached five million before the end of this year," he added. The ongoing trade war between China and the US may be the biggest external risk for the Chinese economy in 2019, but it could also help the country further deepen reform and opening-up, analysts said on Tuesday, Global Times reports in its article Trade war biggest risk for US, China in 2019: think tank. Although the dispute might crimp economic growth in both countries, it could have a much larger impact on China than the US, according to the Chinese Economy Blue Book 2019, released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on Monday. The CASS studied three possible scenarios involving different rates of US tariffs on different amounts of Chinese goods. In all of those scenarios, both China and the US would experience major declines in exports and employment. For example, in the worst-case scenario, under which the two countries impose a 25 percent tariff on all each other's exports, China's exports could drop as much as 9.7 percentage points, while US exports would fall 10.9 percentage points, according to the CASS, a government-affiliated think-tank. In terms of employment, if the two countries keep the current tariffs on each other's goods, China would lose 8.6 million jobs while the US would lose 1.25 million jobs, the report showed. China added 13.51 million urban jobs in 2017, while the US created 2 million jobs in the same year, according to US and Chinese official data. The biggest external impact on the Chinese economy next year will be the trade war, said Lou Feng, director of the economic modeling team at the Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics under the CASS. Lou urged both China and the US to strengthen consultation and avoid further escalation of the trade war. Following a trade truce reached earlier this month, Chinese and US officials have been in close contact and they are scheduled to meet for talks in Washington early next year. But some researchers from China's Ministry of Commerce acknowledged that there is possibility those trade talks could fail. Deepening reform Given this uncertainty, China must prepare for the worst-case scenario by sticking to its path for deepening economic reform and opening-up, analysts said. "The trade war was intended to contain China's growth, and it has indeed caused some difficulties for us; on the other hand, it will help us deepen reforms," Yang Yiyong, director of the Institute for Social Development of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at the release of the blue book on Monday. Lou also called for deeper reforms to boost China's manufacturing transformation and upgrading. "We should promote innovation as well as a new round of reform and opening-up," he said. Many Chinese analysts have argued that the trade war could prompt China to carry out new reform and opening-up measures, which is a good thing, in theory. But others cautioned that China shouldn't be driven off its intended course under pressure. Tian Yun, director of the China Society of Macroeconomics Research Center, told the Global Times that China will stick to the path of reform. "China's reforms will deepen, whether there's trade friction or not. I believe the US has no intentions to help China in this regard," Tian noted. Cao Heping, a professor of economics at Peking University, said that just because the trade war may have a bigger impact on the Chinese economy than the US doesn't mean China will surrender to the US. "China won't yield to trade friction when it involves our fundamental interests. But to make agreements and cooperation happen, China can tolerate some losses," he told the Global Times. Cao said it's not necessarily the case that China will lose in the trade conflict, because it is involved in so many industrial sectors and has a high rate of substitution in the export market, compared with that of the US. The recent demolition of the Noor Masjid in Jangpura by the Delhi Development Authority was actually an attempt by the local residents welfare association at sanitising the area by excluding the plebeians in general and the Muslim poor in particular. It is also an example of the new patterns of segregation of India's urban population on class and ethno-religious lines albeit by using the politically correct language of landownership rights. The affected Muslims, while reacting with moral outrage, also used the language of rights, and of tenure as the main plank of their counteroffensive. This suggests that the sense of alienation of Indian Muslims is not yet complete. COMMENTARY Delhis Noor Masjid: Tales of a Martyred Mosque Supreme Court can exercise judicial activism only to the extent that the government of the day permits it. The Supreme Courts judgment refusing to set up an investigation team to look into the Rafale deal has an air of haste and incompleteness about it. Multiple factual errors have been pointed out by commentators already, the most notable one being the Courts belief that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had already submitted a report on the deal to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament. While this glaring and obvious error has rightly absorbed attention in the public sphere, the Courts judgment is also based on other questionable assumptions of fact and avoidance of legal analysis. What aggravates these errors is the shoddy manner in which the Court proceeded to hear this case. Despite having noted that the initial petitioners had filed flimsy and skeletal petitions which deserved to be dismissed, the Court nonetheless kept the matter alive until a more informed and detailed intervention was made. Even so, throughout the hearings, the Court never seemed entirely convinced of the need to probe deeper into the issue. See our complete list of top container and Kubernetes security vendors Company Description Founded in 2002, Alert Logic is a privately held company headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices in Austin, Seattle, Dallas, Cardiff, Belfast, London and Cali, Colombia. Alert Logic provides security-as-a-service (SaaS) technologies that combine cloud-based software and analytics with services to assess, detect and block threats to applications and other workloads. Protection extends to the full stack of web application components and infrastructure to defend against a broad range of server-side threats, including hard-to-detect web application attacks such as SQL injection, path traversal and cross-site scripting. Led by CEO Bob Lyons, Alert Logic says its cybersecurity offerings can help any organization, regardless of their size or technology environment. The company boasts more than 4,000 customers. Markets Alert Logic SaaS solutions work across all industries. The companys primary focus is mid-market customers that have budget and human resource constraints, primarily in North America and EMEA. Products and Services Alert Logic IDS Capability for Containers is a network intrusion detection system (IDS) for containers, available in Alert Logic Cloud Defender and Threat Manager solutions. The technology inspects network traffic for malicious activity targeting containers, and provides faster detection of compromises to enhance the security of workloads running on the AWS Cloud, including Docker, Amazon Elastic Container Service, Kubernetes, CoreOS, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk. Key Features Alert Logic IDS Capability for Containers works by analyzing the signature of data packets as they traverse the container environment to detect cyberattacks in real-time and provide a graphical representation of the compromised container and its relationships. The intrusion detection capabilities for containers are fully managed by Alert Logics 247 security and compliance experts in the companys Security Operations Centers. When a container threat is detected, Alert Logics security experts prioritize the threat, proactively escalating it within 15 minutes, providing visual context, and offering remediation advice for customers. Product Performance Metrics Alert Logic uses a combination of machine learning, data analysis and expert analysis to inform its security alerts, vulnerability data and event information. The companys proprietary security platform combines advancements in machine learning and human security operators. In 2017, Alert Logic reported that it identified and escalated 2,207,795 total true positive security incidents, used its proprietary combination of machine learning, Active Watch Intelligence and security experts to examine over 32.5 million events, and analyzed more than 147 petabytes of data. Delivery Alert Logic provides SaaS solutions that combine cloud-based software and innovative analytics with expert services to assess, detect and block threats to applications and other workloads. The Alert Logic solutions protect cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments and include 247 SOC services along with security expertise. Pricing Not publicly provided. See our complete list of top container and Kubernetes security vendors Company Description Aqua Security is a pioneer in the container security space and was founded in 2015 by a team of IT security veterans from companies such as Intel Security/McAfee, CA Technologies, and Imperva. Today it offers a mature and scalable platform that enables enterprises to secure their container-based and cloud-native applications from development to production, accelerating container adoption and bridging the gap between DevOps and IT security. In addition to its investment in its core enterprise platform, Aqua has increasingly dedicated resources to providing free and open-source tools to accelerate cloud-native technology adoption and make it easier for individuals and small teams to embed security into their processes. The tools include Kube-Bench, which checks Kubernetes clusters against more than 100 checks, detailed in the Center for Internet Securitys Benchmark for Kubernetes; and MicroScanner, a free vulnerability scanner for Docker images that integrates into the build process, including a free Jenkins plugin. Aqua is a privately-held company with international headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, and North America headquarters in Boston. Co-Founder Dror Davidoff is CEO, and fellow Co-Founder Amir Jerbi serves as CTO. Markets Since formally launching its solution in May 2016, Aqua has signed dozens of Global 1000 customers, including two of the 10 largest financial services companies and three of the worlds top 10 software companies, as well as others in the retail, media, government, healthcare, telecom, and travel industries. The container ecosystem is constantly evolving, and it is Aquas objective to support all popular stacks and deployment options. This includes a wide range of cloud and virtualization environments spanning on-premises, public cloud and hybrid deployments, as well as various operating systems, orchestrators, registries, CI/CD tools and container engines. To that effect, Aqua has strategic partnerships with AWS, Microsoft, Google, Red Hat, Pivotal, and VMware, among others in the cloud-native and security ecosystems. Products and Services The Aqua Container Security Platform delivers a comprehensive solution for securing containerized environments, supporting Linux and Windows containers, for on-premises deployment as well as AWS, Google, IBM, and Azure cloud deployments. By providing a comprehensive platform for securing containerized environments, Aqua says it enables its customers to extract all the cost, agility, and efficiency benefits that containers offer without increasing their risk profiles. Key Features The Aqua Container Security Platform provides a complete, full lifecycle solution for securing containerized applications from development to production. It includes native image scanning for vulnerabilities, secrets and malware, embedded into the CI/CD process; policy-driven control over image deployment; machine-learning based runtime behavioral policies; detection and blocking of suspicious activities; secrets management; container-level network firewall; and extensive compliance controls for hosts and Kubernetes environments. Product Performance Metrics Aqua CSP was built to scale to support enterprise-grade production environments: Scanning rate of thousands of images in minutes Scalability to protect thousands of nodes and tens of thousands of images Multi-tenancy management to support managed services and multiple constituents across an enterprise Flexibility to deploy runtime Enforcers either as sidecar containers on the host or embedded at build time as a MicroEnforcer to protect workloads on non-VM-based container services such as AWS Fargate or Microsoft ACI. Interoperable with Docker EE, Red Hat OpenShift/CRI-O, Mesosphere DC/OS, and Kubernetes environments Delivery The Aqua Container Security Platform can be deployed on-premises or in a customers private or public cloud environment. The platform components are containerized and are easy to deploy using orchestrators, Helm charts, etc. Additionally, Aqua offers two cloud-based consumption options. Pay-per-scan on AWS Marketplace provides image scanning on a pay-per-scan basis, which can be used in AWS or elsewhere. The customer is billed through their monthly AWS bill. Aqua CSP on the GCP Kubernetes Apps Marketplace offers a full solution, easily deployed into the customers GKE clusters, billed by node/hour, aligned with the GKE pricing model. The customer is billed through their monthly GCP bill. Pricing Aqua CSP: Annual subscription, which is priced by node/host for traditional orchestrated environments (up to 100 containers per node), and by the number of running containers for AWS Fargate/Microsoft ACI deployments. Actual price varies by the size of deployment. Includes unlimited image scanning, CI/CD integration, and standard support. Premium support available as an option. Aqua Pay-per-scan on AWS: Priced at $0.29 per scan. Aqua Container Security on GCP Marketplace: Priced between $0.05 and $0.33 per node per hour, depending on node size. Aqua MicroScanner and Kube-Bench: Free See our complete list of top container and Kubernetes security vendors Company Description StackRox helps enterprises secure their containerized, cloud-native applications at scale. StackRox says its Container Security Platform uses the inherent security advantages of containers immutability and declarative configuration to improve security posture. The companys CEO and co-founder, Ali Golshan, draws on his roots as a whitehat government hacker and serial entrepreneur of security startups in defining the technical vision and leading the StackRox team. Founded in 2014, StackRox is privately held and headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company has raised $39 million in funding, and backers include Amplify Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Redpoint Ventures. Markets StackRox sells to a combination of Global 2000 enterprises, cloud-native companies, and government agencies. The companys customers span the financial services, technology, media, and e-commerce industries. StackRox is primarily targeting North American companies, although the company also has customers in Europe. Products The StackRox Container Security Platform provides security across the entire container life cycle, enabling customers to reduce the attack surface during build, reduce profile runtime risk during deployment, and detect and respond to attacks during runtime. Key Features Among the features of the StackRox platform are multiple vendor integrations as well as data discovery and enrichment features. Integrations for alert notifications include Slack, JIRA, email, Google Cloud Security Command Center. The platform also includes native vulnerability scanning as well as integration with third-party vulnerability scanners. For assessment and enforcement, StackRox provides multi-factor risk profiling as well as enforcement actions for build and deployment. The platform also includes attack detection capabilities that support threat hunting. Product Performance Metrics The StackRox Container Security Platform leverages the Adversarial Intent Model to understand events that are related and surface attacks. The Adversarial Intent Model relies on recognizing patterns of attack across foothold, persistence, movement, privilege escalation, and objectives. The volume of events at the container level make it impossible for humans to process and analyze, so StackRox uses continuous Machine Learning for centralized correlation and analysis of distributed events. This technique allows the software to focus security analysts on just one incident rather than parsing through all the events that signal that incident. Delivery The StackRox Container Security Platform is software that can run on premises or in the cloud. Pricing The StackRox software sells as a subscription license on a one-year or three-year term. Pricing is by the node, with a broad range based on volume. See our complete list of top container and Kubernetes security vendors Company Description Sysdig is a cloud-native intelligence company, founded in 2013 by CTO Loris Degioanni, one of the co-creators of WireShark, a visibility tool for monitoring and troubleshooting network infrastructure. With the widespread adoption of the cloud and the advent of containers, Degioanni saw that containers and microservices in the cloud would require a new approach to monitoring, security and forensics. Sysdig launched its first open source security and troubleshooting tools Sysdig and Sysdig Falco in 2013. The company has since launched its commercial monitoring and security products, Sysdig Monitor and Sysdig Secure. Sysdig is designed for modern, cloud-native applications that leverage microservices, docker containers, and kubernetes, but is also compatible with previous software architectures. Sysdig ContainerVision, a technology within the Sysdig platform, utilizes a single point of instrumentation, delivering monitoring, security, troubleshooting, and forensics from a single, low-resource agent. Sysdig ServiceVision, another technology within the platform, uses Kubernetes context to implement security at the microservices level in addition to the container, host, and network levels. The Sysdig cloud-native intelligence platform monitors and secures millions of containers across hundreds of enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies and web-scale properties. Sysdig is a private company headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in Davis, CA; Raleigh, NC; London; and Belgrade, Serbia. Suresh Vasudevan has been CEO since June 2013. Markets The Sysdig products are horizontal and can be used in any market. However, within all markets, Sysdig targets forward-leaning, progressive companies that have adopted modern software approaches that leverage microservices, Docker containers, Kubernetes, and DevOps. Products Open Source Sysdig is the open source project that started the company. It provides system visibility through system calls to provide deep forensics and troubleshooting. Sysdig Falco is an open source container security monitor designed to detect anomalous activity in containers. It offers deep container visibility, predefined rule sets, and takes action when containers fail to perform properly. Sysdig Secure is a container security and forensics solution for microservices. Sysdig Secure, part of the Sysdig Cloud-Native Intelligence Platform, can secure the end-to-end container lifecycle. It is available as both a cloud and an on-premises software offering. Sysdig Monitor, part of the Sysdig Cloud-Native Intelligence Platform, is a container-native monitoring and troubleshooting solution. It is crafted to provide enterprise-class Prometheus support and extend Prometheus support to meet enterprise requirements. It comes with full container visibility and deep orchestrator integrations, including Kubernetes, Docker, AWS ECS, and Mesos. It is available as both a cloud and an on-premises software offering. Sysdig Cloud-Native Intelligence Platform. The platform combines Sysdig Secure, Sysdig Monitor, and open source components in one easily managed offering. It is available as both a cloud and an on-premises software offering. Key Features Open Source Sysdig is 100 percent open source, allowing developers and operators to bring rich security functionality to their environments with no licensing costs. With a powerful query language, Sysdig provides instant access to data buried within containers. CSysdig & Sysdig Inspect helps organizations visualize container state, enabling administrators to drill down into individual containers, gaining protocol level views of an applications behavior to find application errors and bottlenecks. Sysdig Falco is 100 percent open source and provides deep container visibility into the behavior of containers and applications down to fine details such as system, network, and file activity. When containers dont behave as expected, Falco can take action by killing a container, sending alerts, and notifying a third party. Sysdig Secure key features include: Vulnerability Management, which scans images and blocks vulnerabilities across the CI/CD pipeline registry or in production; Adaptive Run-Time Defense, which identifies and blocks threats based on application, container, file, host, or network activity; Compliance & Audit, which detects violations of external compliance requirements like CIS, PCI-DSS and GDPR, and can also enforce custom compliance controls; and Forensics, which triggers automatic system captures to see activity before and after security events to provide robust incident response, even when containers are long gone. Sysdig Monitor key features: Performance data is used not only to monitor applications, but also to help security professionals hunt for indicators of compromise. Service-Oriented Performance Management measures the performance of services as well as underlying hardware and software. Application-Intelligent Monitoring automatically determines what applications are running and how theyre performing, with no plug-ins or configs. Trace-driven Troubleshooting captures detailed system information that allow users to troubleshoot containers even after theyre long gone. Enterprise-class Prometheus support provides scale-out enterprise grade Prometheus capabilities and extends them with enterprise needs. Product Performance Metrics Sysdig supports millions of containers across hundreds of enterprise customers. Sysdigs main instrumentation point uses fewer resources than a kubelet to provide all security and monitoring data. Delivery Sysdig is available as a software as a service, and as an on-premises software offering. Both offerings have the same functionality. Pricing Falco and Open source Sysdig are free and can be downloaded from Github. Sysdig Monitor offers flexible pricing, with entry-level pricing starting at $20 a month per host. The most popular package, Pro Cloud, is $30 a month and includes 30 containers, 500 custom metrics, unlimited teams, and enterprise features. Pricing for enterprise packages varies. Prices for the Sysdig Platform (combined monitoring, security, and forensics) and Sysdig Secure varies based on customizable options. See our complete list of top container and Kubernetes security vendors Company Description Used by 25 percent of the Fortune 100, Twistlock provides an automated and scalable container cybersecurity platform. Founded in 2015 by CEO Ben Bernstein and VP R&D Dima Stopel, Twistlock is privately held, with funding from Polaris Partners, 1011 Ventures, Rally Ventures, YL Ventures and Dell Technologies Capital. Twistlock is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in New York City, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, London, and Herzliya, Israel. Products The Twistlock Cloud Native Cybersecurity Platform provides full lifecycle security for containerized environments. From pipeline to perimeter, Twistlock helps customers scale securely and deploy containers with confidence. The Twistlock Platform goes beyond just containers to secure the entire cloud native stack, from the host OS to serverless functions. Key Features The Twistlock Platform provides vulnerability management and compliance across the application lifecycle by scanning images and serverless functions to prevent security and compliance issues from progressing through the development pipeline, and continuously monitoring all registries and environments. Additionally, Twistlock provides defense in depth, with access control; automated, machine-learning driven runtime defense; and cloud native firewalls to protect modern applications from threats. Product Performance Metrics Twistlock is automatically deployed, and relies on behavioral learning to automatically create and enforce security profiles/models. Twistlock has helped customers identify vulnerabilities in thousands of images, blocked thousands of builds of vulnerable images, enforced compliance with security standards for thousands of deployments, and identified compromised containers and hosts at hundreds of customers. Delivery Twistlock runs entirely within customer environments with no required connectivity. Pricing An annual subscription includes all platform capabilities and covers protection for containers, VMs and serverless functions. For the first time, scientists at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (CCU), in Lisbon, Portugal, have shown that neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may actually not be a bad thing - on the contrary, it may be the result of a cell quality control mechanism trying to protect the brain from the accumulation of malfunctioning neurons. Their results, which were obtained using fruit flies that had been genetically modified to mimic the symptoms of human AD, were published in the journal Cell Reports. The cell quality control mechanism at play is called cell competition. It leads to the selection of the fittest cells in a tissue by enabling a "fitness comparison" between each cell and its neighbors - with the fitter cells then triggering the suicide of less fit ones. It has been recently shown that cell competition is a normal, powerful anti-aging mechanism in the body in general and in the brain in particular. "In 2015, we discovered that clearing unfit cells from a tissue was a very important anti-aging mechanism to preserve organ function, says Eduardo Moreno, principal investigator of the Cell Fitness lab at the CCU. His team reasoned that, if these fitness comparisons happened in normal aging, they could also be involved in neurodegenerative diseases associated with accelerated aging, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease, Moreno explains. "This had never been tested", he says. In collaboration with Christa Rhiner's Stem Cells and Regeneration lab at the CCU, they started by testing AD hallmarks in fruit fly models of the disease. For this, they bred fruit flies that had been genetically manipulated to express in their brain the human amyloid-beta protein, that forms aggregates in the brains of AD patients. The formation of amyloid- aggregates in the brain is a crucial step in the development of AD. The transgenic flies displayed symptoms and pathologies similar to those of AD patients: "they showed loss of long-term memory, accelerated aging of the brain and motor coordination problems, all of which got worse with age", specifies Christa Rhiner, whose team studied the cognitive and motor functions of the flies. The first thing the scientists wanted to do was to see whether in these flies, neuronal death was indeed activated by the process of fitness comparison - in other words, "that the neurons were not dying on their own but being killed by fitter neighbors", Moreno points out. "When we started, the current view was that neuronal death must be always detrimental. And much to our surprise, we found that neuronal death actually counteracts the disease", says Dina Coelho, first author of the study. What happened was that when she blocked neuronal death in the flies' brain, the insects developed even worse memory problems, worse motor coordination problems, died earlier and their brain degenerated faster. However, when she boosted the fitness comparison process, thus accelerating the death of unfit neurons, the flies expressing the AD-associated amyloid-beta proteins showed an impressive recovery. "The flies almost behaved like normal flies with regard to memory formation, locomotive behavior and learning", says Rhiner, and this at a time point where the AD flies were already strongly affected. This means that the anti-aging mechanism in question keeps working well in Alzheimer's disease and shows that, in fact, "the neuronal death protects the brain from more widespread damage and therefore the neuronal loss is not what is bad, it is worse not to let those neurons die", Moreno emphasizes. "Our most important finding is that we have probably been thinking the wrong way about Alzheimer's disease. Our results suggest that neuronal death is beneficial because it removes neurons that are affected by noxious beta-amyloid aggregates from brain circuits, and having those dysfunctional neurons is worse than losing them" Moreno concludes. The results could have crucial therapeutical implications. "Some molecules have already been identified as potential inhibitors of cell suicide, and some experimental drugs exist, and are being tested which inhibit those inhibitors of cell death, therefore accelerating neuronal death", says Moreno. But he cautions: "this work has been done in fruit flies". It will be necessary to see, whether these results on neuronal death in Alzheimer's also hold true for humans. ### DNA testing can identify a genetic culprit in about 10 percent of adults with chronic kidney disease and impacts treatment for most of them. NEW YORK, NY (December 26, 2018)--A new study has found that genes cause about 1 in 10 cases of chronic kidney disease in adults, and identifying the responsible gene has a direct impact on treatment for most of these patients. "Our study shows that genetic testing can be used to personalize the diagnosis and management of kidney disease, and that nephrologists should consider incorporating it into the diagnostic workup for these patients," says Ali Gharavi, MD, chief of nephrology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a co-senior author of the study. The findings were published on December 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine. It's estimated that 1 in 10 adults in the United States have chronic kidney disease. Yet, for 15 percent of patients with chronic kidney disease, the underlying cause of kidney failure is unknown. "There are multiple genetic causes of chronic kidney disease, and treatment can vary depending on the cause," says Gharavi. "But many of the genetic types are rare and can be difficult to detect with traditional diagnostics. And because kidney disease is often silent in the early stages, some patients aren't diagnosed until their kidneys are close to failing, making it more difficult to find the underlying cause." DNA sequencing has the potential to pinpoint the genetic culprits, but has not been tested in a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease. "Our study identifies chronic kidney disease as the most common adult disease, outside of cancer, for which genomic testing has been demonstrated as clinically essential," says David Goldstein, PhD, director of Columbia University's Institute for Genomic Medicine and a co-senior author of the study. In this study, researchers used DNA sequencing to look for genetic kidney disorders in 3,315 individuals with various types of chronic or end-stage kidney disease. For 8.5 percent of these individuals, clinicians had not been able to identify the cause of disease. The researchers found a genetic disorder responsible for about 9 percent of the participants' kidney problems, and DNA testing reclassified the cause of kidney disease in 1 out of 5 individuals with a genetic diagnosis. In addition, DNA testing was able to pinpoint a cause for 17 percent of participants for whom a diagnosis was not possible based on the usual clinical workup. DNA results had a direct impact on clinical care for about 85 percent of the 168 individuals who received a genetic diagnosis and had medical records available for review. "For several patients, the information we received from DNA testing changed our clinical strategy, as each one of these genetic diagnoses comes with its own set of potential complications that must be carefully considered when selecting treatments," Gharavi says. About half of the patients were diagnosed with a kidney disorder that also affects other organs and requires care from other specialists. A few (1.5 percent) individuals learned they had medical conditions unrelated to their kidney disease, In all of these cases, the incidental findings had an impact on kidney care. "For example, having a predisposition to cancer would modify the approach to immunosuppression for patients with a kidney transplant," adds Gharavi. "These results suggest that genomic sequencing can optimize the development of new medicines for kidney disease through the selection of patient subgroups most likely to benefit from new therapies," says Adam Platt, PhD, Head of Global Genomics Portfolio at AstraZeneca and a co-senior author of the study. While the current study shows the utility of DNA testing in people with kidney disease, another study led by Goldstein and Gharavi found that DNA testing in healthy individuals vastly overestimated the prevalence of kidney disease-associated genetic conditions. "Altogether, our research suggests that DNA testing may be most useful when balanced with clinical information," says Goldstein. ### About the Study The study, "Diagnostic Utility of Exome Sequencing for Kidney Disease," was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia's Institute of Genomic Medicine, and AstraZeneca's Center for Genomics Research collaborated in the work. One of the cohorts in this analysis was composed of participants from AstraZeneca's AURORA clinical trial. Additional authors: Emily Groopman (Columbia), Maddalena Marasa (Columbia), Sophie Cameron-Christie (AstraZeneca Centre for Genomics Research), Slave Petrovski (Columbia and AstraZeneca), Vimla Aggarwal (Columbia), Hila Milo-Rasouly (Columbia), Yifu Li (Columbia), Jun Y. Zhang (Columbia), Jordan Nestor (Columbia), Priya Krithivasan (Columbia), Wan Yee Lam (Columbia), Adele Mitrotti (Columbia), Stacy Piva (Columbia), Byum Hee Kil (Columbia), Debanjana Chatterjee (Columbia), Rachel Reingold (Columbia), Drew Bradbury (Columbia), Michael DiVecchia (Columbia), Holly Snyder (Columbia and University of California at San Francisco), Zueru Mu (Columbia), Karla Mehl (Columbia), Olivia Balderes (Columbia), David A. Fasel (Columbia), Chunhua Weng (Columbia), Jai Radhakrishnan (Columbia), Pietro Canetta (Columbia), Gerald Appel (Columbia), Andrew Bomback (Columbia), Wooin Ahn (Columbia), Natalie Uy (Columbia), Shumyle Alam (Columbia), David J. Cohen (Columbia), Russell Crew (Columbia), Geoffrey Dube (Columbia), Maya Rao (Columbia), Sitharthan Kamalakaran (Columbia), Brett Copeland (Columbia), Zhong Ren (Columbia), Joshua Bridgers (Columbia), Colin Malone (Columbia), Caroline Mebane (Columbia), Neha Dagaonkar (Columbia), Bengt Fellstrom (Uppsala University, Sweden), Carolina Jaefliger (AstraZeneca), Sumit Mohan (Columbia), Simone Sanna-Cherchi (Columbia), Krzysztof Kiryluk (Columbia), Jan Fleckner (AstraZeneca), and Ruth March (AstraZeneca). The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (1F30DK116473 and 1T32DK108741-01), the American Society of Nephrology Foundation for Kidney Research, Columbia Institute for Genomic Medicine, and AstraZeneca. David Goldstein, PhD, received consulting fees from AstraZeneca related to his role as chief advisor for the company's genomic initiative during the conduct of this study. Outside of this work, he is a founder and holds equity in Pairnomix and Praxis Therapeutics, and receives research grants from Janssen, Biogen, and UCB. Disclosures for the other authors can be found in the paper. Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit cuimc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org. Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising technology for producing clean and renewable energy, but the cost and activity of their cathode materials is a major challenge for commercialization. Many fuel cells require expensive platinum-based catalysts--substances that initiate and speed up chemical reactions--to help convert renewable fuels into electrical energy. To make hydrogen fuel cells commercially viable, scientists are searching for more affordable catalysts that provide the same efficiency as pure platinum. "Like a battery, hydrogen fuel cells convert stored chemical energy into electricity. The difference is that you're using a replenishable fuel so, in principle, that 'battery' would last forever," said Adrian Hunt, a scientist at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory. "Finding a cheap and effective catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells is basically the holy grail for making this technology more feasible." Taking part in this worldwide search for fuel cell cathode materials, researchers at the University of Akron developed a new method of synthesizing catalysts from a combination of metals--platinum and nickel--that form octahedral (eight-sided) shaped nanoparticles. While scientists have identified this catalyst as one of the most efficient replacements for pure platinum, they have not fully understood why it grows in an octahedral shape. To better understand the growth process, the researchers at the University of Akron collaborated with multiple institutions, including Brookhaven and its NSLS-II. "Understanding how the faceted catalyst is formed plays a key role in establishing its structure-property correlation and designing a better catalyst," said Zhenmeng Peng, principal investigator of the catalysis lab at the University of Akron. "The growth process case for the platinum-nickel system is quite sophisticated, so we collaborated with several experienced groups to address the challenges. The cutting-edge techniques at Brookhaven National Lab were of great help to study this research topic." Using the ultrabright x-rays at NSLS-II and the advanced capabilities of NSLS-II's In situ and Operando Soft X-ray Spectroscopy (IOS) beamline, the researchers revealed the chemical characterization of the catalyst's growth pathway in real time. Their findings are published in Nature Communications. "We used a research technique called ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) to study the surface composition and chemical state of the metals in the nanoparticles during the growth reaction," said Iradwikanari Waluyo, lead scientist at IOS and a co-corresponding author of the research paper. "In this technique, we direct x-rays at a sample, which causes electrons to be released. By analyzing the energy of these electrons, we are able to distinguish the chemical elements in the sample, as well as their chemical and oxidation states." Hunt, who is also an author on the paper, added, "It is similar to the way sunlight interacts with our clothing. Sunlight is roughly yellow, but once it hits a person's shirt, you can tell whether the shirt is blue, red, or green." Rather than colors, the scientists were identifying chemical information on the surface of the catalyst and comparing it to its interior. They discovered that, during the growth reaction, metallic platinum forms first and becomes the core of the nanoparticles. Then, when the reaction reaches a slightly higher temperature, platinum helps form metallic nickel, which later segregates to the surface of the nanoparticle. In the final stages of growth, the surface becomes roughly an equal mixture of the two metals. This interesting synergistic effect between platinum and nickel plays a significant role in the development of the nanoparticle's octahedral shape, as well as its reactivity. "The nice thing about these findings is that nickel is a cheap material, whereas platinum is expensive," Hunt said. "So, if the nickel on the surface of the nanoparticle is catalyzing the reaction, and these nanoparticles are still more active than platinum by itself, then hopefully, with more research, we can figure out the minimum amount of platinum to add and still get the high activity, creating a more cost-effective catalyst." The findings depended on the advanced capabilities of IOS, where the researchers were able to run the experiments at gas pressures higher than what is usually possible in conventional XPS experiments. "At IOS, we were able to follow changes in the composition and chemical state of the nanoparticles in real time during the real growth conditions," said Waluyo. Additional x-ray and electron imaging studies completed at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory--another DOE Office of Science User Facility--and University of California-Irvine, respectively, complemented the work at NSLS-II. "This fundamental work highlights the significant role of segregated nickel in forming the octahedral-shaped catalyst. We have achieved more insight into shape control of catalyst nanoparticles," Peng said. "Our next step is to study catalytic properties of the faceted nanoparticles to understand the structure-property correlation." ### This study was supported by the National Science Foundation and Brookhaven's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program. Operations at NSLS-II and APS are supported by DOE's Office of Science. Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov. Follow @BrookhavenLab on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Turkey on Tuesday warned France against protecting a US-backed Kurdish militia in Syria and said Ankara's military power was enough to defeat the Islamic State after US troops withdraw. Daily Mail reports in its article Turkey warns France against supporting Kurd militia that Washington's decision to pull out all 2,000 ground forces from Syria has stunned most allies, including France, but was greeted with approval by Turkey. Ankara believes its forces supporting Syrian opposition fighters will now have a freer rein to target Kurdish fighters from the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG). "If France is staying to contribute to Syria's future, great, but if they are doing this to protect the (militia), this will bring no benefit to anyone," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, according to Hurriyet daily. Turkey views the YPG militia as a sister "terrorist" organisation of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara, the US and the European Union. President Donald Trump last week ordered the withdrawal of US ground forces deployed in Syria to provide training to the YPG under the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance battling the Islamic State. Cavusoglu told Turkish media during a briefing that Ankara has "the power to neutralise (IS) alone" amid fears that a US pull-out will hurt the fight against Islamic State. The US presence has also been seen by analysts as key to pushing against Iranian and Russian influence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said a Turkish delegation would head to Moscow "today, tomorrow" to discuss the US pull-out, TRT state broadcaster reported. Erdogan added he expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks about the issue. He had already invited Trump to visit Turkey in 2019, the White House said on Monday, as ties improve between the NATO allies amid past strains over US support to the YPG. France 'supports' YPG Trump's shock move put allies on the backfoot, with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday saying "an ally must be reliable". In a sign of the growing diplomatic rift between the two leaders, Macron also said "I deeply regret the decision" by Trump to pull out troops. France is a member of the international coalition against IS led by the US against jihadists in Syria and Iraq. The French military has stationed fighter jets in Jordan and artillery along the Syrian border in Iraq as part of the coalition, as well as an undisclosed number of special forces on the ground. French ministers said in the aftermath of Trump's announcement that the fight against IS continued as the group had not been fully eliminated from the region. Cavusoglu hit out at French "support" of the YPG, which he said was "no secret" as he slammed French officials' meetings with leaders of the SDF's political wing last week. The co-chairs of the Syrian Democratic Council were in Paris on Friday and warned that a Turkish attack could bring the battle against the IS in Syria to a halt. They also called for French support in assuring the region's peace and stability. Kurdish-led forces on Monday with aerial support from the coalition closed in on the two main spots where jihadists defended their eastern Syria stronghold. Critics say thousands of IS members are still in Syria and could pose a threat with some analysts concerned the withdrawal could lead to a resurgence of IS. But Erdogan has previously said Ankara will intervene in the coming months against IS and the YPG, telling Trump on Sunday that Turkey would "eradicate" the last elements. Cavusoglu said the US withdrawal "should not serve the YPG's separatist agenda". Turkey over the weekend sent military reinforcements to the the border with Syria, with parts of the convoy entering Syria in areas held by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. Turkey has previously launched two operations with the rebels in Syria against IS in August 2016 and against the YPG in its northwestern enclave of Afrin in January 2018. JUPITER, FL - As New Year's Eve approaches, many people will experience the familiar buzz that comes from imbibing a favorite cocktail or glass of wine. A new study from Scripps Research, published in the Journal of Molecular Biology, reveals a twist in how intoxication happens. When the alcohol from our cocktail reaches our nerve cells, the alcohol apparently employs intermediary molecules on the membrane surface of the neuron to produce the intoxicating effect, indirectly. It turns out that both flies and mammals can get drunk on alcohol. So, for their study, Scott Hansen, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine, and his team, enabled fruit flies to become inebriated to track ethanol's path. The fly is a useful model to study gene activity because its genome is smaller than other animals and is easily manipulated, Hansen says. "They act just like people," Hansen says about the flies. "They start losing coordination. They literally get drunk." The alcohol in beverages acts much like an anesthetic. It creates a hyper "buzzed" feeling first, and then sedation, Hansen explains. But how? It turns out there is an important intermediate step that wasn't previously known. The scientists looked to a system they have seen at play in anesthesia to track alcohol's effects, starting with an enzyme on nerve cell membranes called phospholipase D2, (PLD2). The enzyme links ethanol molecules to lipid (fat) in the membrane of the nerve cell. They found the enzyme becomes a catalyst triggering multiple downstream activities within the cell. It creates a fatty alcohol metabolite called phosphatidylethanol (PEtOH). That metabolite builds up and causes nerves to fire more easily, resulting in more hyperactive flies. "With hyperactivity you see the flies run around more, and this is what we equate to being buzzed," Hansen says. When the scientists knocked out the gene for the enzyme that makes the PEtOH metabolite, thus eliminating the signal, the flies did not become more active. This is the first time this pathway has been identified as a determinant of alcohol sensitivity, Hansen says. It remains to be seen whether the metabolite is involved in the full sedation experienced by the flies after the initial buzz and how this pathway may play a role in the hangover that many people experience later on. Hansen says that his current research is addressing these questions. Knowing alcohol's molecular targets could enable development of an antidote to intoxication, or even hangover, Hansen says. "The fatty alcohol is known to linger in the brain for more than 16 hours making it a likely target," Hansen says. "Also, understanding this pathway could give insight as to why people use alcohol for pain management." "It has definitely led to some different ways of thinking about alcohol intoxication at the molecular level," Hansen says. "Most scientists thought alcohol had a direct effect. Blocking the enzyme in flies shows that's not likely true." ### The lead authors on the study, "A Molecular Target for an Alcohol Chain Length Cutoff" were Hae-Won Chung and E. Nicholas Petersen with additional authors Cerrone Cabanos, William W. Ja, and Mahmud Arif Pavel at Scripps Research; Keith R. Murphy affiliated with Scripps Research and Florida Atlantic University; and Andrew S. Hansen with the HB Biotech, BioInnovations Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health's Director's New Innovator Award 1DP2NS087943-01 as well as R01AG045036, and a graduate fellowship from the Joseph B. Scheller and Rita P. Scheller Charitable Foundation. Thanks to the development of antiretroviral drugs, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is considered a manageable chronic disease today. However, if left undiagnosed or untreated, HIV can develop into AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), a disease which led to the deaths of nearly 1 million people worldwide in 2017. The life-saving drugs don't cure HIV, though, because when the virus infects the body, it insidiously targets the very cells required to trigger the body's immune response to any infection. Specifically, HIV invades CD4 T-cells--a type of white blood cell--making copies of itself and taking over the CD4 host cell's DNA. "Upon infection of a CD4 T-cell, HIV undergoes one of two fates," said University of Illinois Assistant Professor Roy Dar. "It either integrates into a replicating state, leading to the production of hundreds of infectious virions, or it integrates into a latent state where the provirus lies transcriptionally silent." According to Dar, researchers have focused on eradicating the latent reservoir because it can reactivate spontaneously, evade drug therapy, or be a source for viral rebound, which can occur if a patient does not strictly adhere to the antiretroviral therapy treatment regimen. "To date, there is no way to distinguish between uninfected cells and latently infected cells in the body, but such an ability would support existing therapeutic approaches to curing HIV," said Dar, who is affiliated with the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department and Carl Woese Institute for Genomic Biology on campus. In a recent study, Dar and his research group investigated the reactivation of T-cells that were latently infected with HIV in the lab by using a viral construct that contained a gene for a green fluorescent protein (GFP) that gets expressed when a cell reactivates. "The method of time-lapse, single-cell imaging allowed monitoring single latent cell reactivation from their silent to their active states by calculating the mean fluorescence of GFP," explained Bioengineering Post-Doctoral Researcher Kathrin Bohn-Wippert, the lead author of the study. Once they identified the cells that were reactivated, they calculated the cell size and determined the mean cell diameter necessary for reactivation. They discovered that within a latent population, only larger host cells reactivate while the smaller cells remain silent or latent. According to Bohn-Wippert, this larger host-cell size provides a natural cellular mechanism for enhancing burst size of viral expression and is necessary to destabilize the latent state while biasing viral decision making. "Our results present a case of passive host-cell dominated viral decision-making, in which the virus is off when the infected cell is small and can only spontaneously reactivate in larger cell sizes," said Dar. "This presents a case of the host cell depicting the right conditions for viral decision-making to occur." The team also determined that the cells' transition from latent to active is dependent on the cell cycle--the stages by which cellular DNA replicates--and can be modulated with drug treatments. "We showed that you can use drug treatments to modulate a population of cells in and out of a specific cell cycle state in order to bias their viral reactivation," said Dar. These findings may be useful in guiding stochastic design strategies for drug therapies, have applications in synthetic biology, and play a role in advancing HIV diagnostics and treatments. ### The full paper, "Cell size-based decision-making of a viral gene circuit," published in the journal Cell Reports is available online. Other members of the research team include: Bioengineering seniors Erin Tevonian and Melina Megaridis, Bioengineering doctoral candidate Yiyang "Tony" Lu, and Bioengineering graduate student Meng-Yao Huang. This work was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Cancer Center at Illinois through its Cancer Scholars program. AMHERST, Mass. - Results of a new study by neuroscientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Toronto suggest that a new treatment approach is needed - and how this may be possible - to address adverse effects of aromatase inhibitors, drugs commonly prescribed to both men and women to prevent recurrence of estrogen-positive breast cancer. The current drug therapy is linked to such complaints as hot flashes, memory lapses, anxiety and depression, side effects so bothersome that some patients discontinue the life-saving treatment, the researchers point out. Their study found that aromatase inhibitors do indeed suppress estrogen synthesis in body tissues, but their unexpected findings in the brain could explain some of the negative effects and provide insight into more effective, less disruptive future therapies. Neuroscientists Agnes Lacreuse, Luke Remage-Healey and their graduate students at UMass Amherst, collaborator Jessica Mong at the University of Maryland and first author Nicole Gervais worked together on this research. Gervais, who conducted the experiments as a postdoctoral researcher at UMass Amherst, is now at the University of Toronto. The authors studied a small group of aged male and female marmosets, non-human primates whose brains are much like humans' and which exhibit "complex behavior," senior author Lacreuse explains. She adds, "This drug is given to prevent recurrent breast cancer in humans and it does save lives, but a lot of times, patients are not compliant because of unpleasant side effects that affect quality of life." Their study, showing changes in the animals consistent with some of the human complaints, allowed the researchers to assess cognitive behavior, thermal regulation and neuronal changes in drug-treated vs. control groups. Their findings appear this week in the Journal of Neuroscience. As Gervais explains, studies in humans are hampered by confounders. "The patients have had cancer, so it's hard to disentangle the stress of their disease and treatment from the drug effects." She adds, "We wanted to know if the symptoms while using the aromatase inhibitors can be reproduced in an animal model, and further explore the mechanisms to understand how they work and find alternative treatments." In this work supported by the NIH's National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the researchers administered the estrogen-inhibiting drug orally "the way it's given to humans and at a similar dose," Gervais explains, for one month, and observed that it did indeed suppress estrogen production in the body. They then compared changes in behavior, memory, electrophysiology, and thermoregulation in the treated and control groups Gervais says, "Sure enough, we found deficits in some aspects of memory and we also saw the most striking results in thermal regulation, a deficit in the ability to regulate body temperature when the ambient temperature increases, but only in females. It doesn't match hot flashes exactly but it's consistent with what we know about the regulation of hot flashes by estrogens in women. Females on the drug could not regulate their temperature as well as control females." It was in the investigation of neurons that the researchers saw something quite surprising, says Remage-Healey. "In the hippocampus, which is thought to be critical for learning and memory functions, instead of reduced estrogen levels we found that the drug caused a paradoxical increase in estrogen levels." Gervais adds, "We believe that the hippocampus may have synthesized its own estrogens to compensate for low levels it senses in peripheral tissues. According to our results, the mechanism for an adverse effect on memory may be due to an increase of estrogen synthesis in the hippocampus. Perhaps, future treatments could find a way to block this increased synthesis, and maybe prevent some of the negative side effects." Remage-Healey points out that "We were also able to follow the excitability of hippocampal neurons, which was compromised in the treatment but not control group. This is consistent with the occasional memory problems reported by patients. It seems the hippocampus is particularly sensitive to estrogens and their blockade. But we have a lot of work to do to understand the precise mechanism underlying these effects." The authors state, "These findings suggest adverse effects of aromatase inhibitors on the primate brain and call for new therapies that effectively prevent breast cancer recurrence while minimizing side effects that further compromise quality of life." ### West Texas lawmakers are cheering on controversial plans for a floating oil terminal that would be anchored less than 15 miles off Padre Island. Thats home to the Padre Island National Seashore. The planned Texas Gulf Terminals by Swiss commodity trader Trafigura would allow U.S. crude oil to be loaded onto huge tankers known simply as Very Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs for international export. Only one port in the United States the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP, which also acts as an import terminal can fully load a VLCC. The Port of Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend business organizations and local governments have weighed in against the project, raising the possibility of the offshore facility leaking oil and polluting Texas shoreline. Port officials are looking to build their own large-tanker terminal onshore at Harbor Island. Multiple companies are racing to build the first large-tanker oil export terminal along the Texas Gulf Coast. Their aim is to break up delivery bottlenecks as record amounts of U.S. crude oil production flow into the global market. In the last week of November, U.S. crude oil exports hit a record 3.2 million barrels a day. An recent letter signed by three state legislators Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo, Rep. Tom Craddick of Midland and Rep. Brooks Landgraf of Odessa voiced their support for the Trafigura terminal. The lawmakers represent districts in West Texas Permian Basin, the most productive oil field in the nation. READ ALSO: Port of Corpus Christi, Carlyle to team up for Texas VLCC terminal Given the mismatch between existing infrastructure and future crude oil projections, we are encouraged to see privately funded investment projects that will help de-bottleneck the Gulf Coast and move Texas oil to markets where it is in high demand, the legislators wrote. A Dec. 19 letter from the head of Midlands Chamber of Commerce also argued for the Trafigura terminal. The Port of Corpus Christi is leading the opposition to the project, its concerns echoed in multiple letters to Gov. Greg Abbott from Gulf Coast legislators. Corpus Christi-area economic-development groups and local governments have also passed resolutions opposing Trafiguras project. The port is pursuing its own VLCC-capable crude oil export terminal on land it owns on Harbor Island within the city limits of Port Aransas. The terminal, if completed, would cost $1 billion and be just two miles from the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The Port of Corpus Christi has teamed up with investment firm the Carlyle Group to fund the project. Port CEO Sean Strawbridge said while hes sympathetic to West Texas oil producers needs to move their product onto the international market, we dont want to cut corners. I think that will show poorly on the industry if theres an embracing of high-risk solutions when there are alternative solutions that are much more responsible, sustainable, proven, Strawbridge said. OnExpressNews.com: Port of Corpus Christi clashing with private crude oil export terminal But, activists in Port Aransas, concerned about potential damage to the environment and the citys tourism industry, are fighting the ports plans. They support the construction of an offshore oil loading platform. The Port Aransas Conservancy objects to the Harbor Island project, but said it would support the Port of Corpus Christi if it builds an offshore terminal similar to Trafiguras. Meanwhile, Brazilian prosecutors have accused Trafigura in recent weeks of paying bribes to Brazils state-owned oil company Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras. The accusations led Petrobras to suspend oil and fuel trading with Trafigura and Glencore, another Swiss commodities trader, Reuters reported. Rye Druzin is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering Texas energy. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rdruzin@express-news.net | Twitter: @druz_journo The Taste Team cooked up so many big things this year we couldnt limit ourselves to just 12 dishes for our annual roundup of faves. Heres a bakers dozen of our top recipes of 2018 to keep you busy in the kitchen. Cast-Iron Margherita Pizza: Im a huge fan of both cast iron pans and pizzas, and this recipe brought them together beautifully. This surprisingly easy and effective technique creates a perfectly crisp crust your family is sure to love. PS Click here for the recipe. Emily Spicer /Staff Cheesy Dill Pickle Dip: This was my most commented-on recipe of the year. I even attended a party where the hosts served it the ultimate compliment. ES Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen / Staff Fancy-Pants King Ranch Chicken Casserole: Forget the canned and packaged versions. This take on classic King Ranch Chicken is all about bold, from-scratch flavors, and it disappeared in a jiffy from my kitchen. PS Click here for the recipe. Chuck Blount / Staff Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Wings: Chuck Blount wondered: If peanut butter and jelly can be so good in a sandwich, could those flavors be transferred into meats? The answer is a big yes. ES Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen /Staff Hatch Hummus: Ive always thought hummus is pretty much perfect as it, but this recipe from Emily Spicer gave me a whole new appreciation for chickpeas thanks to a pig punch of roasted Hatch goodness. PS Click here for the recipe. Marvin Pfeiffer /Staff photographer Jalapeno Honey Beef Jerky: Chuck Blount opened my eyes to a favorite snack I could have been making at home all this time. Making your own jerky can cost half as much as the price of commercial brands. ES Click here for the recipe. Emily Spicer /Staff Lemony Berry Ice Cream Biscuits: A dessert thats as gorgeous and elegant as it is easy and quick. I tried this at a dinner with two picky teenagers and two adults, and it was a universal winner. ES Click here for the recipe. Emily Spicer / Staff Reuben Pigs in a Blanket: These little bundles of goodness honestly taste like a Reuben sandwich. They will fly off your buffet table. ES Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen / Staff Pork Belly Poblano Fideo: Chef Ceasar Zepeda of Sangria on the Burg wowed me with this unorthodox version of fideo. Its loaded with rich poblano flavor and a surprising burst of color from pureed spinach. PS Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen / Staff Prickly Pear Pecan Bars: Have a yard full of prickly pears? Then I have a unique way to transform those abundant native plants into a satisfying sweet. PS Click here for the recipe. Emily Spicer /Staff St. George and the Basil cocktail: The classic citrus and vodka combo gets an unexpected kick from St. George Green Chile Vodkas peppers and spices. Every single person Ive served this to has loved it. ES Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen /Staff Steamed Chicken Parcels and Spiced Turnips: I admit it. I often let my steamer go neglected. But this fancy and flavorful dish gave me a whole new appreciation for steam-powered cooking. PS Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen /Staff Yogurt-Braised Pork Shoulder: This recipe taught me yogurt can be used for more than a bowl of granola and a smoothie. It serves as a potent tenderizer on a tough cut of pork in this dish, and I loved the results. PS Click here for the recipe. Paul Stephen is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen As 5-year-old Tonia Martinez left Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital on April 27, three days after undergoing brain surgery, she paused in the hallway. "Mom," Tonia said, turning to her mother, Benjana Batiz. "Why aren't all of these other kids going home when I go home?" Batiz thought before answering. "Well, your situation is different than theirs," she told her daughter. "They probably have to stay a little longer." Tonia, a small and slight kindergartener with a nearly ever-present million-watt grin, turned sad for a moment. She knew that within an hour, she'd be home playing with her toys. But these other little girls and boys would have to stay in the hospital where she'd been bored stiff for days. Then, when she returned to the family's apartment in Sunnyside, Tonia got an idea. "Mom, can I bring my toys to the hospital for the kids to play with so they won't be bored?" she asked. That's just like Tonia the kid who pauses at the grocery store to ask her mom if she can buy surprise candy for her teacher always thinking of others. Tonia was persistent. "Mom, please," she continued saying over the next few weeks, suggesting the family buy a slew of toys for the other children. "We have to do something." Batiz didn't want to let her daughter down. But she's a 25-year-old mother of three who works the graveyard shift as a home health aide, and squeezes in odd hours driving for Lyft to keep the family afloat amid Tonia's mounting medical bills. She couldn't exactly go down to Wal-Mart and buy out the toy section. But she knew Tonia wouldn't be happy until they'd been able to help the other kids. No matter how impossible it seemed. Batiz knows better than anyone else that "impossible" has never meant much to Tonia. When Tonia was born, her doctors told Batiz that a host of birth defects meant the little girl would likely never be able to walk or talk. And yet when Tonia was evaluated by experts for the Houston Independent School District at the age of 2, they found her to be mobile and incredibly smart. "An average 2-year-old knows about 100 words," an evaluator told Batiz after a few minutes with Tonia. "I stopped counting with her at 350. I'm just telling you. I stopped. She's amazing." Still, Tonia needed plenty of medical treatment. The bones in her lower arms never fully formed, due to a congenital defect called radial agenesis. As a result, her arms bend inward, and her hands are each short a few fingers. But the issue that brought her to Children's Memorial Hermann this April was unrelated to her arms: Tonia was born with an encephalocele, a very rare birth defect in which nervous tissue including parts of the brain protrude through holes in the skull. To Batiz, the encephalocele felt like a soft spot that never fully closed, right in the middle of the back of Tonia's head about where a little girl's ponytail would sit. But while soft spots usually fuse together by the time a child turns 2, Tonia's never did. And when Batiz would braid Tonia's hair, she could even feel Tonia's pulse through the tissue. In April, a pair of surgeons trimmed the excess tissue and plugged the hole with a bone graft from another part of Tonia's skull. And Tonia left the hospital with a small scar that would close over soon, and a new purpose: To bring joy to those other patients who had to stay longer. Tonia's quest was a challenging puzzle for her mother. For months, she'd circle the city for Lyft, pondering how best to help Tonia in her toy mission without dipping into the money she saved for rent and food. One afternoon in late September, she got a request to pick up a woman at the Toyota Center. Normally, drivers are paired with riders no farther than about five minutes away, but it was going to take Batiz 21 minutes to get to this client. She almost said no, not wanting to waste too much time, but she clicked accept. And when Tameka McNair sat down in the backseat for a 49-minute ride toward Katy, the pair fell into an easy conversation. McNair is a program manager at Microsoft on the West Coast, with no ties to Houston other than the women in technology conference she was attending. But the two women found common ground quickly. Batiz told her all about Tonia, and McNair reciprocated by sharing stories about her son who'd suffered a stroke when he was 6 weeks old, and whom doctors said would likely not survive. He's 12 now, McNair told Batiz. Her "miracle baby." Tonia's a miracle baby too, Batiz said. "She's got heart and drive," she continued. She told McNair all about Tonia's plans to donate toys, but confessed she didn't know how she'd be able to make it work. "You'll never believe this," McNair told Batiz. "A couple months ago, there was a store going out of business back in Washington, where I live, and it was placed on my heart to go in there and gather these items. And my intent was to give it to underserved children." McNair had never done anything like that before. And even as she walked through the store aisles, scooping up armfuls of plastic purses and shiny nail polish that her 12-year-old twin boys would never be interested in, she wondered why she felt compelled to do so. But now, in the Lyft, she felt certain it was part of a divine plan. "It's yours," she told Batiz. "God put us in this car together for a reason." Benjana was silent for a moment. Then came the tears. In October, Tonia had to return to the hospital for another procedure. Back in April, one of the two doctors performing Tonia's surgery, Dr. Matthew Greives, noticed another issue with Tonia's scalp: A 3-inch mole called a nevus sebaceous. These moles are typically benign in children, but have a higher risk of turning into skin cancers in adulthood. So Greives scheduled a second surgery for October to remove the mole. The procedure was quick and simple, and Tonia was in and out within the day. But before she left, Tonia nearly burst with excitement as she told Greives that her family had just received a whole box of toys from Washington. With Christmas fast approaching, Tonia felt her mission was becoming more important than ever. "How can we donate them to the other patients?" Batiz asked the doctor. Greives didn't have an answer. In decades of collective memory at the hospital, staff members can't think of a single other child who has taken on a project like this. So there wasn't a blueprint for how to handle this kind of donation. But Greives reached out to the marketing department, and after a few weeks of back and forth, they set a date for Tonia to make a delivery. On Friday, Dec. 14, Tonia's dad, Tony Batiz, pulled the handle of a little red wagon, loaded down with Scrabble boards, Uno cards and piles of dress-up accessories, as Tonia and her 7-year-old sister Kaelah skipped along beside him. Some are from McNair's care package, all the way from Washington State. Others are from friends who've donated to a second box set up at Tonia's elementary school. And then there are the ones Tonia bought with money she collected for the cause by handing out fliers with her family at grocery stores and in crowded parking lots all December long. They wove through the hospital, and Tonia clung to her father as she conquered her biggest fear riding in an elevator on her way to the 10th floor, where she zoomed into the arms of one doctor after another, greeting everyone with an oversized smile. "I brought toys!" she squealed. "I brought toys for Christmas!" Maggie Gordon is a features enterprise reporter at the Houston Chronicle, where she has worked since 2015. In 2017, her feature "Gator Hunting: A Love Story" won best general feature from the Society For Features Journalism. Previously, Maggie was an education reporter at the Stamford Advocate and a columnist for Hearst's daily newspapers in Connecticut. She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Follow her on Twitter. @MagEGordon. She can be reached at maggie.gordon@chron.com. Steve Gonzales is a senior staff photographer at the Chronicle. He came to the Chronicle as the Director of Photography in 2005. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter, or reach him by email at steve.gonzales@chron.com. Design by Jordan Rubio Subscribe The Houston Chronicle is dedicated to serving the public interest with fact-based journalism. That mission has never been more important. Show your support for our journalism at HoustonChronicle.com/subscribe. *** KABUL, Afghanistan - The death toll from an attack Monday on two government office buildings by heavily armed men rose to 43 people, public health ministry officials said Tuesday. Scores of government workers were trapped inside their offices in a densely populated area of the Afghan capital during a 10-hour firefight, punctuated by a series of blasts, and government troops did not manage to kill the last assailant until just before dawn Tuesday. "The toll may go up as we are still evacuating casualties," public health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said. Scores of people were wounded in the attack. Majroh said most of the victims were employees of the Ministry of Public Works and the ministry for martyrs and disabled people, which provides services to thousands of war veterans and others affected by conflict. Among the dead were 11 women who worked in those facilities. No armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the first major violent assault in the capital since last month, when a terrorist bomber killed more than 50 people who had gathered in a hotel to celebrate the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. Taliban insurgents denied any involvement in the Monday attack. "What is the justification for targeting civilian offices and killing people who are helping the disabled and martyrs' families?" shouted a man named Shamsullah, who lives near that ministry. "This is very barbaric." The attack began with a car bomb outside one ministry. Then, a group of gunmen burst into both buildings and roamed among the offices, trapping more than 350 employees. "They breached the armored door with rocket," Abdul Jalil, a survivor, told ToloNews TV. "I was hiding in the balcony. Two men entered our office. One told the other to bring a lighter, and they set the office on fire." Television images showed burned offices with broken computers, and a child-care center in one ministry reportedly came under fire. "Attackers appeared from downstairs and were shooting at anyone they saw," Abdul Aziz, a survivor with a bullet wound in his shoulder, told ToloNews. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said government troops had to act with caution to avoid risking the lives of those trapped or living near the buildings. All roads leading to the area were blocked through Tuesday morning. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan strongly condemned the attack, saying it had caused "untold human suffering to Afghan families . . . there is no justification whatsoever for such attacks." Although the Taliban denied any involvement in the attack, the government's chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, blamed the group. "The Taliban crime syndicate must know that with every attack they carry out against our people, our resolve is further strengthened to eliminate them," Abdullah tweeted. "Their conduct is a disgrace to the very notion of peace." The Taliban has been participating in the early stages of peace talks with U.S. officials and other foreign representatives, although the group has refused to meet directly with Afghan officials. But it has also continued an aggressive campaign of ground attacks across the country. The attack came just days after President Trump said he was considering pulling out as many as half of the 14,000 U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan. The news stunned the Afghan government, and experts said it could undermine peace talks. In recent weeks, the Trump administration's special envoy has aggressively pursued peace negotiations with the Taliban, and meetings have been held that included representatives from the United States, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as senior Taliban leaders. The insurgents' major demand has been the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces and military bases. The possibility of thousands of U.S. troops leaving has sown confusion and panic in the Kabul government, although aides to President Ashraf Ghani have tried to play down its significance, saying Afghan forces are capable of defending the country. SUMBER JAYA, Indonesia A 30-year-old fisherman was home watching television Saturday evening when he heard a deep, booming noise offshore. Living on the western coast of Java, the fisherman, Damin, was accustomed to the explosive sounds of the volcanic island, Anak Krakatau, which has erupted almost daily since June. But this time, its roar was unusually loud, he said Tuesday. We are used to hearing something like that but the sound was so big, said Damin, who like many Indonesians uses one name. It was different. It was like a bomb exploded. The sound turned out to be the only warning of killer waves, which scientists theorize were produced by a large landslide either above or below the sea surface. They roared ashore in the darkness, barely a half-hour later. And at more than 16 feet, the tallest was more than five times what officials initially had reported. Indonesia, an archipelago with 127 active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes, has suffered from deadly tsunamis repeatedly over the years, including two in the past four months. Despite scientific advances in early detection of tsunamis, the country remains especially vulnerable. And it has no way of detecting precisely the kind of tsunami that scientists suspect was generated on Saturday from a landslide, caused by a volcanic eruption, which displaced an enormous amount of seawater that ambushed many thousands of unsuspecting Indonesians ashore. There was no evacuation, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for Indonesias disaster management agency, told reporters Tuesday in unusually blunt terms. The communities had no chance to evacuate. Sutopo also was frank about the reason. There was no tsunami early warning because we, Indonesia, do not have a tsunami early warning system that is triggered by undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, he said. Indonesias worst tsunami in modern times was the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, which left about 200,000 people dead or missing in northern Sumatra. After the disaster, Indonesia took steps to prevent a recurrence, including construction of evacuation towers in Aceh, the hardest-hit province, and the establishment of a tsunami warning system. Completed in 2008, it consists of seismographic sensors, buoys, tidal gauges and GPS. But the warning system is costly to maintain and parts of it have fallen into disrepair including the buoys, which were designed to detect sea-level changes and transmit the information electronically to a data center that could alert local authorities to a tsunami danger. When an earthquake set off the deadly tsunami that struck the island of Sulawesi in September, killing 2,100 people, no data was received from the buoys. And warnings triggered by the systems seismographic sensors could only be disseminated haphazardly because some cellphone transmission towers had been toppled by the quake. Damin said he had been alert to the possibility that the eruption Saturday meant danger for his fishing village. He was watching the sea about a half-hour after he heard the frightening noise. That is when he saw the first wave of a tsunami approaching. He began running with his wife and mother for higher ground. I dragged my wife and mother, he said. Run fast! Go! Hurry! he recalled shouting at them. A second wave, much larger, caught up with them as they ran. It swept them away but they managed to reach safety. When they returned to their home near the beach, there was nothing left. It wiped out my house and all the things in it, he said. At least 429 people died and nearly 1,500 were injured in the Sunda Strait tsunami, which struck western Java and southern Sumatra. The number of casualties was high in part because many people were at the beach enjoying a long holiday weekend. But officials acknowledge that many lives could have been saved if the country had an adequate tsunami warning system. Even with its flaws, the existing system can detect tsunamis caused by seismic activity. But the system is not set up to detect tsunamis caused by volcanic activity, even though the threat is well understood by scientists and the technology for detecting them exists. The disaster early warning system in Indonesia is still far from satisfactory, Sutopo said. Officials initially said the Sunda Strait tsunami was 3 feet high, an estimate they later raised to 10 feet. Sutopo said Tuesday it was even higher, reaching more than 16 feet in some areas. One of those places was Sumur, the area that includes Damins fishing village of Sumber Jaya. Nearly all the houses in the village were damaged or destroyed. Members of the public were warned Monday to stay away from the coast of the Sunda Strait for at least two days for fear that Anak Krakatau the Child of Krakatau could set off another tsunami. The volcano has emerged from the crater of Krakatau, or Krakatoa, which erupted in 1883 in one of the largest such events ever recorded. But many residents, including Damin, returned to their homes Tuesday anyway to inspect the damage and salvage what they could. At one point in the afternoon in Sumber Jaya, someone shouted that a big wave was coming, prompting hundreds of panicked people to run for higher ground. Among them were police officers and search-and-rescue personnel helping with the recovery. This time, it was a false alarm. Another resident who returned to the village, was Tati Hayati, 51, who makes a living selling gas to fishermen. She said she tried to escape the tsunami with her children and grandchildren packed in an SUV. The second wave of the tsunami tipped over the vehicle and rolled it nearly 100 feet, ripping off its back door, she said. Suddenly it was dark, she said. My mouth filled with sand and water. I couldnt breathe. I thought I would die. She estimated the wave to be about 13 feet high. It scattered her family, but everyone survived, including her husband, who was trapped inside the crushed drivers side of the vehicle for hours. The damage along the coast was extensive but also capricious. Some coastal villages were heavily damaged, while others in the region escaped largely unharmed. Farther north, in the village of Sambolo, Halimi was playing cards outside his house on Saturday evening when a large wave crossed the road and came unusually close. He and his friends didnt realize it was the first wave of a tsunami. The water receded and they continued playing. The next wave arrived a few minutes later and it was much larger, more than 12 feet high, he said. It swept him, his friends and his two grandchildren away. I thought I would die, said Halimi, 54, who also uses only one name. His house suffered major damage but everyone in the group survived, including his 4-month-old grandson, Raka Septian Pratama, who was under a bed. That was a miracle, Halimi said, like God saved him. This article originally appeared in The New York Times President Donald Trump, a reality-show host in his past life, is an attention-generating machine. Exhibit 394,627, by unofficial counts: the phone call he had with a 7-year-old named Collman who had called in to a government program that purports to track Santa and is run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. (Yes, the military has a program that helps children look for Santa.) The president and first lady had invited members of the media into the White House State Dining Room around 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve as they fielded calls to NORAD that had been patched through to them. A fire roared behind them, and Christmas trees flanked the hearth. It was the kind of scene favored by Trump: a grand setting, spiked by a dash of controversy. So when Collman called, perhaps the president was trying to push the envelope a bit. "Hello, is this Collman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you?" Trump asked the girl. Reporters could not hear the child's responses. "Are you still a believer in Santa Claus? 'Cause at 7, it's marginal, right?" A short video of the exchange was published by the Daily Beast on Twitter around 8:30 p.m. and quickly began circulating, its way paved by Twitter's algorithm. The video was a small illustration of the way in which Trump is the ultimate figure for the social media age, a showman with an uncanny ability to keep people watching, clicking, engaging. Was Trump trying to dissuade the child from his innocent belief in Santa? Was he too blunt and cynical? Was he being refreshingly realistic? Maybe it was just a joke? The video is yours to debate, tweet, rebuke, endorse, share, should you choose to spend your holiday thinking about the president. And many did: By Christmas morning, the video had registered well over 8 million views, becoming the subject of jokes, wisecracks and mockery on social media. Parents have debated for years about how much information to give or withhold from their children about figures such as the tooth fairy and Santa. Data from a study by University of Texas psychologist Jacqueline Woolley cited by the Atlantic in 2014 showed that 5 is the peak age for nurturing this kind of innocent belief: Eighty-two percent of 5-year-olds believe in Santa, she found. By 7, that number is about 60 percent. By 9, it's down to about 30. Trump played it more straight with the other children who called in. "What's Santa going to get you for Christmas? Who's with you?" he asked one child. "Have a great Christmas, and I'll talk to you again, okay?" More than 1,500 volunteers staff a call center in Colorado Springs to help answer children's queries about Santa. The program dates to an error in 1955, when a Sears ad for children hoping to talk to Santa directed them to call a number that went straight to a secretive red phone at an Air Force colonel's desk. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump invited reporters into the Oval Office on Christmas morning to listen to him call military troops overseas. He then unleashed another demand for a border wall a $5 billion price tag that has stalled the federal government through the holidays and introduced a murky new claim that federal workers are happy to work for free until the wall is fully funded. Many of those workers have said to me communicated stay out until you get the funding for the wall, Trump said. These federal workers want the wall. Trump described immigrants as criminals and human traffickers, and he espoused plans for his wall. But he declined to answer questions that invited him to be more specific, especially on a contract he said was signed Monday to begin construction on a lengthy section of the barrier. Later Tuesday, the White House had no comment about a Border Patrol announcement that an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy had died in custody early on Christmas morning, raising new questions about the administrations zero-tolerance policies on detained migrants. When asked about the living circumstances of the boy who died in custody, a White House spokesman called the death very sad, but officials declined further comment. When reached for comment about the situation, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman pointed to a public release on its website. Trump, in the Oval Office session, offered no indication of when he thought the partial government shutdown might end. The president has remained at odds with congressional leaders since funding for nine departments and numerous federal agencies lapsed at midnight Friday. Since then, both Republicans and Democrats have been unwilling to budge from their strongly held positions on border security and wall funding. Lawmakers are becoming resigned to the prospect of the government remaining closed until the new year, when the majority shifts to Democrats in the House. Trump, who delayed any departure plans for a 16-day vacation to his Florida estate, remained in Washington, where he spoke to reporters and offered contradicting assertions about the fate of his signature campaign promise. I can tell you its not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever theyd like to call it, Trump told reporters, a nod to the artistic slats he has started advocating instead of the concrete wall he once promised. Ill call it whatever they want. But its all the same thing. Its a barrier from people pouring into our country. Trump said there may be the case of an Olympic champion who can get over the wall, but for the most part you are not able to do it. He said the wall would be as high as 30 feet, roughly the equivalent of a three-story building. In the same discussion with reporters, Trump both insisted, without evidence, that the wall was being built and could be either renovated or brand-new by Election Day, and reiterated his demand that Congress allocate billions of dollars for it. Trump again said he was pushing ahead with a stretch of wall construction in Texas, claiming he had signed a contract to build a large portion at a great price, but he declined to give additional details. Yesterday I gave out 115 miles worth of wall 115 miles in Texas, the president said. And its going to be built hopefully rapidly. Im going there at the end of January for the start of construction. Describing that section of the wall as a big stretch, Trump added that we gave it out at a great price. So were going to have great wall there, and we have other sections to give out. Asked who had received the contract, Trump did not offer any specifics. Different people, different people, he responded. Highly bid. Officials with the White House and Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment on specifics about the contract. No legislative action to resolve the shutdown is expected before Thursday, when the Senate and the House reconvene. Members of Congress have noted the increased possibility that the impasse will last at least until Jan. 3, when Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is expected to reclaim the speakership. Without a majority in both chambers, lawmakers said, Trump will quite likely realize how much more difficult it will be to enforce his agenda. On Christmas Day, the president also veered into an unprompted attack on James Comey, the former FBI director he fired more than a year ago. In the Oval Office, Trump complained over the outrage, particularly from Democrats, that still percolates over his decision to oust Comey, adding that its a disgrace whats happening in this country. But, other than that, Trump concluded, I wish everybody a Merry Christmas. This article originally appeared in The New York Times The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea signed this summer was the main event of the year for the five Caspian littoral states. The head of the Department of Central Asia and Kazakhstan at the Institute of CIS Countries, Andrey Grozin spoke with Vestnik Kavkaza about the significance of the document. - How will the Convention on the Status of the Caspian Sea affect the development of the region? - This is a historically significant event, without any exaggeration, without any unnecessary one-sided praise. The problem that accumulated for several decades was solved. Now we see that even such a complex, serious, neglected question can be resolved with goodwill and active diplomacy. The signing of the Convention expands the possibilities for a balanced economic development of the region, without a tilt in the direction of the national egoism. Over the past 20 years, each Caspian state solved its problems on its own, and now there is an opportunity for balanced approaches in implementing large projects, including those related to transport and logistics, hydrocarbon production, fuel and energy complexes of the Caspian states. Since independence, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have bound their most optimistic hopes with the Caspian Sea and its resources. This is the main thing that they got after the collapse of the USSR. 90% of all oil in Kazakhstan is produced in the western regions of the country, primarily in the Caspian regions. The same applies to Azerbaijan, the same can be said about Turkmenistan, albeit to a lesser extent. Due to these resources, these three states planned their existence during the last decades of sovereign development, focusing on relations with foreign investors - initially with investors from the West, and in recent years with investors from the East. Now it is possible, based on the Convention, to work out a common set of rules, according to which it will be possible to build the joint economic development that does not contradict each of the states - build roads, lay pipelines, develop hydrocarbon fields, develop corridors, latitudinal, meridional, whatever. - Are there any controversial issues? - There are issues related to the controversial deposits, the passage of the border lines, national sectors and division of the bottom. But they all have a purely working character. Such problems can already be solved within the framework of this general document, which was signed in August. - Has the convention resolved security issues? - The signing of the Convention, this was noted by all experts, first of all, closed the Caspian Sea for the non-regional military forces. That is, in fact, the activity of the non-regional military structures - bases, transit centers, training centers, centers of observation and protection of sturgeon using the foreign military, non-Caspian - is now very difficult. Therefore, the parties, having signed the Convention, once again confirmed and officially documented the thesis that the security of the Caspian region, the Caspian Sea is within the competence of only five Caspian states. - How will the Convention on the Status of the Caspian Sea affect the development of tourism in the region? - This is a very acute topic, and every year it becomes more and more relevant. We see that in Central Asia, the consolidation processes are gaining momentum within the framework of a possible Central Asian Schengen. Perhaps, in the future, a single tourist visa and a single tourist space on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea will appear. The same goes along the line of pairing the tourist potential of China with the countries of Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Russian Federation. I do not exclude that experiments on the mutual facilitation of obtaining visas by tourist groups and individual tourists, which are conducted in some eastern regions of Russia and China, may be expanded to the interstate level. It is clear that the Caspian Sea, possessing a serious, exclusive ecological, biological diversity, will enjoy the success of the same Chinese tourists, who have become the most attractive tourist mass, for which both Western and Eastern countries are fighting. The Caspian will attract them just as much as Baikal, perhaps even more so, since the Caspian is in many ways a unique biological site that deserves very serious tourist attention. Due to the good marketing work and tourism policy in coordination with all five Caspian states, very serious results can be achieved. The parties are already moving in this direction. AUSTIN, Texas Walking distance from the pink dome of the Texas Capitol building, there were whiskey samples, tamales and Nerf guns. The Virtual Reality crowd talked Augmented Reality. The millennials in YETI shirts and the gray-haired post-hippies in psychedelic vests racked up points in a 3D shootout on Space Pirate Trainer. And then there was Tim Porter, the guy with the hologram-creating Merge Cube. Using an app he developed, Porter pulled out his phone and put his 4-year-old daughters stuffed penguin into the cube, virtually speaking. Austinites have a name for all this: a Tuesday night. It was just another event at the Capital Factory, Austins techie community center and startup hub this time, a virtual reality holiday party. Located in an office and hotel complex downtown, the Capital Factory has helped a number of Austinites quit their day jobs to become tech entrepreneurs. The shared work space features a Star Wars"-themed floor with Luke and Leia restrooms, local craft beer on tap and a conference room hidden, Hardy Boys-style, behind a bookcase that swings open when you press the right book (The Plains of Passage). It doesnt matter what you want to do, there are five Meetups at night that will support it, said Porter, 34, the founder and chief technology officer at Underminer Studios. Its a maker community. For decades, Austin was defined by the bureaucracy of state government, the academia of the University of Texas and the funkiness of its hippie-cowboy, Willie Nelson-inspired music and arts scene. Today, the tech culture and economy have transformed Texas capital city and surrounding suburbs, creating jobs, worsening traffic, raising prices and changing the regions politics, tempo and brand. None of this is entirely new people have been calling the Austin areas tech scene Silicon Hills since the late 1980s and early 1990s. But the slogan and the hype have now dramatically caught up. Apples recent announcement that it will build a new $1 billion campus in the Austin area that could eventually employ up to 15,000 people expanding its current 6,000-worker presence and making it the largest private employer in the region has given the citys rapidly expanding tech community a morale boost, a moment in the national spotlight, and also a point of debate. Apples planned expansion has raised a host of unanswered questions about traffic, gentrification, affordability and competition for jobs. Austin consistently ranks high on the lists of cities with the worst traffic in the United States. And a recent housing market analysis found a shortage of 48,000 rental units affordable to households earning less than $25,000 per year. Supplies for middle-income families are also increasingly strained. I think in the last 10 years, its been a real struggle for Austin to keep its identity and keep its soul, as downtown is being razed and converted into condos and high-rises, and you have people like Google and Facebook and Apple taking over the town with these buildings, said Omar Gallaga, who covered the citys tech culture for the Austin American-Statesman for more than 20 years. If you have all the artists and the creative people that make it interesting move away because they cant afford to live there, then it becomes a different place. Few dispute that tech has turned Austin into one of the most vibrant and distinctive capital cities in the United States. Its other varied cultures music, military, higher-ed, food, politics, journalism, real estate are inseparable from its tech culture. Joseph Kopser, an Austinite who founded and sold a startup called RideScout, made an unsuccessful but attention-grabbing run this year for a seat in Congress. A longtime venture capitalist, John Thornton, was the founder of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, Austin-based digital news organization that has helped transform Texas journalism. The nonprofit Austin Tech Alliance has launched get-out-the-vote efforts and helped city government shift to paperless permitting. One of the citys biggest annual cultural attractions, the South By Southwest festival, is now as much a celebration of tech as it is music and film. On any given day, some of the states far-right lawmakers may be rubbing elbows downtown with 20-something entrepreneurs headed to work on motorized scooters or perhaps, not long ago, passing by Professor Dumpster, otherwise known as Jeff Wilson, the co-founder of the startup Kasita, who lived in a 33-square-foot dumpster for a year as part of an experiment in minimalist living. Austin is still weird. Its just more wired now, too. We dont want to become Silicon Valley we want to be Austin, said Joshua Baer, founder and chief executive of the Capital Factory, launched in 2009 to mentor, finance and support startups and entrepreneurs. What makes Austin really different, to me, is the culture clash. But its not a clash. Its the culture collaboration. There are now more than 138,000 tech-related jobs in the Austin metropolitan region, about 14 percent of the total jobs in the area. Ray Perryman, an economist in Waco, estimated that the tech sector pumps about $31 billion into the areas overall economy, about 35 percent of the total. It is far from the biggest tech community in the country. In a ranking of the top tech-talent markets by CBRE, a commercial real estate company, Austin came up sixth, behind San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Toronto and New York. But Austins brand as a tech hub rivals that of some of its rivals, including other cities that have a larger tech presence. We punch way above our weight class, said Barbary Brunner, the former chief executive of the Austin Technology Council, which was founded in the early 1990s and functions as the tech communitys chamber of commerce. If youre from outside Austin, you think the tech industry here is huge, supersophisticated, supermature. We dont have the innovation leaders here. We have executors here. The buzz lately does not revolve solely around Apple. A different older global behemoth rarely embraced by hipster tech has become a major player the U.S. Army. Months before Apples announcement, the Army opened a new center in downtown Austin to help modernize its weapons and equipment and to identify, acquire and develop innovative technology. The Army Futures Command is the only so-called four-star command that is based not on a military installation but in a civilian building, in this case in the heart of the city in a satellite of the University of Texas. The soldiers mostly shun camouflage for button-down shirts and khakis. They have embedded in Austins tech culture, military officials say, to help make the Army smarter and more cutting-edge. The leader of the Army Futures Command, Gen. John M. Murray, a four-star general who also wears casual business attire to work, has been meeting tech entrepreneurs, hanging out at the Capital Factory and recently attended his first Austin hackathon. One of the things that we are working on and we have not solidified yet, this is just still a concept is can the Army work with venture capitalists? Murray said, adding, Ive probably had, in the last couple months, a dozen or a dozen and a half conversations with VCs. For me, its more about understanding, because this is all new to me. So, understanding the world they live in, what their requirements are, how they can help us and how we can help them. One of the first outcomes of the Armys new venture was a mixed success. Murray wanted the Army to work with an Austin-based startup, Senseye, to help reduce the amount of time a pilot spends in training. It did not work out as planned, but the Army found another application for the companys technology. The Futures Command will be fully operational in the summer of 2019, and a staff of about 500 will take over two floors of the UT System building. Until then, a subset of the Futures Command called the Army Applications Lab has a team that works out of the Capital Factory. The day after the VR holiday party, Baer and the rest of Capital Factory hosted a visit from one of the Armys top officials, Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army undersecretary. McCarthy told reporters that he felt pretty good about Apples planned expansion, and the Armys expanding role in Austin. I think it just shows the wealth of talent and opportunity that exists here in this city and this state. This article originally appeared in The New York Times For 13 years, Joan Cheever has driven up to Maverick Park north of downtown San Antonio on Tuesday nights to set up food tables for the homeless and working poor who rely on her for a hot meal. But Christmas Day was different; this time, her usual dinner guests and other friends werent just there to eat, they were celebrating The Chow Trains last Tuesday run. Candles glowed in front of pictures documenting monumental moments in The Chow Trains history. Cheever choked back a sob. Its been 13 years, and the people here are my family, she said as men and women lined up to hug her and present her with gifts, tokens of appreciation for her years of service. Cheever has driven The Chow Train throughout San Antonio to feed the citys homeless and working poor since 2005. She rose to national fame in 2015 after fighting a $2,000 citation she was given by San Antonio police while she was delivering meals to the homeless downtown. Police said she violated a city ordinance requiring mobile vendors to deliver their food in a licensed vehicle; Cheever successfully fought the ticket, citing the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Her win resulted in the passage of a more expansive city policy on charitable feeding. Earlier this month, Cheever announced she would retire the Tuesday night dinners to focus on writing and documentary filmmaking on social justice issues. She also plans to amp up efforts to be a voice for the homeless before City Council and the Texas Legislature, fighting for issues such as providing showers for the homeless as well as services for mental health and drug and alcohol addiction. RELATED: Chow Train halts Tuesday night meals after 13 years The lawyer, author and longtime social justice crusader was quick to assure her supporters that The Chow Train is not disappearing. In addition to feeding the needy, the food truck also has been used to help victims of natural disasters, and that will continue, Cheever said. In the past, she and her crew have assisted tornado victims in Missouri in 2011 and Oklahoma in 2013, flood victims in Louisiana in 2015 and Harvey victims on the Gulf Coast. Cheever wore a festive green Christmas tree on a headband as meals were served Tuesday. The homeless she loves ate on the grass around the memorial. I feel like Im at a four-star restaurant. This is amazing, said Everett Maddox, who said he recently traversed from Austin to San Antonio looking for another chance at a good life. He sat in the grass eating while Cheever cut cake at a table a few feet in front of him. Chris Plauche, longtime director of the Catholic Worker House, started working with Cheever when Cheever interned at the nonprofit while attending St. Phillips Culinary School. Cheever excels at helping others in times of disaster, Plauche said. Whereas most people require time and much planning, Cheever just drops everything and does it, Plauche said. The homeless will miss Cheever, who knows the people she serves by name, Plauche said. Work with the homeless requires consistency, which Plauche said Cheever clearly had. OnExpressNews.com: Councilman concerned about city policy on feeding the homeless They depend on you to show up when you say you will. You cant call or email them if plans fall through. Come rain or shine, Cheever has consistently been there on Tuesday nights, Plauche said. In a way, its fitting the Chow Trains last Tuesday run falls on Christmas Day, Plauche said. A holiday has never stopped Cheever from fulfilling her commitment to the hungry. (Tuesday night) would have been something Joan did, whether it was Christmas or any other Tuesday in the year, Plauche said. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva J. Evan Ward knelt on a dock jutting into Eastern Point Bay at the eastern end of Long Island Sound and hauled up a floating cage containing oysters. These oysters came here from nearby Masons Crab Cove and serve as the resident population for lab studies that Ward, a professor of marine sciences, conducts at the University of Connecticut Avery Point. He studies these and other oysters and sediment gathered on boats operated by Norm Bloom and Sons of Norwalk. Oysters are master water filterers. A single oyster can filter up to 1.3 gallons of water per hour. They process much of what ends up in Long Island Sound. That includes the ever-increasing load of tiny pieces of waste plastic. Some of this ends up in their bodies. New Englands great oyster markets appear so far to have escaped large plastic contamination. Oysters collected by Wards team contain fewer plastic pieces than one might expect 8 to 10 pieces per oyster, he said. Oysters likely encounter more plastic than that but will spit out pieces larger than 1 millimeter, Ward said. Although oysters today contain few plastics, their bodies will encounter, and probably accumulate, much more than this because people are discarding more and more plastic every year. Our throwaway society has created much of the microplastics problem. Around the world broken-up pieces of plastic waste, pieces from a few millimeters in size to so small that they cant be seen, wash into waterways and oceans. They enter water supplies, food, the guts of marine animals, fish, and shellfish and humans. Scientists dont know all the ways they enter the water, or how they harm the environment or people. Early results show that these fragments are everywhere. Were really behind in the United States, Ward said. We are very much behind. The Europeans have much more money to study this. The effect of microplastics on human health remains largely unknown. Kings College London scientist Stephanie L. Wright wrote in a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology: Chronic exposure is anticipated to be of greater concern due to the accumulative effect that could occur. This is expected to be dose-dependent, and a robust evidence-base of exposure levels is currently lacking. In other words, the more plastics in the environment, the higher the threat. Plastic particles travel and accumulate in the human body, especially in lymph nodes and around joint replacements. They can carry harmful chemicals that attach to them in the ocean. They can cause immune system problems. Airborne particles. such as nylon, can lodge in the lungs, causing breathing disorders. Plastic pieces lodge in the intestinal tracts and tissues of oysters, clams, mussels and scallops, which humans eat whole. In studies of sand and gravel and mussels collected at Avery Point in Groton, Ward and three other scientists found microplastics in 73 percent of the sand and gravel samples and in all of the mussels they collected. These findings were published in Environmental Science & Technology in August. Scientists know that plastic pieces find their way into drinking water, sea salt and even beer. University of Minnesota public health scientist Mary Kosuth and her colleagues documented small plastic particles in all three in the Great Lakes region. The microplastics just keep on getting smaller and smaller and smaller, Kosuth said. They dont biodegrade. Plastic that breaks into pieces includes synthetic clothing fibers, water bottles, cups and cup lids, straws, plastic bags and microbeads the tiny bits of plastic mainly used in exfoliating body washes and facial scrubs. The federal Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 halted the manufacturing of microbeads in cosmetics in 2017 and over-the-counter medicine last year, but the microbeads in medicine can still be sold until next year. There are a lot of them out there still, Ward said. For several years now, people have heard about the great Pacific garbage patch Despite how we might envision it, the patch consists of swirling wastelands of very tiny pieces, said Marcus Eriksen, a scientist, activist and author of Junk Raft, who saw some of the plastic gyres while floating with Joel Paschel across the Pacific Ocean in a raft made of old plastic bottles. Eriksen said plastics effect on human health represents a new frontier for science. Its really everywhere, but does it cause harm? We dont know for sure. Most of the plastics in the ocean come from single-use objects and containers, and the rest from fishing gear. The tiny particles are easy for marine life to take in, and scientists worry about polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and other chemicals plastics absorb. Eriksen said eventually plastics will be found sunken to the ocean floor, washed ashore, or excreted and deposited as sediment. China is the No. 1 contributor of plastic washing into waterways, and the United States is 20th, according to a study published three years ago in the journal Science. That study estimated that 192 coastal countries contribute between 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of plastic to the oceans every year. Without some way to stop the waste, it will greatly increase by 2025, the authors wrote. Eriksen said the plastic waste amounts to 5.25 trillion pieces. Ninety-two percent are smaller than a grain of rice, he said in an email interview. Plastic is so ubiquitous in daily life, Ward said, that youre also eating a lot of microplastics every morning when you take off your fuzzy synthetic sweater over your coffee and its raining into your coffee. And its not just microplastics that affect marine life. Its estimated that over 1 billion plastic bags are used annually, and more than 100,000 end up in Long Island Sound each year. Three Connecticut towns have banned plastic bags in their stores. Westports ban took effect in 2009; Greenwichs ban started in September and Stamfords ban takes effect in April 2019. Other communities are considering similar bans on plastic and some are looking at banning plastic straws too. Denise Savageau, Greenwichs retired conservation director who has been active in the plastic-reducing movement, said many residents worry that using plastics along the coast harms the environment. Theres so much plastic on the bed in Long Island Sound, its just incredible, she said. Savageau said people are confused when they see plastics labeled biodegradable or degradable. These plastics dont actually break down, she said, but instead fragment into tiny pieces. With the exception of a few cornstarch-based materials labeled compostable, plastic doesnt degrade, she said. Richard Harris, a marine scientist for Norm Bloom and Sons, said they are not hearing any concerns so far from the public about plastic. But he said the company is relieved that microbeads are being phased out this year. There are no alarm bells going off, but if we continue on our present course, Im sure we will be. For now, Ward said, he continues to enjoy the mollusks he studies so closely. Do I eat mussels and oysters? Yes. Am I concerned about the number of plastics in mussels and oysters? No, in 2018, he said. But about the future, hes unsure. Will our kids be able to eat them? he asked. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting. (c-hit.org) Franklin Covey Co. engages in consulting and training in the areas of strategy execution, customer loyalty, leadership, and individual effectiveness. It operates through the following three segments: Direct Offices, Education Practice, International Licensees and Corporate and Other. The Direct Offices segment includes sales personnel that serve the United States and Canada; international sales offices located in Japan, China, the United Kingdom, and Australia; governmental sales channel; and public program operations. The Education Practice segment includes domestic and international Education practice operations, which are focused on sales to educational institutions such as elementary schools, high schools, and colleges and universities. The International Licensees segment primarily comprised of royalty revenues received from these licensees. The Corporate and Other segment includes leasing operations, shipping and handling revenues, and certain corporate administrative expenses. The company was founded by Brent L. Bishop, Stephen R. Covey and Hyrum Wayne Smith in 1983 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT. Read More Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to congratulated him on his birthday. Erdogan wished Ilham Aliyev the best of health and success in his presidential activity for the sake of prosperity and progress of the people of Azerbaijan. President Aliyev thanked for the attention and congratulations. The presidents described 2018 as a significant year in terms of the strengthening of friendly and brotherly ties between the two countries, underlining the importance of reciprocal visits and meetings in this regard. The sides also expressed their confidence that the bilateral relations will continue expanding in the years ahead. Guyana Goldfields Inc. provides exploration and production of gold. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of gold mineral properties. The company also owns and operates gold drilling rights. The company was formerly known as Chiboug Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in January 1995. Guyana Goldfields Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. As of August 25, 2020, Guyana Goldfields Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited. Read More iShares MSCI Austria ETF's stock was trading at $15.26 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWO shares have increased by 62.2% and is now trading at $24.75. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. There is not enough analysis data for Botswana Diamonds. 4.1 Community Rank Outperform Votes Botswana Diamonds has received 231 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Botswana Diamonds has received 140 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Botswana Diamonds has received 62.26% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Botswana Diamonds and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe BOD will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe BOD will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has seized half a kilogram of heroin after the detention of one individual in the Kvemo Kartli region. The 30 years old man was detained in a taxi, Agenda.ge reported. The crime is punishable by 8-20 years in prison or a life sentence. The ministry added that 93 drug dealers have been detained since 1 January to November 2018. There is not enough analysis data for Anglo African Oil & Gas. 3.9 Community Rank Outperform Votes Anglo African Oil & Gas has received 44 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Anglo African Oil & Gas has received 32 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Anglo African Oil & Gas has received 57.89% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Anglo African Oil & Gas and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe AAOG will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe AAOG will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next According to analysts' consensus price target of C$0.48, Nevada Copper has a forecasted downside of 18.6% from its current price of C$0.59. Nevada Copper has received a consensus rating of Buy. The company's average rating score is 2.67, and is based on 2 buy ratings, 1 hold rating, and no sell ratings. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Nevada Copper has received 340 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Nevada Copper has received 89 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Nevada Copper has received 79.25% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Nevada Copper and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NCU will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NCU will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next There is not enough analysis data for Loncor Gold. 4.4 Community Rank Outperform Votes Loncor Gold has received 32 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Loncor Gold has received 17 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Loncor Gold has received 65.31% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Loncor Gold and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe LONCF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe LONCF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently explained which functions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will remain available in the event of a lapse in government funding. There may be a lapse in funding for the federal government, but that will not relieve USDA of its responsibilities for safeguarding life and property through the critical services we provide, Perdue said in a statement Dec. 21. Our employees work hard every day to benefit our customers and the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who depend on our programs. During a shutdown, we will leverage our existing resources as best we can to continue to provide the top-notch service people expect. Some USDA activities will be shut down or significantly reduced and some USDA employees will be furloughed. However, certain USDA activities would continue because they are related to law enforcement, the protection of life and property, or are financed through available funding (such as through mandatory appropriations, multi-year discretionary funding, or user fees). For the first week of a potential shutdown, 61 percent of employees would either be exempted or excepted from shutdown activities. If the shutdown continues, this percentage would decrease, and activities would be reduced as available funding decreases. USDA activities that will continue in the short-term include: Meat, poultry, and processed egg inspection services. Grain and other commodity inspection, weighing, grading, and IT support services funded by user fees. Inspections for import and export activities to prevent the introduction and dissemination of pests into and out of the U.S, including inspections from Hawaii and Puerto Rico to the mainland. Forest Service law enforcement, emergency and natural disaster response, and national defense preparedness efforts. Forest Service employees will continue to work on managing and maintaining the current forest system lands and sustaining the health and safety of the lands for their continued use. Continuity and maintenance of some research measurements and research-related infrastructure, such as germplasm, seed storage, and greenhouses. Care for animals, plants and associated infrastructure to preserve agricultural research and to comply with the Wild Horses and Burros statute. Eligible households will still receive monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for January. Most other domestic nutrition assistance programs, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, WIC, and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, can continue to operate at the state and local level with any funding and commodity resources that remain available. Additional federal funds and commodities will not be provided during the period of the lapse. The Child Nutrition (CN) Programs, including School Lunch, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Feeding, Summer Food Service and Special Milk will continue operations into February. Meal providers are paid on a reimbursement basis 30 days after the end of the service month. Carryover funding will be available during a lapse to support FY 2019 meal service. Minimal administrative and management support, including to excepted IT systems and contracts, will be maintained to support the above activities. Provision of conservation technical and financial assistance (such as Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and easement programs). Some farm payments (including direct payments, market assistance loans, market facilitation payments, and disaster assistance programs) will be continued for the first week of a shutdown. Market Facilitation Program payments. Trade mitigation purchases made by USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service. Agricultural export credit and other agricultural trade development and monitoring activities. USDAs Market News Service, which provides critically important market information to the agricultural industry. The following USDA activities would not be continued and would be shut down in an orderly fashion during a government funding lapse. These activities include: Provision of new rural development loans and grants for housing, community facilities, utilities and businesses. All recreation sites across the U.S National Forest System, unless they are operated by external parties under a recreational special use permit. New timber sales. Most forest fuels reduction activities in and around communities. NASS statistics, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, and other agricultural economic and statistical reports and projections. Investigation of packers and stockyards related to fraudulent and anti-competitive activities. Assistance for the control of most plant and animal pests and diseases unless funded by cooperators or other non-appropriated sources. Research facilities except for the care for animals, plants and associated infrastructure to preserve agricultural research. Provision of new grants or processing of payments for existing grants to support research, education, and extension. ERS Commodity Outlook Reports, Data Products, research reports, staff analysis, and projections. The ERS public website would be taken offline. Most departmental management, administrative and oversight functions, including civil rights, human resources, financial management, audit, investigative, legal and information technology activities. Mandatory Audits (Financial Statements, FISMA, and potentially Improper Payments) will be suspended and may not be completed and released on the date mandated by law. After the first week, farm loans and some farm payments (including direct payments, market assistance loans, market facilitation payments for those producers who have not certified production, and disaster assistance programs). Meat worth 20,000 has been stolen from a farm in Cambridgeshire, with the police calling the incident a mindless act. Hundreds of Christmas turkeys, ribs of beef and lamb worth more than 20,000 was stolen from a Huntingdonshire farm. At 7.47am on Monday 24 December, Cambridgeshire Police were called with reports of the theft at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Church Street, Old Hurst. PC Poppy McCullagh said: This mindless act will have a devastating effect on the business and leave hundreds of families without their turkey dinner this Christmas. I am appealing to anyone with information, or who may be offered meat for sale, to contact us. Farm shop owner Andy Johnson said about half of the 300 orders he had waiting to go out had been taken in the raid. The farm has now turned to social media in a request for help. It said: Last night Johnsons of Old Hurst was broken into. If anyone knows or has seen anything please make us aware. If anyone can lead the Johnsons direct to the culprits there will be an reward. Data shows rural crime cost the UK 44.5m in 2017 with the future trend showing a rise in this form of crime as thieves become more brazen as they target the countryside. The NFU has said that sentences for rural crime must act as a deterrent as concerns grow within the farming industry. Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote incident 72 of 24 December. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Summary Company Announcement Date: December 26, 2018 FDA Publish Date: March 10, 2020 Product Type: Food & Beverages Vegetable Products Reason for Announcement: Recall Reason Description Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes Company Name: Apio Inc. Brand Name: Brand Name(s) Eat Smart Product Description: Product Description Salad Shake Ups several flavors Company Announcement Apio Inc. of Guadalupe, California is expanding a voluntary recall of Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowls. The recall comes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) informed the company that another random sample of Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups Sweet Kale/Chou Frise Doux 156 gr. single-serve bowls (5.5oz) with Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018, Lot 112 346, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all products produced on the same day, same production line, as the one sample that tested positive by CFIA. At this time, we are not aware of any illnesses linked by health officials to this recall and no other products are affected by this recall. The affected product is sold as a single-serve bowl with the lot code stamped on the side of the bowl and the UPC code printed on the bottom. The affected product includes: Product Name UPC Code Best Before Date Lot Code Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Asian Sesame/Sesame Asiatique UPC 7 09351 30244 2 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Sweet Kale/Chou Frise Doux UPC 7 09351 30243 5 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Tropical Lime/Lime Tropicale UPC 7 09351 30197 1 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Asian Sesame UPC 7 09351 30241 1 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Avocado Ranch UPC 7 09351 30177 3 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Raspberry Acai UPC 7 09351 30178 0 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Sweet Kale UPC 7 09351 30240 4 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups single-serve bowl Tropical Lime UPC 7 09351 30179 7 Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018 Lot 112 346 The product was shipped to retail and distributor customers in the following U.S. states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas. In Canada, the product was shipped to retail and distributor customers in the following provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan. Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it. The product from any of these lot numbers should be disposed of immediately or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Apio's toll-free number at 1-800-626-2746, Monday through Friday from 9:00am 5:00 pm Pacific Time or visit its website at https://www.eatsmart.net. Apio Inc. has already notified its retail and distributor customers who were shipped the affected product. Apio, Inc. is issuing this press release and keeping both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CFIA informed of its recall process to ensure that consumers are properly alerted. ### About Apio, Inc. Apio, founded in 1979 in Guadalupe CA, is the innovation leader in fresh-cut specialty packaged vegetables and salads sold in North America. For more information about Apio and our products, please visit EatSmart.net. Original Recall Company Contact Information Consumers: 1-800-626-2746 Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko officially announced that martial law in 10 regions of the country has terminated. "It is exactly 14:00 and the martial law is terminated. This is my principal decision. It is based on the analysis of the current security situation in the state," Poroshenko told the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council today. On November 25, Ukraine's three boats illegally crossed the Russian maritime border as they sailed toward the Kerch Strait. The Ukrainian vessels were seized by Russia after failing to respond to a demand to stop. Following the incident, Poroshenko signed a decree declaring martial law in several Ukrainian regions located near the Russian border: Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, as well as in the internal waters of Ukraine's Azov-Kerch coastal area. First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Pyotr Poroshenko has failed to achieve the full martial law across Ukraine to cancel the presidential election, therefore had to abandon this idea, especially since the West opposed it. The director of the Center for Political Information, Alexei Mukhin, agreed that Pyotr Poroshenko's plan to cancel the presidential election and continue his presidency has failed: he was supported neither in the country, nor abroad. "Poroshenko does not have the opportunity to extend martial law even in the form in which it was introduced. Ukraine's MPs and presidential candidates showed that they are absolutely not interested in extending martial law. The whole situation shows that Petro Poroshenko can't get anything done in politics - and it only progresses with time," Alexei Mukhin said. Mukesh Ambani Pays Respects To Late Nana Chudasama Business tycoon Mukesh Ambani paid his respects to the Late Nana Chudasama by attending a prayer service held in his memory. Chudasama passed away on Sunday, December 23rd, 2018, after suffering from an illness for a brief period. Aishwarya & Abhishek At The Prayer Service Aishwarya Rai and her husband Abhishek Bachchan attended the memorial service held for the Late Nana Chudasama today. Aishwarya's mother Brindya Rai also accompanied them. Chudasama was not just a former sheriff and jurist in Mumbai city, but also a respected social activist. He received the Padma Shri in 2005 for his work in the social sector. Vetern Actress Waheeda Rehman Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman attended the prayer service for noted jurist, Late Nana Chudasama. Chudasama was known for his banners put up above a popular pizza joint on Marine Drive, in South Mumbai, which carried out captivating messages and comments on important issues of the day. The messages on the banners were compiled into a book titled, History on a Banner'. Jackie Shroff Arrives To Pay Respects Jackie Shroff arrived to pay his respects to the Late Nana Chudasama. Chudasama founded the following NGOs - Giants International, I Love Mumbai, the National Kidney Foundation, and the Forum Against Drugs and Aids. He carried out his social work through these NGOs, some of which have an international presence too. Raveena Tandon Attended Memorial Service Of The Padma Shri Awardee Actress Raveena Tandon attended the memorial service for Padma Shri awardee, late Nana Chudasama, today. The eminent jurist was the father of BJP spokesperson, Shaina NC. "With profound grief, we inform you that our beloved father Nana Chudasama breathed his last today," Shaina NC said in a statement. Juhi Chawla Arrives With Her Mother Actress Juhi Chawla attended the prayer service along with her mother, Mona Chawla. Actress Urmila Matondkar Attends Prayer Service Urmila Matondkar also attended the prayer service for the late Nana Chudasama in Mumbai today. Well Known Public Figures Attended The Late Nana Chudasama's Prayer Service Well known public figures and celebrities from the Hindi film industry attended the prayer service held in memory of noted jurist, the late Nana Chudasama today. TOKYO, December 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Electro-Communications (UEC) publishes the December 2018 issue of the UEC e-Bulletin that includes short video profiles of UEC researchers describing their activities in mid-air display technology, soft robots, and molecular materials with ultralong-lived phosphorescence. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802262/Electro_adhesion_enabled_soft_gripper.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802261/Sunny_Day_Display.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802259/Molecular_materials.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802260/Research_Goals.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802258/Irago_Conference_2018.jpg ) Research highlights from high impact publications are 'soft robotic gripper based on dielectric elastomer actuators', Jun Shintake; 'Digital Public Media: Mid-air Display Technology', Naoya Koizumi; and 'Molecular materials with ultralong-lived room-temperature triplet excitons: Persistent room-temperature phosphorescence and nonlinear optical characteristics under continuous irradiance', Shuzo Hirata The Topics section features research updates on 'Advanced group IV materials and their applications for ICT devices' by Takahiro Tsukamoto. News and Events are 'UEC participated in WUST'S 120th Anniversary Celebration' and 'The Irago Conference 2018'. December2018 issue of UEC eBulletin http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/ Research Highlights Soft robotic gripper based on dielectric elastomer actuators Soft robots that are composed of compliant materials offer important advantages over conventional rigid robots, such as simplified body structure and control, as well as high robustness and versatility. More http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/2018/soft-robotic-gripper-based-on-dielectric-elastomer-actuators.html Reference Jun Shintake, Samuel Rosset, Bryan Schubert, Dario Floreano, Herbert Shea, Versatile soft grippers with intrinsic electro-adhesion based on multifunctional polymer actuators, Advanced Materials, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 231-238, (2015). Digital Object Identifier: 10.1002/adma.201504264 https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201504264 Digital Public Media: Mid-air Display Technology Recently, virtual reality technology plays an important role as an interface between current cyber physical systems and wearable displays, and HMD is HMD is a hot topic. The problem with wearables is that the same information cannot be shared by many users even though they are in the same space. It needs other information presentation and sharing methods that people share together. More http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/2018/digital-public-media-mid-air-display-technology.html Reference Naoya Koizumi, Sunny Day Display: Mid-air Image Formed by Solar Light, Proc. of the 2017 ACM International Conference on Interactive Surfaces and Spaces, pp. 126 - 6 (2017). Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1145/3132272.3134137 https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=3132272.3134137 Molecular materials with ultralong-lived room-temperature triplet excitons The lifetime of triplet state of molecular materials is generally shorter than 1 ms at room-temperature (RT) because nonradiative deactivation of the triplet state is usually rapid at RT. However, if the fast nonradiative deactivation from the triplet state is largely suppressed, triplet excitons with a very long lifetime at RT can form. Molecular materials with the long exciton lifetimes could potentially lead to the realization of new applications that are unfeasible using conventional molecular materials with short exciton lifetimes. More http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/research-highlights/2018/molecular-materials-with-ultralong-lived-room-temperature-triplet-excitons.html Reference Shuzo Hirata, Materials science using ultralong-lived room-temperature triplet excitons: Molecular persistent room-temperature phosphorescence and nonlinear optical characteristics under continuous irradiance, Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2018. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1039/C8TC01417E https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/tc/c8tc01417e#!divAbstract Researcher Video Profiles Jun Shintake, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/researcher-video-profiles/2018/jun-shintake.html Naoya Koizumi, Assistant Professor, Media Information Science Course, Department of Informatics http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/researcher-video-profiles/2018/naoya-koizumi.html Shuzo Hirata, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/researcher-video-profiles/2018/shuzo-hirata.html Topics Takahiro Tsukamoto Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering Science, UEC, Tokyo. http://www.tsukamoto.es.uec.ac.jp/index.html Advanced group IV materials and their applications for ICT devices http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/topics/2018/advanced-group-iv-materials-and-their-applications-for-ict-devices.html News and Events UEC participated in WUST'S 120th Anniversary Celebration http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/news/2018/reportuec-participated-in-wusts-120th-anniversary-celebration.html On 26 October, Prof. Abe, the Vice President of UEC, and Assist. Prof. Sasaki visited Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) and attended the 2018 University President Forum and 120th Anniversary Celebration of WUST. Prof. Abe participated in the President Forum as a presenter together with WUST's overseas partners from England, the U.S., Germany, Singapore and others. Prof. Abe started his presentation with congratulatory speech, and then gave introductory presentation of UEC's research and education strategies. In the panel discussion, panelists and audience shared their insights and had active discussion on growing impact of AI on society. The Irago Conference 2018 "360-degree outlook on critical scientific and technological challenges for a sustainable society" The Irago Conference 2017 was held on 1 November 2018 at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel, Tokyo. The conference was organized by University of Electro-Communications, Toyohashi University of Technology, and Tokai University. This was 8th in this series of conferences providing a platform for networking between scientists, graduate students, and policy makers to interact and share ideas to find solutions for some the major issues of the 21st century. http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/e-bulletin/news/2018/the-irago-conference-2018.html About the University of Electro-Communications (http://www.uec.ac.jp/) The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) in Tokyo is a small, luminous university at the forefront of pure and applied sciences, engineering, and technology research. Its roots go back to the Technical Institute for Wireless Commutations, which was established in 1918 by the Wireless Association to train so-called wireless engineers in maritime communications in response to the Titanic disaster in 1912. In 1949, the UEC was established as a national university by the Japanese Ministry of Education and moved in 1957 from Meguro to its current Chofu campus Tokyo. With approximately 4,000 students and 350 faculty members, UEC is regarded as a small university, but with expertise in wireless communications, laser science, robotics, informatics, and material science, to name just a few areas of research. The UEC was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities as a result of its strengths in three main areas: optics and photonics research, where we are number one for the number of joint publications with foreign researchers; wireless communications, which reflects our roots; and materials-based research, particularly on fuel cells. Website: http://www.uec.ac.jp/ Further information: The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585 E-mail: ru-info-ml@uec.ac.jp Website: http://www.uec.ac.jp/ Infiniti Research, a leading market intelligence solutions provider, has announced the completion of theirmarket entry strategy for a fast food restaurant.The client is one of the renowned fast food restaurants with an annual income of over USD 40 billion. They serve consumers across 17 countries with a workforce of over 5000. They wanted to leverage Infiniti Research's market intelligence solutions to conduct a market entry strategy and assess the market's opportunities in new geographies. They also wanted a detailed analysis of the market components such as entry barriers, new opportunities, and risks to capture higher market shares in a cost-efficient manner. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181226005103/en/ Market entry strategy for a fast food restaurant. (Graphic: Business Wire) The global fast food restaurants industry has always exhibited positive growth despite varying consumer tastes and a recovering global economy. However, the industry is not free of setbacks and challenges. According to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the growth is expected to remain stagnant in 2019 due to the rising health awareness among the people. This is making it crucial for fast food restaurants to devise an effective market entry strategy and start expanding their businesses into previously unknown territories. Infiniti Research specializes in offering actionable strategies for niche markets. Request a free proposal and see how we can help you devise effective market entry strategies for your business. According to the experts at Infiniti Research, "The global fast food industry is sensitive to changes in consumer spending. Therefore, businesses must undertake concept development and testing with consumers to ensure the implementation of effective strategies and brand positioning." With the help of Infiniti Research, the client was able to assess the market's true potential and recognize potential business opportunities across the market space. This helped them to enhance sales, business stability, and brand recognition. The report provided on entry barriers, new opportunities, risks, and competition also enabled the client to capture higher market shares in the new segment. They were also able to gain information on competitors' strategies in terms of product range and commercial network. Infiniti Research's market entry strategy helped the client to: Develop an accurate business model. Increase sales, business stability, and brand recognition. To know how our market entry strategy is helping organizations gain an upper edge in niche markets, Request a free consultation. Infiniti Research's market entry strategy offered predictive insights on: Capturing higher market share in the new segment Analyzing competitors in terms of product range, their commercial network, and service strategies. Request more information to know how an effective market entry strategy can help your business in devising crucial business models. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181226005103/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us Companies in India spent Rs 7,536.3 crore on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in 2017-18 New Delhi: Companies in India spent Rs 7,536.3 crore on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in 2017-18, a 47 percent rise compared to 201415, says a survey. "This is a significant rise, clearly demonstrating higher expenditure towards CSR activities from the mandated year, 2014," said the KPMG India CSR Reporting Survey 2018. The cumulative expenditure by top 100 companies from 201415 to 201718 is about Rs 26,385 crore, the survey said. The average amount spent per company has gone up to Rs 76.1 crore as compared to Rs 58.8 crore during 201415, up 29 percent, it said. The survey further said that the total unspent amount has reduced by Rs 749 crore to Rs 989 crore during 2017-18 from Rs 1,738 crore in 201415. "This is the fourth year into the report and also government regulation to spend 2 percent on CSR. This year, the two outcomes which are showing progress due to the regulation are - governance around CSR and contribution of private sector in the development," said Santhosh Jayaram, Partner and Head, Sustainability and CSR Advisory, KPMG in India. "The governance around CSR has improved to a great extent. The functioning of the CSR committee has shown significant development as increasing number of top executives are involved and CSR is also a boardroom discussion. The CSR spend is increasing over years and more private companies are crossing the 2 percent threshold," he added. Energy and power sectors have spent the highest amount towards CSR at Rs 2,464.96 crore followed by BFSI at Rs 1,352.67 crore, customer products at Rs 635.41 crore, IT consulting and software at Rs 1,100 crore and mining and metal at Rs 647.12 crore. The number of companies that have spent less than 2 percent has also substantially come down by 37 percent to 33 companies in 2017-18 from 52 in 2014-15. State-wise, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are the top five states from an expenditure perspective, the survey added. Leather and beef industries were major employers in the country, and even while new jobs could not be created, existing jobs were being jeopardized. When one thinks of the past year, one must see it as a culmination of the four years gone bywhen the Narendra Modi government was swept to power. That was when the markets were euphoric and rose in a crescendo. They too liked the promises that were made during the election season. Four years later the aftertaste is a bit acidic. Two lines come to mind: one by Leonard Cohen in his Songs of the Street Now the infant with his cord is hauled in like a kite With one eye filled with blueprints; one eye filled with night And the famous line by James Joyce History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. filled with blueprints There were blueprints aplenty when Modi strode in to grab the post of prime minister. He had promised more governance less government; there was the assurance of a bigger role for the private sector; and even if one were to ignore the hyperbole of Rs 15 lakh in each persons account, there was certainly an assurance that corruption would be wiped off. Modis impressive track record made people ready believers. He had transformed Gujarat. He had ushered in power reforms, and had brought in technology to trigger an agricultural revolution. Some of these reforms are now being rolled back . The iron hand with which he managed to control the boisterous Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal in Gujarat has almost been forgotten now. But he managed to do that as well. And he did nothing that would adversely hurt the prospect of Gujarat being the second-largest producer of milk. . . .filled with night Strangely, for a chief minister who nurtured the milk industry in Gujarat, it wasnt long that he allowed BJP-ruled state governments to bring in harsh laws relating to cow slaughter. This time the laws went further than mere slaughter. The new laws banned transport of cows as well. Earlier, devout Hindu cow owners in Gujarat would sell off their old cow to traders who in turn sold them to slaughterhouses. This was no longer possible. Worse was yet to come. Soon the laws were expanded to cover buffaloes as well, and had it not been for the Supreme Court stepping in and rescinding such laws, matters could have got worse. Overnight, the economic consequences of this decision were dramatic. Farmers got prepared to face losses of up to Rs.13,000 crore a year (see table 1). And this was without taking into account the losses that could have been suffered by the leather and beef industries. These were major employers in the country, and even while new jobs could not be created, existing jobs were being jeopardized. Since most of the people involved in these two industries were Muslims and backward classes, it was only a matter of time before these two communities found common ground for their disappointment and pain. There were two more developments that were taking place. States that had been shrill in their denunciation of cattle slaughter, and had even permitted screaming vigilantes to spill on to the streets had begun to witness a decline in the population of cows over buffaloes. The population of cows was more robust in states where the ban was not being enforced (see table 2). States in the Northeast vehemently opposed any move to ban the consumption of beef. Expect these states to become the new centres for milk production, beef and leather industries as well. Ditto for states in the south which had a thriving industry in leather. The geography of milk, leather and beef is now being redefined in post-independence India. The hope The biggest economic achievement during the past five years has been the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Unfortunately, it was brought into the markets in a rather ham-handed way and too close to the unfortunate demonetisation. Demonetisation, by itself, was not a bad idea. It was one of the best ways to bring currency back into the banking sector. But that could have been achieved even if people had been given six months to convert their old high value currency into new notes. The panic could have been avoided. After all, as developments were analysed, very little of black money got impounded. Cash transaction did not get wiped out. Instead, there was a move back to cash after the initial resort to e-payments. But GST is gradually bringing the grey sector back to the formal economy. Hopefully, this move alone could transform the Indian economy by minimizing the role that cash currently playes in the financial ecosystem. GST may actually mark a watershed moment for the country. One only wishes, it had been done more carefully, and without having to deal with the harshness with which demonetisation was introduced. History is a nightmare There are many more moves that the government has madeespecially in the past one year, that have left both economists and sociologists baffled. One relates to the retrospective effect given to the amendments to the FCRA. In March 2018, the government passed major amendments to the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act which protected all political parties from disclosing or explaining the source of their funds from overseasretrospectively for the past 42 years. That this was done even while the matter was being perused by the Supreme Court sets in a dangerous move where the legislature is now attempting to change rules even when the courts decide against the government. That is not good for the economy, because business knows quite well that there is a cost to legal processes. And when you have a government that chooses to bring in laws that seek to frustrate court judgments, the feeling of discomfort grows. These amendments are currently being challenged before the Supreme Court. That is why foreign investments are not pouring in as quickly as they ought to have. Most fresh foreign direct investment (FDI) has slowed down because the government has not yet permitted foreign companies to take recourse to arbitration in a seat outside India. Foreign investors want this, because this move prohibits Indian courts from reopening arbitral awards thanks to a Supreme Court ruling. The government wants disputes to go to the Arbitration Centre in Mumbai, but without the guarantee that Indian courts will not reopen arbitral awards. That in turn has slowed down investments, and even GFCF or gross fixed capital formation (see table 3). The only exception to the rule appears to be China which has continued pouring investments into India even though it has not been given the right to seek arbitration in a place outside India. Currently the only country that appears to have this advantage is Japan. But in spite of this assurance, Daiichi is still struggling to make Ranbaxy pay the damages awarded. The matter is before the courts now. The government has not even moved to pay Devas Multimedia the damages awarded to it by arbitral courts. Unless the issue of dispute resolution is resolved, expect the flow of investments to remain poor. Even the World Bank knows that this area is Indias proverbial Achilles heel. That is why even while registering Indias ranking on the ease of doing business to jump 23 places to rank #77 in the World Banks Doing Business 2019 report, it also showed that when it comes to enforcement of contracts India still ranks #163; it ranks #137 on starting a business; and #108 in resolving insolvency. Other concerns There are other signs that should worry economy watchers. The rate of savings has begun to slow down. It could have been because of demonetisation, or it could be because of consumerism (see table 3 above). But with little FDI and slowing savings, the prospect of job formation could be a difficult exercise. Combined with soaring bank non-performing assets (NPAs and the virulent spread of farm-loan-writeoffs expect major tensions on the fiscal front. Yet there is no denying that the home-made products like NACH, BHIM, UPI, IMPS and Rupay have taken e-payment to smaller customers. Almost overnight, such payment gateways and systems have begun to account for over 50 percent of transactions within India, though the figure could be small in terms of value. But there is no denying that the market has been opened up. It is only a matter of time that these small value transactions become larger, and Indian payment gateways could give the likes of Mastercard and Visa a stiff competition. Equally mixed has been the governments claim to have stanched corruption. The governments move to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act has only spurred on more petty corruption. Clearly, the challenges for the government will be many. Creation of jobs, improving judicial adjudication, and bringing in foreign investment will be concerns. The coming New Year could be a turbulent one. (The author is a senior journalist) India is preparing a specific strategy for exports to each geography as part of plans to make 2019 a year when outward shipments would start driving the country's overall economic growth, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has said. New Delhi: India is preparing a specific strategy for exports to each geography as part of plans to make 2019 a year when outward shipments would start driving the country's overall economic growth, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has said. The minister said India's exports performance has been "extremely good" in the past 14 months, but he is not fully satisfied as yet and the plans for 2019 also include a special focus on boosting shipments to the African continent and Latin America given huge growth potential there. He said the Indian exports are growing at a time when the global trade is witnessing worst ever headwinds, countries are fighting at import duty front and there is increasing protectionism and slowdown in demand. "(But) I am not fully satisfied. I want exports to drive India's growth. To do that, the situation is very challenging as each country is trying to put their own borders," Prabhu said. Since 2011-12, India's exports have been hovering at around $300 billion. During 2017-18, the shipments grew by about 10 percent to $303 billion. Experts have cautioned that growing trade tensions between the US and China could impact the global trade growth. Imposition of high import duties by the US this year on certain steel and aluminium products have triggered a trade war kind of situation. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) too has stated that escalating trade tensions and tighter credit market conditions in important markets will slow trade growth in 2019. "In 2019, we would like to ensure that all measures that we initiated earlier and the new measures get consolidated and 2019 should be a new year for exports. So I am preparing a strategy. For each of the geographies, we will prepare a specific strategy," Prabhu said. Elaborating on his plans, the minister said African continent holds huge potential for domestic exporters and there is a need to significantly boost shipments to that region. Prabhu said his ministry is in process of creating a template for some kind of a free trade agreement with Africa which will take into account the overall difference of level of growth of that continent and the country-specific profiles. Similar plans are there for other regions as well, including for Latin America, he said. Central America, South East Asia, Central Asia and South Asia hold huge potential for domestic exporters, but "our performance is at sub-optimal level" in these regions, he added. Emphasised on the need to promote value-added exports, Prabhu said his ministry is trying to bring Japanese and Korean companies on board to increase outbound shipments of marine products. He also hoped that the recently announced agri-export policy will help boost exports from the sector to $60 billion in the next five years and $100 billion in the next 10 years. "This is doable because we are the largest producers of milk and the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables," he said. The ministry would be drawing a strategy to promote shipments of five categories -- plantation crops, meat, fisheries, agriculture and horticulture, he added. For this, the minister will be meeting all plantation boards, farmers associations and organisations and discuss issues related to every segment. "We are asking states for product-specific clusters. For example, in Jalgaon (Maharashtra) we are promoting cluster for bananas, and for grapes in Nashik," he said. The ministry is also preparing an incentive package for labour-intensive sectors like leather to address issues faced by exporters. "We are preparing a package which will ensure that exporters' woes are addressed properly. There have been challenges for the export sector over a period of time and one big challenge is credit," he said. The ministry is also looking at the quality of goods being exported by India as foreign firms are keeping a special tab on this. Further, Prabhu said as India is one of the major exporter of services like IT and ITeS, the ministry's strategy will have elements to promote services exports also. The government has approved an action plan for 12 champion services sectors, including IT, tourism and hospitality, for realising their potential through the establishment of a Rs 5,000 crore dedicated fund. Commenting on the growth prospects next year, exporters said the government needs to focus on areas like a timely refund of Goods and Services tax; adequate availability of affordable credit; extending export duty benefits to more areas like seeds, and interest subsidy to merchant exporters. "If the government will take all these steps in the coming months, we can register 20 percent growth in exports," the Federation of Indian Exports Organisation (FIEO) President Ganesh Kumar Gupta said. Promoting exports helps a country to create jobs, boost manufacturing and earn more foreign exchange. Entry level packages are now pegged at 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum, as companies are beginning to pay more to attract 'higher quality'. Hyderabad: India's information technology (IT) services sector and startups together are expected to hire up to five lakh people in 2019 as demand for freshers is on the upswing, an industry veteran said Wednesday. Former chief financial officer of IT major Infosys Ltd, T V Mohandas Pai said entry-level packages in the industry went up by as much as 20 percent in 2018, after stagnation in salaries for the past seven years. "Growth is coming back to the Indian IT services industry," he told PTI, talking about industry highlights in 2018 and prospects in the coming calendar year. Pai said 2018 saw "H1B visa situation getting tougher," Indian companies focusing more on Japan and southeast Asia, massive expansion of captives and buy-backs by big companies. Hyderabad has become a hot destination, with many new age companies coming to the Telangana capital, thanks to good infrastructure, and "very good marketing" by KTR (K T Rama Rao, who served as IT minister in the previous TRS government), according to him. He also said Indian companies were now trying to expand in markets in Asia much more vigorously, particularly Japan which is "opening up" and southeast Asia. Reskilling of employees in IT services companies has redoubled, Pai said. "More than half the people have been reskilled in all the IT companies in India. Digital income is growing in double digits for all the companies. 2018 has been a good year". Hiring has gone up, he said. "First time in seven years, hiring compensation (entry-level) has gone up by 20 percent. Fresher compensation is going up, after a long time. It's a good news". Entry level packages are now pegged at 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum, as companies are beginning to pay more to attract "higher quality". "For many years, entry-level compensation packages had not gone up, demoralising people. In fact, delivery boys in cities make 50,000 rupees a month, much more than software engineers. It's ridiculous," Pai said. He listed greater use artificial intelligence and machine learning in enterprises, greater thrust on digitisation, bigger spending by BFSI (banking, financial services, insurance) in America, as being growth opportunities for Indian IT companies in 2019, which will also see them look for greater penetration into Europe and Asia. But the challenges for them are going to be localisation in America. "You must become more local in America, most of them (Indian companies) are trying to do. And they are finding that when you are local, cost actually is not increasing because you are going to smaller towns where costs are much less". The year 2019 is going to be better for entry-level guys because hiring is going to be much better, said Pai, also chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, and Aarin Capital, and a member of the board of directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited. Start-ups have a total of 600,000 employees in India. "In the coming calendar year, my estimation is they (startups) will hire about 200,000 people. In 2018, I think they hired 150,000 people", he said. "Totally between IT services and start-ups, my estimate is 4.5 lakh to five lakh people will be hired (in India in 2019)". In 2018, the IT services companies and startups together are estimated to have hired 3.5 lakh to four lakh people. "Now start-ups are becoming big. There are 39,000 start-ups (in India), every year 5,000 startups come up (in India), so when the startups are beginning to hire, they hire all kinds of people, not only engineers, whereas services companies will hire more engineers and (those for) BPO (business process outsourcing)," Pai said. Attorneys of Armenias second president Robert Kocharyan have appealed to the Court of Cassation over the Criminal Court of Appeal's decision on remanding him in custody. According to Kocharyan's legal defense team, the Criminal Court of Appeal rulings apparent contradiction with the positions expressed in the previous decisions by the Court of Cassation, the fundamental violation of human rights and freedoms, and the violations of some other rights are at the basis of this appeal. Kocharyans attorneys plan to file a motion with the court that he be released from custody on bail, News.am reported. The strike has been called to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. After the bank officers' union of state-run banks observed a day-long strike last Friday (21 December), close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, have called for a one-day strike today (26 December) to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. The strike is being organised by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine unions, including the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). The UFBU claims membership of 10 lakh officers and staffers. In September, the government had announced merger of state-owned Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, both under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with larger peer Bank of Baroda, creating the third largest lender. "This amalgamation is not in the interest of banks or bank customers. It is rather detrimental to both," the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) said. According to AIBEA General Secretary C H Vekatachalam, the strike is effective across the country and employees are fighting for a right cause. However, branches of new generation private sector banks remain unaffected by the strike called by UFBU, which claims to have membership of nearly 10 lakh bank employees and officers across 21 public sector banks. The UFBU is an umbrella organisation of nine unions, including the All-India Bank Officers Confederation, the All- India Bank Employees Association and the National Organisation of Bank Workers, among others. The unions claim that government wants banks to grow in size by this amalgamation but even if all public sector banks are bundled into one, the merged entity cannot find a place among the top 10 globally. The unions say post-merger, a large number of branches will be closed and customers will be have to face hardships as already banks are burdened with various government schemes such as , social security insurance, and PM's housing scheme, among others. On 26 December, the unions will take out a rally and hold a demonstration at the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. Around 3.20 lakh officers from various state-run banks were on a one-day strike on 21 December, seeking immediate wage revision and opposing the proposed merger. The nation-wide strike had partially impacted banking operations affecting services like deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearances and issuance of demand drafts, among others. Bank managements have mandated the industry lobby Indian Bank Association (IBA) to negotiate for scale 1-3 but unions want this to be raised up to scale 7. The wage talks are on for the past 13 months between the unions and IBA, the latter has offered a wage revision of 8 just percent. In the past wage settlement, which was for the period 1 November, 2012 to 31 October, 2017, the employees got a 15 percent hike. Banks' merger On 17 September the government announced the merger of state-owned Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda to create the country's's third largest lender in a bid to clean-up the banking system which has been overburdened by bad debts. Post-this merger, the number of PSU banks will come down to 19. The three banks will continue to work independently post-merger. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also assured that no employees will face a service condition which is in any way adverse in nature to its present condition. "The consolidation will help create a strong globally competitive bank with economies of scale and enable realisation of wide-ranging synergies. Leveraging of networks, low-cost deposits and subsidiaries of the three banks have the potential of yielding significant synergies for positioning the consolidated entity for substantial rise in customer base, market reach, operational efficiency, wider bouquet of products and services, and improved access for customers," he said. The merged entity will be third largest lender of the country after State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank. The government owns majority stakes in 21 lenders, which account for more than two-thirds of banking assets in Asia's third biggest economy. As at June-end, the total business size of the three entities together was Rs 14.82 lakh crore. Of the three banks, Dena Bank is the weakest, with non-performing asset (NPA) ratio of 11.04 percent and business of Rs 1.72 lakh crore, as compared to 5.4 percent NPA and Rs 10.2 lakh crore business of Bank of Baroda and 4.10 percent NPA and Rs 2 lakh crore worth business of Vijaya Bank. Bank Unions said the move is anti-people and will not help solve the bad loan problem facing the banking system. They fear the mergers will lead to job cuts and allow private sector banks to dominate the industry. AIBOC Joint General Secretary Ravinder Gupta said the unions are demanding wage revisions based on minimum mandated wages by the government and not asking for it to be linked to profitability of the banks or their paying capacity, which could be higher. --With agency inputs The plant will be part of the company's newly-acquired Electrosteel Steels Ltd (ESL) at Bokaro, Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal said Kolkata: Natural resources major Vedanta Ltd on Tuesday said it will set up a new steel plant in Jharkhand with a capacity of 4.5 million tonne (MT) per annum at an investment of $3-4 billion. The plant will be part of the company's newly-acquired Electrosteel Steels Ltd (ESL) at Bokaro, Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal told reporters here. "This would be a new steel plant under ESL and in the same location at Bokaro... so it's a brownfield investment per se. The amount is likely to be to the tune of $3-4 billion for a capacity of 4.5 MT," Agarwal said. Vedanta would initially invest about $300 million to augment capacity of ESL to 2.5 MT from the existing 1.5 MT. Once the new facility is commissioned, the total capacity of ESL would be around 7 MT, he said without elaborating on the time-frame. The plant would create 1,20,000 jobs in the form of direct and indirect employment, Agarwal said. "We have about 2,200 acres at ESL and are scouting for a little more... The Jharkhand government has been very cooperative in this regard," he said. In March, Vedanta was declared as the successful resolution applicant for ESL under the corporate insolvency resolution process. The company has acquired control of ESL through its wholly-owned subsidiary Vedanta Star Ltd, and a new board of directors has been put in place. Agarwal said in the next three years, Vedanta would invest a total of about $8 billion across its major sectors such as oil and gas, aluminium, zinc and silver. He also urged global oil companies to invest in India, as the country has an "easier clearance process" for the sector. On the controversy surrounding its Sterlite Copper plant in Tamil Nadu, Agarwal said the facility is one of the world's best copper plants and it will be in India's interest if the unit is operational again. Sterlite Copper had on Saturday announced it would move the Supreme Court to implement the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to reopen the facility in Tuticorin. The Tamil Nadu government had on 28 May ordered the state's pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests by locals over pollution concerns. Born in 1924 at Faridpur in undivided Bengal, Nirendranath Chakraborty was a dominant figure in the modern Bengali literary field. His first book of poems Nil Nirjone was published in 1954 when he was 30 years old. Kolkata: Famous Bengali poet Nirendranath Chakraborty died at a hospital here Tuesday following a massive cardiac arrest, his family said. Chakraborty was 94. He was admitted to the private hospital on 9 December due to age-related ailments including acute breathing problem, the family said. He suffered the cardiac arrest on Monday midnight and breathed his last at around 12.25 pm on Tuesday, they said. Chakraborty is survived by his two daughters. His wife had died in January this year. Born in 1924 at Faridpur in undivided Bengal, Chakraborty was a dominant figure in the modern Bengali literary field. His first book of poems Nil Nirjone was published in 1954 when he was 30 years old. He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1974 for his poem Ulanga Raja (naked king) which mocked the social set up. His Amalkanti Roddur Hote Cheyechhilo (Ammalkanto wanted to be the sunshine), Kolkatar Jishu (Christ of Kolkata) and Pahari Bichhe (Mountain scorpion) are considered his two other cult poems. He remained active in literary activities until he became seriously ill. Chakraborty had been associated with leading Bengali magazine Desh and Anandamela for children, whose editor he had been for years, and some well known other magazines. In November, he had penned a poem for a magazine which will be published in its upcoming Kolkata Book Fair issue. Chakraborty had penned more than 47 books, many of them for children, apart from 12 novels and numerous essays on different issues. He was also a recipient of Ananda Purashkar and was the president of Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the death. "This is a big loss for all of us. His immense contributions to Bengali literature will keep him alive forever," she said in a tweet. "... We had conferred on him the Bangobibhusan honour in 2017. My condolences to his family," she added. Education minister Partha Chatterjee too paid his respects to the veteran poet. Crediting Chakraborty for guiding him when he came to the city as a struggling poet in his youth, Subodh Sarkar said the renowned poet's death was a "great personal loss". Eminent writer Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay recalled how Chakraborty had inspired him to write fiction as editor of a children's magazine and that there was a "sense of void" with his demise. Distraught by the news, writer Nabanita Dev Sen said that a "shelter over the head of all of us has gone now", while poet Sankha Ghosh stressed that Chakraborty's death was a loss for millions of Bengali readers. Chakraborty's mortal remains will be kept at the Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata till the evening to let people pay their last tributes. The body will then be taken to his residence briefly before being cremated with a gun salute, the minister said. The Bogibeel Bridge, near the city of Dibrugarh in Assam, will enable the military to speed up the dispatch of forces to neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China. Bogibeel: India on Tuesday opened its longest railroad bridge in a poor North Eastern state as part of efforts to boost defences on its sensitive border with China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi drove an inaugural cavalcade along the 4.9-kilometre-long Bogibeel Bridge over the Brahmaputra river to inaugurate the project in Assam, which has taken nearly two decades and $800 million to complete. The bridge, near the city of Dibrugarh, will enable the military to speed up the dispatch of forces to neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China. With the opening of the bridge, the rail journey from Dibrugarh to the Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar has been cut by 750 kilometres. India lost territory in Arunachal Pradesh in a 1962 war with China. The bridge has been designed to bear the weight of India's heaviest 60 tonne battle tanks and so that fighter jets can land on it. India opened its longest bridge, the 9.1-kilometre Dhola-Sadiya bridge, in 2017 to connect Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, also to boost tactical defences. Construction of the Bogibeel bridge was agreed by the government as part of a 1985 agreement to end years of deadly agitation by Assamese nationalist groups. The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to discuss the proposed Mekedatu dam on the Cauvery river, an issue which led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week New Delhi: The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to discuss the proposed Mekedatu dam on the Cauvery river, an issue which led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week. The proposed dam project in Mekedatu in Karnataka, is being opposed by Tamil Nadu which argues that it will affect its farmers. The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water Resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday here. "In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest," an official spokesperson of the Karnataka government told reporters. The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was also discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he said. Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement issued by the Karnataka government. The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to Gadkari's notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added. He also requested Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. "Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly," it said. On the Mahadayi issue, the Goa government has approached the Supreme Court and Kumaraswamy said this has obstructed his state from using its share of water. Hence, the chief minister appealed to Gadkari to discuss the issue with Goa and resolve it, the statement said. Kumaraswamy told PTI that "we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the (Mekedatu dam) issue can be resolved." With the two main Tamil Nadu parties AIADMK and DMK protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties. Tamil Nadu has been protesting the project after the Centre recently asked the Karnataka government to prepare a detailed project report for the Mekedatu dam. The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for the scrapping of the proposed dam project. The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter. Kumaraswamy's brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna, as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar, were also present in the meeting in Delhi. Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state. He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land. The chief minister requested Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75, complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara. He sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373. Kumaraswamy also sought the upgradation of state highway from Channrayapatna-Holenarisipura-Arkalgudu-Kodlipet-Medikere as a national highway as it connects the Kannur International Airport which was opened very recently in Kerala. The chief minister also demanded improvement and reconstruction of two lanes with paved shoulders from 456.35 kilometres to 489.84 kilometres from Belur to Hassan of the NH-374 as well as approval of strengthening of various roads required in view of taking upgradation of national highway NH-4 for inter-state connectivity. Kumaraswamy is in Delhi for two days. He is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other Union ministers Thursday. The toll in the ESIC Mumbai hospital fire rose to 11 with the baby dying in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Holy Spirit Hospital The ESIC Kamgar Hospital in Mumbai cut back compensation for a couple whose prematurely born baby died on 21 December, four days after fire engulfed the government-run facility on 17 December. The baby girl, who was born in the 39th week, was undergoing treatment at the newborn intensive care unit of the Marol hospital when the fire broke out. However, her parents were denied the full compensation of Rs 10 lakh by the hospital, with officials claiming that the infant was critical and her death may have been natural, reports The Times of India. Soon after report about the ESIC payout went viral on social media, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya tweeted saying the family will be paid a compensation of Rs 8 lakh. We are sad about the ESIC hospital Mumbai fire incident & the death of new born baby girl due to fire in ESIC hospital. I discussed issue of compensation with Minister & Officials of ESIC. They r releasing the balance of Rs.8 lakh immediately to victim's family. pic.twitter.com/8qbKeXtbZg Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) December 26, 2018 The toll in the Mumbai hospital fire rose to 11 with the baby dying in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Holy Spirit Hospital. The girl's mother, Lalita Logavi, had delivered twins through Caesarean section a boy and a girl on 14 December. The infants were born after an in-vitro fertilisation procedure, reports The Indian Express. This was the couple's first pregnancy. While the boy was healthier, the girl weighed over 650 grams at birth and was admitted to the facility's intensive care unit on the hospital's fourth floor. She was among the five babies that suffered injuries when the fire broke out. The Virar-based couple was earlier handed a cheque of Rs 2 lakh, the amount meant for the seriously injured at an event organised by the ESIC at Panchdeep Bhavan. Lalita had earlier said how the crucial 45-60 minutes that the baby had spent after being snapped away from the ventilator after the fire and during her transfer to Holy Spirit Hospital stacked the odds against her. "She got oxygen support in the ambulance. But who is to say that the smoke inhalation combined with the interruption in ventilatory support didn't kill her?" she was quoted as saying by The Times of India. The staff of the ESIC hospital had staged a protest against the hospital administration soon after the incident. They had alleged inadequate facilities at the hospital. The agitation had come amid reports that the hospital failed a fire safety check only a fortnight before the deadly incident. NDTV had reported how the fire department found out that the sprinkle and detection system were not up to the mark. The facility had also stored inflammable material on the ground floor, without proper safety arrangements. In the complaint, the Delhi boy's parents said they feared that their 'cunning' and 'good for nothing' son might use the car and the money for illegal activities, the police said New Delhi: The parents of an 18-year-old boy have lodged a complaint against him alleging that he fled with his father's car after withdrawing Rs 13 lakh from his mother's account and stealing another Rs 50,000 from her almirah, police said on Tuesday. A Class 12 student, the accused fled on 19 December, they said. In the complaint, the boy's parents said they feared that their "cunning" and "good for nothing" son might use the car and the money for illegal activities, the police said. His parents also expressed apprehension that he may have gotten into selling drugs, they said. The boy's parents confronted his girlfriend as they thought she and one of his friends instigated him. However, the girl claimed that she was not aware of his whereabouts, they added. After this, the boy called his parents and asked them to not look for him. He said he was not coming back to them, the police said. The boy's parents alleged that he had withdrawn Rs 50,000 from his mother's account earlier as well and would often ask them for money on the pretext of helping his friend, they said. According to a senior police officer, the teenager's phone was last active near Jaipur. It has been switched off ever since. US president Donald Trump on 21 December indicated his intent to reduce 7,000 US troops in Afghanistan alongside the total withdrawal of all 2,000 servicemen from Syria Even as US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad stepped up the negotiations with the Taliban for an Afghanistan settlement, US president Donald Trump on 21 December indicated his intent to reduce 7,000 US troops in Afghanistan alongside the total withdrawal of all 2,000 servicemen from Syria. Both measures have been out of sync with the declared strategies of the Trump administration. Trump had, in 2017, stated about Afghanistan: "(A) core pillar of our new strategy is a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions We will not talk about number of troops or our plans for further military actions." No doubt, Barack Obama's earlier strategy of surge and then an announced set of timelines of withdrawal had come a cropper. Trump was expected to go steady with his strategy of attempted stabilisation and negotiation with presence of just a division worth of troops for basic security, training, advice and backup. The fighting is in the hands of the local Afghan National Army (ANA) that has suffered over 28,000 killed in the past three years. If statistics matter, then the US forces in Afghanistan lost 2,372 killed till date in 17 years, with 20,320 injured; over 14 years in Vietnam, the US lost 58,320 soldiers. Apparently, the long US deployment more than the casualties, has led to an erosion of stamina and a perception that the war in Afghanistan is fruitless and unlikely to deliver what the US is looking for. The question thus arises: What is the US looking for in Afghanistan and is any of that achievable? With an accepted ball park expenditure of $3 trillion in 17 years and an approximate high of 140,000 troops deployed at one stage in Afghanistan, the US may have expected total victory with the vanquishing of the Taliban and no portents of its return. Such an aim was utopian in modern hybrid wars and Afghanistan was long known for being the graveyard of empires. What the war did achieve and undoubtedly continues to achieve is the fact that it placed controls on the freedom that radicals had come to enjoy, that it has displaced and partially eliminated the leadership of the Al-Qaeda and prevented the conversion of the Afghanista-Pakistan space into a citadel for Islamic radicals from where they could operate against the world with impunity. Had there been greater cooperation from Pakistan, perhaps the situation would have been far more positive; the US apparently had constraints on coercing Pakistan due to various factors. To maintain the status quo, on behalf of the world, with 14,000 troops and some billions of dollars, is not what Trump now wishes because he perceives, rightly or wrongly, that an eventual full withdrawal will get him the presidency again in 2020. He could have waited longer to allow Khalilzad to find some clarity with the Taliban, but the haste appears to show that Khalilzad has given some assurances to the Taliban of cutbacks as a confidence-building measure. Which way the negotiations go is only one side of the narrative; the more important one is what the effect of this is going to be on the internal security situation, the political future and more importantly, the regional security environment beset as it is with Pakistani intransigence. There are just too many issues involved; primacy is given to a few below with the analysis being India-centric. Even with US cutbacks, it is not as if the Taliban will rule in Kabul immediately. This arrangement could remain for long enough and even if an agreement cannot be reached with the Taliban, a status quo could be possible; although the slow erosion process of the stability and hold of the National Unity Government (NUG) will begin. The spoilsport here is likely to be Pakistan which is now sensing its first victory in years with an increase of its own strategic relevance. It will step up support to the Taliban with Chinese and perhaps even Russian backing. The crucial issue is financial support to the beleaguered NUG. The US, under accusations of walking away from allies and its interests, must not exacerbate the situation further with any actions in the non-military domain. After pumping $130 billion to support Afghanistan since 2002, the international community still has little to show in terms of Afghan self-sustainment. The government still needs 80 percent foreign aid to sustain its annual expenditure and without the donor community's assistance, its 174,000-strong ANA and 150,000-strong Afghan National Police (ANP) cannot be maintained. Any erosion here will sound the death knell of the NUG and Pakistan will be backing that. Famously, Trump said not too long ago: "We cannot repeat in Afghanistan the mistake our leaders made in Iraq." He referred to Obama's premature pre-conflict termination pullout from Iraq which allegedly gave rise to the space to terrorist entities. Surprisingly Trump is not mindful of that with these decisions. If re-election is blinding his strategic decision-making, then he must remember that he could lose greater credibility for doing what he critiqued Obama of doing at one time. 'America First' is great as a slogan but there can be many perceptions about what is great for America; what is good in the short run may not be so good in the long run. India as an avid supporter of President Ashraf Ghanis NUG, opted to bide its time in 2015 while it was ignored by Ghani; it was pragmatism and good thinking by India's strategic leadership. It must continue supporting the NUG, having invested energy and resources through political outreach, financial support, military training and soft power. That is because it must not be misled by any perception that the Afghan government is on its last legs and bound to fall anytime soon. No doubt the risk element from Trump's decision could weaken the NUG, but its abandonment by its traditional supporters will put it on a sure course of extinction which is not to anybody's advantage except Pakistan's. Any signal of abandonment would also place at risk future financing by international donors. India could face a serious challenge to the existence of its consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat, long suspected by Pakistan of activities against its interests; especially the first two. It will need to read the security situation closely to comprehend just how safe these missions remain, although primary security remains the responsibility of the ANA and ANP. There will be efforts by Pakistan to cultivate influence in these organisations to upend Indian interests. With only 7,000 troops remaining in the country, the Afghan Taliban may talk but could simultaneously press home its advantage by accelerating the pace of attacks. The reduction in force level could now give the Taliban confidence to work towards a full withdrawal of US forces as a reasonable expectation. What can surely be expected is a surge of the presence of intelligence agencies of different hues and a larger Pakistani footprint. Efforts will be afoot to unhinge the Indian presence although it is common knowledge that the average Afghan detests Pakistan and remains favourable to India. Fortunately, Pakistan does not have the sort of money it can flaunt here, although what it can exploit through the clandestine mafia and drug cartels is something else; further, sensing an opportunity, money from Saudi Arabia and others could be there for the asking. While nothing may be lost with the US troop reduction, it certainly does open opportunities for the resurgence of the Pakistan and Taliban nexus, this time backed by a China-Russia axis too. What the US needs to realise is that by leaving the Afghans to the wolves, it would not be securing its homeland. The proverbial long hand of revenge of the radicals could well strike there too. It is better to stick it out with minimal casualties and some expenditure which will probably buy a safer peace. Pope Francis called for peace and 'fraternity' and Queen Elizabeth II warned against 'tribalism', as many millions across the world celebrated Christmas on Tuesday, and US President Donald Trump caused a festive furore by asking a child whether he still believed in Santa Claus. Vatican City: Pope Francis called for peace and "fraternity" and Queen Elizabeth II warned against "tribalism", as many millions across the world celebrated Christmas on Tuesday, and US President Donald Trump caused a festive furore by asking a child whether he still believed in Santa Claus. Some 50,000 worshippers gathered at the Vatican to hear the pontiff's sixth "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World) message appealing for peace in conflict zones such as Syria and Yemen whose populations face desperate humanitarian crises. "My wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity," he told pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square on Tuesday, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. "Fraternity among individuals of every nation and culture. Fraternity among people with different ideas... Fraternity among persons of different religions." Francis, the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, had used his mass on Monday night to urge people to curb "insatiable greed". The pontiff said he hoped a truce in conflict-ravaged Yemen would end a devastating war that has killed around 10,000 people since 2015 and pushed 14 million Yemenis to the brink of famine. The pope also spoke of the war in Syria, which has forced millions from their homes and reduced swathes of the country to rubble. He called for a "political solution" to the conflict "so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country". Francis also said he hoped for renewed peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians "that can put an end to a conflict that for over 70 years has rent the land chosen by the Lord to show his face of love." Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, located near Jerusalem but cut off from the city by Israel's separation barrier, has seen an increase in visitors this season after several down years because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian tourism officials and hotel operators have reported their strongest season in years. "This year is much more calm, much better than last year," said Abeer Nasser, a Palestinian from the nearby town of Beit Sahour celebrating in Bethlehem with her son and daughter. Beyond Bethlehem, Christians worldwide were marking Christmas, with services held from Indonesia to Iraq. This year's celebrations come after a year of tumult, much of which has come from Washington, where the festive spirit was dampened when the national Christmas tree went dark on the third day of a US government shutdown. One festive service not affected was the military's annual Santa Claus "tracker", which sees North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) deliver live updates on his international gift delivery route. Fielding calls from children anxious to know if their presents would arrive on time, Trump risked a spell on Santa's naughty list by telling one young boy that believing in the jolly man in red at age seven was "marginal". But his scepticism is unlikely to have dampened the enthusiasm of many excited youngsters. "Historical data and more than 60 years of NORAD tracking information lead us to believe Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of people throughout the world," the Pentagon's handbook read. This year in Bethlehem, visitors were also able to view the Church of the Nativity's newly restored mosaics dating to the Crusader era after a major renovation. Visitors from across the world gathered in the "little town" on Christmas Eve for midnight mass, queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born and taking in a festive parade. While for many who celebrate the festival Christmas is a time to gather with loved ones, many were struggling with unforeseen events and hardships. At a little church just outside Indonesia's tsunami disaster zone, a few dozen congregants gathered on Christmas day to pray for the victims. The tsunami, triggered by a volcanic eruption, left more than 400 people dead when it smashed into popular beaches on southern Sumatra and the western edge of Java, inundating tourist hotels and coastal settlements. "This Christmas is different because we're celebrating it during a disaster," Rahmat Carita congregant Eliza told AFP. "For me, it's a chance to contemplate. God's love is real, we must not forget that." Queen Elizabeth II warned of religious "tribalism" in a Christmas message delivered against a backdrop of Britain bickering over its impending exit from the EU. The tone of the 92-year-old monarch's annual TV appearances reflected a sombre mood sweeping the island nation as it ponders the perils of leaving the European project after 46 years. "Even the power of faith, which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice, can fall victim to tribalism," Elizabeth said. Spain's second-largest city Barcelona was meanwhile on alert after the US State Department warned of the risk of a terrorist attack during the Christmas holidays. And in France, groups of "yellow vest" anti-government demonstrators are spending Christmas day at makeshift protest camps on roundabouts across the country, eating devilled eggs and foie gras with new friends they have made in weeks of rallies against the policies of President Emmanuel Macron. Union minister Giriraj Singh Noida Tuesday advocated for a law to control the population in the country, noting that it was becoming an impediment for development and social harmony. Noida: Union minister Giriraj Singh Noida Tuesday advocated for a law to control the population in the country, noting that it was becoming an impediment for development and social harmony. The Minister of State, Independent Charge, in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSME) also threatened to resign over the issue, saying he could go to "any extent" for it. Singh was here to participate in a programme organised by the Jansankya Samadhaan Foundation, its activists and office-bearers handed over a memorandum to him seeking support for the law. Citing different sources, he said India's population is equal to that of China, higher than 125 crore as believed, but resources like land and water are limited. "For development and social harmony in the country, controlling the population is important," Singh, Lok Sabha MP from Bihar's Nawada, told reporters. "Development is also hampered by overpopulation and it is evident if you go to any road (traffic), school, hospital, and is also impacting employment opportunities. That is why it is very important that a law is framed in the country to control population," he said. Noting that population control programmes were being carried out in 22 Islamic countries and it was only in India where such initiatives are linked to religion, he said the law should be such that it applies to all the communities and action taken against violators, including revoking their voting rights. "If the law says only two children are allowed, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and all others should follow it. Those who do not follow the law, their voting rights should be revoked, action on their finances be taken, legal proceedings initiated against them. "Until that happens, the country would face reducing land, water, worsening environment and limiting of other resources," he said. Asked if he would "resign" to press for such a law, as mentioned in a press statement by the foundation, he said, "I am ready to go to any extent for people's awakening." He said he was "ideologically" with the foundation, which has held rallies in Amroha, Baghpat and Ghaziabad and plans to go to 34 more districts to press for the issue "from streets to 'sansad' (Parliament). The minister also made references to Kairana, a town in Shamli which had witnessed exodus of over 200 Hindu families due to fear of "majority community", to say social harmony is witnessed only in areas where Hindus are present in majority. "Wherever in the country the population of Hindus has gone down, social harmony has suffered a setback there," he said, claiming there were around 54 districts in the country and 21 in Uttar Pradesh, which have witnessed a drop in the Hindu population over the years. Earlier Tuesday, the venue of the event had to be changed at the last minute after it appeared that the NGO was denied permission for the programme with the Union minister as its chief guest at the city magistrate's office in Sector 19 in Noida. The organisers claimed they had applied for permission and it was granted to them five days before the event, while officials in the administration said they had worked according to the protocol mandated for Union ministers and there was no issue of permission being denied. Singh also declined to comment on the last minute change in the venue, but said he was "a follower of the law". The Kremlin has confirmed that the Russian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, agreed to meet once again before the end of the year. "The leaders have agreed to meet before the end of the year," TASS cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. Yesterday, Putin and Lukashenko spent four hours in talks that focused on issues of integration of the two countries, cooperation in the energy sector as well as amendments to Russias tax legislation and their impact on the economy of Belarus. Abdullah was detained from Attari in 2017 while Warsi spent 10 years in Bhopal jail on charges of forgery and spying after coming to India in 2004. Amritsar: India released two jailed Pakistani nationals, Abdullah and Mohammed Imran Qureshi Warsi, through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday. Pakistani national Imran Qureshi Warsi who was lodged in Bhopal jail since 10 years for forging documents and spying returns to Pakistan from Attari-Wagah border. pic.twitter.com/77Y85JJxpY ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 Abdullah was detained from Attari in 2017 while Warsi spent 10 years in Bhopal jail on charges of forgery and spying after coming to India in 2004. "It was my childhood dream to meet Shahrukh Khan and see India but I could not fulfil it. I will be back in India, but with a visa this time," Abdullah said near the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday. Warsi, on the other hand, had come to India to meet his Kolkata based relatives. He stayed on in India for four years despite the expiry of his visa. Furthermore, he also got a ration card and a PAN card made during his stay. In fact, he was on his way to Bhopal to get a passport made when he was arrested by the police. "My term expired in January this year, following which the police took care of me until now because I had no money of my own. I now get to go home after 14 years, and I couldn't be happier to see my mother, father and siblings who all reside in Karachi," Warsi told ANI in Bhopal on 22 December. "The police treated me very well, just like a family. I found loving people here the same way there are loving people in Pakistan. I believe good people find good people everywhere," Warsi had said. He has an Indian wife and two children from the marriage, whom he plans on taking to Pakistan through proper legal recourse. The returns come in the wake of Hamid Ansari, an Indian national who was detained and jailed in Pakistan for six years, being repatriated to India after the completion of his prison term on 15 December. India sent home two Pakistani nationals, including a 21-year-old who said he had crossed over in 2017 to meet Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan Amritsar: India sent home Wednesday two Pakistani nationals, including a 21-year-old who said he had crossed over in 2017 to meet Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. Abdullah and Mohammed Imran Qureshi Warsi were repatriated through the Attari-Wagah border on the basis of an emergency travel certificate issued by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, officials said. While Abdullah was detained at Attari after he had crossed over without any documents, Warsi spent around a decade in Bhopal jail on charges of "forgery and spying" after coming to India in 2004. Abdullah said he had come to witness the Beating Retreat Ceremony held every evening at the border gates. He crossed the Zero Line after the ceremony and told BSF officials that he had wanted to meet Shah Rukh Khan, officials said. "It was my childhood dream to come to India and meet Shah Rukh Khan," he said before his repatriation. He said since his dream was not fulfilled this time, he will come back again to meet the actor. The other Pakistani national, Warsi, had come to India with proper documents to meet his relatives in Kolkata. He stayed on in the country for four years even after the expiry of his visa. He had also allegedly obtained a ration card and some other documents during his stay. In 2008, he was arrested while on his way to Bhopal to get a passport, an official at Attari said. Warsi said he was very happy as he will be able to meet his parents and siblings who all live in Karachi's Gulshan Iqbal area. He married an Indian woman who is from Kolkata and the couple has two children. He plans to bring the family legally to Pakistan later, the officials said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday busted a suspected Islamic State (IS)-inspired terror module following searches in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, arresting at least 10 people allegedly planning to attack crowded places and political personalities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday busted a suspected Islamic State (IS)-inspired terror module following searches in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, arresting at least 10 people allegedly planning to attack crowded places and political personalities. Searches were conducted across 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a probe into a new module called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. IG NIA: Level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts & fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Identities are yet to be established. pic.twitter.com/7BEZvvtukE ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 According to NIA inspector-general Alok Mittal, the module was in touch with foreign handlers and the group was under NIA surveillance for some time following inputs of its suspicious activities. Mittal in a press conference told reporters that searches were carried out in Delhi's Seelampur, Jaffrabad and Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, Meerut, Amroha and Hapur districts where a huge quantity of explosives, a country-made rocket launcher, 100 mobile phones and 135 SIM cards were recovered. A total of Rs 7.5 lakh in cash was also recovered during the raids. 16 people were detained and 10 of them were arrested by the NIA after a joint operation of the Delhi Police special cell, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the NIA. "The level of preparation showed they were planning to attacks in near fidayeen attacks," Mittal said. Mittal told the media that the suspects were making efforts to build suicide vests for the attacks, and were also in the process of making remote-controlled IEDs. He said that the suspects were communicating with each other via messaging applications like WhatsApp and Telegram and all of them seemed to be "highly radicalised". Mittal said that the module started three to four months ago and the suspects seemed trained. The RSS offfice in Delhi and the Delhi Police headquarters were on the radar, officials said. Meanwhile, according to PTI, crowded places and political personalities were the targets. Among those arrested is an Amity University (Noida) civil engineering student, whereas five people each have been arrested from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. According to the NIA, raids were also conducted in Lucknow and Baxar and a woman suspect is also being interrogated. The agency also said that it has found incriminating documents against the suspects and the identity of the foreign handler would be revealed after verification. The NIA also showed images of the recoveries made post the raid, during the press conference on Wednesday and a video showing a bomb-making module which the NIA claimed was in the voice of Mufti Sohail, who is touted to be the gang leader. Sohail, 29, reportedly stays in Delhi and is a native of Uttar Pradesh's Amroha where he works at a mosque.Mittal said that all those arrested were in the age group of 20 to 30 years and belonged to middle-income families. He told CNN-News18 that more arrests may take place soon in connection with the raids. With inputs from agencies The Jharkhand government had banned the Popular Front of India in the state on 22 February last year on the charge of spreading anarchy, after which PFI staged countrywide protests. Chennai: Dec 25 (PTI) The Madras High Court has quashed criminal cases filed against 400 members of Popular Front of India (PFI) for staging a protest in Chennai without permission against the ban on the outfit by the Jharkhand government in February this year. Justice Anand Venkatesh passed the order recently, allowing a plea of PFI member Mohamed Shaik Ansari. The petitioner contended that the FIR against the protesters were filed under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant) in violation of guidelines issued by the court in Jeevanandham case. According to the petitioner, the Jharkhand government had, on 22 February last year, banned the organisation in the state on the charge of spreading anarchy. Condemning the decision, PFI members had staged demonstrations and protests across the country, and 400 workers, including 100 women, of its Tamil Nadu unit held the protest in Chennai. All the 400 PFI workers were arrested as the protest was organised without obtaining police permission. An FIR was registered against all under IPC sections 188 and 143 (unlawful assembly). Contending that the police had failed to follow the guidelines laid down by the high court, the petitioner wanted the FIRs to be quashed. The court had in September this year gave certain guidelines to be followed in future by the police while dealing with an offence under Section 188 of the IPC. BSP president Mayawati Wednesday denounced the Noida administration's 'improper and arbitrary' order on Friday namaaz, saying such a policy, if any, should be implemented in all districts and on people from all religions Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati Wednesday denounced the Noida administration's "improper and arbitrary" order on Friday namaaz, saying such a policy, if any, should be implemented in all districts and on people from all religions. "The order regarding prior approval for offering Friday namaaz at public parks and warning of strict action on firms whose employees are found flouting is improper and arbitrary," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said in a release here. "If the Yogi Adityanath government in the state has any such policy of banning religious activities at public places, why is it not being implemented on people belonging to all religions and in all the districts of the state without any discrimination," she added. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Noida's Sector 58 Police Station Pankaj Rai had earlier this month sent notices to 23 private firms asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park citing a 2009 Supreme Court order which prohibits religious gatherings at public places. However, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister claimed that if prayers were being offered in the park since 2013, what was the logic behind banning them ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "It is most natural that questions will be raised on the BJP government's policy and intentions as elections approach," she said. "This also strengthens the doubt that the BJP regime wants to divert attention from its failures and shortcomings by creating such religious controversies," she added. It only highlights the frustration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders following their defeat in the resent Assembly elections, she said further. The Noida Police had issued the order following a complaint by the residents of Bishanpura village, under the Sector 58 police station limits, which is close to the park. According to the complaint, despite the district magistrate rejecting the companies' plea seeking permission to offer prayers at the ground, the employees were breaching the order. The SHO of the Sector 58 Police Station had also said in the order that the companies would be held responsible if they failed to prevent their Muslim employees from offering namaaz at the ground. However, District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh Tuesday clarified that no companies would be held responsible for their employees' personal activities, as was mentioned in the police notes and that Rai was only carrying out his responsibilities. Defending the directive, the Noida Police also said that the order was issued amid concerns that communal harmony could be disturbed, especially ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Disintegration of Mehbooba Mufti and her party PDP began in the summer of 2018 after BJP pulled the rug from beneath the so-called Kashmir-centric coalition government. Analysts argued that Mehbooba lacked her father's skills to take everyone along. Editor's Note: As another turbulent year comes to an end in Jammu and Kashmir, Firstpost will run a series of reports on how the state changed in 2018 and how these changes will translate on the ground. This series will focus on new-age militancy and the changing political landscape in the Valley, as well as the ever-increasing gap between the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir. *** Few months ago, there was a long queue of cars outside the upscale Gupkar Road Srinagar residence of Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar. Now, there are no waiting cars and no rush of visitors. The jobless security officials deployed for her security chat up with each other as vehicles pass by. Like her residence, the office of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), few kilometres away, is deserted too. In the summer of 2018, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled the rug from beneath the so-called Kashmir-centric coalition government, rumours started doing rounds that this was the beginning of the disintegration of PDP. Analysts argued that Mehbooba lacked her fathers skills to take everyone along, but her leaders and workers believed that she was also the only one in the PDP who gets along well with all the other party members. Whenever she arrived in the villages for campaigning, Mehbooba would sit amid her workers she knew the names of their husbands, sisters, brothers, who was doing what and how many people had been detained by police for stone pelting. She was a nightmare for any party in power. In one incident, during the 2009 Shopian rape and murder case, she locked herself up in a police station in Shopian. She was a rabble rouser and a crowd puller. PDP was Mehbooba and she relied heavily on her workers. She was accessible to them and they, in turn, did whatever she asked for, including staging protests and blocking roads. But everything changed once the party came to power for second time after stitching the alliance with the Hindu right-wing party in 2015. The People's Democratic Party was born in late July 1999 and it infused fresh breath into the political discourse as the National Conference, Kashmirs oldest party, was temporarily losing space after it allied with the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. The NC-BJP alliance was a replica of PDP-BJP. The alliance agreed on nothing when it came to Kashmir. Like PDP these days, the NCs support base was also slipping away. The NCs decline was PDPs chance of strengthening its grasp on voters in Kashmir. PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeeds own career in Congress had come to a halt and the void created by NCs alliance with the BJP was up for grabs. PDP was Kashmir-centric and the partys concern for its core constituency in the Valley struck chord with the people. The party argued for talks between India and Pakistan with Kashmiris in the fray. It called for upholding the rule of law with equal emphasis on human rights of the people. For the first time, the party came to power in 2002 in a coalition government with the Congress. After Mufti completed his term as part of rotational chief minister, Congresss Ghulam Nabi Azad ascended the chair. However, before the coalition could complete the term, Mehbooba withdrew her partys support in the aftermath of the Amaranth agitation in 2008. Ahead of the 2002 elections, Mufti talked about the "healing touch", withdrawing Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) from the state and disbanding the notorious Special Operation Group (SOG). He also made efforts to institutionalise a dialogue process between New Delhi and the separatists. Mehbooba, too, sought votes but for different reasons. Vote for us and we will stop the BJP from coming to power, Mehbooba Mufti told a cheering audience before the 2014 assembly election from the window of her black Scorpio. Kashmiris responded to her call and her party emerged as a single largest party with 28 seats. But another development shook the political landscape. The BJP won a landslide in Jammu, riding Modi on wave, and emerged as the second largest party for the first time in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir. After the initial dilly-dallying, Mufti described the alliance of PDP and BJP as coming together of North Pole - South Pole. It is a new party which has not gone through trials and tribulations like NC and other parties. The organisation was strong until Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was alive. The way Mufti took everyone along, she failed to do that. Once the power went away, so did the people. The only glue around her was power. People stayed there as long as power was there, Mohammad Syed Malik, a renowned political commentator and former newspaper editor, said. Everything started to change after the demise of senior Mufti. Mehbooba climbed the throne after a section of PDP leaders tried to form a government with the BJP. Mehbooba was informed by none other than a top official in PMO about the development and within two hours she decided to restitch the alliance which had broken away after Mufti's death. After 4 April, 2016, when Mehbooba was sworn in as the first woman chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the party started to fall apart. Her real strength, her workers, started feeling ignored. She was now a chief minister and not a party president. Even as the rumour mills were doing rounds, it soon dawned upon her that the alliance was not going anywhere. "After Burhan Wani episode, it was not a question of if but when," a senior PDP leader said when asked about what went wrong with the BJP-PDP alliance. Soon, PDP leaders and activists started deserting the party to either join Abdullah's NC or Sajad Lone's Peoples Conference. Last week, two senior leaders, Basharat Bukhari and Peer Mohammad Hussain joined National Conference. Bukhari become the fifth legislator to resign from the party. Earlier, another senior leader, Raja Ajaz Ali Khan who had contested elections from Uri, also resigned. Former ministers, Haseeb Drabu and Imran Reza Ansari, and former legislators, Abid Ansari and Abbas Wani, have also left the party. The rising wave of Mehboobas party has crashed without much impact, damaging its own prospects. It has taken only a couple of years for the party to unravel. Mehbooba is not known to give up easily. Leaders come and go but the party remains. It may be a difficult time (for PDP) but time changes, she told her party workers recently in Srinagar. Will PDP's fortunes change? Only time will tell. In interrogations by the NIA, half the suspects said communalism ranging from riots to compulsory yoga practice led them to join the Islamic State. Barely half of them cited the global Islamist project that underpins the Islamic State In the summer of 2016, with the spectacular ravines of the Euphrates stretching out in the background, a soft-spoken eye-hospital technician from Mumbai spoke to India from the Islamic States capital at al-Raqqa. "Do you not remember the serial blasts on the trains in Bombay?" "Have you forgotten the serial blasts in Gujarat? Have you forgotten the destruction in Delhi and in Jaipur? "We will deliver unto you a reckoning far more terrible than these... and will wage war upon you until polytheism is destroyed in India, and Allahs rule is established," he warned. Like most of the 70-odd Indians who went to fight among the ranks of the Islamic State, Abu Rashid is almost certainly interred under the ruins of Raqqa or Mosul. But their dystopia didn't. Wednesdays arrests by the National Investigations Agency in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, preempting what officials say were plans to stage bombings in New Delhi over the New Year, demonstrate the Islamic States jihadist call is seducing some young Muslims in a time of deepening communal fractures. Ever since 2009, over 91 jihadist cells have been dismantled by the NIA, which deals mainly with cases having pan-India significance; 63 of those have come since 2015. The Islamic State has been the biggest single contributor to this basket with 24 cases. Twenty-three of these cells were from Kashmir while 43 included other jihadist groups put together. Wednesdays arrests have provided some important insights into the nature of the threat. Incensed by what he perceived to be growing state-abetted violence against Muslims, NIA sources say, Delhi-born cleric Mufti Muhammad Suhail code-named Hazrat or Prophet mobilised young men and recruited them through his mosque in Amroha. The cell, the NIA believes, was mentored by an Islamic State supporter overseas, likely in Pakistan though they have so far been unable to dig out evidence of his identity through the mass of encrypted messaging the group used to communicate. Earlier Islamic State cells in India have had little operational success. Barring a 17 March, 2017, bombing on board a Bhopal-Ujjain bus, there has been no operation of significant scale. But this time, the cell meant business. Helped by nothing but internet research, NIA investigators believed, the men had gathered 25 kilogrammes of potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sugar and sulphur easily turned into low-grade explosives meant to be packed inside metal lunch-boxes, and detonated using simple remote-controlled devices. The cell had gathered 12 pistols, 150 rounds of ammunition, and even assembled a simple rocket-launcher. Put simply, this the first Islamic State group that had acquired the necessary elements for true lethality. Had the Telangana Polices counter-terrorism unit, regarded as the most sophisticated operational unit of its kind in India, not broken into their digital conversations, this New Year would have looked very different. Muhammad Suhail may have been a cleric, as was his aide and alleged weapons-procurer Saqib Iftekar, but the men the two recruited werent. Delhi resident Anas Yunus, alleged to have purchased the electrical components for the bombs, studies civil engineering at a university in Noida; Zubair Malik, who allegedly bought SIM cards for the plot is in the final year of a Bachelors programme in a New Delhi university. His brother, Zaid Malik, also accused of purchasing SIM cards and components, also has a university education. The brothers Saeed Ahmed and Raees Ahmed, accused of purchasing the explosive material and fabricating the rocket-launcher, run a welding workshop in Islam Nagar. Also accused are: garments business owner Rashid Zafar Raq, auto-rickshaw driver Muhammad Irshad, and medical-store owner Mohammad Azam. According to investigators, the group even included a middle-aged woman, who was given the charge of safely keeping the 7.5 lakh in cash that the group raised among themselves and from their supporters. However, it is unclear if she knew what it was intended for. From the governments data, its clear that those drawn to the Islamic State's ideology arent the stereotypical madrasa-educated fanatics. Instead, they are members of the Muslim middle class, who the government says are deeply attached to the Indian democracy. Estimates based on government data show that almost three in four Islamic State suspects arrested on terrorism charges 68 percent came from middle-class backgrounds while a similar percentage had a university or post-graduate degree. Eleven percent, a small sub-set, had some kind of religious education. In interrogations by the NIA, half the suspects said communalism ranging from riots to compulsory yoga practice led them to join the Islamic State. Barely half of them cited the global Islamist project that underpins the Islamic State. Counter-terrorism experts around the world have learned that it doesnt take more than an internet connection and some common sense to turn those ideas into dead bodies. His face masked with a white handkerchief, an assault rifle cradled in his lap, and wearing the combat fatigues in which he would be buried, Muhammad Taufiq delivered his only testament in the rolling accent of the Deccan: "Twenty-five years ago, our enemies destroyed a mosque, but their eyes were not only on the Babri Masjid. These perfidious Hindus will keep changing their tactics until their mission is accomplished and that mission is the elimination of every last Muslim." Three months later, Taufiq was dead, killed in a shootout with an al-Qaeda cell in Jammu and Kashmir. Hed been twice caught trawling Islamic State websites, and counselled by the police in Hyderabad. Failing to make it to Syria, he chose to die in Kashmir. Like so many other young jihadists, Taufiq wasnt even born when the Babri Masjid was demolished and could have chosen a different kind of future. His father works at the Department of Atomic Energys heavy water plant in Manuguru, a key part of Indias nuclear programme. Like his two other sons, Taufiqs father has no connection to Islamist politics or jihadism. Back in 2016, the Indian jihadists who appeared in the Islamic State video made much the same point. Aman Tandel, one of four Thane men who joined the jihad in Iraq, vowed to return home "with a sword in hand, to avenge the Babri Masjid, and the killings of Muslims in Kashmir, in Gujarat, and in Muzaarnagar". The language is designed to provoke rage among Indians but it should also be a reason for reflection, on why these young men ended up where they did. Ever since December 1993, there have been successive waves of jihadist recruitment. That tragedy saw the rise of jihadists lead by Abdul Karim Tunda heading into the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Following 2002, another generation formed the Indian Mujahideen. And following the Indian Mujahideens collapse, many of its members among them, Mumbai eye-hospital worker Ahmed fled for the Afghanistan-Pakistan borderlands, and then Syria. The small numbers involved in these violent groups, given Indias giant Muslim population, demonstrate their cause has no wide appeal. Yet, communal violence enables and legitimises the operations of successive waves of jihadist groups, drawing in young recruits who believe democracy has betrayed them. That, in turn, feeds and empowers the Hindu-nationalist range. Each successive cycle of hatred makes the process more powerful, increasing the risk of large-scale violence that could tear the country apart. Indias police and intelligence services can take a bow but the country needs to find a way to dismantle this perpetual motion machine of hatred if their efforts are to have meaning. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting raids at at least 16 locations across Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in collaboration with the UP Anti-terrorist Squad. The National Investigation Agency has conducted raids at 16 locations across Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in collaboration with the UP Anti-Terrorism Squad and Delhi Police Special Cell, reports have said. The preliminary reports stated that the NIA had received intelligence input about a new Islamic State-inspired terrorist module operating in North India. The group suspected of carrying out terrorists activities calls itself 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam', ANI reported. Visuals from Amroha where NIA is conducting searches in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. Searches are underway at 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. pic.twitter.com/aCp03AYRr6 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 26, 2018 Delhi Police Special Cell and NIA detained five alleged Islamic State (IS) affiliated militants from Jafrabad in Delhi. The head of the alleged module of the IS Suhail has been detained from Uttar Pradesh's Amroha. Parellel searches were on in several districts of Western Uttar Pradesh including Meerut, Hapur and Muzaffarnagar to trace suspects with links to terror outfits. Inspector General of Police of Uttar Pradesh ATS Asim Arun confirmed that five people linked to a terror group have been arrested. He said one person has been arrested from a madrasa in Amroha while four others were arrested from various locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Apart from the Amroha cleric, those arrested also include a civil engineering third year student. Moreover, four others were detained from Kithore in Meerut by the joint team. Arun said that a large number of explosives such as ammonium nitrate have been recovered in the raids, adding that the suspects were planning a big terror strike. A pistol has also been recovered from the raids. In a similar but unrelated incident, the NIA had conducted raids on the properties owned by seven persons in various parts of Tamil Nadu over their alleged links with the dreaded Islamic State group. The raids were conducted at Otteri in Chennai, Tindivanam near Villupuram, Kuniyamuthur, Ukkadam, and Variety Hall Road in Coimbatore district between 6.45 am to 8.30 am on 19 December, Hindustan Times reported. With inputs from Saurabh Sharma, 101 Reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin may attend the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that no final decision had been made yet. "We do welcome a change in the atmosphere in Davos," he noted. "There indeed is an old and a constantly renewed invitation to Putin to visit Davos," TASS cited the Kremlin spokesman as saying. At the same time, Peskov noted that "no decisions have been made so far," because the presidents schedule is rather heavy given the international situation. "The possibility is under consideration," the presidential spokesman concluded. The apex court is scheduled to take up next week the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case along with public interest litigation questioning delay in the adjudication of the matter. New Delhi: The BJP would have to look for 'other options' to build Ram Temple at Ayodhya if the Supreme Court doesn't fast-track the Ayodhya case and conclude it at earliest, said BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday. "The option of an ordinance has always been there but right now the matter is before the Supreme Court and Supreme Court has given January 04 as the date to decide about the next bench," said Ram Madhav. The apex court is scheduled to take up next week the Ram Janmabhoomi - Babri Masjid case along with public interest litigation questioning delay in the adjudication of the matter. The top court's bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will decide on "fixing the date of hearing before the appropriate bench". "We are hoping that in a very fast track way the SC will take up the matter and conclude it early. If that doesn't happen then we have to look for other options. That Ram Temple should be built at Ayodhya is a commitment that BJP has supported 20-30 years ago," said Madhav. The Babri Masjid, built by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1578 in Ayodhya was on December 6, 1992, pulled down allegedly by a group of Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Ram temple that originally stood here. Since then, several hearings have been held in the Supreme Court to resolve the issue. In 2010, the Allahabad High Court said that the disputed site in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts, with two-thirds given to Hindus and one-third to Muslims. In 2011 the Supreme Court suspended this ruling following the appeals by both Hindu and Muslim groups. Since then, at least 14 petitions have also challenged the ruling. The apex court in September this year, while ruling on a separate case, remarked that the mosque was "not integral to Islam", a point that bolstered the demand for the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site. On 3 December, a massive fire broke out at an open plot of land in Mumbai's Aarey Colony, near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park the largest green lung in the metropolis. With the fire department now having submitted its report into the incident, questions linger over whether there was foul play in the incident. On 3 December, a massive fire broke out at an open plot of land in Mumbai's Aarey Colony, near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park the largest green lung in the metropolis. With the fire department now having submitted its report into the incident, questions linger over whether there was foul play in the incident. Some activists have termed the fire a deliberate act. The report of the fire department stated, "During the course of inspection, some bottles, half-burnt tyre (sic), plastics, etc. articles were noticed in the central region of the hill, which denotes the trespassing by unauthorised persons in the said land area. Also, in spite of the huge fire, there were some unaffected/unburnt portions on the hillock which further raises the possibility of some suspicious activity in the said land area. The report concluded that the cause of the fire was 'doubtful.' Interestingly, the report noted that since 2007, there were 29 such instances where fire broke out at the same plot of land, albeit minor ones which were classified as Level-I blazes. The fire which occurred on 3 December was a relatively major one, and was classified as Level-III. Speaking to Firstpost, Mumbais Chief Fire Officer Prabhat Rahangdale said, "While there have been several fires at the plot, these have taken place over the course of many years. In the recent case, whether or not there is any foul play involved is something for the police to investigate." A police official said, "We are investigating all angles into the possible cause of the incident. Traces of inflammable material which were found on the soil at the spot have been sent to a forensic laboratory, and we are awaiting their report. Once we get the report, there will be more clarity on what may have led to the blaze." However, Stalin Dayanand director of projects with NGO Vanashakti believes that the fire is unlikely to have been due to accidental causes. "It is certainly not a normal occurrence for so many fires to take place at the same plot in the past few years. Also, the fact that a part of the hillock was left untouched is definitely suspicious. This may be a part of a plot to ensure that no vegetation grows there, so that the question of seeking permission to cut trees does not arise." Dayanand further cited satellite images over the years to buttress his argument. In a letter to various authorities in May 2015, he had flagged off the steady transformation of landscape and denuding of trees in roughly the same area. He had further written, "A wall has been built to deprive the natural flow of water in this mountain thereby depriving the trees inside the wall from getting water during the monsoons. Levelling of land and alteration of water courses that carry run off from the mountains is happening here." The plot where the fire took place belongs to the FE Dinshaw Trust and is to be developed by the construction firm Raheja Constructions. However, after disagreements between the two parties, both filed cases against each other in court. The dispute is presently pending in the Bombay High Court. When asked about the possible reason for the fire, Mahendra Chande, the vice-president of Raheja Constructions, said, "While a high wall has been constructed around most of the plot, a part of the area is accessible from outside through a nallah. Due to this, unauthorised people sometimes trespass on to the plot and engage in anti-social activities. The fire may have been caused by some such people who entered the plot illegally. In any case, there is no connection between the ongoing court case and the fire, and there is no such foul play involved." Incidentally, this is not the first time in recent years that speculations of foul play were sparked off over the plot. The fire at the Deonar landfill in February, 2016 is a case in point. While firefighters were still trying to bring the blaze under control, Mumbai's municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the then police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar had expressed the possibility that it may have been deliberately ignited. Following the incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) blamed it on rag pickers and barred them from entering the dumping ground. In 2012, a massive fire at the Mantralaya, the Maharashtra governments secretariat, had led to similar allegations. Several leaders who were then in the Opposition, including the BJPs Vinod Tawde and Shiv Senas Subhash Desai had expressed the possibility of a conspiracy behind the incident. Following the incident, there were many reports of Right to Information (RTI) activists being denied information on important issues, with officials stating that the concerned records were burnt in the fire. In one case reported in The Indian Express, a public information officer gave two conflicting answers to the same query. When the chief secretarys office forwarded the RTI query to the officer, he replied that the file was burnt during the Mantralaya fire. However, in reply to a query made directly to the concerned department, he reportedly made no mention of the fire, and stated that no record as stated in the application existed. India is increasingly facing internal security threats from the illegal arms manufacturers because the inflow of weapons to neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar have come down considerably after the border security was beefed up Munger, a district deep inside the badlands of southern Bihar, has been home to domestic weapon-manufacturing factories since the 1780s, creating a rich tradition of skilled illegal arms makers. The district is famous for its kattas, or country-made single shot pistols, and more significantly first copies of international brands such as Smith and Wesson, Webley & Scott pistols and even AK-47s and AK-56s, which, at times, deceive even experts. Signature Munger-made weapons have come been unearthed during raids on Naxalites, who operate in the Red Corridor across Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. In February 2017, five illegal mini-factories in the region, which were being operated by Maoists, were destroyed by the Bihar Police. Moreover, the media has widely reported how Maoists have been procuring weapons from illegal arms manufacturers to destabilise internal security. Recently, the police arrested three persons in Jammu and Kashmir, who pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State. Investigations revealed that the trio was asked to buy weapons from Munger and then cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to undergo training. Over the years, Munger has also earned notoriety for supplying weapons to Bangladeshis including terror groups such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). For instance, the Munger-made weapons were used by members of neo-JMB in Dhakas Holey Artisan Cafe attack in July 2017, which claimed 29 lives. The arms-manufacturing business in Munger has been in decline since the turn of the new millennium due to greater crackdown on this illegal cottage industry, compelling many to migrate outside Bihar in search of livelihood and safe havens. The Kaliachak block in West Bengals Malda district is one such safe haven, which has become an adopted home for many on-the-run Mungeris, and has emerged as the mainstay of gun supply to local criminal gangs. Kaliachak is also a hub for producing opium, which is used to buy arms and also to fund terror groups such as JMB. Beyond Munger, Madhya Pradeshs Khargone district, located in the central Indian states south-western part, is another major centre for manufacturing illegal arms. About 5,000 Sikligar Sikhs are involved in the trade and are known to have supplied arms to many actors including terrorist group SIMI in Madhya Pradesh in 2011, according to the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials. Besides SIMI, no major terror group has procured weapons from the Sikligar Sikhs, but security agencies are still keeping a close tab on the impoverished community for their linkages to anti-national activities. The problem that arises with the issue of arms smuggling is that little first-hand information is available on its explicit links with terror groups. However, poring over the facts and figures of illegal arms production give a sense of their impact on insurgency movements. India is increasingly facing internal security threats from the illegal arms trade sector because the inflow of weapons to neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar have come down considerably after the border security was beefed up. Recommendations and challenges Dealing with arms smuggling and terror nexus is fundamentally an economic exercise to reduce the demand and the supply of weapons. Imposing hefty fines and penalties on illegal use of weapons and clamping down on insurgencies would help reduce the growing appetite for arms and ammunition. On the supply side, the government can take steps to train people involved in arms manufacturing in alternative vocations. For instance, Munger thrives on a parallel economy by selling illegal locally-made arms. The illegal arms manufacturing industry sustains a section of Mungeris, who dont have economically viable skills. Similar challenges confront the Sikligar Sikh community, and they have expressed their eagerness to integrate with the mainstream for a better future. There is a pattern in demand for illegal arms. Come elections, the lawless parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar always see an uptick in sales of guns. And politicians often lure voters with guns, among other inducements, in their desperate bid to win elections. Once the elections are over, the guns often end up in the hands of terrorists and criminals. Strong electoral laws are the need of the hour to prevent the proliferation of wanton arms during elections. Also, police action should be de-linked from political patronage to improve law and order. The solutions, however, present new problems for policymakers. As arms are smuggled within and across states, effective coordination and cooperation among police, security agencies, border authorities and ministries are needed, which in reality is few and far between. The problem intensifies when states are ruled by parties, who are inimical to each other. To make matters worse, security and border forces are routinely understaffed, over-worked and poorly paid, encouraging smuggling of firearms under the nose of corrupt authorities. States have to contend with international smuggling routes, fuelling demands of assorted terror and insurgent groups. Encouragingly, the once rampant arms smuggling via the porous India-Bangladesh border has come down drastically. Violence too has abated in domestic terror hotspots such as the Red Corridor and the remote North East. The trend suggests that effective cooperation is achievable for domestic agencies. Most proposed solutions can be implemented at some level, provided there is political will. Illegal arms smugglers may continue to have a truck with hardened criminals, but their linkages with terror groups and insurgents call for greater attention and stronger action. The author is a research analyst at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore Six policemen, including an inspector and a sub-inspector, were booked on charges of 'killing' a Dalit youth in their custody in Amroha district, said a senior official. Amroha: Six policemen, including an inspector and a sub-inspector, were booked Wednesday on charges of "killing" a Dalit youth in their custody in Amroha district, said a senior official. The Department has already suspended 11 police officials of the Dhanaura police station for their alleged involvement in the custodial death, said Amroha Superintendent of Police Brijesh Kumar Singh. Singh identified the six policemen, booked on charges of the "custodial killing" of 30-year-old Dalit youth Balkishan as Dhanaura police station in-charge, Inspector Arvind Mohan Sharma, Sub-Inspector Manoj Upadhyay, Head Constable Ravindra Rana and constables Vinit Chaudhary, Jitendra and Vivek. The SP said on a complaint of the victim's relative Jai Prakash, the six policemen were also booked on various charges under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victim's wife Kunti, manwhile, demanded damages for killing of her husband and a job for herself from the Uttar Pradesh government. The police registered the first information report against the six police officials after hundreds of the victim's co-villagers held a day-long protest at the nearby national highway, disrupting traffic. As per the complaint lodged with the police in case, Balkishan, a resident of Basi Sherpur of Mandi Dhanaura in Amroha, had been picked up by the police on Sunday for questioning into a case of the purchase of stolen motorcycle and was thrown behind bars. On deterioration of his health on the night intervening Tuesday and Wednesday, Balkishan was rushed to a hospital where he was declared "brought dead". The victim's wife alleged her husband died due to thrashing by the police in custody. The police were also demanding money from her for his release, she alleged. Sources said on intimation of Balkishan's death in police custody, hundreds of his co-villagers descended on the adjoining national highway on Wednesday morning and blocked traffic, resulting in huge traffic jam. The crowd also damaged several vehicles during the protest, warranting police to deploy PAC personnel to contain the mob's fury, they said. Making an appeal to the agitating crowd to withdraw their stir and vacate the road to resume the traffic, Amroha's Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sanjay Bansal and police Circle Officer Monika Yadav said the erring police officials have already been suspended. The Tamil Nadu government said it was making all efforts to prevent the impact of the HIV virus on the woman, and stocks in all blood banks would be reviewed to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Virudhunagar: A 24-year-old pregnant woman from Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district contracted HIV after receiving blood donated by an infected man, prompting the state government to review the stocks in all blood banks of the state to ensure they were free of the deadly virus. An employee of a blood bank attached to a government hospital in Sattur has been dismissed, while two others have been suspended in connection with the incident, health department officials said on Wednesday. The state government said it was making all efforts to prevent the impact of the virus on the woman, and stocks in all blood banks would be reviewed to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Joint Director of Health Services, Virudhunagar, R Manoharan told PTI the woman was admitted to a private hospital in Sattur for the birth of her second child and the doctors advised her to have a blood transfusion citing haemoglobin deficiency. Blood brought from a blood bank was transfused to her. It later emerged that the donor was HIV positive, the official said, adding the recipient's blood was also tested, which confirmed that she too had got infected by the virus. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the blood bank staff had failed to screen the blood properly before supplying it to the private hospital. The personnel who tested the donor's blood had labelled it "safe," officials said. State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said action has been taken against the erring employees of the blood bank the district collector has also expressed "regret", apparently to the family, through the revenue divisional officer. "The government is taking steps to prevent the impact of HIV on that woman with the help of technology. All stocks in blood banks will be analysed to ensure they are HIV-free," he told reporters in Chennai. Meanwhile, the woman and her husband lodged a complaint with Sattur police Wednesday seeking action against the doctors, nurses and employees of the blood bank. Speaking to reporters, the woman's husband held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for the incident and demanded that it provides the best treatment to her. The husband said that he does not want any job from the government but only the best treatment for his wife. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the district and spoke to the woman. The Indian siblings were studying at the French Camp Academy in Mississippi Washington: Three Indian teenaged siblings were among four people killed in a fire during Christmas celebrations at a house in the US state of Tennessee, according to media reports. The fire killed a woman and three Indian teens from Telangana who were staying with her family through the holidays in a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, the USA Today reported. "Kari Coudriet of Collierville, Tennessee as well as Sharron, 17, Joy, 15, and Aaron, 14 - teen siblings of the Naik family from India - all died in the fire," the paper reported, citing a statement issued by the Coudriet's church, Collierville Bible Church. "A fire started around 11 o'clock pm at the Coudriet home (on 23 December). The Coudriet family was hosting, housing, and celebrating Christmas with three teenagers attending an Academy here in the States. The Naik family are missionaries in India that our church supports," the church said. The Coudriets were hosting the Naik family for the holidays. Kari's husband Danny and their son Cole were able to make it out of the home. Both are expected to survive, the paper said. "At this time, we are asking for privacy and discretion regarding the Missionary children. The family is in route from India and many of the details of the events are still being communicated to the family, the church said. The Indian teens were studying at the French Camp Academy in Mississippi. The academy said it was "deeply saddened by the tragic event" in Collierville. "We are fervently praying for the families involved," it added. Keith Potts, who has known the Coudriet family for about four years, said the Naik teens were attending school in Mississippi. When the school closed for winter break, the students could not go home to India so the Coudriets invited them to stay in their home. Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner said the tragedy is still under investigation. "They're still looking at what the cause of it (fire) was," he said. "I was told when they arrived they did not hear any smoke alarms going off... so you just never know." Collierville Fire Chief Mark King said the first floor of the house had no working smoke detectors. The second floor, which is where all four rooms were, only had one smoke detector that went off. "It was chaotic The house went up really, really fast," localmemphis.com quoted a neighbour, Symons, as saying. "It was just frantic trying to figure out how many people were in the house; I knew there were multiple kids there," Symons said. As he tried to assist before fire trucks arrived, Symons saw two people make it out: 13-year-old Cole who jumped out of a window and his father, Danny. "He was covered head to toe in black," Symons was quoted by the website as saying. Apollo Hospitals was the winner in the category Transforming Products with AI. Microsoft & CNBC-TV18s AI for ALL Awards recognized Indias leading organizations which are accelerating their digital transformation with artificial intelligence. Apollo Hospitals was the winner in the category Transforming Products with AI. Apollo has built a Cardiac Risk Score integrated with clinical decision support system for physicians to rely on standardized parameters and provide consistent guidance to their patients. Watch the video to know more! This is a partnered post. A Youth Akali Dal leader was arrested for allegedly vandalising the statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Ludhiana/Chandigarh: A Youth Akali Dal leader was arrested for allegedly vandalising the statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Out of the two accused men, police said they have arrested Youth Akali Dal leader Gurdip Singh Gosha and another person, identified as Meet Pal Singh Dugri, will also be nabbed soon. According to police, six to seven people were accompanying the two accused persons and they too will be identified soon. The miscreants sprayed red and black paint on the statueunjab at the Salem Tabri area in Ludhiana, police said, adding that they carried out the act in full public glare and blamed Rajiv Gandhi for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. A video purportedly showing the entire episode has also gone viral on social media. The incident also triggered strong protests by Congress supporters at various places in the state. The protesters threw black paint on posters of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Strongly condemning the incident, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh asked Sukhbir Singh Badal to stop indulging in petty politics and warned him that such acts would backfire on his party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "Indulgence in such petty and condemnable actions will not absolve you or your family of the many sins of omission and commission against the Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh community," he said in a statement issued in Ludhiana. "They are well aware of the fact that the Gandhis were never named or implicated in the 1984 riots, yet they continued to drag the family into the case to further their own political agenda," the chief minister said. He said he would not let the state's hard-earned peace be disturbed by anyone. Lashing out at the Akalis, he said in their desperation to win public support, "which the party had completely lost due to its criminal acts of commission and omission in the 10 years of SAD-BJP rule, the Badals and their supporters were stooping to abominable levels". "Sajjan Kumar had already been sentenced to life term by the court and others involved in the perpetration of the riots would also face legal action," Amarinder Singh added. The SAD has stepped up attack on the Gandhi family after the conviction of Sajjan Kumar. On Saturday, the party had demanded that a special sitting of the Punjab Assembly be convened to pass a resolution for revocation of Rajiv Gandhi's Bharat Ratna. AAP will undertake a statewide 'Bhajpa Bhagao, Bhagwan Bachao Yatra' from 12 January, party leader Sanjay Singh announced in the state capital on Wednesday. Lucknow: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will undertake a statewide "Bhajpa Bhagao, Bhagwan Bachao Yatra" from 12 January, party leader Sanjay Singh announced in the state capital on Wednesday. Interacting with media persons in Lucknow, the Rajya Sabha member said the Yatra will start from Ayodhya. This yatra, he added, would be conducted to expose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially in the light of the hundreds of Shivlingas, which were allegedly found lying under the rubble of demolished structures to pave way for Kashi Vishwanath corridor a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his parliamentary constituency. Leaders of the Apna Dal, an ally of the BJP, will also be participating in the Yatra, Singh said. Calling the pro-Hindutva posturing of the BJP as fake, the Rajya Sabha member said the district administration had served notices to 176 temples in Varanasi, adding as to how the party that vowed to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya was now demolishing ancient temples in name of development. Singh also slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in the state for "failing law and order in the state" and demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the burning alive of a Dalit minor girl in Agra recently. He said that on Thursday, the AAP would demonstrate at all district headquarters against the state's BJP government. Singh also criticised the BJP government and its leaders for trying to give a "caste certificate" to the monkey Hindu god, Lord Hanuman. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with Syrias Ambassador to Moscow Riad Haddad, during which, the sides discussed bilateral relations and cooperation with Damascus, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a report. During the meeting that came after the ceremony of appointing Alexander Yefimov as a new Ambassador to Syria, the two sides discussed means of enhancing ties between the two states. Lavrov hoped that a fruitful cooperation would be held between Yefimov and the Syrian state institutions in the interests of both countries, SANA reported. Ambassador Haddad, for his part, described bilateral relations as strategic and unlimited. He added that the Syrian government will cooperate with Yefimov to boost those relations in all domains. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao has sought an appointment with him but he has decided to meet the TRS chief post 6 January. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao sought an appointment with him, but he has decided to meet the TRS chief only after 6 January, News18 reported. Akhilesh told ANI, "Efforts to bring all parties together have been ongoing for many months; I congratulate the Telangana chief minister for working in this direction. He has been trying to bring together a federal front." He told the media that he would go to Hyderabad to meet KCR. "Our aim is to dismantle the BJP govt and we are committed to doing that," Akhilesh further said, according to the report. KCR has been meeting various leaders across states to cobble up a non-BJP, non-Congress federal front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The TRS chief is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday and later BSP president Mayawati. KCR on Monday met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and said that they would soon come out with a "concrete (political) plan" while asserting that the dialogue for a federal front will continue. He said that he would continue his efforts to conjure up non-BJP, non-Congress parties through dialogue as that is the aim of his party. Earlier, KCR met Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, another strong regional party leader in a bid to bring together a third-front featuring regional parties before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP's losses in three Hindi heartland states in the Assembly elections came not only as a jolt for the saffron front, but also gave its smaller allies a voice to speak up about their qualms with the party. Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) troubles with junior allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seem far from over. Earlier this week, the BJP just about managed to keep the flock together in Bihar and come to a consensus on a seat-sharing formula for the polls. But in the process, it lost an ally and also a fair share of seats to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United). Now, trouble seems to be brewing in Uttar Pradesh, where the dissatisfaction of the Apna Dal (S) came to the fore on Tuesday. "The state BJP leadership is not giving us the respect we deserve. They should learn from the recent losses (in the Assembly elections)," Apna Dal chief Ashish Patel told reporters, adding that the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance was a challenge for them. Speaking to The Indian Express, Patel highlighted that the Uttar Pradesh BJP had disrespected the Apna Dal on multiple occasions by not inviting the party to various events. "In the present situation in UP, workers of all three NDA constituents (BJP, Apna Dal and the Suheldeo Bharatiya Samaj Party) are disappointed. No one is paying heed to voices of alliance partners," he was quoted as saying. "The BJP central leadership should rectify this situation, otherwise the NDA will suffer maximum loss in UP." With 80 parliamentary seats the highest among all states of India Uttar Pradesh is a crucial state for the Lok Sabha elections for all parties, more so for the saffron party. As it is famously said road to Delhi passes through Lucknow. The BJP currently holds 71 of these 80 seats and the Congress and Apna Dal, two each. The Suheldeo Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) became an NDA ally only before the 2017 Assembly polls. The BJP's losses in three Hindi heartland states in the Assembly elections last month came not only as a jolt for the saffron front, but also gave its regional partners a voice to speak up about their qualms with the party. Much like the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) in Bihar, which quit the NDA amid disagreements over the number of seats offered, the BJP's smaller allies in Uttar Pradesh are also resorting to arm-twisting in a bid to get their way like Nitish's party the JD(U) and BJP will both contest from 17 Lok Sabha seats, which is five fewer for the BJP than that the last elections. "We should get an honourable number of seats. There will be no compromise on fewer than that," Patel told The Indian Express. SBSP leader Arvind Rajbhar's statement, too, underlined the threat for the BJP in the north Indian state and also highlighted the talks on political realignments that were triggered by the nervousness over the SP-BSP alliance. "I have spoken to BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey over the delay in announcement of seat sharing, but there has been no response yet We are in such a strong position in UP today that if the BJP will not support us, there is the option of the SP-BSP, too. Options are open," he warned. The BJP has had a shaky year with its allies. Right from the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir, its near-30-year-old ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra to their southern ally Telugu Desam Party, the saffron party has lost of the support of a number of regional parties, either over policy differences or political ego clashes. Maharashtra Trouble began to brew in BJP-Shiv Sena ties days before the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections, when the two right-wing parties could not come to a consensus on a seat sharing numbers, and the BJP eventually decided to ally with smaller regional parties to form the government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Since then, the Shiv Sena has never held back from voicing its criticism of the BJP and the policies of its government at the Centre, especially demonetisation. Now, it has even gone to the extent of trying to take over the BJP's narrative on the demand for a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, questioning the Centre about a date to begin the construction of the temple. Furthermore, the Shiv Sena has reiterated a number of times that it will fight the 2019 polls solo and not in alliance with any party. Even then, BJP chief Amit Shah said earlier this month that he was confident the Sena would be with the NDA in 2019, indicating the worry in the BJP about the likelihood of losing another state without a regional power at its side. Jammu and Kashmir: That the BJP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would part ways in Jammu and Kashmir was predicted much before the actual split because of the regional party's dissatisfaction with the BJP-led Centre's refusal to extend the Ramzan ceasefire in the state. Club this with the central government's refusal to hold talks with Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan in an attempt to end the bloodshed in the Valley, and the break-up was inevitable. Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had said time and again that dialogue with Pakistan was the only way forward for the bloodshed in the Valley to end, but the Centre refused to budge from its "terror and talks can't go together" stand on the Kashmir dispute with its neighbour. In the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the PDP was the single largest party with 28 MLAs. This was followed by 25 of the BJP, 15 of the National Conference and 12 of the Congress, along with three Independents, two MLAs of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (JKPC), and one each of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Front and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Even when it was in alliance with the PDP, there were rumours in political circles that the BJP was in talks with the Sajad Lone-led JKPC. This was confirmed when Lone approached the governor to form the government in the state in alliance with the BJP and Independents, the same day Mehbooba tried to contact the governor to stake claim to form the government with the Congress and National Conference. Neither side won, with the governor dissolving the Assembly altogether. Punjab and Haryana are the only states where the BJP appears to be in a good place with its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal. The BJP-Akali alliance was in power in Punjab before the Congress dethroned the two in the 2017 Assembly elections. So far, the tie-up with the Shiromani Akali Dal has been the only one with a bump-free journey, with both parties affirming that their commitment to staying allies was "rock solid". Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's prolonged illness he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February and continued absence has taken a toll on the Goa administration. Apart from waning public confidence in the state government, one of its regional coalition partners, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has been demanding that a leader of the party be made the chief minister in Parrikar's place to get the state machinery working again. The BJP-led ruling coalition in Goa includes the MGP, Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three Independents, but it's the MGP with which it's now on thin ice. The party has threatened to contest the Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections in Goa solo against BJP candidates if its leader Sudin Dhavalikar was not appointed the chief minister in view of Parrikar's health. Dhavalikar, a senior MGP legislator, is currently the second most senior minister in the Goa Cabinet after Parrikar, who has been recuperating at his home since 14 October after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. To assuage the public and its allies, the BJP had a frail-looking Parrikar out and about inspecting projects in Goa, despite having a tube running through his nose, indicating that he was in no better health than suspected. The move had evoked sharp criticism and did little damage control. The political crisis in Goa has reached such a state that the MGP has moved the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court, accusing the BJP of horse-trading to avoid losing a floor test in the Goa Assembly and seeking to restrict the party's newest members two defected Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanad Sopte from contesting polls for the next six years. Tripura In the north eastern state, where the BJP is part of the ruling coalition with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), rifts appeared in the government two months after coming into power in March 2018. This was over the nomination of chairmen of Block Advisory Committees, posts under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. While this dispute was reportedly resolved, the regional partner had taken note of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb's warning. "My people are my first priority," he had said after IPFT workers staged protests over this tussle. "Such agitation or violence by the IPFT that hamper people's daily lives are not encouraged. My government will not tolerate if any such incident occurs further from their side." The divide in the alliance came to even brighter light following reports that the two parties would be contesting against each other in the panchayat bypolls in Tripura, and the IPFT declaring that it would fight it out solo in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Assam Cracks appeared in the BJP's tie-up with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam over the Centre's determination to pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. Introduced in the Lok Sabha in July 2016, the bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant citizenship by naturalisation to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who came to India before 31 December, 2014. Assam agriculture minister and AGP president Atul Bora has warned that his party will break its alliance with the BJP in Assam if the Centre passes the bill. "The citizenship bill will negate the exercise of the National Register of Citizens," Bora had said. "People oppose the bill as Assam cannot shoulder the burden of foreigners anymore." While regional parties are getting more and more vocal about their dissatisfaction with the BJP and disbanding from their alliances, Opposition parties are trying to come together to form a united front to take on the saffron brigade in 2019. However, there is neither any clarity, nor any stability to this proposed "grand alliance" yet. This is evident from the lack of consensus among Opposition parties over who should lead the front and be projected as their prime ministerial face (Rahul Gandhi or no Rahul Gandhi). "A national alliance against the BJP looks nice and promising on paper. But given the diversity of our country and multiplicity of parties, any alliance can only be worked out at the state level," The Economic Times quoted Sanjay Kumar, director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, as saying. This statement holds true not just for the Opposition but for the BJP, as well, and it needs to do much to hold onto to its state-level partners. Eknath Khadse's statement also gains importance with Congress MP Ulhas Patil's presence at the function and the latter inviting Khadse to join his party during the event Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who had earlier reiterated that the saffron party was "his family", sung a different tune on Wednesday when he hinted at an exit from the outfit. In a Leva Patil community function at Bhusawal in Maharashtra, the former revenue minister said that no one has a permanent stamp of any party and no one should take this for granted, India Today reported. Khadse hails from the Leva Patil community and Bhusawal is his stronghold. His statement also gains importance as Congress has openly invited him to join the party more than once. Congress MP Ulhas Patil was also present at the function and he invited Khadse to join his party at the event. Patil also said how "great injustice" has been done to Khadse. Earlier, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan had also invited Khadse to join the party in January, 2018. "There is no alternative to staying united. Politics has to be set aside while carrying on the struggle of life. Whether it is my party (BJP) or his (Congress), no one has a permanent stamp which makes him stay in the same party....no one can predict that...do not take that for granted," said Khadse as he spoke at the function. Land scam and resignation Khadse, who was a minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government, had to resign in 2016 following allegations of corruption and impropriety in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in Pune. Subsequently, he had also been attacked by BJP's ally Shiv Sena. In January this year, the sulking leader alleged that he was being forced to quit the party by some of his party colleagues and dared the government to prove his involvement in any wrong-doing. "If I have done anything wrong, the government should prove it and bring it out before people. I need an answer now. I don't wish to leave the party, however, some people are trying to push me out," Khadse had said, speaking at an event in Jalgaon, his hometown. He had spoken in the presence of Chavan, who had said that Congress was ready to welcome him and not wait till "the BJP ousts him". Khadse had been awaiting political rehabilitation ever since. He was also kept out of the recently-held state municipal polls in Jalgaon and Dhule, which are his turfs. Quashing of Khadse's FIR against activist Anjali Damania Khadse has lodged an FIR against anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania for allegedly maligning his image by submitting "false affidavits" in a PIL filed against him in the Bombay High Court. He had alleged that Damania had misguided the HC by furnishing "false proofs". "When I received the copy of the PIL filed against me, I was shocked to see that she had shown two cheques worth crores as having issued by me. My signature had been forged and other documents produced in the court too had been forged," the senior BJP leader had said. On November 20, 2018, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court, however, quashed Khadse's FIR. Venugopal convened a meeting and took stock of the situation, regarding portfolios to be alloted to new ministers and discontentment among senior Congress MLAs who were denied ministerial berths during latest cabinet expansion Bengaluru: Amid continuing disgruntlement among miffed Congress ministerial aspirants, party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka KC Venugopal arrived in Bengaluru and took stock of the situation Tuesday. He held a meeting with senior leaders, including state Congress President Dinesh Gundurao and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar, and discussed the developments. "Venugopal convened a meeting and took stock of the situation, regarding portfolios to be alloted to new ministers and discontentment among senior Congress MLAs who were denied ministerial berths during latest cabinet expansion," a party spokesperson told PTI. The meeting was also attended by among others Satish Jarkiholi, newly inducted minister and brother of Ramesh Jarkiholi who is upset at being dropped from the ministry. Venugopal is expected to hold another round of talks with senior Congress leaders including Chairman of the coordination committee of Congress-JDS Siddaramaiah Wednesday, the spokesperson said. The induction of eight members from Congress on Saturday in the HD Kumaraswamy cabinet was marked by rumblings of dissidence as several senior congress MLAs were upset over their exclusion, with legislators, including Ramalinga Reddy, BC Patil, BK Sangamesh and Bheema Naik, coming out openly to give vent to their anger. Supporters of Reddy staged a protest Tuesday, demanding his induction as minister. Earlier in the day, Reddy met Siddaramaiah and held deliberations on the issue. Later speaking to media, Reddy said sought to distance himself from the protets, saying he did not have control over those protesting, but denied media reports of joining BJP. He also dismissed reports that BJP leaders trying to get in touch with him. Except Yelahanka MLA Vishvanath, who had visited his house to invite him to attend his son's wedding, no other BJP member met him, Reddy added. On Monday, a sulking Ramesh Jarkiholi had indicated his plans to quit as party MLA and had said he would make his decision public in four days. The Kerala government sought to make renaissance the theme of its float for the Republic Day Parade on 26 January After right-wing outfits thwarted its move to implement the Supreme Court verdict lifting the ban on the entry of menstruating women to the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, Kerala's Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has been trying to make the entry of women possible by reviving the renaissance legacy of the state. It sought to articulate the idea at the national level by making renaissance the theme of its float for the Republic Day Parade on 26 January. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Front (NDA) government is not impressed by the idea. The Ministry of Defence, which is the final authority on selecting the floats, has reportedly denied permission to the proposed float that depicts the 1924-25 Vaikom Satyagriha. The state government considers the satyagriha relevant in the case of Sabarimala since it helped lower caste Hindus in gaining their right not only to enter temples, but also to use public roads. The satyagriha organised with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi was also instrumental in the 1936 Temple Entry Proclamation made by the erstwhile Travancore rulers. The state government had also proposed the Temple Entry Proclamation and the Non-Cooperation Movement as themes for the float. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's political secretary MV Jayarajan said that the cultural committee under the defence ministry had selected the Vaikom Satyagriha for the state's float. However, it did not figure among the list of 14 state floats finalised by the ministry. "We have not received any communication from the ministry so far. We presume it is rejected since the state was not included in the final list. We don't know the reason for rejecting the theme, which we thought is relevant in the wake of the stiff resistance from right-wing outfits to the move to implement the Sabarimala verdict," he added. When asked whether the decision is political, Jayarajan said that it was clearly so, since the BJP and Sangh Parivar have been at the forefront of the agitation against permitting women's entry to the temple. He opined that the state unit of the BJP was trying to use the issue for political gains. The state leadership of the saffron party, that initially welcomed the apex court verdict, started opposing it after women in large numbers took to the streets against the government's support to women entering the temple. The party workers and Sangh Parivar activists have been resisting the entry of women by trekking up the hill as devotees and physically blocking young women from going into the temple. State BJP president PS Sreedharan Pillai had described the Sabarirmala issue as a golden opportunity for the growth of his party in the state and urged the cadres to extract maximum mileage from it. The biggest attraction of the party was the strong position the Nair Service Society (NSS), a community organisation of the upper caste Nair community, took against women's entry to Sabarimala. The party believed it to be an opportunity to bring the organisation under the NDA fold as in the case of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam of the lower caste Ezhavas, which aligned with the NDA by floating a political party called Bharat Dharama Jana Sena (BDJS). The BJP has been targeting Hindu community organisations as most of the regional parties are well-entrenched in either the LDF or UDF. However, NSS defied the move saying that it did not want to be identified as a Sangh Parivar outfit. The Sabarimala issue saw both coming together. Although NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair denied any political tie-up with BJP, the LDF feels that the members of the community will side with the saffron party as they believe that the saffron party has backed their struggle for protecting the customs and rituals in Sabarimala. Political analysts believe that the government had thought of rallying renaissance organisations to make up the loss by consolidating its position among Ezhavas, who traditionally backed the Communists. They believe that the government had given the leadership of the women's wall on 1 January proposed as part of the renaissance campaign to SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan with this in mind. The government had proposed the float on Vaikom Satyagriha to strengthen the movement. Therefore, it considers the rejection of the float by the Central government as a politically-motivated decision. The state BJP chief refused to comment on the defence ministry's decision. He said he had no official information from the Central government about the rejection of the float. "I have only seen the media reports. I cannot comment based on the media reports," Pillai said. However, a BJP leader, who did not want to be identified, denied any politics behind the decision. He said that the floats for the parade are selected based on various criteria. He pointed out that the floats proposed by the state in 2015 and 2016 were also rejected. No one raised any political point behind the decision then, the party leader said. Political analysts suspect that the Central government decision not to allow the state's float on the Vaikom Satyagriha could be aimed at supporting the Sangh Parivar. Joseph C Mathew, advisor to former chief minister VS Achuthanandan, said it could be a political decision as the theme of the float was cleared by the cultural committee. "If the defence minister has overruled the committee's decision, it could be on political grounds. This is a serious issue. The state should protest this strongly," he said, adding that Kerala will lose the gains it has made through renaissance if the conservative sections are allowed to gain an upper hand. Joseph said he had differences with the government over the conduct of the women's wall. But he said that he wanted the campaign to succeed as it would strengthen the fight against the reactionary forces trying to 'take the state back to the Stone Age'. The BJP and Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front have been opposing the women's wall by terming it a communal wall aimed at seeking political gains from dividing people communally. While the Congress refused to associate with the wall, the Sangh Parivar countered it by organising an Ayyappa Jyothi the simultaneous lighting of Ayyappa lamps from Manjeshwaram in the North to Parassala in the South on 26 December. The Central government's decision to deny permission for the Kerala float on renaissance may fuel the simmering tussle between the LDF and the Sangh Parivar over Sabarimala. Plans of Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) to meet BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here in a bid to cobble up a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election seem to have hit a roadblock. New Delhi: Plans of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) to meet BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here in a bid to cobble up a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election seem to have hit a roadblock. While Akhilesh Yadav said in Lucknow Wednesday that he would meet Rao after 6 January in Hyderabad, Mayawati has not yet given time to the Telangana chief minister. Yadav said he appreciates Rao's efforts to build an alliance, but he will not be able to meet him in Delhi. Earlier, a meeting between the two was planned at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Though Mayawati is in Delhi since Sunday afternoon, she has not yet confirmed the time for the proposed meeting. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) are key regional players in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. The SP has maintained that a non-BJP alliance will not be able to stand without their inclusion. The TRS chief reached Delhi on Monday night and would be here till Thursday. Pitching for a Federal Front of regional parties, Rao had on Monday met Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing the media after the meeting, he had said that they discussed a "matter of mutual interest" and "national politics. "Our dialogue will continue and shortly, we will come with a concrete plan," he said. Banerjee did not speak. On Sunday, he had met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss an alternative front. The BJP has dubbed him as the 'B team' of the Congress, while Rahul Gandhi and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu have accused Rao of being the 'B team' of BJP. Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday evening. This was Rao's first meeting with Modi after winning the assembly elections to return to power in Telangana. He discussed a variety of issues with the prime minister, including the release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in the new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district, according to state officials. According to ABP News-C Voter survey, if the SP-BSP alliance fails to become a reality before the 2019 Lok Saba polls, the NDA will come to power with 291 seats, 19 more than required Prime Minister Narendra Modi still enjoys 42 percent popularity in India ahead of the 2019 elections but a clear majority may evade him if a Bahujan Samaj Pary and Samajwadi Party alliance materialises, results from a recently conducted opinion poll suggest. According to the ABP News-CVoter survey, if the SP-BSP-RLD alliance fails to become a reality before the 2019 Lok Saba polls, the NDA will come to power with 291 seats, 19 more than required. The two regional parties will be limited to two to four seats each, whereas 72 seats will go to the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, if the alliance between the two works out, NDA will be reduced to 247 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, 25 short of a clear majority. Out of the total 80 members the Hindi heartland state sends to Lok Sabha, 50 will be from the SP-BSP combine along with Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal; NDA will be restricted to 28 seats as compared to 73 sets it got in 2014. The Congress will only manage to win two seats. The survey results have already propped BJP allies on a higher plank for seat negotiations. Ashish Patel of the Apna Dal, an NDA ally said, "State BJP leadership isn't giving us the respect we deserve, they should learn from recent losses. The SP-BSP alliance is a challenge for us and allies in UP are upset. The leadership at Centre must do something, otherwise NDA would suffer in Uttar Pradesh." Meanwhile, another state that the BJP should watch out for is Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, if the BJP fails to iron out differences with the Shiv Sena it may face severe losses in the state. If Shiv Sena decides to stick to its decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls separately, and the Congress allies with the NCP then the UPA will win 30 out of 48 seats while the NDA may get only 18. The survey, however, predicted windfall returns for the saffron party in other North Indian states. The recent defeat in Assembly polls does not seem to dampen BJP's prospects in the Lok Sabha. The survey suggests that the NDA will win 47 seats in the three states it recently lost to the Congress, while the UPA will only manage 18 seats from Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh combined. In Bihar, if polls were to be conducted today, the JD(U), BJP and LJP combine will bag 35 out of the 40 seats, whereas the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Mahagathbandhan will be restricted to a mere five seats. In Odisha, the BJP is likely to get a big win against the Biju Janata Dal. According to the survey, the saffron party is likely to win 16 out of the 21 seats while Naveen Patnaik's party will be reduced to only six seats. Similarly, in Modi's home state Gujarat, the BJP will win all but two Lok Sabha seats in the state. If the survey's predictions are to be believed, BJP will win 24 of the 26 seats while the Congress-led alliance will only get 2 seats. An earlier survey conducted by the same channel also predicted an upper hand for the BJP. A survey published in October said that the NDA will win with a clear majority of 276 seats in the Lok Sabha elections; the UPA will win 112 seats. The vote share of NDA and UPA will be 38 percent and 25 percent respectively, the survey predicted. The triple talaq bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17 December, will replace the ordinance issued by the Central government in September, banning the instant divorce practice. New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday issued a whip to its Lok Sabha members to be present in the House on 27 December when the triple talaq bill will be taken up for discussion and is likely to be put to vote. The three-line whip is a strict instruction to the Members of Parliament from their respective party, which necessitates their presence in the House and participation in voting. Any breach of the whip has serious consequences, including disciplinary action against the violators of the whip. The fresh triple talaq bill aims to make the practice of instant triple talaq among Muslims an offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) with the provision of three-year jail for the husband. The bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17 December, will replace the ordinance issued by the Central government in September, banning the instant triple talaq. With the Lok Sabha failing to function properly due to disruptions ever since the Winter Session began on 11 December, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan last Friday had chaired a meeting of the Rules Committee, during which law to punish erring members with disciplinary action was favoured. In that meeting, while referring to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's comments that his party was ready to discuss the instant triple talaq bill on 27 December, the Speaker had said: "I believe that on 27th, the House will function smoothly." The instant triple talaq was taken up in Parliament in August last year, after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a law that allowed Muslim men to divorce their wives simply by uttering "talaq" three times in quick succession. In a landmark 3-2 verdict, the apex court found the practice un-Islamic and "arbitrary" and disagreed that triple talaq was an integral part of religious practice. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to focus his attention from 'posing for cameras' to the 15 miners trapped in a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya. In a fresh attack on the Centre, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to focus his attention from "posing for cameras" to the 15 miners trapped in a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya. In a tweet, Rahul said: 15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners. https://t.co/STZS62vTp4 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2018 His reference was to the prime minister on Tuesday inaugurating the 4.9-kilometre-long Bogibeel Bridge over the Brahmaputra river to inaugurate the project in Assam, which took nearly two decades and $800 million to complete. The Bogibeel bridge, which was a part of the Assam Accord and sanctioned in 1997-1998, is likely to play a crucial role in defence movement along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, authorities in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district on Monday temporarily suspended operations to rescue the 15 miners, who have been trapped in an illegal coal mine in Ksan area of Lumthari village since 13 December. The miners were trapped in the after water from nearby Lytein River gushed into the mine. "Around 100 members of the national and state disaster response forces, along with the police, are waiting for the water to recede to around 30 feet as divers can do their job once the water level subsides to that level," Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger said. Rahul wrote that the Modi-led government "refuses to organise high-pressure pumps for the rescue," and called on the prime minister to "save the miners." With inputs from agencies Israels air strikes on the outskirts of Damascus grossly violate Syrias sovereignty along with resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, TASS reports. "The fact of the strikes and the way they were delivered is a question of our most serious concern. There is every indication that Syrias sovereignty was grossly violated along with UN Security Councils resolutions, including Resolution 1701," the ministry stressed. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized the manner of strikes conducted by Israels Air Force. "The air strikes were again conducted by the Israeli aircraft under cover of civilian planes descending to land at the airports of Damascus and Beirut," the ministry added. Asheeta Regidi 2018 has been a very significant year for privacy and data protection in India, triggered in part by the Aadhaar case and the affirmation of the fundamental right to privacy by the Supreme Court in 2017. A growing privacy consciousness can be seen among the people, with a view to safeguarding their data and their freedom, as can be seen with the outrage that followed the recent MHA notification. The same consciousness can be seen in the government as well, but from the perspective of recognising the potential of data, and of privacy and data protection laws as a means to enable this, as opposed to protecting the people. The focus of laws and proposed laws thus, by and large, seems to be with the aim of maximising control and utilisation of data, as opposed to safeguarding peoples rights. The recently released draft Intermediary Guidelines are reflective of this as well. Draft Intermediary Guidelines Meity released a draft of the Intermediary Guidelines for public consultation on 24 December this year. These guidelines, in addition to various proposed provisions in relation to content regulation, propose a 72-hour time limit to respond to government requests for information. Given the broad definition of information under the IT Act, this could include data of any form, even text, images, messages, databases, etc.. This also includes a requirement to trace the originator of such information on its platform. The proposed requirement is reflective of the traceability requirements which were to be imposed on WhatsApp for dealing with the fake news menace. Such requirements are being proposed without any clarity on corresponding privacy protections for the people. It must be remembered here that while intermediaries like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc. are often at the receiving end for their lack of privacy protections in relation to the use they make of the data, they have often turned out to be the only protection people have against governmental access of data (the FBI-iPhone struggle, for instance). These rules put in question the extent of governmental access to data with such intermediaries, and also with the use of encryption as a means of protection for users. The MHA Notification The recently issued MHA notification is another such instance, which appointed 10 governmental bodies such as the Intelligence Bureau as agents for the purpose of interception, monitoring and decryption. While the notification was widely misunderstood to be conferring unbridled surveillance powers on these agents, it did have the effect of bringing state surveillance to the forefront of peoples privacy concerns. For the sake of clarity, the notification did not make any change to the existing situation or confer any new surveillance powers on the agents (Read here for a full explanation on this). These powers are already within the IT Act, and the issue with their constitutionality existed from the moment of their introduction into the IT Act, and not with this notification. Another reason for the huge outrage that followed this notification was possibly owing to the introduction of the need for judicial oversight as a procedural safeguard for sharing of data under the Aadhaar judgment (the striking down of Section 33(2)). As a result, any step forward in relation to Section 69 was expected to be in relation to testing its constitutionality and those of the procedural safeguards under related rules. What was seen instead was the government taking the next steps for more efficient exercise of the existing surveillance powers. Section 69 of the IT Act and its procedural safeguards have long since been in question for their constitutionality. This is owing to, firstly, their failure to meet privacy standards for surveillance possibilities today, the lack of judicial oversight as required under the Aadhaar judgment, and failure to meet the proportionality test as required under the Right to Privacy Judgment. The safeguards, moreover, are on the lines of those prescribed under the PUCL judgment, a judgment which was delivered almost 20 years ago (1996) and in relation to telephone tapping only. Review of these for their constitutionality is thus essential. The Personal Data Protection Bill The attitude of the state towards data protection is further reflected in the draft Personal Data Protection Bill, released in July 2018. On the one hand, it was a good step forward for India to move from next to no privacy law at all to a comprehensive privacy law. On the other hand, the fiduciary relationship put forth by the Bill leads to a situation where instead of giving the individual the ultimate control and ownership of his data, once he hands his data to a data fiduciary or controller, he can only trust that the data fiduciary will handle his data in compliance with the law. This is reflected primarily in the omission of the right to erasure (the right to have a data fiduciary delete all data that he has on the individual) among the rights granted to the individuals. The effect is thus that while the law imposes a number of welcome obligations on the data fiduciaries, the people are not sufficiently empowered in relation to their data. The broad scope of exemptions for State related processing and provisions for non-consensual processing only adds to the lack of control that people have been given, particularly vis-a-vis the State. TRAI Recommendations on Privacy In particular, the Bill was a disappointment in comparison with TRAIs Recommendations on Privacy released just prior to the Bill. This was not without its own problems, for instance, that the scope of the Recommendations, which were to apply to the entire digital ecosystem, encompassed a range of entities far beyond TRAIs jurisdictional boundaries, such as browsers, handsets, tablets, OTT services, applications and the like. However, the recommendations put the individual squarely as the owner of his data. The recommendations thus placed the individual in a much stronger position in relation to his data than under the Bill. Data Localisation Yet another consequence of the Data Protection Bill was the suggestion of data localisation of critical personal data, an undefined term, in a move that was criticised far and wide for its detrimental effects on innovation. This implies, for instance, that companies can no longer rely on global cloud storage, and that there will be a significant increase in compliance costs. This is also supported by the RBIs move to mandate data localisation for the data with payment service providers such as card networks and mobile wallets. While the scope of data localisation requirements under the Bill is still unclear, the impact of the RBIs data localisation requirements is already being felt with the launch of payment services like Apple Pay being put on hold. While the aim of retaining the data within India might serve the aim of retaining governmental control of the data, it is unlikely to actually contribute to better security or privacy of the data itself. The Aadhaar Judgment and its impact The most significant development for privacy was, of course, the Aadhaar judgment. In a final hearing that spanned 38 days over almost five months, this was the second longest one in Indian history, and the peoples involvement, whether for or against Aadhaar, was just as tremendous. After major arguments against Aadhaar, such as with the privacy implications of the large-scale collection and storage of biometric data, and its potential as a surveillance tool, among others, the Supreme Court finally gave a judgment which supported Aadhaar but largely reduced the wide-scale impact it was having. The major cause for this was the limitation of the use of Aadhaar to Section 7 benefits, as well to governmental use. Thus, while the biometric database with all of its privacy and security concerns has been retained, the uses it can be put to has been limited, for the present. The limiting of its sharing with private companies has had wide implications, including with bringing an end to its rampant mandatory use, such as for childrens school admissions, the NEET, hospital admissions, etc. This has also brought an end to eKYC, in a move that affected not only several digital payment companies but also drone companies. This was followed with debates on whether voluntary use of eKYC was possible, and with the introduction of new, offline methods of verification such as the use of QR codes. Mandatory linking to bank accounts and SIM cards, which was coupled with the threat to disable those accounts/numbers that were not so linked, was thankfully also brought to an end. However, since the judgment, rumours have already started to surface, of the possibility of the bringing in a new law which mandates the same. The linking of Aadhaar with Voter IDs was another cause for strife that arose this year, with allegations that non-consensual Aadhaar-EPIC seeding was the primary cause for thousands of voters being missed from Telangana electoral lists this year. Among others, these allegations raise questions on whether the Aadhaar database and access to it are really as private as is claimed. Others In addition to these primary concerns, a number of other concerns have emerged, which include, among others, the proposed Social Media Communications Hub which has been challenged before the Supreme Court at present, introduction of the draft DNA bill in Parliament for the creation of a national DNA databank for certain categories of persons, and the proposal of a national AI marketplace for data aggregation. 2019 for Privacy? Looking at the year gone by for privacy, one can look ahead at 2019 only with concern, since many of these developments discussed here are currently in draft form. 2019 may well see these laws taking concrete form by being enacted. The involvement of the people has played a crucial role in reducing the rampant use of Aadhaar, if not bringing it to a complete halt. While there is a huge movement in the field of privacy and data protection, the people will have to continue playing this role to ensure that it takes the right direction. The author is a lawyer specializing in technology, privacy and cyber laws. 2018 has been an eventful year, and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. You can also read: Year in review: India's biggest achievements in the field of Science and Medicine Best value for money phones of 2018: Poco F1, Realme 2 Pro, Nokia 7 Plus and more Best Camera phones of 2018: Pixel 3, Apple iPhone XS, Huawei Mate 20 Pro on top Audio trends of 2018: Airpods, Alexa, Google Home, AI-powered speakers and more India's year in space: ISRO's big wins in 2018, Gaganyaan 2022 and Space startups 2018 in Wildlife: Gir lions, 'man-eater' Avni, dead elephants echo drumbeats of doom Best flagship phones of 2018: From Samsung Galaxy S9 to Poco F1 to OnePlus 6 Press Trust of India Hyderabad-based technology infrastructure provider CtrlS plans to set up world's largest tier-4 datacentre footprint in India by 2020 with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore, according to a top company official. The company plans to set up 150 megawatt hyperscale datacentre in Hyderabad that will be spread across two million square feet, a 100 MW similar facility in Mumbai and a 70 MW set-up in Chennai - spread over around a million square feet each, CtrlS Datacenters, founder and CEO , Sridhar Pinnapureddy told PTI. "The demand for data storage has boomed in the country and data localisation is also creating huge demand for hyperscale datacentre in India. We will start building new tier-4 datacentre in Mumbai from March, Hyderabad facility from around May-June and Chennai in last quarter of 2019. Total investment will be around Rs 2,000 crore," Pinnapureddy said. He said that all the datacentres will be functional in 2020. A tier-4 datacentre has to assure 99.995 percent uptime implying maximum of 26 minutes downtime in a year. It requires almost double the investment done in tier-3 data centre, which can have downtime of up to few hours in a year. The CEO said the firm will fund its expansion mostly from internal accruals and partly with debt funding. "With addition of around 4 million square feet, CtrlS will emerge as World's largest Tier-4 datacentre entity to cater to need of emerging technologies. World's 90 percent data has been generated in last 1,000 days. This part Indian data localisation policy will lead to large growth of data in India as most of the overseas companies operating in banking," Pinnapureddy said. The company already has 1 million square feet datacenters, which includes two tier-4 facility in Mumbai, two tier-4 in Hyderabad, one tier-4 in Noida and a tier-3 datacenter in Chennai. "The largest Tier-4 player would have a footprint of approximately one million square feet. However, CtrlS will soon enjoy a cumulative footprint of five million Tier-4 datacenter space spread across 10 datacenters in India thereby emerging as the world's largest tier-4 datacenter," CtrlS Datacenters, VP-marketing, B S Rao said. He said that CtrlS currently serves 20 of the Fortune 100 global multi-national companies. According to a Cushman and Wakefield report, the global datacenter market is dominated by the Americas with 40 percent of market share or USD 68 billion in investments followed by Europe and Russia together at 32 percent or USD 54 billion. It projects that India will be a USD 4.5 billion datacenter market by 2018 and will reach USD 7 billion by 2020. Its 350 million smartphone users, 258 million social media users, and 224 million digital buyers are also contributing to growth of data. tech2 News Staff Spreading a little festive cheer, Google is reportedly offering free credit to some users on Google Play Store. This was first reported by 9To5Google, that spotted some Reddit users posting about the free credit. According to the report, Google has been selecting these users based on their purchase history. So if you make a lot of app purchases, you are more likely to be a recipient of this Play Store credit. If you are one of the lucky users, you will be able to spot the credit in the form of a yellow banner on top of your Play Store app. From what we know so far, Google is offering different deals to different users. While some got "$5 to spend on any app or game", some users got free credit on purchases above $20, while for others "in-app purchases are excluded". If you see any yellow banner like this on your Play Store, then simply tap on the banner to claim the credit. Once saved, you can find this credit in the Accounts section of the Play Store from the navigation drawer, in the Rewards tab. Also note, the yellow banner will have a link on its corner to read the full disclaimer. You are suggested to go through what the offer entails for you before you get too excited (especially considering the offer is different for different users). 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. tech2 News Staff In a slideshow doodle, Google is celebrating what would have been the 104th birthday of Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, or as he is famously known, Baba Amte. The doodle is made of four different pictures that essentially throw light on the causes Amte dedicated his life to. We have all studied stories about Baba Amte as children in school, how he dedicated his life to serving those in need, especially those afflicted with leprosy. In 1971, Amte won the Padma Shri Award for his tireless work, then he went on to get the 1988 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, and the 1999 Gandhi Peace Prize. Amte was born to a very wealthy Maharashtrian family, with all the luxuries and fancy cars. In his early 20s, he went to study law and started his own firm soon after. However, even when he was young, the social inequalities weren't concealed from him. So, about a decade later, Amte left his practice and the life of luxury, and he set off on a mission to help the underprivileged. That's when he met Indu Ghuleshastri, whose kindness to an elderly servant touched Amte, and the two married soon after. Google writes in its blog, "Amtes life was changed forever when he encountered a man suffering from leprosy. The sight of the mans decaying body filled him with overwhelming fear. Confronting that fear, Amte identified the state of mental leprosy that allowed people to feel apathetic in the face of this dreaded affliction. He said that the most frightening disease is not losing ones limbs, but losing ones strength to feel kindness and compassion. Dedicating his life to the cause, Amte defied the social stigmas faced by leprosy patients by injecting himself with bacilli to prove that the disease was not highly contagious. in 1949 he established Anandwanmeaning Forest of Blissa self-sufficient village and rehabilitation center for leprosy patients." 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. tech2 News Staff The Oppo R17 Pro just launched in India bringing a triple-camera setup, in-display fingerprint sensor, and a lot of other cool features. However, now we are getting rumors about a new addition to Oppo's F-series lineup in the form of the F19 Pro and reports are indicating that there will be some major improvements as far as optics are concerned. Reputable tipster Ice Universe has said that Oppo could release a new 10x hybrid optical zoom technology and we might even see it at CES or latest by MWC. This comes at the heels Huawei also trying to implement the same 10X lossless optical zoom technology on its next flagship which is the P30 Pro. We shall definitely know more about this technology in the coming months. Mind you 5X Hybrid zoom has already been seen on the Huawei P20 and Mate 20 smartphones and Oppo itself launched a device with 5X zoom in 2017 . However, Samsung had released 10X optical zoom smartphone back in 2014 with the Galaxy K Zoom. In more Oppo related news images of the case render of the Oppo R19 Pro have been spotted online. Oppo seems to be going in for a refreshed rear camera design as per the report in GizmoChina. Press Trust of India A review petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking re-examination of its verdict by which the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme was held as constitutionally valid. Senior advocate Indira Jaising said the review petition has been filed against the September 26 verdict of the five-judge constitution bench which had said there was nothing in the Aadhaar Act that violated right to privacy of an individual. The bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had also upheld the passage of the Aadhaar Bill as a Money Bill by the Lok Sabha. The review petition has been filed by one Imtiyaz Ali Palsaniya, who had also filed interim applications when the apex court was examining the validity of the Aadhaar scheme. The petition has also sought an open court hearing in the matter. In the 56-page petition, the petitioner has said it has been preferred in a "narrow compass" seeking to challenge only those aspects of the Aadhaar program as well as the Aadhaar Act, 2016 which were held to be constitutionally valid by the constitution bench. While declaring the scheme as constitutionally valid, the apex court had struck down some of its provisions including its linking with bank accounts, mobile phones and school admissions. The constitution bench had held that Aadhaar would remain mandatory for filing of Income Tax returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN). "The judgement sought to be reviewed has also not considered a crucial aspect of PANAadhaar linkage, since it fails to satisfy the test laid down by the same court in the very same judgement," the review plea said. It claimed that the Aadhaar program, which had been in existence prior to the enactment of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, had itself become an "instrument of transfer of sensitive personal data" belonging to citizens to foreign entities acting as biometric service providers at a time when the UIDAI in 2010 had no cyber or technical infrastructure to store such information. This, the petition claimed, poses a massive national security risk, more so when, according to a Press Information Bureau notification, 100 crore enrolments had already taken place before April 4, 2016. In its verdict, the apex court had said that Aadhaar would not be mandatory for school admissions, as also for the examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical entrance and the University Grants Commission. The bench had also struck down the national security exception under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. The constitution bench had held that Aadhaar would remain mandatory for filing of Income Tax returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN). "The judgement sought to be reviewed has also not considered a crucial aspect of PANAadhaar linkage, since it fails to satisfy the test laid down by the same court in the very same judgement," the review plea said. It claimed that the Aadhaar program, which had been in existence prior to the enactment of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, had itself become an "instrument of transfer of sensitive personal data" belonging to citizens to foreign entities acting as biometric service providers at a time when the UIDAI in 2010 had no cyber or technical infrastructure to store such information. This, the petition claimed, poses a massive national security risk, more so when, according to a Press Information Bureau notification, 100 crore enrolments had already taken place before April 4, 2016. In its verdict, the apex court had said that Aadhaar would not be mandatory for school admissions, as also for the examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical entrance and the University Grants Commission. The bench had also struck down the national security exception under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. tech2 News Staff Just launched in Delhi, the WH-C700N from Sony is meant to be the mid-range variant of Sonys compelling WH-1000MX3 noise-cancelling set. The C700N apparently uses artificial intelligence to enhance the noise cancelling capability of the headset. As with any other active noise cancelling system, background audio is analysed and compensated for. Were not sure how Sonys system is different, but we do know that the 1000MX3 has industry-leading noise-cancelling performance. Hopefully, some of that tech has made its way into the C700N. The headset is designed to be comfortable and features premium soft Earpads that sit over the ears. The cups can swivel flat for easy transport, but a case or pouch wont be included in the packaging. Yet another feature of the set is support for Google Assistant. This update essentially reduces the latency when activating and using a voice assistant like Google Assistant. Of course, there is an inbuilt mic, so answering calls is as simple as pressing a button. In terms of battery life, Sony is claiming that the C700N can last 35 hours. It charges to full in 7 hours but can offer an hour of playback with a 10-minute charge. If you use the aux cable to hook the set into your phone or other device, you can enjoy 50 hours of noise cancellation. The 40 mm drivers support a frequency range of 7-22,000 Hz. Impedance and sensitivity are rated at 22 ohms and 97 dB/mW respectively. Supported audio formats include SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD. The set is available from 26 December at a price of Rs 12,990. Press Trust of India UIDAI has asked the school authorities and their managements to ensure that no child is denied admission for lack of Aadhaar. Aadhaar issuing body UIDAI has asserted that schools cannot make the 12-digit biometric identifier a pre-condition for student admission and warned that doing so will be against the recent order of the Supreme Court. The word of caution from UIDAI comes at a time when admissions to nursery and entry-level classes have just begun in over 1,500 private schools in Delhi. However, there have been reports of certain schools insisting on Aadhaar as one of the documents required for admission. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has said it is aware of the reports that some schools are asking for Aadhaar cards for student admission. This is not right. This is not as per the provisions of law...school admission and other facility to children cannot be made conditional to production of Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI. In fact, schools should admit children without Aadhaar and ensure that children are given Aadhaar once they are in schools by arranging special camps for them, he said. Asked what action could schools face if they continued to insist on Aadhaar, Pandey said that it will clearly be seen as contempt of court. SC order In September this year, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar but clipped the scope of the biometric identity project, ruling it was not mandatory for bank accounts, mobile connections or school admissions. The apex court held that Aadhaar would remain compulsory for filing of Income Tax (IT) returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN), as well as welfare schemes. The SC verdict emphasised that it would not be mandatory for school admissions, as also for the examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical entrance and the University Grants Commission. 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. The Associated Press We may remember 2018 as the year when technology's dystopian potential became clear, from Facebook's role enabling the harvesting of our personal data for election interference to a seemingly unending series of revelations about the dark side of Silicon Valley's connect-everything ethos. The list is long: High-tech tools for immigration crackdowns. Fears of smartphone addiction. YouTube algorithms that steer youths into extremism. An experiment in gene-edited babies . Doorbells and concert venues that can pinpoint individual faces and alert police. Repurposing genealogy websites to hunt for crime suspects based on a relative's DNA. Automated systems that keep tabs of workers' movements and habits. Electric cars in Shanghai transmitting their every movement to the government. It's been enough to exhaust even the most imaginative sci-fi visionaries. "It doesn't so much feel like we're living in the future now, as that we're living in a retro-future," novelist William Gibson wrote this month on Twitter. "A dark, goofy '90s retro-future." More awaits us in 2019, as surveillance and data-collection efforts ramp up and artificial intelligence systems start sounding more human, reading facial expressions and generating fake video images so realistic that it will be harder to detect malicious distortions of the truth. But there are also countermeasures afoot in Congress and state governmentand even among tech-firm employees who are more active about ensuring their work is put to positive ends. "Something that was heartening this year was that accompanying this parade of scandals was a growing public awareness that there's an accountability crisis in tech," said Meredith Whittaker, a co-founder of New York University's AI Now Institute for studying the social implications of artificial intelligence. The group has compiled a long list of what made 2018 so ominous, though many are examples of the public simply becoming newly aware of problems that have built up for years. Among the most troubling cases was the revelation in March that political data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica swept up personal information of millions of Facebook users for the purpose of manipulating national elections. "It really helped wake up people to the fact that these systems are actually touching the core of our lives and shaping our social institutions," Whittaker said. That was on top of other Facebook disasters, including its role in fomenting violence in Myanmar, major data breaches and ongoing concerns about its hosting of fake accounts for Russian propaganda. It wasn't just Facebook. Google attracted concern about its continuous surveillance of users after The Associated Press reported that it was tracking people's movements whether they like it or not. It also faced internal dissent over its collaboration with the US military to create drones with "computer vision" to help find battlefield targets and a secret proposal to launch a censored search engine in China. And it unveiled a remarkably human-like voice assistant that sounds so real that people on the other end of the phone didn't know they were talking to a computer. Those and other concerns bubbled up in December as lawmakers grilled Google CEO Sundar Pichai at a congressional hearinga sequel to similar public reckonings this year with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other tech executives. "It was necessary to convene this hearing because of the widening gap of distrust between technology companies and the American people," Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said. Internet pioneer Vint Cerf said he and other engineers never imagined their vision of a worldwide network of connected computers would morph 45 years later into a surveillance system that collects personal information or a propaganda machine that could sway elections. "We were just trying to get it to work," recalled Cerf, who is now Google's chief internet evangelist. "But now that it's in the hands of the general public, there are people who ... want it to work in a way that obviously does harm, or benefits themselves, or disrupts the political system. So we are going to have to deal with that." Contrary to futuristic fears of "super-intelligent" robots taking control, the real dangers of our tech era have crept in more prosaicallyoften in the form of tech innovations, we welcomed for making life more convenient. Part of experts' concern about the leap into connecting every home device to the internet and letting computers do our work is that the technology is still buggy and influenced by human errors and prejudices. Uber and Tesla were investigated for fatal self-driving car crashes in March, IBM came under scrutiny for working with New York City police to build a facial recognition system that can detect ethnicity, and Amazon took heat for supplying its own flawed facial recognition service to law enforcement agencies. In some cases, opposition to the tech industry's rush to apply its newest innovations to questionable commercial uses has come from its own employees. Google workers helped scuttle the company's Pentagon drone contract, and workers at Amazon, Microsoft and Salesforce sought to cancel their companies' contracts to supply tech services to immigration authorities. "It became obvious to a lot of people that the rhetoric of doing good and benefiting society and 'Don't be evil' was not what these companies were actually living up to," said Whittaker, who is also a research scientist at Google who founded its Open Research group. At the same time, even some titans of technology have been sounding alarms. Prominent engineers and designers have increasingly spoken out about shielding children from the habit-forming tech products they helped create. And then there's Microsoft President Brad Smith, who in December called for regulating facial recognition technology so that the "year 2024 doesn't look like a page" from George Orwell's "1984." In a blog post and a Washington speech, Smith painted a bleak vision of all-seeing government surveillance systems forcing dissidents to hide in darkened rooms "to tap in code with hand signals on each other's arms." To avoid such an Orwellian scenario, Smith advocates regulating technology so that anyone about to subject themselves to surveillance is properly notified. But privacy advocates argue that's not enough. Such debates are already happening in states like Illinois, where a strict facial recognition law has faced tech industry challenges, and California, which in 2018 passed the nation's most far-reaching law to give consumers more control over their personal data. It takes effect in 2020. The issue could find new attention in Congress next year as more Republicans warm up to the idea of basic online privacy regulations and the incoming Democratic House majority takes a more skeptical approach to tech firms that many liberal politicians once viewed as alliesand prolific campaign donors. The "leave them alone" approach of the early internet era won't work anymore, said Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat poised to take the helm of the House's antitrust subcommittee. "We're seeing now some of the consequences of the abuses that can occur in these platforms if they remain unregulated without meaningful oversight or enforcement," Cicilline said. Too much regulation may bring its own undesirable side effects, Cerf warned. "It's funny in a way because this online environment was supposed to remove friction from our ability to transact," he said. "If in our desire, if not zeal, to protect people's privacy we throw sand in the gears of everything, we may end up with a very secure system that doesn't work very well." 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. tech2 News Staff Mars is the "hot potato" in the world of space science and exploration today. The planet is currently home to eight active rovers that are studying a range of different features of the planet from Martian soil to traces of water to how frequent and powerful quakes on Mars are. The scope for a chunk of this research is aimed at preparing for manned missions to Mars in the future. Early experiments with manned missions to Mars are already underway, but the idea of sending people to our nearest planetary neighbour isn't something that tempts everyone. In an interview with BBC, former NASA astronaut Bill Anders, who manned the crew module for the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, called the whole thing "almost ridiculous." After spending 20 hours in the moon's orbit, the Apollo 8 crew and mission became the furthest that humans had been beyond Earth at the time a critical step towards the success of Apollo 11's historic moon landing seven months later. Now 85 years old, Anders said that theres very little reason to send people to Mars, particularly since unmanned missions seem to be doing great work on their own, and at a fraction of the cost. He clarified that he is a big supporter of the unmanned Mars mission, but that the manned missions were almost ridiculous. Whats the imperative? Whats pushing us to go to Mars? Anders asks nobody in particular during the interview. I dont think the public is that interested. Along with his criticism of missions to Mars, the former astronaut also expressed some general thoughts about NASA's current state of affairs. NASA couldnt get to the Moon today...theyre so ossified, Anders told BBC. NASA has turned into a jobs program many of the centres are mainly interested in keeping busy and you dont see the public support other than they get the workers their pay and their Congressmen get re-elected. NASA been struggling with tight budgets for years now, according to BGR, and has not succeeded in having some of its new and more exciting missions funded missions that could "wow" the public with its groundbreaking findings. Between NASA, the European and Chinese space agencies and SpaceX, missions to send humans to Mars are looking a lot more like a question of "when" than an "if". 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. Beibut Atamkulov has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kazinform reported. Prior to the appointment he served as Minister of Defense and Aerospace Industry. Chief of the Presidential Administration Asset Issekeshev introduced new Minister to the MFA staff. tech2 News Staff Japan has decided to leave the International Whaling Commission, a regulatory body for commercial whale hunting activity globally, to resume commercial hunting. However, the country's representatives expressed that they will no longer go to the Antarctic to carry out their whale hunting. Japans commercial whaling will be limited to its own territorial and economic waters, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday, The Associated Press reported. The IWC is responsible for setting catch limits for commercial whaling (except for catches by countries that object or have reservations to the current moratorium on it). The IWC imposed a commercial moratorium in the 1980s due to a dwindling whale population. Japan switched to what it calls "research whaling" and says stocks have recovered enough to resume the commercial hunt. The research program was criticized as a cover for commercial hunting as the meat is sold on the market at home. Japanese representatives have said the IWC has become more like an opponent of whaling than an organization aiming for sustainability. The country has scaled back its catch since decades ago, with people in Japan now consuming very little whale meat, AP reports. Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWCs method to carefully determine a catch quota based on science, but declined to give any actual estimates. He said Japan plans to use seven existing whaling hubs on the Pacific coast for its upcoming commercial hunts. Moronuki said Japan is starting with a modest plan because it has to figure out if or how commercial whaling can be a viable industry. Whats most important is to have a diverse and stable food supply, he said. The Fisheries Agency said Japan plans to catch three kinds of whale that are believed to have sufficient stocks minke, sei and Brydes. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japans ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts. Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about one third after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the countrys research whaling program wasnt as scientific as it had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the Northern Pacific. Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. Its a fraction of the countrys whale meat supply of about 200,000 tons before the IWC moratorium. Critics say they doubt commercial whaling can be a sustainable industry because younger Japanese may not view the animals as food. The IWC receives advice on sustainability from its Scientific Committee and this assists it in deciding catch limits, which are then sent out in a document called the 'Schedule' to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946). In 1982. the IWC decided that there should be a pause in commercial whaling on all whale species and populations (known as 'whale stocks') from the 1985/1986 season onwards. This pause is often called a "commercial whaling moratorium", and remains in place today for most of the world's countries except a handful. Japan, Russia and the Nordic countries are a few of the exception, who have chosen to dictate their own whaling quotas. with inputs from the Associated Press 2018 has been an eventful year and here's our comprehensive list of year ender stories. An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, U.S. immigration authorities said, marking the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. Houston: An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, U.S. immigration authorities said, marking the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trump's request for border wall funding. Trump wants $5 billion for better barriers along the US Mexico border and is pandering to his right wing base which is pushing him to continue his hardline stance even as 800,000 government employees have stopped getting paid and it's not clear when the impasse will resolve. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the boy showed "signs of potential illness" on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever. The boy was prescribed amoxicillin and Ibuprofen and released Monday afternoon after being held 90 minutes for observation, the agency said. The boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting and died there just after midnight, CBP said. CBP has not yet confirmed when or where the father and son entered the United States or how long they were detained, saying only in its statement that the boy had been "previously apprehended" by its agents. The agency said the cause of the boy's death has not been determined and that it has notified the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general and the Guatemalan government. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents in New Mexico. The body of the girl, Jakelin Caal, was returned to her family's remote village Monday for burial Tuesday. The White House referred questions about the latest case to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP's parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. According to Guatemala's foreign ministry, the father and son entered the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18, then were taken to the Border Patrol's Alamogordo station Sunday. Alamogordo is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) from El Paso. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldn't be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE's detention centers. Parents and children together are almost always released quickly due to limited space in ICE's family detention facilities. A CBP spokesman on Tuesday did not respond to questions about the ministry's statement. The hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. CBP promised "an independent and thorough review of the circumstances." The Guatemalan foreign ministry called for an investigation "in accordance with due process." Democratic members of Congress and immigration advocates sharply criticized CBP's handling of Jakelin's death and questioned whether border agents could have prevented it by spotting symptoms of distress or calling for an evacuation by air ambulance sooner. CBP has said that it took several hours to transport Jakelin and her father from a remote Border Patrol facility to a larger station, where her temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius). Emergency medical technicians had to revive her twice. She was ultimately flown to an El Paso hospital, where she died the next day. Large numbers of Guatemalan families have been arriving in recent weeks in New Mexico, often in remote and dangerous parts of the desert. Jakelin and her father were with 161 other people when they were apprehended in Antelope Wells, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Alamogordo. CBP announced new notification procedures in response to Jakelin's death, which was not revealed until several days later. A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Republican whose district along the U.S.-Mexico border includes Alamogordo, did not respond to messages Tuesday. Xochitl Torres Small, a Democrat who will represent the district starting in January, called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the children's deaths and more medical resources along the border. "This is inexcusable," she said in a statement Tuesday. "Instead of immediately acting to keep children and all of us safe along our border, this administration forced a government shutdown over a wall. Felipe Gonzalez, the United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, said Monday that the U.S. government's detention of children due to their immigration status violated international law. (With additional inputs by FP Staff) The outcome of the Bangladesh election depends on whether the current atmosphere of fear changes in the coming days, allowing citizens to cast their votes freely and if their votes are counted fairly. While all parties in the fray have made a 'promising' start to their campaigns for the 30 December parliamentary election in Bangladesh, the two Gs governance and growth have become the key issues in the manifestos published by the incumbent Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) and its primary contender, the Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF). BAL's manifesto highlights the economic growth of the past and pledges to boost the GDP growth rate to 10 percent from the current 7.8 percent in the next five years. In the 21-point manifesto titled "Bangladesh On March Towards Prosperity", it also makes promises about development in technology infrastructure. JOF's manifesto offers various economic plans, focuses on halting the attenuation of democracy and improving the quality of governance. About 100 million Bangladeshi voters face a crucial choice: continuity, or change. About 40 million are youths, half of whom will vote for the first time since 2008. All political parties, including those that boycotted the polls in 2014, are participating this time. Instances of violence against Opposition candidates and activists by the ruling BAL, arrests of at least 15 aspirants, cancellation of at least seven nominations through court's intervention and the inaction of the Election Commission of Bangladesh to ensure a level-playing field have all augmented the fear that the environment may not be conducive to a large turnout and the election may not be free, fair, credible and acceptable. Yet, the newly-emerged Opposition alliance in the form of JOF, led by eminent octogenarian jurist Kamal Hossain, has unequivocally stated that it will remain in the race until the end. The decision of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which vacillated until early October, to join the alliance and participate in the election without its leader Khaleda Zia is a significant departure from its past position. A three-time prime minister, Zia is serving a 10-year prison term on corruption charges and is barred from the election. BAL's election manifesto has pledged to curb graft and promised to ensure independence and dignity of the judiciary and the rule of law. But many of its promises to ensure good governance made before the last two parliamentary elections remain on paper, and the country has experienced serious violations of human rights, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the past decade. International human rights groups and organisations working on press freedom have raised voices against the poor state of freedom of expression in the country and demanded that the government stop arbitrary use of laws to silence its critics. Moreover, many have expressed concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary. Despite remarkable economic growth, disparity and the rate of joblessness has increased. The unemployment rate among the youth, according to a recent report by the International Labour Organization, stands at 12.8 percent, doubling in the past seven years. There are no promises to change course, yet a promise to create jobs for 12.8 million youths in the next five years is included in the manifesto. Though the BNP has published a separate manifesto, it practically echoes the pledges of the JOF. The central thrust of the JOF's statement of belief is to bring about changes in the political culture and institutions and to reverse the course of rapid attenuation of democratic norms and practices in Bangladesh. For instance, it has promised to bring about a balance of power between the prime minister and president currently a titular head impose a two-term limit on holding the prime minister's position; ensure freedom of the judiciary; introduce the provision for a polls-time government and create an Upper House in Parliament. The alliance's promise to appoint a "truth and reconciliation commission" to investigate all extrajudicial killings and incidents of enforced disappearances of the past decade with a goal to create national unity has already engendered discussions. While these promises are encouraging, critics have raised questions on whether the JOF will be able to deliver on these promises with the BNP as its partner. The party, with a record of poor governance during its tenure, has hopefully learnt a lesson after being at the receiving end of voters' ire. As the election is being held under an incumbent party, the neutrality of the administration, including the law-enforcing agencies, has been questioned, particularly since candidates filed their nomination papers on 9 December. BAL, on the other hand, has not only dismissed the allegations of influencing the administration, but has also repeatedly insisted that the Opposition is hatching a conspiracy to foil the election. It has criticised Kamal Hossain, a former Awami League leader, for joining hands with "corrupt, convicted criminals and killers", referring to the BNP and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Jamaat-i-Islami is not officially a member of the JOF but is allied with the BNP. Jamaat-i-Islami, which had opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, is barred from polls by the Election Commission, but it has fielded candidates under the banner of the BNP. On 23 December, the Election Commission had rejected a plea against allowing JI nominees from contesting after a high court ordered it to swiftly decide the matter. While the polls are expected to be a two-way contest between the JOF and the BAL-led Grand Alliance, which includes the Jatiya Party of General HM Ershad, Leftist parties have coalesced as the Left Democratic Front. In the turn of events, the Jatiya Party, which is the official Opposition party in the current Parliament, and its leader General Ershad, have been eclipsed. The polls are a test of the ruling party's repeated claim since 2010 that a caretaker government is not necessary for a free-and-fair election; the constitutional provision was removed by BAL in 2010. Bangladesh's previous participatory elections had produced an alternation of power between BAL and BNP, an indicator of strong anti-incumbency sentiment among voters. After 10 consecutive years in office the longest in the history of the nation BAL faces a tough challenge in wooing the voters again. However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has insisted that continuity is necessary for development. Her appeal to people, while unveiling the manifesto, to view the mistakes she and her party colleagues have made since assuming office in 2009 with "kindness" is a welcome gesture. But is this plea enough to convince voters to keep her in power? Alternatively, will the promise of the JOF to bring a change in the direction of the country resonate with the electorate? The answer can be found only if the current atmosphere of fear changes in the coming days, allowing citizens to cast their votes freely and if their votes are counted fairly. That will determine whether the new year will mark a new beginning for the country. The author is a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University, USA. His publications include Bangladesh: A Political History since Independence Charged in January 2016 with alleged 'subversion of state power', Wang Quanzhang had been in legal limbo detained without a trial date until Monday, when his government-appointed lawyer finally contacted his wife with the court date. Tianjin: Two activists were taken away on Wednesday after protesting outside the tightly guarded courthouse in northern China, where the trial of a prominent human rights lawyer is set to take place, witnesses saw. Wang Quanzhang, 42, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, disappeared in a 2015 sweep known as the "709" crackdown aimed at courtroom critics of Communist authorities. Charged in January 2016 with alleged "subversion of state power", Wang had been in legal limbo detained without a trial date until Monday, when his government-appointed lawyer finally contacted his wife with the court date. Just before 10 am (0200 GMT), AFP journalists witnessed a man getting arrested after he protested outside the court in Tianjin, where Wang's trial is believed to be underway. "A refined scholar has been detained by you lot this way that even members of the public can't see him," shouted Yang Chunlin, a rights activist from Heilongjiang. "This is a fascist rule, it's absurd. The Chinese people need to stop living in fear, we need to stand up to oppression and be brave." Shortly after, several plainclothes officers set on Yang and bundled him into a waiting black SUV. Another man holding up a sign that said: "release (the) innocent Wang Quanzhang" was taken away by local authorities about 8:15 am, a witness told AFP. Amnesty International researcher Patrick Poon identified the man as Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from Jiangxi in central China. 'Anti-China forces' Wang is charged with being influenced by "infiltrating anti-China forces", of being trained by a foreign group and accepting their funding, and of having subversive thoughts as a result. The documents seen by AFP said that he worked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish human rights activist whose group offered training to lawyers who have tried to use the tightly controlled Chinese judiciary to redress apparent government abuses. Dahlin was deported in 2016 after a 23-day detention. Wang is also accused of hyping up and distorting facts in cases he worked on, including a "cult" he was defending. The Tianjin court was under virtual lockdown, cordoned off by white metal barricades while media, diplomats and other observers were kept even further away from the building, separated by a busy four-lane road. An AFP journalist at the scene counted at least 50 security personnel, both uniformed and plainclothes, who told journalists that the trial was not open to the public. Wang's wife and a supporter were also stopped from attending the trial. In an account posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning, Wang Qiaoling detailed how she and Wang Quanzhang's wife, Li Wenzu, were barred from leaving a Beijing housing compound by groups of police officers for over an hour. Li was placed under de facto house arrest on Tuesday with "more than 20" security personnel outside her apartment. Questionable timing In Hong Kong, about 50 people marched to China's liaison office on Wednesday, demanding the release of Wang and others detained during the 709 crackdown. Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International, earlier this week raised questions about the timing of the trial. "We think this is deliberate because obviously a big part of the world will be having a holiday and will not be able to respond." On Christmas Day 2009, Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel laureate who died of terminal liver cancer last year while under police custody, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for subversion. And last year, Chinese activist Wu Gan, who refused to plead guilty to charges of "subverting state power", was sentenced to eight years in prison the day after Christmas. Democrats and some Republicans have rejected Donald Trump's demand for the US-Mexico border, after which he refused to sign a wider spending bill last week, temporarily stripping funding from swaths of the government. Washington: US president Donald Trump on Tuesday ruled out an end to the partial government shutdown till the Congress approve funds for building a wall along the Mexican border to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. Democrats and some Republicans have rejected Trump's demand for the US-Mexico border, after which he refused to sign a wider spending bill last week, temporarily stripping funding from swaths of the government. "I can't tell you when the government is going to reopen(Not until) we have a wall, a fence, whatever they would like to call it. I'll call it whatever they want. But it's all the same thing. It's a barrier from people pouring into our countrya barrier from drugs," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "There is a problem in this world today called human trafficking We are not going to let that take place. We are working so hard to catch these traffickers... We can't do it without a barrier... without a wall. It's my hope to have this done, completed all 500 to 550 miles to have it either renovated or brand new by election time," he said. The Trump administration is seeking more than $5 billion for the construction of the wall at the border with Mexico. He said progress has been made in building a wall in some places, including, in California, which has been "difficult to deal with because of the governor". The people of San Diego wanted the wall built, he asserted, adding, "People were walking through Mexico right into San Diego, right over people's front lawns by the hundreds, by the thousands. And they came to us, they asked for a wallA drone isn't going to stop it." Two armed men on a motorbike shot dead Pakistan lawmaker and MQM leader Syed Ali Raza Abidi outside his house in Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood in Karachi Tuesday night Karachi: Pakistan's former lawmaker Syed Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his home in Karachi, the latest in a series of attacks targeting political leaders in the southern port city. Two armed men on a motorbike opened fire on the former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker's car outside his house in Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood in Karachi Tuesday night, Dawn newspaper reported. Pakistani politician Syed Ali Raza Abidi shot dead by attackers outside his home in Karachi on Christmas day. He previously led the secular Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)pic.twitter.com/KxuB9oHwAh Alfons Lopez Tena #FBPE (@alfonslopeztena) December 26, 2018 The 46-year-old entrepreneur-turned-politician was shot at point-blank range, the paper said. Abidi was alone in his car at the time of the attack. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. According to the post-mortem examination, Abidi sustained four bullet wounds two in his chest and one each in his neck and arm, the paper said. Counter-Terrorism Department officer-in-charge of the Transnational Terrorism Intelligence Group (TTIG) Raja Umer Khattab said that the attackers appeared to be expert at target killings as they had targeted Abidi within a span of just 10 seconds, the paper reported. His funeral prayers were offered on Wednesday at the Imambargah Yasrab and attended by relatives, friends, and political and social figures, including MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi and senior political others condemned Abidi's murder. He was considered as one of MQM's brightest faces. Abidi's bodyguard, Qadeer, has been arrested, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pir Muhammad Shah said. "The guard instead of immediately retaliating to the fire went inside the house and asked Abidi's father for a weapon to respond to the suspects' firing," Shah said. Abidi was elected to the National Assembly in the 2013 general elections from Karachi's NA-251 constituency on an MQM ticket. In November 2017, Abidi had opposed Sattar and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Mustafa Kamal's short-lived alliance, and even announced that he was resigning from his NA seat as "this is not what I believed in and stood for". He contested the July 25 elections from Karachi's NA-243 constituency but was defeated by Khan. Abidi was one of the leaders who had stood with former convener Sattar in the buildup to the 2018 elections when the MQM was subject to an internal power battle, the paper said. In September this year, Abidi tendered in his resignation from the MQM's "basic membership" citing "personal reasons". Abidi was lately involved in efforts to reconcile the dispersed factions of the MQM. The MQM, Karachi's biggest political party, emerged as a largely ethnic party in the 1980s. It has political dominance in the southern Sindh provinces urban areas notably in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur where a large number of Urdu-speaking people who migrated from India during partition reside. Abidi's assassination comes days after two workers of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) were killed in the city's Usmania Society. Earlier this month, six people were injured when a blast hit a Milad organised by the MQM in Karachi. Iran's president Hassan Rouhani said state employees and pensioners would get a 20 percent pay rise next year, and the budget included $14 billion at a subsidised rate less than half of the market to provide cheap basic goods such as food and medicine, up from $13 billion in this years budget. Dubai: Irans president Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday presented a $47 billion state budget with increased spending on lower-income groups, saying US sanctions would affect peoples lives and economic growth but not bring the government to its knees. US president Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran in May and reimposed sanctions on it, including on its vital oil industry. "Americas goal is to bring Irans Islamic system to its knees... and it will fail in this, but sanctions will no doubt affect peoples lives, and the countrys development and economic growth," Rouhani told parliament in a speech carried live on state television. He gave the value of the nominally balanced draft budget, excluding the spending of state enterprises, at about 4,700 trillion rials for the next Iranian year, which starts on 21 March. That figure is up from about 3,700 trillion rials he had proposed for this year, but the new budget is effectively worth about half of this years because of the weakening of Irans currency. Under the unofficial exchange rate used on the free market, the budget is worth about $47 billion. Rouhani said state employees and pensioners would get a 20 percent pay rise next year, and the budget included $14 billion at a subsidised rate less than half of the market to provide cheap basic goods such as food and medicine, up from $13 billion in this years budget. Officials have said the budget is designed to provide for the basic needs of low-income groups, including state employees and pensioners, and to support production and employment. It also seeks to relaunch thousands of stalled state projects with the help of private investors. The draft budget has to be passed by parliament and approved by a clerical body that vets legislation before it becomes law. Rouhani called for trimming the state sector and curbing the governments dependence on oil income, which is forecast at 1,425 trillion rials in the proposed budget. Officials have said the budget calculations were based on a forecast crude price of $50-$54 per barrel and exports of 1 to 1.5 million barrels per day, down from a peak of almost 3 million bpd in mid-2018. "If the private sector was active in the country ..., and if the budget did not rely heavily on oil, the impact of sanctions would have been much less," Rouhani said. A separate draft budget for state companies, institutions and banks allocates them a total of $127 billion. Rouhanis speech was interrupted by parliament members, who Iranian news agencies said were mostly from the southwestern Khuzestan province and were protesting over shortages of drinking water in their region. Pakistani journalists, who have taken on military dictators and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship. Islamabad: Pakistani journalists, who have taken on military dictators and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship that is more subtle but no less chilling, one spearheaded by the security services. Journalists and press freedom advocates say the military and the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, are pressuring media outlets to quash critical coverage. The newly elected government is meanwhile slashing its advertising budget, squeezing a key source of revenue for private newspapers and TV stations. Ghazi Salauddin, a veteran Pakistani journalist who has witnessed successive periods of direct military rule, said today's censorship is the worst it's ever been. "Today we don't know what will annoy them," he said of the military. "Today we have to do self-censorship and that is the worst kind of censorship, because it is done out of fear." Websites have been shut down, including the Urdu website of the US government-funded Voice of America, after it reported on a tribal movement critical of military operations in regions bordering Afghanistan. Mashaal Radio, affiliated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has also been shut down. Journalist Cyril Almeida was charged with treason after he published an interview with Nawaz Sharif in which the former prime minister accused the Pakistani military of aiding the militants who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Authorities are also targeting social media, asking Twitter to suspend accounts and submitting thousands of requests to Facebook to take down pages for a variety of reasons, ranging from criticism of the military to propagating hate and insulting Islam. Taha Siddiqui, an opinion writer and journalist who is critical of the security services, lives in self-imposed exile in France after an attempt on his life earlier this year, which he blamed on the ISI. Journalist Matiullah Jan, labeled "anti-state" by the military for his criticism of the judiciary and army, called the crackdown "a systematic attempt by the military and its intelligence agency to assert control with a facade of a democratically elected government." New legislation regulating print and online media has also alarmed press freedom advocates, who fear it will grant authorities even more censorship tools. Information minister Fawad Chaudhry denies the government is cracking down on press freedoms, saying it only acts to prevent incitement to violence. Pakistan has banned coverage of the hard-line Tehreek-e-Labbaik movement after it held violent protests and threatened to kill a Christian woman who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after years spent on death row. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere accusation can spark deadly mob violence. "Pakistan has the freest media possible, and powerful media criticise the government and even agencies and (the) army establishment at their will," Chaudhry told The Associated Press. "Incitement of hatred is the only area that we interfere." But journalists say the interference goes much further, and has worsened since July's national elections. They say intelligence agents have called reporters to demand that opinion pieces be withdrawn and to quash investigative reports on allegations that the military intervened in the vote to help elect Prime Minister Imran Khan. The security establishment is especially sensitive about coverage of the Pashtun Tahafaz (Protection) Movement, or PTM, which has criticized the military's actions in the tribal regions. Pakistan has long been accused of covertly supporting the Afghan Taliban while waging a scorched-earth campaign against homegrown extremists who threaten the state, allegations denied by the government. "We have been facing a media blackout since the very first day," said Mohsin Dawar, a parliamentarian and founding member of the PTM. "The military now is enjoying unquestioned power in the country, and the PTM questioned their power." Dawar said newspapers have refused to carry their statements or cover their press conferences. Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Pakistan has waged an "aggressive crackdown" on the media. "The crackdown comes behind the scenes and is increasingly exerted through the owners of media properties," he said. There are currently 89 private television channels licensed by the government. Most of the privately-owned channels emerged in just the last 15 years and are owned by big businesses, said Mohammad Ziauddin of the Pakistan Press Foundation, a free press advocacy group. "The new entrants in the media are business people. They got into the media industry not to make money, not to serve the public, but to have clout," he said, making them vulnerable to intimidation and financial coercion. In the last two months, hundreds of journalists have been laid off as government advertising - a key source of revenue - has been drastically reduced. A rate schedule seen by the AP shows the government was until recently paying upward of USD 2,500 for a 60-second spot, which has now been reduced to USD 400 to USD 500. "While reliance on government revenues is not a healthy model for press freedom, the sudden cutbacks have imposed extreme hardship on the media, which has had basically no time to adjust business models," Butler said. Chaudhry defends the new rate schedule, saying previous governments paid well above the market rate in return for positive coverage. "The last government used television advertising as tool to bribe media," he said. One could hardly wish three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday on a day when he was escorted to jail One could hardly wish three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday on a day when he was escorted to jail. His birthday, which rather ironically falls on Christmas, was not marked by peace or goodwill as the Islamabad Accountability Court sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in what has come to be known as the Hill Metals case, which is only one of the several alleged corruption cases filed against him. Worse, the court has issued perpetual warrants against his sons, Hussain and Hassan, and barred him from holding public office for another ten years after completing his sentence. Earlier, he was sentenced to 10 years in the Avenfield case which related to the ownership of apartments in London's most elegant neighbourhood. No wonder then that a Twitter hashtag #NawazSharifgameover is doing the rounds. Sharif was sentenced under Section 9-a(5) Ordinance no XVIII, 1999 that set up the National Accountability Bureau. That section states that the holder of public office is said to have committed the offence of corruption (among other clauses, "if he or any of his dependents or benamidars owns, possesses, or has any right or title in any movable or immovable property or pecuniary resources disproportionate to his known sources of income, which he cannot reasonably account for"). So the learned judge essentially found him guilty of being unable to account for the wealth that led to the setting up of the mill, which according to The Herald sent some PKR one billion (~Rs 50 crore) or more to the Sharifs between 2010 and 2015 in the form of "gifts". That's a lot of money. But it's still a tuppence when compared with some of what our own tycoons spend on the weddings of their offspring. The difference here is that they are not (directly) in politics, nor are they seen as national security threats. A Vijay Mallya may be as far more of a thief than Sharif, but in the end, that's between him and the tax men. Whatever his alleged crimes, he's highly unlikely to end up in front of a firing squad or be hanged at the end of a rope. Unfortunately, that's not entirely ruled out as far as Pakistan's prime ministers are concerned. There are innumerable inconsistencies with regard to the case that are being pointed out by PML(N) supporters. For one, all the evidence points to the childrens actions, not that of the father. Justice Muhammad Bashir however noted with some justification that the whole family was one monolith and that the Sharif as the father, could not deny that he had given them money. Second, it is undoubtedly the case that businesses in South Asia and probably elsewhere are done largely on large cash infusions and sleight of hand in terms of who gave what. That doesn't make it all right and tight. What is true is that if the basis of conviction is applied evenly, most of Pakistan's businessmen would be languishing in jail. Third, is the crowing of his opponents with tweets showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi hand-in-hand with Sharif at a location in Pakistan. The charge of being pro-India was thrown into the public debate when it seemed that charges against Sharif would not stick. That is what is most alarming. Narendra Modi's best friend Nawaz Sharif gets 7 years imprisonment for corruption. He will has to pay $25 Million fine as well. When will Modi be punished for his crimes in India ?? #AccountabilityCourt #NawazSharif pic.twitter.com/I9OREO9NUz Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) December 24, 2018 While there is nothing so dead as an overthrown king, the poor turnout for Sharif's sentencing would seem to herald the end of the venerable old party as it is now. The sons of Sharif can only return at the risk of incarceration. The daughter is too deeply involved in the cases, and has already been sentenced. When asked who will lead the party, the only answer from the former prime minister was that the party would decide. The obvious choice to lead the party onward seems to be Nawaz's brother Shehbaz Sharif, who is beginning to see his fortunes rise as the Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar is drawing serious flak for incompetence as well as nepotism. But that would mean that the political lineage would pass to his sons, not those of Nawaz. That may not be entirely acceptable in a continent where fratricide has been virtually a historical legacy. Sharif has still the option of appeal. Moreover he has not been found guilty under the section of the Ordinance that deals with using his public office to amass a fortune. There's still hope for the family in terms of clearing a way eventually for a daughter or sibling to lead the party. The actual problem however is not a legal one. The problem is how to deal with the psychological rigging that the milt-establishment has carried out over the last few years, where the Pakistani citizen has been treated to a soap opera of politicians, their children and details of staggering wealth. In a country where a square meal a day is a luxury that's difficult to sympathise with, the "victimhood" narrative fell flat. Sharif is going to find it's lonely at the top, as well as at the bottom. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan would be wise to get his accounts sorted and filed away for possible future reference. Journalist Abderrazak Zorgui posted a video online before his self-immolation in the struggling provincial city of Kasserine describing his desperation and calling for revolt. He expressed frustration at unemployment and the unfulfilled promises of Tunisia's 2011 Arab Spring revolution. Authorities said Zorgui died of his injuries Monday soon after being taken to the hospital. Tunis: Protests erupted Tuesday in Tunisia after the death of a journalist who set himself on fire to protest economic problems in the North African nation, prompting clashes with police and nationwide concern. Journalist Abderrazak Zorgui posted a video online before his self-immolation in the struggling provincial city of Kasserine describing his desperation and calling for revolt. He expressed frustration at unemployment and the unfulfilled promises of Tunisia's 2011 Arab Spring revolution. Authorities said Zorgui died of his injuries Monday soon after being taken to the hospital. His actions prompted a protest Monday night in Kasserine that degenerated into violence, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters who blocked roads and threw stones at police. Interior Ministry spokesman Sofiane Zaag said Tuesday that six police officers were injured and several people arrested in the protest. A new protest was held Tuesday night in Kasserine, with new tensions with police, and other actions were reported elsewhere. A similar case of self-immolation by a street vendor lamenting unemployment, corruption and repression led to nationwide protests fueled by social media that brought down Tunisia's long-time authoritarian president in 2011. That ushered in democracy for Tunisia and unleashed similar movements around the Arab world. Zorgui's funeral was being held Tuesday in Kasserine, which has come to symbolize Tunisia's economic problems and social tensions. Unemployment and poverty are high, and the area has struggled for years against extremists in the nearby mountains who are linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The Tunisian National Journalists' Union called for demonstrations and a possible strike in response to the journalist's death. In a statement, it accused the state of contributing to Zorgui's death by not cracking down on corruption. Tunisian reporters expressed solidarity with Zorgui, lamenting precarious conditions for freelancers with no legal protections and low pay amid Tunisia's struggling economy. "The reasons for this young man's suicide are poverty and marginalization, as well as the fragile situation of most journalists," said Latifa Labiadh of Amal radio station. The Russian presidents upcoming visit to Serbia will strengthen the relationship between the two countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in New Years greetings to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday, TASS reports. "I am convinced that our scheduled meeting in Belgrade will further cement our mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide range of fields," Vucics press service said citing the Russian presidents greetings. "I wish happiness, good health and success to you, your family and friends, and well-being and prosperity to the Serbian fraternal nation," says a message handed to the Serbian president by Russias Ambassador in Belgrade Alexander Chepurin. Putin pointed out that the current relations with Serbia "are dynamically developing in the spirit of a strategic partnership." Suicide attackers stormed the Libyan foreign ministry in the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people including a senior civil servant in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Twenty-one other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. Tripoli: Suicide attackers stormed the Libyan foreign ministry in the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people including a senior civil servant in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Twenty-one other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. A car bomb exploded near the ministry, prompting security forces to rush to the scene, said special forces spokesman Tarak al-Dawass. A suicide bomber then blew himself up on the second floor of the building while a second attacker died when a suitcase he was carrying exploded, he said. A third assailant, who was unarmed and wearing a bulletproof vest, was killed by security forces outside, Dawass added. At least three people were killed and 21 wounded, according to the health ministry. Foreign Minister Tahar Siala said one of the dead was senior diplomat Ibrahim al-Shaibi who headed a department in his ministry. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the building as ambulances, paramedics and security forces gathered outside. IS claimed the attack in a statement distributed on social media, saying that it was carried out by three "soldiers of the caliphate" who were armed with suicide belts and automatic weapons. Interior Minister Fathi Bash Agha admitted during a news conference that "security chaos" reigned in Libya and was "out of our control". He said this was creating a "fertile ground" for IS to operate in the North African country. Torn apart by power struggles and undermined by chronic insecurity, Libya has become a haven for jihadists since the ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Two competing administrations, rival militias, tribes and jihadists have been vying for control of territory and the country's vast oil wealth. IS took advantage of the chaos to gain a foothold in the coastal city of Sirte in 2015. Forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) regained control of Sirte in December 2016 after eight months of deadly fighting. Since then, some jihadists have returned to the desert in an attempt to regroup and reorganise. The interior minister said his department lacked the equipment necessary to restore law and order in Libya. Bach Agha said he found "zero weapons and zero vehicles" in the ministry's warehouses when he took up his job in October. "Weakness and a security breakdown" allowed assailants to attack the foreign ministry, he said. The foreign minister said the UN should lift an arms embargo it has imposed on Libya since the 2011 uprising. Stability cannot be restored... without a partial lifting of the embargo. It is needed to guarantee security and combat terrorism," Siala told reporters. The head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) denounced the "cowardly terrorist attack" in a statement. Ghassan Salame also pledged to work with Libyan people "to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven... for their crimes". Frank Baker, Britain's ambassador to Libya, also denounced an "appalling terrorist attack" and tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi joined the chorus of condemnation in a statement reiterating Rome's "solidarity with the Libyan people and their just aspiration to real security". In September, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the headquarters of Libya's National Oil Company in the heart of Tripoli which left two dead and 10 wounded. Four months earlier, it claimed an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters which left 14 dead. In April, the GNA launched an operation to track down IS fighters operating in areas of western Libya under its control. Last month IS claimed responsibility for an attack on militia forces in southeastern Libya in which at least nine people were killed. The US military has regularly carried out strikes on jihadists in Libya, particularly south of Sirte. The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal, but a rival administration based in the country's east aligned with military strongman Khalifa Haftar refuses to recognise its authority. Rival Libyan leaders had agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But instability, territorial disputes and divisions have delayed plans for elections. While in Iraq, Trump indicated he would not rush to nominate a new secretary to replace Mattis, the first defence chief in decades to resign over policy differences with the president. Trump said Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, whom he named on Sunday to replace Mattis in an acting capacity starting on 1 January, 'could be there for a long time.' Al Asad Air Base: President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria during an unannounced visit to Iraq, saying that many people will start seeing things on Syria the same way he does. Trump made the decision on Syria abruptly last week, against the advice of top aides and commanders, including Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned the next day. Trump said he had told his advisers, "let's get out of Syria," but was persuaded to stay, before deciding last week to bring the 2,000 troops home. "I think a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. It's time for us to start using our head," the president told reporters at the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad where he and first lady Melania Trump spent a little more than three hours on the ground with US troops. The base, in Anbar province, became one of the most important bases for US Marines after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. Since US forces returned to Iraq in 2014, the base has played an important role in the fight against the Islamic State because of its location. Trump said the United States would remain in Iraq, adding, "In fact, we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria." Reuters reported last week that the Pentagon was considering using special operations teams to target Islamic State militants in Syria, based out of Iraq. At the time, officials said a final decision had not been made and the option was being considered. While in Iraq, Trump indicated he would not rush to nominate a new secretary to replace Mattis, the first defence chief in decades to resign over policy differences with the president. Trump said Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, whom he named on Sunday to replace Mattis in an acting capacity starting on 1 January, "could be there for a long time." Trump has come under withering criticism from fellow Republicans, Democrats and international allies over his decision to pull out of Syria because he believed Islamic State militants have been defeated. Critics argue that the decision could undercut US leverage in the region and undermine diplomatic efforts to the end the Syrian civil war, now in its eighth year. Ankara is threatening a new offensive in Syria. To date, US forces in Syria have been seen as a stabilizing factor and have somewhat restrained Turkeys actions against Syrian Kurdish forces. On Sunday, Trump said in a tweet that he had spoken with Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan about a "slow and highly coordinated" withdrawal of the US troops, suggesting that he might slow down the process after the barrage of criticism. A complete withdrawal of US troops from Syria would leave a sizeable US military presence in the region, including about 5,200 troops across the border in Iraq. Much of the US campaign in Syria has been waged by warplanes flying out of Qatar and other locations in West Asia. CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's foreign ministry on Tuesday described as 'interventionist and disrespectful' U.S. comments on a weekend incident in which the country's navy stopped two ships exploring for oil for Exxon Mobil off Guyana's coast CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's foreign ministry on Tuesday described as "interventionist and disrespectful" U.S. comments on a weekend incident in which the country's navy stopped two ships exploring for oil for Exxon Mobil off Guyana's coast. Each of the neighbouring South American countries says the incident on Saturday occurred within its territorial waters. In response to the event, the U.S. State Department said Venezuela had behaved "aggressively" and called on the country to "respect international law and the rights of its neighbours." "It is evident that the U.S. government is interfering in a matter that is not at all incumbent upon it, with the goal of promoting corporate interests closely linked to the Washington ruling elite," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of plotting to invade Venezuela and overthrow his government, while Washington has placed sanctions on Venezuela's debt and members of Maduro's government over accusations of corruption, human rights violations and election-rigging. A century-long territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana has flared up in recent years with Exxon's discovery of more than 5 billion barrels of oil and gas off Guyana's coast. In OPEC-member Venezuela, crude output is hovering near 70-year lows amid a severe economic crisis. Guyana says Caracas gave up its claim to the Essequibo, a sparsely populated jungle area making up two-thirds of Guyana's territory, after an 1899 ruling by an international tribunal, but Venezuela later backtracked on that decision. The U.N. this year referred the dispute to the International Court of Justice. Two vessels owned by Norway's Petroleum Geo-Services and under contract by Exxon Mobil were conducting seismic survey work in the area. The ships stopped their work and turned east after the Venezuelan navy told them Guyana did not have jurisdiction there. When asked on Monday if there were plans for the vessels to resume their activities, Guyana Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said the government was "in discussion" with Exxon. Neither Exxon nor PGS immediately responded to requests for comment on Tuesday, and the U.S. State Department declined to comment. On Monday, the Caricom group of 15 Caribbean nations including Guyana - many of which have historically received subsidized oil from Venezuela under Caracas' Petrocaribe programme - said it viewed the "interception" by Venezuela's navy "with grave concern." "Such acts violate the sovereign rights of Guyana under international law," the group said in a statement. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Vivian Sequera in Caracas; Additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati in Washington; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Dan Grebler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Whats Donald Trump playing at with his $5 billion demand for a wall and shutting down the government - the third in the last 12 months - in Christmas season? For one, this has echoes of what his chief strategist and inscrutable mastermind of the 2016 campaign Steve Bannon told a reporter after Trump pulled off the greatest political upset in American history: 'Brother, Hollywood doesn't make movies where the bad guys win' - a riff on Gregory Peck's lines from Twelve O'Clock High. New York: Whats Donald Trump playing at with his $5 billion demand for a border wall and shutting down the government - the third in the last 12 months - in Christmas season? For one, this has echoes of what his chief strategist and inscrutable mastermind of the 2016 campaign Steve Bannon told a reporter after Trump pulled off the greatest political upset in American history: "Brother, Hollywood doesn't make movies where the bad guys win" - a riff on Gregory Peck's lines from Twelve O'Clock High. Trump obsessors say the US president has a 'three terrors' boilerplate strategy that has worked for him so far and the wall fits smack in the middle of it. Pick three issues that scare the hell out of people and keep hammering it in. Rapists, criminals, theyll take your jobs, we need wall, end birthright citizenshipthe words can change as long as the fear makes it stick. Whatever it takes. We need a wall. We need safety for our country, Trump told White House pool reporters Wednesday. Thats not all. Trump said he would be going to the wall early in the year for a ground breaking gig. I cant tell you when the government is going to reopennot until we have a wall, a fence, whatever theyd like to call it. Ill call it whatever they want. But its all the same thing. Its a barrier from people pouring into our country. Trump dug in Wednesday as the partial government shutdown grinds on, putting 800,000 government employees salaries in limbo. In the imagery of the border wall, which Trump crafted for his 2016 campaign, Trump has found a gift that keeps on giving despite the legal peril of the Robert Mueller investigation that hounds him and his family. With fires burning all around - on trade, tariffs, stock markets - the wall allows Trump to be Trump and spin stuff out of thin air. Sample what he told White House pool reporters on Christmas day: People were walking through Mexico right into San Diego, right over peoples front lawns by the hundreds, by the thousands. And they came to us, they asked for a wall, Trump said, without offering any supporting evidence of this type of onslaught. A drone isnt going to stop it. Now there may be the case of an Olympic champion who can get over the wall but for the most part you are not able to do it. Very high. Its gonna be 30 feet. Much of it is 30 feet high. Some if its low. But in some areas we have it as high as 30 feet. Thats like a three-story building. Its my hope to have this done, completed all 500 to 550 miles to have it either renovated or brand new by election time, Trump said, giving a timeline coinciding with the November 2020 presidential election. The popular notion is that Trump has caved to hardline commentators Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, the leading media voices of the far right. Coulter, in an interview this week, said that, if Trump doesnt get his wall built, he will just have been a joke presidency who scammed the American people, amused the populists for a while, but hell have no legacy whatsoever. Coulter, Limbaugh and their tribe merely helped Trump rent a quote and glue it onto his hawkish agenda which has never really wavered. Free media, which acts like owned media, is always welcome. Coulter and Limbaugh are a far cry from the original alarmist Steve Bannon who began the right wing fusillade of daily news dumps about murderous illegal immigrants pouring through the southern border. It was under Bannon's direction that Breitbart opened a Texas bureau with direct lines of contact with border patrol agents which made the news site's stories more vivid and meaty. Trumps constant freakouts over the US Mexico border wall hide his real legacy in a very short time period - the number of people who are entering the US via perfectly legal means has shrunk, including students and temporary workers. The number of foreign students enrolled for the first time in U.S. colleges and universities declined in 2017 for the second year in a row; new enrollment dropped nearly 7 percent compared with the previous year. Immigration is Trumps wonk word for a concern that runs deep within the hawks in his A-team: tectonic shifts in Americas demographic profile, awash in brown hues now. At the moment, Republicans are still predominantly white, Democrats are substantially more non-white and Hispanic. In the cracks between these cohorts, immigration has become more partisan and polarising than ever before. Democrats have become far more pro-immigration than before. Republicans have become increasingly concerned with pro-life, reduced rights to LGBTQs and lower taxes. Given the economics of these ideologies, immigration will remain a flashpoint. Although Democrats are rejoicing over the midterm wave, fact remains that Americans did vote for the president and Senate in the same direction while the House is overwhelmingly on the other side. The gulf is here to stay. Here are four big trends in voting patterns, culled from multiple polls including after the 2018 midterms. Each of them alone and taken together inform Trumps battering ram strategy with the border wall. - From 2012 through 2018, the House vote has swung right in 2014 and thereafter has been moving leftwards steadily. The 2018 results have taken the pendulum further left than in 2012. - Many districts which had never been Democratic earlier turned Democratic in 2018. - The most educated districts are moving more left over the years. Also, the whitest districts are continuing to move further right. - The density of the rural/urban mix is shaping voting patterns. Urban is going left and rural is moving right consistently. - Trumps base (alone) is not enough to win 2020. Data like this was available in plenty in 2016 too. The lesson Trump has learned is that saying ugly, untrue, and racist things about immigrants isnt politically dangerous (yet) and it made him president. His unprecedented 2020 re-election machine is whirring to life and these are the rolling narratives that will define its drumroll: Immigration, criminals on your front porch, ISIS, racial grievances. You scarcely notice that Bannon is gone because all of his weapons are right here. Apart from rolling out the stable Pie update to S9 and S9+, Samsung has also provided a detailed timeline of when the new One UI interface based on Pie will be available for which device. The list shows Pie update to Note 9 in February and March for Galaxy S8 and Note 8 series. Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablet that are confirmed to get Android 9.0 (Pie) update with One UI starting January 2019 Galaxy S9 (January 2019) Galaxy S9+ (January 2019) Galaxy Note9 (February 2019) Galaxy S8 (March 2019) Galaxy S8+ (March 2019) Galaxy Note8 (March 2019) Galaxy A8 2018 (April 2019) Galaxy A8+ 2018 (April 2019) Galaxy A7 2018 (April 2019) Galaxy A9 2018 (April 2019) Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 (April 2019) Galaxy J4 (May 2019) Galaxy J4+ (May 2019) Galaxy J6 (May 2019) Galaxy J6+ (May 2019) Galaxy A8-Star (May 2019) Galaxy J7 2017 (July 2019) Galaxy J7 Duo (August 2019) Galaxy Xcover4 (September 2019) Galaxy J3 2017 (September 2019) Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 (September 2019) Galaxy Tab A 2017 (October 2019) Galaxy Tab Active2 (October 2019) Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (October 2019) However, Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge wont be getting the Pie update based on UI which is dissapointing. It is good to see Samsung releasing a timeline even for mid-range phones and hope it sticks to it. Source Samsung Electronics has announced that it will showcase eight innovative new projects related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) that are developed from its C-Lab (Creative Lab) program at CES 2019. In addition, eight start-ups which have been spun off from C-Lab will showcase their newly released commercial products. The eight new C-Lab projects include an in-video virtual ad service Tisplay, an ASMR sound recording solution aiMo, an instant video-making service MEDEO, an AI news analysis service PRISMIT, a custom perfume making service Perfume Blender, an auto-adjusting monitor Girin Monitor Stand, an AI desk light alight, and a hearing assistant solution SnailSound. This announcement will help C-labs to refine the projects and prepare the prototypes that will eventually become finished products to take to market. In addition to these projects, eight start-ups which have been spun off from Samsung C-Lab MOPIC, LINKFLOW, lululab, WELT, Cooljamm company, MONIT, BLUEFEEL, and analogue plus will participate at CES 2019 to showcase their newly released commercial products. C-Lab is Samsungs in-house idea incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. Inkuk Hahn, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics said: We will present promising C-Lab projects leveraging AI technologies in the field of video content creation, perfume making and more. These are deeply related to our daily lives and we hope to catch the eyes of attendees. Source Russia will not run up its defense spending like the United States and NATO, the head of the Federation Councils Defense and Security Committee, former commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces Viktor Bondarev said. The senator recalled that when the U.S. "beefed up their already-not-so-meager spending" on the military and the defense industry, many expected that Russia would mirror that step. However, this did not happen, he noted. "The funds allocated for ensuring national defense and security will be enough, and Russias authorities are not going to militarize the economy and industry," Bondarev said. "And second, we are developing and enhancing our beloved nations defense and industry complex, the army and the fleet not due to the prevailing circumstances, but well ahead of time," he stressed. "The current level of financing the needs of the defense and security enables us to effectively counter any threat," TASS cited the legislator as saying. The senator assured that the risk of toughening Western sanctions was taken into account when the nations military spending was planned. "We have become accustomed to sanctions. We have become immune to them and adapted our economy to this new regime," Bondarev said. Talks aimed at lifting U.S. sanctions on Russian automaker GAZ (GAZA.MM) are ongoing with the U.S. Treasury Department, and the company is implementing internal measures to encourage the process, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said, Reuters reported. The U.S. Treasury extended a deadline for investors to divest from GAZ to March 7, a day after it announced it would lift sanctions on the core assets of Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaskas empire - Rusal and parent En+ - which also includes GAZ. Medical Discovery News is hosted by professors Norbert Herzog at Quinnipiac University, and David Niesel of the University of Texas Medical Branch. Learn more at www.medicaldiscoverynews.com. Ten people have been killed in a bus accident at one of Tehrans largest universities. The bus was carrying 30 students along a mountainous road within the science research campus of Islamic Azad University in northwestern Tehran when it came off the road and hit a concrete column yesterday. Seven were killed instantly, according to the state TV, while an updated death toll of 10 was reported by Tasnim the day after the crash. The university blamed the crash on the driver having a stroke, but many on social media pointed to its ageing bus fleet and lack of road maintenance. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered his condolences over the "tragic accident." Russia's agency TourStat presented the rating of most visited CIS cities during the 2018-2019 winter season. The top-5 places include Minsk, Baku, Astana, Almaty, Tashkent. They are followed by Bishkek, Chisinau, Dushanbe, Ashgabat and Yerevan. Trips to Belarus's ski resorts Lahoysk and Silichy, Azerbaijan's resorts Shahdag and Tufandag, and Kazakhstan's Shymbulak are the most popular among tourists from the CIS countries. Uzbekistan and Moldova are famous for cheap winter tours, while Baku and Astana - for tours and shopping over the weekend. According to TurStat, tourists visit the CIS cities and states for 3-7 days in winter. Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Chairperson of the Commission on the Development of Public Diplomacy and Support for Compatriots Abroad Elena Sutormina, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza earlier, noted the high level of comfort of winter tourism in Azerbaijan. "Its really great in Azerbaijan. And I think that the number of tourists will increase, because it has a very good infrastructure. In terms of prices, one can find really affordable options," she said. The head of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship in Hospitality and Tourism of RANEPA, Irina Goncharova, in turn, stressed that Baku is an absolutely European city. "There is a very good cuisine there, it is unusual and very tasty, which also attracts our tourists. There are a lot of interesting sights in Baku. Wonderful films were shot in Baku, for example, The Diamond Arm. It is some kind of nostalgia to visit it. In general, the city is very beautiful, very clean, with very good, comfortable hotels, very good infrastructure, very beautiful waterfront," Irina Goncharova listed. Senior Lecturer of the Department of Management and Business at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of RANEPA, Yevgeny Itsakov, explained such a significant increase in tourist flow to Baku was due to the changing perception of this country by Russians. "Judging by the current trends, the Caucasian direction of outbound tourism has become fashionable. Azerbaijan always showed good rates in terms of growth of the tourist flow, and I think that statistics are more influenced by the psychological factor: people have learned that Azerbaijan provide very modern conditions for recreation. Azerbaijan is an advanced state with a very beautiful, modern city of Baku, and having learned about this, people have decided to visit it," he concluded. Flipkart Mobile Bonanza sale: Year end discounts and offers on smartphones Features oi-Harish Kumar You are only left with five more days to enter into the new world of 2019. Before getting involved with jubilant celebration of new year, some E-commerce companies are trying their best to make your celebration even more. It is out of their various attractive and valuable offers that the year end of 2018 seem to be quite fascinating. Recently, Walmart-owned Flipkart kicked off its newest sale strategy termed as "Year End Flipkart Mobile Bonanza Offer", which brings unprecedented discount offers on few samrtphones, gadgets and various other wares. The sale has already been started and will end on December 29, 2018. All you need is to be highly active and make the best use of such beneficial opportunity before the sale ends. During the sale, SBI bank is providing 10% instant discount on its credit cards. Some other offers which can make your sale gratifying are no cost EMI, exciting exchange and cashback offres and great purchase buyback guarantees. You can also get extended warranty of 1 year and Complete Mobile Protection Plan of 1 year by Flipkart Protect. The platform is overcrowded with 2018's best featured handsets irrespective of different price variant. Even the portal comes with the year's bestselling devices which you can now obtain at much lesser price values. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL (Upto Rs ,9000 off) Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs Pixel 3 - 5.5-inch (1080 x 2160 pixels) FHD+ OLED 18:9 display, 443 PPI, HDR support, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection Pixel 3 XL - 6.3-inch (2880 x 1440 pixels) Quad HD+ OLED 18.5:9 display, 523 PPI, HDR support, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with Adreno 630 GPU 4GB DDR4X RAM, 64GB / 128GB storage Android 9.0 (Pie) 12.2MP rear camera with LED flash 8MP auto focus front camera and secondary 8MP fixed focus camera 4G VoLTE Pixel 3 - 2915 mAh (Pixel 3) / 3430mAh (Pixel 3 XL) battery with fast charging, wireless charging 5% off on Samsung Galaxy A9 Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 6.3-inch (10802220 pixels) Full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display Octa Core Snapdragon 660 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 512 GPU 6GB / 8GB RAM with 128 GB Storage expandable up to 512GB via micro SD card Android 8.0 (Oreo) Dual SIM ( nano + nano + microSD) 24MP rear camera and 10MP and 8MP 120 Ultra Wide camera and 5MP camera 24MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor 4G VoLTE 3800mAh battery with adaptive fast charging 10% off on Vivo V11 Pro Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 6.41-inch (1080 x 2340 pixels) Full HD+ Super AMOLED 19.5:9 aspect ratio display Octa-Core Snapdragon 660 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 512 GPU 6GB RAM 64GB storage expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Dual SIM Funtouch OS 4.5 based on Android 8.1 (Oreo) 12MP Dual PD rear camera and secondary 5MP camera 25MP front-facing camera Dual 4G VoLTE 3,400mAh battery with fast charging 15% off on Oppo F9 Pro Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 6.3-inch (2280 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 19.5:9 aspect ratio display Octa Core MediaTek Helio P60 12nm processor with ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU 6GB RAM, 64GB internal memory expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD) ColorOS 5.2 based on Android 8.1 (Oreo) 16MP rear camera and secondary 2MP camera 25MP front-facing camera Dual 4G VoLTE 3500mAh (typical) / 3415mAh (minimum) battery Motorola Moto G6 Plus Offers: Bank Offer10% Instant Discount on SBI Credit CardsT&C Bank Offer5% Instant Discount on EMIs with Axis Bank Credit CardT&C Bank OfferExtra 5% off* with Axis Bank Buzz Credit CardT&C EMI starting from 598/month Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 5.93-inch (2160 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 18:9 IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection 2.2 GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 630 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 508 GPU 6GB RAM 64GB internal storage expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Android 8.0 (Oreo) Dual SIM 12MP rear camera and5MP secondary rear camera 16MP front-facing camera with LED flash Fingerprint sensor 4G VoLTE 3200mAh battery with Turbo charging 10% off on Lenovo K9 Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 5.7-inch (1440 720 pixels) HD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass display 2GHz Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) 12nm processor with 650MHz IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU 3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) Hybrid Dual SIM (micro + nano / microSD) 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, secondary 5MP camera 13MP front camera with soft LED Flash, secondary 5MP camera Fingerprint sensor Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5, GPS, USB Type-C 3,000mAh battery 25% off on Motorola Moto E5 Plus Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 5.99-inch (1440 720 pixels) HD+ 18:9 IPS display Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 with 64-bit Mobile Platform with Adreno 505 GPU 3GB RAM with 32GB internal storage expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Android 8.0 (Oreo) Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD) 12MP rear camera with LED Flash 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash 4G VoLTE 5000mAh battery with fast charging, up to 18 hours of video playback LG G7 ThinQ Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 6.1-inch (3120 x 1440 pixels) 19.5:9 FullVision Super Bright IPS Display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with Adreno 630 GPU LG G7 ThinQ - 4GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB (UFS 2.1) storage / LG G7+ ThinQ - 6GB LPDDR4x RAM with 128GB storage (UFS 2.1) expandable memory up to 2TB with microSD Android 8.0 (Oreo) with LG UX 16MP rear camera and secondary 16MP camera 8MP front camera 4G VoLTE 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, Wireless charging 25% off on Asus Zenfone 5Z Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 6.2-inch (2246 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:9 2.5D curved glass Super IPS display Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with Adreno 630 GPU 6GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB / 128GB storage 8GB LPDDR4x RAM with 256GB storage expandable memory up to 2TB with microSD Android 8.0 (Oreo) with ZenUI 5.0, upgradable to Android P Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD) with Dual VoLTE 12MP rear camera and secondary 8MP camera 8MP front-facing camera Dual 4G VoLTE 3300mAh battery 12% off on Redmi Note 6 Pro Buy This offer on Flipkart Key Specs 6.26-inch (22801080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:9 2.5D curved glass display, 500 nits brightness, 1500:1 contrast ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass protection 1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 636 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 509 GPU 6GB / 4GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB (eMMC 5.1) storage expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI 10 Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD) 12MP rear camera andsecondary 5MP camera 20MP front-facing camera and secondary 2MP camera Fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor Dual 4G VoLTE 4000mAh (typical) / 3900mAh (minimum) battery with Quick Charge 3.0 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 Nokia 9 live images leaked with old-school design News oi-Vivek Nokia 9 is expected to launch in the first half of 2019 The Nokia 9 is expected to launch in early 2019, which is a flagship smartphone from HMD Global with a whopping Penta camera setup, which makes the Nokia 9, the first smartphone from a well-known brand with five cameras. The live images of the Nokia 9 have been leaked, which hints towards some of the design elements of the upcoming flagship smartphone from Nokia. Notch-less design Going by the leaked live images of the Nokia 9, the device has a no-notch design with a minimal amount of bezels on the top and bottom portion of the smartphone. Top bezel houses an earpiece, Nokia branding, a selfie camera, and a couple of sensors. If this is the final design of the Nokia 9, then the device is definitely missing something, and the device does look similar to a smartphone from late 2017 or early 2018. The bottom chin/bezel is slightly bigger than the top bezel, which is similar to other Nokia smartphone (Nokia 8.1). There is no physical fingerprint sensor on the front, so the device is most likely to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor or a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. The leaked images of the rear panel of the Nokia 9 does rule out the rear-facing fingerprint sensor. The Nokia 9 could be the first device from HMD Global with an in-display fingerprint sensor embedded into the OLED display. Rumors suggest that the Nokia 9 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. Launching a flagship smartphone in 2019 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC might be a bit of a letdown, as most of the flagship smartphones of 2019 are expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC. The Nokia 9 is expected to launch in the first half of 2019, and the smartphone is most likely to be the most expensive device from HMD Global. Via 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 Yemen: Saudis breach truce for 25 times IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 25, IRNA -- Despite Yemeni forces commitment to ceasefire; Saudi aggressors have violated the truce agreement 25 times, spokesman for Yemen's Armed Forces said. Speaking to Yemeni media 'Saba', Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that Saudi aggressors have targeted residential areas in Al Hudaydah for 8 times. The Saudi mercenaries have violated truce regulations and used jet fighters, he added. Breaching truce was not limited to Al Hudaydah and also happened in Saada, Hajjah and al-Bayda Provinces, he reiterated. The United Nations Security Council enacted Resolution 2451 to support the Stockholm Agreement on deployment of a team in order to facilitate monitoring and implementing the Agreement and establishing truce in important Yemeni ports. The resolution mainly focuses on sending essential commodities to the Yemeni people, supporting the Stockholm Agreement, assigning the Secretary-General of the United Nations to implement it and observing the ceasefire. The fourth round of Yemen peace talks kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden on December 6 with the attendance of the UN special envoy Martin Griffith and the government representatives, and agreed to establish truce in Yemeni ports of al-Hudaydah, al-Salif and Ayn Issa. Saudi Arabia and its regional allies attacked Yemen in March 2015 to bring back to power the deposed president of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Since then, the invaders have committed horrible war crimes against Yemeni civilians. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council will decide later on Wednesday on imposing additional sanctions on Russia in relation to the Kerch Strait incident, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced, UrduPoint reported. "Today, the National Security Council has on its agenda a draft decision on Ukraine's using sanctions for illegally holding elections in the occupied territory in Donbas, for aggression against our state in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait," the president said at the council's meeting. Trump says Saudi Arabia to help rebuild Syria, defends forcing Mattis out People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 07:32, December 25, 2018 WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- While defending his decision to force Defense Secretary James Mattis out ahead of schedule, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that Saudi Arabia has agreed to replace the United States in helping rebuild Syria. In a slew of tweets sent at the White House, Trump said that "Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States." "See? Isn't it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away," he noted. "Thanks to Saudi A!" The Trump administration has spared no efforts in saving ties with Saudi Arabia, despite the Congress leaders' repeated calls for reviewing it in a bid to punish Riyadh over its reported involvement in the murder of a Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, in October. Trump also defended his decision to let Mattis leave earlier than the latter's scheduled departure. The U.S. military veteran has resigned on Thursday due to unbridgeable differences with the White House host on relations with allies and the withdrawal from Syria, among others. "To those few Senators who think I don't like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO," Trump said. "What I don't like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in Military Protection and Trade." "We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade," he noted. "General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!" This was not the first time he has complained about the media coverage of his decisions to leave Syria and let Mattis go ever after the latter's announced resignation. He tweeted one day ago that "If anybody but your favorite President, Donald J. Trump, announced that, after decimating ISIS in Syria, we were going to bring our troops back home (happy &healthy), that person would be the most popular hero in America." "With me, hit hard instead by the Fake News Media. Crazy!" he said. Via tweets on Monday, Trump also lashed out at Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State (IS), who resigned on Friday following Mattis' announcement to leave. "For all of the sympathizers out there of Brett McGurk remember, he was the Obama appointee who was responsible for loading up airplanes with 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH &sending it to Iran as part of the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal (now terminated) approved by Little Bob Corker," Trump said. The past week has seen a series of the Trump administration's dramatic announcements in terms of military overseas and government leadership change. The White House said on Wednesday that it has started returning U.S. troops home from Syria after claiming a victory in the fight against the IS. On Thursday, U.S. media reported that the Trump administration considers to cut half of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan down to some 7,000 servicemen. Trump tweeted also on Thursday that Mattis will retire "with distinction" at the end of February, an announcement the Pentagon later confirmed by publishing its chief's resignation letter, implying entrenched divergences with Trump. One day later, McGurk was confirmed to have resigned, in the latest sign of U.S. senior official's growing objection to Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria. Enraged by frequent negative news coverage of his withdrawal decision and the two officials' announcements to leave, Trump said on Sunday that he has picked Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan as the acting Pentagon chief, forcing outgoing Mattis to step down two months earlier than planned. The reshuffle at the Pentagon also came as the U.S. federal government has been partially shut down over a budget impasse, triggering an increasing sense of uncertainty in Washington over the U.S. foreign policy direction over the next year. Trump, for his part, has never been a fan of sending U.S. troops out for battles overseas. Ever since his campaign, he has urged to bring "boys" back home, while senior national security officials, including Mattis, have advocated a longer-term military deployment to secure anti-terrorism victory and national security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US establishes two new military bases in Anbar province: Iraqi official Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 07:12PM The US Army has set up two new military bases in Iraq's western province of Anbar, an Iraqi official says, days after Washington announced the pullout of American forces from Syria. "The US Army has established two new military facilities in uninhabited parts of the province," Turkey's official Anadolu news agency quoted Farhan al-Duleimi, a member of Anbar's provisional council, as saying on Tuesday. The move comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump announced his unexpected decision to pull all the 2,000 American ground troops out of the war-ravaged Syria. He said on Wednesday that the withdrawal would be slow and gradual, without providing a timetable. According to al-Duleimi, the first base had been established in the northern Rumana sub-district in al-Qaim district, in the vicinity of the Syrian border, some 360 kilometers west of the provincial capital Ramadi. The second base, he added, had been set up east of the city of al-Rutbah, about 310 kilometers west of Ramadi and less than 100 kilometers from the Syrian border. The official added that the American bases were purportedly intended to assist Iraqi forces "secure the country's borders and prevent infiltrations by the Daesh terrorist group." "Scores of US soldiers are currently stationed at the two bases, along with drones and other equipment," added al-Duleimi, without providing further details. The central government in Baghdad and Washington have yet to comment on al-Duleimi's statement, but if confirmed, the total number of US bases in Anbar will reach four. Nearly 5,000 American troops have remained in Iraq since Washington, leading a military coalition, began its so-called anti-terror operations in the Arab country in 2014 with the declared aim of defeating the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, which managed to overrun roughly two-thirds of Iraq, mainly in the country's north and west, in June that year. Late last year, Baghdad declared that the military presence of Daesh in Iraq had come to an end following a three-year conflict that ended with the fall of the Daesh-held city of Mosul. The terror group lost all its urban strongholds in the Arab country but its remnants launch sporadic terror attacks against government troops and civilians alike. Iraqi forces, however, continue counterterror operations against the Daesh "sleeper cells," which purportedly remain active in certain parts of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuela Slams US Reaction to ExxonMobil Ship Incident, Urges Not to Interfere Sputnik News 20:05 25.12.2018(updated 20:15 25.12.2018) MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Caracas has strongly renounced Washington's response to reports about the interception of an ExxonMobil oil exploration vessel by the Venezuelan authorities, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the statement by the US State Department on the sovereign actions on December 23 by the Bolivarian Navy for the strict protection of Venezuela's non-disputed waters," the ministry said in a statement. Guyana's ships at the moment of interception were in the delta of the Orinoco River Delta, meaning that they could not have been in the exclusive economic zone of Guyana, according to Caracas. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry further urged the US authorities "not to interfere in the affairs of sovereign states and to deal with their own internal problems." The ministry's remarks come a day after the US State Department called on the Venezuelan authorities to respect the "sovereign rights of neighboring countries" to explore resources in their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. Late on Saturday, Guyana's Foreign Ministry said that the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela had intercepted an oil exploration vessel that was operating within the country's territorial waters under the Bahamian flag and on behalf of the US ExxonMobil oil and gas corporation. Caracas, in turn, insisted that there were not one but two oil exploration vessels and they had illegally crossed the Venezuelan border. The incident took place in the disputed territories that are referred to by Venezuela as Guayana Esequiba, which has been claimed by both countries since 19th century. Tensions between Caracas and Georgetown escalated in 2015 when Guyana granted a license to US ExxonMobil corporation to explore the oil-rich region. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Briefs China on Afghan Peace Initiative By Ayaz Gul December 25, 2018 Pakistan has held a fresh round of discussions with staunch ally China on the "evolving political dynamics in Afghanistan" amid reports the United States plans to reduce its military presence in the war-ravaged country. Officials said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi traveled to Beijing Tuesday for day-long discussions with Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and both sides underscored support for an "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process." Last week Pakistan organized what officials said were substantial talks between U.S. and Afghan Taliban representatives in the United Arab Emirates. The two sides are expected to meet again soon in the Gulf nation's capital, Abu Dhabi, to further the dialogue amid hopes the insurgent group would agree to engage in direct peace negotiations with the Afghan government. 'New developments' After his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Qureshi told Pakistani state television that "new developments" in Afghanistan and recent peace talks in Abu Dhabi came under discussion. He said China appreciated Islamabad's initiative for Afghan peace. "They [the Chinese] have assured us of their full support for the efforts Pakistan is making for peace and stability in Afghanistan. They appreciated the progress achieved [in Abu Dhabi] in terms of discussing all matters on the negotiating table, including [an Afghan] cease-fire," said Qureshi. He did not elaborate. The Pakistani foreign minister traveled to Afghanistan and Iran before visiting China as part of a "regional outreach" to push Afghan peace efforts. Qureshi is on a four-nation trip, with a last destination of Moscow where he will interact with Russian leaders. "Both sides believe that military means cannot resolve the Afghanistan issue, and promoting political reconciliation is the only realistic way," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said after the talks. Drawdown of U.S. troops Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi's visit comes after reports quoted officials in Washington last week that U.S. President Donald Trump has verbally ordered the Pentagon to remove half of the 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan starting next month. The White House and military commanders have not commented on the reports. The drawdown plans have fueled concerns and speculation that an abrupt withdrawal would bring embattled Afghan security forces under increased battlefield pressure from the Taliban and the move could undermine renewed peace efforts. China has intensified regional diplomatic efforts to help ease Afghanistan's political tensions with Pakistan to encourage the two countries to work together to find a negotiated end to the Afghan war. Beijing enjoys good will in Kabul and it maintains contact with the Taliban. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang launched a trilateral mechanism last year, involving its close ally, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to promote peace and regional stability. The platform is aimed at promoting security and economic and political cooperation among the three neighboring countries. The latest round of the three-way foreign minister-level dialogue took place earlier this month were Wang pledged to help Islamabad and Kabul reduce trust deficit and make joint efforts for peace. Beijing is worried that continued instability in Afghanistan would fuel troubles in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur ethnic group. Chinese authorities blame extremists linked to the outlawed East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which claims to be fighting for rights of the Uighur community, for plotting terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cameroon Villagers Flee Suspected Separatist Attack By Moki Edwin Kindzeka December 25, 2018 Authorities in Cameroon say hundreds of people have fled villages in a French-speaking region after suspected Anglophone separatists abducted 15 people and torched 80 houses. The French-speaking villages of Menkefou and Choupat in western Cameroon are almost empty. An attack by suspected Anglophone separatists early Monday sent hundreds of villagers fleeing for safety. Fifty year old Constantine Njowir, a Menkefou militia member, says he was lucky to get away with only a machete wound to his leg. He says he watched helplessly as one of his militia members died after he was inflicted wounds on his chest and stomach with knives and machetes. He says besides burning houses the fighters were shooting indiscriminately and taking along people who resisted. Njowir says the armed men shouted demands that the government release all arrested English-speaking Cameroonians or pay the price Elvis Suinyuy, a government teacher in the village of Choupat, says the men threatened to return if Anglophone leaders were not freed. "They were young boys carrying guns, shooting. One man was killed. As you can see many of the people around have gone away because they have promised us that they are going to come back so we do not know their next plan," Suinyuy said. "If the government is not there to help us, there will be a serious catastrophe." Governor of the western region Augustine Awah Fonka says there were more than 300 armed men involved in the attack. He says they abducted 15 people and torched houses, cars and motor cycles, and looted property. "More than 86 houses have been destroyed by unidentified gun men made up of mostly young men and women who appeared in this village and destroyed houses and properties, had the population beaten and left them in pain, poverty, and traumatized," Fonka said. "I want to assure them that the government is going to redress the situation. More military men will be deployed to take care of the population." The government blamed Anglophone separatists in the neighboring northwest region for the attack, and said they appeared to be men fleeing from military raids. Cameroon's separatists did not issue any immediate response to the accusation. It is the second time the Bangourain region where the villages are located was attacked. The government deployed the military and asked communities near separatist areas to create village militias for self defense. Cameroon's English-speaking separatists have been protesting since 2016 against discrimination by the French-speaking majority. Their protests were initially peaceful but, in response to a government crackdown, some separatists are waging a violent campaign for independence. The insurgency gained pace in 2017when leader JuliusAyukTabewas arrested in Nigeria with 46 collaborators and extradited to Cameroon. They face a possible death penalty in Cameroon on charges of secession, terrorism and attempting to destabilize the country. Cameroon President Paul Biya earlier this month ordered the release of 289 English-speaking people arrested for supporting the separatists. While the gesture of reconciliation received widespread praise, the separatists continue to demand Biya release all of their leaders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump: Shutdown Won't End Until Wall Funded By VOA News December 25, 2018 The partial shutdown of the U.S. government has moved no closer to a resolution, with President Donald Trump asserting on Tuesday the shutdown will continue until his demand for funds to construct a U.S.-Mexico border wall are met. "I can't tell you when the government is going to be open. I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it," Trump said in the Oval Office after a video conference with U.S. troops, who are stationed overseas. Trump claimed the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are furloughed due to the shutdown also want the wall, despite a lack of evidence supporting the contention. On Monday, Trump asserted Democrats "must end" the standoff while Democratic leaders in Congress blamed Trump for "plunging the country into chaos." The two sides traded their accusations ahead of Christmas, the fourth day in which parts of the government are closed because Congress and Trump have not been able to agree on necessary spending legislation. While government agencies dealing with national security and public safety remain open, other offices are closed and 800,000 federal workers are on furlough. Those who are considered to be essential employees are reporting for duty, but will not get a paycheck for that work until the shutdown is over. "The president wanted the shutdown, but seems not to know how to get himself out of it," Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a joint statement. "The stock market is tanking and the president is waging a personal war on the Federal Reserve after he just fired the secretary of defense," they said. Trump has demanded $5 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats have offered $1.3 billion for other border security measures. The president canceled his Christmas vacation to his Florida resort because of the impasse with Congress. "I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security," he tweeted Monday. "At some point, the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our Country more than the Border Wall we are all talking about. Crazy." Another Trump tweet claimed "virtually every Democrat" strongly supported a "Border Wall or Fence" but turned against the idea after he made it an important part of his campaign for president. Most Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have rallied around Trump's demand. "One would think that securing our homeland, controlling our borders and protecting the American people, would be bipartisan prioritiesa core duty of any nation's government," Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. In the past, Democrats have been open to approving additional border security funding, including money for a wall, as part of a larger deal on immigration reform. Earlier this year, Democrats were willing to support wall funding in return for protections for so-called "Dreamers" -- immigrants brought to America illegally as children a deal Trump initially hailed but later abandoned. Democrats say Trump was willing to sign a deal to keep the government operating without the full $5 billion, but backed out after those Schumer calls and "right-wing radio and TV talk show hosts" complained. "Different people from the same White House are saying different things about what the president would accept or not accept...making it impossible to know where they stand at any given moment," Schumer and Pelosi said. What is certain, though, is the government will remain closed at least through Thursday and, according to acting Chief of Staff Nick Mulvaney, quite possibly into 2019. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by Belarusian Leader Upstage Sensitive Kremlin Talks By Pete Cobus December 25, 2018 Less than a day before arriving in Moscow to salvage frayed ties with his Russian counterpart, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he no longer considers Russia a "brotherly nation." According to a television broadcast by Belsat, a Belarus-focused satellite channel headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, Lukashenko told a Monday Cabinet session that he no longer considered Minsk's longtime regional ally a fraternal state "because I was informed that Russia is not receptive to it." News of Lukashenko's comments, which were prompted by Russia's refusal to provide financial compensation for changes to recently implemented export fees, filtered into the Kremlin midday Tuesday, just hours before he was set to head into a closed door meeting with President Vladimir Putin to discuss a range of topics aimed at improving bilateral cooperation. Less than an hour before the high-level talks kicked off - their 12th face-to-face meeting this year - Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov countered Lukashenko's comments by declaring a "loss of trust lately" with Moscow's closest historical ally. "We don't trust the work of your customs," Siluanov was quoted as telling an informal press gaggle in the Kremlin. Bilateral ties faltered after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, which Lukashenko called "a bad precedent," likely because the small former Soviet republic, which does not being to the European Union or NATO, is economically dependent on Moscow for trade, natural gas and other natural resources. Diplomatic relations have been further strained by accusations of what Belarus calls artificially inflated taxes on oil and gas, while Russia has repeatedly expressed concerns about customs violations. Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have a duty-free arrangement under which Moscow sends crude and oil products to Minsk with no export fee. Belarus then re-exports some of those goods, pocketing the associated charges. Russia has used cheap energy exports and loans to Belarus as a way of keeping its former Soviet neighbor in Moscow's geopolitical orbit, but the arrangement has become harder to sustain as Russia's budget tightens, partially as a result of Western sanctions. Russia also has accused Belarus of skimming payments on Russian duties by exporting gasoline and other oil products under the guise of aftermarket oil-based products, such as solvents and commercial chemicals. Russia unexpectedly refused a request from Belarus for $310 million in compensation from a 2018 change in Russian oil taxes, Belarus's deputy prime minister, Igor Lyashenko, told Reuters last week. The Russian government in June approved changes in oil taxes that will see oil export duties being gradually cut over the next six years; but, as a result, Belarus believes it could lose $10.8 billion by 2024. Finance Minister Siluanov said Russia never promised any compensation to Belarus over the tax changes. "We consider such changes, including the tax maneuver in the oil and gas sector, as an internal matter of the Russian Federation," he said. According to The Moscow Times, the ongoing tensions didn't stop the men from shaking hands before Tuesday's meeting, where Lukashenko called on Putin to "not to drag old disputes into the new year." "Overall, I believe our relations have been developing quite well," Putin said upon opening the meeting, according to an official Kremlin press statement. "Of course there are some problems, which is natural given the scope of our interaction," Putin added, saying that both sides had come well prepared to address the most pressing issue - energy relations. "I suggest we listen to both sides even if we fail to reach any agreement," he said. Some information in this story is from Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese peacekeeping forces signifies China's contribution to world peace and development People's Daily Online (People's Daily Online) 11:00, December 25, 2018 Some 40 years into China's reform and opening-up policy, China has not only witnessed the rise of its national strength, but has also shouldered more responsibility in the global community, including sending over 38,000 peacekeepers on 24 UN peacekeeping missions. Twenty-eight years ago, the Chinese military marked their debut in UN peacekeeping missions. In April 1990, five military observers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) arrived at Damascus, Syria, according to PLA Daily. Since then, Chinese peacekeepers spread to regions beyond the Middle East. Chinese faces can now be seen in Asia as well as in Africa. The types of soldiers and officers have also become more diversified, and include engineering corps, medical corps, infantry, and army aviation units. In 2017, the nation's first peacekeeping helicopter unit was deployed in Sudan's Darfur region for a UN peacekeeping mission. China has provided successful experiences and a bright future for the vast number of developing countries to seek modernization. The nation is a powerful force for promoting world peace and development and a major contributor to the progress of human civilization, President Xi Jinping said in a speech at the grand gathering commemorating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up on Dec. 18. Specifically, China has dispatched the largest number of peacekeepers among permanent members of the UN Security Council and the force has made its name with successful missions undertaken with good quality and fast speed. Within 28 years, Chinese peacekeepers have constructed or renovated over 16,000 kilometers of roads, offered more than 200,000 medical treatments, and transported 1.35 million tonnes of goods. The number of landmines and explosives removed has exceeded 10,300 pieces. Through peacekeeping training courses and faculty exchange, the Chinese military has helped train over 1,500 peacekeepers for more than 60 countries and regions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US court orders North Korea to pay $500mn for Otto Warmbier's 'wrongful death' Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 07:22AM A US judge has ordered North Korea to pay more than $500 million to the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who died shortly after being released from detention in the Southeast Asian country. US District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled Monday that Pyongyang "shall be liable for damages in the amount of $501,134,683.80" for what the student's parents insisted was his wrongful death, according to court documents. Warmbier was arrested in 2016 as he tried to leave the North at the end of a five-day commercial tour. Warmbier, who was then a student at the University of Virginia, had reportedly tried to steal a political poster from a restricted floor in his hotel. The student returned to the US in June 2017 after negotiations led by US President Donald Trump's administration. It was said back then that the 22-year-old was deaf and blind and had sustained severe brain damage from his time in detention. He died less than a week later in his hometown of Cincinnati after going into a coma. His parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, filed a lawsuit against the North Korean government in Washington last April, seeking $1 billion in damages, about 2.5 percent of North Korea's 2015 gross domestic product. They claimed that Pyongyang had violated international law by forcing Otto to admit that he was carrying out an act of subversion on behalf of the US government. The lawsuit said the penalty was intended to prevent North Korea's "unlawful behavior in future." The court ordered sum includes more than $21 million in compensatory damages and $150 million in punitive damages that North Korea should pay the Warmbiers. The judge also ruled that each parent was entitled to "the sum of $15 million in compensatory damages and $150 million in punitive damages." The damages would likely be paid from North Korea's frozen assets in the US, which amounted to around $63 million last year, as stated in the US Treasury Department's Terrorist Assets Report. This means all of the frozen assets would only pay for the compensatory damages and the Warmbiers would receive the rest of the large sum only if the Trump administration agrees to press Pyongyang to pay it. North Korea has repeatedly denied accusations of torturing Warmbier in detention. The court order adds a twist to an already complicated situation amid Trump's diplomatic push to denuclearize Pyongyang. The North has made it clear that it won't tolerate any pressure by the Trump administration in the process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea raps latest UN resolution as 'serious provocation' Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 06:59AM North Korea has censured a United Nations resolution that condemns the country's human rights record, calling it a "serious provocation." The resolution, which criticizes what it calls "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations in North Korea, was passed by consensus without a vote at the UN General Assembly on December 17. It marks the 14th consecutive year the UN has approved such a document. In an editorial, North Korea's state-run Rodong newspaper condemned the UN document as a "serious political provocation against the (North) and a vicious move to tarnish its international image." The editorial also slammed "thoughtless" South Korea for supporting the UN resolution, saying the move would be "tarnishing the atmosphere of improving the North-South ties." Seoul and Pyongyang have been improving their relations since January this year. Rodong also lashed at the United States. "The wicked intention of the US... in getting vocal about the non-existent 'human rights issue' of the DPRK is to broaden the scope of the sanctions and pressure and escalate them," Rodong said in the editorial, using the initials of North Korea's official name. Earlier this month, the US abandoned an attempt to hold a UN Security Council session to slam North Korea's human rights record after failing to muster enough support for the bid. But Washington hopes to hold the meeting in January, when five new non-permanent members rotate onto the Security Council that could be more favorable to doing so. The US stance comes despite attempts by President Donald Trump to work with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Trump met with Kim for the first time in Singapore in June, when dialog was opened between the two countries on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after months of exchanging military threats. There has been talk by the US of a second summit early next year, but it is unclear whether North Korea would agree to the holding of that summit. US-North Korea talks for a denuclearization deal appear to have stalled in part due to disagreements over the timing of US sanctions relief. The potential holding of the Security Council meeting on North Korea will in all likelihood further complicate Trump's attempts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Armenian Investigative Committee has completed the investigation into the criminal case that was filed into the incident of deliberately causing serious damage to health, according to the Committee's press service. On July 16, the 50-year-old woman from Gegharkunik Province had argued with a 55-year-old man in Yerevan. During an argument, the woman had poured a container full of gasoline on this man and set him on fire. The man had sustained burns to about 20% of his skin, with subsequent burn shock and illnesses. Criminal charges have been brought against the woman. The criminal case has been sent to court, News,am reported. Trump Says 'Progress Made' on North Korea, Looks Forward to Next Summit With Kim Sputnik News 07:44 25.12.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said in a statement that progress has been made with regards to North Korea, and he is anticipating his next bilateral meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "Christmas Eve briefing with my team working on North Korea Progress being made," Trump said in a Twitter message on Monday. "Looking forward to my next summit with Chairman Kim!" Trump has been considering a second summit with Kim to speed up the stalling denuclearization. Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton said the summit could take place in January or February. On June 12, Trump and Kim met in Singapore, where they committed to establish new US-North Korea relations. In the joint declaration, Kim pledged to work towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, while in return, Trump promised to provide certain security guarantees to North Korea. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India Takes Over Iran's Strategic Chabahar Port December 25, 2018 India has formally taken over operations at Iran's strategic Chabahar Port, a move that could have significant geopolitical ramifications in the region. The port on the Indian Ocean, inaugurated last year, is being built largely by India and is expected to provide a key supply route for Afghanistan while allowing India to bypass rival Pakistan to trade with Central Asia. Representatives from India, Iran, and Afghanistan met in Tehran to formally hand over control to state-owned India Ports Global Limited (IPGL). An Iranian official was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying that IPGL had been granted the lease for "a temporary period of 18 months and a ten-year period afterwards." The official added that IPGL's management would include "loading and unloading, supplying equipment and marketing." The U.S. State Department in November exempted the Chabahar Port project from sanctions in recognition of its importance to landlocked Afghanistan. The effort to build up Afghanistan's economy is also aimed at reducing Kabul's dependence on foreign aid and putting a major dent in the illicit opium trade that has been a major source of revenue for the Taliban insurgency. New Delhi has poured $2 billion into development in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban's government. Based on reporting by Hindustan Times and IRNA Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-iran -afghanistan/29674982.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 India, Myanmar Conduct First Ever Military Exchange Programme Sputnik News 04:35 25.12.2018(updated 07:38 25.12.2018) The effort aimed at promoting mutual trust between the defence forces of Myanmar and India is part of the latter's strategy to counter increasing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region. New Delhi (Sputnik): A 78-member delegation of senior Indian military officials is visiting Myanmar for the first ever exchange programme to enhance mutual trust. Similarly, a 120-member delegation of defence personnel from Myanmar is presently in India. The Indian delegation is scheduled to interact with top officials from Myanmar's military. "A delegation of military officials have arrived in Myanmar for goodwill diplomacy. Some of them are accompanied with their spouses also. They will be interacting with their counterparts here," Sumit Seth, Deputy Chief of Mission in Indian Embassy in Myanmar told Sputnik. Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat has been advocating for deeper coordination between the Indian and Myanmar armies for some time. Myanmar is considered to have recently moved closer to China, which has been a concern for India. India believes that some insurgent groups active near its northeastern border have their bases in Myanmar. In June of this year, Indian Army commandos ambushed a camp in Myanmar's territory belonging to the outlawed Nagaland-Khaplang insurgent group. India is trying to increase cooperation with Myanmar to counter China's consistent and assertive engagement with leaders in Nay Pi Taw. Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Myanmar last September to consolidate ties with the neighbouring country. Myanmar, which shares a 1640 km border with India's north-east, is one of India's strategic neighbours and a key target of India's "Act East" and "Neighbourhood First" policies. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tops Iranian, Russian military brass discuss bilateral ties IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 25, IRNA -- Head of the Joint Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation Vice Admiral Osipov lgor Vladimirovich met with Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Baqeri. Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation General Osipov along with Russian ambassador and accompanying delegation during his visit to Iran met with Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Major General Mohammad Baqeri. Top Russian military official presented a report on the process of forming a joint military commission of the two countries and the points agreed upon by the parties. Referring to the historical ties between Iran and Russia, General Osipov highlighted many areas for cooperation between the two countries. Major General Baqeri also referred to the most sensitive current situation in the region and the world and the necessity of establishing convergence links between the Iranian and Russian armed forces against terrorism and said the success of the two armed forces in the process of confronting terrorism in Syria and the defeat of Takfiri terrorists and their supporters in the region demonstrate the determination of Iran and Russia to deal with threats. Senior Iranian military official emphasized that geopolitical and geo-strategic capabilities of Iran and Russia require the two countries' armed forces to develop and distinguish their cooperation areas in a long-term perspective and to manage and plan them within the framework of the Joint Military Commission's agreements. 9455**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran president submits budget bill to parliament IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 25, IRNA -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani granted the budget bill for the following Iranian year (starting on March 21, 2019) to Majlis (the Iranian Parliament) on Tuesday. 'The following year's budget is 407 thousand billion tomans (equal to $97bn),' said the president in his statement before submitting the budget bill at Majlis. President Rouhani added, 'In the budget bill that is being submitted today, there have been some amendments according to some orders issued by the Supreme Leader, [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei].' Regarding the US pressures on Iran, he said, 'The US sees Iran as an obstacle on their path. Whenever we could create a significant move, they stood against us.' Through conspiracies, sanctions and pressures that are imposed on Iranian people, the US is trying to bring Iran to its knees, said President Rouhani. 'The US will definitely fail; and Iran will stand against all the conspiracies.' 'The US has been trying to disappoint the people with the Islamic Establishment and instilling that the Establishment is ineffective and the government is not in control of the situation.' President Rouhani added that no one says that the sanctions cannot affect the lives of the people, and of course, no one can say that they will succeed. President Rouhani said that the conspiracies of the US have always failed. He also said that if the budget bill were not oil dependent, it would be less effective, adding that the budget of the last year and this year could have been oil-independent. The president said that the oil will have a small role in the next year's budget; it will only be about $33bn. 9417**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader offers condolences over demise of Ayatollah Shahroudi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 25, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a message extended condolences over the demise of the late Chairman of Expediency Council Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi. 'I express my condolences on the passing away of the noble faqih and the chairman of the Council of Expediency, Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi; and I ask God to grant him mercy, forgiveness and elevate his ranks in the Heaven,' the message reads. Ayatollah Shahroudi was a great instructor at Qom Seminary, a faithful member of the most important organ of Iran, (Assembly of Experts), an effective member of the Guardian Council and a successful chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, the leader added. In his message, Supreme Leader condoled with the family of the late Ayatollah, Qom Seminary, his students and colleagues. Ayatollah Shahroudi was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1948 and had served as a member of the Guardian Council as of 1994. He was also judiciary chief and member of Experts Council. As of 2017, he was chairman of Expediency Council. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will lead mass prayers for the body of the deceased Ayatollah Shahroudi during his funeral ceremony on Wednesday. 9376**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian defense ministry delegation meets Iranian army officials ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 25 December 2018 / 16:08 Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri held separate meetings with deputy chief of the Russian Army General Staff, Vice-Admiral Igor Osipov on Tuesday. Osipov has traveled to Iran as the head of a delegation of the Russian Defense Ministry to take part in a second session of the Russian-Iranian working group for the implementation of a bilateral agreement on military cooperation. During the meeting with Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, the two sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest. In the meeting with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, General Osipov presented a report about the process of forming joint military commission between the two countries to Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Mentioning the historical relations between Iran and Russia, Osipov insisted on suitable areas for joint cooperation. Noting the current sensitive situation of the region and the world, General Bagheri insisted on the need for deepening ties between Iran and Russia's armed forces in fighting terrorism, saying, "The two armed forces' victory in fighting terrorism in Syria indicates Iran and Russia's will and capacities to overcome the current threats". End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia armed forces must boost anti-terror fight: Military chief Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 03:09PM The armed forces of Iran and Russia should boost their cooperation in the fight against terrorism given the ongoing very sensitive situation in the region and across the world, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says. "The success of the armed forces of the two countries in the process of combating terrorism in Syria and the defeat of Takfiri terrorists and their supporters in the region indicate the determination and capacities of Iran and Russia to counter the existing threats," Baqeri said in a meeting with Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vice Admiral lgor Osipov in Tehran on Tuesday. "The geopolitical and geo-strategic capacities of Iran and Russia necessitate that the two countries' armed forces develop their cooperation areas from a long-term perspective and devise plans and manage them within the framework of the [Iran-Russia] joint military commission's agreements," the top Iranian commander added. Iran has been offering military advisory support to Syria at the request of the Damascus government, enabling its army to speed up its gains on various fronts against terror outfits. However, over the past few years, Israel, the closest ally of the US has frequently attacked military targets inside Syria in an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering defeats in the battle against Syrian government forces. Syria has on several occasions written to the UN, complaining that the US was flagrantly violating its sovereignty. The US supports militants fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad and has repeatedly attacked Syrian army positions. Back in August, Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami hailed the steadfastness of the Syrian people and government forces in their battle against terrorism, expressing confidence that they will achieve a final victory in this path. "Not only regional people, but people around the world are indebted to the fight carried out against terrorists in Syria," Hatami said in a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Osipov, for his part, briefed the Iranian military chief on the process of establishing Iran-Russia joint military commission and the agreements reached between the two sides. He said Tehran and Moscow can bolster cooperation in many fields given their deep-rooted relations. Iran, Russia to boost marine cooperation Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said the Iranian and Russian navies would further expand their marine cooperation. "We seek to accelerate and develop cooperation in the two geopolitical areas of the Caspian Sea and the Southern Fleet [in the Persian Gulf]," Khanzadi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with the Russian deputy chief of general staff of the Armed Forces. He noted that the two sides discussed technical and educational cooperation and holding tactical maneuvers, particularly the fight against piracy in the South Sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader expresses condolences on passing of Ayatollah Shahroudi Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:44AM Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has extended his condolences over the passing of Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi. In his message on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed grief at the loss of a great scholar and scientific figure, who also served as an influential member of the Guardians Council. The Leader offered his sympathy to the cleric's family, colleagues and students at the Islamic Seminary School in the city of Qom and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace. Meanwhile, various Iraqi parties and political figures, including the country's Islamic Supreme Council, Iraqi National Congress and Secretary General of the Islamic Dawa Party Nouri al-Maliki, have expressed their commiserations over the demise of the cleric. Ayatollah Hashemi-Shahroudi passed away at the age of 70 after months of battling illness on Monday. During his lifetime, Ayatollah Shahroudi served in many crucial positions in the Islamic Republic. He was born in 1948 in the Iraqi city of Najaf, which has hosted many Muslim scholars. In Iraq, Ayatollah Shahroudi attended classes held by the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. He fought against the dictatorial rule of Iraq's Saddam Hussein and was jailed and tortured by his Baathist forces. Ayatollah Shahroudi traveled to Iran in the wake of the the Islamic Revolution to serve as an intermediary between Imam Khomeini and Iraqi scholars and leaders. He took the helm of the Expediency Council in 2017 to succeed the late Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani. The Expediency Council is mainly responsible for arbitrating between the Iranian Parliament and the Guardian Council, which itself supervises the Parliament. Ayatollah Shahroudi also served as the head of Iran's Judiciary for 10 years. His attempts for speeding up due processes and establishing close contact with ordinary people were among the achievements he was credited for. Ayatollah Shahroudi also was a member and vice president of Iran's Assembly of Experts, which elects and oversees the performance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. He had been a member of the Guardian Council for years as well. Ayatollah Khamenei will lead the funeral prayer for the late cleric during a ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday. His body shall be laid to rest at Hazrat Masoumeh shrine in the holy city of Qom in north-central Iran. In a message of condolence on Tuesday, chairman of the Islamic Seminaries of Iran Ayatollah Alireza A'rafi said religious centers will be closed on Wednesday to pay tribute to the late cleric. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Car bomb attack kills 3, injures dozen in northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 01:59PM At least three people have been killed and a dozen others sustained injuries when a bomb explosion ripped through a marketplace in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language Baghdad Today news website that a car laden with explosives went off at Ras Al-Jadah marketplace in the city of Tal Afar, situated about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Mosul, on Tuesday. The source added that the blast left three people dead and 12 others injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but it bears the hallmark of such attacks carried out by the Daesh Takfiri terror group against Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters in the area. On August 31, 2017, former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi said the city of Tal Afar and the entire Nineveh province had been purged of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. The recapture of Tal Afar was made possible with the help of Iraqi army soldiers, Federal Police Force, Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), pro-government fighters from Popular Mobilization Units commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi and the Interior Ministry's elite rapid response forces, Abadi said. Daesh terrorists kidnap 19 civilians in Iraq's Kirkuk Separately, remnants of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have abducted 19 civilians in Iraq's oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk. Federal police spokesman Hussein Majed said Daesh terrorists raided the town of Mabdad, south of Kirkuk, on Tuesday and kidnapped 13 civilians. He said two people were also kidnapped in the town of Debaa al-Jadeeda. Daesh militants raided the village of Bara Bara in the same province as well, and abducted four other civilians. Iraqi security forces have launched manhunts to arrest the abductors. On July 2017, Abadi, formally declared victory over Daesh in Mosul, which served as the terrorists' main urban stronghold in Iraq. In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh. Daesh began a terror campaign in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks. After three years of struggle, Baghdad finally declared the end of military operations against Daesh on December 9, 2017. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington's decision to withdraw the army from Syria will contribute to a comprehensive settlement of the situation in the country, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "We understand the importance of this decision, which, according to our assessment, is to contribute to a comprehensive settlement of the situation," the diplomat said. "American official representatives make it clear that the withdrawal of the army from Syrian territory does not mean the end of the activity of the so-called international coalition led by the U.S. in the fight against the ISIS," Zakharova noted. On December 19, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Washingtons decision to begin the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria. He noted that the United States had succeeded in its mission to defeat the ISIS, terror group. Dissolving parliament, early elections proof of Israel's great failure: Palestinian official Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 02:12AM A Palestinian politician says Israel's decision to dissolve its parliament and call early general elections shows that the regime is in "a big crisis." The decision "is a reflection of the great failure of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's government," Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti told the Associated Press in Bethlehem. "He failed in Gaza, he failed in the North, he failed in the West Bank and he has become, he and his government, an obstruction to any possibility of progress towards real peace," said Barghouti, who is also the chairman of the Palestinian National Initiative political party. The official refused to elaborate. The Israeli regime has been using deadly force against weekly Palestinian protests in the Gaza Strip. Scores of the demonstrators have died as a result, sparking international outcry. Last month, the regime's special forces infiltrated into the Tel Aviv-blockaded sliver to implement an assassination plot, which was exposed by the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas. The unit was chased by Hamas fighters who killed a ranking Israeli officer. Israel then launched dozens of airstrikes on Gaza, drawing Hamas retaliation. During a two-day flare-up, more than 500 rockets were fired at Israel, forcing Tel Aviv to accept a hasty declaration of a ceasefire. Ever since, support for the movement has increased in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians have been coming out more daringly in protest at the regime's aggression. The regime, though, continues to pay no heed to the Palestinians' demand from it to stop its settlement activities in the West Bank before any negotiation could take place. "This government has to go and this system of racism that was created through Israeli laws must vanish," Barghouti added. Netanyahu's coalition announced the snap polls earlier on Monday after his ruling Likud party failed to garner the necessary support to pass controversial legislation aimed at drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military. Local media said legislative elections would most likely take place on April 9, 2019. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Several dead in suicide attack on Libyan foreign ministry Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 11:46PM Three suicide bombers attacked Libya's foreign ministry in Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least two other people as well as themselves, authorities said. The three attackers began their assault with a car bomb, damaging vehicles and buildings, and then opened fire on the ministry, a security source said. Two managed to get inside and blow themselves up. The other was killed by ministry guards. Heavy smoke rose from the building, which was surrounded by security forces, as people were rushed to hospital. The health ministry said that apart from the attackers, three people had been killed and at least 21 injured. Interior Minister Fathi Ali Bashagha said however that apart from the attackers only two people were killed, adding that investigations were continuing into the identity of the assailants. He said security chaos in Libya offered favourable conditions for Islamic State and other terrorist groups. IS has been active in Libya in the turmoil since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The group took control of the coastal city of Sirte in 2015 but lost it late in 2016 to local forces backed by U.S. air strikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Libya's Foreign Ministry attacked, 'minister safe' Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 11:11AM Gunmen have attacked Libya's Foreign Ministry building in the capital, Tripoli, engaging in shootouts and setting off explosives inside, state media say. The attack was staged on Tuesday morning by several "terrorist attackers," the official TV channel of the Libyan unity government announced, citing sources in the Foreign and Interior Ministries. There have been no official reports on casualty figures or a claim of responsibility, though a Foreign Ministry employee was cited in a press report as saying that three individuals had been killed and six wounded. Other reports have cited the Foreign Ministry as confirming one death and nine injuries in the attack. Unnamed security sources were also cited in media reports as identifying three attackers as suspected Daesh militants, one of whom was reportedly killed by the ministry's guards. The other two blew themselves up. Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala was described by a ministry employee to be unharmed following the attack. In September, Daesh claimed responsibility for an attack on the headquarters of Libya's National Oil Company in the heart of Tripoli, which left two people dead and 10 wounded. Four months earlier, the terror group also claimed responsibility for an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters, which left 14 dead. The divided North African country still struggles to restore stability seven years after an uprising that toppled and killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi following the heavy bombardment of government positions by NATO. Libya is now divided between two rival governments one in the east and another in the west and each backed by an array of rival militia factions. The Tripoli-based unity government is recognized by the United Nations as the official government. The other government, known as the House of Representatives, is based in the eastern city of Tobruk. The development comes just over a week after a US military commander declared that conditions were improving in Libya for the return of an American diplomatic post, six years after the US envoy was killed there in an attack on the Benghazi consulate. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Militants Attack Foreign Ministry In Libya December 25, 2018 Militants have attacked the Foreign Ministry of Libya in Tripoli, killing three and injuring around 20. A suicide bomber blew himself up at the ministry entrance on December 25. A second attacker was shot dead by guards before he was able to detonate his explosive vest, Libyan officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although the Islamic State terrorist organization has carried out similar attacks. Among the dead was Abdul-Rahman Mazoughi, a prominent leader of the Revolutionary Brigade militia group. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the attack and stressed the need to "prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven or an arena for their crimes." Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Muammar Qaddafi. The country is split between rival governments, each supported by various militia groups. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/militants-attack- foreign-ministry-in-libya/29675982.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 Blast, Shooting Reported at Libyan Foreign Ministry Building in Tripoli Sputnik News 11:57 25.12.2018(updated 12:50 25.12.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - An explosion took place at the Libyan Foreign Ministry in the country's capital of Tripoli, local media reported Tuesday. At least three killed, two injured in a blast near the building of the Libyan Foreign Ministry in Tripoli and two attackers were neutralized, media reported Tuesday. According to Sky News Arabia, one of the attackers committed suicide and the other died of a bullet shot. Earlier, the 218TV broadcaster reported that one of the three perpetrators has been neutralised. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, while media reports suggest casualties. Later in the day, the Libyan unity government's official TV broadcaster reported that a number of "terrorist attackers" were behind the explosion. As seen in the pictures published by witnesses on Twitter, huge smoke has been visible over the ministry's building. According to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, shooting has also been heard in the area. The staff of the ministry has reportedly been evacuated. Libya has been in a state of turmoil since the overthrow and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The state is divided between two governments, with the eastern part controlled by the Libyan National Army, and the western part governed by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj. The existence of two governments and the collapse of Libya's security system after Gaddafi's overthrow led to an increase in activity of armed rebel groups and terrorist organizations. Due to the lack of centralized power and unified army, Libya has become a center for smuggling and a transit point for undocumented migrants from Africa who attempt to reach Europe. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian air defense systems intercept 'hostile targets' near capital Damascus Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 09:38PM Syrian air defense systems have intercepted "hostile targets" near the capital Damascus, nearly a month after government forces shot down several missiles following an Israeli attack and foiled its goals despite the "intensity of the aggression." Syria's state-run al-Ikhbariyah Syria television news network that air defenses had intercepts the targets in the skies over the western outskirts of Damascus. The report added that the projectiles had flown over the Lebanese territories, suggesting that they had would have been most likely launched from Israel. A witness said the sound of loud explosions echoed through Damascus. Lebanese media outlets reported that residents near the border with neighboring Syria said the sound of planes could be heard in the sky. There are reports that the explosions took place around the Mezzeh Military Airport west of the capital and in the areas of Kesawa and Jimraya, which are located northwest of Damascus. The development came only two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria will not affect the Tel Aviv regime's policy toward the war-torn country. "The decision to withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria will not change our consistent policy: We will continue to act against Iran's attempts to entrench itself militarily in Syria, and to the extent necessary, we will even expand our actions there," Netanyahu said. On November 30, Syrian air defenses were activated against several missiles, which were aimed at the city of al-Kiswah, located approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Damascus. They "were able to foil its goals despite the intensity of the aggression," Syrian state media said at the time. Israeli media claimed that Iranian military advisers as well as fighters from Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah were the main target in the attack. Israeli officials argue that Iran's presence in Syria, which is part of an advisory mission requested by the Damascus government, poses a threat to the Tel Aviv regime's security. The Israeli military, using this pretext, has pounded alleged positions of Iranian and Iran-backed forces across Syria over the course of the seven-year conflict. The attacks are usually viewed as attempts to prop up foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorist groups that have been suffering defeats at the hands of Syrian government forces and allied fighters from popular defense groups. Israel and the United States have even put pressure on Russia, another close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the war against terrorist groups, to force Iran out of Syria. In October, Russia equipped the Syrian army with the advanced S-300 surface-to-air missiles, days after Israeli fighter jets used a Russian surveillance aircraft flying nearby as a shield and misled the Syrian air defenses to shoot it down. Since then Israel has been very careful with its operation over Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We curse them as traitors: Syrian Kurds slam US withdrawal, look for new allies Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 03:20AM Many Syrian Kurds have expressed frustration over the United States' planned troop withdrawal from Syria, describing it as a 'stab in the back' and considering new allies, according to the US-based National Public Radio (NPR). Syrian Kurdish forces in northern Syria are considering contingency plans and partnering with new alliances in the face of an anticipated Turkish incursion in the region, the NPR said on Monday. "At this point, we are open to all options and partnerships," said Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesman Mustafa Bali. The report further revealed that the Syrian Kurdish officials are even considering "on-the-ground protection deals with Iranian forces in Syria," in addition to Syrian government protection. "The Syrian regime should be protecting Syria's sovereign borders," says Bali, adding that "on principle, we would not be against it (Syrian government presence)." Speaking to Kurds living near US bases in northern Syria, many expressed their resentment for what they described as US "betrayal" of the Kurds. "If they will leave, we will curse them as traitors," said Hatem Hassan, a money exchange shop owner in the Syrian town of Qamishli. "I don't understand it. People are afraid that they will just sell the country to someone," said another Kurdish local named Haji Haidar. Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised a Turkish-led operation against the Kurdish-controlled regions in "the next few days." The president, however, announced the operation's delay last week just a few days after US President Donald Trump called for a withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Many American forces are currently deployed in the Kurdish-controlled regions of Syria. Turkey saw the US-led military presence as an obstacle in dealing with Kurdish forces in northern Syria it views as threat to its security. Ankara has postponed its incursion into northern Syria until US troops leave the region. Turmoil in Washington Trump's decision has sparked turmoil within his administration, prompting the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, the special envoy to the so-called anti-Daesh coalition. Trump later named Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan as the acting Pentagon chief, saying he will replace Mattis starting January 1, earlier than previously scheduled. The withdrawal plan has also sparked much controversy among other American politicians, with many Republican and Democrat figures openly criticizing Trump for the matter. "I think when you leave an area where it's very troublesome in terms of our national security overall, you leave a void and bad people fill it and then you have a much bigger problem," said Republican Senator Pat Roberts speaking to reporters. Democrat Senator Christopher Coons also criticized Trump's decision for weakening US influence in the region. "For us to withdraw right now and abandon our Kurdish allies, paves a highway for control of Syria for either Iran and Russia or Turkey." Many observers have, however, highlighted the apparent bi-partisan opposition to Trump's troop withdrawal as a sign of Washington's aggressive and reckless foreign policy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'No Benefit': Turkey Warns France Against Remaining in Syria Amid US Pullout Sputnik News 09:54 25.12.2018(updated 13:07 25.12.2018) The news comes as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman revealed that American military officials are set to meet with their Turkish counterparts to discuss coordination on Syria following Washington's decision to withdraw troops from the Arab Republic. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has commented on Paris' plans to remain in Syria amid the withdrawal of US troops, saying that "there will be no benefit to anyone", according to the Anadolu news agency. Meanwhile, Hurriyet, another Turkey-based news outlet, reported that the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday the country's military is determined to enter northern Syria as soon as possible. Earlier, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Ankara had completed preparations for the operation. The development comes on the heels of reports of the Turkish president inviting Donald Trump to Ankara, as well as reports stating that military officials of both states are set to hold a meeting to better coordinate their actions in Syria. Donald Trump recently declared the US will be pulling out its nearly 2,000-strong military force from Syria as the Daesh* terrorist group had been crushed in the country. The decision was met with criticism from Washington's European allies, including Germany and France. Subsequent media speculation suggested that Trump made the move only after being reassured by Erdogan that Turkey would eliminate terrorist remnants in Syria. In December, Erdogan announced that Turkish forces were prepared to kick off an offensive on the east bank of the Euphrates River against Kurdish formations as soon as possible. Later, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said that the operation in northern Syria would be postponed until the Americans withdraw from the region completely. At the same time, Erdogan's spokesman said that Ankara is going to coordinate its anti-Daesh campaign with Moscow. *Daesh (also known as the Islamic state/ISIS/ISIL) is a terrorist group banned in Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian FM Zarif: Too Early to Analyze US Exit From Syria Sputnik News 08:03 25.12.2018 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in an interview late on Monday, said he believed it was too early to give a detailed analysis of the US withdrawal from Syria. Zarif told Al-Mayadeen he believes that the US presence in Syria was illegitimate as it wasn't approved by the official Syrian government, and it is too early to render conclusions about the outcome of their presence, the IRNA reported. "They created tensions in the country and contrary to their claim they in no way fought with Daesh," he said. Zarif also expressed regret over EU's interaction on implementing 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), noting that the EU is slow on fulfilling their commitments under the deal, saying that Iran "will not keep waiting until they take practical steps." "EU claims that nuclear deal is significant for them, as they intend to benefit from it, but 'it is impossible to swim without getting wet.' We have many options available and not using the options following US exit from JCPOA does not mean that we have lost them; rather when national interests require, we will adopt the options and we will never sit waiting for the Europeans unless they take practical steps," Zarif said. Zarif also commented on Turkey's decision to launch operations in Syria against the YPG and PKK in the eastern Euphrates, noting that Ankara should coordinate military operations with the Syrian government. "We have always said that such operations should be undertaken by the Damascus government. We understand Turkey's concerns over terrorist acts, but military operations without Damascus approval cannot contribute to solving crisis. We are ready to help them to address their concerns through coordination with the Syrian government," he said in an address to Turkish officials. Earlier Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara was ready to launch an operation in Syria's Manbij against Kurdish formations. He later said that he had decided to postpone the start of the military operation in Syria after a telephone conversation with Trump on December 14, at the end of which Trump decided to withdraw US troops from Syria. Daesh (IS/ISIS/Islamic State) is a terrorist organisation, banned in Russia and other countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey sends military reinforcements to Syrian border People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:25, December 25, 2018 ANKARA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has sent military reinforcements to its border with Syria, state-run media reported on Monday, after Ankara and Washington agreed to coordinate ly during the U.S. withdrawal from Syria. According to state-run Anadolu Agency, a batch of Turkish military convoy, including howitzers and artillery batteries, arrived in border areas of southeastern Kilis Province. Meanwhile, in northern Syria, Turkish-backed militia Free Syria Army (FSA) were deployed to areas near the Kurdish-held town of Manbij, Anadolu said. In a footage released by Anadolu, dozens of pick-up trucks carrying FSA fighters and machine guns were marching at night. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Sunday talked on phone and agreed to ensure diplomatic and military coordination to prevent an authority vacuum following the U.S. withdrawal from Syria. Erdogan warned on Dec. 12 that Turkey would in a few days launch a military operation in the east of Euphrates in Syria to clear terror groups there, but later postponed his move after Trump unexpectedly announced to withdraw its troops from Syria. Ankara regards the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) designated to be a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and EU. Earlier this year, Turkey carried out Operation Olive Branch to seize control of Syria's Afrin region from the Kurdish militia, while the YPG also controls the Syrian region east of the Euphrates. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey resolute in fighting terror, needs no permission from Israel: Ankara Iran Press TV Tue Dec 25, 2018 04:41PM Turkey says it is determined to continue its "fight" against terrorism, stressing that Ankara does not need any "permission" from the Israeli regime to fight terror. "It is out of the question for Turkey to get permission or consent from Israel" to fight against terrorism, Turkey's English-language Hurriyet Daily News newspaper on Tuesday quoted Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin as telling reporters the day before. He said Ankara would equally need no permission from any "country" in the world to carry out its anti-terror operations. Kalin's comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a Twitter post on Sunday, attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over Ankara's counterterror operations in northern Syria, calling him "the occupier of northern Cyprus." The Turkish leader hit back at Netanyahu in a tweet, saying the Israeli premier is heading "state terror." Netanyahu "may have confused his language. Rather, he wanted to say that they are invading Palestine and murdering women and children," Erdogan added, calling the Israeli prime minister as "the voice of the tyrants." Furthermore, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday likened Netanyahu to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, which Ankara views as terrorists. Elsewhere in his remarks, Kalin described as "historic" the December 14 "telephone call" between Erdogan and President Donald Trump of the United States that "led" to Washington's decision to pull out its 2,000 ground troops from Syria. The spokesman added that Trump's decision was made as a "result" of Erdogan's convincing argument over the phone with the US leader. He said that Erdogan told the US president "loud and clear" that Ankara and Washington did not need the Syrian Kurdish militants of the People's Protection Units (YPG) to fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, two groups in war-ravaged Syria that Turkey lists as terrorist organizations. Late last year, Washington infuriated Ankara by announcing a plan for the formation of a Kurdish militant force in Syria near the Turkish border. The plan prompted Turkey to launch a cross-border military operation code-named Operation Olive Branch on January 20 inside the Arab country with the declared aim of eliminating YPG from northern Syria, particularly the Afrin region. The US-backed YPG, which controls swathes of Syria's northern border region, forms the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an anti-Damascus alliance of predominantly Kurdish militants supported by Washington. Ankara views the YPG as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. Turkey, which has long been exasperated by the US support of the YPG Kurdish militants in Syria, warmly welcomed Trump's abrupt decision and stressed that both Ankara and Washington were coordinating to ensure there is no "authority vacuum" once the American troops withdraw. Damascus has given a degree of authority to the Kurdish regions to run their own affairs. Washington, however, used the power vacuum to establish a foothold in those regions with the help of militants. However, Ankara is strongly against recognizing the territory on its border, fearing it will stoke the separatist ambitions of Kurds in Turkey. A US-led military coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a United Nations mandate. The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh. Over the past few years, Israel has frequently attacked military targets in Syria in what is considered an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering heavy defeats against Syrian government forces. The Tel Aviv regime has also been providing weapons to anti-Damascus militants as well as medical treatment to Takfiri elements wounded in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey 'Determined' To Cross East Of Euphrates In Syria As Soon As Possible By RFE/RL December 25, 2018 Turkey is determined to cross to the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria as soon as possible, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on December 25, a day after Ankara sent reinforcements to the border with Syria. "If Turkey says that it will enter Syria, it will be so," Cavusoglu told reporters. "We plan to enter areas east of the Euphrates River as soon as possible." Turkey said earlier this month that it would launch a new military operation in the area. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, prompting Turkey to delay the campaign until the withdrawal is completed. Trump has said the withdrawal from Syria will be slow and coordinated with Turkey, without providing a timetable. Turkey said the two countries are coordinating to ensure there is no "authority vacuum" once the U.S. troops leave. On December 24, Turkish media reported that Ankara sent reinforcements, including troops and trucks carrying tanks and howitzers, to the border with Syria. Hurriyet daily said, the deployment began over the weekend with around 100 vehicles, which had crossed into the Al-Bab region of northern Syria. Meanwhile, inside Syria, Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were deployed to areas near the Kurdish-held town of Manbij, the Anadolu news agency said. Manbij, in northern Syria, is held by a U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG militia viewed by Ankara as "terrorists" linked to Kurdish insurgents inside Turkey. During the December 25 news briefing, Cavusoglu warned France that it would not gain in any way by retaining forces to protect a Kurdish militia in Syria, after Paris announced it would maintain a presence despite the U.S. withdrawal. "If France is staying to contribute to Syria's future, great, but if they are doing this to protect the [militia], this will bring no benefit to anyone," Cavusoglu said. A Kurdish-led force captured much of northern and eastern Syria from the Islamic State (IS) group with the help of a U.S.-led coalition. The Kurdish militia has expressed shock at Trump's decision, and now faces a triple threat from Turkey, the Syrian government, and IS. U.S. partners have warned that a premature American withdrawal will allow IS to storm back. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey- determined-to-cross-east-of-euphrates-in-syria-as- soon-as-possible/29675450.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 Turkey Doesn't Need Permission from Israel or Anyone to Fight Terror - Ankara Sputnik News 21:57 25.12.2018(updated 21:58 25.12.2018) The Turkish government spokesperson made the statement following a Twitter outburst from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Turkish President Erdogan "the occupier of northern Cyprus" and accused his forces of massacring "women and children in Kurdish villages." Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has announced that Ankara intends to continue its fight against terrorism without seeking consent from other countries, Hurriyet Daily News reported on Tuesday. "It is out of the question for Turkey to get permission or consent from Israel or any other country [to fight terror]," he told journalists after a cabinet meeting. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Erdogan on Twitter, calling him "the occupier of northern Cyprus, whose army massacres women and children in Kurdish villages, inside and outside Turkey", and insisted that the Turkish president "should not preach to Israel". In response, Erdogan dubbed Netanyahu is "the voice of tyrants" and the head of "state terror". Meanwhile, Kalin also claimed that US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw American troops from Syria after Erdogan told him "loud and clear" that Washington and Ankara don't need the help of Kurdish YPG/SDF forces to fight Daesh*. "There is no step back, weakness, halt, or slowdown in the fight against Daesh terror group," Kalin said after declaring that Turkey will maintain its military presence in the Syrian province of Idlib in order to ensure "security and stability in the region". Erdogan and Netanyahu have previously engaged in verbal clashes with each other on numerous occasions. The row between the Turkish and Israeli leaders flared following the recent escalation of tensions on the Israel-Gaza border, which claimed the lives of four Palestinians on Friday. In December, Erdogan announced that Turkish forces were prepared to kick off an offensive on the east bank of the Euphrates River against Kurdish formations as soon as possible. Later, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said that the operation in northern Syria would be postponed until the US troops completely withdraw from the area. At the same time, Erdogan's spokesman said that Ankara is going to coordinate its anti-Daesh campaign with Moscow. *Daesh (ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State) is a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Never Suggested US Technicians Should Study S-400 Defense Minister Sputnik News 20:17 25.12.2018(updated 01:23 26.12.2018) The announcement comes after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that Ankara would never give up on the S-400 deal with Moscow. According to him, the Turkish government has already finalized the accord and will buy the missile systems from Russia "without any question." Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has categorically rejected reports claiming Ankara suggested US technicians should study the Russian-made S-400 missile system. "Nothing of the kind. The process of implementing the contract for the purchase of the Russian [air defence] systems S-400 is going according to the plan. Period," Akard said when asked by a Sputnik correspondent whether or not such an offer was in place. His comments followed a Bloomberg report citing two sources familiar with the discussions as saying last week that Turkey had allegedly suggested that US technical experts delve into the S-400 systems in order to "control damage" in relations with Washington stemming from Ankara's decision to pursue the contract with Moscow. The Russian president's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, for his part, recalled that the Russian-Turkish contract stipulates Ankara's non-disclosure of certain data. "As a rule, Russian military and defense cooperation with other states necessarily envisages legal obligations on non-disclosure of certain categories of information, of sensitive data related to this cooperation. In this case with the Turkish side, there are such obligations as well []. We see no reason not to trust our Turkish partners," Peskov underscored. Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that Ankara had already finalized the S-400 deal and will buy the missile systems from Russia "without any question". The US government has repeatedly expressed concern over Turkey's decision to go on with the purchase of Russia-made missile defense systems, threatening to block the delivery of F-35 fifth generation fighter jets to Ankara amid fears that sensitive technology could be compromised and used to improve Russian air defenses if Turkey acquires both. Turkey's Anadolu news agency, in turn, cited a high-ranking source in Washington as saying that the US continues to consider the S-400 air defense system a threat to its F-35 stealth fighter platform, and may impose sanctions against Ankara. Earlier, Turkish Defense Minister Akar stated that the deployment of the S-400 systems to Turkey will start in October 2019. At the same time, he added that the US F-35 fighter jet program is to be continued as planned, with the next batch of jets to be delivered in March 2019. Last December, Ankara signed a loan agreement with Moscow envisaging deliveries of the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Turkey. Sergey Chemezov, chief executive of Russia's state-owned defense company, Rostec, said some four S-400 battalion-size sets worth $2.5 billion could be supplied, with 55 percent of the contract sum being covered by Russian loans. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Expands Targeted Sanctions Against Ukraine By RFE/RL December 25, 2018 Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has expanded Russia's targeted sanctions against Ukrainian individuals and legal entities. Medvedev posted on Twitter on December 25 that he had signed the decree expanding the list of sanctions targets to "defend the interests of the Russian state, companies, and citizens of Russia." Some 200 individuals and legal entities were added to the list. On November 1, Russia imposed "special economic measures" against 322 Ukrainian individuals and 68 companies. The sanctions included freezing non-cash accounts and other assets in Russia and a ban on capital transfers from Russia. Among the individuals on the original list were Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, Security Service chief Vasyl Hrytsak, former prime ministers Yulia Tymoshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, and former Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh. The list is based on an October 22 decree by President Vladimir Putin. Putin said at the time that the punitive measures could be canceled if Ukraine lifts all restrictions it has imposed against Russian citizens and companies. Kyiv took measures against Russian citizens and companies following Moscow's 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea and in response to Moscow military, political, and economic support of separatist formations in eastern Ukraine. Some 10,300 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine since early 2014. Although Moscow denies interfering in Ukraine's domestic affairs, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2016 ruled that the fighting in eastern Ukraine is "an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation." The European Union and the United States have also imposed sanctions against Moscow over its involvement in Ukraine. With reporting by UNIAN and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-expands-sanctions -ukraine/29675861.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 Eni and the Governorate of the Vatican City State have signed an agreement for the use of a renewable diesel blend produced and marketed by Eni, for Vatican City State transport. Enis Venice and Gela biorefineries will soon recycle used cooking oil from restaurants in Vatican City. The cooking oil will be used to produce Eni Diesel+a blend of 15% renewable diesel with conventional dieselto power the Vaticans vehicles. The waste will be re-used to produce biofuels in the Eni biorefinery in Porto Marghera, Venice, the worlds first conventional refinery to be converted into a biorefinery using a proprietary Eni technology which enables the production of cleaner, higher-quality fuels. (Earlier post.) Since May 2014, the Venice biorefinery has been producing biofuels using ever increasing quantities of used cooking oils, animal fats and other waste raw materials to replace vegetable oils certified for sustainability; the Gela biorefinery will be launched within the first quarter of 2019, after undergoing the same conversion. GREENWICH A midcountry mansion has sold for $17.5 million in Greenwichs largest residential real estate deal of the year. But even with the high selling price, the 16,900-square-foot home at 110 Clapboard Ridge Road changed hands for 50 percent less than its original asking price of $35 million in 2015, according to listings site Zillow. It had gone on and off the market, most recently listing for nearly $25 million. The owner made a business decision that he was ready to sell the house and accepted this offer, said Leslie McElwreath, senior global real estate adviser for Sothebys International Realty. Its truly one of the finest houses built in Greenwich. McElwreath listed the home with fellow Sothebys Realtor Joseph Barbieri. They worked with seller Camellia Sinensis LLC. The Wall Street Journal reported that the sellers were Ara D. Cohen, co-founder of Manhattan-based hedge fund Knighthead Capital Management, and his wife, Hilary Bangash Cohen. McElwreath declined to identify the buyers, but she said they already owned a home in Greenwich. At least a dozen high-profile individuals looked at 110 Clapboard Ridge, she said. Robin Kencel, a founding agent of real estate brokerage Compass Greenwich office, was the buyers agent. She declined to comment. The sale netted about $44,000 in local conveyance taxes and $215,000 in state conveyance taxes, according to town property records. 2019 outlook McElwreath attributed the gap in the sale and asking prices of 110 Clapboard Ridge to current market conditions being such that we dont have as many buyers as we used to in the higher end. She said she is still optimistic about demand for ultra-luxury homes. Sothebys most-expensive Greenwich listing is a nearly 6-acre estate on Vista Drive, overlooking Indian Harbor, that was once owned by President Donald Trump. Its current asking price is $45 million, compared with an original listing of $54 million. Other available eight-figure homes include a 75-acre estate at 124 Old Mill Road in the towns backcountry. Once owned by Mel Gibson, the Tudor-style manor now lists for about $20 million. The subsequent owners initially listed the property for $31.5 million in 2015. People are still interested in the quality of life that Greenwich affords, McElwreath said. They want to come here for the same reasons that we all live here proximity to New York and access to the incredible town services, including our schools. The nearest public schools to 110 Clapboard Ridge are North Street School, Central Middle School and Greenwich High School. A number of private schools are within a few miles. Completed in 2011, the stone Georgian house sits on 5.3 acres. It houses 27 rooms, including six bedrooms, as well as a five-car garage. It also comes with indoor and outdoor pools and spas. The home also features a two-story entry hall, a living room with two fireplaces, a library and a billiards room. The lower level includes a home theater and lobby, wine cellar, gym, family room and indoor pool. The property also features a two-bedroom guest house. Annual property taxes for 110 Clapboard Ridge run about $151,000, according to the Sothebys website. Greenwichs previous top residential seller this year was a $17 million deal in the spring for a mansion owned by Bob Weinstein, younger brother of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, according to the Wall Street Journal. In Stamford, Sothebys most-expensive listing is a 1.7-acre home on Saddle Rock Road, in the citys waterfront Shippan section. Its asking price is nearly $12 million. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott LG is the latest smartphone maker to join the KFTC (Korean Fair Trade Commission) and other companies in the lawsuit against Qualcomm. While Samsungs withdrawal didnt do the lawsuit any favors, LGs new stance strengthens the KFTCs case again, particularly with LG being a Korean company. According to Business Korea industry sources claim that LG chose to participate in the legal efforts against Qualcomm due to shaky negotiations in between LG and Qualcomm in the US. Qualcomms ongoing legal fight with Apple recently resulted in Apples iPhones being banned in China and possibly Germany. The chip-maker alleges that Apple incorrectly used two key Qualcomm patents without paying royalties. The affected devices include all iPhones from the iPhone 6S to the iPhone X, all of which were banned from being sold in China (with the XR and XS also possibly being banned). The KFTC slapped Qualcomm with a 1.03 trillion won fine ($917.4 million) for abusing its patents back in 2016. Since Qualcomm disagrees, the KFTC filed a lawsuit and other companies joined including Apple, MediaTek, Intel, Huawei, and Samsung except Samsung pulled from this initial stance after it announced a cross-license partnership with Qualcomm. Qualcomm and the KFTC are still years away from reaching a final verdict. Source Haiti - Politic : The environmental impact taken into account in all planning documents The Ministry of the Environment (MdE), through the Directorate of Water Resources (DRE) and the Environmental Assessment Bureau (BNEE) participated in a meeting organized by the Executive Secretariat of the Interministerial Committee for Territorial Development (CIAT), around the validation of urban plans, for the municipalities of Dame-Marie, Beaumont, Jeremie and Les Cayes. In addition to the MdE, this meeting brought together the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Public Works, and the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA). According to the Validation Committee, 7 cities in the South, South-East and Grande Anse departments have completed the development of their urban planning documents and are seeking technical validation from the State authorities. These are the Town Halls of Cotes-de-Fer, Aquin and Port-Salut which benefited from the technical support of Group 8 and Beta firms, the Ministry of Tourism and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). As for Dame Marie, Beaumont, Jeremie and Les Cayes, their planning document was produced thanks to the help of UN-Habitat and the European Union, through the program Urbayiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26411-haiti-politic-launch-of-urbayiti-a-42-billion-gourdes-program.html As part of this dossier, the CIAT Technical Secretariat organized two meetings with the technical committee during the month of December. The Ministry of the Environment, a member of the Technical Validation Committee, is there to ensure that the environmental impact component is taken into account in all planning documents. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26411-haiti-politic-launch-of-urbayiti-a-42-billion-gourdes-program.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26374-haiti-politic-draft-plan-for-development-and-extension-of-jeremie.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22092-haiti-europe-call-for-proposals-concerning-the-cities-of-les-cayes-and-jeremie.html HL/ HaitiLibre Press release Groups or individuals interested in constructing or improving a community fishing pond have until Feb. 1 to apply for a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Community Pond Program grant. The objective of the Community Pond Program is to enhance fishing opportunities in or near Montana communities by providing funding that may be used to construct or improve a public fishing pond. Applicants must provide at least 30 percent of the total project cost, which can include contributions such as heavy equipment time, construction materials, labor, engineering services and more. Anyone wishing to sponsor a project may apply. A total of $33,300 in grant funds is available for ponds with public fishing opportunities. Since 2003, the Community Pond Program has funded projects that benefit young anglers and their families by providing locations where individuals of all ages can learn angling skills. Additional information on the Community Pond Program, including a grant application form, is available on the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov, then clicking on Community Pond Program. Applications, which are accepted each year, must be received on or before Feb. 1. Applicants are required to contact their local FWP fisheries biologist to obtain project support. For more information, contact Michelle McGree, FWP Program Officer, at 406-444-2432 or [email protected] Havre Police Department An arrest was made during a vehicle stop on 13th Avenue Monday at 12:43 p.m., but no further details were provided. -- A caller at a First Street West business reported at 1:48 p.m. Monday people would not leave the business when asked. -- A caller on 10th Street West reported Monday at 4:14 p.m. that someone who wasn't supposed to be in her apartment was there. -- Everett Dale Windyboy or Havre, 66, was arrested on a shoplifting charge after a caller at a First Street West business reported at 10:10 p.m. Monday a man on the property who was trespassing. -- A 10:24 a.m. Tuesday caller on Grant Avenue reported a lost red backpack with a Fort Belknap emblem on it. -- An Oak Drive caller reported Tuesday at 11:28 a.m. someone had vandalized a nativity set. -- Esequeil Pepe Velasquez of Box Elder, 40, was arrested on a pick up and hold order Tuesday at 4:06 p.m. on Second Street. Hill County Sheriff's Office Lacey Marie Pitkanen of Harlem, 35, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant and on charges of shoplifting, contempts for which justice of the peace may punish and probation violation, after a caller at a U.S. Highway 2 West business reported a shoplifter Monday at 12:57 p.m. -- Haley Marie Kelm of Havre, 21, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant Monday at 4:10 p.m. at Hill County Detention Center. -- Percephone Sharee Onco of Rocky Boy, 26, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant Tuesday at 1:17 a.m. at First Street and Fifth Avenue. -- James Darren Hobbs of Box Elder, 28, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing a peace officer or other public servant and on a Justice or City court warrant after a caller in Laredo reported a man and woman fighting Tuesday at 6:35 a.m. Havre Fire Department Emergency medical personnel responded to two calls Monday and one Tuesday. -- Firefighters responded to a fire call on the 300 block of Ninth Street at 10:27 p.m. No one was made available for more details on the fire. Havre Animal Shelter The Havre shelter this morning held two medium-hair cats, one short-hair cat and one long-hair cat of unknown gender and one short-hair female cat and one medium-hair male cat. -- The Havre shelter this morning also held a female Australian cattle dog-blue heeler-border collie dog, a female mixed-breed dog, a female shepherd dog, two male and a female mixed-breed 8-week-old puppies, a female Anatolian shepherd/husky 9-month-old puppy, a male pit bull-Labrador 9-month-old puppy and a male shepherd-Chow Chow dog. Press release Winter Beef Symposium will be held Thursday, Jan. 10, and Thursday, Jan. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. each day at the Northern Agricultural Research Center of Montana State University southwest of Havre. Producers can attend one or both days. One pesticide credit can be earned each day, so people should bring their license numbers. The event is co-hosted by MSUs Blaine County Extension, Hill County Extension and NARC and is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served. The Havre Area Chamber Commerces of AgriBusiness Committee is providing refreshments. For more information or to register, people can contact: Emi Smith, Northern Agricultural Research Center, 265-6115, [email protected]/. Julianne Snedigar, Blaine County Extension Agent, 357-3200, [email protected]/. Shylea Wingard, Hill County Extension Agent, 406-400-2333; [email protected]/. Jan. 10, five workshop presenters will cover a variety of topics related to cow-calf production, including weak calf syndrome; winter nutrition, feed supplementation and grazing patterns; risks and opportunities in current cattle markets, expected progeny differences for commercial cattle operations and controlling small animal vertebrates in the pasture and on the range. Jan. 24, five workshop presenters will continue providing pertinent information for cow-calf operators. Topics discussed will include: cover crops and cattle grazing, cheat grass and weed control after drought and fire; third trimester beef cow nutrition, weak calf syndrome, and USDA FSA programs for livestock producers. The schedules are: Jan. 10: 11-11:10 a.m. Welcome, Julia Dafoe 11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Control of Small Animal Vertebrates Stephen M. Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture, Vertebrate Specialist; 12:10-12:45 p.m. Lunch 12:45-1:25 p.m. Risks and Opportunities in Current Cattle Markets John Mangus, Custom Ag Solutions; Wyoming Rancher and Consultant; 1:30-2:10 p.m. EPDs for Commercial Cattle Operation Jennifer Thomson, MSU associate professor of livestock genomics; 2:15-2:55 p.m. Weak Calf Syndrome Tim DelCurto, MSU Nancy Cameron endowed chair in range beef cattle production; 3-3:40 p.m. Winter Feed Supplementation and Grazing Patterns Sam Wyffels, doctoral student; MSU Animal and Range Science Department; Jan 24: 11-11:10 p.m. Welcome, Darrin Boss 11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Cheatgrass Control and Weed Invaders After Drought and Fire Jane Mangold; MSU Extension weed and invasive plant ecologist; 12:10-12:45 p.m. Lunch 12:45-1:25 p.m. Third Trimester Nutrition in Beef Cattle Megan Van Emon; MSU Extension beef specialist; 1:30-2:10 p.m. Weak Calf Syndrome from a Vet Perspective Dr. Bob Sager, MSU Meager County extension agent and licensed veterinarian; 2:15-2:55 p.m. Cover Crops and Cattle Grazing Darrin Boss, NARC superintendent; 3-3:40 p.m. USDA FSA Programs for Livestock Producers Russell Snedigar and Miranda Skoyen, local FSA representatives, Havre and Chinook 2019 WINTER BEEF SYMPOSIUM Speaker Schedule Thursday, Jan. 10th Thursday, Jan. 24th 11:00 11:10 am WELCOME -- Julia Dafoe WELCOME - Darrin Boss 11:10 12:10 pm Stephen Van Tassel (pesticide 1 credit) Jane Mangold (herbicide 1 credit) 12:10 12:45 pm LUNCH LUNCH 12:45 1:25 pm CAS Brett Crosby / John Mangus Dr. Bob Sager 1:30 2:10 pm Jennifer Thomson FSA Russell Snedigar / Miranda Skoyen 2:15 2:55 pm Tim DelCurto Megan Van Emon 3:00 3:40 pm Sam Wyffels Darrin Boss Shoppers will be out in force on Grafton Street. Photo: Gareth Chaney / Collins Bargain-hunters are in for a shopping bonanza today, with price cuts of 60pc or more to lure consumers back to the main street after a tough retail season. Big ticket items including TVs and laptops are expected to see major reductions, and footwear and women's clothing will have attractive discounts. Retail Excellence Ireland expects shoppers to splash around 200m today, with the bulk of this being spent on groceries and hospitality. A price war is set to get under way among major clothing stores and grocery shops as they compete to boost their final season sales by offering online and in-store deals. "We could be looking at 60pc discounts and 40pc to 50pc off footwear and across a variety of categories in one store," Retail Ireland director Thomas Burke told the Herald. "Electronic items are likely to see strong discounts, but there's a balance to be struck, given trading challenges." Online shopping has grown rapidly, affecting Irish retailers, as 70pc of the online spend has gone to foreign businesses. Retail Ireland, which is part of Ibec, said the next four days would be crucial in determining whether the Christmas season could be deemed a success. Challenges "There have been challenges, but we have to overcome those, and the indication is that things are going reasonably well for Irish retailers," Mr Burke said. "If we continue with how busy stores have been in rec-ent days, hopefully this time next week we will be talking about a hugely successful season." Earlier this year, the group indicated an increase in consumer spending in the region of 3pc over Christmas. If a high level of shoppers hit the streets today, it would significantly boost sales, potentially by more than 150m for the month. Shops have been impacted by bad weather, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the drop in sterling leading to Irish consumers travelling to the Northern for bargains and the threat of Brexit chaos. However, Irish shoppers have more buying power this year due to increased disposable income, which has risen around 10pc since January 2017 and a growing number of people in work - a record 2.27 million. Coupled with a strong economy, prices have fallen nearly 10pc since 2013 as competition between retailers has driven prices back to 1999 levels. One of the biggest social events of the Christmas season also takes place today, with the Leopardstown St Stephen's Day races in Dublin expected to attract around 15,000 people. Donal Tiernan was more than three times the drink limit A builder stole a road-marking truck and tried to drive it away while "blacked out" on drink, a court heard. Workmen carrying out a late night job on a city centre street looked on in shock as Donal Tiernan (36) climbed into the truck. One noticed he was highly intoxicated and pulled him out before calling gardai. Difficulty Judge Paula Murphy ordered a pre-sentence probation report. Tiernan, of Carman's Hall, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to unauthorised taking of a vehicle and drink-driving. Gda Paul O'Leary said he was called to Lower Gardiner Street at 2am on November 24, 2016. Two workmen told him they were putting road markings down when one of them noticed somebody was in their truck. The workman tried to get the accused out and had some difficulty doing this, the garda said. When he eventually did get him out, he noticed Tiernan was highly intoxicated. He was arrested and tested more than three times the alcohol limit. He was also banned from driving at the time for another drink-driving offence. There was "no rational explanation" for Tiernan's behaviour, his solicitor Matthew De Courcy said. He was under the influence and "blacked out". In a separate incident, a "disgruntled" Tiernan trashed a site foreman's car by throwing rocks at it after he was let go from a job. The court heard it happened at a building site at Blackpitts in the south of the city on October 6, 2016. The victim had parked his vehicle when Tiernan picked up rocks and threw them, damaging the driver's door and smashing a window. Mr De Courcy said Tiernan had worked at the site but had been let go and reacted "very rashly". He admitted criminal damage. The court heard the victim was claiming 2,750 in damages, including 1,400 for car hire. Mr De Courcy said the level of damage was disputed. Tiernan had battled alcohol and cocaine addiction, but had been able to hold down jobs. His life was in "complete disarray" at the time, but he had since come a "fair distance" in dealing with his addictions. Waitress Gemma Finnegan assaulted fellow gig-goer at a Take That concert at the 3Arena A drunk concert-goer took part in an "unprovoked attack" on another young woman at a Take That gig in Dublin, leaving the victim with clumps of hair pulled from her scalp. Gemma Finnegan (30) assaulted the woman after a disagreement broke out over a spilled drink, a court heard. Finnegan was celebrating being asked to be a bridesmaid and had drunk a "very large amount of drink". Judge Brian Smyth adjourned the case for a victim impact statement, saying it must have been a very traumatic experience for the woman. Finnegan, of Ballybay Road, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to violent dis- order and assault. Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at the Take That concert in the 3Arena on May 16 last year. Disagreement The victim and her husband were socialising at the concert when she was allegedly assaulted by three people, a garda said. The woman was kicked and punched on the head and body and "large clumps of hair were pulled from her scalp". It was an unprovoked attack, the officer said. The alleged assailants were people who were socialising near the victim, and it was believed the row started with a disagreement over a spilled drink. Finnegan was co-operative with the investigation but did not make admissions when she was interviewed, saying that she was not part of an attack but had been involved in "a fight". The court heard the victim suffered pain and bruising to her arms, neck and head. A medical report on her injur- ies was presented to the court. Judge Smyth asked the prosecuting garda if the victim had made a full recovery. "Physically yes, but there were some psychological iss-ues," the officer replied. The judge said this was "not surprising". Finnegan had no previous convictions and had never come to the attention of the gardai before. She worked as a waitress and came from a "very respectable background", her solicitor said. She had been at the concert with her husband and sister-in-law, who had asked her to act as a bridesmaid. This was not an excuse, but a "very large amount of drink" was taken. Finnegan appreciated how serious the offence was and apologised to the victim, her lawyer added. "It's a pretty appalling set of facts, it must have been a very traumatic experience for the injured party," Judge Smyth said. Compensation The court heard Finnegan's two co-accused had pleaded not guilty and that case would be heard in February. The judge adjourned Finnegan's case to a date next month for a victim impact statement and said he would consider ordering a restorative justice report. He also asked the garda to canvass the issue of possible compensation with the injured party. The wife of a man who suffered a devastating brain injury after he was hit by a scrambler bike has said "there will be no Christmas" for her. Anzhela Kotsinian (44) will spend Christmas and New Year like every day since June - maintaining a vigil by her husband's hospital bed. Ilabek Avetian (39) was catastrophically injured by a dirt bike as the couple lay sunbathing in Darndale Park, north Dublin. The bike ran over them, crushing Ilabek's skull and fracturing Anzhela's pelvis. While Ilabek suffered appalling injuries, Anzhela is still riddled with pain six months later. Future Expand Close Wife Anzhela caring for him / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Wife Anzhela caring for him Ilabek lost an eye and has been in Beaumont Hospital ever since. His future is uncertain due to brain damage. "There will be no Christmas for me. Each weekend, each day, is the same for me now. I spend it in hospital by Ilabek's side," Anzhela said. "My birthday was October 31 and I didn't mark it because I have no one to mark it with, and it's just the same with Christmas. "Ilabek and I moved to Ireland together and we looked forward to birthdays and Christmases here, but now that's all changed." The couple, who are origin- ally from Armenia, had only recently moved to Dublin when the tragedy happened. Anzhela has spoken out to highlight the danger of the bikes, especially to parents considering buying one for a child for Christmas. Armenians mark Christmas on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, but there will be no celebrations for Anzhela as she sits at her husband's bedside. As well as the isolation, she has to endure a great deal of pain and the fear of homelessness. "I have a lot of pain in my pelvis since it was fractured in June," Anzhela said. "I had an appointment with a GP and she gave me medication for pain, but I had to stop taking it as it was making me feel unwell. "I sleep very little, maybe two or three hours a night, due to the pain. "I spent so much time thinking about Ilabek, but I need help now to get through this so I can be stronger for him. I find it painful to walk or sit." Anzhela is at risk of losing her home as she is living in temporary accommodation. Despite the fact she has been told she can get housing assistance from the State due to her situation, she is unable to find a home in the middle of the housing crisis. "I have been told I am entitled to Housing Assistance Payment, which is good, but I can't find anywhere to rent," Anzhela said. "I have looked online at hundreds of properties but no one gets back. If anyone could assist with renting a home, this would help reduce the stress of the situation." The former teacher, whose husband had worked as a plasterer in Dublin, added: "We never came to Ireland not to work. "We didn't want help from the State. We came here to work hard and one day build our own business, to buy a home, but that isn't the way things happened. "We could never have imagined that day in our worst nightmares. "It changed everything, and now my job is to be by my husband's side for as long as it takes." Grateful The public have helped raise more than 36,000 for Ilabek since his injury, for which Anzhela is very grateful, but the funds are to "go towards helping Ilabek and not for myself". "I must find a home myself and try to get physio for my injury," she said. "I will miss my family at Christmas, they live in Russia, but this is the way my life is now. I have to be strong for Ilabek." Anzhela is keen to connect with schools in Dublin and talk to children about the dangers of scrambler bikes to put them off asking for them as presents. The family of a Dublin teenager who died from sepsis has criticised the health authorities for not raising public awareness of the "silent killer". Sean Hughes, known as 'Lil Red', was only 15 and appeared to be getting over a flu-like chest infection when he suddenly lost consciousness while watching television with his mother. Despite the desperate efforts of his father and a team of ambulance paramedics to resuscitate him, he died in Temple Street Hospital. Sean's family is now calling for a nationwide awareness campaign about sepsis and its symptoms. Diagnosis They are calling on the HSE and health professionals to include new protocols in their diagnosis procedures so cases can be picked up as early as possible. Around 3,000 people a year die from sepsis in Ireland. It claims more lives than heart attacks, breast cancer or lung cancer, and can kill a healthy person within 12 hours. Speaking from their Finglas home, Sean's parents Karen and Joe have told how they have set about raising awareness of the killer illness, but are finding little backing or support from the HSE and Department of Health. "We're doing the best we can on our own, but the people who actually have a duty of care to do it are not," Joe Hughes told the Herald. Karen and Joe believe that a public campaign with simple symptoms graphics, similar to ones to raise awareness about stroke and meningitis, could save lives. "There isn't anything out there at the moment. You see TV campaigns and posters about meningitis and stroke, but there isn't anything similar for sepsis," said Joe. "We've been told by the authorities it's not in the 2019 budget, and it might be in the 2020 budget, but what price do you put on a life?" Joe and Karen also highlighted the work of a team at Dublin City University who are developing a device that can diagnose sepsis from a blood test in just 15 minutes. The SepTec device will allow doctors to rapidly differentiate between bacterial and fungal infections so that they can administer the appropriate therapy. It is currently on trial in three Dublin hospitals. "We were invited to their lab to see it and this could be a game changer," said Karen. "Two of the doctors working on it are from Finglas, and they want to see this in every doctor's surgery just like blood pressure devices so that sepsis can be detected early. "It is vital to detect it early if it is to be treated successfully." Karen and Joe said Sean, their youngest child, had been sick before his collapse in January. "He hadn't been well but he'd had colds and chest infections before and always shook them off," said Karen. "On the Wednesday I brought him to the doctor and he was prescribed antibiotics. Rattle "Then on the Thursday, he was lying on the couch. "Sean had a rattle in his chest and he said, 'This is doing my head in', and I thought to myself that I'd bring him back to the doctor the next day. "Then he stopped talking. He just stopped. I couldn't believe it. I tried to wake him. I called Joe and he tried to do CPR while we waited for the ambulance. "It just didn't seem real. I had been talking to him, wondering what to watch on the TV, and half an hour later we were in intensive care in Temple Street. "We have to keep on with our campaign to raise awareness, especially as we come into flu season and Sean's anniversary. This is Sean's legacy. We are doing it in his honour." Witnesses can be given new identities, often abroad The Government spent less on the State's Witness Protection Programme last year than in any year since 2011. Department of Justice figures reveal that 800,000 was spent on the programme in 2017 compared with 1.32m in 2016. Last year, 1.19m was alloc- ated to the scheme, but just over 400,000 of this money was not used. The Witness Protection Programme (WPP) has caused controversy since it was introduced in the aftermath of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996, but it remains a highly secretive scheme. Criticised The WPP is operated by gardai and overseen by the Crime and Security Section at Garda Headquarters, supported by the Special Detective Unit and other local garda resources. The operation of the prog-ramme and resources required for it are under continuous review. Around 750,000 was spent each year on the WPP in 2013 and 2012; in 2010 and 2011, 700,000 was spent annually. Operated on an ad hoc basis by the Garda Commissioner, the scheme, which has not been placed on a statutory footing, has been criticised by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Following the failed Guerin murder trial involving convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, Judge Brian McCracken warned that the programme was badly thought-out and "one of the most worrying features is that there never seems to have actually been a programme". Former Justice Minister Dermot Ahern also expressed concerns about the WPP in the past. "Unfortunately, people who are targeted for witness protection, whatever it is in the Irish psyche, they don't want to leave their home, they don't want to take up their life and go to the UK or Australia and start up a new life," he said. These sentiments were backed up in 2009 by then Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton, who said he felt the programme was "of limited use". Mr Hamilton said it was a "fairly drastic" step to ask people who had witnessed a crime to move to another country and leave their families. Among those in the WPP is David Cullen, from Tallaght, who has been giving evidence in the trial of Kevin Braney (44), also of Tallaght, who pleaded not guilty to murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly. Accommodation During the trial for the 2016 murder of Gareth Hutch (36), it was revealed that 40,000 had been spent in a year on accommodation for a key witness. However, state witness Mary McDonnell had refused to go into the WPP. In 2011, a Crumlin man who gave evidence against four former associates became a witness and entered the WPP along with members of his family. A contract was put on the life of Joseph O'Brien after he gave evidence in the murder trial of John 'Champagne' Carroll. Mr O'Brien left Ireland immediately after the trial. Artist membership applications are encouraged, especially from unrepresented regions of Texas. Applicants must paint daily, blog frequently, and reside in the Great State of Texas. To apply email: INFO on Artists Of Texas and include a link to your art blog or web site for jury panel review. Salem Avenue Elementary School hosts an 'After the Bell' program OnTrack Washington County is running an after school program at Salem Avenue Elementary. The "After the Bell" program includes other nonprofits. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. History has it that apart from the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehrus forward policy to demarcate the Indian border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the decision to provide shelter to 14th Dalai Lama after he crossed over on March 31, 1959 was one of the principal reasons behind the 1962 border skirmishes across the 3, 488 kilometer Himalayan boundary. Beijings assumption was that the presence of high lamas in the country would offer a certain leverage to India in the Tibetan plateau and that the high Buddhist priests could instigate a rebellion to destabilize an atheist China. Despite Nehru advocating dialogue with China as the only way out to sort out the Tibet issue (as the 14th Dalai Lama confirmed in his interview with HT this week), the Chinese viewed each Indian move with suspicion and even went on to call the 14th Dalai Lama a terrorist out to split Communist China. Over the past decades, the Chinese have blamed Indians for training Tibetan youth for rebellion and insisted that New Delhi recognize One China policy in virtually every bilateral document. India, on the other hand, has insisted time and again that the 14th Dalai Lama is an honoured religious guest and is kept far away from Tibetan politics. Now, with the 14th Dalai Lama making it clear that he had nothing to do with his reincarnation, the Chinese mistrust of decades towards India has turned out to be misplaced. The Tibetan movement itself is splintered with rival Buddhist factions and Beijing acquiring an iron grip over the roof of the world. China has already initiated the process of identifying the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama by making it clear as early as 2015 that it was not his decision to cease the reincarnation just as it was not his decision to become the temporal and spiritual head of Tibet. The religious leader in India, however, wants to go through a process of first asking Tibetan people living outside China to ratify the institution of Dalai Lama itself and then initiate the dialogue to decide on his successor. The 14th Dalai Lama has made it clear that he will neither emanate nor appoint ( and then tutor) his successor . With over 100,000 Tibetans living in exile in India, it is safe to assume that reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama will be found but by that time the Chinese government would have appointed its own official head of the Yellow Hat Gelug School. This would be a replay of the scenario when the 10th Panchen Lama, the second highest Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, died in January 1989. After a due process of six years, the 14th Dalai Lama proclaimed Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995. The Chinese authorities arrested the boy three days later and he has never been seen again though the religious leader believes he is still alive. Beijing selected its own six-year old Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama six month later and enthroned him at Shigatse monastery. Complications and intrigue did not end at this as there are two co-claimants to the title of the 17th Karmapa, the head of wealthy Karma Kagyu school, with Ogyen Trinley Dorje recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama (and China) and Trinley Thaye Dorje recognized and installed by the late nephew of the 16th Karmapa. So the possibility of two Dalai Lamas, two Panchen Lamas and two Karmapas along with numerous reincarnations of other high lamas cannot be ruled out . Even though the 14th Dalai Lama says that there can be more than one reincarnation of the lama, he admits that there should only be one title holder. Still, it is not clear who will decide on the title holder once the Gelug Schools head passes away. It is quite evident that the Tibetan movement is on the verge of splintering on the eve of 60th anniversary of the Dalai Lamas flight to India. The myth of Indias Tibet card is gone and there are turbulent times ahead in Buddhist world. shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com The trailer of veteran actor Anupam Kher's The Accidental Prime Minister will be out on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, the A Wednesday star, who will be seen as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the film, shared a video donning his look for the film. "Friends, you'll be happy to know that the trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister is coming to all of you tomorrow," he said, in character. Friends!! The wait is over!!! You will be happy to know that the Trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister is coming to all of you, tomorrow, 27th December. pic.twitter.com/BO2MlTAQuJ Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) December 26, 2018 Based on the 2014 memoir of the same name, written by Manmohan Singh's media adviser Sanjay Baru, The Accidental Prime Minister revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. It also features Arjun Mathur and Aahana Kumra as Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, respectively. Suzanne Bernert will portray the role of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The film has been directed by debutant Vijay Gutte and written by Hansal Mehta. Follow @htshowbiz for more Janhvi Kapoor has followed up the success of her first film Dhadak by signing two more filmsTakht, to be directed by her mentor Karan Johar and untitled biopic on Gunjan Saxena, Indian Air Forces first female combat pilot, who took part in the Kargil War in 1999. While Takhts shoot is still to begin, it looks like Janhvi has already begun work on the said biopic. In a report in Times Now, Janhvi can be seen wearing a pair of IAF dungarees in blue. Her hair is done in a tight bun, while she has minimal make-up on. She is looking downwards as she is seen walking towards a plane on the air field. Janhvi remains the toast of the town, post her performance in her debut film Dhadak. However, she was quite a star even before the start of film career. Her many appearances with her late mom Sridevi in social dos were popular online. However, post the success of Dhadak, she has been catapulted to a totally different zone. Her many appearances in Bollywood parties, gym outings or appearances in fashion shows are widely shared online. Dhadak, for the uninitiated, was the official Hindi remake of Marathi hit Sairat. It was a tragic love story between a Dalit boy and an upper caste girl and went on to be a surprise hit when it released in 2017. Meanwhile, Takht is based on the last leg of the mighty Mughal rulers: it will see Ranveer Singh play Dara Shikoh while Vicky Kaushal will be seen in the role of Aurangzeb. It is still not clear in what role will Janhvi appear in the film. Follow @htshowbiz for more Two Youth Akali Dal (YAD) leaders along with nearly a dozen of their supporters blackened the statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in the Salem Tabri area of Ludhiana city on Tuesday morning, alleging that he played a key role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Swinging into action after Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh took to Twitter to denounce the incident and claimed to have ordered the police department to take action against the culprits, the city police registered a case against YAD leaders Gurdeep Singh Gosha, Meetpal Singh Dugri and others and arrested Gosha by afternoon. Gosha is a former YAD district president while Dugri is a former Malwa zone-III president of Student Organisation of India (SOI), the student wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Dugri and others were on the run till filing of the report. Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-I) Gurpreet Singh Sikand said the case was registered against Gosha and Dugri and 10 unidentified persons under Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) of the Indian Penal Code; Section 68 of the Information Technology (IT) Act and Section 3 of the Public Property Defacement Act. The case was registered on the complaint on a municipal corporation employee. The incident took place at around 9am when the two YAD leaders along with their supporters reached a public park at Piru Bandi locality in the Salem Tabri area. While Gosha sprayed black paint on Rajivs statue, Meetpal put red paint on it. They then demanded the withdrawal of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, from Rajiv Gandhi and rechristening Khel Ratna award named after him. Gosha and Dugri said Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was given life imprisonment by the Delhi high court, was a mere henchman of Rajiv Gandhi. Nearly two hour later, Gursimran Singh Mand, vice-chairman of the local bodies cell of state Congress unit, reached there and cleaned the statue with his turban. Soon after, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu along with district Congress president Gurpreet Singh Goggi and other party members also arrived and washed the statue with milk. A video of cleaning was uploaded on social media. Workers of the Congress Seva Dal blackened the posters of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to avert any clash between Congress and SAD supporters. The SAD workers should blacken the face of Parkash Singh Badal (former CM) and his son Sukhbir Badal for orchestrating the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. The targeting of the statue shows the frustration of SAD and BJP leaders who are sensing defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, MP Bittu said. The incident occurred a day after Sukhbir claimed that the anti-Sikh riots were engineered by Rajiv Gandhi. Before his arrest, Gosha said, How we can forget Rajiv Gandhi remark that when a big tree falls, the ground is bound to shake in reaction to his mother Indira Gandhis assassination and justifying the riots in Delhi? So many innocent Sikhs were killed for no fault of theirs at the behest of Rajiv Gandhi. His (Rajivs) hands are soaked in blood. HOW IT UNFOLDED At 8am, YAD leaders Gurdeep Singh Gosha, Meetpal Singh Dugri along with their supporters reach a park in Ludhianas Salem Tabri area. An hour later, they put black and red paint on Rajiv Gandhis statue and upload a video of the incident on Facebook. Two hours later, Gursimran Singh Mand, a Congress leader, cleans the statue with his turban. Soon after, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, district Congress president Gurpreet Goggi and other party members also arrive and wash it with milk. A video of cleaning was also uploaded on social media. Workers of the Congress Seva Dal blacken posters of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal. Heavy police force was deployed in the area to avert any clash between Congress and SAD supporters. At 11:30am, chief minister Amarinder Singh takes to Twitter to condemn the incident and orders police to take strict action against the guilty. Gosha arrested by police by 4pm. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three years into his tenure in 2017, the chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party warned his partys prickly ally Shiv Sena to quit trying to don the mantle of the Opposition. The Shiv Sena has not taken this counsel seriously and has been sniping at the BJP relentlessly, the latest being a jibe from the Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, riffing off Congress president Rahul Gandhis comment on the chowkidar (watchman) being a thief, itself a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modis comment in the run-up to the 2014 election that he was a chowkidar and would countenance no corruption. Thackeray has also been champing at the bit on the issue of the construction of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya, accusing the BJP of failing Hindus. The Sena has sensed the current anti-BJP sentiment in many parts of India and is seeking to cash in on that. But angry words apart, Mr Thackeray knows that he has no choice but to stay with the BJP. His party no longer has the traction it once did when his father Balasaheb Thackeray ran the show. He cannot go it alone in Maharashtra; in the last assembly election his party won 63 seats to the BJPs 122. If elections were held again, it would probably win fewer. Given its extreme Hindutva ideology, the Sena cannot ally with any other party but the BJP which is probably why Mr Fadnavis does not seem unduly perturbed by Mr Thackerays periodic jibes. The Maharashtra CM has also made the BJP stronger in the state and the Sena, weaker. With its recent assembly election setbacks, the BJP is in overdrive to please its allies. Mr Thackeray sees this as an opportunity to squeeze out more concessions from the BJP. He may be an ally but senses that the only way for the Sena to become stronger is to pretend it is in opposition. Within the state, it is unlikely that this dual role adopted by the Sena has takers. As the general election draws closer, we can expect to see Mr Thackeray ratchet up the rhetoric, but at the end of the day, it is just that and wont bother the BJP too much. Indian firm India Ports Global Limited took over operations at the Shaheed Behesti port in Chabahar on Monday. The representatives of India, Iran and Afghanistan met and finalised the routes for trade and transit corridors between the three countries. An event has been planned on February 26, 2019 to promote and popularise the potential of Chabahar. These are significant developments for three reasons. First, Chabahar provides the only viable route for trade between India and Afghanistan. Pakistan denies the use of its territory by Indian trucks bound to Afghanistan. New Delhi and Kabul have explored the option of air corridors but that is too expensive compared to the maritime route. The availability of Chabahar also provides Afghanistan with an alternative to Karachi for its trade with other countries. This will translate to reduced Afghan dependence on Pakistan and, hence, less Pakistani leverage over the domestic politics in Afghanistan. Even Pakistan-friendly regimes in Kabul in future can take advantage of the Chabahar route. Second, the Indian takeover of the operations in Chabahar follows re-imposition of sanctions on Iran by the US after the latter decided to pull out from the multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (also known as the Iran nuclear deal). The US recognised the importance of Chabahar and exempted Indian firms involved in the port from sanctions. Moreover, India was also one of the eight countries to receive temporary relief on oil imports from Iran. Tehran should acknowledge that it was Indias participation that has earned Chabahar this relief. Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif had once invited China and Pakistan to invest in Chabahar. The invitation was also a message to New Delhi. The involvement of those countries, however, would have certainly exacerbated the problems for Iran as is evident from the ratcheting US-China trade and sanctions war. Third, Chabahar also provides a link to the planned International North-South Transport Corridor. This way it also loops in Russia and countries in Central Asia and Europe as beneficiaries. By generating economic returns, it might help in reducing the political divergence on Afghanistan that has, of late, emerged between India on the one hand and Iran and Russia on the other. Chabahar is a rare example of a project in the region which is a win-win for all stakeholders. Aishwarya Rai is known for making a statement with practically everything she wears, and 2018 was no different. The actor and former Miss World is one of the most underrated style icons of our time. From her classic saree, lehengas and anarkali to her over-the-top statement gowns and pantsuits, Aishwaryas style in 2018 has been more refined than ever. Surely by now youve noticed the proliferation of Aishwarya Rai pictures circulating on your social media timelines. Perhaps youve even recognized that some of these looks are as fierce as they are fabulous. In between taking the internets breath away with family pictures featuring daughter Aaradhya Bachchan and husband Abhishek Bachchan, the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil actor has been serving looks and showing off every chic look on Instagram. Aishwarya Rai joined the popular photo and video-sharing social networking site in May 2018 and her account is replete with stunning looks. Between the monochromatic separates, the glittery dresses, and the enchanting red hair, Aishwarya Rai showed up to every event, party, red carpet, wedding looking impressive in her modern-meets-traditional looks. At Cannes Film Festival 2018, for instance, every time Aishwarya stepped out on the red carpet, the cameras got flashing and people got talking about her head-turning looks. And not one of her looks was a disappointment -- Aishwaryas elaborate Michael Cinco gown took 3,000 hours to handcraft, while her bespoke strapless mint gown by Lebanese-American designer Rami Kadi looked glamorous paired with a sleek updo. Aishwarya Rai was the epitome of chic in a stunning spread for a bridal magazine in August 2018. On the cover, Aishwarya posed on the rooftop terrace at Hotel Raphael Paris, in a gorgeous fluorescent pink, yellow and aqua striped chiffon kaftan gown, featuring an encrusted cuff and collar, from Ralph and Russos autumn/winter 2018 couture collection. And the rest of her magazine shoot was full of equally flirty feminine looks from Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, Ashi Studio and Giorgio Armani. Aishwarya Rai also made fans do a double take with her countless ethnic Indian looks that she wore during the wedding season, including at Isha Ambani and Anand Piramals wedding on December 12. Aishwarya looked especially majestic wearing gold and red Sabyasachi saree, while the statement uncut diamonds, pearl and gold necklace around her neck added to the royal vibe she exuded. Weve narrowed Aishwarya Rais best looks of 2018 down to the top 10 take a look ahead. Aishwarya Rai wearing Michael Cinco Aishwarya Rai wearing Sabyasachi Aishwarya Rai wearing Manish Arora Aishwarya Rai wearing Rohit Bal Aishwarya Rai wearing Manish Malhotra Aishwarya Rai wearing Rami Kadi Aishwarya Rai wearing Giorgio Armani Aishwarya Rai wearing Massimo Dutti Aishwarya Rai wearing Falguni Shane Peacock Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Sunny Leone was most-recently spotted in Bandra, Mumbai heading for a photoshoot. In the pics that weve seen, her casual attire is perfect for a girls day out in the city. She kept the look simple overall and looked beautiful in this off-screen avatar. Starting with her hair, Sunnys hair was left open and they added volume to her petite frame. She wore a sheer white shirt paired with a shell pink miniskirt in leather and metallic heels. The actress completed the look with a red clutch that worked as a great contrast to the toned down look we saw her in today. Sunny Leones makeup was simplistic where her eyes were done heavily and she wore bright pink lipstick. What caught our eye, though, is the embossed LOVE at the back of the shirt, written in pink with a hint of glitter in it. The golden sequins on the outside give the impression of a glitter-effervescence. Take a look at all the photos here and get your daytime fashion inspiration for a day out with your favourite girls in the holiday season! Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Conservationists were pleased at the spotting of 11 tigers on camera traps in the course of a recent study, but not the local Idu Mishmi tribe of the Dibang Valley Arunachal Pradesh, who fear their home will soon be declared a tiger reserve. The animist tribe, who consider tigers their elder brothers, fears that declaring Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) as a tiger reserve would impact their livelihood. The influential Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society (IMCLS) which represents the tribe and claims to have lived with the striped cat for generations, on December 17 wrote to the National Tiger Conservation Authority that just because tigers are discovered in a place does not mean it must be declared a tiger reserve. Suggesting a new conservation paradigm, the tribal body wrote that the right strategy for the Dibang Tigers would be to develop a new kind of tiger reserve that is not built with fences and armed patrol guards, but around a cultural model, a culture so far proven to be effective in saving the tigers. An area of 4129 sqkm of the 9129 sqkm Dibang Valley is designated as Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) but has not yet been named a tiger reserve. As it (the designated area) is a large part of the Dibang Valley, it is designated a sanctuary. If they designate the remaining area as a tiger reserve too, where will we live and where will we farm? asked IMCLS president Ginko Linggi. The 2014 tiger census reported 201 tigers in the northeastern hills and the Brahmaputra plains, out which five were reported in DWS, which extends over the Mishmi hills. GV Gopi, a scientist with the Wildlife Institute of India who carried out the study along with research scholar Aisho Sharma Adhikarimayum, said as many as 11 tigers were caught on camera traps from 2015 to 2017. The paper titled First Photographic Record of Tiger Presence at Higher Elevations of the Mishmi hills in the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot, Arunachal Pradesh, India was published in the journal Threatened Taxa in November and documents the presence of tigers at an altitude of 3,630 metres. Considering we could cover only 336 sqkm of the 4,149 sqkm of the DWS, even 11 tigers indicate a high density. We are certain that the actual population will be much higher, when we cover the entire area in the next phase of our study, Gopi said. The letter by IMCLS has also raised questions on Gopis study. It claims that the study does not mention how many tigers were found inside the sanctuary and in community forests. The IMCLS letter also cites another study by co-author of the letter and research scholar Sahil Nijhawan, which had estimated a tiger density of 0.804 individuals/100 km2 in community forests and 0.177 individuals/100 km2 in the sanctuary. The tiger density in community forests is therefore nearly 4.5 times that of the sanctuary, the letter read. Nijhawan, an anthropologist and ecologist who has been studying the Idu Mishmis and the Dibang valley said the fears of the community were legitimate since they were not consulted when the sanctuary was declared. They are still confused about the boundaries of the sanctuary. They should be consulted before any decision is made, he said. Linggi said the area was badly connected by road and saw scant tourist inflow but with connectivity improving after the DholaSadiya bridge in Assams Tinsukia, the number of tourist footfalls is slowly increasing. Designation of the area as a tiger reserve would come in the way of livelihood opportunities for locals. One may want to build a hotel or a tourist lodge, he said. Small parties should be respected and given due importance by their bigger allies, Ashish Patel, national president of Apna Dal(S) party, a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said on Tuesday. He also cautioned the saffron party that a tie-up between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh would pose a challenge to it in 2019 Lok Sabha election. We small parties, like the Apna Dal(S), want some respect to be shown to us. We, our leaders and workers feel hurt if due importance is not given to us, Ashish Patel told mediapersons here. He added that his party was not happy with the behaviour of the BJP-led state government with Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel, also his wife. The Apna Dal(S) chief claimed that she was not given adequate importance and not even invited for inaugurations of medical colleges. Ashish Patels remarks come days after Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RSLP) Chief Upendra Kushwaha walked out of the NDA. He was upset with the BJP after it asserted that the RLSP would not be given more than two seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Earlier in March, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ended its four-year-old alliance with the NDA over the Centres refusal to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. Asked how many seats his party would like to contest in in Uttar Pradesh in 2019 Lok Sabha election, Ashish Patel said it would be revealed when the time comes. He asserted that the Apna Dal(S) had widened its base during the last five years. The partys candidates Anupriya Patel and Harivansh Singh won from Mirzapur and Pratapgarh respectively. Responding to a question, Ashish Patel denied that the BJPs defeats in the recently concluded assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh had weakened the party. However, the defeat is a matter of concern. The BJP leadership should review the poll outcome in-depth, he said. He added his party would like to see Narendra Modi as the prime minister again after next years general election. The Apna Dal(S) chief said the NDA partners should be ready to face a BSP-SP alliance. Such a tie-up will pose a challenge before the BJP, Ashish Patel said. To be able to face the situation, the NDA members should sit together and discuss the scenario, he said. He also expressed concern over the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday busted a terror cell in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh that was purportedly planning attacks on senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders, and in crowded markets, perhaps even as early as by the New Year. Ten people were arrested and a huge quantity of arms, including 12 pistols and a country-made rocket launcher, seized. The agency said a pro-Islamic State (IS) terror group, Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam, was behind the planned attacks. NIA inspector general Alok Mittal said the terror cell was in an advanced stage of preparations to carry out the attacks. We have recovered huge quantities of ammunition along with Rs 7.5 lakh from their possession. We are examining the accused and more arrests are likely, he said. On receipt of credible information that a group of pro-IS individuals have formed a terrorist gang and they are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks targeting vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi/NCR, NIA on December 20 registered a case under sections 120B, 121, 121A, 122 of IPC [Indian Penal Code], Sections 4 & 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and sections 17,18,18 B, 20,38 and 39 of the UA(P) Act against the mastermind of the module Mufti Mohd. Suhail, he added in a statement. Read more| ISIS module busted: The 10 men who plotted the New Years Eve attack These sections cover criminal conspiracy, attempting to wage war against the Government of India, and violations of the Explosive Substances Act. NIA arrested 10 people in Delhi, Amroha, Lucknow and Meerut after carrying out searches at 17 locations across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning, after tracking the group for at least four months. Their plan to carry out serial blasts was in an advanced stage. It could have been as early as on the New Years Eve. Senior RSS and BJP leaders were discussed as possible targets of the group which was under surveillance of the security establishment for over four months, said a senior security official who spoke on condition of anonymity. NIA investigators are probing whether the group planned to target the Republic Day parade as well. The agency has thus far managed to identify 16 members of the group. Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam was probably put together by a planner from Afghanistan, the security official added. According to him, this person coordinated their training sessions and also helped with funds. The local leader of the group has been identified as Mufti Mohammed Suhail, a native of the Jafarabad area of north-east Delhi who is currently a cleric in a mosque in Uttar Pradeshs Amroha. Read more| Bombs, rocket launcher: NIA says busted ISIS module was ready to attack on New Years eve Suhail was in touch with the handler based outside the country through social media and instant messaging applications. Suhail, along with other members of the module, was preparing to launch a string of terror attacks targeting politicians, key locations and crowded places, said a senior Uttar Pradesh Police anti-terrorism squad official associated with the probe who asked not to be named. A 45-year old woman from Lucknow and her son are suspected of funding and managing the finances of the group. Anas Yunus, a 24-year-old student of civil engineering at Amity University, Noida, was one of Suhails key assistants, NIA officials claimed, adding that all those arrested had been completely indoctrinated and radicalised and were even preparing suicide vests. . The handler of the group was in touch with the group over messaging applications, sometimes using the dark web to avoid surveillance, said the security official. Sharing more details, the UP anti-terror squad official added that Suhail completed a mufti course from a Deoband madrasa in Saharanpur and was living in Delhi. But he frequently used to visit Amroha to build his group. His wife is believed to be from Amroha. A UP anti -terror squad team led by superintendent of police VK Singh had been sent to Delhi to interrogate the arrested operatives to extract information about their possible targets, and the squad is considering strengthening security measures for the Kumbh mela to be held in Prayagraj from January 15 to March 4, the security official cited above said. Read more| Terror in numbers: 120 clocks, 25 kg explosives, 100 phones, 135 SIM cards Thousands of police personnel, as well as multiple teams of ATS commandos, are already deployed for security of the Kumbh, he added. Inspector general Mittal said that Suhail and his associates mobilised funds and procured weapons, ammunition and explosive material to prepare improvised explosive devices and bombs and planned to carry out explosions and fidayeen attacks at places of importance in and around Delhi. NIA teams fanned out to six places in Jafrabad of Seelampur in Delhi, and 11 places in Uttar Pradesh six in Amroha, two in Lucknow, two in Hapur and one in Meerut . The seized items include 25 kg of explosive material, such as potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sulphur, sugar material paste; 12 pistols, 150 rounds of live ammunition, one country- made rocket launcher; 112 alarm clocks, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch; wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones; 134 SIM cards, three laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature and a cash amount of Rs 7.5 lakh approximately, said Mittal. (Rohit K Singh in Lucknow contributed to this story) The Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Partys fractious ally in Maharashtra, has hinted to the latter that it expects at least half the Lok Sabha and assembly seats in the state if the partnership between the two is to continue, leaders familiar with informal negotiations between the two parties said. The Sena has also informed the BJP about its preference for simultaneous polls, but this is not the main demand in the seat-sharing pact as of now. The BJP contested 24 Lok Sabha seats and the Sena 20 in the previous Lok Sabha elections. Four seats went to other allies, the Swabhimani Paksha of Raju Shetty, the Republican Party of India of Ram Das Athawale and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha of Mahadev Jankar. The state has 48 Lok Sabha seats. The Sena-BJP alliance fell apart in the assembly elections held later in 2014, after the BJP refused to accept the Sena as the senior partner in the state. They fought separately and the BJP fielded candidates in 260 out of 288 assembly seats; the Sena contested 282 seats. The former won 122 and the latter 63. The two parties came together after the election to form the government in Maharashtra, but the relationship has remained strained. In the subsequent local body elections, the parties contested separately and the BJP dominated the local polls, winning 15 out of the 27 big city corporations in the state. The Sena retained control of Mumbai, but managed to win just two more seats than the BJP in the city. Since then, the Sena and the BJP havent been on the best of terms. Indeed, relations between Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray are believed to be cold. The Sena announced in January that it would go solo in the next Lok Sabha and state elections, and has since then built pressure on the BJP on issues such as the Ram temple and demonetisation. Both Fadnavis and BJP president Amit Shah have sought to bring the relationship back on track, and ignored the Senas provocations. There have been some informal talks between the two sides, a BJP leader in Delhi said on condition of anonymity. After reports that Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar will come together, both the BJP and the Sena realise they may stay together. BJP chief Shah, the leader added, had met Sena chief Thackeray in Mumbai on June 6 with a clear intention for the two parties to stay together. The BJP leader claimed that the party leadership, which just clinched a deal with allies in Bihar, will turn to Maharashtra now and that the first round of formal talks is likely to take place after the current Parliament session ends on January 8. Analysts say the Sena has sensed an opportunity after the BJPs losses in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The success of Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) in getting as many seats to contest in Bihar as the BJP and the Lok Janshakti Partys Ram Vilas Paswan in getting a good deal in the same state may have emboldened the Sena. The BJP leader added that Fadnavis and Thackeray are communicating directly to decide the shape of a possible alliance. The Sena continues to insist on state polls being held at the same time as the Lok Sabha election, according to a Sena leader who asked not to be named. And the party wants more seats than the BJP, this person added. A BJP minister in Maharashtra said on condition of anonymity that Fadnavis is not keen on simultaneous polls and has indicated as much to the partys top brass. He has pointed out that he would like to concentrate on winning as many Lok Sabha seats as he can for the party from Maharashtra. He is keen on the alliance though and is believed to have told BJP legislators during a meeting at his residence on December 19 that he is confident that an alliance will happen. The minister added that the BJP may be willing to seek middle ground and seal its seat sharing pact for the assembly polls along with that for the Lok Sabha, even signing an agreement on this. While the Sena may initially seek 155 seats as a bargaining tactic, a second senior Sena leader who is also an aide of Thackeray said that the party may settle for an equal seat sharing formula of 144 seats each for the two partners. We want an equal seat sharing formula in Lok Sabha (24:24 seats) and assembly polls (144:144). We are prepared to settle for 144 seats in assembly polls but we will not leave some of these seats for smaller allies. The BJP can allot some seats out of its quota for others, added this person. Two Pakistani nationals, Mohammed Imran Warsi and Abdullah Shah, were repatriated to their country on Wednesday after serving time in Indian jails. This comes days after Pakistan sent back Indian national Hamid Ansari after he had served six years in jails there. While Warsi came to India to marry his distant cousin, Abdullah dreamt of meeting his hero and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. The two were handed over to Pakistan Rangers by the officials of the Border Security Force at 2:20 pm at Wagah border. Warsi went back after a 10-year jail term in Bhopal and Shah was in jail for 19 months in Amritsar. Shah, 21, had illegally crossed over to India via Attari-Wagah border last year ostensibly to meet his favourite bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Abdullah entered India after witnessing the flag-lowering ceremony at Attari-Wagah border in May 2017. He had been claiming that he had entered India to meet Shah Rukh Khan, said Amritsar jail superintendent, Arshdeep Singh Gill. Before his repatriation, Abdullah, who hails from Swat in north-western Pakistan, said, I will visit India again but legally now as my dream to meet my superstar has not fulfilled yet. I was given family like treatment in Amritsar jail. Warsis Kolkata-based in-laws allegedly had got him arrested in 2008 for trying to get an Indian passport using forged documents. He had been demanding a share in the property of his fatherin-law He had arrived in India on a valid visa and married an Indian woman, Shazia, in Kolkata in 2003. The couple have two sons, Farhan, 13, and Qurban, 11. Warsi, whose family in Pakistan had presumed him to be dead, said he regrets forging the documents and added that he had learnt his lesson. It will be tough for me to take my family to Pakistan, but I will do it the legal way, he said. I do not want to stay in India where my relatives betrayed me. He said negligence for his Pakistani passport and Indian visas expiry forced him to try and get an Indian passport. Warsi said he came to Bhopal after being told it was easy to get one made there. I came here in 2008 with a fake PAN card and ration card. But as I was demanding a share in my father-in-laws property, which includes a part of the New Royal Cinema in Kolkata, my wifes family tipped the police off. Attempts to reach Warsis wife and in-laws in Kolkata were unsuccessful. Warsi was convicted of forgery and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The espionage charges initially slapped against him were later dropped. Warsi said his family in Pakistan could not believe he is alive. After my release, I called my mother in Pakistan and she could not believe that I was still alive. She asked me for my nickname, and only then did she believe me, he said. Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda has said he was disappointed as he was not invited for the inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge, the countrys longest railroad bridge, in Assam though he had laid the foundation stone for the multi-crore project. The 4.9-km long bridge at Bogibeel across the Brahmaputra, built at a cost of Rs 5,900 crore, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday. The Bogibeel Bridge, which also facilitates the movement of troops in a strategically sensitive region, was part of the Assam Accord of 1985 and was finally sanctioned in the year 1997-98. The foundation stone of the project was laid by Janata Dal(Secular) chief Gowda when he was the prime minister on January 22, 1997. The railway line to Kashmir, Delhi Metro and Bogibeel railroad bridge were among the projects I had sanctioned (as prime minister). I had sanctioned the budget of Rs 100 crore for each of these projects and laid their foundation stones. People have forgotten today, Gowda said. Aiyo Rama! Who will remember me? Some newspapers might have mentioned about it, Gowda said in a reply to a question whether he received an invitation. On the enormous delay in completing the project, he said, That is where I differ. I completed the Hassan-Mysuru project in 13 months. I completed two bridges on time. Anagwadi bridge (across Ghataprabha). Go and see the bridge on Krishna river, he said. Some people from Bombay Karnataka region say that Deve Gowda did not do anything (for the north Karnataka region), go and see it, he added. The former prime minister said he had given the nod for many projects while replying to a question from reporters on the sidelines of a function in Bengaluru as to how he felt about the inauguration of the project started by him. Also read | Engineering marvel: PM Modi opens Bogibeel bridge that boosts defence along China border A Class 11 girl was allegedly gang-raped by four engineering students, and then dumped near Kanpurs Babupurwa police station in an unconscious state, police said. The girl is a minor. The victims father, a serving police inspector, has lodged a complaint against Anurag Yadav and his three friends, Jackie, Shubham and Abhishek. All four are B Tech students from different colleges. Superintendent of Police West Sanjiv Sumar said all the four accused are being interrogated. The girl knew one of the accused who coaxed her into visiting him at a flat in the citys Kakadeo area on Tuesday where she was raped. The accused then took her in a car and dumped her near Babupurwa police station, said police.When the victim regained conscious she told the police about her ordeal. SSP Anant Deo said,the accused will formally be arrested after the preliminary inquiry concludes. A government lawyer allegedly thrashed a senior judge on the Nagpur district court premises on Wednesday afternoon. The incident took place at the sixth floor of the district court building when senior district and session court judge, Kiran Deshpande, was waiting for the lift. The attacker was identified as Dipesh Parate, who has been an assistant public prosecutor (APP) of the Maharashtra government for three years. According to eyewitnesses, Parate tried to commit suicide by jumping off the building after assaulting the judge, but security personnel caught him and handed him over to the local police. It was said that Parate was annoyed with the Deshpande for delivering a judgment in a land dispute case against his father. His father, Madanlal Parate, who is also a lawyer, filed a petition before the court against his cousins in a property dispute at Khamla, a west Nagpur locality. The case was filed in 1997 and was dismissed by Kulkarni on November 11 this year. Parate junior is reported to have been annoyed with the verdict. Sources said Parate had an altercation with the judge, hurled abuses and slapped the judge multiple times. Deshpande approached the local police officer, Sunil Bonde, and lodged a complaint against Parate. The lawyer slapped me hard and I have pain in the ear too, he said in his complaint. Nagpur district government pleader Nitin Telgote described the incident as unfortunate. While condemning the incident, Telgote said, This is no way to protest. If he (Parate) had any grievances, he should have taken it up in a proper manner. The society does not expect this from lawyers. The police have registered a case for criminal intimidation and assaulting a public servant to deter him or her from doing his job. He has been arrested. Last week, a junior lawyer, Lokesh Bhaskar attacked his senior, Sadanand Narnavare with an axe on the court premises in Nagpur. After the incident, the junior lawyer swallowed pesticide and ended his life while the senior lawyer is still battling for life at the local Mayo General Hospital. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A major ISIS-inspired terror module preparing to launch a string of terror attacks targeting politicians, key locations and crowded places has been busted, the National Investigation Agency said hours after raids in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The raids are still continuing, senior NIA officer Alok Mittal said, announcing the arrest of 10 terror suspects on Wednesday. Mittal said the simultaneous searches at 17 places in UP and Delhi with help from local anti-terror squads had led them to a large quantity of explosives and weapons. They werent just making some bombs but a large number of bombs, the senior NIA officer said. To give an insight into the scale of the attacks that the module had been prepping for, Mittal said they had seized 134 mobile phone SIM cards, as well as 112 alarm clocks and over 25 kg of chemicals that were to be used to make scores of remote-controlled bombs. The alarm clocks are used as timers to detonate the bombs; the fresh phones to either communicate without risk of being tracked down or to trigger bombs. A rocket launcher that the group had fabricated and 13 pistols have also been seized. The level of preparation showed they were planning to attacks in near fidayen attacks, Mittal added. The module had been set up by a Mufti Suhail who works in a mosque in Uttar Pradeshs Amroha district, he said. It was a self-financed operation. They stole gold ornaments from their homes and sold it to fund their activities... but there is a handler who was guiding them, who appears to be based in a foreign country, the senior NIA officer said. Read More | Terror in numbers: 120 clocks, 25 kg explosives, 100 phones, 135 SIM cards Mittal said five of the 10 arrests had been made in Delhi. Sixteen people were detained for questioning and 10 people have been arrested so far... more people could be arrested, he said. This group had come to the notice of the federal investigation agency about three-four months back but it had taken investigators time to unravel the conspiracy. For the last few years, the intelligence officials have been tracking the growing influence of the Islamic State in India and are keeping a close watch on those being radicalised by its ideology. Read More | To finance ISIS-inspired module, terror suspect stole family gold In December 2017, a report by the ministry of home affairs had said that the NIA had arrested as many as 103 accused in cases against ISIS cadres, the maximum number of people being from Uttar Pradesh. Of the 103 arrests in connection with ISIS sympathisers or modules, 17 arrests had been from Uttar Pradesh. Intelligence agencies have in the past traced and busted small IS cells in Kashmir as well as in southern states such as Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. On March 7, 2017, in what is the first recorded strike by an IS module in India, the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train had been rocked by a powerful blast that had left 8 people injured. During raids at multiple places in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday recovered huge quantities of explosives and material to make bombs. The raids were carried out in a joint operation by the NIA, the Uttar Pradesh Police and Delhi Police on the basis of information regarding an ISIS-inspired module. Among the material recovered were as many as 12 pistols, 150 rounds of ammunition, 120 alarm clocks, 100 mobile phones, 135 sim cards and nearly 25 kilos of potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, sulphur paste and sugar - chemical ingredients used in making bombs. The alarm clocks, mobile phones and sim cards were possibly to be used in making remote controlled and time bombs. The raids were conducted at 17 locations at Seelampur in Delhi, and Amroha, Lucknow, and Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, Also Read: Bombs, rocket launcher, suicide vests: Busted ISIS unit was ready to attack They werent just making bombs, they were making a large number of bombs, Inspector General NIA, Alok Mittal, said at a press conference in Delhi. A country-made rocket launcher was also recovered from Jafrabad in Delhis Seelampur area where the raids were conducted. Among the electronic devices recovered were a large number of laptops and memory cards as well which are being scanned for more information. A total amount of 7.5 lakh had also been recovered during the raids, Mittal said. Detailing their level of preparation, Mittal said that the men were preparing to make pipe bombs and remote controlled bombs to carry out attacks at multiple targets which included vital installations, some security installations, important persons and crowded places. He also said the men had been in the process of making suicide vests to carry out fidayeen attacks. He said that the men used to communicate with each other via messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram and that they were in touch with someone abroad who was their handler. He said that they were still trying to ascertain the identity and location of their handler. Giving details of the raids and the men arrested, Mittal said that they raiding team had initially detained 16 men out of which 10 had been placed under arrest. Of the 10 men, five had been arrested from Delhi, while the other five were arrested from Amroha. There is a possibility of more arrests following interrogation of the remaining six, Mittal said. Also Read: To finance ISIS-inspired module, terror suspect stole family gold Among the 10 men who have been arrested are a civil engineering student from a private university in the national capital region, a graduation student, the employee of a mosque in Amroha, a couple of welders and an auto driver. All of these men hail from middle-income families, Mittal said. Mittal said that the units leader Mufti Sohail, an employee ot a mosque in Amroha, had brought together the unit 3-4 months ago. The interrogation and further raids are still continuing, Mittal said. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao who embarked on a tour to build a federal front against the BJP and the Congress for the 2019 general elections, took a quick break from his mission and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Raos meeting with PM Modi has been described as a courtesy call by a central government official, given that K Chandrashekhar Rao, or KCR as he is popularly known, has just led the Telangana Rashtra Samiti to a landslide victory in state elections and retained power. It is their first interaction after the elections. KCRs spokesperson made a similar point. At his meeting, the spokesperson said Rao also submitted representations to the Prime Minister on various pending issues concerning Telangana including release of funds for 10 backward districts and an IIIT in Karimnagar district. It was after the state elections that KCR anointed his son and Siricilla legislator KT Rama Rao as the working president of the party earlier this month. The Chief Minister had already declared that he would play a much more active role in national politics and set out to build the front with regional parties that arent very comfortable being part of a front led by the Congress. Read More | KCRs national plans are too ambitious Biju Janata Dals Naveen Patnaik, who rarely targets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speeches, was his first stop. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was next. After this meeting, KCR, standing next to Mamata Banerjee, announced that a political dialogue had started. Dialogues are on. We are trying to settle issues of mutual interest as well as national policies, he said KCR was expected to meet Bahujan Samaj Party boss Mayawati and Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav during the Delhi visit. But there is no clarity if these meetings would happen at this stage. Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have announced their decision to tie up for the 2019 elections in Uttar Pradesh in the hope of halting the BJPs juggernaut in Uttar Pradesh, the state that sends the largest contingent of lawmakers, 80, to the Lok Sabha. In 2014, the BJP had won 71 of them and kept up this stunning performance in the state elections when it captured 325 of the 403 assembly seats. But KCRs meetings with Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav havent worked out yet. Akhilesh Yadav lauded KCRs efforts to build the front. Akhilesh Yadav, however, told reporters in Lucknow that he would meet KCR after January 6 in Hyderabad. There is no confirmation about KCRs meeting with Mayawati either. KCRs party and the BJP have been on opposite sides of the political divide in Telangana but their rival, Congress, never misses an occasion to underscore that when push comes to shove, KCRs party always rushes to the rescue of PM Modis party at the Centre. When word about KCRs plans to use the Delhi visit to call on the Prime Minister and not just Bahujan Samajwadi Partys Mayawati and Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress rushed to stress that this was a demonstration of the TRS leaders soft corner for the BJP and divide the opposition vote. If you (Rao) are going around and trying to create a third alternative then you are dividing the opposition vote and paving the way for Modi Sarkar to continue, Congress leader Rajeev Gowda said. Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, in their first interaction after the TRS president won the assembly election with huge numbers. The meeting of the chief minister, popularly known as KCR, with Prime Minister Modi comes days after he met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday, and with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. KCR is scheduled to spend time till December 27 in New Delhi, where he will also meet Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadis Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, according to an itinerary released by the Telangana chief ministers office. Since he is visiting the national capital for the first time after the assembly elections, he will make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi (too). At the same time, he will also submit representations to the Prime Minister on various pending issues concerning Telangana, a spokesperson for Rao said. After his meeting with Banerjee in Kolkata, KCR said he will soon come up with a concrete plan for a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre. A political dialogue has started following election results in five states. Yesterday, I had a meeting with the Odisha chief minister and today I met Didi (as Banerjee is popularly known). Dialogues are on. We are trying to settle issues of mutual interest as well as national policies, said KCR, standing next to Banerjee. The Telangana chief minister described the formation of a non-Congress and non-BJP government at the Centre as his mission. KCR called for early elections in Telangana, and swept them, leaving him political space and time, analysts say, to try and carve out a national role for himself. The Congress, which has accused KCR of being the B-team of the BJP, has criticised his efforts to forge a federal front of regional parties and said it was an attempt to help the saffron party return to power after the Lok Sabha elections next year. Congress leader Rajeev Gowda claimed on Tuesday that the chief ministers of different states, whom KCR met, would not fall for the idea of a third front and said the leaders of regional parties would join a broad coalition with Congress, leaving only TRS in the Federal Front. KCRs attempts to rope in regional parties and state chief ministers to be part of the Federal Front will only help the BJP, the Congress leader said. Gowda said the Congress would ensure that a Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance was formed with all regional, secular and progressive parties. This federal front idea... the truth behind it is nothing but an attempt to ensure that the BJP and Modi Sarkar come back to power, he alleged. Noting that a united opposition was much stronger and could defeat the BJP in the next general elections, Gowda urged leaders of the regional parties to think of the national interest and remain with the Congress and a broad coalition of secular parties. If you (Rao) are going around and trying to create a third alternative then you are dividing the opposition vote and paving the way for Modi Sarkar to continue its damage to Indias democratic, secular, and socio-cultural fabric, he said. Asked if he saw the possibility of TRS joining the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan, Gowda said he would welcome every political party that is opposed to the BJP to join them because we are on a mission to save the country. ... whether they are truly against the BJP All those factors will be examined by the coalition partners of Mahagathbandhan and we will give an answer later. (With agency inputs) A significant number of at sea replenishments have taken place between the Indian and United States navies in recent months, with the bilateral Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA) being fully implemented, two government officials familiar with the move said on condition of anonymity. India signed the LEMOA, the first of the three foundational agreements proposed by Washington to deepen bilateral military cooperation, with the US in August 2016. Indian and US warships are being refuelled regularly by each others tankers at sea, easing logistical constraints under the LEMOA legal framework, said one of the officials cited above. Our warship deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy patrols was refuelled by a US tanker earlier this month. All issues relating to cash payment or the reciprocal provision of logistics support have been straightened out, said the second official. Amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage, with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Visakhapatnam on December 22 for a four-day port visit and was provided supplies and services under the LEMOA framework, said a navy officer requesting not to be identified. Also read | India, Russia may get to share military facilities Top Indian and US Navy officials met for the 21st Executive Steering Group on bilateral naval cooperation in New Delhi on December 12 and underlined how the naval partnership was getting stronger with a special mention of the LEMOA. Military affairs expert Rear Admiral (retd) Sudarshan Shrikhande said the full scope of LEMOA was being realised by the two navies in terms of reciprocal provision of logistics support, supplies and services and the pact would serve as a template for similar arrangements with other countries such as Russia. India and the US signed the second foundational defence partnership agreement in September, signalling the deepening of a relationship that has warmed over the recent years. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (Comcasa) was signed by India and the US at the inaugural two-plus-two dialogue between their foreign and defence ministers. Valid for 10 years, Comcasa aims to provide a legal framework for the transfer of highly sensitive communication security equipment from the US to India that will streamline and facilitate interoperability between their armed forces. Comcasa was delayed for years as New Delhi bargained hard for getting its concerns addressed before inking the sensitive pact that would effectively mean opening up its military communications network to the US military. Work on the third foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), for sharing geospatial intelligence is yet to begin. Also read | For good ties with India, Pakistan must become secular, act against terror: Army chief Five people allegedly linked to a new ISIS module have been arrested in Amroha in Uttar Pradesh in a joint operation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and UPs anti-terror squad (ATS). The raids were conducted on the basis of information regarding a new ISIS module named Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam. Inspector General of Police of UP ATS Asim Arun confirmed that five people linked to a terror group have been arrested. He said one person has been arrested from a madrasa in Amroha while four others were arrested from other places. At least 10 other people are reported to have been detained for questioning by the NIA and the UP ATS. Raids were also conducted in Delhis Seelampur area. Another official associated with the operation said the arrested people are members of ISIS module Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam. The official also confirmed the recovery of explosive materials from the arrested people. Visuals from the scene: Visuals from Amroha where NIA is conducting searches in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. Searches are underway at 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. pic.twitter.com/aCp03AYRr6 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 26, 2018 Todays raids come a week after the NIA raided the houses of seven persons in various parts of Tamil Nadu for their alleged links with the ISIS. The seven men had been arrested subsequently for conspiring to murder the leaders of some Hindu outfits. For the last few years, the intelligence officials have been tracking the growing influence of the Islamic State in India and are keeping a close watch on those being radicalised by its ideology. In December 2017, a report by the ministry of home affairs had said that the NIA had arrested as many as 103 accused in cases against ISIS cadres, the maximum number of people being from UTtar Pradesh. Of the 103 arrests in connection with ISIS sympathisers or modules, 17 arrests had been from Uttar Pradesh. Intelligence agencies have in the past traced and busted small IS cells in Kashmir as well as in southern states such as Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. On March 7, 2017, in what is the first recorded strike by an IS module in India, the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train had been rocked by a powerful blast that had left 8 people injured. The NIA is expected to hold a press conference later in the day. Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday dropped broad hints that the Congress may be kept out of an Opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh in next years general elections, even as he referred to a potential meeting in January with Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has embarked on a nation-wide sojourn to gather allies for a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Federal Front. Yadav spoke about the Congress in the context of the SPs lone legislator in Madhya Pradesh being denied a ministerial berth in the government of chief minister Kamal Nath that was sworn in this month after winning state assembly elections. Yadav noted that the SP extended unconditional support to the Congress in the state, and hinted that by not accommodating the SP MLA, the Congress has made it easier for the SP to decide who to partner with in Uttar Pradesh. Sending 80 members to the Lok Sabha, Uttar Pradesh is the most crucial state in the parliamentary elections. All the better. We thank the Congress for not making our MLA a minister in Madhya Pradesh, Yadav said. This has cleared our path for the alliance in Uttar Pradesh. In time to come, the options are open as to who all will be included in the alliance. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was talking to journalists on the side-lines of a special executive meeting of the partys Lucknow Mahanagar unit. Yadav allied with the Congress in the 2017 assembly polls in the state that were swept by the BJP, but since early this year he has been non-committal about partnering with it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Both he and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati now talk of an SP-BSP alliance although no formal announcement of an electoral tie-up has been made yet. Indicating that an SP-BSP alliance will emerge, Yadav on Wednesday said: When we allied for bypolls in UP, remember what all BJP had said about our alliance. I had thanked them many times before and thank them again now. They had called us even backwards. In the recent assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress won 114 seats while the BSP won two. Yadav had earlier said that the SP supported the Congress in MP only to keep the BJP out. Congress or no Congress, if the SP and the BSP stay together, they dont need any other across-the-state ally. We can have different sub-partners in different regions, like we had in the form of Peace Party and NISHAD in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls in eastern UP or RLD [Rashriya Lok Dal] in Kairana and Noorpur by-elections in western UP, a close aide to Yadav said on condition of anonymity. The Congress was guarded in its reaction to Yadavs comment. The people of Uttar Pradesh have this time decided to rise above caste and communal lines and vote for a progressive and secular party. Congress is a national and inclusive party that takes along all the sections of the society. We are confident that our performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be outstanding, said Prakash Joshi, All India Congress Committee secretary in-charge of UP. SK Dwivedi, a political analyst and the former head of Lucknow Universitys political science department, said: The SP-BSP arithmetic of Muslims plus Dalits plus backwards is formidable. If they stay together, then they really wont need any other big partner. On the coming together of parties across the nation for the 2019 general elections, Yadav said on Wednesday: I will go to Hyderabad to meet the Telangana chief minister in January. I congratulate Telangana CM for making efforts to bring together a Federal Front. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and Telangana chief minister Chandrashekar Raohas held talks with his Odisha counterpart, Naveen Patnaik, and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to push his Federal Front initiative. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the 15 miners trapped in a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district after rescue operations were stopped. In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Modi for getting his pictures clicked while inaugurating the Bogibeel railroad bridge in Assam. Read more: 13 people still trapped in rat-hole mine in Meghalaya, scuba divers help search op 15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners, Gandhi tweeted on Wednesday. 15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners. https://t.co/STZS62vTp4 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2018 The miners were trapped after water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into the horizontal manholes, often termed as rat-holes, at Ksan area in Lumthari village. The National Disaster Response Forces 1st Battalion, which has been on the spot since December 13, the day of the accident, has pumped out 20 lakh litres of water from the mine but the water level has not receded because of high water level in river Lytein. Read more: Rescue operations for trapped Meghalaya miners suspended till water level recedes: Officials The district administration has sought higher capacity water pumps from Coal India as suggested by a mining engineer from Punjab. Even as the administration stopped pumping since the two 25 HP pumps were proving inadequate, deputy commissioner FM Dopth said he has sent a proposal to the state government to procure 10 pumps of 100 HP each from Coal India. A 24-year-old pregnant woman who went for a blood transfusion at a government hospital in Tamil Nadu has complained that she was given HIV-infected blood. The blood had been donated on November 30 by an HIV-positive man who was allegedly not aware of his HIV-positive status at the time he donated the blood at a blood donation camp at the Sivakasi government hospital. In her complaint, the woman, who suffers from anaemia, claimed that she had been given a blood transfusion on December 3. The matter came to light when the blood donor found out that he was HIV positive during a subsequent medical check-up when applying for a job abroad. The donor had reportedly tested positive for HIV in 2016 as well in Sivakasi, but had not been informed about his status. When the donor got to know of his status, he rushed to the Sivakasi government hospital seeking his blood test report following which another test was conducted and he was found to be HIV-positive. Subsequently, the blood that he had donated was traced to Sattur government hospital where it had been transfused to the pregnant woman. The woman was then brought to the hospital and tested. In her complaint, she said that she had tested positive for HIV and sought action against the hospital staff. Meanwhile, the Sivakasi government hospital, where the donor had given his blood, suspended the three lab technicians for negligence. The woman has been put on anti-retroviral treatment because doctors say instant detection gives her a chance to live a long life. But the family now has to wait till she delivers her baby to find out if the baby too has been infected with HIV. District Medical Deputy Director Manoharan has ordered a re-test of all blood samples at 10 government blood banks and four private blood banks. According to experts, even with advanced testing mechanisms in place, there is a chance of error in virus detection during the first week of having contracted the virus. However, if a person has been HIV positive for years, it should show up even in basic blood screening. Also read | World AIDS Day: 5 things to know about its symptoms, transmission and treatment The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an expert panel to review its existing economic capital framework that will be headed by its former governor Bimal Jalan, the central bank said on Wednesday. This comes after government officials pressured the RBI for weeks to accede to a range of demands, from handing over surplus reserves to the government to easing of lending curbs. Heated discussions over the revamping of the economic capital framework led to the unexpected resignation of RBI Governor Urijit Patel earlier this month. The central bank said in a statement that former RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan would be the Vice Chairman of the committee, which would also comprise Bharat Doshi, Sudhir Mankad, Subhash Chandra Garg and N.S. Vishwanathan as members. The Congresss return to power in three states, including in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh after 15 years, has buoyed the partys cadre in Uttar Pradesh. The cadre is now hoping the party can emulate the feat in Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress has been out of power for about 29 years. Late Narayan Datt Tiwari was the last Congress chief minister in Uttar Pradesh. He held office until December 1989. The partys popularity has declined since in successive elections. Congress is now demanding a more level playing field in UP after the recent wins even as its prospective partners are unlikely to concede to the demand. It is hoping to ally with UPs two main regional parties Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to prevent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)s return to power at the Centre. The state accounts for the most 80 seats in Lok Sabha and BJP had swept the last national polls here with 71 seats. The SP and BSP have over the years grabbed the political space Congress has lost in the state. They have split its traditional support base among Muslims, Dalits, and Brahmins. Congress has lost a major chunk of Muslim voters, who account for UPs 18.5% population, to SP, Dalits (20.5%) to BSP and Brahmins (9.2%) to BJP. Yet the mood within Congress is upbeat following the victory in the three states. The common refrain at the party state headquarters in Lucknow is: We not only defeated BJP in two states after 15 years but also a popular leader like Shivraj Singh Chouhan in MP. Now it is the turn of Uttar Pradesh. Overconfidence can be tricky for the prospects of the grand alliance Congress is hoping to form. Congress leaders are divided over the issue of allying with other like-minded parties even as contesting alone in UP may not be the best choice. The SP and BSP leaders also favour a non-Congress, non-BJP front though there is no rigidity when it comes to post-poll sharing of power. BSP chief Mayawati favours regional allies for pre-poll alliances as in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Haryana. SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who comes from the socialist background always disfavoured any truck with Congress, though he has never fielded candidates against the Gandhis. The scenario is similar to the one in Bihar before the 2009 polls when Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan unilaterally divided seats, leaving barely three for Congress. Congress eventually contested alone and benefitted National Democratic Alliance. Political expert Neerja Choudhary said the Congress brings in the national party aura to the alliance besides consolidating the anti-BJP votes. A Congress leader said, Both the prospective allies the SP and the BSP will have to take a call on whether they wish to share power at the Centre or not, or barely concentrate on acquiring national status for their respective parties. A grand alliance of Congress, SP, BSP, and Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal can unite Muslims, Jats, Jatavs, and Yadavs. The BJP, which has so far been confident about improving its 2014 tally of 71 seats, accepts the alliance will be a challenge despite Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity. The prospective allies had a vote share of 50% compared to the BJPs 42.3% despite the Modi wave in 2014. In 2019, experts feel the polarisation among the Muslims voters will be more than within the majority community, which will split sharply on caste lines in the absence of any 2014-like wave. They feel the onus lies on the Congress to bend a little as the political complexion of the three states won recently is different from UP. Compared to bi-polar states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh is a multi-party state with concentrated populations of Yadavs, Dalits, and Muslims in different pockets. In 1995, the Congress tied up with the BSP but the alliance failed to get a majority in the state. Again in 2017, Congress allied with the SP. This alliance also failed for two reasons infighting within the SPs Yadav family and half-hearted late announcement of the alliance. Even for 2019, there has been a delay in finalising sharing of seats, whereas the BJP is working overtime. The carcass of an adult male rhinoceros was found with its horn missing at Gorumara National Park in West Bengals Jalpaiguri district, officials said on Wednesday, prompting the forest department to conduct an inquiry. The last time a rhino was killed in Gorumara, where an estimated 50 of the endangered animals live, was one year and nine months ago. The carcass of the rhino was found on Tuesday in the Gorumara beat of the Park, Nisha Goswami, divisional forest officer of Gorumara, said. It is believed the animal was killed within the last 48 hours. The horn of the rhino was missing. There was a bullet injury on the carcass and we suspect it was killed by either poisoning or by tranquillising, Goswami said. Binay Krishna Barman, the state forest minister, said, We are yet to confirm the cause of death. It could be that the rhino died due to old-age or with some disease while its horn was taken away by people in the locality. However, the minister did not rule out that it could be a case of poaching. More than 70 rhinos have been killed in north Bengal since 1951. The menace reached its peak between 1968 and 1972 when as many as 28 rhinos were killed. Three were killed in 2017. On April 19, 2017, the decomposed carcass of a rhino was found in Gorumara National Park. The animal was killed almost one month ago, officers had said. The carcass of another male adult rhino was spotted in the same area the next day. In February this year, six people including a sharpshooter from Arunachal Pradesh and a teacher were arrested after an adult rhino was killed and its horn chopped off in Jaldapara, about 74km away. The Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park are among the four forest tracts in India where the one-horned rhino is found in the wild. The other two are Assams Kaziranga and Manas national parks. The population estimate of one-horned rhino at Jalpapara was 204 in 2015 while the figure was 149 in 2011 and 35 at Gorumara in 2011. There are about 3,000 rhinos in the wild, half of them in Kaziranga, Assam alone. Rhino poaching in north Bengal forests, which are contiguous to Assam forests, is a big challenge as international rackets are active in the region. Ujjawal Ghosh, the chief conservator of forest (wildlife), had earlier said international rackets of poachers from the northeast are active in north Bengal. In May 2017, there was an exchange of gunfire between security personnel and poachers at the Dhupjhora area of the Gorumara forest. In 2014, three rhinos died at the hands of poachers in Jaldapara. In 2015, the number rose to five. In 2015, foresters even recovered an AK-56 rifle from Mendabari and arrested the shooter from Nagaland. Conservationists and wildlife activists continue to blame the lack of forest staff as a reason behind poaching. According to Animesh Bose of the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, the forest department is suffering from a 36% shortage of employees. However, the state forest minister refuted the allegation as he said more than 400 new recruits have been made on dire in harness while the posts of rangers have almost been fulfilled. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will organise a series of public hearings, starting next month to give industry and trade bodies a platform to air their concerns on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), in an attempt to put pressure on the union government to withdraw from negotiations to sign the agreement. RCEP is a trade agreement between 10 Asean nations and the groupings six free-trade pact partners Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Korea and India. Negotiations for the agreement are expected to end next year. The SJM has pointed out that the pact will give nations such as Australia and New Zealand that lead in dairy exports an edge over the Indian dairy sector. New Zealand for instance is a major global dairy exporter accounting for 30% of global dairy exports; this makes Indian agriculture and dairy sectors totally vulnerable. It is clear these countries will ask for specific access to these markets, said SJM Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convenor. The SJM which has written to PM Narendra Modi to reconsider the trade agreement, has cited RCEP as a major threat and not a major opportunity for India. The Centres decision to involve the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and the think tank, Centre for Regional Trade, to come up with the roadmap for the agreement which is likely to be signed in 2019 has not pacified the SJM. Also read | RSS wants government to focus on temple, farmers, MSMEs A report by these institutes is expected by January. There are concerns of various sectors such as steel, dairy, pharma and several other sectors about the impact that RCEP will have on their business if India signs the deal, which pushes for zero duty on a range of products. And given how large this trade bloc is, Indian business will suffer, Mahajan said. A response from the ministry of external affairs to SJM, indicating that the Indian negotiators are delicately balancing various competing interests of domestic industry too has failed to cut ice. Issues related to Intellectual Property Chapter, particularly pacts that constrain our farmers ability to produce, preserve, exchange and sell seeds need to be rejected, Mahajan said. Biswajit Dhar, of the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, JNU said: Signing the RCEP would prove detrimental to Indias interests, particularly in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. India will have to give preferential tariff to countries such as Australia, New Zealand and China and that would put us at a disadvantage, Dhar said. SJM has also pointed out to Modi that India is being asked to improve its offer to RCEP partners including the Asean, China, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea. India has major challenges from China in industrial goods. China already accounts for about half Indias total trade deficit. Even with 74% of goods offered at Zero duty (which is Indias current offer) this deficit will increase manifold and also threaten Indias manufacturing growth potential. The survival of Indian SMEs will be in question, WHO said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece, Tarun Bharat, a Marathi daily published from Nagpur, on Wednesday criticised Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for his comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra. The dailys editorial said that people of the state will teach Sena a lesson in the ensuing elections for using foul language against the Prime Minister. The Shiv Sena chief had in a rally at Pandharpur on Monday, called alliance partner BJP a sleeping Kumbhakarana and added that the illusion created by the BJP, that the party was invincible, had been destroyed after the recent assembly election results in five states. Describing Thackeray as a rank hypocrite, power lusty and an opportunist, the editorial dared him to withdraw his ministers from the Fadnavis cabinet as well as from the centre, if its really uncomfortable with the BJP. This is nothing but an attempt to mislead the people of the state and his desperate attempt to keep his flock together for remaining relevant in 2019 general and the state elections, the editorial said. Lashing out at the Sena on the Ram temple issue, the editorial also questioned Thackeray for his sudden liking for Ram and his visit at Ayodhya last month. It seems that the Sena is scared about its defeat in the ensuing elections as its younger brother (BJP) becomes the elder brother in the state and hence raising the Ram temple issue at the fag-end of the tenure, it added. Criticising Sena for using uncivilised language and hurling abuses against the Prime Minister and the BJP, the editorial said, the mighty elephant keeps walking as the dogs keep barking. Modi works for 18 hours a day without any leave. And if such hard work by the Prime Minister doesnt appeal and reach to the Sena leadership, then they must be blind of reality, the editorial said. Three Indian teenaged siblings were among four people killed when the house of the family that was hosting them for Christmas celebrations at Collierville in the south-eastern US state of Tennessee caught fire. Sathwika Naik, 16, her sister Jaya Naik, 14, and brother Suhan Naik, 15, from Telanganas Nalgonda district, were killed in the fire on Sunday along with their hostess, Kari Coudriet, 46. Seven others, including Coudriet s widower, Danny, and their son, Cole, 13, were hospitalised for treatment of smoke inhalation. American daily USA Today reported that the Naik teens were missionaries in partnership with the Collierville Bible Church (CBC) and were studying at a school in Mississippi. It added the Coudriets invited them to stay in their home when the school closed for winter break and the three could not go home to India. The father of the three, Srinivas Naik, a pastor, also associated with CBC, had returned to Nalgonda last year after working in the US. The children had stayed back to continue their studies at Mississippis French Camp Academy. In a statement, the CBC identified the three teenagers as Sharron, Joy and Aaron Naik. Srinivas Naik and his wife, Sujatha, could not be contacted. They flew to the US immediately after coming to know about the incident. Cole and Danny survived after jumping from a second storey window. A neighbour rushed to the scene and tried to go up to the second storey with a ladder to rescue those trapped in the two-storey house after Danny pleaded for help. It was so hot, and smoke was billowing, news agency Associated Press quoted Collierville fire department chief Mark King as saying. Local media reported that the investigators were still probing how the house caught fire. In Hyderabad, Telangana Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy asked the state government to make arrangements for bringing the bodies of the three teenagers to India. As electoral issues go, the Ram temple campaign of the BJP seems to have fallen by the wayside. On November 25, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad held a Dharma Sabha in Ayodhya, they failed to enthuse even the saffron-robed sants and seers of the temple town. For two weeks then they attempted to provoke the Muslim minorities in Delhi waving saffron flags at them, muscling their way into their bastis with cries of Jai Shri Ram and later threatened the Jama Masjid with demolition. On neither occasion did any of the minorities react. So with both consolidation among the Hindus and polarisation among Muslims having failed the Sangh Parivar, why does Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray think he will have better luck with Hindutva? After challenging the BJP on its home turf in Ayodhya, on Monday the Shiv Sena gathered in Maharashtras temple town of Pandharpur to demand the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, but I wonder if that demand really resonated with the Maharashtrian masses. Admittedly, Pandharpur is the most hallowed ground in terms of Vithoba worship in the state but though Lord Ram may be an avatar of Lord Vishnu, the rich warkari tradition of Pandharpur is not as sectarian or narrow as the Hindutva forces would want to position their own temple issue across the country. Even at the peak of the Ram temple issue Pandharpur had stayed calm and unimpressed, giving not much quarter to the saffron forces. So why should now be any different? Uddhavs next stop on the Hindutva circuit is likely to be Varanasi, the holiest of Hindu pilgrimage centres, now the Lok Sabha constituency of Narendra Modi. By most accounts, opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh are likely to gang up against the BJP here at the 2019 elections and if the voters of Varanasi are indeed disappointed with the ruling party, its alliance partner is unlikely to get even a look-in, I should think. However as Uddhav relentlessly keeps up the rhetoric against the BJP in Pandharpur he even picked up Congress president Rahul Gandhi s resonating personal sloganeering against Modi on the Rafale deal I am beginning to be convinced that, much like the BJP, the Shiv Sena too has peaked and run out of issues. The regional vote has lost much of its lustre and despite occupying the opposition space while still being in government, today, much of that non-Hindutva space is firmly with Gandhi and other parties who may form the Mahagatbandhan before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, Uddhav may have secured even before the elections what he professed never to want or desire an alliance with the BJP and, most importantly, an upper hand in the alliance. Given the manner in which the BJP has already conceded many of its own sitting MPs seats to parties in Bihar who have less of a standing in their home state than the Sena has in Maharashtra, I believe it is now Uddhavs choice whether it goes in for an alliance with the BJP or not. And, if it does, there is nothing to stop him from demanding not just all the 18 seats held by the Shiv Sena. but push for a half-and-half division of the total number of seats in the state. For the BJP that is likely to be a battle lost even before it has won, for now not allying with the Sena also poses the danger of the latter denting its core Hindutva vote at a time when it has not much else to write home about. I believe Uddhav knows well enough that Hindutva may be a no-show for his party as well but he is simply not beyond having some fun at the BJPs expense. For it is one thing to hope that the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be a Shiv Sainik but quite ridiculous and fantastic to claim that the next prime minister of India will be from his party. Given their lack of humour, that might have left BJP leaders grinding their teeth. Uddhav and the Shiv Sena seem to have positioned themselves into the best corner for the electoral game. Denting the BJPs tally would be a good enough show, If they fail to maximise their own seats they did not have much of a stake anyway. So heads they win, tails they do not really lose. It is a unique political position not many parties can risk in the current scenario. Police on Monday arrested the owner of a garment factory at Damu Nagar in Kandivli (East), where a fire on Sunday claimed four lives, on charges of negligence. Ravi Dhanu, 43, was later released on bail. Santosh Singh, who had taken the upper floor on rent from Dhanu, is wanted in the case. Read more: 4 workers found dead after fire doused at Mumbais Damu Nagar garment factory The fire started around 4pm on Sunday and was extinguished by 7.40pm. The fire caused the building to collapse, killing four workers Rajesh Vishwakarma, 36, Raju Vishwakarma, 30, Bhavesh Parekh, 51 and Sudama Lallan Singh, 36 trapped inside. It took 14 hours to find their bodies. The fire was confined to electric wiring, installation, garment and packaging material, machinery and furniture of the three garment shops. The fire was doused soon, but finding the trapped people was a challenge, a senior fire official said. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. The structure did not have a fire alarm, fire extinguishers or any other fire safety measures. We will carry out a detailed investigation to check if it had the mandatory licences. We will get more information from the authorities concerned such as fire brigade and BMC, said a police officer investigating the case. There was gross negligence on part of the owner, said senior police inspector Raju Kasbe of Samta Nagar police station. A 35-year-old man, who worked as a sweeper in the civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The accused allegedly tied the girls hands and tried to touch her inappropriately, when she was asleep. A patient on the next bed witnessed the act and raised an alarm, following which the hospital staff nabbed him. Police said the teenager was epileptic and was admitted to the ICU for treatment. TS Pavle, police inspector, Kalwa police station, said, There were 18 other patients in the ICU. The incident occurred on Saturday, around 1.00am, when the nurse went out to get an injection, and there was no staff in the ICU. The accused, Dinesh Koli, entered the ward on the pretext of sweeping it. He allegedly tied the girls hands and tried to touch her inappropriately. When the patient on the next bed raised an alarm, Koli threatened her. Hearing her screams, the girl woke up and raised an alarm. After hearing the screams, the nurse along with the security guards immediately rushed to the ICU and nabbed Koli. The hospital registered a case with us next evening, following which we immediately arrested Koli under section 354 of Indian Penal Code for outraging the modesty of a woman, he added. The girls parents claimed that the accused might have raped their daughter had the other patient not raised an alarm. Her father said, The accused might have assaulted her if the other patient would have not raised an alarm. The accused apologised to my wife after being caught. We are poor and cannot afford our daughters treatment in a private hospital. However, this incident has shocked us about the safety at civic hospitals. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) refuted claims of security lapse. Sandeep Malvi, deputy municipal commissioner, TMC, said, We terminated Koli immediately and have also lodged a complaint against him at Kalwa police station. There are no lapses in our security. We have adequate security to ensure the safety of the patients. This is a second time that such an incident has taken place in the hospital. Last December, a 25-year-old woman was molested when she was breast-feeding her baby in the hospital. Prominent Muslim cleric and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said on Tuesday that Muslims should avoid offering namaz at places where it inconveniences others. He was reacting to a police order issued to companies and offices in Noida Sector 58, directing them to tell their employees that they must not gather for prayers at a public park in the area. People must adhere to the directions of the local administration when it comes to using public spaces for offering namaz, Maulana Khalid Rasheed said. It is best that one offers namaz either inside ones home or at a designated place such as a mosque, the Muslim scholar said. UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Syed Waseem Rizvi also said that people must seek permission before using public spaces for prayers. One cannot offer namaz at a public space without seeking permission from the authorities concerned. Offering namaz at public places without proper permission is not allowed in Islam, Rizvi said. Maulana Shahabuddin, a prominent Barelvi cleric, said it is a matter of faith but people should make sure that nobody is disturbed when they practice their religion. Noida Muslim employees working at offices in Noidas Sector 58 on Tuesday said it was convenience that led them to offer namaz at a public park in the area. Police had on Monday issued a notice to companies in the industrial hub, asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering namaz at the park. Even as the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police said the polices move was not discriminatory towards any religion, the matter assumed a political twist with the Samajwadi Party alleging government officials were helping the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to create an atmosphere of divide and rule before the 2019 general elections. On Monday, a letter written by Pankaj Rai, station house officer of the Sector 58 police station, to companies located in the sector surfaced. The letter said it was the responsibility of the companies to inform their Muslim employees not to offer namaz in the sector 58 public park, failing which they would be held liable for the violation. Sector 58 is lined with offices of BPOs, IT firms and export-import companies where thousands of people work. The workers said that for the past five years, the public park in the middle of Sector 58 is visited by over 300 men every afternoon to offer namaz. On Fridays, over 800 people turn up for the juma ki namaz. The nearest mosques from my office are in Khoda and Labour chowk. These are usually congested and to offer namaz, one has to climb on the rooftop. The namaz usually lasts for 15-30 minutes. But travelling to and from the mosque takes more than an hours time. No company allows this kind of break during work hours and so I had been offering namaz in the park, which saves time, Taqweem Ahmed, a quality analyst in a firm, said. Similarly, 41-year-old Sadre Alam, a native of Araria in Bihar, said there are risks in offering namaz in the congested masjid at Khoda in Ghaziabad. If 500 more people decide to offer namaz on the rooftop of the congested masjid, it can cause a stampede. The park has an open space where we can offer namaz peacefully, Alam who works in a sewing factory said. We have been offering namaz here for the past two months but if the administration has asked us to not to, we have to respect the decision. It takes quite a lot of time to reach the masjid in Khoda and that is why we prefer the park, Mohammad Naseem, a native of Bhagalpur in Bihar, who works in a sewing factory, said. Political parties criticised the Noida Police letter. They said a dialogue with Muslim workers was needed instead of an obscure order. This is pure politicisation of the police and the administrative machinery and unfortunately, officials are helping the ruling party create an atmosphere of divide just before the 2019 general elections. The BJP has not done anything worthwhile in Noida when it comes to development. Therefore, they have resorted to such tactics with help of the police, Surendra Singh Nagar, Member of Parliament, GB Nagar, said. Responding to allegations of the discriminatory tone of the police notice, district magistrate BN Singh said, I beg to differ because at the beginning of the notice, it has been stated that no permission has been granted by the administration to hold any sort of religious gathering. Actor-model Keith Sequeira and wife, actor and host Rochelle Rao Sequeira recently visited France and Spain as a part of their vacation. Sequeira shared that they decided to take this vacation and treat it like their second honeymoon. Ask Keith what made them choose these countries, and he says, We wanted to experience different regions, wines and food. Spain is close to the south of France and we had heard that the people and culture there is warm. We were pleasantly surprised to see that everything was better than expected. The couple flew to Paris, France, and their first stop was the city of Avignon (an important Catholic site in the 14th century). About their experience there, he says that the city has a lot of history and that the area is a mix of a city and a small town. He adds, We did not visit during the holiday season and thats why we encountered very few tourists. We did not book hotels either, as we preferred home stays. The next stop was Luberon, a province in south France, which Keith says, is a beautiful place with vast fields and quaint villages. We ate a lot of cheese, steak, foie gras and croissants. We travelled to smaller pockets and enjoyed the farmers markets and old French artifacts. We also brought back a bottle of red wine from the Ridley Scott Vineyard, he shares. The couple then flew to Barcelona in Spain, which was a 45-minute flight. About their experience in Spain, Keith says, We visited Basilica Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. It is designed by the popular architect Antoni Gaudi. We also visited Park Guell, a park with Gaudis sculptural buildings. Another place we visited was Tibidabo, where the cable cars take you to the top of the mountain from where you can see the entire city and the surrounding coastline. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in U.S. custody early Christmas Day, the second death of a child in detention at the southwest border in less than three weeks, raising questions about the ability of federal agents running the crowded migrant border facilities to care for those who fall ill. The number of migrant families and unaccompanied minors journeying over land to the United States has swelled in the last year. Migrants are usually transferred to facilities designed to hold adults after being arrested by federal authorities while attempting to enter the country illegally or after being processed at a port of entry. The boy, who has not been named, died just after midnight on Tuesday at a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he and his father had been taken after a Border Patrol agent saw what appeared to be signs of sickness, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. His death follows that of a 7-year-old girl from the same country while also in the custody of the Border Patrol. Much about the circumstances of the boys death remains unknown. It is not clear whether his condition was attributable to the care he received in the facilities, the result of an arduous journey, or some combination of the two. The border facilities have absorbed more children than was ever intended when they were built, presenting challenges for those tasked with caring for migrant families. At first, the boy was thought to have a cold, but staff at the hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, later found that he also had a fever, according to the agency. He was held at the hospital for an additional 90 minutes for observation and then released Monday afternoon with prescriptions for amoxicillin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, and ibuprofen, which is often used for relieving pain and reducing fever. On Monday night, however, the boy grew nauseated and vomited, prompting border authorities to take him back to the hospital, where he died. The cause of death is not known, but an internal review will be conducted, according to the agency, which said it had notified the government of Guatemala. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for additional information related to the boys death. The other migrant child from Guatemala, Jakelin Caal Maquin, died this month in U.S. custody in New Mexico. Border Patrol said Jakelin had died from dehydration, but her father, Nery Gilberto Caal Cruz, disputed that assertion, saying he made sure she was fed and had sufficient water. While details about the boys death are scant and there is no evidence so far that conditions in detention were the cause, the proximity of the two childrens deaths is already renewing debate about the Trump administrations immigration policies. Medical professionals and advocates said Tuesday that a second death of a child at the border highlighted the risks of keeping vulnerable children in what they called overcrowded, often cold facilities known as hieleras, Spanish for ice boxes. Children are not supposed to remain in the facilities for more than 72 hours. These facilities are no place for a child, even a well child, said Marsha Griffin, a pediatrician on the Texas-Mexico border and the co-chairwoman of the American Academy of Pediatricss special interest group on immigrant health. The conditions in which these children are being held are truly shocking, said Griffin, who said that children who fall ill are not receiving adequate care. Its cold, and they are susceptible to influenza and dehydration. Kevin K. McAleenan, the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said in July that the facilities were built in the 1980s and 90s to temporarily house migrant adults, not families and children. They were built for single adults, he said. Think of it like a police station, like short-term detention before theyre turned over to a jail or a longer-term facility. In immigration, its ICE. They were not built to handle families and children. After being apprehended by border agents, children pass through processing facilities, some of which provide limited medical screening for scabies, lice and chickenpox, according to a report released in May 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It said that complete medical histories and physical examinations are not conducted. Children should not be subjected to these facilities, the report recommended. Inside the facilities, detainees sleep side-by-side on mats placed on the ground. Their belongings are removed and they receive only a Mylar blanket with which to cover themselves, according to migrants who have been held in these facilities. Audrey Stempel, a nurse who volunteered in a clinic at a respite center in Texas, where families released from the border facilities spend a night before traveling onward, said the main thing the migrants talked about was how cold they were in these detention centers. The feedback we got from migrants was that children arrived compromised and were not taken care of, Stempel said. Authorities were doing the absolute bare minimum. By the time the kids got to us, many of them were sick. She said that she treated colds, fevers, respiratory infections and other ailments, and that she had to transfer some children to a hospital. When the harrowing trek to the border is made during the low temperatures of winter months, migrants are especially vulnerable. CBP strictly adheres to our national standards in regard to the conditions, including temperature control, at our temporary holding facilities, said a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, adding that the agency had appointed a juvenile coordinator to monitor conditions. The Trump administration attempted to deter immigration with a zero-tolerance policy announced in April that called for criminally prosecuting anyone who had crossed the border illegally. Border Patrol agents arrested parents and sent their children to government-licensed shelters, but President Donald Trump suspended the practice in June after it sparked outrage. Since then, a record-setting crush of migrant arrivals has overwhelmed shelters and government detention facilities. The Border Patrol apprehended 25,172 people in family units in November, compared with 7,016 the same month a year earlier. Arrests for fiscal 2018, which ended Sept. 30, reached 107,212, exceeding the previous high of 77,857 in fiscal 2016. Some adults have said they travel with a child to increase their chances of being freed rather than remaining in detention for an extended time. Having fled violence in their home countries, they then request asylum. Minor children are being brought under treacherous circumstances because we have incentivized this, said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national organization that lobbies for curbing all immigration. Politicians who could solve the problem are not rectifying the abuse in our asylum system that is encouraging people to come under these conditions, he added. In a Christmas morning question-and-answer session with reporters, Trump touted his administrations immigration policies and demanded further funding for a border wall. While he castigated migrants, the president did not bring up the boys death hours earlier. So you have drugs, you have human trafficking, Trump said. You have illegal people coming into our country. We cant do that. We dont know who they are. In a brief phone call, Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, called the death of the 8-year-old boy very sad and said administration officials were trying to get a clearer understanding of what had happened to him from the Department of Homeland Security. Several Democratic members of Congress responded to news of the boys death with sharp criticism of the Trump administrations approach to the border. This is devastating news on Christmas Day a time when so many around the world are holding their families and loved ones close and my heart goes out to this young boys family, said Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., calling for a full investigation. Homeland Security officials have struggled to answer questions about how many people have been harmed as a result of the administrations detention policies. Last week, Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of homeland security, was unable to answer a question about how many people had died in custody. Chinese police detained a well-known Marxist student activist at a top university on Wednesday, a witness said, for attempting to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Mao Zedong, whose legacy in China remains controversial. A student eyewitness told AFP that Qiu Zhanxuan, the head of Peking Universitys Marxist society, was forced into a black car by seven or eight plain-clothes officers near the subway station outside the universitys east gate. Qiu was screaming and resisting arrest, the student said, declining to be named due to the sensitive nature of the issue. I heard him say I am Qiu Zhanxuan... I did not break the law. Why are you taking me away? What are you doing? The eyewitness said police showed their public security department documents, when questioned by onlookers. Peking University and the Ministry of Public Security did not respond to requests for comment. Considered Chinas most prestigious university, Peking University has a history of student activism with its alumni playing a key role in the pro-democracy Tiananmen protests in 1989. But campus activism has been quashed under President Xi Jinping. In August, a police raid swept up student activists at several universities, beating some of them and confiscating their phones for supporting a labour rights movement. The Jasic Workers Solidarity group rose to prominence this summer when student activists backed its efforts to form a workers union at Jasic Technology, a welding machinery company in southern Guangdong province. In April, Peking University faculty tried to silence another student, Yue Xin, who co-authored a petition demanding details of a sexual abuse case at the school. I believe its ridiculous. Is there anything wrong with commemorating Mao? the eyewitness, also a member of the campus Marxist society, said. The faculty has always prevented activities by the Marxist society... Its difficult to spread information, posts on online campus bulletin boards would be deleted and WeChat (messaging) accounts would be blocked... Information about the arrest was strictly blocked by the school. The Communist party in recent years has tried to distance itself from the legacy of Mao. Once hailed as Chinas great helmsman, there were no official events to mark his 125th birth anniversary Wednesday. Despite Qius arrest, Marxist students from across Beijing gathered at an undisclosed location to organise a flash-mob style event Wednesday afternoon, a labour rights NGO worker in close contact with Marxist student groups told AFP. Another group of students, who travelled to Maos home village Shaoshan in central Chinas Hunan province, posted a video of them singing revolutionary songs on social media. (AFP) AMS AMS A senior Pakistani police officer says gunmen opened fire on a former lawmaker outside his home in the southern port city of Karachi before fleeing. Javed Odho says Ali Raza Abidi was critically wounded in Tuesday evenings attack and he later died at a hospital. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, which drew condemnation from Prime Minister Imran Khan and several other opposition politicians. Abidi was a former member of the National Assembly and his Muttahida Qaumi Movement party has urged the government to immediately trace and arrest his killers. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement party represents the Urdu speaking population and its two factions have an uneasy relationship with each other. Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. Japan switched to what it calls research whaling after the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s, and now says stocks have recovered enough to resume commercial hunts. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan would resume commercial whaling in July in line with Japans basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence. He added that Japan is disappointed that the IWC which he said is dominated by conservationists focuses on the protection of whale stocks even though the commission has a treaty mandate for both whale conservation and the development of the whaling industry. Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views, he said at a news conference. Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japans territorial waters and its 200-mile (323-kilometer) exclusive economic zone along its coasts. He said Japan would stop its annual whaling expeditions to the Antarctic and northwest Pacific oceans. Non-signatory states are not allowed to do so, according to Japanese Fisheries Agency officials. The IWC imposed the moratorium on commercial whaling three decades ago due to a dwindling whale population. In 1987, Japan switched to what is calls research whaling, but the program has been criticized as a cover for commercial hunting since the meat is sold on the market at home. Japanese officials said Japan, even after leaving the whaling convention, will remain as an observer to the IWC and plans to continue participating in the groups scientific meetings and annual conferences. The environmental group Greenpeace condemned Wednesdays announcement and disputed Japans view that whale stocks have recovered, and noted that ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing. The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures, Sam Annesley, executive director of Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement. The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling. Australias government, often a vocal critic of Japans whaling policies, said in a statement that it was extremely disappointed with Japans decision to quit the commission. However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters joined Australia in welcoming Japans withdrawal from the southern ocean. Japan was the only country with an ambition to return to commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWCs method to carefully determine a catch quota on the basis of science, but declined to give an estimate. He said Japan plans to use seven existing whaling hubs on the Pacific coast for the upcoming commercial hunts. Moronuki said Japan is starting with a modest plan because it has to figure out if or how commercial whaling can be a viable industry. Whats most important is to have a diverse and stable food supply, he said. The Fisheries Agency said Japan plans to catch three kinds of whale that are believed to have sufficient stocks minke, sei and Brydes. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but has reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japans ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts. Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about one third after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the countrys research whaling program wasnt as scientific as it had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the Northern Pacific. Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. Its a fraction of the countrys whale meat supply of about 200,000 tons before the IWC moratorium. Critics say they doubt commercial whaling can be a sustainable industry because younger Japanese may not view the animals as food. Nonetheless, Japanese lawmakers want to promote whales not only as a source of protein but as part of Japans cultural tradition. We hope the resumption of commercial whaling will lead to the economic revitalization of (whaling) communities, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a meeting of his ruling partys whaling committee. Kazutaka Sangen, mayor of Taiji, a central Japanese town known for dolphin hunts, welcomed the decision and vowed to stick with scientific way of stock management so that Japans position on whaling can gain understanding from the international community. Suga said that Japan would notify the IWC of its decision by Dec. 31 and that it remains committed to international cooperation on proper management of marine life even after its IWC withdrawal. ___ Associated Press writer Steve McMorran in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi A mentally challenged person shot dead five male family members, including his father, uncle and three brothers, over a domestic dispute and later committed suicide in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, police said. The incident occurred in Tehkal area University Road Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Abdullah, 24, shot dead his father Jan Muhammad after a brief verbal brawl. When his three brothers - Jawad, Luqman and Zaibullah - and uncle Faqir Muhammad arrived at the scene of incident, he also killed them, police said. Later, the accused committed suicide, they added. The police said that the killer was mentally retarded. The bodies have been shifted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital for post-mortem. Citing the case of Asia Bibi of Pakistan, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday announced an independent global review on how the UK could do more to help Christians facing persecution in several countries. Britain had been urged to provide refuge to Bibi, who is reportedly in a safe house in Pakistan after her death sentence for blasphemy was overturned by the countrys Supreme Court. Her plight has moved the hearts of the British public, Hunt wrote in The Daily Telegraph. It is not in our national character to turn a blind eye to suffering. All religious minorities must be protected and the evidence demonstrates that in some countries, Christians face the greatest risk, he wrote, announcing the review by Reverend Philip Mounstephen, bishop of Truro. Across the world, about 215 million Christians suffer persecution, according to the campaign group, Open Doors. The International Society for Human Rights has found that Christians are the victims of 80% of all acts of religious discrimination, Hunt wrote. According to Open Doors, India is among 50 countries where it alleges is most difficult to live as a Christian. The list is topped by North Korea and Pakistan figures in the top nine countries where the persecution level is alleged to be extreme. In October, Prime Minister Theresa May denied in parliament reports that she had rejected an appeal for asylum by the Bibi family over fears that it might stir up tensions in the Muslim community in Britain, insisting the government was working towards a resolution with other countries. She told MPs: We could approach this in two ways. We could go out there and say something, just to show that the UK is doing that, or we could ask what is right for Asia Bibi. We are working with others in the international community and with the Pakistani government to ensure that our prime aim the safety and security of Asia Bibi and her family is provided for. On the review, Hunt wrote: I would like this exercise to consider some tough questions and offer ambitious policy recommendations: Britain has - in my view - the best diplomatic network in the world, so how can we use that to encourage countries to provide proper security for minority groups under threat? Have we been generous enough in offering practical assistance, and does the level of UK support match the scale of the suffering? Have we always got our foreign policy priorities right in terms of advocating for and expressing solidarity with this group? Appointment 26 December 2018 Hartline joins the Sheraton Dallas with more than 15 years in the food and beverage industry, and proven experience in building teams, increasing profits, and improving quality for high-volume convention centers and resorts. His addition to the team is instrumental as the downtown convention hotel currently undergoes a multimillion dollar renovation, including the addition of multiple food and beverage outlets and redesign of existing ones. Hartline hails from southwestern Michigan, where he firsthand learned the art of cooking growing up on a 67-acre produce farm. He earned his degree at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in Orlando, and has earned more than two dozen awards on the professional barbecue circuit. Most recently, Hartline served for four years as Executive Chef over multiple restaurants and Director of Restaurants at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas. Prior to that position, Hartline served in culinary leadership positions at The JW Marriott & Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Grande Lakes Orlando and Orlando World Center Marriott . 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 Christian Nilan, who is known by the moniker Speakerfoxxx, has died at the age of 35. The manager of the beloved Atlanta DJ and producer, Xen Lang, confirmed her passing this Sunday, December 23. I can say that she has indeed passed, Lang said in a statement. No one was more passionate about their craft, culture and city. It was a pleasure to know her, learn from her and work with her. "She was an inspiration to all, through her passion, her ongoing support for ATL music and underground culture. She touched many with her dedication, upbeat attitude, and excellent music taste." https://www.instagram.com/p/BWwFQUjAiwl The cause of Christan Nilan's death has yet to be revealed, though some of her following speculate about its source being connected to substance abuse. Back in August, the artist tweeted from a rehabilitation facility. hi from rehab, Nilan wrote. new music currently being written so stayed tuned. Speakerfoxxx was known as a touring DJ for several years, assisting acts like Yelawolf, Rittz and Three 6 Mafias Gangsta Boo. Her work reached new levels as her solo career took off in 2011 with the release of her mixtape Dopeboy Anthems and its follow-up Dopegirl Anthems. The Hip Hop community of Atlanta has expressed that she will truly be missed within the city and beyond. https://twitter.com/_/status/1076746805675732993 https://twitter.com/_/status/1076713764097949696 https://twitter.com/_/status/1076725705432535040 https://twitter.com/_/status/1076673947553484800 https://twitter.com/_/status/1076721261315682304 https://twitter.com/_/status/1076672464560652289 Dame Dash's distaste for Lyor Cohen has been well documented recently. The Roc-A-Fella co-founder called Cohen a "Culture Vulture" and has been beefing with Funk Flex over whether or not Dame had any right to go after Cohen the way he did. Now Dame is clarifying his most recent Instagram post in which he shows Louis Farrakhan describing how Jewish people capitalize on black culture. In the caption of the video posted on yesterday, Dame says "Im not gonna stop till #liarcohen the culture vulture of this generation quits @youtubemusic or gives me a fair one," adding "no disrespect to anybody Jewish this dude doesnt reflect a whole culture just the Jewish culture vultures just wanna be clear this is not a black or white thing its a mentality thing the black culture vultures are worst the then the white ones" https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1KQ6Lnsz8 His post caught the eye of music entrepreneur Steve Rifkind, who sent Dame a text message making sure he understood that he shouldn't be lumping all Jewish people together. Dame then posted the message on Instagram saying: "To be clear the #culturevulture does not represent all Jewish people but all good Jewish people should help get him out of here because hes giving yall a bad name...my message is love and self awareness and Im anti slavery of the mind...I want piece not war awareness and respect will avoid the war lets all evolve together" While Dame acknowledged his friend, it's clear that his beef with Lyor Cohen isn't going to stop anytime soon. https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1OaC6nqqN We just rounded up a Christmas day Instagram gallery that showed off the many holiday happenings by some of your favourite artists. 2 Chainz, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith and many more shared images of their matching pajamas, huge Christmas trees, endless gifts and sparkly new rides they received and gave to loved ones this year. The only person missing from our round-up was none other Drizzy Drake, who came through a little later in the day to wish a Merry Christmas to his adoring fans on Instagram. It looks like Drake's in Toronto at his humble abode and from his Instagram stories he's getting help from a chef to whip up one fine Christmas meal (can I cop an invite). In another share to his story, he shows off his very own (and very large) tree with a cute amount of gifts underneath. At one point, Drake also points the camera to his large framed photo of Marilyn Monroe. "Merry Christmas," he adds at the end of the clip. https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1F6GxHOS- In other Drizzy news, he recently announced during his trip to lovely Jamaica that he signed Popcaan to his OVO label. He told the mega-crowd that it's been something they've been working on for some time and what a better time to announce than the holidays. Here's to a growing roster in 2019. Darolyn Butler patrolled the airport perimeter atop Navajo, an Appaloosa used to train riders for long-distance endurance races. Next to her was Kelly Baber and two of his horses, Ben and TL Mr. Roan Apache Patch for short, because the breeding quarter horse is missing an eye. But less than perfect vision didnt deter him on this recent morning. The horses and their riders were looking for wildlife hazards, such as holes where critters could crawl beneath the fence and onto a runway, and for the more worrisome human hazards. About 65 people, including off-duty law enforcement officers, are trained as Airport Rangers to ride along the fences and woods surrounding Bush Intercontinental Airport. Its a little-known volunteer program, but its roots are in a decadeslong tradition of civilians helping secure the country. Observe-and-report programs by trained civilians are an absolutely fabulous deterrent, said Anthony Roman, president of global investigation and risk management firm Roman & Associates. Horses are hard to miss and could scare off would-be attackers. They also provide a better vantage point for the riders, and they can reach areas that cars or ATVs cant. And unlike guards with schedules, the riders come and go at the times and speeds they please. The rangers could come walking or trotting or galloping through at any time, said Butler, among the programs first volunteers and owner of Cypress Trails Equestrian Center, which provides trail rides and endurance training. Over the programs 15 years, rangers have helped catch deer hunters, people stealing trees from airport property and people shooting target practice. Theyve also reported standing water that attracts birds, which can imperil airplane engines. One ranger helped catch someone evading police as that person got onto airport property not behind fences or onto a runway, but still on airport property, said Baber, who co-owns Humble Hairpin Land and Livestock and has volunteered with the program since its inauguration in 2003. Its a great place to ride a horse, he said. The big value for the airport is that it produces extra security. Roman wishes more airports had such programs. He highlighted it as just one example of civilians helping secure the country. During World War II, private pilots used their planes to search for German submarines along the East Coast. They were crucial in deterring attacks on merchant vessels. Today, trained civilians help rescue general aviation pilots who crash in remote areas. They also monitor and report suspicious activities in their hometowns. The See Something, Say Something campaign in New York City is one example, Roman said. So hes glad to see such tactics in Houston. Protecting the perimeters of a major international airport that has the namesake of a U.S. president, thats particularly critical because that becomes a symbolic target in terms of terrorism tactics, he said. To become an Airport Ranger, riders must pass a background check by the Transportation Security Administration, said Saba Abashawl, chief external affairs officer for the Houston Airport System. And they will receive training on what to look for and how to report it. Abashawl owns a horse and rides the airport perimeter once a week when shes in town. For many rangers, its an opportunity to give back while doing something they love. Its a cool thing to do for the community, Butler said. Im not much one for kitchens. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/andrearumbaugh Margaret Mitchell has lived in Sharpstown for nearly her whole life, watching in dismay as stores closed in the neighborhoods main shopping center and the property slid into disrepair, despite efforts by owners to make the mall more relevant to the changing, increasingly diverse area. So, when she heard that new owners with deep roots in Houston were buying the property, she said she felt a sense of hope that the mall, which has long been central to the community, would be updated and revived, much as the wider neighborhood is undergoing its own revival. Investors are coming in and redoing houses and flipping them, said Mitchell, president of the Sharpstown Civic Association, a nonprofit focused on safety and neighborhood beautification. There have also been teardowns and brand new houses have been built. Last week, Houston commercial real estate firm Baker Katz purchased the former Sharpstown Center, now known as PlazAmericas, adding to increasing investment in the neighborhood that includes new retail developments at the northeast corner of Bellaire and U.S. 59 and along Fondren, as well as new buildings planned at Houston Baptist University. Sharpstown was developed in the 1950s by Houston land developer Frank Sharp. It was one of Houston's first master-planned communities where housing is mixed with shops, schools and parks. The architectural styles of the homes include post-World War II bungalows, traditional ranches and mid-century moderns. Sharpstown, roughly bounded by the Westpark Tollway, the West Belt and Hillcroft and Bissonet streets, has a large population of seniors who bought homes there in the early days of the development. The area is among the citys most diverse, with Hispanics representing 58 percent of the population and Asians 15 percent, according to data compiled in 2015 by city of Houston. A stretch of Bellaire Boulevard, on which PlazAmericas is located, has become a center of Asian culture, with countless shops, restaurants and grocery stores. The area has begun a transition in recent years, attracting millennials lured by the mid-cenutry architecture and the lower housing prices than other neighborhoods within the same proximity to downtown about 15 minutes. The average price of a home this year was $212,482, up 6.4 percent from 2017, according to the Houston Association of Realtors. Houston Baptist University at Fondren and the Southwest Freeway is helping drive the growth, planning to increase its undergraduate enrollment of more than 2,300 as it prepares to begin construction of new buildings. In December, the university received a $20 million donation to construct a new building to be used by the College of Science and Mathematics, College of Engineering and School of Nursing and Allied Health. In September, the university received a $10 million gift that funded the construction of another classroom building modeled after Philadelphia's Independence Hall. The new owners of the mall say they are hoping to both take advantage of an add to the momentum. The Sharpstown Center opened in 1961, but struggled in later decades as newer malls opened. About a decade ago, the mall was bought by a Philadelphia investment firm, RAIT Financial Trust, which refocused the malls offerings on the areas diverse population, particularly Latinos. As of now, the 840,000-square-foot mall at the Southwest Freeway and Bellaire, is about 70 percent leased. Mitchell said shed like to see the property redeveloped as a community-based shopping area with a little bit of everything. Baker Katz faces challenges in reviving the mall, including the propertys fractured ownership. Baker Katz is buying the malls largest section, but the anchor buildings that formerly housed Montgomery Ward, JC Penny and Macys have different owners. The purchase also does not include a 10-story building that rises from the property. Each owner is bound by long-term agreements that prevent a full-scale redevelopment of the property. Theres not really any way to tear things down and start over, Baker Katz Principal Kenneth Katz said at the time of the sale. Baker Katz said it plans to upgrade the buildings it owns and improve operations, which in turn it hopes will increase occupancy. Justin Segal, president of Boxer Property Management Corp., which owns several office buildings in the area and managed the mall at one time, said that Baker Katz may have picked a good time to invest in the neighborhood. He said he is bullish on Sharpstown because of its location along some of the key crossroads of the Houston area and its multi-cultural population. If you put a pin on a map on the most diverse place in the most diverse city in the country, the pin would fall in the middle of PlazAmericas, Segal said. Basically every type of person lives within striking distance of that mall, and traffic counts are amazing. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com twitter.com/nsarnoff I attend more concerts in a month than most people do in a year. Thats not a brag. Its just part of the job. Rodeo season alone includes almost two dozen shows. (And yes, I love it.) HTOWN SOUNDS: Wild Moccasins, The Suffers and the best Houston albums of 2018 That makes it even tougher to narrow down my favorite live shows of 2018. Every show, in my experience, has something that makes it memorable, from Jack Whites cell-phone ban to Lil Waynes hourlong free set after a mad dash for tickets. So I thought about the shows that stuck with me, the ones that created a fierce bond with the audience, the ones that left us wanting more. Here are ten that filled my year with energy and emotion. Click through above for Joey Guerra's most memorable concerts of 2018. ***** Now Playing: Arian Foster was joined onstage by Jonathan Grimes and Scarface. Video: Joey Guerra Five more to remember Childish Gambino, Sept. 22 at Toyota Center Alessia Cara, March 4 at RodeoHouston Pink, April 27 at Toyota Center Christina Aguilera, Nov. 1 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land Yuridia, Sept. 8 at Arena Theatre joey.guerra@chron.com twitter.com/joeyguerra Best-new-restaurants lists are in season right now, but what do they mean, really? It varies with the critic and the publication. My take this year includes spots that excited my imagination as well as my palate. Its a wildly diverse group that I hope expresses the rich dining landscape of this Houston moment. The list is personal. And in almost every instance, its based on multiple visits. Youll notice that two restaurants on the list opened at the end of last year. They were the ones that got away, so now Ive made them eligible for their moment in the sun. Similarly, restaurants that opened this December including the ones in the ambitious new Finn Hall development downtown were not considered for this years list. I dont kid myself that inclusion on this list guarantees anything. Out of last years best new group, two have already closed: Maba Pan-Asian Diner and Aqui. Another one, Oxbow 7, lost its high-profile chef as I prepared to review it. Its a jungle out there. But what an alluring jungle. There were plenty of restaurants that belong in my honorable mentions for 2018: the inventive Feges BBQ in the futuristic setting of Greenway Plazas food court. Phat Eatery, a promising Malaysian spot in the exciting new Katy Asiatown with its proximity to the Beard Papas cream-puff franchise as an added bonus. The feisty little Cantina Barba taqueria, a boon for night owls. Im eager to return to Cuc Lams casual Sing, a Singaporean semi-serve with clever drinks, superb Thai beef skewers and a take on crab rangoon that will make you rethink your opinions on this oft-maligned pu pu platter staple. And I cant wait to check out the new decor and high-flying menu revamp from Austin Simmons at Tris, his rebranding of Hubbell & Hudson Bistro in The Woodlands. I didnt count Tris as a new restaurant, but I do count it as an exciting development. There was an encouraging surge of those in the suburbs this year, from Katy to the west side to points north, even unto Tomball. No telling what 2019 may bring. Stay hungry, Houston. 1. GEORGIA JAMES No one is more surprised than I am to be ranking a steakhouse as my favorite new restaurant. But Chris Shepherds Georgia James, polished and refined from its too-short run at the chefs One Fifth, expresses a vivid Houston sensibility in a way I havent tasted since Killens Steakhouse opened in 2006. Its not just the dry-aged steaks given a taut sear with butter basting in cast iron that give the menu such personality. Its the reinvention of timeworn steakhouse staples. A wedge salad becomes mighty cross-section, the better for a tart, peppery buttermilk dressing to seep into the crevices, with a riotous cargo of Shropshire blue cheese, cured egg yolk, Bentons bacon and enlivening fresh dill riding on top. Instead of the usual carbs, theres a savory cornbread pudding packing some heat and stretchy cheese. Creamed spinach becomes collards so opulent and earthy they make your head spin. Shellfish appear not as shrimp cocktail but as crab fingers baptized with nuoc mam and bristling with crunchy fried garlic bits. I actually daydream about the silky chicken liver mousse and the wood-oven apple pie with its scorchy crust. The service hums along in the big, warm space revamped from the bones of Underbelly, and theres an inviting long bar where solo diners can sneak in. Pricey? You bet. But theres value and joy delivered. 1100 Westheimer; 832-241-5088; georgiajamessteak.com 2. TOBIUO SUSHI & BAR Chef Mike Lims dazzling sushi talents, on precise display at this ambitious Katy restaurant, mark a high point in a year when suburban dining flowered. His knife skills, keen palate and immaculate treatment of fish put him on a par with such local masters as Manabu Horiuchi, Chris Kinjo and Adison Lee and make this sleek modern dining room a destination for sushi aficionados from all over the city. The best way to get a sense of what Lim can do is to book a seat at the counter for one of his $125 omakase (chefs choice) tastings, where you can see him wield his squeeze bottles of citrus and containers of seasoned salts with finely balanced aplomb. Or sample highlights with the chefs nightly nigiri set of five or seven pieces at $22 or $28, which might include kamasu, the sumptuous Japanese barracuda; or managatsu, justly known as butterfish, seared lightly on the skin side and contrasted with a dot of hot yuzukosho. Even the rolls are handled with nuance and restraint. The cooked items from classic hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail) to Shrimp Oba in a fragile tempura cobweb, anchored by a layer of shiso leaf can shine, too. 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Suite H130, Katy; 281-394-7156; tobiuosushibar.com 3. UB PRESERV It was a red-letter day when Chris Shepherd hired Momofuku Ssam Bar alumnus Nick Wong to run the kitchen at this downsized, reconfigured and thoroughly exciting version of the late Underbelly. Wongs delight in our citys diverse cuisines and local ingredients matches Shepherds own. Though the menu can ricochet a little wildly through our culinary repertoires from Asian to Mexican to African and beyond when ideas click, the dishes explode with flavor, texture and fun. Share a handful of lively small plates, such as pork dumplings or the herbal crispy rice salad, an instant classic. Or feast on a large-format, crisp-skinned boneless Texas heritage chicken, stuffed with Chinese-sausage-and-mushroom sticky rice and lit up by a relish of crunchy greens and chiles. You can let the kitchen steer your course with a $55 tour of Houston tasting menu for two or more. And on weekends, theres a dim sum brunch. Add a brilliantly matched cocktail program by Westin Galleymore (love those crazy communal Tiki bowls!) and the usual smart, small-producer wine list by Matthew Pridgen, and youve got a vital new cog in the Houston dining scene. 1609 Westheimer; 346-406-5923; ubpreserv.com 4. RESTAURANT INDIGO Dining at this audacious restaurant is like attending a one-man off-Off-Broadway play. In a spare modern room, chef Jonny Rhodes uses each of five courses on a choice of three neo-Soul tasting menus to talk with passion and a sardonic sense of humor about the African diaspora and its intersection with contemporary black history and culture. It would be fascinating even if the former Marine and University of Houston history student werent so gifted at coaxing deep, earthy umami flavors from his seasonal ingredients, which he has been curing, fermenting and pickling for years in preparation for this project. At their best, Indigo dishes grab you by the lapels, shake you up and set you down in a new place. They can be as lovely as a bonnet of ember-roasted autumn squash outlined in sunflower petals, filled with 2-year-old gourd pickles and grounded by a spicy benne-seed sauce; or as funky as a shrimp and wild boar andouille gumbo with Carolina Gold rice. Even the roasted okra-seed coffee substitute to finish the meal is a revelation. That Rhodes and his wife, Chana, do all this in a tiny kitchen, with a tiny staff and only charcoal and wood to cook with (theres not even a gas hookup), is all the more remarkable. Rhodes grew up in this modest Northline neighborhood, and his dream is to bring new life to this relative food desert. Indigo is a great start. 517 Berry; 832-582-6388; htxindigo.com 5. WILLOWS TEXAS BBQ Its a sign of Houstons increasing barbecue fortunes that one of our best new restaurants is a food truck parked in the backyard of a beer bar near the Heights. But what a truck Willow Villarreals is: dispensing purist classics of USDA Prime brisket, ribs, sausage and pulled pork that are among the best the city has to offer. His post-oak-fueled convection cooker produces a clear, pure smoke flavor; his charry crusts of bark pop out; and the perfectly rendered fats glisten. Add partner Jasmine Barelas lively, inventive sides and desserts, plunk the whole package in a magical outdoor setting and atmospheric saloon, and youre in a very Texas kind of heaven. 1115 W. 19th; 713-962-9913; facebook.com/willowstexasbbq 6. PHO GA DONG NAI The purity and grace of the Vietnamese soups produced at this Asiatown newcomer make it a fast Houston classic. The specialty is chicken pho including the dry variety utilizing regionally sourced, free-range organic birds, which makes for a particularly expressive chicken flavor. But the beef pho variants are worthy, too. Even a deceptively simple-sounding mien ga, a chicken soup with cellophane noodles, comes to the table afloat with savory-sweet shallots frizzled in garlic oil, a tiny touch with big impact. Shake in some white pepper and luxuriate. Proprietors Kim Nguyen, her sister Judy Dang and her niece Christine Dang run a friendly, spic-and-span shop that has major bang for the buck. 11528 Bellaire, Suite G; 281-530-2323; facebook.com/PhoDongNai 7. NANCYS HUSTLE This relaxed corner bistro in rapidly evolving EaDo is one of the most inviting hangs in town. It opened too late to make last years best-new list, but it deserves a place on this one for chef Jason Vaughans assertive Euro-inflected fare, partner Sean Jensens intriguing wine selections, Kristine Nguyens cocktails and pastry chef Julia Dorans serious breads. I confess Id come just to eat their whipped cultured butter, especially as an accessory to the iconic Nancycakes griddlecakes of Dorans house-ground cornmeal topped with briny orange trout roe. Immaculate salads, wood-grilled chicken with blistered scallion and spicy Turkish lamb dumplings are the kind of dishes that would make me happy to eat here several times a week. 2704 Polk; 346-571-7931; nancyshustle.com 8. POITIN The vast industrial room is dramatic. So is the view of the downtown skyline and the occasional train rattling through on the backyard railroad tracks. The bar program is impressive, and it features the Irish moonshine that lends the place its name. (Say puut-CHEEN.) But its the eclectic food from chef Dominick Lee that gives Poitin its dynamic personality. Lee brings his New Orleans Creole heritage to bear on global ideas gathered from his diverse young staff, including the sumptuous whole smoked and flash-fried chicken with laing greens, a Filipino inspiration made from taro leaves simmered in coconut milk. Collard pesto adds a vegetal undertone to rosy slices of duck. Best of all, Im left eager to see what this deftly managed restaurant will do next. 2313 Edwards, Suite 100; 713-470-6686; poitinhouston.com 9. KULTURE Chef Dawn Burrell used to be an Olympic long jumper. Now she heads the kitchen at one of downtown Houstons most interesting restaurants, a neo-Soul inspiration from The Breakfast Klub owner Marcus Davis. In a theatrical, glass-walled space on a prime corner of Avenida Houston, Burrell rethinks the food of the African diaspora. Her dishes are delicately detailed, from fluffy fried okra pods to a creamy, luxurious collard dip to eat with the little rice fritters known as calas. Even a house salad turns special with pecan ranch dressing and green tomato croutons. One of the most memorable dishes I ate this year was Burrells blackened cabbage wedge with bacon vinaigrette and onion soubise. Its gold-medal stuff. 701 Avenida de las Americas; 713-357-9697; facebook.com/KultureHouston 10. JUST GRK It opened at the tail end of November last year, missing its chance for the 2017 list. But my admiration for this splendid, focused, strip-mall Greek sandwich shop and grill guarantees its place on this one. Chef Chris Nikolas cooks everything from chicken souvlaki to peerless fresh-cut french fries to thick, satin-smooth tzatziki with verve and authority. He elevates small orbs of ground beef to fantastically crusty, herbal heights. Even his house-made hot sauce (a nod to Houston tastes) is landmark stuff. Hell make you a custom multi-meat-and-sides platter, too, just like your favorite barbecue joint. A BYOB policy, affordable prices and a warm welcome from Anastasia Nikolas, the chefs sister, wrap up this nifty west-side package in a beguiling bow. 11325 Interstate 10 W.; 832-623-6048; justgrk.com 11. LA LUCHA This handsome newcomer from Atlanta-based, Houston-born Ford Fry is too dim and midcentury loungelike to remind me of the late, great San Jacinto Inn, the all-you-can-eat chicken/biscuits/seafood joint that was his inspiration. But dang, under chef Bobby Matos, the fried-to-order chicken can be fabulous, paired with plush biscuits and honey sambal, a very 21st-century Houston touch. The cornmeal-dusted fried shrimp are first-rate, too, particularly with a swaggery white remoulade; and the drippy, paper-wrapped, Pharmacy Burger is one of the citys best. Dont even get me started on the cheerfully demented oyster loaf, either. A big selection of bubbles, half-shell oyster specials and a wonderful outdoor dining deck add to the fun. 1801 N. Shepherd; 713-955-4765; laluchatx.com 12. KAU BA SAIGON KITCHEN & BAR You might have seen chef Nikki Tran in the Houston episode of Dave Changs Netflix series, Ugly Delicious. She was cooking her own quirky Viejun food in Saigon, but now shes back in her former hometown with a highly personal take on Vietnamese cuisine spliced with Cajun ideas. Her menu is unlike any Vietnamese menu in town, with its fresh, kaleidoscopic salads and a wild combo platter, the French Invasion, that highlights the chefs marvelous gift for sauces. I could eat her shrimp and pork dumplings every day; when a server attempted to remove the dish of vinegar-sesame-chile dip, I practically broke his arm. Fresh, fun cocktails and mocktails are an added attraction. Im told some Vietnamese customers have found the food weird. To which I say, yes, thats the point. 2502 Dunlavy, Suite B; 713-497-5300; kaubakitchen.com Alison Cook is the Chronicle's James Beard Award-winning restaurant critic. Follow her on Twitter, and keep up with Houston's latest dining and drinking news and reviews by subscribing to our free Flavor newsletter. Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. Daisy Martinez savored the short walk across the polished wood floor to receive her graduation certificate. It had taken the petite 33-year-old a long time to get to to that joyful moment, with months of intensive rehabilitation, court appointments, supervision and strict sobriety. I feel alive, Martinez said. Im sober now, and Im thankful for that. Her graduation along with 38 others recently from the countys SOBER program was the latest for a program that has grown steadily over the last decade, as Harris County and the surrounding region continues to grapple with impaired driving crashes. A Houston Chronicle analysis of federal highway data found impaired drivers across the Houston region have killed more motorists and pedestrians the last 16 years than any other major metropolitan area in the country. Public safety advocates credit the diversion court with reducing recidivism by as much 60 percent among its participants, who are repeat offenders or struggle with serious substance abuse issues. But while Harris County and some neighboring counties have won praise for their SOBER courts, criminal justice reform advocates and proponents for the courts say critical gaps across the region hobble efforts to rein in the areas most dangerous drivers. Of the nine-county region, only Brazoria County has DWI court programs for those charged with felony and misdemeanor DWIs. Four neighboring counties Chambers, Liberty, Austin and Waller lack registered DWI court programs of any kind, according to the National Center for DWI Courts. So often, because of the inherent dangerous of impaired driving, our response has been lock them up, said Jim Eberspacher, with the National Center for DWI Courts. The problem with that is youre probably not going to lock them up forever, so what do you do with them? What do you have in your community thats available [for treatment]? If its not in a DWI court, our argument is you dont have anything responsive to a level of behavior that theyre displaying over and over. Harris County probation officers monitor 10,000 defendants charged with drunk driving at any given time, forcing specialty courts to target the most dangerous and difficult cases, according to Dr. Teresa May, director of Harris Countys Community Supervision and Corrections Department and a clinical psychologist. By definition [they] have many more needs, she said, of SOBER court participants. Theyre more likely to have drug or alcohol problems, theyre more likely to have second DWIs, and more likely to be at risk for drinking and driving and needing closer intervention and supervision. In Harris County, the Dec. 10 celebration was a bittersweet moment for Harris County Criminal at Law #11 Judge Diane Bull, who helped start Harris Countys SOBER Court program back in 2008. The graduation would be the last before her retirement. Her attitude toward drunk drivers changed sharply after being elected to her judgeship. At first, the former prosecutor said she was president of the lock-them-up club. Incarceration felt like the right thing to do, she said. We were the deadliest county in America, and [had] really terrible problems. Then she started noticing the same defendants appearing in court over and over. Clearly, what we were doing wasnt working, she said. They were going to jail and coming out just as sick as when they went in. In the years since its inception, the Harris County program has grown to five misdemeanor courts, with anywhere from 150 to 160 participants at any given time. According to county data, 884 defendants have gone (or are going) through the program; 640 have completed it successfully. Across Texas, there are 31 other courts, according to a spokesman for Gov. Greg Abbott. Although Bull and the other four SOBER court judges are leaving office later this year, county officials say incoming judges have agreed to continue the SOBER courts. At the recent graduation in the polished First Court of Appeals courtroom in downtown Houston, participants spoke of lives regained, improved relationships, productive days spent in jobs. On the courthouse walls, participants had also hung artwork completed during their program classes. At the graduation, a slideshow compared graduates booking photos to images of them now sober and spending time with family and friends. I will not let alcohol wash my future down the drain, one poet wrote. Martinez, the 33-year-old, entered the program after her second DWI arrest, in January of 2017 which followed an earlier one dating back to July 2016. She and others had to submit to random home visits from Harris County sheriffs deputies, routine breathalyzer tests and community service, and attend treatment sessions and regular court appointments. She confronted her alcohol use and built a community of friends who supported her. They call themselves the Sober Sisters, and have playdates on weekends for their children. Its an everyday challenge, said Martinez. You just have to remind yourself what you went through, where you were at. I dont want to be in jail. Latino music rang out in front of Country Club Village Apartments in southwest Houston on Christmas, and the scents of melted wood and plastic mixed with that of tamales roasting on a grill at the fire-damaged apartment complex residents could not let Sunday nights tragedy completely overshadow their Christmas tamale tradition. But a burnt smell still lingered in the air close to buildings four and three, which were destroyed in the heavy fire, subduing the festive spirit. About 40 adults and children watched as arson investigators filtered in and out of the buildings to determine the cause of the fatal fire. Mario Gallegos, a public information officer with the Houston Fire Department, said about six apartments were destroyed while nearly 60 residents were affected by smoke and electrical damage. More than a year ago, Texas Democrats sized up the states 36 congressional districts and decided to make an ambitious play: They would contest every district, even deeply conservative ones the party usually did not bother to target. Though in some respects a symbolic gesture seven Republicans won by more than 40 points Democrats enthusiasm in the face of long odds produced a handful of closer-than-usual Republican wins, setting up in 2020 what should be Texas most competitive map in years. Among the typically deep-red districts that came down to single digits were three races around Harris County. Incumbent Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, won by margins of 4.3 and 4.9 percentage points in Texas heavily gerrymandered 10th and 22nd Congressional Districts. Rep.-elect Dan Crenshaw, R-Spring, won by more than 7 points an open race for the 2nd Congressional District, one also drawn to elect Republicans. In recent elections, the districts had gone to Republicans by no fewer than 19 percentage points, with margins as high as 38 points. Now, as they parse the results and consider what comes next, Democrats in these races must grapple with important questions. Did they come close because of a boost from Democrat Beto ORourkes Senate bid and anger among voters prodded to the polls by President Donald Trump, or did they offer a preview of what is to come? Is a 40-something percent result the ceiling, and if not, where might they find more votes? All three losing Democrats Todd Litton, Mike Siegel and Sri Preston Kulkarni said they may take another swing at the districts in 2020, when Trump could appear atop the ballot and galvanize even more voters than in 2018. I think it is likely that I will run again, said Siegel, who challenged McCaul. I would like to know if I can win when everything lines up, when I raise more money, when I have a campaign that's not just clicking at the end, but is clicking over a longer period of time, when I get more institutional support. If anything, Democrats who ran campaigns once considered suicide missions have laid the groundwork for future candidates, replacing flimsy election data with insights into where well-funded and viable candidates can compete. ELECTION CENTRAL: News and analysis from the 2018 elections Based purely on prior results, the three seats appeared out of reach for Democrats this year. Mitt Romney won all three districts by at least 20 points, and two years later Gov. Greg Abbott carried each by more than 18 points. Donald Trump won each district by only a high-single-digit margin, but McCaul, Olson and retiring Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, vastly outperformed him. Already, the 10th and 22nd Congressional Districts appear as Lean Republican seats on the nonpartisan Cook Political Reports 2020 House forecast. The real question is, how do we compete and win in 2020 and beyond in these districts? What kind of Republican Party are we going to be? said Brendan Steinhauser, a campaign strategist for Crenshaw and McCaul. I really thought, going into the election, this would be a right-left turnout election. Are we now heading to a place where there are swing voters, Beto-(Gov. Greg) Abbott, Beto-Crenshaw voters? CD 2: Crenshaw v Litton Litton, the Democrat who challenged Crenshaw for Poes seat, was bullish on his chances even before the incumbent retired. He had outraised Poe and saw a chance to turn out more of the 2nd Congressional Districts diversifying population and large number of college-educated suburban voters, a demographic that turned sharply away from Republicans this year. The district wraps around Harris County like a horseshoe: It starts in deep-blue pockets in Montrose, curls up through Memorial Park and Addicks Reservoir, past U.S. 290 and Willowbrook to Klein, then hooks east, taking in the countys bright-red north suburbs, Spring, Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita. Crenshaw survived a grueling Republican primary, reaching a runoff by 155 votes that he would go on to easily win. Litton, facing a less competitive field, had more cash than Crenshaw early on, but he ultimately lost the election by about 7 percentage points. CLASS ACT: SNL comedian gets support from an unlikely friend Litton acknowledged he was unlucky to draw an opponent as tough as Crenshaw, saying the former Navy SEAL was not your standard first-time candidate. For now, the defeated Democrat plans to see how Crenshaws first term goes, and decide later if he wants to run. Id consider it. I dont know that Im going to do it, said Litton, who directed an education nonprofit before seeking office. Well see how Dan does and what he says. The newly elected Republican has become something of a rising star in the party, gaining recognition for his response to a Saturday Night Live joke about his eyepatch, which he wears over the eye he lost in combat. Though Littons chances may look better during a presidential year, he still would have to overcome a math problem that has plagued Houston Democrats for years: Republicans simply outnumber Democrats in the district, thanks in particular to the ultra-conservative northeast portion around Lake Houston. The margin appears far closer than it once was. ORourke lost the district to Sen. Ted Cruz by 1.2 percentage points, running about 6 points ahead of Litton. ORourke and Crenshaw, a tea party Republican, jointly carried a handful of precincts near Jersey Village and Spring Valley. Dan definitely had some crossover appeal, Steinhauser said. He went out to bars and restaurants and brewpubs and campaigned to millennials. He worked inside the loop a lot. He went on offense a lot, more than many other Republicans did. Though the districts most liberal enclaves turned out slightly more than they did in 2016, the reddest areas still far outpaced the bluest in raw turnout. For all the attention he received after SNL, Crenshaw would have won without it: He outpaced Litton by an insurmountable 13,000 votes in absentee and early voting, which ended the Friday before the SNL skit. Matt Dempsey CD 10: McCaul v Siegel Election night gave McCaul his biggest scare since 2004, the year he first ran for Congress and narrowly made a Republican primary runoff. When it all shook out, the longtime Republican legislator had made up a massive deficit in Travis County where he drew only 27 percent of the vote by winning 63 percent in Harris County and 70 percent in the districts remaining seven counties. Still, it was the narrowest re-election win of McCauls career: about a 13,000-vote margin, out of nearly 308,000 votes cast. Texas 10th Congressional District covers much of the rural area between Travis and Harris counties, stretching across nine counties from Katy and Cypress all the way through downtown Austin to Lake Travis. It is one of four GOP-held districts dividing up deep-blue Travis County, the only county Siegel won. Compared to McCauls 2016 race, turnout this year grew by more than 3,400 votes in Travis County, where McCauls support fell by about eight percentage points. In the remaining eight counties, turnout fell by 8,200 votes from two years ago, and McCauls support dropped from 70 percent to 65 percent. All told, McCaul lost ground in every county from 2016, though his support dipped by fewer than two percentage points in Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lee and Washington counties all areas where Siegel failed to break even 23 percent. From the beginning, Siegel said, the race was an uphill climb because of the skepticism he faced about his odds. When I was meeting with folks, whether it was the county party in Harris County or major unions, people liked me, they liked what I was standing for, but they didn't really believe that the race was in play, Siegel said. Though Siegel appeared to run a more robust campaign than McCauls previous opponent, perennial challenger and Siegel primary opponent Tawana Cadien, Steinhauser saw the close result as a special situation fueled mainly by the influence of ORourke and straight-ticket voting. He said few voters in the district knew about Siegel, according to campaign polling. We were definitely prepared for straight-ticket voting to have a big impact on the race, he said. Thats why we ran the most intense campaign for McCaul in many cycles. We did these things with the expectation that Beto was going to lift all Democratic boats. Siegel acknowledged ORourkes influence on his race, but that did not dissuade him from considering another challenge especially with ORourke possibly appearing on the ballot again. The Senate hopeful won the district by about two-tenths of a percent, perhaps indicating the district is winnable for a Democrat during a presidential cycle. I think we certainly left opportunities on the table, doors we didn't knock on, towns where, if we had gotten there earlier, we could have established a stronger presence, places where we could register more voters or get higher turnout, Siegel said, adding that some people told him after the election it was always going to take two cycles to win. Though McCaul blew out Siegel in the seven counties between Harris and Travis, it was Harris County that delivered a crushing blow. McCaul beat Siegel there by about 31,000 votes, nearly the same margin as the other seven Republican counties combined. Siegel won Travis County, where he is an Austin assistant city attorney, by 50,000 votes. One reason for Democratic optimism, Siegel said, is the changing nature of Bastrop and Waller counties, located next to Travis and Harris, respectively. Two years ago, McCaul won Bastrop and Waller by 22 and 32 percentage points, respectively, while this year the margin was 11 and 25 points. Siegel also drew 36 percent of the vote in Harris County, about 7 points ahead of Cadien in 2016. Matt Dempsey CD 22: Olson v Kulkarni The 22nd Congressional District, once represented by redistricting architect and House Majority Leader Tom Delay, regularly has voted for top-of-the-ticket Republicans by more than 25 points, and Olson first elected in 2008 never faced a serious re-election challenge until 2018. Putting the district in play, Kulkarni believed, was Fort Bend Countys fast-growing and highly diverse population, a natural target for the former State Department foreign service officer who speaks six languages and would hire campaign staffers who spoke even more. Olson never had won a general election by fewer than 19 points his margin in 2016 but several trends gave Kulkarni reason to contest the district. Notably, it shifted 17.5 points in favor of Democrats from the 2012 to 2016 presidential election, the fourth most dramatic change in the country. Kulkarnis preliminary data also found that both parties had ignored major swaths of the district. In particular, Asian residents make up about 20 percent of the districts population, far more than any other Texas congressional district, but Kulkarni found that three-quarters of Asian voters had not been contacted by any political party. Kulkarnis efforts hinged on turning out the scores of college-educated immigrants who moved to the district during the last several years. He ultimately lost by 4.9 percentage points, a result he attributes partly to not reaching enough Hispanic voters. He did not rule out giving it another shot in 2020. If I'm the best candidate, I'll run again, Kulkarni said. I don't want to throw away all the hard work that we did in organizing here, because going from 19 points two years ago or 34 points four years ago, to 4.9 there's obviously a change going on in terms of who's participating. Olson, who did not respond to a request for comment, received a wave of support in Fort Bends outlying western and southern areas, running up the score there and in parts of Brazoria County to offset Kulkarnis totals in Sugar Land, Fresno and the Brazoria suburbs west of SH 288. Olson won by wide margins, too, in suburbs north and east of Rosenberg, such as Pecan Grove. Kulkarni also faced structural challenges in the districts makeup: Notably, the 9th Congressional District cuts two bite-sized chunks out of Fort Bend County in ultra-liberal areas in Mission Bend, and, farther south, Missouri City. Still, the result was stunningly narrow for a midterm-year election. Cruz won the district by about six-tenths of a percent, meaning ORourkes margin was about 4.2 percentage points better than Kulkarnis. Compared to 2016, Olsons margin of victory fell by 15 percent in Fort Bend County, 13 percent in Brazoria County and 10 percent in Harris County. If we keep doing what we're supposed to be doing and including more people in the political process, I don't see how this district doesn't go blue, Kulkarni said. Particularly in District 10 and 22, Republicans will need to change how they campaign if they are to retain the seats in 2020, said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones. It was a wake-up call for a large number of Republicans across the state, Jones said of the closer-than-expected results. The old days of them effectively being able to ignore the general election, and essentially just go about their business as if there was no real need to campaign those days are over. Matt Dempsey Staff writer Matt Dempsey contributed to this report. jasper.scherer@chron.com twitter.com/jaspscherer The cannabis drug arrived at the Lindeen household in a UPS shipping box marked critical. Piper and Brian Lindeen had been monitoring news of Epidiolex for months. The drug meant another chance at treating their 10-year-old son Zachs ongoing seizures, and a possibility for broader medical cannabis access in Texas. The cannabidiol, or CBD, made by the British company GW Pharmaceuticals, aims to treat epileptic seizures of patients with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Successful clinical trials, including some with Texas patients, helped Epidiolex become the first CBD medication to gain approval earlier this year from both the Food and Drug Administration as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration. Prescriptions for the drug became available in the United States last month. Currently the only two legal options to get medical cannabis in Texas are through the limited state registry, known as the Compassionate Use Program, and from prescription Epidiolex. Marijuana advocates, including the Lindeens in Sugar Land, hope Epidiolexs federal approval could sway any state legislators wary of expanding legal access to medical cannabis. Several marijuana-related bills were filed for the next legislative session. State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, authored Senate Bill 90 for expanding the state medical cannabis program, which formally kicked off this year. He believes the research that went into the development of Epidiolex, and which helped the drug gain federal approval, could be key to pushing his bill and similar ones next year. Im going to use any and every tool possible, Menendez said. Yet advocates are also concerned that so much pressure on Epidiolex may backfire if the drug ultimately fails to generate enough positive results. As the Lindeens have learned through years of treating Zach, what may work for one patient doesnt work for all. [Epidiolex] is something thats standardized and reproducible and some people do well with that, Piper Lindeen said, but some people need variability. A sense of hope Zach has been prescribed at least eight different pharmaceuticals for the seizures that began when he was about 3 and half years old. Theyve each worked in varying degrees, but have also left concerning side effects including the risk of losing speech and noticeable aggression. He punched the end of his bed one time, Brian Lindeen said of his son. I had never seen him so angry. It wasnt until Zach began taking medical cannabis this year from a dispensary in Austin that the Lindeens began to feel a sense of hope. Zach managed to go seizure free for about six months the longest stretch the Lindeens had ever recorded. Yet in the last few weeks, the seizures returned, about twice a day. By then their neurologist, Dr. Michael Newmark at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, who is registered to prescribe medical cannabis through the state registry, suggested the Lindeens consider Epidiolex as a treatment for Zachs Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. There was some initial research required, not just of the drugs clinical test results, but also of its cost. Earlier this year GW Pharmaceuticals listed the drugs weighted average price at $32,500 for the first year of use. For some patients Medicare and Medicaid may cover the cost, but Stephen Schultz, the companys vice president of investor relations, noted that most patients will rely on a number of private insurance options to make the drug more affordable. In the case of the Lindeens, a recent switch to a new insurance plan brought their first prescription co-pay to about $160, which was ultimately covered by co-pay assistance. Theyve been paying about $500 a month out-of-pocket for medical cannabis from the state-licensed dispensary, Compassionate Cultivation. In the case of Cindy Welch in College Station, the out-of-pocket cost for Epidiolex for her 1-year-old granddaughter on Medicaid comes to about $1,500 a month. They currently pay about $380 a month to Compassionate Cultivation. If it hadnt been for the dispensary, Welch said, her family would have had to move to Colorado to get medical access. Morris Denton, the dispensary CEO, said hes already lost patients like the Lindeens whose insurance makes Epidiolex a more affordable medical cannabis option than his product, which cannot be covered by any insurance. Yet there are several more who must still check to see if their insurers cover Epidiolex. Time will tell whether the new federally approved drug negatively impacts business at the states three existing dispensaries, Denton added. Epidiolex doesnt contain the THC chemical compound allowed at the state dispensaries which can better help some patients than CBD alone. Its ultimately a good thing to have choice, Denton said. More options needed Choice has been a main driver behind Piper Lindeens advocacy for marijuana legalization. Treating epilepsy can at times feel like a guessing game, switching medications and doses in and out to find the best fit, she said. Pharmaceutical options are known to carry harsh side effects and patients can experience physical withdrawals when transitioning between brands. Anecdotally, no such withdrawals have been reported among patients in legal states switching between cannabis options, Lindeen added. But she remains frustrated at only having two medical cannabis options in Texas. We really need a wide variety of therapeutics, Lindeen said. Newmark said in an email that he hopes Epidiolex will reduce the number of Zachs seizures substantially. The neurologists only concern is a bit of sedation the boy may experience. I firmly believe that as more knowledge is obtained about the use of these compounds that there will be much greater acceptance in the future, Newmark added. Texas will be unlikely to go against the trend. ileana.najarro@chron.com twitter.com/IleanaNajarro Judge Marc Carter, who presided over a felony court for 15 years before losing in Novembers midterm election, choked up as he talked about signing death warrants, the legal instrument that directs the state to execute a condemned person. The mental torment that I went though in that experience is unlike anything Ive ever imagined. Youre never prepared for that, said the judge, who is also a former soldier. Its a sick feeling. And its one of the things that the job requires. Carter wonders if those types of critical decisions were contemplated by the Democratic candidates who cleared Harris Countys courtrooms of all Republican judges59 courts including civil, criminal, family, juvenile and probate, and the county judge post. Others expressed concern the new judges will be too lenient with violent criminals, freeing them from jail and allowing them to enroll in diversionary programs to avoid a conviction on their records. I guess the question is: Is that something that the new judges have considered and are willing to own, if they should have to, Carter said of signing a death warrant. Because its the most hollow feeling and its something that theyre most likely to spend the rest of their life asking for forgiveness for. Other departing GOP judges were markedly pessimistic about the new judges set to swarm the courthouse after New Years Day. On the job training Some people know nothing about what theyve signed up for. It will be kindergarten, said Jim Wallace, a Republican judge who is retiring at the end of the year and did not run for re-election. It will be like going to school and learning how to do your job. On the job training for a job that should require quite a bit of experience. The consensus since Election Day on Nov. 6 has been that some excellent judgesand some bad oneswere ousted. Carters name always comes up when courthouse observers talk about good judges who were swept out. Usually appearing in bespoke suits and a bowtie, the debonair jurist and former Army military intelligence officer established the first Veterans Court in Texas, and is a favorite of lawyers on both sides of the courtroom for his fairness and sunny disposition. During the campaign before the November midterm election, Carter won the support of the AFL-CIO as well as the police unions and was endorsed by the Chronicle. He will be replaced on the bench by Frank Aguilar, a Democratic candidate who raised no money, spent no money, did not meet with anyone for their endorsement and didnt even have a campaign website. He ran the smartest campaign of anybody, Carter said. He didnt spend any money. He didnt take any money from his friends. He knew that it was going to be the result of one party or another winning. Aguilar confirmed that he didnt spend any money to campaign, but notes he has more than three decades of criminal law experience and expects to be a exemplary judge. Ive been practicing for 33 years. I was a prosecutor for five years. I was a magistrate for four years. Ive defended in state courts and federal courts. Ive appealed cases all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. Im an extremely experienced person. Aguilar said he refused to respond to reporters or make public appearances during the campaign because news reports about his 2010 arrest on an assault charge never reflected that he took the case to trial and was acquitted. They never bother to mention that I went through a jury trial and was found not guilty, he said. The Chronicle has always been unfair about what they had to say about me. Aguilar said some of his Democratic colleagues may not have a lot of judicial experience, but most have had long careers as lawyers and have the experience they need to improve the system. A little more fairness That sentiment has been a constant among the new Democrat judges. In the days after the election, Dedra Davis, who was elected to civil bench, said the new judges would be using a wheel to appoint attorneys at random instead of continuing a system of judges appointing a small roster of attorneys they know. A little more fairness, a little more impartiality, and a little more equality is coming, and not everybodys happy about that, she said. Lawyers who made $500,000 a year from their relationship with a judge who always gave them appointments arent going to see that anymore. In the days after the election, attorneys who had been elevated to the bench were busy winding up their practices while judges who lost were looking at their options. Josh Hill, a newly elected Democrat criminal court judge, said there is a learning curve in any new job. He expects some hiccups and speedbumps around the courts, but said he and the other new judges are fair and will work hard to improve the system. I dont have any reason to think that any of the incoming judges will be incapable of handling the task. I think theyll do fine, he said. Ultimately, youre going to see a more progressive criminal justice system. Hill noted that some of the departing judges came to work late and did not seem to be diligent about getting things done with their dockets. He said practical experience and a strong work ethic are more important than the belief that judges are somehow better qualified just because theyve been on the bench longer. Some of them did a great job and some did a terrible job and some were just in-between, he said. It just comes down to the individual and what theyre willing to put into it and how hard theyre willing to work. Hill beat Kristin Guiney, another well-respected GOP judge, who was appointed to a criminal courts judgeship by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year after losing her seat in a different court in the 2016 elections. Hill, a board-certified criminal defense attorney, said Guiney was a highly-regarded lawyer and judge who was appointed to the open judicial seat after he announced his candidacy. I didnt run specifically against her, he said. I threw my hat into the ring and after that the governor appointed her. Guiney declined to comment for this story. Changes coming? Some of the changes promised during the campaign include reforms of the criminal justice system and the likely end of the countys bail lawsuit, which could translate into approval of more personal recognizance bonds, or free bail, for many more suspects. That has traditionally worried law enforcement, but Houston Police Union President Joe Gamaldi said the organization is taking a wait and see approach. Well have a better idea once we get a few months into the new year, but of course, were concerned. We had a lot of experienced judges who were removed in one fell swoop, Gamaldi said. Absolutely, were going to watch what this looks like in the first few months of the year. He said law enforcement is worried about bonds being set too low, suspects getting bonds even after being arrested while free on bond, and guilty criminals getting deferred adjudication, which is a form of probation that allows people who successfully complete it to get the offense off their record. Others in the criminal justice courthouse say the new judges will rise to the task. JoAnne Musick , felony division chief at the Harris County District Attorneys Office, said new judges are elected every other year and they all seem to learn the job. It takes them four to six weeks to get their feet wet and then theyre off and running, she said. Many criminal defense attorneys agreed. Ive seen so many transitions and everybody figures it out. Its going to be fine, said Cheryl Irvin, a longtime criminal defense lawyer who has practiced since 1980. Nobodys going home who should be going to prison. Nothing like that is happening and anybody who says anything like that is just immature. Partisan jurists Similarly, those familiar with the family courts said the system is cyclical. Greg Enos, a well-known family attorney and author of the legal newsletter The Mongoose, said he will miss some of the ousted family court judges but is optimistic that the new replacements will take the job seriously. Individually, he said, judges can go from inexperienced novice to well-regarded jurist. They can also fall from being a well-respected legal scholar to a blatantly political operative. Im old enough to remember in the early 1990s when all the Democrats got swept out, and everyone thought it was the end of the world, but it was the best thing ever, he said. We got all these new judges who were interested in the law and doing what was best for kids. For awhile, it was a great thing, but once they had been in power for two or three or four terms, some of them turned out to be players in political system. Texas is one of the few states that has partisan judicial elections, and Enos, and others, said it is something the legislature needs to change. In a big county like Harris County, electing judges is about the stupidest way you could select judges, he said. Im a lawyer and I dont know who the good criminal or probate or civil judges are. I just know the family court judges, Enos said. So how could any other citizen possibly know whos a good or bad judge? Sitting in his running gear at a coffee shop in the Heights earlier this month, Carter was optimistic about incoming state District Judge George Powell taking over the Veterans Court It was built and designed to function even if Im not there, he said. So the same support systems are still in place. The only thing that has changed is the judge. He was also excited about his own future in private practice. I feel like I still have too much gas in the tank to just retire and be a visiting judge. Students who receive special education services in Texas are more likely to be given some of the harshest punishments in schools, according to an analysis of Texas Education Agency data. Since the 2013-2014 school year, special education students statewide were sent to alternative education programs run by local juvenile justice systems at the highest rates of any student sub-group, and the second most likely to be sent to disciplinary alternative education programs, which are not directly affiliated with juvenile courts. Across three other types of discipline tracked by the TEA including expulsions, out-of-school suspensions and in-school suspensions special education students across Texas were punished at the second highest rates of any student subgroup, behind only African-American students. About 9.8 percent of Texas students were listed as special education in 2016-2017, but 18.4 percent of students sent to alternative schools run by local juvenile justice departments that school year were in special education. They accounted for about 17.7 percent of students placed on out-of-school suspension and 16.3 percent of students sent to district-run disciplinary schools. In TEAs Region 4, which encompasses most of greater Houston, 9,904, or about 8.9 percent of all special education students were placed on out-of-school suspension in the 2016-2017 school year, according to agency data. More than 13.4 percent, or 14,970 special education students, were placed on in-school suspensions, and nearly 2 percent were sent to disciplinary alternative schools for misbehavior. By contrast, across all student groups, about 7.8 percent of students in Region 4 and 8.7 percent of students statewide were placed on in-school suspensions; fewer than 1 percent in the region and statewide were placed in disciplinary alternative education programs. Sarah Beebe, a supervising attorney with Disability Rights with the Disability Rights Texas advocacy group, said she is not surprised by the disproportionate rates at which disabled students are punished, but is disheartened by the statistics. I dont want to see that number, but I think speaks to the misunderstanding of disabilities in general and how behavior manifests itself, she said. Disproportionately punished TEA Spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said the agency is aware of disproportionate rates of punishment for special education students and is working to address the issue. The TEA has a number of ongoing initiatives that are focused on ensuring students are not subject to practices that lead to disproportionate representation in special education and/or disciplinary placements, she said in a statement. One of those initiatives is a monitoring system that will show how disproportionately each district disciplines students of different racial and educational backgrounds, although that system is still being developed. The agency also hopes to unveil a self-assessment tool for districts to identify and monitor how they dole out discipline in real time, a tool that will be tied to TEA support systems and guidance. Still, Henry Gonzales, who serves as the new executive director of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, said his staff regularly encounters students with diagnosed and undiagnosed disabilities. He said when he was a probation officer, he would ask students to read to him in an effort to gauge their abilities. Many could not. Unfortunately, it wasnt surprising to find a lot of these kids werent at the level they should be and that some of these kids, perhaps, werent identified as special education, Gonzales said. There are a lot of times we find these kids cant read. Texas is far from the only state that disproportionately sends its students with disabilities into the juvenile justice system, but the numbers are hard to measure, according to Meghan Burke, an associate professor of special education at the University of Illinois who has studied education advocacy in the juvenile justice system. Estimates for the percentage of disabled youth in juvenile justice systems nationally ranges from 9 percent to 77 percent, with most studies putting the number closer to about 33 percent, Burke said. The estimates can vary widely the only agreement is that theyre disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system, Burke said. For why thats happening, it could be several things, but we dont really know why. There are some theories. For example, students born into poverty are more likely to be disabled developmentally and physically and more likely to come in contact with the juvenile justice system. Students with some mental disorders struggle with appropriate decision making and may be taken advantage of by trouble-makers. Additionally, disabled students often struggle to get services that best suit their needs, or to receive special education services at all, said Olivia McGill, assistant deputy director of health services for the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. That can lead to outbursts in class. Imagine asking a ninth grader, McGill said, who reads at a second-grade level, to read paragraphs from a novel aloud in front of a class of peers. Instead of floundering at the task, they may instead flip a desk in order to be sent home and avoid the potential embarrassment all together. The Juvenile Probation Department often finds students who fell through the cracks by testing their reading skills, IQs and giving them clinical reviews, according to McGill. Students flagged as having potential issues may undergo psychiatric, substance abuse and other screenings and, for the first time in some cases, receive a diagnosis. Were able to take that information to the school district and say Hey, we know you didnt ID this kid as special education, but we found some issues that perhaps you should be aware of, McGill said. Its in the hopes that identifying those needs will help divert the kid from going deeper into our system. Researchers and those who work within the juvenile justice system agree that one of the best ways to prevent students of all abilities from getting into more trouble is by helping them to succeed in school. That can be difficult for students with disabilities and their parents, who must navigate an alphabet-soup of terminology and services. The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department is trying to make the process easier for families through a new partnership with Disability Rights Texas. The department pays the nonprofit advocacy organization to provide advocates and an attorney to students returning to their local schools. Such partnerships are almost unheard of elsewhere in the country, Burke said, although some advocates volunteer in juvenile justice departments in places like Chicago and San Antonio to offer assistance. Getting to graduation Toscha Thomas thought she had hit another wall when her son, Trevon, was arrested and placed on probation during his sophomore year. He always had some difficulty in school, but his problems intensified when he transferred high schools in north Houston. Although the teen has been diagnosed as bipolar, with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and emotional disturbance and bipolar 1 with episodes of mania and impulsiveness, his family said he did better when given the opportunity to learn alongside non-disabled students. When teachers instead put him in a special-education only classroom at his new school, he grew more withdrawn and obstinate. He would argue with teachers, cut lines for breakfast, and pick fights with fellow students. Eventually, his behavior escalated to the point of arrest. Trevon and Thomas did not want to specify the charges, saying the family wants to move on. Thomas spent years as Trevons advocate and developed relationships with his schools counselors and the districts special education director. Despite her efforts, she said, she still found it difficult to understand the services district officials insisted Trevon receive and how to tell them what he needed, particularly after his arrest. I tried and I tried and I tried, and I felt like doors were getting shut. I wouldnt go away, but I felt like I just kept hitting a wall, she said. That changed when Trevons case came to Danielle Jacksons attention. The education specialist with Disability Rights Texas served as a special education diagnostician in Aldine ISD for 23 years and is well versed in the jargon and acronyms school leaders use in connection with special education services. Jackson said her supervisor required just one thing from the family: a high school diploma. About a year and a half later, Trevon invited Jackson to watch him walk across the stage in his cap and gown. Now, the 18-year-old is working at Walmart to save up funds to go to trade school or a culinary college, which he hopes to begin within the coming year. He has not been in serious trouble since his arrest. I think I would have graduated, but I wouldnt exactly say Id be where Im at without Ms. Jackson, Trevon said. There wasnt a week where she didnt get at least three phone calls on three different occasions, but she was there every single time answering the phone. I expected her to get tired and give up, but no. She was there every step of the way. shelby.webb@chron.com twitter.com/shelbywebb If the United States is to avoid a Space Pearl Harbor, it needs to take seriously the possibility of an attack on U.S. space systems. This was the dramatic warning issued just before the inauguration of a Republican administration, but not the current one. The Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization issued its call nearly 18 years ago, in January 2001. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld led the commission, which warned the nations leaders that the American military was heavily dependent on satellites and other space assets, that this dependence was growing, and that it was a serious vulnerability. While we were battling low-tech insurgents and terrorists, Russia, China and others developed systems aimed at disabling or destroying the space capabilities that are so critical to American military superiority. This Achilles heel has been glaringly obvious for a long time. What have we done about it? Not enough. The Trump administration and some in Congress deserve credit for recognizing this and seeking solutions. The president first directed the Department of Defense to establish a new unified combatant command for space. This makes sense. Then, it was reported that the administration will also submit a proposal to Congress to create a new military service the Space Force. This makes less sense. A better approach would be to give the new multi-service command special authorities. And while organizational change can help, fully addressing the problem will require a comprehensive approach. Some point out that the Air Force has not given space enough attention and effort. Its true but exactly why is a matter of dispute. It may be due to lack of sufficient funding, or maybe it was the excessive focus on the wars in the Middle East, or maybe it was because the space mission does not fit the Air Forces culture and image. Poetically enough, the Air Force itself began inside the Army, and its independence resulted from a sense that its mission could not be left to ground-pounding soldiers who did not prioritize the air mission. But that was the 1940s. We have learned a few things since then. In the 1980s, many worried that the military services did not give sufficient attention to special operations forces. Then, as now, analysts mooted the idea of a new military service. But instead, the Nunn-Cohen Act of 1987 directed the Defense Department to establish a unified combatant command for special operations, much like the space command the administration has just announced. But Special Operations Command, known as SOCOM, was unique from the start: The law gave it a budget and acquisition authority. Normally, the military services recruit, train and equip forces, and the unified commanders employ them. But SOCOMs authorities allowed it to do both. Although a new space force will face opposition in Congress, requesting SOCOM-like authorities for the new space command might be more palatable. It might also cost less in new bureaucratic structures and is less likely to provoke unproductive competition for resources among the military services. Of course, both of these options assume that organizational change is the answer. But enhancing the nations military space capabilities will require a variety of other measures. The Trump administration will establish a Space Development Agency for rapid procurement of new capabilities, which could help. But we will have to address the full space eco-system to effect change, including promoting space innovation by funding educational initiatives and external research, reprioritizing the activities of internal research agencies, developing new operational concepts, devising ways to mitigate the loss of space assets, and recruiting new kinds of civilian and military personnel, among other things. President Donald Trumps attention to the issue is a good first step. What seems clear is that we cannot afford to dither for another two decades. The nations adversaries are moving quickly to blunt American military superiority, and our space assets are tempting targets. Rumsfeld could be forgiven for saying he told us so, or in his words, this a known known! Gventer is the associate director of the Clements Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense. Scientists have developed a way to prevent 5 percent of all cancers with little more than two shots. It is called the human papillomavirus vaccine, and in 2006 the Food and Drug Administration approved it for use. The following year, Australia was one of the first countries to introduce a national HPV vaccination program. The nation dedicated itself to preventing cervical cancer associated with the virus. It worked. A study published in October 2018 estimated that, as a result of high rates of vaccination and screening, Australia will nearly eliminate cervical cancer by 2028. It is time for the United States, and especially Texas, to use the Australian experience as a roadmap to potentially prevent and eliminate cervical cancer. To grasp the scope of the problem, it is important to understand that HPV is a group of approximately 200 viruses, several of which are responsible for more than 43,000 cases of cancer this year. More than 80 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and 14 million new infections occur each year. About 45 percent of American adults have been exposed to HPV infections, which cause genital warts. While HPV infections often resolve spontaneously or with therapy after 6 to 9 months, some high-risk HPV strains can cause cancers decades later. The number of HPV-related cancers has increased drastically in the past 15 years, from 30,000 in 1999 to 45,000 in 2015. These high-risk strains cause virtually 100 percent of cervical cancers. More alarming is an almost epidemic rise of HPV-related cancers of the oropharynx the back of the throat, tongue and tonsils. Unfortunately, Texas lacks significant educational policies to encourage and promote the HPV vaccination of children to protect them from the risk of developing HPV-associated cancers later in life. Despite a decade of solid scientific evidence confirming the value and safety of the anti-cancer HPV vaccine, there has been resistance to its broad implementation. This hesitance is mostly driven by three misperceptions: The vaccine may be ineffective; it may promote increased sexual activity; and, it may have serious side effects. Of course, none of these things are true. The prevalence of HPV infections in the United States has fallen significantly since the vaccine was first introduced. There has been a decrease from 12 percent of girls being infected in 2003-2006 to 4 percent in 2009-2012. Clearly the vaccination is working. Furthermore, HPV vaccination and education are not associated with a change in sexual behavior. A study of the school-based state Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System saw no substantive association between HPV legislation and adolescent sexual activities. Finally, an extensive review after the FDA approved the vaccination has not shown any serious risks. Eight years of data have only helped to confirm what doctors already knew preventing HPV prevents cancer. It is a knowledge that needs to be spread in Texas. Our state is ranked 44th for HPV vaccination rates. But things are changing. Since 2011, as knowledge of the anti-cancer benefit of the vaccine has penetrated communities, vaccination rates, especially among boys, have risen rapidly. However, even though the HPV vaccine has been available for a decade, only two states (Virginia and Rhode Island) and the District of Columbia have laws requiring vaccination for school entry. Rhode Island requires all seventh-grade students to be vaccinated. Virginia and the District of Columbia require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated, but allow parents to opt out. Other than the hepatitis B vaccine, which may reduce the incidence of liver cancer, the HPV vaccine, a series of two injections, is the only vaccine that can prevent several types of cancer. This is the best way to protect our children for decades from developing a disease associated with 5 percent of all cancers. The time to act is now. Ramondetta, M.D., is a professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Kantarjian, M.D., is a nonresident fellow in Health Policy at Rice Universitys Baker Institute and is chairman of the Leukemia Department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. AUSTIN, Texas Walking distance from the pink dome of the Texas Capitol building, there were whiskey samples, tamales and Nerf guns. The Virtual Reality crowd talked Augmented Reality. The millennials in YETI shirts and the gray-haired post-hippies in psychedelic vests racked up points in a 3D shootout on Space Pirate Trainer. And then there was Tim Porter, the guy with the hologram-creating Merge Cube. Using an app he developed, Porter pulled out his phone and put his 4-year-old daughters stuffed penguin into the cube, virtually speaking. Austinites have a name for all this: a Tuesday night. It was just another event at the Capital Factory, Austins techie community center and startup hub this time, a virtual reality holiday party. Located in an office and hotel complex downtown, the Capital Factory has helped a number of Austinites quit their day jobs to become tech entrepreneurs. The shared work space features a Star Wars"-themed floor with Luke and Leia restrooms, local craft beer on tap and a conference room hidden, Hardy Boys-style, behind a bookcase that swings open when you press the right book (The Plains of Passage). It doesnt matter what you want to do, there are five Meetups at night that will support it, said Porter, 34, the founder and chief technology officer at Underminer Studios. Its a maker community. IN HOUSTON: New coworking space coming to downtown Houston For decades, Austin was defined by the bureaucracy of state government, the academia of the University of Texas and the funkiness of its hippie-cowboy, Willie Nelson-inspired music and arts scene. Today, the tech culture and economy have transformed Texas capital city and surrounding suburbs, creating jobs, worsening traffic, raising prices and changing the regions politics, tempo and brand. None of this is entirely new people have been calling the Austin areas tech scene Silicon Hills since the late 1980s and early 1990s. But the slogan and the hype have now dramatically caught up. Apples recent announcement that it will build a new $1 billion campus in the Austin area that could eventually employ up to 15,000 people expanding its current 6,000-worker presence and making it the largest private employer in the region has given the citys rapidly expanding tech community a morale boost, a moment in the national spotlight, and also a point of debate. ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN/NYT Apples planned expansion has raised a host of unanswered questions about traffic, gentrification, affordability and competition for jobs. Austin consistently ranks high on the lists of cities with the worst traffic in the United States. And a recent housing market analysis found a shortage of 48,000 rental units affordable to households earning less than $25,000 per year. Supplies for middle-income families are also increasingly strained. I think in the last 10 years, its been a real struggle for Austin to keep its identity and keep its soul, as downtown is being razed and converted into condos and high-rises, and you have people like Google and Facebook and Apple taking over the town with these buildings, said Omar Gallaga, who covered the citys tech culture for the Austin American-Statesman for more than 20 years. If you have all the artists and the creative people that make it interesting move away because they cant afford to live there, then it becomes a different place. Few dispute that tech has turned Austin into one of the most vibrant and distinctive capital cities in the United States. Its other varied cultures music, military, higher-ed, food, politics, journalism, real estate are inseparable from its tech culture. NO IPHONES FOR YOU: Apple pulls iPhone 7, 8 from German stores in patent spat Joseph Kopser, an Austinite who founded and sold a startup called RideScout, made an unsuccessful but attention-grabbing run this year for a seat in Congress. A longtime venture capitalist, John Thornton, was the founder of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, Austin-based digital news organization that has helped transform Texas journalism. The nonprofit Austin Tech Alliance has launched get-out-the-vote efforts and helped city government shift to paperless permitting. One of the citys biggest annual cultural attractions, the South By Southwest festival, is now as much a celebration of tech as it is music and film. ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN/NYT On any given day, some of the states far-right lawmakers may be rubbing elbows downtown with 20-something entrepreneurs headed to work on motorized scooters or perhaps, not long ago, passing by Professor Dumpster, otherwise known as Jeff Wilson, the co-founder of the startup Kasita, who lived in a 33-square-foot dumpster for a year as part of an experiment in minimalist living. Austin is still weird. Its just more wired now, too. We dont want to become Silicon Valley we want to be Austin, said Joshua Baer, founder and chief executive of the Capital Factory, launched in 2009 to mentor, finance and support startups and entrepreneurs. What makes Austin really different, to me, is the culture clash. But its not a clash. Its the culture collaboration. There are now more than 138,000 tech-related jobs in the Austin metropolitan region, about 14 percent of the total jobs in the area. Ray Perryman, an economist in Waco, estimated that the tech sector pumps about $31 billion into the areas overall economy, about 35 percent of the total. It is far from the biggest tech community in the country. In a ranking of the top tech-talent markets by CBRE, a commercial real estate company, Austin came up sixth, behind San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Toronto and New York. But Austins brand as a tech hub rivals that of some of its rivals, including other cities that have a larger tech presence. We punch way above our weight class, said Barbary Brunner, the former chief executive of the Austin Technology Council, which was founded in the early 1990s and functions as the tech communitys chamber of commerce. If youre from outside Austin, you think the tech industry here is huge, supersophisticated, supermature. We dont have the innovation leaders here. We have executors here. 5G LATER: Apple will wait until at least 2020 to release a 5G iPhone The buzz lately does not revolve solely around Apple. A different older global behemoth rarely embraced by hipster tech has become a major player the U.S. Army. Months before Apples announcement, the Army opened a new center in downtown Austin to help modernize its weapons and equipment and to identify, acquire and develop innovative technology. ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN/NYT The Army Futures Command is the only so-called four-star command that is based not on a military installation but in a civilian building, in this case in the heart of the city in a satellite of the University of Texas. The soldiers mostly shun camouflage for button-down shirts and khakis. They have embedded in Austins tech culture, military officials say, to help make the Army smarter and more cutting-edge. The leader of the Army Futures Command, Gen. John M. Murray, a four-star general who also wears casual business attire to work, has been meeting tech entrepreneurs, hanging out at the Capital Factory and recently attended his first Austin hackathon. One of the things that we are working on and we have not solidified yet, this is just still a concept is can the Army work with venture capitalists? Murray said, adding, Ive probably had, in the last couple months, a dozen or a dozen and a half conversations with VCs. For me, its more about understanding, because this is all new to me. So, understanding the world they live in, what their requirements are, how they can help us and how we can help them. One of the first outcomes of the Armys new venture was a mixed success. Murray wanted the Army to work with an Austin-based startup, Senseye, to help reduce the amount of time a pilot spends in training. It did not work out as planned, but the Army found another application for the companys technology. LOCATION: Your apps know where you were last night, and they're sharing The Futures Command will be fully operational in the summer of 2019, and a staff of about 500 will take over two floors of the UT System building. Until then, a subset of the Futures Command called the Army Applications Lab has a team that works out of the Capital Factory. The day after the VR holiday party, Baer and the rest of Capital Factory hosted a visit from one of the Armys top officials, Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army undersecretary. McCarthy told reporters that he felt pretty good about Apples planned expansion, and the Armys expanding role in Austin. I think it just shows the wealth of talent and opportunity that exists here in this city and this state. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Get more tasty tech news at TechBurger. And follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe to the Chronicle for regular access to TechBurger stories and to be able to comment. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Rerouted cruise ship rescues 2 fishermen stranded in the Caribbean December 24,2018 | Source: NPR A serendipitous change of plans could have saved lives in the open ocean. A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, rerouted because of a storm, crossed paths last Friday with two stranded fishermen and sent a small boat to rescue the two men. The fishermen had been adrift for nearly three weeks by the time the Empress of the Seas spotted their signal light, the company says. James Van Fleet, chief meteorologist for Royal Caribbean, described the unlikely rescue in a tweet. "I don't know about you, but I've already seen a Christmas Miracle," he wrote. The Costa Rican fishermen became stranded by accident earlier this month. They fell asleep while soaking their nets, which Van Fleet notes isn't out of the ordinary, and drifted away from their gear. When they tried to return to their belongings, they ran out of gas. "The fishermen told the Empress of the Seas crew they only had enough food and water for seven days," wrote Van Fleet. He writes that the pair floated on the Caribbean for 20 days. The cruise ship that rescued them was originally destined for Cienfuegos, Cuba. But landing in Cienfuegos would have required them to disembark via tenders, small boats that shuttle passengers to land. Concerned about the strong winds, the crew altered its course to a port hundreds of kilometers away in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, where it could dock at a pier. Halfway between Grand Cayman and Jamaica, in the evening, the crew spotted a light off the ship's starboard side. A spokesman for Royal Caribbean tells NPR the ship contacted local search and rescue centers in Grand Cayman and Jamaica, but none were able to help. So the Empress lowered one of its tenders to recover the pair. "One of the fishermen could no longer walk," Van Fleet wrote on Twitter. "Our Empress of the Seas Crew literally carried him to the tender and carried him on board." Medical staff aboard the Empress cared for the fishermen, though Royal Caribbean reports neither was injured. 2018 npr Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Indonesia tsunami: New warning system 'to be built next year' December 25,2018 | Source: BBC News Indonesia says it will build a new warning system capable of detecting tsunamis caused by undersea landslides, days after giant waves triggered by a volcano killed at least 429 people. Installation of the new structure of buoys would start next year, a government agency told the BBC. It is thought that activity by the Anak Krakatau volcano set off undersea landslides, causing Saturday's tsunami. Officials say some 150 people are still missing and 16,000 have been displaced. Rescue workers, helped by heavy lifting equipment, are going from village to village, sifting through the debris looking for survivors in badly hit areas on the islands of Sumatra and Java. The new mechanism would work by detecting the size of waves, Iyan Turyana, a spokesman for the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, told the BBC's Indonesian service. The existing technology failed to predict the tsunami that devastated coastal towns around the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Sumatra and Java. The system has been set up to monitor earthquakes, but not undersea landslides and volcanic eruptions, which can also generate deadly waves. Due to lack of funds, vandalism to the buoys and technical faults, there have been no operational tsunami warning buoys since 2012. But experts say that even if there had been buoys near the volcano, there warning time would have been minimal, given how close Anak Krakatau is to the shoreline. Coastal residents near the volcano have been warned to keep away from beaches amid fears continued volcanic eruptions of Anak Krakatau could trigger a new tsunami. Rescue efforts have been hampered by blocked roads and heavy rain, the BBC's Sameer Hashmi in Banten reports. There are concerns that contaminated water could spread diseases, our correspondent adds. Food, water, blankets and medical aid are slowly reaching remote areas, and thousands of people are in tents and temporary shelters like mosques or schools. "Everybody is still in a state of panic," Atmadja Suhar, official in the city of Labuan, told Reuters news agency. "We often have disasters, but not as bad as this... God willing we will rebuild." 2018 BBC Theme(s): Others. Philippines looking forward to WTO agreement against fishing subsidies by Janina C. Lim and Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio December 25,2018 | Source: BusinessWorld The Philippines is looking forward to a pending World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement to eliminate fisheries subsidies, saying that such a deal would protect the countrys coastal waters from overfishing. As an archipelagic nation, with coastal communities and fisherfolk that rely on marine resources for food and livelihood, it is in the Philippines national interest that multilateral disciplines are in place to curtail fisheries subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing, overcapacity, and overfishing, Ambassador Manuel A.J. Teehankee, Philippine Permanent Representative to the WTO, told BusinessWorld in an e-mail interview. The WTOs goal is to meet the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 14.6 which calls for a prohibition on certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminating subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and refraining from introducing new such subsidies, by 2020. Target 14.6 also recognizes that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations. At a Dec. 14 meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules, heads of WTO delegations expressed their intent to intensify negotiations on fisheries subsidies in the new year to meet the end-2019 target for an agreement, a multilateral commitment scheduled for the January-July 2019 work programme the Negotiating Group recently agreed upon. In an interview, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Fisheries Office No. V Officer-in-Charge Ariel Urbano Pioquinto said the agency is against granting fishery subsidies and firm in opposing harmful fishing methods. Mr. Pioquinto, who is the BFAR-designated Philippine expert at WTO meetings, said the country does not offer subsidies to the fisheries sector. He said the extent of the governments intervention is to build fish landing centers where fishermen can directly deposit their catch. It is a project of the government that can provide clear value in maximizing the benefits of their fishing efforts, Mr. Pioquinto said. We have several fish landing centers in the Philippines to help small fishermen, Mr. Pioquinto added. In November, the BFAR and the Department of Interior and Local Government signed a joint memorandum circular to strengthen the implementation of the ban on bottom trawling within municipal waters, stating that bottom trawl method disturbs the seabed and destroys habitats through direct removal of biological and topographic features. Violators which include the owner, operator, boat captain and master fishermen of the vessel, the chief executive officer of the corporation or the managing partner of a partnership controlling the boat, face confiscation of the catch and fishing gear and a fine thrice the value of the catch or the following value, whichever is higher: P20,000 for municipal fishing, but if the offender fails to pay, he should render community service; P50,000 for small-scale commercial fishing; P100,000 for medium-scale commercial fishing; and P500,000 for large-scale commercial fishing. Upon conviction, the violator shall be imprisoned two to six years and fined the equivalent of twice the administrative fine, and confiscation and forfeiture of fishing gear and catch, according to the joint circular. Meanwhile, WTO members have been urged by Washington-based Pew Charitable Trusts to implement the outcomes of the impending agreement. WTO Members will have to ratify a new agreement for it to enter into force. Once the agreement enters into force Members will have to start implementing the commitments undertaken in the disciplines. Disciplines set at the multilateral level in a forum such as the WTO set a starting point for nations to respond to unilaterally, Isabel Jarrett, manager of Pews Reducing Harmful Fisheries Subsidies Project, told BusinessWorld in an e-mail interview. If rules are passed at the WTO to reduce harmful subsidies to the fisheries sector, member-countries will need to respond accordingly or face disciplinary action, Ms. Jarrett added. Pew has said that overfishing and other destructive fishing practices have severely decreased the worlds fish populations, noting that IUU fishing is estimated to cost the global economy more than $23.5 billion annually. Fisheries subsidies are one of the key drivers behind the decline in fish stocks. Around $35 billion in government subsidies flow from countries to their fisheries industries each year. Not all of these subsidies are necessarily harmful; however, the majority approximately $20 billion are used to defray costs for fuel, new gear, and vessel construction, allowing fishermen to travel greater distances for longer periods of time, even when the value of their catch would not otherwise support it, Ms. Jarrett said. The greatest risk for WTO members is that they do not reach an agreement by 2020. Subsidies that enable overfishing and other destructive fishing practices will not be curbed, and our oceans and the peoples livelihoods on which they depend will continue to be under threat, according to Ms. Jarrett. The SDG goal 14.6 has a deadline of 2020. As such, Pew is engaging all WTO members to assist in the negotiations which include technology transfer. In addition to eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies, sustainable management requires strong, science-based governance, greater transparency, and improved enforcement of policies, in the next coming years, Pew will be supporting governments around the world prevent overfishing by embedding precautionary science and requirements for the best available data into decision making, for example through work with regional fisheries management organizations to develop and adopt measures to prevent overfishing for 25 internationally-managed fish stocks, Ms. Jarrett said. 2018 BusinessWorld Publishing Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade. Imperial Valley News Center Real Estate Broker Indicted for International Money Laundering Conspiracy Funding Residential Marijuana Grows Sacramento, California - A nine-count indictment was unsealed Thursday after the arrests of Heidi Phong, 36, of Elk Grove, and Zhen Shang Lin, 37, of Riverside, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. The indictment, brought by a federal grand jury on December 13, 2018, charged Phong, Lin, Li Juan Wang, 37, of Riverside, and Feng Li, 48, of Sacramento, with conspiracy to commit international money laundering, international money laundering, conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, and manufacturing marijuana. This is the third indictment stemming from Operation Lights Out an operation that has already resulted in federal forfeiture actions against over 100 homes in the Sacramento area earlier this year. According to court documents, Phong operated HP Real Estate and Skye Investment LLC in Sacramento. Using these entities, Phong conspired with others to arrange for the use of wires from China to purchase residential real estate throughout the region that was intended to be converted into indoor marijuana grows. Phong is also alleged to have entered three separate marijuana manufacturing conspiracies, two with individuals charged earlier in 2018 and one with Zhen Shang Lin and Li Juan Wang. Finally, Lin and Wang are charged with international money laundering and marijuana manufacturing charges related to real estate in Yuba and Sacramento counties. This case is the product of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Yuba County Sheriffs Office assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Yang, Matthew M. Yelovich, and Kevin C. Khasigian are prosecuting the case. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nations drug supply. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for each of the marijuana-related counts, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, whichever is greater, for each of the money laundering related counts. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Fresno Residents Indicted for Aiming Laser Beam at CHP Aircraft Fresno, California - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Carlos Villa-Lozano, 30, and Paulina Silva Aguilar, 32, both of Fresno, charging them with aiming the beam of a laser pointer at a California Highway Patrol aircraft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Villa-Lozano was also charged separately with making false statements to an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The indictment alleges that on July 22, 2018, Villa-Lozano and Silva used a dangerously bright green laser pointer to strike a CHP fixed-wing aircraft approximately 12 times. The indictment further alleges that Villa-Lozano materially misrepresented to the FBI agent that the laser device was used for one to two seconds at most and hit the aircraft only one time. This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case. Villa-Lozano and Silva are scheduled for an arraignment on the indictment on December 21, 2018, in federal court in Fresno. If convicted, Villa-Lozano and Silva face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the false statement offense, Villa-Lozano faces an additional five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. By 2017, Buffer co-founder and CEO Joel Gascoigne was facing a painful decision: His social media analytics firm was heading into the red, and he could either cut costs, by laying off employees at his San Francisco startup, or he could try to raise more money. He chose the former, unwilling to grow at a loss. But Buffer's investors didn't love that decision--and started questioning whether Gascoigne was the right person to lead his company. Those conversations "shocked me to my core," recalls Gascoigne, who eventually decided to buy out his backers. While few companies manage to raise venture capital, and even fewer have investors who are willing to be cut loose, Buffer joins a handful of other startups--including video-hosting company Wistia, interactive content creator Arkadium, and app-software maker SweetLabs--that have recently bought out their backers. If you're starting to think you might want to follow their lead, here's your playbook. 1. Redo your math. First, you'll have to figure out if your investors are willing to sell back their stake to you--and at what price. Good news: You might not have to pay them as much as you think. "You have to stop thinking about venture math" and the headline-grabbing valuations that VCs like to brag about, says Bryce Roberts, founder of alternative-investment fund Indie.vc. Instead, research the financial terms of recent M&A deals in your industry. Gascoigne had warned prospective Series A investors that he might not want to take his company public or sell it. So one of his investors, Collaborative Fund, asked for a clause to allow it to get its money back at 9 percent annual interest beginning five years after the investment. That became a starting point for negotiations. "I felt comfortable pushing for that, because it had been agreed to as an alternative we'd already set down," says Gascoigne. In the end, the Series A investors got a 40.5 percent return on their three-and-a-half-year investment. 2. Talk to other founders. Chris Savage, co-founder and CEO of Wistia, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was inspired to buy back his company when he got calls from acquirers--three of them at once. He says other founders, some of whom had sold their startups, were instrumental in helping him decide to try to regain control of his company. He realized he loved running Wistia--or he had before he and his co-founder had driven it into the red with a growth-at-all-costs mentality. Now, since they've announced their buybacks, both Gascoigne and Savage say lots of startup founders in similar situations call and ask for advice. The critical factors are often how much money has been raised, in how many rounds, what the rights are on those shares, and what the board structure is. "Based on all those things, you can get an idea of how possible it might be," Gascoigne says. Mostly, he adds, take some time off to think. "Especially if you're in Silicon Valley, get away for a week, go somewhere else," he says. "Just to think. Read about companies that do things differently." 3. Research your VC. If you're not planning to go public, sell, or raise more money, your investors may consider you a "zombie company," meaning they might be eager to get rid of you, especially if they've profited from other companies in their portfolios. So do your research: Are your VCs still counting on your company to hit it big? Or have they already paid back their own limited partners? The difference between earning $2 million and $5 million could be huge to an entrepreneur, but it's a rounding error to most funds. "For a $300 million fund or even a $50 million seed fund, no one is paying attention," says Roberts. He bets that if most of these so-called zombie companies could see how their investors assess them, they'd realize that "they are being written down close to zero." So getting your investors out for just two or three times their initial funding--or even less--may be entirely possible. 4. Stay strong. Buying back your equity isn't easy to do. As Joe Wallin, a Seattle startup lawyer and principal with Carney Badley Spellman, points out, there is no right a founder can claim to do this--it's purely a negotiated transaction. Even when offered a 10x return, some Wistia investors didn't want to budge. Savage stressed that this would be their only chance to get their investment back: "Sell as much or as little as you want," he told them, "but we are not planning for another liquidity event." Channel 4 called upon Danny Dyer for this year's alternative Christmas message, after the Eastenders star famously branded David Cameron a t*** in a live TV rant about Brexit earlier this year. His five-minute speech saw the actor brand Westminster's Brexit plans "a shambles", adding: "I mean where are our leaders? Where are they? Theres been more backstabbing than we have in Albert Square." He also took aim at US President Donald Trump for his decision not to attend an Armistice memorial due to rain and for his total avoidance of population centres during his trip to the UK. It aint any better for the Yanks though is it, you know, what an absolute melt theyve got there," he said. "He dont want to turn up to memorials because its raining. He dont fancy a little trip to Britain because theres people here that just dont like him. Leave off. Commemorating this year's centenary celebrations of the Armistice and the women's vote, Dyer called for more "heroes" and "role models" in 2019, noting that it "could be your mum, could be your dad, your stepdad, your nan, teacher, social worker. Maybe even a handsome roguish actor off your favourite soap." Recommended The wit and wisdom of Danny Dyer He also called playwright Harold Pinter, who died in 2008, "a father figure I didnt even know I needed, who taught him that where I came from didnt dictate where I went to. I teach my girls they can be who they want to be, and I try and teach my boy to be a good man," he said. "Now dont get me wrong, I aint no saint, you know, I can do better. I think we can all do better. And as dads, we cant stop trying to do better until theres no need for hashtags to remind us that no means no. Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Show all 23 1 /23 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Only Fools and Horses Episodes and original airdates: Christmas Crackers, 28 December 1981 Diamonds are for Heather, 30 December 1982 To Hull and Back, 25 December 1985 A Royal Flush, 25 December 1986 The Frog's Legacy, 25 December 1987 Dates, 25 December 1988 The Jolly Boys' Outing, 25 December 1989 Rodney Come Home, 25 December 1990 Miami Twice: The American, 24 December 1991 Miami Twice: Oh to Be in England, 25 December 1991 Mother Nature's Son, 25 December 1992 Fatal Extraction, 25 December 1993 Heroes and Villains. 26 December 1996 Modern Men, 27 December 1996 Time on Our Hands, 29 December 1996 If They Could See Us Now, 25 December 2001 Strangers on the Shore, 25 December 2002 Sleepless in Peckham, 25 December 2003 BBC Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Porridge Episodes and original airdates: No Way Out, 24 December 1975 The Desperate Hours, 24 December 1976 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Full House Episodes and original airdates: Our Very First Christmas Show, 16 December 1988 A Very Tanner Christmas, 15 December 1992 Arrest Ye Merry Gentlemen, 13 December 1994 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse Original airdate: 21 December 1988 CBS Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Mr Bean Episode and original airdate: Merry Christmas Mr Bean, 27 December 1992 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Friends Episodes and original airdates: The One with the Monkey, 15 December 1994 The One with Phoebe's Dad, 14 December 1995 The One Where Rachel Quits, 12 December 1996 The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie, 18 December 1997 The One with the Inappropriate Sister, 17 December 1998 The One with the Routine, 16 December 1999 The One with the Holiday Armadillo, 14 December 2000 The One with the Creepy Holiday Card, 13 December 2001 The One with the Christmas in Tulsa, 12 December 2002 Warner Bros. Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix The Royle Family Episodes and original airdates: Christmas Special, 25 December 1999 Christmas Special, 25 December 2000 The New Sofa, 25 December 2008 BBC Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Arrested Development Episodes and original airdates: In God We Trust, 14 December 2003 Afternoon Delight, 19 December 2004 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Absolutely Fabulous Episode and original airdate: Cold Turkey, 24 December 2003 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix The Office Episodes and original airdates: Christmas Special Part 1, 26 December 2003 Christmas Special Part 2, 27 December 2003 BBC Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Doctor Who Episodes and original airdates: The Christmas Invasion, 25 December 2005 The Runaway Bride, 25 December 2006 Voyage of the Damned, 25 December 2007 The Next Doctor, 25 December 2008 The End of Times: Part 1, 25 December 2009 The End of Times: Part 2, 1 January 2010 A Christmas Carol, 25 December 2011 The Doctor, the Widow and The Wardrobe, 25 December 2012 The Snowmen, 25 December 2012 The Time of the Doctor, 25 December 2013 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Extras Episode and original airdate: Christmas Special, 27 December 2007 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Gavin and Stacey Episode and original airdate: 24 December 2008 BBC Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Outnumbered Episodes and original airdates: The Robbers, 27 December 2009 The Broken Santa, 24 December 2011 BBC Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Miranda Episode and original airdate: The Perfect Christmas, 20 December 2010 BBC Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Peep Show Episode and original airdate: Seasonal Beatings, 24 December 2010 Channel 4 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Call the Midwife Episodes and original airdates: Christmas Special 1, 25 December 2010 Christmas Special 2, 25 December 2013 Christmas Special 3, 25 Decebmer 2014 Christmas Special 4, 25 December 2015 Christmas Special 5, 25 December 2016 Christmas Special 6, 25 December 2017 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Black Mirror Episode and original airdate: White Christmas, 16 December 2014 Channel 4 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix BoJack Horseman Episode and original airdate: Sabrina's Christmas Wish, 19 December 2014 Netflix Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix A Very Murray Christmas Original airdate: 4 December 2015 Netflix Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Fuller House Episode and original airdate: Nutcrackers, 9 December 2016 Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Inside No 9 Episode and original airdate: The Devil of Christmas, 27 December 2016 BBC/Sophie Mutevelian Every old Christmas TV episode on Netflix Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Episode and original airdate: A Midwinter's Tale, 14 December 2018 Dean Buscher/Netflix He ended on the words: Life can get a little stressful and we might get on each others nerves a bit, but remember how much there is to be proud of, to be grateful of, and get yourself a Harold, you know, if you can... Merry Christmas, my loves. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more Japan will resume commercial whaling next year for the first time in more than three decades, in a move that has provoked strong criticism from campaigners and the international community. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said his nation would leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume hunting the marine mammals in Japanese waters. However, he stated the activity would be limited to Japans territory and the 200 mile exclusive economic zone along its coasts. This means controversial scientific trips to Antarctica in which Japanese vessels killed hundreds of whales, as well as activity in the northwest Pacific, will stop in 2019. The return to commercial whaling will be in line with Japans basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence, said Mr Suga. Recommended Japan faces potential trade sanctions after whaling deemed illegal Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views. Media reports began to circulate last week that Japan intended to pull out of the IWC, which includes 89 member countries and is intended to govern global whaling operations. Mr Suga said the commission was dominated by conservationists and was not fulfilling its role to aid the development of the whaling industry. The IWC banned commercial whaling in 1986 after growing international pressure due to dwindling whale numbers around the world. 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 Since then some whale populations have shown remarkable recoveries from the brink of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently announced fin whale numbers had doubled since before the ban came into effect. However, Norway, Iceland and Japan have continued to flout the ban, with the latter killing hundreds of whales every year in the guise of scientific whaling, claiming numbers have sufficiently recovered. Meat from these research trips is still sold on the Japanese market, despite decreasing demand for it from the younger population. Japans IWC withdrawal may be a face-saving measure to bring an end to its ambitious Antarctic hunts, restricting operations to those around its coastline. Mr Suga said Japan will notify the commission of its decision by the end of the year, and stated it remains committed to international cooperation on management of marine resources. While both Australia and New Zealand welcomed Japans withdrawal from the Southern Ocean, strong criticism was levelled at the decision to quit the IWC. The Australian government, which has often been a vocal critic of Japans whaling policies, said it was extremely disappointed by the move. Australia remains resolutely opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called scientific whaling, the countrys environment minister, Melissa Price, and foreign minister, Marise Payne, said in a statement. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Environmental group Greenpeace condemned the decision and disputed Japans view that whale stocks have recovered, saying ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing. The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures, said Sam Annesley, executive director at Greenpeace Japan. The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling. The move means Japan will join Iceland and Norway in openly defying the decades-old ban set by the IWC. In September, at a meeting of the commission in Brazil, an attempt to overturn the ban was defeated by anti-whaling nations, prompting fears that Japans IWC departure was imminent. Additional reporting by agencies Christmas Day can be one of the most joyous times of year for some people, but for those who have no one to spend it with, its often the most isolating. In a bid to combat this and help those feeling lonely over the holidays, two women hosted special Christmas Day dinners for people in their local towns, serving up three-course meals and organising games with the help of volunteers. One of them was Mo Fayose, 44, who invited more than 100 people to a dinner she and 20 volunteers had arranged at Fenton Court in Nottingham. The full-time charity worker from Basford whipped up an extensive menu for the occasion, consisting of butternut squash and swede soup, roast turkey and an array of canapes. This is for people who are isolated who cant get out of the house, elderly people, people with children, she says, adding that people of all ages come along each year. Fayose has a daughter aged 19 and a son aged 15 (SWNS) The oldest person who has attended has been 88. The mother-of-two has been hosting the event for several years. What began as a simple dinner in her own home has now turned into a large-scale event that costs more than 2,000 to put on, most of which comes from Fayoses own pocket. Most of the event is funded by Fayose herself, with additional support coming from donations (SWNS) I got the idea for it when I was doing my mental health nursing degree at the University of Nottingham, she explains. I was so excited because it was Christmas but one patient said to me stop it, woman not everybody likes Christmas. She said she wasnt looking forward to Christmas because its a lonely time. Statistics from the charity Age UK reveal that half a million older people in the UK were expected to feel lonely this Christmas. Recommended The unconventional way hundreds of Brits spent Christmas Day I am divorced, and I was lonely as well, Fayose adds. When people start seeing Christmas stuff on the shelves and the lights go up, it sends people into depression. But if they know there is a group of them in the community, it makes them happy. Taylor Barnes, 21, hosted a similar event at her local community centre in Inverclyde, Scotland. Barnes with her two-year-old daughter, Harper (SWNS) The mother-of-one, who is pregnant with her second child, organised a sit-down dinner for 70 people in the area who had nowhere else to go on Christmas Day. In addition to serving up a three-course-meal, Barnes bought presents for everyone from Boots using her own money and recruited Scottish comedian Hardeep SIngh Kohli to entertain the guests. Some families coming this year were quite stuck thats just the way life is, she says. A nearby cafe donated some homemade ice cream for the meal (SWNS) In 2017 there was a woman who said it was her first Christmas in 25 years. It was pure emotional seeing her joy on the day. Diners of all ages attended this year's event, with the eldest one being 82 years old. I think every place needs something like this, she adds, I can see the difference it makes. While families across the country spent Christmas Day tucking into mince pies and snuggling up on sofas watching Home Alone, hundreds of people decided to do something a little less conventional by going for a festive swim instead. Swimmers of all ages plunged into icy waters across the UK, some just for fun and others as part of annual events, such as the Peter Pan Cup that involves a 110-metre race in the Serpentine Lake in London. Many of those who took part did so in fancy dress, wearing everything from Santa hats to reindeer ears in a futile attempt to protect them from the chills of the waters. A group of 50 took the plunge at Blackroot Pool in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham as part of a tradition that dates back to the 1800s. The swim typically attracts a large crowd of spectators too, and a lot of participants raise money for their favourite charities as part of the festivities. People take a Christmas day swim in Blackroot Pool at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield. (PA Wire/Aaron Chown) Meanwhile, an annual swim at Contarf Yacht and Boat Club in Dublin attracted roughly 200 people in a bid to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), one of the UKs largest water safety charities. People take part in the Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club annual Christmas swim in aid of the RNLI. (PA/Brian Lawless) Ian Sargent has been taking part in the swim since its advent 42 years ago, telling the Irish Times that its now more popular than ever. Participants line up for the annual Hyde Park Christmas Day Swim at Hyde Park in London. Traditionally known as the Peter Pan Cup, members of the Hyde Park swimming club take part each year in the frosty waters of the Serpentine Lake. (EPA/Andy Rain) Our annual Christmas swim has been going from the 70s and it has been getting bigger every year, with more and more participation, he said, adding that he would be refraining from actually diving into the water this year. Over in Bournemouth, the White Christmas Dip, now in its 11th year, saw approximately 960 swimmers dive off Boscombe Pier dressed in an array of festive costumes. Swimmers dressed in full Santa Claus outfits for the annual swim at Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth(PA) (PA/Andrew Matthews) They were raising money for Macmillan Caring Locally, a charity providing funding to a specialist palliative care unit at Christchurch Hospital in Dorset. Stolen personal data of UK citizens is selling for as little as 10 on the dark web, offering hackers all the information needed to carry out online fraud and identity theft, The Independent has discovered. So-called fullz hacker slang meaning a full ID package of UK citizens are being listed on several popular online black markets. A full ID package typically contains an individuals name, address, online passwords, banking data and other key identifying information. Security researchers say the illicit trade of such data is being fuelled by a seemingly ceaseless succession of high profile hacks. In 2018 alone hundreds of millions of peoples data was exposed through breaches at firms including British Airways, Marriott hotels and Facebook. Stolen information is posted on to the dark web a hidden section of the internet only accessible using specialist software where cyber criminals are able to buy and sell the data. One seller operating on a popular dark web marketplace listed personal data of UK citizens for just 10 of bitcoin the semi-anonymous cryptocurrency commonly used to carry out transactions. The vendor offered a sample of the data available, providing the name, address, occupation, date of birth, maiden name and other details of a Polish-born woman who resides in Bristol. Surfing the dark web Show all 6 1 /6 Surfing the dark web Surfing the dark web Guns on the dark web Guns for sale on a dark web market place, August 2018 Screenshot Surfing the dark web Dream Market vendor guidelines Some popular market places on the dark web still abide by a set of standards, despite selling illegal goods and services Screenshot Surfing the dark web 'Mystery box' for sale on the dark web A 'mystery box' for sale on the dark web, August 2018. Scam listings for the boxes first began appearing on the dark web after fake videos of people opening them trended on YouTube Screenshot Surfing the dark web Religious texts on the dark web Religious and banned texts can be found on the dark web, allowing people to bypass censors in countries that suppress free speech Screenshot Surfing the dark web Seeking help and advice on the dark web The Hidden Guru site on the dark web, offering 'knowledge from beyond', August 2018 Screenshot Surfing the dark web Hidden Guru Waiting for a response from the dark web's Hidden Guru, August 2018 Screenshot Dark web analyst Simon Migliano describes fullz as the key to online fraud and warns demand for such data appears to be on the rise. This information on its own can be used to open lines of credit, such as credit cards and loans, which are then drained by cyber criminals, he told The Independent. Theres a whole spectrum of pricing for fullz, depending on the likelihood of profit from using that information. As the head of research at the security firm Top10VPN, Mr Migliano monitors the illicit trade of such information through the dark web market price index. Other data available on dark web markets include login credentials for dating apps, streaming services, online shopping sites and social media profiles. Adding the value of all hacked data, he estimates that a persons entire online identity would be worth around 820 if they were to have accounts at all the sites listed on the index. Recommended Fishing for mysteries on the dark web Potential hackers are even able to seek out guides on these dark web marketplaces that provide information on carrying out crimes, such as a 6 How to obtain loans guide, which gives step-by-step instructions on how to take out a loan using stolen data. The creator of the guide claims it can be used worldwide and does not require special skills to follow the instructions. Prices for personal data can vary significantly from seller to seller, though generally the most valuable is that of bank accounts and other financial services such as PayPal login credentials. But more significant than the individual prices such data is listed at, according to one dark web researcher, is the scale of the overall problem. Talking about pricing distracts from the broader issue: data is for sale, everywhere, all the time, often for incredibly low prices, said Emily Wilson, a researcher at dark web monitoring firm Terbium Labs. We should be talking about the ease of access fraudsters have in exploiting this data, and about how the public has little to no sense of how much of their data has been compromised precisely because of the amount of effort that goes into identifying the individual prices of identity data over addressing systemic insecurities. Cyber experts frequently warn that it is not a question of whether a person has been hacked, but how many times. Checking your email address on a site such as Have I Been Pwned an online database of public data breaches, leaks and hacks often uncovers several instances of personal information being compromised. Sadly, in the current age and time, no one is immune to the theft of personal data, said Andrei Barysevich, a researcher at threat intelligence firm Recorded Future. In the same way we learned to accept the dangers of flu viruses and developed simple approaches to minimise the risk, we must learn very simple, yet effective cyber hygiene practices. An example of a UK fullz for sale on a dark web market (The Independent) Such practices include using different passwords for all websites and apps, enabling two-factor authentication on accounts that support it, and signing up for credit monitoring services that provide notifications of any changes to credit profiles. Theres no point in worrying about your data being stolen and sold on the dark web. Its probably already happened, dark web analyst Mr Migliano said. The key is to be sensible in your online behaviour, minimise risks and take prompt action when something does happen. The sooner you deal with compromised personal data, the easier and less painful it will be. How can you stay safe online? Most web users can take a number of simple steps to avoid the possibility of having their identities stolen online. Monitoring who you accept into your social media circles can prevent fraudsters accessing personal information stored on your profile. Phishing emails are also a common method used by scammers in order to obtain sensitive information over the internet. If you receive an email you believe to be suspicious, the best option is to avoid clicking any links within it or opening any attachments within the message. Ministers have ordered an independent inquiry into the persecution of Christians around the world, with the foreign secretary admitting that the UK should be doing more to help. Jeremy Hunt has appointed the Bishop of Truro, Rt Reverend Philip Mounstephen, to carry out the investigation, which will look into how Britain could improve its work overseas. The review, due to report by Easter, will assess threats to Christians in countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It was launched after what officials described as a dramatic rise in the oppression of Christians in a number of countries. The government estimates that 215 million Christians across the world face persecution because of their religious beliefs. Last year, 3,000 were killed because of their faith. The review will look at how the government can help protect Christians in the same way it does other minorities, including the Yazidi people who faced brutal persecution by Isis in Iraq and Syria. Announcing the inquiry, Mr Hunt said: Britain has long championed international religious freedom, and the prime minister underlined our global leadership on this issue when she appointed my excellent colleague Lord Ahmad as her special envoy on freedom of religion or belief. So often the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority. Today I have asked the Bishop of Truro to look at how the British government can better respond to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. We can and must do more. The announcement follows a number of high-profile cases of persecution against Christians. According to the charity Open Doors, which highlights violence against followers of the faith, the greatest oppression takes place in North Korea, where Christians are frequently murdered or sent to forced labour camps. China cancels Christmas Show all 7 1 /7 China cancels Christmas China cancels Christmas A man sells Christmas decorations on a street of Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas a promoter dressed as a teddy bear rest along a retail street in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas A family walk past images of Santa Claus in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas A worker guards the entrance of a shop decorated with images of Santa Claus in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas Sales staff from an apparel shop dance wearing Christmas themed costumes to promote a year end sales in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas Sales staff from an apparel shop dance wearing Christmas themed costumes to promote a year end sales in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China cancels Christmas a sales person waits for customers near a Christmas tree decoration in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Persecution is described as "extreme" in eight other countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan and Eritrea. Earlier this year, the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian sentenced to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy, provoked international outrage and piled pressure on the UK government to act. Although her conviction was overturned in October, nine years after she was first arrested and eight years after she was placed on death row, the case highlighted the plight facing many Christians around the world. Mr Mounstephen, the Bishop of Truro, said: Im honoured to have been invited to lead this review on an issue close to my heart. Part of the Christmas story tells how Jesus was himself the victim of persecution so it seems particularly timely to launch this review at this season. Ill be taking an objective look at how the British government can better respond to the pressing plight of persecuted Christians around the world. GoFundMe, an online fundraising platform, said on Tuesday that it returned more than $400,000 in donations from a crowdfunding campaign prosecutors allege was a scam. Mark DAmico and Kate McClure, a couple from New Jersey, allegedly created a false campaign with Johnny Bobbitt Jr. The false campaign claimed that the couple were raising funds for Mr Bobbitt, a homeless Marine veteran who gave Ms McClure his last $20 when her car ran out of gas. The crowdfunding campaign went viral and raised more than $402,000 from 14,000 people through GoFundMe. But soon after, Mr Bobbitt went on to accuse Mr DAmico and Ms McClure of withholding the funds from him and using it as a personal piggy bank, to bankroll a fancy BMW car and luxury vacations. Mr Bobbit ended up suing the couple. In August, a judge presiding over the case ordered the couple to fork over all the remaining funds that were donated. Last month, however, NBC News obtained court filings alleging that Mr Bobbitt collaborated with the couple in creating the false story to trick people into handing over donations. The three of them are now facing charges for conspiracy and theft by deception. On Tuesday, GoFundMe spokesperson Bobby Whithorne said the crowdfunding site is working with law enforcement to recover the withdrawn funds. All donors who contributed to this GoFundMe campaign have been fully refunding, Mr Whithorne said in a statement. This holiday season, Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has told her followers to remember that Jesus and his family were immigrants. Although Jesus was most likely not born in December, Christmas is meant to represent the birth of Jesus Christ, often portrayed in holiday decorations in a manger. After Jesus birth, his parents Mary and Joseph had to flee the country in order to escape a massacre. Similarly, Central American immigrants are fleeing their own countries to settle in the United States, many of whom are hoping to claim asylum. However, political tensions, military personnel sent to the border, migrant caravans, and demands for wall funding are putting immigrants at the centre of contentious debate. President Donald Trump even signed an executive order targeting refugees and Muslims in January of 2017. In a tweet addressed to anti-immigration pundits, Ms Ocasio-Cortez points to an article in America Magazine explaining how Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were refugees. Pope Francis agrees. However, not everyone sees the value in comparing Jesus Christ to immigrants crossing the border, which critics point out as, in some cases, illegal. Conservative political commentator Dinesh DSouza tweeted his contentions that the Holy Family was not a group of illegal aliens. Other Twitter users also attacked Ocasio-Cortez, arguing that Mary and Joseph had not travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem as immigrants, but to enroll in a census. Therefore, the scene of Baby Jesus in a manger is not a scene of desperate refugees. However, others argue that the family's subsequent night-time departure to Egypt is where they become immigrant refugees. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In response to the criticisms, Ms Ocasio-Cortez posted an image of a painting by artist Kelly Latimore that appears to depict immigrants travelling at night. Halos around the subjects appear to link them to religious figures. Her tweet also included a message that has both religious and secular appeal: Love is revolutionary because it has us treat ALL people as we would ourselves - not because we are charitable, but because we are one. Both Republicans and some more moderate Democrats have previously disagreed with Ms Ocasio-Cortezs strong opinions. Outgoing Democratic Sen Claire McCaskill also recently said in an interview that she was a little confused as to why Ms Ocasio-Cortez is so popular, The Hill reports. Russian president Vladimir Putin has announced the successful final testing of a new hypersonic nuclear-capable weapon. Speaking at an end-of-year meeting with the government on Wednesday, Mr Putin said the weapon, named Avangard, had been launched from Orenburg region in European Russia, hitting its target in eastern Kamchatka nearly 4,000 miles away. It was an event, he said, that would be felt beyond national borders, an event not only for our army but for our country. Russia has developed a new kind of strategic missile, he said, before adding the weapons were already in production and would be delivered to the army as early next year. The Avangard glide vehicle is one of six weapons announced in the presidents State of the Nation speech on the eve of his March re-election. Recommended Putin warns against second Brexit referendum Designed to sit on top of an intercontinental ballistic missile, it came with a number of hefty promises: it would boast speeds of 20 times the sound of speed; capacity to manoeuvre unexpectedly along its flight path; and invincibility when it comes to missile defence shields. Mr Putin suggested that no other country would be able to develop anything similar, and the new weapon would ensure the countrys security for decades. But it was not the first time that final tests had been reported. Nor was it the first time the president had claimed the system had successfully entered serial production. These came in the March address earlier this year. Within a few weeks of the March address, it was reported Russia was still having difficulty sourcing carbon fibre components. Earlier this year, military expert Igor Sutyagin suggested to The Independent that Mr Putins March list amounted to little more than a horror story. Production lines, finance and technology stood in the way of making the weapons an immediate threat, he said. An exchange of overnight missile fire between Syria and Israel raised tensions across the Middle East on Wednesday in the latest confrontation in the Levant between allies of Tehran and Israeli forces. There were no confirmed deaths, though at least three Syrian soldiers were reportedly injured, according to Syrian state media. Russias defence ministry warned in a statement that the Israeli airstrikes directly imperilled two civilian planes landing at nearby Damascus international airport, a sign of continuing friction between Israel and Moscow since the accidental downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane in September. The clashes terrified civilians on both sides of the border. Israeli residents in the north reported hearing loud explosions and seeing trails of smoke in the skies. Residents on the western outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus, were rattled by the roar of incoming and outgoing rocket fire, and flashes of light and fireballs in the night. The attack was the first since Donald Trumps announcement of an abrupt withdrawal of 2,000 or so American troops from Syria. That move severely disappointed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of Israels national security establishment hoping to enlist American help in their aim to curtail Iran and its allies influence in Syria and Lebanon. Russia completes delivery of S-300 air defence systems to Syria But the latest strike showed the controversial withdrawal, along with the tensions with Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assads Russian patrons, were unlikely to alter Israels security posture towards its northern neighbour. Israel is sending a message to Russia and Iran that the US withdrawal doesnt mean that Israel cant act in Syria, and that it shouldnt be ignored, Michael Horowitz, deputy director of intelligence for Lebeck International, a Gulf-based consultancy, told The Independent. These airstrikes relate to the US withdrawal, he said. They came right after Netanyahu warned Israel would extend its activities in Syria after the US withdrawal. The exchange of fire began with what Syrias official news agency described as airstrikes launched from Lebanese airspace against a position west of Damascus, targeting a weapons depot in the town of Qatana, about 25 kilometres from the centre of the capital. Video provided by Syrian official news agency shows missiles flying into the sky near Damascus, Syria (AP) Syrian forces responded with anti-aircraft missiles that were shot down by Israels air defence system, Israeli army radio reported. No damage or injuries were reported, said a statement issued by the Israeli army. Syria, equipped with Russian S-300 anti-aircraft batteries that could be seen firing ferociously in video posted to the internet, claimed it intercepted most of the Israeli missiles. Russias defence ministry said Syrian air defences destroyed 14 of 16 missiles. Israel has not confirmed firing the original air strikes as per its usual protocol, but it is widely assumed it launched the attack as part of its ongoing efforts to roll back what it describes as Iranian efforts to use Syria as a weapons and personnel conduit to Lebanons Hezbollah and other allied militia groups arrayed along Israels northern front. We will do everything to prevent an Iranian entrenchment in Syria, and we are doing it, Israels minister of infrastructure Yuval Steintitz told Israeli army radio on Wednesday. It remained unclear what Israel was targeting, but some media alleged senior members of Hezbollah were injured in the strike, citing unnamed sources. Former Director of Israeli army intelligence Amos Yadlin told Israeli army radio on Wednesday he assumed the targets were military hardware. Israel does not attack Hezbollah officials, but advanced weaponry and munitions being transferred to Hezbollah and Iran's establishment, he said. President Donald Trump has made a surprise Christmas visit to US troops in Iraq. Making his first trip to a conflict zone in almost two years as president, Mr Trump touched down at the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad after an overnight flight from Washington, along with first lady Melania Trump, a small group of aides, Secret Service agents, and a pool of reporters. President Trump and the first lady travelled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and senior military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. Mr Trumps surprise visit comes days after he announced his decision to withdraw American troops from Syria and to significantly reduce the US military presence in Afghanistan a move that that prompted defence secretary James Mattis to resign. On his stop in Iraq, Mr Trump defended his decision to pull out the 2,000 troops from Syria, which he has said was made possible by the defeat of Isis. We want peace and the best way to have peace is through strength, he told troops wearing camouflage fatigues in a hangar as he concluded his visit. He said some troops can now return home to their families. Our presence in Syria was not open-ended and it was never intended to be permanent, he added. "We're no longer the suckers, folks," Trump told the troops at the base. "We're respected again as a nation." Mr Trump said: A lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. Last week, the president claimed in a tweet that Isis has been defeated in Syria. But when it comes to Iraq, however, Mr Trump said he has no plans at all to remove more than 5,000 US troops stationed there. Mr Trump's visit angered Iraqi officials and two major political parties in the country condemned his visit. The president will also visit US troops at Ramstein Air Base in Germany before he heads back to Washington. Additional reporting by agencies I learned a lot this year. Jeremy Corbyns Labour is a more middle-class party than Tony Blairs ever was. The year began with Phil Wilson, Blairs successor as MP for Sedgefield in County Durham, explaining the working-class roots of New Labour to our frankly disbelieving students at Kings College, London. Later, Andrew Adonis, the energetically anti-Brexit Labour peer, told our class he had decided, after a lifetimes advocacy, that proportional representation was a bad idea. He said that, had his hero Roy Jenkinss plan for an added member system for the House of Commons been enacted, it would have been an utter, utter disaster. I realised that Adonis had been converted by his overpowering desire to stay in the EU he blames the proportional system for electing MEPs for giving Ukip a platform since 1999. But as an opponent of proportional representation since the early 1980s who was reinforced in his views by an article in the New Statesman by a Labour junior frontbencher by the name of Tony Blair I was delighted to welcome a sinner to the fold. Another fashionable panacea for political reformers ended up looking silly this year when Ian Paisley Jr, the DUP MP for North Antrim, defeated a petition to recall him from parliament. I am no defender of him and his lobbying on behalf of the Sri Lankan government, which paid for an expensive family holiday, but the recall power is pointless and ineffective. Even if it had succeeded, it would only have meant a by-election in the constituency, which he would have won. The article I most enjoyed writing this year was an alternative history of the past eight years, if Nick Clegg had decided to throw his lot in with Labour once Gordon Brown had announced his resignation after the 2010 election. While writing it I came across the fact that Clegg is two years younger than David Miliband, who I assumed would have become prime minister of a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition government. How differently things might have turned out! In my parallel universe, Emily Thornberry has just become the UKs second woman prime minister after a one-term Boris Johnson government that ran a referendum in which the people voted to stay in the EU. But the editor asked for a look back at 2018 and the one thing you learned this year. And that would have to be that, despite writing about Brexit all year, it has always been hard to predict how MPs would behave. All year, I have pointed out that there is a majority in parliament for a soft Brexit that is, one that keeps us in a close economic relationship with the EU. But when Theresa May, against all the odds, managed to negotiate something that does that while allowing the UK to control immigration, Labour MPs have remained resolutely opposed to it. Nor did I foresee how May reaching an agreement with the EU would split the Leave movement and her own party so deeply. It had simply not occurred to me that people such as Boris Johnson would regard a soft Brexit as worse than staying in the EU. I do not know if he really means it, but the sentiment is widespread among grassroots Conservative members and it rather complicates things. It means that there are large numbers of Tory MPs who will vote against the prime ministers deal regardless of the consequences. If it means leaving without a withdrawal agreement, they would be pleased. But if it means the House of Commons forcing the government to delay Brexit, hold a referendum and possibly stay in the EU, they are fine with that too. If Andrew Adonis, long-time campaigner for electoral reform, can change his mind and decide that first past the post is the best system after all, I shouldnt be surprised when ardent Better Off Outers decide they would rather stay in the EU than leave on Theresa Mays terms. I shouldnt be surprised, but I am. Tipperary man Seamus Kelly hasnt allowed Cystic Fibrosis to halt his gallop with the local foxhounds At this time of year there are only a few places you will find Seamus Kelly on a given afternoon either on the home farm, hunting with the Tipperary Foxhounds, or out and about with his own foot pack, the Jessfield Harriers. Once I am active, I am happy, the 40-year-old says of his love for the outdoors. These are the words of someone who now clearly appreciates all he has in life, having suffered ill-health since childhood. Seamus was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at the age of six, at a time when he should have been enjoying all that comes with being a young boy on the family farm. What they didnt know at the time was that my parents, Jim and Kathleen, were carriers but didnt have it themselves, he said. I and two of my siblings, Adrian and Aileen, all have it. My other brother, Liam, is the only one not to have the illness. Adrian and Aileen were both diagnosed at birth but I was only diagnosed at the age of six after months of tests. It took several attempts to find the problem. They used a method called a sweat test after I began suffering from colds and coughs all the time. My immune system was very poor. Cystic fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, causing them to become clogged with thick, sticky mucus. This leads to frequent and severe infections. Havoc The warm weather plays havoc with me I absolutely hate it as I get all clammy and cannot breathe properly. I really love this time of year when its cold, once I dont get a chest infection. A native of Ballingarry, Seamus grew up on a dairy farm, but he has also been immersed in horses for most of his life. Hunting plays a huge part in keeping him sane. If I didnt have the hunting Id be dead long ago. Horses and hounds are my health service. I control my CF it doesnt control me. Thats how I look at it. Expand Close Parading the Tipperary Foxhounds at the RDS Dublin Horse Show. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Parading the Tipperary Foxhounds at the RDS Dublin Horse Show. Ive had my own foot pack for 25 seasons. I am now 40 so Ive been involved since I was a teenager. I keep harriers at home and we hunt every Sunday. We have a great following in cars and about another 15 or 20 people on foot. Many of these are farmers children. The exercise is very beneficial to my condition and the fresh air is also very important. Seamus has also been involved with the Tipperary Foxhounds; for 18 seasons he has officiated as a whipper-in someone who helps the huntsman control the hounds. He can regularly be seen donning the customary pink coat around the country roads of Tipperary. Last summer, Seamus was in the main arena of the RDS as the hounds were paraded on the final day of the Dublin Horse Show. The Tipperary Foxhounds are the only pack in Ireland to hunt four days a week, so Seamus is spoilt for choice when it comes to getting out and about. I pretend to be a farmer and look after the sucklers at home, he says. During the summer I do other odd jobs, but for the winter months, its all about hunting. Its my passion and I love it. Even the team at St Vincents Hospital know me well. They all laugh when they see me coming in for treatment in July or August. They say the hunting must be coming up as you are here now!. To keep his condition under control, Seamus must undergo two weeks of therapy annually. I would meet a team on a Monday, then go back the following week to have a line inserted into my arm, he says. I can then go home and administer the drugs myself. I refuse to stay in the hospital during that time. All going well, after this treatment Seamus can then ensure that his batteries are recharged for the upcoming hunting season, which starts with cubbing in September. I keep an inhaler with me all the time and I have a nebuliser in the jeep. One day I was out hunting and forgot the inhaler and was under pressure, so I made someone drive me back to the jeep in the middle of the hunt. After a few minutes on the nebuliser I was as right as rain again. Another time I was helping our local Civil Defence to search for a missing local person. We found him safe and well but it was a late finish up and I was fairly tired after it. The following day we had the opening meet of the hunt in Fethard. "The day was fairly warm and as I was heading on up to the meet on my horse I took a few puffs of my inhaler, just to be caught on camera by a local photographer. This led to another interview with a newspaper. While Seamus does his best to remain positive at all times, he recalls a few dark days in 2012 when he lost a good friend in tragic circumstances. Paul OBrien was a close friend for over 20 years and when he died suddenly I took it very badly, says Seamus. As a result I had a two-week stay in St Vincents to be treated with antibiotics. Memory Pauls memory now lives on through a grey horse named Miller, who is held dear to Seamuss heart. Paul had him as a three-year-old and he was sent to the Dunphys to be broken. When Paul died, I offered to buy him. He is a full Irish Draught and is a machine, so he will never be sold. It is obvious that Seamuss positive attitude has kept him going all this time and he looks forward to many more good days in the saddle. Fighting CF isnt easy. You have good days and bad, and probably some of the worst were a team of doctors standing in front of you telling you that you wouldnt see your 18th, 21st, or 30th birthday. This year I celebrated my 40th birthday so I proved so many people wrong. The determination and drive in me to enjoy life, to enjoy my horses and my hounds, and my friends and having the laugh. Thats what its all about. With CF there is always hope. Keep fighting on and never give up. Return: Iraq is home to oil companies, and David Horgan believes Petrel has a good future there. Photo: REUTERS "There were requests for large amounts of cash and security issues." These were just some of the reasons Irish oil company Petrel Resources decided to pull out of Iraq following the Anglo-American invasion, having been active there between 1999 and 2010. "There had been a deterioration in governance, it became very corrupt, there were requests for large amounts of cash and also the fiscal terms became less and less attractive, and there were security issues, though we never lost anyone to the security situation," David Horgan, CEO of Petrel Resources, told the Irish Independent. The comments highlight just how different the oil and gas sector is from anything else in Irish business. Petrel, chaired by veteran investor John Teeling, is looking at Iraq once more, seeing opportunity in a return to power of the Saairun party. "In this year's elections, the most successful party was the one that had previously encouraged us to come to Iraq. We are now rebuilding our Iraqi team with a view to re-entering, but the formation of a government has taken a long time - it is still not complete." Expand Close Sanctions: A woman refuels a car at a petrol station in Iran. Photo: Bloomberg / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sanctions: A woman refuels a car at a petrol station in Iran. Photo: Bloomberg Mr Horgan added that once a contract is awarded to the group "on favourable terms", it is ready to start work. "We have already done very extensive work, worked up drill targets and there has been a lot of interest from international majors, particularly a large Japanese company, Itochu, who joint-ventured with us in Iraq before," he said. "If we can get confirmed title in the western desert of Iraq, we would go ahead and drill within a year. So if we confirm the contract with the government of Baghdad, I think we could get back into the tribal communities and negotiate a work programme." "In the past we have always used local people - if you want to defend a facility against attack you hire the people who are going to do the attacking. "You go to the local chief, and it is enormously important to show basic respect and hire whoever he recommends. We never had any issue, we never lost as much as a screwdriver." Expand Close US President Donald Trumps economic actions proved less severe than thought. Photo: REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US President Donald Trumps economic actions proved less severe than thought. Photo: REUTERS Meanwhile in Ghana, the company is stepping up its work, having previously been hindered by changes in the government. "We signed an agreement and then the government we signed with lost an election - it's a democratic government - and the new government basically was looking for money from us. We refused to pay, we took them to court and we got an out-of-court settlement," Mr Horgan said. With the government that had granted Petrel its original licence back in power, there's now a push to get through the licensing ratification process. "We would aim to do that within six months of final contract ratification, then aim to be drilling a well the subsequent year - for that we will probably bring in a larger partner. Although costs have really fallen in the last four years, you are probably talking $25-30m to build a well in off-shore Ghana. In comparison in Ireland at current prices it would cost maybe $50m." Expand Expand Previous Next Close Departure: Aidan Heavey has retired as chairman of Tullow Oil. Tullow operations in Singapore / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Departure: Aidan Heavey has retired as chairman of Tullow Oil. Meanwhile, 2018 was a "very exciting" year for Providence Resources. The Dublin-listed company signed a farm-out agreement with Chinese company Apec Energy at the potentially huge Barryroe field off the coast of Co Cork. The structure of the agreement means Providence has no upfront risk or capital exposure for the drilling programme. In addition, it will benefit from a $19.5m (16.6m) advance in funding. The agreement comprises the drilling and testing of four vertical wells and one horizontal sidetrack, plus the optional drilling of two additional horizontal wells. Tony O'Reilly Jnr, chief executive of Providence, said 2018 had been "a good year" for the company. "The key thing was the farm-out agreement - this has increased our scope. We are now in the process of finalising contracts, with drilling expected to commence in the third quarter of 2019," Mr O'Reilly said. Expand Close The Barryroe field off the Co Cork coast has huge potential Photo: Finbarr O'Rourke on behalf of Providence Resources P.l.c. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Barryroe field off the Co Cork coast has huge potential Photo: Finbarr O'Rourke on behalf of Providence Resources P.l.c. "It is nice to see the current level of activity in Ireland. We were out there before everyone else; big companies have now decided Ireland is attractive as a place with hydro-carbon potential, and success will produce more success," he added. Mr O'Reilly's sentiments were backed up by Davy analyst Job Langbroek, who described the agreement between Providence and Apec Energy as "the big signature event" of 2018 in the Irish oil and gas industry. "The agreement will lead to between five and seven wells in the Celtic Sea from 2019 onwards it was a pretty big number, and a very good outcome," Mr Langbroek said. Providence also ended the year with the news that it is evaluating whether it can generate electricity from billions of barrels of boiling water found under the sea bed - a twist in the tale of the decades long search for Irish offshore energy sources. At Tullow Oil, this year marked the end of an era as Aidan Heavey retired as chairman after 33 years with the business he'd founded. Tullow, now primarily focused on Africa, named Dorothy Thompson as Mr Heavey's successor as chairman - he had already handed over the chief executive's reins to Scotsman Paul McDade. A Roscommon native, Mr Heavey founded Tullow to exploit opportunities at oil fields considered uneconomic for majors. He sold his vintage cars and mortgaged his home to raise 1m (1.27m) and initially targeted assets in Senegal in west Africa. This year marked a turnaround for Tullow as it announced plans to pay shareholders a dividend from next year based on its free cash flow generation, with it expecting to pay out at least 88m in 2019. Tullow has also announced that, going forward, it plans to drill between three and five oil wells a year globally. "Tullow Oil has a new lease of life, it has managed its debt profile and now looks like it will go through a new phase of production growth. It appears to be through the financial risk phases that the market didn't like," said Mr Langbroek. However, the group did run into some difficulty. It took a hit from a dispute relating to the share of liability of costs in respect of the termination of a drilling rig contract and was ordered to pay 120m in damages, plus $50m in costs. Tullow maintains it was entitled to terminate the deal. Among the other movers and shakers, Dublin-headquartered Falcon Oil & Gas announced in August it had signed an agreement to amend its farm-out agreement with Origin, its partner in its Australian business, to commence stage two of its drilling programme in the Beetaloo sub-basin of Australia's Northern Territory. Falcon Australia holds a 30pc interest in 4.6 million gross acres in exploration permits in the area. Elsewhere, in November Dennis Francis, CEO and founder of Dublin-listed oil and gas explorer PetroNeft, announced that he was to step down. Mr Francis described his decision as "bitter-sweet", as he said much of his life over the last 14 years had been devoted to developing the company's assets in the Tomsk region of Russia. For the industry as a whole, a Dail Private Member's Bill proposed by the left-wing Solidarity-People Before Profit party has proposed an outright ban on any new Irish oil and gas exploration licences. It is opposed by the Government, but garnered significant support as it wended its way through the parliamentary process, alarming some in the industry. Internationally, US President Donald Trump's sanctions against Iran proved to be less severe than people had expected, but the US-China trade war, as well as concerns about a global economic slowdown, contributed to a decrease in the demand for oil. This, coupled with increases in production, has seen real volatility in Brent oil prices, from highs of $85 to $60 a barrel. With an eye on keeping prices up, Saudi Arabia-led Opec and its allies have said they would curtail the production of oil from January, reducing output by as much as 1.2 million barrels per day. Daniel ODonnell and his sister Margo take part in a singsong after the funeral of Big Tom McBride. Picture: PA The year began with a startling blast from the past - with news that gardai were reopening the Kerry Babies case, after 34 years of virtual silence. It came as a shock to the nation, with a sharp reminder of the dark events that unfolded following the reporting on RTE on April 14, 1984, that a newborn baby had been found stabbed to death on the White Strand near Cahersiveen in Kerry. The establishment was rocked by a tribunal of inquiry and the fallout over the hounding of young woman Joanne Hayes, which sparked ongoing debate in the subsequent decades over what it had said about Irish society, and with the insistence in some quarters that she was the mother of the murdered baby. So the real development in the Kerry Babies case in 2018 came with the official apology to Ms Hayes on January 15. Superintendent Flor Murphy, who is heading the cold case investigation, apologised for "the awful stress and pain she has been put through as a result of the original investigation into this matter, which fell well short of the required standards". Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan followed with another apology, stating Ms Hayes had been subjected to "a prolonged ordeal that was simply wrong on every level". All fell silent again, until September last, when gardai turned up at Valentia Island to carry out door-to-door inquiries, having sought DNA samples earlier in the year from people in south Kerry. For much of the start of 2018, focus shifted unusually to the legal system of the North - as the so-called Belfast Rape Trial played out in open court over nine weeks. Centring on former Ireland international rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, the trial led to unprecedented, widespread media coverage on both sides of the Border. Mr Jackson and Mr Olding were found not guilty - but the storm did not abate, with protests and much public debate on the issue of consent following. Ulster Rugby launched a review and subsequently revoked the contracts of both rugby players - who have since gone on to play in France. The case provoked much discussion over the naming of the accused under British law - as well as the fact that because the hearing was held in open court, the name of the complainant became widely known, despite her official anonymity. In November, a set of 200 recommendations made by retired Judge John Gillen following on from that trial was published. It said the public should be banned from trials involving rape and other sexual offences, sought legislation to lessen the impact of social media and recommended the introduction of measures to combat rape myths and stereotypes that may influence the judgment of a jury. April saw the end of an era, with news that country music icon Big Tom McBride had passed away at the age of 82. The Castleblayney man made waves in his day for singing in his natural Monaghan accent, rather than aping his American counterparts. Big Tom's funeral in his native Oram was a memorable celebration, as the cream of country music turned out, with Daniel and Margo O'Donnell, Philomena Begley, Susan McCann and Michael English among many joining in a massive singsong in the graveyard. In May, shock waves reverberated over the death of Ana Kriegel (14) at a derelict farmhouse in Lucan, Co Dublin. Two children are before the courts. It is believed they are the youngest people in the history of the State to be charged with the offence of murder. The children have not entered pleas as yet. Just two weeks later, there was another devastating blow, with the abduction and murder of Filipina student Jastine Valdez (24), who was snatched amid the peaceful surrounds of Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, just metres from her home. A woman was driving by with her 12-year-old son who saw Jastine being forcibly bundled into the boot of a car. Mark Hennessy (40) was shot dead a day later by Garda officers and Ms Valdez's body was found in Rathmichael, Co Dublin. In June, former Anglo banker David Drumm was jailed for six years for his part in a "premeditated and planned" multi-billion-euro bank fraud scheme in 2008. The biggest health scandal of the year was the CervicalCheck revelations, which broke in April, rocking the nation to the core. It was the decision of Vicky Phelan, from Limerick, to waive her anonymity and speak out about her settlement on the steps of the High Court that blew it wide open. The terminally ill mother of two (44) was awarded 2.5m because of being given incorrect smear test results and her case led to a major audit of the National Cervical Screening programme. It quickly emerged that as many as 15 more women may have had cancer diagnoses missed because screenings were incorrectly judged to be normal. By the end of April, the HSE admitted more than 200 cervical smear results should have resulted in early intervention. CervicalCheck clinical director Dr Grainne Flannelly stepped down from her position. Vicky Phelan remains a powerful advocate for women's health, and in November was named as one of the most inspiring and influential women in the world 2018, by the BBC. The following month came the heartbreaking news that Emma Mhic Mhathuna, the striking face of the HSE's CervicalCheck advertising campaign, was one of the women affected by the errors. Her cancer was missed in 2013 and it wasn't until her next routine smear was due three years later that CervicalCheck caught it. Like Ms Phelan, Ms Mhic Mhathuna (37), a mother of five from Baile na nGall, Co Kerry, became an outspoken advocate for women's health, until she passed away tragically in October. But even in death, she insisted on a powerful political message to the establishment, when her funeral cortege stopped at Leinster House and the Department of Health. If there could be one issue that could be said to have dominated the year, it was the tragedy of the ever escalating housing crisis. This year saw the highest number of children ever without a home, with a new family becoming homeless every eight hours, according to Focus Ireland. Average rents in Dublin spiralled to 1,620 a month, reaching another new record high. Meanwhile, the Government struggled to defend its response to the crisis in the face of mounting criticism. Simply put, not enough new houses, either in the public or private sector, are being built. Veteran advocate for the homeless Sr Stanislaus Kennedy said of the crisis: "I've no language any more to describe it. It's beyond description is all I can say." Meanwhile, on the weather front, 2018 must go down as the most memorable year for decades. From the 'Beast from the East' in February that brought a blanket of snow, to ferocious storms, to the heatwave which brought blistering temperatures and prolonged drought, there was more reason than ever to take part in the nation's favourite conversation. The fire broke out around 9am at Langtons House Hotel A man was hospitalised following a fire in one of Kilkenny city's most popular hotel and nightclubs on Christmas Day. The fire broke out shortly after 9am in the kitchen of the four-star Langton's House Hotel on John Street. It is understood that a member of staff, who was on the premises at the time, was woken by a fire alarm and the sound of the blaze and immediately ran downstairs to find the kitchen on fire. The man was staying in the hotel to prepare for hundreds of Christmas dinners being made by chefs and staff for older people living in the area. Three fire units and ambulances were on the scene within minutes. The man was transferred to St Luke's General Hospital believed to be suffering from smoke inhalation. No guests were staying in the family-run hotel at the time. Fire service and Health and Safety Authority (HSA) investigations into the cause of the fire are under way, but it is not considered suspicious. A member of the emergency services said: "Thankfully the fire was eventually contained and did not spread past the kitchen from what we know so far. There is a lot of damage in the kitchen and it is not known if the hotel will be able to open in the coming days." Members of the well-respected Langton family rushed to the scene of the fire once notified by staff and the emergency services. A staff member said: "We are all devastated by the fire and absolutely distraught for the Langton family. They work so hard to deliver a first-class service to patrons and are very good to their staff." A young woman who waived her right to anonymity in a bid to improve the rights of rape victims has told how the Justice Minister took seven months to respond to her emails - even after she sent an "extremely personal" letter. Amy Gilligan (28), originally from Athlone, this year spoke out about her terrifying ordeal as an 11-year-old. She was raped by a teenage boy whose mother was babysitting her on May 9, 2001. Andrew Cox, also from Athlone, was only a few weeks past his 16th birthday when he assaulted the young girl in his bedroom. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in 2003 and was sentenced to five years in prison, with the last two suspended. Seventeen years after she was raped, Amy decided to waive her right to anonymity after her attacker sought to be removed from the Sex Offenders Register. Gardai didn't inform Amy about Cox's application and she only found out through word of mouth. She never knew that convicted sex offenders could seek removal from the register and was shocked to learn victims don't have to be notified. In May this year, she wrote to the Department of Justice to request a meeting with Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. She received no response for seven months and only last week, after the department was contacted by the Irish Independent, did she get a personal reply. She was informed that the minister "regrets he is not in a position to meet you". Amy has been campaigning for the 2001 Sex Offenders Act to be amended. "What happened to me might be a minor thing for the Government, but it's a major thing for people like me who have gone through a sexual assault," she said. "For a lot of victims, the register is their safety net as they know that person is being monitored." Amy received a response on December 19 saying the "minister is sorry to hear of your experience. He wishes to apologise that you have not received a response sooner. "... The minister would like to thank you for your courage in sharing your story. The minister regrets that he is not in a position to meet with you." A department spokesperson said the minister is "fully conscious of the vulnerable position of victims of crime, particularly victims of sexual violence". "In that regard, the minister has asked that the issue raised be considered by the working group examining protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences "There are a number of ongoing legislative initiatives in this area," they added. If you have been affected by the above issues you can contact the Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888. Denise and Joe Dolan from Sallins, Co Kildare, hold their first-born. Photo: Barbara Lindberg Callum Norton and Nadine McHale cuddle new son Hunter, who was the first Christmas baby born at the Rotunda in Dublin. Photo: Barbara Lindberg Emma Tengur, who was the first Christmas baby in the Coombe with parents Kitti and Arunesh Tengur from Swords, Co Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren New arrival: Justyna Zielonka and Robert Blicharski cuddle their new son Leon at Holles Street, Hospital. Leon shares his Christmas Day birthday with his dad. Photo: Barbara Lindberg To welcome a baby into the world is one thing, but having two members of the same family born on Christmas Day is nothing short of miraculous. In a bizarre coincidence, Justyna Zeilonka's new baby boy Leon now shares his birthday with his dad Robert, who was also born on Christmas Day. The couple's new son was the third baby born at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street, Dublin yesterday. Leon, who was born at 9.05am weighing 3.75kg, will join his brother Franciszek (3) at home in Saggart, Dublin. Other parents around the country also received the ultimate gift this Christmas as they welcomed their newborn babies into the world. The very first baby to arrive in Dublin was little Emma Tengur, who was born at 12.38am in the Coombe. Weighing in at 3.5kg, her parents from Swords, Dublin were beaming with joy as she slept soundly in her mum's arms. Speaking to the Irish Independent, dad Arunesh said they could not receive a better Christmas present. "I can't even describe how happy we are. "We have another two-year-old daughter at home who can't wait to see her baby sister for the first time. She's been looking forward to this day for so long." Mr Tengur, originally from Mauritius, added that he has big dreams for his new daughter. "I have a feeling she will achieve great things and we'll always try and give her the very best. "We're now looking forward to going back home and spending Christmas as one big family." The Coombe had a total of four babies born between midnight and 7am yesterday morning. At 2.37am, a baby boy was born to mum, Denise and Joe Dolan from Sallins, Co Kildare. The baby girl weighed in at 3kg and is their first child. "We're actually shocked it's a boy," said Denise. "We were convinced it was going to be a girl and had even had several names in mind. "Now, we're currently at a loss what to call him, but we're over the moon nonetheless. "It's our first child and we already love him to bits." New dad Joe added that the issue around what team his baby will support may lead to some family disputes down the line. "I'm from Cavan and Denise is from Dublin, but I definitely can't have him wearing a blue jersey," he laughed. "Who know, maybe he'll play for the county one day. "It feels amazing to be a dad for the fist time. "I'm really looking forward to it though and I'm sure we'll have plenty of new experiences together." It's the season of goodwill - but sometimes, goodwill isn't enough. Sometimes, people need more than charity and kindness. They need change. Today, as most of us relax at home with our families, thousands of people are sitting in small, cramped rooms wondering where they will sleep tomorrow, whether there will be room at the inns in which they are currently staying. For them, there are no decorations, no Christmas tree, no festive cheer and no break from the stress and the worry. In December 2017, there were 8,857 people, including 3,079 children, living in emergency accommodation. This year, that number has swelled to 9,968, including 3,811 children. That's another 732 homeless children in just 12 months - two children becoming homeless every day. Those figures would be much worse - 11,574 people, including 4,792 children - if the Department of Housing hadn't insisted on "recategorising" more than 1,600 people, who had been counted among the homeless statistics until this year. They were summarily removed from the figures because the department insists they have "own-door" accommodation. But that accommodation is temporary and, in most cases, paid for with funding for homeless services. Despite the crude cull of these people, more than half of them children, from the official figures, the overall number increased anyway. Despite the Government's best efforts, this is a problem that cannot be massaged or airbrushed away. Even those increased numbers are an underestimate of this crisis. They don't include rough sleepers - 156 in Dublin alone at the last count. They don't include couch surfers, sleeping in friends' houses as they have nowhere else to go. They don't include the many thousands who can't afford to move out of their parents' homes and are trapped in their childhood bedrooms. Clearly, Government policy is not working. Radical new ideas, and new solutions, are required if we truly want to tackle this problem. But the Government refuses to countenance anything that isn't already part of its existing homeless strategy - a strategy that is, demonstrably, failing. Even those ideas that are not very radical, and not particularly new, are deemed too controversial for this conservative Government. As far back as 2014, the Convention on the Constitution, the precursor to the Citizens' Assembly, endorsed the notion of including a right to housing in the Constitution, with 85pc voting in favour of its insertion. Why? Predominantly because there are already two separate articles in the Constitution, Article 40.3.2 and Article 43, which protect the right to private property, but nothing that explicitly confers a right to housing. Given the disproportionate weight afforded to the right to private property in the Constitution, it was considered that there should also be a provision that enabled courts to balance that right against the right to a home. Despite the overwhelming support for this amendment to the Constitution from the members of the convention, nothing has happened to advance it in the intervening four years. This is largely because discussions of a constitutional right to housing are invariably infused with a lethal combination of ignorance and misinformation, with some of our more hysterical commentators, and politicians, suggesting it would inexorably lead to some kind of communist land-grab. The rather more prosaic truth is that including a right to housing in the Constitution would not mean a new home for everyone in the country. It would simply require the State to reasonably protect that right in its policies and practices. In countries that do have a constitutional right to housing, the practical impact is not the State seizing private property en masse. Rather, governments are simply required to adopt reasonable measures to try to vindicate that right within available resources - and courts are empowered to examine whether these reasonable steps have been taken. Some would say we don't need to include this express right, as Article 43 of the Constitution already states that the right to private property is not absolute and can be regulated and restricted if the common good requires it. However, the problem is that the State has been extremely reticent to test its limits in courts, preferring instead to take a cautious approach. It presumes that, in any battle between these conflicting rights, the right to private property trumps the right of the State to interfere with that right. So, when opposition TDs propose legislation in which a more decisive intervention in the market is mooted, the Government routinely shoots it down as being unconstitutional. Yet, at the same time, it refuses to do anything that would bolster the right to housing in either legislation or the Constitution. Last year, a report from the Law Reform Commission (LRC) into the existing law relating to the compulsory purchase of land (CPO) suggested that when the State does opt to use the CPO process, it is successful. A review by the LRC of a list of CPOs submitted by local authorities in 2017, 69 in total, found that of the 58 that had been decided by An Bord Pleanala, 54 had been approved and four had been withdrawn by councils before a decision was issued. Therefore, of all of the CPOs that were considered by An Bord Pleanala, 100pc were approved. While this success rate is encouraging, less so is the fact that, in the middle of a housing crisis, just 69 CPOs were submitted by local authorities for the entire year. Given the huge number of vacant and abandoned houses that can be found in cities and towns all over the country, why is this process not used more frequently by local authorities to increase their supply of housing? Is it the case that local authorities will use the CPO process only if it is perceived to be a slam dunk? Or are different local authorities receiving conflicting legal advice about the usefulness of the process? While the State dithers about using its existing powers to ameliorate the housing crisis, a clear constitutional provision enshrining the right to housing would at least provide the benefit of relative clarity. According to the Mercy Law Centre, the "gap in the law is clear" as "fundamental failures to provide emergency accommodation to a family with young children cannot be challenged by reference to a clear and direct right". The Government may be loath to allow courts to adjudicate on whether its policies adequately protect the right to housing, but it has had carte blanche to address this crisis for years, with no improvement - so some oversight is required. Patently, a constitutional right to housing would not amount to a panacea that solves the housing crisis, but it would at least provide those suffering homelessness some additional power and protection. Unless we want to see hundreds more families homeless and celebrating Christmas in hotel rooms next year, it's time to take some action. US President Donald Trump greets members of the five branches of the military by video conference on Christmas Day, in the Oval Office of the White House. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Let's put aside for the moment the question of whether US President Donald Trump committed crimes in obtaining the presidency (conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws by hush-money payments or receipt of assistance from a foreign power) or since his election (in obstructing justice, witness-tampering, etc). Let's not dwell on the closure of his foundation, which the New York state attorney general found to have engaged in a "shocking pattern of illegality". Let's not argue whether attacks on the US courts, the First Amendment, the FBI and the Justice Department violate his duty to "take care" that the laws are faithfully executed, nor on whether his receipt of foreign emoluments, ongoing conflicts of interest and hiring of ethical miscreants have debased his office. It's St Stephen's Day and I'm happy to offer tutorials to all those Brits I know who have successfully received their Irish passports over the past year: It's not Boxing Day, it's Stephen's Day. This is to commemorate the first Christian martyr, I'll explain, and the tradition derives from the time when Ireland identified as a Christian country. January 6 is also sometimes known as Nollaig na mBan, the Woman's Christmas, although to be honest, that could be a re-invented tradition, like the Scots suddenly re-inventing tartan in the Victorian era. When I was a youngster, January 6 was celebrated as the Epiphany, as it still is in France, Italy and Spain: yes, you could say it would be more 'European' to celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings, but Nollaig na mBan has been revived as a feminist fiesta, and feminism is more in vogue in Ireland these days than Christianity. Yet explaining to those Brits who have dug up an Irish granny (there have been 45,000 applications from the UK for Irish citizenship in the first half of 2018 alone), the cultural differences between Ireland and Britain, or at least Ireland and England, can be somewhat confusing. Because paradoxically, in some ways, Ireland has grown more British, while England has aligned itself with values that were more traditionally Irish. Big British retail brands are everywhere - Marks & Spencer, Tesco, WH Smith (a monopoly at Dublin Airport), Boots. Television has always been a transmitter of popular values and much of the popular TV culture is shared: the Irish watch all those ridiculous British reality shows, while 'Mrs Brown's Boys' - well, is it English or Irish, being produced by the BBC, and featuring an Ireland that is now only seen on... 'Mrs Brown's Boys'? Few modern Irish kitchens now feature a garish picture of the Sacred Heart, and the 'Irish Mammy' largely exists in comedic or pastiche form, being a figure of fun. In modern Ireland, 'mum' is replacing 'mammy' - RTE, the national public service broadcaster, has a parental adviser who regularly counsels 'mums' and 'new mums' in childcare lore. A few 'mams' are still around, and also appear in fiction, but are fast losing ground, I'd say. Yes, a lot of things that used to be Irish are now, contrarily, English. Take 'nationalism'. Brexit, which has driven you guys to take up what used to be the little green passport, is universally denounced, in Ireland, as nothing more than English nationalism. Quelle horreur. There was a group of young folk from Derry on BBC Radio 4 just before Christmas giving out yards - yes, that's a nice Irish expression for the art of the reprimand - about this. How dare the English be such nationalists? It's outrageous. You will of course agree with them, and you would never suggest that the Irish State was itself built, brick by brick, by dedicated nationalists. Even Sinn Fein - "Ourselves Alone" could well have been adopted by Ukip - seems to be more focused on gay marriage and abortion rights than in outdated ideas like 'nationalism', a concept so deplored by our masters in the EU. The Irish granny who transmitted the entitlement to Irish nationality may well have been a woman of faith attending the famed Quex Road Catholic church in Kilburn back in the day. But, piquantly, you may find now more evidence of religion in England than in Ireland. A British Christmas begins with the shared experience of that boy soprano opening the carol service from King's College Cambridge, and then features Queen Elizabeth and her entire family attending church (Prime Minister Theresa May, seldom misses a Sunday church service either). Queen Elizabeth always makes it evident, in her Christmas broadcast, her personal commitment to her Christian faith. By contrast, I have no idea whether President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina are religious believers or not. It's not regarded as any of our business whether the head of state is a person of faith: the emphasis, in Ireland, is to separate church and state, to embrace more inclusiveness of those of other faiths and none. This is nowadays considered more appropriate for a republic, and the Irish Republic seems as keen to delete any residue of faith from its past as it is eager to repel any manifestations of 'nationalism'. But it is, surely, a droll role-reversal of history when you consider that, nearly a hundred years ago, when Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith went to London to negotiate the Anglo-Irish Treaty, all the power was on the side of the British Empire, and a fledgling State had to take what it could get. Now London has to take what it can get, and the power is with the European Union. That's why you've chosen to be Irish: but be prepared to be surprised at what this might entail. GK Chesterton loved to recall the "beautiful intentional paradox" on which Christmas is built; the celebration of the homeless in every home. The rich gifts of warmth, happiness and health are not shared as equally as they might. Hopefully, the stockings hung by the chimney with care have not disappointed. For so many centuries, the exchange of gifts has held us together. Last year, Irish families spent an average of 2,654 in the shops on the weeks coming up to December 25. Yet sometimes it is not so easy to know what is worth giving of true value. The American humorist Oren Arnold gave this some thought and came up with the following advice: "Seasonal gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." On this, the morning after, you may be wondering who came up with the notion of a Santa Claus anyway. You can blame, or thank, the Dutch: it comes from their name for Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas. As to who was responsible for the great fir tree obscuring the TV set? The origin of the Christmas tree is attributed by some to the religious leader Martin Luther, in 1536. One frosty winter's night, he was strolling through a pine forest near his home in Wittenberg when he was struck by the thousands of stars glinting jewel-like among the branches of the trees. The power of the celestial spectacle inspired him to set up a candle-lit fir tree in his house that Christmas to remind his children of the starry heavens, home to their Saviour. But all over the world the day is marked in unique ways. In the Ukraine, it is the custom to hang spider web-shaped decorations on the tree. This reflects the Ukrainian legend of the poor widow who didn't have enough money to decorate her tree, but when her children awoke on Christmas Day, the tree was beautifully decked out in webs that glistened gold and silver in the morning light. Russians celebrate Christmas on January 7. For Russian children, it is not Santa, but Babouschka, who brings gifts to children. Babouschka, meaning old woman or grandmother in Russian, is based on the Biblical story of the woman who didn't give a gift to the baby Jesus. So, to repent, she gives gifts to children. But given that today is St Stephen's Day, some thought should be given to him. According to Pope Benedict: "St Stephen died forgiving his persecutors for us to realise that the entry into the world of the Son of God gives rise to a new civilisation, the civilisation of love." It was a legacy to be shared with all. An explosion believed to have been caused by a car bomb went off before the two attackers approached the ministry. Photo: MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP/Getty Images A suicide bomber targeted the entrance of Libya's Foreign Ministry in Tripoli yesterday, killing three people, including a prominent militia leader. Officials said a second attacker was shot dead by guards before he could detonate his explosive vest. An explosion believed to have been caused by a car bomb went off before the two attackers approached the ministry. They identified the militia leader killed in the attack as Abdul-Rahman Mazoughi of the Revolutionary Brigade. The Health Ministry confirmed the death toll and said 10 others were wounded. No one immediately claimed the attack, which bore the hallmarks of Isil. Libya has been a haven for militants since a 2011 uprising toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country is split between rival governments, each backed by an array of local militias. Deal-makers shrugged off Brexit uncertainty in 2018 to complete a run of major transactions, but advisers have warned of a slowdown as Marchs official exit day approaches. The multibillion-pound sales of Costa, Pret a Manger, Sky and Shire were among the deals to hit the headlines in a buoyant market for mergers and acquisitions. But data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released earlier this month showed that the value of domestic M&A transactions was just 3 billion in the third quarter of 2018. This marked a drop of 9 billion compared with the previous period and was the first quarterly decline since the last three months of 2016. The most recent data from the ONS seemed to indicate that deal volumes are starting to declineJonathan Boyers, KPMG While the M&A market has remained blisteringly hot over 2018, the most recent data from the ONS seemed to indicate that deal volumes are starting to decline perhaps a sign that boards are becoming more cautious as economic and political uncertainty continues to intensify, said Jonathan Boyers, head of M&A at KPMG. Were also starting to see banks, who have previously been bullish in offering generous debt packages to support transactions, start to tighten their stance and terms on offer in recent months. It was another year of change for the grocery sector, with Asda and Sainsburys announcing their shock 12 billion merger in April. The move followed a string of tie-ups in the industry, including Tescos acquisition of Booker last year and Amazons buyout of Wholefoods. As of the latest update, Asda and Sainsburys are still seeking approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for the tie-up and have even taken the regulator to court in a bid for more time. A final decision must be made by March 5 2019. Despite distress in the casual dining sector, Asian chain Wagamama was sold to The Restaurant Group for 559 million. The deal gained shareholder approval earlier this month despite some investors voicing opposition. Elsewhere in food and drink, JAB Holdings took over Pret a Manger for 1.5 billion in May, while rival coffee chain Costa was sold by Whitbread to Coca-Cola for 3.9 billion in August. Rob Donaldson, head of corporate finance at RSM, said the deals were exceptions in the troubled leisure market. Youve got all sorts of cost pressures, youve got a consumer whos very cautious. The likes of Costa and Pret are fairly unique situations and I wouldnt say that theyre a sign of a sector in good health, he said. We generally think pricing is falling or has fallen in that sector. The Wagamama deal was highly priced but the shares were punished as a result. 2018 was also the year that sealed the break-up of Rupert Murdochs media empire. In July, shareholders approved Disneys 54 billion takeover of Twenty-First Century Fox. Meanwhile the battle for Sky was finally won by Comcast with a 30 billion bid. Other major deals included the sale of Zoopla owner ZPG to US private equity firm Silver Lake for 2.2 billion, which was announced in May. One of the biggest deals was Takedas 46 billion takeover of Irish pharmaceuticals firm Shire, which was approved by shareholders in December. Message: Pope Francis delivers Urbi et Orbi address from the main balcony of Saint Peters Basilica at the Vatican yesterday. Picture: Reuters Pope Francis used his traditional Christmas Day address urging people to overcome their religious and cultural differences to end conflict in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East. Delivering his sixth 'Urbi et Orbi' address to 50,000 people gathered in Saint Peter's Square yesterday, the Pope said Jesus Christ had given the world "fraternity" and differences should not be seen as a "detriment or a danger" but "a source of richness". "My wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity," the Pope said. "All of us are brothers and sisters in humanity." Just days after US President Donald Trump announced he would withdraw American troops from Syria and urged Saudi Arabia to help rebuild the country, the Pope called for an urgent political solution that would allow millions of Syrian refugees to go home. "May the international community work decisively for a political solution that can put aside divisions and partisan interests, so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country," the Pope said. Urbi et Orbi means "to the city and the world". Addressing some 50,000 tourists, pilgrims and Romans who flocked to St Peter's Square on a mild, sunny day, the 82-year-old pontiff said the universal message of Christmas is that "God is a good Father and we are all brothers and sisters". "This truth is the basis of the Christian vision of humanity," Francis said. Without fraternity, he said, "even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty". He called for that spirit among individuals of "every nation and culture" as well as among people "with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another". "Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness," he said. Francis prayed that all minorities have their right to religious freedom respected, noting that some Christians were celebrating Christmas "in difficult, if not hostile, situations". Communist China is witnessing a systematic suppression of religion, including some restrictions on Christmas celebrations this year. The government's suppression campaign includes re-education camps for Uighur Muslims and a crackdown on Christian churches. Without specifying religions or countries, Francis prayed for "all those people who experience ideological, cultural and economic forms of colonisation and see their freedom and identity compromised". Last week, police in southern Italy arrested a Somali man suspected of having been a member of Isil and who had threatened to bomb churches in Italy, including St Peter's Basilica. After appealing for peace in Syria, the Pope also called for a resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians and a political solution in Yemen. "My thoughts turn to Yemen, in the hope that the truce brokered by the international community may finally bring relief to all those children and people exhausted by war and famine," the Pope said. Francis also turned his attention to other hotspots in the world, calling for further rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula and peace in Ukraine which he said was "yearning to regain a lasting peace that is slow to come". The Pope's concern for migrants and refugees was not overlooked. He called for an end to conflict in Africa "where millions of people are refugees, or displaced or in need of humanitarian assistance and food security". On Christmas Eve, the Pope expressed his concern about the widening gap between rich and poor and the damage caused by "insatiable greed". "An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive," the pontiff said. Victim: The fighting in Yemen has affected hundreds of thousands of people, causing starvation, malnutrition, as well as horrific injuries that are treated by medics in Jordan. AP Photo/Hani Mohammed Last Christmas I was in Gaza. This is my 13th mission with MSF, the longest and a very different position. For the first time in my almost 35-year professional life I am not in the operating theatre. I am in Amman, Jordan, as the clinical director of a large tertiary care rehabilitation hospital for war-wounded patients from all over the Middle East. The mission was begun in 2006 in response to the large number of crippled patients coming out of the Iraq war who needed further treatment and had nowhere to go. At the time, no one imagined that the needs in the region would grow and grow. Currently, our patients are mostly from Yemen, Syria, and - yes - still from Iraq. We provide staged reconstructive orthopaedic, plastic and maxillofacial surgery as well as intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychosocial therapy. Our average length of stay is four months, many staying much longer, and most returning for additional stages in their lengthy rehabilitative quest to return to, if not their pre-war life, at least a more functional life. As clinical director I am responsible for maintaining quality medical care in this remarkable and unusually high-resource MSF project. My days are filled, challenging, but in the end rewarding as I manage a continual flow of traumatised patients towards their hope of a better life. Expand Close Surgeon: Dr Eve Bruce (left) is helping patients in Jordan this year / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Surgeon: Dr Eve Bruce (left) is helping patients in Jordan this year The emotional toll of the arriving patients' stories about the horrors of war, followed by extended periods of painful surgery and rehabilitation, is balanced by the many success stories. The wheelchair-bound patients leaving independently walking; or the children physically and emotionally scarred leaving with smiles; or the families finding hope far from their destroyed homes. One of our patients is Fatima, a nine-year-old Iraqi girl who was burned severely on her head and both arms and hands when she was two years old. She was in a burns unit for over a month. She has been coming to our hospital for years for multiple operations involving release of burn scar contractures of both arms and hands and reconstruction of her scalp. We know her for her contagious smiles and her many fun hats which she wears at all times to hide the burn scars and hair loss, as well as the multiple surgical tissue expanders. Only six months into my mission I have been challenged over and over, and yet I am so grateful and proud of my mostly local national team and our successes - implementing total hip replacement in war-wounded patients, an expanded and effective mental health department including a Syrian peer counsellor, improved nutrition and pain management, enhanced paediatric preoperative sedation, 3D printing of arm and hand prostheses for amputees. I could go on and on. Yes, once again I am far from home for Christmas. But I am not alone. Every single one of our more than 200 patients are also far from their homes and for this healing opportunity they are filled with gratitude, as am I. Dr Mike Galvin is an emergency room (ER) doctor from Limerick who will be spending Christmas in Mosul, Iraq, where he is on his first assignment with Medecins Sans Frontieres/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF). My role as a clinician and supervisor involves working closely with and supporting local Iraqi doctors in providing high quality acute medical care for children and adults in the ER of our hospital in the west side of Mosul. The west side was the worst affected by the battle to retake the city from Isil last year, leading to the destruction of the majority of primary health facilities and public hospitals. This has left a void in emergency, paediatric, mental health and maternity care that MSF is contributing to fill, as the displaced population continues to return home. We are focusing on capacity-building among the national staff while Mosul recovers from the conflict, and hope that our facility will continue to serve the surrounding community long after we are gone. The local doctors are of a high standard, and are very proud of their work, so it makes my job easy. Working with such motivated and competent staff also allows MSF to expand its role, develop its protocols, and try new things. However, it is tough seeing a city formerly renowned in the Middle East for its quality of medical training reduced to providing care in temporary structures in the disused car parks of bombed-out hospitals. It never ceases to shock me seeing the level of devastation in the city every day on our drive to the hospital. However, I am also filled with admiration for the resilience of the people here, who by their strong sense of community and pride in themselves, will rebuild the city that they love and make it a comfortable place to live again. At home we see our ERs filled with people who have turned to drink and drugs to cope with the setbacks and tragedies they have faced. But here all the angst is internalised, and every day we see many cases of what is known here as "hysteria", where it seems the mind has shut down and repressed so much that the body starts to follow suit. There are times we struggle to tell apart the symptoms of physical illness from the manifestations of severe stress. I can only imagine the horrors the people had to deal with during the presence of Isil. We try to avoid asking things directly, so instead I get a hint of what happened from our doctors and nurses during quiet times between patients late in the night, when they cautiously open up about their experiences. I really miss my wife while I'm here but I am enjoying the work so much that I'm going to stay in Mosul helping patients for another two months. I am really looking forward to Christmas. We have a fun group of international staff living in our house here, and we will make the most of our time together away from home. A team dinner and secret Santa is planned. I'm not sure if we will be able to source a turkey in time but we will try, inshallah! Dr Eve Bruce, lives in Dingle, Co Kerry. Dr Bruce will be spending this Christmas in Amman, Jordan, where she is hospital director of a reconstructive surgery project run by Medecins Sans Frontieres Relatives and friends of the family attend the funeral of seven-year-old Jakelin Caal, who died in a Texas hospital two days after being taken into custody by US border patrol agents in a remote stretch of the New Mexico desert. Photo: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images An eight-year-old boy from Guatemala died yesterday in the custody of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the second such fatality this month involving an immigrant child in federal detention. The cause of death wasn't known, CBP said in a statement. According to the agency, the boy was taken to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with his father on Monday after showing signs of potential illness. He was diagnosed with a cold and a fever and released. The child then was returned to the hospital later the same day with nausea and vomiting. He died shortly after midnight on Christmas Day, CBP said. The agency's statement didn't specify where the child had been in custody. The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General and the Guatemalan government have been notified, it said. A seven-year-old girl, also from Guatemala, died earlier this month while in CBP custody. The family of Jakelin Caal disputed US officials' claims she had not been given food or water for days. Jakelin and her father were seeking asylum in the US and were among a large group of migrants arrested on December 6 near a remote border crossing in New Mexico. Hours later, they were placed on a bus to the nearest Border Patrol station, but Jakelin began vomiting and eventually stopped breathing. She later died at a Texas hospital. Donald Trump, accompanied by National Security Adviser John Bolton, third from left, first lady Melania Trump, fourth from right, US Ambassador to Iraq Doug Silliman, third from right, and senior military leadership, at Al Asad Air Base (Andrew Harnik/AP/PA) Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, on his visit to Iraq (Andrew Harnik/AP/PA) US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria during an unannounced visit to Iraq, saying that many people are going to start seeing things the same way he does. Trump abruptly made the decision on Syria last week, against the advice of top aides and commanders, including Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned the next day. Expand Close Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, on his visit to Iraq (Andrew Harnik/AP/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, on his visit to Iraq (Andrew Harnik/AP/PA) Trump said he had told his advisers, "let's get out of Syria," but was then persuaded to stay, before deciding to bring the 2,000 troops home. "I think a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. It's time for us to start using our head," the president told reporters at the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad where he and first lady Melania Trump spent three hours on the ground with U.S. troops. Expand Close President Donald Trump in the White House (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Donald Trump in the White House (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Trump also said the United States had no plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq, adding, In fact we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria." Trump indicated he would not rush to nominate a new secretary to replace Mattis, the first defense chief in decades to resign over policy differences with the president. Trump said Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, whom he named on Sunday to replace Mattis in an acting capacity starting on Jan. 1, "could be there for a long time." Trump has come under withering criticism from fellow Republicans, Democrats and international allies over his decision to pull out of Syria because he believed Islamic State militants have been defeated. Critics argue that the decision could undercut U.S. leverage in the region and undermine diplomatic efforts to the end the Syrian civil war, now in its eighth year. Ankara is threatening a new offensive in Syria. To date, U.S. forces in Syria have been seen as a stabilizing factor and have somewhat restrained Turkeys actions against Syrian Kurdish forces. On Sunday, Trump said in a tweet that he had spoken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan about a "slow and highly coordinated" withdrawal of the U.S. troops, suggesting that he might slow down the process after the barrage of criticism. A complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria would leave a sizeable U.S. military presence in the region, including about 5,200 troops across the border in Iraq. Much of the U.S. campaign in Syria has been waged by warplanes flying out of Qatar and other locations in the Middle East. (Writing by Lesley Wroughton; editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler) Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Sharing a cute picture of themselves, the Ishqbaaaz actor posted "Bali with the wifey"[sic] Both of them look uber cool and we can't wait to see more pictures from their trip. Till then, check out their this picture here... Featured Video For the ones who don't know, Kunal and Bharti met each other during The Buddy project. However, they kept silent about their relationship as both are extremely private persons. It was only until earlier this year, when Kunal shared a picture of them from their roka ceremony that the couple announced their relationship officially. This wedding season saw a lot of TV celebs joining the bandwagon of marrieds. From Kapil Sharma, Additi Gupta, Parul Chauhan to Kunal Jaisingh, many small screen actors and actresses are taken. Recently, we shared Parul Chauhan's pictures from her honeymoon in Nepal. And the next couple who has headed for their we-time is Kunal Jaisingh and Bharti Kumari. Not all superheroes wear capes! Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has contributed Rs 51 lakh towards Chief Minister Relief Fund in the wake of severe floods in Bihar. The Bollywood star wrote to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and expressed his condolences to all those who were affected by the calamity. "Indeed I am deeply stricken by the natural calamity that has hit the state of Bihar. My deepest condolences and sympathies to all whose lives have been affected in the recent flood," Bachchan wrote. Incessant rainfall that resulted in floods in the state, over 70 people have lost their lives while many people are still missing. Many districts of Bihar, including capital city Patna, have been affected by floods. Kalki Koechlin had once said that if you cant donate money for the ones in need, the best you can do is spread the word to let the potential donators know how they can help and make a difference, and rightly so. Celebrities, especially the ones belonging to the world of showbiz, often find themselves under media scrutiny for not using their star status for the betterment of society. If you have money in your pocket and a name which has a massive fan following, you are automatically considered wise. People believe in you. And if not that, they at least patiently listen to what you say. So, who better than rich, powerful and famous can evoke change in society? The best example of the same is Amitabh Bachchans campaign for Polio. Not many people know that Big B didnt charge a single penny for the campaign that successfully helped eradicate the disease from the nation. Read More: Bill Gates Applauds Amitabh Bachchan For Polio Eradication In India, Calls Him A Real-Life Superhero Be it the Kathua rape case or the #MeToo movement that took the nation by storm this year, a lot of Bollywood celebrities expressed their opinions and condemned the wrong acts on social media. And then, there were also those who not only tweeted to make a difference but went a step ahead to participate in the activities contributing to change. Heres applauding their efforts, because these celebs used their star power for good and made a difference to the society. #1 Amitabh Bachchan When Amitabh Bachchan falls sick, the entire nation prays for him, and the legendary man that he is misses no opportunity to pay it back to the ones in need. This year, Big B, paid off loans of 1398 UP farmers, gave Rs 1 crore each to the families of those martyred and another Rs. 1.5 crore to waive off loans of farmers. Furthermore, he also donated Rs 50 lakh for buying machinery to help manual scavengers. Whats more? He recently donated 50 lakhs to an NGO for the welfare of senior citizens. Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan Fulfills His Promise, Gifts Machines To BMC For Sewage Cleaning & Wins Hearts #2 Randeep Hooda On his birthday (on August 20), Randeep Hooda flew down to Kerela to to join Khalsa aid in the relief work for the victims of the relentless floods, that caused a damage of Rs 40,000 and took more than 450 lives. With his own hands, he served food to the flood-stricken people of Kerela. Read More: After Volunteering With Khalsa Aid For Relief Work, Randeep Hooda Praises The Spirit Of Kerala Among other good deeds that he did this year, Randeep Hooda also helped clean Mumbai beaches after Ganpati Visarjan winning hearts and gaining all the deserved respect. Read More: A Day After Ganpati Visarjan, Randeep Hooda And Other Bollywood Stars Turn Beach Clean-up Warriors #3 Varun Dhawan On World Environment Day, Varun Dhawan joined hands with volunteer group ForWard 69. He not only launched a bottle crushing kiosk, but he also volunteered to clean the Juhu Beach. Also Read: Not Just Beach Cleanup, Varun Dhawan Also Launched A Plastic Recycle Machine On Environment Day #4 Actor Vishal South Indian actor Vishal, who is also the President of Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council and Secretary of Nadigar Sangam, adopted an entire village Karagavayal (located near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu), which was heavily hit by Cyclone Gaja and is said to have been worst affected areas of the region. Vishal promised to restore the village. Read More: Actor Vishal Adopts An Entire Village Hit By Cyclone Gaja In Tamil Nadu, Promises To Restore It #5 Dia Mirza Leading the #BeatThePlastic Campaign, UN Environment-led global initiative, Dia Mirza, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India, actively participated in the campaign urging fans to avoid using plastic-based products. Ive completely stopped the use of all single use plastics. So, my day starts with a bamboo toothbrush and plastic earbuds have been replaced by bamboo ones. My sanitary napkin is 100 per cent natural and biodegradable; I didnt even know till two years ago that my sanitary napkin was largely made of plastics. I say no to straws, and if I have one takeaway coffee, I have my own mug that I carry with me. I carry my own water wherever I go and dont drink packaged water. I even tried to trend a hashtag called #thetravelingbottle on social media, she shared. Also Read: https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/celebs/dia-mirza-does-it-again-undertakes-a-cleanliness-drive-at-dadar-beach-on-world-earth-day-343986.html #6 Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan via his Meer Foundation donated Rs 21 Lakhs for the victims of Kerela Floods. Later, Resul Pookutty, who had won Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for Slumdog Millionaire, revealed how he had reached out to the King Khan personally and thanked him for his prompt action and generosity. Furthermore, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Shah Rukh Khan donated 50 wheelchairs. Read More: 11 Inspiring Acts Of Generosity By Shah Rukh Khan Which Prove He's A True Hero In Every Sense Of The Word! #7 Akshay Kumar By contributing to meaningful cinema that has a social message for the audiences, Akshay Kumar has often contributed to starting of conversations on topics including sanitary napkins and toilets. So much so, that inspired by his movie Padman, a Dubai teen adopted 250 tribal girls and donated them sanitary pads. And not just that, Akshay Kumar also donated Rs 5 lakh to jobless acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. #8 Sushant Singh Rajput Along with other Bollywood celebrities, Sushant Singh Rajput also won hearts by donating a hefty sum to Kerala Flood victims. Sushant donated Rs. 1 crore after a fan raised a request to him via Instagram. Without thinking twice, Sushant Singh Rajput instantly extended a helping hand. Read More: Sushant Singh Rajput Proves To Be A Good Samaritan, Donates Rs 1 Crore For Kerala Floods #9 Priyanka Chopra From South Africa to Bangladesh, UNICEFs goodwill ambassador Priyanka Chopra visited several places to meet the refugee kids and spread awareness about violence faced by them. Sharing their stories via her Instagram account, PC became a target of trolls. But keeping all of that aside, she continued with the good work. She revealed how she was heartbroken hearing their stories. Spending quality time and playing with them, she added a pinch of cheerfulness to their lives. Also Read: 9 Bollywood Celebrities Who Are Quietly Making The World A Better Place By Supporting Eco Causes Tiger Shroff is hailed as the best action hero in the country. With a chiseled physique and killer dance moves, he has often floored the audiences. The man has a massive fan following. The reviews of his film Baaghi might not be outstanding, but he is always welcomed with a thunderous response. That is one of the reasons why after two instalments, Baaghi 3 is also in the works. Fans love Tiger Shroff for his killer dance moves too. He often shares his dance videos on Instagram. Remember some time ago, he danced to Nora Fatehis Dilbar and fans couldnt stop raving about it. This time, Tiger Shroff grooved to Shahid Kapoors Urvashi and fans were left swooning. For the uninitiated, Tiger Shroff will next be seen shaking a leg with Hollywood star Will Smith. If you havent seen it yet, heres the glimpse. Also Read: Hailed As The Best Action Hero, 9 Reasons Why Tiger Shroff Is Shining Bright In The Industry Kulchas are synonymous with Amritsar, because the moment we ask for kulchas, we automatically attach Amritsar to the word. And, just like that our search for the perfect Amritsari kulcha finds us, you guessed it, in Amritsar. Kubbra Sait takes in the market scene in Amritsar One of the oldest addresses in the city when it comes to Amritsari kulche is Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale. When here, make sure you try their famous aloo kulcha. The delicious aloo kulcha is the result of lots of patience, seven layers of flour and a generous stuffing of just about anything: from potatoes to panner to cauliflower. Once this is done, the dough is flattened out and then cooked inside a hot tandoor. Screen grab The famous kulcha is probably one of the few dishes in the world that even has its own sound, the crispy crunch. And speaking of crispy, the story of how the kulcha came to be packs its own crunch. The origin of tandoors and tandoori cooking can be traced back to the time of the Indus Valley civilisation. But it is naan that is credited with the birth of the stuffed kulcha. Naan, meanwhile, came to India from Persia. One can only guess that this birth took place in a nameless kitchen one fine day when a cook decided that the naan was just plain boring, and decided to stuff the naan with some interesting ingredients. Kulchas being cooked in the tandoor That said, there is proof that the connection between Amritsar and kulcha is at least 200 years old. It is said that the French cooks of English officers introduced the seven-layered pastry technique. Such is the charm of kulchas that today they're popular across the country. Even Shah Jahan used to love his naans and kulchas. And the Nawab of Hyderabad made his Coat of Arms with seven kulchas. Wait there's more. Watch the video below, and join Kubbra Sait and Indiatimes as we discover India's flavourful history with #IndiaOnAPlate: It is sub-zero temperatures in Srinagar and one of its biggest tourist attractions, the Dal Lake is already frozen. But in the Summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a fight brewing over the lake. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the GOC Army, LAWDA are locking horns over who is responsible for cleaning up and de-weeding the lake. It all began with the SMC beginning a 21 day-long cleaning mission at the Dal lake in collaboration with army and local public. Me, my corporators, Smc official, Lake authorities, Army &local public of dal started dal cleaning drive of 21 days. pic.twitter.com/ZBzNFEodv6 Sheikh Mohammad Imran (@imrankehwah) December 23, 2018 The drive was headed by newly-elected Deputy Mayor Shiekh Imran and at least eighty Army boats and three hundred shikaras of Dal along with SMC men and machinery took part in the cleaning operation. Shiekh Imran who posted photos of the operation suggested that it was on his request the army and LAWDA joined the initiative. Clean Dal lake is a priority for all of us &thankful to army for volunteering with lake authorities &dal dwellers on the my request &intervention of LWDA head. We need to sensitize all the stakeholders for cleaning the lake &keeping it clean too. pic.twitter.com/5eDm64CWpp Sheikh Mohammad Imran (@imrankehwah) December 23, 2018 However this did not go down well with Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu from Sajad Lone-led Peoples Conference. In a series of tweets Mattu suggested that the Army needs to venture into civil governance domains as it is not their job. He also added that SMC has not entered into any collaborative operation with the Army for any cleaning, de-weeding operations in Dal which is the domain of Lakes & Waterways Development Authority. Mattu said that a proposed collaborative drive in peripheries with LWDA is still being planned and all such collaborations require official authorization and MoUs. Earlier, an army spokesperson had said that A joint task force of Army, Land and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is presently working towards this mission and is currently sharing the technical expertise and infrastructure available with them for the same". Army and Awaam join hands to restore the glory of Dal Lake, exploring ways and means to measure up to the enormity of the task.#kashmir #indianArmy @adgpi @NorthernComd_IA @tourismgoi pic.twitter.com/YPVLcUNc10 Chinar Corps - Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) December 24, 2018 The Army spokesperson said that as a pilot project, this joint task force is working towards improving the present speed of de-weeding, assessing the quantum and types of equipment and machines required for de-weeding besides ascertaining the strategy to contain the contributing factors of weeding in the Dal Lake. AP The Dal lake which is spread over 22 sq kms is one of the iconic landmarks of Srinagar and most famous for its shikara boats. However, in the recent years, the lake has suffered due to neglect, increasing habitation, lack of waste management. The ever growing weeds are also slowing killing the lake. AP The Prime Ministers office has decided to select candidates and questions in advance for an interaction programme entitled 'My booth is a strong booth, according to a report in The Times of India. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Muslim Worshippers Say They Have Nowhere To Go If They're Not Allowed Namaz In Noida AFP After the Uttar Pradesh police asked the companies in Noidas industrial hub to ensure that their employees cant officer in open spaces including parks, the Muslim workers have no place to offer prayers. Read more 2) A Disabled Man Just Spoke About His Political Preference, See What A BJP Leader Did To Him Twitter BJP of late is in news for all the wrong reasons. On one hand, PM Modi is facing the heat for vetting questions being left red-faced at a party meeting, in other news a BJP leader attacked a disabled man after he said he will vote for Akhilesh Yadav. Read more 3) Mentally Challenged Girl Miraculously Returns 5 Years After She Went Missing In Kedarnath Flood AFP A 17-year-old mentally challenged girl who had gone missing during 2013 floods in Kedarnath made a fairytale return and got reunited with her family in Aligarh after five years. Read more 4) For Many Indians, It Was 'Meri' Or 'Marry' Instead Of Merry Christmas, Finds Google Search afp But the Google search shows that Indians are rather confused in the spelling of Merry and as a result, many searched for it on Google and those who did bother to google it, wished their loved ones 'Meri' Christmas or Even Marry Christmas. Read more 5) Army Is Cleaning Kashmir's Neglected Dal Lake As Local Politicians Are Fighting To Take Credit It is sub-zero temperatures in Srinagar and one of its biggest tourist attractions, the Dal Lake is already frozen. But in the Summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a fight brewing over the lake. Read more Not too long ago, Uttar Pradesh police left everyone in splits after doing 'Thain, Thain' after their arms didn't work amid an encounter with dreaded criminals. Well, it seems, Delhi Police too were eager to have their 'moment of pride', in their own peculiar way. A group of Delhi policemen, who went to a robbery spot realised that they had forgotten their weapons at the office. According to reports, the incident took place at a farmhouse in South Delhi's Sainik Farms area. As a result, the four assailants fled with jewellery and cash worth Rs 15 lakhs after keeping a senior citizen couple and domestic help hostage for roughly 75 minutes. pti The incident took place on Saturday night and when the men barged in the farmhouse after taking wife of the owner who is a senior citizen and domestic help hostage, one of the domestic staffs managed to escaped and reached Neb Sarai police station which was located just 150 metre away from the spot. In response, two police personnel came along the staff, but after reaching the house, they turned back saying they had forgotten their weapons and would return with more men. JCP, Devesh Srivastava said that three policemen have been suspended for their negligence on duty including the duty officer of Neb Sarai police station for not informing his seniors. The police said farmhouse owner Deepak Hada (73) and his wife Kiran (67) have been living here for the past 20 years. Hada trades in yarn Police later told the first the assailants took domestic staff Ramesh Kumar hostage who has been working as a cleaner for the last six months. Ramesh was sleeping in a room near the gate. The men tied him up. They entered the house where they found another help, Sunil Kumar, and beat him up, an officer told The Indian Express. Sunil, another domestic staff later told: I woke up to the men assaulting me and screamed for help. They tied me up and entered the owners room. Meanwhile, Ramesh managed to free self, I went to the police station and told the officers what had happened. After questioning me, two policemen took me to the house in their gypsy. When they entered, they were threatened by the accused They came out and told me they have forgotten their weapons. They asked me to stay alert outside the farmhouse while they went back to the station. I asked them to take me along as well but they left me alone. The accused fled at 2.15 am, before police returned, he alleged. reuters Hada said he had gone to Kolkata when the incident took place, My wife was at home with the helps. The men beat up Sunil and broke down the door to my wifes room. But she locked herself in the bathroom and pleaded with them to leave. They kept knocking on the door, asking her to give the keys to the cupboard. She gave in to their demands and they ransacked the house. Defending the action taken by police, DCP (south) Vijay Kumar said, The men went to verify the complainants allegations After they did, they returned to call more policemen and to get their weapons. The accused managed to escape in 15 minutes. We are probing the case and have some strong leads. Police said. An FIR has been lodged. The Prime Ministers office has decided to select candidates and questions in advance for an interaction programme entitled 'My booth is a strong booth, according to a report in The Times of India. The report surfaced days after a BJPs workers question on middle class embarrassed Modi in a meeting. We are double checking the process to avoid questions like the one raised by a functionary, Nirmal Kumar Jain, from Puducherry, a source from the party said, according to the article. Nirmal, a BJP supporter,has asked Modi a tougher question than Navika Rahul Sudhir Arnab has asked In 4.5 yrs. pic.twitter.com/MaWIF01YDr Ravi Ratan (@scribe_it) December 23, 2018 The party has been receiving questions from keen workers. They are shooting questions in video format and have been asked to send it 48 hours ahead of Sundays programme. Who said modi ji cannot answer questions? His question was out of script! PS: now i know why he is afraid of press conference.pic.twitter.com/mb7qdlhL3z mahesh vikram hegde (@mvmeett) December 21, 2018 Photo: Reuters The workers have been asked to fill in a google format form with information about themselves, importance of their constituency, question, address and contact number. The Puducherry incident is also a lesson for us, said another party functionary, adding that the teleconference programme, which covered 15 constituencies in TN, would be shifted to north and eastern states of the country in the coming days, said the report. AP Modi, who was armed with numbers and statistics to speak volumes on his governments schemes, shrugged off Nirmals question, saying that he was a trader and he would talk like one. His government was taking care of the common people, he added. Nirmals question centred around the governments focus on tax collections, while not offering the expected IT sops for the middle class, says the report by TOI. Congress President Rahul Gandhi too took a dig at PM Modi: Vanakam Puducherry! Thats NoMos answer to the struggling middle class. Forget a press conference he cant even string together a polling booth workers conference. BJP-vetted questions is a superb idea. Consider vetted answers as well. https://t.co/ukoDtgCvld @deccanherald Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 25, 2018 People on Twitter were quick to respond to the incident and roasted BJP for the move: *Modi playing KBC* Amitabh: Kaun si lifeline use karna chahenge aap? Modi ji: Phone a Friend. *Calls IB Chief* Modi: KBC ke computer main se 4th question ka answer check karke batana. Jet Lee(Vasooli Bhai) (@Vishj05) December 26, 2018 Not just from Media, Modi with his 56 inch broad chest fears questions even from his own party workers.#ModiMadeDisaster #Modi #ModiLies #ModiGovt pic.twitter.com/IEo4wOiHtn Shafin jahan (@hadiyashafin) December 24, 2018 Any types of tough questions Modi easily answered.... pic.twitter.com/rBfjpNAGCw / Kosal Ram (@KosalramT) December 24, 2018 Microsoft CEO Bill Gates is already known for his many charitable efforts, aside from his tech innovations. As it turns out, he's also a pretty freaking great Secret Santa. The tech icon delivered another batch of legendary gifts this past week, as showcased on Reddit. Bill Gates/Twitter Gates has been part of the Reddit Gifts system since he signed up like any other regular user way back in 2013. They host an annual Secret Santa campaign, matching users that have signed. Once paired, you're obligated to send a thoughtful gift to your receiver, who might be anywhere in the world, and you'll get one from your own secret santa too. Horray! @BillGates gift has arrived and its even more wonderful than we imagined! Check out the original post here! https://t.co/pz4pZEiLvc Happy holidays, everyone pic.twitter.com/26exzdSY1N Reddit Gifts (@RedditGifts) December 21, 2018 Even celebrities that take part are randomly matched with users for the Reddit secret santa, and this year Gates was matched with a 49-year-old woman that works in IT in Virginia. And to read her later Reddit post, it was the best thing she could ever have asked for this year. Also Read: On His 63rd Birthday, How Bill Gates Spends His $94 Billion Fortune To Make Our World Better "I know you love making cards, so I've included lots of them in your gift: greeting cards, postcards, even playing cards!," Gates wrote in a personal letter to Reddit user moondazed. "I may have tucked one card into a hiding place too. And look around for a special greeting from one of your favorite authors." What he was referring to was Hank Green, a popular author and YouTuber, who had included a signed copy of his latest book for moondazed, along with a special video greeting just for her. The custom horse blanket - u/moondazed The most important thing though is how much though Gates put into the gift. Using clues from her Reddit posts, he deciphered that she loves animals, so he sent a donation in her name to her favourite local animal shelter. She also lives on a farm with, alongside multiple dogs and cats, a miniature horse, so Gates sent a custom-made blanket for the equine critter. Also Read: Bill Gates Has Spent Rs 1,460 Crore To Build A New Toilet That Doesn't Need A Sewage System That wasn't the end of it though. Gates also sent other gifts pertaining to moondazed's interests indicated on Reddit, including: A hand-written haiku A deck of cards showcasing Gates' personal book recommendations Five of those recommended books 10 sheets of stamps for Reddit's 'Random acts of card' (including a heat-activated solar eclipse stamp) A whole set of knitting supplies - u/moondazed A yarn swift, yarn, and a holder Card decoration materials Christmas treats from Washington DC and so much more. "It took me a LONG time to open everything in my box!" moondazed said in her thank you post. "It was incredibly exciting, I may have cried a couple of times, and I'm still awed and amazed at the things I received. Thank you so much, Mr. Gates, you made my Christmas especially merry!!! This year I asked my Secret Santa (one of my favorite @reddit traditions) to give to a cause that matters to them. My Santa is helping a young girl continue her education in a refugee camp through @theIRC: https://t.co/wtTunWwJaW pic.twitter.com/kkie3vk98O Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 20, 2018 And what about Gates himself? Well, the man who has everything posted on Reddit asking his secret santa to donate to a charity of their choice in his name. So they donated to the International Rescue Committee. Isn't the spirit of giving so heartwarming? Those who own dogs develop a bond that's unbreakable, they turn into family members and to part from them is the hardest thing to do. In a heartbreaking incident, a dying wife asked to see her beloved pet dog one last time and a caring husband did everything in his power to make that happen. Reuters Sharing the incident on Reddit the man wrote that he somehow managed to dodge hospital rules and smuggled their pet dog in a suitcase to her room. Read the story below: "My wife was in the hospital after a very invasive surgery, which after a few days, looked like it did not produce ideal results. The prognosis was not good. She was able to speak, but was not eating or drinking, and relied completely on her IV and hard pain pills. In one rare instance of cogent speech, she convinced me to sneak our dog into her private room, so she could see her "one more time." Our dog, Bella, is about a 50 pound Australian Shepherd, and as it turns out, she fits nicely in a normal suitcase. I packed her in, with the lid unzipped, and placed her in the car until we arrived at the hospital. When we arrived, I "explained" to her that I would open the zipper in a few minutes and that she could see her Mommy. Unbelievably, she never whimpered, barked, or whined. When I walked past the station nurses, I told them I was simply bringing items to make my wife more comfortable. No problem, they said. When we entered the room, my wife was asleep. I unzipped the suitcase, and Bella immediately jumped on the bed, and gingerly laid across her chest, somehow avoiding the wires and IV. She positioned herself to where she could look directly into my wife's eyes, and laid completely still, until about twenty minutes later, when my wife woke up, and started moaning in pain. Bella immediately started licking her, and quietly moaned, as if knowing that barking would definitely blow our cover. My wife hugged her for almost an hour, smiling the whole time. We were busted by one nurse who was so touched that she promised not to tell. When my wife finally went back to sleep, I loaded Bella back in the suitcase, and she somewhat sheepishly obliged. My wife sadly passed a few days later, and now, whenever I grab the suitcase, (any suitcase) Bella thinks we are going to see her again." We hope the guy finds the strength to deal with this great loss. Ramayya Krishan, Indian American dean of Carnegie Mellon Universitys Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, was named the 2018 Bright Internet Award winner for his scholarly achievements and contributions in the field of management information systems. (cmu.edu photo) Sharafat Ali Khan, 33, was identified by ICE as the Brazilian-based facilitator of what the agency termed an alien smuggling organization. He has been turned over to Pakistani authorities. (representational image) GOLD and Crude OIL Intraday: Elliott Wave Analysis EW-Forecast.com - 29 minutes ago Crude Oil spiked down as OPEC plans to go with 400k output per day in January, but energy recovered later as a technical reaction to oversold conditions. We can see a nice turn up for now, CLF22 : 68.40 (+2.86%) ^XAUUSD : 1,772.76 (+0.28%) Jobs Friday Market Tea Leaves - 39 minutes ago Another Jobs Friday and will we continue to see an Uptrend in the markets? Chinese developer warns it might not pay $400 million bond AP - Fri Dec 3, 2:03AM CST BEIJING (AP) A Chinese real estate developer warned Friday it might fail to pay off a $400 million bond due next week, adding to financial strains in an industry that is struggling to avoid defaults... $SPX : 4,577.10 (+1.42%) $DOWI : 34,639.79 (+1.82%) $IUXX : 15,990.76 (+0.71%) Cocoa (CC) Tries Halting Oct-Nov Slide Just Above 2021 Low Tradable Patterns - Fri Dec 3, 1:34AM CST Cocoa (CCH22) rebounded a massive 4% plus yesterday, bouncing off downchannel support (on the daily chart). Significantly, although CC had broke last week below upchannel support (on the weekly chart),... CCH22 : 2,450 (-0.12%) NIB : 27.89 (+5.01%) Asian shares mixed after broad rally on Wall Street AP - Thu Dec 2, 9:51PM CST Stocks were mixed in Asia on Friday after a broad rally on Wall Street as investors kept an eye on the spread of the new coronavirus variant and measures governments are taking to restrain it. $SPX : 4,577.10 (+1.42%) $DOWI : 34,639.79 (+1.82%) $IUXX : 15,990.76 (+0.71%) KR : 44.65 (+11.04%) Beans Bounce Double Digits Barchart - Thu Dec 2, 4:50PM CST Soybean futures were up double digits on Thursday as prices continued to recover from the sharp post Turkey Day and Month End selloff. Jan beans are now 45 cents weaker than the pre Thanksgiving high,... ZSF22 : 1256-0 (+0.94%) ZSPAUS.CM : 12.1110 (+1.35%) ZSH22 : 1261-2 (+0.90%) ZSX21 : 1234-0s (+1.79%) ZSPX21US.CM : 12.0970 (+1.34%) VANCOUVER, British Columbia - December 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS, C.BOSS) reports that its new subsidiary UJ Topicals Inc. has entered agreements with Nova Paths LLC to manufacture and distribute its THC and CBD infused line of topical products throughout the state of Oregon. Nova Paths is an Oregon Liquor Control Commission approved and licensed manufacturer and distributor of cannabis products in Oregon. Yield Growth's wholly-owned subsidiary, UJ Topicals Inc., has granted to Nova Paths a non-exclusive license to its brand and proprietary product formulations for pain balm, analgesic pain gel, a pain patch, massage oil, capsules, and other products (the "UJ Topicals Line"). Nova Paths will manufacture CBD and THC infused versions of the products under Oregon law. UJ Topicals has also appointed Nova Paths as its exclusive distributor for the UJ Topicals Line in Oregon. Under the terms of the agreements, Nova Paths will retain a fee of 25% of the wholesale revenues from sales of UJ Topicals and pay the balance of wholesale revenue, less certain expenses, to UJ Topicals. New Frontier Data projects $1.04 billion in Oregon's total cannabis sales in 2020 - $856 million recreational, $187 million medical. That will rank the state as the fifth largest US market behind California ($3.1 billion), Washington ($2.28 billion), Colorado ($1.83 billion) and Massachusetts ($1.05 billion). "We are excited to bring our high-quality, Ayurveda-inspired products infused with THC and CBD to Oregon," said Penny Green, CEO of Yield Growth and UJ Topicals. "We will now look to finding licensing partners to launch our THC infused line of topicals in other legal states such as California and Washington." UJ Topicals Inc. was recently incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Yield Growth. It has acquired rights from Yield Growth subsidiary, Urban Juve Provisions Inc., to infuse its catalogue of over 50 product formulas with CBD and THC and market the products through appropriate channels. UJ Topicals is developing several international topicals brands with the intent of launching them in jurisdictions where cannabis topicals are legal. The Yield Growth Corp. is building an international network for the legal manufacturing and sale of products containing hemp oil, CBD and THC. Topicals are cannabis-infused products which are most popularly chosen for localized pain relief, muscle soreness, tension, and inflammation. Anecdotal evidence exists for an even wider spectrum of benefits, from psoriasis, dermatitis and itching, to headaches and cramping. Topicals are a fast growing industry within the cannabis sector. According to data from BDS Analytics, sales of topical cannabis products grew by 82% from 2016 to 2017 in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California. Legal topicals sold in these states included CBD and THC infused creams, lotions, massage oils, lubricants, lip balm and patches, with infused balms and salves being the top selling items. About Nova Paths LLC Nova Paths is an OLCC licensed processor, manufacturer and distributor of cannabis products in Oregon, USA. Nova Paths has an established distribution network of over 400 stores in Oregon, with more stores joining every month. Nova Paths product lines include edibles, topicals, vape pens, capsules, and flower. The company manufactures in three models - house brands, licensed brands, and "Made in Nova" - a unique program that enables makers to develop and produce products inside Nova Paths, and thus dramatically reduce their time to market. Brands manufactured and/or distributed by Nova Paths include Top Hat (taffies and tarts), Pure Ratios, Majesty cosmetics, Dr. Terpene capsules and cartridges, Happy Daze capsules, Honu edibles, Pure Vape vape cartridges, Lissa's cookie dough, Allay topicals, Alto Essentials (single serving packets of olive oil, salt, and honey) and several others. About The Yield Growth Corp. The Yield Growth Corp. is a diverse team of business executives dedicated to rapid, sustainable financial growth for businesses with viable models for success. Its directors and officers have experience at multi-billion dollar international companies including M.A.C Cosmetics, Aritzia, Skechers, Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Urban Juve Provisions Inc., which has a catalogue of more than 50 wellness formulas, is wholly owned by Yield Growth. Urban Juve organically synthesizes ancient knowledge and modern techniques to create exceptional beauty and wellness solutions. Ayurvedic knowledge delineates three general categories or skin types. Urban Juve has translated these as Vitalize, Balance and Align, each with its own dedicated range of skin and body care formulations. Urban Juve has registered with Health Canada 26 products containing cannabis sativa hemp oil. The company has also filed 11 provisional patent applications in the United States. Urban Juve's skin care products are sold in Canada, with distribution agreements signed for markets in the United States and Italy. Urban Juve has licensed its formulas to Yield Growth wholly owned subsidiary UJ Topicals Inc., which is launching its cannabis topicals line in Oregon, U.S.A. For more information about Yield Growth, visit www.yieldgrowth.com or follow @yieldgrowth on Instagram. Visit www.urbanjuve.com and #findyourjuve across social platforms to learn, engage and shop. Investor Relations Contacts: Penny Green, Director, President & CEO Kristina Pillon, Investor Relations invest@yieldgrowth.com 1-833-514-BOSS 1-833-514-2677 1-833-515-BOSS 1-833-515-2677 The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward looking statements") under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates, forecasts, beliefs and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to the development, testing, licensing, intellectual property protection, and sale of, and demand for, Urban Juve and UJ Topicals products, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals where applicable, and the state of the capital markets. Yield Growth cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements provided by Yield Growth, as such forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future results or performance and actual results may differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Yield Growth expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abfc9e64-a885-4e34-a47f-92a21f3380c3 This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire News that Inspires big ideas Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Disclosure this Yield Growth news release is paid for news distribution on the Investorideas.com newswire. Learn more about costs and our newswire service http://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving platform has obtained another twenty licenses for autonomous vehicle road tests from Beijing's authority on December 25. Just a day ago, Tianjin's first ICV road test license was issued to the Internet giant. Baidu's legitimate autonomous driving road tests started with five T3 level provisional licenses that were issued to the company on March 22 and allowed it to execute road tests in areas like Haidian and Yizhuang. Around a week later, Fujian Province saw its autonomous vehicle road test be officially initiated as Pingtan, a county under the administration of Fuzhou (the capital of Fujian Province), released its first set of license plates to the Internet company. Then in April, Baidu Apollo received such formal licenses from authorities of Chongqing and Baoding, Hebei Province. Especially, the road tests in Chongqing help the company collect more valuable data to cope with emergencies and fit special road conditions due to the citys extreme complex geographical environment. Baidu hasn't slowed the pace down on pursuing breakthroughs. In October, it was given go-ahead from Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, along with another three firms. To date, the 20-month-old Apollo has built partnerships with over 130 companies and institutions globally and domestically and produced more than 300,000 lines of open source code which have been adopted by 12,000 developers. Telephone directories will no longer be distributed to every household from next year but instead will only be made available to phone users on request. ComReg, the telecoms regulator, has confirmed the provision of a free printed local area telephone directory to all households and businesses will be discontinued from 2019. Customers can still get a copy of their local area phonebook but will have to request one from Eir and may face a delivery charge. While telephone directories will remain free, Eir has been given permission to impose a delivery charge on consumers who want a copy. ComReg has estimated the possible cost could be 5 to 15. The regulator said it decided there were now reasons to change the obligations placed on Eir on telephone directories in its role as the universal service provider of fixed telephone line services. It has ruled there is no longer a need for the blanket printing and distribution of telephone directories. However, ComReg said it had decided that there was still a need for Eir to provide a printed directory of telephone subscribers within a particular geographic area on request to landline phone users. Eir has also been told to carry out a public awareness campaign to notify customers of the proposed changes by next summer with on request directories to be made available from the second half of 2019. The regulator said Eir has the discretion to decide whether or not to charge households and businesses for distribution of the telephone directories. However, it said the company cannot impose charges for the cost of printing and packaging the phonebooks but must limit any fee to transit costs. The new obligation will remain in place for one year to allow ComReg assess the actual level of demand from subscribers for telephone directories. The on-request printed directory of subscribers ensures the provision of basic telecommunication services, contributing to the social and economic inclusiveness and cohesiveness, ComReg said. It said its decision to ensure printed phone books were still available to customers was based on a factors including the fact that 18.4% of households have no internet connection and thus no access to Eirs online telephone directory. ComReg said there are about 100,000 households who only have a landline number, while other research demonstrated that smartphone ownership falls among older age groups. A Red-C survey commissioned by the regulator showed those aged over 55 years were still likely to use the printed telephone directory, particularly those living in Connacht and Ulster, for finding phone numbers. Thousands of education employees are having difficulty making decisions around retirement because education and training boards (ETBs) have failed in a legal obligation to provide annual pension statements. A teachers union claims the staffing and IT issues blamed by boards do not excuse the problem, which it said adds stress to those considering whether to avail of early retirement options. Since 2014, all public employers are obliged under Department of Public Expenditure and Reform rules to provide staff with an annual statement of their contributions to the public service pension scheme, as well as the pension and lump sum amounts accrued by them. But most or all ETBs have failed to do so, an issue which was highlighted in recently-published 2017 financial statements of two boards. The 16 ETBs, created by amalgamations of 33 vocational education committees (VECs) in 2013, have around 28,000 employees. The Kilkenny-Carlow ETB accounts, signed off in July, said it is not yet fully compliant with the obligation. This is an issue for all ETBs and is being pursued at national level, with a view to obtaining the resources required to resolve it, the boards internal control system statement said. Galway-Roscommon ETBs 2017 accounts said it did not meet its obligation to provide annual pension statements last year. This will continue to be a major challenge for GRETB until we have an IT system capable of generating pension statements and until all of our historical manual records are collated and inputted onto this system, its internal control statement said. It said pensions are a high-risk area for ETBs and the issue has been raised with the Department of Education by the representative body for the 16 boards, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), whose second-level members work mostly in ETB schools, said the issue affects all employees but severely hinders planning for those approaching retirement. Many teachers enter the profession later in their working lives and will only receive a partial pension based on their term of service. Clearly, they need to know exactly what their financial situation will be upon retirement, a TUI spokesperson said. He said staffing shortages or IT problems do not excuse the ongoing failure to meet this most basic of obligations to employees. This deficit in service must be resolved as a matter of urgency. Nessa White, general secretary of the ETBI, said the lack of necessary IT systems mean all 16 boards are unable to provide annual pension statements to staff. But, she stressed, that pension statements are provided to anyone who requests them. Due to resourcing issues, requests are prioritised, based on an individuals intended retirement date and their date of birth, she said. While some boards have payroll software systems that can generate statements when requested, staff must manually input details of an employees pension contributions and other information pre-dating the introduction of such systems. For other boards, the entire exercise needs to be done manually. Under a contract agreed earlier this year by the Office of Government Procurement, a new payroll system will be introduced across all ETBs, beginning on a phased basis in two boards early next year. But historic details for each employee will still need to be inputted manually when each board starts using new payroll software. Five people were arrested and two stolen motorbikes were seized in a Christmas Day operation by Gardai in north Dublin. It was part of a wider exercise to combat the use of illegally-operated scrambler bikes, quads and mopeds on roads in Cabra and Finglas on Christmas morning in recent years. Photos: An Garda Siochana Members of the Garda community policing teams called on schools and parents in recent weeks to warn of the dangers around such activity. They also distributed leaflets to try and encourage young people not to use these vehicles and asking parents not to buy them. These efforts continued on Christmas morning, when members of traffic, detective, specialist and regular policing units set out to combat the use of these motorcycles. It resulted in the seizure of 11 motorbikes, two of which were confirmed to have been stolen, and two cars. Five people have been arrested so far, with follow-up operations to come in the coming days and weeks as CCTV footage is analysed and results of technical examinations return, the Garda press office said in a statement. It said that investigations related to the operation are now continuing. The use of any motorcycle on a public road requires motor tax and insurance, and drivers must have a licence and wear a helmet. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan told the Dail a month ago that advice has been received by his department from the Attorney General about possible laws to tackle the impact of scramblers and quad bikes in local communities. It is also being considered by the Department of Transport, and is to be referred on to a multi-agency forum Mr Flanagan set up in April. It includes representatives of An Garda Siochana, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and local councils, and consideration is being given to the possibility of extra legal or other solutions can assist in tackling the problem. The RSA said last month that three of the four people who died as a result of incidents involving quad bikes or scramblers between 2014 and 2017 were 18 or younger. More than 30 others were injured in such incidents, nearly half of them who were no older than 18. Last June, a scrambler bike landed on a man who was sunbathing in a Dublin park, leaving him with a severe traumatic injury that means he has been in a vegetative state in Beaumont Hospital since then. Ilabek Avetian's wife Anzhela Kotsinian said in an interview on RTE radio last month that his brows move every time she says his name, but that his neurologist has told her he will never speak again. Dublin Fianna Fail TD John Curran said in the Dail in November that the improper use of the vehicles by youths has put elderly people in fear of going out and parents afraid to leave their children outside in some roads and estates. Records continue to tumble as more and more cruise liners are visiting Cork so much so that the Port of Cork is hoping to build a second cruise liner berth in Cobh. The port was visited by a record 92 cruise liners this year but this will be surpassed in 2019 as 104 ships have signalled their intention to stop in Cork. Its estimated the arrival of the cruise liners this year, which carried 157,000 passengers and 69,000 crew, was worth more than 12m to the local economy. A few years ago, the Port of Cork set itself the ambitious target of getting 75 liner visits by 2018 which it has since blown out of the water. The company is hoping to build a second berth in Cobh, which would cost in the region of 20m. Port of Cork chief executive Brendan Keating said it is hoped that the berth would be operational within the next five to six years, and by that stage they would envisage 125 to 130 cruise liner visits every year. The new berth would be able to accommodate the bigger liners now being built. The cruise liner business is growing worldwide, said Mr Keating. Its estimated that 27.5m people will have taken a cruise this year. The Port of Cork recently engaged with Price Waterhouse to seek expressions of interest from the private sector to develop and/or operate a new cruise berth at Lynchs Quay in Cobh. Already were encouraged by the level of interest, Mr Keating said. Wed hope to see it constructed in the next five to six years. We are planning ahead and it will enhance our ability to cater for the biggest ships in the world. Currently, if two cruise liners are booked to arrive in the port on the same day, one of them has to berth in Ringaskiddy. When the new berth is built in Cobh all liners will dock in the town, which will have a huge spin-off for local businesses. Not only do passengers spend their money in the town, the ships also attract sightseers from all over the country who also spend their cash in local shops, restaurants and hotels. Cobh lost nearly all of its heavy industry in recent decades, and relies on tourism income now more than ever. It is very short on bed nights however, and local councillors have been trying to convince their planning officials to look at sites where a large hotel could be developed. A potential developer has already come forward. Based on research carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes in 2017 on behalf of the Port of Cork, cruise passengers spend an average of 81 per visit and crew spend 29 per visit. The more liners that come, in the bigger the spend. Not only is the Port of Cork looking at infrastructure development, it recently mounted a charm offensive with the major cruise line companies. The companies gave them very positive feedback in terms of their passenger experiences when visiting the region. The 2019 cruise liner season will kick off with the arrival of Astoria on April 1 and wont conclude until the departure of Marco Polo on December 20. Mr Keating said that amongst the 2019 arrivals will be the Crown Princess, Norwegian Pearl, Celebrity Reflection, MSC Orchestra, and Brilliance of the Seas. Also, after a few years absence, we will have the return of Independence of the Seas, Mr Keating said. That 15-deck ship can accommodate up to 4,370 passengers and is served by 1,360 crew. Approval has been given for the controversial move to convert a former pub near the centre of Mitchelstown into an amusement arcade, despite strong opposition in the north Cork town. An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission to Perks Promotions to operate an amusement arcade out of the former Weavers Bar on Lower Cork Street. The faint jingle of Santas departing sleigh bells was replaced by a chorus of cash registers ringing across the country, as shoppers took to the St Stephens Day sales in search of discounted deals. Bargain-hunters queued outside department stores ahead of early openings this morning - with the retail industry hoping for a bonanza sales rush in order to meet projections for the month. Retail Ireland said a robust performance in the post-Christmas period would be needed to meet expectations. Earlier predictions forecasted a rise in consumer spending in the region of 3% over the festive season, which would boost sales by more than 150m this month. Mark Limby, stores director with Brown Thomas, said there was a marked difference in the approach to the sales by shoppers visiting its Dublin store, compared to those in Cork, Galway, and Limerick. In Cork, for example, we would see a steady stream of customers throughout the day, whereas in Dublin it is much more front-loaded, more customers queue to get in from opening, he said. Mr Limby said staff estimate that 2,000 customers entered the Dublin Brown Thomas store in the first 15 minutes of trading this morning He also noted the changing demographics of the sales shopper and said two-thirds of those in store in Dublin were young men looking for discounts on clothing ranges such as Stone Island and Canada Goose. Mr Limby said young menswear was also proving popular in Cork, as were womens accessories such as Mulberry. Rixo, a womenswear brand that is a recent addition to Brown Thomas, was also proving a popular draw in the companys Cork store on St Patricks Street. The Brown Thomas website offered online previews of the discounts that were available in-store only, and a number of brands saw half-price reductions. In the capital, Arnotts managing director Donald McDonald said they have had a strong start to its Winter Sale. After a very strong run-up to Christmas, we are seeing an excellent start to the sale and trading has exceeded our expectations, Mr McDonald said. Our new beauty hall is busier than ever whilst our menswear and jewellery departments are in strong demand too. Our sales have surpassed last years both in-store and online, he said. Shoppers scouring the Henry Street store bagged deals on ladies wear brands such as Tara Jarmon, Set, Michael by Michael Kors and Essentiel Antwerp which all offered up to 50% off. Accessory brands such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade and DKNY were all discounted by up to 50%. Deals on menswear saw prices on selected styles from Strellson and Selected reduced by up to 50%, while the price tags on selected lines in Gagliardi, Richard James and Calvin Klein were down by 30%. Kids clothing was also had price cuts of up to 50% in many cases, while in homewear the likes of Le Creuset, Jamie Oliver and Denby were reduced by up to half off, while cookware sets from Stellar and Meyer saw a price drop of up to 70%. Debenhams sale started online on December 23, and in-store on St Stephens Day, with discounts of up to 50% on products across a number of departments. The sales were not limited to large department stores peddling luxury brands - discount retailer Dealz also unveiled its St Stephens Day offerings, with many items reduced to just 75 cent. Strong post-Christmas trade will be needed for retail to meet projected growth figures for the year, according to the Ibec group that represents the sector. Retail Ireland said the next few days would be crucial in determining if Christmas 2018 would meet earlier positive expectations. It had indicated a rise in consumer spending in the region of 3% over the Christmas period, which would boost sales by over 150m this month. However, Retail Ireland said the feedback it has received from members suggests a strong post-Christmas sales performance will be needed to meet those expectations. Retail Ireland members said that there was some intense competition in the grocery sector, with supermarkets engaging in deep discounting to attract consumers, while extended Black Friday sales have distorted trade. The groups members also said the unseasonably mild weather has heavily hit fashion and footwear sales, and that retailers on the border are under pressure as shoppers cross into Northern Ireland to take advantage of sterlings weak performance against the euro amid Brexit uncertainty. The online sector in Ireland is set to achieve record sales, Retail Ireland said. Thomas Burke, the director of Retail Ireland, said that 2018 has been an up-and-down year for Irish retail and one characterised by a series of peaks and troughs in trading. The sector is still hopeful that growth targets can be realised, but trading conditions have been challenging, said Mr Burke. Trade in the early part of the year was severely disrupted by heavy snowfall while conversely, the long, hot, dry, summer brought bumper sales for some categories of retail. It would appear that this trend has continued into the Christmas period where, despite growing levels of consumer disposable income and almost full employment, some categories of retail have found trading conditions tough. This inconsistency in trading levels has necessitated heavy price discounting and promotional activity in recent weeks, with pre-Christmas sales starting on Black Friday now seemingly the norm in the sector. Promotional activity will grow further as we enter the traditional post-Christmas sales period. From all corners of the island, across all demographics, and on a wide range of issues, grassroots activism has gone mainstream. From first-time marchers to advocates with decades of experience, campaigners have made their political power felt this year, writes Joyce Fegan Salome Mbugua: Migrants rights Salome Mbugua is one of Irelands greatest assets. Born in Kenya, and having lived here since 1994, she is the founder and former CEO of AkiDwA -The Migrant Womens Network. Akina Dada wa Africa-AkiDwA, Swahili for sisterhood, is a national network of migrant women living in Ireland. The organisation was established in 2001 to address, isolation, racism and gender-based violence. Salome holds a Masters degree in Equality Studies from UCD and is currently undertaking her doctorate at Trinity College Dublin where her research focuses on integrating women into peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2015, Salome was awarded an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR-UN) fellowship. This year, Salome was one of the five newly-appointed members of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC). She is the first African woman to be appointed to the IHREC. While an important voice in Irish society now, she made a conscious decision to speak up. Salome, when she was pregnant with her now 17-year-old daughter, was verbally assaulted on the street and spat at. She was told not to bring another nigger in this country. The assault left her terrified initially, but she chose not to be silent in its aftermath and in the years that followed. She recently spoke out about the high level of unemployment of African nationals in Ireland. An Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report, published in November found that 16% of African nationals were unemployed last year compared to 7% of Irish people. Salome accused the State of failing to acknowledge the discrimination which is preventing many Africans from finding employment here. From a country point of view we need to be able to name the actual problem which is discrimination, she said. Jessica Bowes: Domestic Abuse It is estimated that one in five women in Ireland have been abused by a current or former partner, and 41% of Irish women know someone in their circle of family or friends who have experienced intimate partner violence. This violence, while oftentimes physical, can occur through emotional, mental, sexual and financial abuse. Having being seen historically as a private matter, where speaking about it could break up a family and ruin a mans reputation, it is still rare for survivors to speak publicly on the issue. This year Jessica Bowes did just that. In 2015, Jessica was hospitalised after a violent attack by her partner Jonathan McSherry. She had already secured a barring order against him in 2014, for previous physical and psychological abuse, where he punched her in front of their children and where he turned up at her workplace in a rage. This was on top of him instructing her to keep quiet during the birth of one of her children. In December 2016, McSherry was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for the 2015 attack, which left Jessica with multiple fractures to her face. In March 2017, while in prison, McSherry was sentenced to four and half years for threatening to kill a previous partner in 2013. However, in September of this year, he was released from prison after serving just 22 months. Ms Bowes worries that Irish society does not take domestic abuse seriously. These are people genuinely living in crisis. These women are not afraid for no reason. There are genuine, serious threats to most of them, she said. After McSherry was released from prison this autumn, Jessica once again spoke publicly, stating: I wont live in fear of him any more. In April of this year, Jessica gave an interview to RTEs Prime Time, that went viral. It has since been viewed 2.6m times. She tweets at @i_am_jessica_b. Aisling Glynn: Disabilities She has increased public understanding of what it is like to navigate Ireland in a wheelchair and she has also helped to set legal precedent in this country. In 2016, solicitor Aisling Glynn brought a case to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), on behalf of a boy, Luke Kelly Melia, whose former primary school discriminated against him on disability grounds by refusing to allow him bring his specially trained assistance dog into the school. Luke, who has cerebral palsy was awarded 5,500 after the WRC ordered the school to redraft its policies to ensure it complied with the law. The school, Knocktemple National School in Virginia, Co Cavan, was also given a year to report to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) on its progress. If the school failed to do so, the IHREC could have gone to the District Court for an enforcement order. It is understood to be the first case of its kind in Ireland, involving an assistance dog in school. Ms Glynn has since gone on to write a number of articles about her personal experience of life in a wheelchair, touching on the publics perception of what is and isnt possible for her. How can someone in a wheelchair become a solicitor? is one question she was asked. Another is: Werent they very good to give you a job with the wheelchair? Ms Glynn writes about the fact that people with disabilities are often seen as incapable, or certainly as less capable, evidenced by the fact that the ESRI found that people with disabilities in Ireland are four times less likely to be employed. The solicitor has also detailed the high level of organisation needed for the running of her life, and how she has two separate diaries. We can try to fix the battles disabled people face every day, because most of the struggles disabled people encounter arise from societal barriers, not from a persons disability, she said. Ailbhe Smyth: Repeal the 8th It started out as an anecdote, that was later verified as fact. As activists and campaigners arrived at a party to celebrate the result of the marriage equality referendum in May 2015, Ailbhe Smyth was handing out flyers. The sheets of paper detailed the steps that needed to be taken to remove the Eighth Amendment from the Irish Constitution. The 72-year-old academic had been campaigning on this issue for decades. She had been part of the womens liberation movement in the 1970s and the head of Womens Studies in UCD from 1990 to 2006. From 2015 to 2018, and long before, Ailbhe spoke at pro-choice rallies, events and marches all around the country, having set up the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment in 2014. The coalition, of which Ailbhe was the convenor, was an alliance of well in excess of 100 organisations including trade unions, political bodies, human rights organisations, NGOs, and community groups, who were all working together to repeal the Eighth Amendment. As the date for the referendum was announced, this coalition moved from being the organising vehicle of a movement to become the national campaign group - Together for Yes. Ailbhe became a co-director of this, alongside Orla OConnor, director of the National Womens Council of Ireland and Grainne Griffin, of the Abortion Rights Campaign. Together they raised more than 500,000 in just four days, from over 12,000 donors, to pay for costs associated with the campaign. This is in contrast to two equivalent fundraisers before the marriage equality, where 180,000 was raised. The nature of the Together for Yes campaign was one of equality, with no hierarchy, as evidenced by having three co-directors, theirs was a team effort, with volunteers all around the country. Enormous cheers as Ailbhe Smyth arrives at the Dublin count centre #8thref #RepealThe8th pic.twitter.com/kpbyXdgX2I Ruairi Casey (@Ruairi_Casey) May 26, 2018 However, after the landslide result was announced on May 26, to a room of assembled activists in Dublins Intercontinental Hotel, the name being chanted was Ailbhe, Ailbhe, Ailbhe. Liz Carolan: Digital Rights Liz Carolan is a woman ahead of her time. She is at the forefront of digital rights when it comes to data protection and privacy. At the beginning of the year, having observed how Facebook was manipulated during the Brexit campaign and the 2016 US presidential election, Liz co-founded the Transparency Referendum Initiative (TRI). It was an impartial group set up to highlight and counter the complete lack of transparency around the targeting of voters through social media ads during political campaigns. In the lead up to the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, Liz and her voluntary colleagues, published an open database of targeted ads on its websites. The database allowed people to see who was paying for Facebook ads, to lobby for or against, the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Irish Constitution. The reason their work was so significant was because it highlighted unregulated spending on a political campaign, it exposed money being spent by external actors outside of Ireland and it showed ads that fell outside the scrutiny of the normal advertising standards. TRIs work not only created transparency for journalists and citizens but it led to action from Facebook. In early May, four months after TRI set up, Facebook announced that it was blocking all foreign spending on advertising around Irelands referendum on abortion. It was done in an effort to adhere to the principles of Irelands election spending laws. It was an action with major international significance, brought about in no small part, by the voluntary work of three people at TRI. Liz can be found tweeting @LizCarolan where she says: Digital threats to democracy wont fight themselves. Ellie Kisyombe: Direct Provision Sometimes referred to as simply Ellie, Malawi-born Ellie Kisyombe, will become the first ever woman living in Direct Provision to run in the local elections, when they take place next May. The asylum seeker has lived in Ireland for more than nine years and while she lives in indefinite limbo with no legal status, she decided to run when she found out that candidates only had to be ordinarily resident in Ireland in order to run for a seat in their local council. Ellie will run in Dublins North Inner City ward for the Social Democrats. She has been involved with the party for four years, supporting Gary Gannon, the wards current Social Democrat councillor, where she spoke regularly about migrant issues at various public events. However, it is through food that Ellie has come to national prominence. Ellie co-founded Our Table with chef and Irish Examiner food writer Michelle Dermody as a community-driven, non-profit project to highlight the need to end direct provision in Ireland. Their goal was to facilitate change through conversation over food. While Our Table is well-known for its pop-up cafes at events and festivals around the country, they also sell products including hot sauces and hummuses. Ellies rise to national prominence came from a desire to make something positive from a negative experience and turning to cooking as a coping skill, having come from a family of chefs in Malawi. She was invited by Darina Allen to go to Ballymaloe Cookery School and while there she said she learned so much that it allowed her to stop doubting herself. I needed an outlet that brought positivity to myself and others around me, hence the creation of Our Table, she said. Oisin Coghlan: Climate Action It is said that 2018, has been an international tipping point when it comes to climate change, both in relation to action and public awareness. Friends of the Earth (FOE) Ireland, a not-for-profit organisation, has been campaigning for environmental justice and sustainability for more than a decade now, and this year they made an even bigger mark, with their popular Sick of Plastic campaign. On April 21, shoppers were encouraged to leave their unwanted plastic packaging behind at the checkout. This campaign was also brought to events like Electric Picnic, where 160 FOE volunteers engaged with festival-goers about plastic rubbish. For the fourth year in a row, FOE operated deposit and return stations for plastic cups and bottles at the event. Oisin Coghlan is just one of the people working on climate action in Ireland. Oisin has been director of FOE Ireland since 2005. In 2007, he co-founded the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and led the eight-year campaign for a climate change law which culminated in the passing of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act in December 2015. He is also one of the co-founders of the Environmental Pillar, the advocacy coalition of national environmental NGOs in Ireland. In May, speaking at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment he said Ireland was now at a critical juncture for Irish climate policy, one aim of which is to reduce emissions by 5% every year from now until 2050. Instead Irish emissions are rising, 7% over the last two years. Ireland is one of a handful of countries that will miss its 2020 targets and the only one of those where emissions are still rising, he told the committee. He tweets regularly from @OisinCoghlan with accessible insight into the latest legislative progress, both nationally and internationally. Sinead OSullivan: Greening Hollywood She makes costumes for Hollywood movies, but shops in Oxfam, meet the Irish woman turning the film industry green. Sinead OSullivan, originally from Co Kildare, has been working alongside Oscar-winning designer Jacqueline Durran for the past eight years on movies such as Beauty and Beast with Emma Watson, Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightley and Mary Magdalene with Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix. However, for the past two years she has been challenging the global movie industry to be more environmentally-friendly when it comes to the creation of costumes, something the average cinema-goer probably does not think about. A typical film, television or theatre production can see us making or buying more clothing that the average person will consume in a lifetime, the designer told the Irish Examiner. Arising from a sense of catholic guilt Sinead started looking at ways to reduce this waste and created the Costume Directory, an open resource where designers can source socially responsible suppliers and brands. It is published by BAFTA and its second edition was published this summer. Her own sister, actor and comedian Aisling Bea often showcases ethical clothes by wearing them to red carpet events, to raise awareness of the environment. While the designer has no current plans to expand her directory which is free to download from here: bit.ly/CostumeDirectory she does hope it will encourage other industries to reflect on their own footprint. The Costume Directory is my attempt to make a change and shift focus within my own industry and Im hoping it will encourage and perhaps challenge others to do something within their own field and not just accept that the social and environmental footprint of their industry is beyond their control, she said. On a personal level, for people wanting to incorporate change in their own life when it comes to fashion and textile waste, Sinead advises buying less and buying better. Britains economy is so tied to Europes that a quick exit was not realistic. An implementation period should have been sought before Article 50 was invoked, saysJacek Rostowski BRITISH prime minister Theresa Mays plan to withdraw her country from the European Union in an orderly fashion is collapsing. Though she has survived a no-confidence vote, in January the House of Commons will likely reject the exit deal she negotiated with EU leaders. To avoid a chaotic no-deal Brexit, her government will have to ask the EU for an extension on the departure date, or withdraw its intention to leave notification, at least temporarily. Either way, the next step would be to hold a second referendum, with the option of a so-called exit from Brexit, which would reverse the 2016 decision to leave. Voters could still decide to back Mays deal, opt for a Norway-style arrangement, or crash out of the EU with no deal. However, recent polling suggests that the choice of remaining in the EU would win the day. How did a country with 400 years of constitutional governance and a culture of political compromise end up here? Most commentators point to the seemingly insoluble problem of the Irish border. Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violent hostility between Protestants and Catholics in the North, Britain agreed to permit the free movement of persons, goods, and some services across the border. A binding international treaty with no provision for exit, the Good Friday Agreement was signed under the assumption that both Britain and Ireland would remain in the EU indefinitely. Mays deal with the EU includes a backstop that would prevent the reintroduction of a hard border in the absence of a formal post-Brexit trade deal. The problem is that well over 100 members of Mays own party have rejected the backstop outright and will vote against her deal for that reason alone, making it dead on arrival. But the backstop is, in fact, a side issue. Even if there were no Irish problem, an orderly Brexit would have been impossible within the two years allotted to the UK under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. As I pointed out in October, British manufacturing supply chains are so deeply integrated with those of continental Europe that they could not survive the sudden establishment of customs and other checks on the British border. Britains automotive, aerospace, and precision-instruments industries would be decimated. To be sure, many non-European countries export large volumes of industrial goods to the EU. But, unlike British goods, these generally cross the EU border only once. The same would hold true for Britains goods only after the country disentangles itself from the web of European supply chains. That task alone would be comparable to the restructuring of post-communist countries following the collapse of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon, the Soviet-era trade bloc). Completing it could take five or more years. After the 2016 referendum, Mays government should have had an adult discussion about the shape Brexit would take, rather than simply declaring, Brexit means Brexit. Scenarios in which the UK could remain in the single market, the customs union, or both were on offer from the EU. The British government also should have done far more to apprise the business community of its plans. Moreover, if the intention was always to leave both the single market and the customs union, retaining only a free-trade agreement with Europe, the government should have made clear that it would need an implementation period of at least five years to do this in an orderly manner. During this time, it would be bound by European laws, including its obligation to pay around 13bn per year to the EU budget. May should not have invoked Article 50 until all of these decisions had been made, communicated to the relevant parties, and agreed upon, at least in principle. One reason Mays government took the opposite approach is that neither senior politicians nor bureaucrats understood the degree to which the British economy is intertwined with Europe. The fact that a quick Brexit into a free-trade agreement is logistically impossible seems to have been totally lost on them. But the bigger problem was that a balanced consideration of possible options would have laid bare the lie upon which the Leave campaign was based. The idea that Britain could secure a bespoke deal, and maintain frictionless access to the single market, while pursuing its own trade accords elsewhere, was always a fantasy. Fearing the political consequences of acknowledging this basic truth, May adopted an unrealistic negotiating strategy, hoping that some kind of Brexit would happen before the British public realised it had been duped. Today, just three months before the departure date, this deeply deceitful demarche has disintegrated before Mays eyes, as well it should. Jacek Rostowski was Polands minister of finance and deputy prime minister from 2007 to 2013. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. With global waste generation set to increase by as much as 70% by 2050, the world must act swiftly to avoid a catastrophe, write Mahmoud Mohieldin, Sameh Wahba, and Silpa Kaza Mahmoud The world is mired in a serious, if underreported, crisis. Every year, humans generate about 2bn tons of household waste, and much more industrial, hazardous, electronic, medical, and construction waste, much of which is disposed of inadequately. As usual, the consequences environmental destruction, damage to health, and impeded development are disproportionately affecting the worlds poor. As it stands, at least one-third of all global waste is openly dumped or burned. In low-income countries, which may already spend as much of 20% of their municipal budgets on waste management, that figure can rise as high as 93%. The damage to human health and the environment is already profound. For example, each year, the world generates 242 million tons of plastic, which comprises as much as 90% of ocean debris, damaging the marine ecosystem and ending up in our own bodies. According to Ocean Conservancy, plastic has been found in every species of sea turtle and more than 25% of fish sampled from seafood markets around the world. On top of that, the problem is set to worsen. The recent What a Waste 2.0 report projects that annual global waste generation will increase by as much as 70% by 2050, even as the worlds population grows by less than half of that. Half of the increase will come from Sub-Saharan Africa, where waste generation will more than triple, and South Asia, where it will more than double. Confronting the escalating waste crisis will be crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commits countries to achieving sustainable production and consumption patterns (SDG12). It also calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation (SDG6) and the creation of healthy and sustainable cities (SDG11), and SDG14 conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development which obviously cannot be achieved without major progress in fighting marine pollution. Fortunately, the world finally seems to be recognising the scale of the waste crisis. Octobers Our Ocean Conference in Bali, Indonesia, focused on generating commitments and formulating measures to maintain ocean sustainability, including by cutting marine pollution. In particular, there has been a surge in bans or taxes imposed on certain plastics or plastic products. However, addressing the issue of plastic consumption still requires far-reaching behavioural change. At the same time, the plastic waste that is produced needs to be managed better, in order to prevent it from ending up in waterways. Given that larger countries make the biggest contributions to plastic pollution, improving waste management there will have a major impact. Where regulations to prevent dumping are insufficient, they should be strengthened and enforced. There are already numerous successful models of waste management and disposal that may provide a useful starting point for such changes. Forward-thinking action will also be critical in countries anticipating rapid economic and/or population growth, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Of course, such changes cost money, which is often in short supply. On average, local governments pay 50% of countries costs for solid waste management. Though lower-income countries spend less on waste management in absolute terms (around $35/31 per ton), they have a harder time recovering costs. Given this, international institutions should help countries especially lower-income countries plan and develop state-of-the-art waste-management systems, including by providing the required financing. In Morocco, the government, helped by international loans, implemented a programme that transformed solid-waste management, including boosting private-sector participation considerably. International institutions should also support the introduction of policies that create incentives for reducing household waste. Here, again, there are successful models to emulate. In Ningbo, China, citizens receive a financial incentive to separate organic waste and recyclables, reducing the citys overall cost of collection. Effective waste mitigation requires action at all levels of government and society. This means securing broad-based behavioural change, aligning incentives, reducing barriers to financing, and promoting private-sector participation. It also means providing support to the countries that need it most, such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. A cleaner, healthier future is within reach. We must not let it go to waste. Mahmoud Mohieldin is World Bank group senior vice-president for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations relations and partnerships, and is a former minister of investment of Egypt. Sameh Wahba is global director for urban and territorial development, disaster risk management and resilience at the World Bank. Silpa Kaza is an urban development specialist in the World Banks social, urban, rural and resilience global practice. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. New medical checks have been carried out on nearly every child in Border Patrol custody, US immigration authorities have said. These checks follow the death of a second youngster in the agency's care in the space of less than three weeks. An eight-year-old boy, identified by Guatemalan authorities as Felipe Gomez Alonzo, died on Christmas Eve just before midnight. He had been in the custody of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with his father, Agustin Gomez, since December 18. CBP said in a statement that an agent first noticed the boy had a cough and "glossy eyes" at about 9am on Monday. He was taken to hospital twice that day before he died, the agency said. Honduran children play with new toys at an empty warehouse used as a shelter that opened its doors to migrants in downtown Tijuana, Mexico, on Christmas day. The cause of death was under investigation. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told reporters on Wednesday that almost all checks ordered in reaction to the boy's death had been completed. Some children detained in more remote areas were re-screened by emergency medical technicians or Border Patrol agents, officials said. In other places, some children were taken to medical facilities. DHS would not say how many children were in Border Patrol custody and authorities have not disclosed the results of the examinations. The agency also would not say why Felipe and his father were detained for almost a week, an unusually long time, or why they were placed back in detention, at a Border Patrol road checkpoint, after being released from the hospital. Another Guatemalan child in US custody, seven-year-old Jakelin Caal, died on December 8 and was returned to her village for burial. Her death, which brought down heavy criticism on US immigration authorities, is also under investigation. Immigration advocates and human rights groups sharply criticised CBP in the wake of Felipe's death. Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said the Trump administration's "policies of cruelty toward migrants and asylum seekers at the border must cease immediately before any more children are harmed". CBP said in a statement on Tuesday that it needed the help of other government agencies to provide health care. The agency "is considering options for surge medical assistance" from the Coast Guard and may request help from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defence and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A border patrol officer fails to arrest a migrant running after jumping the United States border fence to San Diego, from Tijuana, Mexico, on Christmas day With border crossings surging, CBP processes thousands of children, both alone and with their parents, every month. According to CBP statistics, border agents detained 5,283 children unaccompanied by a parent in November alone. Agents last month also apprehended 25,172 "family units", or parents and children together. CBP typically holds children for no more than a few days. Youngsters who arrive unaccompanied are turned over to longer-term facilities operated by the HHS. The Associated Press reported this month that 14,300 children were being detained by HHS, most in facilities with more than 100 children. Border patrol officers arrest Honduran migrants after jumping the U.S. border fence into San Diego, from Tijuana, Mexico, on Christmas day CBP issued a timeline of what it said happened before Felipe's death. Felipe was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was diagnosed with a common cold, according to the timeline. The boy was released just before 3pm, about 90 minutes after he had been found to have a fever of 39.4C (103F), CBP said. He was prescribed the antibiotic amoxicillin and the pain reliever and fever-reducer ibuprofen, and was taken with his father to a holding facility at a highway checkpoint. Around 7pm, agents helped clean up the boy's vomit. CBP said the father "declined further medical assistance" then. The agency said its officers repeatedly conducted welfare checks on Felipe and his father, and that agents decided to take the boy back to the hospital at about 10pm because he "appeared lethargic and nauseous again". CBP typically detains adult immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally should not be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centres. Burma Christians, Buddhists Brawl in Southern Rakhine on Christmas Eve People sit and stand under a pavilion that was attacked by a mob in Ann Township, Rakhine State, on Monday. / U Kapno / Facebook YANGON At least two ethnic Chin preparing for a Christmas Day event were injured in a mob attack led by Buddhist monks on Monday in southern Rakhine States Ann Township, according to a local priest. Rev. Thing Be, who heads the townships Christian mission, said their pavilion was also vandalized. He said the dozen or so Chin families of Sappie Village, who make up the small communitys Christian community, were erecting a modest pavilion just outside the village to celebrate their first Christmas Day in the area when about 40 locals led by three monks showed up at about noon and ordered them to stop, at which point a fight broke out. Rev. Thing Be said he had asked the village administrator for permission ahead to time but decided to proceed with construction of the pavilion before it arrived. He said Vicar Aung Lan was being treated at the township hospital for wounds he sustained in the attack to his head, and that another member of the Christian community, U Soe Thein, was also injured. He said they were preparing to file a complaint with police. As far as I know, an abbot of the Sappie monastery led the attackers. I have video evidence and will use it if the case proceeds to court, the priest said. Village administrator U Soe Thu confirmed that there was a fight between local Buddhists and Christians but claimed that no one was seriously injured because township police intervened in time and dispersed the crowd. He said the organizers had failed to heed his advice to apply for permission from him and township authorities in a timely manner. They came to me to get approval after the confrontation began and I gave it to them. Thats too late, he told The Irrawaddy. U Soe Thu said three abbots from Kan Oo, Sappie and Mae La Maung villages had ordered the event organizers to raised their pavilion somewhere else because the predominantly Buddhist community had never had a Christmas Day celebration before. He also said that the abbots did not have the legal authority to give such an order. U San Gyi, a member of Sappies Christian community who said he witnessed the attack, said monks led the mob and ignored pleas to mediate. They told us there was no X-mas celebration in this village before. They would not allow a Christian event on Buddhist land, he said. We are very upset about losing our religious freedom and about the restriction of our religious beliefs. We want to celebrate happily like other people. U San Gyi said the monks should have tried the mediate the dispute but instead stepped aside when the fighting began. Numbering only a few families, he said, the local Christian community had no church in the area and has been gathering for prayers in their homes with visits from a priest from neighboring Chin State. We cant afford to buy land for a church, and even if we had land it would be very tough to get approval for construction, he said. Last week, people in Magwe Regions Gangaw Township stoned and broke into a home while local Christians were gathered inside for a religious event. Local police have opened a case under articles of the Penal Code covering trespassing and property damage. While Akhilesh said in Lucknow Wednesday that he would meet Rao after Jan 6 in Hyd, Mayawati has not yet given time to the Telangana CM. Yadav said he appreciates Rao's efforts to build an alliance, but he will not be able to meet him in Delhi. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Plans of Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader K Chandrashekar Rao to meet BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here in a bid to cobble up a non-BJP, non-Congress alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election seem to have hit a roadblock. While Akhilesh Yadav said in Lucknow Wednesday that he would meet Rao after January 6 in Hyderabad, Mayawati has not yet given time to the Telangana Chief Minister. Yadav said he appreciates Rao's efforts to build an alliance, but he will not be able to meet him in Delhi. Earlier, a meeting between the two was planned at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav here. Though Mayawati is in Delhi since Sunday afternoon, she has not yet confirmed the time for the proposed meeting. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) are key regional players in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. The SP has maintained that a non-BJP alliance will not be be able to stand without their inclusion. The TRS chief reached Delhi on Monday night and and would be here till Thursday. Pitching for a Federal Front of regional parties, Rao had on Monday met Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing the media after the meeting, he had said that they discussed a "matter of mutual interest" and "national politics". "Our dialogue will continue and shortly, we will come with a concrete plan," he said. Banerjee did not speak. On Sunday, he had met met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss an alternative front. The BJP has dubbed him as the 'B team' of the Congress, while Rahul Gandhi and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu have accused Rao of being the 'B team' of BJP. Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday evening. This was Rao's first meeting with Modi after winning the assembly elections to return to power in Telangana. He discussed a variety of issues with the prime minister, including release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district, according to state officials. Announces Corporate Restructuring with post consolidation Private Placement of $500,000 and the Appointment of Mr. Robert Kang as Director VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 24, 2018 / Vangold Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "Vangold") (TSXV:VAN) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Binding Letter of Intent effective December 12, 2018 (the "LOI"), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Aventura Gold Ltd. ("Aventura"), in an arm's length transaction (the "Transaction"). Aventura is a privately held mineral acquisition company incorporated under the laws of British Columbia. Aventura holds an option to acquire the Tassawini Mining License (the "Property") located in Guyana, South America. The Property is located approximately 170 kilometers northwest of the Guyana capital city of Georgetown. The Property has had historical exploration including exploratory diamond drilling. The property possesses additional exploration potential with various untested zones on the Property. There has been two reports that have been published containing historical estimates of gold in fresh and weathered bedrock as well as saprolite. Saprolite is clay-like soft rock, created from deep intense weathering of the bedrock surface, in which gold grades may be enriched. In consideration for all outstanding shares of Aventura, the Company has agreed to make cash payments totaling US$4,000,000 and an equity payment of shares valued at $12,000,000 Canadian. The equity payment will be structured by way of common shares and a non-voting convertible preferred stock class which will be convertible into Vangold common shares valued on a 10-day VWAP with a $0.05 floor at time of issuance. Concurrent to the closing there will be an equity financing of up to $10,000,000 at the same price as the equity payment. Closing of the Transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and a number of conditions including; Vangold completing a consolidation of its outstanding capital structure on a 2:1 basis, completion of satisfactory due diligence, the entering into of a definitive agreement, the completion of a financing acceptable to both Vangold and Aventura and the completion of a technical report in respect of the Property. In preparation for the required due diligence the Company will implement a unit offering of $0.05 with a 2-year warrant at $0.10 commencing with the conclusion of the 2:1 restructuring. The Transaction cannot close until the required approvals are obtained, and the outstanding conditions satisfied. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. The Company has initiated the restructuring. Effective immediately, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment and acceptance of Mr. Robert Kang. Mr. Kang has a combined 28 years of public practice and company management on advising corporations and their executives regarding financing, mergers and acquisitions, going public transactions, continuous disclosure obligations, and corporate governance. Mr. Kang was previously with the TMX Group since 1992 and served most recently as the Director of Listings for the TSX Venture Exchange. Mr. Kang received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia in 1988 and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation at Ernst and Young. About Tassawini Gold Project The Tassawini project gold deposits are Proterozoic-aged shear zone-hosted replacement and vein deposits. The gold deposits are generally in deformed silicified and carbonate-altered metasedimentary phyllites with abundant pyrite and arsenopyrite. The deposits are in saprolite, weathered rock and fresh rock. Since 2004 a aggregate of $34,687,000 million dollars has been spent on the Property by previous option holders: Stratagold $28,695,000 and Takara $5,999,000. Aventura's Tassawini Project consists of two deposits the Tassawini deposit and the Sonne deposit. An historical resource estimate for these two deposits, as determined by SRK Mineral Resource Estimation dated July 21, 2008 and revised Feb 10, 2010 is presented below. Since 2004, the Tasswini gold project has undergone extensive geological exploration including: Diamond and reverse circulation drilling (1,279 holes totalling 47,509 metres); Channel and Trench sampling; Geochemical soil sampling (9,167 soil samples on a 200 metre by twenty-five metre grid infilled with 100 metre by twenty-five metre grids); Structural mapping; Surveying; Geophysics; Petro-graphical studies; Metallurgical studies; Infrastructure development Assessment of Historical Resource Estimate by Qualified Person A resource estimate and disclosure of a Mineral Resource Statement for the Tassawini-Sonne Gold Project was performed by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. on November 13, 2009, for Stratagold Corporation (and was reissued with no changes in the resource estimate on February 10, 2010, for Takara Resources Inc. What was referred to in those reports as the Tassawini and Sonne gold deposits are both part of Vangold's Tassawini project. The resource estimate presented by SRK in 2010 for the Tassawini project has been reviewed by geologist M. Claiborne Newton, III, Ph.D., C.P.G., who is a qualified person in accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines. However, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the Vangold is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The mineral resource estimation was prepared by Dr. Lucy Roberts of SRK under the supervision of qualified person G. Dave Keller. The estimation was based on 440 diamond drill holes and 1,187 reverse circulation drill holes totaling respectively 58,390 metres (m) and 43,284 m of drilling. Gold assays were performed by ALS Chemex and Acme Laboratories. The qualified person for this news release reviewed the data verification procedures employed by SRK and has determined that SRK correctly verified the historical data as suitable for resource reporting to NI 43-101 standards. The methods used in the resource estimation are detailed in the SRK resource estimation report of 2010. The historical estimate for the Tassawini and Sonne deposits are reported in the following two tables and employ a cut-off grade of 0.5 grams of gold per tonne (g/t). The qualified person for this news release has determined that the historical resource estimation listed below is reliable. Table 1. Tassawini Deposit Mineral Resource Statement, Takara Resources Inc. TSX News Release of March 18, 2010. Resource prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc, May 21, 2008. Category of Mineral Indicated Inferred Tonnes 10,766,000 614,000 Gold Grade (g/t) 1.3 1.7 Gold (ounces) 437,000 33,000 Table 2. Sonne Deposit Mineral Resource Statement, Takara Resources Inc. TSX News Release of March 18, 2010. Resource prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc, May 21, 2008. Category of Mineral Inferred Tonnes 1,312,000 Gold Grade (g/t) 0.7 Gold (ounces) 29,000 The qualified person for this news release has determined that a qualified person(s) properly performed and reported the historical resource estimation according to NI 43-101 standards. Additional verification of historical drilling and assaying methods with validation of historical results is recommended, addition of any additional drilling and assaying information since the last resource estimation and an updated or re-verified resource estimation is recommended to consider the historical resource estimation as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. (To view the full-size image, please click here) (To view the full-size image, please click here) Statement of Qualified Person Maury Claiborne Newton, III is currently employed as Chief Geologist: Tectonex, LLC, 1110 Lay St., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445, is independent of Vangold Mining. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Geology (1977), received a Master of Science degree in Geological Sciences (1983) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Geosciences (1990) from the University of Arizona. He has practiced the profession of geology continuously since 1977. Dr. Newton is a Registered Member in good standing of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME, #4145342RM) and a Certified Professional Geologist with the State of Virginia (#2801001736). He is also a member of the Society of Economic Geologists. He certifies that by reason of his education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, he fulfills the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101. Reference SRK Consulting, 2010, Mineral Resource Estimation, Tassawini Sonne Gold Project, Guyana, NI 43-101 Technical Report for Takara Resources Inc, effective date July 21, 2008, readdressed to Takara on February 10, 2010, 152 p. About Vangold Mining Corp. Vangold Mining Corp is a Canadian-based precious metal mining company with a goal to acquire significant exploration opportunities supported by a defined set of geological principals. The Company has a diverse range of quality projects in Mexico. Vangold will continue to expand its portfolio with near production opportunities that bring value to shareholders by providing longer term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential. The Company's Common Shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "VAN" and on the OTC American Exchange under the symbol "VGLDF". About Aventura Gold Ltd. Aventura is a BC, Canada based precious metal acquisition company whose goal is to identify and acquire prime mineral rights and advanced properties in Guyana SA. Aventura focuses on advanced exploration properties and production assets for the purposes of joint ventures and outright sales. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Cameron S. King" President, CEO and Director For further information regarding Vangold Mining Corp, please contact: Cameron King, +1 (604) 499-6545 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Continue to Follow, Like and Watch our progress: Web: www.vangoldmining.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon estimates, forecasts and statements of management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the completion of the proposed Transaction, the issuance of permits, the size and quality of mineral resources, future trends for the company, progress in development of mineral properties, future production and sales volumes, capital costs, mine production costs, demand and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining or milling charges, the outcome of legal proceedings, the timing of exploration, development and mining activities, acquisition of shares in other companies and the financial results of the company. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially and substantially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Vangold's expectations, and expressly does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to the following, limited operating history, proposed exploration and/or drill programs and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Vangold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The presiding officer of each polling booth will be nominated as nodal officer for ensuring tobacco-free status at their booths. The Commission has asked all states and UTs to issue instructions to district electoral officers-cum-district magistrates to ensure prohibition of not just smoking, but also the use of chewable tobacco in all polling booths. (Representational Image) New Delhi: In a first, the Election Commission has banned all kinds of tobacco in polling booths during next years general elections, a bid to effectively implement tobacco control laws in the country. The Commission has asked all states and UTs to issue instructions to district electoral officers-cum-district magistrates to ensure prohibition of not just smoking, but also the use of chewable tobacco in all polling booths. All the polling booths in country to be declared tobacco free and not just smoke free so use of bidi, cigarette, gutkha, scented/ flavoured chewable tobacco are prohibited in all polling booth, read the guidelines. As per the guidelines, each polling booth will have a banner put up, saying the same. The presiding officer of each polling booth will be nominated as nodal officer for ensuring tobacco-free status at their booths. All district tobacco control cells will supervise and monitor this campaign to sensitise people on ill effects of tobacco. The move comes after Delhi governments Health Department approached the Commission seeking declaration of all polling stations as tobacco-free zones rather than just declaring them as smoke-free as it used to be in previous elections. In a letter, Additional Director (Health) Dr S K Arora had stated that tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability and pre-mature death and major threat to the present and future health of any population. On election day, majority of adult population of our country is likely to visit polling booth to caste its vote. This will be an excellent opportunity to sensitise among majority adult population on a single day through displayed multi-colour banners with message on ill-effects of tobacco at polling booth, he had said. The decision should be taken in larger public health interest, he stressed. He has thanked the Commission for the move. 'Growing ties between India, China and Myanmar has reduced comfort level of Indian insurgents in Myanmar, China', sources said. Security sources said that military cooperation between India and Myanmar was also at its best. (Representational Image) Guwahati: India may launch a coordinated operation with Myanmar army soon to flush out Indian militants holed up in neighbouring Myanmar. Disclosing that movement of Indian insurgents is now restricted to Taga area of Myanmar, authoritative security sources told The Asian Age that growing bilateral relationship between India, China and Myanmar has reduced the comfort level of Indian insurgent groups not only in Myanmar but in frontier provinces of China also. Pointing out that India and China have increased strategic communications after an agreement was signed on security cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs and China's Ministry of Public Security in October this year, security sources said that intelligence inputs indicate that top insurgent leader like Ulfa-I chief Paresh Baruah has been compelled to keep changing his hideouts every fortnightly. According to security sources, top insurgent leader Paresh Baruah is believed to have been shuttling between Taga in Myanmar and Ruili town, in Dehong prefecture of southern Chinas Yunan province. Referring that Ulfa-I chief and some other militant leaders may have been getting some supports still in China but very discreetly, security sources said that China has withdrawn all logistic or other kinds of protections which were available to Indian insurgent leaders readily in China. Security sources said that military cooperation between India and Myanmar was also at its best. Admitting that Myanmar has not launched any operations to flush out Indian insurgent from its territory, security sources, however, said that free movement of Indian insurgents in Myanmar has been stopped. Admitting that there have been some instances in which Indian insurgents were found to have been buying peace from lower rung security officials of Myanmar, security sources said that steps have been taken to check it. Security sources, however, said that there have been some technical reasons preventing Myanmar from launching operations in Taga region where a majority of Indian insurgents are holed up. Informing that the Government of Myanmar has entered into a ceasefire agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang faction) and Taga area has been marked as ceasefire zone, security sources said that Indian insurgents, taking the advantage of the ceasefire agreement, are holed up in the same ceasefire zone. Though security sources refused to reveal the exact locations and strength of Indian insurgent groups in Myanmar, security sources said that more than 500 Indian insurgents are holed up in Myanmar. Indicating that some new recruits in outlawed Ulfa-I and anti-talk faction of NDFB are willing to surrender, security sources said that some NDFB cadres have surrendered recently and some more may come out soon. The new module is called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. 'The searches are going on,' an NIA spokesperson said. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi: At least 10 people were detained by the National Investigation Agency on Wednesday for their alleged involvement with ISIS-inspired terror module, officials said. The probe agency conducted searches across 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in connection with its probe into a new ISIS module, officials said. The new module is called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. "The searches are going on," an NIA spokesperson said. The ministry of home affairs in December 2017 had said that the NIA along with state security agencies arrested 103 accused in cases against ISIS cadres/sympathisers, maximum number of people being from Uttar Pradesh. Of the 103 arrests, 17 were arrested from Uttar Pradesh, 16 each from Maharashtra and Telangana, 14 from Kerala, 8 from Karnataka, 6 from Madhya Pradesh, 5 each from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, 4 each from Uttrakhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat, 2 from Bihar and 1 each from Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. More details are awaited. PARADISE, Calif. -- Governor Jerry Brown announced 143 pardons and 131 commutations to people convicted of crimes in the state of California. One of those people was a wife and mother who narrowly escaped the Camp Fire in northern California. Heather Burnett says shes still traumatized over the loss of her home to the camp fire but the greatest gift this season is knowing shes been pardoned by Governor Brown. In '98 I was arrested with the intention to manufacture methamphetamine which was in direct relation to the people I was associating with," says Heather. Heathers husband, Jason Burnett, also received a pardon by the Governor last month. Klamath Oregon, OR. -- A Klamath Falls woman is dead following a car crash on US 97 in Klamath County. At 5:37 p.m. Oregon State Police troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash on US 97 near milepost 256 in Klamath County. Police say a grey 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup, driven by 22-year-old by Austin Haynes of Chiloquin, Oregon was traveling southbound. They say it crossed into the northbound lane and into a blue 1996 Ford Aerostar van driven by 57-year-old Melquiadez Ibarra of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Police say Haynes was not injured as a result of the crash. Police say Ibarra sustained minor injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital for treatment. They say a right front female passenger in the van, 66-year-old Terry Kirwan of Klamath Falls, Oregon, was deceased at the scene. Police say Haynes displayed signs of impairment and performed voluntary standardized field sobriety tests. Police say Haynes was arrested and lodged in the Klamath County Jail for Manslaughter, Reckless Endangering, Assault III and Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Police say US 97 was closed and traffic diverted for over 5 hours while Troopers investigated the crash scene. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Chiloquin Fire Department assisted at the scene. Next of kin has been notified. The investigation is ongoing. OSP is asking if there are any witnesses to this crash who have not been interviewed to please contact the Oregon State Police Southern Regional Dispatch Center (SCC) at 541-883-5711. The sources said military cooperation between India and Myanmar was also at its best. Guwahati: India may soon launch a coordinated operation with the Myanmar Army to flush out Indian militants holed up in neighbouring Myanmar. Saying the movement of Indian insurgents was now restricted to the Taga area of Myanmar, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that the growing bilateral ties between India, China and Myanmar had reduced the comfort level of Indian insurgent groups not only in Myanmar but in the frontier provinces of China as well. Pointing out that India and China had increased their strategic communications after an agreement was signed on security cooperation between the home ministry and Chinas ministry of public security in October this year, security sources said intelligence inputs indicated that top insurgent leaders like Ulfa(I) chief Paresh Baruah had been compelled to keep changing his hideouts every fortnight. According to these sources, Paresh Baruah is believed to be now shuttling between Taga in Myanmar and Ruili town in Dehong prefecture of southern Chinas Yunan province. Saying that the Ulfa(I) chief and some other militant leaders may still be getting some support in China but very discreetly, the sources said China had withdrawn all logistics support and other protection that earlier was readily available to Indian insurgents in China. The sources said military cooperation between India and Myanmar was also at its best. While Myanmar has not launched any operation to flush out Indian insurgents from its territory so far, the sources said the free movement of Indian insurgents in Myanmar had been stopped. Admitting that there were some instances of Indian insurgents buying support from low-level security officials in Myanmar, the sources said steps had been taken to check this. The sources said there were some technical reasons stopping Myanmar from launching operations in Taga region, where most of the Indian insurgents were holed up. Saying the Myanmar government had entered into a ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang faction), and Taga area had been earmarked as a ceasefire zone, security sources said Indian insurgents, taking advantage of this ceasefire agreement, were holed up in this zone. While the sources refused to reveal the exact locations and strength of Indian insurgent groups in Myanmar, they said more than 500 Indian insurgents were holed up in that country. Some new recruits in the outlawed Ulfa(I) and anti-talk NDFB faction were willing to surrender, the sources said, adding some NDFB cadres had surrendered recently, and more may come out soon. 18 Shares Share Physicians receive rigorous medical training for the better part of a decade. However, we emerge unprepared for the real-world job application process to which our friends in other professions are accustomed. One of these logistics includes credentialing and verification for hospitals and clinics where your group intends to practice a process that can take up to three months. There are a number of items that are requested during the credentialing process for solo and group practices as well as university-affiliated hospitals. I recommend that you keep the following documents, along with certification numbers, updated and stored together in a single email so that they can be expeditiously sent to committees to complete credentialing. 1. Drivers license. A passport or other government-issued identification is an acceptable alternative if you do not have a drivers license, but these are always requested by committees. A drivers license typically needs to be renewed every five years around your birthday. A passport-sized professional photo is sometimes requested to present your application during routine meetings with other hospital staff members. 2. National provider identification (NPI). The NPI number is associated with individual physicians, including both solo and group practices and teaching hospitals, and is independent of records maintained by state licensing organizations and representing specialty boards. It is readily available on the web, and detailed information can be accessed online. 3. Medical license. An active medical license is required for every state in which you are practicing or intend to practice medicine. A list of previous or inactive medical licenses may also be requested. Most medical licenses need to be renewed every one to two years. 4. Board certification (or eligibility) status. This information is required by every credentialing committee. Most physicians who have recently finished their residency training are waiting to take one or more exams to complete their board certification. In this case, a letter from the residency program director with the program completion (i.e., graduation) date will suffice. The same policies apply to subspecialty or additional board certifications. Board certification typically requires renewal every 10 years. 5. Curriculum vitae (CV). The CV is requested by every credentialing committee and should be updated monthly. Pay attention to the first few pages of example and template CVs, including the demographic data, education and licensure, awards and honors, practice history and hospital affiliations, peer-reviewed publications or presentations, and any press. 6. Peer reference information. It is helpful to have the contact information of close colleagues in your specialty that you can refer to for thorough and timely recommendations, which are requested by every committee. This list can include training program directors, other clinical mentors, and colleagues with whom you have worked with in recent years. 7. Tuberculosis (TB) testing. A recent skin PPD test or Quantiferon Gold blood assay is always requested and is expected to be repeated every year for healthcare employees. Positive testing suggests exposure and is usually followed by a chest radiograph to rule out latent TB. 8. Immunizations. Information regarding Hepatitis B vaccination as well as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) is required with the initial credentialing application. It is recommended to provide any further information about any boosters in a timely fashion. Similarly, annual documentation of your flu vaccine (or a waiver for the flu vaccine) is required. 9. Adult and Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS, PALS). Up-to-date certification with wallet cards is required by every credentialing committee. Many hospitals offer subsidized in-house ACLS courses to ensure all house staff officers and private physicians alike are well versed in resuscitation protocols. Online courses for ACLS and PALS refreshers are also available. ACLS and PALS require renewal every two years. 10. Malpractice insurer coverage. Most practices will request information about your current malpractice coverage, especially if it is not to be provided by your new practice. Insurers usually look at the frequency and severity of claims over the last five or ten years of practice. In addition, tail coverage may be required by the previous employer to cover any claims made well after a provider has left the group. Pertinent information includes certificate number, occurrence versus claims-made policy, maximum individual and aggregate limits, practice location, part- versus full-time status, dates of coverage, and any retroactive date of application. 11. Medical school and post-graduate training diplomas. The diploma, along with a letter from your medical school dean of student affairs, is occasionally requested by credentialing committees. 12. Privileges request form. Alongside any institution-specific application, most clinical practices representing procedure-heavy specialties will send a form that dictates the requested skill sets that require final approval from the hospital committee. In addition to the above items, there are some additional documents about which you should inquire with your practice about submission alongside your application: Case logs. Many credentialing committees will request details about your case and patient load, including number and types of cases. Some groups will request that you provide a case log for procedures completed in the past year. Newly graduated physicians should obtain a copy of their ACGME case logs and be ready to provide it to the credentialing committee for your first job. Individual physicians are strongly encouraged to keep a spreadsheet of their own cases. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license. Your DEA license is required if you are in a specialty and practice where you or another health care practitioner is administering or prescribing narcotic medications. The DEA license must be renewed every three years. Standardized physician credentialing systems. Common applications are sometimes utilized by credentialing committees to serve as a single repository of information accessible to physicians, practice administrators, and health plans alike. Examples include California Participating Physician Application and the Council for Affordable Quality in Healthcare Universal Credentialing DataSource. These applications conglomerate information regarding your training, licensure, practice and malpractice history, and any prior or pending actions on your medical license or clinical practice limitations. Educational Commission For Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification. This documentation is only required for prospective residency and fellowship applications from outside the United States. Aalap Shah is an anesthesiologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 127 Shares Share In the mid-1990s, I was working as the medical director for a national computer processing company that had the medical policy and utilization review contract for many Medicaid programs in the United States. Within the first few weeks of being hired, I was invited to attend an IT meeting where the computer project supervisor was going to show off a beta medical reporting program the company had developed for an outside customer. They thought I would find it interesting and could represent the medical side for them. The meeting started as usual the introductions and then the IT supervisor began to enter the pertinent data that the program had been designed to track and report on. Except the data kept being lost as soon as she clicked on another screen. Two, three, four, five, six times. The IT supervisor entered the same information in the proper reporting fields of the program only to lose the data time and time again. At that point, I spoke up. Having computerized my own office back in 1989 and having given a CME seminar on computers in the medical office for the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians, I had some familiarity with what could go wrong in the design of a new program. I diagnosed the root cause of the problem and suggested a solution. Oh, no. Thats not it, replied the supervisor, dismissing my suggestion straight out of hand. Once again she entered the data in the assigned fields, then again and again. The results were the same. Each time she returned to the screen, all the entered information magically disappeared. By this time the customers had grown visibly impatient at the lack of progress and were in the process of closing their notepads and standing. Seeing that her customers were about to walk out of the meeting, the IT supervisor desperately made one final attempt this time she did exactly what I had said. It worked. All the entered data now was there! Everyone in the room looked at the screen in dead silence, amazed that my suggestion had worked. It was at that point that a young IT intern, sitting on the seat just to my left, turned to me and said, in a loud enough voice for all in the room to hear her, Dr. Maestro! This is the first time you ever have seen this program. How in the world did you know what was wrong when we didnt? I felt proud of myself that evening when I arrived home. I showed the company that I was good at something else other than just medicine. It then came as a complete surprise when, the next morning at work, I received an email from the head of the companys whole IT division. Word had reached him as to what had happened and of my attempt to help. He thanked me for my attendance and assistance. He then went on to inform me that my services would never be solicited at another IT meeting ever again. In essence, I was barred from attending any future IT meeting. Now it was my turn to sit and stare dumbfounded at the computer screen. Calvin J. Maestro is a family physician and author of Leadership Lessons from History: A Study Guide Written for Physicians & Other Healthcare Leaders. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Volkswagen is about to launch an all-new sub-brand on February 26 next year in Wolfsburg, Germany, which will be introduced to Chinese market and manufactured by FAW-Volkswagen (FAW-VW), according to a Chinese media outlet. On October 29, FAW-VW registered a new trademark named Jeda, which is expected to be the Chinese name of the new brand, the joint venture's third brand following FAW-VW and FAW-VW Audi. It is reported that the automaker has planned three models for the new brand, namely, an A-segment SUV, an A+ SUV and A SH sedan. Of that, the A SH sedan model will be developed based on Volkswagen's Jetta. FAW-VW plans to spare the capacity for the Sagitar in the east plant of its Chengdu production base to produce vehicles under the Jeda brand. Planned annual capacities for A-segment SUV, A+ SUV and A SH sedan are 75,000 units, 150,000 units and 75,000 units respectively. The A-segment SUV, positioned as a compact SUV models, will be developed on the basis of Seat's Ateca. The A+ SUV measures 4,600mm long, 1,841mm wide and 1,611mm tall with a wheelbase length of 2,730mm, 200mm longer than that of the A-segment SUV. The vehicles of the all-new brand are predicted to be priced between RMB50,000 and RMB150,000, which may rival the popular China-made SUV models like the Geely Boyue and the Haval H6 after hitting the market. Besides, compared with the price range of FAW-VW Audi (RMB190,500 to RMB694,800) and FAW-VW (RMB79,900 to RMB319,800), the new brand seems to target a lower-end market with its more affordable prices. Akhilesh Yadav to meet TRS chief in Hyderabad; Mayawati mum. New Delhi: Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekar Raos quest for a non-Congress, non-BJP Federal Front remained elusive Wednesday, with key parties like the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party evading a meeting with him on his visit to New Delhi. The squeamishness of both regional satraps to take the anti-Congress plunge could possibly be linked to a resurgent Congress Party that has added three key states of the Hindi heartland to its kitty, making it a serious contender to lead any Opposition alliance in the run-up to 2019. Mr Rao also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first after his decisive victory in the Assembly polls, and discussed several projects and issues pertaining to the state government. The Telangana government said in a statement later that the PM had responded positively to Mr Raos requests. The Telangana CM had recently met Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee soon after being sworn in for a second term as CM. Sources in the TRS had indicated that as a follow-up to his meetings with Mr Patnaik and Ms Banerjee, Mr Rao had sought to meet SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati on December 25-26 to take forward his proposal of a Federal Front. But while Mr Yadav postponed the meeting, the BSP was yet to get back to the TRS leader. Speaking to the media in Lucknow, the SP chief said: Efforts to bring all parties together have been ongoing for many months. I congratulate the Telangana chief minister for working in this direction. He has been trying to bring together a Federal Front. I will go to Hyderabad to meet him. He added: The BJP has said many wrong words about us. Our whole aim is to keep the BJP away from the Centre. We also thank the Congress for not making a Samajwadi Party MLA a minister. They have cleared the way for us. The BSP chief, however, chose to remain silent. Both parties are looking at a tieup in Uttar Pradesh and are unlikely to take separate stands. Top leaders of the Congress have said that the Telangana CM is along with BJD chief Naveen Patnaik the fallback option of the BJP in case it falls short of the magic number in the 2019 general election. The recent letter by a party functionary to the RSS in support of Union minister Nitin Gadkari as a PM probable can be seen in that frame as neither Mr Patnaik nor Mr Rao would be averse to supporting him. However, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjees problem is different. The West Bengal CM has an issue with the Congress leading an Opposition alliance as this would mean Rahul Gandhi getting a shot at being the PM, a position which she fancies for herself. Hence her warming up to KCRs idea of a Federal Front. Mr Rao also met Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday and discussed a variety of issues, including the release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new districts and an IIIT in Karimnagar district. They also discussed pending projects. A Telangana government statement said the CM had raised the question of the transfer of a polo ground land in Hyderabad for construction of a new secretariat, the release of `450 crores for backward districts and national status for the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. Among others issues, Mr Rao discussed about referring Telanganas petitions to Krishna River Water Disputes Resolutions Tribunal, resolution of bifurcation of Schedule 9 and 10 institutions under the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, sub-categorisation of the Scheduled Castes and the expeditious completion of railway projects. A Kilkenny woman who was responsible for locating the lost crocodiles of the Sahara Desert is leaving for Antarctica, tomorrow morning (Thursday). Dr Tara Shine, co-founder of Plastic Free Kinsale and the award winning social enterprise Change by Degrees, leaves Ireland to join 80 women scientists from around the world on a leadership expedition to one of the harshest climates in the world. The mission is part of the Homeward Bound, a global womens leadership programme organised by the charity of the sane name. Homeward Bound is a ground-breaking leadership initiative for women, that aims to heighten the influence and impact of women with a science background to influence policy and decision making as it shapes our planet. Tara is the first woman living in Ireland to be selected for the programme and as the departure date approached she was completing assignments to prepare for the on-board leadership programme and packing for the cold weather. St. Multose National School in Kinsale, where her kids go to school, are sending their mascot with her to Antarctica to connect them with her journey. Tara is planning a polar plunge to highlight the Teach a Girl to Swim Campaign which seeks to save lives and empower girls by teaching them to swim. In many cultures girls are not taught to swim and as a result more girls and women die in floods, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Tara hopes the Homeward Bound programme will help her to promote and encourage women in STEM in Ireland and enhance her skills as a science communicator on issues like climate change, sustainability and plastic pollution. Her participation in the programme is supported by Repak and the Environmental Protection Agency. Tara is a daughter of Michael and Viney Shine, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny and is a regular visitor back to her native city. In 2002, she made international headlines when she discovered the Lost Crocodiles Of The Sahara. Tara discovered crocodiles in Mauritania, on the edge of the Sahara, where the experts said they could not exist. Tara went on to discover how these reptiles have evolved to live in one of the hottest and driest places on earth. Tara had been recruited by APSO to work on a German aid project surveying wetlands. The terrain was sandy and studded with rocky outcrops and entirely dependent on rain for water. The dry season lasts for six to eight months, which made the sightings seem all the more unlikely. However, with some local knowledge she went in search of the elusive reptiles and found them in the caves where the local people said they were. The super-resilient species have adapted to a gradual change in climate over the past 5,000 to 8,000 years, which saw the region turn from lush savannah to arid desert. Nelson Pinos pushed the heavy glass-paned door and stepped into the chill on the portico of the historic New England church. His 6-year-old son Brandon hopscotched around him. They're practically inseparable. "This is the farthest that I can come out," he said. "If I cross the gate, I'll be at risk of being detained. Even here, I feel like somebody's going to come and just grab me." Buildings and structures Churches and cathedrals Points of interest Religious buildings Government organizations - US Immigration Immigration, citizenship and displacement International relations and national security US Department of Homeland Security US federal departments and agencies US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Continents and regions Deportation North America The Americas Undocumented immigrants United States Holidays and observances Ecuador Latin America South America He had his hands in his pockets, a sullen look on his goateed face. He stopped midway across the stone colonnade atop the steps to First and Summerfield United Methodist Church. His son skipped to the black metal gate that encloses the church entrance across the street from the New Haven Green. "I can't leave this place," Pinos said. "I have never been in jail but this is jail." For the undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant with a final deportation order over his head, the holiday season marks nearly 400 days since he first took sanctuary in the church -- which US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) categorizes as a "sensitive location," where arrests are rarely attempted. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, confirmations and other special occasions have become low-key affairs where Pinos and his loved ones come together within the safety of the church walls to quietly cherish the hours and days they're still able to spend together. "There are no holidays right now," Pinos said. "There are no plans. What would I do here? Even if the kids were here with me, it's not the same. I'm not free." In mid-December, an immigrant rights organization held a tree-lighting ceremony with Pinos and his family on the portico. Residents surrounded the family to "contemplate" the meaning of Christmas "while so many are living under the threat and the reality of detention, deportation, and family separation." "There's always that one spot there in the family, which is like, OK, that's where daddy belongs and he's not here," said his daughter Kelly, 16. "He just missed out on a lot, especially the holidays." 'The hardest year of my life' Pinos, 44, emigrated to the US from his native Ecuador illegally in the 1990s, according to attorney Tina Colon Williams of Connecticut-based Esperanza Center for Law and Advocacy. He was in his late teens. A deportation order against him was issued years ago after a missed court date, but it was stayed as long as he regularly reported to ICE. "He's a father, three kids," Colon said. "No criminal history. Not historically the kind of person that ICE would say, 'Let's put our efforts toward removing this person from the country.' So he was under ICE supervision for many, many years. They knew he was here." That changed in 2017 under the Trump administration, which has ramped up immigration enforcement. "Under Obama, a big priority was removing individuals who had criminal history," Colon said. "Or focusing on people who had committed crimes. Whereas now, officially, the priorities of the administration are (to) remove everyone. And we've seen a really big human cost to that approach." Colon is seeking a stay of Pinos' removal based on the hardship and trauma that his continued "bizarre state of incarceration" in the church poses for his children. "There are so many people rallying around him and he has a team that's fighting every angle that's available within the law to see if someone with authority can give him the mercy he needs," she said. Last year, Pinos was ordered to leave the country by the end of November. "I didn't know what to do," he said. "I was just crying and crying." Over the years, he worked for a manufacturing plant, paid taxes and purchased a home in New Haven. He has three US-born children -- ages six to 16 -- with his partner of many years. Like many neighbors, he drove the kids to the beach and Walt Disney and celebrated their birthdays at Chuck E. Cheese. "Pretty much I've lived much longer here in the United States than I lived in my country," he said. On November 30, 2017, he decided to take sanctuary at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church, which had granted sanctuary to another undocumented immigrant before him. "It was because of my kids," Pinos said of the decision. "I want to be around them. I want to see them grow up. I want to see them pursue their dreams. Yes, this has been hard. The hardest year of my life. But it's worth it because my goal is to see my kids grow up." ICE considers Pinos 'an immigration fugitive' To federal authorities, Pinos remains "an immigration fugitive who is continuing to evade immigration law at a site categorized by ICE as a sensitive location," according to a statement from ICE New England region spokesman John Mohan. "ICE categorizes certain locations as sensitive locations where arrests are, essentially, not attempted." the statement said. "Evading immigration enforcement does not void ICE's authority to enforce a final order of removal. The removal order against Mr. Pinos-Gonzalez remains in effect." The policy doesn't rule out enforcement in certain circumstances, such as when a supervisor approves the move, or in instances relating to national security, terrorism or public safety. ICE said the policy is meant to ensure that people can participate in activities and seek services at sensitive places like churches without hesitation. The number of US churches willing to offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants has risen to more than 1,000, according to Church World Service. There are currently 49 people across the US who, like Pinos, have publicly sought sanctuary, said Myrna Orozco, who helps organize sanctuary at Church World Service. The average length of time is about a year; one person is approaching two years in sanctuary. "For the well-being of my family, it is worth it a thousand times," Pinos said of his time at the church. Community has rallied around Pinos and his family Pinos usually waits on the other side of the wrought iron gate for his family to visit. Brandon jumps into his arms. Inside, he helps the boy with homework. They watch YouTube. Sometimes they wrestle on the carpeted floor. Brandon often pleads for a few extra minutes with dad when it's time to go home. "My dad and my little brother are really close, like super close," Kelly said. "My brother looks up to him, always wants to be with him." In church, Pinos said he spends his days reading and streaming documentaries. He helps keep the church clean and does handiwork in the building. In August, Kelly wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times about her father's case. "I really don't understand why people in this country hate us so much," she wrote. "This year, I've realized that there aren't as many good people as I thought there were. The truth is I've never seen so much hatred." Kelly said her grades have suffered since her father sought sanctuary. She has taken a part-time job at a McDonald's to help her mother with household expenses. "I don't want us to be sad and struggling all the time," she said. "I just want us to be happy. I'm scared we're going to lose the house or whether or not I do good in school anymore." Immigration rights groups, residents and community leaders have staged protests in support of Pinos and his family. Democratic US Sen. Richard Blumenthal last year urged ICE to stay Pinos' removal order. There have been fundraisers for the family and bags of groceries left at their doorstep. "The community keeps us going," Kelly said. "I think the community makes us stronger and stronger." Her 13-year-old sister, Arlly, said, "If we just show people that it's okay and we're just sad all the time, they're going to feel like they're winning. So we just have to show them that we're powerful and we're just like them. We're humans just like them." What used to be an "extraordinarily rare occurrence" has already happened twice this month -- the death of a child in the custody of US border officials. Now the head of Customs and Border Protection is reiterating calls for Congress to provide more funding to handle the influx of migrants crossing the border. Border control Central America Continents and regions Government organizations - US Guatemala Immigration Immigration, citizenship and displacement International relations International relations and national security Latin America National security North America Territorial and national borders The Americas United States US Customs and Border Protection US Department of Homeland Security US federal departments and agencies Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Child custody and support Children Demographic groups Families and children Family law Family members and relatives Government and public administration Health and medical Health care Law and legal system Politics Population and demographics Society US Congress Deaths and fatalities Political asylum Kirstjen Nielsen Political Figures - US "I've explained to Congress ... that what we're seeing with these flows, of huge numbers of families with lots of children, young children, as well as unaccompanied minors coming into Border Patrol custody after crossing the border unlawfully, that our stations are not built for that group that's crossing today," CBP Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan told "CBS This Morning" on Wednesday. "They were built 30 to 40 years ago for single adult males, and we need a different approach. We need help from Congress. We need to budget for medical care and mental health care for children in our facilities." In the past three weeks, two Guatemalan children have died after they were detained with their fathers after crossing the border. On December 8, Jakelin Caal Maquin, 7, died in a hospital two days after she was taken to a Border Patrol station. And on Christmas Eve, an 8-year-old boy died after he was taken to a hospital, released, then returned to the hospital. CBP has not named the boy, but US Rep. Joaquin Castro identified him as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez. The CBP chief called the young boy's death "a tragic loss." "On behalf of US Customs and Border Protection, our deepest sympathies go out to the family," McAleenan said Tuesday. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Wednesday called the death of a child in government custody "deeply concerning and heartbreaking," and reiterated her call for "parents to not place their children at risk by taking a dangerous journey north." Criticism grows "We're not designed to hold all these people, a complete overhaul needs to happen," a US Customs and Border Patrol official who works on the southern border and has direct knowledge of the facilities like the ones where Felipe Alonzo-Gomez was being held told CNN Wednesday night. "We're overcrowded, understaffed. We don't have the manpower to deal with this crisis. It's a nosebleed that doesn't stop. You have agents trying to do the right thing. Give people their due process," the official notes. When asked about DHS Secretary Nielsen's handling of the Guatemalan child's death this official replied, "What else can she do?" "No one ever thinks you'll lose a life. You give them food and water. If they complain, you flag it. It's sad. It's heartbreaking. That hits home." "I think there is a major failure on behalf of the agency, but also a major failure in Congress. Instead they're protesting. Where were you when we needed you? The ones that are getting caught in the middle are the guys on the front lines. Those are the guys that are getting hurt." Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi said Congress will investigate the two deaths to "ensure that no other child is left to such a fate." Policy changes Homeland Security and CBP officials announced a series of new procedures following the two children's deaths: Border Patrol conducted secondary medical checks on all children in CBP care and custody, with a focus on children under age 10. "Moving forward, all children will receive a more thorough hands-on assessment at the earliest possible time post-apprehension -- whether or not the accompanying adult has asked for one," Nielsen said in a statement Wednesday. Border Patrol is working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on surge options for transportation to Family Residential Centers and supervised release, CBP said. The agency also is reviewing other custody options to relieve capacity issues in the El Paso, Texas, sector, such as working with nongovernmental organizations or local partners for temporary housing. Nielsen said she has asked that Centers for Disease Control experts investigate the increase in sick migrant children in order to identify steps hospitals along the border can take to treat them. The US Coast Guard Medical Corps has been asked to assess CBP's medical programs and recommend improvements. The Defense Department has been asked to provide additional medical professionals. Finally, CBP is reviewing its policies, with a focus on the care and custody of children under 10 -- both at intake and beyond 24 hours in custody, the agency said. What happened to the 8-year-old boy CBP released a timeline of the days before the boy's death. On Monday, the boy was taken to a hospital, diagnosed with a cold, released with medication, then taken back to the hospital before dying about 12 minutes before Christmas. The cause of the boy's death is not clear. But an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday in Albuquerque, according to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. Castro called for a congressional investigation into the boy's death. "While the CBP notified Congress within 24 hours as mandated by law, we must ensure that we treat migrants and asylum-seekers with human dignity and provide the necessary medical care to anyone in the custody of the United States government," the congressman said Tuesday. Many people wonder why asylum-seekers cross illegally rather than at a legal point of entry. But asylum-seekers are often at the mercy of wherever smugglers drop them off, which can be far from a legal point of entry. And according to US law, even some who enter illegally can seek defensive asylum. Dozens of hospital trips every day The Department of Homeland Security said it encounters hundreds of thousands of migrants a year. Before this month, there were six deaths in CBP custody in 2018, and none of those were children, DHS officials said. Before Jakelin's death, no child had died in CBP custody in more than a decade, a Department of Homeland Security official said. In the last two months alone, the Border Patrol has apprehended 139,817 undocumented migrants on the Southwest Border, compared to 74,946 during the same time in fiscal 2018, Nielsen said. "It is now clear that migrants, particularly children, are increasingly facing medical challenges and harboring illness caused by their long and dangerous journey," said Nielsen, who announced that she will travel to the border later this week to review medical screenings and Border Patrol stations. Still, the death of a child in custody is "an extraordinarily rare occurrence," McAleenan told CBS. But now, as more children cross the border, "We're doing dozens of hospital trips every single day with children that have fevers or manifest other medical conditions," McAleenan said Wednesday. "We've asked for help. We've got two Coast Guard teams deploying today to support our Border Patrol agents in checking the welfare of children in our custody." President Donald Trump has reiterated calls for a border wall and said the current government shutdown won't end until a wall, fence or other border barrier is funded. When asked whether the government shutdown for a border wall was worth it, McAleenan told CBS. "We need border security investments, absolutely," he said. CORRECTION: A previous headline contained an incorrect title for the Customs and Border Protection commissioner BLUE EARTH, Minn. (AP) Two Wisconsin men have been charged with dragging and injuring a Minnesota state trooper during a traffic stop. A criminal complaint says Trooper Doug Rauenhorst and his partner pulled over a Jeep for a traffic violation last Thursday in Faribault County and suspected the driver and passenger from Milwaukee were transporting drugs. The complaint says Rauenhorst was partly in the vehicle when the driver accelerated and the passenger punched the trooper in an attempt to force him out of the Jeep. Prosecutors say Rauenhorst was dragged along Interstate 90 before he fell out of the moving Jeep. The complaint states he fell out of the Jeep into the traffic lanes sustaining substantial bodily harm. He was treated at an Albert Lea hospital for his injuries. Anthony Hector Enriquez, 28, and Montrell Antonio Smith, 29, were arrested in Albert Lea and booked into the Faribault County Jail for felony assault and possession of a controlled substance. During the pursuit, Smith and Enriquez were seen throwing bricks of marijuana out the windows. MASON CITY, Iowa - On Christmas night, some families are enjoying the best Christmas present ever: tiny fingers curled around a pinky finger, brand new eyes peering at the world, and an irresistable newborn smile. Lyric Leona Imhoff was one of two babies born Christmas Eve at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Mom Jenna says she's glad her perfect little doll was born Monday night, instead of 24 hours later. "I didn't really want her to come out on Christmas Day, just because I felt bad for her to have a Christmas birthday. But Christmas Eve...we can make something work." And she adds that it was a Christmas miracle to have a positive experience when it came to delivery just in time for the holidays. "They're amazing. I've had yet to have anybody that i was like uh, no. But they've all been really good to me." As of Christmas evening, Mercy Medical Center has recorded one more baby born on this Christmas Day. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Hunters shot and killed about 420 deer in southeastern Minnesota in a special late-season hunt as part of the state's fight against chronic wasting disease. The deer hunt last weekend in and around Fillmore County is part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' plan to slow the spread of the fatal neurological disease among wild deer, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. Another special hunt will be held in the same area this weekend to remove infected deer and lower the frequency of contact between the animals. Deer killed in the two special hunts will be tested for chronic wasting disease, which fatally attacks the animal's nervous system. CWD is transmissible through deer-to-deer contact, and it also affects elk and moose. Minnesota first detected deer with the disease in Fillmore County two years ago, but the infected animals were isolated to a several-mile radius around the small town of Preston. Since then, CWD has spread outside the outbreak's original boundaries. At least 10 new CWD cases have been detected in Minnesota's wild deer herds this fall, some of which were shot beyond the infected zone. "This year we (saw) another one at Forestville," said Lou Cornicelli, a wildlife research manager for the state's Natural Resources Department. "Another west of Harmony. Another west of Chatfield. So now we're starting to see that spread." Cornicelli said the department released a new management plan days after discovering the cases, which calls for the two special hunts and opening bag limits so hunters can take as many deer as possible. The department is also contracting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bring in professional hunters to cull deer in the most infected areas. Federal culling will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. "It's expensive," Cornicelli said. "But it's very effective." ___ Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mprnews.org CLEAR LAKE, Iowa- At the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church there was plenty of food, there are laughs and chatter this Christmas, but what you might not know. It feels a lot different and empty inside I would say, said Schultz. Many of the dozens that came out would otherwise be spending the holiday alone. Schultz said this is his first Christmas without his daughter who has moved to Arizona. So rather than staying home alone, he is spending it with friends who would also be alone. I do miss my husband today, said Dorothy Prunty. It isnt complicated. The church is imply offering a meal and place for people to celebrate the holiday together; even if it is only for an hour or two. It means a lot, said Gary. Its a good church and a good group of caring people. And its for a good cause even if you have to get a little aggressive. I called two of them and asked if they were going to the dinner and then said Im going with, said Dorothy. You see, I didnt ask, I told them I was going with. Tej Pratap maintained that he was committed to helping his brother, Tejashwi Yadav, become next Chief Minister of Bihar. 'I have been time and again saying that it is Tejashwi (Yadav) who is Arjuna and I will be playing the role of Krishna,' Tej Pratap said. (Photo: File | PTI) Patna: Holding people's court at the RJD state headquarters for the second consecutive day, Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday said he would be happy if his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav made an appearance at his Janta Durbar. The MLA and former minister, who had on Monday said he would not shy away from assuming the leadership of the party if given a chance, however, dismissed queries about a number of party leaders reportedly expressing their discomfort over the prospect of the mercurial leader taking over the party. "There may be some RSS-minded people in the party who will get a brainwash once they meet me personally. I do not know what they are saying and why. Elections are approaching and many people start speaking unnecessarily out of worry over tickets," Tej Pratap told media. He also maintained that he was committed to helping his brother, Tejashwi Yadav, become the next Chief Minister of Bihar. "I had expressed my commitment long back, in full public view, and blown a conch to announce the Mahabharata. I have been time and again saying that it is Tejashwi who is Arjuna and I will be playing the role of Krishna. I will be there to guide him. Some people want to create a rift between brothers," he alleged. Notably, the two brothers have not been seen together ever since Tej Pratap filed a petition seeking a divorce from his wife of six months -- the decision has been met with disapproval from his family. Tej Pratap Yadav had remained conspicuous by his absence on the first four days of the winter session of the state assembly, which concluded last month, and on the final day when he made an appearance, he avoided crossing paths with Tejashwi Yadav. When asked whether he would like Tejashwi Yadav to attend the Janta Durbar, Tej Pratap said, "Why not. I would like to say to Tejashwi, if you are watching this telecast please do come and join me in listening to the woes of the people so that we may work towards solving these" Tej Pratap, who has of late begun to display a much more active interest in politics unlike in the past when he used to devote more time to religious pursuits, was asked whether he had been advised to do so by his father whom he met in Ranchi last week. He replied in his trademark style. "Why should I tell you what my political guru and I talked about. Do you share in public the conversations you have with your wife," he said. When pointed out that his earthy mannerisms and acerbic wit had an uncanny similarity to those of his legendary father, he said, "Who else do you think I would have resembled". He also remarked Janata Durbar had started with Lalu Yadav. "Nitish chacha (uncle) only tried to imitate that but nobody attending his version has ever been provided with a solution to his or her problems. In contrast, Lalu used to decide matters on the spot. I am trying to carry the legacy forward," he said. The former health minister also visited a slum in the Bihar capital where he came down heavily on the Nitish Kumar government for failing to provide the citizens with proper drinking water, housing, drainage and sanitation and offering empty slogans of har ghar nal ka jal and pakki gali aur naali. This comes after Amit Shah announced final seat sharing in Bihar among allies under NDA. Gopal Narayan Singh also asserted that both BJP and JD(U) are equal partners, need to support each other, adding that there should be no comparisons. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Days after the BJP and its Bihar allies sealed a seat-sharing arrangement for the next year's Lok Sabha elections, party MP Gopal Narayan Singh on Wednesday took a veiled jibe at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the "main brand" in the state. On December 23, BJP president Amit Shah announced that his party would contest on 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, while an equal number of seats will go to Janata Dal (United). Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Jantantrik Party (LJP) will contest on six seats. Responding to the same, Singh told ANI: "Like in all over India, in Bihar also, our main brand is Narendra Modi ji." However, he also asserted that both BJP and JD(U) are equal partners and need to support each other, while adding that there should be no comparisons. "Both JD(U) and BJP are equal partners and there should be no comparisons. If BJP needs (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar then he also needs the BJP. And if Nitish Kumar's government is running in Bihar, it is because of BJP's support," he said. While announcing the seat-sharing deal, Shah had said that the alliance would contest the coming Lok Sabha polls under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He rebuffed any differences of any kind within the NDA alliance in Bihar. Growing discontentment among the NDA allies in Bihar came out in the open when LJP's Chirag Paswan told the media that the BJP had digressed to "non-issues" like the Ram temple and had demanded urgent steps to return to the 'real issue' of development. He had also expressed unhappiness over the sharing of seats in the state. Meanwhile, RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, after pulling out of the NDA on December 10 over the issue of seat allocation for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on December 20 to be a part of the grand alliance. The JD(U) had contested the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections in alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) against the BJP and even formed the government, but later defected to the NDA and formed the government with the BJP's support in the state. 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. Angola, IN (46703) Today Cloudy with showers of rain and wet snow this morning. High 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low near 30F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Naseers is a mixed marriage like several other actors and ordinary folk. Naseeruddin Shah was trolled and threatened last week for expressing a reasoned view that religious intolerance and growing mob violence posed a mortal threat to the secular state. Naseers is a mixed marriage like several other actors and ordinary folk. Like him, his Hindu wife and their children keep a low premium on religion. He says it is his nightmare that the children could be surrounded by a mob one day and asked to state their religion. For worrying that a growing number of people in India cared more for cows than human beings, Naseer was told to go to Pakistan. But these days everybody who stands up to the majoritarian view is told to go to Pakistan, including occasionally Rahul Gandhi. In a speech to celebrate 100 days of his partys rule in Punjab, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made a passing reference to Naseers discomfort with the current state of Indian democracy. For the record, Imran was speaking passionately about returning to Pakistans minority communities their stolen rights as equal citizens. Thats when he cited the example of the Indian actors angst over what was going wrong in his country. In keeping with the theme, Imran also discussed a bitter chapter in Pakistans history usually a taboo with politicians when an entire community of Bengali Muslims was wronged to the point that they could take it no more and broke away to form a separate nation. It was a statesman-like stock-taking speech replete with promises to correct Pakistans gross departures from Jinnahs inclusive vision for the new nation. Imran alluded also to PM Narendra Modis politics of intolerance and hate, something Indian writers too see as mirroring a path that Pakistan took and now apparently seemed ready to discard. All Indians and everyone else should applaud Imrans promise of a truer democracy for Pakistan because in our era of religious revivalism and the hate it spawns we are parched for good news. A cheerful Sikh supporter was seen applauding this part of Imrans speech. However, Indias lurch to the far right is more complex than a Hindu-Muslim binary. The fight for secularism has Hindu and other non-Muslim stakeholders than is commonly understood. Gauri Lankesh and other leading rationalist opponents of Hindutva were murdered by religious bigots for standing up to the right-wing challenge. The good news for Naseer and his secular quest is that the hateful trolls have little or no effect on the grounded fight against Hindutva. The dalit politics of Jignesh Mewani and Mayawati offers hope of a dramatic turnaround for Indias troubled democracy next year. Lalu Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and the Marxists too would assure Imran Khan and Naseer that Indian democracy, albeit on the back foot, was up for a fight. If Imran succeeds in recasting Pakistan as a thriving democracy, it would certainly transform bilateral ties with India, and with other troubled neighbours too. He would perhaps then see that Naseers multicultural identity is a significant transition from the days of Jinnah, Gandhi and Nehru when religion was so overbearing a factor that it became the basis for a bloody division of a people. Imran wants to retrieve Jinnahs vision of Hindus and Muslims living as equals in harmony with other communities in an inclusive Pakistan. Why then did Naseer feel the need to publicly distance himself from Imrans reference to his interview, virtually telling him to mind his own business? There is a history to Indians and Pakistanis worrying for each other, as they should. There was a time when the entire Progressive Writers Movement in India joined comrades across the border fighting Gen. Ayub Khans martial law in Pakistan. Fahmida Riaz held the view that it was only by joining each others battles that both people could overcome their respective adversities. Sardar Jafri offered a similar view through poems, one of them quoted by Atal Behari Vajpayee in Lahore. Seen from this perspective there is nothing wrong in Imran Khan making the observation about Naseer, particularly so since he was primarily making a self-critical assessment of Pakistans own follies with denial of social justice and equality for all its people. By arrangement with Dawn Auburn, IN (46706) Today A shower or two possible this morning with partly cloudy skies for the afternoon. High near 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 30F. Winds light and variable. Russia is an important market for OneWebs project because it has many remote areas where high-speed broadband is not available. OneWeb has offered the Russian government the option of buying a 12.5-percent stake in the company. US satellite start-up OneWeb has offered to sell a minority stake to Russia, a move it hopes will allay Moscows concerns about the companys plan to create a worldwide internet network using satellites, three sources familiar with the matter said. Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said in October it was against the project servicing Russia for security reasons and feared it could be used to gather intelligence and damage national security. Russia is an important market for OneWebs project because it has many remote areas where high-speed broadband is not available. OneWeb also needs the assistance of Russian space agency Roscosmos to send satellites into orbit. OneWeb has offered the Russian government the option of buying a 12.5-percent stake in the company in exchange for approving its request for a frequency band in the country, said the three sources, including one in the Kremlin. The offer was made at a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev earlier this year, they added. A Russian subsidiary of OneWeb and Rosmoscos submitted a request for the frequency band last year, but it was rejected by the authorities. The Russian government is still discussing OneWebs proposal, the sources said. The government and Ministry for Digital Development and Communications did not reply to requests for comment. If Russia buys a minority stake in OneWeb, it would be represented on the companys board of directors and have access to the projects technical documentation, the sources said. However one of the sources, a Russian government official, said the government was not satisfied with the conditions attached to the stake purchase, as it wanted access to the technical documentation before committing to the deal. OneWeb spokesman Christopher Torres declined to comment on the offer, saying only that the firm has ongoing discussions with virtually every country in the world. OneWeb was founded by former Google manager Greg Wyler and has raised USD 1.7 billion from investors including Airbus, Bharti, Coca-Cola, Hughes, Virgin Group, Qualcomm and SoftBank. It plans to create a network of 900 satellites, most of which it wants to send into orbit via 21 Soyuz launch vehicles from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Guiana Space Centre. OneWeb struck a deal with Roscosmos in 2015 to send the satellites into orbit and clinched a joint venture with a subsidiary of the agency to service Russia. OneWeb is in the process of relinquishing its majority stake in that joint venture after the FSB raised concerns the service could potentially hand a foreign internet service provider a monopoly over rural and remote areas. (Source) What a terrific year it was for the little prince of Pataudi! After an exotic holiday in London, later flying to the Maldives and even South Africa, yet this cute munchkin's vacay plans aren't over yet. While it's Kareena and Saif's yearly ritual to celebrate New Year's Eve in Gstaad, Switzerland, this year's there's a slight change in their plans. The couple is all set to ring in the occasion in London instead. The UK capital is equally close to the Khan family's heart and the city seems to be an ideal spot to celebrate their New Year. Taimur Ali Khan Returns From His South African Holiday and He is Not Happy - Watch Video. Saif and Kareena with Taimur were clicked at the airport last night as they headed to the Queen's city. After a grand Christmas celebration in her nanny's residence, little Tim is all set to enjoy snow and winter in the European continent. We wonder if his dear friend, Kainaat, will join him in London with her parents or Taimur has to enjoy his own company. Taimur Ali Khan Looks Cutest of All as He Celebrates Christmas 2018 With Kapoors and Pataudis! (View Pics). Taimur's birthday celebration in South Africa was planned keeping Bebo's Christmas plans in mind. While we expected her to ditch the party for it may coincide with her ongoing holiday, the family had some different plans. They returned just in time to welcome the Santa Claus and videos from the same bash are all over the internet. Well, let's hope Tim's pictures from London aren't as grumpy as his recent pictures as his infectious laughter is something that we really root for. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2018 03:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). - Archbishop Charles Yohanna said Nigeria could not realise good and hitch free election in the absence of peace - He added that the government must do everything possible to ensure peaceful co-existence among the people The founder, Faith Revival Chapel, Bauchi chapter, Archbishop Charles Yohanna, has said that Nigeria could not realise good and hitch free election in 2019 in the absence of peace. Yohanna added that the government must do everything possible to ensure peaceful co-existence among the people. READ ALSO: Buhari should visit Zamfara before campaigning in Akwa Ibom - Shehu Sani Yohanna gave this charge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday while responding to questions on Christmas. We will be at the polls by February 2019 where Nigerians will have to decide again. It is wisdom on our side to ensure that we live in peace because you never can realise good election and democracy in a situation of chaos or violence. In this regard, the government should ensure that they bring us to live together in peace. Governments should not do anything that can threaten the unity of the country. Also, government must bring people together in order to ensure that peaceful election come 2019 so as to rebuild the nation, the archbishop said. Yohanna, however, thanked the security agents in the state for ensuring a peaceful Christmas in the state. There has been peaceful celebration since I left home this morning and everywhere is calm. We are happy because as at now, security reports from my people in other parts of the state, show that there is peace and no attack has been recorded anywhere in the state. I must say that we are happy that the government and the security agents ensure that everybody celebrates Christmas in peace, Yohanna said. The clergyman, therefore, called on all Christians to move closer to God and live in peace with the people of other religious faith. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigeria Latest News: Father Mbaka On Buhari, Atiku In Nigeria Election 2019 | Legit TV.\ Source: Legit - The national chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Oye, has called on Nigerians to show greater love and tolerance to one another - Oye also said Nigeria can only make progress when the people radiate love, forgive and tolerate one another in a most altruistic manner. - The chairman called on security agencies to be proactive in tackling crimes Dr. Victor Oye, the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has called on Nigerians to show greater love and tolerance to one another in order to move the nation forward. Oye made the call in his Christmas to Nigerians made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday, December 25. According to him, Nigeria can only make progress when the people radiate love, forgive and tolerate one another in a most altruistic manner. READ ALSO: One soldier wounded as Nigerian troops repel another Boko Haram attack in Yobe He said that the lack of genuine love among Nigerians was largely responsible for most of the challenges hindering the nations growth and development. Oye said: As we gradually draw closer to the 2019 general elections, there is an urgent need for introspection among the Nigerian political elite. There is the need for Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, tolerance and sportsmanship before, during and after the elections. He called on the security agencies to be proactive in tackling crimes, especially during the Yuletide to ensure violence-free Christmas and New Year celebrations. The party chairman thanked APGA faithful across the country for remaijing steadfast with the party and urged them to work for its success at the upcoming polls. Legit.ng previously reported that there are indications that the frosty relationship between Bianca, wife of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may have been resolved. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda A powerful delegation led by the presidential candidate of the party, Gen. John Gbor (retd), comprising his running mate, Chief Jerry Chukwueke and Senator Victor Umeh, stormed the Enugu home of the Ojukwus on Friday, December 7 and begged Bianca for forgiveness. Others in the delegation included former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Chukwuma Soludo, wife of Anambra state governor, Ebelechukwu Obiano, as well as the governorship candidates of the party in Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue among other chieftains. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Leadership of Nigeria is not meant for our forefathers| Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Senate President Bukola Saraki decried the level of poverty in Nigeria - Saraki blamed the poverty in the country on the present government - The Senate president blamed the ruling party, APC and the Buhari-led government for ignoring the promises made to Nigerians Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, December 25, said times are very hard for Nigerians as a result of the level of poverty in the country. The Senate president also claimed that the All Progressives Congress and the present government has failed Nigerians. Saraki said this on a live programme aired by four radio stations: Radio Nigeria (Harmony FM) Idofian, Royal FM, Sobi FM and Radio Kwara. Saraki said: Times are very hard for the masses as a result of the level of poverty in the country. READ ALSO: One soldier wounded as Nigerian troops repel another Boko Haram attack in Yobe Without sentiment, the present government has failed Nigerians. They must therefore ensure they vote for a leader that will address poverty and revive the economy. Nigerians will vote in February 2019 but the business community has already passed a vote of no confidence in this present government. I therefore urge Nigerians to vote out this government and vote a man (Atiku) that will restore investors confidence and get Nigeria working again. It is only one party that loves the common people and that is our party, the PDP. I am in politics to serve my people. When I campaigned in 2015, I pledged to Nigerians that my former party, APC, will address the issues of insecurity, unemployment and poverty but unfortunately the party has failed on all these three scorelines. I thank God Almighty for the position that was given to Kwara as the number three citizen. We have cut across our zonal intervention projects in the state which wasnt possible in the first four years as a floor member at the 7th Senate because ranking members add more value to the community/constituency. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the release Deji Adeyanju and ensure that his fundamental human rights are not continuously abused by the police. Adeyanju was rearrested by the police on Monday, December 4 after he was earlier released and has been in detention since then. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Saraki is key to Atiku winning in 2019 - Primate Ayodele On Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Supporters of the APC and the PDP disrupted a conference at the Emir of Ilorin Palace forecourt in Kwara state - Supporters of Senate President Saraki shouted down the APC governorship candidate in the state - The governorship candidate's supporters tried to counter the opposing side, causing chaos There was chaos at the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Unions 53rd conference on Tuesday, December 25, as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed. Trouble reportedly started during the inauguration of the 2019 calendar of the union by the chairman of the Ifelodun local council development authority in Lagos state, Alhaji Fatai Ajidagba, who donated N5 million. When it was the turn of the APC governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, to launch the calendar, he was prevented from speaking by supporters of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, chanting Sai leader, Sai Bukki, Atunwa," The Punch reports. Meanwhile his supporters were shouting his slogan O to ge(enough is enough) to counter the opposing side. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda It was gathered that Abdulrazak was called to the podium to announce his donation against the will of some of the organisers of the event. All efforts by the organisers to restore normalcy and continue the programme failed. As a result of the chaos, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, left the venue in anger. The national executive council members of the IEDPU led by their president, Usman Abdulazeez, later went into the palace to apologise to the Emir. The IEDPUs calendar, a major source of revenue generation for the union, could not be inaugurated because of the development. Lamenting over the turnout of events, the national publicity secretary of IEDPU, Alhaji Abdulrahman Malik, said: The union is apolitical, we are to promote peace in Ilorin Emirate. We didnt envisage what happened. However, media aide to Saraki, Alhaji Abdullai Olesin, said Saraki was not the cause of the disruption because he was not present at the convention. He added that for people to act that way when he was not there indicated how popular he is among his people. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app On its part, the media office of the APC governorship candidate in a statement absolved supporters of the party of blame. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Saraki is key to Atiku winning in 2019 - Primate Ayodele On Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Popular Hollywood actor Terrence Howard has proposed to his ex-wife - The couple had rekindled their love after three years of divorce On Christmas day, Tuesday, December 25, Hollywood star Terrence Howard shared a good news with his fans, friends and followers amidst the celebrations. The celebrity revealed that he is getting married once again. The Empire star had proposed to his ex-wife Mira Pak again, three years after they divorced. Howard shared photos of the romantic moment on his Instagram page. In the photos, it could be seen that the celebrated star spared no expense on the ring. The proposal ring came with a huge sea blue diamond rock. READ ALSO: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are married! During the proposal celebration with friends and family, the star was spotted giving a touching speech about finding love again. He said: We have an idea of how long we think life is, but we do know how short it can be, he said in a video. It took me 45 years to find you." PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app But now that I have you in my 50th year, I will spend the rest of eternity at your side. And I pray that everybody finds that one that will complete them for all eternity because it means everything. I love you. PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group The 49-year-old star had tied the knot with Pak in 2013. Pak filed for divorce two years later and they had reconciled not long after, here they are getting married again. True love breaks all boundaries. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, Legit.ng had also reported that a Nigerian celebrity Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, had remarried his wife Diane Oputa at a colourful event. This ceremony came days after the star announced that he would divorce Diane after 40 years together. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better How long should it take between a proposal and the actual wedding? - on Legit TV Source: Legit - An Abuja-based cleric, James Adekoya, has warned Nigerians against pressuring politicians for money ahead of 2019 general elections - Adekoya urged Nigerians to vote according to their conscience and stop pressuring politicians for money - The cleric said the call became imperative in view of the fact that some politicians siphoned public funds to induce their followers by what they considered as generosity The assistant pastor, Assemblies of God Church (AG), Rev. James Adekoya, on Tuesday, December 25, admonished Nigerians to vote according to their conscience and stop pressuring politicians for money. The Punch reports that Adekoya gave the advice in his Christmas message to the nation during this years Christmas service held at the church in Garki, Area 11, Abuja. Legit.ng gathered that the cleric said the call became imperative in view of the fact that some politicians siphoned public funds to induce their followers by what they considered as generosity. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda If you dont pressurise political leaders for money, they will not steal, even when they steal, then you have the right to question them. But when they steal and bring to you, in law they say aiding and abetting, the one who eats and abets the crime is virtually a criminal. So, if we dont aid them by asking them to do what they are not supposed to do, we cannot question them and query them on what they are doing that we know is not right, he said. According to him, stealing is not Biblical, is not Christian, it is unethical, and it is not customary. Our parents told us that they used to keep their crops and other things in the market and leave them; they only put stone there to tell the price. People come to buy, they pick and keep the money there, so, stealing is not even Nigerian but it emanated from our colonial masters, he noted. The cleric also urged Nigerian leaders to re-strategise toward bringing liberation, peace and joy to all citizens, advising that leaders have a stake to make Nigeria a better place. I want to challenge our leaders at all levels that we have a stake to make this country a better place. We must remove selfishness, because, if it were selfishness, Jesus Christ will not come to the world. The Christ has come to liberate and we must do everything within the little corner that we have to liberate other people. Father you are the head of the family, this is the time you should rethink, are you liberating your family? Some fathers dont provide for the home except during Christmas or when it is time for celebration. In view of this, you are not a good daddy, you are not a good leader; you are not a good Christian. The same thing applies in every little area God has given as leaders, he explained. The priest underscored the need for every individual to bring about liberation, peace, joy and love to everybody around them not withstanding what others were doing. Just do it and leave God to judgment, he said. To Nigerians, he said: The same way the Shepard received the message from the Angels in Luke chapter 2. We must likewise receive whatever the leaders are giving to the led. While reminding politicians that power comes from God alone, the cleric observed that nobody would be in position of authority if God has not ordained it. The Bible, according to him, orders the faithful to pray for their leaders. Besides, he reminded Nigerians that no matter what complaints they have, the leaders were already there and the only thing they needed was prayer. What you need to do is to pray. Yes, you need to advocate for right leadership, justice and peace to reign, yet, you need to pray for your leaders to succeed, he stressed. (NAN) READ ALSO: 95 percent of Nigerians dont have health insurance - Minister Adewole Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the founder, Faith Revival Chapel, Bauchi chapter, Archbishop Charles Yohanna, said that Nigeria could not realise good and hitch free election in 2019 in the absence of peace. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigeria Latest News: Father Mbaka On Buhari, Atiku In Nigeria Election 2019 | - on Legit TV Source: Legit - Chief Olu Falae has urged Nigerians to vote wisely during 2019 general elections - The national chairman of SDP also urged Christians across the country to continue to cohabit peacefully to engender lasting peace, security and order - Falae, however, noted that his party had presented Nigerians with an alternative candidate for 2019 elections The national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, has advised all citizens to vote for credible leadership in 2019 to realise the needed transformation. Daily Trust reports that Falae, in his Christmas message, urged Christians across the country to continue to cohabit peacefully to engender lasting peace, security and order. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Legit.ng gathered that in a statement signed by the party's national publicity secretary, Alfa Mohammed, Chief Falae also implored them to emulate the exemplary life of Jesus and pray for peace in Nigeria. One of the cardinal teachings of the Christian religion is that adherents of the Christian faith must be at peace with all men. In this trial moment that Nigeria is experiencing sundry security challenges characterized by wanton killings and destruction of property, we want to seize this occasion to enjoin all Christians as they celebrate Christmas to reflect on the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ, the statement said. Falae said since the well-being of the citizens of the country was the uppermost priority of SDP, the party had presented Nigerians with an alternative candidate that could transform the country, urging them to vote wisely in the coming election. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said it had received a Federal High Court judgment directing it to recognise Jerry Gana as its presidential candidate for the 2019 election. READ ALSO: Why Atiku, NASS members may lose Bayelsa in 2019 - PDP stakeholders The partys deputy national chairman, Abdul Isiaq, disclosed this when he received Gana who paid a courtesy visit to the party national secretariat on Wednesday, December 19, in Abuja. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Can SDP end Nigeria's woes? - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Chief John Oyegun expressed confidence in President Buhari winning 2019 elections - The former APC chairman however said the president needs the support of everyone - Oyegun said ordinary Nigerians have a role to play in the election too The former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari describing him as the best person to lead the nation for the next four years. In an interview with Daily Trust, Oyegun said although the ruling All Progressives Congress had internal issues, he expressed optimism that the party will unite and President Buhari will win again in 2019. READ ALSO: Buhari's government has failed Nigerians - Saraki He said: My attachment to the president started way back when he was military president. I think outside Murtala Muhammed, Buhari was the first to appreciate the need for disciplined society, the need for basic ethics both in our business undertakings and dealings with international communities as well as the need for basic morality; the need for our people as a society to know the difference between right and wrong. That is a challenge we still face as a people. It isnt the challenge of brick and mortar: thats how many kilometers of roads you have built or how many schools you have renovated. It is the challenge of reorienting the basic morality of us all as Nigerians. Learning to do things properly, learning to accept due process, learning to accept that might is not necessarily right. What I was told about him and what I have heard up to today, there is absolutely no reason to change that impression of him. What he needs is our genuine support. What he needs are men and women of passion who will help bring to fruition the corrective measures he has put in place and is still pursuing. So, my support, apart from that original empathy with him over many years, when you look around the field in any case today, both from his achievements and considering also the field, I consider him by far the best person we have for president in the next four years. So, in whatever capacity he has my support and I will continue to make that available in whatever manner that is necessary to enhance his potential for victory. Asked about his opinion on southeast leaders who have endorsed Atiku Abubakar for presidency, Oyegun said the political relevance of the ordinary people must not be underestimated. He said: I dont think it does. There is one mistake our leaders continue to make, thats to underestimate the voting public like farmers, market women, and labourers. These people know what is happening in the society and they dont need to depend on anybody in particular, except die-in-the-wood party people like us and the rest of it. So, if a church says the congregation should vote for party X, everybody would just say yes and go home. They would still vote for whomsoever they have decided to vote for. That is the situation we are in in this country. That is why I emphasised the issue-based politics. The average Nigerian is aching, he knows you cannot solve all his problems. But he wants to be sure that you are going to make a good trial. And he wants to have hope that this man he is going to vote for, all things being equal, he is likely going to start the process of improvement to his personal circumstances so that he has hope for the future, if not for himself for his children. That is what motivates the average Nigerian. It is not because some organisations adopt X. We are going to have a lot more adoptions. I expect some presidential candidates to withdraw until 30 political parties support candidate X. You know the horse trading will start soon and you will get more absurd declarations. That is part of our politics and some party leaders do it for their own personal reasons. But it is at a cost to them because they are underestimating the voting public. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that no fewer than 26 All Progressives Congress aspirants of the state House of Assembly in Ogun state defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The defectors were aggrieved aspirants who alleged that the mandate given to them during the October 7 legislative primary of the APC was stolen by the national leadership of the ruling party. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Police said it has arrested two Ghanaians for allegedly robbing a truck driver of his vehicle and goods with acid - The suspects allegedly poured raw acid on the diver, Taiwo Adesanya, after robbing him at the Olukwu area of Benin city of his truck with goods - Police also claimed that the suspects attacked the driver who was sleeping from a long journey, thinking that he was dead The Inspector-General of Police-Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has arrested two Ghanaians for allegedly robbing a truck driver of his vehicle and goods with acid. The force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Tuesday, December 25, in Lagos, stressing that the suspects carried out the crime in Edo on December 9, while they were arrested in Enugu state, NAN reports. Legit.ng gathers that Moshood said that the suspects allegedly poured raw acid on Taiwo Adesanya after robbing him at the Olukwu area of Benin city of his truck with goods. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He said that the suspects, Eric Aidan and Matthew Kwasha, are notorious criminals who specialise in killing their victims with raw acid after dispossessing them of their belongings, especially vehicles. The image maker of the force, who said that the suspects were currently being detained at IRT Cell in Ikeja , Lagos, noted that their mode of operation was to seek employment as driver and conductor in haulage companies. He said while in such company, they study the company and perfect ways to divert their employers goods and sell the vehicle. Moshood said after selling the goods, they would relocate to another place where they would apply for the same position in another company, stressing that their last operation was the incident of December 9. He said that after they attacked the driver, who was sleeping from the long journey with raw acid, thinking that he was dead, they snatched his truck loaded with 600 bags of sugar and dragged him out of the truck. The image maker said that the owner of the truck petitioned the I-GP following the attack on the driver and the diversion of the sugar worth over N10 million the driver was carrying to Benin city. According to Moshood, based on the petition, the I-GP directed the commander of IRT, Abba Kyari, to investigate the matter, stressing that upon the directives, Kyari directed CSP Phillip Rieninwa, IRT commander in Lagos to go after the suspects . He said: The team led by CSP Rieniwa swung into action and tracked the suspects to a shrine in Nsukka, Enugu state, from where they were apprehended. They have confessed to the crime and they will soon be charged to the Court. The victim, who survived the acid attack, was able to recognise the suspects." PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that following the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Samuel Makene, who died as a result of injury sustained from stabbing in Nasarawa, the state police command said it had arrested 8 suspects in connection to the case. The state police public relations officer, ASP Samaila Usman, said the arrested suspects were being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Lagos Police Commissioner Parades Suspected Criminals (Nigeria News) | Source: Legit Christmas is always a special day to Christians and non Christians and many celebrities celebrate it in their own way. Media personality and red carpet host, Denrele Edun, has released new photos to celebrate the Christmas season. These new photos of Denrele were taken inside a bathtub. The entertainer and actor was clad in traditional Christmas colour of red dress. He was caught sleeping in the bathtub filled with water. While he thinks of creativity, his new photos have people talk over how weird the photos are. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria READ ALSO: Bobrisky shops for sanitary pads (video) READ ALSO: How top Nigerian celebrities celebrated Christmas Day Legit.ng had reported that controversial Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye but popularly known as Bobrisky took to his social media handle to gush about his male friends, Denrele Edun. Sharing the post on the night of Tuesday, November 13, on his Instagram handle, the cross dresser described Denrele as his baby who never fails at showing off his fashion skills on the red carpets. Bobrisky later took down the post hours after it was shared. The post read: My baby always slaying..@denrele_edun. Good night just got into Lagos I need rest. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Who was Nigerias biggest entertainer in 2018? | Legit TV Source: Legit Nigeria - Some police officers scheduled to join other security counterparts in the northeast reportedly fled - The officers were deployed to the north east to battle Boko Haram insurgency - The police headquaters ordered for their arrest and prosecution Following their deployment to the north east, 190 police officers have reportedly fled leading to the police headquarters reportedly ordering for their arrest and prosecution. Sahara Reporters claimed the officers were about to be deployed to the north east to support the military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. READ ALSO: Buhari's government has failed Nigerians - Saraki It was reported that the policemen were being trained at the Special Forces school, Buni-Yadi, where they absconded from. The MOPOLS were urged to treat the matter as very important and thus to arrest and prosecute them. Jimoh Moshood who is the police spokesperson said the policemen comprised personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), as well as those of the Force and the Sniffer Dog Sections. Moshood also stated that the new deployment was consistent with Section 4 of the Police Act and Regulations. He said the section specifies the general duties of the Nigeria Police Force as follows: The police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by or under the authority of this or any other Act. The deployment is also to support the strength of the military to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency. Before now, the Nigeria Police Force has on ground 47 PMF units (63 X 47 = 2961) in Borno State in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Borno State. Twenty-six units (63 X 26 = 1638) on ground in Yobe State in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Yobe State. Eighteen units (63 X 18 = 1134) on ground in Adamawa State in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Adamawa State. However, the Nigerian Police Force denied that any of its officers deployed to the northeast fled. The police said all the 2000 policemen deployed to the region have all reported and are on ground for combat operation in the region, fighting alongside the Military. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged troops prosecuting the counter terrorism operation in the North-East to be wary of Boko Harams increasing misinformation propaganda. In a Christmas and New Year Message to the troops on Tuesday, Buratai said that it was evident that the terrorists had been defeated. Thus, they have now resorted to employing propaganda in order to demoralise you by spreading false messages of strength and invincibility. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app It is pertinent for troops to understand that Boko Haram Terrorists are nothing but a band of criminals. Therefore, you must all brace up to clear and flush out their remnants." NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Leadership of Nigeria is not meant for our forefathers| Legit TV Source: Legit - Following President Muhammadu Buhari's directive, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has distributed some relief materials to IDPs - The spokesman of the NCS, Joseph Attah, revealed that not less than 424,391 bags of rice worth N4 billion were distributed to IDPs in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Edo - Attah said that the relief materials were given to help reduce the suffering of the IDPs especially in the northeast region The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that it has so far distributed 424,391 bags of rice worth N4 billion to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Edo states. The public relations officer of the service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, December 26, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari gave a directive to NSC to distribute some seized items including rice to IDPs in the troubled northeast to ameliorate their sufferings. Attah explained that apart from rice, other seized perishable items were also distributed to the IDPs. He said with relative peace in the northeast, many IDPs were now returning to their ancestral homes and engaging in farming. He pointed out that the need for these items continued to reduce while seizures of the items had made warehouses to overflow. The spokesperson disclosed that the comptroller general of customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (Rtd), had obtained the Presidential nod to extend the distribution of the relief items to other IDP camps and registered orphanages across the country. According to him, already, the list of IDPs and orphanages across the country is being compiled with a view to kick-starting the nation-wide distribution as soon as possible. He said that by the time NCS commenced the distribution, it would provide relief and succour to fellow Nigerians who were going through tough times in the IDP camps and orphanages. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Attah also disclosed that a total number of 238,094 (50kg) bags of rice were seized across the country by customs between January and November, 2019. He reiterated the commitment of the Ali led administration to cleanse the system to boost revenue generation in the country. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia had reached out to Nigeria through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre by donating at least 140,468 bags of food items to IDPs in Borno and Yobe states. Legit.ng gathered that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) revealed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Malam Sani Datti, on Thursday, December 6, and made available in Abuja. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigeria news: IDPs in Plateau getting ready for the elections | Legit TV Source: Legit - Civil societies and members of academics have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency in Zamfara state - They said declaration of a state on emergency will enable federal government provide solution to series of attacks in the state - It also called for renewed commitment of the leadership of the security agencies as part of a effort to accelerate the war against mass murder In the wake of the continuous attack on innocent and unarmed citizens that has been deluging Zamfara, President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked by notable Nigerians in academics and civil societies to declare a state of emergency in the state. Daily Trust reports that the group, which comprised Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and academics, made this call in a joint press statement on Wednesday, December 26, 2018. Legit.ng gathers from the statement that the societies said declaration of a state of emergency will enable federal government provide solution to series of attacks on Zamfara communities recently. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda According to the statement collectively signed by Professor Jibrin Ibrahim (Centre for Democracy and Development), Dr Abubakar Siddique Mohammed (Centre for Democratic Research and Training) Prof Massoud Omar (Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Zaria), Dr. Saluihu Zubairu Mustapha (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) and Mohammed Abubakar Nasiru (Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria), the action will pave ways for solution. It read: In the last few years, Zamfara state has been subjected to massacres and the killing of thousands of innocent citizens, mainly rural folks. The brutality with which these attacks are carried out are unprecedented in recent times in any part of Nigeria. The outbreak of riots in Tsafe local government on Saturday, December 22, 2018, which according to some reports, have led to the deaths of over 100 people in the villages of Asaula, Kwadawa, Dogon Kawo, Mandaba, Yanza, Kulutu,Sakkya and Fegin Dakai, all in eastern Tsafe, has again brought to the fore the issue of insecurity in Zamfara state. On Monday, December 24, thousands of scared citizens in the state came out en masse to protest, demanding that the Nigerian state protects them from killers and bandits who have killed over one hundred people in the past two weeks, burnt their houses and destroyed their farmlands and rustled their cattle. In the statement, the group warned of looming anarchy in Zamfara state, adding that the leadership of the country should not arm fold itself in the wake of death of innocent souls. It said: Government should interact frequently with community leaders and other relevant stakeholders in the search for lasting solution to the crisis. "We call for the renewed commitment of the leadership of the security agencies as part of a renewed effort to accelerate the war against terrorism, insurgency, mass kidnapping and mass murder. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the residents of some parts of Zamfara state on Monday afternoon, December 24, staged protest the complaining against insecurity in the state. According to the reports, the protesters, mainly residents of Tsafe local government area of the state, in the early hours of the day, barricaded the Gusau-Zaria highway linking the state to Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja. An eyewitness disclosed that the protesters destroyed political billboards of President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigerian Air Force vows to apprehend Badeh's killers | Legit TV Source: Legit - Abike Dabiri-Erewa has warned Nigerians in the Diaspora to be mindful of their financial dealings with people - Dabir-Erewa, who is the senior special assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and Diaspora, made the plea in reaction to the arrest of a Nigerian in US - The victim, Olufolajimi Abegunde, was said to have allowed his old friend, Ayodeji Olumide Ojo, to make use of his address to open a bank account in a US bank The senior special assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has stressed the need for Nigerians, especially those sojourning in the Diaspora, to be mindful of their dealings with people they relate with, including friends and acquaintances, particularly when it comes to financial matters. Legit.ng reports that Dabiri-Erewa was speaking against the arrest of a Nigerian, Olufolajimi Abegunde, who is now in detention for allowing his old friend, Ayodeji Olumide Ojo, to make use of his address to open a bank account in a US bank. Dabiri-Erewa, who made this known, in a release signed by his senior assistant on media, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said even though till date, there was no official correspondence from the family to the effect that their son was arrested, Nigerian government owes it a duty to wade into the matter. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda It was gathered that the economic confidential reported that, Abegunde 31, who resides in Atlanta, Georgia and seven others: Javier Luis Ramos Alonso, 28, a Mexican citizen residing in Seaside, California; James Dean, 65, of Plainfield, Indiana; Dana Brady, 61, of Auburn, Washington; Rashid Abdulai, 24, a Ghanaian citizen residing in the Bronx, New York, who has been charged in a separate indictments, Maxwell Atugba Abayeta aka Maxwell Peter, 26, and Babatunde Martins, 62, of Ghana and Benard Emurhowhoariogho Okorhi, 39, a Nigerian citizen who resides in Ghana, were arrested and are pending extradition proceedings to face charges filed in the Western District of Tennessee. A US department of Justice has since June 2018 arrested and charged eight people including Abegunde for cybercrime and business email compromise conspiracy. The US acting assistant attorney general, Cronan was quoted to have said, "The defendants allegedly unleashed a barrage of international fraud schemes that targeted U.S. businesses and individuals, robbing them to the tune of approximately $15 million. "The Department of Justice will continue to work with our international partners to aggressively disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises that victimize our citizens and businesses." Dabiri-Erewa, however, said that Abegunde claimed innocence, saying that his address was used by a friend of his, Ayodeji Ojo, who has apparently been previously charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and is currently at large. Abegunde in account as reported by economicconfidential.com, recounted that, "Prior to coming to the United States, to school, I had eight years of professional work experience, funding two startups and managing capital intensive projects in the leading information technology firm in Nigeria, Computer Warehouse Group. ''I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science degree in Computer Science from Babcock University, Ogun, Nigeria, 2006." He further explained that, "Even though there was no probable cause for my arrest, there is no single strand of evidence tying me to to these charges on the indictment." While Abegunde has been in detention since June 2018 for indictment of conspiracy, his friend, Ojo, who is the suspect, is now, unfortunately, at large. The presidential aide disclosed that when the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta was aware of the detention of Abegunde, who claimed innocence, a letter was written to the West Tennessee Detention Facility in Mason, Tennessee (where he is detained) requesting consular access. She said: "The consulate in Atlanta is awaiting response for consular access to Mr Abegunde through the US Department of State in Washington." Dabir-Erewa, however, believed that Abegunde's pleas that his friend, Ojo, used his address to open a bank account in a US bank, would hopefully be proven right in court. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, denied receiving any petition on a Nigerian detained by the U. S. authority. READ ALSO: Why Atiku, NASS members may lose Bayelsa in 2019 - PDP stakeholders Dabiri-Erewa gave the explanation through her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Tuesday, December 18, in Abuja. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | - on Legit TV Source: Legit A first-floor fire that was spreading up a stairway into the second floor on Christmas morning in a multi-family home in Belvidere was quickly extinguished, Good Will Fire Co. No. 1 reported on Facebook. When the firefighters were dispatched at 3:21 a.m. at 131-133 Fourth St., it was believed two people were trapped inside, according to the fire company and a report from the scene. Due to the complexity of the homes layout and safety of the firefighters, it was decided to force the front door to make entry and search, the fire company said. As the crew inside found and dealt with the fire, a second crew set up ground ladders and a bucket to the windows in case anyone needed to be removed from inside, the fire company said. As the fire was put out, company officials learned the residents were safely out and accounted for, the post said. Details about the cause of the fire or the degree of damage werent immediately available on Wednesday morning. The fire company was assisted by its ladies auxiliary, Mountain Lake Fire Company, Harmony Township Volunteer Fire Company, Washington Borough Fire Departments rapid intervention crew, as well as the Belvidere Ambulance Corps, the New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office, New Jersey State Police, paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center and the Knowlton Township Rescue Squad. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. GoFundMe says it has refunded more that $400,000 to the 14,000 donors who gave money to what prosecutors called a good Samaritan scam set up by a former New Jersey couple who are now facing criminal charges. The viral fundraiser put together by Kate McClure and Mark DAmico, then living in Florence, was ostensibly to raise money for Johnny Bobbitt, a homeless military veteran, after Bobbit supposedly gave McClure his last $20. But the scheme quickly unraveled as money poured in, and the three began fighting over it. Prosecutors say trio made up the whole story, and conspired to split the proceeds. All of the donated money raised has now been refunded, including processing and administration fees, GoFundMe spokesperson Bobby Whithorne, said in an email on Christmas. Whithore said all of the donors received their refunds last month. While this type of behavior by an individual is extremely rare, it's unacceptable and clearly it has consequences. Committing fraud, whether it takes place on or offline is against the law. We are fully cooperating and assisting law enforcement officials to recover every dollar withdrawn by Ms. McClure and Mr. D'Amico, Whithore said. The three met in a chance encounter outside of a Philadelphia casino, allegedly creating story that prosecutors later called too good to be true. McClure and DAmico set up a GoFundMe campaign, Paying it Forward, because they said they wanted to reward Bobbitt for his generosity in giving McClure his last $20 bill so she could buy gas. She started the campaign with a goal to raise around $10,000, hopefully McClure claimed enough to get Bobbitt a used truck and a few months rent in an apartment while he got back on his feet. But the story garnered national attention and the account quickly passed the initial $10,000 goal. Donors fueled by the holiday spirit ended up contributing just over $400,000. Cracks in the tale then began to emerge, as the proceeds skyrocketed. Bobbitt claimed that he had been unable to access most of the money, and had to ask McClure and DAmico for cash. He also accused the couple of spending it on lavish vacations and a BMW. After an investigation, Burlington County prosecutors revealed he was no innocent victim. The entire story was fabricated. According to court documents, McClure texted a friend less than an hour after the GoFundMe campaign launched, saying the story was completely made up. All three were charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception. They could face up to ten years of jail time if convicted. McClure and DAmico were scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Kate Major Lohan, stepmother of Lindsay Lohan, apologizes and pays fine in Christmas Day bus fracas (VIDEO) Actress Lindsay Lohans stepmother is charged with attacking a charter bus driver while under the influence on Christmas Day in Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania State Police and media outlets report. Kate Major Lohan, 36, of Boca Raton, Florida, then allegedly got behind the wheel of the occupied bus. A fellow passenger eventually removed her from the drivers seat, police said. Major Lohan was arrested after the 5:12 p.m. incident at 4440 Hamilton Blvd., police said. She was arraigned at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday before District Judge David M. Howells Jr. on charges of DUI in a commercial vehicle (blood alcohol content of 0.04 or above), DUI and incapable of safely operating a vehicle, disorderly conduct (hazardous physical offense), harassment, disorderly conduct (fighting) and public drunkenness, records show. She posted 10 percent of her $2,500 bail and was freed, records show. Her preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 1:30 p.m. Jan. 3 in District Judge Michael J. Faulkners court. The Blast first reported Major Lohans arrest; its report has since been picked up by several other media outlets including Fox News. The Blast identified the charter bus company as Bieber Tourways. Kate filed for divorce from Lindsays dad, Michael Lohan, back in September, The Blast reported. The former couple has had their share of squabbles most recently when Kate was arrested for throwing a glass candle at Lohan during an argument that left him with an impressive mark. Those charges were later dropped after it was determined there was not enough evidence. And Lohan said he did not want her prosecuted. It was not immediately clear why Major Lohan was in the Lehigh Valley and where the bus was heading, but The Morning Call reported that Major Lohan is a 2001 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. For the second time in a week, a person died after a police pursuit on Route 209 in Carbon County, authorities say. On Dec. 18, Danny Washington, 27, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was killed by municipal police gunfire after a struggle following a 17-mile chase that ended on Route 209 in Franklin Township. On Monday, a man sped off from a traffic stop just before 6 p.m. and about a mile later near Anderson Drive in Towamensing Township lost control of the Nissan coupe, went off the road and struck several trees, Pennsylvania State Police said. The man, who was later identified as Tyler James Koch, 24, of Eldred Township, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Dons Towing, Palmerton EMS, Lehighton EMS, the Trachsville Fire Department and the Franklin Township Fire Department assisted at the scene, police said. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. I am excited for the upcoming session of Congress, which will welcome many new faces and ideas to our local and national government. 2019 presents a fresh opportunity to safeguard the unique wild flora and fauna species of our region. I ask our federal legislators to uphold the Endangered Species Act and other ecosystem protection laws. Dont we all want to preserve treasures like the New Jerseys Pinelands ecosystem, our breathtaking coast and bodies of water, and glorious critters like tree frogs, monarch butterflies, turtles and songbirds? I encourage everyone to call, write and visit their state and federal legislators to urge their support for state and national parks funding, for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (H.R. 6759), and for other pro-conservation legislation. I also believe renewable energy investment measures deserve bipartisan support, as they create secure local jobs and keep our air and water clean. Environmental and economic health go hand-in hand. When we protect our ecosystems, we ensure that outdoor recreation and tourism will remain robust, and that natural resources will be plentiful in the long run. Thanks for standing up for compassion for our wildlife, lands and waters. Rebecca Canright Asbury Pride, joy and sadness were the emotions felt at St Mary's Hall in Portlaoise on Friday, May 25 after Laois voted yes to repeal the eight amendment to the Constitution paving the way for abortion in Ireland. More than 24,200 Laois voters backed repeal. Just over 15,200 voted against the change. Elaine O'Neill, co-founder of Laois Together for Yes, summed up the feelings in the Yes camp. I am just delighted that Laois trusts women and that Ireland trusts women finally, and we are given the right to choose, she said. Noel O'Rourke of the Life Institute campaigned for a No vote. I think it is a very sad day for Ireland that the protection of the unborn is lost. That is against all moral beliefs that anyone could have, he said. It was a night to remember for altogether different reasons for Grainne Hogan from Camross at the Laois Rose selection night in the Midlands Park Hotel. A dream come true, Grainne, a farmer, told the Leinster Express when her name was announced on the night. Things will be different at the mart on Tuesday, MC Ollie Turner told Grainne as she accepted the Laois Rose sash. I think I'm going to be really popular, replied the new Rose. Meanwhile, in the courts, Portlaoise's District Court Judge took issue with the GAA and parents arising from a violent incident during a juvenile hurling match. If this is the level the GAA has deteriorated to, it should just give up, said Judge Catherine Staines. She also took parents to task. There is far too much pressure on young people by the parents, the example being set is absolutely appalling. There were 70 people on the pitch roaring and shouting, this does not reflect well on either team and there is clearly no respect for your opponent or sportsmanship, she said. Laois TD and Government Minister Charlie Flanagan hit out at Ireland's tourism body over their no-show at the launch of a 5 million amenity in the Slieve Blooms. The absence of Failte Ireland at the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail came just a few weeks after Laois was left out of the new Hidden Heartlands tourism plan for the midlands. I am not aware if Failte Ireland is here this morning but somebody might give them a call and tell them Laois is very much in the midlands, said Charlie Flanagan. Tragedy struck on the Laois Offaly border in May when a plane crash claimed the life young boy and the pilot of a plane which went down near Clonbullogue. Kacper Kacprzak, aged 7, and Neil Bowditch aged 47 were both killed. Kacper's dad had been among 16 parachutists who at jumped from the Cessna aircraft a short time before the crash on Sunday, May 13. Descendants of Seumas OKelly, the one time Leinster Leader editor, the anniversary of whose death takes place this month, were once told by an academic that the late writer was dated. Understandably, given OKellys life story and his talent, they want him to get the recognition that they believe he deserves. Fortunately, there is now a chance to take a fresh look at the writings of the Galway writer, including on RTE media. With the 100th anniversary of his death, RTE and others have been taking a new look at his novels and plays. On a number of fronts, OKelly does merit much more attention for his literary work than he has got up to now. Not only was he heavily involved in the political journalism of the country at a crucial time for what was to become the Republic of Ireland, but he was also a literary writer who had gone to university with James Joyce. That is not a literary recommendation, in itself, but his talents were widely recognised in his lifetime and perhaps it was only due to the fame of people like Joyce and Yeats that OKelly and writers like him, were demoted, so to speak. In his native Galway, he was born in Loughrea where his father was a newsagent. The Seumas OKelly Players drama group is named after the one time Naas resident. OKelly was effectively murdered legally it might be termed manslaughter on the night of November 11 1918. It does not appear that anyone was brought to justice for the assault which led to his death. Some of his many works were translated into foreign languages in the heyday of the writer, including Danish, German and Russian. Seumas was a former editor of the Leinster Leader, initially taking on the job from 1906-1912. His brother, Michael, also filled the role for a term but Seumas came back to edit the newspaper when Michael was sent to prison in the UK following the round up of many people in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising. Seumas died on November 14 1918, three days after being assaulted on Armistice Day. He was only in his late thirties there are differing accounts as whether he was born in 1875 or 1876 or 1880. His health was poor and he had the aid of a walking stick with him when he was working at No 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin, in the office of Nationality, the then Sinn Fein newspaper, which he was editing. Seumas was a good friend of Arthur Griffith. When Griffith got into trouble with the authorities and was jailed he brought Seumas in to man, not the barricades, but the newsmans pen. The building at No 6 Harcourt was the office of Sinn Fein and the Sinn Fein Bank. As Alphonsus Sweeney, a nephew of Seumas OKelly, tells in an 1968 speech (reprinted) in A rebels desk, on November 11, World War 1 ended, officially anyway. Armistice Day was celebrated in Dublin by British soldiers and their followers. All the principal buildings in Dublin flew the Union Jack. but No 6 Harcourt Street did not. It flew the Irish republican flag. In the evening, the building was attacked by a rabble led by some British soldiers and quite a lot of damage was done. The attacks continued on November 12 and November 13. On November 11, Seumas had arrived at this office and was sitting at his editorial desk and was opening some correspondence when a sudden attack was made in an endeavour to wreck the building. A mob charged up the stairs. Harry Boland turned the hose on the attackers and Bob Brennan tried to prevent the office from being wrecked and papers destroyed. He went on to say: Seumas defended himself from the mob with his walking stick but he collapsed with a haemorrhage and was taken to Jervis Street Private Nursing home where he died during the night three days later. That was November 14 1918. He was given a national funeral on Sunday, November 15. Arthur Griffith, who was in Gloucester jail in the UK wrote: His death is a tragic loss to Ireland and for me it is the loss of one of dearest friends, he has given his life for the cause. It was a huge funeral which received much coverage in the national press of the time. The Leinster Leader edition of November 23 1918 covered the event. The chief mourners were his brothers, Rev Fr Alphonsus OKelly ODC and Michael OKelly, his sister Miss Nora OKelly, his nephew, Alfie Sweeney, J. OBeirne, M. Flynn (a cousin), Jno Barrett and K. Farrell, both from Loughrea, M. OFlanagan and Louis McCarthy as well as the north Kildare Sinn Fein executive. Alphonsus Sweeney sums up the life work of Seumas: He devoted most of his literary talents to the cause of Irish independence but had the time to make a contribution to the Irish literature of that great period of Yeats, Joyce and Stephens, A.E. and Gogarty. He wrote seven plays, four of which were produced by The Abbey Theatre, two novels, four books of short stories and hundreds of articles for magazines and newspapers. Unfortunately, many of these are out of print and not easy to find. Kildare librarian, Mario Coates, said the books are collectors items. But the County Library is considering publishing some work in different formats, he said. The most famous of the works is The Weavers Grave which has been translated into other languages. RTE produced it for radio and it is available on the RTE Player. The play, adapted from the short story by Michael O hAodha, won the Prix Italia for radio drama in 1961. RTE Radio has produced readings of some of his work at the nightly at 11.20pm slot as part of RTEs book on one series. For those not up at that late hour I am sure it can be downloaded from the RTE Player during the day. Liam Kenny, who has written about Seumas in recent years said it was good to see this national recognition for one of the forgotten figures of the Irish literarary revival. Also this month, The Lady of Deerpark by Seamus OKelly (1881-1918) will be read on the Book on One. Told from the point of view of Paul Jennings, the agent of Deerpark, an estate house in the west of Ireland of the 1890s, the book has been described as an ironic elegy for a way of life in decay. It has been hailed as a book of significance in wonderfully capturing the atmosphere of its time. When Seumas was in Naas, he lived for a long period at an unusual four chimney house on the Grand Canal. Locals called it Brackens Cottage Recently I met Deirdre Lawlor (nee Sweeney) and her husband, Peter, to talk about Seumas. Deirdre is a great grand niece of Michael and Seumas OKelly and a daughter of Alphonsus Sweeney, who was a nephew of both Michael and Seumas. Alphonsuss father married their sister, Ellen. The Lawlors would love to see their relative in more limelight than he is now. Peter described Seamus as philosophical compared to his more outgoing brother, Michael. In a piece he wrote about Seumas in 2011, local historian James Durney said that Seumas had been described as a gentle revolutionary and a plaque on the Naas office of the Leinster Leader described him as such. Revolutionaries, write Durney, are perceived to be people of daring action and strong personality. He cited Wolfe Tone, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, John Devoy and Countess Markievicz (who knew OKelly) as being among them. But not all revolutionaries possessed such formidable personalities, he wrote, and many applied their skills in a quieter way to the cause and won the battle for hearts and minds Seumas started work as journalist in east Galway before taking up a job at the Southern Star in Cork. But alongside his journalism and editorials he began to publish creative work. Among others, he wrote a play for the early Abbey and was described as Irelands most popular new playwright. Critics varied on the quality of his many short stories and work but recognised some were better than others. James Joyce was not overly impressed with the first work, a collection of ten stories called By the Stream of Kilmeen, but warmed to OKelly, his UCD arts classmate, later on. There appears to be widespread agreement that his short story, The Weavers Grave, is among the great short stories. An early edition was illustrated by Jack B Yeats who also did sketches for the OKelly poetry collection, Ranns and Ballads. He was in contact with writers like Padraig Column, Oliver Gogarty, Lady Gregory and W.B.Yeats. The painter, Estella Solomons, painted Seumas OKelly. While he is out of print, collections of his manuscripts are held in Berg collection, New York library, the Morris library in southern Illinois, the Lilly library in Indiana, at the University of British Columbia, Canada and also at the National Library in Dublin. LifeStyle The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. We're sorry that the ministry you were looking for is no longer available on LightSource.com. However, below are some great ministries that offer related content. Enjoy the inspiration, encouragement, and Biblical challenge from these LightSource.com ministry partners! LIMERICK City and County Council is planning to build a car park at one of the few remaining green spaces in the city centre. In a move slammed as sneaky and ridiculous, the local authority is proposing a landscaped car park in far corner of a small patch of grass near the interchange of Hyde Road and Lord Edward Street. Trees have already been chopped to make way for it. The facility is being planned as part of the Parnell Street improvement works, which will see the streetscape dramatically changed, and on street car parking spaces reduced. Although councillors have already approved the multi-million euro scheme, local activist Noel Hannan has pledged to fight tooth and nail against it. How much will this cost, Mr Hannan asked, It wouldnt be cheap. Whats the crisis in Limerick at the moment? It is car parking or housing? Car parking is aimed for profit. I dont care what they want to build, they are not going to build there, Mr Hannan, who grew up in the Hyde Road flats, said. The activist, who plans to run in City East at next summers local election, added: If you put a car park there, it will be an eyesore. Its not fair to all those young families at the Hyde Road flats, where the kids will have nowhere to play. People dont want a car park. If Limerick City and County Council want to build a parking facility, Mr Hannan said it should look to the former Guinness site at Upper Careys Road. Or, instead, spend the money on much needed housing, he added. However, a spokesperson for the local authority insisted the car park will take up just a small part of land at the top of the Hyde Road green space. This development will integrate Hyde Road park with the surrounding streets as it will be landscaped to include new footpaths, walkways and shrubbery suitable for an urban setting, they added. The land affected, the council added, is not in regular use. EIGHT WEEKS after their launch, EcoStraws.ie, a firm based in Hospital County Limerick have already received a seal of quality. The local distributor, founded by Brian OCallaghan, Sarah Keyes and Anthony Egan have been awarded an All-Ireland Business All-Star accreditation, a standard mark only given to indigenous companies with a quality standard of business practice. EcoStraws offer a wide range of biodegradable drinking and eating products from reusable coffee cups, edible drinking straws and environmentally-friendly cutlery. Brian OCallaghan, co-founder of EcoStraws, stated: This coveted accreditation certainly places the spotlight on us. It also showcases the campaign against the use of single-use plastics in Ireland, and that can only be a good thing, Mr OCallaghan added. EcoStraws now joins an exclusive group of 200 Irish firms awarded with the seal by the panel consisting All-Ireland Business Foundation members Dr. Briga Hynes of the Kemmy Business School and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics. Speaking about the rigorous evaluation, Dr Hynes explained: In a minimum six-week process, we evaluate a companys background, trustworthiness, and performance, and we speak to customers, employees, and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience, Dr Hynes added. Mr OCallaghan concluded: As an indigenous, emerging Irish All-Star company, we are immensely proud of our All-Star status, and I should thank not only the All-Ireland Business Foundation but also my team and most importantly our customers. Shoppers can visit EcoStraws.ie to find a gift, for not just their recipients, but for their planet, as well. TWO young men who became embroiled in the aftermath of a shooting incident in Limerick during which another man was injured have each received lengthy prison sentences. Keith Lillis, aged 25, of Galvone Road, Kennedy Park and Stephen Grace, aged 26, of no fixed abode had both pleaded guilty to impeding the garda investigation into the shooting which happened at Maple Court, Kennedy Park in Limerick city on July 11, 2017. Keith Lillis also admitted unlawful possession of a double-barrelled breech loading sawn-off shotgun which was used (by another man) in the shooting. Detective Garda Barry Moylan told Limerick Circuit Court, gardai were alerted to the shooting at around 3pm a short time after the 23-year-old victim presented at University Hospital Limerick having been driven there by a friend. He said gardai later established the victim Terry Casey had arrived at the home of another man at around 2pm in the company of two younger relatives. Judge Tom ODonnell was told there was a dispute between Mr Casey and the other man at the time and that shortly after words were exchanged between the pair, three men emerged from a rear gate with one of them discharging a shot directly at Terry Casey. Having arrived in the area, gardai encountered Keith Lillis who was carrying the shotgun while they were also alerted to Mr Caseys Suzuki Vitara which had been moved from the scene and set alight by Stephen Grace. It was accepted by gardai that both Lillis and Grace were in the wrong place at the wrong time and that both were subjected to considerable pressure. Neither were involved in the actual shooting. John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, said the case against both men was not straight forward and that their admissions and guilty pleas were of enormous value. They became embroiled (in the incident), gardai are satisfied they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said adding both had been smoking weed. Judge ODonnell said it was a concern the incident happened in broad daylight in a busy residential area and that a man was injured. Noting the duress involved and the defendants co-operation, he imposed four and-a-half year sentences suspending the final 18 months. THE INTRODUCTION of Black Friday means the mayhem of the January sales has dwindled, a local Limerick retailer believes. The first shop to open in Limerick city this Stephens Day morning was Brown Thomas, where up there was savings of up to 50% could be found on selected shoes and handbags. River Island, New Look, Noels Menswear and Lily were among the other Limerick city shops to open their doors to bargain savvy customers in search of a good deal in the city centre. Connolly Man on Patricks Street was among the independent retailers who took part in the Stephens Day Sales, opening their doors on Patrick Street at 11:00 am this Wednesday. We have fantastic loyalty here with our customers who are passionate about supporting local industry, local families, local jobs, Noelle Connolly of the family-owned business told the Limerick Leader. We have plenty of people who come home for the holidays, who are in and around town today, and you are going to get the Christmas footfall anyway, even from people who are out-of-towners who have never heard of us. Of course, between Black Friday, ongoing promotions, the January Sale mayhem that used to exist ten years ago, it's just not around anymore, she added. It's part of the landscape now. We didnt even know what Black Friday was six years ago, it was something to do with Thanksgiving over in the States. But our customers were asking us what Black Friday promotions we were having. Connolly Man in the Crescent Shopping Centre opened at the earlier time of 10:00 am on Stephens Day, Ms Connolly added. It was slower to get going this morning but we feel maybe it's because theres no Munster match on the afternoon of Stephens Day. People are taking advantage of the lie in because theyre not under pressure to get to Thomond Park in the afternoon, the same in the Crescent. December 27 is traditionally the busier day because there are still people out there where their Stephens Day is sacrosanct, Ms Connolly explained. They have their family traditions. It's not something we embrace its just something we have to go with. You have to go with the flow. AN 84-year old patient spent more than three days on a trolley at University Hospital Limerick in the days leading up to Christmas, including Christmas Eve, according to hospital sources. Following several reports that overcrowding was a major issue at University Hospital Limerick during the Christmas period, it emerged that an 84-year old patient spent 80 hours in the hospital's emergency department. Another elderly patient spent two days on a trolley on a corridor which was so crowded with other trolleys, hospital staff barely had room to move through the corridor. University Hospital Limerick declined to comment when contacted for a statement on the reported overcrowding. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan has said that much-needed beds in Limerick must not be a casualty of the Governments overspend on the National Childrens Hospital project, which could cost the taxpayer up to 1.73bn. Additional beds in University Hospital are essential to start addressing the acute problems we have in the hospital especially around access in the Emergency Department, Deputy Quinlivan said. These extra beds will be a key to addressing the chronic overcrowding that University Hospital Limerick is now experiencing on a daily basis and delays in providing them is simply not acceptable. He added: Any further delays to delivering beds in UHL will be resisted and we will continue to campaign for increased capacity in our local hospital with proper staffing. We will ensure also that money is well spent and deliveries value for any money spent. Are we really the most intelligent species? (Image credit: Shutterstock) Judging by the way some people behave around animals, it's a wonder how humans have made it so long on this planet. From breaking into animal enclosures at zoos to thinking it's a good idea to hand-feed a shark, there are plenty of reasons to question the intelligence of Homo sapiens. This list includes a few of our favorite stories of humans being idiots around animals in 2018. Fair warning: there's a lot of face palming and shaking your head required here. The whale in the parking lot (Image credit: Dave McAleavy/Shutterstock) When disposing of an enormous, stinky, dead whale, it's important to make sure that whatever you're putting it in is big enough to hold the massive beast an unfortunate lesson for the city of Rye, New Hampshire. In a video posted on Twitter by a local reporter, the giant carcass of a minke whale flops off a forklift and onto the pavement as it very clearly doesn't fit in the small dumpster the forklift driver was aiming for. City authorities had planned to put the giant marine mammal in the dumpster so they could then carry it to another location where the whale could be properly necropsied. They eventually moved the whale in a much bigger dumpster. [Read more about how to dispose of big, dead whale] The time raptor eggs hatched in the airport (Image credit: Border Force) At the beginning of the summer, a man was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London for trying to smuggle 19 raptor eggs tucked into his waistband. It's absurd to try to carry that many illegal large eggs through an international airport, but what made this attempt stand out was that two of the eggs had just hatched, revealing fuzzy, white vulture chicks. Vultures and birds of prey don't make good pets and are illegal to have, but they can fetch a pretty penny in pet markets in Thailand and places in the Middle East, according to Raptor Aid, an English charity dedicated to protecting birds of prey. The man was arrested, and the case is under investigation by the National Crime Agency in the U.K. All eggs and chicks were safely handed over to specialists. [Read more about the rescued raptor eggs] The shark stolen in a baby stroller (Image credit: Shutterstock) A 2-foot-long (0.6 meters) gray horn shark named Miss Helen was just cruising around in her warm tank in the San Antonio Aquarium one afternoon when a man reportedly yanked her out of the water by her tail, stuffed her into a bucket and rolled her out of there in a baby stroller. An aquarium employee spotted the team of indiscreet shark-nappers, two men and a woman, and called management, KSAT12 News reported. Jen Spellman, the aquarium's general manager, confronted the thieves in the parking lot, but they refused to let her look in their trunk. Fortunately, police were able to track the car and they apprehended the criminals later that evening, after discovering Miss Helen and other marine animals at their home. Miss Helen was returned to the aquarium unharmed. [Read more about the ridiculous shark theft] The hippo-butt slap (Image credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) This summer, a man broke into the hippopotamus enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo and slapped one of the hippos on the butt, before running and jumping back out of the enclosure. Of course, the hippos noticed, but their reaction was mild considering they're 3,000-pound wild animals with teeth that are more than a foot long. Hippos are considered the world's deadliest large land mammal, and harassing them (or any animal, really) is never a good idea. Remarkably, the foolish man escaped unscathed and, as far as we know, he's still on the run. [Watch the video of the hippo-butt slapper] When squirrel monkeys fought back (Image credit: Shutterstock) While the hippos' reaction to their intruder was shockingly mild, squirrel monkeys at a New Zealand zoo weren't so chill when a man broke into their enclosure and tried to steal one (as a gift for his girlfriend, he said). The man escaped with a broken leg, sprained ankle, fractured teeth and no pet monkey. The man's actions resulted in physical and psychological injuries for the monkeys, which were still showing signs of trauma months after the ordeal. The man, who described himself as "high as a kite" during his attempted monkey heist, was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison for attempted burglary and other unrelated violent crimes. [Read more about the monkeys that fought their intruder] When rhino poachers were killed by lions (Image credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus) In South Africa this summer, a pride of lions saved a herd of rhinos from poachers. The illegal hunters entered the Sibuya Game Reserve in the middle of the night and apparently hiked right into a group of six lions. The big cats mauled and killed at least two of the poachers, maybe three, as evidenced by the bloody human body parts found by field guides the next morning. It was unclear if any of the poachers escaped, but local police opened a criminal investigation. Whether or not all the poachers survived, the event should give pause to any poachers looking to trespass a predator's territory in search of illegal bounty. [Read more about the rhinos saved by lions] The woman bitten by a shark when she fed it by hand A woman who decided to feed a shark with her bare hand was surprise bitten by the shark, and she's pretty lucky she still has her hand. Melissa Brunning was on a holiday yacht cruise in Dugong Bay on Australia's coast, when she tried to feed a tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) by hand. As the shark snatched the food, its jaws closed on her finger, and it yanked her into the water a terrifying moment that one of her friends captured on video. Unlike several of the senseless humans on this list, Brunning adamantly affirmed that it was entirely her fault that the shark bit her, and said she realized how fortunate she was that her injury wasn't a lot worse. She also said her future interactions with marine wildlife would be at a much safer and respectful distance. [Read more about the predictable shark bite] The trapper knocked out cold by a tied-up alligator (Image credit: Shutterstock) Also on the list of creatures-you-really-shouldn't-torment are alligators. With their sharp teeth and muscular tails, these living dinosaurs shouldn't be messed with even when their arms, legs and jaws are tied down, as one trapper in Florida learned this year. A video posted on Twitter shows the trapper and two police officers hoisting the enormous gator into a truck bed. But before the gator is all the way in, it whips its large head back and whacks the trapper in the head, knocking him out cold. One of the police officers also toppled over as the gator slapped him with its tail. The gator slithered off of the tail bed and back onto the ground, daring the men to try again, maybe a bit more carefully next time. [Watch the gator get revenge on the trapper] The chicken costume scare (Image credit: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images) In October, headlines proclaimed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued a warning against dressing up domestic chickens for Halloween. Here at Live Science, we wondered, first of all, are there really that many people who dress up their chickens? And second, why does the CDC not want them to? We were sad and confused, but the warning was a false alarm. The CDC never issued such a statement, although they suggest, for anyone with such a proclivity, washing the chicken's costume and your hands thoroughly in order to avoid infection with Salmonella, a bacteria that chickens can carry. The agency also felt it was important to remind people to make sure the chicken can breathe and walk normally while wearing its costume. [Read more about dressing chickens up for Halloween] When rotting fish exploded in an art gallery (Image credit: Shutterstock) Earlier this year, employees at an art gallery in London thought it was a good idea to display an art installation that consisted of rotting fish (yes, real rotting fish). Hours before the exhibit opened to the public, the exhibit blew up, spewing smelly fish guts and starting a fire that damaged part of the gallery. The installation a piece called "Majestic Splendor" by Lee Bul consisted of dozens of small, transparent bags fixed to a wall, each containing a dead fish decorated with stitched-on sequins and beads. The work represents Bul's view on the fleeting nature of beauty for highly ornamented women. Experts suspected that the explosion was caused by pressure buildup from trapped gases released by the rotting fish, similar to the effect that causes beached and bloated dead whales to explode. And, as fish decay, they produce amines compounds of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen which are not only distinctively "fishy" but are also potentially explosive. So, while the art was certainly edgy and original, perhaps the artist will rethink including dead animals in her future designs. [Read more about the rotting fish explosion] Every December in the United States, the holiday classics return to television, mainstay tales like Frosty the Snowman and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And dont forget those commercials where someone wakes up to a luxury car in the driveway on Christmas morning. Except those ads arent just Yuletide fantasies. Yes, there are people who give a car worth $60,000, $80,000 or more to someone special during the holidays, even rushing into a dealership on Christmas Eve. So many people give costly cars as presents that gift sales can make up 10 percent or more of December sales for luxury auto dealers, brand representatives and dealers say. Also, yes: Those gigantic car bows are real, and theyre a crucial factor in making the sale. Gift cars are about 15 percent of our December business, said Chris Brunner, general manager of Park Place Lexus in Plano, Texas. We have seven cars sitting on our lot right now waiting to be delivered on the 24th. December is rarely the biggest month for overall U.S. auto sales, but it has been the best sales month for Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Lincoln for three years running, and one of the best for Cadillac and Jaguar, according to CarSalesBase.com. December sales of those six luxury marques made up as much as 14 percent of each brands annual sales. Individual dealers once typically pushed holiday sales in the same way as sales events around Memorial Day in May and Lincolns Birthday in February, but a 1997 promotion from Lexus put a Christmastime spin on things. In 1999, Lexus, Toyotas luxury brand, premiered its December to Remember campaign and those gigantic red bows. This year, Jaguar is going big for the holidays, with a prominent Unwrap a Jaguar campaign, and Lincoln, Ford, GMC Trucks, Chevy, Toyota and Nissan all have marketing timed to the holidays. Of course, not every December car purchase is a gift, said Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor of Kelley Blue Book. The bulk of December sales are made to people picking up year-end bargains, customers exchanging leased cars and last-minute business purchases before the tax year ends. Still, the image of a gift car gives dealers a way to reframe end-of-the-year sales as more than moving leftover stock. Its a great backdrop to push December sales, DeLorenzo said, but its like those Hallmark Christmas specials it isnt reality. Given that a car is the second-biggest purchase for most households, I doubt anyone is running out to buy a car behind their spouses back. Back in Plano, Brunner has sales representatives waited to sneak cars into driveways during the wee hours of Christmas Day. Ive done a few deliveries at 4 in the morning, he said. We had one salesman get a top hat and tuxedo, then rang the doorbell and presented the key with the car sitting out in front of the house, he said. However creative the purchaser wants to be, well play along. Its fun for us, too. Arranging a driveway surprise gets tricky in gated communities, though, so a more common approach at Jaguar of Tampa, Fla., is a surprise in the showroom, said Bryan Mobley, general manager of the Elder Automotive Group there. Were open Christmas Eve, and when people come in, well have the car ready and bowed up, sitting by itself, Mobley said. The car has a big tag on the window that says, Present for ... which is massive its a third of the size of the door. But its the bow that matters to the point that, some dealers say, no bow can mean no sale. The bow is a huge deal. Thats everything, said Brunner of Park Place Lexus. I wouldnt say the car is secondary, but if you dont have a bow really? Park Place buys 60 bows to give away, in addition to bows bought through Lexus that are used in the showroom. At Jaguar, the bows are white for the cars and red for Land Rover SUVs. Every year, I run out of bows, Mobley said. I ask people that if the bow doesnt have any sentimental value, please bring it back. But the nicer the bow, the less likely it is to come back. Ronil Singh, a 33-year-old police officer in Newman, was working overtime on Christmas to try to provide for his wife and 1-year-old baby boy, a family member said. But at 1 a.m. Wednesday, Singh initiated a traffic stop and was shot multiple times, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department. He was found a quarter-mile away from Newman Food Store at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue, where he was transported to a hospital before being pronounced dead. Newmans 13-person Police Department went to the hospital after the shooting and waited until Singhs body was taken to the coroners facility, said sheriffs Sgt. Tom Letras. The department over there is just reeling, he said. We are trying to let them grieve right now. A manhunt was under way but no arrests had been made as of Wednesday evening. Newmans police chief pleaded with the public to help authorities catch Singhs killer. Our Newman police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil, Chief Randy Richardson said. If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately so we can get this cop-killer off the streets. Just before the shooting, the gunman walked into Newman Food Store, and bought two 12-packs of beer, said Yoon Kim, the store owner. She said her staff recognized the man as someone who frequents the store, but she did not know his name. The suspect was driving a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck with an extended cab and paper license plates, Letras said. The truck was found Wednesday afternoon but the suspect remained at large, police said. Police found the truck while serving a search warrant on the 26000 block of River Road near the city of Newman, officials said. The truck has been recovered and is being processed for evidence, authorities said in a Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department Facebook post. Authorities released photos of the suspect, a heavyset man who was wearing a silver necklace and a black sweatshirt with white Ecko patches on the shoulders. We have a lot of manpower out right now actively searching for our suspect and the suspect vehicle, Letras said. Gov. Jerry Brown released a statement saying flags would be flown at half-staff at the Capitol in honor of Singh. On behalf of all Californians, Anne and I extend our condolences to Corporal Singhs wife, young son, loved ones and colleagues, Brown said, referencing his own wife, Anne Gust Brown. Our hearts are with the entire community of Newman and law enforcement officers across the state who risk their lives every day to protect and serve the people of California. Its unclear what prompted the traffic stop, but within minutes Singh called out shots fired over the radio, Letras said. A sheriffs deputy was heard on the police scanner saying someone had 207d the officer, suggesting a kidnapping had occurred because of Penal Code 207. Letras said that witness statements turned out to be inaccurate. Singhs family members expressed their grief on Facebook and called him a great role model. My familys Action Hero Honorable Ronil Singh, one uncle wrote. Working overtime on Christmas Night to provide the best for his family. A very adventurous and beautiful soul, taken away too soon. Singh was a native of Fiji who studied criminal justice at Modesto Junior College and dreamed of becoming a police officer. He was living in Modesto and had been working at the Newman Police Department as a canine officer since July 2011. He started his career as a cadet at the Turlock Police Department and previously worked at the Merced County Sheriffs Office as a reserve deputy sheriff. Turlock Police Chief Nino Amirfar called Singh a light in the darkness and noted that the officer had built a reputation for doing his duties without hesitation. We are all devastated and are in mourning, Amirfar said. He was loved and will always be in our hearts. After the shooting, the California Highway Patrol issued a blue alert a quick-response system when a violent attack occurs on law enforcement for Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne and Santa Clara counties. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636 or Detective Michael Fisher at 209-525-7083. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani A man has been taken into custody for attempting to enter and jump on top of multiple cars in southwest Houston Tuesday evening. Houston police were called to the intersection of Almeda Road and West Fuqua Street around 5:30 p.m. when people reported that a man was pulling at doors and jumping on the hood of at least three cars stopped at a traffic light at the intersection. One person reported that he saw a knife in the man's hand. A woman was recently arrested on two counts of assault causing bodily injury in west central Laredo. Police said they detained Angela Lizette Torres, 32, after they responded to a domestic disturbance in the 3100 block of Juarez Avenue. READ ALSO: LPD: Elderly male found deceased inside vehicle on Christmas Eve Upon arriving at the scene, officers encountered a "rambunctious" woman identified as Torres. She was uncooperative and belligerent, police said. "Witnesses at the scene stated that Angela and a male subject had gotten into a verbal argument that escalated when Angela began assaulting the male and a female witness who attempted to stop the assault," according to LPD. As Torres was being detained, it was discovered that she also had two outstanding warrants from LPD on a robbery charge. RELATED: LPD: 'Combative and belligerent' suspect arrested for allegedly punching an elderly woman On Aug. 27, Laredo Police Department responded to a theft report in the 3000 block of Santa Maria Avenue. Upon arrival, officers met with two men who stated to police that a woman later identified as Torres had assaulted them as they tried to detain her for stealing several cases of beer, according to LPD. Through the course of the investigation, Torres was identified as the suspect, police said. Warrants were later issued for her arrest in the robbery case. Even though paychecks stop going out to hundreds of thousands of workers, shutting down the federal government actually costs money and the longer it goes on, the more it will cost. Museums and parks cant collect entry fees or sell souvenirs, the Internal Revenue Service collects less in taxes, and it costs money for federal workers to mothball and restart operations. Plus hundreds of thousands of thousands of furloughed workers are likely, ultimately, to get back pay for not working. The amount of money we are going to spend on furloughed workers who arent going to do anything but will get paid is pure waste, said Gordon Gray, director of fiscal policy at American Action Forum, which describes itself as a center-right policy institute. After the 16-day shutdown in 2013, Congress authorized an estimated $2.5 billion in back pay and other compensation for as many as 850,000 furloughed workers, according to an Office of Management and Budget report. It also resulted in $7 million lost from entrance fees at national parks, and a halt to IRS enforcement collections that averaged $1 billion a week. Diminished staffing levels lead to diminished government services, Gray said. Museums are closed, so the government doesnt sell freeze-dried ice cream. In contrast to 2013, three-quarters of the government, including the Defense, Labor, and Health and Human Services departments, have already been funded and are not affected by the shutdown. About 400,000 employees deemed essential like border guards and airport screeners are continuing to work without pay. Some operations can continue with prior-year funding, such as the Smithsonian museums that will stay open through Jan. 1. A prolonged shutdown could impact the broader economy, experts say. A week or longer will mean that businesses that depend on these federal employees will start to lose sales, said Stan Collender, a longtime congressional budget aide who is editor of the Budget Guy blog. Everything from groceries to cars will be affected. Ari Natter is a Bloomberg writer. Email: anatter5@bloomberg.net An 8-year-old Guatemalan child detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection died early Tuesday at a hospital in New Mexico, the agency reported, the second migrant child to die in government custody this month. In a statement, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, identified the boy as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez. Castro, chairman-elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said that "many questions remain unanswered, including how many children have died in CBP custody." The boy died shortly after midnight on Christmas Day, the CBP said. His death came 17 days after 7-year-old Jakelin Caal, another Guatemalan national, died Dec. 8 of dehydration and shock less than a day after she was apprehended by border agents. The death highlighted the stalemate over President Donald Trump's demand that Congress approve additional money for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, a standoff that has shut down parts of the federal government for four days. Trump said again Tuesday that there will be no change until his demands are met. "I can't tell you when the government is going to reopen," he told reporters in an Oval Office appearance on Christmas morning. "I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it. I'll call it whatever they want. But it's all the same thing. It's a barrier from people pouring into our country." About 25 percent of the government has been shut down since midnight Saturday. The president defended his call for $5 billion to construct a wall along the border with Mexico, saying that only an Olympic athlete would be able to scale such a structure. "If you don't have that, then we're just not opening," Trump said. All told, about 800,000 of 2.1 million federal workers nationwide - or more than a third - are estimated to be affected in some way by the shutdown. Trump claimed that many government employees support the shutdown. "Many of those workers have said to me, communicated - stay out until you get the funding for the wall," Trump said. "These federal workers want the wall." But his claim conflicted with accounts from the workers' union leaders. "Federal employees should not have to pay the personal price for all of this dysfunction," Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 150,000 members at 33 federal agencies and departments, said Monday. "This shutdown is a travesty. Congress and the White House have not done their fundamental jobs of keeping the government open." The child who died Tuesday had become ill Monday, according to a CBP news release. A Border Patrol agent took him and his father to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where the boy was diagnosed with a cold, according to the CBP. Later, he was found to have a fever and was held for an additional 90 minutes before he was released with prescriptions for an antibiotic and Ibuprofen. But the child became more seriously ill Monday night, when he vomited and was taken back to the hospital. He died shortly after midnight on Christmas Day. The cause of the child's death is not known.A CBP spokesman declined to provide details on where the child was being held or when he was apprehended. A CBP official familiar with the circumstances of the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said the child was apprehended in El Paso, Texas, and then taken to a Border Patrol cell at a checkpoint between Las Cruces andAlamogordo, New Mexico, because of overcrowding in the El Paso holding cells. The cells in the Alamogordo facility are small, designed to hold an adult for just a few hours during processing. They are not set up to hold families, the official said. An investigation into CBP actions will be conducted by the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, the news release said. The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general and Congress have been notified, it said. The Guatemalan government also has been notified. Guatemalan officials are meeting with the boy's father and will speak with any family members who are in Guatemala, according to the news release. The hospital said in a statement that "privacy regulations prevent us from sharing information about any individual patient . . . Our thoughts and prayer are with this family during this very difficult time." Under guidelines established after the government waited several days to inform Congress about Jakelin Caal's death, CBP agreed to notify lawmakers within 24 hours of a death of anyone in its custody and issue a media statement an hour after that. Notifications also must be issued to nongovernmental organizations that work with migrants and others. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the Health and Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, said in an interview that "the reality is that a detention center is no place for a child, particularly a sick child. When that child was determined to be ill, had a 103-degree fever, why they would send that child back to a detention center, which is really not fit for even a well child? "That's something that we're looking into because that policy or whatever caused them to send that child back has to be changed." In a tweet directed at Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Rep. Luis Correa, D-Calif., said, "This is the second child this month. What is going on at @DHS.gov? Does @HouseHomeland have to start subpoenaing you to get the truth?" Ruby Powers, a Houston-based lawyer and member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the boy's death is not unexpected given the difficult conditions that immigrants and their children face on the journey north to the United States and the way authorities shuttle families between facilities. "There's a lack of ownership of the detainee, thinking they won't be in their hands very long, moving them along to the next location, and that is where the lack of care can occur," she said. " . . . I know I'm supposed to be shocked, but knowing everything I know, I'm not shocked." Jakelin's family has disputed CBP reports that the child went several days without food and water before she died, saying she was healthy when she arrived in the United States. In a news conference earlier this month, a migrant advocate said the girl's father, 29-year-old Nery Caal, had told him that Jakelin was healthy and had no preexisting conditions. "He's been very clear, very consistent that his daughter was healthy, and his daughter very much wanted to come with him," said Ruben Garcia, founder and executive director of Annunciation House, an El Paso-based nonprofit that aids migrants. The symptoms the 8-year-old boy exhibited are similar to the ones Jakelin showed before she died. More than a day before she died, Jakelin, her father and 161 other Central American migrants crossed the U.S. border outside Antelope Wells, New Mexico, seeking to turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. The Department of Homeland Security has said that the girl did not show signs of health problems during a routine check conducted when she and her father were taken into custody. "The initial screening revealed no evidence of health issues. During the screening, the father denied that either he or his daughter were ill. This denial was recorded on Form I-779 signed by the father," the DHS account said. It added that they were offered food and water, and had access to restrooms. The form was in English, but CBP officials said agents provided a verbal translation. The family's attorneys have said that it was "unacceptable" to have Jakelin's father sign a document in a language that he didn't understand. Jakelin's body was returned to Guatemala on Monday. - - - Moore reported from El Paso, Texas. The Washington Post's Paul Schwartzman and Elyse Samuels in Washington contributed to this report. While binge drinking and opioid use are declining among high schoolers, health officials are concerned that teens are vaping at record amounts. The number of high school seniors who reported vaping within the past year increased nearly 10 percent from 2017 to 2018, according to new report from the University of Michigan and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additionally, high school seniors who reported vaping within the past 30 days nearly doubled from 11 percent in 2017 to 20.9 percent in 2018. Around 1.3 million more adolescents vaped in 2018 than in 2017, according to the report. Teens are clearly attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices; however, it is urgent that teens understand the possible effects of vaping on overall health, the development of the teen brain, and the potential for addiction, Nora D. Volkow, NIDA director, said in the report. Vaping refers to the inhaling and exhaling of vapor produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. Because there is no tobacco smoke, some see it as a safer alternative to cigarettes, though health officials are spreading a different message. One popular vaping product, JUUL, comes in a variety of flavors yet can contain as much nicotine in one pod as an entire pack of cigarettes, health officials warn. Despite the rise in vaping, teen use of alcohol and opioids has dropped off, according to the report. Only 17.5 percent of high school seniors said they had been drunk within the past 30 days down significantly from five years ago, when it was at 26 percent. Reports of binge drinking, or consuming five or more drinks in a row during the previous two weeks, also was down among 12th-graders, at 13.8 percent compared to 16.6 percent in 2017. Binge drinking among high school seniors peaked in 1998 at 31.5 percent, according to the study. We are encouraged to see continued declines in a variety of measures of underage alcohol use, said George F. Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The new data, however, underscore that far too many young people continue to drink at a time in their lives when their brains and bodies are quite vulnerable to alcohol-related harms. Misuse of opioids was down among 12th-graders as well. Asked if they had misused prescription opioids within the previous 12 months, 3.4 percent said they had, compared with 4.2 percent in 2017. Youth vaping levels have led national officials to mull banning flavored e-cigarettes. The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use were seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a letter released in September. RENSSELAER Newspaper reporters ran to them with news to break. Drug dealers dealt from them. And Superman used them for impromptu wardrobe changes. Before the cell phone took over the world, pay phones and their booths dominated public spaces. Now, the once-common phones are nearly impossible to find and continue to vanish from the landscape. I still think there a need for them, said Wendell Harris, 78, standing a few feet away from the last pay phone in the Rensselaer Rail Station. Everyone doesnt have a cell phone or a landline, Harris said. Passengers heading to board the Amtrak trains stopping at and departing from the railroad station dont even glance at the pay phone, which is operated by CDTA. There used to be two of them, but the other one is gone its spot converted to (oh bitter irony) a charging station for cell phones. CDTA has another pay phone at its Saratoga Springs Rail Station, according to Jaime Watson, the authoritys director of corporate communications. Both of them are a customer service, Watson said. Its a different time from 20 years ago, when the number of pay phones across the United States peaked above 2.1 million, according to the Federal Communications Commission. By 2016, the number of pay phones had fallen to 99,832. New York State ranked No. 1 as the home to the most pay phones that year, with 20,716 more than a fifth of the total nationwide. (North Dakota had the fewest, with just 113 pay phones within its borders.) Today's lonely pay phones are most likely to be found at transportation hubs: train stations, bus terminals (Albany's still has two phones) and airports. But to see how far pay phone use has plummeted, just take a look at the statistics from Albany International Airport in Colonie. In 1999, there were 120 pay phones in the airport terminal and garage, said Doug Myers, spokesman for the airport. By 2017, there were just 28 left and they were used to make just 120 phone calls. In 2004, the number of calls topped 10,000 and the airport authority collected $42,276 from them. By 2017, the revenue had dropped to $671 barely enough to buy a single high-end smartphone. Most people use their cell phones," said Myers, who added that the airport had changed many of its old pay phones into charging stations. In the Capital Region, Stewarts Shoppes remain the last bastion of pay phones. The chain has pay phones in 329 of its 335 stores, said spokeswoman Erica Komoroske. Stewarts uses the phones to contact its stores from corporate headquarters; they are the only land-line telephones in the stores, though customers can use them as well. But thats changing, Komoroske said. The six Stewart's stores without pay phones are using internet protocol phones and are on the cutting edge of where the chain is headed. Eventually, the remaining 329 stores will make the switch, and the pay phones that adorn the shop walls will be gone. Phone booths have largely departed the Capitol complex, though they occasionally show up on the state Office of General Services' eBay auction site. Locally, its still possible to find a rare pay phone that still hangs on the wall, non-working and unused. In Rensselaer City Hall, theres one pay phone and it even has a thick telephone book, another cultural icon thats nearly completely vanished. Drop a couple of quarters in and they fall into the returned coin slot. Theres no dial tone, just dead silence. Its something that was always here, Rensselaer Public Works Commissioner Dominic Tagliento said about what the city found when it moved in back around 2006 and took over the building from the previous tenants. They just left it here. Locked behind their green classroom door, MaKenzie Woody and 25 other first-graders huddled in the darkness. She sat on the vinyl tile floor against a far wall, beneath a taped-up list of phrases the kids were encouraged to say to each other: "I like you," "You're a rainbow," "Are you OK?" In that moment, though, the 6-year-old didn't say anything at all, because she believed that a man with a gun was stalking the hallways of her school in the nation's capital, and MaKenzie feared what he might do to her. Three times between September and November, bursts of gunfire near MaKenzie's public charter elementary school led DC Prep to seal off its Washington campus and sequester its students. During the last one, on Nov. 16, a silver sedan parked just around the corner at 10:42 a.m., then the men inside stepped out and fired more than 40 rounds. As MaKenzie's class hid upstairs, teachers frantically rushed three dozen preschoolers off the playground and back into the building. "The lockdowns," as MaKenzie calls them, have changed her, because the little girl with long braids and chocolate-brown eyes remembers what it was like before them, when she always felt safe at her school, and she knows what it's been like afterward, when that feeling disappeared. School shootings remain rare, even after 2018, a year of historic carnage on K-12 campuses. What's not rare are lockdowns, which have become a hallmark of American education and a byproduct of this country's inability to curb its gun violence epidemic. Lockdowns save lives during real attacks, but even when there is no gunman stalking the hallways, the procedures can inflict immense psychological damage on children convinced that they're in danger. And the number of kids who have experienced these ordeals is extraordinary. More than 4.1 million students endured at least one lockdown in the 2017-2018 school year alone, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis by The Washington Post that included a review of 20,000 news stories and data from school districts in 31 of the country's largest cities. The number of students affected eclipsed the populations of Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware and Vermont combined. But the total figure is likely much higher because many school districts - including in Detroit and Chicago - do not track them and hundreds never make the news, particularly when they happen at urban schools attended primarily by children of color. Still, on a typical day last school year, at least 16 campuses locked down, with nine related to gun violence or the threat of it. The Post's final tally of lockdowns exceeded 6,200. The sudden order to hunker down can overwhelm students, who have wept and soiled themselves, written farewell messages to family members and wills explaining what should be done with their bicycles and PlayStations. The terror can feel especially acute right after school shootings like the one in Parkland, Florida, when kids are inundated with details from massacres that have taken the lives of students just like them. In New York City earlier this year, rumors of a firearm on campus sparked panic at a Staten Island high school, where teens desperately texted and called their parents, begging for help, telling them, "I love you." In Fremont, Nebraska, students sobbed as they hid for nearly two hours in a girls' locker room with the lights turned off after a teenager was spotted with a gun. When armed officers barged in, they ordered the kids to put their hands up. In Pensacola, Florida, a sixth-grader messaged his grandmother, certain a shooter was in the building after social media threats triggered a lockdown. "Please check me out before I doe," he wrote her, then corrected his misspelling: "die." And then there are the kids like MaKenzie, who have never heard of Parkland or Sandy Hook or Columbine but have heard the sound of gunshots on the streets where they live and play and learn. She cherishes few things more than school. All of MaKenzie's classes are her favorite, except for language arts, her "favorite favorite." The girl can read well beyond her grade level and has nearly memorized the story "Monsters Don't Scuba Dive," said her mother, Gabrielle Woody, who works in an aftercare program at DC Prep. The network of charter schools, which attract long waiting lists each year, have intentionally planted campuses in communities struggling with poverty and, like MaKenzie's, violence. She's excelled, though, earning a spot on the "Principal's Cabinet," which means her behavior, attendance and grades rank among the best in her age group. In the photo marking that honor, later stapled to a bulletin board outside her classroom, she looks elated: pink socks pulled up to her shins, left hand on a hip, right hand flashing the deuces sign, bright beads in her hair, and a grin revealing the baby teeth she'd begun to lose. MaKenzie didn't stop loving school because of the lockdowns, but she did think about them often. About how upsetting it was that they had interrupted her time to learn new words and different ways to add up numbers. About how scared she'd felt when some of the kids wouldn't stop making noise and how her teacher had offered them Smarties if they could just stay quiet for a little longer. She'd also become wary of recess on the playground, where games of tag and climbs across the monkey bars had once been among the highlights of her days. "Until the lockdowns happened," MaKenzie said. "I don't want to be outside because what if someone was shooting and we had to leave and we were too late and everybody got hurt?" --- No district is exempt from the fallout of lockdowns, regardless of demographics or affluence, location or security. School systems in every state and the District of Columbia had several last school year, The Post's analysis found, and they happened in buildings with as few as four students and as many as 5,000. While various threats, sometimes referencing bombs, accounted for 15 percent of lockdowns, and police manhunts near campuses made up a similar share, at least 61 percent of lockdowns were related to firearms. In fact, on every schoolday between Labor Day in September 2017 and Memorial Day in May 2018, a campus in this country went into lockdown because of a shooting or the perceived danger of one. Typically, those stemmed from gunfire around campuses or ominous warnings - often anonymous and seldom legitimate - that someone intended to carry out an attack. Students of all ages were affected, including America's youngest and most vulnerable. Last school year, more than 1 million elementary-age children experienced a lockdown, and among that group, at least 220,000 were in kindergarten or prekindergarten, the Post analysis revealed. While most kids won't suffer long-term consequences, experts who specialize in childhood trauma suspect that a meaningful percentage will. "This is a clear and pressing public health issue," said Steven Schlozman, a child psychiatrist and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, after learning of The Post's findings, which he called "staggering." "We have very good data that children in proximity to frightening circumstances, such as those that trigger school lockdowns, are at risk for lasting symptoms. These include everything from worsening academic and social progression to depression, anxiety, poor sleep, post-traumatic symptomatology and substance abuse," he continued. "Given the potential scope of the problem, we are in dire need of more information. How do we protect children from these issues?" The possibility of imminent danger, however small, poses a complex challenge for school administrators, who must sometimes make critical decisions within seconds. "We have to take every threat seriously" is a common refrain among educators, and they're right, because the cost of ignoring one can be - and has been - dead children. John Czajkowski, a former teacher and naval officer who heads security for a 40,000-student district near San Diego, uses an analogy to help people understand the purpose, and impact, of a lockdown. "It's like an air bag," he said, because they save drivers' lives in car crashes, but the devices might also break noses and crack teeth. His point: Full-scale lockdowns should be employed only when absolutely necessary. Last school year, the system Czajkowski oversees, Sweetwater Union High School District, dealt with 71 student threats, he said, but only seven times did schools lock down, and five of those were prompted by off-campus danger, such as a burglary or gunfire. In 11 instances, schools went into what they refer to as "secure campus" mode, in which classroom and exterior doors are locked and no one enters or leaves the buildings but teachers can continue with instruction. Some school districts still categorize that or similar measures as lockdowns, while others call them "lockouts," "building mode" or "sheltering in place." Though those scenarios can also unnerve children, the experiences are usually less jarring than turning the lights off and hiding in the corner. Still, because there are no universally accepted best practices, schools take dramatically different - and sometimes haphazard - approaches to preparing students for potential danger. Earlier this month, at Lake Brantley High in Florida, an unannounced active-shooter drill induced pandemonium across the 2,700-student campus, leaving mothers and fathers furious and their kids contending with nightmares. "People were crying and texting their parents goodbye and having asthma attacks," said Cathy Kennedy-Paine, head of the National Association of School Psychologists' crisis response team. "To do that to children, I think that's unconscionable." She and other experts agreed that drilling is essential, both to protect students from physical injury and to ease the stress of going through a real-life emergency, but the drills must be done with care. To illustrate the harm that a lockdown can do, Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a psychologist, pointed to a pair of schools she worked with in recent years. In December 2013, a teenager killed a fellow senior at Colorado's Arapahoe High before taking his own life. As Crepeau-Hobson and her colleagues on the state's crisis response team treated students and staff in the aftermath, they found a school well prepared to care for teens struggling with grief and fear. Not long after, Crepeau-Hobson was asked to help students from another high school outside Denver. In that case, an off-campus robbery and carjacking left two people shot, but no violence ever reached school grounds. "They were on lockdown for hours and hours," without any information to alleviate their dread, Crepeau-Hobson recalled. Afterward, she said, the school did little to ensure that its students felt OK, though many didn't. Teens suffered from stomach pain and headaches. Some struggled to focus in class. Others couldn't sleep. "It was like, wow, this was what we see after a school shooting," she said. "They looked very much like kids we've seen from other major crises." Compounding the problem for educators, according to The Post's analysis: A leading cause of lockdowns - threats - and a common effect - anxiety - are contagious, and they're each exacerbated by actual gun violence. Nationally, the seven days with the highest number of incidents leading to school lockdowns occurred in the two weeks after the bloodshed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Broward County, Florida, on Feb. 14. The same phenomenon, The Post found, can happen at the local level. In the month after dozens of people were slaughtered at a Las Vegas country music festival on Oct. 1, 2017, the number of lockdowns in Nevada's Clark County School District spiked 42 percent to a total of 37, the highest count during the entire school year. It's not just mass killings, though, that leave children believing they might get shot in their classrooms. As Ajani Dartiguenave rode to school in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his mom one morning in October, he heard on the radio that a student at Butler High, about 20 miles away, had been gunned down in a hallway. Ajani, 12, didn't say anything about it at the time, recalled his mother, Claudia Charles, and she didn't discuss it with him. They live in an upscale neighborhood where crime is rare. He had never seen a gun in person or heard shots from his bedroom, and Charles, a nurse, wouldn't even let him play with water pistols. Not once did she imagine that the violence they'd heard about on the radio would make him feel unsafe. Eleven days later, Ajani was studying English literature at Governors' Village STEM Academy when someone on the intercom announced that the campus was being locked down. The seventh-grader didn't know that an anonymous threat - never in danger of being carried out - had elicited the response. He knew only that a boy in the community had been shot to death inside another school a week before, and that made Ajani think he would get shot, too. So, as he and his friends sat on the floor, Ajani reached into his bookbag, adorned with a smiling cartoon Anime character. Without making a sound, he pulled out a pencil, writing first on an index card and then a sheet of notebook paper. At the top, he scribbled his home address and his mom's name. "I am sorry for anything I have done," he wrote. "I am scared to death." "I will miss you." "I hope that you are going to be ok with me gone." --- The threat arrived before dawn, and as he read the words, Matt Henry could feel his stomach tighten. It had been nine days since 17 people were killed at Stoneman Douglas, and now Henry, the superintendent of a rural district south of Portland, Oregon, had just heard from police about an anonymous Facebook post vowing violence against his students in Gervais. "All the school shootings," it read, "I'm coming for you woodburn and gervas Friday February 23 10 am." In the hours that followed, a tide of chaos and angst would sweep through schools across the country, and by the time night fell in America, 33 separate incidents would lead to lockdowns, the most The Post identified during any single day last school year. Henry read the warning just after 5 a.m. on the West Coast, and already, campuses 3,000 miles east were stationing police officers outside shuttered doors. The Concord School in Vermont had locked down first thing that morning after spotting another Facebook post, originally taken from Snapchat, that included a picture of the Parkland gunman and a promise to "do better than him on Friday at concord High School." The threat, investigators discovered, had nothing to do with the Vermont school, and had instead been directed to one with a similar name in New Hampshire. Around the same time, campuses went into lockdown in North Carolina (a Facebook post promising to "shoot up" a school), Ohio (an armed suspect at large near a middle and high school), Michigan (an online threat made by one teen toward another) and Florida (a 14-year-old showing two students what looked like a pair of guns during a FaceTime call, before saying he was going to attack their high school) - all before 10 a.m. on the East Coast. In DeKalb County, Illinois, an entire district - 11 schools - locked down after administrators learned of a Snapchat warning that stated "at 2pm no one is safe here." The note appeared on an image that looked as though it had been written on a bathroom stall, said Superintendent Jamie Craven. His staff quickly confirmed it didn't match any of their bathrooms, and police concluded that a 13-year-old had seen the message online and simply reposted it. Neither revelation, however, quelled the worry that had already spread from cellphone to cellphone, student to student, many of whom went home early. "Kids are very aware," Craven said, "of the things that have gone on around the country." On that Friday in late February, the fear was so intense in some communities that their schools didn't even open. In Ohio, all five in one district remained closed after a potential threat surfaced overnight. In Arizona, seven schools on Navajo land did the same thing because comments about a potential shooting were made on social media. In California, a prestigious prep school canceled for the day when administrators learned that a former student had mentioned "revenge," along with the school's name, in an Instagram photo of a shotgun. Meanwhile, as classes began in some places and neared their end in others, lockdowns continued to pop up nationwide: Gallup High in New Mexico at 8 a.m. local time, Adelante High in California at 9:20 a.m., South Gibson County High in Tennessee at 10:30 a.m., Lillie B. Williamson High in Alabama at noon, Laguna-Acoma High in New Mexico at 12:30 p.m., Winona Middle in Minnesota at 2:30 p.m. In Gervais, a 1,000-student district in western Oregon, all three area schools had begun the day in a reduced lockdown, allowing teachers to run their classes but prohibiting anyone from going in or out of the buildings, said Henry, the superintendent. Still, nothing felt normal as officers stood guard outside and staff had to escort younger kids to and from bathrooms, heightening their worry that danger loomed. Only about half of the middle and high school students showed up that day. By midmorning, Henry said, police were certain that the threat had originated out of state and wasn't credible, so staff and students tried to transition back into their usual routines. Then, shortly after 2 that afternoon, just as the elementary school had begun dismissal, word came of another online threat. This one, Henry recalled, shook him, because the message implied that a gunman was in their town and on his way. The superintendent grabbed his coat and a radio and headed out the door, jogging to the front of his nearby elementary school. Through the swirl of buses and arriving parents, he scanned the street, searching for an unfamiliar face. Henry had dealt with frightening situations before, once catching a student on another campus with a .25-caliber handgun. Yet that moment outside the elementary school felt unique. Henry was unarmed, but after a career in education spanning 30 years, he had talked through these scenarios many times with his wife, who worked in another school district. If a shooter appeared, he would do whatever he could to draw fire away from the school. As time passed and, at last, police determined that the second message had also been a hoax, Henry felt relief, but also fury that his kids, or any kids, had to endure such turmoil in the places they should feel the most secure. That afternoon, he recorded a final robo-call, giving an update on all that had happened. "This has been a very trying day," Henry said, and at the end of the message, he asked parents to hug their children when they got home. --- As the Nov. 16 lockdown at the DC Prep elementary school ended, Principal Neema Desai watched a trio of her preschoolers emerge from a conference room where they'd hunkered for 20 minutes. The kids, who had been on the playground when the shooting started, were still wearing their jackets because the staff had rushed them back in so quickly. The looks on their faces so unsettled her that she struggled to describe them later. "Detached" was the word Desai eventually settled on, imagining what the children were thinking as they shuffled by: "I'm 3, and I'm trying to process what just happened in the school, in the place where my parents trust my teachers, where I'm supposed to be safe." In the hours that followed, students began to unravel. Among the things they said: "Who's going to shoot me?" "I want to shoot people." "I want to shoot myself." Meanwhile, police officers arrived at the crime scene around the corner and began to take note of where the 40-plus bullet casings had scattered. What did not arrive was the caravan of TV trucks and reporters that so often descend on schools when such scenes play out in whiter, wealthier neighborhoods. In its review of 20,000 news stories related to school lockdowns, The Post discovered a disproportionate amount of coverage focused on districts outside large cities. Yet experts say children who live in high-crime urban neighborhoods may be more susceptible to stress during or after lockdowns. That's because so many of them have been exposed to gunfire in their communities, and the threat of violence at school can trigger traumatic memories. Cheryl Ward, who oversees Columbus City Schools' counselors and social workers in Ohio, describes it this way: If a child who adores his grandmother's sweet potato pie smells a different one, he may think of his grandmother. If a child who has seen a shooting goes into lockdown because of a different one, he may think of the one he witnessed. Last school year, there were 136 lockdowns of varying degrees across the 110 schools in the Columbus district, one of the highest ratios among large-city systems that The Post reviewed. Ward's staff is trained to identify vulnerable children before lockdowns so they know who might need extra attention afterward because, for many kids who go through them, their fear of gun violence doesn't come from faraway mass killings or anonymous dispatches on Facebook. In Baltimore, where some neighborhoods have long been ravaged by gunfire, school officials say they have worked to find a balance between keeping their kids safe and not disrupting their classes, which means avoiding all-out lockdowns (lights off, kids quiet) unless they have no other choice. "The anxiety caused by full lockdowns along with the lost learning time take their own toll on our students' well-being," district spokeswoman Anne Fullerton said. "Whenever possible, we want our students to have a regular school day and to experience their schools as safe havens." For parents at DC Prep, the barrage of shootings and subsequent lockdowns were so disconcerting that some have considered pulling their kids out. Monique Moore, who works as the school's operations manager, has been thrilled with her 3-year-old's progress at DC Prep, where he's learned 24 letters and memorized every number up to 10. But he was also on the playground that day in November, and since then, she hasn't stopped imagining what might have happened had the three men in the car turned the corner before they pulled their triggers. "What's more important, his safety or his academics?" asked Moore, who might move him to a DC Prep school in another neighborhood. "I have to make a decision sooner or later." Shanta Suggs has grappled with the same conflict. Her son, Zayden Saxton, who's 7, shines at DC Prep, but she sensed his fear and frustration after the lockdowns. When she talked to him about going to a different school, he sounded disappointed. "What about my other friends? They're still going to be there," Zayden said, concerned that the kids in his second-grade class might get hurt after he left. "I didn't have an answer for that," Suggs said. After the last lockdown, Desai and other administrators decided to change their security protocols, announcing at a meeting with teachers in early December the school would initiate full-scale lockdowns only if danger reached campus. Short of that, it would go into "building mode," a far less disruptive response. The next day, on a bright, sunny morning in Washington, D.C., someone around the corner fired a dozen shots. Desai and her staff hurried to lock the doors to the school, but in a classroom on the second floor, MaKenzie and the other first-graders didn't stop learning new words or ways to add up numbers. --- In April, the country will mark the 20th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High, and that day will arrive in the aftermath of the worst year of school shootings in modern American history. This spring, The Post launched a database that tracked incidents of gun violence on campuses dating back to 1999, and the carnage in 2018 shattered every meaningful record. Most shootings at schools: 25. Most people shot: 94. Most people killed: 33. Most students exposed to gunfire on their campuses: 25,332. "There was once a time where we could say schools are the safest place for a child to be, and they would agree," said Steven Berkowitz, a psychiatrist who has worked with kids for 25 years. "They wouldn't now, even though it's still true. The perception of safety is no longer there." It is against that backdrop that millions of children will continue to hide in the corners of their classrooms, blinds drawn and doors bolted shut. That's where Alana Weber was one afternoon early last month after the announcement of a lockdown had come over the intercom at Niskayuna High, just northwest of Albany, New York. Alana, 15, texted her mom, desperate to know what was going on. The girl believed a shooter had reached the hallways, sure that the sound of slamming doors was actually gunshots. Struggling to stay calm, she asked her mother to send pictures of Milo, their miniature poodle. Word soon spread that a threat, written on a note found in Niskayuna, had provoked the lockdown, but that offered only temporary relief. Police didn't know if the warning was legitimate, so they brought in dogs to search every backpack and locker, student and staff member. For nearly six hours, Alana and her classmates remained hidden in silence, without food or water or access to bathrooms. Instead, they had to use trash cans. When at last the teens were allowed to come out, police patted them down. No weapon was ever found. Alana came home thankful to be safe but deeply shaken. Often shy, she logged into Facebook and decided to share her feelings. The teen detailed all that they had been through that afternoon, not as a plea for attention, but instead as one for help. The lockdown had happened on Nov. 5, the day before the midterm elections. Alana knew she couldn't vote for candidates who support gun control or do much of anything else to change the fact that kids like her all over the country continue to fear that they might get shot in their schools. So she begged the adults to do something about it. "You have the power to make it so we don't have to worry about these things," she wrote on the eve of Election Day, "so we don't have to hide in corners afraid to make a sound." The next day, as millions of Americans went to the polls, more than 10,000 children in at least 17 schools endured another lockdown. --- The Washington Post's Julie Tate and Amelie de Vogue contributed to this report. Vatican City Pope Francis offered a Christmas wish for fraternity among people of different nations, cultures, faiths, races or ideas, describing the world's differences as a richness, not a danger, and championing the rights of religious minorities. His plea Tuesday for stronger bonds among peoples came as nationalism and a suspicion of migrants are gaining traction across much of the globe. The long war in Syria, famine amid warfare in Yemen, social strife in Venezuela and Nicaragua, conflicts in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula were among the pope's concerns in his Christmas Day message, which he read from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. Addressing some 50,000 tourists, pilgrims and Romans who flocked to St. Peter's Square on a mild, sunny day, Francis said the universal message of Christmas is that "God is a good Father and we are all brothers and sisters." "This truth is the basis of the Christian vision of humanity," Francis said in the traditional papal "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and the world") message. Without fraternity, he said, "even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty." He called for that spirit among individuals of "every nation and culture" as well as among people "with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another." "Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness," Francis said. Francis prayed that all minorities have their right to religious freedom respected, noting that some Christians were celebrating Christmas "in difficult, if not hostile, situations." Communist China is witnessing a systematic suppression of religion, including some restrictions on Christmas celebrations this year. The government's suppression campaign includes re-education camps for Uighur Muslims and a crackdown on Christian churches. Without specifying religions or countries, Francis prayed for "all those people who experience ideological, cultural and economic forms of colonization and see their freedom and identity compromised." Francis urged the international community to find a political solution that "can put aside divisions and partisan interests" and end the war in Syria. He said he hoped that an internationally-brokered truce for Yemen would bring relief to that country's people, especially children, "exhausted by war and famine." President Donald Trump's promise to save American taxpayers money by getting other countries to contribute more to international organizations has been put to the test at the United Nations. It didn't go well. American diplomats in New York lobbied countries including India, Brazil, and Turkey to increase their financial support for the United Nations' $6.7 billion-a-year peacekeeping budget, but they came up short during negotiations this month. That will leave the "blue helmets," who monitor conflict zones from South Sudan to Lebanon, with a $220 million shortfall for the year, as the U.S. refuses to pay more than a quarter of the total budget. "Unfortunately, in a deeply dissatisfying and disappointing turn of events, every country decided reform was good and right for the U.N., but not for how it is financed," Ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet, the U.S. representative for U.N. reform, said on Saturday. The impasse underscores the difficulty the Trump administration faces as it pushes countries to put up more money for international organizations - from the UN to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - where the U.S. has traditionally been the largest donor. The president tweeted on Monday that other countries "take advantage of their friendship with the United States." The U.S. remains the top contributor to U.N. budgets, paying more than $10 billion a year when all expenditures are totaled. It had been paying about 28 percent of the peacekeeping budget, but Congress has capped those payments at 25 percent. The Obama administration, emphasizing the need for multilateral cooperation, waived the cap, but it has been reimposed by the Trump administration, which says many of the peacekeeping efforts are wasteful and ineffective. As U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley steps down with the arrival of the new year, Trump's nominee to replace her, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, is expected to double down on the administration's criticism of the U.N. and what it sees as its anti-Israel bias and its inefficiencies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signaled a hardening of the approach in a speech this month, saying the U.N. was founded as "an organization that welcomed peace-loving nations" but that it wasn't clear if properly serves that mission any more. U.N. budget contributions are calculated using a variety of metrics such as a member nation's population and the size of its economy, but many discounts are granted - for instance for developing countries with large external debts. Other U.N. members argue that the U.S. already got discounts in 2000, when Ambassador Richard Holbrooke negotiated a cut to 22 percent from 25 percent for U.S. payments to the regular U.N. budget, and a cut to peacekeeping contributions to 27 percent from 30 percent. "The lack of agreement on a 25 percent ceiling will cause the organization to continue to face a 3 percent shortfall in its peacekeeping budget as the United States will pay no more than 25 percent of peacekeeping expenses, again a less than ideal outcome," Chalet said In 2018, 28 people on the Texas Department of Public Safety's list of Texas Top 10 most wanted fugitives were taken into custody. Four of them were captured in San Antonio. The department updates the most wanted list throughout the year. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox For a fugitive to be considered, the offender has to be wanted for a violent, aggravated or sex offense. Six other factors in the consideration process include whether the fugitive has ties to cartels or gangs, if the fugitive contributes to violence along the Texas/Mexico border, if the fugitive is a violent sex offender, if the fugitive is a career criminal, and if the fugitive is wanted for a parole violation, according to the department. The four captured in San Antonio include Ramon Mendoza, Raul Alejandro Martinez, Edward Wallace Lucero and Jose Ceullar Olvera. Olvera, captured on Jan. 30, was wanted for assault and failure to register as a sex offender. Lucero, captured on June 5, was also wanted for failure to register as a sex offender. RELATED: Affidavit: Deal for stolen gun led to fatal shooting of San Antonio teen Martinez, captured on Aug. 20, was wanted for two counts of indecency with a child and two counts of sexual assault. Mendoza, captured on Oct. 4, was wanted for vehicle theft, theft property and engaging in organized criminal activity. Though the four captures did not lead to any reward money, several others have. According to the department, anonymous tips that led to the arrest of the fugitives have resulted in $31,500 in rewards this year. Click through the slideshow to see the Texas 10 most wanted fugitives captured in 2018. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA Pauline Flood recently published her first book - a poetry book entitled Me in a Nutshell. But this Edgeworthstown native is a woman of many talents and her list of achievements dont just include this latest publication; she has written plays for the Mostrim Players, is a founder member of Comhaltas in Co Longford and has spent her life promoting Scor countywide and nationally. But as is stated in the books title, thats only the nutshell of what this Longford woman is all about and this week she talks to the Longford Leader from the heart about her life, passions and those rare moments of joy that are often found in the smallest of things! Also read: Longford GOAL activist Tiernan Dolan reflects on three decades working in some of poorest parts of the world First off she speaks candidly about her book which serves as a way for her to bring stories and rhymes that she has heard over the years to life. There is serious inspiration within the covers and as she says herself, I always wanted to write a book. She even credits the late great Co Monaghan poet Patrick Kavanagh with the sprinkling of some of that inspiration upon her. Ever since I was going to Glen National School, I have wanted to write a book, she says, before pointing out there is more to come from this Longford woman who is bursting with spirit and character. I think the inspiration came from the great teachers I had there - Ken Sheridan and Lucy Quinn who was the sister of the great poet Patrick Kavanagh; Patrick Kavanagh came into Glen school for a week one time when Lucy Quinn was off sick, she smiles, recalling those days with fondness. At the time Kavanagh wrote down 10 or 12 lines of a poem that hadnt been published. That poem was never published actually but to this day I can recite it off by heart. Pauline has a huge gra for short stories and history; she loves researching family history and had gone back eight generations in her own family tree. For me this poetry book has brought all my loves and interests together, she adds, before pointing out that when she was researching her family tree, she discovered that her maternal family came from Boyle, Co Roscommon and that prior to that they hailed from Scotland and France (Delameres). On my fathers side they were always Irish - ONeills; I even went as far back as Tyrone and to the ONeills and ODonnells there. Meanwhile, Me in a Nutshell is a poetry and short story book that is deep and emotional at one level and humours and pensive at another. Its hard not to see the Patrick Kavanagh influences on occasion within the pages! Im a deep thinker, I suppose, says Pauline, before adding that when one comes up against sad situations it provides food for thought. Some of her musings examine the harsh reality of living in poverty and the plight of single mothers. I often think of lone parents back in the day and how mothers would sell their body just to make money to put food on the table for their child, she says. The sad part is that women were out trying to earn money to rear their kids and that was the reality for some women. Desperation I suppose drove them in that direction. Pauline has also written a number of short stories which she describes as sad. They are about childbirth, children dying and the mothers father dying that same week, she continues. This was a story that I heard once and so I put it down on paper; there are also other stories about growing up and the fun we had. Meanwhile, Pauline and her two brothers were raised by their grandparents when their own parents were forced to work in the UK because of the depths of unemployment in this country. And while it was tough, it was also a very funny childhood, she confirms. In the 1960s my mother and father had to go over to London for work; there was no work here and they had children to feed. The grandmother looked after us at home. While feeling anger towards her parents at times for leaving them behind, Pauline says there wasnt a lot of time to dwell on it either, and people just simply got on with things in those days. Eventually my parents got good jobs and then they got a good house in London, they came back for us, but I wouldnt go with them, she laughs looking back on those days long gone now. I think I was about five or six at the time and I didnt want to go to live in London because I had grown used to my young aunt who was 16 at the time, and my grandmother, rearing me. She remembers her aunt having to come back to London with the family because that was the only way they were going to get me over there. The siblings spent a couple of years in London but fate intervened and two years later the family came home and Pauline and her brothers were enrolled at Glen NS. It was the finest school - it was a happy childhood and my school days were happy, she adds. The whole family was back in Edgeworthstown at that stage but I remember on several occasions after that, both my mother and father went back to London for work leaving their whole family behind. I remember actually that when it came around to Holy Communion and Confirmation time, our father would go over to work in London so that we would have money to get the clothes for those occasions. Times were tough; I remember us getting the free milk and the free butter too. There was no work in Ireland during those times. Pauline, though, feels that she was one of the lucky ones in that she went on to further her education after national school. She enrolled at Longford Vocational School and completed her Leaving Certificate. At the time too she was writing for Kairos Magazine, a very popular religious publication in 1970s and 80s Ireland. She didnt pursue third level education thereafter, but instead got married, and she and her husband settled down in her native Edgeworthstown. Together the couple went on to have four children - Linda, Vanessa, Emmet and Dillon. Emmet plays with his own band Rhythm and Sticks, writes all his own material and travels the length and breath of Ireland bringing his songs to life in front of the masses, continues Pauline. Vanessa, meanwhile is a very well known Choreographer and actress; Linda is the Editor of the Anglo Celt and Dillon works in the building trade. I have 11 grandchildren and they are all accomplished musicians, the Edgeworthstown woman adds with pride. After Paulines marriage ended she returned to education and studied Family History in Maynooth; thereafter she obtained for herself a BA in English and Communications. The local woman is also very involved with Comhaltas not just in Edgeworthstown but across the entire county of Longford and currently holds the position of chairperson. I must be nearly 30 years with Comhaltas, she says, pointing out that she was one of the founding members of the organisation in the county. We got people in who knew about music and it just flourished from there. As chairperson Im there when decisions have to be made or when questions need to be answered. Then, 16 years ago, Pauline alongside her son and daughter established a music school in Edgeworthstown. The classes became very popular and the whole effort went from strength to strength. Now several parishes in the county have set up their own music schools and it is fantastic to see this happening, and to see the interest and appetite that is out there for Irish music now, she smiles. We passed on what we knew to everyone and that has paid off; I used to play the button accordion, guitar and keyboard, but now Im afraid Im a bit rusty! I love singing and still sing plenty! I like to see the teachers in the schools now teaching the music and that allows me to sit back and listen - that is what I love. In 2005, Pauline Flood became Longford Person of the Year. It is a title that she holds dear. And, modest as she is, she says she got the award because of her volunteering efforts in the community. In the past, Pauline has been associated with Scor, the GAA, Foroige and senior citizens. She has also written and directed plays for the Edgeworthstown drama group, Mostrim Players, many of which have brought the house down. She has also worked at Shannonside FM for nearly 20 years. The friends I made in Shannonside over the years have been incredible; the people that came and went through the station and are now working in RTE and elsewhere has been brilliant to see; its a wonderful place to work - I feel very relaxed in Shannonside and there is great camaraderie there. You get an education there - before I started working in Shannonside, I knew nothing about politics or current affairs; it was something that I wasnt that interested in, but now I feel I know a lot about everything thats going on. It really was a learning process for me. Meanwhile, Me in a Nutshell is the first published title for Pauline, who feels she must crawl before she walks when it comes to the world of writing. The poetry book is in memory of her father and all proceeds raised will go to palliative care here in Longford. Also in the pipeline are two more books, one of which, Pauline adds, is half written. One is fact, one is fiction and Im going to get started on those now, she smiles. Meanwhile, she plans to keep promoting the Irish music and supporting the Mostrim Players. I have lots more to do when it comes to writing and I also want to pass on all my knowledge to my grandchildren. I want then to become the best people they can be. Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: December 26 2018 Launches Wage Theft Hotline (1-888-4-NYSDOL) for Workers to Report Employers Not Complying with Increase. New York, NY - December 26, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the minimum wage increase will take effect on December 31, 2018, rising to $15 for large employers in New York City and continuing to rise all across the state. The Governor also launched a Wage Theft Hotline (1-888-4-NYSDOL) for workers to report employers not complying with the increase. In coordination with the increase, the New York State Department of Labor will release a multimedia public education campaign to raise awareness about the new minimum wage. "With the historic increase in the minimum wage, New York continues to set a national example in the fight for economic justice," Governor Cuomo said. "In New York, we believe in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and are proud to be stepping up for hardworking families and making a real difference in the lives of New Yorkers. We won't stop until every New Yorker is paid the fair wages they deserve." The launch of the public education campaign includes TV, digital, radio, and subway ads. The campaign reminds New Yorkers that all minimum wage workers across the state will receive a raise on December 31, and educates them about the steps they should take if they do not receive their raises. PSA video that will air on television is available here , and video for digital platforms is available here The New York State Department of Labor has established a hotline (1-888-4-NYSDOL) where minimum wage workers can call to report any employers who do not comply with the phase-in schedule. $15 Minimum Wage Phase-in Download Image: Web The Lycoming College community is mourning the death of our distinguished alumnus Rafael Moreno Valle 91, a Mexican federal senator and former governor of the state of Puebla, Mexico, and his spouse Martha Erika Alonso, who had recently become the new governor of Puebla. The couple perished on December 24 in a tragic helicopter crash near the Puebla airport. Moreno Valle graduated magna cum laude from Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science in 1991, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He also held a Juris Doctor from Boston University and an MBA from the Harvard University Extension School. At the 2016 Commencement Ceremony, Lycoming College awarded Moreno Valle an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree and he delivered the keynote to the graduating class. Moreno Valle was an extraordinary person. His term as Governor of Puebla from 2011-17 brought about improvements to the states healthcare system and infrastructure and its educational system through a focus on literacy and school performance at primary and secondary levels. His career and life exemplified the mission of Lycoming College: preparing its graduates for lives of meaning and careers of significance. I have extended my profound sympathies to his family and friends on behalf of the Lycoming College community. Rafael and Martha will be deeply missed by all who knew them and the people of Mexico. A Boston police officer is facing assault and firearms charges after police found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound on Christmas Eve. The woman injured is the police officers wife. Boston Police said officers responded to a home in Hyde Park Monday around 1 p.m. for a report of a person shot. On arrival, officers located an adult female victim inside the home suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound, police said. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Police said at first it appeared the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Detectives continued to investigate the incident and later determined off-duty Officer Korey Franklin, who is 32, was responsible for firing his personal weapon resulting in his wife being shot. Franklin was arrested on charges of reckless assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and misleading police. He was released on personal recognizance after his arraignment in West Roxbury District Court Wednesday. Franklin told responding officers that the victim had shot herself accidentally while trying to put a personal firearm not Franklins service weapon into a gun safe, according to the Suffolk District Attorneys office. This statement was contradicted by physical aspects of the crime scene and other evidence gathered by investigators. Authorities allege Franklin was manipulating the gun in the living room and ejected at least two live rounds of ammunition by moving its slide back and forth. The gun went off and a bullet struck Franklins wife, who was several feet away, prosecutors said. The district attorneys office said the evidence shows Franklin recklessly handled the gun and lied to 911 operators and police about what happened. We take this incident, and all incidents that involve police officers, very seriously, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said. This arrest clearly shows that the Boston Police Department has the ability to police ourselves and that we hold our officers to the same standards as the citizens we serve and protect. A Christmas fire took the lives of two people in Massachusetts. Members of the Avon Fire Department were called to a home on Freeman Street around 9 p.m., NBC Boston reports. There are two deceased people, a fire official told NBC. The one we took to the hospital and the one we found in the building. A young child in the home at the time of the fire has been hospitalized. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. CHICOPEE -- Lorraine Houle, the 91-year-old founder of Lorraines Soup Kitchen and Pantry, who passed away Sunday, was remembered Wednesday morning by one of her many admirers as one of the most giving people on the planet. She was an amazing person, said John Vieau, president of the Chicopee City Council and the newest member of the soup kitchens board of directors. She was one of the most giving people on the planet and she will be missed by many. City Councilor Jerry Roy, a former volunteer for the organization who went on to serve as president of its board of directors, also remembered Houle for her big heart. She really was a loving, caring individual and she was very warm to the street people and the homeless down there, Roy said. They always had a place in the soup kitchen. She never turned anybody away. Debra Cardin, one of Houles five children, said her mother got the idea for what became Lorraines Soup Kitchen and Pantry while serving on the board of Chicopee Emergency Food and Fuel. Houle approached the Rev. Gerard LaFleur, pastor of Assumption Church, and the Rev. Jonathan Tetherly, who served as minister of a number of different organizations over the years, and told them she believed that Chicopee needed a soup kitchen, Cardin said. They said, Go for it, Cardin said. 'If you can find a place we will support you.' With the aid of the Valley Opportunity Council, Houle set up shop at 35 Center St., and the whole thing blew up from there, Cardin said. The first meal, which offered chicken noodle soup and peanut butter sandwiches served by Willimanset Nursing Home, attracted about 25 people, Cardin said. The next time Houle and her volunteers served a meal, some 35 people came to eat. Soon, 50 people a night were eating there. And before long, it was a hundred. They were serving an average of 75 to 100 people a night, Cardin said. At first the soup kitchen served meals three nights a week, then it expanded to four. Now, in its location at 170 Pendexter Ave., it serves the hungry and the homeless five nights a week. Asked how many lives her mothers work touched, how many hungry people she fed over the years, Cardin thought for a few moments and said, Thousands. ... Its mind-boggling. Roy said some of the needy people that Houle served worked as volunteers at the soup kitchen and that she often paid them what she could with her own money. Through the years she tried to help them through their personal problems," Roy said. She was always there for them. Vieau said Houle changed the face of the city through her generous ways, and that there likely wouldnt have been a soup kitchen and food pantry in the city without her. Its people like Lorraine Houle who make a difference, Vieau said. I am hopeful that we can continue her mission. Cardin said her mother continued to oversee Lorraines until she was 87. She stepped down in 2013. Houle moved into Agawam HealthCare last May but remained alert and on the ball, until the last few days of her life at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. Cardin said the Christmas season has always been poignant and bittersweet time of year for the family. The family patriarch, Houles husband Roger, passed away on Christmas Day in 1975. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St., Chicopee. A funeral service will be held Friday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Rosa de Lima Church at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lorraines Soup Kitchen, 170 Pendexter Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013. For online condolences, visit www.GriseFH.com. AGAWAM - Police are seeking the public's help in identifying two women who are suspected of cashing more than $10,000 in fraudulent checks at area banks. Police released photos of bank surveillance footage from a drive-up ATM in Easthampton. The photos show two women, one with blond hair and the other a brunette. They may be operating a maroon Nissan Murano with Connecticut plates. Agawam Police Lt. Edward D. McGovern said anyone who recognizes either woman is asked to call the Agawam Detective Bureau at 413 786-1717. SPRINGFIELD -- The city has filed a lawsuit in Hampden Superior Court against pharmaceutical companies, seeking to recover the city's costs related to the opioid epidemic. Springfield's suit names Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and a number of other companies as defendants. "A pharmaceutical manufacturer should never place its desire for profits above the health and well-being of its customers," Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said in a prepared statement echoing allegation within the suit. "Drug manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure that their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other healthcare providers in making treatment decisions." Several other communities -- including Agawam, West Springfield and Chicopee -- and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey have filed similar lawsuits. Springfield, within its suit, states the opioid epidemic is "man made," and caused by "pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, board members and executives." "It has been created, fueled, and continues to expand by the persistent unlawful conduct of the defendant pharmaceutical manufacturers (Manufacturer Defendants) and pharmaceutical wholesale distributors (Distributor Defendants)," the lawsuit states. Springfield announced plans to file the suit a year ago, hiring a national law firm, Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP to pursue the civil case. The lawsuit was filed in conjunction with similar suits brought by the city of Worcester and other communities including Haverhill, Framingham, Gloucester, Salem, Lynnfield, and Wakefield, also represented by Scott+Scott. Under the terms of the agreement announced last January, Springfield will not be responsible for attorney fees or expenses. Instead, Scott+Scott will seek 22.5 percent of Springfield's total recovery in the opiod litigation, officials said. "Executives of a pharmaceutical company have a legal obligation to ensure that their company conducts itself in a manner compliant with the law that is designed to protect rather than harm patients," Sarno said. "Defendants broke these simple rules." The suit states that Springfield is experiencing a "stark increase in the number of residents who have become addicted to prescription opioids and heroin, and a stark increase in opioid overdoses." When the city's plans for the lawsuit were announced last year, John Parker, a representative of the Health Care Distribution Alliance, stated that distributors understand the tragic impact of the opioid epidemic, "but we aren't willing to be scapegoats." "We don't make medicines, market medicines, prescribe medicines, or dispense them to consumers," Parker said. The lawsuit states that Springfield has been "struck particularly hard by the influx of opioid drugs and resulting boom in the number of opioid addicts." The court filing states that Springfield's opioid-related deaths have climbed from 26 in 2012 to 40 in 2016. City costs include hospitalization and related health care costs, neo-natal care costs, expenses related to opioid education and training, emergency treatment costs, law enforcement costs, community outreach expenses, and diversion costs related to city employees, the suit states. The city listed its "causes of action" against the companies as including: negligence; negligent misrepresentation; public nuisance; common law fraud; unfair and deceptive acts and practices in violation of state law; unjust enrichment; and civil conspiracy. The city does not specify the dollar amount of damages being sought, but asks the court to order injunctive and equitable relief, attorneys' fees and costs, and interest. HOLYOKE - State Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, and state Sen. Donald Humason, R-Westfield, provided updates recently to the City Council's Development and Government Relations Committee, reviewing projects underway and a look ahead to the upcoming legislative session. Vega and Humason periodically appear before the committee, which Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley chairs. Councilors Peter Tallman, Jossie Valentin and Michael Sullivan joined Bartley for the Dec. 19 meeting. Bartley said the updates allow Vega and Humason to offer their perspectives on issues that affect Holyoke and the commonwealth. Vega said the Legislature's formal session draws near, with a new term starting Jan. 2. Vega and his colleagues, who include many freshmen lawmakers, will take their oaths before the new session begins. He said he spoke recently with Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials about ongoing and future road projects. MassDOT expects work on Exit 15 of Interstate 91 will finish May 7. MassDOT will hold a public meeting Jan. 8 at the Senior Center related to Kelly School. Vega said the Safe Route to School Project would include increased lighting, clearly painted traffic lines, sidewalk improvements and work on an underpass near Lyman Street. For the upcoming term, Vega said he will direct his efforts on Chapter 70, or education, funding and price variances related to private insurers' payments to community hospitals in Massachusetts. He said community hospitals in the region receive less than half of what their counterparts are reimbursed in metro Boston. For example, a private insurer might pay Holyoke Medical Center $12,000 for a hip replacement surgery while a community hospital in Eastern Massachusetts receives double the rate. "That's been hurting our hospitals for decades. We're one of the last few community hospitals," Vega said. Beside medical costs, Bartley said Holyoke drivers get hit with high auto premiums by insurers. "It's completely upside-down. It's not the same throughout the commonwealth," Bartley said. Vega said he continues a push for an increase in the per-student allocation for Holyoke Community College students, who receive less than students at other community colleges in Massachusetts. Seventy-five percent of HCC students take remedial math and English courses their first year, according to Vega. Only 25 to 35 percent of those students complete their degrees, he said. Vega will seek additional funds for added academic support. Forty-five percent of incoming transfers at Westfield State University are HCC students. "We're doing the right thing, and we just can't get it to everybody. That's the issue," Vega said. He said HCC's enrollment rate remains stable. Humason, whose district includes Holyoke, said the theme for the 2019 legislative session is "change," especially with an influx of new members in the region's delegation. "The Western Massachusetts delegation, of both Democrats and Republicans, work well together, because it's us in Western Massachusetts and the four counties against the whole delegation of Boston," Humason said. "The thing that changes this year is that we lost a whole lot of seniority with members who retired or left the Legislature," he said. The delegation lost senior members in Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, and Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, who resigned as Senate president after an ethics scandal. Humason, who represents 11 communities, said he and Vega would mentor the newest legislators on procedures and the machinations of Beacon Hill. He expects his Senate colleagues will re-elect Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, as president. The House and Senate will appoint new chairs of the powerful Ways and Means committees, the bodies that draft the budgets. And several executive branch members will not return for the 2019 sessions, including Jay Ash, the state's Housing and Economic Development secretary. "Secretary Ash has been in Holyoke many, many times, usually brings good news in the form of a check or grant for the city to undertake some project," Humason said. "His new replacement will rapidly become our new friend because we'll be on the phone with that person quite a bit." Humason, who serves on Ways and Means, said the committee held a recent meeting with finance officials from the Baker-Polito Administration and outside economic experts. The discussions centered on "consensus revenue" for fiscal year 2019 or the amount the Commonwealth will collect in fees, taxes, tolls and fines. "The sense from almost everyone who met that day is that things are starting to slow down economically, we're not going to have the rate of growth in new revenue. We won't have as much economic activity," Humason said. "Things, not cooling off altogether, will not be as hot as they've been." He said he will keep an eye on new or current state programs heavily reliant on revenues. Gov. Charlie Baker will release his version of the state budget shortly after his annual address to both houses in January. The House and Senate committee will meet to hash out their budget versions, which may or may not include elements from Baker's draft. Those whove been imagining a day when Donald Trump is no longer president of these United States may find themselves cracking at least a small smile when the calendar flips to Jan. 1. Then, at long last, folks can refer to next years presidential election. Still, those who are easily dispirited may find themselves quickly saddened to learn that come the new year, Election Day 2020 will still be 673 days off. That said, the Democratic National Committee is providing something to look forward to long before the November 2020 balloting: at least a dozen presidential debates, beginning in June of the coming year. Since there are several dozen who are said to be seriously considering taking a run at the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, the debates can't get started too soon. After all, the Iowa caucuses, not yet scheduled, may be held just a bit more than a year from now. It's not only the calendar, though, that's got Democrats looking to set the debate schedule. They are also hoping to avoid a replay of what occurred in 2016, when the actual debates, such as they were, weren't exactly scintillating affairs gleaming with bold new ideas at every turn. This time around, Democrats will have a solid opportunity to winnow the field, seeking to determine who among the 20 or 30 currently being named as possible candidates has the best chance of defeating President Donald Trump in 2020. (Assuming, that is, that he hasn't been removed from office by then.) Not that Democrats can be expected to be orderly, keeping their eyes on the prize. We are, after all, talking about a political party that often seems best at eating its own. And there are signs that a few have been up to no good already. NBC News has reported that some supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont socialist who continued his vanity presidential campaign in 2016 long after it was clear that he was going nowhere, further weakening Hillary Clinton on her way to the nomination, are at it again. Some Berniecrats have already been on the attack, specifically looking to undermine support for U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, the Texas Democrat who ran a notably solid campaign against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz this year. Though he ultimately lost a close race, he became the darling of many Democrats across the land by competing in Texas, where the Democratic Party has long been moribund, and by raising mountains of cash as he did so. But rather than celebrating the emergence of a new star, some Sanders supporters are looking to dirty him up before he can really catch fire. For not a few in the Sanders cult, their man, and their man alone, is the answer. This, of course, is the sort of dangerous thinking that, taken to its logical conclusion, could well get Trump re-elected to a second term. Democrats have a golden opportunity as they begin the next presidential cycle. But not if all they do is look to see who can promise the most free stuff to the greatest number of people. The upcoming debates will provide an opportunity to determine who can offer a reasonable course forward, a possible path out of the wilderness. Maybe, just maybe, a new face, and a new voice, could stand out in the massive field, proving to be the right man or woman for this moment. There's less of an opportunity for that, obviously, if some are working to tear down those viewed as a threat to the established players. The people need an opportunity to hear from O'Rourke, and from Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sen. Kamala Harris of California -- to name but three -- giving them a real chance to define themselves before others falsely do it for them. Politics can be a dirty business. Some will always take advantage of any opportunity they have to play it that way. Wishing it were otherwise won't change that, but knowing what they are up to can be a big help. The upcoming Democratic presidential debates ought to be both great theater and a possible turning point for the party and the nation. Heres looking forward to them. Acute care is a branch of health care in which short-term treatment is provided to patients with medical conditions such as severe injury and recovery from surgery. Acute conditions such as asthma attack, broken bone, bronchitis, burn, common cold, flu, heart attack, pneumonia, and others require treatment in acute hospital care. Various services are included in acute hospital care such as coronary care, intensive care, neonatal intensive care, cardiology, and others. The acute care market growth is majorly attributed due to the rising incidences of trauma injury, the presence of a large base of the patient population, increasing number of hospital, unmet medical needs in emerging economies. Moreover, the geriatric population having acute diseases are projected to boost the market growth over the forecast period. Get Premium Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4931 The Global Acute Hospital Care Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~7.8% during the forecast period 2017-2023. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, during 2011-2014, asthma prevalence was 8.8% among all adults. During this period, asthma was more common among adults with obesity (11.1%) compared with adults in normal weight (7.1%) and overweight (7.8%) people. As per reports from American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon, broken bones are a common injury i.e an average of 6 million people in the U.S is likely to break a bone each year. Most of these broken bones heal without problems. However, about 300,000 patients are slow to heal or do not heal at all with traditional methods. Since broken bone is a common problem, it needs acute hospital care, Therefore, it is estimated to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. However, limited availability of facilities and equipment may hamper the market growth during the forecast period. Top Key Players: HCA Holdings, Inc. (U.S.), Community Health Systems LLC (U.S.), Universal Health Services, Inc. (U.S.), Tenet Healthcare Corp. (U.S.), Vanguard Health System Inc. (U.S.), Ardent Health Services (U.S.), Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (U.S.), PruittHealth (U.S.), National HealthCare Corp.(U.S.), and others. Segmentations The Global Acute Hospital Care Market is segmented on the basis of medical condition and services. On the basis of the medical condition, it is segmented into emergency care, urgent care, short-term stabilization, pre-hospital care, critical care, trauma care, and acute care surgery. On the basis of the services, it is segmented into coronary care, intensive care, neonatal intensive care, cardiology, and emergency department. Regional Analysis: The Americas dominate the global acute hospital care market owing to well-developed technology, increasing patient population, high health care spending, and increasing government support for research & development. Furthermore, increased R&D activities and the concentration of major companies have fuelled the growth of the market in this region. Europe holds the second position in the global acute hospital care market owing to the government support for research & development and availability of funds for research. This is expected to continue to drive the European market over the forecasted period. For instance, developed economies such countries such as Germany and France are increasing investment in the healthcare domain and are focusing more on hospital infrastructure. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing acute hospital care market owing to the presence of rapidly developing healthcare technology, huge patient population, and high healthcare expenditure. Moreover, increasing demand for acute hospital care in countries like India and South Korea are likely to emerge as the fastest growing market across the globe. Furthermore, increasing demand for quality devices in the healthcare is projected to lead the use of advanced equipment, which, in turn, may increase the market growth in this region. On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa holds the least share of the market owing to less availability of funds, limited medical facilities, and deprived political conditions in Africa. Table Of Content 1 Report Prologue 2 Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope Of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations 3 Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restrains 4.3 Opportunities 4.4 Challenges 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment 5 Market Factor Analysis Continued! Browse Full Reports @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/acute-hospital-care-market-4931 Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Market Research Future has added a report titled Capnography Market Research Report- Forecast To 2027 to its offering. The report provides an in-depth analysis of regional data and an accurate projection of the market size and share of the Top 10 market players across the globe. Market Scenario: The global capnography market is expected to grow during the forecast period from 2018 to 2027 at a CAGR of ~19.5%. Capnography is the process used to measure and determine the concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in respiratory gases by using the capnograph device. It helps to measure the actual concentration of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. The capnograph is used to monitor the inhaled and exhaled concentration of CO2. The growing pediatric population, increasing number of patients suffering from cardiac diseases, and increasing aging population are expected to drive the growth of the market. The global capnography market is estimated to grow during the forecast period due to factors such as innovation, technological advancements, and advancement of the capnography device. A strong recommendation about capnography was made by healthcare bodies such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists, European Resuscitation Council, and others to include capnography devices in healthcare facilities compulsorily. This fuels the growth of the global capnography market. Get Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1535 Key players: Smiths Medical Inc, Nonin medical Inc, Dreagerwerk AG & CO. KGaA, Welch Allyn, Medtronic, Masimo, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Care fusion cooperation, Covidien Ltd, Diamedica Limited, Edan Instruments, Inc., Hill Rom Holding Inc, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and BD Segmentation: The global capnography market is segmented on the basis of type, devices, application, and end-user. The global capnography market on the basis of type is segmented into capnograph and disposable. Capnograph is further subdivided into three segments, namely, mainstream capnography, sidestream capnography, and micro stream capnography. Mainstream capnography is further subdivided sand alone monitor, handheld monitor, and multi-parameter monitor. Based on device, the global capnography market is segmented into handheld monitors, stand-alone monitors, and others. Based on application the global capnography market is segmented into procedural sedation, critical care, emergency medicine, pain management, and general floor. Based on end-user the global capnography market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers. Regional Market: Based on region, the global capnography research market is segmented into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. The Americas is sub-segmented into North America and South America. The North American region is further segmented into the US and Canada. The European region is divided into two, namely, Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Western Europe is further classified into Germany, Italy, France, the UK, Spain, and the rest of Western Europe. The Asia-Pacific region is sub-segmented into Japan, China, India, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. The Middle Eastern and African region is sub-segmented into the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and the rest of the Middle East and Africa. The American market is likely to dominate the global capnography market owing to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases in the aging population and the growing occurrence of asthma in pediatrics. North America dominates the global capnography market due to the development of advanced products in this region. Latin America is showing significant growth in the capnography market due to increasing use of capnography devices in healthcare facilities as recommended by government bodies. The World Health Organization has published a report on Safe Surgery that recommended the use of capnography monitoring devices during the endotracheal tube placement surgery. The American Society of Anesthesiologists also recommended the use of capnography during procedural sedation and anesthesia. The rising problems of respiratory diseases because of an unhealthy lifestyle and high-stress level impact have led to significant growth in this market. The European market is the second largest in the global capnography market. The market growth in this region is due to government funding and support from the healthcare sector. However, growing number of surgeries and changing lifestyle have contributed to the growth of the market in this region. Browse Full Reports @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/capnography-market-1535 Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing market owing to the increasing aging population and rising prevalence of diseases. The capnography market in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow during the forecast period due to rising healthcare expenditure and increasing awareness about the capnography technique. Countries such as India and China are more focused on the global capnography market because of the growing purchasing power and the increasing population as compared to other developing countries. Table Of Contents: Chapter 1. Report Prologue Chapter 2. Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope Of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations Chapter 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation Chapter 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restraints 4.3 Opportunities 4.4 Challenges 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment Chapter 5. Market Factor Analysis Continued! Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Market Highlights Catheters, a thin tube like medical devices inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. They are used in drainage, administration of fluids or gases, and also to perform a wide variety of other tasks depending on the type of catheter. Increasing prevalence of the patients cardiac and urological diseases have increased the demand for the catheters. To increase the market demand, many manufacturers are trying to introduce the new and advanced types of catheters. The global catheter market is majorly driven by increasing prevalence of cardiac & urological diseases, increasing preference for minimal invasive therapy, and increasing geriatric population. Additionally, changing lifestyle and rising healthcare spending have spurred the growth of the market. However, long time for approval, and risk of infection may slow the growth of the market over the review period. The Global Catheters Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.14% during the forecast period 2017-2023. Segmentation The global catheters market has been segmented on the basis of types and end users. On the basis of the types, the market is segmented into cardiovascular catheters, specialty catheters, intravenous catheters, urinary catheters, neurological catheters, and others. On the basis of the end users, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. GET SAMPLE REPORT @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3186 Regional Analysis The Americas dominate the global market owing to a huge population with cardiac diseases, increasing geriatric population, strong government support for research & development and high health care spending. According to the WHO, in 2014, 9.7% of total America population had diabetes. Increasing prevalence of the diabetes has boosted the market growth in America. Additionally, changing lifestyle and the presence of major players in the market have fueled the growth of the market. Europe is the second leading region in the global catheters market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing catheters market majorly driven by India, China, and Japan owing to a huge number of patients and rapidly growing economy. The healthcare expenditure in in Asia Pacific has increased during last few years, which has contributed to the growth of market. The Middle East and Africa contribute the least to the growth of the global market. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait lead the Middle East & Africa market. Africa holds the least share of the global market due to limited availability of medical facilities and poor economic condition of the region. However, the growth of the African market is high due to the presence of opportunities for the development of the market. Key Players Some of the major players in this market are Boston Scientific Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V, Abbott, Medtronic plc, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Terumo Corporation, LuMend Corporation (US), Covidien AG (Ireland), ACIST Medical Systems (US), and Cook Medical Inc. (US). Continued Access full report now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/catheters-market-3186 Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Diabetes Drugs Market Overview The global diabetes drugs market is growing with a swift phase; mainly due to increase in patient population and research and development done by market players to fill the gap of market. The WHO estimated that diabetes leads to 1.6 million deaths in 2015 and it is the major causes of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation. Increase in incidence of chronic disease owing to diabetes will drag the interest of biopharmaceutical researchers for developing effective drugs for the treatment. More than 170 diabetes drugs are in the development stage to cure diabetes or diabetes related conditions. In 2014, the cost of diabetes diagnosis was around USD 245 billion in the United States, and biopharmaceutical researchers are focusing to find new lifesaving and life-changing treatments. Request Sample Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1160 Global Diabetes Drugs Market Segmentation The global diabetes drug market is segmented on the basis of types, route of administration, drug class, and end users. On the basis of types, the market is segmented into type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes. On the basis of route of administration, the market is segmented into oral, intravenous and other. On the basis of drug class they are insulin, sensitizers, SGLT-2 inhibitors, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, secretagogues, peptide analogs and others. Sensitizers are sub segmented into thiazolidinediones and biguanides. Secretagogues are further segmented into sulfonylureas and non-sulfonylureas On the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospital & clinics, ambulatory clinics and other. Global Diabetes Drugs Market Scenario Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body glucose level is elevated. There are two type of diabetes namely type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes. During last decade there is a tremendous increase in the number of diabetic population. According to International Diabetes Federation, in 2016, it was estimated that 420 million adult population were suffering from diabetes which is increasing at the rate of 8.4% and is expected to reach 625 million by 2040. A number of different types of drugs are available in the market however, no available treatment can cure diabetes totally. However, cost issues, strict regulatory rules and long approval time for drugs may led to restrain the growth of the market.The global Diabetes Drug Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% during forecasted period 2017-2023. Global Diabetes Drugs Market Key Players The major player in the global diabetic drug market are Eli Lilly (US), Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Abbott (US), AstraZeneca (UK), Biocon (US), Sunpharma (India), Sanofi (France), Novartis (Switzerland), Merck & Co. (US), Pfizer (US), Daiichi Sankyo (Japan), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Akros Pharma (US), Amgen (US), Adocia (France), Peptron (South Korea), Takeda (Japan). Global Diabetes Drugs Market Regional Analysis America dominates the global diabetes drug market owing to large diabetic patient population. According to the WHO, in 2016, 9.6% of total America population were suffering from diabetes. In addition to this, increasing number of obese people, changing lifestyle and increasing healthcare expenditure have boosted the growth of the market in America. Increasing cholesterol level and smoking increases the possibility of causing diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), 73.5 million adults in the US had diagnosed with high cholesterol level. Europe accounts for the second largest diabetes drug market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Huge smoking population, availability of funds for research, and government support for research & development will drive the market in Europe. Browse Complete Premium 80 Pagers Research Report Enabled with 76 Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/diabetes-drug-market-1160 Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence of a huge patient population, continuously developing economies, and increasing need for the better treatment. On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa has the least share in the global diabetes drug market due to presence of poor economy especially in Africa region. Middle East holds the major share in the Middle East & Africa diabetes drug market owing to well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure. About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com The Global Gel Documentation Systems Market held a market value of USD 245 million in 2017 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% over the forecast period. Gel documentation system is widely used in the molecular biology laboratories for imaging and documentation of nucleic acid and protein polyacrylamide or agarose gels. The rising government fundings for genomic and proteomic research, increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and genetic disorders, and the on-going technological advancements in gel documentation systems are some factors that are likely to propel the market growth during the assessment period. Request Sample copy at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6908 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, about 16.8 million visits to the physicians offices were for infectious and parasitic diseases. Moreover, the increasing research and development expenditure by the government as well as private sector is expected to fuel to the market growth. Market Research Future (MRFR) announces the publication of its research report Global Gel Documentation Systems Market, 2018-2023. On the other hand, the high cost of gel documentation systems with advanced technologies and the increasing adoption of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) may hamper the market growth during the assessment period. Segments: The global gel documentation systems market has been segmented into product, detection techniques, application, and end user. Top Players: Some of the prominent players in the global gel documentation systems market are Bio-Techne, Endress + Hauser Management AG, GE Healthcare, Thermo Fisher Scientific, LI-COR Biosciences, Scientific Digital Imaging Plc., Cleaver Scientific, Azure Biosystems, Vilber Lourmat, and Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Currently, the global market is dominated by numerous prominent players. The key players in the market are engaged in strategic collaborations and acquisitions to strengthen their market position. For instance, in 2018, Thermo Fisher Scientific Company launched the new blue G: BOX gel documentation systems. Additionally, in February 2017, Bio-Rad laboratories, Inc. launched ChemiDoc MP Imaging System for multiplex fluorescent imaging. On the regional basis, the global market in the Americas is segmented into two major regions, i.e., North America and South America. The North American region is likely to hold the major share in the region growing to the R&D budgets by both government as well as private pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies and rising adoption of advanced technologies in the region. According to the data by the World Bank Group, in 2015, the research and development expenditure (as % of gross domestic expenditure) in the US was 2.79%. Regional Analysis: On regional basis, the Americas is anticipated to dominate the global gel documentation systems market owing to the growing clinical R&D budgets by both government as well as commercial pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies and increasing adoption of advanced technologies in the region. Europe is expected to hold the second largest position in the global gel documentation systems market owing to the presence of strong academic & research base and availability of funding for research in the European countries. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to be fastest growing region owing to rising government focus on biomedical and biotechnology sector and increasing number of proteomic and genomic studies in the region. Browse Complete 90 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 30+ Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/gel-documentation-systems-market-6908 The Middle East & Africa has the least share of the global gel documentation systems market. Moreover, the major market share of the region is expected to be held by the Middle East region owing to the increasing government initiatives for the healthcare sector. Some Posits From TOC of Gel Documentation Systems Market Research Report Global Forecast till 2023: Chapter 1. Report Prologue Chapter 2. Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope Of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations Chapter 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation Chapter 4. Market Dynamics TOC CONTINUED! Check Discount at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/6908 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Orphan Drugs Market Synopsis Orphan drugs are generally used for treating rare disorders and diseases that affect a small percentage of the population. There are approximately 30 million in Europe, 30 million people in the US, and 350 million people worldwide who suffer from 7,000 types of rare diseases. Disorders among which four-fifths of the rare diseases are genetic and 50 % of the crowd affected being children. Only 5 % of the rare diseases had approved drug treatment with 326 new drugs being approved by FDA and brought to the market. Get Prime Sample Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2312 Global Orphans Drug Market Segmentation Globally, the market for orphan drugs has been segmented on the basis of application, pharmacological class, source, technology, and region. The market has been segmented into enzyme replacement, protein replacement, and gene chromosome expression based on pharmacological class. The market has been segmented into oncology, blood-related disorders, neurology, nephrology, and infectious diseases based on applications. Among these, oncology is predicted to dominate the market owing to the increasing drug approvals for treating rare cancers. The market has been segmented into Transgenic, DNA recombination, and gene expression based on technology. The market has also been segmented into biological orphan drug and non-biological orphan drug based on source. Among these, biological orphan drug leads the market in terms of revenue and is predicted to maintain its dominance over the assessment period owing to the high efficacy of biologic products for treating diseases. Future Drivers and Constraints Affecting the Market Growing investment in R&D, unmet requirement for rare diseases, economic, legislative, and tax benefits offered by the government, high ROI, development of latest technologies like hybridoma, gene mapping, and DNA recombinant, extensive exclusivity, and faster uptake and low marketing cost are some of the major factors driving the market over the forecast period. There has been a growing demand for drugs for rare diseases such as Yellow Fever, Von Willebrand Disease, Aarskog Syndrome, Waardenburg Syndrome, diabetic macular edema, Abetalipoproteinemia, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Yellow Nail syndrome, Asperger syndrome, Von Hippel-Lindau Disease, and others which is contributing towards the growth of the market. Moreover, FDA free waivers, R&D grants by the government, favorable reimbursement policy along with premium pricing owing to the low competition also contribute the market growth. Global Orphan Drugs Market Competition Analysis The key players operating the market for orphan drugs are Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Bayer AG, Sanofi, Celgene Corporation, Novartis AG, Biogen Idec Limited, Hoffmann- La Roche, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. Johnson & Johnson, and others. Meanwhile, high cost of development, extensive post-market surveillance, costly clinical trials, monopolized and unitary market, concern over safety, competition from biosimilars and generics are some of the restraining factors inhibiting the growth of the market over the forecast period. Moreover, active distribution and commercialization can be hindered by differential availability of developing and developed countries, owing to socio-economic factors. Global Orphan Drugs Market Industry News The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Surface Oncologys lead investigational candidate SRF231 which is a potential treatment for patients suffering from multiple myeloma. The SRF231 is a human monoclonal antibody therapeutic targeting CD47, a protein overexpressed on cancer cells to prevent them from being eliminated and engulfed by macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Browse Complete 84 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 121 Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/orphan-drugs-market-2312 North America to Dominate the Market Geographically, the market for orphan drugs has been spanned across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. North America has been estimated to hold the largest market share owing to well-established healthcare infrastructure, favorable regulations for drug approval for rare diseases, initiatives by non-governmental and governmental agencies to increase awareness related to use of orphan drugs, and drug exclusivity status received by orphan drugs. Moreover, US contributes substantially to the market which calls for strong R&D for development of orphan drugs. About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Scenario The global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market is presumed to register 7.2 % CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023) owing to the growing investment in R&D activities, asserts Market Research Future (MRFR). The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a dynamic change. Pricing pressure, pipeline challenges, and emerging markets are redesigning the way companies operate. Pharmaceutical providers need to alter as well. Contract manufacturers that distinguish their abilities and offerings will be able to retain their customers and expand their business within the competitive market. Sample Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1532 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Competitive Dashboard Grifols International AbbVie Inc Catalant Patheon Inc. Lonza AG Boehringer Ingelheim Vetter S.A Pharmaceutical Product Development Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Segmental Analysis The global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market has been segmented on the basis of type. By mode of type, the global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market has been segmented into finished dosage formulation market, active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, and others. Among these, the active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing dominates the global market owing to the restructuring of the pharmaceutical industry. Regulatory development in the market will let generic drug companies manufacture and develop products for export. Improvement in pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities along with demand for specialized technologies is considered to steer few companies to return to sourcing APIs from the suppliers. Drivers and Restraints Impacting the Market Over the past few years, reliance on drugs and medicines have increased significantly. With increased demand for innovative drugs and limited number of blockbuster drugs, large pharmaceutical companies are trying to stay competitive by conducting faster drug development with corresponding cost containment. Moreover, after the regulatory approval of drug, companies are left with less time to deliver drug in the market in considerable quantity. Such factors are leading to greater outsourcing of manufacturing facilities to contract manufacturers. Influx of virtual and small startups with negligible manufacturing capacity is further propelling the market growth during the assessment period. Also, rising demand for next-generation biological therapies is opening doors for manufacturers, thereby driving the market across the globe. On the flip side, lack of manufacturing standardization and capacity utilization of issues are some of the major factors impacting the profitability of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing organizations. Moreover, increasing lead time and logistics costs are creating skepticism among pharmaceutical companies. This is further impeding the market growth across the globe. Industry News October 23, 2018: Precision Nanosystems Inc., a global leader in the innovative solutions for development, discovery, and manufacture of novel nanoparticles medicines has recently announced that it has entered into a manufacturing collaboration agreement with the Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services. PNI and Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services together can support clients into clinical development through commercialization of transformative nanomedicines by using PNIs NanoAssemblr Scale-Up system. Browse Complete 108 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 121 Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pharmaceutical-contract-manufacturing-market-1532 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Regional Insights Geographically, the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market span across regions namely, Asia Pacific, America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Among all the regions, the American region is presumed to dominate the global market due to well-developed technology, improvement in the reimbursement scenario, high expenditure on healthcare, and the presence of major market players. Europe is considered to hold the second position in the global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market and is estimated to maintain its dominance over the assessment period. The growth is attributed to the support provided by the government for research and development activities in this region. The Asia Pacific region is estimated to be the fastest growing region during the assessment period owing to the rapidly improving technology and the presence of a huge patient population in this region. However, the Middle East and Africa hold the least share in the market due to the presence of slow and poor developing countries in this region. About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Market Research Future has starting late imparted another examination to its wide research portfolio, which is titled as Retinal Vein Occlusion Market Research Report Global Forecast till 2023 gives an all-around examination the measure of market size and advancement. Market Highlights Glaucoma is a condition where the eye pressure causes damage to the optic nerve. The increasing number of patients with glaucoma is leading the retinal vein occlusion market offering a huge growth opportunity to the market players. Moreover, the growing number of patients affected with lymphoma and multiple myeloma is also fueling the growth of the global retinal vein occlusion market. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2014, around 47,135 people were diagnosed with leukemia and out of which 23,564 people died from the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, around 4% of all cancers in the United States is lymphoma, additionally, it is estimated that in 2018, about 74,680 people including both adults and children will be diagnosed with lymphoma and around 19,910 people will die from this. According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of acquiring multiple myeloma in the United States is 1 in 143 that is 0.7%, additionally, it is estimated that in 2018, around 30,770 new cases are likely to be diagnosed and the estimated death toll would be around 12,770. Get Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5377 The Global Retinal Vein Occlusion Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period 2017-2023. Major Players in the Retinal Vein Occlusion Market: Some of the key players in this market are Allergan, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Ellex Medical Lasers, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, IRIDEX Corporation, Novartis, Quantel Medical Inc, Topcon Medical Systems, Inc., ZEISS, Lumenis, Sanofi Aventis, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Alimera Sciences, Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA, Icon Biosciences, Suzuken Co.Ltd, Genentech, Inc., Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc, Teva Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Inc., Astrazeneca, Aerpio Therapeutics Inc, Annexin Pharmaceuticals AB and others. Segmentation: The global retinal vein occlusion market is segmented on the basis of type, condition, diagnosis, treatment, and end user. On the basis of the type, it is segmented into branch retinal artery occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion. On the basis of the condition, it is segmented into non-ischemic and ischemic. Based on the diagnosis, it is segmented into optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundoscopic examination, fluorescein angiography, and others. On the basis of treatment, it is segmented into antivascular endothelial growth factor, corticosteroid drugs, laser retinal photocoagulation, and others. On the basis of the end users, it is segmented into hospitals and clinics, research & academics centers, and others. Retinal Vein Occlusion Market Regional Analysis: The Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas dominate the global retinal vein occlusion market owing to the increasing prevalence of eye diseases. Additionally, high healthcare spending, well-developed technology, and increasing geriatric population will fuel the growth of the market. The Americas market for retinal vein occlusion is divided into North America and South America. North America holds the major share in the market whereas, South America is showing the fastest growth owing to the presence of a huge opportunity for the development of the market in the region. The Europe retinal vein occlusion market comprises of Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Western Europe comprises of countries such as Germany, the U.K, France, Italy, and Spain. Europe accounts for the second largest market for the global retinal vein occlusion owing to increasing support from the government, the presence of huge geriatric population, and high healthcare spending. Also, many European countries are trying to encourage the manufacturers for research & development for the introduction of advanced devices. In addition to this, increasing awareness and development in the healthcare infrastructure has provided a push to the growth of the market. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for the global retinal vascular or vein occlusion. Presence of huge patient population, rapid development in technology and presence of a huge opportunity for the development of the market drives the growth of Asia Pacific retinal vascular or vein occlusion market. Also, the government of this region is looking forward to avail better treatment options from developed nations in order to improve the quality of life of their citizens. Additionally, growing geriatric population is also fueling the growth of the market in this region. On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa holds the least share but will be a fastest growing region in the forecast period. However, due to the presence of poor and slow developing countries, especially, in the African region, it may hold least market share. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Report Prologue 2 Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope of Study 2.3 Research Objective 2.4 Assumptions & Limitations 2.4.1 Assumptions 2.4.2 Limitations 2.5 Market Structure Browse Full Reports @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/retinal-vein-occlusion-market-5377 3 Research Methodology 3.1.1 Primary Research Methodology 3.1.2 Secondary Research Methodology 3.1.3 Market Share Analysis 3.1.4 Market Pricing Approach 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Drivers 4.2.1 Increasing Prevalence of Diabetes and Atherosclerosis (Impact Weightage 40%) 4.2.2 Change in Lifestyle (Impact Weightage 35%) 4.2.3 Increasing Prevalence of Glaucoma, Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma (Impact Weightage 25%) 4.3 Restraints 4.3.1 Side Effect of Treatment (Impact Weightage 60%) 4.3.2 High Cost Of Treatment (Impact Weightage 40%) 5 Market Factor Analysis Continued! Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 26, 2018 The Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi has launched the Android web-based Mint browser. Some reports suggest its a direct spinoff from Google's Chrome browser. And its available for free from the Google Play Store. The Mint browser is touted to offer an ad-free experience, but there is no add-on or ad blocker in the browser. The browser originally shipped as part of MIUI, a popular Android read-only memory ROM, on the companys smartphones, but now can be downloaded on any Android phone. IDC ranks Xiaomi at No. 4 in the third quarter of 2018, with 34.3 million devices shipped. The biggest draw, the small browser has data compression and low storage requirements and better aids in supplying entry level low-end phones. advertisement advertisement The download size is about 11 MB, whereas Googles Chrome browser requires about 45 MB and Microsofts Edge requires about 76 MB. Mint supports tabbed browsing, incognito, reading mode and voice search. Theres also a feature that disables images on mobile sites to save bandwidth. The browser also offers dark mode, a feature that is reportedly better for reading dark text on a bright background, which is intended to reduce eyestrain during nighttime browsing by turning browser elements and webpages dark. by Alex Weprin , December 26, 2018 Advertising fraud in over-the-top video is poised to grow in coming years, as fraudsters follow media consumption habits and higher CPMs to streaming video platforms. The fraud intelligence company Pixalate released an OTT Ad Fraud Guide, noting that as OTT ad spend is expected to rise by more than 60% to $13.3 billion next year, nearly 19% of global OTT traffic is deemed invalid. There is a perfect fraud and security storm happening in OTT today, Pixalates report says. This reality is driven by the increased demand for OTT advertising and is accompanied by the misconception that OTT channels are free from ad fraud. At the heart of the problem is that streaming video consumption is growing faster than the measurement protocols, and with viewership splintered between a slew of devices and platforms, it makes it that much harder to track. advertisement advertisement In addition, as more ad-supported OTT video options launch, and the overall programmatic marketplace expands, the probability that fraud will follow grows even higher. OTT ad fraud is also complicated by the fact that technologies designed to improve user experiences, such as supply-side ad insertion techniques, can also mask ad fraud and reduce the effectiveness of ad blocking technologies. Ad fraud has long been a concern among marketers and publishers, but it has taken a turn this year, as a handful of multi-billion dollar ad fraud schemes came to light, and the Department of Justice handed down the first indictments tied to digital ad fraud. As the shift to video continues, and fraudsters adjust their strategies, those concerns are likely to escalate over the coming years. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 26, 2018 Vermont Governor Phil Scott is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the broadband industry over the state's new net neutrality law. That law, passed in May, prohibits broadband access providers that contract with state agencies from violating the Obama-era rules -- including rules that prohibit blocking or throttling content, applications and services, and from charging companies higher fees for prioritized delivery. In October the American Cable Association, CTIA--The Wireless Association, NCTA--The Internet & Television Association, New England Cable & Telecommunications Association, and US Telecom--The Broadband Association sued to invalidate the Vermont measure. advertisement advertisement They contend Vermont's law is unconstitutional, arguing that broadband access is an interstate service that shouldn't be subject to state regulations. The organizations also argue that the Federal Communications Commission overrode state laws last December, when it voted to repeal the Obama-era rules. (Tech companies, state attorneys general and consumer advocacy groups have asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate that FCC ruling. It's not known when that court will issue a decision.) Vermont says in papers filed this week that the industry groups lack standing to sue because they didn't say that any members have been affected by the state's new law. Plaintiffs do not allege that any of their members have ever done anything in Vermont inconsistent with net neutrality or been prevented from doing anything inconsistent with net neutrality by state contracting requirements, Vermont Attorney General Thomas Donovan argues in a motion filed Christmas Eve with U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss in federal court in Vermont. Plaintiffs failure to identify at least one broadband provider, and specifically allege that Vermonts contracting requirements harmed that provider by causing it to do something different than it would have if the requirements did not exist, is fatal to their claims. The state also notes that broadband associations' members have all "made public commitments to abide by open Internet principles." Vermont isn't the only state that tried to protect net neutrality this year. The governors of Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Montana and Hawaii signed orders similar to the one in Vermont, while the state legislature in Oregon passed a bill banning state agencies from contracting with broadband providers that violate net neutrality principles. Washington State passed a more comprehensive law that prohibits broadband providers operating in the state from blocking or throttling traffic and from charging companies higher fees for prioritized delivery. California passed a sweeping law that prohibits broadband providers from blocking or throttling traffic, charging higher fees for fast-lane service, and from exempting their own video streams from consumers' data caps. Governor Jerry Brown signed the measure in late September. But the Department of Justice, American Cable Association, CTIA, NCTA, and USTelecom all sued to block the measure. In October, California agreed to hold off on enforcing that law until after the courts decide whether to uphold the repeal of the Obama-era rules. The combination of a common cancer drug and another cancer medication is more effective than some standalone drugs in stopping the progression of colorectal cancer. It also reduces unpleasant side effects. Share on Pinterest A new study identifies a way to improve colorectal cancer treatment using existing drugs. Dr. Richard Goldberg, director of the West Virginia University Cancer Institute in Morgantown, wanted to look for new ways to slow the progression of colorectal cancer. The survival rates of people with colorectal cancer that has spread are still quite low. Once the disease begins to spread to other organs, about 13 percent of people will survive 5 more years. While medications can slow down the rate of growth, Dr. Goldberg felt that there were other options to explore. He and his team of researchers combined a common second-line cancer treatment called FOLFIRI with another medication called regorafenib to see if they could stop this cancers growth for a more extended period. For this study, which appears in the journal Cancer, the team recruited 181 people with colorectal cancer who had tumors that it was not possible to remove surgically. All of the participants had cancer that had spread to other parts of their body and had progressed following first-line chemotherapy treatment. The researchers assigned some study participants to receive both FOLFIRI and regorafenib, while the others took FOLFIRI along with a placebo. The results were promising. Those who took the new drug combination had a longer interruption of their cancer progression than those who received FOLFIRI and a placebo. We adore Anand S. Ahuja's style. The Delhi boy, now married to Sonam K. Ahuja hasn't let the glamour affect his sense of style. A true sneakerhead, comfort obviously is his first priority. But that, obviously, doesn't mean that he would stray away from keeping it suave. After all, marrying Sonam means keeping up with her style and that's not a very easy task. But boy, Anand never fails to keep up. Here are a few ways he curates his everyday looks that seem like hard work but at second glance, aren't very hard to cop. 1. Mr Ahuja knows his style game very well. White sneakers, groovy patterns and a well-fitted blazer, who knew this would make for a charming look? Look for blazers that hug your body perfectly without looking too tight. Experiment with funky patterns in t-shirts that would make your layer underneath the blazer. You could even try cool graphics. Pro tip: match a colour from the pattern of your t-shirt with the colour of the blazer. This will make your outfit look well put together. 2. Sonam's style choices are fabulous. However, Anand is giving her some serious competition with a well-tailored suit that not only fits his frame flawlessly but complements Sonam's look. Now, that makes for a power couple look. Instagram Accessorizing a suit makes all the difference. Add a nice tie and a pocket square, finish up by wearing a watch that works well with the suit. 3. A perfect example of how layering works really well for guys too. Blues and whites work well together: a breezy Summer outfit you don't want to miss for the next summer. Remember: Layering in Summer does not have to be tedious and tiresome. If you choose your fabrics right, you won't feel hot even with the added layers. Pro tip: Go for light cotton fabrics in cooler shades like white and pastels that don't let you feel hot and sweaty. Use a shirt to finish your outfit and voila! A finished look without doing too much. 4. Choice of footwear always matters. You can't step out in sliders if you're wearing a jacket or a blazer. An important detail that men tend to forget. Loafers don't work either. Choose comfortable sneakers that work well with chinos for a look like Anand's. Aside from Anand's sense of style, his brand Bhaane also has really cool pieces. Exhibit A: Look at him casually looking so fetching with a cool white t-shirt, a beige jacket and sneakers. Obviously. 5. Jerseys are a great way to express your love for a team in a loud way. If that's your jam, you should also know that it can easily go wrong. For all the jersey lovers out there, here's a super cute way of pulling off a jersey without looking drab. Remember, you can't wear a jersey with formals, bad idea. So that rules out formal shoes and pants. Keep it casual and real with fitted track pants and shoes that stand out, and your look is made for the day. There is a very easy and obvious test to find out whether one has 'arrived' in Bollywood, when it comes to commercial success and being a 'famous face'. If you have been on the 'Koffee Couch', my friend, you have arrived. Everyone's favourite guy-next-door Kartik Aaryan had already arrived when he delivered that savage rant without flinching in 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama', but the lad just cemented his position as one of the people to look out for in Bollywood, by finally making an appearance on 'Koffee With Karan'. We have always loved how Kartik dresses, but he just made a savage statement on the show by wearing a jacket that's one for the lookbooks. Instagram/karanjohar Kartik wore an embroidered skull zipped jacket by Mastermind Japan. The jacket is special, not only because of the statement skull pattern on the back along with the super cool graphic that says 'World Mastermind', but because of the rather, err, 'exorbitant' price tag associated with it as well. Instagram/kartikaaryan The super edgy jacket in velvet costs a whopping 4,494 Pounds, which when converted to Indian currency comes close to Rs 4 Lakhs. Now that, is an expensive jacket, even by the standards of the Koffee couch (let's not forget how expensive all of KJo's clothes are). Instagram/kartikaaryan We love the skull pattern on the front, as well as the lettered aesthetic at the back. Even though KJo too wore a super statement piece (again in velvet), Kartik wins this round, hands down. Instagram/kartikaaryan Doesn't he look amazing in that ramp-ready aesthetic, replete with the sleeve details that give us a peek of the skull? We, in fact, feel he has never looked better. Perfect time to wear that jacket, we say, because it surely was a task to keep up with that golden glow Miss Kriti Sanon was radiating, thanks to that alluring outfit of hers. Instagram/kartikaaryan Let's just say, what an entry to the coveted couch! The Kargil War had been one of the most dramatic, turnaround military events at the turn of the century in 1999. Hundreds of soldiers were martyred on the battlefield and thousands ended up as war casualties between May-July 1999. While the war ended with the ousting of the Pakistani Army from the Indian territory and put into display the terrific side of Indian warfare, the mentions and accolades for the Kargil warriors are limited to just a few. The war saw the best of joint efforts by all the warriors involved, the Army, Navy and the Air Force, yet names such as Gunjan Saxena do not get the amount of recognition and mention which is due to them for their contribution during the war. Facebook Gunjan Saxena - we haven't heard of this name enough. We do not know about her enough. Somehow the world does its share to remember and revere the ones who gave their lives for the motherland, and rightly so. But why is it that we end up losing sight of all the others who stood up and stood out during such moments of crisis? Gunjan Saxena happens to be one such person. She is a warrior, and one to be feared at that. Gunjan is one of India's first combat aviators who went all guns blazing into the battlefield and came out a winner! Coming from a family of warriors, sensational patriotism ran in her blood since she first let out her warcry as a baby! Her father and brother were Army warriors, and her choice to join the forces was a natural inclination. A Delhi University graduate from Hansraj College, Gunjan became one of the 25 young women who formed the first batch of women IAF trainee pilots in 1994. She was the first one to set precedent back in 1999, by getting inducted into the fighter squadron. She, along with a few other female pilots became the ideal role model who showed the then apprehensive society, that women could do wonders as fighter pilots too! Twitter Even after her induction, tough times were ahead for Gunjan. The Armed forces was a male-dominated space, much like today, and women had to constantly prove their mettle while carrying out their missions. Her chance finally came with the outbreak of the war with Pakistan over Kargil in 1999. Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena flew over a highly troubled zone, where the Pakistani had let its senseless killing on the loose. With all hands on deck, Gunjan was assigned the task of carrying out medical evacuations, supply drops and spotting Pakistani positions on the ground. Equipped with the tiny, unarmed Cheetah helicopters which were very vulnerable to enemy attacks, Gunjan continuously flew in and out of the trouble war zone without giving a damn about her safety. Reportedly, a Pakistani missile barely missed her chopper right before take-off during an attack, and many more death scares looked her at the time, but she continued to carry out her tasks without any slack. Gunjan even carried a fully loaded INSAS assault rifle and a revolver with her, in case of a crash landing near the enemy base, so she could die fighting, if that's what it took. BCCL Talking to NDTV, she said, "I think it is the ultimate feeling that you can ever have as a helicopter pilot. That was one of our main roles there - casualty evacuation. I would say it's a very satisfying feeling when you save a life because that is what you're there for. After seven years of service, Gunjan's tenure as a chopper fighter came to an end, while she also ended up getting awarded with a Shaurya Veer award for her excellent show of courage and valour. That also makes her one of the first women to be awarded such honour by the Indian Army. Her story is not often told but needs to be put out there, and seems like we won't have to wait much longer to witness it unravel before our eyes. Earlier today, the first look of Janhvi Kapoor, who is playing the role of Gunjan Saxena in the war hero's biopic went viral on social media. As per latest reports, Janhvi will undergo basic flying lessons and will also spend more time personally interacting with Gunjan to understand and portray her role better. It has also been reported that Dulquer Salmaan will be paired alongside Janhvi in the movie that is being produced by Karan Johar. In an attempt to show solidarity towards Huawei, companies in China are reportedly attempting to encourage employees to buy products from the Chinese giant. A Chinese textile company has released a notice banning staff who use iPhones from possible promotions and providing subsidies to those who buy Huawei devices. Several organisations and business groups in the country have issued notices urging staff members to show their support for the Chinese telecommunications giant by boycotting iPhones. Reuters One company in Shenzhen, where Huawei is based, has even said that it will punish employees for buying iPhones. Menpad, which makes LCD displays and is one of Huawei's many suppliers, wrote in a statement on its website that if employees buy an iPhone for themselves, the company will impose a 100 percent penalty on the basis of the phone's market price. "So far, all members of the management team have changed their smartphones to Huawei models to show support for homegrown brands," a manager of Zhejiang Kangjiesi New Material Technology Co, based in Zhuji, East China's Zhejiang Province, surnamed Liu told the Global Times on Tuesday. Reuters According to 9to5Mac, A Henan Province Brewer is offering free alcohol in the amount of 30 percent of the Huawei device sale price to both employees and customers who present a receipt. Xinjiang Nor-West Star Information Technology said in a statement they will only support Huawei, saying that it 'actively backs the calls to support Huawei and protect national brands with real action'. Reuters Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 on behalf of the U.S Government under claims the company violated U.S. sanctions against Iran. China and U.S.A are currently in the middle of a trade war after the Trump Administration threatened to apply tariffs on US$ 200 billion of goods imported from China. The U.S has accused Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company to sell equipment to Iran in violation of US sanctions. It also says Meng and the tech company misled banks about its business dealings in Iran. Reuters A Chinese court also recently ruled that Apple infringed on patents by Qualcomm, and moved to block sales of some models of the company's smartphone. Apple said it is appealing the ruling. Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. Nickel-cobalt-manganese and NCA are the primary materials used to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).Ecopro plans to procure 16,000 tonnes of NCA precursor materials from Shenzhen Stock Exchange-listed GEM in 2019, then 24,000 tonnes in 2020 and 40,000 tonnes in 2021. The remaining 90,000 tonnes will be split between 2022 and 2023, though the per-year breakdown has yet to be negotiated.Under the memorandum, GEM will also provide nickel hydroxides - intermediate nickel products extracted via high-pressure acid leaching - to Ecopro and will share the technology for producing nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate from nickel hydroxides and cobalt hydroxides.GEM and Ecopro also agreed to accelerate the development of cobalt powder and basic nickel carbonate refineries in South Korea.The supply agreed within the memorandum between GEM and Ecopro will help the former to establish a core position in the nickel-rich ternary precursor materials market and increase the global market shares for both companies in the nickel-rich NCA materials, GEM said in the announcement.Optimism regarding EVs sent prices of relevant battery materials including nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate - key components of NCA lithium-ion batteries - to record highs earlier this year. Prices have been under pressure since then as the market came to realize that large-scale EV adoption wont materialize in the near term.Fastmarkets assessed the price for nickel sulfate, China ex-works , at 23,700-24,200 yuan per tonne on December 24, unchanged from a week earlier in a stable market. It was assessed at 26,000-27,500 yuan ($3,774-3,992) per tonne in late July.Fastmarkets assessed the price for cobalt sulfate, China ex-works , at 65,000-68,000 yuan on December 19. It was assessed at 145,000-150,000 yuan per tonne in mid-April.Nevertheless, the expected EV battery boom has encouraged battery materials producers such as GEM to stay aggressive in all parts of the supply chain -including in securing raw materials supply and enhancing downstream production - despite volatile prices.In late September, a joint venture comprising GEM, Tsingshan Group, Brunp Recycling, PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park and Hanwa Co, announced it would invest in a nickel-cobalt project in Morowali, Indonesia. The project has a target production of 50,000 tonnes per year of nickel and 4,000 tpy of cobalt. It will be able to produce 50,000 tpy of nickel hydroxide intermediates, 150,000 tpy of battery-grade nickel sulfate and 20,000 tpy of battery-grade cobalt sulfate, according to GEM.In January 2017, GEM and Ecopro agreed to establish joint ventures in Jingmen, in central China, and in Pohang, South Korea, to produce NCA battery material, aiming to achieve a capacity of at least 10,000 tonnes of NCA ternary precursor material that year. Connecticut this year took the unusual step of issuing a consent order requiring a New Haven nursing home to hire an independent nurse consultant and implement minimum staffing ratios after inspections at the facility uncovered numerous lapses in care and safety violations. The order, agreed to in April by the Advanced Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and the state Department of Public Health, tasked the independent nurse consultant with assessing staffs ability to do their jobs and evaluating how care is delivered. The minimum staffing ratios ordered are 30 patients to one licensed nurse on all shifts, on most units; 10 patients to one nurses aide on the first shift; 12 patients to one nurses aide on the second shift; and 20 patients to one nurses aide on the third shift. Officials at the facility didnt return calls seeking comment. It isnt often that DPH mandates staffing or requires nursing homes to hire consultants, but the order reflects a broader emerging problem affecting the care provided at many nursing homes: insufficient staffing levels and caregivers who lack training. Its an enormous problem, said Toby S. Edelman, senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, based in Washington, D.C. Most of the bad outcomes are the result of insufficient staffing and insufficiently trained staff. Its pretty much a universal problem. In Connecticut, there have been multiple times in recent years when nursing home residents have been injured in incidents when no or too few staff members were present. Between 2015 and 2018, Connecticut nursing homes were cited by the state for 247 incidents involving lapses in care. Twenty-five of those cases involved incidents in which citations noted that two staff members were required to assist or move a resident and only one was used, according to a C-HIT analysis of DPH citations signed and finalized. Of those 25 incidents, 17 occurred between 2017 and this year. The largest share of incidents 65 involved falls, which resulted in severe bruising and/or broken bones, between 2015 and 2018. Facilities were cited 37 times for residents suffering pressure ulcers caused by not following doctors care orders, or neglect; 31 times for causing general harm to patients; and 29 times for medication errors, some life-threatening. Nursing homes are entrusted with caring for their elderly residents who are among the frailest and sickest members of the population, and who many times reside in facilities for long stretches of time or for the final years of their lives. Advocates say any lapse in care is one too many. The occupancy rate at nursing homes has remained constant at an average rate of 87 percent in 2017 and the previous two years, according to the September 2017 state census report. The states Public Health Code requires a level of licensed personnel and aides depending on the number of residents. For example, if a nursing home has 100 residents, a minimum of 140 hours of licensed care and aides are required from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 50 hours of licensed care and aides are required from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to DPH. Theres no definitive way to gauge the number of staff members that corresponds with those requirements, since each facility is different and caregivers may work different hours depending on whether they are full- or part-time, said DPH spokeswoman Maura Downes. Edelman said in some cases, staff members arent completing their assigned tasks not because they dont want to, but because there often isnt enough staff to do everything. But generally, Connecticut nursing homes are adequately staffed to provide quality care to residents, said Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association for Health Care Facilities, which represents 150 of the 224 nursing homes in the state. Many facilities in Connecticut are exceeding the minimums, which Barrett called dated, and the association has supported legislation to raise the minimum staffing levels. A recent analysis by Kaiser Health News reported that out of 188 Connecticut nursing homes, 12 had staffing levels below or much below average, 46 were ranked average and 130 had levels above or much above average. For registered nurse staffing levels, nine facilities were below or much below average, 31 were average and 148 were above or much above average. In its analysis, KHN examined daily nursing home payroll records released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that reported staffing levels from January to March. Nursing Home Compare, an online tool run by CMS that assesses nursing homes based on several quality standards, shows 39 Connecticut facilities have staffing levels much above average, 88 rated above average, 41 at average, eight below average and 46 much below average as of this month. Staffing levels for two facilities werent available. I dont think you can say this is purely all about the staffing, said Ann Spenard, principal and vice president at Qualidigm, a Wethersfield-based consulting organization that works with nursing homes. A lot of it is about the culture. For example, she said, staff members at some facilities are not encouraged to ask for help or speak up when they cant meet all of their job demands. Some employees feel certain tasks arent their job and teamwork isnt valued, Spenard said. Barrett echoed that sentiment. The staffing numbers themselves dont necessarily tell the quality-equation story. The issues of quality are not always easily explained with the staffing ratio analysis, he said. Turnovers affect care Staff turnover is a challenge for many facilities, Spenard said. Nursing home jobs are rewarding, she noted, but caring for such a needy population can be demanding physically and emotionally. Our turnover rate in this industry is almost 44 percent, and RNs have a median turnover rate of 50 percent, she said. Many RNs would rather work in hospitals, where they can earn more money, and tend to move on from nursing homes once they have enough work experience, she said. Even in the best facilities theres always some level of turnover, Spenard said. If you can decrease turnover, you can increase quality. All of that helps to improve staff morale, feeling part of the team and, ultimately, quality of care. Barrett worries that in the future it might be difficult for nursing facilities to fill jobs. When the unemployment rate is very low, it is increasingly tough for nursing homes to recruit and retain workers, he said. Staffing is a concern for Connecticut nursing homes and one that we should be watching very closely in this environment, Barrett said. The association is very concerned that inadequate staffing or staffing-related issues could be on the doorstep of Connecticut nursing homes because of these economic issues alone. We havent seen that yet, but were very concerned. There are few staffing requirements for nursing homes under federal law. The Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987, which hasnt been updated, says facilities must employ a registered nurse for eight consecutive hours daily, licensed nurses (including RNs, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses) for 24 hours per day, and sufficient staff to meet residents needs, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Those requirements, which say nothing about staffing ratios, arent enough to ensure a competent workforce, according to Edelman. Federal legislation has been proposed to address the issue, but she isnt optimistic things will change anytime soon because theres not a lot of interest in the administration to improve staffing, she said. Nursing homes always have had a shortage of nurse aides, Edelman said. When there arent nurse aides, residents may not get bathed, they may not get assistance in eating. They may do one-person transfers instead of two-person. People just dont get the things done that they should get done. Nationally, CMS is trying to get a better handle on facility staffing levels, and many nursing homes are trying to improve how they gather and report information, Spenard said. On Nov. 30, CMS announced measures to increase nursing home oversight and improve transparency when it comes to staffing. Among the steps, CMS will: share data with states when potential problems arise regarding staffing and the availability of on-site RNs; clarify how facilities should report staffing hours; and offer new tools to help facilities get and report accurate censuses. Even if facilities in Connecticut have relatively strong showings in reports, theres still room for improvement, Edelman said. If Connecticut is doing better than most states, that doesnt mean its doing well enough, she said. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting (c-hit.org). MIDDLETOWN Young people studying criminal justice or a related field are getting on-the-job experience with local police sometimes culling data or offering a fresh point of view that has allowed detectives to enhance their own investigations. Since fall 2015, Middletown Police Capt. Gary Wallace has overseen about 25 college students who have completed three-month internships in the detective bureau working in conjunction with Middlesex Community College Criminal Justice Program coordinator, Rebecca Rist-Brown. A number of other colleges and universities have partnered with the department, among them Tunxis Community College, Three Rivers Community College and Hessen University in Friedberg, Germany. One assignment involved gathering information on burglaries, larcenies and robberies that took place over a certain period of time, and creating a spreadsheet. They broke down each case to see which officers worked on which cases. They looked for methods of operation. It it were a burglary how did someone break in? If you look at all those specific cases, and you find some similarities, you might be able to figure out some of the unsolved cases. A lot of times, people do things in a pattern once it works, Wallace said. Young, eager students in the beginning of their careers can bring a unique perspective to police work. We dont know everything. Some of these interns are the next generation of officers, and a lot come with different skill sets. Some are tech-savvy, some know software applications better than we do, he said. Wallace said he is often surprised, after assigning a project he expects to take a week to accomplish, to receive a report in a couple days. They catch on very easily, he said of students, and have few preconceptions. Its always good to have someone like that looking at cases with a fresh set of eyes. Im not saying they solved any of the big ones, but they gave us good ideas and asked questions about who or why we questioned someone, he said. Were always open to new ideas and new ways of doing things, Wallace said. Charlotte Schroeter, 22, of Wiesbaden, Germany, spent three intensive weeks 120 hours learning the departments functions on a full-time basis. Usually, the program requires 15 weeks of study, but Germany only allows college students a visa to complete their education in short span of time, she said. The former exchange student, who lived with a family in Marlborough in 2011, finished her sophomore year at RHAM High School in Hebron. Because she had kept in contact with her hosts, Schroeter returned after seven years to complete her study in early December. I knew the people, I have some friends here, so I knew the area. I could see a difference (in her perspective) from a 15-year-old to a 22-year-old. My point of view changed, so I can see it with different eyes, explained Schroeter, now in the midst of a three-year stint at the police academy in Germany, pursuing her bachelor of science degree. Preserving crime scenes and collecting evidence are just a few of the aspects of police work she picked up in Middletown. Policing in some ways is really similar, and in some ways totally different, because of the different mentality, and the culture is a bit different, Schroeter said, noting her countrys strict gun laws and the way in which police departments are organized in Western Europe. Law enforcement officers there are hired by the state, and the jurisdiction of each force is much larger, she said. Schroeter spent time in every division in Middletown, working alongside officers in narcotics, major crimes, and taking part in ride-alongs with canine officers. One thing she noticed was that Americans have use of a wide variety of and more advanced equipment. Its much better that you have a computer in your car, so you can check things right away. It makes the police work much easier, she said. At first, Schroeter was a little confused to see only one officer per cruiser. In her country, such officials work in pairs. I feel safer if I know Ive got backup right away, she said. Interns get practical, hands-on experience. Theyre in and around conversations with the detectives, and theyre able to ask questions. That makes it as real as possible, Wallace said. Many city officers take a certain liking to a particular individual and will take the intern her under is or her wing. Its not unusual for these pairs to have lunch or breakfast together to build a rapport. Its very close-knit, Wallace said. Middletown Officer Kyle VanAlmkerk, a city native and graduate of the University New Haven, was hired by the department two years ago after finishing his 200-hour internship. He always wanted to join the MPD after serving in the Marine Corps. The detectives got me involved as much as they possibly could: from when we got a call, to the end of the investigation, including accompanying personnel to crime scenes and help writing warrants. Overall, it was a great experience. It really allowed me to apply what I was learning at school and see how it works in the field, VanAlmkerk said. Another intern, OBrian Sinclair of Hartford, grew up in Middletown. He wrapped up his time at MPD in August while working part-time and taking a summer class at Central Connecticut State University, where he earned a degree in criminology. Sinclairs perception of law enforcement changed during his training. I learned police officers are people as well, he said. He recalled witnessing autopsies and finding evidence on a crime scene during which a suspect robbed a tanning salon on Newfield Street. Wallace said one project involved compiling statistics on the instances of suicide attempts on the Arrigoni Bridge. Data they gathered on netting, fencing, suicide hotline phones and other measures worldwide was a part of a grant funding request for safety improvements through the state Department of Transportation. Palm Springs, CA, is an intriguing housing market due to its intoxicating blend of history, climate, and celebrity. The desert destination is also a prime locale for buyers in search of second homes. As a result, midcentury modern homes with prime pedigrees don't last long on the open market. So it's more than a bit puzzling why a midcentury modern once dubbed the "house of tomorrow" has lingered on the market for years. The 5,000-square-foot house on an acre lot with a pool in the backyard was famously the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. The floor-to-ceiling windows, pod-style rooms, and winding staircase make it an iconic structure in a city packed with fascinating architecture. But it's bounced on and off the market since 2014, and the current listing has been active for over four months. Listed for a staggering $9.5 million in 2014, the home has had a series of well-documented price changes. Though the property comes with celebrity history, notable design, and prime location, it is a bit of an outlier for the area. Most of the homes in this neighborhood sell for about $1 million to $1.5 million," says listing agent Scott Histed. So selling a nearly $3 million property is a bit of a challenge. Size is another factor the home has lingered on the market. Surrounding homes in the neighborhood are around half the size (or even less) of this behemoth. Another factor is the Palm Springs market itself. Its going to take a very specific buyer who wants to spend a few million on 5,000 square feet of space for a secondary home, explains Histed. Since Palm Springs is much more of a secondary residencestyle city, the market just moves a little slower as well. Without buyers feeling the urgency to pick up a full-time roof over their heads, there's less rush to put down an offer. Histed also believes the true value of the home is in the architecture rather than its well-documented celebrity connection. The dwelling was built by architect William Krisel, whom NPR called "a pioneering architect who brought his vision of modernism to Southern California tract housing." Krisel designed over 300 homes in the neighborhood. The house is in character with the rest of the neighborhood, but it is definitely a little over the top, says the agent. In the 1960s, the Presleys leased the home for a year. Open to the public, the home pays tribute to their residency with a host of rock n roll artifacts, which aren't included in the sale. The home itself is in original condition, which means cosmetic updates are in order. It needs some paint, could use new floors, and the bathrooms could use a bit of updating, says Histed. For a buyer in search of a primary residence rich in history, these cosmetic changes come with the territory. However, in Palm Springs most buyers want a turnkey homethey arent looking to put a ton of work into an investment property or secondary residence. And because of this home's sizefive bedrooms and five bathroomscosmetic updates could add hefty costs on top of the sizable listing price. But its clear a sale hasnt closed for lack of interest. Two vacant lots from the same owner were also for sale, says Histed. At one point, we had a single person who wanted all three properties and offered over $4 million cash. But the buyer couldnt come up with the necessary documents to close, and the owner decided not to move forward. One of those vacant lots has since sold. We had an Australian woman interested in the home, Histed adds. This deal went under contract, but financing was held up. She had other deals in the works, and her financing had to be put on hold until the new year. The owner put the kibosh on the deal, unwilling to wait for the financing to come through. Those werent the only offers. Weve actually had several offers on the home recently, says Histed. Instead of accepting one, the owner believed the multiple offers were a sign the home was priced too low. So just last week, the price was raised from $2,695,000 to $2,975,000. It's an interesting tactic to say the least. Either way, a buyer will still benefit from a significant discount from the $9 million asking price of four years ago. In any case, the Presley honeymoon home will have a new owner one day. Im optimistic, he says. This house is beautifulit just isnt for everyone. The right person will come along. The post Why Hasn't Anyone Bought Elvis Presley's Palm Springs Honeymoon Home? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. NAUGATUCK Town police sought, then found, a 34-year-old woman who went missing Tuesday. Carolyn Nash reportedly left her residence to go for a walk Tuesday, as her back was hurting, the department said on Facebook. She was last seen at approximately 2:25 p.m. before being reported missing just before 6 p.m. Nash was last seen wearing a black dress / skirt, high-heeled boots and a maroon flannel shirt, police said. She has a history of leaving without warning, police said, and has gone to the homes of relatives in Waterbury and New Haven in the past. Nash was located later in the evening safe and unharmed, police said. The U.S. military saw an eventful year in 2018, from the announcement of a new military branch dedicated to space, to approval of the largest pay raise in years, to the less serious but much discussed "sky penis" scandals. This list highlights 10 topics from 2018 chosen by Military.com editors as having the most significance. But we also want to hear from you: What stories that affected the military this year do you think were the most important? Let us know by responding in the comments section or sending us an email. Troops to Get Largest Pay Raise in Years, Tricare Changes Start Troops, military families and retirees this year welcomed news of upcoming pay and cost-of-living increases for 2019 the largest in years -- and waded through a variety of changes to Tricare benefits. In addition to increased out-of-pocket drug costs, Tricare users braved a system overhaul that included region swaps, program name changes, new fee structures and the system's first-ever open season. Meanwhile, troops who met the date cutoff faced a deadline to choose whether to opt into the Defense Department's new Blended Retirement System. And a change to the rules surrounding post-9/11 GI Bill transfers meant that many senior military members must choose to make the transfer or potentially forgo the option. Army, Air Force Issue Major Uniform Changes The U.S. Army and Air Force announced two major uniform changes in 2018. In May, the Air Force announced it would adopt the Army's Operational Camouflage Pattern, or OCP, to replace the pattern on the Airman Battle Uniform, known as the ABU. Four years have passed since the Army adopted OCP, a pattern similar to MultiCam that was developed around 2002 for the Objective Force Warrior program. The other major uniform change of 2018 came with the Army's Veterans Day adoption of a version of the World War II pinks and greens uniform as the service's new everyday dress uniform. The new Army Greens uniform will become mandatory for wear in 2028, and the current blue Army Service Uniform, or ASU, will become the service's optional dress uniform. 'Sky Penis' Scandals Rock Corps, Air Force The year saw a spree of aerial maneuvers by various U.S. military units that involved drawing penises across the sky. Two West Coast-based Marines were under investigation for executing a flight pattern that resembled a phallus in late October and were later restricted to ground duties and administrative discipline, the Marine Corps said earlier this month. It was suspected that Air Force crews over Ramstein Air Base, Germany, attempted their own sky penis drawing in April. And the commander of a B-52 Stratofortress squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, was relieved of duty in November after sexually explicit and phallic drawings were found during a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Lt. Col. Paul Goossen of the 69th Bomb Squadron attempted to stop his fellow airmen from drawing "d---s everywhere," according to the investigation, which included penis drawings discovered on a moving map displayed on the B-52's Combat Network Communication Technology (CONECT) cockpit software. VA Mission Act, Forever GI Bill Continue to Face Hurdles The Department of Veterans Affairs began the year in turmoil over who was running the place, all the while officially denying there was any "turmoil." Via Twitter, President Donald Trump fired VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin in March and then saw his first replacement choice, White House physician Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, withdraw over never-proven allegations of misconduct. Robert Wilkie, who had been the personnel chief at the Pentagon, was finally confirmed as VA secretary in June. He later acknowledged that, yes, there had been "turmoil" at the VA but said it was all in the past. The department was now focused on a series of enormous tasks to speed appeals, mesh medical records with those of the Pentagon, get things straightened out on the GI Bill and -- biggest of all -- use 2019 to implement the VA Mission Act to improve veterans' access to VA-approved community providers of health care. The bill also promised the expansion of caregiver benefits to veterans of all eras, not just the post-9/11 generation. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, an obstetrician, warned repeatedly that meshing the records of private physicians with those of the VA would be a daunting challenge for the department's antiquated IT systems. The initial signs for a smooth transition to the Mission Act are not promising. The VA botched the rollout of changes to housing allowances under the GI Bill because the IT system couldn't handle it. A fix is supposed to be in place by December 2019. A pilot program in Washington state on meshing VA and Defense Department medical records has also run into problems; they found out they need new computers. A Sixth Military Branch: Space Force The Pentagon has long eyed better protections for its space satellites, weapons and communications. Lawmakers last year even toyed with the idea of creating a "Space Corps" within the U.S. Air Force. But President Trump took it a step further when he announced his intention to create a sixth branch of the military, a Space Force. The proposal has been controversial, and some details are missing. From increased costs to organizational challenges, the possibility of "Space Marines," and arguments over who would be in charge, the planned quick pace for the new Space Force has yet to hit the Pentagon's fiscal 2020 budget books. But a third and final report from the deputy defense secretary's office is due soon on how best to advise lawmakers on the appropriate legislative language needed for the budget request. Whether the Democratic-led House will go for it is another question. Army Announces New Fitness Test, Standard Last summer, the Army launched a major effort to increase the fitness of its soldiers. By October 2020, the new Army Combat Fitness Test will become the test of record for all soldiers. The six-event ACFT will replace the current three-event Army Physical Fitness Test. In October, the service began a large-scale field test of the ACFT involving 60 battalions across the active forces, National Guard and Reserves. News of the ACFT, which is intended to be a fitness evaluation designed to prepare soldiers for the rigors of combat, ignited excitement but also served as a wakeup call for some soldiers who now have about 18 months to prepare to meet the Armys new fitness standard. Army Finds M4 Glitch, Moves Toward More Powerful Rounds It took six months, but Army weapons officials found the cause of a mysterious and dangerous glitch in the selector switch of M4 and M4A1 carbines that can cause the weapons to fire unintentionally. In March, the Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command sent out a safety-of-use message advising units to perform an updated functions check on all variants of the M16 and M4s after a soldier experienced an unexplained, unintended discharge when his M4A1 selector switch became stuck between the semi- and automatic settings. Weapons officials scrambled to investigate the problem after roughly 3,000 Army M4 and M4A1s failed new safety inspections. The glitch turned out to be a tolerance issue with the internal firing components. Also this year, the Army moved forward with its Next Generation Squad Weapon program, an effort to replace the M249 squad automatic weapon and the M4A1 carbine with weapons that feature a more powerful round than the current 5.56mm. The service's interest in an advanced 6.8mm round for the program emerged from a 2017 Small Arms Ammunition Configuration Study. Hurricanes Wallop Bases, Force Relocations Hurricanes, tropical storms, wildfires and earthquakes all affected the U.S. military this year. Troops deployed to support local relief for disasters in California, North Carolina and Florida, among other states. Bases were hammered by barreling storms for days on end. The military has been more involved in recent years as uncertain climates pose what the Pentagon has called a "looming threat" to defense operations. Hurricane Michael devastated Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, with more than 95 percent of the base left uninhabitable. A number of F-22 Raptors were damaged during the storm. The Air Force is considering consolidating the stealth fighters in Hawaii, Alaska and Virginia, and perhaps moving other air operations to Tyndall when it's back in action. Elsewhere, the California wildfires were fought with the help of the Air and Army National Guard, and an earthquake struck Alaska, disrupting day-to-day life for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Tropical storm and typhoons also created problems on Guam's Air Force flightlines. Close Combat Lethality and Subterranean Warfare Defense Secretary Jim Mattis kicked off 2018 by standing up a Close Combat Lethality Task Force. The $2.5 billion effort -- which mainly focuses on the Army and Marine Corps -- is designed to ensure that infantry squads and other small combat units receive the most updated training, weapons and equipment for engaging enemy forces in close combat. Also in 2018, Army officials confirmed that the service is spending nearly $600 million to provide special training and equipment to prepare the majority of its active combat brigades to be able to fight in large-scale, subterranean facilities beneath major cities. North Korea Confrontation Looms Again North Korea rattled the U.S. and the world in 2017 with ICBM and nuclear tests that at one point had residents of Hawaii dusting off the duck-and-cover drills when a false alarm of an incoming attack sounded. There appeared to be an improvement in relations in the astonishing Singapore summit in June between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the first-ever meeting of a U.S. president and the leader of the Stalinist regime. Trump said Kim had agreed to the "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantling of his nuclear and missile arsenal. He ordered the U.S. military to cease "provocative" exercises with South Korea. North Korea returned the remains of what were believed to be 55 U.S. troops missing from the Korean War and vaguely agreed to cooperate on returning more. There improvements stopped. The North has yet to move on disarmament while pursuing more dialogue with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Sometimes, the North Koreans will agree to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; sometimes, they won't. In many ways, the relationship has reverted to the old tit-for-tat format of sanction and threat. In December, the U.S. slapped sanctions on three close associates of Kim and slammed North Korea for human rights abuses of its people. North Korea's propaganda mills responded with old-timey screeds about "hostile acts" and the "intolerable political provocations" fomented by the imperialist warmongers. Bonus: Mattis Resigns as SecDef amid Trump-Ordered Troop Pullouts Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned Dec. 20, seemingly in protest of President Donald Trump's orders to withdraw from Syria and an "America First" policy that appears to discount the value of allies and local partnered forces fighting alongside U.S. troops. The announcement followed on the president's surprise move to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, a move widely seen as a rejection of Mattis' commitment to stand by partnered forces in Syria until a lasting defeat is dealt to the Islamic State. Later reports said Trump had also ordered a drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. -- Richard Sisk, Matthew Cox and Oriana Pawlyk contributed to this report. Stay on Top of Your Military Benefits Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by signing up for a free Military.com membership, which will send all the latest benefits straight to your inbox while giving you access to up-to-date pay charts and more. Nearly 9,000 Marines Didn't Get Vaccinated By the Deadline. Many Risk Getting Kicked Out of the Corps. The Marine Corps reported that 5% of the force had not gotten even one shot before the deadline passed. Regions containing this locality Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Strunz Dana Chemical Elements Commodity List This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality. Gold Mineral List Gold Quartz 2 valid minerals. 2 valid minerals. Detailed Mineral List: Gold Formula: Au Quartz Formula: SiO 2 List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 1 - Elements Gold 1.AA.05 Au Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides Quartz 4.DA.05 SiO 2 List of minerals arranged by Dana 8th Edition classification Group 1 - NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS Metals, other than the Platinum Group Gold 1.1.1.1 Au Group 75 - TECTOSILICATES Si Tetrahedral Frameworks Si Tetrahedral Frameworks - SiO 2 with [4] coordinated Si Quartz 75.1.3.1 SiO 2 List of minerals for each chemical element O Oxygen O Quartz SiO 2 Si Silicon Si Quartz SiO 2 Au Gold Au Gold Au Regional Geology The Edward's and Waratah gold mines are just east of the Mt Dean's area, about half-way between Norseman, and the former Dundas townsite location.The Edward's Norseman Gold Mining Company was formed in Adelaide with 25, 000 capital. The lease was sold late 1897 to a Mr McKenzie for only 130. After a brief period of development, the lease was sold to F.G. Fowler for 1,200. He installed a 5 head stamp battery, located 0.5 kilometres away on the northern shore of Lake Dundas salt-pan. During Fowler's time, 436 tonnes of ore was crushed for 752 ounces of gold at 13 dwt.The property contained one lease of 18 acres. On this was a north-south trending reef, dipping 45 degrees east, of rich amber coloured quartz.It was mined at the northern end of the lease, from one shaft down to a depth of 90 feet. Only one level was opened at the 80 foot level. The reef here averaged 2 feet wide. At the 80 foot to 100 foot levels, the reef flattened, before resuming its 45 degree dip under 100 feet. Rich gold was found in this flattened area. This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys. This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found. Click on geological units on the map for more information. Click here to view full-screen map on Macrostrat.org Data and map coding provided by Macrostrat.org, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License References Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) Norseman Times newspaper (1898) Norseman Gold Belt. The Mines Visited. Present Position and Prospects. No. XVI. Edward's Norseman, 05/10/1898. Key Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Dana Chemical Elements Commodity List This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region. Gold Mineral List Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities Gold 1 valid mineral. 1 valid mineral. Detailed Mineral List: Gold Formula: Au Reference: Norseman Times newspaper (1898), Norseman Gold Belt. The Mines Visited. Present Position and Prospects. Break O' Day Group. No. XV, 01/10/1898 Gallery: List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 1 - Elements Gold 1.AA.05 Au List of minerals arranged by Dana 8th Edition classification Group 1 - NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS Metals, other than the Platinum Group Gold 1.1.1.1 Au List of minerals for each chemical element Au Gold Au Gold Au References Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) Norseman Times newspaper (1898) Norseman Gold Belt. The Mines Visited. Present Position and Prospects. Break O' Day Group. No. XV, 01/10/1898. The West Australian newspaper (Perth) (1899) A Norseman Mine. Break O' Day, 31/10/1899. Norseman Times newspaper (1908) Break O' Day South, 27/10/1908. Kalgoorlie Western Argus newspaper (1909) Norseman, 29/01/1909. Kalgoorlie Western Argus newspaper (1912) Norseman, 28/05/1912. Western mail newspaper (Perth) (1908) Norseman, 31/10/1908. Localities in this Region The Break O' Day Gold Mine was developed by the brothers, E.A. and H.H. Matthiessen. They had arrived from Adelaide during the initial gold rush to the area in 1895. They took up a lease 10 kilometres south of Norseman, calling it the Break O' Day. Three other partners were taken in.An English company took an option over the mine, and spent great sums of money developing it, then abandoned the lease.The syndicate took the lease back over. They erected a 5 head battery which started operations in October 1898, and a further 5 heads was added in May 1899. By this time they had crushed 2,654 tonnes of ore for 5,292 ounces.There were 5 shafts on the lease, the main down to at least 270 feet, with levels at the 100 and 200 feet points. Thirty men were employed on the mine in 1899. The mine was active until 1905, but excessive water inflow, and the gold grades being lower at depth, mining was stopped.In 1908 the mine was successfully floated, but the following year they ran out of funds, and it closed again. E.A. Matthiessen is reported to be overhauling and repairing the battery in 1912, in preparation for another go at opening the mine, but nothing more was found.The Break O' Day Central Gold Mine was adjacent to the south of the parent mine. 12 acres. A Norseman syndicate worked the property in the late 1890's. A lot of prospecting work had been conducted, with no reef found. Several shafts had been sunk then abandoned.The Break O' Day South Gold Mine was south of the Central Block mine. It contained 2 leases, of 12 acres each. Several reefs had been opened with costeans, all carrying a little gold. With one exception they were not payable. The middle reef was economic, and here a shaft had been sunk to 60 feet on a reef 2 feet 6 inches wide. A second shaft was to the south down to 103 feet. A third shaft was down to 56 feet. The local syndicate contained four individuals who had purchased the property in August 1898, and several small crushings were obtained in the late 1890's. Failure to follow the new gun law! When New Jersey passed its ban on possession of magazines containing more than 10 rounds in June, it gave the states million or so law-abiding gun owners 180 days to comply. The law provided five options: 1) modify the offending magazines so they could accept no more than 10 rounds; 2) render the firearm [that accepts such magazines] inoperable; 3) register firearms that cannot be modified to accommodate 10 or less rounds; 4) transfer the firearm or the magazine to an individual or entity entitled to own or possess it; or 5) surrender the firearm or the magazine to local law enforcement. The million or so law-abiding gun owners selected option 6) ignore the law and defy its enforcement. The 180-day period expired on December 11, and not a single magazine has been turned in to any local law-enforcement agencies. The penalty for being found in possession of one of the newly offending magazines is stiff: Its a felony, with punishment consisting of up to 18 months in jail, and up to $10,000 in fines, or both. When gun-hating liberals in the Colorado enclave known to some as the Peoples Republic of Boulder passed a law banning possession of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and bump stocks last May, gun owners reacted similarly. www.ibs-ops.com/en/company/news/ STERLING HEIGHTS, MI -- A fire at a Sterling Heights apartment complex displaced dozens of families on Christmas Day, but none of the residents were seriously injured in the blaze, according to Fox 2 Detroit. The fire occurred at the Sterling Troy Apartments near 15 mile and Dequindre in one of the apartment buildings where several families lived. Approximately 40 apartments were damaged. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control, however one firefighter broke his leg in the battle. Three residents suffered minor injuries in the blaze, but were not seriously injured. All of a sudden pounding on the door and hearing people saying you need to evacuate, and we grabbed what we could and then we came out, said Ryan Bieber, a resident who spoke with Fox 2. The Salvation Army is assisting some of those residents who were displaced by the fire. When a DNR officer working in Northern Michigan stopped a reckless driver recently, the motorist said he was in a hurry because he had to replace a broken oxygen tank. But then the officer noticed something strange. The incident occurred last month in the DNRs District 4, according to a law enforcement report. That district stretches from Newaygo County north to Leelanau County on the west side of the Lower Peninsula. Conservation Officer Justin Vanderlinde stopped a vehicle after he saw it weaving in and out of traffic, and improperly passing other vehicles. When the officer approached the driver, the driver held up a portable oxygen tank and informed CO Vanderlinde that he needed to replace the broken oxygen tank and was trying to get to town to do so, according to the report. The officer offered to call an ambulance for the driver, thinking the driver was in immediate need of oxygen and required medical help. But the driver refused, the report said. The driver then handed the oxygen tank to CO Vanderlinde, who immediately noticed that the oxygen tank was not turned on. CO Vanderlinde handed the oxygen bottle back and told the driver to turn the bottle on and start breathing. Instead, the driver smiled at the officer and admitted he was headed to the store to pick up another pack of smokes. He apologized for his driving. The driver was ticketed. FLINT, MI -- Two nonprofit organizations say the criminal prosecution of the states top health official will lead to additional loss of life in the state. In legal briefs filed this week in support of Nick Lyon, director of the the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service, the Michigan Association of Health Plans and Association of State and Territorial Health Officials ask Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph Farah to dismiss charges related to the Flint water crisis, including involuntary manslaughter. The threat of criminal prosecution will likely paralyze professional decision-making by Michigan healthcare officials, the brief from MAHP says. That paralysis will result in, for example, delays in the provision of potentially life-saving or life-extending drugs. Lyon was bound over for a circuit court jury trial in August and his attorneys have asked Farah to quash that decision by District Judge David Goggins, claiming there was insufficient evidence. Goggins contended in his opinion that prosecutors showed probable cause crimes occurred and Lyon committed them. Special prosecutor Todd Flood and attorneys for Lyon are scheduled to make their oral arguments on the motion to dismiss the case Feb. 1. Like MAHP, the ASTHO brief claims prosecuting Lyon could have a chilling effect, raising the concern that public health will be harmed by the criminalization of professional, discretionary decision-making. ASTHO represents public health agencies and more than 100,000 public health officials. Flood has maintained Lyon failed to protect the public when he could have mandated a change in Flints water source due to a clear threat. The charges against him relate to Lyons actions in response to outbreaks of Legionnaires' diseases while the city used the Flint River as its water source. Although he learned of an initial surge in Legionnaires' cases in Genesee County a full year earlier, Lyon did not share information about the outbreaks and suspicions they were tied the the use of the Flint River for drinking water until January 2016. Hes charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, misconduct in office and neglect of duty, a misdemeanor. Attorneys for the DHHS director have said there has been zero proof" that anything Lyon did or did not do caused citizen deaths. State officials, including Lyon, have said the surge in Legionnaires' case is more accurately tied to McLaren-Flint Hospital specifically rather than Flint water in general. CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, MI A man was sent to prison after cutting a neighbor with a knife over a property dispute. Burton David Cortez, 39, of East Jordan, was sentenced to at least three years, two months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property. The incident happened Sept. 14 in Charlevoix Countys Eveline Township. Cortez, who spent 17 years in prison before his release last Christmas, got into a disagreement with a neighbor over property lines, authorities said. A probable-cause affidavit said that Cortez, carrying a knife and large flashlight, and other men carrying large wrenches, slashed the tires on the victims car then assaulted him with the knife. Another man was with the victim. The victim showed his scars to Charlevoix County Circuit Judge Roy Hayes at a recent sentencing hearing. This was a very scary situation for these residents, Prosecutor Allen Telgenhof said. A simple disagreement over property lines in a remote part of the county resulted in a situation where a completely innocent person was, as he described in court, fighting for his life against a group of weaponized attackers. Hayes ordered Cortez to pay $4,434.89 in restitution. Cortez was sent to prison for 38 months to seven years, six months. He had spent over 17 years in prison for assault with intent to commit sexual penetration and possessing a weapon in prison, the prosecutor said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Kent County Road Commission is taking bids on its 14.2-acre property along the banks of the Grand River. The road commissions central complex at 1500 Scribner Ave. NW features mechanic bays, a two-story office building, a parking garage and wash bay, a heated storage building, a cold storage building and a salt storage dome, according to the bid request. Officials say theyve outgrown the space and hope to move operations about four miles northwest to a 29-acre space purchased two years ago. The site has served us well, but its 14 acres, said Steven Warren, managing director of the Kent County Road Commission. We need closer to 30. Warren said theres not enough room for all the equipment at the current location, which also houses the road commissions administrative departments. Among other things, the parcel size is preventing garage expansions and salt storage modernizations, he said. Officials hope to start moving into the 29-acre property on Northridge Drive NW between Shippers and Bristol in spring 2021. The road commission purchased the property for $2.18 million in September 2016, according to sales records. The deadline for bids on the Scribner Avenue property is the morning of Feb. 28, 2019, according to the tentative schedule. Staff will review the sealed bids in March and likely have a recommendation by months end. The road commission is looking for high bids but also negotiated terms that allow continued operations under a lease until construction is complete on the Northridge Drive facility, Warren said. The road commission has had discussions with some potential buyers, according to the bid request. What potential buyers plan to do with the property wont factor into the decision to accept a bid, Warren said. Were not asking anybody to tell us what they want to do with it, he said. The road commission property is one of 15 along the river identified in 2015 as opportunity sites in the GR Forward strategic plan for downtown Grand Rapids and the Grand River. That plan envisions river access, trail connections, recreation areas and opportunities for the development of high loft and office space at the site. According to the bid request, the road commission property has 1,090 feet of shoreline along the Grand Rivers west bank. JACKSON, MI -- Volunteers served over 200 meals Christmas Day at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church as part of a 20-year tradition. The Community Wide Holiday Dinner, hosted in the churchs social center, 811 S. Wisner St., drew more than 280 guests, according to Amanda Miller, volunteer coordinator. We supply dinner as well as take-home dinner for every guest that came, whether they were homeless, didnt have somewhere to go or needed some place as a family to come and eat dinner," said Miller. About 250 volunteers worked to provide food, including turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and a variety of salads and desserts donated by church members. KALAMAZOO, MI Thanks to a familys four-decade-long tradition, the doors of the Blue Dolphin in downtown Kalamazoo opened offering a free Christmas meal and community companionship to anyone who walked in. Hundreds filled the Blue Dolphin and Papa Petes in downtown Kalamazoo from noon to 3 p.m. Christmas day. Over 100 volunteers weaved through the bustling crowd to serve three choices of meat with sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and rice pudding. The family of Steve Stamos, owner of the Blue Dolphin, has welcomed the community to the free meal for 40 years. Stamos' late father Peter, who owned the Rex Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo before opening the Blue Dolphin with Steve in 1991, started the tradition. This year Stamos said he expected to serve hot meals to up to 1,500 people. Were happy to do it, Stamos said. The meal serves two purposes, Stamos said. For some, they attend because they are hungry. Others are far away from family and friends over the holidays and go to the Blue Dolphin to be around other people. At the restaurants entrance, volunteers passed out candy, gifts and winter hats and gloves. For the third year in a row retired Plainwell teacher Betsy Vidmar donated homemade bags filled with a book and book-themed stuffed animal for children who came for the hot meal. Sitting at a booth with her four children, Julie Brown said she worked the past six days in a row and worked a late shift the night before Christmas, leaving little time to prepare food for the holiday. If it wasnt for these guys, my kids wouldnt have had an actual Christmas dinner, Watts said. Within the past ten years, Watts said she has attended the Blue Dolphin Christmas meal three times. Its just a blessing, she said. Patrick Watts sat at a table eating with friends from his church. Watts said he does not always have place to go on Christmas and felt blessed to have the opportunity to attend the meal at the Blue Dolphin. Theyre doing it in the right spirit too. They care for people, I can just feel it, Watts said. Stan VanDerWalker said he could feel Christmas spirit all around him as he ate his meal and said Merry Christmas to anyone who passed by his table. I came out here for the fellowship and the prime rib. The prime rib is just so awesome, VanDerWalker said. UPDATE: Police identified the Portage man as Ronald David James PORTAGE, MI -- A 51-year-old homeless man was found dead behind an automotive retail store in Portage Wednesday morning. According to a release from the Portage Department of Public Safety, officers responded to a report of an unconscious person at 7:15 a.m. on Dec. 26. The man was found lying on a loading dock behind Pep Boys at 5630 S. Westnedge Ave. Medical personnel at the scene determined the 51-year-old homeless Portage man was dead. He was not identified by police Wednesday, pending notification of family members. Police said there is no indication of foul play, however the cause of death wont be determined until an autopsy is conducted. It could be any number of causes, said Lt. Joseph McDonnell. A covered loading area sits behind the auto store. Police said Pep Boys employees found the man lying on his back on a wood pallet. Donnell said police have had various contacts with the man in the past. Temperatures in Kalamazoo County were between 28 degrees and 32 degrees from midnight to 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. FRANKENMUTH, MI The Lager Mill Beer Store & Brewing Museum in Frankenmuth will close at years end. A statement on the Lager Mills Facebook page states the Frankenmuth Historical Associations board of directors have made a tough decision to shut down the facility. When the beer store opened, it was cutting edge in terms of offering a specialized craft beer selection, reads the statement. Since that time, many other stores have entered the marketplace including local grocers now offering a wide selection of craft beer in a convenient setting. The statement also cites the decline of financial profitability, the maintenance burden the building at 701 Mill St. has become on the historical association, and trouble keeping tenants as some of the reasons behind the decision. While it has been a great asset to the Frankenmuth Community and we are sad to see it go, we look forward to a brighter future for that location, said Adele Martin, president of the Frankenmuth Historical Association. Change is always difficult, but it also provides the opportunity for new and exciting growth in our community. Board members have not made any decision on how the museum or artifacts would be preserved. The museum features photos and more than 2,500 pieces of German brewery glassware, according to the historical associations website. The store is set to remain open until Dec. 31 in an attempt to liquidate inventory. Anyone with gift certificates to the store are asked to use them by the end of the year. Gift certificates not used prior to the beginning of 2019 may be redeemed for gift shop credit at the Historical Museum or Frankenmuth money to spend at other businesses in the city. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. 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View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Hotels Help Guests Take Vacation from Digital Devices A vacation should mean no distractions, but more and more often, we can't put our phones away for anything, even quality family time. But some hotels and resorts are challenging guests to cut the cord to technology and lock their devices up for at least a few hours. Officials with the hotels that have taken the drastic non-mobile device route say they're trying to promote wellness and relaxation by setting phone-free times at pools or even banning them from any public place, The Associated Press reported. Resort owners also hope the blessed silence and lack of digital distractions will bring return visitors to their properties. Wyndham Grand has gone as far as offering the best pool locations, free food and a chance to win another visit to guests who lock up their phones in a pouch kept by the guests but only able to be unlocked by hotel staff, according to the AP. So far 250 people have tried locking up their devices in Florida and Texas, and the idea will spread to other Wyndham hotels. The company also gives a 5 percent discount if guests traveling with families lock up their phones in a timed lock-box. The hotel then gives them a pillow fort, s'mores, a book and instant cameras for both adults and kids to have something to do when they can't check out Twitter or Snapchat 24/7. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit in Mexico is a little more drastic. It has a detox concierge who will remove electronic devices, trading them with board games. At its sister resort, Grand Velas Riviera Maya, guests give their phones to the front desk in exchange for a bracelet that earns them access to resort activities. Once they do at least four activities, their phones are earned back. Not all companies are going for a total ban, knowing full-well that a phone isn't just a phone anymore. The devices we all depend on are also cameras and sometimes the only contact in the event of an emergency. Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali, Indonesia, bans phones at its River Pool from 9 am to 5 pm. Outside of that time, guests are allowed and encouraged to take photos and post to social media as much as they want, the AP reported. GNC Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of health, wellness, and performance products. The company operates through three segments: U.S. and Canada, International, and Manufacturing/Wholesale. Its products include proteins, performance supplements, weight management supplements, vitamins, herbs and greens, wellness supplements, health and beauty products, food and drink products, and other general merchandise. The company also provides third-party contract manufacturing services. It sells its products under the GNC proprietary brands, as well as under third-party brands. As of December 31, 2018, the company had approximately 8,400 locations of which approximately 6,200 retail locations in the United States and franchise operations in approximately 50 countries. It sells its products through company-owned retail stores and its Website GNC.com, as well as third-party Websites; wholesale partnerships; and domestic and international franchise activities. GNC Holdings, Inc. has a strategic partnership with Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd. and International Vitamin Corporation. The company was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Read More Cash strapped national carrier Air India should disclose its assets abroad and earnings from them, the Central Information Commission has ruled. It "summarily" rejected the contention of Air India that the information sought by activist Aseem Takyar regarding rent, lease fee fetched by it from April 01, 2008 with regard to its properties abroad; demarcation plan and total area of these properties, arrears attracts exemption of commercial confidence under the RTI Act. "Commission summarily rejects the application of Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act in the matter as CPIO has failed to provide any tenable justification for the same," Information Commissioner Divya Prakash Sinha said. Section 8(1)(d) exempts from disclosure the information which is of commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information. "Appellant has merely sought to know the amount of rent, lease fee and arrears of rent accruing to Air India from its properties abroad and disclosure of this information can by no stretch of imagination impact aspects of commercial confidence," Sinha said. He noted that arguments of Air India Central Public Information Officer in written submission appear rather feeble and moreover during hearing no argument was forthcoming from him. CPIO is directed to provide available and specific information...of the RTI Application for the period mentioned therein..., he said. The government will raise the passenger service fee (PSF) up from Rs 135 to Rs 170 to cover security costs. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which oversees the security of airports in India, is yet to receive close to Rs 800 crore worth of dues from the Delhi Airport, as per a report by The Economic Times. The report quoted an aviation ministry official saying that the rise in PSF would ensure that the airports could meet their security costs for the next three years. The official also spoke of a system in place to raise the PSF every three years to meet the securing costs of airports. PSF rates have remained unchanged since 2001, and following the CISFs statement to curtail its services if the dues aren't paid, the home secretary wrote to the aviation ministry on the matter. The paper also said that the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has asked the finance ministry to weigh in on the matter. The officials state that it takes close to Rs 1,300 crore to cover the CISFs security dues and that Rs 500 crore worth of PSF have not been collected. The state-owned Airports Authority of India tries to bridge this deficit by paying Rs 150 crore from its own funds. Banking operations were impacted due to a day-long nationwide strike called by all unions to protest the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. However, banking operations would be restored from December 27. This was the second bank strike in less than a week. On December 21, an officers' union of state-run banks observed a day-long strike to protest the merger and also demanded immediate settlement of wage negotiations. Banks worked on December 24. As a result, ATMs had gone dry at many parts of the country and the cheque clearances were held up including that of private sector lenders. The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) -- an umbrella organisation of all 9 unions including All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). AIBOC General Secretary Soumya Datta said instead of attempting misadventure like mergers/amalgamations, the government should focus on identifying the reasons for the present NPA menace in the banks. There is no evidence that bigger banks are stronger and more efficient, AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said. The world has witnessed the collapse of entities like Lehman Brothers, he said, adding that mergers do not result in improved quality of assets or the financials as there is no fresh infusion of capital. In Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, cheques worth Rs 2 lakh crore were held up, a union official claimed. As per reports from Indore, services at about 7,000 branches of state-owned banks were impacted in Madhya Pradesh due to the strike. Senior bankers, however, claimed that most operations were normal. "We had deployed senior officials at all cheque-clearing centres so that our customers are not affected. All other operations like treasury were also functioning," said a senior official from a state-run bank. Unions are claiming that the proposed merger is not in the interest of the banks or their customers, but is detrimental to both. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on December 25 took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reportedly ignoring a BJP worker's question on the middle class' struggle with the taxation policy, saying forget a press meet, he cannot even hold a poll booth workers conference. Gandhi was apparently referring to an incident that took place last week during Modi's interaction with "booth workers" from northern districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He also said "BJP-vetted" questions is a superb idea, but the party should also "consider vetted answers". The Congress chief cited a media report that claimed Modi faced embarrassing moments during his interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu when a worker sought to know why his administration was busy collecting taxes from the middle class but not interested in taking care of them. The report claimed that the prime minister during his video interaction chose not to answer the question raised by the worker and continued with his interaction by switching to Puducherry. Taking a jibe at the prime minister, Gandhi tweeted: "Vanakam Puducherry! That's NoMo's answer to the struggling middle class. Forget a press conference he can't even string together a polling booth worker's conference." On reports that the BJP will filter questions from workers to Prime Minister Modi following the incident, Gandhi said, "BJP-vetted questions is a superb idea. Consider vetted answers as well." The Congress president has been criticising Modi for not holding a press conference during his tenure. Earlier this month, Gandhi had posted pictures from a press conference he held and tweeted saying the prime minister should try one someday as it is fun to be asked questions. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shareholders of Bank of Baroda will meet next month to consider issuing up to 10 crore new shares under Employee Share Purchase Scheme (ESPS). An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders will be held on January 21 to consider the proposal, Bank of Baroda (BoB) said in a BSE filing on Wednesday. The shareholders will meet to approve issuance of up to 10 crore fresh equity shares to employees and whole time directors of the bank in one or multiple tranches under ESPS, it said. The bank said the issue price under ESPS has to be decided by the board and it will be in a way so that the government holding does not come below 52 per cent. Out of the total capital raising plan for 2018-19, the bank's board has decided to issue up to 10 crore shares with a face value of Rs 2 each, at an appropriate premium, it added. "The object of the issue, apart from raising of long-term resources is to enable the bank to attract, retain and reward employees for our bank by sharing the value created by them and to motivate them to contribute to the growth and profitability of the company," it said in the filing. Besides, the fund mop-up aims to shore up the capital adequacy and to fund the general business needs of the bank, it said further. All permanent employees of the bank including the MD&CEO, and executive directors are entitled to participate in the BoB-ESPS, it added. Last week, Syndicate Bank said it will raise up to Rs 500 crore by issuing 30 crore shares to its staff under the employee stock purchase scheme. On December 13, Punjab National Bank mobilised Rs 500 crore through ESPS by issuing 10 crore new shares to employees. The government in March 2017 allowed public sector banks to offer stock options to their employees, aimed at retaining experienced hands and better incentives besides a means for raising capital. A number of public sector banks, including Allahabad Bank, Union Bank, United Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Canara Bank, have availed the new scheme to raise funds. These 11 Mexican Traditions Ensure a Happy New Year Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Though celebrated much like it is in other parts of the world - with dinners, parties, midnight toasts and fireworks - New Year's Eve in Mexico is full of delightful customs that focus on transitioning from the old to the new. In the Mexican culture, so full of traditions, year-end rituals are believed to help you find love, money, good luck and good fortune in the coming year. Though they may seem odd to visitors, taking part in these charming customs will make welcoming 2019 in Puerto Vallarta even more festive. Here are a few or our favorite Mexican New Year's Eve Traditions: Write your wishes for the upcoming year on pieces of paper and put them in a safe place. Burn the paper when each wish comes true. Clean the house; take a bath; or wash the pets and cars on New Year's Eve for renewal. Sweep and mop from the inside outwards. Mop the house with cinnamon water. Heat the water with cinnamon sticks as if you were making tea. Burn incense before midnight. Display a rimmed tray with a candle at the center, and ask family and friends to deposit change in the tray, afterwards filling it with water for good luck. Place a few candles on a white plate surrounded by lentils, beans, rice, corn, flour and a cinnamon stick to spice things up. Allow candles to burn all night until melted; then peel the waxy food mixture off of the plate and bury it for abundance and for food to always be on your table. Eat a tablespoon of cooked lentils, and give a handful of raw lentils to friends and family members for good fortune. On New Year's Eve, women who want love and passion in the next year wear red underwear; for happiness and prosperity, yellow underwear; for health and well-being, green; for true love and friendship, pink underwear; for hope and peace, white. As the New Year's Eve midnight countdown begins, eat 12 grapes making a wish for each strike of the clock. Each grape represents a month in the New Year; a sweet grape means it will be a good month; a sour grape, a bad month. At midnight on New Year's Eve, open the door and symbolically sweep out 'the old.' At midnight, toss 12 coins outside and sweep them into the house for prosperity. On New Year's Eve at midnight, throw a bucket of water out the window for renewal. Watch fireworks on New Year's Eve to frighten away evil spirits, allowing safe passage into the next year. Want to travel? On New Year's Eve at midnight, take empty suitcases for a walk outside; encircle the house or walk around the block for the distance to be traveled next year. Another option is to gather the suitcases in the center of a room and walk around them several times. Whether you practice one, or all, of these traditions, letting go of the past and beginning a new chapter of our lives is the true intention. Whatever wish or goal you have for 2019, we wish you all the best and hope you have a remarkable New Year! live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More As the year 2018 comes to a close, people have started making travel plans for the year ahead. A rising number of travellers are keen on exploring remote locations and off beat places. Peter Kerkar, Group CEO, Cox & Kings shares trends that will define travel in 2019. Travel to influence- For Gen Xer or a Millennial, travelling to new places, explore new experiences, try out new cuisines and interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds has become an intrinsic part of their lifestyle. This passionate generation of travellers is more likely to make their travel decisions based on the travel posts of their peers on social media because social media is a more authentic source of information. At the same time, it is important for them to capture their best travel stories through photos and videos and inspire their circle of friends and colleagues to take up travel. Wi-fi enabled places and hotels is a bliss for such travellers as it enables them to post live travel updates. Far and beyond- What drives travellers to pursue their travel dream is curiosity. A rising number of them are keen on exploring what's beyond at some of the most remote locations in the world. Basis the travel-searches made by holidaymakers in 2018, there is an evident trend of rising interest in places beyond city-centres and conventional tourist spots. To unravel the hidden secrets and visit the untouched lands are the latest trends. Following the footsteps of Charles Darwin, a new tribe of travellers are making their way to Galapagos archipelago to experience the endemic species and inhabited islands. Similarly, cruising through Norwegian Fjords to reach the remote shores of Svalbard watching the passing shining glaciers and stunning landscapes are all experiences catching the eyes of avid travellers who wish to reach earth's edges in 2019. Walking Tours- Each place, if observed carefully, tells you multiple stories about its history, culture, biodiversity, geography, food, architecture and people. Many travellers consider exploring destinations on foot as the best way to delve into several intricate aspects of the place, which one might miss otherwise. This is why many passionate travellers are relying more on guided walking tours to enjoy the experience. Though city walks are the most common form of walking tours, they are gradually moving to food walks, cultural trails and photography stroll among others according to the specific interest of the travellers. While heritage walk in South Mumbai is common, one can get introduced to unusual sea creatures in Mumbai during a guided Marine walk near Haji Ali. Similarly, gourmet walking tours in France offer an amazing experience to the foodies with food and wine pairing, cooking classes, gourmet restaurants and even a bit of local culture like cheese and truffles. Travelling on foot also offers the opportunity to spend sufficient time at any given place, explore the local culture and reach inaccessible spots. Walking tours at Machu Picchu is a great window to explore the colossal mountains, lush vegetation and ecological wonders while the forest trails of Japan are equally resplendent. We expect this type of holidays will form part of every travellers itinerary in the coming year. Multigenerational Travel- The joy of travelling with the family is unmatched, however, one is happier to travel with a bigger family. The new trend is called Multigenerational Travel and it seems to also take a centre-stage in 2019. Nuclear families with hectic lives find it difficult to meet their family members on a regular basis, for them, travelling with their grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins have become a great time to spend some quality time. In addition, instead of closed-door celebrations, family members of different generations are travelling together to celebrate several occasions like birthdays, anniversary and other family events. Given the rise in multigenerational travel, there is a sharp increase in demands for family-group and customised packages. Cruising is also one of the top five leisure options for multigenerational family groups as it is more relaxed and lesser activity based, especially when there are older family members travelling along. Luxury Travel - Luxury travel is growing, faster than it did in past five years. Over the next decade, the growth rate for luxury travel is projected to be at 6.2%. There are several factors influencing the decision to opt for luxury travel. The year 2019 will see more people experiencing luxurious camps, villas, embark on exquisite journeys, traverse in luxury trains and embark on luxury cruises. While the developing nations are at the forefront of the growth acceleration, an increase in the disposable incomes in these countries is favourable to luxury travel. Although currency fluctuations in different nations slightly affected the segment, it has made the developed nations seek luxury travel at further discounted prices, fuelling the growth. Dark tourism - Curious travellers always want to explore every nook and cranny filled with unforeseen surprises and great adventures. This set of travellers who step out to take experiences that they have never taken before, no matter even if its a weird thing to do. Some people find it thrilling and entertaining to visit mysterious places like Kuldhara village in Rajasthan that are believed to be haunted. While others may visit tragic sites such as Cambodian Killing Fields memorial or Berlin wall in Germany, some also visit the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero when in New York. Though for most of the travellers visiting the sites of death and disaster is only a part of a wider range of thing to do, a large number of travellers in some way are getting attracted to such sites because they wish to review these chapters in history and remind them of these incidents. Getting over Overtourism - Factors influencing a traveller's destination choice is fast changing. The year 2019 is set to make the holidaymakers more discerning and conscious. Although there is a trend of travellers being more sensitive towards geopolitical and other related issues, off late these factors have started influencing the travellers' decision. It is non-desirable to get stuck in long queues or crowded streets on a leisure trip. While Italy is using phone apps to deal with overcrowding by giving real-time updates, Dubrovnik is experimenting with dispersing cruise timings through the week. While such measures are being undertaken at all major tourist hubs, travellers are modifying their plans to help curb Overtourism at an individual level. In 2019, we will see more travellers taking trips in off-season to ensure visit to their favourite place while not adding to Overtourism. New destinations near the saturated ones stand benefitted. Responsible Travel - There is no running away from the much devastation that has rocked our oceans, beaches, forests and Islands. Most being tourist places, the onus of the situation must be borne by the travellers as well as operators. Pollution of different forms has started hitting the business as well as non-economic aspects of societies including indigenous tribes, local ecology, ecosystems etc. However, the good part is that there are organisations and operators that have highest regards for sustainability. They will take the centrestage in 2019. Travellers including majorly the millennials consider themselves equally responsible for the disaster and duty-bound to reverse it. The New Year will see a spurt in the number of responsible travellers demanding for sensitive travel packages as well as sustainable operators to ensure a guilt-free tour. Plastic-free travel, Voluntourism, sustainable and green tours are predicted to be extensively used terms in the travel space. A man sits next to his daughter, who was injured in an explosion at a chemical factory in an industrial area, at a hospital in Dombivali on the outskirts of Mumbai, India May 26, 2016. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui - S1BETGGKAFAB Faced with mounting regulatory and operational challenges, Indian private hospital promoters are increasingly looking to either merge or offload their businesses. Early this week, Max India announced the sale of its healthcare joint venture Max Healthcare to Radiant Life Care backed by private equity (PE) firm KKR. The deal includes Radiants purchase of a 49.7 percent stake in Max Healthcare from South Africa-based hospital operator Life Healthcare International in an all-cash deal, followed by the demerger of Radiants healthcare assets into Max Healthcare. The Radiant and Max Healthcare combine will have revenues of Rs 2,622 crore, and operate over 3,200 beds throughout 16 hospitals, making it third largest hospital network in India by revenue and the fourth largest in India in terms of operating beds. The Radiant-Max deal follows Malaysias IHH Healthcare's acquisition of Indias second largest healthcare provider Fortis Healthcare for $1.1 billion in June. Reports have emerged in the media about an impending sale of Gurugram-based multispecialty hospital Medanta Medicity led by Indias leading cardiologist Naresh Trehan. The management of Radiant and IHH have said the acquisition gives them scale and thereby the potential to extract cost savings in procurement, realise synergies to improve utilisation of human resources and facilities and optimise operations using technology. The bigger balance sheet also allows them to raise funds at cheaper rates for expansion. Analysts tracking the sector say hospital businesses have been witnessing deterioration since the beginning of 2017. It all started with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the cap on prices of stents and knee implants by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and stiff regulatory action by certain states, including putting restrictions on procedure rates, levying penalties and placing operational limitations on erring hospitals, ICRA said in its recent report on hospital sector. The Delhi government in December last year cancelled the licence of Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh over a case related to newborns death. Though Max was able to get its license back with Delhi Lieutenant Governor vetoing the governments decision. The incident brought the vulnerability of private hospitals to the fore. Analjit Singh, Chairman of Max Group who owns Max India in an interview to Mint said he doesnt feel as natural owners of the business any more, referring to healthcare. Singh was bullish about healthcare business just two years ago. The numbers tell the story. The average revenue per operational bed (ARPOB) of the companies tracked by ICRA has grown by a muted 2 percent in Q2 FY2019 on a YoY basis, much below the five-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2 percent. The EBITDA in over six years dropped to 11.4 percent in FY18 from the peak profitability of 15.7 percent during this six-year period. Hospitals are facing regulatory headwinds, and their EBITDA and PAT margins have taken a hit in recent times, says Dr Rana Mehta, Partner and Leader Healthcare, PwC. Mehta said healthcare companies are banking on consolidation to help restore profitability by unlocking synergies in costs and operations. But Mehta added consolidation is happening only at the tertiary level. To be sure analysts are still bullish on the sector. Structurally, in the long term, underlying fundamentals continue to favour the sector, said Shubham Jain, Group Head and VP, ICRA This is because of the significant shortage of beds in the country, and the increase in the disease burden and ageing demographic profile. Further, the demand for quality healthcare will be supported by the rising per capita income, increasing penetration of medical insurance and double-digit growth in medical tourism, Jain added. Suresh Prabhu The commerce ministry is in favour of hiking import duty on aluminium with a view to support domestic manufacturers, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu has said. "That is a proposal to protect our domestic industry. The proposal is under examination and we support the proposal," Prabhu told PTI. The commerce and industry minister said that there has been a complaint by aluminium industry about dumping of the commodity. He was replying to a question about the government's plan to increase import duty on aluminium. The industry has demanded increase in import duties on aluminium scrap and primary aluminium amid a high growth in inward shipments of these items. They are demanding to raise the duty on primary and scrap aluminium to 10 percent. Currently, the basic customs duty on aluminium scrap and primary aluminium is 2.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively. Besides this, domestic players have also urged to impose minimum import price and some kind of quota on the imports for the user industry. Total production of aluminium in India is about 4 million tonnes and consumption is about 3.6 million tonnes. The demand comes in the wake of the US imposing 10 percent duty on certain aluminium products. China too has raised the duties. Aluminium is required by the industries like automobile, construction, consumer goods etc. All these industries are growing in India and the country is producing sufficient amount of the required metal domestically, an industry expert has said. As per estimates, during the first quarter of the current fiscal, imports of aluminium scrap increased to 36,000 tonnes from 16,000 tonnes. Further talking about a proposal to cut export duty on iron ore, the commerce and industry minister said the ministry has sought views of steel and mines ministry on the issue. "We are open for the proposal," he said, adding the government would provide all support for the growth of domestic industry. Q20. Sir Chhotu Ram was the originator of the concept of compensating the farmer for at least the expenses incurred by him on farming. The concept has now evolved into 'Minimum Support Price'. What was his most famous creation? Ravi Krishnan In a season of loan waivers, at least some states are thinking about providing long-term structured income or investment support for farmers. Last week, Jharkhand anounced a plan to give Rs 5,000 per acre aid to small and marginal farmers from the next financial year. Odisha has gone a step further and promised Rs 10,000 per family as financial assistance for taking up cultivation for the next three financial years. These are good starts but more could be done. Its well-known that farm loan waivers are nothing more than vote winning gimmicks and end up hurting the interests of farmers over the long term. Typically, only the large, and relatively well-off farmers, benefit from such loan waivers. They constitute a moral hazard; repeated farm loan waivers would prompt borrowers to renege on their loans in the hope that the next election cycle will bring more loan waivers. That said, its nobodys case that the agriculture sector is not in distress and does not desperately need support. The terms of trade are weighed against the farmer. An OECD-ICRIER report calculates that since the turn of this century, farmers are paying an implicit tax of 14 percent on their gross farm receipts. Thus, a long-term solution by means of income or investment support is warranted. Telanganas Rythu Bandhu, announced earlier this year, which provides Rs 8,000 per acre per year to farmers was the first such scheme to provide direct support to cultivators. While such a scheme is no doubt an improvement over loan waivers, it suffers from excluding landless labourers and tenant farmers. As Ashok Gulati, chair professor for agriculture at ICRIER, pointed out recently, government records still show only 10 percent of tenancy in the country while ground realities are very different. Clearly, a lot of tenant farmers who actually make a living from agriculture, and landless families, miss out from the benefit of such schemes. Odishas KALIA scheme tries to solve this problem by including all families who are engaged in agriculture. But why do we need to stop at that? As India rapidly urbanises, there is a huge swathe of population in urban spaces which suffers equally. Some estimates forecast that in another decade almost 45 out of every 100 Indians would be living in urban agglomerations. Thus, the time is ripe for income support schemes to gradually morph into a quasi-universal basic income scheme that would cover most of the poor households. As the 2016-17 Economic Survey pointed out, such a scheme would be less prone to exclusion errors because it would be executed through direct transfers to bank accounts. As for creating the fiscal space for such schemes, remember that the central government itself runs or sponsors about 950 schemes. They cost around 5 percent of GDP and are badly targetted with benefits being cornered by the well-off and the middle class. A fiscal space for a basic income scheme can thus be carved out by shuttering many of these. In the agriculture sector alone, for example, market distorting schemes like the minimum support price could go. A basic income scheme, that would cover the majority of the poor, would be the most equitable scheme under current circumstances. While its implementation may not be easy, the experience of direct benefit transfers and the early farm income support schemes should help in a basic income scheme design. It would only be an improvement over loan waivers and badly targeted welfare schemes. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are stocks that are in the news today: National Fertilizers: Company signed rupee loan agreement with SBI for an amount of Rs 1,044 crore and has achieved financial closure for its Energy Reduction Schemes at Panipat, Nangal and Bathinda projects and other capex at various units with total project cost of Rs 1,160 crore. Hester Biosciences: CARE assigned credit ratings for the long-term, short-term bank credit facilities. Adani Transmission: Company has acquired 100 percent equity share capital of Obra-C Badaun Transmission Limited (OCBTL) from PFC Consulting Limited (PFCCL), the subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation. IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company: Board noted the resignations of Ramchand Karunakaran - Chairman, Mukund Sapre - Managing Director and Bhaskar Chatterjee and Ganapathi Ramachandran - Independent Directors from the directorship of the company; appointed K R Khan as manager and key managerial personnel; and appointed Naveen Kumar Agrawal as Chief Financial Officer. Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India: Iiro Rossi, CEO of Holiday Club Resorts Oy, Finland (HCR), subsidiary of the company, decided to step down from his position as CEO of HCR. Ceat: India Ratings & Research assigned A1+ rating to the company's commercial paper for issue size up to Rs 350 crore. Ion Exchange (India): Name of Ion Exchange Waterleau Limited (a subsidiary company of the company) has been changed to Ion Exchange Environment Management Limited. Autoline Industries: Company entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Poddar Habitat Pvt Ltd to transfer the land and buildings at Mhalunge facility in Pune. The company will utilize the sale proceeds to settle the debt and reduce overall debt exposure. J K Cement: Board passed resolutions for raising of funds by way of issue of equity shares, through a QIP. Tata Coffee: Board appointed Chacko Purackal Thomas (who is currently the Executive Director & Deputy CEO) as Managing Director & CEO designate. Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals: Company is in the process of a long term debt resolution with its lenders. Pending debt resolution, basis support of Department of Fertilizers and lenders, the company has restarted production of Urea from Unit I of Kakinada Plant, Andhra Pradesh. Ganesh Films India: Company acquired the sole theatrical distribution rights for North India region from Clap Board Production for the action film Adanga Maru (Tamil). Apex Capital and Finance: Shareholders approved the issue of equity shares on preferential basis to certain promoters and non-promoters. Camlin Fine Sciences: None of the Workmen or other persons was injured or other casualty due to the fire accident in Tarapur plant in Maharashtra. There has been no loss of production and the production at the factory has been resumed. Pratibha Industries: Sharad Deshpande, Director of the company has tendered his resignation. Rane Engine Valve: With regard tothe company's debt instruments/ total Bank Loan facilities of Rs 200 crore, CRISIL assigned - long term rating of BBB+ with outlook of 'Stable'; and short term rating of A2. Sharda Cropchem: Conrad David Fernandes has resigned from the post of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company due to personal reasons. Godrej Industries: Board has fixed January 7 as the record date for determining the entitlement for issue of shares of the company to the shareholders of Vora Soaps in the proportion of their shareholding in Vora Soaps. Titagarh Wagons: Company empowers research work for National Institute of Ocean Technology, becomes the first private sector shipyard from Eastern India to launch research vessel. Chemfab Alkalis commissions PVC-O project at Andhra Pradesh facility. Aurobindo Pharma gets US FDA nod for Vecuronium Bromide Injection (10-20 Mg) Mahindra Holidays: Iiro Rossi, CEO of Holiday Club Resorts Oy, Finland (HCR), subsidiary of the Company to step down from his position Ceat: India Ratings & Research has assigned Rating of 'IND A1+' to the Company's Commercial Paper for issue size up to Rs 350 crore Rane Engine: CRISIL assigned long term rating of CRISIL BBB+ with outlook of 'Stable'; assigned - short term rating of CRISIL A2 Bulk Deals on December 24 Den Networks: Rajasthan Global Securities Pvt Ltd bought 14,80,934 shares of the company at Rs 69.06 per share and Trilok Chand Goyal 10,00,000 shares at Rs 69.13 per share on the NSE. Next Mediaworks: Ratnabali Capital Markets Private Limited purchased 4,85,880 shares of the company at Rs 24.97 per share on the NSE. Punj Lloyd: IFCI sold 19,62,500 shares of the company at Rs 3.92 per share on the NSE. Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries: Jayshri Janak Jesrani sold 1,00,000 shares of the company at Rs 421.06 per share on the BSE. (For more bulk deals, click here) Analyst or Board Meet/Briefings J K Cement: Board meeting is scheduled on December 28 to consider the issue price for equity shares to be allotted to qualified institutional buyers in the QIP. Trident: Board meeting is scheduled on January 15 to consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended on December 2018. Kirloskar Brothers: Board meeting is scheduled on January 25 to consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine months ending on December 2018. Vishal Bearings: Board meeting is scheduled on January 3 to consider declaration of interim dividend for the financial year 2018-2019. Kamdhenu: Board meeting is scheduled on January 5 to consider the issue and allotment of 20 lakh equity shares of the company to holders of convertible warrants issued on July 6, 2017 on preferential basis. Bharat Financial Inclusion: Board meeting is scheduled on January 29 to consider the audited financial results for the quarter / nine months ended December 2018. Jagran Prakashan: Board meeting is scheduled on January 3 for the purpose of approving the issuance of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures upto Rs 300 crore. Havells India: Meeting of equity shareholders & creditors to be convened on January 28, pursuant to the order of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Sai Baba Investment And Commercial Enterprises: Extraordinary General Meeting of the company to be held on January 18. Pidilite Industries: Company's officials will be meeting Aviva Investors, London on December 27. Visagar Polytex: Board meeting is scheduled on December 28 to consider allotment 2.35 crore equity shares upon conversion of equivalent number of fully convertible warrants issued on preferential basis. affordable housing Impact of regulatory mechanisms such as RERA and GST were felt all along 2018 with all stakeholders real estate developers, home buyers and real estate brokers finally accepting the new market realities. Transparency and accountability became the 'new normal' this year but towards the end, the NBFC liquidity crisis precipitated by IL&FS default played spoiled sport and threatened to negate the gains made during the year. While launch activity recouped from last year, they were still much lower than the high levels seen in 2014 as developers focus on completing existing projects, while complying with RERA rules. Developers increased their focus on the affordable segment supported by government incentives. Ready-to-move-in properties garnered maximum buyer interest. Prices: Average property prices remained largely static across the top seven cities in 2018. In fact, average property prices at the pan-India level saw only 1 percent increase in 2018 as against the previous year, from Rs 5,491 per sq ft in 2017 to Rs 5,545 per sq ft in 2018, as per data by ANAROCK research. Litigations: Even though sales and new supply picked up QoQ across the top cities, the issue of stalled projects showed few signs of resolution in 2018. 2018 was a year where consumers, previously held hostage by lack of efficient regulation, finally felt that they are being heard and represented. Launches: While launch activity has recouped from last year, it was still lower than the high levels seen in 2014 as developers focus on completing existing projects, while complying with RERA rules. Mid segment accounted for 45 percent of the total launches, with the affordable segment close on its heels with a 42 percent share. Developers increased their focus on the affordable segment aided by government incentives. Affordable housing, backed by a series of government sops during 2018, kept the residential supply momentum ticking. In sharp contrast to earlier years where the affordable tag was considered down-market and avoidable, 2018 saw almost every real estate developer regardless of market footprint and previous category orientations eager to take a bite out of the affordable housing pie. In the mid segment, Bengaluru accounted for the highest share (31%), while in the affordable segment, Bengaluru ruled the roost (40%). As per ANAROCK data, the new launch supply across top 7 cities is estimated to be 1,93,600 units by the end of 2018 at 1,46,850 units in 2017, this is an increase of 32 percent over the previous year despite all headwinds. Investments: As per data made available by Cushman & Wakefield, the residential sector raked inflows of Rs 126 billion (including residential platform deals) in year-to-date 2018, registering an increase of over 14 percent year-on-year from the same period last year. Mumbai accounted for the lions share in inflows at 21 percent, followed by Chennai with an 11 percent share. The top 8 cities witnessed a substantial increase of around 35-37 percent in year-to-date residential launches from the corresponding period last year. Housing sales in 2018 are estimated to be 2,45,500 units if we consider Q4 sales to match those of the preceding quarter at 2,11,140 units in 2017, this is an annual increase of 16 percent, as per ANAROCK estimates. Unsold housing stock stood at 6.87 lakh units in the third quarter of 2018. Considering that unsold housing stood at 7,44,000 units in the third quarter of 2017, the decline is a modest 8 percent over the previous year. Should you buy now? Yes but only if it is a ready-to-move-in unit. If the project is 90 percent complete, commit a significant amount only when it is ready. Negotiate hard. Plots did well in Gurugram market: With four floors being allowed in Gurugram, mid-tier builders started focussing on group housing on smaller plots as they required less capital outlay, involved lesser risks and did not come under the ambit of RERA, says Anckur Srivasttava of GenReal Advisers. The year 2018 was a veritable roller-coaster ride for the Indian real estate. Despite signs of recovery across segments, the liquidity crunch further exacerbated by the NBFC crisis put all industry stakeholders on tenterhooks. Consolidation via mergers and acquisitions was rife in all sectors, completely redefining the concept of financial health among players and drawing clear lines on who will survive the heat. This process will continue throughout 2019, as well, says Anuj Puri, Chairman ANAROCK Property Consultants. "The year 2018 saw consolidation in the Indian Real Estate market, as the stakeholders adapted to some irreversible paradigm shifts and initiatives aimed at streamlining the sector. Demonetisation, RERA, and implementation of GST had a combined effect on the real estate market. On the one hand, it ushered in transparency, accountability, and commitment in addition to eliminating unscrupulous players from the market, and on the other hand, it impacted the sales," says Bijay Agarwal, managing director, Salarpuria Sattva Group. "Due to improved transparency and accountability that came with the introduction of RERA and GST. Along with the sector making loan accessible at affordable rates by capitalizing affordable housing and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), a deadline has been set by RERA for the completion of the projects, impelling the developers to improve and revisit their business model. The approval for affordable housing in the Union Budget 2017-18 by the government and its Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme has anticipated the growth of the Indian real estate sector at a high stride," says Pradeep Aggarwal, co-founder and chairman, Signature Global and Chairman, National Council on Affordable Housing, ASSOCHAM. "A key trend that emerged in 2018 was that of the Development Management (DM) model, which gave a new lease of life to several stalled real estate projects. Under this model, reputed developers stepped in as development managers and partnered with asset rich developers, helping them garner higher profits and complete projects on time, in exchange for management fees, or a share of the revenue profits," adds Ashish Shah, COO, Radius Developers. Representative image India's information technology (IT) services sector and startups together are expected to hire up to five lakh people in 2019 as demand for freshers is on the upswing, an industry veteran said on December 26. Former Chief Financial Officer of IT major Infosys Ltd, T V Mohandas Pai said entry-level packages in the industry went up by as much as 20 percent in 2018, after stagnation in salaries for the past seven years. "Growth is coming back to the Indian IT services industry," he told PTI, talking about industry highlights in 2018 and prospects in the coming calendar year. Pai said 2018 saw "H1B visa situation getting tougher," Indian companies focusing more on Japan and southeast Asia, massive expansion of captives and buy-backs by big companies. Hyderabad has become a hot destination, with many new age companies coming to the Telangana capital, thanks to good infrastructure, and "very good marketing" by KTR (K T Rama Rao, who served as IT Minister in the previous TRS government), according to him. He also said Indian companies were now trying to expand in markets in Asia much more vigorously, particularly Japan which is "opening up" and southeast Asia. Reskilling of employees in IT services companies has redoubled, Pai said. "More than half the people have been reskilled in all the IT companies in India. Digital income is growing in double digits for all the companies. 2018 has been a good year". Hiring has gone up, he said. "First time in seven years, hiring compensation (entry-level) has gone up by 20 percent. Fresher compensation is going up, after a long time. It's a good news". Entry level packages are now pegged at 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum, as companies are beginning to pay more to attact "higher quality". "For many years, entry-level compensation packages had not gone up, demoralising people. In fact, delivery boys in cities make 50,000 rupees a month, much more than software engineers. It's ridiculous," Pai said. He listed greater use artificial intelligence and machine learning in enterprises, greater thrust on digitisation, bigger spending by BFSI (banking, financial services, insurance) in America, as being growth opportunities for Indian IT companies in 2019, which will also see them look for greater penetration into Europe and Asia. But the challenges for them are going to be localisation in America. "You must become more local in America, most of them (Indian companies) are trying to do. And they are finding that when you are local, cost actually is not increasing because you are going to smaller towns where costs are much less". The year 2019 is going to be better for entry-level guys because hiring is going to be much better, said Pai, also Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, and Aarin Capital, and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited. Start-ups have a total of 600,000 employees in India. "In the coming calendar year, my estimation is they (startups) will hire about 200,000 people. In 2018, I think they hired 150,000 people", he said. "Totally between IT services and start-ups, my estimate is 4.5 lakh to five lakh people will be hired (in India in 2019)". In 2018, the IT services companies and startups together are estimated to have hired 3.5 lakh to four lakh people. "Now start-ups are becoming big. There are 39,000 start-ups (in India), every year 5,000 startups come up (in India), so when the startups are beginning to hire, they hire all kinds of people, not only engineers, whereas services companies will hire more engineers and (those for) BPO (business process outsourcing," Pai said. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav lauded TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for "striving hard" to form a federal front of regional parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He also accused the BJP's Central and state governments of failing to fulfil their promises and claimed that the people are not happy with them. "I will soon go to Hyderabad to meet Rao, who is striving hard to bring the regional players together on a common platform," Yadav told mediapersons. Lauding the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo's efforts to form a federal front to take on the BJP in the general elections next year, he said, "I spoke to Rao and we were supposed to meet on December 25-26. But somehow it could not take place. Now I will see him in Hyderabad." The TRS chief, who is in Delhi since December 24, plans to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Rao met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on December 23 and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on December 24 in Kolkata wherein he discussed with them, among other issues, the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. To a question on including the Congress in any alliance to take on the BJP unitedly, Yadav expressed displeasure over the Samajwadi Party's lone MLA in Madhya Pradesh not being made a minister in the Kamal Nath-led government. Though the Congress, with 114 seats, emerged as the single largest party in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, it failed to cross the halfway mark (116) on its own and enlisted the support of the BSP and the SP, which have won two seats and one, respectively. However, no MLA from the Mayawati-led BSP or the SP was given place in the Cabinet. Responding to another question, the Samajwadi party chief said, "In the days to come, who all will join hands with the SP, who all want to come, all options are open." Hitting out at the saffron party, Yadav said, "The BJP has deceived the common people. They only made tall promises but have done nothing on the ground for the people. Four-and-a-half years' rule of the BJP at the Centre too stands exposed now. The Delhi High Court has sought response of the Centre and the Chief of the Army Staff on a plea alleging that only three castes were considered for recruitment to the President's Bodyguard. A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Sanjeev Narula issued notice to the Ministry of Defence, Chief of the Army Staff, Commandant of the President's Bodyguard and Director, Army Recruitment, on the petition. "Reply shall be filed within four weeks. Rejoinder, if any, shall be filed before the next date. List on May 8, 2019," the bench said. The court was hearing a PIL by Haryana resident Gaurav Yadav, who sought setting aside of the recruitment of President's Bodyguard which was held on September 4, 2017 as only three castes -- Jats, Rajputs and Jat Sikhs were invited for it. The petitioner said he belonged to Ahir/Yadav caste and fulfilled all the eligibility criteria of recruitment as President's Bodyguard except caste and sought that he be recruited for the post. The petition, filed through advocate Ram Naresh Yadav, said the "preferential treatment" provided to the three castes has deprived other citizens, who were also eligible, of the opportunity of recruitment. "The recruitment criteria so formulated and followed contains an arbitrary classification which is based on caste and henceforth, it being in the nature of class legislation, stands in complete violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Also, the recruitment process stands in violation of Article 15(1) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, caste, sex, colour and place of birth," the plea alleged. It said there was discrimination in the recruitment process on the basis of caste and that Article provides for non-discrimination by the state in employment to public office. "However, in the present case, since only three castes were allowed to be recruited to the office of Presidential Bodyguards, which is indeed a public office, there is violation of Article 16 as well," it alleged. The petition sought quashing of the recruitment policy based on caste/ region/ religion in the President's Bodyguard and issuance of a direction to the Army to conduct the recruitment on non-discriminate grounds. "Quash the recruitment of the President's Bodyguard as the same being unconstitutional and against the fundamental right of the citizens of India," it said. Earlier, the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court had refused to entertain a PIL on the issue, saying it does not get into these kind of PILs. India sent home on December 26 two Pakistani nationals, including a 21-year-old who said he had crossed over in 2017 to meet Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. Abdullah and Mohammed Imran Qureshi Warsi were repatriated through the Attari-Wagah border on the basis of an emergency travel certificate issued by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, officials said. While Abdullah was detained at Attari after he had crossed over without any documents, Warsi spent around a decade in Bhopal jail on charges of "forgery and spying" after coming to India in 2004. Abdullah said he had come to witness the Beating Retreat Ceremony held every evening at the border gates. He crossed the Zero Line after the ceremony and told BSF officials that he had wanted to meet Shah Rukh Khan, officials said. "It was my childhood dream to come to India and meet Shah Rukh Khan," he said before his repatriation. He said since his dream was not fulfilled this time, he will come back again to meet the actor. The other Pakistani national, Warsi, had come to India with proper documents to meet his relatives in Kolkata. He stayed on in the country for four years even after the expiry of his visa. He had also allegedly obtained a ration card and some other documents during his stay. In 2008, he was arrested while on his way to Bhopal to get a passport, an official at Attari said. Warsi said he was very happy as he will be able to meet his parents and siblings who all live in Karachi's Gulshan Iqbal area. HD Deve Gowda Janata Dal (Secular) JDS Unhappy with the Congress' 'big brother attitude' in the ruling coalition in Karnataka, JD(S) workers and local leaders have asked the leadership to contest all 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party sources said. Under the coalition arrangement, Congress and JD(S) had announced that they would fight the 2019 polls together. JDS workers and local level leaders conveyed their position to the party supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda during preparatory meetings in eight districts, the sources said. Expressing their displeasure against the Congress, JD(S) workers have accused the party of not treating the junior partner in the ruling alliance 'respectfully', sources said. Their attitude is like that of a 'big brother', they alleged and said that the Congress was "overlooking" the conditions agreed upon during the government formation. Confirming the development, former JD(S) MLC and spokesperson Ramesh Babu said party workers and leaders had opined that the JD(S) should contest all 28 seats on a 'friendly basis' in the coming parliamentary election. "Workers feel that it is better to contest in all 28 parliamentary constituencies in Karnataka in the coming election," he told PTI. The Congress and JD(S) reportedly have difficulty in seat sharing in most of the old Mysuru region constituencies, where JD(S) is a dominant force and Congress has its sitting MPs. Stating that JD(S) had demanded 12 parliamentary seats, party sources said there was no positive response from Congress to this. Dismayed over Congress' "big brotherly attitude", citing issues that allegedly recently cropped up over appointments of heads to boards and corporations, the sources said the leaders and workers had suggested that since JD(S) is part of the coalition government, they could have friendly contests in all 28 seats, instead of levelling charges against that party. Meetings have taken place in Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga and Mysuru, they said, adding that after January 3, Deve Gowda would elicit the opinion of party workers in the other districts. Congress and JD(S) that had fought bitterly against each other, especially in old Mysuru region, joined hands to form a coalition government after the May 12 assembly polls threw up a hung assembly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend an event in Dharamshala on December 27 to celebrate one-year of the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh. He will release a document highlighting achievements of the state government, a statement from the prime minister's office said. The prime minister will reach Dharamshala at around 11.30 am and address a public rally. He will also interact with the beneficiaries of various government schemes, it said. The BJP had wrested power from the Congress in the state assembly elections last year. Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Union Health Minister J P Nadda, BJP state in charge Mangal Pandey and BJP state president Satpal Singh reached Dharamshala on December 26 and took stock of the preparations at the rally site. New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi, Friday, Nov 02, 2018. (PTI Photo/Kamal Singh)(PTI11_2_2018_000034B) Union minister Kiren Rijiju asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi not to do politics over the "tragedy" of 15 labourers trapped in a Meghalaya coal mine, saying the Centre has been helping the state government in its rescue efforts. Rijiju also blamed the previous Congress government in Meghalaya for the "unsafe illegal minining activities" in the state. The Union minister of state's response came after Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying 15 labourers trapped in a mine since December 13 struggled for air while he strutted about on Assam's Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. "No politics on tragedy please @RahulGandhi ji. We have been helping the State Govt with all possible means. But the unsafe illegal minining activities were due to the negligence of the previous Congress govt (sic)," Rijiju tweeted. The Congress president's attack came a day after the Modi inaugurated the country's longest rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra river at Bogibeel near Dibrugarh in Meghalaya's neighbouring state Assam. After greeting people, standing on the foothold of his vehicle, Modi got off the car and walked a few metres on the bridge along with Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Gandhi appealed to the prime minister to save the miners, who were trapped in the coal mine a fortnight ago. Search operations have been suspended by the Meghalaya government for want of high-powered pumps to flush out water from the pit. Sachin pilot,Rajasthan assembly polls 2018,assembly elections 2018 Exuding confidence that the Congress will form the government at the Centre in 2019, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot claimed that the BJP is under pressure as its allies are deserting the coalition. He alleged that the BJP's allies were quitting the NDA due to the arrogance of saffron party leaders and it was now under pressure which recently reflected in the seat-sharing in Bihar. "Upendra Kushwaha has quit the NDA, the TDP has already left and the Shiv Sena is also not with them. Now the BJP is under pressure and therefore they gave 17 seats in Bihar to the JD(U) which has only two MPs. What can be a fine example of insecurity than this," Pilot said. He said the BJP leaders used to point fingers towards the Congress by saying that the party was struggling for its survival but results of the recently held assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have sent out a strong message. "This full majority government at the Centre has become so weak that it has given nearly half of Bihar (Lok Sabha seats) to a party having just two MPs just because of the fear that people are not voting for the BJP and also its allies are daring them. This happens when the government is weak," he told PTI here. Pilot said the BJP should accept the fact that it has faced a severe blow in three states and should take responsibility of the defeat. "(BJP's) Nitin Gadkari has already spoken that the party leadership should take the responsibility for the defeat. When the Congress had suffered defeat, the party president Rahul Gandhi had humbly accepted that but the BJP leadership is so arrogant that despite facing defeat in three states, it is unwilling to take the responsibility," he said. Pilot said there was a swing of 12.5 per cent votes in Rajasthan and the Congress gained 99 seats in 2018 from 21 assembly seats in 2013. "We won 21 (assembly) seats in 2013 and the number of seats has increased five times in 2018. Swing of votes is 12.5 per cent. BJP's vote share has decreased by 6.6 per cent and ours increased by six per cent. It's a rare swing," he said. Pilot, who is also the party's Rajasthan unit chief, said the victory of the Congress has boosted the morale of party workers and they have started preparing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "We have formed the government and along with delivering on our promises, we are focusing on the upcoming elections. Meetings in the party have already started. The party will register a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls and the Congress will form the government at the Centre," he said. Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats and at present, 22 are with the BJP, one with the Congress and two are vacant. The BJP had won all the 25 seats in the 2014 general elections but it lost two seats to the Congress in bypolls held earlier this year. Two sitting MPs -- Raghu Sharma (Congress) and Harish Meena (BJP) -- won the recently held assembly polls and they have resigned as the MP thus making their seats vacant. BJP's Harish Meena, who was director general of the Rajasthan Police, had defected to the Congress before the assembly polls and contested on Congress ticket from Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency and got elected. Venkaiah Naidu Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on December 25 that though former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a lot of initiatives to have a "proper friendship" with Pakistan, the latter has continued with its "old disease" of funding terror. While addressing an event to commemorate the 94th birth anniversary of Vajpayee, Naidu said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited leaders of all SAARC countries for his swearing-in ceremony. He recalled Vajpayee's statement that 'You can change your friends but you cannot change your neighbours. India wants to be friendly with all countries'. "That is why Narendra Modi invited all SAARC countries for his swearing in and all came. We want to have a friendship with all, including Pakistan. We can work together. We want to live together happily. We want to progress together but unfortunately they are continuing with their old disease of aiding, inhabiting and funding terror. They must give it up," he said. Lahore bus yatra, Agra Talk, even earlier Samjhauta Express - all the initiatives were taken by Vajpayee to have a proper friendship with Pakistan, he said. Naidu said Vajpayee led the country ably through difficult times. He said despite the world imposing restrictions on India, he successfully conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998, which was also depicted on the celluloid. "It was the time when the country gave a fitting reply in the Kargil war and also overcame devastation caused during the Gujarat earthquake in 2001. The attack on Parliament was a testimony to how dangerous cross border terrorism could be," he said. The vice-president said the coming generations will remember Vajpayee for bringing connectivity revolution and paving the way for development and growth. "He will be remembered after Sher Shah Suri for connectivity - air connectivity, rail connectivity, rural connectivity, port connectivity... He brought such a political connectivity in the country and brought 23 political parties of the country together," Naidu added. On the importance of Good Governance Day that is being observed on the birth anniversary of Vajpayee, Naidu said taking care of the needs of the poor and down trodden and keeping people at the centre of public administration was the key element of governance. The Supreme Court of India has seen an interesting 2018. It began rather dramatically for the apex court - four of the senior-most judges of the court held a press conference. It might sound like a setup to a lawyer joke, but the punchline was not funny. It was dead serious. Justice Chelameswar, speaking for himself and Justices Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur, and Kurian Joseph, said, "The administration of the Supreme Court is not in order," and that "unless this institution is preserved, democracy will not survive in this country." Their main contention was regarding the allocation of cases by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra. A letter the Justices wrote to the CJI read, "There have been instances where cases having far reaching consequences for the nation and the institution have been assigned by the chief justices of this court selectively to the benches of their preference without any rational basis for such assignment. This must be guarded against at all costs." This press conference, this "extraordinary event in the history of any nation," as Justice Chelameswar himself put it, marked the beginning of what was to be an eventful year in the life of the top court of the country. Since then, the court has seen a new Chief Justice (Ranjan Gogoi); the logjam on appointments to the higher judiciary appears to have improved; and along the way, several groundbreaking verdicts delivered. Religion, politics, and law often make for strange bedfellows, and this year, as we saw post the Supreme Court verdict about allowing women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, the three intersected sometimes in a combative manner and left behind inconclusive debates. But this year was also about individual choices and even the freedom to exercise the constitutional right to passive euthanasia. On part 2 of this Moneycontrol Deep Dive, we will go over some more judgments by the Supreme Court this year that broke away from normative ideas about life, death, and even nationalism. Listen on to discover just what we mean by this statement. Let us list out a few verdicts that underscore our point. SC permits passive euthanasia On 9 March 2018, the Supreme Court legalised passive euthanasia by means of the withdrawal of life support to patients in a permanent vegetative state. The face of the euthanasia debate was Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug , a nurse who in 1973, was working as a junior nurse at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, when she was sexually assaulted by a ward boy, Sohanlal Bhartha Walmiki. Her life was brutally impaired and she remained in a vegetative state for over 42 years. On 24 January 2011, after she had been in this state for 37 years, the Supreme Court responded to the plea for euthanasia filed by journalist Pinki Virani and set up a medical panel to examine her. The court rejected the petition on 7 March 2011. Shanbaug died of pneumonia on 18 May 2015 and become a collective twinge of conscience not just because our law and order system had failed her but because so had our sense of empathy for a woman who had not just been robbed of a full life but the right to die with dignity after being in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) longer than she needed to be. On 9 March 2018 finally, the SC allowed passive euthanasia in India in a landmark judgment and the decision was made as part of the verdict in the Aruna Shanbaug case to make it legal for a terminally ill individual to decline use of life support measures. The court also allowed families of those in incurable coma to withdraw such measures to reduce the period of suffering. It also recognised the right to an advance directive (also called living will), spelling out views and wishes regarding medical treatment in terminally ill situations. A distinction was made via the Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug vs Union Of India & Ors (March 7, 2011), case , between active and passive euthanasia. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by then CJI Dipak Misra, ruled that smoothening the process of death for terminally ill patients with no chance of recovery was integral to life with dignity. The Hindu broke down the fine details of the verdict thus. While guidelines prescribed by the Supreme Court upheld passive euthanasia and Living Will, they placed a huge burden on the treating physician and hospital. We quote from The Hindu, "For one, the responsibility is on the treating doctor to ascertain the genuineness and authenticity of a Living Will of a terminally ill patient from the Judicial Magistrate in whose custody the document is kept. Once satisfied that there is no cure, the doctor should give due weight to the instructions left by the patient in his or her Living Will. After the doctor decides that the Living Will needs to be acted upon, it is his responsibility to convey to the guardian or close relative the medical condition, the availability of care and consequences of alternative forms of treatment and the consequences of remaining untreated. It is again up to to the doctor to ascertain that the relative or the guardian has understood the situation and come to the firm view that withdrawal of medical treatment is the best choice." The piece goes on to explain that the physician or the hospital concerned has to then constitute a Medical Board consisting of the head of the treating department and at least three experts from the fields of general medicine, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, psychiatry or oncology with experience in critical care and a standing of 20 years in the profession. They will have to visit the patient and release a preliminary opinion on whether or not to withdraw treatment as per the Living Will. Says the piece, "In case the Medical Board decides not to follow a Living Will, it can apply to the District Collector concerned. In case it supports the Living Will, the doctor or the hospital has to forthwith inform the District Collector, who will also form a Medical Board with the Chief District Medical Officer as Chairman for endorsement of the decision. They too shall visit the hospital and would have to endorse the endorse the Living Will. The Chairman of this Medical Board would then convey their decision to the jurisdictional JMFC before giving effect to the decision to withdraw the medical treatment. The Magistrate shall also visit the patient and finally authorise the implementation of the decision of the Board. The procedure is the same even for those who do not have a Living Will." The court gives the treating doctor even a right to move the High Court, along with the dying person's relatives or guardian, in case the Medical Board revokes permission for passive euthanasia. In such a case, says The Hindu, the high court is free to form an independent committee of doctors to re-look the case and take a decision. Once the treatment is withdrawn, the Magistrate has to inform the high court. The court also gives an individual the right to withdraw or alter his Living Will, but only in writing. The Living Will however shall not be applicable to the treatment in question if there are reasonable grounds for believing that circumstances exist which the person making the directive did not anticipate at the time of the advance directive and which would have affected his decision had the anticipated them. Live-streaming of court proceedings Legal proceedings in India remain largely indecipherable and inaccessible to citizens not just because of the intimidating jargon involved but also because there is little or transparency. Well, enter the SC to change that and to herald more transparency in the functioning of the judiciary. The Apex Court this year, said a big, hearty 'yes' to live-streaming of court proceedings, saying that this will bring more accountability and enhance the rule of law. A three judge bench headed by then CJI Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said and we quote: We hold that the cause brought before this court by the protagonists in larger public interest deserves acceptance so as to uphold the constitutional rights of the public, and the litigants in particular. On September 26, 2018, the Supreme Court argued for greater transparency in the judicial system by approving the live-streaming of court proceedings of cases of constitutional importance. The court also directed the centre to frame rules and indicated that this ambitious undertaking would be carried out in phases. It will encourage the principle of open court, effectuate the publics right to know and reduce dependence on second-hand views, said Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The suggestions included the setting up of a television channel for live-streaming court proceedings along the lines of Rajya Sabha TV. Mindful of personal privacy, reservations were expressed about the live-streaming of certain sensitive cases. A bench was responding to petitions, including one by senior advocate Indira Jaising, seeking live-streaming of all cases, specifically ones of constitutional and national importance having an impact on the public. Jaising argued that live-streaming and videography of the proceedings at the SC would make matters of great public importance accessible to citizenry and to ensure that justice is not only done but is seen while it is being done. The petition argued that this would rekindle confidence and respect in and for the judiciary as a co-equal organ of the state and that those affected by the judgements of the court had a right to be aware of the manner in which decisions were taken. As Mint put it, the petition referred to courts dealing with issues of environment, triple talaq, air pollution, ban on liquor sales near to national highways, ban on firecrackers and extra judicial killings, all of which affect the public who, however, do not get to see how decisions are made by the court. We quote, "Enabling citizens to understand the reasoning in cases affecting their rights formed part of their right to dignity and was an intrinsic value of their right to be heard under Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution, the petition said. The petition also pointed out that other countries and jurisdictions such as Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court, permit varying degrees of recordings of court proceedings." Well, the supreme Court has opened its doors to scrutiny and to what extent the suggestions are carried out, will unfold in time. SC delivers the Cauvery dispute verdict On February 16, 2018, pronouncing its verdict on the festering Cauvery dispute, the Supreme Court increased Karnatakas share of the Cauvery waters by 14.75 thousand million cubic feet, raising it from 270 tmc ft awarded by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in February 2007 to 284.75 tmc ft. The court also directed Karnataka to provide Tamil Nadu with 177 tmcft of Cauvery water. The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud had on 20 September, 2017 reserved the verdict on the appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the 2007 award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) on sharing of water. Water sharing has always been a heated issue between the two states and security was scaled up in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka ahead of the verdict in anticipation of clashes. Has the SC decisively settled a dispute that dates back to 1892? Well, we can't say but it has for now said its piece about a seemingly insolvable dispute. As you know, the 802-kilometre-long Cauvery river is the largest river basin in South India, originating in Talacauvery in Karnataka's Kodagu district. The Cauvery dispute, as a Firstpost piece informs, began in the year 1892, between the Madras Presidency (under the British Raj) and the Princely state of Mysore (as Karnataka was known then) when they had to come to terms with dividing the river water between the two states. We quote, "Since then, Cauvery river water has been a bone of contention between the two states. In the year 1910, both states started planning the construction of dams on the river. The issue was presided upon by the British who also decided which state would receive what share of the water. In 1924, an agreement was signed between the two states where the rules of regulation of the Krishnarajsagar dam were pointed out." As Mint points out, the two accords stated that existing irrigation should not be hindered by constructing new dams upstream (in Karnataka) and that irrigation should be impacted downstream. What it also said was that all works planned must be agreed to by the states located downstream (in this case, Tamil Nadu). According to the 1892 and the 1924 agreements the river water was distributed as follows: 75 percent with Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, 23 percent to Karnataka and the remaining with Kerala. However, informs Firstpost, Karnataka did not implement these agreements. Protests kept simmering over the which state gets how much of the Cauvery water through the pre-Independence and post-Independence years. Hindustan Times states that things became complex post 1956 following the re-organisation of states. The sixties were particularly combative with Tamil Nadu strongly objecting to Karnataka building two dams on the Cauvery river. Five rounds of talks to resolve the dispute also failed, according to Outlook. To complicate things, Tamil Nadu, reports Firstpost, also built the Mettur dam. The state, says the piece, developed vast tracts of agricultural land around the river and in 1972, the Centre agreed to appoint a committee to collect statistics from each of the states that had the river basin Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The fact-finding committee found that while Tamil Nadu used 566 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet), Karanataka used 177 tmcft. We quote, "In 1974, Karnataka claimed the 1924 agreement allowed the state to discontinue water supply from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu after 50 years. It argued that since the river originated in its territory, the state had the right to use its waters as it wished. Karnataka also said that British-era agreements favoured Tamil Nadu and were not bound by a British Raj deal brokered between the British empire and the Maharaja of Mysore." In 1976, recalls the piece, the states arrived at an understanding that each state would continue using the water according to their previous usage, only now an additional 125 tmcft water would also be saved and shared. Karnataka argued that the river water should be divided in equal portions and that 94 percent could be divided equally between them and the rest could be distributed to Kerala and Puducherry. Hence while Tamil Nadu wanted to adhere to the 1892 and 1924 agreements, Karnataka refused to toe the line. Through the 1980s and the 90s, the water dispute continued to simmer to a boiling point and then occurred the formation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in 1990. In 1991, the tribunal calculated the average inflows into Tamil Nadu over 10 years between 1980 and 1990. And as Firstpost reports, it directed Karnataka to ensure that 205 tmcft reached Tamil Nadu every year. They also directed Karnataka not to increase irrigated land area from the existing measure. We quote, "However this decision was not well received by the people of the two states which simultaneously erupted into riots. The Karnataka government rejected the tribunal award and sought to get it annulled. However, the Supreme Court struck down the ordinance and asked for the tribunal award to be upheld. Karnataka refused to oblige. Following this, the interim award was published in the Government of India gazette. The next few years saw enough rain for the states to not create an uproar. In 1993, Tamil Nadu's former chief minister Jayalalithaa went on a sudden fast at the MGR memorial in Chennai. She demanded Tamil Nadu's share of water as stipulated by the interim order. In 1998, the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) was formed with the prime minister (PV Narasimha Rao) presiding as the chairperson and the chief ministers of the four states as members." So as is obvious, that melodrama that has swirled around the issue has been prolonged, and CWDT pronounced the final award in 2007 after nearly 17 years. We quote, :The tribunal held valid the agreements of 1892 and 1924 executed between the erstwhile governments of Madras and Mysore. The tribunal allocated the river water as follows: 419 tmcft to Tamil Nadu; 270 tmcft to Karnataka; 30 tmcft to Kerala (as a tributary of Cauvery flows through it) and 7 tmcft to Pudducherry." But this created an uproar in Karnataka and the state marked its protest with a state-wide bandh. In 2013, the Centre notified the final award of the CWDT. The government was mandated to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) with the gazette notification of the final award of the tribunal. Hindustan Times and multiple new sources recall how in 2016, the Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court stating that the 2007 tribunal verdict was erroneous as it did not take into consideration its multiple cropping season. While state demanded 20,000 cusecs of water per day, Karnataka offered to release just 10,000 cusecs. Says Firstpost, "The apex court finally ordered Karnataka release 15,000 cusecs of water per day for 10 days, which it later reduced to 12,000 cusecs. This led to outbreak of protests in Bengaluru and across Mandya, Mysore and Haasan districts in Karnataka." And The New Indian Express reported that before reserving its judgment, the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre for not implementing the final CWDT award and for not forming the Cauvery Management Board. To repeat once again, in its verdict, the Supreme Court told Karnataka to release 177.25 thousand million cubic feet of Cauvery water per year to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam. Tamil Nadu will now get 404.25 tmcft of Cauvery water instead of the 419 tmcft allotted by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 2007. The court also increased the water allocation for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft per year, and said that the extra water is to meet the drinking needs of Bengaluru. ANI quoted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami post the verdict and while he appreciated the fact that the Supreme Court had said that no one was an owner of the resources, and everyone has equal rights over a river, he was disappointed that the water allotment to the state had been reduced from 192 tmcft to 177.25 tmcft . It would perhaps help to remember author Margaret Atwood's words who wrote in the Penelopiad, "If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does. Well, we will continue to report this story, because despite the SC verdict, this argument flows on. In May this year, the SC approved the Centre's draft Cauvery Management Scheme for smooth distribution of water among four southern riparian states. And stated that its verdict on Cauvery water allocation will continue for next 15 years though we can be sure that the discontent over water sharing, will persist as well. The Hadiya verdict This year at the Supreme Court, as we have said before, was very progressive in the context of the rights of the individual. In April this year, the SC set aside a 2017 order of the Kerala High Court which annulled the marriage of Kerala Muslim convert Hadiya and Shefin Jahan, with this statement and we quote, "the right to marry a person of ones choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution. Wrote Justice Chandrachud and we quote again, "The choice of a partner whether within or outside marriage lies within the exclusive domain of each individual. Intimacies of marriage lie within a core zone of privacy, which is inviolable. The absolute right of an individual to choose a life partner is not in the least affected by matters of faith. The Constitution guarantees to each individual the right freely to practise, profess and propagate religion. Choices of faith and belief as indeed choices in matters of marriage lie within an area where individual autonomy is supremeNeither the state nor the law can dictate a choice of partners or limit the free ability of every person to decide on these matters. They form the essence of personal liberty under the Constitution." As reported by The Indian Express and multiple news sources, the three-judge bench delivered two separate detailed concurring judgments, one by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar and the other by Justice D Y Chandrachud. The court also allowed the National Investigative Agancy (NIA) to continue its investigation in respect of any criminality with the rider that it should not encroach upon their marital status. Justice Chandrachud also stated that matters of dress and of food, of ideas and ideologies, of love and partnership are within the central aspects of identity and society has no role to play in determining our choice of partners. He added that the HC, had entered into prohibited terrain by venturing to decide whether Shefin Jahan was a fit person for Hadiya to marry. He further said and we quote, "The cohesion and stability of our society depend on our syncretic culture. The Constitution protects it. Courts are duty bound not to swerve from the path of upholding our pluralism and diversity as a nation." The CJI and Justice Khanwilkar in their judgement said the High Court had been erroneously guided by some kind of social phenomenon that was frescoed before it. They further said that to have the freedom of faith is essential to his/her autonomy; and it strengthens the core norms of the Constitution. Choosing a faith is the substratum of individuality and sans it, the right of choice becomes a shadow. As Indian Express reported, the court called Hadiyas father as an obstinate one who has endeavoured immensely in not allowing his daughter to make her own choice in adhering to a faith and further making Everestine effort to garrotte her desire to live with the man with whom she has entered into wedlock. The court termed this a manifestation of the idea of patriarchal autocracy and possibly self-obsession with the feeling that a female is a chattel. The judges further said that the High Court, had erred by reflecting upon the social radicalization and certain other aspects and added this was absolutely unnecessary in a Habeas Corpus petition like the instant one. The bench said that non-acceptance of Hadiyas choice would mean abdication by the Constitutional Court which is meant to be the protector of fundamental rights. We quote from the judgment, The duty of the court is to uphold the right and not to abridge the sphere of the right unless there is a valid authority of law. Sans lawful sanction, the centripodal value of liberty should allow an individual to write his/her script. The individual signature is the insignia of the concept." The bench also wondered how Hadiya's detention could be justified unless she was booked under some law. To refresh your memory, Hadiya converted to Islam in January 2016 and later, she married Jahan, and that caused allegations of forced conversion to erupt despite her assertions to the contrary especially because her father K M Ashokan claimed that she had been brainwashed and moved the Kerala High Court which annulled the marriage and sent Hadiya to her parents custody last May. Post the SC verdict, Hadiya has returned to continue her studies in a Salem college. National anthem in cinema halls On January 9, 2018, the Supreme Court modified its November 30, 2016 interim order and made it optional for cinema halls to play the 52-second national anthem before every show. A bench, led by the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, clarified that it is not mandatory to play the anthem before screenings in cinemas. It left the choice of whether to play the anthem or not to the discretion of individual cinema hall owners. However, as The Hindu reported, the court, this time, instead of shooting from its own shoulders, banked on a Home Ministry order of 2015, which directs that whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. The court also clarified that the exception granted to disabled persons from standing up during the anthem shall remain in force on all occasions. The important point made orally by the then Chief Justice Deepak was that, Playing of the anthem is directive, but showing respect is mandatory." As reported in The Hindu piece, "The modification will be in place till the Union government takes a final decision on the recommendations of a 12-member high-profile inter-ministerial committee regarding the occasions, circumstances and events for the solemn rendering of the anthem. The ministerial panel will examine whether any amendments are necessary to the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act of 1971 to expand or specify the meaning of respect to the national anthem." The SC takes a stand in the context of Judge Loya's death On April 19, the Supreme Court bench led by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud held that there was no merit in the pleas seeking an independent and impartial probe into the death of Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya. The circumstances surrounding the death of Loya, a district judge in Maharashtra, on December 1, 2014, and the hearing by the Supreme Court of the petitions seeking an impartial probe into them had led to much uproar in the Supreme Court . As Frontline reported in May, the bench held in its judgment that the documentary material on the record indicates that the death of Judge Loya was due to natural causes. There is no ground for the court to hold that there was a reasonable suspicion about the cause or circumstances of death which would merit a further inquiry. Frontline reports that during the hearing, the bench dissuaded the petitioners counsel from wasting their time proving their bona fides and repeatedly assured them that they had its trust and confidence. However, the judgment ironically concluded and we quote: The conduct of the petitioners and the interveners is, as we have indicated, lacking in bona fides and reveals a misuse of judicial process. Frontline further recalls how on January 12, the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court had held a press conference to challenge the alleged arbitrary administrative decisions of CJI Dipak Misra. We quote, "One of the points raised was his assignment of this case to a preferred bench of his choice without following the principles of roster allocation recognised under the Supreme Court rules and by convention. That decision was soon reversed, and CJI Dipak Misra decided to have the case heard by a three-judge bench presided over by himself despite a plea by counsel for recusal of the other two judges on the bench, Justices Khanwilkar and Chandrachud. The plea was based on the grounds that they hailed from the Bombay High Court and knew the two judges in the High CourtJustices Bhushan Gavai and S.B. Shukrewho were with Judge Loya hours before his death and had given interviews stating that his death was natural. The Supreme Court rejected this plea, stating that a decision whether a judge should hear a case was a matter of conscience for the judge. Maintaining institutional civilities between or towards judges is distinct from the fiercely independent role of the judge as adjudicator, the bench held." This has been one of the most controversial verdicts because as Frontline says, the judgment dismissing the petitions seeking an independent probe into Judge B.H. Loyas death in 2014 leaves crucial questions unanswered. We quote, "The suspicious circumstances surrounding Judge Loyas death were first brought to light by an investigative story that appeared in T he Caravan magazine in November 2017. Before his death, Judge Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case in which Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah was an accused. Judge Loya had insisted that Amit Shah should appear before him during the proceedings of the case." So as you can see, while via some verdicts this year, the SC upheld the most vitally important individual freedoms, in other instances, controversy plagued the highest seat of justice and its upholders. For now, we wish that every citizen in the country, regardless of faith, cast, gender, political affiliations, sexual orientation and economic and social background, has access to the fruits of democracy, to legal aid, to justice, to equality in all matters and to a sense of protected selfhood in 2019 and in the times to come. The coming year already looks set to be an interesting one for the court as it will be asked to fix a date for the hearing of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, and also to deliver a judgement in the plea filed by Alok Verma who has challenged his removal from the post of the Director of the CBI. The court, soon after it reopens, will also address the validity of the electoral bond scheme promulgated by the current dispensation. French judges have dropped their long-running investigation into the deadly 1994 attack on former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, which sparked the country's genocide, a legal source told AFP on December 26. The probe has been a major source of tension between the two countries after seven people close to current Rwandan President Paul Kagame were charged in the French investigation. Philippe Meilhac, lawyer for Habyarimana's widow Agathe, told AFP that plaintiffs in the case would appeal the decision to scrap the investigation. French prosecutors had requested the probe be dismissed in October due to insufficient evidence against the seven suspects. At the time, lawyers for Habyarimana's widow called the prosecutors' move "unacceptable" and "largely politically motivated". Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu, was killed in a missile strike on his plane near Kigali's airport in April 1994. His assassination triggered 100 days of bloodshed that left an estimated 800,000 people dead, mostly members of the Tutsi minority. Kigali has long accused France of complicity in the genocide by supporting the Hutu regime, training the soldiers and militiamen who carried out the killings. The French probe into Habyarimana's execution was opened in 1998 on the request of relatives of French crew members killed in the attack on the plane. The first judge to lead the probe, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, backed the theory that it was Tutsi militants from the former rebellion led by Kagame, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR), who shot down the plane. The French probe was closed but eventually reopened in 2016 before hitting a series of legal obstacles over the past two years. A Rwandan commission had in 2009 found Hutu extremists responsible for the assassination of Habyarimana. Gulshan Sachdeva With United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa Mays decision to delay vote on Brexit deal in the British Parliament, the issue has become messier. She has survived a confidence vote within her own Conservative Party. However, with 117 MPs voting against her leadership its clear it is not going to be easy to get approval for any Brexit deal in Parliament Under present circumstances, nobody can possibly predict what is going to happen in coming months. Still, there are three plausible scenarios. First, after a few more dramatic happenings and couple of meetings with European Union (EU) leaders, the existing deal is agreed upon with a few modifications or clarifications. Second, things go absolutely wrong and we have an accidental hard Brexit on March 29, 2019. Third, there is no Brexit at all, either due to second referendum or parliamentary vote revoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Except for the hard Brexit scenario, Indian companies operating in the EU and the UK will not face any major difference, at least for the next couple of years. In any case, both the UK and the EU would like to avoid no deal scenario at any cost. They know that this is going to harm both of them very seriously. Although both the EU and the UK have now started preparing even for a no deal scenario, chances of that happening is still relatively low. Businesses in Europe are more or less ready to adjust with the existing deal. It gives them enough time to prepare for new realities. The present deal is the least bad scenario for the UK. We also must remember that this is the only deal on the table. Except for a few possible modifications, no other deal is going to be negotiated in the remaining few months. The main sticky point is so-called backstop, which practically means the UK will remain tied to significant EU rules till the time it is able to find a solution to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The opposition comes from the fact that while agreeing to this solution, the UK will continue to follow EU regulations even after it exits the community. Although the transition period is scheduled to end in December 2020, it could extend further. In a way, this arrangement also guarantees that companies will continue to do business in Europe without any serious disruptions, till the time a new trade agreement is agreed upon between the UK and the EU. In the given situation, this is maximum the UK can expect from the EU. Precisely for this reason, May asserted earlier there is no deal that comes without a backstop, and without a backstop there is no deal. For Indian companies operating from the UK, the hard Brexit scenario will create many challenges. Specific sectors, which are going to be affected, include automobiles, auto components, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, education and IT enabled services (ITES). They will have no time to adjust to new realities. Indian investment in the UK may see a declining trend in the next few years. The main focus of a large number of Indian companies investing in the UK has been primarily the British market. Still, some of them have been using Britain as a gateway to Europe. A few may need to relocate their businesses. In case of a no deal scenario, negotiations on India-EU trade and investment agreement may re-start. The Brexit uncertainty has been one of the reasons responsible for the delay in re-starting negotiations. India, however, will have to revisit some of its earlier assessments. To offset negative impacts of hard Brexit, both the UK and India may also start formal negotiations for a bilateral trade and investment agreement. Earlier it was thought with Britains exit, it might be easier for India to negotiate on Mode 4 services with the EU. However, with the refugee and migration crisis in Europe, it is not going to be easy with either of them. Overall, Brexit is going to create some complications. Most probably, however, Indian companies and policy makers will have enough time to understand its implications and prepare for possible changes. The less likely event of hard Brexit could be shocking possibly this will not happen. Gulshan Sachdeva is Jean Monnet Chair and director, Europe Area Studies Programme, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Views are personal. A Pakistani lawyer who successfully fought a legal battle to acquit a Christian woman in a high-profile blasphemy case says he will return home to represent her whenever the country's Supreme Court takes up a review petition against her. Saiful Malook, who fled to the Netherlands following threats to him from radical Islamists after the Oct. 21 acquittal of Asia Bibi, said on December 25 that no date has been set by the court to hear the petition. The announcement by Malook came as the 54-year-old mother of five celebrated Christmas amid security despite being freed. Bibi had been on death row since 2010 on charges of insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik political party held violent nationwide protests demanding her public execution after her release. Sharad Pawar NCP chief Sharad Pawar lauded Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, her son and party president Rahul Gandhi, saying people should feel "proud of them" as they continue to serve the poor despite assassination of late prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Pawar also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the Gandhi family of ruining the country and charged him with doing nothing "when innocents were being killed in Gujarat" during his tenure as chief minister of that state. The former Union minister did not mention any specific incident in his speech, but he was apparently referring to the 2002 riots in Gujarat. Launching a broadside at the ruling BJP, Pawar alleged the saffron outfit was pitting communities against each other as it did nothing on the development front as was promised to the people. The NCP leader was speaking at an event in Satara district, around 300km from Mumbai. He said some lawyers have raised doubts if the 16 per cent quota granted to Marathas in jobs and education in Maharashtra will stand scrutiny of the law and said the government should ensure the reservation sustains. Attacking Modi for targeting the Gandhis, the Maratha strongman said the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru spent years in jail during the British rule, while Indira Gandhi protected interests of the poor when in power. "Such sacrifice by a family. Indira Gandhi was killed. Rajiv Gandhi was killed. We should feel proud if Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi are continuing to serve the poor notwithstanding these two killings. "But the prime minister only talks about one family ruining (the country)," the former Maharashtra chief minister told the gathering. "You (Modi) were in power in Gujarat. Innocents were killed there. What you did there? People were burnt but (you) did nothing," added Pawar, who quit the Congress and formed the NCP in June 1999. He also raised questions over the recent acquittal of 22 accused, most of them policemen, in the alleged fake encounter killings of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife and an aide in Gujarat in 2005-06. "What kind of state it is? Is it a state of the law? Is it a state that protects interest of the common people? The power is in the hands of such people," he said. On the issue of Maratha reservation, Pawar said some lawyers have told him that they had doubts whether the quota law would stand legally. "I am not a lawyer. I spoke to some lawyers I will definitely speak to experts after going back to Mumbai and try to understand it (the issue)," he added. On senior Congress leader D Y Patil joining the NCP, Pawar said the former had evinced interest in working with him. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load The Shiv Sena on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his power like oxygen remarks, saying those who failed to get "achhe din" are now feeling disgusted at the thought of sitting in the opposition and thieves were being "purified" to ensure the supply of oxygen. It also said that the government's move to snoop on computers and mobile phones was not a sign of a real democracy but its "restlessness" to stay in power. In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna, the Sena said today Lord Rama in Ayodhya and BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani in politics are in exile while others are reaping fruits of the "oxygen of power". "Sending somebody in exile forcefully is the (current) politics for power," said the party, which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra. Taking a jibe at the opposition, Modi had said on Monday that power is like oxygen for "some people" with restlessness setting in if they are out of it for even "two or five years". Further slamming the BJP, the Marathi daily said those who could not bring 'achhe din' (good days) despite being in power now fear the Opposition. They get a feeling of disgust if they have to sit in the Opposition. "Modiji said (former prime minister) Vajpayee spent most of his life in the Opposition, yet remained contended. But some people are exactly the opposite, according to Modiji. The question that now arises is who are these people?" it asked. "In order to ensure the oxygen supply of power, hooligans and thieves are purified. To win polls, criminals are made 'valmiki' (referring to the sage who wrote the epic Ramayan). In the end, power is irresistible," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. In a scathing attack on the BJP, it said that for power, the alliance with Sena, based on the principle of Hindutva, was also broken in 2014 and the "cylinder of the oxygen of Hindutva" was stolen. "Now when it is time for people to plug out the supply to this oxygen cylinder of Hindutva, statements are made (by BJP) that an alliance with Sena will happen, it said. The Sena also slammed the government's move to snoop on computers. "The government's move to snoop on computers and mobile phones is not a sign of a real democracy and freedom, but its restlessness to stay in power," the Sena said. The government had last week authorised 10 central agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt all data contained in any computer system and asserted that this was being done to prevent "any unauthorised use of these powers". The move had set off a political storm with the opposition accusing the government of trying to create a "surveillance state". Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated or laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 666 crore across the state to mark the completion of one year in office. As many as 5,538 projects related to the education sector were launched by Rupani from Gandhinagar, said a government release. Rupani had taken oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second time on December 26 last year after the ruling BJP retained power in the elections held that month. The CM either inaugurated or laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 666 through remote control from a function held at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. These projects included 5,179 newly-built classrooms of schools and colleges, nine polytechnic college buildings and 350 anganwadi centres, the release said. During the event, Rupani also interacted with beneficiaries, students, parents and anganwadi workers of 21 district through video conferencing facility. December 25, the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is also celebrated as the Good Governance Day. Speaking on the occasion, Rupani claimed the BJP government has developed a "corruption-free system" where pro-people works are being carried out in a transparent manner. In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said instead of doing some work "here and there", the BJP government believes in carrying out development works on a "wholesale" basis. Meanwhile, speaking in Vadodara, Rupani said over 23 lakhs farmers in drought-hit 96 tehsils in Gujarat have started getting input assistance from Tuesday. He was speaking at an event where Gujarat's first amusement park, constructed at a cost of Rs 125 crore and located at Ajwa near Vadodara, was inaugurated. A sum of Rs 2,300 crore is to disbursed to 23.24 lakh farmers in 96 tehsils affected by drought. The Gujarat government has announced to pay input assistance to farmers of drought-hit areas in three different slabs. The aid will be provided as per the rainfall received in the affected areas during the monsoon. RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. (PTI) The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) might be looking at a '20-20' formula in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to a report by The Indian Express. According to sources cited by the newspaper, RJD is looking to contest on 20 seats while the Congress and its allies would contest from the remaining 20. Bihar sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha. "Our leader has hinted that seat-sharing talks will begin only after January 14. We will have seat-wise discussion on winnability of candidates," an RJD leader told the newspaper. While no word is out on the 20-20 formula yet, it could be possible, the leader said. The Congress and its allies in Bihar have also started putting pressure on the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led party. RJD, which recently received a boost after Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to join forces with the Oppositions Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) along with Economic Backward Classes (EBC) leader Mukesh Sahni. "Our political stock has gone up since the recent Assembly poll victories. There is a change in perception that the NDA can be defeated" a senior Congress leader told the newspaper. "This should translate into more seats for us in Bihar We would like to contest 12 seats," the leader added. According to the Congress leader, while leaders of smaller parties will get one seat, Kushwaha might get three to four seats. An RLSP leader told the newspaper that they have been assured of five seats, though RJD sources called it "too optimistic." Former Member of Parliament (MP) Sharad Yadavs Loktantrik Janta Dal (LJD) has been demanding two seats while former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) has been vying for three. RJD has reportedly offered LJD former one seat and a candidate of its recommendation to contest on RJD symbol. It has also offered one seat to HAM. "If this happens, we will not contest. We will not walk away from the Grand Alliance but wait for the 2020 Assembly polls," an HAM leader told the newspaper. In the 2014 general election, BJP had won 22 seats. The Indian National Congress and the RJD had won two and four, respectively. BJP ally Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), which had contested the polls against the BJP, had won two seats. RLSP and Ram Vilas Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) won three and six seats, respectively. Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had won one seat. The year 2018 would be etched in Sri Lanka's history as the most turbulent one politically as the cash-strapped country saw an unprecedented power struggle between the president and the prime minister, causing much concern in major world capitals, including in New Delhi. President Maithripala Sirisena's dramatic move to sack Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and install former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place following differences over policy issues, left the country without a functioning government for nearly two months. Rajapaksa's return to power drew concern in India that China would tighten its grip on the country. The veteran leader, who is credited for ending the brutal civil war with the LTTE in 2009, is under intense criticism for his decade-long authoritarian rule. However, a Supreme court verdict forced President Sirisena to reinstate United National Party (UNP) leader Wickremesinghe on December 16, ending Rajapaksa brief regime. During the political crisis, New Delhi sought to maintain a hands-off approach not wanting to be seen as taking sides. India chose to stay non-committal when Rajapaksa succeeded Wickremesinghe, who is seen as pro-India. Following Wickremesinghe's re-appointment, India welcomed the resolution of the political crisis and exuded confidence that relations between the two countries will continue to move on in an upward trajectory. The US, the European Union, Australia and Norway also welcomed the peaceful resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka came closer to China under Rajapaksa's decade-long tenure as the president, with Beijing pumping millions of dollars in the country's infrastructure since the end of the civil war. However, some of the projects had been reversed under the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government as Chinese debt hit the country's economy. China sees Lanka as crucial in its ambitious plan to expand trade routes, while India is concerned about growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean. Despite India's concerns over China's forays in Sri Lanka, including its acquisition of the strategic port of Hambantota, New Delhi and Colombo kept their relationship warm in 2018 with high-level exchanges and signing of pacts. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe visited India in October and held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on ways to deepen the bilateral ties. During the talks, Modi and Wickremesinghe reviewed the progress in implementation of various decisions taken during the high-level exchanges in the recent past, including Modi's visit to Sri Lanka in May 2017. They also discussed the progress of India-assisted development projects in the island nation. The two countries signed an agreement for construction of 1,200 houses through 50 model villages, using Indian grant assistance of 60 crore Srilankan rupees. The long-standing issue of fishermen, however, remained unresolved as India and Sri Lanka could not find a common ground. Both sides have agreed to set up Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to expedite the release and handing over of fishermen in each other's custody on completion of respective legal and procedural formalities. During the year, the Lankan economy grew at a slower than expected. The economy suffered due to nearly two month political turmoil that led to government dysfunction. Sri Lanka owes over USD 50 billion to foreign lenders, which is 77 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP). The country has to pay back more than USD 4 billion of its foreign loans, which just got harder as the political turmoil has sent the rupee to its lowest ever level against the US dollar. Sri Lankan rupee weakened nearly 17 per cent this year. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Wednesday warned of heightening global economic uncertainties but stressed that Japan's recovery had become resilient enough to fend off any external shocks. "The stock market has been somewhat unstable. The fluctuations are partly attributable to changes in perception of various risks surrounding the global economy," he said. "The BOJ will continue to carefully examine global market developments and various risks," Kuroda said in a speech at an annual meeting of the business lobby Keidanren. Representative Image Iran has held talks with the Afghan Taliban, one of the country's top security officials said, the Tasnim news agency reported on December 26. "The Afghan government has been informed of the communications and talks carried out with the Taliban, and this process will continue," said Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to Tasnim. No details on where the talks took place were given by the news agency, which is considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Shamkhani informed the Afghan authorities about the discussions during a visit to Kabul on Wednesday, according to Tasnim and other agencies. "The Islamic Republic has always been one of the primary pillars of stability in the region and cooperation between the two countries will certainly help in fixing Afghanistan's security issues of today," he said. Representative image Pakistani authorities on December 26 claimed to have foiled a terrorist attack at a Christmas ceremony in Punjab province and arrested four al-Qaeda terrorists. According to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), it got a credible information that four terrorists belonging to al-Qaeda were present near Francis Abad, Sheikhupura road Gujranwala, some 80-km from Lahore. "They were planning to attack a Christmas function in Gujranwala city on December 25," a CTD spokesman said in a statement on December 26. A CTD team along with police raided their hideout and arrested the four terrorists identified as Muhammad Tua Seen, Muhammad Junaid, Muneer Ahmed and Taaj Muhammad Shah. "The terrorists have made important disclosures regarding other plans of the al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Raids are being conducted to arrest their accomplices," the spokesman said. Explosive material and ammunition have been recovered from them. They have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further investigation. The CTD recently arrested a member of the al-Qaeda from Lahore. Syrian air defences opened fire on "enemy targets" near Damascus on December 25, state media reported, with a war monitor reporting an Israeli air strike. The official SANA news agency and the state broadcaster both reported that air defences opened fire on "enemy targets" to "confront" them, without giving further details. SANA said "a number of enemy targets were downed" by the air defences. "It's an Israeli raid," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. "Missiles fired from Israeli planes targeted... arms depots southwest and south of Damascus that belong to Hezbollah or Iranian forces," Abdel Rahman said. Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes in neighbouring Syria against what it says are Iranian targets, many of them in the area south of Damascus. At the end of November Syria said its air defences had targeted and downed a number of "hostile targets" over the Kisweh area south of Damascus. This article highlights a trend in class-action litigation as identified by our Class-Action Tracker . Thus the name of this feature, CATrends. If theres a white chocolate lover on your holiday shopping list, be forewarned: Not all white chocolate is the real deal. Thats according to a recent spate of class-action lawsuits alleging that a number of treats marketed as white chocolate do not meet the FDAs definition for the confection. For white chocolate to be called white chocolate, the agency has the following minimum requirements: 20 percent cocoa butter 14 percent milk solids (mmm, milk solids) 5 percent milk fat The FDA has only one limit, on sweeteners, which cannot exceed 55 percent. Fun fact: While you may be reading about these standards for the first time, they have been around since 2004. Thats when the FDA finalized a rule in response to petitions filed by the Hershey Company and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (now part of the National Confectioners Association). Real white chocolates flavor is partially imparted by cocoa butter and cacao fat. The imitation white chocolate in [Starbucks Doubleshot Energy White Chocolate Drink] does not have cocoa butter as required, and instead has other cheap confectionary ingredients to imitate the taste of white chocolate. The complaint against the coffee giant points to the absence of cocoa butter in the ingredients list on the label of the bottle. It notes that Starbucks has other white chocolate beverages that do contain cocoa butter, per ingredient information on the companys website, proving that Starbucks is fully aware of the qualities and ingredients that make up real white chocolate. Starbucks did not respond to request for comment. Neither did Nuts N More nor Living Intentions, whose trail mix may not be as white chocolate-y as advertised. A spokeswoman for Clif Bar & Company, maker of Clif and Luna bars, referred to a motion filed in response to the lawsuit against the company that argues product labeling is clear and transparent. She said in a statement: As our motion states, our product labels explicitly disclose that the white chocolate taste in the products is merely a natural flavor and not an ingredient. You be the judge: Crude dropped to the lowest since July 2017 as concerns over a weaker global economy and turbulence in Washington overshadowed signals from OPEC that it may deepen output cuts. Futures declined as much as 3.3 percent in New York as U.S. stocks tumbled to the lowest in more than a year, with investors assessing the threat to the economy from a government shutdown. In the oil market, traders are skeptical that OPECs output cuts will be enough to balance supply and demand. The U.S. benchmark is down about 16 percent since the producer group announced the agreement. As stocks get taken down and there is nervousness across financial markets, its just undercutting prices here, said John Kilduff, a partner at New York-based hedge fund Again Capital. The demand outlook continues to be called into question. The U.S. benchmark crude is on track for a 13 percent decline this month. OPEC agreed to cut output along with allies at a meeting earlier this month, and the UAEs energy minister signaled additional curbs could be discussed. Yet, crudes descent has deepened as investors doubt the reductions will be sufficient to dent supply levels, with U.S. crude output still above 11 million barrels a day on a weekly basis. At the same time, an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China and the Federal Reserves rate policy are causing concerns over global economic growth. The S&P 500 Index sank 1.8 percent, with its energy index shedding 3.2 percent. The declines were led by Hess Corp., which lost 8.4 percent, the most in almost three years, after Venezuelan forces temporarily halted ships working at a formation Hess and ExxonMobil are developing offshore Guyana. The main input over the weekend has been the continued intervention by OPEC members, said Olivier Jakob, managing director at Petromatrix. For now, those statements are ignored by the market because we are in this bearish cycle. West Texas Intermediate for February delivery fell $1.27 to $44.32 a barrel at 12:07 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange after earlier falling to as low as $44.10 a barrel. Total volume traded Monday was about 42 percent below the 100-day average ahead of the Christmas holiday Tuesday. WTI futures are down about 42 percent from an early-October high near $77 a barrel. Brent for February settlement dipped $1.36 to $52.46 a barrel on Londons ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude traded at an $8.12 premium to WTI. More Information Double whammy Energy companies with headquarters or major operations in the Houston are getting hit hard by the plunge in stock and oil markets. Their share prices fell faster on Monday than broader stock indexes, which lost just under percent. Here's a look at how they fared: Anadarko: -5.5 percent Occidental Petroluem: -4.8 percent ConocoPhillips: -4.7 percent Phillips 66: -4.7 percent Apache Corp. : -4.3 percent Exxon Mobil: -3.8 percent Chevron: -3.1 percent Source: Bloomberg See More Collapse Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAEs energy minister, said that OPEC has the option to hold an extraordinary meeting to decide on more output cuts if the current one isnt enough. At a press briefing in Kuwait, ministers from Iraq, the U.A.E. and Algeria took turns repeating the message that OPEC will deliver its production curbs and continue to work with its allies. As for OPECs cuts, they have to follow through on their rhetoric in a significant way in order for the price decline to stop, Kilduff said. Moda Midstream has started loading its first supertanker at the Houston company's Port of Corpus Christi export terminal. A Greek-flagged crude oil tanker named the Nasiriyah arrived at Moda's facility on Wednesday. Moda confirmed that the VLCC-sized tanker was being loaded on Thursday with 1.2 million barrels of crude oil from the Permian Basin of West Texas. Occidental Petroleum Senior Vice President of Midstream and Marketing Cynthia Walker said that the Houston oil company arranged for the supertanker to arrive Moda's facility. Walker said the Nasiriyah will become the first VLCC-sized tanker to deliver U.S. crude oil to Europe where Permian Basin crude oil is in high demand. Growth Industry: Crude oil exports to double by 2020 Calling the shipment a "significant milestone" for the company, Walker said the Port of Corpus Christi facility is well-positioned to receive and ship crude oil from the Permian Basin. "Loading VLCCs with Permian Basin crude oil builds on our position as the largest oil producer in the basin and one of the largest exporters of light sweet crude in the United States," Walker said in a statement. Touted as some of the largest tankers in the world, Very Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs, are capable of holding up to 2 million barrels of crude oil of crude oil but the 45-foot depth of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel prevents them from being fully loaded. The Port of Corpus Christi plans to deepen and widen the ship channel to support two-way supertanker traffic. $2.6 Billion Deal: Oxy sells Ingleside oil export terminal Moda bought the facility from Houston-based Occidental Petroleum in August. Since that time, Moda has made dock modifications and installed loading arms that can load VLCC-sized tankers at a rate of 80,000 barrels per hour. Before it sold the facility to Moda, Occidental Petroleum tested a VLCC-sized tanker at the Port of Corpus Christi terminal in May 2017. Although the dock and equipment tests were successful, the crude oil tanker left the facility without a shipment. San Antonio-based NuStar Energy performed a similar test using a Suezmax-sized tanker at its Port of Corpus Christi facility in September. Suezmax tankers are one size below VLCC tankers. The states next governor said hell make legalizing marijuana a top priority, but adult consumers could be waiting a year or more for recreational sales to begin in Illinois. The director of the states leading cannabis legalization group said Illinoisans can expect to see industrial hemp cultivation before recreational marijuana sales in Illinois. Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker said despite Michigan voters approving legalization last month, Illinois could look at other states with recreational sales operations to find the right regulatory structure and still be the first state in the Midwest to offer retail cannabis sales. The good news about being eighth or ninth to get this done is we can look at what works and put it in place in Illinois, Pritzker said. It may take 12 months for either state to get recreational sales, said Dan Linn, Illinois state director for the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws. Even if Illinois lawmakers pass something with an immediate effective date early next year, they still would have to craft rules to allow existing medical dispensaries to take part in recreational sales. That could take some time. Linn said he expects Michigan to beat Illinois to the punch. Linn said theres a lot to discuss on the issue surrounding recreational sales in Illinois. He said there should be equity in the licensing process, along with provisions to help communities hardest hit by the war on drugs and licenses for social consumption clubs. He also wants consumers to be able to grow their own cannabis. Thats something that, as a consumer-based organization, we value very strongly, Linn said. We think that having that type of home cultivation aspect allows for those small-business opportunities to exist. Some law enforcement groups, like the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, are concerned that home cultivation could be a problem. It becomes almost impossible to regulate and it really opens up a lot for the black market, too, said Ed Wojcicki, spokesman for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Colorado officials cautioned Illinois lawmakers earlier this year about home cultivation feeding into a gray market, where cannabis goes untaxed and unregulated. Tax rates are another issue. Experts have told Illinois lawmakers in other hearings about the importance of striking the right balance on cannabis taxes. Setting taxes too high could push users back to unregulated markets. Wojcicki said law enforcement officials want to be at the table for discussions about recreational cannabis to ensure regulations address safety for the public at large and young people in particular. He also said the group would like to see tight regulations on how potent edibles can be. Congress passed a farm bill this week that legalized hemp farming. Linn said Illinois residents probably will see hemp fields before recreational sales in retail outlets. I think that the Chicago Port Authority or some of those larger industry-type places should start looking into developing processing mills so that Illinois can capture that Midwestern central hub advantage once the entire country goes to hemp farming, he said. Linn said hemp farming will provide long-term economic advantages. The time is right for the state to capitalize on that, he said. Hemp, which can be used for everything from food to industrial products, does not contain THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Minority leader is still insistent on ... Governor Jerry Brown announced that he has granted 143 pardons and 131 commutations. Brown was Wednesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Individuals who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply to the Governor for a pardon. Those granted pardons all completed their prison sentences years ago and the majority were convicted of drug-related or other nonviolent crimes. Pardons are not granted unless they are earned. A gubernatorial pardon may be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction. The process includes eligible individuals obtaining a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated. When a pardon is granted, the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are notified so that they may update their records on the applicant. The pardon is filed with the Secretary of State and the Legislature, and it is a public record. Individuals currently serving a sentence for a conviction by the California courts can petition to have their sentence reduced by applying for a commutation. In the majority of these commutations, the individuals have been granted the opportunity to make their case before the Board of Parole Hearings, which will determine whether they are ready to be paroled. Additionally, Brown issued an order regarding the pending application for executive clemency submitted by Kevin Cooper, which directs limited retesting of certain physical evidence in the case and appoints a retired judge as a special master to oversee this testing, its scope and protocols. This order comes after the administration requested additional information from Mr. Coopers legal counsel and the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office earlier this year and thoroughly reviewed the record. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. The Plainview Police Department conducted multiple raids Friday morning but they weren't crime-related. Multiple officers, dispatchers and their families have been working all week to shop, wrap and on Friday, deliver gifts to multiple local children. "This is the fourth annual Christmas With Cops program," said PPD Detective Jesse Ortiz. The program was originally started with the idea of impacting local foster kids who may have a negative view of law enforcement after removal from their homes, Ortiz said. "We wanted to show them that we're not bad," he said. As a result, the department gathers community donations and conducts fundraisers every year to go on a Christmas shopping spree for the kids, he said. The department doesn't do it alone, Ortiz said. The Christmas With Cops program is backed with support from the Elk Lodge #1175, the Rainbow Room a resource for troubled families provided through the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards, and countless other community organizations. Brenda Ramirez, esteemed leading knight with the Elks Lodge, said the lodge does fundraisers each year for the PD's Christmas program. This year, the Elks Lodge received a $750 grant from the Elks National Foundation to be utilized to give back to the community and the lodge chose to use it for Christmas With Cops, Ramirez said. But the organization always aims to donate at least $2,000 for the Christmas program, she said. "We Elks are very big on veterans and these children," Ramirez said. "Anything we can do to give back to the children and to the community." A room in the Elks Lodge on Friday was filled with numbered black trash bags full of wrapped toys, clothes and electronics to be given to each of the 58 kids the cops were set to deliver to. An excess of what looked to be easily over 100 toys sat in piles on the other half of the room. Ortiz and other officers said those toys were to be handed out to kids along the way who happened to see Santa Claus, who joined in the deliveries, with the cops. The room was bustling with movement as they loaded the Plainview PD emergency response vehicle, a truck and several squad cars with the gifts. The ages of the kids receiving the items ranged from 2 months to 16 years, Ortiz said. "The PD does not pick these kids," he said. "We have no say so on who gets chosen. We work with the Rainbow Room and CPS." PD officials spent Tuesday and Wednesday evenings wrapping and sorting the gifts preparing for Friday's morning delivery. So if you witnessed the group of PD vehicles with lights driving around town Friday morning, they were making deliveries. Ortiz said the number of those they deliver to has grown every year. "We make it as realistic to Christmas as the other kids who are not in this position," he said. Toni, My husband is finally retiring from the company he has worked at since 1995 and now our Medicare nightmare is beginning. Jims company has changed ownership many times since he turned 65 in 2001 and we can only receive verification paperwork which goes back to 2012, leaving an 11-year gap. Social Security will not approve our Part B to begin Jan. 1 and has stated that we need to come back and apply again any time from Jan. 1 to March 31. Jim is 82 and I am 76 and the Social Security agent said he would have an 110 percent penalty and I will have a 50 percent penalty. Why is this so complicated? No one ever told Jim he needed to have paperwork signed when the company changed ownership. He has never worked for another company for 22 years. No one in HR will verify because the records only go back to 2012. What a mess! Please advise what we should do. Claire from San Antonio With companies laying off, changing ownership or closing the doors, America needs to know the rules of Medicare. Many HR managers and their assistants are not aware that employees past 65 need to have the Social Security form #QMB No.0938-0787 known as Request for Employment Information which verifies proof of group health care coverage based on current or past employment. Have the special form signed and retain it in a safe place for when you finally retire and need to apply for Medicare Part B for both yourself and your spouse (if they are also receiving benefits from your company). Last week, a new client came to the Toni Says office for Medicare consultation and because he reads the column in his local newspaper, he was aware to go back to his past employers (which there were three since he turned 65) and have them fill out the form. He specifically made sure that there was not a gap between these employers. When he retires next year, he will have his current employer also fill out a form and take all forms to the local Social Security office. I would speak with the HR manager and express your concerns. If these forms have any gaps, then both of you will receive a Part B penalty. You will be enrolled as a General Enrollment Period, as the Social Security agent was talking about which has no Special Enrollment Period protection keeping you from receiving a Part B penalty. Medicare Special and General Enrollment Periods are listed below: Special Enrollment Period : Enroll after 65 when delaying Medicare Part B for you and your spouse due to working full time with company benefits. All employers since turning 65 need to sign form. (Very Important) General Enrollment Period : Jan. 1-March 31 is the enrollment period when one who has not enrolled in Part B or cannot receive all employer benefit verification dates from current and/or past employers on the Request for Employment Information form since turning 65. During the General Enrollment Period, one can enroll in Medicare Part B, but WILL receive a Part B penalty for each 12-month period that you cannot prove you had employer benefits. The Part B penalty will continue for as long as you are using Medicare. Your Medicare Part B will begin July 1. Visit www.abbs4u.com and attend ABBS (American Baby Boomer Society) Medicare courses for more information. Merry Christmas from Toni and the Toni Says team with a $5 discount on the Medicare Survival Guide Advanced book and bundle packages for Toni Says newspaper readers at www.tonisays. com. Email questions to info@tonisays.com or call 832-519-8664. The man arrested in connection with the September death of a South Side teen was going to buy a gun from the victim, according to a San Antonio Police affidavit. Alonzo Cantu, 19, was arrested by police detectives Monday on a charge of murder. Police believe he shot 15-year-old Sonny Vidales through the victims bedroom window on Sept. 22. In an early-morning exchange on social media that Saturday, Cantu arranged to buy a gun from Vidales for $420, according to the warrant for Cantus arrest. In the affidavit for the warrant, police said they found guns in Vidales bedroom that had previously been reported as stolen. Cantu and Vidales met at Vidales bedroom window, the warrant states. Shortly after that, Vidales was shot in the chest. Vidales managed to walk to his mothers bedroom, told her he had been shot and fell to the floor. Its unclear if the gun used was the one that was discussed in the social media exchange. The victims mother, Christine Vidales, said her son collapsed in front of his 3-year-old sister. She said her son was funny, gregarious and a fiercely devoted brother to his siblings. Detectives discovered the social media conversation on Vidales cell phone, which they found in his bedroom. It began at 12:58 a.m. that Saturday, the warrant states. When Cantu asked Vidales for his address, Vidales told him it was a house on Adolph Street. Yeah bro but Im just saying u cant come outside or something I dont trust that inside (expletive), Cantu told Vidales. About 40 minutes later, Cantu said: 420$ rn, which stands for right now. At 1:48 a.m., Vidales responded: middle window. Four minutes later, San Antonio police received a report of a shooting in progress. A 40-caliber shell casing was found outside the window, according to the warrant. Cantu is at the county jail under $100,000 bail. Dylan McGuinness covers local politics and the Bexar County government for the Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | dylan.mcguinness@express-news.net | Twitter: @DylMcGuinness A 15-year-old was in the process of selling a stolen gun when he was shot and killed by the buyer, according to San Antonio police. Alonzo Cantu, 19, was arrested Monday in connection to the slaying of Sonny Vidales on Sept. 22. He is charged with murder. An arrest affidavit obtained by mySA.com revealed new details about the shooting and the moments leading up to it. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox After officers responded to Vidales' home in the 300 block of Adolph Street, they discovered stolen firearms as well as the teen's cell phone, the affidavit says. Investigators examined the phone for evidence and discovered a social media conversation between Vidales and Cantu on the night of the shooting, showing Vidales trying to sell the stolen guns and Cantu offering to buy one, according to the affidavit. The two settled on a price of $420 and Cantu asked Vidales to conduct the exchange outside. The two agreed to make the sale through Vidales' bedroom window, according to the affidavit. READ MORE: 19-year-old arrested in September homicide of South Side teen Police said that during the exchange Cantu shot Vidales in the chest through the window before fleeing. Vidales walked out of his bedroom and collapsed in front of his family before dying, according to the affidavit. In the days following the shooting, Cantu deleted many social media photos of him posing with firearms, according to the affidavit. The deletions occurred while police were interviewing his girlfriend, authorities said, but officers were still able to obtain the deleted photos through a search warrant. Police interviewed another witness who told police she heard Cantu talk about the shooting and how it occurred, according to the affidavit. That statement helped police obtain enough evidence to arrest Cantu, who did not speak to reporters as he was taken to jail. Cantu remained in Bexar County Jail Wednesday. His bail was set at $100,000. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA A 24-year-old convicted felon admitted to police he accidentally fired his rifle in a West Side San Antonio Walmart parking lot while trying to load it, and then fled without checking to see if anyone was wounded, according to an arrest affidavit. No one was struck but the incident left at least two cars riddled with bullet holes, photos from the scene show. Nikolos Marko Cruz faces two charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two drug possession charges and one charge of deadly conduct. All are felonies. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail Tuesday and his bail was set at $99,500. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to his arrest affidavit, Cruz went to the Walmart in the 6700 block of West Loop 1604 on Dec. 16 and purchased four boxes of Winchester 7.62X39mm rounds. While checking out, he provided his date of birth to the cashier. He then returned to his vehicle and began loading his rifle. As he did so, he accidentally opened fire, striking at least two nearby cars, police said. Cruz, a convicted felon, told investigators "he was scared because he knows he is not supposed to possess any weapons and fled the scene." RELATED: Motorcyclist killed when ejected from bike on West Side, police say "[Cruz] also asked me if anyone was hurt because he never checked the vehicles before he fled," notes a San Antonio Police Department investigator in the affidavit. Investigators reviewed security camera footage from the Walmart were able to identify Cruz from his date of birth provided at checkout. On Dec. 24, police caught Cruz in possession of weapons and drugs and arrested him. They later charged him in connection to the Walmart shooting. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns A motorcyclist was killed late Tuesday after clipping the back of a vehicle on the West Side, police said. The victim, a man in his 20s, left a party at about 10:10 p.m. and was traveling near West Martin and NW 19th when he hit the back of a sedan. San Antonio police opened an investigation into a suspicious death Monday after receiving a call for an assault to a 30-year-old woman, authorities said. Police responded to an assault call in the 2600 block of Monticello Court around 10 a.m., according to a police report. The voice of Gen. Mazloum Abdi, the Kurdish commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces militia, is tight and controlled as he describes President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the country and leave Americas allies to their fate. This was something we never expected, he said somberly in a telephone interview Saturday night from his command headquarters in northeast Syria. Honestly, until now, everything the Americans told us, they fulfilled, and the same thing for us. So we were surprised and confused. We were not ready for a decision like this. Mazloum explained the dangers of a terrorist resurgence after Trumps sudden decision. Islamic State communications last week showed new hope they can restore their caliphate, which was on the way to destruction, he said. Whats more, Mazloum has been holding more than 2,200 Islamic State prisoners, including 700 foreign fighters. Without help from the United States and other coalition members, those deadly fighters may eventually escape. Whats agonizing is that Mazloum has been fighting alongside U.S. Special Operations Forces that represent the steadfastness of this countrys military, and now he is experiencing a quite different American face. To be frank, the first thing I thought about when I heard this decision was Americas reputation, Mazloum said. Because after this decision, what are people going to say about America? All the credibility and trust that was built, we have lost. Mazloum is a tough, unsentimental commander, in his early 50s. When Ive met him on past visits to Syria, he conveyed a quality of calm and deliberative judgment thats rare among militia leaders in that part of the world. The Kurdish fighters have an almost cultlike commitment to follow his orders and hold their ground, no matter what. This willingness to fight and die under U.S. guidance has made the Kurdish-led forces unique allies. With American air support, SDF fighters destroyed the Islamic States capital of Raqqa and all its major strongholds. The Kurds and their Syrian allies paid a severe price: They have suffered about 4,000 dead and 10,000 wounded since 2014. Over that same period, the United States lost only three soldiers in Syria, according to a U.S. military spokesperson. Mazloum said Trumps decision was a shock because it came just a week after a personal visit from Ambassador James Jeffrey, the administrations special envoy to Syria. Jeffrey promised that U.S. forces wouldnt withdraw until they had achieved the enduring defeat of the Islamic State, the expulsion of Iranian troops from Syria and a political settlement that stabilized the country. The Kurdish people have been abandoned by America before, when they became politically expendable. I asked Mazloum if he had ever thought, in working with his U.S. advisers, that the same thing might happen again. If you want the truth, no, he said. Now, after Trumps announcement, hes scrambling to open channels with Russia and the Syrian regime, to fill this vacuum left by America. What astonished me most during our hourlong conversation was that Mazloums forces continue waging their bloody campaign against the remnants of the Islamic State in eastern Syria, even though his fighters want to return home to Kurdish areas and protect their families. Mazloum said his forces had suffered at least 27 killed in action since Trumps abrupt decision, and many more wounded, as a revitalized terrorist adversary sent a wave of more than 10 suicide attacks against Mazloums front lines. Right now, we are fighting for ourselves, for our existence, Mazloum said. Because all our fighters know that if they dont defend themselves (the Islamic State) will come back and be stronger, murdering and beheading their families. Mazloum believes that Trump made a deal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has threatened to invade Kurdish areas and destroy what he claims is Kurdish terrorism. Mazloum said he advised his commanders that this agreement was made by U.S. politicians, not soldiers. I asked Mazloum what he would be doing the following morning. He said he planned to go to the front lines, to bolster the morale of his 10,000 troops still battling the Islamic State. In this holiday season, when we think about keeping faith, thats the kind of ally we are betraying. @IgnatiusPost There are many moving parts and many actors in this most recent partial shutdown of the federal government, but there is one main architect. Thats President Donald Trump. Congressional Democrats and Republicans can agree on the broad contours of increased border security think fewer walls and more fences, high tech and personnel. They can, therefore, arrive without much difficulty at a spending bill that keeps nine of the 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies funded. The sticking point is a thing that has always been a bad idea a border wall. The president is insisting he will not sign any spending bill that doesnt give him $5 billion for such a wall. A wall that will ultimately go from the Gulf to the Pacific, traverse over government and private property trampling the rights of those private owners, and despoiling the environment and disrupting wildlife. And will in all likelihood be ineffective. This is all about the president being able to fulfill a campaign promise to his base to erect what has always been a bad idea. This isnt about necessity. Its about politics. There will be no spending bill without that $5 billion for a border wall, he says. How political? Trumps support even among those wanting a border wall is eroding because of continuing fallout from various investigations of the president and his campaign for obstruction and collusion; the presidents longtime lawyer/fixer pleading guilty for a crime in which he implicates the president in committing felonies involving hush money for sexual affairs; an abrupt decision to withdraw all troops from Syria and about half of those in Afghanistan which sparked the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and severe criticism worldwide; and a forced shutdown of the Trump Foundation because of a whole lot of self-dealing. Yes, Democrats are, so far, steadfast against a bad idea. Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to convince the president of compromise that involves more border security measures. Meanwhile, only one person remains hot about that wall. The president the guy with the veto pen. This means that days before Christmas, roughly 380,000 federal employees were furloughed without pay, though in the past they have been paid retroactively once the shutdown ends. So, essentially a paid vacation, right? Tell that to creditors and merchants who want to be paid immediately, furlough or not. More than 420,000 essential employees continue to work, but also without pay. Among those essential employees are those who work for the FBI, the Border Patrol, the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration. This last one ensures screeners will still be on the job as our airports experience high-volume travel. And among those 380,000 furloughed employees will be those who work for NASA, Housing and Urban Development, the Commerce Department and the National Parks Service, along with 52,000 at the Internal Revenue Service. Weve said it before. There is never, ever a good reason to force a government shutdown. It disrupts vital government services, hurts those dependent on those services, unfairly penalizes federal workers who provide those services and inflicts enduring economic fallout, the more severe the longer the shutdown lasts. The administration says it could continue through the new year. A new Congress is installed Jan. 3. Someone has to blink here. We suggest its the guy with the bad idea. We also suggest that those in Congress who are enabling him cease and desist. Guess who doesnt suffer through this debacle at least not financially? That would be members of Congress. They get paid because their salaries were funded by an already approved spending bill. Have you caught on that Mexico will not fund the wall? Looking for Congress to do that is what this shutdown is all about. Mexico paying was always a piece of fiction. Heres what else is that the wall is needed and that any meaningful principle is involved in holding federal spending hostage to get it built. A BULAWAYO forex dealer has been sentenced to perform community service after she pleaded guilty to illegally dealing in foreign currency. $1 608 in bond notes, 2 280 rand and US$5 belonging to Esther Sibanda was also forfeited to the State. The woman appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Ndlovu facing charges of illegally dealing in foreign currency. The magistrate sentenced her to five months in prison, but one month was suspended on condition of good behaviour and the other four months were suspended on condition that she performs 140 hours of community service. You are sentenced to five months in prison, a month suspended on condition of good behaviour, four months suspended on condition that you perform 140 hours of community service in Cowdray Park, said the magistrate. Sibanda pleaded guilty to dealing in foreign currency without a licence, permit or permission. Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said last week on Wednesday, Sibanda (27) unlawfully exchanged currency at a premium or discount without a licence or permit. Allegations are that on December 19 this year, police officers who were on patrol for apprehending illegal currency dealers in the CBD at around 3.15PM at L Takawira and Herbert Chitepo Street found Sibanda seated at the centre parking. said Mr Chile. Sibanda touted one of the police by calling him and mentioning that she changes money. The officer responded positively to the offer with intentions of wanting to buy rands. During their conversation the other police officer stood behind Sibanda hearing the conversation. The officers then introduced themselves and arrested her. The court heard Sibanda was taken to ZRP Bulawayo Licence inspectorate where she was searched and $1 608 in bond notes, 2 280 rand and US$5 were found in her possession. Chronicle Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who met Cyril Ramaphosa recently, said he briefed the South African President on the Zimbabwean crisis and why the economy was on a tailspin. There is no confidence because there is no political stability, the elections were rigged, Chamisa said of his meeting with Ramaphosa during a visit to Mbare Musika bus terminus Monday. He added, The elections were rigged because the result of what the people voted for, was not the one that was announced. So, there is need to go back to what the source of the problem is. Chamisa described the meeting with one of the continents most powerful men as fruitful. He said a wide range of urgent and important matters regarding the wellbeing of ordinary Zimbabweans was discussed. This was the first meeting between the two after the hotly disputed July 30 election whose results were upheld by the countrys Constitutional Court following a challenge by the MDC. The main objective was to sensitise him of our situation, give him our side of the story in terms of the way forward, Chamisa said. Zimbabweans are suffering. We cant afford to go on like this. There is need for leadership and unfortunately Mr Mnangagwa is not willing to provide the kind of leadership that is required. We must not think about our parties or about power, lets think about Zimbabweans, lets think about the people whom we are supposed to be leading so that we come together, we share that best way forward. The MDC leader said Zimbabwe could be a better country if Mnangagwa was willing to sit down with rivals and map the way forward. We have answers but we cant provide those answers because there is no platform to provide those answers. They have questions but they are not able answer those questions because they dont have the answers, he said. We are the answers and we want them to be part of this communication so that we are able to move forward. Our objective is not to form a Government of National Unity. Our objective is to talk about what the problem is. There was a contestation of the election results, there is no confidence; so we have to resolve confidence issues. How do we deal with them, how do we deal with the legitimate issues, lets deal with the political stability issues. The challenges we have in the economy is because, the politics is stinking and how do we resolve the politics. We must have political dialogue. NewZimbabwe Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News War veterans from across the country have disowned a group of members who demonstrated at Munhumutapa offices in Harare last week pressing to have their demands met. Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairpersons from seven provinces and some national executive members met in Kadoma where they condemned a group of people that demonstrated purporting to be representing the interests of the freedom fighters. The chairpersons said the demonstrators are not part of the rank and file of the war veteran structures. Bonafide freedom fighters understand protocol and in the case of last weeks incident, the manner in which the demonstration was staged shows those behind the action have no clear understanding of the ethos and values of the liberation struggle, said Cde Sonny Mguni Chairman for Matabeleland North Province. The Kadoma meeting also discussed the issue of former ZIPRA properties, which they hope to retain. The properties are said to be under judicial management. Present at the Kadoma meeting were Secretary General Victor Matemadanda and chairpersons from Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo, Harare, Mashonaland East and the Midlands provinces. ZBC Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News A MANYAME Park traditional healer, Gogo Malema real name Martha Chakudzuka was reported to have made an alleged thief Paida Kachipare vomit poop after he stole things at her house. Kachipare was once her aide. He stood accused of stealing an inverter, a flash and two bedspreads at her house. Some of the residents have accused gogo Malema of staging this incident for her to gain popularity as the two are alleged to be relatives. A source told H-Metro yesterday that the two could have stage managed the act. Kachipare used to work with gogo Malema kuMatare (act of consulting with the spirits) where he would play hosho, said the source. However, Gogo Malema insisted that Kachipare had stolen from her. He came on December 4 when I was in Pretoria fixing my grandchildrens issues. My granddaughter who I left looking after the house told me everything that transpired upon my arrival and that moment I consulted Matare and was told to use that kind of spell on him so that he returns the things. After two days, the wife came with the inverter and she told me that the other things had been sold. I then told the wife to bring her husband to my house and he came today vomiting poop. I told him that I will only make this go away once he brings back my things or pay me cash which is equivalent to the goods he stole. So they said they will look for the money so that I cast away the spell, she said. Kachipares grandmother Emilia Manyika, who is also a traditional healer, said she always discouraged him from thieving. I always tell him not to steal peoples stuff but he doesnt listen. I am a traditional healer also and I know what we are capable of doing after things like these happen. So I dont blame gogo Malema for doing this, she said. Gogo Malema is a traditional healer registered with Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA). HMetro Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has described 2018 as very difficult following the death of the opposition partys founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai and a controversial election in July. Chamisa (NC) told our chief reporter Everson Mushava (EM) in an exclusive interview yesterday that he had set his sights on making an impact in the lives of Zimbabweans next year. He also insisted on talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying the disputed election was holding the country back and there was no substitute for dialogue. Below are excerpts from the interview. EM: This year you rose to become the president of the MDC and contested the watershed elections. Can you describe how 2018 was for you? NC: This was a difficult year, we lost our dear leader (Tsvangirai). We lost our icon, the founding president of the movement. Beyond that, we went into a decisive election, which we emphatically won despite the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission deciding otherwise. We went to court to seek to have the valid result announced and it was a huge set back because we expected the obvious. We anticipated the valid endorsement of the will of the people. However, that did not happen. We are in the process of defending our vote and put on the table the issue of the true will and authentic voice of the people of Zimbabwe. This is why we have put a five point plan to solve the economic ailment affecting our people. The year 2019 is decisive for the party to reverse the misfortune of Zimbabweans at various levels in their general lives. We have to put a full stop to tyranny, dictatorship and are on the path to reform, nation building and peace building. It will be a turnaround year. It is a take-off year, remedying the ailment affecting our country. It is also the year to revitalise and rejuvenate the organisation through organisational renewal and deepening of our internal democratic processes with the intention of giving effect to the partys new direction. EM: What challenges did you encounter as the leader of the MDC during an election year? NC: Filling in the shoes of a giant, to be able to take the path of an election, to move from one million votes to two million something we should thank God for. The future is bright, people believe in the struggle. We are humbled by the support we get from across the rural, tribal and racial divide. The party is all over now. It is supported and loved. EM: What do you attribute the jump from one million votes to the two million to? NC: A number of factors, the legacy of Morgan Tsvangirai and our rural strategy. We had penetrated the rural areas, the convergence of different forces. Even former president Robert Mugabe believing in our movement [was a great boost]. Some people think it was a negative thing, but I think it is a huge advantage to be supported by someone who carries the torch of the liberation struggle. We are connecting with the liberation struggle. Our panAfrican teeth are growing. We now have a nationalistic appeal and of course, we are entrenching our dominance as a state actor. EM: Some critics say the MDC would have garnered more votes in that election had it been united. What is your reaction to that? NC: I dont think so. I feel the internal fights were inconsequential. The MDC is a massive organisation. The dynamics of such a dynamic organisation is that there are activities in it and that is what makes our democracy strong. At no point did we have internal contradictions that undermined our performance. We won this election. We did our best. We were pushing this struggle knowing that God is in it. EM: In the run-up to the recent Zanu PF annual conference, war veterans said they wanted the minimum age for presidential election candidates to be raised from 40 to 52 years and this would have disqualified you from contesting the next election. What are your thoughts on that? NC: I talk to war veterans every time. The genuine war veterans are interested in genuine discourse that makes our country move forward. I have never doubted their commitment to a better life for all Zimbabweans and the reason why the war was waged was to give effect to the liberation agenda. It requires unanimous endorsement of the support given to universal suffrage. That was the core of the liberation struggle, and it includes the right to vote and to be voted for. In fact, we should actually reduce the presidential age limit to 18. If you are able to vote, you should also be able to be voted for. We should actually remove the presidential bar and make sure the right to vote moves with the right to be voted. All the war veterans went to war at a tender age, the likes of (vice-presidents) Constantino Chiwenga, Kembo Mohadi and Mnangagwa himself. EM: Those making such a proposal say you are not mature. What is your reaction to that? NC: What is the definition of maturity? I dont know what they are talking about. There are people who think age comes with wisdom. Others have grown old without growing up, especially in Zanu PF. The legal age of majority was decided after several considerations. Barack Obama was leader of the United States of America at a tender age and succeeded, the same with [Emmanuel] Macron of France; they are in their prime time. If maturity is a crime associated with not being hardened in the old school of corruption and killing, then I am guilty as charged. That is not the type of politics that I believe in. Maturity is defined in the ability to give Zimbabweans a decent life. Maturity is defined by the currency your people use, the hospitals the people go to, and many other factors, but now if you look at these, I can say that most of our leaders lack maturity. Most of these old politicians are late bloomers, they are blooming in their 70s and 80s and they want everyone to wait. EM: The commission of inquiry led by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe released its report last week and accused the MDC Alliance of planning the August 1 protests. What is your comment on those findings? NC: The Motlanthe findings were not backed by any fact. You dont say an organisation has organised protests when it has structures and you dont cite any reason why the decision was made. Who in the MDC and how did they organise the protests and with what intention? It is hard to understand the warped reasoning behind the report. It has no factual basis. Its a bold and wild conclusion without underpinning evidence. We have organised demonstrations before and at the MDC, we dont organise demonstrations that way. There was no need to organise the demonstration, we had won emphatically. Winners dont demonstrate, they celebrate. EM: The commission recommended dialogue, but recently Mnangagwa said he would not negotiate with losers. NC: Mnangagwa should not negotiate with himself because he was the loser in the elections. He does not understand that there is nothing that can beat dialogue this is what separates humans from other animals. EM: Zanu PF say you want dialogue because you are desperate for an inclusive government. NC: That can only come from those who do not understand. Dialogue does not mean inclusive government. The nation is divided and in different perspectives, how do we reconcile our view points? How do we deal with national discourse? We are already in government by virtue of our control of councils, we are already a government at a local level. We are not driven by love of power, but the love of our country, love of peace, our people, resources, and the love for each other. Power is meaningless if it is not serving countrymen. EM: Some say you must give Mnangagwa a chance. Is it something you have considered? NC: It is not about individuals, it is about the will of the people. We have a crisis in government. It is the crisis of legitimacy. The results announced do not reflect the will of the people. We cannot have political stability without economic stability and vice-versa. The Standard Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Readers, Im going to be lazy today as well. Ill return with a full Water Cooler tomorrow. For today, heres some of the material thats built up in my Xmas Folder. lambert Politics 2018 ME-02: Poliquin drops challenge to ranked-choice voting, clearing way for Golden to take seat in Congress [Portland Press Herald]. In his statement, Poliquin continued to term ranked-choice voting as unconstitutional, and therefore illegal and said that in the statewide referendum, voters in his district of central and northern Maine rejected the election method. Poliquin did not formally concede the election in his statement, but said he had been honored to serve in Congress for the last four years and wished Golden personally the best during the coming term.' Classy, as is dropping the news on the day before Christmas. More important than the office holder is that the challenge to RCV failed. Thats quite a Christmas gift! Realignment and Legitimacy Concrete material benefits: South King County DSA giving out some coats and food to our neighbors in Kent this week. pic.twitter.com/xu3idhi6zn South King County DSA (@DSASoKingCounty) December 22, 2018 The only political institutions doing this are DSA and the churches, apparently Xmas Cheer Robert Mueller devotional candle: A devotional gift for Xmas. pic.twitter.com/Dw3FADZb14 Nick Decaro (@decaro_nick) December 25, 2018 One for the Brits: A tin of mince pies baked during World War II was found perfectly preserved under the floorboards of a hotel on the Isle of Man They've now been put on display at the Manx Museum ( via @manxheritage) pic.twitter.com/p2YtTHXVhT TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) December 24, 2018 Yum! A good obsession to have: My 3 year old is so obsessed with David Byrne that all he wanted from Santa was an electric guitar, a mic, and a Stop Making Sense suit. pic.twitter.com/SGfY7XK4YO Cassie Murdoch (@cassiemurdoch) December 25, 2018 A musical interlude for Cassies three-year-old, though not especially Christmas-y: Prophetic, though. News of the Wired This is a good thread (and not especially gendered when you go through it): A thread: HOW TO HELP IN THE KITCHEN AT THE HOLIDAYS WHEN YOU ARE A DUDE AND HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY SHOOED OUT OF THE KITCHEN, ONLY TO WATCH YOUR MOTHERS AND SISTERS LOOK EXHAUSTED ALL THROUGH THE HOLIDAY Hannah Erroneous (@TheMonaOgg) December 24, 2018 And the follow-up: My favourite negative reactions to this thread have been wow, so hierarchical. I get why people like horizontal hierarchies and they have their place, but time sensitive operations involving expertise built up over years is a great contest for listening to the experienced folk. https://t.co/BjgK7lOquZ Hannah Erroneous (@TheMonaOgg) December 25, 2018 * Context, of course. Not contest. Dammit, @jack, wheres that edit button? * * * Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (PM): First rule: Dont place the subject in the centre of the frame. Second rule: Dont place the subject in the centre of the frame. Third rule: Dont place the subject in the centre of the frame. Heinrich Vandenberg, Not the First or Second Rule, Phototips: Composing Nature. * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser, now completed. So do feel free to make a contribution today or any day. Here is why: Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of small donations helps me with expenses, and I factor that trickle in when setting fundraising goals. So if you see something you especially appreciate, do feel free to click below! (The hat is temporarily defunct, so I slapped in some old code.) Or Subscribe to make a monthly payment! (Natural News) California Democratic Senator Connie M. Leyva recently introduced legislation calling for free abortion drugs to be provided at all California public university campuses beginning in 2023. But a prominent medical doctor is warning that the scheme amounts to medical malpractice. According to Dr. Donna Harrison, the executive director of the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Sen. Leyvas proposal will put untold thousands of campus females at risk of serious complications. Thats because abortion pharmaceuticals can cause major complications in up to 20 percent of women who take them. The false idea that drug induced abortion is safe is an often repeated mantra which flies in the face of the fact that studies show almost one out of five women will experience a major complication like excessive bleeding, infection, tissue left inside or other complications resulting in an emergency room visit and possibly emergency surgery to complete the abortion, Dr. Harrison told The College Fix via email. On-campus health centers are not staffed or equipped to deal with these complications, so the plan is to dump these complications on the emergency room. In any other medical situation this irresponsible lack of care for known complications would be considered patient abandonment and malpractice. For more news about the leftist obsession of murdering unborn babies in the womb, be sure to check out Abortions.news and Libtards.news. Any doctor who agrees to perform abortions is in clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath Dr. Harrison says shes currently reviewing some 3,000 adverse event reports that women whove taken abortion pills have submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But in her view, these are only the tip of the iceberg, since it is estimated that only a small percentage of drug induced harms ever get reported to the FDA. Natural News has reported on this in the past, warning that while tens of thousands of people who are injured or killed by pharmaceutical drugs successfully make it into the FDAs adverse events database, these entries represents as little as one percent of the actual number that occur the vast majority of which never get reported. Dr. Harrison also warns that any on-campus doctor who would agree to administer abortion drugs in the first place isnt a true doctor, because unborn baby murder is a clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath, to which every licensed physician is required to swear. Further, doctors who have taken the Hippocratic Oath do not participate in killing their unborn patients and it is against federal law to force any health care provider to participate in the killing of their patients, born or unborn. Incoming California Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom strongly supports handing out taxpayer-funded abortion pills to campus females If it passes, Sen. Leyvas bill, known as Senate Bill 24, will apportion a $200,000 grant to every public university in the Golden State money that would be specifically used to cover the costs associated with medication abortion readiness. Under SB 24, the state of California will also contribute additional funds for various other abortion-related services, including 24-hour backup support by telephone where females on campus who take abortion drugs can consult with someone about their decision. Earlier versions of SB 24 were shot down by pro-choice Governor Jerry Brown as just not necessary. But Sen. Leyva is reintroducing the bill in advance of Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom taking office, as Newsom has publicly stated that hes in full support of any legislation that involves handing out free abortion pills funded by California taxpayers, of course to campus females. It is critically important that we reaffirm the constitutional right of college students to access abortion care without delay, and that should always include student health centers on public university campuses, Sen. Leyva has further expressed, demonstrating her urgent support for murdering more unborn babies on Californias public college and university campuses. Sources for this article include: TheCollegeFix.com NaturalNews.com Jason Burnett said he detected a faint feeling of disappointment from his wife when California Gov. Jerry Brown pardoned him for an old drug crime less than two weeks after the couple lost their home in the nation's deadliest wildfire in a century. Heather Steels Burnett had applied for a pardon too but didn't receive it last month like her husband. "She's like, 'I didn't get mine,'" Jason Burnett, 44, playfully recalled her reaction. That changed Monday when Brown also erased an old drug conviction for Heather Burnett, saying she had lived "an honest and upright life" since completing her sentence more than 15 years ago on a charge of possessing ephedrine with the intent of making methamphetamine. Brown noted that Heather Burnett now works as a drug counselor. She was among 143 pardons and 131 commutations Brown issued on Christmas Eve. Another person who lost his home in the fire, Kyle Hathaway, was among those pardoned. The pardons have been bright spots in what has been a difficult period for the couple and their 14-year-old daughter, Faith. The Burnetts' home in Paradise was among nearly 14,000 destroyed in the wildfire last month that claimed at least 86 lives. Jason Burnett said on Christmas Day that they "teared up" when they learned of Heather Burnett's pardon by the governor's office. She said she was in shock and initially skeptical that it was really someone from Brown's office calling with the news. "Then it sounded kind of legit," she said. Heather Burnett, 49, rescued the family dog when the fire swept through Paradise on Nov. 8 but then spent hours trying to escape flames closing in around her. She called her husband to say goodbye in case she didn't make it out alive. The family recently moved into a new home they purchased in nearby Chico and were painting rooms over the Christmas holiday to "get it to feel like home," Heather Burnett said. She said her husband's pardon raised her hopes of receiving one, and she wasn't disappointed "one bit" by his good news. Brown pardoned Jason Burnett before Thanksgiving for his conviction more than 20 years ago on a charge of manufacturing a controlled substance. The governor's office said at the time that the wildfire played no role in the decision. "He was so deserving of that, and it couldn't have come at a better time," Heather Burnett said. Still, with many people still struggling after the blaze, there's no celebrating, she said. "It's sometimes hard to be happy for some of our blessings when there's other people that are really suffering with the loss of their homes and also the loss of a town, which is in itself devastating," she said. The Bay Area has been through a lot in 2018. We've seen rising concerns about the dirty streets in San Francisco, the housing crisis across the region, wildfire smoke from Butte County and a horrific shooting in the heart of Silicon Valley. The stories below were the most viewed stories with unique visitors, according to Adobe Analytics. Here are NBC Bay Area's top 5 stories of the year: #1 - Suspect in YouTube Shooting Posted Rants About the Company Online The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit has confirmed the identity of the shooter who opened fire on YouTubes campus in San Bruno Tuesday. Nasim Aghdam, 38, lived in Southern California and appears to have had a robust presence on YouTube. On April 3, Nasim Aghdam randomly opened fire at the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, injuring four people. One witness told NBC Bay Area he was at a fast-food restaurant nearby and heard at least 20 shots within two minutes. I knew the shooter was right by me because you could feel the sensations of the bullet, he said. Aghdam died by a self-inflicted wound. NBC Bay Area's Investigative Unit later found that Aghdam felt that her videos were "discriminated and filtered" by the company. #2 - Survey of Downtown San Francisco Reveals Trash on Every Block The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit surveyed a section of downtown San Francisco to determine the amount of feces, hypodermic needles, and garbage littering the heart of the city. The results reveal a disgusting and potentially deadly mix of contamination that experts now believe could exceed some of the dirtiest slums in the world. Investigative reporter Bigad Shaban reports on a story that first aired Feb. 18, 2018. The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit surveyed 153 blocks of downtown San Francisco in search of trash, needles, and feces. The investigation revealed trash littered across every block. The survey also found 41 blocks dotted with needles and 96 blocks sullied with piles of feces. #3 - Photos of Raw Meat in Shopping Carts at San Jose's 99 Ranch Market Go Viral A local San Jose grocery store is under investigation after a customer witnessed raw meat being transported in Costco shopping carts. Anoushah Rasta reports. Loretta Seto was about to shop at 99 Ranch Market, a grocery store at Hostetter Road and Lundy Avenue in San Jose, when she witnessed raw meat being transported in shopping carts, took photos and posted them on Facebook. The post didn't just go viral, it caught the attention of the city's Department of Environmental Health, and it also sparked a conversation on the unsanitary methods the meat vendor used to transport the meat. #4 - SF Mayor: 'There's More Feces ... Than I've Ever Seen' San Francisco Mayor London Breed, in her first one-on-one interview since taking office, said homeless advocacy groups that receive funding from the city need to better educate the homeless to clean up after themselves. Bigad Shaban from NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit reports. NBC Bay Area interviewed San Francisco's then newly-elected Mayor London Breed about her plan to clean up the city. In her first one-on-one interview since taking office, Breed said "There is more feces on the sidewalks than Ive ever seen growing up here. That is a huge problem and we are not just talking about from dogs were talking about from humans." #5 - Northern California Air Quality Currently the Worst in the World Smoke from the Camp Fire continued to smother the Bay Area on Thursday, making the air quality in the Bay Area currently the worst in the world, according to PurpleAir, an air quality monitoring app. Jeff Ranieri, Sergio Quintana and Cheryl Hurd report. Smoke from the deadly Camp Fire smothered the Bay Area in November and dropped the air quality in Northern California to the worst in the world. Skies were hazy and the scent of something burning could be smelled in the area for days. The air got so bad that it forced several schools to close campuses. 2018 Honorable Mentions: Take a Look Inside the Palo Alto Estate Listed for Nearly $100 Million In June, an estate located at the Palo Alto Hills was listed for nearly $100 million and could set a new record if sold. It's still on sale as of Dec. 26, according to the Palo Alto real estate's website. Take a Look Inside the Palo Alto Estate Listed for Nearly $100 Million Fisherman's Rescue of Entangled Whale Caught on Camera A fisherman was being hailed as a hero after he jumped into the water off the Central California coast to free a humpback whale entangled in a rope. A commercial fisherman is being hailed a hero after he jumped into the water off the the Central California coast to free a humpback whale entangled in a rope, a rescue that was captured on video in September. Sergio Quintana reports. What to Know After more than 30 years, Rolling Thunder will end its annual ride to DC The group says the cost to hold the event has gone up. Last year the bill was $200,000 Rolling Thunder says it's open to continuing the tradition if they can find a way to offset costs Rolling Thunder, the annual ride that brings thousands of bikers to the National Mall to honor military members who were missing in action or prisoners of war, is preparing for its final run. Next year's event on May 26, 2019, will be the last ride, Pete Zaleski, the vice president of Rolling Thunder, Inc., confirmed, citing costs and ongoing communication issues with the Pentagon Police Department. Thousands of bikers rode through D.C. Sunday for the annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. News4's Derrick Ward reports. Zaleski says the cost of putting on the annual event has increased over the years, with last year's event reaching about $200,000. The money covers various needs, including security, port-a-potties and cleanup. The group relied on donations and product sales made through registration fees to pay for the demonstration ride, Zaleski said. "If we could get relieved of some of those costs, we would certainly try to keep it going," Zaleski said. Over 100 bikers gathered at the National Cathedral for the fourth annual Blessing of the Bikes, a Memorial Day weekend tradition that honors soldiers who didn't make it home. Since 1988, thousands of bikers and spectators have converged in Washington to honor military veterans and members of the military missing in action. During their ride, the bikers spend time at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the World War II Memorial. After next year's ride, Zaleski says the group will task each of its 90 chapters to organize their own state or regional demonstration rides. He hopes the smaller rides will "make a statement" and remind others why they're doing it. PHOTOS: Rolling Thunder Remembers the Lost, Honors the Fallen "It's a demonstration ride, not a parade," Zaleski said. "We've kind of lost the reason why we're there." Sue Gough, a Pentagon spokesperson, released a statement that read in part: "The department supports the peaceful, lawful exercise of American citizens' First Amendment rights, and remains focused on ensuring the safety and security of the demonstrators and the Pentagon Reservation. The department is prepared to support the 2019 Rolling Thunder ride, as we have for the last 31 years." A Chicago-bound American Airlines plane was forced to return to Louisville, Kentucky Wednesday morning due to a mechanical issue, the airline said. What exactly the issue was wasnt immediately known, but a spokesperson for American Airlines said a maintenance team was still troubleshooting the issue as of about 10:30 a.m. Customers on the flight, which took off from Louisville International Airport, were rebooked on other flights. Since most customers were connecting at OHare, we were able to book them via other American Airlines hubs or out other flights to Chicago, the spokesperson said in a statement. It wasnt clear how many people were on the flight. An Arizona man fulfilled the Christmas wishes of an 8-year-old girl in Mexico whose letter to Santa reached him by way of balloon this month, NBC News reports. Randy Heiss saw the ragged remains of a balloon with a note attached while he was hiking in Patagonia, Arizona. The note said "Dayami" on one side and the other had a numbered list written in Spanish. Heiss' wife translated the list and the pair identified its likely sender as a girl named Dayami. The note was intended for Santa and asked for art supplies, slime, a doll and a dollhouse, among other things. No contact information was left on the note. "It really touched my heart to find it and I said, 'Well, how in the heck am I going to be able to figure out how to make contact with this little girl and make her wishes come true?'" Heiss told Tucson NBC affiliate KVOA. What to Know An NYPD officer has been honored for his response when a group of intoxicated vagrants menaced him on the subway over the weekend They had been harassing a woman inside the East Broadway subway station when the cop, on a solo foot post, responded Officer Syed Ali used a baton to fend them off, and during the struggle, which turned physical, one man fell onto the tracks; he is OK UPDATE: 3 Face Charges in Viral Drunken Fight With Cop in NYC Subway Station A New York City police officer is being praised for his brave and restrained response when a group of intoxicated homeless men went after him inside a subway station, where the officer was working alone. It happened late Sunday night, when a cop on a solo foot post inside the East Broadway subway station on the F line was told by a woman that she was being harassed by a group men inside the station, according to NYPD. [NATL-PHI] Zombie Mall: Within the Walls of Abandoned Burlington Center in New Jersey The officer approached the men, who were visibly intoxicated, and asked them to leave the station, police said. The men refused to leave and became combative, and started tussling with the cop, cellphone video taken by a bystander shows. "Stand back. I don't want to hurt you," the cop shouted repeatedly at the men as they approached him, waving his baton at them. The officer kicked one of the men to fend him off, and another tried to go after the officer -- but ended up tumbling onto the tracks, the video showed. Police said the officer requested power be turned off to the tracks and for backup to arrive. The man was taken off the tracks and was expected to be fine. On Monday morning, Christmas Eve, officers returned to the same subway station and saw the men there again. They were taken into custody in local law violation of being outstretched in the station, police said, but the district attorney's office declined to prosecute the case, angering the police union. "Had it gone the other way, we might have had a seriously injured or dead police officer instead," said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch. "It's wrong that they were not charged for attacking him." On Wednesday, the district attorney's office announced it would in fact charge the three men seen going after the officer in the video, saying the prosecutors who declined to move forward on the sleeping-related violations were not aware the men were also allegedly involved in the fight with the cop. Eliseo Alvarez, 36, was charged with attempted assault, obstructing governmental administration, riot, attempted criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. Juan Nunez, 27, was charged with obstructing governmental administration and riot. Police are looking for the third suspect. [NATL]See Inside: SC Mansion Has Hidden 'Town' Inspired By NYC Street Meanwhile, the officer seen in the video, Syed Ali, was honored by Brooklyn councilman Chaim Deutsch on Christmas Day for his "quick action to defend civilians and himself against five individuals attacking on a subway platform." Deutsch said the officer showed restraint for not reaching for his gun. Mayor de Blasio also tweeted praise for Ali's "extraordinary professionalism and bravery," and said the NYPD would increase its presence at the station. [NATL-DC] These Images of the Abandoned Owings Mills Mall Will Give You Chills Pope Francis offered a Christmas wish for fraternity among people of different faiths, races or ideas, describing the world's differences as a richness, not a danger, and calling for political solutions to end wars in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere. Conflicts in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula also drew the pope's attention in his Christmas Day message, which he read Tuesday from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. Addressing tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans who flocked to St. Peter's Square on a mild, sunny day, Francis said the universal message of Christmas is that "God is a good Father and we are all brothers and sisters." "This truth is the basis of the Christian vision of humanity," Francis said, delivering the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and the world") message. Without fraternity, he said, "even our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty." He called for that spirit among individuals of "every nation and culture" as well as among people "with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another." "Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness," Francis said. He made his appeal as the trend toward nationalism, which has fueled suspicion of migrants and refugees, has gained traction in much of Europe and the United States. Francis urged the international community to "work decisively for a political solution that can put aside divisions and partisan interests, so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country." He said he hoped an internationally-brokered truce for Yemen would bring relief to that country's people, especially children "exhausted by war and famine." Other Christmas wishes expressed by the pope included one for dialogue among Israelis and Palestinians so they can "undertake a journey of peace that can put an end to a conflict that for over 70 years has rent the land chosen by the Lord to show his face of love." He also cited conflicts and vulnerable populations in much of Africa, in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Ukraine. He expressed hope that the "bonds of fraternity uniting the Korean peninsula" would be consolidated. On Monday, Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass for the faithful in St. Peter's Basilica. NBC Connecticut Investigates! This is our commitment to you in 2018 and beyond. This last year we held the powerful accountable and helped change how business is done in Connecticut. Earlier this year NBC Connecticut Investigates uncovered problems with a Connecticut state program that arranges housing for clients with economic, heath or emotional challenges. But the state doesnt vet potential tenants for past problems, something unbeknownst to some property owners renting out their homes. The couple that a landlord said trashed her property disputes her claims, and told us it was a misunderstanding. But soon after our report, police arrested the couple on charges of criminal property damage. In the spring, NBC Connecticut embarked upon an ambitious project, our seven part At A Price-The High Cost Of Local Town Living series, that highlighted why people have moved out of Connecticut. The series asked if theres a more cost effective and efficient way for our local and state government to function. Not long after the stories aired, the idea of more regional government became a key issue in the gubernatorial campaign. A month later NBC Connecticut Investigates exposed issues for CT Transit bus drivers, who were wearing diapers and avoiding eating and drinking on the job because of a lack of access to available restrooms. Since we broke the story, there have been rallies, calls from political leaders for change and, ultimately, a change in company policy: bus drivers and managers are now continuously reviewing current and potential accessible bathrooms on all routes. Over the summer our undercover investigation of the nail salon business in Connecticut revealed how the state is the only one in the country not to license nail techs. We found customers who say they were injured during manicures and pedicures. Our report got the attention of state legislators. They tell NBC Connecticut Investigates they will pursue licensing regulations for the industry in the upcoming general assembly session. This fall, Hartford police reassigned an officer who drove the wrong way up the interstate into a non-driving position after we began asking questions. The officer was pursuing a suspect when he drove the wrong way up the interstate, something instructors say police should only do in extreme circumstances. The officer declined to comment. Finally, we challenged Connecticut to do better. We asked why consumers cant buy wine in supermarkets, why so many towns and cities have badly timed traffic lights and what it will take to get rid of those left lane exits. Going into 2019, NBC Connecticut Investigates will keep holding those in power accountable and uncovering the problems impacting your life. Authorities found the body of a missing Stonington woman in the water off Westerly, Rhode Island Wednesday. Police issued a Silver Alert for 58-year-old Lucia Ritacco on Monday. On Tuesday, a fisherman reported a suspicious vehicle parked on the beach in Westerly, Rhode Island. Investigators determined the vehicle belonged to Ritacco and began a search. Multiple departments, including Westerly Police, Rhode Island State Police, Stonington Police, and local fire departments all assisted in the search. At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, investigators spotted what appeared to be a person in the water on surveillance footage at Winnapaug Pond in Westerly. Crews recovered the body and identified it as that of Lucia Ritacco. The Rhode Island Medical Examiners office will determine a cause of death. The investigation is ongoing. Stonington police said at this time the death does not appear suspicious. Police have determined that the suspicious deaths of two brothers in Plainville over the weekend was the result of a murder-suicide. Officers were called to Robertson Airport in Plainville around 9:37 a.m. on Saturday after getting a report of two bodies inside of a vehicle. Police said they identified the bodies as 66-year-old Byron Anderson and 68-year-old Nils Anderson, both of Plainville. According to officers, the deaths were suspicious and police began a criminal investigation immediately. Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad assisted with the investigation and processed the crime scene and the Chief Medical Examiner's Office conducted autopsies on both men. Investigators believe the deaths stemmed from a murder-suicide where the older brother, Nils, shot and killed Byron with a gun before using the same gun to kill himself. Police do not believe anyone else was involved in the incident. Interstate 91 south in Middletown has reopened after a crash closed part of the highway on Wednesday morning. According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, I-91 southbound was closed between exits 20 and 19. LifeStar responded and at least one person has possibly serious injuries, according to police. It is unclear what caused the crash. Receiving double presents on Christmas Day is in play for North Texas babies born Dec. 25. Some of newborns welcomed Tuesday at Methodist Health System hospitals in North Texas included Isaias and Noah. Born at 7:50 a.m., Isaias is the boy the dark green and red hat. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and "has quite a set of lungs on him," the hospital said. Isaias has a 6-year-old brother named Mateo and a 2-year-old sister named Kenia. Noah is the boy in the hat with lighter green stripes. He was born at 8:46 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces. Noah has two older sisters, ages 4 and 8. Police in Frisco say they have made two arrests in the deadly Dec. 26 shooting of a 22-year-old man at an apartment complex. Frisco police found the shooting victim, Anthony Morehead, already dead in the courtyard of Republic House at Frisco Bridges complex, when they responded to a report of gunshots at 7:48 a.m. Dec. 26.[[503503851,R]] Police said they arrested Rasheed Kilpatrick Sunday for murder and Derek Carr Wednesday for tampering with physical evidence. Kilpatrick is being held at the Collin County Jail on $500,000 bond, as well as on a second $500,000 bond for a probation violation for an aggravated robbery charge. Carr is being held on $250,000 bond. "Due to patrol's quick thinking and great initial response, this investigation moved quickly," Frisco police chief John W. Bruce said. "The management of the crime scene and subsequent canvas and identification of possible witnesses and suspects helped tremendously. I am very pleased that the suspects have been taken into custody." Video from Texas Sky Ranger on Dec. 26 showed investigators focusing their attention on a blue Ford Mustang parked along the outer edge of the complex. Investigators surrounded the immediate area with crime scene tape and processed the scene for evidence. "We're talking to possible witnesses that were in the area to try to put together as many pieces as we can so we can figure out whats happening," officer James Willis said Dec. 26. At the time, police assured residents that the shooting was an isolated incident and there was no danger to the public. NBC 5's Diana Zoga and Chris Blake contributed to this story. The Christmas shopping season was over. Music City Mall in Lewisville was closed. But dozens of people lined up outside the one place in the mall which remained open on Christmas Day. Outside a shipping dock at the mall, Bill Milroy and others were smoking and cutting up 100 beef briskets. Well, I have the equipment to where we can cook a large number of briskets, he explained. For Milroy, founder of the Texas Rib Rangers BBQ team, its more than that. Understanding what it's like to find something to eat on Christmas day is kind of tough to do, said Milroy. Especially, if youre a first responder something Milroy also has experience with. They're either going to be eating a 7-11 hot dog, he said. Or one of those burritos, throw it in the microwave and stuff." Now see, if you're smart, you find a fire station, laughed Jim Searles, a former police officer. Because firemen always know how to cook. It's nice to not to have to cook." Searles is the founder of Feed a Hero. Its an effort which takes care of meals for first responders across North Texas, who find themselves working on Christmas Day. The way this got started is, we literally took a turkey dinner to a Denton fire station, he explained. From that small beginning, with his family the event has grown. The first year, in 2014, Feed a Hero fed 50 first responders. Last year, 1,600 were served. This year, through food distribution sites in Lewisville and Fort Worth -- 4,500. This is Christmas Day for us, said Searles. We want nothing more than to do this." All of the food and supplies are donated. All of it is prepared and packaged by volunteers. Well, its exciting, said Delores Robinson, who scooped up containers of potato salad with her husband, Andy. Because of the fact that my heart is there." Robinson retired after more than three decades with the Lewisville Fire Department. This was her first year volunteering with Feed a Hero. She and other volunteers may have even more work to do next year. Next year the skys the limit," said Milroy. Well do 10,000 if we can find that many first responders. I think we can." The North American Aerospace Defense Command tracked Santa Claus as he made his Christmas Eve journey across the globe despite the government shutdown. Click here to see photos from Santa's journey. The NORAD Santa Tracker, which went live just after midnight on Christmas Eve, uses satellite systems, high-powered radars and jet fighters, to follow Saint Nick as he makes his Yuletide journey around the world. Historically, he follows Christmas as it dawns across the globe. He visits the South Pacific before heading to New Zealand and Australia, then treks to Asia, across to Africa and on to Western Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. Keep in mind, Santas route can be affected by weather, so its really unpredictable, NORAD wrote. NORAD coordinates with Santas Elf Launch Staff to confirm his launch time, but from that point on, Santa calls the shots. We just track him! The tracker wasn't affected by the government shutdown because it is run by volunteers at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado and funded by the Department of Defense's budget that was approved earlier this year. Now in its 63rd year, the Santa tracker became a Christmas Eve tradition after a mistaken phone call to the Continental Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1955. CONAD, as it was known, had the serious job of monitoring a far-flung radar network for any sign of a nuclear attack on the United States. When Col. Harry Shoup picked up the phone that day, he found himself talking not to a military general, but to a child who wanted to speak to Santa Claus. A Colorado Springs newspaper had run an ad inviting kids to call Santa but mistakenly listed the hotline number. Shoup figured out what had happened and played along. The tradition has since mushroomed into an elaborate operation that attracts tens of thousands of calls every year. For the 1,500 civilian and military volunteers who answered the phones for kids calling 1-877-HI-NORAD, it infuses the holiday with childlike wonder. "They're all really sweet, small voices," said Madison Hill, a volunteer who helped answer the phones in two previous years, ahead of this year's festivities. "I had a little girl tell me goodnight instead of goodbye," she said. "It's really sweet." The North American Aerospace Defense Command a joint U.S.-Canadian operation based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that protects the skies over both countries has taken over the Santa tracker since the tradition started. The military command center embraced and expanded the Santa-tracking mission and has been rewarded with a bounty of goodwill and good publicity. Last year, NORAD Tracks Santa drew 126,000 phone calls, 18 million website hits, 1.8 million followers on Facebook and 179,000 more on Twitter. Santa and his sleigh may have had a hard time staying under the radar thanks to the site, which is accessible in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese. Christmas in Los Angeles County Tuesday included Masses and church services celebrating the birth of Jesus and annual events providing meals to the homeless and poor. English-language Masses were celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., with Archbishop Jose H. Gomez also celebrating the 12:30 p.m. Spanish-language Mass, with the Spanish-language choir leading in song. Gomez also celebrated a Mass with general population inmates at the Men's Central Jail Tuesday morning. "Let us make this our Christmas prayer -- that we will open our hearts to the gift of Jesus,'' Gomez wrote in his column published on Angelus News, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' news website. "May we grow in our compassion for our neighbors, especially the youngest and most vulnerable among us." Nearly 2,000 homeless and near-homeless men, women and children were served a Christmas brunch at The Midnight Mission beginning at 8 a.m. There was also a Santa's Village where children were able to select toys of their choice and meet Santa Claus. Families began lining up Monday night to secure their places in line. "We appreciate The Midnight Mission because unfortunately we can't afford the toys of these days,'' Wayne Mingo, who came to the mission with seven children from his family, told NBC4. "Toys are expensive." Mingo said he and his family members were "having fun, socializing with other people" in the line. The Christmas brunch and toy giveaway "provide our homeless and near-homeless guests not only with a traditional holiday meal, but also with the emotional satisfaction that comes with the opportunity to celebrate a national holiday," said Georgia Berkovich, the mission's director of public affairs. "Of the many services The Midnight Mission provides to our unique community, one of the most important is the sense of family we offer to those who often feel lost and forgotten during the holidays and other days of celebration." The mission is seeking donations of $5 to $10 to defray the costs of the Christmas brunch meals. Donations can be made by texting the keyword "Meals" to 71777 from any cellphone. Organizers of the annual interfaith Christmas Dinner for the Homeless and Hungry at Hollywood United Methodist Church hoped to serve 1,500 people. More than 100 roasted turkeys with stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce and a host of desserts were being served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to retirees, homeless people, working families with young children and other hungry and needy individuals and families, organizers said. Diners received bags filled with personal care items, new socks, hats and blankets. Children got toys, their choice of a book and have the opportunity to have a family picture taken with Santa Claus. The Christmas Dinner was originally a project of the Hollywood Interfaith Coalition, whose churches had been serving Thanksgiving dinner. Some of the coalition's Jewish participants thought it would be a nice idea for the Jewish participants to take over the serving of Christmas Dinner so the members of the coalition celebrating and observing Christmas could stay home with their families. Temple Israel of Hollywood became the lead organizer and host of the event in the 1980s. The Laugh Factory also held meal services, along with serving up laughs. Comedians including Paul Rodriguez and Tim Allen turned up to hand out food and joy. New laws are coming to California. On Jan. 1, laws regarding minimum wage, COVID-19, driving, sick leave, safety, and other subjects will go into effect. Below, a look at some of the most relevant laws. With the new year comes new laws. Here are the four new laws every Californian needs to know. Employment and the Workplace AB 685, Potential COVID-19 Exposure Notification: Requires all employers to promptly notify employees of potential coronavirus exposure, as well as local public health officials, after someone at the worksite tests positive for COVID-19, receives a medical diagnosis, and/or receives an isolation order. This law also expands Cal/OSHA's authority to shut down a worksite if the agency deems it an imminent hazard. Minimum Wage Increase: California's minimum wage increases to $14 per hour for businesses employing 26 or more people, and $13 per hour for businesses that have 25 or fewer employees. AB 2992, Expanded Leave for Crime Victims: Extends job-protected leave for victims of crime or abuse causing physical or mental injury and a threat of physical injury. This law also requires companies with 25 or more employees to provide these victims with time off work to seek medical attention or psychological counseling for their injuries, participate in safety planning, or get help from other related organizations. AB979, Corporations and Underrepresented Communities: California-based companies must have at least one board director by the end of 2021 who is a racial or sexual minority. By 2022, that bumps to two such directors for smaller boards and to three for boards with nine or more directors. It follows a similar California-first requirement for female board directors.Companies with 100 or more employees must provide the state information on employees race, ethnicity and gender in various job categories, information that could help the state identify pay disparities. SB1383, Family and Medical Leave Expansion for Small Businesses: Requires small employers with as few as five employees to provide up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to their employees for qualifying life events such as serious health problems, birth of a child, and military active duty. However, only employees who have worked for the company for more than 12 months, and for more than 1,250 hours during the previous 12-month period are eligible. Additionally, if both parents of a child work for the same company, each of the parents will receive 12 workweeks leave. Hospitals must maintain a three-month supply of personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves and supply it to endangered employees. The state itself must also build a stockpile under a separate law. AB 3075, New Successor Liability Risks: Companies that have acquired another business through a merger or consolidation that have similar operations will now be liable for any wages, damages, and penalties owed by the predecessor to its employees. AB 2017, Kin Care Leave: Gives employees the power to use their sick days at their sole discretion. Businesses cannot deny an employee's use of their sick days for whatever reason the employee deems necessary. SB 973, Annual Report Pay Data: Designed to address the state's gender wage gap, this law requires private companies with 100 or more employees to submit a pay data report to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) agency every year. The report shall contain specied wage information tied to race, ethnicity, and sex. This law would "authorize the DFEH to receive, investigate, conciliate, mediate, and prosecute complaints alleging practices unlawful under current discriminatory wage rate provisions." NBC 7's Bridget Naso has the story. Public Safety/Criminal Justice SB 145, Sex Offenders Registration: The Sex Offender Registration Act, requires a person convicted of certain crimes to register with law enforcement as a sex offender while residing in California or while attending school or working in California. This bill would exempt a person convicted of certain offenses involving minors, if the person is not more than 10 years older than the minor, from mandatory registration as a sex offender, and if that offense is the only one requiring the person to register. SB 230, Law enforcement Use of Deadly Force Policies: Requires each law enforcement agency to maintain a policy that provides guidelines on the use of force, utilizing de-escalation techniques and other alternatives to force whenever possible, specific guidelines for the application of deadly force, and factors for evaluating and reviewing all use of force incidents. It will also require each agency to make its use of force policy available to the public. AB 1185, Sheriff Oversight: Gives county supervisors greater oversight of county sheriffs. "This bill would authorize a county to establish a sheriff oversight board to assist the board of supervisors with those duties as they relate to the sheriff, either by action of the board of supervisors or through a vote of county residents." AB 1196, Use of Force: Prohibits Police from using carotid restraints or chokeholds. "By requiring local agencies to amend use of force policies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program." AB 2147, Expungement of Incarcerated Individual Hand Crews: This law allows inmates who work in the state's fire camps the opportunity to clear their records upon release. "The bill would make persons convicted of specified violent felonies and sex offenses ineligible for relief." This law is meant to reward the hard work of inmate firefighters battling disastrous wildfires throughout the state and would present them with the possibility of working in a professional capacity as firefighters after their release. AB 3267: State Emergency Plan: The Governors Office of Emergency Services must take into account the needs of the elderly, children, those with language barriers, or physical or mental disabilities when updating the State Emergency Plan. AB 2658, Occupational Safety and Health for Domestic Workers: Employers cant force domestic workers to work during an evacuation, whether the danger is from fire or the coronavirus. "The bill would make it a crime for a person, after receiving notice to evacuate or leave, to willfully and knowingly direct an employee to remain in, or enter, an area closed under prescribed provisions of law due to a menace to the public health or safety." SB 203, Juveniles Custodial Interrogation: Youths up to age 17 cant be questioned by police or waive their rights until they have a chance to consult with an attorney. "The bill would direct a court to consider any willful failure of a law enforcement officer to allow a youth 17 years of age or younger to speak with counsel before a custodial interrogation in determining the credibility of that law enforcement officer." 2020 was a hard year for most, but a few things had their time in the spotlight. Here are the 12 things that had an unexpected cultural moment in 2020. Traffic Safety AB 2285, Establishes potential fines for motorists who do not slow down and, whenever possible, change lanes when encountering a Caltrans vehicle, tow truck, or any emergency vehicle with lights flashing on a highway. However, AB 2285 does not specify that motorists must move over if there might be conflicts with other drivers, or conditions don't allow for it. But they must slow down. Otherwise, CHP officers could write them a $50 ticket. AB 2717, Unattended Children Liability: Amends existing law concerning leaving children under the age of 6 unattended in vehicles. Exempts a Good Samaritan who rescues an endangered child from a locked vehicle from civil and criminal liability, "if the property damage or trespass occurs while the person is rescuing a child 6 years of age or younger." Emergency vehicles can use a distinctive Hi-Lo warning sound to notify the public of an immediate need to evacuate an area in an emergency under a law that took effect in September. Human interaction, made up of a million mundane moments, is among the things we missed most in 2020. The New York Times highlighted some of the big, small, everyday and absurd things we lost in the pandemic this year (and a few things we may have gained). Wildfires AB3074, Brush Clearance: Homeowners in fire-prone areas must further reduce vegetation within 100 feet (30 meters) of structures, including eliminating vegetation immediately adjacent to structures, though the rule cant be enforced until the state develops regulations and lawmakers provide money for beefed-up inspections. As mentioned above, the Governors Office of Emergency Services must take into account the needs of the elderly, children, those with language barriers or physical or mental disabilities when updating the State Emergency Plan. AB2756, Insurance Code: Insurers must prominently notify policyholders if their offer to renew a policy reduces coverage, such as eliminating fire protection, and get it acknowledged in writing. AB2658, Evacuations and Work: Employers cant force domestic workers to work during an evacuation, whether the danger is from fire or the coronavirus. The coronavirus pandemic dominated the headlines in 2020, but thats not all that happened this year. Heres a look back at the seven other major news stories that were not about COVID-19. The deaths of two migrant children in just over two weeks raised strong new doubts Wednesday about the ability of U.S. border authorities to care for the thousands of minors arriving as part of a surge of families trying to enter the country. An 8-year-old boy, identified in a statement from incoming Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Tex., as Felix Alonzo-Gomez, died in U.S. custody at a New Mexico hospital on Christmas Eve after suffering a cough, vomiting and fever, authorities said. The cause is under investigation, as is the death Dec. 8 of another Guatemalan child, 7-year-old Jakelin Caal. "There is a real failure here that we all need to reckon with," said incoming Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat elected last month to represent El Paso in Congress. "We need to know how many other Jakelins and Felipes there have been." The U.S. government's system for detaining migrants crossing the border is severely overtaxed. Authorities would not say how many children U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now holding. But the country is seeing a sharp rise in families with children. In the wake of the two deaths, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen asked the Coast Guard to study CBP's medical programs and announced that all children who enter the agency's custody will be given "more thorough" assessments. Also, border authorities said that they conducted health checks in reaction to Felipe's death on nearly all children in their custody. They did not disclose the results. Nielsen blamed "a system that prevents parents who bring their children on a dangerous illegal journey from facing consequences for their actions." The Trump administration contends it must detain more people to discourage other Central American families from trying to enter the country. Felipe had been detained by U.S. border authorities for a week and moved between facilities with his father, officials said. The last place the boy was held after the first of two visits to the hospital on the day he died was a highway checkpoint in New Mexico. Felipe's father, Agustin Gomez, did not see any signs of illness from his son until Monday, according to Guatemalan consul Oscar Padilla, who spoke to Gomez on Wednesday. Felipe and his father had left Guatemala on Dec. 14 and were detained at the U.S-Mexico border four days later, Padilla told The Associated Press. By its own regulations, CBP is supposed to detain people for no more than 72 hours before turning them over to other government agencies responsible for long-term detention. CBP facilities are typically spartan, with food, water and blankets but often no medical professionals, teachers or some of the other resources longer-term detention centers offer. Similarly, Jakelin was first held with her father at a small base in rural New Mexico that did not have running water, according to Democrats who visited it after the girl's death. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat who sits on a key subcommittee overseeing border funding, said he has pushed to fund more alternatives to detention such as ankle monitors, which he said could have been issued to Felipe's father. He said the Trump administration has prioritized the president's border wall the subject of the partial government shutdown since last week over investing in CBP checkpoints that have long needed attention. "They're not set up to hold people for a long time," Cuellar said. "There's so much money that the wall sucks up that it's hard to address some of the other issues. I wish the administration would understand that." CBP said it is reviewing all available options to relieve overcrowding in the El Paso sector, where Felipe and his father were apprehended. The agency also said it has reached out to other government agencies for "surge medical assistance." CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in the agency's defense that CBP has more than 1,500 emergency medical technicians on staff and that officers are taking dozens of sick children to hospitals every day. "This is an extraordinarily rare occurrence," McAleenan told "CBS This Morning" of the two child deaths. "It's been more than a decade since we've had a child pass away anywhere in a CBP process, so this is just devastating for us." It's not uncommon for families in El Paso these days to spend more than a week in holding cells just as Felipe and his father did, said Ruben Garcia, director of El Paso's Annunciation House shelter. Those problems predate the Trump administration. During a 2014 surge at the border, some families were put in holding cells for up to 20 days before being released, Garcia said. Homeland Security's inspector general examined nine CBP holding facilities earlier this year. In a September report, the inspector general said that the facilities complied with CBP standards and that people had access to food and water, toilets and sinks, and hygiene items with "the exception of inconsistent cleanliness of the hold rooms." Just three of the nine facilities had "trained medical staff to conduct medical screening and provide basic medical care," the report said. And showers were available for unaccompanied children at only four facilities. Felipe and his father were taken to two of the facilities the inspector general examined: the processing center at the Paso del Norte port of entry, then the El Paso Border Patrol station. But just after 1 a.m. Sunday, the two were transferred 90 miles (145 kilometers) to the Border Patrol station at Alamogordo, New Mexico. CBP said it moved them "because of capacity levels" in El Paso. The next day, a border agent noticed Felipe was coughing and had "glossy eyes," and sent him to the hospital, the CBP said. "I can't think of any logical reason that would happen, for the most vulnerable of children to be sent to a remote area," Escobar said. According to CBP statistics, border agents detained 5,283 children unaccompanied by a parent in November alone. Agents last month also apprehended 25,172 "family units," or parents and children together. Both figures are highs for this year. Children who arrive unaccompanied by a parent are supposed to go to longer-term facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But HHS' system is also strained. The Associated Press reported this month that 14,300 children were being detained by HHS, most in facilities with more than 100 kids. Associated Press writers Mary Hudetz in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Sonia Perez D. in Guatemala City; and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report. Here are the 6 things you need to know for Wednesday, December 26th. Weather wise, expect windy conditions with some clouds. We can expect some rain. Highs will be in the upper 70s. No. 1 Missing Child From Homestead A missing child alert is out for 17-year-old Cashe Westbrook from Homestead. Police said she was last seen wearing a gray and blue hooded sweater, ripped blue jeans, white socks and black Champion flip flops. She also wears an ankle monitor. No. 2 Court Hearing For Man Accused of Posting Bomb Instructions Tayyab Tahir Ismail, the man accused of posting bomb instructions online is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Ft. Lauderdale. No. 3 Cars Vandalized on Christmas 16 cars were vandalized in a parking garage in Little Haiti over the Christmas holiday. Police have arrested a suspect in connection to the vandalism. That person has not been identified. No. 4 Victim Speaks Out After Balcony Collapse Days after a balcony collapsed at a Miami Beach apartment building, one of the victims is speaking out. Amaury Padron and her lawyer say someone must be held accountable for the accident and are filing a lawsuit to help get answers. No. 5 Government Shutdown Continues Were going into day five of a Government Shutdown, as negotiations remain in a standstill. Lawmakers spent the week home celebrating the holiday with their families. President Trump expressed frustration at the state of Capitol Hill, calling it a disgrace. No. 6 No Winners in Mega Millions The largest jackpot ever offered on a Christmas Day was up for grabs at a whopping $321 million, but no one won. The winning numbers are 2-8-42-43-50 and the Megaball was 6. The next drawing will be Friday night with an estimated jackpot for $348 million. Heavyweight contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 are looking for office space and on-the-ground staff in Iowa and New Hampshire, key early contest states, NBC News reported. But no major candidate has definitively signaled plans to jump run for the nomination including the so-called "three Bs" topping some early polls, who have been all but absent in both states: former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas. While operatives in Iowa and New Hampshire expect activity to ramp up in January, there's been surprise at the slow start in states where presidential politics can be a full-time occupation. "The whole field has been in a staring contest to see who moves first. And there's a real hesitation for anyone sign on with a candidate now, because you don't know who else is going to get in," said Sean Bagniewski, chairman of Iowa's Polk County Democrats. Click here to see necn's New Hampshire candidate tracker. What to Know A man shot and killed his own dog in a Connecticut park over the weekend because it attacked another dog and he feared it may go after kids The dog the man's pet attack suffered serious injuries; it's owner was with his three children at the time. The kids were OK The gun used was legally licensed by the man who shot his dog; the investigation is ongoing A man shot and killed his own dog in a Connecticut park because he feared it might attack some children, authorities say. Police Capt. Ronald Smith says the man told officers that his dog, a pit bull that was not on a leash at the time, attacked and seriously injured another dog that was on a leash Sunday in Hamden. The owner of the hurt dog was also with his three children at the time. Smith says the owner of the pit bull, who was not immediately identified, told police he was worried his dog might also attack the kids. So he pulled out a handgun and shot the animal, killing it. Smith says the man was licensed to carry the gun. The investigation is ongoing. Arizona's governor on Tuesday appointed U.S. Rep. Martha McSally to replace Sen. Jon Kyl in the seat that belonged to the late John McCain, sending the GOP congresswoman back to Washington just a month after she lost a tight race for the state's other spot in the Senate. McSally, a former air force colonel, lost to Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema in November after a bruising contest in which she contended Sinema committed "treason" by making anti-war remarks in 2003. Now, McSally will join the Senate the same day that Sinema is sworn in. "Arizona needs someone who understands the critical issues, can get to work on day one, and who embodies the spirit of service," Gov. Doug Ducey said at a press conference. The governor said Sinema will be sworn in first on Jan. 3 when the Senate reconvenes after the holidays, making her Arizona's senior senator and its first woman in the chamber. "I'm going to respect the will of the voters," Ducey said. McSally will serve until 2020, when voters will elect someone to serve the final two years of McCain's term. She tried to put the heated campaign behind her. "I look forward to working closely with Kyrsten Sinema in the Senate, as we did in the House," McSally told reporters. "There's a lot of common ground between us, and I'm ready to hit it running." Sinema's spokesman didn't respond to a request for comment Tuesday. McSally also has tried to patch up frayed relations with the McCain family, whom she infuriated by following President Donald Trump's lead and not mentioning the dying senator during a signing ceremony for a defense bill named after McCain. McSally met with McCain's wife, Cindy, on Friday. "My husband's greatest legacy was placing service to AZ & USA ahead of his own self-interest," Cindy McCain tweeted Tuesday. "I respect @dougducey's decision to appoint @RepMcSally to fill the remainder of his term. Arizonans will be pulling for her, hoping that she will follow his example of selfless leadership." McSally said she would, calling the late senator an icon and hero and promising to commit "to the standard of service that Senator McCain held, putting country before self." McCain died of brain cancer in August, and his retired longtime colleague, Kyl, was appointed to his seat. Kyl said he would only commit to serving until the end of 2018 and has resigned effective Dec. 31. McSally's appointment puts Arizona back in the political spotlight a month after Democrats won their first statewide race in a decade. Democrats hope that the state swings again in 2020 and are expected to target it both in the presidential race and the contest for McCain's seat. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, former astronaut and current gun control advocate Mark Kelly and former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, who left the GOP this year, have all considered running as Democrats for the post. That they are all men may have made appointing a woman that much more desirable to the GOP. The intense interest in the seat was a factor in Ducey's convoluted decisions. He initially appointed Kyl while the governor himself was campaigning for re-election. By picking Kyl, Ducey dodged tough political decisions that could have complicated his own re-election bid. McSally is a two-term congresswoman long considered for the Senate by the state's GOP establishment. The first female combat pilot, McSally once sued the U.S. military so she would not be required to wear a head covering while stationed in the Middle East. She rose to the rank of colonel in the Air Force before entering politics. She got a taste for it working for Kyl's office as a national security aide. McSally represented a swing district in Tucson that voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. She carved out a reputation as a moderate who could win tough elections. That ended during this year's Senate campaign. She had been critical of Trump in 2016 but praised him during the midterm election and embraced a tougher stance on immigration. But McSally wasn't able to defeat Sinema, who ran as a centrist and peeled away enough moderate Republicans to win by 2 percentage points. In a postelection memo, McSally strategists argued that she did well in a strong Democratic year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell lobbied for Ducey to select her. Still, many Arizona Republicans were disappointed by McSally's campaign and questioned whether she would be the strongest choice for McCain's seat. Ducey had limited choices the GOP's bench is thin in Arizona and McSally was the only woman with federal experience who had campaigned statewide recently. Democrats attacked the appointment following McSally's Senate defeat. "Why appoint a loser when you could find a fresh face with a better shot in 2020?" the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee said in a statement. Crowds, Reenactors Relive Washington's Crossing, Without Delaware River's Cooperation The crossing was off, but the reenacting went on. The annual ritual of reliving George Washington's epic 1776 crossing of the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey just north of Trenton stumbled for the second year in a row the actual river crossing was canceled but the spectacle, which attracts thousands, still took place on Christmas Day. What to Know David Succarote went over the perimeter fence at the Plummer Community Corrections Center in Wilmington, Delaware, Tuesday, the DOC says. Officials say the center manages inmates transitioning back into the community and inmates can go to work, seek jobs or attend treatment. Succarote has been serving time for a probation violation and is due to be released next summer. Authorities in Delaware are searching for an inmate who escaped a corrections center on Christmas Day. The Department of Correction announced Wednesday that 31-year-old David Succarote went over the perimeter fence at the Plummer Community Corrections Center in Wilmington on Tuesday and fled. Officials say they've issued a warrant for escape after conviction. Officials say the center manages inmates transitioning back into the community and inmates can go to work, seek jobs or attend approved treatment sessions. Officials describe Succarote as having green eyes and brown hair with tattoos on his arms and chest. He's about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds. Officials say was serving time for a probation violation for an earlier robbery offense and is due to be released next summer. Anyone with knowledge of Sucarote's whereabouts is asked to call local police or (800) 542-9524. Four American tourists and a Costa Rican guide were killed in a weekend rafting accident in the Central American country, authorities said Sunday. The men from Miami have been identified as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Denis. They were in Costa Rica for a bachelor party. "What was meant to be a weekend to remember for 14 friends turned into a living nightmare," Chris Comas, who survived the incident, said in a statement. Three rafts flipped on the Naranjo river Saturday around 3 p.m. and the five victims were carried away downstream, according to Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Organism. Other passengers managed to cling to the rafts and some were rescued by another guide in a kayak. "Throughout the dangerous ride down the river, all of us struggled to stay above water, swallowing lots of it on the way down as our bodies ricocheted against the rocks in the water while struggling to survive," Comas said. "Most of us were ultimately able to grab hold of rocks or barriers in or around the water and await the rescue teams to get to us." The local guide was Kevin Thompson Reid, described by his boss as one of his most-skilled guides. All of the victims died from asphyxia as a result of drowning, Walter Espinoza, the director of the Organization of Judicial Investigations, confirmed to NBC 6. The case is being investigated as negligent homicide, Espinoza said. The rafting company, Quepoa Expeditions, will also be under investigation. In total, there were 14 tourists aboard the rafts and five guides, officials said. Authorities said the river was swollen by rains and the National Emergency Commission maintained an alert in the area due to the possibility of flooding. The Americans arrived in Costa Rice Oct. 18 and had been renting a house in Playa Hermosa de Jaco, according to the Costa Rican government. The Red Cross said via Facebook that the rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos. Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter. The U.S. Department of State confirmed the deaths. "We are saddened by news of rafting accident in #CostaRica. We can confirm 4 U.S. citizens died as a result of the accident. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, and extend our gratitude to Government of Costa Rica for their support in this tragedy," U.S. Department of State spokesman Heather Nauert wrote on Twitter. Friends have set up a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral costs. President Donald Trump traveled to Iraq Christmas night, according to the White House, his first visit to U.S. troops in a war zone and a day after facing criticism for failing to spend time with any military personnel on Christmas Day. Trump, who was accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, had been derided by his critics for not visiting troops in a combat zone, particularly after he canceled a trip to an American military burial ground outside of Paris because of bad weather in November. Two days later, he skipped a Veterans Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery. In Iraq on on Wednesday, Trump defended his decision to withdraw 2,000 U.S. forces from neighboring Syria despite a drumbeat of criticism from military officials and allies who don't think the job fighting Islamic State militants there is over. "We're no longer the suckers, folks," Trump told American servicemen and women at a base in western Iraq. "We're respected again as a nation." Air Force One, lights out and window shutters drawn, flew overnight from Washington, landing at an airbase west of Baghdad in darkness Wednesday evening. During his three-plus hours on the ground, Trump did not meet with any Iraqi officials, but spoke on the phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted that Trump visited the troops and senior military leadership to thank them for their service, their success and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas. The president also stopped at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany on his way back for a second unannounced visit to troops and military leaders. He arrived back in the U.S. early Thursday morning. Trumps visit follows his controversial Syria announcement just before Christmas, a decision that his opponents said could endanger Kurdish allies who have been fighting ISIS there. Secretary of Defense James Mattis abruptly submitted his resignation in a letter that lambasted Trumps worldview and treatment of allies. Trump, in remarks to reporters on Wednesday, said he had no plans at all to remove U.S. troops from Iraq. About his decision to leave Syria, Trump said, "A lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking," according to Reuters. "I made it clear from the beginning that our mission in Syria was to strip ISIS of its military strongholds," Trump told troops at al-Asad Airbase west of Baghdad. If ISIS were to have a resurgence, the troops in Iraq would be able to combat it, he said. Troop said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to take out "any remnants of ISIS" left in Syria. He said that he was in no hurry to name a replacement for Mattis, and that the planned acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan "could be there for a long time," Trump said. "I think that a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. ... It's time for us to start using our head," Trump said. The president and first lady got a standing ovation when they walked into a dining hall and greeted troops, took selfies and signed autographs. The prime minister's office said "differences in points of view over the arrangements" prevented the two from meeting but they discussed security issues and Trump's order to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria over the phone. Abdul-Mahdi's office also did not say whether he had accepted an invitation to the White House. But Sanders told reporters on the flight back that the Iraqi leader had agreed to come. Trump's Iraq visit appeared to have inflamed sensitivities about the continued presence of U.S. forces in Iraq. The two major blocs in the Iraqi parliament both condemned the visit, with the head of the Islah bloc likening it to a "blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty." Trump had faced criticism for not yet visiting U.S. troops stationed in harm's way as he comes up on his two-year mark in office. He told the AP in October that he "will do that at some point, but I don't think it's overly necessary." Trump told reporters that he had planned to make the trip three or four weeks ago, but word of the trip started getting out and forced him to postpone it. Trump had planned to spend Christmas at his private club in Florida, but stayed behind in Washington due to the partial government shutdown over funding for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. He said he was prepared to wait for whatever it takes to get border security, Reuters reported. The visit also came as The New York Times revived questions about Trump avoidance of the Vietnam War draft after finding the daughters of a doctor who diagnosed the bone spurs that kept him from combat. The daughters, who The New York Times pointed out are both Democrats and not Trump fans, suggested that he made the diagnosis as a favor to Trumps father, Fred, though the doctor left no medical records with his family. The White House has not responded to written questions. Last year, Trump visited wounded troops at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Authorities in Maryland say a man and his 10-year-old autistic son are missing after they left their home to look at Christmas lights. The Washington County Sheriff's Office told news outlets Enrique ``Henry'' Alejandro Vela and his son, 10-year-old Michael Anderes Suarez-Vela, were last seen Sunday at 8 p.m. Officials say the father and son were traveling in a blue Hyundai Elantra with Maryland registration plates 4CZ4512. Vela was last seen wearing a navy blue Houston Texas t-shirt with blue jeans. He is 5'10''. Suarez-Vela was last seen wearing a blue long sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans. He is 4'5''. A Maryland family is displaced after a fire ripped through their two-story home in Prince Georges County on Christmas Day. Firefighters responded to the blaze on the 5800 block of Dale St. in Capitol Heights around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Seven adults and two children were displaced, Prince Georges County Fire Department said. Jorge Reyes, one of the residents, said he and his family were enjoying the holiday when the blaze erupted. There was a bang and I hear my parents, the kids. They're running upstairs, Reyes said. Getting out, evacuating the house." I see the fire. I say Everybody out! Theres fire!, Julio Baez, a family member, said. The flames spread to both floors of the house, according to the Fire Department. William Carter, Reyes neighbor, said he noticed the fire and smoke coming out of the home so he and his uncle ran out to see if they could help. He [Reyes] climbed out the window and we had to catch him", he said. All nine people inside the house and the family dog made it out safely. The cause of the blaze has not been determined, the Fire Department said. A Red Cross volunteer was on the scene assisting the displaced residents. At least four fires have been reported in the area in the last day: two in Prince Georges County, one in Purceville, and one in the District. About 22 people were displaced but no serious injuries were reported. We may remember 2018 as the year when technology's dystopian potential became clear, from Facebook's role enabling the harvesting of our personal data for election interference to a seemingly unending series of revelations about the dark side of Silicon Valley's connect-everything ethos. The list is long: High-tech tools for immigration crackdowns. Fears of smartphone addiction. YouTube algorithms that steer youths into extremism. An experiment in gene-edited babies. Doorbells and concert venues that can pinpoint individual faces and alert police. Repurposing genealogy websites to hunt for crime suspects based on a relative's DNA. Automated systems that keep tabs of workers' movements and habits. Electric cars in Shanghai transmitting their every movement to the government. It's been enough to exhaust even the most imaginative sci-fi visionaries. "It doesn't so much feel like we're living in the future now, as that we're living in a retro-future," novelist William Gibson wrote this month on Twitter. "A dark, goofy '90s retro-future." More awaits us in 2019, as surveillance and data-collection efforts ramp up and artificial intelligence systems start sounding more human, reading facial expressions and generating fake video images so realistic that it will be harder to detect malicious distortions of the truth. But there are also countermeasures afoot in Congress and state government and even among tech-firm employees who are more active about ensuring their work is put to positive ends. "Something that was heartening this year was that accompanying this parade of scandals was a growing public awareness that there's an accountability crisis in tech," said Meredith Whittaker, a co-founder of New York University's AI Now Institute for studying the social implications of artificial intelligence. The group has compiled a long list of what made 2018 so ominous, though many are examples of the public simply becoming newly aware of problems that have built up for years. Among the most troubling cases was the revelation in March that political data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica swept up personal information of millions of Facebook users for the purpose of manipulating national elections. "It really helped wake up people to the fact that these systems are actually touching the core of our lives and shaping our social institutions," Whittaker said. That was on top of other Facebook disasters, including its role in fomenting violence in Myanmar, major data breaches and ongoing concerns about its hosting of fake accounts for Russian propaganda. It wasn't just Facebook. Google attracted concern about its continuous surveillance of users after The Associated Press reported that it was tracking people's movements whether they like it or not. It also faced internal dissent over its collaboration with the U.S. military to create drones with "computer vision" to help find battlefield targets and a secret proposal to launch a censored search engine in China. And it unveiled a remarkably human-like voice assistant that sounds so real that people on the other end of the phone didn't know they were talking to a computer. Those and other concerns bubbled up in December as lawmakers grilled Google CEO Sundar Pichai at a congressional hearing a sequel to similar public reckonings this year with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other tech executives. "It was necessary to convene this hearing because of the widening gap of distrust between technology companies and the American people," Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said. Internet pioneer Vint Cerf said he and other engineers never imagined their vision of a worldwide network of connected computers would morph 45 years later into a surveillance system that collects personal information or a propaganda machine that could sway elections. "We were just trying to get it to work," recalled Cerf, who is now Google's chief internet evangelist. "But now that it's in the hands of the general public, there are people who ... want it to work in a way that obviously does harm, or benefits themselves, or disrupts the political system. So we are going to have to deal with that." Contrary to futuristic fears of "super-intelligent" robots taking control, the real dangers of our tech era have crept in more prosaically often in the form of tech innovations we welcomed for making life more convenient. Part of experts' concern about the leap into connecting every home device to the internet and letting computers do our work is that the technology is still buggy and influenced by human errors and prejudices. Uber and Tesla were investigated for fatal self-driving car crashes in March, IBM came under scrutiny for working with New York City police to build a facial recognition system that can detect ethnicity, and Amazon took heat for supplying its own flawed facial recognition service to law enforcement agencies. In some cases, opposition to the tech industry's rush to apply its newest innovations to questionable commercial uses has come from its own employees. Google workers helped scuttle the company's Pentagon drone contract, and workers at Amazon, Microsoft and Salesforce sought to cancel their companies' contracts to supply tech services to immigration authorities. "It became obvious to a lot of people that the rhetoric of doing good and benefiting society and 'Don't be evil' was not what these companies were actually living up to," said Whittaker, who is also a research scientist at Google who founded its Open Research group. At the same time, even some titans of technology have been sounding alarms. Prominent engineers and designers have increasingly spoken out about shielding children from the habit-forming tech products they helped create. And then there's Microsoft President Brad Smith, who in December called for regulating facial recognition technology so that the "year 2024 doesn't look like a page" from George Orwell's "1984." In a blog post and a Washington speech, Smith painted a bleak vision of all-seeing government surveillance systems forcing dissidents to hide in darkened rooms "to tap in code with hand signals on each other's arms." To avoid such an Orwellian scenario, Smith advocates regulating technology so that anyone about to subject themselves to surveillance is properly notified. But privacy advocates argue that's not enough. Such debates are already happening in states like Illinois, where a strict facial recognition law has faced tech industry challenges, and California, which in 2018 passed the nation's most far-reaching law to give consumers more control over their personal data. It takes effect in 2020. The issue could find new attention in Congress next year as more Republicans warm up to the idea of basic online privacy regulations and the incoming Democratic House majority takes a more skeptical approach to tech firms that many liberal politicians once viewed as allies and prolific campaign donors. The "leave them alone" approach of the early internet era won't work anymore, said Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat poised to take the helm of the House's antitrust subcommittee. "We're seeing now some of the consequences of the abuses that can occur in these platforms if they remain unregulated without meaningful oversight or enforcement," Cicilline said. Too much regulation may bring its own undesirable side effects, Cerf warned. "It's funny in a way because this online environment was supposed to remove friction from our ability to transact," he said. "If in our desire, if not zeal, to protect people's privacy we throw sand in the gears of everything, we may end up with a very secure system that doesn't work very well." AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in contributed to this report. What to Know Two men died and a child was injured in a Christmas night fire in an Avon, Massachusetts home. Officials responded to the 3-alarm blaze at about 9:30 p.m. at a home on Freeman Street. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials believe it was accidental. A roaring inferno on Christmas night killed a 70-year-old man and his 28-year-old son at an Avon, Massachusetts home, according to fire officials. Fire crews responded to the deadly 3-alarm blaze around 9:30 p.m. on Freeman Street, according to officials. At the scene, firefighters battled the flames that fully engulfed the home and encountered 70-year-old Louis Orelus in a bedroom, who was revived with CPR then rushed to an area hospital, where he died. "There are two deceased people," Avon Fire Department Chief, Robert Spurr, said. "The one we took to the hospital and the one we found in the building." Vladmir Orelus, 28, perished in the flames, according to fire officials. A young boy was also hospitalized with minor injuries. His current condition was not immediately available. "I'm not sure how to move on," Abe Abdul, who worked with Vladimir Orelus for years at a dental office, said through tears. "He's inside of me, and this hurts me so much." As of Wednesday night, Abdul had raised more than $4,400 of a $20,000 goal on a GoFundMe page for Orelus. "I'm just here to help his family," Pastor Fritz Cesaire of the Trinity Community Church of God said. Cesaire said the two men were longtime members of the church. "He's a good man, a good member," he said. The pastor said two children and a woman were also in the house during the fire. Vladmir was able to get out of the burning building with them but went back inside to get his father, according to Cesaire. "When he came back inside, he died," the pastor said. "The door is locked." Family friends stopped by the now-destroyed structure to see what was left of the tragic incident. Mary Voltaire, a friend of the victims, said Louis owned a grocery store in Brockton that served the Haitian community for years. "This is the season of people celebrating and they die," Voltaire said. "So, we are very sorry about them." The state fire marshal is continuing their investigation on the cause of the blaze. Officials say the blaze appears to be accidental. Two state lawmakers say they'll once again try to pass legislation codifying the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade's abortion protections into Rhode Island law. Democratic state Sen. Gayle Goldin and Rep. Edith Ajello say they've pre-filed the Reproductive Health Care Act for the 2019 session. Goldin and Ajello pushed for the same bill in 2017 and 2018. They're also looking to strike several old state laws concerning reproductive rights that have been declared unconstitutional and unenforceable. Ajello says there's a real chance that Roe v. Wade could be overturned, leaving Rhode Island women subject to what she called ``insidiously restrictive, harmful and patriarchal reproductive laws.'' Goldin called on state leaders to affirm that a women's right to make decisions about her own body is protected in Rhode Island. Massachusetts health officials say the life expectancy of Bay State residents has risen to 80 years and 8 months. The increase in longevity breaks with the national trend, showing a decline in how long people are expected to live, according to officials. In a Massachusetts Deaths 2016 report released Wednesday by the Department of Public Health, authorities said since 2006, life expectancy in the state has remained close to 80 years, reaching 80 years and 11 months at its highest in 2012-2013. The report said life expectancy for residents was 80 years and 5 months in 2015. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the near-universal health care coverage in Massachusetts promotes good living, making the Bay State one of the healthiest in the nation. "This report shows that working together at both the state and municipal level, and with our health care partners, we can improve the health and well-being of all Massachusetts residents," said Sudders. "As people live longer, we must continue taking steps to position the Commonwealth as an age-friendly state, which is why we created the Governors Council to Address Aging." The leading cause of death for Massachusetts residents in 2016 was cancer, with lung cancer remaining the leading cause of all cancer deaths. While life expectancy overall in Massachusetts improved in 2016, it went down nationally last year for the second time in three years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decline was said to be largely driven by drug overdose deaths and suicide. A Maine man is facing a number of charges after authorities say he broke into a Waterboro home, grabbed a bite to eat, took a shower, then got a car ride from his victim. Derek Tarbox, 35, of Standish, was arrested Sunday and is facing charges of class B burglary, two counts of unauthorized use of property, leaving the scene of property damage accident, failure to report an accident and theft by unauthorized taking. The York County Sheriff's Office said Tarbox was found watching television when a Bennet Hill Road resident arrived home Sunday. Authorities said Tarbox told the homeowner he mistakenly thought the house belonged to a friend and asked for a ride home. The homeowner told authorities that seemed plausible, so he drove him to a house in Hollis, which actually belonged to Tarbox's relatives. When the victim returned, he realized his home had been ransacked and that Tarbox had broken in through a back door. According to WCSH-TV, the homeowner called police and deputies and troopers were able to quickly apprehend Tarbox without incident. Through an investigation with Maine State Police, authorities also learned that Tarbox had allegedly stolen a vehicle in Portland prior to the break-in and ran out of gas in Hollis where he allegedly stole another vehicle and drove it to the Bennet Hill Road home where he went off the road and crashed. Authorities said that's when Tarbox walked to the victim's house where he broke in. Tarbox was expected to be arraigned Dec. 26. It's unclear if he has an attorney. He's scheduled to appear in Alfred Superior Court on Feb. 8, 2019. RIDGEFIELD A town ordinance to limit the visual impact of alternative energy installations solar arrays, windmills is in the works, but it may not apply to the Ridgebury solar system that led a group of neighbors to draw town officials attention to the issue. The selectmen are having a proposed ordinance researched and drawn up. But the solar arrays that neighbors complain are too industrial looking for their residential Canterbury Lane area are being built under a permit issued by the town zoning department, which may put it beyond reach of a new law, should the town approve one. Its confused by the fact a permit was issued by the Town of Ridgefield, First Selectman Rudy Marconi told the selectmen earlier this month. Were in a gray area. We, as a town, issued a permit. The selectmen still intend to move ahead with writing an ordinance to set some standards for alternative energy installations they feel the issue goes beyond a single neighborhood. We dont want to focus it on a particular situation, Marconi said. Well have it on the agenda the ninth of January. An ordinance would have to be approved by voters at a town meeting, but its not an issue where everyone can be expected to agree. There are some people who feel thats the future we have to get off the grid, Marconi said. Few models Marconi has been researching the issue with town attorneys and groups like the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities since about 10 neighbors came to the selectmens Nov. 28 meeting, complaining of a ground mount solar array being put up off Canterbury Lane. Not many towns have laws governing alternative energy installations, but Marconi found a few that can be drawn on for background. Well use Smithfield, R.I., West Hartford and New London, Marconi said. New Canaan hasnt thought about this yet? said Selectman Steve Zemo. Good for us, were on the cutting edge. The ordinances Marconi has found offer a variety of perspectives. New Londons is over 100 pages long, and governs solar arrays, windmills and dish antennas. You can have a windmill 80-feet high, Marconi said, but the city requires a setback at least equal to the height of the structure. Zemo wondered if alternative energy structures might be addressed with a combination of an ordinance and zoning regulations. He said it seems something Planning and Zoning could address with its comprehensive regulations. They need to adjust to that with coverage and setbacks and screening. Selectman Bob Hebert asked what specific kinds of alternative energy equipment the new ordinance would address. Solar panels? Windmills? he said. Itll address all of that, Marconi said. A windmill is going to need a footing its a structure. Permit problem This is all great, said Sanjay Tripathi, the Canterbury Lane neighbor most affected by the solar installation there. What are the chances itll solve the situation Im facing? Marconi said that discussions with the town attorneys at Cohen and Wolf had left some doubts about whether a new ordinance would apply to the solar arrays off Canterbury Lane that brought Tripathi and his neighbors to the selectmens previous meeting. A permit has been issued by the Town of Ridgefield, Marconi said.Can we, if we were to pass an ordinance, have something apply to something already approved by the Ridgefield Zoning Commission thats what the attorney brought up. I dont know the answer to that. Tripathi and others in the neighborhood said they dont object to alternative energy installations in principle, but find whats being built on Canterbury Lane too industrial looking and intrusive for their residential zone. Tripathi said he thought an ordinance ought to be able to address the appearance of solar arrays while still allowing them. He liked language that spoke of keeping installations in harmony with the surrounding neighborhood. The harmony word is interesting. If it could be made in harmony, he said. Put three or four sheds on your property, and put it on the roof of the sheds, he suggested. NEW MILFORD Residents will have another chance to comment on proposed fines for false alarms and people who refuse or ignore the towns notices to allow officials to inspect their properties. Draft ordinances on these issues were changed recently and will go back to public hearing on Jan. 14 before the Town Council can vote on them. The biggest change is in the alarm ordinance that no longer has a suspension-of-response penalty if a fine isnt paid in 30 days. Council members raised concerns about the possibility of police or firefighters not responding to an emergency because of this status. Instead, the draft was revised so those who dont pay may have a lien placed on their property similar to Ridgefields ordinance. New Milford established a burglar alarm ordinance in July 1981, but repealed it a few months later. A fire alarm ordinance was created in 2003. The idea of the ordinance is to address malfunctioning alarms so they can be fixed and allow the firefighters and police to respond to actual emergencies because there would be fewer false alarms. Under the proposed ordinance, the mayor will appoint two administrators: one to oversee the fire false alarms and another to oversee the burglar false alarms. Each administrator will use input from the reports compiled by the people on the scene and have discretion on issuing a fine. The proposed fine schedule shows no fine will be given for the first alarm, a $50 penalty if two false alarms happen, $100 for three false alarms and $150 for four or more false alarms. The alarm tally only applies for a 12-month period and the fire and police alarms are counted separately. There will also be an alarm appeals board if someone disagrees with the administrators decision. At a previous council meeting Councilman Michael Nahom worried the fines might encourage business owners to delay the alarm company from calling the police until the owner can assess if its a real call, which is dangerous. The request for the burglar alarm ordinance came from the police department as a way to decrease the number of false calls. In 2016, the department received about 1,380 burglary alarms, of which two were actual burglaries. In 2017 those figures were about 1,510 and four, respectively, and so far in 2018 there have been about 780 burglary alarms, of which two were actual burglaries, Town Attorney Matt Grimes has said. The only change to the inspection ordinance from earlier versions, meanwhile, adds the associated costs for town employees to go to court. Under the overall ordinance change, any property that forces the town to go to Superior Court to obtain a search warrant so the fire marshal can inspect it will face a $200 fee, as well as the associated costs, such as mileage for the town employees to go to court. The fire marshal inspects properties in town for numerous reasons, including new construction or a routine inspection of a business. This process requires a phone call, then a letter, followed by a certified letter and if there is still no response, the town can file for a search warrant. Staff requested the $200 fee because town officials have to spend half a day to get the warrants at court in Torrington. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 NEW MILFORD The ringing of a bell echoed through the St. Johns Episcopal Church sanctuary and throughout the green last Thursday, a preview of what parishioners heard for the first time in decades just days later on Christmas Eve. I havent heard that sound in years, Rev. Jack Gilpin, the churchs rector, said with a grin. Thats great. Gilpin said he was working with the First Congregational Church next door on the green so that the bells would complement each other when they ring. St. Johns bell was also expected to be a call to worship for its services. Restoring the bell has been a year in the making though Gilpin said its something hes wanted to do since he came to the church six years ago. Theres something about church bells that brings a sense of cohesiveness and calm in a town, he said. Music does something to people and bells are a type of music. Last year, the children of Andrew and Julia Tedtsen, decided to donate to the church in honor of their parents and selected the bells for their gift. Their aunt is still a parishioner at St. Johns. Herb St. Jean, the churchs junior warden, took on the work of restoring the bells by contacting the companies to do the work and cleaning the bell tower, which had been overrun by critters as it sat unused by the congregation for 30 years or so. Pigeons had made it their home for decades, leaving behind about 4 inches of droppings on the floor. While cleaning that and replacing the floor, two turkey vulture eggs were found. The congregation held a naming contest for the birds and waited until Ding and Dong, the winning names, were old enough to fly out of the tower. The screens have also been replaced to prevent more birds from getting in. The bell was able to remain in the bell tower during the restoration, with the replacement pieces brought up to it. Removing the bell for the work would have been tricky because it weighs 2,500 pounds and stands about 5 feet tall. The route to the bell can also be precarious as the only way to it is about 20 feet up a ladder into the ceiling by the churchs main entrance and then up a few other ladders and stairs, St. Jean said. It was a very time consuming process, St. Jean said. While its the original bell heard from St. Johns, the method to produce the sound is different from when it was first installed in 1903. The bell is no longer rung like the image that often comes to mind of Quasimodo pulling on the rope. Instead, the clapper was removed and two hammers are placed on either side of the bell that are electronically controlled to hit the bell to simulate the sound of it swinging. Each bell has a sweet spot that you want to hit to get the optimal sound, St. Jean said. Eventually the ringing will be programed to happen at specific times, but until then it is triggered with a small control, similar to a key fob. This type of technology is becoming more common in churches, with congregations going with this method or changing to a completely electronic bell, like the congregational church. For many in the congregation, Christmas Eve was the first time theyve heard the bell. Im just so happy the bells are back, Gilpin said. The whole community will benefit from it. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 The towns in the Greater New Milford area New Milford, Washington, Sherman, Kent, Bridgewater and Roxbury faced challenges and celebrated successes throughout 2018. Several big projects finally moved forward in a big way from the approval of funding for the expansion and revitalization of New Milford Public Library to the start of construction of the Agriscience school in Washington. Other projects faced controversy in 2018 like the planned demolition of the Bridgewater Grange and the sale of the New Preston pavilion. There were also several big changes in top leadership in the towns, from superintendent departures to the appointment of a new police chief in New Milford. Here is a list of top 10 stories of the year. LIBRARY MODERNIZATION Residents voted in November to approve $6.5 million to modernize the library making the third time the charm for recent efforts to renovate the building. Weeks later, it was announced that a crucial piece of funding for the project was secured with the awarding of a $1 million state grant. This will be the first time the building has been renovated since the late 1970s. The library Board of Trustees also committed $1 million for the work. The entire project is expected to cost $8.5 million. SCHOOLS Both public and private schools in the region saw changes this year, including the start of construction of a new agriscience academy, two new superintendents, and renovations and expansions. In June, The Gunnery in Washington broke ground for the schools new 32,000-square-foot arts and community center, which will be named for Tony-nominated producer Thomas S. Perakos, who graduated from the school in 1969 and made a multimillion-dollar gift for the center to be built. Also over the summer, the Marvelwood School in Kent completed its $2 million renovation of its dorms, several common rooms and science lab. The buildings at the top of Skiff Mountain had largely been untouched for 50 years, even after the school moved in about 20 years ago. Then, in the fall, construction of the long-awaited agriscience academy in Washington began. It is expected to open next fall to teach area students about agriculture with a STEM focus, which includes science, technology, engineering and math. The project expected to include 35,750 square feet of new construction at Shepaug Valley School while also using unused space within the school has been controversial, with some residents questioning if the costs were too high for the towns to absorb. Proponents tout the program though as a way to bolster declining enrollment. Also, this year both New Milford and Region 12 school districts saw their superintendents leave. In New Milford, Joshua Smith left to take a position in Region 15 and was replaced by interim superintendent Stephen Tracy, who previously served as superintendent in New Milford. Southington principal Megan Bennett replaced Region 12 Superintendent Patricia Cosentino, who left to become the superintendent in New Fairfield. TRAFFIC After months of planning and construction, in August, motorists began using a new roundabout at the intersection of Still River Drive and Lanesville and Pickett District roads meant to ease congestion at the former four-way stop. Prior to the roundabout opening, concerned residents took to Facebook, pressing fears about how the new traffic pattern would roll out. ICE DAM An ice dam that formed in the Housatonic River in early January, flooding Route 7 and forcing evacuation of four homes and endangering more than 20 others, drew attention from residents near and far who wanted to catch a glimpse of the natural formation. The dam, which grew over weeks and reached two miles at one point, not only impacted residences, but also the private Kent School, whose campus runs along the river. The school sent students home after water flooded several buildings. Town and state leaders quickly responded to the emergency, readying resources such as boats and vehicles, aware the dam had the potential to cause damage along the river in neighboring towns as it broke apart. Finally, by the first week of February and after nearly four miles of Route 7 had been closed for days, authorities reported the dam had thawed significantly and running water was visible. HEALTH CARE The Western Connecticut Health Network, which operates New Milford, Danbury and Norwalk hospitals, announced its plans to merge with a hospital group in New York to form a $2.4 billion medical system stretching from the Hudson River to the shores of Long Island Sound. The merger of WCHN and Health Quest Systems, which is subject to approval by the states of Connecticut and New York and the Federal Trade Commission, would create a network serving 1.5 million people. In other news, a new partnership announced in January brought new and specialized pediatric health care from the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center to hospitals in New Milford, Danbury and Norwalk. WCHN and the Hartford-based childrens medical center - the only hospital in the state dedicated solely to childrens care - announced the program that gives the three hospitals round-the-clock access to CCMCs specialized and subspecialized pediatric services, along with more pediatric consultations in the Danbury and Norwalk emergency departments. POLICE CHIEF After serving as New Milford police chief for eight years, Shawn Boynes contract was not renewed by the town. He was replaced by Spencer Cerruto, who comes to New Milford after 31 years with the Watertown Police Department, where he served in a variety of posts. BUDGET It took New Milford three tries this year to pass a final 2018-19 budget. It included $39 million for the town and $63 million for the schools, $200,000 more than the previous level. The previous two attempts were rejected because the school budgets failed. NEW PRESTON PAVILION Washington residents this year approved the sale of the historic Harry O. Erickson Pavilion Hall in New Preston to Plain Goods, a local business adjacent to the building, for $140,000. The owners, Andrew Fry and Michael DePerno, plan to restore it and house their retail operation there, which has outgrown its existing space. They plan to set aside a portion of the building to be used as a visitors center, promoting the recreational, natural and historical features of the town and offering information on other local businesses. They also plan to engage the community with workshops and work with nonprofits by hosting events. Some residents and business owners opposed the sale, saying the building should remain with the town and be used as a community space. CUB SCOUTS New Milford Cub Scout Pack 467 made history in January when it welcomed its first girl to the pack. Lilah Reguin, 8, was the first female Cub Scout in the Northwest Hills District, the Connecticut Rivers Council and in the state, according to Robin L. Toni, director of marketing for the Boy Scouts of America Connecticut Rivers Council. The Boy Scouts - for the first time in its more than 100-year history - announced in 2017 it would welcome girls to its Cub Scouting Program. Since Lilah joined, several other girls joined the local pack and formed their own dens. BRIDGEWATER GRANGE Demolition of the historic Grange was stalled this fall as the state looked into whether its feasible to restore the 1850s-era building instead of replacing it with a new structure. In 2016, the Board of Selectmen presented a plan to demolish the building, which was condemned a few years ago, and build a new one. A hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's is the progressive death of nerve cells in the brain. The cells don't die quickly, though. They first start to disconnect from each other because their neurites -- long finger-like extensions that make connections all through the brain -- become smaller. Now, using animal models and nerve cells grown in the lab, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggest a new mechanism dubbed "neuritosis" that might explain neurons shrinking in Huntington's and other neurodegenerative diseases, opening new targets for therapy. The study is published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Neuritosis is a process that hasn't been recognized or described until now and could play a very important role in normal brain development, aging and neurodegenerative disease," said senior author Robert Friedlander, M.D., chair and Walter E. Dandy Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology at Pitt's School of Medicine. It all started when Sergei Baranov, Ph.D., a staff scientist in Friedlander's lab, noticed an interesting phenomenon in mouse nerve cells that he was growing in the lab. "Their mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses, weren't working as well at the neurite ends" said Baranov. Then, when the researchers looked at neurons in the spinal cords of mice, they found the same phenomenon. "Other researchers must have noticed this as well, but we were able to visualize it and suggest the potential cause as well as outcome," he noted. The researchers found that when proteins in mitochondria at the ends of neurites were damaged by normal wear and tear, newer ones weren't coming in to replace them as quickly as they did for mitochondria near the nucleus. This made them function less efficiently, which activated 'executioner' enzymes called caspases and ultimately led to neurites withering away. Friedlander and his team called this neuritosis, a variation on apoptosis, the cell death process that involves caspase activation. "It's quite intuitive, once we discovered how it works," said Friedlander. "Neuronal projections are really long and the farther you are from the nucleus, which is the central factory, the harder it gets to repair and replenish the cellular machinery, making the ends more vulnerable to even small stresses." The researchers then wanted to understand whether neuritosis plays a role in neurodegenerative disease, and they had reason to suspect that it does. Previous work in Friedlander's lab showed that mutations in huntingtin, the protein linked to Huntington's, interferes with the same protein supply chain that breaks down in neuritosis. To test their hunch, Friedlander's team used genetically modified mice that carried a mutant version of the human huntingtin protein. These mice exhibit symptoms of the disease, including accelerated neuronal death. Their findings were similar to what they had seen in the cells, but more pronounced. There were fewer mitochondria at the ends, and what remained was more dysfunctional than in normal neurons. There was also more activation of caspases, and increased levels of cell death. "It's quite likely that neuritosis happens in nerve cells normally and doesn't result in cell death, but in neurodegenerative diseases, there are higher levels of stress to the already vulnerable neurite ends, which could push neuritosis over the edge and lead to cells dying," said Friedlander. "If we can somehow find a way to keep mitochondria at nerve ends healthy, it may be beneficial in treating neurodegenerative diseases." DOYLESTOWN >> This month is all about dogs in Bucks County Treasurer Kris Ballerinis office. Starting December 1, dog owners can purchase their 2022 license from the County Treasurers Office. State law requires that all dogs three months and older be licensed by January 1 of each year. An annual dog license is $8.50, or $6.50 if the animal is... Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: Chinese companies are coming out in support of telecom giant Huawei after the recent arrest of its CFO in Canada, and big or small, are doing their bit to show solidarity towards the firm. While some companies have threatened employees with no promotions or incentives on using the US-based Apple products, one brewer in Chinas Henan province announced that it will offer free alcohol worth 30 per cent of the cost of Huawei device purchases for employees as well as customers. The arrest has become an issue of national pride and some people are also of the opinion that the US is trying to stifle the Chinese giant as it sees the latter as a potential competitor. Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the Huawei founder was accused by the US of misleading financial institutions regarding transactions in Iran, that violated US sanctions. She was arrested on December 1 by Canadian authorities in Vancouver on US request. China condemned the arrest and now firms are urging its staff to boycott the Apple products and apparently even threatening to punish those who dont comply. Read More | Chief financial officer of China's Huawei Meng Wanzhou arrested in Canada Some companies have started offering to fund 10 to 20 percent of the Huawei device cost for their employees. While some are willing to cover even the full amount of purchase. According to a report, the show of support for Huawei has been widespread, ranging from Information Technology firms to food companies, as per a report in the NDTV. The Nikkei Asian Review reported that an electronics maker Shanghai Youluoke Electronic and Technology is subsidising up to two Huawei phones per staff member. Similarly, another device maker Shenzhen Yidaheng Technology said it will reimburse as much as 18 per cent of the Huawei or ZTE device cost. A Zhejiang-based telecom company said it would reimburse managerial staff, who purchase a Huawei phone, 50 per cent off the products sticker price, and will pay 20 per cent of the phone prices of other employees, as per a report in the Newsbyte. In the notice, the company also said that it will give a 25% reimbursement to those who relinquish their existing Apple phone to purchase a Huawei phone. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid anti-Congress protests following the conviction of Sajjan Kumar in the 1984-anti-Sikh riots case, a group of Sikh protesters on Wednesday defaced an MCD signboard bearing the name of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Rajiv Chowk Metro station in Connaught Place, New Delhi. The video showing the protesters, including women, spraying black ink on the signboard and blaming Rajiv Gandhi for 1984 anti-Sikh riots has gone viral on social networking sites. Their demands include the renaming of Rajiv Chowk Metro station after Indian freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The act was carried out in broad daylight this morning. Speaking to news agency ANI, one of the protesters said, "A prime minister represents all communities, be it Hindus, Muslims or Sikhs. We demand that considering Rajiv Gandhi's role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Bharat Ratna award must be taken away from him and should be conferred on Shaheed Bhagat Singh". Earlier on Tuesday, in a separate incident, a group of Youth Akali Dal workers vandalised a statue of Rajiv Gandhi at the Salem Tabri area in Ludhiana, Punjab. The incident also triggered strong protests by Congress supporters at various places across the state. The protesters threw black paint on posters of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Read | Delhi Assembly passes resolution demanding to take back Rajiv Gandhis Bharat Ratna, AAP takes a U-turn Strongly condemning the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh demanded an apology from Sukhbir Singh Badal and asked him to stop indulging in petty politics, warning him that such acts would backfire on his party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) stepped up attack on the Gandhi family after the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar. The Delhi High Court on December 17, convicted the former Lok Sabha member in connection to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, sentencing him to life imprisonment. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, or what the Sikh community calls genocide, erupted in India with thousands of Sikhs being killed following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31. Read | Day after offering to quit, AAP MLA Alka Lamba says she is not resigning Since then, several political parties, including the Sikh Community people have been critical of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and accusing him of justifying the killing of innocent Sikhs in the 1984 riots. In an apparent reference to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots the former prime minister said, "when a big tree falls, the earth shakes". Gandhi delivered the speech on Indira Gandhis birth anniversary at Boat Club in 1984. New Delhi: Like every year, Salman Khan hosted a Christmas party at his Mumbai residence on Tuesday which was attended by the actor's family members and close friends from the industry. The star-studded party had Katrina Kaif, Karan Johar, Malaika and Amrita Arora in the guest list. While the party was a close affair, Salman never forgets to treat his fans with a glimpse from inside the festive celebration. Salman took to his Instagram handle to share a video clip where he is seen dancing with brothers Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan and is later joined by brother-in-law Aayush Sharma. The actor shared the video with a caption that says, aMerry Xmas to all....a The Khan brother trio looked adorable matching steps and dancing their heart out on a chartbuster song aFeelsa by Calvin Harris and Katy Perry. While some fans couldnat stop gushing over his moves on the stage, some started trolling him for his moves. One user wrote, aTaking background dancing in Ambani's wedding, tad bit too seriouslyYYa aBHAI AUR SABKO MNAA KR DIYA THA KYA STAGE PR AANE SE YYYYYa, commented one. A troller went on to comment, aAbhi bhi dance seekh rhe h teeno.gud keep it up.YYYYYa aSare k sare bewakoof lg rheYYa, said another. A user went on to sneakily comment on his age, aMerry Christmas grandpa!a Though some seem unimpressed with Salmanas dancing, a huge number of fans praised the Dabangg star for setting the stage on fire. One user commented, aGetting fitter day by dayYYa aMost chill out family in bollywood YYa, wrote another. One user said, aKyaa mast view hai...Teen bhai ek saath...YYYYYYYYYYa Impressed with the Khan trio, a user said, aTreat to watch all threea Meanwhile, Salman Khan will celebrate his 53rd birthday on Thursday.A According to reports, the actor will host a lavish birthday bash at his Panvel farmhouse where whoas who of Bollywood is expected to attend the party. On the work front, Salman Khan has a kitty full of projects despite poor reviews for his last movie, Race 3. Salman is currently shooting forA Bharat, which also features Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani and Tabu.A BharatA is a remake of the Korean war dramaA Ode To My Father. Salman also announced the making ofA Dabangg 3. The third instalment will be directed by his brother Arbaaz Khan. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shatrughan Sinha is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections 2019 from Patna Sahib, his own constituency, on Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), News18 Hindi quoted sources as saying. Sinha, who has been vocal against own government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has recently met ailing Lalu Prasad and praised his son, Tejashwi Yadav, calling him "Bihar's face" and "its future". The actor-turned-politician said he has a familial bond with Prasad as both had stood by each other during good and bad times. Prasad is lodged at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hereafter conviction in multi-crore fodder scam cases. "Tejashwi is a very good and talented boy. I believe he is the face of Bihar and its future," Sinha told reporters praising the RJD heir apparent. Though Sinha had denied any political talks with the RJD chief, the timing of the meeting has great political significance as Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday made a public appearance with Congress leader Ahmad Patel, RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha and HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi in Delhi, indicating the cobbling together of the "mahagathbandhan" ahead of 2019 general elections. There has been speculation that Sinha, whose attack on his party has sharpened in recent times, might be denied a ticket in the 2019 elections and in such a situation he would probably enter the fray from Patna Sahib from Prasad's party. Popularly known as 'Bihari Babu', Sinha has on several occasions made it clear that the "location (of the constituency) will be the same, even if the situation changes." Sinha, who has represented his native Patna Sahib as a BJP MP in two consecutive terms, praised the RJD saying in the last few years, the way RJD performed across the country, particularly in Bihar, showed there was a wave of sympathy among the people for Prasad. "The BJP is my friend, Lalu ji is my friend and all other parties are also my friends. But before that, I am of the people of the country," Sinha said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Guwahati: AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday verbally abused a journalist who questioned him on next year's general elections and even threatened to break his head, while his supporters forced the scribe to apologise publicly. The incident happened when Ajmal was talking to reporters after a function, where he felicitated the panchayat elections winners of South Salmara district. The journalist later filed a complaint with the police against the Lok Sabha lawmaker. The journalist from a local TV news channel questioned Ajmal about AIUDF's alliance plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He refused a direct reply and said, "We are with Mahagathbandhan (opposition) in Delhi." The journalist then persisted and asked whether AIUDF would change its position after the polls depending on which party won. To this, Ajmal lost his temper and said: "How many crore will you give? (abuse)... Is it journalism? People like you are demeaning journalism. This man is against us from earlier on." #WATCH AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal in Hatsingimari, Assam threatens to smash head of journalist who asked him if he'll ally with Congress or BJP in future: Go dogs, for how much money have you been bought by BJP? Go away, I will smash your head. Go register a case against me. pic.twitter.com/XQvp5mZ4it a ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 Ajmal then rained more abuses, snatched the mike of another journalist and tried to hit the scribe who had asked the question. "He is asking for how much money will I be sold to BJP? His father will be sold. Go from here or else I will break your head. Go and file a case against me...(abuse)... I have my men in court...you will be finished. You have done this earlier also," the leader said. An AIUDF leader sitting next to Ajmal then asked the journalist to apologise. The scribe was then heard saying "sorry" and "you have misunderstood me". The man then bowed his head in front of Ajmal and apologised, to which the AIUDF leader was seen touching his head. The TV journalist later said, "People gathered there and I was about to be thrashed. I was forced to apologise and I did it to save my life. I have already filed an FIR." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid talks of a federal front comprising regional parties in Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at PMO Office in New Delhi. It was their first interaction after the TRS president won the recently concluded Assembly elections with a healthy majority in the state. Sources said, during their December 26 meeting, the two leaders discussed a variety of issues, including the release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new districts and an IIT in Karimnagar district. Taking to Twitter, the PMO India wrote, "The Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri K Chandrashekar Rao met PM @narendramodi. @TelanganaCMO". Along with the tweet, the official handle of PMO shared a picture of both the leaders where they can be seen seated next to each other. The Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri K. Chandrashekar Rao met PM @narendramodi. @TelanganaCMO pic.twitter.com/UEIvxjPhD5 PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 26, 2018 Modi-KCR meeting came two days after the Telangana chief minister met his West Bengal and Odisha counterparts Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik in a bid to form a non-Congress, and non-BJP alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections next year. Read | Lok Sabha Polls 2019: Shivpal Yadav, rebel Samajwadi Party leader, likely to join hands with Congress There are also reports that KCR is scheduled to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav as part of his idea for a third front ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Asked about the possibility of SP joining the TRS-led third front, Yadav said, "Efforts to bring all parties together have been ongoing for many months; I congratulate the Telangana chief minister for working in this direction. He has been trying to bring together a federal front, Ill go to Hyderabad to meet him". Early in the day, in a big blow to Rahul Gandhi's Grand Alliance dream for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the SP leader said that his party would go for a Congress-less alliance in Uttar Pradesh. BSP chief Mayawati too decided to go solo in Madhya Pradesh during Lok Sabha elections next year. Read | Lok Sabha Polls 2019: Blow to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav hints at UP alliance minus Congress Congress leader Rajeev Gowda, on the other hand, urged leaders of the regional parties to think of national interest and remain with the Congress and a broad coalition of secular parties. Speaking to news agency PTI, Gowda said, "This federal front idea... the truth behind it is nothing but an attempt to ensure that BJP and 'Modi Sarkar' come back to power". The Rajya Sabha MP was responding to a query from reporters in Hyderabad. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In what comes as a shocker from Yoga teacher Ramdev, once a staunch supporter of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he told news agency ANI on Tuesday that it would be difficult to say who will be the next prime minister. Now the political situation is very difficult. We cannot say who will [be] the next prime minister or who will lead the country, but situation is very interesting..., Ramdev said in Tamil Nadus Madurai International Airport while addressing the media. Ramdev, whose support was considered crucial for the BJP in the previous national election, said he would not support any person or oppose any party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Asserting that he is not focusing on politics, Ramdev added that his aim was not a Hindu country but a spiritual country. And a spiritual world through yoga and Vedic practices, divine practices. We are making a spiritual India, our mission is based on a spiritual India and spiritual world. This is our goal. Ramdev was in Tamil Nadu for a national meeting of his followers that was being organised at the temple town of Rameswaram. Read More | PM Modi to stay home for 2019 battle, no foreign trips on cards: Report The 52-year-old Yoga teacher had supported the BJPs general election campaign in 2014 and was always seen to be closely associated with the party. A year later, he was named BJP-ruled Haryanas brand ambassador and then granted Cabinet minister rank. He was allotted a car with a beacon, security personnel, and an escort vehicle whenever he visited the state. As reported by the Indian Express, at Rameswaram, 171 km from Madurai, he told the media that there is a big fight in politics now. Repeating his words in Madurai, he said: I am not opposing or supporting any person or party. But now a political challenge, crisis, and (an) instability I am looking this is not good for our India. He added that who will win and who will lead the country we cannot say now. (But the) political fight will be interesting. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistani national Imran Qureshi Warsi, who was lodged in Bhopal jail on charges of forging documents and spying, for the last 10 years, on Wednesday returned to his country, through the Attari-Wagah border. Besides, India is set to release another jailed Pak national - Abdullah, who was detained from Attari in 2017. While Warsi, a resident of Karachi, came to India in 2004 to meet his relatives in Kolkata, Abdullah said it was his childhood dream to visit India and meet Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. "Pakistani national Imran Qureshi Warsi who was lodged in Bhopal jail for 10 years for forging documents and spying returns to Pakistan from Attari-Wagah border," the news agency ANI reported. Pakistani national Imran Qureshi Warsi who was lodged in Bhopal jail since 10 years for forging documents and spying returns to Pakistan from Attari-Wagah border. pic.twitter.com/77Y85JJxpY ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 Speaking to ANI near the Attari-Wagah border, Abdullah further said, "I will be back in India but with a visa this time". Read | Imran Khan does it again, says Pakistan treats minorities equally unlike India Warsi, who stayed in India for four years even after expiry of his visa, told reporters, "My term expired in January this year, following which the police took care of me since I had no money of my own. I now get to return home after 14 years, and I could not be happier to see my mother, father and siblings, who all reside in Karachi". Earlier Warsi got a ration card and a PAN card during his stay in India and got arrested by the police on his way to Bhopal to get a passport. Praising the police in the Indian jail, he further said, "The police treated me very well, just like a family. I found loving people here the same way there are loving people in Pakistan. I believe good people find good people everywhere". Read | Nawaz Sharif shifted to Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, party questions verdict Furthermore, Warsi is married to a Kolkata-based girl since 2014 and is having two children with his wife. He plans to take his children to Pakistan after completion of the legal procedure. The move came days after Hamid Ansari, an Indian national, who was jailed in Pakistan for the last six years, returned to Indian after the end of his prison term on December 15. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Senior Karnataka BJP MLA Umesh Katti on Wednesday claimed he was in touch with 15 disgruntled legislators of ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and his party would welcome them if they chose to join it. The eight-time MLA further claimed BJP would form a new government in the state by next week, drawing a strong reaction from state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, who hit out at him for making "illusionary statements" to 'confuse' people. The claim by Katti came in the midst of public display of anger by some ministerial aspirants from Congress who were left out in the recent cabinet expansion. Senior MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, upset after being dropped from the H D Kumaraswamy ministry, has threatened to resign and said he would announce his future course of action later this week. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and senior Congress leaders and ministers have asserted that no MLA would resign and there was no threat to the stability of the six-month-old government. However, BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa separately said the party was not in touch with any disgruntled MLAs of Congress. Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Katti said: "Fifteen MLAs are in touch with me, I cannot divulge their names now, when time comes I will tell. However, ruling out 'Operation Lotus' (engineering defections), Katti said, "we will welcome those who are pained in Congress and JD(S) and want to join our party. If they come, we will induct them into our party and form the government, he said. Replying to a question, Katti said he would welcome if Ramesh Jarkiholi came to the BJP. New government will be formed by the BJP in Karnataka by next week. How it will be formed, why it will be formed, dont think about it. When it is formed we will tell you, he added. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Gundu Rao asked Katti not to confuse people by making such illusionary statements. If it doesnt happen, Katti will have to resign if he has guts, he told reporters. Reacting to Rao's comments, Katti claimed that already eight to ten (Congress-JDS) MLAs were ready to resign. "So as a party with 104 MLAs in the 224-member assembly, Im confident we can form the government," he said maintaining that the Congress-JDS government would fall "100 per cent". Yeddyurappa said the BJP had nothing to do with the disgruntlement among the MLAs of the ruling combine. "...if they are fighting internally, lets wait and watch what will happen at the end...till now no one has contacted us, nor we have contacted anybody and we don't require it also..." he told reporters in Bengaluru. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid ongoing tussle between BJP and Trinamool Congress over intended Rath Yatra in West Bengal, Union Minister Giriraj Singh slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Singh reportedly equated Banerjee with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. "West Bengal is the only state in the country where there is no place for democracy. Mamata Banerjee is playing the role of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in Bengal. Like Kim, she kills everyone who raises voice against her," Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Talking about the impending Rath Yatra petition in the Supreme Court, Singh said that nobody can stop us, we will win the case. On Monday, the Supreme Court had declined urgent hearing to Bharatiya Janata Partys plea challenging a Calcutta High Court order rejecting permission to take out Rath Yatras in West Bengal. The BJP had moved to the vacation bench of the top court after Calcutta High Courts division bench denied permission for the political procession in West Bengal citing intelligence inputs expressing fear of a breach of communal harmony. The Supreme Court is closed for winter vacations. The registry of the top court informed the lawyer associated with the saffron partys plea that the matter would be taken up for hearing in the normal course. The BJP had sought an urgent hearing on the petition. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government refuses permission for BJP's Rath Yatra, party to move higher court With Lok Sabha elections less than six months away, the BJP is planning to make inroads in West Bengal by carrying out a Rath Yatra across the state. However, the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government had refused to grant permission for the political procession citing intelligence inputs about possible communal tension. The BJP had moved to the Calcutta High Court against the West Bengal governments decision. Giving initial respite to the saffron party, a single bench of the Calcutta High Court had allowed the BJP to carry out three Rath Yatras across the state. Also Read | Nobody can stop BJP from carrying out 'yatras' in West Bengal: Amit Shah The High Court decision has come as a blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, which then approached the division bench of the High Court. Headed by Chief Justice Debasish Kar Gupta, the division bench quashed its single bench order and asked it to consider intelligence inputs shared by the state government. Both the BJP and the TMC have been at loggerheads after the state government refused the saffron party to grant the permission to carry out the procession. The denial also irked BJP president Amit Shah, who had openly challenged that "nobody can stop rath yatras in the state". (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Rebel Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Yadav, who recently introduced the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), on Wednesday said that he was willing to join hands with the Congress to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections due by May. Being asked about the possibility of an alliance for the general elections next year, Yadav said, "The party has decided to contest all the seats to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh", adding that they "can also enter into an alliance with the Congress". Shivpal, the estranged uncle of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav further stressed that all those talking about forming a morcha to defeat the BJP should also talk to his party which was ready to deliberate on the issue. On the controversy over Lord Hanuman, the rebel leader said, "He is a God and those who are out to confine him to a particular caste have a very narrow mindset". Yadav also opined that Ram temple should not come upon the land which was under dispute. Read | Lok Sabha Polls 2019: Blow to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav hints at UP alliance minus Congress "Lot of lands is lying around River Saryu...if the temple is built there, I am also ready to contribute to it," Shivpal said, adding that the Supreme Court's verdict in the matter should not be defied. Yadav was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a big blow to Rahul Gandhi's Grand Alliance dream, on Wednesday announced a Congress-less alliance ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. "The Congress has cleared our way by not including our MLA," Yadav told reporters. Read | Amid anti-Congress protests, Rajiv Chowk signboard defaced with black ink in Connaught Place The crucial political development came at a time when BSP chief Mayawati has also announced that her party will go solo in Madhya Pradesh during Lok Sabha elections next year. The Samajwadi Party is currently in talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh to forge an anti-BJP alliance. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : For the first time, the Election Commission of India has banned all kinds of tobacco in polling booths during 2019 general elections, a bid to effectively implement tobacco control laws in the country. The panel has asked all states and Union Territories to issue instructions to district electoral officers-cum-district magistrates to ensure prohibition of not just smoking, but also the use of chewable tobacco in all polling booths. "All the polling booths in the country to be declared tobacco-free and not just smoke-free so use of bidi, cigarette, gutkha, scented/ flavoured chewable tobacco are prohibited in all polling booth," read the guidelines. The commission asked the officials to put banners at each polling booth, saying the same. The guidelines added that the presiding officer of each polling booth will be nominated as the nodal officer for ensuring tobacco-free status at their booths. All district tobacco control cells will supervise and monitor this campaign to sensitise people on ill effects of tobacco. The move comes after Delhi government's Health Department approached the Commission seeking declaration of all polling stations as tobacco-free zones rather than just declaring them as smoke-free as it used to be in previous elections. In a letter, Additional Director (Health) Dr SK Arora had stated that tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death and major threat to the present and future health of any population. "On election day, majority of adult population of our country is likely to visit polling booth to caste its vote. This will be an excellent opportunity to sensitise among majority adult population on a single day through displayed multi-colour banners with message on ill-effects of tobacco at polling booth," he had said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In the runup to the Lok Sabha Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will stay home in 2019 and focus on domestic issues. There are reports that the Prime Minster has no foreign trips scheduled in the first four months of 2019. According to The Hindustan Times, the officials have made sure that the PM has no crucial global interactions lined up in the first quarter of 2019. The report comes at a time when the BJP is still analysing the drubbing during the recently concluded Assembly Elections. The losses in the Hindi heartland states may have forced BJP to introspect and look for a new strategy. Though there are several big names in the ruling party, yet PM Modi remains the star campaigner. The BJP has faced ire of the Opposition over PM Modis foreign trips. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Prime Minister and said that he is always travelling and has no time for troubles at home. Earlier in July, the government had revealed the details of PM Modis foreign trips. According Minister VK Singh, PM Modi had visited 84 nations in last four years. These trips had cost Rs 1,484 crore to the national exchequer. According to the data presented by Singh in the Rajya Sabha, a total of Rs 1088.42 crore was spent on maintenance of the prime minister's aircraft and Rs 387.26 crore on chartered flights during the period between June 15, 2014 and June 10, 2018. The total expenditure on hotline was Rs 9.12 crore. PM Modi visited a total of 84 countries in 42 foreign trips since taking over as prime minister in May 2014. The minister also informed the Upper House that the prime minister visited a maximum of 24 countries in 2015-16 followed by 19 in 2017-18 and 18 nations in 2016-17. In 2014-15, PM Modi had visited 13 countries with first one as prime minister to Bhutan in June 2014. In 2018, he travelled to 10 countries till July. His last foreign trip was to Japan. The cost for chartered flights to overseas destinations in 2014-15 was Rs 93.76 crore while in 2015-16, it was Rs 117 crore. In 2016-17, the cost was Rs 76.27 crore and in 2017-18, the expense on chartered flight was Rs 99.32 crore. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The travel time between Ghaziabad and Kanpur is soon going to reduce with a mini-high speed train set to operate very soon. The high-speed corridor between Kanpur and Ghaziabad will be able to speed up 160 km. However, the actual time that will be taken by the train has not been fixed yet. An official said that it will start operations from April next year. At present, the maximum speed of trains is 130 km, but the speed section is only 80 km in a distance of 444 kilometre. Railway officials said that the tracks for the corridor had been laid from Bhadan to Khurja. The tracks for the goods train will be laid separately. Now, trains will reach Ghaziabad in about 4 hours 15 minutes. Preparations are in the final stages. Senior station superintendent of Central Railway RNP Trivedi said that the 160 kmph is the proposed speed between Kanpur and Ghaziabad, then reverse trains can also be run. The entire section will have an automatic signalling system because of which the trains maintain a certain distance between each other. Work has started to take the high-speed Shatabdi and Rajdhani Expresses from the third line. Commuters will be greatly benefitted by the new high-speed train as travel time will reduce from 6-7 hours to a little over 4 hours. Except Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto expresses, all the other trains take a lot of time to cover the 462-km distance. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested 10 people in connection with a new ISIS-like module after conducting searches across 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi. The fairly-new group has been identified as 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam. Their targets were political persons and other important personalities and vital and security intallations, said Alok Mittal, inspector general of NIA, at a press conference, adding that a large quantity of explosive material, weapons and ammunition have been recovered from them so far. Mittal said that searches have been conducted in Delhis Seelampur and UPs Amroha, Hapur, Meerut and Lucknow, and a large quantities of explosive material, weapons and ammunition, including a country-made rocket launcher have been recovered. #WATCH NIA conducts a raid in Delhi's Jafrabad area in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam' . pic.twitter.com/GL1GjOa1tq ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 The total amount of Rs 7.5 lakh recovered, nearly 100 mobile phones, 135 SIM cards, laptops and memory have been also seized. Some of the searches are still underway. After initial interrogation of the 16 suspects, we have decided to arrest 10 accused. IG NIA: Level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts & fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Identities are yet to be established. pic.twitter.com/7BEZvvtukE ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 The officer added the level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Identities are yet to be established. (The weapons recovered in the search operation. News Nation photo) Of the 10 persons arrested by the anti-terror probe agency, five were picked up from the western Uttar Pradesh district of Amroha following a joint operation with the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, Inspector General ATS Asim Arun said in Lucknow earlier in the day. Also Read | NIA raids 16 locations across Delhi, UP, ISIS-like network unearthed Five more were arrested from north-east Delhi with the help of Delhi Police's Special Cell, officials said. Those involved include a civil engineer studying at the Amity University, a maulvi, an undergraduate student and an auto driver. "The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque," he said. IG NIA: The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque. pic.twitter.com/bQ9o1NDqYL ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 Last year, the NIA had arrested more than 100 ISIS sympathisers across the country. Maximum people were arrested from Uttar Pradesh. This year, till March, the NIA had registered 19 cases in connection with the ISIS-styled activities. The central probe agency had filed chargesheets in eleven of these cases, Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir had told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. "The NIA has registered 19 cases related to ISIS/IS and out of these, charge sheets have been filed in 11 cases. "Two of these cases relate to missing of 22 persons from Kerala and their subsequent travel to ISIS-controlled territory in Afghanistan," he had said. Ahir had also said that the central and state agencies are "monitoring the cyberspace which is being used to radicalise and recruit persons by ISIS and the law enforcement agencies take action as per law." Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has maintained that India has the largest Muslim population in the world but ISIS had been unable to establish itself in the country. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tuesday, December 25, 2018 at 8:41PM Heres some good end of the year news for OnePlus 5 and 5T users. Both phones are getting Android Pie update via OyxgenOS 9.0.0 update. According to Android Police, the update has started to roll out to users, so just keep your eyes peeled for it to head to your device. OnePlus is rolling this out slowly, so you might want to exercise a bit of patience for this one. You can check out the new features coming in the list under the cut. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency is conducting raids across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a new ISIS-like module. The fairly-new group has been identified as 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam. According to latest reports, UP Anti Terror Squad is also part of the joint operation. The probe agencies have searched as many as 16 location across in the National Capital and the neighbouring Western UP. UP ATS has now confirmed about the raids and said that 10 people have been arrested. Reports also say that one of the suspect was arrested from Hapur. The man, whose identity has not been revealed yet, belongs to Simbhaoli in UP. Searches have been conducted in Delhis Seelampur, Zafarabad and adjoining Ghaziabad, Hapur and Amroha. Last year, the NIA had arrested more than 100 ISIS sympathisers across the country. Maximum people were arrested from Uttar Pradesh. This year, till march, the NIA had registered 19 cases in connection with the ISIS-styled activities. The central probe agency had filed chargesheets in eleven of these cases, Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir had told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. "The NIA has registered 19 cases related to ISIS/IS and out of these, charge sheets have been filed in 11 cases. "Two of these cases relate to missing of 22 persons from Kerala and their subsequent travel to ISIS controlled territory in Afghanistan," he had said. Ahir had also said that the central and state agencies are "monitoring the cyber space which is being used to radicalise and recruit persons by ISIS and the law enforcement agencies take action as per law." Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has maintained that India has the largest Muslim population in the world but ISIS had been unable to establish itself in the country. Meanwhile, on other hand there has been 25 per cent reduction in Maoist attacks in 2014-17 as compared to 2011-14 (UPA tenure). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A day after the Uttar Pradesh Police issued a notice ordering offices and establishments to direct their Muslim employees to stop offering Friday prayers in open areas such as parks in Noida, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday hit out at the state government alleging that the Uttar Pradesh Police would shower petals on kanwariyas, but would tell the Muslims that whatever they did, 'it was their mistake'. According to the notice issued by the police stations in Noida, including at the Sector 58 industrial hub, companies will be held liable if their employees are found violating the directive. "UP Cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony. This is telling Muslims: aap kuch bhi karlo, ghalti to aapki hi hogi. Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what their employees do in an individual capacity?" Owaisi said in a tweet. UP Cops literally showered petals for Kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony. This is telling Muslims: aap kuch bhi karlo, ghalti to aapki hi hogi. Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what their employees do in individual capacity? https://t.co/b90Jw5ZMHY Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 25, 2018 Read More | Noida Police's ban on Friday Namaz in parks triggers row According to a notice issued last week by police stations in Noida, including at the Sector 58 industrial hub, companies will be held liable if their employees are found violating the directive. The companies in the Sector 58 industrial hub had sought a meeting with the top Noida Police officers for a better understanding of the order, particularly on the clause that threatens to hold them liable for violations of the order by employees. A police station in Noida issued notices to 23 private companies asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering prayers in a local park. Sector 58 Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Rai, who issued the notices, cited a Supreme Court order of 2009, which banned unauthorised use of public places for religious activities by all religions. We want to inform you that there is no permission from the administration to conduct any kind of religious activity including Namaz offered on Friday in the Authority park in Sector 58. It has been often seen that the Muslim workers of your company assemble in the park to offer Namaz and I, the SHO, have told the group to not hold prayers in the park. Also, their plea to the city magistrate has not received any permission to do so. Thus, it is expected from you that you at your level inform your Muslim employees to not come to the park to offer Namaz. If employees of your company come to the park, it will be assumed that you have not informed your employees and your company will be held liable. Also Read | Rashtriya Bajrang Dal women allegedly hold aarti inside Taj Mahal Yes, we have sent notices to many companies in our area after several complaints regarding a large number of people offering Namaz in the afternoon especially on Fridays. Since most people offering prayers are employees in companies nearby, we have sent notices to those companies to ask their employees to either offer Namaz in a Masjid, Eidgah or within the office compound on the roof etc, said Pankaj Rai, SHO of the Sector 58 police station, from where the initial round of notices were issued. Sector 58 is predominantly an IT and services hub. The companies that have office include Alstom Systems, HCL Technologies, TCS, Samsung, Polaris, Xansa, Interra, R Systems, RMSI, Cadence, Adobe international, ST Microelectronics and Minda Huf. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Google has paid a tribute to social activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte on his 104th birth anniversary with a Doodle. Baba Amte dedicated his life to serving those in need, especially those afflicted with leprosy. "Exposed early on to a life of privilege, he would hunt wild animals, play sports, and drive luxurious cars. He went on to study law and was running his own successful firm by his 20s. Despite his upbringing, however, Amte was aware of Indias class inequalities throughout his childhood," Google blog post read. After an encountered with a man suffering from leprosy Baba Amte`s life was changed forever. ALSO READ | Christmas 2018: Google celebrates festival with heart-warming doodle "A strong believer in national unity, Amte launched the first Knit India March in 1985. At age 72, he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, a distance of more than 3,000 miles with the simple purpose to inspire unity in India," the post added. Amte and his wife, Sadhna Amte, had started an organisation for the leprosy patients at Anandwan in Maharashtra in 1950. This pioneering work was started as an Arogya. Baba Amte won the Padma Shri Award in 1971, the 1988 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, the 1999 Gandhi Peace Prize and the Dr Ambedkar International Award. Amte founded three ashrams for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients, disabled people, and people from marginalised sections of the society in Maharashtra, India. On August 15, 1949, he started a hospital in Anandvan under a tree. In 1973, Amte founded the Lok Biradari Prakalp to work for the Madia Gond tribal people of Gadchiroli District. ALSO READ | Youth Akali Dal leader held for vandalising Rajiv Gandhi's statue Amte devoted his life to many other social causes, notably the Knit India movement for public awareness of the importance of ecological balance, wildlife preservation, and the Narmada Bachao Andolan. On Tuesday, Google rolled out a special doodle for Christmas. "It's that festive time of year again! Sending along holiday cheer to you & your loved ones during this merry time. Happy Holidays!" Todays doodle shows Santa taking their power nap before they are off to bring cheers and deliver the gifts. Google had also launched a dedicated Santa Tracker application for Android and a Chrome browser extension. New Delhi: The death count from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia rose to 429, with more than 1,000 people injured, on Wednesday the national disaster agency said. Evacuation, search and rescue of victims continue. There are victims who are under the rubble of buildings and material washed away by the tsunami, agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho had said. The district of Pandeglang was worst hit, with 207 killed and 755 injured. Panicked residents, police and soldiers in this remote fishing village clobbered by a devastating weekend tsunami ran to higher ground on Tuesday, shouting "Water is coming! Water is coming!" and reciting verses from the Quran as emergency messages were broadcast over mosque speakers. However, this proved to be a false alarm, news agency PTI reported. ALSO READ | VIDEO | Indonesia Tsunami: Rock band swept away mid performance Meanwhile, Christmas celebrations were replaced by sombre prayers, as church leaders called on Christians across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, to pray for tsunami victims. The Tsunami struck on Saturday night after an underwater landslide caused by eruptions from the Anak Krakatau volcano. The spokesman for Indonesias disaster agency called for a new early warning system, because the current system cannot detect tsunamis caused by landslides. The UN and European Union both pledged to mobilize humanitarian support if requested by Jakarta. "The United Nations stands ready to support the ongoing government-led rescue and relief efforts," a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. ALSO READ | Mt Etna erupts, prompts closure of Catania airspace in Sicily Tsunamis triggered by volcanic eruptions are relatively rare, caused by the sudden displacement of water or "slope failure", according to the International Tsunami Information Centre. Unlike those caused by earthquakes, which trigger alert systems, these tsunamis give authorities very little time to warn residents of the impending threat. Anak Krakatoa is one of 127 active volcanoes which run the length of the archipelago. It is a small volcanic island that emerged from the ocean half a century after Krakatoa's deadly 1883 eruption. When Krakatoa erupted in the 19th century, a jet of ash, stones and smoke shot more than 20 kilometre into the sky, plunging the region into darkness, and sparking a huge tsunami that was felt around the world. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was shifted to the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore amid tight security on Tuesday, a day after he was sentenced seven years imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case. The anti-corruption court had said in its ruling that the three-time prime minister was unable to prove the source of income that led to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia. Three cases - Avenfield properties case, Flagship investment case and Al-Azizia steel mills case - were launched against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8, 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the high-profile Panama Papers case in July last year. ALSO READ | Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif jailed for 7 years in Al-Azizia case The three-time former prime minister, who was taken into custody by police following the court judgement, was taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Monday. Upon reaching Adiala jail, jail doctors carried out a medical examination of the PML-N leader and found him physically fit. On Tuesday morning, Sharif was taken to Nur Khan Air Base amid tight security. Sharif was then flown to Lahore, where he was shifted to the Kot Lakhpat jail. Tight security had been put in place around the jail and Rangers were deployed at the police checkposts established on the route to the prison, news agency PTI reported. "First Sharif was disqualified (by the Supreme Court) for not taking salary from his son and now convicted for receiving money from his son," former minister and senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal said while addressing a press conference with other top PML-N leaders. The first case in which Sharif was disqualified, the crime ascertained was that he did not take salary from his son, Iqbal said, adding this time the allegation levelled is that 'since your son sent you money, therefore you stand disqualified'. Iqbal said that the reasons used to sentence Sharif could be used to criminalise every Pakistani living in the Gulf and sending remittances back home. ALSO READ | Afghanistan: 43 killed in militant attack on Kabul government compound "Now I want to raise this question that in the Middle East up to 3.5 million Pakistanis remit money to their families, so would they (families) be considered their business partners or co-owners? If any son sends money to his parents, will they be held guilty?" he asked. In July, 2018 Sharif, his daughter Maryam and his son-in-law Captain (retd.) M Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year respectively in prison in the Avenfield properties case related to their purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices. However, the three were bailed out by the Islamabad High Court in September. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Turkey on Tuesday said that it remains determined to clear US-allied Kurdish fighters from north-eastern Syria and will continue to coordinate with the United States for withdrawal of American forces. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that "if Turkey says it will enter, it will," in comments carried by private DHA news agency. The minister also said Ankara and Washington have agreed to complete a roadmap on the northern Syrian town of Manbij until the US withdraws. Under the June deal, Kurdish forces would leave Manbij, in the western Euphrates valley, but delays have infuriated Turkey. "It is crucial that the US doesn't appear as not having kept its promises," Cavusoglu said. ALSO READ | Turkey sends troops to Syria border as US prepares for pullout talks Trump announced last week that the US will withdraw all of its 2,000 forces in Syria, a move that will leave control of the oil-rich eastern third of Syria up for grabs. Trump said that he had discussed the pull out of US troops from Syria in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, and the slow and highly coordinated pullout of US troops from the area," Trump said in a tweet. Erdogan, speaking to reporters in Ankara, said Turkey was taking into account Trump's announcement on Syria rather than French President Emmanuel Macron's decision. The future of the international coalition against IS, which includes Turkey, the US and France, remains unclear. The Turkish president also announced that a delegation was heading to Moscow and that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey has been negotiating on behalf of the Syrian opposition with Russia and Iran, which support the Syrian government, as part of efforts to end the nearly 8-year civil war. Trump's sudden decision sparked turmoil in his administration, prompting the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, as well as of Brett McGurk, the special envoy to the anti-IS coalition. Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group, resigned in protest over President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw US troops from Syria, a US official said, joining Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in an administration exodus of experienced national security figures. ALSO READ | Order signed for US military's controversial Syria exit McGurk had said it would be "reckless" to consider IS defeated and therefore would be unwise to bring American forces home. McGurk decided to speed up his original plan to leave his post in mid-February. Appointed to the post by President Barack Obama in 2015 and retained by Trump, McGurk said in his resignation letter that the militants were on the run, but not yet defeated, and that the premature pullout of American forces from Syria would create the conditions that gave rise to IS. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ruled out an end to the partial government shutdown till the Congress to prevent entry of illegal immigrants approve funds for building a wall along the Mexican border. "I can't tell you when the government is going to reopen (Not until) we have a wall, a fence, whatever they would like to call it. I'll call it whatever they want. But it's all the same thing. It's a barrier from people pouring into our country a barrier from drugs," Trump told reporters in his Oval Office. Democrats and some Republicans have rejected Trump's demand for the US-Mexico border. The Trump administration is seeking more than US dollar 5 billion for the construction of the border wall. ALSO READ | Amid shutdown, Trump tweets, I am all alone (poor me) in White House "There is a problem in this world today called human trafficking. We are not going to let that take place. We are working so hard to catch these traffickers...We can't do it without a barrier...without a wall. It's my hope to have this done, completed all 500 to 550 miles to have it either renovated or brand new by election time," he said. On Monday, Donald Trump tweeted, I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security. At some point the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our Country more money than the Border Wall we are all talking about. Crazy! On the shutdown's second day, Trump Tweeted, that what's needed is "a good old-fashioned WALL that works," not aerial drones or other measures that "are wonderful and lots of fun" but not the answer to address drugs, gangs, human trafficking and other criminal elements entering the country. ALSO READ | Order signed for US military's controversial Syria exit President Trump has thrown a temper tantrum and now has us careening toward a Trump shutdown over Christmas, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor. Youre not getting the wall today, next week or on January 3rd, when Democrats take control of the House, Schumer added. Donald Trump made a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking a key campaign promise in the 2016 election, when he said it would be paid for by Mexico. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media SOUTHBURY The Pomperaug Health District will host a flu shot clinic next week. The clinic, which will be held Jan. 3 at the health districts office on Main Street North, is intended for people 6 months and older. Experienced, licensed nurses will administer the quadrivalent, FluMist, Flublok and high-dose vaccines. KENT Police have arrested the driver in a crash that killed a Lakeville woman in May. Shelby Roger, 26, of Salisbury, was charged late last week with driving under the influence when she collided with another car on Skiff Mountain Road in Kent on the evening of May 4, according to State Police. Russian had another successful hypersonic glide weapon test. Putin says the weapon is impossible to intercept. Currently, no military power has the means to intercept the mach 5+ hypersonic weapons being deployed by Russia and China. Claims of Abilities to Intercept ICBMs are Mostly Lies The fact that Hypersonic missiles cannot be intercepted does not change the military balance. ICBMs have really been interceptable since they were invented. There are some interceptor missiles but they have not been used to engage ICBMs except in controlled test situations. The Israeli Iron Domes effective missile defense against short-range rockets within the atmosphere has essentially no relevance to midcourse defenses against longer-range missiles. The U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system began production in 2008. It is a short to intermediate range ballistic missile interceptor. THAAD cannot hit midcourse ICBMs, which can reach terminal phase speeds of mach 8 or greater. It can engage at a terminal phase. This means just as an ICBM is approaching a target then a THAAD interceptor can reach Mach 8 and intercept it. There have not been many successful tests of interception. An ICBM that could be intercepted cannot have counter-measures. It is trivially easy to add balloons to confuse targeting. It is also easy to add some small thrusters to make the intercept more difficult. There are very few interceptor locations and very few anti-ICBM missiles. Russia has some around Moscow. The US has a facility in Alaska. The ICBM interceptor a bullet moving at four times the speed of regular bullet that is trying to hit a bullet moving at four times the speed of a regular bullet. The Hypersonic arms race has just started. China and Russia are just deploying a few hypersonic weapons as the warheads of air to air missiles and ICBMs. US Will Spend Many Billions to Catch Up With Hypersonic Weapons The US has researched hypersonic missiles and weapons for decades but the military and the companies did not make Hypersonic weapons are to US weapons development priorities as locations are to real estate. Location is everything in real estate and currently hypersonic weapons are everything for weapons development. The Pentagons 2019 budget called for increased funding for a key hypersonics program from $201 million in 2018 to $278 million in 2019, with close to $2 billion allocated to the program. Loren Thompson, a prominent defense analyst who works with Lockheed Martin and Boeing, said the hypersonic market should be worth many billions of dollars in the long run. As a whole, the restaurant industry in Connecticut is a healthy one, with thousands of new locations newly open or on the way. But for individual proprietors, even in busy downtowns with plenty of potential customers, it can be an unforgiving trade. Connecticuts stock of eateries has increased to nearly 8,000 with continued growth slated, according to the state Restaurant Association, which projects that by 2027 the industry will grow by roughly 7 percent. But along with that growth comes a large number of new restaurants every year that will fail to make it past their first year. Its a very difficult time in the restaurant business throughout the entire region, said Kelvin Ayala, owner of Moes Burger Joint and chair of the Downtown Bridgeport Merchants Association. In general, the restaurant business is very volatile anyway, so the mortality rate of restaurants is really high, and thats in all markets. Finding foot traffic Plenty of potential restaurateurs have promising ideas, even as many find that opening and running their own place comes with a laundry list of challenges. In Bridgeports case, parking and accessibility have proven to be headaches for many, along with foot traffic that hasnt met local expectations and increased rents. It makes people go out of business and makes customers not come down here. That doesnt help people stay in business, said Val Fernandes of Funchal Cafe, which has been a part of the local restaurant scene since 2010. In that time, Bridgeport has seen a number of downtown establishments come and go, including Barnum Publick Houses, Amici Miei Cafe and more. While those spaces dont stay vacant for long, the obstacles to longevity remain. For those who have been able to stick it out, being accessible to residents as well as visitors has played a crucial role in their success. Theyve adopted us, and we try to keep the prices moderate and we try to treat everybody with regard, said Ralph n Richs co-owner Rich Ndini, who acknowledged that having their own parking lot played a crucial role in the eaterys tenure, which stands at 28 years and counting. In lieu of more foot traffic, some restaurants have opted to use different methods to draw in business. Now youre seeing a lot more GrubHub and DoorDash and UberEats and those types of platforms to drive traffic because the customers are no longer coming through the front door, Ayala said. But that comes at a cost. Coming and going Downtown Stamford continues to see noticeable restaurant turnover. Factory Bar & Grill, at 261 Main St., closed last month, only four months after its debut. They were delayed in opening for a few months, and then it felt like they never really gained traction once they did open, said Michael Marchetti, owner of the neighboring Columbus Park Trattoria, at 205 Main St., and president of the Stamford Tables downtown restaurant association. Its unfortunate to see another dark storefront. We were excited about having them open. Neighboring restaurateurs said they hoped another establishment could make the space work. Factory succeeded McFaddens Saloon, which closed in early 2017. We hope that someone comes in with the same enthusiasm they brought to the neighborhood, said Victor Mathieu, co-owner of Peruvian restaurant Fiesta on Main, Factorys next-door neighbor, at 249 Main St. We will always be welcoming to newcomers to the block, as we were welcomed a little over a year ago by the established group that is there now. The restaurant row around Columbus Park has seen this year a number of closings including Laylas Falafel at 245 Main St., Aria Restaurant at 1033 Washington Blvd., and Aguapanelas at 84 W. Park Place. Teenas Apizza moved, in June, into the Laylas space, while an Indian restaurant, Adyar Ananda Bhavan, plans to open in the building that was occupied by Aria. Keeping up with the times Shifting trends in what customers are looking for have also added to the mix. Greenwich has seen encouraging changes in its restaurant scene, said Marcia OKane, president and CEO of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. She cited the recent arrival of several establishments that aim to serve healthier fast-casual fare, a list that includes Myx, on West Elm Street, in downtown Greenwich; Skinny Pizza, on Greenwich Avenue; SoBol, on East Putnam Avenue, in the towns Cos Cob section; and Cava, a block from Greenwich Library. As people desire more nutritious lunches, we would expect this trend to continue, OKane said. Along the Washington Street restaurant row in South Norwalk, eateries have taken root in some storefronts while flipping in rapid succession in others. Only this month, Cask Republic closed quietly after a 12-year run including its prior incarnation as The Ginger Man under parent company SKAL Restaurant Group, which recently opened Evaritos Mexican Kitchen & Bar around the corner. After a brief run in 2014 for Guvnors Brewery on Washington Street, Hell or High Water took over the space in April 2017 with a rotating menu of beers brewed both on site and sourced from other craft breweries in the region. The venture lasting only six months, however, with the pub space snagged by Iron Brewing, which is now hitting its one-year anniversary in South Norwalk under brewers John Commander, Adam Letize and Shane Nunes. At the time, Commander told Hearst Connecticut Media we figured between the three of us, we could figure it out. In Redding, the Georgetown Saloon is now undergoing renovations under a new proprietor who has yet to announce plans. It marks the fourth attempt in the span of six years to create a successful venue at the Main Street storefront, even as other local establishments like Milestone, the Redding Beer Co. and the Wire Mill Saloon & Barbecue have gotten off the ground; and others like Lombardis Trattoria and Rancho Alegre have shown staying power. This story includes contributions from Paul Schott and Alexander Soule. Jordan.grice @hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN >> Not guilty pleas to charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child were entered on behalf of Rabbi Daniel Greer Tuesday in Superior Court. Greer, attired in a black suit, red tie and yarmulke, stood alongside his attorney, William Dow III, as Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford entered the pleas on Greers behalf as well as Greers request for a jury trial. Greer, 77, of West Park Avenue, was making his first appearance in the Part A courthouse, where more serious charges are handled. His case was transferred from the other New Haven courthouse on Aug. 14. Greers accuser is Eliyahu Mirlis, now 29, who alleges abuse occurred between 2002 and 2005. According to the police warrant affidavit, Greer allegedly committed the sexual acts at the Yeshiva of New Haven/the Gan School, where Greer was then dean. Mirlis was a high schooler at that time. The New Haven Register does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual assault, but Mirlis has said he wanted to come forward with the allegations and have his name used. Some of the alleged attacks purportedly also occurred at hotels, motels and Greers home. According to the warrant, shortly before the alleged sexual acts, Greer gave Mirlis alcoholic beverages such as Bloody Marys, scotch or wine. Greer also allegedly forced Mirlis to watch pornography. In May a federal jury awarded Mirlis $15 million in damages in his civil lawsuit after Mirlis testified that Greer repeatedly sexually abused him over a period of several years. Greers attorneys are appealing the jurys decision. Mirlis has said the alleged abuse caused him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, humiliation, depression and an inability to maintain emotional relationships. Greers attorney, David Grudberg, said in his appeal that Mirlis provided too little evidence of actual sexual abuse and relied on non-credible testimony about post-traumatic stress disorder to prove his case. Greer, who also is a real estate developer, helped lead a movement to revitalize the citys Edgewood neighborhood. As Greer left the courtroom Tuesday morning following the brief court session, he did not speak when a reporter asked him whether he had any comment. Dow, walking beside Greer, said, We will address the charges in court. Greer is free on a $100,000 bond. Call Randall Beach at 203-680-9345. NEW HAVEN >> Rabbi Daniel Greer, accused of sexually assaulting a student of his at a religious school, made a brief appearance Monday in Superior Court and had his case transferred to the Part A courthouse on Church Street, where more serious charges are handled. Greer was in front of Superior Court Judge Karen Nash Sequino for only about 30 seconds. He did not speak and did not enter pleas to the charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child. Greers not guilty pleas probably will be entered during his next court appearance Aug. 29. Greers attorney, William Dow III, said after he left the courtroom with Greer: We will try our case in court. Greer, acting on Dows advice, made no comment. Greer was dressed in a black suit, red tie and yarmulke. Earlier Monday morning he sat alone in the courtroom, waiting for his case to be called, while Dow was in the area for attorneys and other court personnel. Greer, 77, of West Park Avenue, is not in custody because he posted a bond of $100,000. He was arrested July 26. His alleged victim was not in court Monday, nor was his attorney, Antonio Ponvert III. Ponvert could not be reached for comment Monday. The alleged victim is Eliyahu Mirlis, now 29. The alleged abuse occurred between 2002 and 2005, according to a police warrant affidavit. Mirlis alleged Greer committed sexual acts upon him at the Yeshiva of New Haven/the Gan School, where Greer was then dean. Mirlis was a high schooler at the time. Some of the alleged attacks purportedly also occurred at hotels, motels and Greers residence. The New Haven Register does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual assault, but Mirlis has reported through Ponvert that he wanted to come forward with the allegations. Mirlis was already awarded $15 million in his federal civil lawsuit against Greer. Call Randall Beach at 203-680-9345. BRIDGEPORT A juvenile arrested in connection with a triple shooting in the city Tuesday is the brother of one of four people arrested Monday following an investigation into the murder of 12-year-old Clinton Howell, police said. Despite this, the two shooting incidents do not appear to be related, according to Capt. Brian Fitzgerald. In the shooting on Tuesday, Fitzgerald said, six shots were fired in the area of 915 North Ave. the location of a gas station and convenience store. The address is near the intersection of North Avenue and Main Street. Three victims were struck by gunfire and arrived at St. Vincents Medical Center, he said. All three victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Police said they were withholding any further information about the victims. This has got to stop, said City Councilman Ernie Newton, who plans to meet with several councilmen about the shooting. Weve got a serious crisis happening in this city. Weve got to come together to address it and try to reach some common sense solutions. Newton said there will be a Project Safe Neighborhood meeting on Jan. 3 at at 4 p.m. in the federal courthouse, 914 Lafayette Boulevard. Details of the meeting were unavailable because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. After the shooting, detectives were able to develop a suspect and a juvenile male was arrested on weapons charges, Fitzgerald said. The Detective Bureau expects to file further charges in the near future as the investigation into Tuesdays shooting continues. A note of significance is that this juvenile perpetrator is the brother of a juvenile male who was recently arrested in connection with the death of Clinton Howell, Fitzgerald said. On Dec. 18, Howell was killed after being shot once in the chest in a drive-by shooting in front of his Willow Street home. Police said the bullet that killed Howell was meant for another target. Tajay Chambers, 18, was charged with murder with special circumstances, murder, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a pistol without a permit, second-degree larceny, first-degree reckless endangerment and three counts of risk of injury to a child for his role in Howells killing, police said. Chambers, who was being detained by the Department of Corrections on non-related charges when police obtained a warrant for his arrest, is being arraigned Thursday. Three others ages 12, 14 and 16 are in custody in connection with Howells murder. The three were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit and second-degree larceny. These arrests would not have been possible without strong cooperation from the public and the excellent police work of Detective Cintron, Detective Roscoe and the Bridgeport Police Homicide Squad, a news release from Bridgeport police said Tuesday. Howell was the 11th homicide in Bridgeport this year. Last year, the city saw 23 killings. In 2016, 10 homicides were recorded. Police said the boy was a bystander and was hit by a bullet intended to hit Howells older cousin, who was also standing outside the house. Police did not identify the cousin. Police sources said Chambers was involved in an ongoing dispute with Howells cousin. On the evening of Dec. 18, the sources said, Chambers drove slowly by the Willow Street home. They said the cousin fired a pellet gun at Chambers car. Chambers then drove off and came back shortly after and fired at Howells cousin, hitting the 12-year-old instead, police sources said. Chambers was arrested the night of Dec. 19 on an outstanding warrant, charging him with second-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace. The next day, Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton who knew police were planning to arrest Chambers in the murder, ordered Chambers held in lieu of a $500,000 bond. ICE put a detained on Chambers, who they said in an undocumented immigrant from Jamaica. Chambers is accused with two other young men of assaulting a 16-year-old boy in the stairwell of Central High School on Oct. 12, police said, adding that Chambers struck the victim in the head and then kicked the victim down a flight of stairs. The victim advised the boys that he was not into gang stuff, so he did not understand why they were confronting him, according to police. The incident was caught on the schools video surveillance system. UPDATE: 6:42 AM WEDNESDAY Sad news from the Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Co. on Christmas Day. It is with deep regret the Officers of the Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Co.1 announce the passing of Past Lieutenant Christopher "Opie" Skurat at the age of 38. Opie passed away early this morning after bravely battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma since the summer of 2017. He is survived by his wife Carla, his two sons Jake & Ryan, his mother Donna, and sisters Gretchen and Karen. Please keep the Skurat family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. A GoFundMe page has been setup to assist the family: https://www.gofundme.com/helping-the-skurat-family The goal for the fundraising page is $15,000. As of Wednesday morning, $6,170 had been donated by 68 people. EARLIER STORY ANSONIA A retired Shelton volunteer firefighter was admitted to the intensive care unit at Yale New Haven Hospital earlier this month, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help pay his medical bills. Opie Skurat, of Ansonia, was admitted to the ICU on Dec. 17. He had previously been diagnosed with stage four lymphoma in 2017. It has been a long, difficult road, said the GoFundMe page created by Alex DaSilva on behalf of Carla Skurat, Opie Skurats wife. When he checked into the ICU this month, DaSilva said, Skurat was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. Doctors appointments, chemotherapy treatments, surgeries and hospitals stays have kept Opie and Carla Skurat out of work. During all of this, DaSilva said, Carla Skurat continues to try to care for their songs, 13-year-old Jake and 10-year-old Ryan. Carla has been trying to keep life as close to normal as she can for the boys which has been a not-so-easy task, DaSilva said. They need our help to make Christmas as peaceful as it can be by not worrying about finances. SEYMOUR-A 30-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Joel Barlow High School graduate has been identified as the victim in the Dec. 22 fire at the Balance Rock condominiums. Deputy Fire Marshal Timm Willis said Sean Ryan Lindsley was the victim in the fire that took place in apartment 17. The Chief Medical Examiners office said an autopsy conducted Monday was inconclusive as to the cause of the death. As a result they are conduct more tests which could take up to eight weeks for results. The cause of the fire also is undetermined as of this time, according to Fire Marshal Paul Wetowicz. Wetowicz said his office is working with Seymour Police, State Police and the State Fire Marshals office in the investigation. Its a team effort, he said. We need to interview two people. Those people include the 9-1-1 caller who lives in the complex and a person who does not live there. Lindsley was taken to Griffin Hospital in Derby where he died from injuries in the fire which was called in at around 5 a.m. Approximately 50 firefighters from Seymour and Oxford were able to contain the blaze to the one unit on the third floor of the building. However other units experienced water and smoke damage. Thirty people were temporarily displaced and 10 of those were assisted by the American Red Cross The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home on 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia is in charge of the arrangements. Services will be private. Lindsley was born in Bridgeport and raised in Seymour and Easton. He is a 2006 graduate of Joel Barlow High School and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps attaining the rank of corporal. He was honorably discharged in 2013 after five years of service. Lindsley attended Keene State and Naugatuck Valley Community Colleges before being employed as a machinist for Gen-El-Mec Associates, In, in Oxford where he worked the past four years. He is survived by his parents, Jerry and Mary Starks Lindsley of Grantham, N.H., his sister, Brooke Anne Lindsley of Waterbury, Vt. as well as his paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousin. The family asks contributions be made to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. NEW HAVEN As Santa didnt make any stops in citys classrooms, some teachers in New Haven are turning to private donations this holiday season to help fund some of the supplemental materials they need to give students educational gifts. Today, there are 90 fundraising projects for New Haven Public Schools on DonorsChoose, a website designed for teachers to crowdsource materials they would like for their classrooms. Will Ginsberg, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, said education is of particular concern to philanthropists in the area. For as long as Ive been at the Foundation, education has been one of our primary priorities, he said. Traditionally, the form that takes is after school activities or academic enrichment activities, not the core of academic operations which is paid by public money. Teachers paying out of pocket for classroom expenses is not a new phenomenon; the U.S. Department of Education collected and reported statistics this year of how much money teachers reported spending for classroom supplies in 2014-15. According to the data, 94 percent of public school teachers reported spending their own money for classroom supplies, with teachers in low-income school districts being more likely to spend than others. Among teachers who reported spending on classroom supplies in 2014-15, the average amount teachers reported spending of their own money was $479. Currently, teachers are offered a $250 federal tax deduction for out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies. Most of the teachers who post projects on DonorsChoose note that New Haven is a low-income, urban district. For students in younger grades, a recurring theme among the projects is art teachers looking to replenish or expand their supply of materials. By practicing visual art, it has been shown that students can improve concentration and focus in other academic areas. Students who often struggle with other aspects of school find a refuge in making and creating art, wrote one teacher at Augusta Lewis Troup School. I would love to give my students the best art experiences possible, but I just don't have the basic supplies they ask me for. They love using colored pencils, markers, paint sticks and paint, and I am out or running low on both. I have no glue at all in my classroom which limits the type of projects I can do with them. As of Dec. 24, the teacher had still to raise $412 of the $772 which includes $656 in art materials and a $115 commission to DonorsChoose before a deadline of April 8. An art teacher at Roberto Clemente School, who requested 11 sets of either 24 or 36 colored markers, wrote that the fundraising goal of $371 would enable students to add detail to new mediums, such as clay and plaster. Some middle school teachers in the district also use the website to expand their classroom or school libraries. A library media specialist at Conte-West Hills School has raised more than half of the $370 needed for full sets of four graphic novel series. A Fair Haven School fourth grade teacher, who teaches a bilingual classroom, posted to the crowdsourcing website hoping to expand her Spanish-language library, to give English learner readers the ability to read independently while learning English. My classroom has two libraries, one filled with English texts and one filled with Spanish texts, the teacher wrote. Some of my students do not yet have the Spanish reading skills that they need to start reading in English. Those learners look for Spanish books to continue developing their reading skills while looking forward to eventually reading in English. The teacher must raise $329 more to reach her $864 goal before Jan. 26. At the high school level, some teachers such as a Hillhouse High School reading teacher are seeking ways to make their classrooms more welcoming and less sterile. Many of my students have the goal to be college and career ready but can become easily discouraged. They realize that they need to be literate individuals in order to achieve this, but this can be overwhelming for them at times, the Hillhouse teacher wrote, noting she works with students reading three or more levels below grade level. My students can be very disengaged and are chronically absent from class. I want to provide them with an inviting and motivating reading space. They will help to engage the students by allowing them to relax and read, which is something almost none of my students have ever experienced. The teacher said her average daily attendance is only 60 percent. To increase attendance and create a fertile environment for reading, she hopes to raise money for bean bag chairs and a rug. The total project cost is $746, although the Dalio Foundation, the family foundation of Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio and wife, Barbara, has pledged to match five times whatever funds are raised. At Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School, a science teacher is raising money for protective eyewear for a classroom. There are only enough goggles at the school for one biology or chemistry classroom to do lab work at a time, she said, and those goggles are damaged and cannot be quickly sanitized. The bulk of the $936 fundraising goal is for a $535 sanitizer cabinet, which stores and sanitizes goggles. DonorsChoose was founded in 2000 by a teacher in New York City. Teachers make classroom project requests, and DonorsChoose employees vet requests and make the purchases themselves once the projects reach their fundraising goals. In the final week before 2019, the website reports over 3.5 million donors have given more than $781 million to American classrooms. A representative for New Haven Public Schools could not be reached for comment on the record Monday. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN Yale Universitys leave of absence policies for students suffering from mental health issues received an F in a new report by the Ruderman Family Foundation, but the rest of the Ivy League fared little better. The University of Pennsylvania led the eight elite universities with a D-plus. Author Miriam Heyman said there is a crisis confronting the entire sector of higher education when it comes to policies for students who need to take time off because theyre suffering from mental illness Heyman is senior program officer at the foundation, which is a Jewish-centered organization focused on improving life for people with disabilities. The Ivies were chosen because, ranking among the most elite universities in the country, they should therefore lead the field in practices that promote inclusion and support for students with mental health disabilities, according to the report. In fact, however, Currently, the leave of absence policies do not reflect institutional commitment to supporting students with mental health disabilities, the report states. This is a major problem, Heyman said, because the rates of mental illness on college campuses are astronomically high. Forty percent of undergraduates were so depressed in the past year that it was difficult for them to function and more than 10 percent have seriously considered suicide, according to the American College Health Association. However, the report states that smaller colleges have just one mental health clinician for every 1,000 to 2,000 students and larger schools have only one for every 2,000 to 3,500 students. At the same time, accommodations for mental health disabilities are limited or are not offered in an open, transparent way, the report states. Heymans paper focuses on policies governing leaves of absence because they are potentially useful to the student; students can use the time away from academic demands to focus on well being and recovery. However, schools may also use the leave of absence as a tool for discrimination, pushing students out of school who are entitled by law to receive accommodations and supports which would enable them to stay on campus, according to the report. Colleges and universities may put a student on a leave of absence because they lack the infrastructure and they are afraid of suicide on campus and the liability that comes with that, Heyman said. Very often they are pushing students to take a leave to get them off campus. Involuntary leaves have become the subject of a lawsuit at Stamford University, with several students accusing the school of punitive, illegal, and discriminatory treatment of students with mental health disabilities. Heyman said universities policies generally are a reflection of the schools commitment or lack thereof of supporting students. Some kids or students absolutely need a leave of absence and for many students a leave of absence is an opportunity for students to focus on health and well-being, and when they come back focus on what a school has to offer academically and socially. But, she said, students find themselves unable to meet these vague criteria. Two suicides in 2015 and 2016 shone a spotlight on Yales leave policies. Luchang Wang, a sophomore who suffered from mental illness and who had taken a leave as a freshman, according to the Yale Daily News, flew home to California and apparently jumped to her death from the Golden Gate Bridge on Jan. 27, 2015. Before her suicide was known, she had posted a note on Facebook that launched a campus-wide search. The Daily News reported that Luchang had written: Dear Yale: I loved being here. I only wish I couldve had some time. I needed time to work things out and wait for new medication to kick in, but I couldnt do it in school, and I couldnt bear the thought of having to leave for a full year, or of leaving and never being readmitted. Love, Luchang. That same month, freshman Hale Ross withdrew from Yale after falling from the fourth floor of a dorm in Old Campus. Ross was reinstated for the fall 2015 semester but committed suicide in his residential college room on Oct. 30, 2016, the Yale Daily News reported. Wangs farewell Facebook post explicitly expressed her concern that Yales leave policies were not designed with her best interests in mind, even though Yale had formed a committee in 2014 to review its withdrawal and readmission policies and recommended reforms in April 2015. The universitys current policies state: Yale College reserves the right to require a student to withdraw for medical reasons when, on recommendation of the director of Yale Health or the chief of the Mental Health and Counseling department, the dean of Yale College determines that the student is a danger to self or others because of a serious medical problem, or that the student has refused to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by Yale Health to determine if the student is such a danger. The policy of forcing medical leaves was one of the criteria for which Yale scored poorly in the Ruderman report, which called it facially discriminatory. Yale Press Secretary Thomas Conroy called the policy reasonable and disputed Heymans overall conclusions. We certainly dont accept the authors assessment, he wrote in an email. Yale fully and effectively supports its students regardless of a disability, and discriminates against none. Its policies on withdrawal and reinstatement reflect careful study and deliberation, and community feedback. According to her report, four of the 15 leave criteria Heyman examined were especially salient: Is community disruption grounds for involuntary leave? Are students on leave prohibited from visiting campus? Is there a minimum length of time for the leave? Does the policy communicate entitlement to accommodations based on individualized assessment? Community disruption was one of the criteria in which Yale scored well because such language is not in its policy. Half of the Ivy League schools do have such language in their policies, however, the report states. Heyman said a school might consider health-seeking behaviors grounds for forcing a student to take a leave because it is allegedly disruptive to the community. For example, telling a roommate, Im having suicidal thoughts. Can you take me to the health center? could be considered a disruption, she said. Rules against students who are on leave visiting campus means students who live nearby cannot visit their friends, creating a barrier to recovery, Heyman said. It certainly does not facilitate recovery. Theyre afraid of what happened at Virginia Tech, where a mentally ill student shot 49 people, killing 32, in 2007. It is the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Conroy wrote that, at Yale, students on leave may return to campus if they enroll in Summer Session, which is also a way they can meet the requirement that they complete two courses while on leave. He also referred to the 2015 report, which recommended that students on leave have continued access to their residential college deans: they should be encouraged to stay in regular contact with the dean both during the period of withdrawal and the period following reinstatement. The sense of alienation experienced by some withdrawn students could be diminished if students were sent a clear, unequivocal message that they are entitled to maintain a relationship with the dean during the period of withdrawal. Heyman said schools requiring a minimum time for a leave of as much as two semesters can leave a student sitting at home without a sense of purpose. She said the length of the leave should be set according to the students own readiness and not according to these rules that are arbitrary to the students trajectory of treatment and recovery. A student who must return home to have medication adjusted may be able to return to school as soon as January, she said. Many schools all but Brown, Cornell and Dartmouth among the Ivies require a minimum time away when taking a leave. Yales policy states that, for a medical leave, an undergraduate must normally remain away at least one full term before a return to Yale College, not including the term in which the withdrawal occurred. Strict deadlines for applying for a leave Yale students must petition the university by the 15th day of the term also dont work in favor of the students need, Heyman said. According to her report, The policy should specify that students can initiate the process for leave at any time, even after classes have ended. The period between the end of classes and the beginning of final exams is very stressful, and many mental illnesses are exacerbated during this time. Half the Ivy League schools, including Yale, lack good communication about accommodations available to students suffering mental illness, Heyman said. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability including mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety, she said. Under that law, colleges must provide reasonable accommodations to support students to stay in school. Accommodations might include a reduced course load or extensions on assignments. I think the policy should notify the students of these rights and in some cases this would alleviate the need for a leave, Heyman said. Conroy disputed the criticism of accommodations at Yale. Yale has an extensive support system for students that few schools can equal, he wrote. Students live in or are affiliated with a residential college with a head of college and a dean who are always [ready] to help with any problem, and to find ways and accommodations to help students thrive and progress. The mental health counseling, if needed, is free and provided by excellent and caring clinicians. Yale did receive full credit from Heyman for its policy of allowing two leaves per student, its flexibility about how long leaves may be extended and for its deadlines to apply for reinstatement. According to the 2015 Yale report reviewing its policies, There is no question that Yale College is committed to the reinstatement of all students who have withdrawn. In fact, the vast majority of students who apply for reinstatement are reinstated. But the process of reinstatement is not therefore inconsequential or needless. Life as a student in such an exciting but high-octane academic and social environment can be full of innumerable sources of pressure and stress. It is not an environment to which all students can easily return after a withdrawal, especially if that withdrawal involved difficult or painful circumstances. While both Yales report and the Ruderman paper focus primarily on undergraduates, graduate and professional students at Yale long have criticized the universitys mental health policies, citing them in their efforts to negotiate a contract between the administration and Local 33, the graduate students union. Lucia Hulsether, a doctoral student in religious studies, said she decided she needed to take a mental health leave after her brothers suicide in 2017. I hadnt been able to get in to see a counselor consistently [and] I had already missed the deadline for petitioning for medical leave, she said. By missing the deadline, she was unable to stay on the Yale health plan and lostincome from her teaching duties. She ended up using one of her two dissertation fellowships, which are granted in order for students to focus on writing their dissertations, as a medical leave. I still expect to graduate and am lucky, she said. What its meant is Ive had to do a high concentration of writing at the same time as Im teaching. Graduate students do have different rules for taking leaves and have the option of seeing a therapist in the Magellan network in addition to those at Yale Health. But the Magellan counselor she was matched with, close to the anniversary of her brothers death, thought Hulsether needed to be seen more than once a week, which Yale would not allow. Hulsether said she ended up seeing someone a couple of times at Yale University. She had a one-year appointment so ended up leaving at the end of that year. Theyre very, very busy; there are long waits. Heyman said her findings should be seen as a real opportunity for leadership here not to make Yale or any other school a villain in this, but to work to find solutions to the more difficult issues. This story was corrected to say that Lucia Hulsether lost access to Yales health plan because she missed the deadline to pay the health insurance fee, not that she had to pay a fee for missing the deadline. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382. The Connecticut Audubon has released its 2018 list of birds of the year and topping the list is a unique pink bird that attracted a lot of attention in Milford and Stratford this year: The roseate spoonbill. This is the first time the Audubon has done a list of this kind. Tom Andersen, the Audubons director of communications, said it was because 2018 was such an extraordinary year in terms of birds. The roseate spoonbill, a native of the sub-tropics, first appeared in Stratford on Sept. 15, Andersen said in an email, explaining the birds top spot on this first list of birds of the year. Word spread, and soon people from around the region were gathering to see and photograph it. For three weeks, the spoonbill shuttled between several locations in Stratford and Connecticut Audubons Coastal Center at Milford Point, where it fed on the lip of the beach with other wading birds. The Audubon Guide to Northeastern Birds describes the bird as gorgeous at a distance and bizarre up close. The roseate spoonbill is a large wading bird distinguished by its pink plumage and spoon-shaped bill, according to the Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Its upper neck and back are white; the wings and feathers underneath display light shades of pink. The birds can reach a height of 2.5 feet, and their wingspan can spread up to four feet. They breed in most of South America and through Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. In the United States, the roseate spoonbill is reportedly common in coastal Florida, Texas and southwest Louisiana, where it feeds in shallow waters. Its appearance was a happening in and of itself but also something of a fluke, according to Andersen. The spoonbill was what ornithologists call a vagrant, a bird that turns up far from its range. Number two on the list of 2018s top birds are the sedge wrens that nested in a field at Connecticut Audubons Bafflin Sanctuary in Pomfret. The birds had been considered eradicated from the state but in July were confirmed nesting and were raising young in a field near a marsh along Day Road. At number three is the Wilsons plover that Chandler Wiegand, Connecticut Audubons Important Bird Areas coastal ranger at Milford Point, spotted foraging with a group of other shorebirds in April. The Wilsons plover is typically found from Cape May, N.J., south, according to Andersen. Number four are the purple martins that enjoyed another good breeding year in the colony at the Milford Point Coastal Center, Andersen said. At least 128 baby martins hatched there in 2018, compared to 107 last year, 93 in 2016 and 79 in 2015, he said, adding that purple martins were removed from the states list of threatened species several years ago. Purple martins are described as large swallows which only eat insects they catch while on the wing. They are completely dependent on man-made nesting areas in Connecticut, Audubon officials said during a project last year. One of the most successful colonies is the one at the Connecticut Audubon Societys Coastal Center at Milford Point, a colony that arrived in Milford in 2015 when media personality Phil Donahue moved his colony of birds there. Local Audubon officials said that, thanks in part to the publicity Donahues birds generated, individuals, nonprofit organizations and government agencies erected more nest boxes and gourds to house the birds. Number five on the bird list are hundreds of migratory songbirds that took up residence at the H. Smith Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary in Westport following a habitat restoration. Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins dubbed the property Sparrow-dise. Number six is the rusty blackbird that flew over Deer Pond Farm in Sherman at 2:15 a.m. on Nov. 8. Andersen said it was the first bird detected by the Connecticut Audubon Societys new Motus Wildlife Tracking System receiver. These bird tracking efforts might well revolutionize bird research, Andersen said. At number seven are the tree swallows that gather in Old Lyme. Each evening on Goose Island, tens of thousands of birds convene, said Andersen. Or is it hundreds of thousands? A million? Nobody knows for sure. But now a team of scientists, with the help of Connecticut Audubons Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, is trying to find out. If they succeed, they will have pioneered a method that will revolutionize the study and knowledge of tree swallows, he said. Number eight, the last bird on the list, is the western kingbird that Pomfret resident Nancy Barrett photographed in September. The bird is a native of the Great Plains and further west, Andersen said. Barrett sent her photograph to us but no one could (locate) the bird. She might have been the only person to see it. STAMFORD The art gallery infamous for its heroin spoon sculpture protest this summer at Purdue Pharma is closing its downtown location. Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery, which opened nine years ago on Bedford Street, will shutter its doors in January, but the owner said his business will live on. Alvarez has not announced details about the gallerys plans but said it would involve a multifunctional innovative platform. The next step, he said, will be different and bigger than the Stamford gallery. Louisa Greene, director of development and marketing for the Avon Theatre, called Alvarez a wonderful patron of the arts. For me, Fernando Luis Alvarez is not only an artist himself, a very talented artist, but an art patron of up-and-coming artists, and he has a wonderful eye, she said. Weve been blessed to have him for as long as weve had him. The downtown art center made international headlines in June when Alvarez and artist Domenic Esposito placed an 800-pound silver heroin spoon sculpture in front of Purdue Pharmas Stamford offices to protest the manufacturing of OxyContin. Opioids including prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, heroin and fentanyl killed more than 42,000 people in 2016, more than any year on record, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many cities and states, including Connecticut, have sued Purdue over alleged deceptive marketing of its drugs, which many believe directly fueled the nationwide opioid epidemic. Alvarez was arrested for the stunt and was allowed to participate in an accelerated rehabilitation program. He will be cleared of all charges if he stays away from Purdue for one year. Espositos sculpture, which was seized by police, was returned to the gallery and has been on display in recent months. The gallery has also gained less controversial fame from its sponsored exhibition at the Louvre Museum in Paris, and played an integral role in saving the Yerwood Center on Stamfords West Side. The gallery also recently acquired a discarded 12,000-pound sculpture by Charles O. Perry that once stood at the Stamford Town Center mall. The sculpture was transported to Wilton, where Alvarez plans to restore it. Nathan Lewis, one of the artists sponsored by the gallery, said he was attracted to Alvarez because of his passion for the arts. One of the reasons I signed on with the gallery was because of how much of a dreamer he was in terms of the art world, he said. What I like about Fernando is he does believe in his artists and if they have an idea and he thinks its strong, hell let you do what you want. Lewis called it an honor to have Visions, an exhibition of his work, on display as the last show for the downtown art exhibitor. Shelby Head, who recently was featured at the gallery in her solo exhibit, An Infrastructure of Silence, said the closing is a loss to the community. According to a press release from the gallery, the decision to close was part of the original plan when it opened. Since I opened the gallery in 2008, I knew that it would be a decade thing before I had to reinvent myself, Alvarez said. The gallerys final day on Bedford Street will be celebrated Jan. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. with an awards ceremony for the Alvarez Gallery Agents of Change in the Arts and Community Awards. A man arrested in a New Haven shooting after a chase last Saturday is facing additional charges in armed robberies outside malls in Milford and Trumbull. On around 8 p.m. Saturday, New Haven Police officers responded to assist West Haven Police in pursuit of a motor vehicle and suspect wanted for the armed robbery from Milford. The pursuit continued through New Haven and ended in the Newhallville neighborhood with a motor vehicle accident involving the suspects vehicle and a West Haven police vehicle. A firearm was seized from the suspects vehicle. The driver, Darryl Huckabee, 46, was taken into police custody on a New Haven shooting warrant and taken to a hospital for minor injuries from the accident. Huckabees arrest follows an investigation of person shot on Bassett Street in New Haven last Wednesday. Police believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between Huckabee and another man about a woman. In the shooting investigation, Huckabee was charged with assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a permit. He remains in New Haven police custody. Huckabee is facing additional charges in armed robberies outside the the Connecticut Post mall in Milford on Saturday and the Westfield Trumbull mall on Friday. Milford Police Officer Mike DeVito said Milford police plan to issue a warrant for the suspects arrest on robbery and larceny charges, among others. He is accused of showing a silver or gray gun during a robbery at the mall parking lot around 7:45 p.m Saturday. The victim was not injured, DeVito said. DeVito said Milford officers immediately gave other departments the mans description and his car was spotted. Trumbull police said the man captured by New Haven police has been linked to the robbery of two women female shoppers leaving the Westfield Trumbull mall Friday night. Capt. Keith Golding said the Trumbull robbery happened around 10:30 p.m. when the shoppers were accosted by a lone man with a handgun. They were robbed of cash and personal property. Trumbull police detectives collected evidence, conducted interviews and compared detailed information with investigators in Milford and New Haven to determine conclusively that the same suspect was responsible for both crimes, Golding said. Charges are expected to be filed this week. A three- alarm fire broke out on the twelfth floor of a high-rise residential building in downtown Hoboken on Christmas Eve. No injuries were reported at the 1 Marine View Plaza fire. Displaced tenants were relocated to W Hotel in Hoboken on River Street, Hoboken Fire Department tweeted Monday. The number of displaced people was not immediately available. A 3 alarm fire at 1 Marine View Plaza has been declared under control. Displaced residents are staying warm at @WHotels Hoboken. Thank you to BC Rozmester and Group C personnel for their hard work this Christmas Eve. https://t.co/rMsczdL18p Hoboken Fire Dept (@HobokenFire) December 25, 2018 According to residents, the fire began at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday. It was contained to the one unit on the 12th floor. Residents told the Jersey Journal the family who lives in the apartment was out town at the time of the fire. The apartment was occupied by a dog sitter and the familys dog. The fire department came quickly, as they usually do, said Eileen Carvalhl, a resident who lives on the 22nd floor. Carvalhl added that there is water damage to some units. Carvalhl added Mayor Ravi Bhalla was on scene, supporting the tenants. He was right here, she said. He came quickly. He made sure everybody was safe. Another person whose 88-year-old mother lives in the building expressed concern. My mother uses a walker," she said. Its terrible. Earlier this month, around the corner at 2 Marine View Plaza, firefighters climbed 17 stories to extinguish a three-alarm fire that left one resident with smoke inhalation. Hoboken police and fire departments did not provide comments on Dec. 25. When a Mercer County woman was kept up all night by the club music playing loudly out of the apartment next door, she didnt chew him out or call the cops. Nope, her solution was much sweeter she baked him a cake. In a Twitter thread from Dec. 15 thats now gone viral, Candice Benbow explained that she left the poundcake and a letter by his doorstep. Last night... Fam, you tried it. You really, really did, she wrote. I dont know if you were hosting the official afterparty for our buildings holiday social or singlehandedly determining this generations R&B king, Benbow wrote. But 3 a.m. is just too late to be that loud. Benbow wrote that she went through a range of emotions throughout the night, like at 3:47 a.m., when she said she realized it was much more advantageous to reflect on [his] musical tastes and eat potato chips than try to sleep. It was around 3:30 a.m. that she decided to bake. I realized I was taking your feelings into much more consideration than you were taking mine, she wrote to him. I hope that changes, especially since Im only three months into a 13 month lease. She wrote that when he started to wind down the party down at 4:07 a.m., she appreciated it. In the future, as youre hosting your kickbacks and come throughs, please remember the rest of us. The update is, thankfully, there is no update. I knocked on his door but he didnt answer so I had to leave it in a bag on his door. When I left out, it wasnt on his door anymore. So Im taking that to mean he got and read it. Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) December 16, 2018 She left the cake and the note and waited. The next night, she told Twitter, it was much, much quieter. When people asked Benbow why she hadnt gone over to his apartment or called the cops, she cited safety, both for herself and her neighbor. Had anything resulted in an unfortunate outcome, not only would my safety be at risk, Id feel horrible. I dont call the police on us if I can help it, she tweeted. After a few nights of much quieter music, Benbow finally met her neighbor, Tom Amaro. He apologized for the noise, promised to invite me to the next party and most importantly...HE SAID MY POUND CAKE WAS AMAZING!!!!, she tweeted. My neighbor is a music video producer. EVERYTHING makes sense now. Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) December 18, 2018 Amaro said he had woken up the day after his party and found her note. It was beautiful, he said on Inside Edition. Because if it was another neighbor, they probably would have tried calling the cops on me or knocking me out. The two have since bonded, telling Inside Edition that theyre both new to the Trenton area. Benbows originally from North Carolina, while Amaro just moved from Brooklyn. Benbow also said they connected over grieving the loss of a loved one during the holiday season. While talking to Tommy, I learned that hes new to the area as well *and* this is his first Christmas without his daughter, who passed away earlier this year in a car accident, she tweeted. Yall know how rough grieving was for me in the months following Mamas death. I can only imagine what it would have felt like for someone to confront me with anger when Im trying my best to get through my first holiday season," she said. In the days since Benbow and Amaro met, their story has gone viral. Theyve become fast friends, and Twitter users are calling for more behavior like Benbows in the face of frustration. It was a sweet and gentle reminder that we never know what folks are going through and it is always best to lead with kindness, she tweeted a few days after leaving him the cake. When we can extend grace, we really should. Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. A Bergen County family lost their home to a house fire early Wednesday, just hours after hosting a Christmas celebration. A single-family home Grant Avenue in Old Tappan began burning Wednesday morning, and fire crews responded by 7 a.m., a spokesperson for the Old Tappan Fire Department said. Angelo Mazza told NorthJersey.com that he, his wife, sister-in-law and his one-year-old twins Rocco and Marco were sleeping when his wife smelled smoke Wednesday morning. The Mazza family was able to escape their home, but lost everything in the fire, a GoFundMe said. A serious fire destroyed a home on Grant Ave., in Old Tappan , N.J. Wednesday, December, 26, 2018 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) The fundraising effort mentions that donations of any kind like food, clothing can be brought to One Fitness at 100 Stonehurst Ct in Northvale. The fire departments spokesperson said its not yet clear what started the fire, or in what part of the house it originated. But when emergency crews arrived, the fire had spread through house and up through the attic. The spokesperson said the home to the left had sustained minor heat damage. Early Wednesday afternoon, crews had started to knock down the remaining structure of the house. Knocking down a house after a serious fire destroyed it on Grant Ave., in Old Tappan , N.J. Wednesday, December, 26, 2018 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. An 82-year-old Tewksbury Township woman died at Morristown Medical Center after being struck by a vehicle on Friday evening in the Hunterdon County community, police report in a news release. Richard Petillo, 71, of the Long Valley section of Washington Township in Morris County, was driving north on Old Turnpike Road (Route 517) near Old Turnpike School when he struck Alexandra Rowan, police said. Petillo stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. The news release did not say if Rowan were crossing the road or along the side. Police couldnt immediately be reached for more information. When officers arrived after being dispatched at 7:45 p.m., they determined Rowan had suffered serious injuries, police said. The township rescue squad and paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center treated her before she was taken to the trauma center, police said. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed, police said. Petillo couldnt immediately be reached for comment. The Fairmont and Oldwick fire companies assisted at the scene. If anyone witnessed the incident or has other information, they are asked to call police at 908-439-3477 or 908-439-2503. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. There are some exhibits that art lovers in this area automatically add to calendars each year so they won't let them slip by. The New Hope Arts Center's annual Works in Wood has been one of those now for nineteen years. This is an exhibit that features fine furniture, sculptural forms and vessels. This year, works by 33 contemporary artists are on display. Jurors Adam Capone and Sarah Cutter chose the works to display from a field of 280 individual entries. There are 67 unique works included representing artists from Portland, Oregon, New England and the tri-state region. It also includes several first-time artists joining local wood workers who have often exhibited their creations in this exhibit, a few since it began. The show, as always, is diverse, drawing from rich cultural heritage of Bucks County, as well as vibrant and new artists bringing their new visions to the show. The judges recognized the following artists with prizes awarded in memory of William A. Brewer donated by his family and friends: Best in Show was given to David Washington for his "Misty, a 13-foot White Pine and Old Growth Redwood sculpture of a woman. For the Furniture category: Glen Guarino; Sculpture, Andy DiPietro; Wall Art, Norine Kevolic; Turned Object/Small Vessel, Fred Chase; 1st Time Exhibitor, Scott Troxel. A fine example of the freshness brought in to this show by new artists is Scott Troxel's wood tone, white and black, "Heartbreaker." Working with Poplar, Azek, Mahogany, acrylic pigment and tung oil, he combined various segments in a shape that loosely resembles a heart, but added vertical segments in the center thus visually separating the sides. Coincidentally, Clark Twining incorporated hearts in his "Mended Heart Nightstand built from Figured Walnut with Maple inlays and Maple legs. Twining's nightstand is actually a two-level table that stands on three legs. A large heart shape serves as the top over a smaller heart shape beneath. Both have curved suture-like shapes that cross a dark grain in the Walnut. Other tables that are remarkably designed and built are Glen Guarino's "Stacking Up" comprised of Rescued Northern Catalpa, Bleached; Ebonized Oak; Metal & Glass and Nick Cartaina's Cherry & Poplar "Six Hundred and Twenty Four to One". These are so unique any verbal description would not do them justice. I urge you to go and enjoy them in person. That is the same for most of the pieces in the exhibit. There are lamps such as Brian Skalaski's White Oak "Foxglove Lamp" that is beyond description, and there is Andy DiPietro's award-winning Dyed Red Oak "Ribbon in the Wind" which causes you to look at it in wonder trying to figure out how he managed to bend and twirl wood to really look like a ribbon. But then you come upon "Self As Guardian 4" a Blackened Oak, Maple, Lacewood and Hemp chair and you are rendered totally speechless. How can you describe a chair whose backrest is a bizarre face with a wide toothy grin and long straggly hemp hair? What do you say about the armrests that are two fists clutching tall upright spears? The thing you say to yourself is, this is what art is all about. Artists pushing boundaries, always exploring new ways to express their vision. And that is what this particular exhibition is all about. In addition to the many boundary-pushing works, there are as many where it's clear to see the wood worker's aim was to find new ways to create beauty. Norine Kevolic's Poplar, Birch and Bamboo panels all have a Zen-like quality about them. They are quietly, peacefully beautiful. Each, carved in relief, is painted with a dark background. The graceful shapes rising out of the dark are highlighted with mica or gold leaf. Carol Hall works in collaboration with Mark Hall. For their collections of small bowls and vessels, he did the turning and she drew and painted haunting images on all. "Drip," a vessel whose sides are colorfully painted, stands tilted with a Thermoplastic drip spilling out to a small puddle beneath. And what might otherwise be utilitarian objects are turned into works of art, such as "Celebration" by John Sheridan. This is a wall bar with a door that opens to a compartment to hold wine bottles, a shelf notched to hang stemware and a drawer for the corkscrew. And in a humorous vein, there is Jack Quinn's "The To-do List." This is a giant clothespin holding a blue-lined pad and a small yellow To-Do List complete with chores listed. All is done using Pine, Birch, Basswood and Aluminum. New Hope Arts Executive Director, Carol Cruickshanks says, "New Hope Arts 19th Works in Wood Juried Show really illustrates the versatility of the wood medium since we have such exquisite examples of a wide variety of forms from furniture to sculpture, turned vessels to wall art." The First National Bank and Trust of Newtown sponsored the exhibit which was so well displayed by Exhibition Specialist Christine Wohl Ramirez. IF YOU GO: WHAT: 19th Annual Works in Wood Exhibition WHERE: New Hope Arts Center, 2 Stockton Avenue, New Hope, PA WHEN: Through January 6. Hours, Noon to 5:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and by appointment. Additional holiday hours, Wednesday, December 26 and Thursday, December 27, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. CONTACT: 215-862-9606. info@newhopearts.org Follow NJ.com on Twitter @njdotcom. Find NJ.com on Facebook Burlington Christmas Walk is Saturday The 14th annual Burlington Christmas Walk will be Saturday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in the Lilly Building at Burlington... Message board helps Camden get the word out This electronic message board was installed last week in downtown Camden with funding secured from the American Rescue Plan. Clerk-Treasurer... Under federal law, a vast majority of lawyers working in the executive branch are subject to oversight and accountability by inspectors general in their respective departments. These watchdogs, who answer to Congress and issue public reports of their work, can independently investigate claims of professional misconduct and, when warranted, refer the cases for appropriate action, which may include dismissal or even criminal prosecution. But because of a quirk in the Inspector General Act of 1978, federal prosecutors and other lawyers working for the Department of Justice which also houses the F.B.I., the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marshals Service dont get the same kind of independent oversight required in other government agencies. Instead, what misbehaving lawyers there get and have gotten for the past 30 years is referral to the Office of Professional Responsibility, which was created in 1975 and whose director reports to the attorney general. The office claims independence, but in practice it can be overruled as when the Justice Department ignored an O.P.R. conclusion that the two lawyers who wrote the Bush-era torture memos had committed professional misconduct. Under this anomalous regime, allegations of misconduct by the F.B.I. director or his agents would be handled by Inspector General Michael Horowitz as he did in his recent review examining the F.B.I.s actions in the run-up to the 2016 election, including how James Comey handled the Hillary Clinton email investigation. But similar allegations of wrongdoing against lawyers in the F.B.I.s general counsels office or line prosecutors bringing cases in federal court like those in Mr. Bartkos case would be shielded from Mr. Horowitzs purview. In effect, this means there are two tracks of justice at Justice: one for prosecutors and other lawyers and another for every other employee. When the curator Denise Murrell talks about Edouard Manet, she races through the details of his life, sometimes abruptly changing course to parse less-discussed aspects of his art often in disbelief that shes among the few who have paid attention to these parts of him. After she has so convincingly retold his life story, you cant help but see what she considers obvious: In his famous 1863 painting Olympia, Manet wanted the black maid to stand out. Revealing that maids identity became the foundation of Ms. Murrells doctoral dissertation, and the driving force behind her exhibition Posing Modernity: The Black Model From Manet and Matisse to Today, currently on view at the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University. [Read the New York Times review of the exhibition.] Ms. Murrell was working as a business executive when, in 1999, she started taking art history classes. She wasnt interested simply in identifying black figures in art. She wanted to contextualize their presence, focusing on periods in which the black model remained woefully underexamined. During the Renaissance, there is The Adoration of the Magi, and there is always an African king, she said in a recent interview. I really wanted to understand why that was. Were they imagined images? Were they posed from life? Were the models known? After the couple split, around 1930, the enterprising and well-educated Ms. Armstrong formed her own successful big band. The groups relatively short life span suggests why a musician like Ms. Armstrong had such a well-developed set of business skills. She could get anyone in her group because she was so respected as a musician. But they didnt really promote her as a bandleader, so her bands werent as successful as male bandleaders, said Courtney Bryan, a New Orleans-based pianist and scholar. Ms. Armstrong eventually stepped away from music, working for years as a clothier, restaurateur and teacher, though she eventually returned to performing. In this way, her story reflects that of another eminent 20th-century pianist, Mary Lou Williams, whose compositions, arrangements, piano virtuosity, organizing and mentorship made her one of the most versatile and crucial figures in jazz history. An early collaborator with Duke Ellington and Andy Kirk (who made her his lead arranger), Ms. Williams was slow to take off as a solo act; again, presenters felt disinclined to promote a strong female instrumentalist. In the eyes of musicians, though, she was nonpareil. In the 1940s, Ms. Williams offered her Harlem apartment as a crash pad and a jam-session hub, as well as a safe haven for fellow players. In the 1950s, distressed with the jazz world, she converted to Catholicism and temporarily retired from the stage. But even in absentia, she supported the music by founding the Bel Canto Foundation, which raised money for struggling musicians. She funded it by running a thrift store. It was about community, said Woody Shaw III, the recently appointed executive director of the Mary Lou Williams Foundation, who is also Maxine Gordons son. There was a natural sharing of information, and Williams found herself often in a kind of matriarchal position. These men were younger than she was, and needed guidance and intervention whether it was through her creating her own businesses and organizations that specifically accommodated the needs of musicians, or allowing them to stay in her home when they were having difficulties. Through his work with the foundation and with his own company, Moontrane Media Group, Mr. Shaw has himself become a crusader for artists rights, helping musicians claim copyrights and royalties for their work. Today, with jazzs constricting gender roles slowly eroding onstage as well as off, Mr. Shaw describes himself as an inheritor of a mantle worn by figures like Mary Lou Williams and Maxine Gordon. Mr. Shaw called himself an amalgamation of these influences and values, over the generations. He added: Im trying to help legendary musicians move into the 21st century, in terms of how they brand and market their legacies and tell their stories. And then theres the question of, how do we help musicians gain a level of control over their economic and artistic destiny in this generation, a control that they didnt have in the past? For all her devotion to the musicians she advises, Ms. Gordon describes this work in unsentimental terms. It was a career that I did because people would ask me to do things that I didnt know how to do, and Id just find out how, she said. Theres improvisation in the way we do business. If something came up, we had to figure it out. This years Kennedy Center Honors event is on CBS. And Nova revisits the Apollo 8 mission around its 50th anniversary. Whats on TV THE 41ST ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS 8 p.m. on CBS. In September, the singer Cher told The New York Times that her favorite thing in the world is to rehearse. The same month, the composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter told The Times that he and his quartet never rehearse anything. Both creative methods have worked. This month Cher and Shorter, along with the country singer Reba McEntire and the composer Philip Glass, were the honorees at the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Awards, where the singer Gloria Estefan hosted a celebration of the four artists. The creators of Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda, the director Thomas Kail, the choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and the music director Alex Lacamoire also received a special honor. The event includes tributes from Cyndi Lauper, Kelly Clarkson, Whoopi Goldberg and some of the original Hamilton cast members. What about Christianity, the third, and the largest, piece of the matrix? It seems to be, just like Islam, a universalization of Judaic monotheism. But Christianity introduced a new theological element to the scene a divine Christ and triune Godhead which proved unacceptable to both Judaism and Islam. In the chapter comparing the Quran with the New Testament, Miles shows this by explaining how Islam rejects Christian theology, while showing great respect for Jesus Christ and Mary. He also sees a brilliant symmetry in how Islam combined Judaisms criticism of Christian theology with Christianitys criticism of Jewish particularism. The book underlines other distinctions between Yahweh and Allah. The former comes across as more disputable and less absolute and overwhelming. Allah, on the other hand, appears as more compassionate. And while Allah offers both great promises and threats for the afterlife, Yahweh is focused on this world. In observing such nuances, Miles, a Christian, is as objective, fair and gracious as one can get. In the beginning, he declares his own suspension of disbelief, which means letting go of his non-Muslimness and reading the Quran on its own terms. At the end, he turns back to his faith and reminds us: The Bible is my Scripture, the Quran is theirs. Yet by reading the latter with respect, he thinks non-Muslims can find it a little easier to trust the Muslim next door, thinking of him as someone whose religion, after all, may not be so wildly unreasonable. Non-Muslims who take the time to read the Quran may end up feeling a bit baffled, though. For they will hear a lot about Abraham, Moses, Joseph or Jesus, but almost nothing about the person they may be expecting the most: Muhammad. For while the Quran often speaks to Muhammad, it almost never speaks about him. That is why the Islamic tradition developed a post-Quranic literature on the life and times of Muhammad, recorded in the books of sira, or biography. And a cutting-edge version of sira comes from the pen of Juan Cole, a professor of history at the University of Michigan and the author of the popular blog Informed Comment. Coles book, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires, is not just eruditely informative, but also ambitiously revisionist, with two unorthodox arguments he keenly advances throughout the book. The first argument links the birth of Islam in early-seventh-century Arabia to the major geopolitical conflict of the time the clash between the Christian Byzantine Empire based in Constantinople and the Zoroastrian Sasanian Empire based in todays Iran. Coles starting point is the Quranic sura, or chapter, titled Romans. The Byzantines have been defeated in a nearby land, it reports, but also heralds that their victory will come soon, adding that on that day, the believers will rejoice. This famous passage has traditionally been taken as an indication of sympathy among early Muslims for Christians as fellow monotheists against pagan enemies. But Cole thinks there is much more to it, postulating an alliance with Rome in which Muslims became members of the eastern Roman Commonwealth. It is an interesting theory to consider. Photo: Interior Health Interior Health is offering new mothers a helping hand. Its new SmartMom program helps moms-to-be sift through information to find whats right for them. The free, interactive prenatal education program is delivered right to your phone via text. The program is tailored, providing information timed to your stage of pregnancy to ensure you get the right information at the right time. Only 32 per cent of women in Canada attend prenatal education classes, and we know that number decreases further for those in rural and remote communities, says project manager Nancy Delgado. Moms receive text messages up to three times per week that help guide them through a healthy pregnancy, baby's development, labour and delivery. Information can also be customized to include personal health concerns. SmartMom was developed in partnership with UBC-affiliated researchers, the Ministry of Health, Northern Health, First Nations Health Authority, and in consultation with pregnant women, new mothers, clinicians, and public health practitioners. To enrol, text Interior to 12323. Reply Yes to enrol and follow the steps, or visit smartmomcanada.ca. 1. President Trump made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq. It was his first visit to troops stationed abroad in a combat zone. The trip, shrouded in secrecy, came in the midst of a partial government shutdown and less than a week after Mr. Trump announced plans to withdraw all troops from Syria and about half of those stationed in Afghanistan. The presidents decision on Syria led to the resignation of his defense secretary, Jim Mattis. Mr. Trump told reporters on the ground at Joint Base al Asad that he had no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq. Instead, he said, the U.S. may use Iraq as a military base to carry out operations on Syria and fight the Islamic State. Throughout Wall Streets December meltdown, analysts have been saying that markets were plunging despite plenty of evidence that the United States economy remains strong and corporate profit growth is healthy. That argument finally found listeners on Wednesday, when early reports of a strong holiday-shopping season helped lift the S&P 500 by nearly 5 percent, its best day since 2009. The Nasdaq added 5.8 percent, and the Dow Jones industrial average rose just under 5 percent. That jump, over 1,086 points, represented the Dows best single-session gain ever, although a number of days have eclipsed that in percentage terms. A substantial rise in crude oil prices added to the lighter mood, as did efforts from the White House to ease up on criticism of the Federal Reserve. The rally continued in Asia, led by Japan, where stocks on Thursday opened 3.7 percent higher. The rebound in the United States offered investors a much-needed reprieve from a decline that had picked up speed in December. Stocks had fallen for four consecutive days through Monday, and the drop had pushed the S&P 500 to within just a few points of a bear market defined as a 20 percent retreat from its high. Because marriage is an ever-evolving experience, we constantly shift, change and, in some cases, start over. In Its No Secret, couples share thoughts about commitment and tell us what they have learned along the way. Who Paula Martiesian, 64, and Ken Carpenter, 65. Occupations She is a painter, he is a musician (mostly jazz) and composer. Their Marriage 4 years, 2 months and counting. Through the Years The couple quietly married Oct. 20, 2014, in an unplanned ceremony in the living room of their house in Providence, R.I. A friend officiated. Since 1975, we were considered married by common law in Rhode Island, Mr. Carpenter said. When same-sex law passed a few years ago, common law wouldnt be accepted and we wouldnt be considered married anymore. The government needed a certificate; we didnt. No photos were taken, and the wedding was a surprise to all. They met in 1972 as students at the Rhode Island School of Design, from which both graduated. Ms. Martiesian was 18 at the time and Mr. Carpenter was 20. He was really talented, hard working and so secure, she said. He was skinny and cute. We didnt really date; we fell into each other. He was a musician and I drove him to a gig he was playing at. I consider that our first date. Lens published reports from all corners of the earth this year, often by photographers working within their own communities. We covered the effects of conflict and violence both internationally and in our own backyard, and have also shown intimate photo essays of personal love, loss and triumph. Because photography touches most everything, our topics have been far-ranging from the environment, cyberbullying and immigration to race, gender and class. We have written about famed photographers like Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks and Diane Arbus as well as emerging image makers like Citlali Fabian, Fethi Sahraoui, Daniel Edwards and Mengwen Cao. And we have written about the need for more diverse storytellers to help us better understand the world we live in. As 2018 comes to an end, we share 13 of our favorite Lens stories of the year. TRIPOLI, Lebanon Over the last two years, Farah Omari has gotten used to phone calls in the middle of the night. Sometimes it is the hospital. Sometimes it is the police. And sometimes it is the street children themselves asking for help. We always tell the kids, If anything happens, call us, Ms. Omari, 32, said over the sound of a dozen children in the next room. They can call us 24 hours a day. If anything happens they get detained, arrested or the child is lost. Ms. Omari, who is Lebanese, joined the International Rescue Committee five years ago, first working on a program that protects women. Now she is a senior case manager for the organizations child protection team, focusing on the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. The agency estimates that 1,500 children work on Lebanons streets; most are Syrian refugees between 6 and 10 years old. In busy districts, they can be seen on almost every corner, selling gum, tissues, flowers or CDs. In other words, the strength of Democratic victories in November has raised the paradoxical possibility of more headaches for the states Democratic governor than he endured from Republicans. I think that as a new senator, Im less concerned about managing expectations, said Julia Salazar, one of the six victorious insurgents who also panned the governors education remarks. And a little bit, given my position on the political spectrum, Im less concerned about my direct relationship with Governor Cuomo. Mr. Cuomos office pushes back on any assertion that it has shortchanged education, noting that spending has increased 36 percent since 2012, including a $1 billion increase this year, to a record high: $26.7 billion. And there is no doubt that during his two terms in office, the governor has forged a reputation as a master tactician who dominates all major negotiations, putting his political weight behind issues such as same-sex marriage or gun restrictions, and winning victories despite daunting odds. But legislation he dislikes often languishes, and open criticism of him from fellow Democrats is rare. Progressives have long worried that Mr. Cuomo was using his political acumen to secretly undermine the liberal agenda he promoted, in particular by tacitly accepting the decision of a group of Democratic senators, known as the Independent Democratic Conference, to collaborate with the Republicans. Until recently, those senators helped allow Republicans to maintain control of the chamber and stall expensive bills that Mr. Cuomo, a fiscal moderate, might have wanted to avoid. Mr. Cuomo, progressives said, could then blame the Senate Republicans rather than having to veto the bills himself. He also blamed the Republicans for blocking some progressive legislation, such as the Dream Act, which would have made it possible for undocumented students to receive state financial aid. [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Jose Polanco lives in one of the worst buildings in New York City. In his 18 years there, the apartment has had leaks, mold, roaches and rodents sometimes all at once. Last winter, Mr. Polanco was stepping out of the shower when the bathroom ceiling collapsed. His neighbor had it even worse; his pet parrots were eaten by rats. The city is aware of the issues in the West Harlem building. Over the course of a decade, it has sued the landlord over hazardous conditions 21 times and could have imposed as much as $900,000 in fines. But each time, officials accepted a low settlement and the landlords promise to make repairs. Often, the repairs were quick-fix solutions like a fresh coat of paint on a moldy bathroom ceiling that did not solve the underlying problem. They would come and patch it up every year, said Mr. Polanco, 68, a retired maintenance worker who pays $1,500 a month in rent. It was the same leak every time. Sister Wendy Beckett, a Roman Catholic nun who interrupted a cloistered life of prayer in England in 1991 and soared to international stardom with lyrical BBC documentaries that made her one of the most improbable art critics in television history, died on Wednesday in the village of East Harling, England. She was 88. Her death was confirmed by the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, England, where she had lived in a trailer for decades, though not as a member of the Carmelite order. Bending backward in her black habit in the Vaticans Sistine Chapel, gazing up through large eyeglasses at Michelangelos The Creation of Adam, Sister Wendy spoke with a storytellers wonder at the solemn, sensuous moment on the ceiling as two fingertips near the touch that begat the creation of life. Adams sprawled there in his naked male glory, but hes not alive, she told viewers in 1996. All he can do is lift up a flaccid finger, and out of the clouds whirls down the God of Power. In his great flying cloak theres a world. Whether thats Eve or not, theres a human face there looking straight at Adam with the eyes daring him to respond to the challenge. And Gods finger touches that of Man. Last year, a Haitian Senate commission published a 650-page investigative report on the Petrocaribe program. It implicated much of Haitis political class in inflating government contracts, funneling money to ghost companies and a host of other financial improprieties. And now, after the $2 billion scandal languished for a year in the hands of politicians, and with Haitis judiciary too weak to act, Haitians on their island and living abroad took it into their own hands. The movement itself is improbable. It has no clear political leader. Yet more than half of the Haitian population is younger than 24, and by focusing on social media, the ever-growing diaspora is becoming more active in its countrys political future. Unfortunately, tensions are rising as change begins to appear possible. Last July, three days of riots followed a gasoline price hike, revealing how close the nation is to a social explosion. Then came Mr. Mirambeaus #PetroCaribeChallenge, shifting the paradigm to a nonviolent campaign. Still, armed gangs close to the ruling party, together with corrupt police officers, massacred at least 60 people just days before the Nov. 18 protest. In Haiti, stability has often been cited as a reason not to challenge misgovernment, but the events of last summer and fall revealed that continuing the status quo will only generate more instability. Nonviolent protest that puts pressure on officials to promote accountability would seem to be an obvious path out of that conundrum, but recent history does not point to much hope for significant change. For example, the government has urged patience and promised an investigation. But Haitians have heard empty promises before. After the Duvalier dictatorship fell, not one official was convicted of a financial crime. In February 2017, when Jovenel Moise became president, he pledged a crackdown on corruption. But his political mentor and presidential predecessor, Michel Martelly, had presided over most of the Petrocaribe spending. Now Mr. Moise too has been directly implicated, and his governments repression has picked up. To the Editor: Re In Abrupt Shift, Trump Halves Size of U.S. Force in Afghanistan (front page, Dec. 21): Will leaving Afghanistan put more innocent children in harms way? A friend in Afghanistan sent me a photo of a young boy who reportedly was a casualty of a suicide bombing on Christmas Eve. In his small hands was money to buy bread for his family. Meat is a luxury for many Afghan families, so bread is an important food source, and young children are often sent out to buy the daily bread. This child never made it to the bread shop that tragic day; he never made it back home either. The photo reminded me of the image of Alan Kurdi, a 2-year-old Syrian refugee whose body lay on a Turkish beach after he drowned trying to reach safety. Or 7-year-old Amal Hussain, whose horrific photo showed her starving to death in war-ravaged Yemen. This Afghan child was yet another young life lost in a seemingly never-ending conflict. For children in the United States, bombs are not a daily threat that puts them in harms way. But in war-torn Afghanistan, children are sadly caught in the crossfire. We have a responsibility as human beings to protect the most vulnerable and fragile lives among us including a poor little boy just trying to buy bread for his family. Photo: Contributed So here we are, about to celebrate the birth of a new year. Its a time of year when time itself seems to slow down; a time of reflection. This year more than ever, I find myself feeling a level of unprecedented gratitude to be a part of a community that cares so deeply about the welfare of others; women, men and children who choose to express their care by giving to organizations like the KGH Foundation and so many others in this community whose mission it is to, in short, care for those who need it the most. As the CEO of the KGH Foundation, I have the distinct privilege to bear witness every day to the miracles that are made possible when we care. Every day in communities across the southern interior of British Columbia, thousands of families lives are impacted by the need for urgent or specialized medical care at Kelowna General Hospital. Illness, injury, the premature birth of a child, the end of life; all part of our collective human experience, and yet when it happens, everything changes in a heartbeat. The benefactors of your generosity are more than just patients; they are our family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours, the lady at the grocery store, your favourite coffee barista. They are doctors and nurses, EMTs, clinicians and all the extraordinary people who do the real work in healthcare. Because you give, every time a baby is born at KGH, bells chime and halls alight in pink or blue, a very special reminder for all that for some, the hospital is a wonderful place to be a place of little miracles. Because you give, we are building a beautiful home away from home for the mothers and fathers, husbands and wives of patients that have had to travel to KGH for advanced care, wrapping our collective arms around them so that they can wrap their arms around their loved ones everyday while they are here for care. Because you give, folks with debilitating respiratory issues can breathe easier during fire season thanks to innovative bedside equipment. Because you give, diseases are being identified and treated faster than ever before in a microbiology lab that ranks among the best in Canada. Because you give, youth suffering with a mental illness have a safe place to turn, where their symptoms, no matter how complex, will be treated quickly and holistically, with their families or caregivers right by their side. And yet, giving to support the KGH Foundation really isnt just about changing health care in our community. It is more than just fixing what is broken, curing what is sick or healing what is wounded. Giving changes us. It is what unites us as communities and as human beings. It reminds us of who we are, the values we share and what is truly important in life. Im immensely proud to be a part of this community, and my hope is that you are too. Thank you and best wishes for a safe and healthy holiday season. Doug Rankmore, CEO, KGH Foundation When the Justice Department in 2007 settled its criminal case against the maker of OxyContin, a high-powered painkiller, federal officials claimed a victory that would deter other companies from illegally marketing opioids. But now we know thanks to a once-secret Justice Department report that the cases real winner was OxyContins producer, Purdue Pharma, and its billionaire owners, the Sackler family. According to the report, prosecutors wanted to charge three top Purdue Pharma executives with covering up evidence of OxyContins early abuse. But senior Justice Department officials rejected the recommendation, settled the case for $634.5 million and consigned some of the investigators findings to secrecy. The companys executives denied any wrongdoing. Today, state and local officials who have filed scores of lawsuits against companies that make or distribute prescription opioids face a similar choice whether to settle those cases or insist that the facts detailing the opioid industrys disregard for public health finally be revealed. There are good reasons to resolve these cases quickly. Settlement funds could be used to pay for addiction treatment. At the same time, plaintiffs lawyers hired by government officials to pursue their claims are eager for a payday. American voters have realized that prosecutors hold the keys to a fairer criminal justice system. In Novembers elections, they replaced numerous incumbents with reformers who promised to reduce mass incarceration, its exorbitant costs and its racial disparities. Prosecutors are central to solving these problems because they control two of the most important decisions in the criminal process: who will be charged with a crime and what that criminal charge will be. But in practice they do not decide alone. In the enormous world of misdemeanor processing, the police quietly wield a lot of prosecutorial authority. So for voters seeking change, switching prosecutors is only a partial solution. In hundreds of misdemeanor courts in at least 14 states, police officers can file criminal charges and handle court cases, acting as prosecutor as well as witness and negotiator. People must defend themselves against, or work out plea deals with, the same police officers who arrested them for low-level offenses like shoplifting or trespassing. Consider South Carolina, where most of the 400 magistrate and municipal courts had no prosecuting attorneys, according to a 2017 study by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The police prosecuted their own misdemeanor arrests, while 90 percent of defendants had no lawyers and so faced the arresting officer-prosecutor on their own. South Carolina also does not require its lower-court judges to be lawyers, so thousands of convictions occur without input from a single attorney. How do New York Times journalists use technology in their jobs and in their personal lives? Matt Apuzzo, an investigative correspondent in Brussels, discussed the tech hes using. What are the most important tech tools for you as an investigative journalist? As with most people these days, my go-to device is my phone, which in my case is an iPhone X. I dont use it for anything particularly unique to journalism, except maybe document scanning. Sometimes, I might have only a minute to see a key document, and having it can mean the difference between breaking a story and not. For years I have used an app called TurboScan Pro, and I love it. Tech is great, but theres no substitute for personal relationships. I prefer face-to-face conversations whenever possible, and I almost never record them. I use small, discreet notebooks like the Moleskine pocket journal. A lot of my interviews are over coffee, drinks or meals, and I want something as unobtrusive as possible at the table. I love the feel of the Rhodia pocket webnotebook, but lets be honest: Im not picky. Some of the best, most surprising nuggets of information have been scribbled on napkins or the backs of envelopes or tapped in text messages to myself. Online advertising Speaking of which: Online ads became so intrusive in 2018 that they increasingly ruined peoples web-browsing experiences and raised more hackles about privacy. The online ads industry became so good at tracking our web browsing activities that it increasingly knew precisely what we were thinking about buying. If you did a web search for a blender, for example, you could be certain that a digital ad for that blender would follow you around. In addition, the autoplay videos embedded on many news sites were ruthless about shouting for our attention while draining our batteries and burning through data plans. Fortunately, there are solutions for this, which I outlined in several articles this year about how the web is breaking. They included installing ad and tracker blockers, downloading add-ons that stop auto-play videos from loading and changing some browser settings. These fixes are not ideal because they take a long time to put in place, and blocking ads hurts media businesses. That means theres work to do on this yet. Juul E-cigarettes, or vape devices like Juul, have been a useful aid for adult smokers to give up cigarettes. But for teenagers, vapes have replaced cigarettes as a gateway to addictive substances. According to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, about 3.6 million middle and high school students currently vape, up from 280,000 in 2011. The Food and Drug Administration this year announced restrictions that allowed stores to sell most flavored e-cigarettes only in areas where minors were not permitted. The agency also said it was investigating whether Juul, which accounts for more than 70 percent of e-cigarette sales, intentionally marketed its products to youths. Juul has since suspended its social media promotions. But the damage has been done. While e-cigarettes dont produce the carcinogenic smoke that cigarettes do, they deliver lots of nicotine and harmful chemicals. Parents are reeling over the effect on teenage brains. Seattle does not want to become San Francisco, a fate that has come to refer exclusively to the citys worst traits: its $5,000-a-month rents, its homeless encampments and the ever-present dissonance between those two. As San Franciscos troubles have grown more vivid, so too has its status as other cities worst nightmare. In Portland, Oakland and Sacramento, residents and pundits have voiced dread at becoming The Next San Francisco, where the middle class is disappearing. San Francisco is worried, too about becoming Manhattan. That fear has lurked for decades behind every new proposed skyscraper. And now cranes are erecting them all over downtown. The new Salesforce Tower sits at the center of the construction zone, 1,070 feet tall and butting into every vista in the city. Surely there is nothing left to fear in New York, a place that already has tall buildings and high rents. But the pending arrival of Amazon in Long Island City, as Vice recently put it, has some residents on edge about becoming Seattle on steroids. The specter captures the particular mix of high housing costs, tall buildings and tech bros. Moving forward, all children will receive a more thorough hands-on assessment at the earliest possible time post-apprehension whether or not the accompanying adult has asked for one, Ms. Nielsen said in a statement. Most of the circumstances surrounding the boys death remain unknown. It is not clear whether his health deteriorated because of neglect by personnel in the facilities, the perilous journey, or a combination of these factors. This crisis is exacerbated by the increase in persons who are entering our custody suffering from severe respiratory illnesses or exhibit some other illness upon apprehension, Ms. Nielsen said. Given the remote locations of their illegal crossing and the lack of resources, it is even more difficult for our personnel to be first responders. The secretary placed the blame on an immigration system that she said rewarded parents for sending their children to cross the border alone and brought few consequences for parents who bring their children with them into the country. Our system has been pushed to a breaking point by those who seek open borders, she said. Smugglers, traffickers, and their own parents put these minors at risk by embarking on the dangerous and arduous journey north. She said that until the two deaths, of the 8-year-old Guatemalan boy late on Dec. 24 and a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl earlier this month, it had been more than a decade since a child had died in custody at the border. But on Wednesday, about 100 American servicemen and women, some of whom were wearing red Make America Great Again caps, greeted Mr. Trump with a standing ovation in Al Asad Air Bases dining facility, which had been decorated for Christmas. He and Mrs. Trump spent about 15 minutes there talking with the troops. The president told reporters that he had chosen Iraq for his first visit to a combat zone because its a place that Ive been talking about for many years. And many, many years, before it started, I was talking about it, as a civilian, he said. Mr. Trump, who left the White House late Christmas night, said he had harbored some safety concerns about the trip. I had concerns for the institution of the presidency because not for myself, personally, he said. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through, with the darkened plane, with all windows closed, with no lights on whatsoever, anywhere pitch black. Ive never seen it. Ive been in many airplanes all types and shapes and sizes. Ive never seen anything like it. Mr. Trump ran for the presidency in 2016 on a platform of bringing the troops home from Afghanistan and Syria. It was part of a broader strategy of ending nearly two decades of American military interventions including in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan that he criticized as costly, ineffective and at odds with his America First foreign policy. But the United States still has 14,000 troops in Afghanistan and about 2,000 in Syria. While the number of casualties in these conflicts is a fraction of what it was during the two previous administrations, the fact that American troops are still on the ground in the case of Afghanistan, 17 years after they were first deployed attests to the difficulty of extracting the United States from these entanglements. Mr. Trump, who was also accompanied to Iraq by his national security adviser, John R. Bolton, and a small group of reporters, said that the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world. The geographic diversity of the places grappling with the trade-offs highlights how pervasive the connections are between natural resources, health and economic opportunity. In the vast farmlands of central California, day care centers have to take account of pesticide-spraying schedules. The local governments revenues on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota have grown to $330 million from $20 million over the last 15 years because of vast fossil fuel reserves that can now be pumped from the ground using fracking. National forests 400 miles away can be clouded with haze produced by a coal-fired power plant near Houston. The rollbacks touch air, water, chemicals and climate No parts of the federal government during the Trump era have been more aggressive in rolling back rules than the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department, which between them regulate much of the intersection between the environment and the economy. Together their rule changes have touched nearly every aspect of environmental protection, including air pollution caused by power plants and the oil and gas industry, water pollution caused by coal mines, and toxic chemicals and pesticides used by farmers nationwide. In short, what is at stake is the quality of the air we breathe and the food we eat, the cleanliness of the rivers that flow past us, and the pace at which the climate is changing. Two years after Mr. Trump took office, the policy shifts are not nearly complete; dozens of other rules have been targeted for rollback. After decades of legislation and regulation, the environment in the United States continues to get cleaner. What has changed under Mr. Trump in most cases is the pace of improvement, which has been slowed in a number of key areas compared to what it would have been if the Obama rules had been preserved. The decline of coal has not been stopped If there is a single industry that has been at the center of the fight both during the Obama expansion of rules and the Trump rollbacks it is coal. Mr. Obama targeted the industry as a way to combat climate change. Mr. Trump has defended and promoted it as part of his populist political and economic strategy. Mr. Trumps approach has been to slow demands for further steps to curb air and water pollution caused by coal-burning power plants. As concerned as they were about security, however, with every passing hour, the doctors were even more fearful that the deadly virus could spread to the entire village, Luseghe or, worse, expand beyond its borders. There have been many hopeful advances recently in the battle against the deadly Ebola virus. A vaccine is now available, and experimental treatments appear to be helping to save lives. With international help, Congo was able to quickly snuff out an earlier outbreak in its Equateur Province this year. Yet eastern Congo, teeming with no fewer than 100 armed groups, has been gripped by near-constant conflict since the uprising that led to its independence in 1960, as well as the 1994 genocide in neighboring Rwanda and the civil war soon after that eventually established the regime of Joseph Kabila. Millions are thought to have died from the chronic violence, many of them at the hands of government forces. The insecurity is frustrating efforts to combat this latest Ebola outbreak now the second largest in history, after one that tore through West Africa from 2014 to 2016, claiming 11,310 lives making the current crisis almost entirely manufactured. Ebola still kills most of the people who contract it. Since the outbreak here was declared in August, health officials have recorded 583 confirmed and suspected cases as of Dec. 25. About a third of the patients have recovered, while 354 have died. KABUL, Afghanistan Afghanistans presidential election, scheduled for April, is likely to be delayed, Afghan officials said on Wednesday, underscoring the countrys fragility as war with the Taliban rages and the United States presses for peace talks. The officials suggested a lack of technical preparations justified a delay of at least three months, to avoid repeating the furious disputes and accusations of industrial-scale fraud that followed the previous presidential election, in 2014. But the move comes as the Trump administration is losing patience with the long war in Afghanistan, where about 14,000 American troops remain. Last week Pentagon officials said President Trump had ordered preparations to withdraw 7,000 soldiers from Afghanistan in coming months a decision that surprised Afghan officials. It also went against the advice of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and may have contributed to his resignation. Although American generals have since played down the suggestion of an imminent withdrawal, Mr. Trump has made no secret of his exasperation with troops protracted entanglement in Afghanistan. His White House also has been pressing for the Taliban to sit down for direct talks with the Afghan government. Photo: The Canadian Press A group of marine researchers say a young beluga whale is too attached to the Maritimes for his own good. A group of marine researchers says a young beluga whale is too attached to the Maritimes for his own good. Nepi, who's estimated to be about four years old, was spotted in Summerside, P.E.I., in early December, much to the delight of a local diving class. "We heard a whale, or what we thought was something blowing, and then this whale appeared," recalled Kimball Johnston, an instructor at Holland College's commercial diving program. The group, which included Johnston and 11 students, thought the whale would swim away and keep his distance. Instead, Nepi hung around the divers for several hours. "He started coming around and was more curious, and was diving amongst our divers, and kept getting closer and closer to the point where he was right up next to them and they could see him very, very clearly," he said. Johnston, who's been diving for more than 20 years, said he's never seen a beluga so close to the Island. While the students were excited to be in such close quarters with the whale, Johnston said they did not chase or entice Nepi to stay with them. "We were there doing our thing and he was there doing his thing," he said. "We were just going about our business and he just kept intruding." Robert Michaud, scientific director of the Quebec-based Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals, says it's worrying to see a young beluga getting friendly with people while away from home especially when it's a repeat offender, like Nepi. Michaud's group first came across the young whale in June 2017. After getting a call about a beluga being stuck in the mouth of the Nepisiguit River in Bathurst, N.B., the group coordinated a rescue that involved moving him to the St. Lawrence river in Quebec, near Cacouna. Michaud said the rescue was an experiment. "The St. Lawrence beluga population is declining, they're endangered, so we were wondering whether saving an animal would help recover the population," he said. "The animal was not too far from home, it was feasible, so we tried it." The marine research group put a tag on Nepi so they could track him, but the mischievous whale managed to lose it after about 20 days. A year after he went off the grid, Nepi was spotted by a wildlife photographer in Ingonish, N.S., and researchers managed to identify the whale by looking at the photographs. Now that the beluga has popped up once again in P.E.I., Michaud said he's mystefied as to why Nepi finds the Maritimes so alluring. "This young whale would be much better hanging around with others of his own kind in the St. Lawrence area. This is why we moved it back to Cacouna," he said. "The question is why he went back again. Is it the individual temper of this guy to be adventurous?" When belugas get too close to boats and people, Michaud said, it can often lead to tragedy for the declining species. Michaud said the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals hears of many cases in which a beluga got hit by a boat or struck by propellors and killed, which is why it's dangerous to allow them to get too close and encourage them to be fearless of people and their vessels. While most belugas live in the Arctic, their southernmost habitat is in the St. Lawrence Estuary: a critical habitat for belugas, which are protected under Canada's Species at Risk Act. As of 2012, the St. Lawrence Estuary was home to an estimated 900 belugas though they say there could have been as many as 10,000 belugas in the estuary before 1885. Michaud asked that anyone who sees a beluga farther south than the estuary tell the group so they can try to identify it, and added that while Nepi's wanderlust has marine experts concerned, he's hopeful the young whale will come back home. BEIJING Nearly three and half years after Wang Quanzhang disappeared in Chinas fierce offensive against human rights lawyers, he faced charges of subversion in a closed trial on Wednesday, capping a year when the Communist Party redoubled efforts to stifle political and religious dissent. Mr. Wang, 42, was the last to be prosecuted among the hundreds of rights lawyers and activists rounded up in a sweep that started on July 9, 2015. In a blaze of propaganda, the police accused him and other combative attorneys of disrupting trials, fanning discontent, and plotting to overthrow the Communist Party. But while others detained in the crackdown were released with warnings, put on bail after making rehearsed confessions on television, or tried and sentenced, Mr. Wang remained held in secrecy. His trial was also swaddled in security to ward off protests. This whole process has been illegal, so how could I expect an open and fair trial? Mr. Wangs wife, Li Wenzu, said in a telephone interview before the hearing. But my demand is still that he be freed as not guilty, because thats what he is. Japan said on Wednesday that it would withdraw from an international agreement and resume commercial whaling, a defiant move to prop up an industry that still has cultural significance there, despite plummeting demand for whale meat. Yoshihide Suga, Japans chief cabinet secretary, said the country would leave the International Whaling Commission, which established a moratorium on hunting whales that took effect in 1986. The international agreement never stopped Japanese whaling, because it allowed the country to continue killing whales for scientific research while selling the meat. Critics considered the research a sham, little more than a cover for commercial whaling. In recent years, Japan has had an annual quota in the Antarctic of 333 minke whales, which in the 2017-18 hunting season included 122 pregnant females. As part of its withdrawal from the international commission, Japan will stop its annual hunts in the Antarctic and limit whalers to its own waters. Commercial whaling will resume in July, Mr. Suga said. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan A prominent secular political party on Wednesday accused Pakistans powerful security establishment of assassinating one of its former lawmakers a day earlier. Syed Ali Raza Abidi, 46, was killed in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday evening outside his home in Karachi, a volatile city that is Pakistans commercial and economic hub. The party he once represented, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, called it a coldblooded assassination that was part of a crackdown on the party by Pakistans military establishment. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or M.Q.M., controlled the politics of Karachi for decades, but has come under increasing pressure in recent years after a crackdown by security forces. The partys founding leader, Altaf Hussain, has lived in self-imposed exile in London for the past two decades. Critics said M.Q.M. maintained iron-fisted control over the city through fear and intimidation with a network of armed enforcers. The crackdown by security forces dismantled much of the partys militant networks. The M.Q.M. fragmented into several factions, with each group vying for political legitimacy and control over Karachi. BANGKOK In a region known for its harsh penalties for illegal drugs, Thailand is set to become the first nation in Southeast Asia to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Thailands military government, which has called elections for the end of February, has backed medical usage, which must be approved by the nations monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. By a vote of 166 to 0, the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly approved legislation this week that would allow the use of cannabis under medical supervision. Thirteen members abstained. The measure is expected to take effect next year. This is a New Years gift from the National Legislative Assembly to the government and the Thai people, the lawmaker who headed the drafting committee, Somchai Sawangkarn, said during a televised session on Tuesday. CAIRO Two former Egyptian presidents appeared Wednesday in the same Cairo courtroom, with Hosni Mubarak testifying in a retrial of Mohamed Morsi on charges related to prison breaks at the height of the 2011 uprising that toppled Mr. Mubarak. Mr. Mubarak, 90, whose nearly three-decade rule was ended by a popular uprising in 2011, entered the courtroom with his two sons, Alaa and Gamal. He carried a cane and wore a dark blue suit and matching tie. He appeared physically well and mentally sharp, though his speech was slow at times. Chief Judge Mohammed Sherin allowed Mr. Mubarak to take a seat while testifying. The hearing took place amid heavy security in a police facility in a southern Cairo suburb. [On June 17, 2019, Mr. Morsi died in court.] Mr. Morsi, 67, and Muslim Brotherhood allies swiftly rose to power in elections after Mr. Mubaraks ouster, only to find themselves imprisoned a year later when millions protested against them for abuse of power, leading to a military overthrow of the government. Thats absolutely a possibility, the risk of total chaos, said Aron Lund, a Syria analyst and fellow at the Century Foundation, a think tank, when the thing thats been keeping the situation stable not saying it was good or bad, but stable just disappears in a puff of smoke. Who will occupy the territory vacated by the Americans? According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia, Iran and Iran-backed militias, including the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, are well-positioned to seize territory in northeast Syria abandoned by the United States. They occupy 29 nearby positions, according to the group, and a further seven across the Iraq border. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks Syrias war via a network of citizen monitors, said on Sunday that the Syrian government had dispatched thousands of fighters toward the Islamic States last patches of territory in the northeast. What remains of the anti-Assad insurgency? The last major redoubt of the rebels opposed to Mr. Assad are crowded into Idlib Province in northwestern Syria, neighboring Turkey. Russia may help Mr. Assads forces retake the province eventually. But Russia also is expected to first negotiate with Turkey, which has supported anti-Assad groups and has a vested interest in what happens along its border with Syria. How have the changes affected Israel? Analysts say Iran can now link Shiite partners in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in a unified front against Israel. In Syria, Iran and Hezbollah aim to strengthen a military presence near the Golan Heights, annexed by Israel after it was captured in the 1967 war. Opinion Its an Act of Murder: How Europe Outsources Suffering as Migrants Drown This short film, produced by The Times's Opinion Video team and the research groups Forensic Architecture and Forensic Oceanography, reconstructs a tragedy at sea that left at least 20 migrants dead. Combining footage from more than 10 cameras, 3-D modeling and interviews with rescuers and survivors, the documentary shows Europes role in the migrant crisis at sea. On Nov. 6, 2017, at least 20 people trying to reach Europe from Libya drowned in the Mediterranean, foundering next to a sinking raft. Not far from the raft was a ship belonging to Sea-Watch, a German humanitarian organization. That ship had enough space on it for everyone who had been aboard the raft. It could have brought them all to the safety of Europe, where they might have had a chance at being granted asylum. Instead, 20 people drowned and 47 more were captured by the Libyan Coast Guard, which brought the migrants back to Libya, where they suffered abuse including rape and torture. This confrontation at sea was not a simplistic case of Europe versus Africa, with human rights and rescue on one side and chaos and danger on the other. Rather its a case of Europe versus Europe: of volunteers struggling to save lives being undercut by European Union policies that outsource border control responsibilities to the Libyan Coast Guard with the aim of stemming arrivals on European shores. While funding, equipping and directing the Libyan Coast Guard, European governments have stymied the activities of nongovernmental organizations like Sea-Watch, criminalizing them or impounding their ships, or turning away from ports ships carrying survivors. More than 14,000 people have died or gone missing while trying to cross the central Mediterranean since 2014. But unlike most of those deaths and drownings, the incident on Nov. 6, 2017, was extensively documented. Sea-Watchs ship and rescue rafts were outfitted with nine cameras, documenting the entire scene in video and audio. The Libyans, too, filmed parts of the incident on their mobile phones. The research groups Forensic Architecture and Forensic Oceanography of Goldsmiths, University of London, of which three of us Mr. Heller, Mr. Pezzani and Mr. Weizman are a part, combined these video sources with radio recordings, vessel tracking data, witness testimonies and newly obtained official sources to produce a minute-by-minute reconstruction of the facts. Opinion Video at The New York Times built on this work to create the above short documentary, gathering further testimonials by some of the survivors and rescuers who were there. This investigation makes a few things clear: European governments are avoiding their legal and moral responsibilities to protect the human rights of people fleeing violence and economic desperation. More worrying, the Libyan Coast Guard partners that Europe is collaborating with are ready to blatantly violate those rights if it allows them to prevent migrants from crossing the sea. Forensic Architecture and Forensic Oceanographys reconstruction allowed the events of Nov. 6 to be oriented in space and time. The New York Times/Forensic Oceanography Stopping Migrants, Whatever the Cost To understand the cynicism of Europes policies in the Mediterranean, one must understand the legal context. According to a 2012 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, migrants rescued by European civilian or military vessels must be taken to a safe port. Because of the chaotic political situation in Libya and well-documented human rights abuses in detention camps there, that means a European port, often in Italy or Malta. But when the Libyan Coast Guard intercepts migrants, even outside Libyan territorial waters, as it did on Nov. 6, the Libyans take them back to detention camps in Libya, which is not subject to European Court of Human Rights jurisdiction. For Italy and Europe this is an ideal situation. Europe is able to stop people from reaching its shores while washing its hands of any responsibility for their safety. This policy can be traced back to February 2017, when Italy and the United Nations-supported Libyan Government of National Accord signed a memorandum of understanding that provided a framework for collaboration on development, to fight against illegal immigration, human trafficking and the smuggling of contraband. This agreement defines clearly the aim, to stem the illegal migrants flows, and committed Italy to provide technical and technological support to the Libyan institutions in charge of the fight against illegal immigration. Libyan Coast Guard members have been trained by the European Union, and the Italian government donated or repaired several patrol boats and supported the establishment of a Libyan search-and-rescue zone. Libyan authorities have since attempted in defiance of maritime law to make that zone off-limits to nongovernmental organizations rescue vessels. Italian Navy ships, based in Tripoli, have coordinated Libyan Coast Guard efforts. Before these arrangements, Libyan actors were able to intercept and return very few migrants leaving from Libyan shores. Now the Libyan Coast Guard is an efficient partner, having intercepted some 20,000 people in 2017 alone. The Libyan Coast Guard is efficient when it comes to stopping migrants from reaching Europe. Its not as good, however, at saving their lives, as the events of Nov. 6 show. Marco Minniti, center, the interior minister of Italy at the time, in front of the ship involved in the Nov. 6 incident. Ismail Zitouny/Reuters A Deadly Policy in Action That morning the migrant raft had encountered worsening conditions after leaving Tripoli, Libya, over night. Someone onboard used a satellite phone to call the Italian Coast Guard for help. Because the Italians were required by law to alert nearby vessels of the sinking raft, they alerted Sea-Watch to its approximate location. But they also requested the intervention of their Libyan counterparts. The Libyan Coast Guard vessel that was sent to intervene on that morning, the Ras Jadir, was one of several that had been repaired by Italy and handed back to the Libyans in May of 2017. Eight of the 13 crew members onboard had received training from the European Union anti-smuggling naval program known as Operation Sophia. Even so, the Libyans brought the Ras Jadir next to the migrants raft, rather than deploying a smaller rescue vessel, as professional rescuers do. This offered no hope of rescuing those who had already fallen overboard and only caused more chaos, during which at least five people died. These deaths were not merely a result of a lack of professionalism. Some of the migrants who had been brought aboard the Ras Jadir were so afraid of their fate at the hands of the Libyans that they jumped back into the water to try to reach the European rescuers. As can be seen in the footage, members of the Libyan Coast Guard beat the remaining migrants. Sea-Watchs crew was also attacked by the Libyan Coast Guard, who threatened them and threw hard objects at them to keep them away. This eruption of violence was the result of a clash between the goals of rescue and interception, with the migrants caught in the middle desperately struggling for their lives. Apart from those who died during this chaos, more than 15 people had already drowned in the time spent waiting for any rescue vessel to appear. There was, however, no shortage of potential rescuers in the area: A Portuguese surveillance plane had located the migrants raft after its distress call. An Italian Navy helicopter and a French frigate were nearby and eventually offered some support during the rescue. Its possible that this French ship, deployed as part of Operation Sophia, could have reached the sinking vessel earlier, in time to save more lives despite our requests, this information has not been disclosed to us. But it remained at a distance throughout the incident and while offering some support, notably refrained from taking migrants onboard who would then have had to have been disembarked on European soil. Its an example of a hands-off approach that seeks to make Libyan intervention not only possible but also inevitable. The Libyan Coast Guard vessels proximity to the migrants sinking raft created a dangerous situation. With the Libyans unable to reach those who fell into the water, Sea-Watch rushed to fill the gap. Sea-Watch A Legal Challenge On the basis of the forensic reconstruction, the Global Legal Action Network and the Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration, with the support of Yale Law School students, have filed a case against Italy at the European Court of Human Rights representing 17 survivors of this incident. Those working on the suit, who include two of us Mr. Mann and Ms. Moreno-Lax argue that even though Italian or European personnel did not physically intercept the migrants and bring them back to Libya, Italy exercised effective control over the Libyan Coast Guard through mutual agreements, support and on-the-ground coordination. Italy has entrusted the Libyans with a task that Rome knows full well would be illegal if undertaken directly: preventing migrants from seeking protection in Europe by impeding their flight and sending them back to a country where extreme violence and exploitation await. We hope this legal complaint will lead the European court to rule that countries cannot subcontract their legal and humanitarian obligations to dubious partners, and that if they do, they retain responsibility for the resulting violations. Such a precedent would force the entire European Union to make sure its cooperation with partners like Libya does not end up denying refugees the right to seek asylum. This case is especially important right now. In Italys elections in March, the far-right Lega party, which campaigned on radical anti-immigrant rhetoric, took nearly 20 percent of the vote. The party is now part of the governing coalition, of which its leader, Matteo Salvini, is the interior minister. His government has doubled down on animosity toward migrants. In June, Italy took the drastic step of turning away a humanitarian vessel from the countrys ports and has been systematically blocking rescued migrants from being disembarked since then, even when they had been assisted by the Italian Coast Guard. The Italian crackdown helps explain why seafarers off the Libyan coast have refrained from assisting migrants in distress, leaving them to drift for days. Under the new Italian government, a new batch of patrol boats has been handed over to the Libyan Coast Guard, and the rate of migrants being intercepted and brought back to Libya has increased. All this has made the crossing even more dangerous than before. Italy has been seeking to enact a practice that blatantly violates the spirit of the Geneva Convention on refugees, which enshrines the right to seek asylum and prohibits sending people back to countries in which their lives are at risk. A judgment by the European Court sanctioning Italy for this practice would help prevent the outsourcing of border control and human rights violations that may prevent the worlds most disempowered populations from seeking protection and dignity. The European Court of Human Rights cannot stand alone as a guardian of fundamental rights. Yet an insistence on its part to uphold the law would both reflect and bolster the movements seeking solidarity with migrants across Europe. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. The spring air was cool. There was the slightest breeze. The smell floated into the cabbage field about six weeks after the newly installed Trump administration brushed aside scientifically established health concerns and overturned a planned ban of one of the worlds most potent pesticides. It was the early morning of Cinco de Mayo May 5, 2017 but there was no day off on this holiday. In three groups, 48 farm workers, most of them women, were scattered around a field in the southern part of Californias vast and flat Central Valley. Some did the back-aching work of bending over and using a knife to chop the heads from the plants. They passed them up to packers standing on a flatbed trailer behind a tractor. Vicenta Rivera, now 49, was one of the first to feel it a pesticide drift, the agriculture industry calls it, in this case of chlorpyrifos, one of the most powerful and toxic pesticides in widespread use, that had been sprayed on a nearby grove of mandarin oranges. There was a strong odor, a taste in the back of the throat, numb lips, itchy skin and watery eyes. A headache set in quickly. Some workers scurried to nearby cars to avoid the toxic air. Others kept picking and packing, squinting and covering their faces and trying not to breathe. They were afraid of the repercussions of walking away. They needed the money. Women coughed. Some vomited. Bricmary Lopez fainted. A 37-year-old mother of three, she remembers the smell, the dizziness, the overwhelming feeling of nausea. Other workers thought she was faking it, trying to be funny, when she hit the ground and started convulsing. Vicenta Rivera, second from right, was one of the first farm workers to feel the effects of the pesticide drift. Vicenta Rivera, second from right, was one of the first farm workers to feel the effects of the pesticide drift. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times We were teasing each other, saying, Ha, you dont want to work, said Lucia Martinez Polido, 57. Reality bit. Soon, nearly everyone felt the burning sensation and queasiness. Some fainted. Those not immediately incapacitated helped the others. They put a pillow under Ms. Lopezs head and stood over her, waving their arms over her face, trying to offer fresh air. Fire trucks and ambulances came. They stayed out on Copus Road, a couple of hundred yards beyond the cabbage field and adjacent almond groves, because the rescuers did not want to get exposed. Ms. Lopez remembers being ushered behind curtains, a makeshift room assembled for roadside decontamination. She remembers being naked in a temporary shower, and the ambulance ride to a Bakersfield hospital, about 20 miles away. She said she was given medicine and released. No longer working the fields and riddled with health problems, Ms. Lopez has been searching for answers. Lucia Martinez Polido, left, with her daughter Lucia Magdalena Montero. Both women were working on the vegetable farm when the drift incident happened. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times All I want to know, she said at her home recently, is am I going to be O.K.? Trump Wins, and E.P.A. Quashes Chlorpyrifos Ban Had Donald J. Trump not won the presidency in 2016, millions of pounds of chlorpyrifos most likely would not have been applied to American crops over the past 21 months. It would not have sickened substantial numbers of farm workers, or risked what the Environmental Protection Agencys own studies suggest could be continued long-term health problems for others exposed to the chemical at low levels. Chlorpyrifos use (pounds per county in thousands for 2016) 1 10 50 150 Sacramento SOLANO COUNTY San Francisco CALIFORNIA Delano Bakersfield KERN COUNTY Los Angeles By The New York Times | Source: California Department of Pesticide Regulation Widespread concerns about chlorpyrifos led to its removal for nearly all residential uses in 2000. Environmental groups kept pushing, and two filed a petition with the E.P.A. in 2007 to ban it entirely on food crops. The E.P.A. eventually agreed in 2015, released its revised human health risk assessment in November 2016, and was ordered by a court to take final action by the end of March 2017. Days after the assessment was released, Mr. Trump won the election. DowDuPont, the leading maker of the pesticide, donated $1 million to his inauguration. One of the early acts of the man Mr. Trump appointed to head the E.P.A., Scott Pruitt, was to quash the chlorpyrifos ban on March 29, 2017. Since taking office, Mr. Trump has consistently sided with powerful economic constituencies in setting policy toward the air we breathe, the water we drink and the presence of chemicals in our communities. In the process, he has frequently rejected or given short shrift to science, an instinct that has played out most visibly in his disdain for efforts to curb global warming but has also permeated federal policy in other ways. Mr. Trump has expressed skepticism about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. His administration supported rolling back safeguards for workers exposed to some toxic substances. And in rolling back nearly 80 environmental regulations, he has regularly played down findings that bolstered the need for the rules in the first place. The administrations choice not to curb the use of chlorpyrifos is a case study in how ideological and special-interest considerations outweighed decades of evidence about the potential harm associated with its use. The effects of such large-scale decision making are felt locally. And in the case of chlorpyrifos, there may be no place where the tension between science and the administrations policy inclinations plays out more than in Californias Kern County, the vast crosshatched expanse roughly the size of New Jersey that surrounds Bakersfield. California is the nations leading state for agriculture production. Kern County is a primary hub, with more than $7 billion in agricultural commodities in 2017, led by almonds, citrus and grapes, among dozens of crops. It also leads the state in the use of chlorpyrifos. And its toll may extend well beyond farm workers. Neighborhoods and schools are carved out of old orchards and groves. They may be separated from crops by mere feet, maybe a road. Even in the middle of the small towns, nobody is far from the fields or the nearly 29 million pounds of pesticides including 200,000 pounds of chlorpyrifos spread on them in 2016, just within Kern County. For the federal government to not just ignore, but throw away, 10 years of science showing that chlorpyrifos is damaging, we feel that at the local level, said Valerie Gorospe, a community organizer in Delano, near Bakersfield, whose mother was a longtime advocate for farm workers and pesticide overhaul. The Arvin Migrant Center, commonly called a labor camp, with rows of housing for itinerant farm workers and a day care, borders the fields. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times Weighing the Risk When Exposed Chlorpyrifos is part of the same chemical family as sarin nerve gas. An estimated six million pounds are spread each year across dozens of agricultural crops nationwide, including alfalfa, almonds, citrus, corn, cotton and grapes. It is useful as a broad-spectrum pesticide, farmers and agricultural experts say, because it kills virtually every kind of insect. The chemicals effect on humans is the subject of some debate but its toxicity is not in doubt. Acute poisonings, from things like spills or drift, can result in respiratory distress, vomiting, convulsions, unconsciousness and death. There is also broad concern over the impact of low-level exposure, including in drinking water and on the fruits and vegetables we eat. Chlorpyrifos is deemed particularly dangerous to young women in farming communities, as studies have found it in the blood of pregnant women and their babies. It has been linked to neurodevelopmental problems such as reduced birth sizes and weights, lower I.Q.s, attention deficit problems and disorders on the autism spectrum symptoms found with higher frequency in farming communities, studies suggest. Those in the agriculture and chemical industries who say there is still doubt about the degree of the health risk often point, paradoxically, to the problem that the chemical is too toxic to be tested on humans, leaving scientists to rely on epidemiological studies of people who might have been exposed to it in their normal environment over long periods. An increasing number of the studies show correlations to neurological problems in children, among other issues. But are their problems the result of chlorpyrifos? A cross overlooks a valley of farms in Arvin, Calif. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times Dow says no, and other people associated with the agriculture industry, in an echo of the argument against aggressive action to confront a warming planet, say not enough is known yet to come to a firm conclusion. Our attitude is not that chlorpyrifos is good or bad, said Gabriele Ludwig, the director for sustainability and environmental affairs for the California Almond Board. We dont know. We feel it hasnt gone through the proper process. Hundreds in California have been acutely sickened by chlorpyrifos in the last 15 years, mostly farm workers and mostly by drift. The incidences have slowed since 2015, when state regulators added restrictions to chlorpyrifos use, requiring licensing and training. But as chlorpyrifos use has continued, so have the accidents at least a half-dozen reported episodes of drift in California, including the one in May 2017 that sent Ms. Lopez to the hospital and sickened 36 other cabbage pickers. More recently, in July, 10 workers were sickened in Solano County, between Sacramento and San Francisco. They were working in a sunflower field when chlorpyrifos apparently drifted from sprayers in an adjacent almond orchard. The vast majority of incidents, involving chlorpyrifos or any other pesticide, go unreported. Most farm workers in California are undocumented immigrants. They worry about everything from missing much-needed work to reprisal from bosses and deportation from the authorities. There is no incentive to report these things, said Eriberto Fernandez, the research and policy coordinator for the United Farm Workers Foundation in Bakersfield, whose parents have worked the fields for decades. Most farm workers, like most other people in Kern County, do not distinguish chlorpyrifos among hundreds of pesticides used in agriculture. They may smell different, or cause different reactions, but few, if any, can name them. That was certainly true during the drift incident in May 2017. No one knew it was chlorpyrifos that was sickening the workers, because most had never heard of it until the Trump administration halted the proposed ban. A pesticide is a pesticide, said Lucia Martinez Polido, one of the women picking cabbage that day. If pesticides are not floating in the air, they are smeared on their fingers and skin from nearly everything they touch. Shiny citrus leaves are dulled by a white film. Pruning grape vines at the end of the season, for example, can free a chemical odor. Kicking up dust releases it from the soil. Byanka Santoyo with her daughter, Ahtziri. We all live surrounded by ag, Ms. Santoyo said. We just want it to be safe. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times It is why many farm workers cover their skin from head to toe, wrapping bandannas around their noses and mouths, even in the teeth of triple-digit summer days. They bring snacks to the fields that they do not have to touch with their hands. They carry their own bottles of eye wash. But concern over chlorpyrifos extends well beyond farm workers and acute poisonings. Each spring, the dozens of schools and licensed child-care centers in Kern County within a quarter mile of an active crop receive a list of the restricted-use pesticides that the growers plan to use, sometime between July 1 and June 30. Some of the lists contain more than 50 different chemicals. Chlorpyrifos is often one of them. If the pesticides are known to drift, like those spread by crop dusters, they cannot be used within a quarter mile of schools, this years notifications state. If they are less susceptible to drift, such as most applications using a tractor, the buffers shrinks to 25 feet. Monday through Friday, they cannot be sprayed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Precautions at the Day Care Center Among those notified is Sunset Child Development Center, a day care south of Bakersfield. It is part of the Arvin Migrant Center, commonly called a labor camp, with rows of housing for itinerant farm workers. The day care is next to grape vineyards. The children there range from 6 months to 5 years old. Because most of the parents are farm workers themselves, they drop off their children as early as 4:30 a.m. within the allowable time slot for spraying pesticides like chlorpyrifos. White residue from pesticides is seen on mandarin trees in the California Central Valley. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times One parent of a 3-year-old girl is Byanka Santoyo, 28, a single mother from Arvin. She is a daughter of farm workers, and spent time in the fields herself. Ms. Santoyo works as a community organizer for the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment. It was the areas notoriously polluted air, sometimes the worst in the nation, that led her to activism. It was the drift episodes experienced by her parents over the years, and now the concern over her daughters health, that pulled her toward fighting unsafe use of pesticides. We all live surrounded by ag, Ms. Santoyo said. We just want it to be safe. The day care center is required to allow the children outside for parts of the day. There are sun shades to protect from the heat, but nothing to protect from whatever pesticides might be drifting in the air. Playground equipment is scrubbed several times a week because it often becomes covered in a sticky film that sometimes works its way indoors. Ms. Santoyo says her daughters clothes get tacky, and the residue is visible when she wears something like black leggings. Chlorpyrifos is not the most-used pesticide, but it is the most contentious. In California in 2016, according to the states Department of Pesticide Regulation, 902,575 pounds of chlorpyrifos was used in more than 12,000 applications across 640,000 acres on more than 60 different crops. The fight to ban chlorpyrifos in California has several fronts, fought by organizations that include the United Farm Workers, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Californians for Pesticide Reform. They are ramping up pressure on state regulators and politicians as uncertainty over the federal ban persists. Dennis Johnston, a fourth-generation farmer, in Exeter, Calif. Chlorpyrifos, to Mr. Johnston and countless other farmers, is a go-to pesticide when others do not work. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times This August, a three-judge panel from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, ordered the E.P.A. to ban it. In its ruling, the panel wrote, There was no justification for the E.P.A.s decision in its 2017 order to maintain a tolerance for chlorpyrifos in the face of scientific evidence that its residue on food causes neurodevelopmental damage to children. The ruling has been appealed, and in the meantime California is weighing tighter regulations of its own. While lawyers and lobbyists fight, the pesticide, sold under a variety of brand names like Lorsban and Vulcan and employed by farmers nationwide, remains in use. What Happens, a Farmer Asks, If It Is Banned? Dennis Johnston is a fourth-generation farmer in Exeter, east of Bakersfield. He remembers using chlorpyrifos on the citrus groves since he left college in 1980. We use it for katydid, which takes a bite out of the fruit when its in the flower form, Mr. Johnston said, referring to a pest that looks like a grasshopper. Its a little bite when they do it, but it grows and becomes a big chunk when its ripe and makes it unmarketable. Chlorpyrifos, to Mr. Johnston and countless other farmers, is a go-to pesticide when others do not work. But Mr. Johnston, who said he has never had a drift incident, is using it less and less. He simply would like to have it available. Ms. Polido prepared lunch with her grandson. Her daughter, Ms. Montero, said she still has recurring headaches, dizziness and nausea. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times The cloudy future of chlorpyrifos has left farmers like Mr. Johnston unsure how to proceed. Will the appeals court force the E.P.A. to ban it? Will California step in? And what if any of that happens while this seasons crop is growing? Were cautious about it, as most farmers are, Mr. Johnston said. Will it kill us if we cant use it? Probably not, not in my business. Can we make something else work? Yes, but its what happens when you lose it. You have to use something in a different manner, or more of it. Its kind of a daisy chain sometimes. That concern echoes across the agricultural landscape, in Kern County and beyond. That is a real dance that goes on out in the grove, said Jim Cranney, the president of the California Citrus Quality Council. You can have, at some point, the need to use a pesticide, but in other cases, you can allow the insects already in a grove to get rid of the harmful insects. When we use a pesticide that is harmful to the beneficial insects it can cause harmful insects to go haywire. In November, in the absence of federal guidelines over chlorpyrifos, Californias Department of Pesticide Regulation announced tighter, though voluntary, restrictions, effective Jan. 1. The state agency wants to declare the chemical a toxic air contaminant, which would mean much stricter rules on chlorpyrifos use. But the process could take two years, so the agency made recommended changes in the interim. That was little relief to people like those in the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety. In November, in Lindsay, 60 miles north of Bakersfield, the group opened a storefront office. Staffed by volunteers, it is seen as a safe place for farm workers and concerned residents most of them Latino, many of them undocumented to ask questions without worry over repercussions from labor contractors or government officials. Ms. Monteros children, Vincent, left, and Alexander. Ms. Montero found out that she was pregnant again after the drift incident, and worries about the health of her baby. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times On the night of its opening, about 50 people stood in the dark parking lot. There were balloons and a ribbon to be cut. Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate who entered politics partly because of concerns over pesticides, gave a short speech, pausing as each line was translated to Spanish. She spoke the language of organophosphates, with a deep knowledge of chlorpyrifos its regulatory history and the risks increasingly attached to it. (She is an author of a 2000 report for Physicians for Social Responsibility called In Harms Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development.) If its too dangerous to be used in the home, why isnt it too dangerous for farm workers? Ms. Stein said later, as people mingled inside and ate bowls of pozole. Unable, or Afraid, to Return to the Fields Lucia Montero came to the United States from Mexico at age 15 and immediately began working the fields. Now 33, she was a foreman in that cabbage patch on May 5, 2017, overseeing one of the three crews, when the invisible but toxic cloud of chlorpyrifos arrived. At first, she thought she smelled grease or burned oil. Believing it was the tractor, she turned off the engine. Bricmary Lopez with her daughters at their home in Bakersfield. Ms. Lopez has not returned to the fields since being sickened by a drift incident. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times Then came the burning, the itching, the nausea. Ms. Montero called the supervisor on her phone, who told her to get her crew out of the field. By then, several were vomiting. Two or three fainted, she said. An investigation by the Kern County agricultural commissioners office was complicated by the fact that four separate pesticide applications took place that morning within 1.5 miles of the cabbage field. Ultimately, investigators found that a company called Sun Pacific applied chlorpyrifos at seven tangerine (a common name for a type of mandarin) sites half a mile to 1.5 miles from the cabbage field. Sun Pacific, a large grower behind the Cuties brand of mandarins, was fined $30,250. Another company nearby had sprayed grapes with a sulfur compound found to have drifted into the cabbage patch, too. That company was fined $20,000. The investigation said that 37 workers reported illness. Almost all declined medical treatment. In interviews, several said they were afraid of the repercussions, like missed paychecks or being blacklisted by contractors. Ms. Montero has not been back since that day. She said she cannot fully shake recurring headaches, dizziness and nausea. Still living in Bakersfield, she has taken courses to become a barber. This month, Ms. Montero learned she was pregnant. She no longer worries just for herself. I am scared, she said. I just hope I have a healthy baby. Bricmary Lopez, the only one of the workers in the field that day to be taken to a hospital, has not returned to the fields either. She fainted many times after she was sickened by the drift incident, three or four times a week at first, she said. Her asthma has spiked, her skin gets blotchy, and her red-blood cell count has dipped. She filed a workers compensation claim with the packing company she was working for, but action has been slow. Most farm workers, advocates said, never take it this far. But Ms. Lopez, who arrived from Colombia in 2015 and has filed for asylum, does not fear the repercussions. I shouldnt be worried about calling attention to this, Ms. Lopez said in her living room. Her daughters, ages 15, 18 and 21, stood at her shoulder, her fiance sat at her side. It was not my fault it happened. Its likely the pilots never figured out that Boeings new system was working against them. Sure, its easy to say, Well, just look down your trim is running away and take care of it. Thats easy to say from a desk or cubicle. Get in the cockpit, get a thousand feet above the ocean and have all those alerts going on, said Mr. Tajer. Photo: CTV News UPDATE 3:05 p.m. Police in New Westminster, B.C., got a lost dog home just in time for Christmas dinner. A Twitter post from the police department says the dog that was found in the 400-block of Third Street on Christmas is now reunited with its owners. The black-and-white furry canine had no identification tags but had an anti-bark collar. Police are thanking people for their help in getting the pooch home. ORIGINAL 1:22 a.m. Police in New Westminster, B.C., want to get a dog home in time for Christmas dinner. A Twitter post from the police department says the dog was found in the 400-block of Third Street on Christmas. The black and white furry canine has no identification tags but does have an anti-bark collar. Anyone who recognizes the dog is asked to contact the police. Cheryl Winkelman Naperville, IL-based Rhea + Kaiser has welcomed Cheryl Winkelman back to the firm as account supervisor. Winkelman was an account executive at R+K from 2007 to 2010. She rejoins the firm from Timac Agro, where she was a technical sales representative. She previously served as an account supervisor at both Gyro and Leo Burnett. In her new post, she will oversee R+Ks Indiana Soybean Association and Indiana Corn Marketing Council accounts and select brands of its Bayer CropScience business. She will be based remotely in Alexandria, Missouri. Danielle Longley KPS3 has hired Danielle Longley as account director. Prior to joining KPS3, Longley was the communications specialist for the University Study Abroad Consortium, where she functioned as a marketing manager for 54 study-abroad programs, as well as helping to develop printed collateral, digital campaigns and analytical reporting. Before that, she was a senior project manager at Noble Studios. Her responsibilities include building measurable, insight-driven, digital-first solutions across campaigns and channels. Marie Renckens Beehive Strategic Communication has hired Marie Renckens as account director. Prior to joining the agency, Renckens was an account director at marketing and communications agency Lipman Hearne in Chicago, where she led engagements with clients in the education and financial services industries. Her range of experience includes brand strategy, market research, marketing and client management. Photo: CTV News The federal government and Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding are asking a trade tribunal to throw out a challenge to their handling of a high-stakes competition to design the navy's new $60-billion fleet of warships. In separate submissions to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the federal procurement department and Irving say the challenge filed by Alion Science and Technology of Virginia does not meet the requirements for a tribunal hearing. Alion was one of three companies, along with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin and Spanish firm Navantia, vying to design the new warships, which are to be built by Irving and serve as the navy's backbone for most of this century. While Lockheed was selected as the preferred bidder and is negotiating a final design contract with the government and Irving, Alion alleges the company's design did not meet the navy's requirements and should have been disqualified. Two of those requirements related to the ship's speed, Alion alleged, while the third related to the number of crew berths. Alion has asked both the trade tribunal and the Federal Court to stop any deal with Lockheed. But the government and Irving say the contract is exempt from normal trade laws, which the tribunal is charged with enforcing, because of a special "national security exception," meaning there is "no jurisdiction for the tribunal to conduct an inquiry." Another reason the challenge should be quashed, they argue, is that Alion is not a Canadian company, which is a requirement for being able to ask the tribunal to consider a complaint. Alion's challenge has been formally filed by its Canadian subsidiary, but the government and Irving say that subsidiary was never actually qualified to be a bidder in the competition only its American parent. The responses from the government and Irving are the latest twist in the largest military purchase in Canadian history, which will see 15 new warships built to replace the navy's 12 aging Halifax-class frigates and three already-retired Iroquois-class destroyers. The trade tribunal ordered the government last month not to award a final contract to Lockheed until it had investigated Alion's complaint, but rescinded the order after a senior procurement official warned that the deal was "urgent." The procurement department has not explained why the deal is urgent. Lockheed's bid was contentious from the moment the design competition was launched in October 2016. The federal government had originally said it wanted a "mature design" for its new warship fleet, which was widely interpreted as meaning a vessel that has already been built and used by another navy. But the first Type 26 frigates, upon which Lockheed's proposal was based, are only now being built by the British government and the design has not yet been tested in full operation. There were also complaints from industry that the deck was stacked in the Type 26's favour because of Irving's connections with British shipbuilder BAE, which originally designed the Type 26 and partnered with Lockheed to offer the ship to Canada. Irving, which worked with the federal government to pick the top design, also partnered with BAE in 2016 on an ultimately unsuccessful bid to maintain the navy's new Arctic patrol vessels and supply ships. That 35-year contract ended up going to another company. Irving and the federal government have repeatedly rejected such complaints, saying they conducted numerous consultations with industry and used a variety of firewalls and safeguards to ensure the choice was completely fair. But industry insiders had long warned that Lockheed's selection as the top bidder, combined with numerous changes to the requirements and competition terms after it was launched including a number of deadline extensions would spark lawsuits. Photo: The Canadian Press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israeli media is reporting Monday, Dec. 24, 2018. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called early elections for April, setting the stage for a three-month campaign clouded by a series of corruption investigations against the long-serving Israeli leader. Riding high in the polls, Netanyahu appears all but certain to win a fourth consecutive term and a place in history as the country's longest-serving prime minister. Those bright prospects, however, could be derailed by a looming decision by the country's attorney general on whether to file charges against Netanyahu. Netanyahu, facing the possibility of bribery and breach of trust charges in three different cases, made scant mention of these investigations at a gathering of his Likud Party as he announced plans for what is expected to be an April 9 vote. Appearing loose and confident, he listed his government's accomplishments in office and said he hoped his current religious, nationalistic coalition would be the "core" of Israel's next government as well. "We will ask the voters for a clear mandate to continue leading the state of Israel our way," he said to applause from party members. Netanyahu, who also served a term in the late 1990s, has been prime minister for the past decade. His supporters point to a humming, high-tech economy, his handling of security issues, particularly countering the threat of Iranian influence in the region, and his gains on the diplomatic stage, including a close alliance with President Donald Trump that has paid important dividends. Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and his withdrawal from the international nuclear deal were both welcomed by Netanyahu. The Israeli leader also has quietly forged ties with Sunni Arab states, further sidelining the Palestinians, who have severed ties with the U.S. because they believe Trump is biased against them. The White House still has not released a long-awaited peace plan, and Monday's announcement could further delay its release. But critics say these gains have come at a deep price to Israel's democratic ideals. Netanyahu's hard-line government has promoted a series of laws that critics say are aimed at muzzling liberal critics and sidelining the minority Arab population. They point to wide gaps between rich and poor and high cost of living, and say that by neglecting the Palestinian issue and continuing to build settlements in the West Bank, the country is on the path to becoming an apartheid-like binational state. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak called the election "the most fateful" since the assassination of then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. "If we all act properly, on April 10 we will part with Netanyahu," he said on Hahadashot TV. "The state of Israel will get on a different path instead of this nationalist, racist, dark vision." Barak called for the country's dovish and centrist parties to band together in a unified "bloc" in a bid to topple Likud. Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, said the election was a battle for the "soul of the country." For now, there does not appear to be anyone with the popularity or gravitas to topple Netanyahu. One wild card is Benny Gantz, a popular former military chief who is flirting with the idea of entering politics. Opposition parties have been aggressively courting Gantz. But for now, he has not committed to joining any party. Instead, the biggest threat appears to be posed by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who must soon decide on whether to indict the prime minister. Earlier this month, police recommended that Netanyahu be charged with bribery for promoting regulatory changes worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the country's main telecom company Bezeq. In exchange, they believe Netanyahu used his connections with Bezeq's controlling shareholder to receive positive press coverage on the company's popular news site. Police have also recommended indicting Netanyahu on corruption charges in two other cases. One involves accepting gifts from billionaire friends, and the second revolves around alleged offers of advantageous legislation for a major newspaper in return for favourable press coverage. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and said he is the victim of a media-fueled witch hunt. At Monday's Likud meeting, Netanyahu brushed off a reporter's question and said he expected the investigations to lead nowhere. Mandelblit has not said when he expects to make a decision. The Justice Ministry announced Monday that deliberations were continuing and were "not dependent on political events." Israeli law is unclear about whether a sitting prime minister must resign if charged with a crime, and Netanyahu has hinted that he will remain in office to fight any indictment. But criminal charges, and the distraction of a protracted legal battle, could fuel calls for him to step aside. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlan, a key ally, said Monday that a prime minister "cannot serve" if he is indicted following a required hearing. Reuven Hazan, a political scientist at Israel's Hebrew University, said the campaign would be dominated by "a discussion of whether Netanyahu should stay after, if he is prosecuted." He said Netanyahu had settled on the April election, roughly seven months ahead of schedule, in part to "pre-empt" an indictment. The thinking is that it would be politically difficult for Mandelblit to indict, and potentially topple, a popular, newly re-elected prime minister. "He wants to turn around to the attorney general and say 'before you decide to prosecute me pay attention. The people of Israel have re-elected me for a fourth time,'" Hazan explained. An electoral victory would send a message that "you cannot overturn the results of a democratic election," he said. Netanyahu's coalition has been roiled by internal divisions for months. Avigdor Lieberman, leader of a small, ultranationalist party, resigned as defence minister last month to protest what he perceived to be the government's weak response to rocket attacks from Hamas-ruled Gaza. That left Netanyahu with a fragile majority of just 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament. But a new bill extending the military draft to Jewish ultra-Orthodox men appeared to be the final trigger for the government's downfall. Ultra-Orthodox parties consider conscription a taboo. As a deadline for the legislation loomed, his religious coalition partners were demanding the legislation be weakened. Earlier Monday, Lapid, a harsh critic of the religious parties, said he was rescinding his support for the draft bill, saying the planned compromise essentially rewarded draft dodgers. As a result, Netanyahu convened his fellow coalition faction leaders and the decision was made to dissolve parliament and go to elections. Bengaluru: Two South Africans test positive for COVID-19 as threat of new variant looms 46 year old doctor from Bengaluru with Omicron variant had no travel history, 5 contacts test Covid positive Omnicron in India: 12 Things to know about 2 cases detected in Bengaluru Details of the two patients who have been detected positive for Omicron variant Karnataka: This Cabinet has least number of Lingayat ministers Bengaluru oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Dec 26: Much to the displeasure of Veerashaiva ( sect which is opposed to separate religion for Lingayats) leaders in Congress party, state PCC inducted into Cabinet an MLA who was leading movement for separate Lingayat religion. After the dismal performance of the Congress party in the assembly elections, MB Patil wasn't included in the Congress -JD(S) cabinet even after he lobbied hard to get a ministerial berth. Now, his induction into the Cabinet has become an eyesore in the eyes of Veerashaiva-sect leaders. Senior Congress leader Shamanoor Shivashankarappa has openly expressed displeasure for leaving him out of the Cabinet and preferring MB Patil. Another Congress leader who had high hopes to get a portfolio is Hirekerur MLA BC Patil. He belongs to another sub-caste of Lingayat felt dominant in central Karnataka. Patil betrayed by former CM Siddaramaiah for not being inducted into the Cabinet. According to experts, BC Patil should have got a chance, but MB Patil's inclusion is justified. Being a minister from Bijapur and Bagalkote region, MB Patil will help organise the party where BJP has made a strong comeback after the Lingayat religion issue caused the Congress party huge embarrassment. The inclusion of MB Patil into the Cabinet looks like a wrong message to the Lingayat community though, but experts believe it is a good strategic move by the Congress ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Senior journalist Mahadeva Prakash observed that the most significant fact of this Cabinet is it has less number of Lingayat and Veerashaiva ministers after Devraj Urs' Cabinet in 1976. The present Cabinet has five Lingayat ministers, three from Congress and two from JDS. The difference is Devraj Urs gave preference to backward classes over dominant communities in his Cabinet. On the other hand, the present government bound by coalition dharma. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 18:05 [IST] 2019 will be a battle between development and lies: Anurag Thakur India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Dec 26: The 2019 Lok Sabha polls will be a battle between "politics of development" and "politics of lies", BJP MP Anurag Thakur said.The MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying, "his politics is all about lying on every issue". "This battle (general elections) is between truth and lies, the upcoming polls will be a battle between politics of development and politics of lies," he said. It's not a tough call for BJP to drop five sitting Lok Sabha MPs in Bihar after alliance The Congress chief's politics is all about lying on every issue, but time and again the party's lies have been exposed, Thakur said. "The recent example is misleading the people by spreading lies and misinformation on the Rafale fighter jet deal, but their lies were ultimately exposed by the Supreme Court, he told reporters here.Replying to a question on the loss of the BJP in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly polls, Thakur said there was nothing to indicate that anti-incumbency was a factor behind his party's loss in these states. "The media used to say that the BJP will get 30 seats in Rajasthan, will badly lose in Madhya Pradesh. "When the Congress lost the (assembly) polls in Madhya Pradesh in 2003, they were restricted to 23 seats, in Rajasthan they got 27 seats last time whereas BJP (despite losing the 2018 assembly polls in these states) won 75 seats in Rajasthan and 109 seats in MP. Had anti-incumbency been there, we would have been wiped out, he said. The Congress's "false propaganda" in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh on farmers' issue had failed to work. "There, we won seven out of the eight seats, the BJP MP said. "The truth remains that in Madhya Pradesh our vote share was more, but we lost six seats within a margin of 3,600 votes. In Rajasthan, we lost by mere half per cent vote share, he said. On grand alliance in UP, BSP keeps everyone guessing "When the general elections will be held, then people will decide who will lead the country. "On one side, you have a party and its leader who speaks lies on every issue and on the other hand there is a party which is taking country forward in all fields," the BJP MP said. The people of the country are wise and they know about the development works that have been undertaken during the past four and a half years by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, he said. Thakur also highlighted several initiatives taken by the Modi government for the welfare of various sections of society.Lashing out at the proposed mega coalition or 'mahagathbandhan' of opposition parties to take on the BJP in the 2019 polls, he termed the proposed alliance "unholy".On the prospects of SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Thakur claimed the alliance will sweep the polls .Attacking the Congress government in Punjab, he said they talked about wiping drug menace within a month, but the truth is that the menace has grown"."Tall promises were made to the farmers (by the Congress government in Punjab) on loan waiver, but the peasants have not got what they were promised," Thakur said.He claimed that people have started asking why the present Punjab government was the excuse of empty coffers, when the previous SAD-BJP dispensation always had funds for development. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 7:04 [IST] BJP softens its stand on leaders rebelled against it by giving Zadafia important responsibility India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Dec 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership seems to have softened its earlier stand of not accommodating any such leaders who have challenged the authority of the party leaders in the past. But if at all such leaders have been accommodated, they have not been given any important assignment. But the party has entrusted former minister of state for home in Gujarat Gordhan Zadafia as one of the in-charges of the party in Uttar Pradesh for 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sources said that such leaders failed to make a come back to the mainstream of the party. Gordhan Zadafia had contested 2012 Assembly elections against the BJP in the leadership of former chief minister Keshubhai Patel to defeat the then chief minister Narendra Modi but failed miserably. But allowing people like him in the party fold and giving him the responsibility of state like Uttar Pradesh is a big change for the party. Survival of the NDA depends on skills of the BJP if it manages to keep its flocks together Sources in the BJP said that if anyone had not been in good terms with the party leadership, it was difficult for them to get such an important assignment. He said that by making a former home minister of Gujarat Gordhan Zadafia in-charge of the most crucial state Uttar Pradesh, the party appears to have covered some distance. Zadafia along with many other leaders have been made in-charge of the party for 17 more states for 2019 Lok Sabha election by party national president Amit Shah. Actually, Zadafia was a Minister of State for Home and Security and Police Housing (Independent Charge) during 2001-2002 in Gujarat led by Narendra Modi when riots took place. He was dropped from the ministry after 2002 elections but later he merged Gujarat Parivartan Party with the BJP on February 24, 2014. But giving the responsibility of a state like Uttar Pradesh to Zadafia is a big decision of the party. There are two more leaders made in-charge of the BJP for Uttar Pradesh they are national vice president Dushyant Gautam and former minister in the Madhya Pradesh government Narottam Mishra. This also indicates one thing very clear that party president Amit Shah will be taking care of the things in the state his own. Similarly, by making leaders like minister in UP government Swatantra Dev Singh and former Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay as in-charge of Madhya, the clear message has been given that former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan still rules the roost in Madhya Pradesh. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 19:26 [IST] Election frenzy gets to Modi, no foreign visits planned for first 4 months of 2019 India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Dec 26: With Lok Sabha elections round the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who otherwise makes frequent foreign visits, will not be going abroad in the first four months of 2019. The Prime Minister would focus on local issues and, maybe, after March on the campaigning. Lok Sabha elections 2019 would be a big challenge for Modi especially with the opposition parties joining hands to defeat the BJP which has been in power since 2014. Anti-incumbency factor and a host of other issues which the opposition parties have been raking up are some things for which the BJP needs to come up with answers during the campaigning. Flashback 2018: PM Modi visited 22 countries Moreover, there are no major multilateral events in the coming months - at least not any that require the PM's participation said an HT report while quoting sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 22 countries in 2018, nine more compared to 2017. In 2017, he had visited 13 countries, including eight state visits. Last year, the number of countries were six less compared to 2016. As of December 2018, PM Modi has made 41 foreign trips on six continents, visiting 59 countries including the visits to the USA to attend UN general assembly, to Asian countries, following his neighbourhood first and act east policies. PM Modi's most important visits in 2018 were: World Economic Forum in Davos, Informal Summit and SCO summit in China, 10th BRICS summit in South Africa, BIMSTEC summit in Nepal, East Asia Summit in Singapore and G-20 summit in Argentina. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 9:37 [IST] Will there be a lockdown in Karnataka again? New restrictions to fight Omicron might come to effect Karnataka, Tamil Nadu CMs to discuss Mekedatu dam issue India pti-PTI New Delhi, Dec 26: The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to discuss the proposed Mekedatu dam on the Cauvery river, an issue which led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week. The proposed dam project in Mekedatu in Karnataka, is being opposed by Tamil Nadu which argues that it will affect its farmers. The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water Resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday here. "In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest," an official spokesperson of the Karnataka government told reporters. Is the Karnataka coalition about to collapse: Why the next 3 days are crucial The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was also discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he said. Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement issued by the Karnataka government. The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to Gadkari's notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added. He also requested Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. "Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly," it said. On the Mahadayi issue, the Goa government has approached the Supreme Court and Kumaraswamy said this has obstructed his state from using its share of water. Hence, the chief minister appealed to Gadkari to discuss the issue with Goa and resolve it, the statement said. Kumaraswamy told PTI that "we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the (Mekedatu dam) issue can be resolved." With the two main Tamil Nadu parties -- AIADMK and DMK -- protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties. Tamil Nadu has been protesting the project after the Centre recently asked the Karnataka government to prepare a detailed project report for the Mekedatu dam. The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for scrapping of the proposed dam project. The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter. Kumaraswamy's brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar were also present in the meeting in Delhi. Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state. He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land. The chief minister requested Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75, complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara. He sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373. Kumaraswamy also sought upgradation of state highway from Channrayapatna-Holenarisipura-Arkalgudu-Kodlipet-Medikere as a national highway as it connects the Kannur International Airport which was opened very recently in Kerala. The chief minister also demanded improvement and reconstruction of two lanes with paved shoulders from 456.35 km to 489.84 km from Belur to Hassan of the NH-374 as well as approval of strengthening of various roads required in view of taking upgradation of national highway NH-4 for inter-state connectivity. Kumaraswamy is in Delhi for two days. He is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other Union ministers Thursday. PTI K Chandrashekhar Rao meets PM Modi, discusses wide range of issues India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Dec 26: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital. He discussed a variety of issues with the prime minister, including release of funds for 10 backward districts, setting up of a separate high court for Telangana, Kendriya Vidyalayas in new district and an IIIT in Karimnagar district. Chandrashekhar Rao, popularly known as KCR, has in the last few months emerged as a key leader, along with Mamata Banerjee, who is trying to galvanise the regional parties for a non-BJP non Congress front for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Non-Congress non-BJP third front: KCR meets Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata Today's meeting with Modi would be KCR's first with the Prime Minister since became Telangana Chief Minister for the second time after TRS' landslide win assembly elections. This meeting comes days after KCR met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday, and with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. According to reports, KCR will be meeting BSP supremo Mayawati and former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav later this week. In November, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president Chandrababu Naidu met Mamata Banerjee and the two leaders spoke about taking on the BJP in 2019. KCR and Naidu, despite not being on very good terms with each other, are together fighting against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government. Last week, DMK President MK Stalin gave a ringing endorsement to Rahul Gandhi's candidature for prime ministership. Stalin showered Rahul Gandhi with praises, describing the Congress president as one leader who has the "ability to defeat the fascist BJP". Congress accuses KCR of helping the BJP by lobbying for the Federal Front for LS elections KCR, meanwhile, has kept distance from both Congress and the BJP. He has been critical of both Modi and Rahul Gandhi. In fact, KCR even called Rahul "bafoon" and "joker" days before Telangana went to polls. Congress had forged an alliance 'Mahakootami' with TDP and CPI to take on the TRS in Telangana polls but were unable to stop the KCR jaggurnaut. Five more travellers from 'at risk' countries test COVID-19 positive in Mumbai; nine so far Mallya's fugitive economic offender verdict on Jan 5 India oi-Vikas SV Mumbai, Dec 26: The Enforcement Directorate had approached the court to get Vijay Mallya declared as a fugitive economic offender and the order was supposed to be delivered today. But, the order has been adjourned till January 5, as the Special PMLA judge is not ready with his order. Mallya had earlier told the Prevention Money Launder Act (PMLA) court that he was not a fugitive economic offender. He also said that he was not involved in the scheduled offence of money laundering. Mallya's counsel Amit Desai had argued that since Mallya was arrested in the UK on the basis of an Indian warrant, an effort was clearly made to execute the warrant. Only when he is concealing himself from the execution, then one can say he is absconding, the counsel also argued. [SC notice to ED on Mallya's plea to remove 'fugitive' tag] The investigating agency probing financial crime wants Mallya to be declared as a fugitive economic offender and his properties to be confiscated under the new law in connection with a Rs 9,000 crore alleged bank fraud case In June the Enforcement Directorate had filed an application before the PMLA court to declare him a fugitive economic offender and also sought to confiscate all his properties estimated to be around Rs 12,500 crore. The court took congnisance of the plea filed by the ED. With labour laws in UP, MP being suspended, here is how the hire and fire policy works Minimum wage to be implemented for every sector, Rs 10 lakh penalty for not adhering to it India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Dec 26: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has recommended making minimum wage compulsory for workers of all sectors. Whether the sector is recognised by the government or not, or if it is organised or unorganised, the minimum wage code must be enforced, the recommendation says, as per reports. Not adhering to paying minimum wages can attract a penalty of upto Rs 10 lakh. The workers should not be forced to work for more than 8 hours even it is urgent work. World Day Against Child Labour: Every child deserves right to build future filled with hope, promise Experienced and a fresher cannot be given same wages. The experience must be taken into account, the recommendation says, as per Money Bhaskar report. The minimum wage would be revised every 5 years. The labour code on wages proposes making minimum wage a statutory right for all workers. It empowers the Centre to set benchmark minimum wages for different regions across the country. Labour ministry said the code on wages and the one on operational safety, health and working conditions (OSH) would be approved by the Cabinet this week, following which the two would be immediately introduced in Parliament for discussion and passage. Resentment of MLAs in Congress-ruled state may shatter dream of winning more LS seats India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Dec 26: The way resentment has emerged in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh after the formation of the government in these states and if they have not been addressed as soon as possible the party might find is difficult to fare well in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Portfolios could not be distributed in Rajasthan despite long time have passed since ministers have taken oath of the office and thug of war among the senior leaders is continuing in the state. There are around half of dozen senior MLAs who are not happy in the state. It's not a tough call for BJP to drop five sitting Lok Sabha MPs in Bihar after alliance Similar is the case in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh in-charge of the Congress P L Punia has failed to placate senior leaders like Dhanendra Sahu, Amitesh Shukla and Satyanarayan Sharma for denying ministerial berth to them. They have clearly told the in-charge of the party that they would tell their grievances to the party chief Rahul Gandhi. Names of many MLA were added and deleted from the list of ministry till the last moment. There was so intense thug of war between the senior leaders that ministers taking oath were informed at the last moment. Senior MLA Bisahu Lal Singh, K P Singh and Edal Singh Kansana expressed his resentments with general secretary in-charge Deepak Babaria and even before former MP chief minister Digvijaya Singh. Supporters of Senior MLA Bisahu Lal Singh, K P Singh and Edal Singh Kansana said that names of their leaders was in the list which was cut at the later stage. Dr Hiralal Alawa who has won the election with a huge margin has also expressed his resentment over getting ministerial berth denied. It is being said that huge number of MLAs will be made parliamentary secretary to douse their anger. There are around over half a dozen angry MLAs in Rajasthan who were denied ministerial berth. Despite claim being made for providing regional balance, there is not a single minister from 14 districts of the state. Deependra Shekhawat, Dr Jitender Singh, Hemaram Choudhary, Parasram Mordiya, Rajendra Parikh are waiting for general secretary in-charge of the Congress Avinash Pandey to return from Delhi. 'Political situation difficult, can't say who will be next PM': Baba Ramdev It is being said that CM Ashok Gehlot assured Congress president that resentment of some MLAs is natural which will be sorted out in a few days time. These three states have altogether 65 Lok Sabha seats and the Congress has fixed a target of winning at least 40 seats from these states. But if these MLAs have not not been placated soon, the dream of Congress may be shattered. The reason is that contrary to the assessment of the CMs, thins are not that easy at least in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where the party has somehow managed to form the government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 13:12 [IST] Photo: The Canadian Press A Quebec man who has been stuck in Cuba after being involved in a boating accident that killed a fellow tourist in 2017 says he is once again facing four years in prison following a second trial. Toufik Benhamiche says in a statement that he was convicted in relation to the incident following a trial that took place on Dec. 10. The man from Mascouche, Que., was originally convicted of criminal negligence causing death but the verdict was overturned by Cuba's highest court earlier this year. Benhamiche, 48, was driving a small boat as part of a tourist excursion in July 2017 in Cayo Coco when it veered out of control and fatally struck a woman from Ontario. His lawyers have argued the rental company violated Cuban safety standards, and that Benhamiche was given little instruction on how to operate the craft and was assured it wasn't dangerous. His wife, Kahina Bensaadi, has repeatedly called on Canadian government officials to intervene and help bring her husband home. Benhamiche says he'll appeal the new conviction, which means having to spend at least another year in Cuba. Rahul Gandhi's old tweet goes viral: 'Mark my words, govt will take back anti-farm laws' As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP Stop posing for cameras, help miners trapped in Meghalaya coal mine: Rahul urges Modi India pti-PTI New Delhi, Dec 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday made a fervent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save 15 people trapped in a flooded coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13, alleging the government was not organising high-pressure pumps for the rescue operation. He accused Modi of instead posing for cameras and strutting on the Bogibeel bridge on the mighty Brahmaputra river in neighbouring Assam after inaugurating it on Tuesday. "15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. "Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. "His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. "PM please save the miners," Gandhi tweeted. 15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners. https://t.co/STZS62vTp4 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2018 He said this amid reports that the operation to rescue the 15 miners is hampered by lack of equipment. Rescue ops for trapped Meghalaya miners enters 13th day The miners were trapped after water from the nearby Lytein river suddenly gushed into the pit. A senior Meghalaya home department official has said the police force in East Jaintia Hills district, where the mine is located, do not have adequate personnel to deal with the problem. PTI Survival of the NDA depends on skills of the BJP if it manages to keep its flocks together India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Dec 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be under tremendous pressure from its allies across the country over various issues especially by such parties that have substantive political base. With the party facing drubbing in the three state - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh - not only old and big allies of the party but even smaller alliance partners have started putting pressure on it. These parties are getting vocal against the leading partner in the alliance - the BJP. The National Democratic Alliance government at the centre is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while leader of the alliance is Amit Shah. One of the alliance partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) abandoned the NDA long time back and even has joined the Congress in Telengana Assembly elections. Now, the BJP has to compromise on 17 Lok Sabha seats against its 22 sitting MPs in Bihar giving Janata Dal (United) enough space that they demanded for. The BJP also has to concede a Rajya Sabha seat to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan to keep him in good humor. Resentment of MLAs in Congress-ruled state may shatter dream of winning more LS seats The allies are constantly keeping the BJP at unease as the elections are coming closure. The most notable example is of Maharashtra where the BJP is showing a brave face by telling that it is ready to go it alone if the Shiv Sena continues with its matrix which is saying no alliance with the BJP unless the issue of Ram Temple is shorted out. The BJP is also angry with the Shiv Sena leadership for its unpleasant comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A senior BJP leaders said that this kind of things will not be tolerated. What is the difference between the Congress and Shiv Sena if such comments are made. If sources are to be believed, there are certain issues with its ally in Punjab - the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Fortunately the SAD is not as vocal as its many other allies. But it seems they too will soon start speaking against the BJP if their issues are not addressed by the party. However, the BJP conceded to the demand of the SAD by not fielding Navjot Singh Sidhu from Amritsar in 2014 itself which led to his parting ways from the party. Sidhu is troubling the BJP by hitting the party where it hurting the most knowing it very well. In Uttar Pradesh where the BJP has maximum stake, the party has different kind of alliances as for the Lok Sabha it has alliance with the Apna Dal (S) which too has started speaking against the BJP that it is not consulting the party for anything. Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel is a minister in the Modi government. The BJP had some more alliance partners during Assembly elections that included the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) under Om Prakash Rajbhar. Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is a former Bahujan Samaj Party leader and a minister in the Yogi government, is constantly targeting the BJP government's policies in the state and the BJP leadership including chief minister Yogi Adityanath but the party has not taken any disciplinary action against him. The party is trying hard to save alliance. There are total 44 alliance partners of the NDA with the 307 Lok Sabha seats and 89 Rajya Sabha seats in its kitty but most of these partners are at the regional level and they don't have much impact at the national level. The BJP has certain issues with Bodoland People's Front especially on the issue of giving citizenship of Hindus from Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. 'Political situation difficult, can't say who will be next PM': Baba Ramdev So with the election of Lok Sabha coming closure, the BJP is feeling the heat of the aggressive approach taken by the alliance partners. The BJP's entire survival depends on its skill sets if it manages to keep its flocks together. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 14:04 [IST] Kamala Harris to become first woman with Presidential power: Here's why What we know about first case of Omicron reported in the US Why the US withdrawal from Afghanistan will impact Kashmir India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Dec 26: Asserting that India should adopt a "clear-cut roadmap" to tackle the Kashmir issue, former DGP of Jammu & Kashmir K Rajendra Kumar has said the US pulling out troops from Afghanistan will have implications in the Valley and militant outfits may feel emboldened. Kumar was delivering the Lalitaditya Memorial Lecture in Pune, organised by Sarhad organisation. During his speech, he also said that there is a need to send a stern message to Pakistan for its support to militancy. "A stern message needs to be sent to Pakistan in terms of retaliation. We need to make it more costly for Pakistan because today Pakistan is not feeling the pinch it should feel," said Kumar. US to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan He said India should deal strongly with Pakistan as far as training camps and militant launchpads are concerned. "Now USA is existing Afghanistan. It has its implications in Kashmir. It is a matter of time that we will be feeling its implications in the Valley. After the US withdrawal, the terrorists organisations would feel pumped up, emboldened," he said. Seeing America's withdrawal as a "sign of victory", militant outfits can feel that New Delhi can also be defeated, so there is an urgent need for India to adopt a "clear-cut roadmap" to deal with militancy in Kashmir, he asserted. The US is planning to withdraw 7,000 troops from Afghanistan. The American troops contribute to training and advising local forces fighting the Taliban and the Islamic State group. Underling Pakistan's active role in spreading militancy in the Valley, the former IPS officer said Pakistan is not only sponsoring militancy but also sending its nationals to Kashmir in the garb of fighting jihad. "No matter which government is in power, Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorism in the Valley," he said. He said militancy in Kashmir started with local militant organisations but now it is tilting towards Islamic extremism. The US drawdown in Afghanistan could be a major concern for India "The Valley has a rich history of Sufism but over the years it has moved towards Wahabism," he said, adding that efforts should be made to take Kashmir back to Sufism. Suggesting measures, he said the state needs stringent laws to deal with anti-national forces, a concrete policy to encourage youths to give up militancy. The surrender policy must ensure that youth who give up militancy are gainfully employed and discouraged from returning to the menace, he said. He also called for political outreach and empowerment of the civil society. He said social media has played a destructive role in inciting sentiments of the youth. (With agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 7:14 [IST] 3 killed in attack on Libya foreign ministry; IS claims responsibility International pti-PTI Tripoli, Dec 26: Suicide attackers stormed the Libyan foreign ministry in the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people including a senior civil servant in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Twenty-one other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. A car bomb exploded near the ministry, prompting security forces to rush to the scene, said special forces spokesman Tarak al-Dawass. A suicide bomber then blew himself up on the second floor of the building while a second attacker died when a suitcase he was carrying exploded, he said. A third assailant, who was unarmed and wearing a bulletproof vest, was killed by security forces outside, Dawass added. At least three people were killed and 21 wounded, according to the health ministry. Foreign Minister Tahar Siala said one of the dead was senior diplomat Ibrahim al-Shaibi who headed a department in his ministry. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the building as ambulances, paramedics and security forces gathered outside. IS claimed the attack in a statement distributed on social media, saying that it was carried out by three "soldiers of the caliphate" who were armed with suicide belts and automatic weapons. Interior Minister Fathi Bash Agha admitted during a news conference that "security chaos" reigned in Libya and was "out of our control". He said this was creating a "fertile ground" for IS to operate in the North African country. Torn apart by power struggles and undermined by chronic insecurity, Libya has become a haven for jihadists since the ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Two competing administrations, rival militias, tribes and jihadists have been vying for control of territory and the country's vast oil wealth. IS took advantage of the chaos to gain a foothold in the coastal city of Sirte in 2015. [Tunisia says shutting border with Libya for 15 days] Forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) regained control of Sirte in December 2016 after eight months of deadly fighting. Since then, some jihadists have returned to the desert in an attempt to regroup and reorganise. The interior minister said his department lacked the equipment necessary to restore law and order in Libya. Bach Agha said he found "zero weapons and zero vehicles" in the ministry's warehouses when he took up his job in October. "Weakness and a security breakdown" allowed assailants to attack the foreign ministry, he said. The foreign minister said the UN should lift an arms embargo it has imposed on Libya since the 2011 uprising. "Stability cannot be restored... without a partial lifting of the embargo. It is needed to guarantee security and combat terrorism," Siala told reporters. The head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) denounced the "cowardly terrorist attack" in a statement. Ghassan Salame also pledged to work with Libyan people "to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven... for their crimes". Frank Baker, Britain's ambassador to Libya, also denounced an "appalling terrorist attack" and tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi joined the chorus of condemnation in a statement reiterating Rome's "solidarity with the Libyan people and their just aspiration to real security". In September, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the headquarters of Libya's National Oil Company in the heart of Tripoli which left two dead and 10 wounded. Four months earlier, it claimed an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters which left 14 dead. In April, the GNA launched an operation to track down IS fighters operating in areas of western Libya under its control. Last month IS claimed responsibility for an attack on militia forces in southeastern Libya in which at least nine people were killed. The US military has regularly carried out strikes on jihadists in Libya, particularly south of Sirte. The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal, but a rival administration based in the country's east aligned with military strongman Khalifa Haftar refuses to recognise its authority. Rival Libyan leaders had agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But instability, territorial disputes and divisions have delayed plans for elections. PTI Afghanistan: Balochistan Liberation Army chief killed in suicide attack International oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Kabul, Dec 26: Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) chief and mastermind of last month's Chinese consulate attack in Karachi, Aslam Baloch, has been killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. Aslam Baloch was among six killed in suicide bombing in Kandahar, Afghanistan on December 24. He was responsible for conducting a suicide attack on a bus carrying Chinese nationals in Dalbandin (August) and the foiled attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi. US embassies ordering spy equipment? China seeks clarification from Washington "A number of civilians were killed as a result of the suicide attack in Aino Mina Township. They are six people and two others were wounded. It is said that a number of Baloch nationals were among those martyred," Tolo news reported Afghanistan Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish as saying. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 22:20 [IST] Using Chinas facilities, Pakistan to send first astronaut to space in 2022 Pakistan Minister who can't spell 'sattelite', says committed to send its first astronaut by 2022 Sunita Williams on her time in space and the Mars mission After spending 197 days in space, astronaut struggles to walk a short distance on Earth International oi-Shubham Ghosh Washington, Dec 25: Man has learnt the knowledge to conquer space but soon after returning to Earth, he might struggle to do a simple job: to walk. The same happened with astronaut AJ (Drew) Feustel recently who after returning to Earth after spending 197 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), posted a video of himself struggling to negotiate with the planet's gravity and even walk a short distance. The video was recorded on October 5 and Feustel gave the following caption with the video: "Welcome home #SoyuzMS09 ! On October 5th this is what I looked like walking heel-toe eyes closed after 197 days on @Space_Station during the Field Test experiment...I hope the newly returned crew feels a lot better. Video credit @IndiraFeustel." Welcome home #SoyuzMS09 ! On October 5th this is what I looked like walking heel-toe eyes closed after 197 days on @Space_Station during the Field Test experiment...I hope the newly returned crew feels a lot better. Video credit @IndiraFeustel pic.twitter.com/KsFuJgoYXh A.J. (Drew) Feustel (@Astro_Feustel) December 20, 2018 Russia to train Indian astronaut for Gaganyaan mission Nasa said Feustel, Expedition 56 commander, and Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold completed the sixth spacewalk at the ISS this year. The video made quite an impact on the social media with many of the netizens even wishing Feustel a speedy recovery. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter: Thank you Mr Feustel for your sharing. We don't know how difficult it is. But you achived it, good job! Clemens (@metanoya_) December 21, 2018 Congratulations! I hope you made a speedy recovery. Matt (@golden_shogun) December 21, 2018 Fascinating. This is a tough test - you look pretty good here, Drew! spasmunkey (@spasmunkey) December 21, 2018 Wow! Thats remarkable thanks. seaelem (@seaelem1) December 22, 2018 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 9:23 [IST] Ready to work with new US administration says Pak foreign minister With a likely meeting of Jaishankar, Qureshi Indo-Pak tensions set to thaw further No Indo-Pak bi-lateral so far on sidelines of Afghan meet China-Pak discuss US drawdown in Afghanistan International oi-Madhuri Adnal Beijing, Dec 26: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Chinese counterpart Tuesday and discussed the situation arising out of the US decision to pull nearly 7,000 troops from Afghanistan and resurgence of the Taliban in the war-torn country. Qureshi, who is on a three-day four-nation tour, arrived here Tuesday morning following his visit to Afghanistan and Iran on Monday. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here that Qureshi met Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan. Why the US withdrawal from Afghanistan will impact Kashmir Both sides reiterated their determination to adopt a joint course of action for regional peace and stability, to promote connectivity and work for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. In a sudden move, President Donald Trump last week announced his decision to pull around half of the 14,000 US troops stationed in Afghanistan. The move has stunned and dismayed allies, diplomats and officials in Kabul. The announcement comes during a renewed push for talks with the Taliban to end the 17-year war. "They both believed that the military means cannot resolve the problem. The political reconciliation is the only viable way out. "Various parties are willing to maintain close communication and strategic coordination in this regard. The two sides will also advance our all-weather partnership and improve our all dimensional partnership and cooperation," Hua said. Trump's decision to drastically reduce the troops was welcomed by the Taliban. Both the US and Afghanistan have been sharply criticising Pakistan for allegedly backing the Taliban whose leadership is reported to have been entrenched in the tribal areas in Pakistan. China which shares borders with Afghanistan has established a trilateral foreign ministers' mechanism for reconciliation between Afghanistan and Pakistan and has conducted separate meetings with Taliban officials. US to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan Asked how China viewed the US' decision to reduce its troops' strength, Hua said "the action to pull-out should be decided by the US itself." "China always believes that military means cannot resolve the Afghanistan issue. The political reconciliation process that is owned and led by Afghanistan is the only viable way-out. "This is what China has been working for constructively and we also hope we can join other parties to help accelerate such a peace and reconciliation process so that Afghanistan people can enjoy peace and development at an early date," she said. China also believe that security, stability and development in Afghanistan is also a "good thing" for the region and hoped that it can join efforts to advance the process of reconciliation. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 7:19 [IST] Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump Donald Trump asks 7-yr-old if he believed in Santa Claus & Twitterati is not impressed International oi-Shubham Ghosh Washington, Dec 25: US President Donald Trump on Monday, December 24, showed his lighter side amid the growing tensions both in the country's domestic and foreign affairs, by asking a seven-year-old child whether he believed in Santa Claus. In a Christmas Eve call, Trump asked the kid named Coleman whether he still believed in Santa and that at the age of seven, it's "marginal". The boy's response could not be heard but Trump was seen smiling hearing the response. The call took place on Monday evening when Trump and First Lady Melania spoke to children whose calls to North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) Santa tracker were patched through to the White House. The legend of Santa Claus: Why kids eagerly wait for Christmas? Trump wished Coleman a Merry Christmas and asked his age and his plans for Christmas and how his school was going. "Well, honey, happy Christmas, and you just take care of yourself and say hello to your family, OK? Say hello to everybody," he said. Melania Trump later said on Twitter that helping children track Santa has become a favourite tradition for her. The first couple had taken part in phone calls last year as well. Helping children across the country track #Santa is becoming one of my favorite traditions! @Potus and I enjoyed working with @NORADSanta - #ChristmasEve pic.twitter.com/CYNkARbFaI Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 25, 2018 The Norad has made it a tradition since 1955 of using its radar system to track an imagined Santa on his trip around the globe every Christmas Eve. Video: A man with Santa hat arrives at kids' hospital in Washington and oh my god... it's Obama! Trump's take on the matter, however, earned him criticism too as many thought his question could have ruined the kid's Christmas Day excitement. The New York Times even gave an interesting headline to the article on the same: "Kids, Please Do Not Read This Article on What Trump Said About Santa Claus." Here are some of the reactions that the Twitterati came up with against Trump for ruining a youngster's fun: Earlier tonight walking next to some tourists on M Street, I heard the kid ask his parents if Santa was shut down too. The mom replied, "No, even Trump can't screw that up." He screwed it up! https://t.co/u8kHIS5Jwb Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) December 25, 2018 Donald Trump asking a 7-year-old if they still believe in Santa is to Christmas as Steven Mnuchin is randomly reassuring us that banks arent in a liquidity crisis. https://t.co/gjDdqFOA6b Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 25, 2018 One thing about a pathological liar is they never know when its the right time to tell the truth. https://t.co/UHw89XrgGc David Baddiel (@Baddiel) December 25, 2018 So, I did this once to an eight-year-old, expressing disbelief that he still believed in Santa. The difference is, I was six. https://t.co/O0ZhQXnu2a Josh Barro (@jbarro) December 25, 2018 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 9:16 [IST] Explained: Why Turkey stands to gain most from US withdrawal from Syria International oi-Shubham Ghosh Ankara, Dec 26: The sudden announcement of US President Donald Trump to withdraw the country's troops from the war-torn West Asian country of Syria has taken Washington's allies by surprise. However, there are a few nations that stand to gain from this retreat and of them, perhaps the most fortunate is Turkey, a country which has border with Syria to its south. Turkey and the US and its Nato allies have often found themselves at odds over Syria even though they both were opposed to its dictator Bashar al-Assad. The reason being the US, in its fight against Assad, backed mostly Kurdish forces in Syria, believing they were most capable of defeating the Islamic State (IS). Trump is right in withdrawing US troops; America has no business fighting others' war for eternity Turkey, on the other hand, has been fighting the Kurdish separatists located at its southeast and saw the rise of the Kurds along its border with northern Syria as a security threat. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently even threatened a military intervention against the Kurdish forces in Syria despite the US backing them since 2015. The withdrawal of the American forces now would allow Turkey to deal with the Kurdish forces with more liberty even while opposing Assad. Days before Trump's sudden announcement of withdrawing forces, Erdogan said the former had responded positively to his plan to invade the zone in northeast Syria controleed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that have so far served as the US's boot in the fight against the IS. 'A major diplomatic gain for Turkey' "There is little doubt that [Erdogan] welcomes it as a major diplomatic gain which clears the way for a third Turkish military advance into northern Syria," Al Jazeera quoted Bulent Aliriza, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Turkey Project in Washington, said. The SDF is mainly comprised of troops from the People's Protection Units (YPG) that are in turn tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has fought against the Turkish state since 1984 which has seen the death of at least 40,000 people. Over the past two years, Turkey has conducted two military operations west of the Euphrates, the most recent being earlier this year when Turkish forces and allied militias drove out the YPG from Afrin, a Kurdish enclave in the northwest. Turkey, however, has not launched any substantial operations east of the river. Washington's support and training to the YPG has been one of the key irritants in the relation between the US and Turkey over the last few years. The YPG controls vast tracts of land in northeast Syria from the eastern bank of River Euphrates to the Iraqi border and that include more than 400 kilometres of border with Turkey. The US's withdrawal is thus seen as a major diplomatic triumph for Ankara and Erdogan. "There's a narrative that Erdogan convinced Trump to withdraw from Syria. I don't know to what extent that's correct but it's been received very positively in Turkey, especially from the perspective of the YPG angle because it weakens them politically, diplomatically and militarily," Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Istanbul-based Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies and a former Turkish diplomat, told Al Jazeera. China-Pak discuss US drawdown in Afghanistan Ulgen also predicts that the US exit could see the YPG allying itself with the Assad government with which the Kurds have not engaged in serious conflict during the last seven-year war. For Turkey, which might launch a low-scale operation to neutralise its enemies, the US withdrawal could also bring political benefits as local elections are due in a few months' time and the weakening of the anti-nationalist forces could see the political leadership making substantial electoral gains. For Turkey, the gains are not just confined to the foreign affairs but also its domestic issues and that makes it one of the biggest winners from Trump's call of retreat. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 17:18 [IST] UP B.Ed JEE Exam to be held on July 30 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to reach Lucknow on July 16; Key meetings scheduled in Delhi before visit Members of farmers' body detained in Lucknow for trying to burn effigies of PM Modi, Shah UP: Violent clash erupts over land dispute in Muzaffarnagar; 8 injured Lucknow oi-Vikas SV Muzaffarnagar, Dec 26: The Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday said at least eight people were injured in a violent clash between two groups over a long-pending land dispute in Muzaffarnagar district. The people involved in the clash used batons after an argument over the authority of a plot of vacant land turned violent last evening in Ekta Vihar area, they said. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the incident. An investigation is under way. On December 16, an gunbattle took place between the police and the local goons in Muzaffarnagar. One miscreant was injured in police firing and another escaped. OneIndia News with PTI inputs For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 12:22 [IST] Photo: BC Hydro A photo captured by BC Hydro crews demonstrates the incredible power unleashed by mother nature during last weeks storm that battered the B.C. South Coast. Infrastructure damage assessments conducted by air in the Whiskey Creek area, west of Parksville, on Vancouver Island show an entire forest flattened by wind. BC Hydro says it hopes it will have power restored to the area by the end of the day. About 7,000 customers on B.C.s South Coast remain without power, although most of Vancouver Island can expect the lights to be back on by Dec. 27. The Gulf Islands sustained much more serious damage and will be without electricity for longer. Seven-hundred-thousand customers were without power at the peak of the storm. Photo: CTV News UPDATE 1:50 p.m. Police have identified the victim of a fatal Christmas Day shooting in North Vancouver as 25-year-old Rock Habib-Joumaa. The local man was found dead of gunshot wounds when police arrived at the apartment building on the 600 block of Seylynn Crescent around 8:15 p.m. Habib-Joumaa was known to police but did not have a criminal record. While the investigation is in its infancy, police say it appears the shooting was targeted. Detectives are looking for two people who were in the area that may be connected to the homicide. This shooting violated the tranquility of the holidays. There are people out there who knew of Mr. Habib-Joumaas activities or have seen the two persons of interest says Cpl. David Lee of IHIT. We ask anyone with information, or video in the area of 600 block of Seylynn Crescent, to contact IHIT immediately. ORIGINAL 12:10 p.m. Homicide detectives have been called to North Vancouver after a fatal incident at an apartment building on Christmas Day. The North Vancouver RCMP were first called to the highrise in the 600 block of Seylynn Crescent at around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, reports CTV News. There are few details available about what took place or how many people were involved, but witnesses told CTV they heard gunfire and saw a vehicle peppered with bullet holes. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was on scene Wednesday morning but declined to comment. with files from CTV Vancouver Papua New Guinea's Deputy Chief Justice has reportedly ended a long-running tribal fight in Enga Province.According to media reports Ambeng Kandakasi went to Liop with provincial police commander Joseph Tondop and a contingent of soldiers and police.The judge used his courtroom authority to not only stop a raging gun battle that morning, but was able to order two warring factions from the Walin tribe to lay down their arms and make peace.There was fierce fighting last week which left many dead and properties damaged.All this stopped abruptly when Justice Kandakasi, Chief Superintendent Tondop and a contingent from the Defence Force walked across the battlefield.The judge, who hails from Laiagam, ordered a peace talk, and told leaders from both sides to hug each other and shake hands to stop the fighting.Mr Tondop described the act as a miracle."It doesn't happen this way in the Hghlands. Normally, it takes an extended period of time to make peace after some form of appeasement like killing a pig. The Deputy Chief Justice definitely commands a lot of respect from his people," he said.Radio New Zealand/ ONE PNG Improved microbiome sequencing capabilities are likely to boost the global microbiome therapeutics market https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7990 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/7990 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com According to the latest market report published by Persistence Market Research, titled Microbiome Therapeutics Market Potential: Global Pipeline Analysis and Assessment 2018 2025, the global microbiome therapeutics market is expected to exhibit an exponential CAGR of 62.9% during the forecast period 20182025.Request for sample report:Persistence Market Research estimates that the global market for microbiome therapeutics is expected to be valued at US$ 10.1 Mn in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ 897.3 Mn by 2025 end. Need for reliable, precise and fast treatment options for certain diseases, such as C. difficile infection (CDI), phenylketonuria, hepatic encephalopathy and multidrug resistant urinary tract infection creates a huge potential for the growth of the microbiome therapeutics market. Breakthrough therapy designation and orphan drug approvals for microbiome therapeutics is expected to accelerate the launch of developmental drugs in the microbiome therapeutics market. A huge pipeline with over 120 candidates in different stages of development further creates the platform for potential growth of the microbiome therapeutics market.More Than 120 Drugs Are in the Pipeline in the Global Microbiome Therapeutics MarketAt present there are no marketed microbiome therapeutics in the global market; however, the first drug is expected to be launched in 2018. The global market is dominated by over 25 companies with more than 120 drugs in the pipeline at different stages of development. However, over 60% of these drugs are in the discovery or preclinical phase, where there is high uncertainty surrounding the success of these molecules to reach the clinical phase and being launched as a new drug molecule. Majority of the pipeline drugs are being developed for gastrointestinal disorders and contribute approximately 28.7% of the total pipeline products.Research and development in the microbiome industry is prominently dependent on government funding and research grants. Formation of policies and provision of subsidy by various governments encourages research and development activities across various segments of the research including discovery and clinical research. Government initiatives in funding microbiome research is the preliminary factor driving revenue growth of global microbiome therapeutics market. For instance, the U.S. government had allocated US$ 1.6 Bn for microbiome R&D programs in 2016 & 2017.Request Report TOC @Global Microbiome Therapeutics Market: Segmentation and ForecastThe market is segmented based on indication and region. On the basis of indication, the market has been segmented into type 2 diabetes, obesity, C. difficile infection and primary hyperoxyurea. C. difficile infection indication segment is expected to contribute the highest market share of over 34% by 2025 end. More number of product approvals for CDI is attributed to a high share of the C. difficile infection segment in the global market.Human gut is home to over 100 Tn bacteria, containing thousands of different species. Long-term exposure to antibiotics causes dysbiosis in gut microbial composition, which leads to a variety of gastrointestinal disorders including CDI, ulcerative colitis, IBD, bacterial infection and even antibiotic associated diarrhea. Microbiome therapeutics however, present an excellent option for the treatment of CDI and other gastrointestinal disorders, as they are designed to naturally cure dysbiosis and bring the microbiome system back to normal functioning.Global Microbiome Therapeutics Market: Regional ForecastOn the basis of region, the market has been segmented into the U.S., Europe, Japan and Rest of the World (RoW). U.S. is estimated to contribute the highest share of over 44% by 2025 end, due to early launch of microbiome therapeutics and high penetration compared to other markets. The market in Japan is expected to witness delayed growth due to the complex regulatory pathways for new biological drugs. The microbiome therapeutics market in the rest of the world is expected to show gradual acceptance of bug medicine, Canada being the most lucrative among the rest of the world countries.Global Microbiome Therapeutics Market: Competitive LandscapeKey players identified in the global microbiome therapeutics market are SERES Therapeutics Inc., Rebiotix Inc., OxThera AB, Immuron Ltd., Microbiome Therapeutics Inc., Ferring B.V., Ritter Pharmaceuticals, LNC Therapeutics, Enterome SA, Synlogic Inc., 4D Pharma Plc. AOBiome LLC, Vedanta Biosciences Inc., ViThera Pharmaceuticals Inc., AvidBiotics, Osel Inc. etc. among others.Majority of the players in the microbiome therapeutics market are engaged in partnerships and collaborations with established pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes. Small start-up and clinical stage microbiome companies are capitalizing on venture financing to establish microbiome based novel therapeutics in the global market. Despite of decrease in the overall venture capital investments, the microbiome industry has witnessed high VC investments in 2016, and raised approximately to US$ 336 Mn in 2016. Partnerships and research collaborations are another prominent trends identified in global microbiome therapeutics market.Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Home Infusion Therapy Market Analysis By 2020 | Hospira, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Caesarea Medical Electronics Ltd., Fresenius Kabi AG, and Smiths Medical https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2893 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/2893 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/home-infusion-therapy-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Home Infusion Therapy Devices - Needleless Connectors to Witness Highest Growth by 2020, the global home infusion therapy devices market was valued at US$ 15,905.1 Mn in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9% from 2014 to 2020, to reach US$ 26,747.8 Mn by 2020.To know key findings Request Sample Report @:Home infusion therapy facilitates intravenous at-home administration of medicines into the patients body through needle and catheter. The therapy is prescribed by physicians and administered by trained healthcare professionals. It is used when oral medication is not effective for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and gastrointestinal diseases. It is also used in the treatment of diabetes, cystic fibrosis, dehydration, and acute infections. Home infusion therapy reduces time spent by patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. The therapy is used to administer drugs, antibiotics, nutrients, and other fluids into the veins on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the patients condition. Home infusion therapy is an effective and safe alternative against conventional hospitalization for the treatment of diseases. This is due to convenience and friendly environment at the patients home, which helps in faster recovery from diseases. Home infusion therapy includes total parenteral nutrition, infusion antibiotic therapy, hydration therapy, IV steroid therapy, chemotherapy, enteral therapy, and pain management. Some major infusion devices used for administration of medicines are infusion pump, intravenous equipment, and needleless connectors. Infusion pumps are categorized as ambulatory infusion pump, large volume infusion pump, and syringe infusion pump.Request for Report Methodology @:Globally, the home infusion therapy devices market is witnessing significant growth due to the expanding home care market for infusion therapy and increasing application of infusion devices for relieving pain. Moreover, rising aging population, increasing number of chronic diseases, and technological advancements in infusion devices are also supporting the growth of home infusion therapy devices market. However, increasing risk to patient safety and occurrence of mistakes while using infusion devices as well as issues related to reimbursement policies for home infusion therapy inhibit the growth of the market. The global home infusion therapy devices market is anticipated to grow from US$ 15,905.1 Mn in 2014 to US$ 26,747.8 Mn by 2020 at a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period.In North America, the home infusion therapy devices market is growing due to increasing number of patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and diabetes. In addition, growing aging population is also supporting the growth of home infusion therapy devices market in the region.The home infusion therapy devices market in Europe is growing due to increasing aging population and rising popularity of non-hospital procedures in the region. Furthermore, increasing number of chronic diseases which requires home infusion therapy, such as cancer, diabetes, and AIDS, is also boosting growth of the Europe home infusion therapy devices market. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) - a branch of the National Institutes of Health - around 3.4 million new cases of cancer and 1.7 million deaths from cancer were reported in Europe in 2012. Moreover, according to the Oxford Journals, approximately 7 37,747 men and 5 76,489 women died from cancer in Europe in 2013. Furthermore, according to the European Diabetes Leadership Forum 2012, Copenhagen, about 35 million adults in Europe were suffering from diabetes in 2011, which is anticipated to rise to 43 million by 2030.Asia represents the fastest-growing market for home infusion therapy devices. This is primarily due to growing aging population and cost effectiveness of home infusion therapy. In addition, rising popularity of non-hospital procedures and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region is further driving the market. According to the National Home Infusion Association, home infusion therapy is more cost-efficient compared to hospitalization treatment. For instance, home infusion therapy cost nearly US$ 200 a day compared to less than US$ 2,000 a day in a hospital. According to the Wisut Jaijagcome/East-West Center, the number of people aged 65 years and above in Asia was 207 million in 2000 and the number is expected to reach 857 million by 2050.Hospira, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Caesarea Medical Electronics Ltd., Fresenius Kabi AG, and Smiths Medical are some of the leading players in the home infusion therapy devices market. Other players in the home infusion therapy devices market include CareFusion Corporation, ICU Medical, Inc, JMS Co. Ltd., Baxter, and Terumo Corporation.Get access to full summary @:The global home infusion therapy devices market is segmented as follows:By Type of DeviceInfusion pumpIntravenous setNeedleless connectorBy Infusion PumpVolumetric infusion pumpSyringe infusion pumpInsulin infusion pumpEnteral infusion pumpAmbulatory infusion pumpPatient-controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion pumpImplantable infusion pumpBy ApplicationAnti-infectives/antibioticsEnteral nutritionSpecialty pharmaceuticalsTotal parenteral nutrition (TPN)Pain managementChemotherapyHydration infusion pumpBy Type of DiseaseDiabetesCancerBy GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaRoWAbout UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Dental Imaging Equipment Market 2024 | Planmeca Oy, Acteon Group, Danaher Corporation, VAtech Co. Ltd., https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114804/Dental-Imaging-Equipment-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114804/Dental-Imaging-Equipment-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114804/Dental-Imaging-Equipment-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market to Grow at a Moderate CAGR of 6.8%Attributed to surge in cosmetic surgeries for dental globally is a factor that has significantly contributed towards demand for the dental imaging equipment. The global dental imaging equipment market is expected to register a moderate CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period, 2024.Market Dynamics: Growing instances of dental ailments such as tooth decay, dry mouth and gingivitis in regions such as North America, Asia Pacific and Europe will further impact market growth of the dental imaging equipment positively. In addition, growing awareness regarding dental hygiene is a significant factor that is boosting demand for advanced dental imaging equipment.Request For Report Sample:However, less lifetime of accessories that find application in such equipment and lack of skilled professionals are factors that inhibit growth and expansion of the dental imaging equipment globally.Global Dental Imaging Equipment Market to Grow at a Moderate CAGR of 6.8Extraoral X-ray system among various types of products will retain dominance in the dental imaging equipment market. Whereas, the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging product will grow rapidly in terms of revenue and reached US$ 395.7 Mn in 2016.Outpatient surgery centres and dental clinics will witness relatively high adoption of dental imaging equipment in the span of next eight years. The independent dental clinics will grow exponentially in terms of market revenue and contribute US$ 1.4 Bn in the market globally in coming years. Moreover, hospitals and forensic laboratories will also be significant end-users of dental imaging equipment due to surgical and pathological use of the devices.Request Report Discount:Regional AnalysisDue to surge in adoption of CBCT imaging products in the U.S, North America will be a major market for dental imaging equipment globally. However, in 2016, APEJ and Europe collectively accounted for over 40% of the revenue share.Vendor InsightsMarket players operating in the dental imaging market globally are Planmeca Oy, Acteon Group, Danaher Corporation, VAtech Co. Ltd., Carestream Health and Dentsply Sirona among other market players. Danaher Corporation will retain its dominance in the global market due to leading product range of innovative CBCT equipment.Report Analysis:About Us:Research Report Insights (RRI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver a host of services including custom research reports, syndicated research reports, and consulting services which are personalised in nature. RRI delivers a complete packaged solution to clients; this combines current market intelligence, technology inputs, statistical anecdotes, valuable growth insights, 360-degree view of the competitive framework, and anticipated market trends.Contact Us:Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com Photo: Contributed Robert Riley Saunders The credit union caught up in lawsuits against a Kelowna social worker accused of stealing from Indigenous children in his care says it is not responsible for the money allegedly stolen out of joint bank accounts accessed by the social worker. Interior Savings filed a third-party notice earlier this month, claiming the provincial government or Robert Riley Saunders should be held responsible for the money he allegedly withdrew from joint accounts he opened with youth in his care. The third-party claim alleges Saunders intentionally made false and misleading statements to representatives of Interior Savings in relation to the purpose of the account, in order to engage in the fraudulent use of services." In its separate response to the lawsuit, Interior Savings said representatives were clear with the plaintiff that the account would be able to be accessed by Saunders when it was opened in December 2015. The credit union added it had no idea the account would be used for fraudulent purposes and the institution met all its obligations under the Credit Union Incorporation Act. Saunders is alleged in multiple lawsuits to have coerced Indigenous youth in his care to open joint accounts where funds from the Ministry of Children and Family Development were deposited. The lawsuits claim Saunders stole tens of thousands of dollars from each child, leaving them homeless in some cases. One of the lawsuits is a proposed class-action claim on behalf of several underage plaintiffs brought by the Public Guardian and Trustee. The provincial government has already admitted vicarious liability" for the alleged actions of Saunders in its response to the class-action suit earlier this month. The lawyer who brought that case will be meeting with the province in the coming weeks to negotiate an appropriate settlement. Saunders himself has not yet filed a response to the civil lawsuits, despite the deadline to do so passing weeks ago. Lawyers appear to now be having trouble tracking him down, with a hearing scheduled for January 7 in Kelowna, where one of the plaintiffs will apply to serve Saunders with her lawsuit via alternate methods. Saunders has been unable to be located at his residence, work, or via phone for service, the application filed Dec. 19 states. The social worker was terminated by the provincial government in May, six months after the situation was first discovered by MCFD. He is now working in adult special education at Okanagan College in Kelowna. When contacted by Castanet News shortly after the first lawsuits against him were filed he declined to comment. The RCMP has also previously confirmed it is investigating the matter. None of the above allegations have been proven in court. Krabbe Disease Treatment Market Worldwide Segmentation with Topmost Players Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, UCB Pharmaceuticals and More Asserts MRFR Krabbe Disease Treatment Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1833 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/krabbe-disease-treatment-market-1833 Market Research Future Present Research Report on Global Krabbe Disease Treatment Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 Report covered In a Segregated way like Segmentation with sub segments, Growth Barrier, Scope, Major Drivers, Renowned Players strategies and Mega Trends. Outlet till 2023Krabbe Disease Treatment Market - Competitive LandscapeThe global Krabbe disease treatment market is highly competitive with the presence of various large and small vendors. The notable players of the market include Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis AG, Sanofi-Aventis SA, UCB Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Shire. The key players are investing heavily in clinical trials and development of new drugs and therapies to gain a competitive edge over the market.Krabbe Disease Treatment Market - OverviewKrabbe disease is an incurable medical condition where the protective coating of nerve cells around the brain are destroyed which causing nerve damage. The global Krabbe disease treatment market can reach a significant valuation, exhibiting a steady CAGR over the forecast period of 2016 to 2022, as per a research report published by Market Research Future (MRFR).Request Sample Copy atThe market has been growing continuously on account of increasing incidence of Krabbe disease across the globe. Classification of Krabbe disease under orphan disease has propelled the growth of the market. Pharmaceutical companies receive incentives to develop medicine for rare disease along with reduced fees in protocol assistance and protection from competition after the medicine is marketed. Increased government funding for drug development and easy approvals, tax credits on clinical research, reduction in the amount of registration fees also aid the growth of the market.These factors also promote research and development activities which further boosts the market growth. Increasing awareness about the disease coupled with the development of tests for screening patients is a crucial market driver. Regulations aimed at free screening of patients irrespective of health insurance cover and government aid for treatment has been a significant driver of the market. Increasing insurance penetration and better reimbursement policies favor the growth of the market and provide future growth opportunities. Approval of various drugs aimed at the treatment of Krabbe disease by FDA too is a vital growth factor.Advancements in the therapeutics such as the introduction of gene technology in the treatment of Krabbe disease are expected to drive the market significantly in the coming years. A significant trend which has been pushing the market growth is the emergence of pharmacological chaperone therapy. Pharmacological chaperone is a promising therapeutic approach which uses drugs to stabilize and guide Chaperone, an ineffective enzyme to help it perform normally. However, the growth of the market might be hindered by the limited patient pool for clinical trials. High costs of treatment for Krabbe diseases such as bone marrow transplantation, cord blood transplantation, and others are major restraints. Lack of effective treatment and high costs of development of new drugs and therapies are other restricting factors.Krabbe Disease Treatment Market - SegmentationThe global Krabbe disease treatment market has been segmented based on type of treatments and end users. By type of treatments, the market has been segmented into anticonvulsant medication, physical therapy, muscle relaxer drugs, bone marrow transplantation and others. By end users, the market has been segmented into hospitals and clinics, research centers, laboratories and others.Krabbe Disease Treatment Market - Regional AnalysisThe key markets of the global Krabbe disease treatment market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. North America leads the market for global Krabbe treatment owing to rise in the screening of the disease and government support for the diagnosis and treatment. Europe follows North America closely and is led by the Scandinavian nations such as Finland and Norway. Asia Pacific is poised to grow at the fastest rate due to large unmet needs and growing awareness about the disease in the developing economies of the region. Asia Pacific market is expected to be led by Japan, China, and India. The Middle East and Africa market are expected to exhibit steady growth and led by Israel. However, the African continent is foreseen to yield weak growth due to poor socio-economic conditions and lack of healthcare penetration in the less developed regions of Africa. South Africa and Egypt are likely to be the key contributors.Browse Complete 80 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with Respective Tables and Figures at1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction3 Research Methodology4 Market Dynamics5 Market Factor Analysis6 Global Krabbe Disease Treatment Market, By Treatment Types (USD Million)7 Global Krabbe Disease Treatment Market, By End Users (USD Million)8 Global Krabbe Disease Treatment Market, By Region9 Company Landscape10 Company Profiles11 Conclusion12 AppendixAbout US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global NAND Flash Market 2022 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Micron Technology Inc. Intel Corporation SK Hynix Inc. Western Digital Technologies Inc. https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114806/NAND-Flash-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114806/NAND-Flash-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114806/Global-NAND-Flash-Market https://www.researchreportinsights.com/ A significant aim of NAND flash growth represented to decrease the expenditure per bit as well as to expand most extreme chip limit so flash memory can contend with magnetic storage devices, for instance, hard disks. NAND flash has discovered a market in devices to those big documents are often replaced and uploaded. Digital cameras, MP3 players also USB flash drive employs NAND technology.The worldwide market for NAND flash is likely to record a remarkable double digit CAGR of 18.4%, and will account for a market value of more than US$ 88,000 Million through 2017-2022.Request For Report Sample:Market SegmentationOn the basis of region, the overall market is assessed across Europe, Latin America, North America, APEJ, Japan and MEA. North America is projected to be the biggest market for NAND flash drives among others globally.On the basis of application, the worldwide market is categorised into DVC, DSC, portable media player, USB drive, game console, SSD, tablet, mobile phones and others. The SSD category will be witnessing the biggest revenue growth and is anticipated to register a value of above US$ 13,000 Million in the worldwide market through 2022 end. The mobile phone category will be witnessing the second biggest growth in revenue terms in the worldwide market and is anticipated to reflect the biggest CAGR growth, all through 2022.Request Report Discount:Based on the type, the overall market is segmented into TLC (three bit per cell), MLC (two bit per cell) and SLC (one bit per cell). The MLC (two bit per cell) segment will witness the largest growth in revenue terms and is anticipated to reflect a value of about US$ 6,000 Million in the worldwide market during 2017. The TLC (three bit per cell) will be the second largest market in terms of revenue in the worldwide market during 2017 along with record the largest CAGR in the worldwide market during 2022.The overall market on the basis of density is categorised into 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB and above. The 128 GB category will be the biggest market in terms of revenue and is projected to reflect a value of about US$ 3,000 Million in the worldwide market during 2017. The 256 GB and above will be the second biggest market in revenue terms in the worldwide market for NAND flash during 2017. This segment will record the biggest CAGR all through 2022.Key Market PlayersSome of the prominent companies functional in the overall market includeToshiba CorpSamsung Electronics Co LtdMicron Technology Inc.Intel CorporationSK Hynix Inc.Western Digital Technologies Inc.Winbond Electronics CorporationPowerchip Technology CorporationYangtze Memory Technologies Co. Ltd.Macronix International Co. LtdReport Analysis:About Us:Research Report Insights (RRI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver a host of services including custom research reports, syndicated research reports, and consulting services which are personalised in nature. RRI delivers a complete packaged solution to clients; this combines current market intelligence, technology inputs, statistical anecdotes, valuable growth insights, 360-degree view of the competitive framework, and anticipated market trends.Contact Us:Research Report Insights (RRI)42 Joseph StreetPort carling P0B 1J0Muskoka, Ontario1Phone - +1-631-721-4201Website:Email: sales@researchreportinsights.com Autonomous Freight Trains Market boosting the growth through 2026 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=53649 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/autonomous-freight-trains-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Automation is trending in the automotive and transportation industry. Freight trains are utilized for transportation of goods and commodities over a long distance. Safety and punctuality of freight train is of high importance and hence, autonomous trains that are preferred for passenger transport, are being utilized for freight transportation. Demand for autonomous freight trains from private freight transporting companies is anticipated to rise in the near future. Adoption of automation in passenger transporting trains, such as metro, suburban, and monorails, is rising in order to enhance safety and eliminate the number of fatal injuries occurring in train accidents. Moreover, freight transporting trains are also witnessing a rise in automation, in order to avoid accidents, crash with passenger trains, and loss of freight, which in turn is fueling the global autonomous freight trains market.Request a PDF Brochure with Future Analysis @Enhanced safety of the freight being transported, reduced accidental rate, increased punctuality of the trains, and overall reduction in time required for transportation are primarily driving the global autonomous freight trains market. Autonomous trains are capable of detecting possible crash and component failure, which enables autonomous trains to take corrective action, such as braking and alerting the driver of the onboard crew members. Autonomous trains continuously monitor component-related data provided by the control unit. Based on that data, alert is prompted in order to take corrective measures. Elimination of onboard crew, increase in component life, and reduction of overall expenditure are prominent factors driving the global autonomous trains market.The high initial cost of building infrastructure is a major factor restraining the global autonomous freight trains market. Moreover, complete or marginal changes in infrastructure are required for proper implementation of autonomous trains, which increases the initial cost.The global autonomous freight trains market can be segmented based on grades of automation (GoA), ownership type, signaling and communication technology, and region. In terms of grades of automation, the global autonomous freight trains market can be divided into four segments. GoA 1 and GoA 2 trains are partially automated. These trains includes several automated operations, such as automatic train protection, automatic train operation, setting train in motion, and stopping the train. All these operations are performed under the drivers supervision and onboard crew members surveillance. Rise in grade of automation leads to an increase in number of autonomous operations. Considering the exhaustive changes required for shifting to GoA 3 and GoA 4, freight train operating bodies are preferring for GoA 1 and GoA 2 levels of train automation, in order to enhance safety and punctuality.Browse Market Research Report @Based on ownership type, the global autonomous freight trains market can be classified into two segments. Rate of adoption of automation in privately operated freight trains is considerably high. Private freight train operators prefer the incorporation of autonomous systems in their trains in order to reduce overall expenditure over halting the train, component maintenance, crash, and train derailment.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Halitosis Treatment Market by Respiratory, Liver, Kidney, Gastrointestinal, Systemic Type and Forecasts 2018 to 2023 Halitosis Treatment Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3758 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/halitosis-treatment-market-3758 The Global Halitosis Treatment Market is segmented into four regions: Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. Americas account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of oral healthcare products, rising prevalence of periodontal diseases and technological advancement. Majority of market players in the U.S are engaged in the manufacturing of oral care products such as mouth washes, oral sprays, toothpastes, etc.The Global Halitosis Treatment Market is segmented on the basis type of halitosis, indication, diagnostic test and drug treatment. On the basis of type of halitosis, the markets are segmented into pathological halitosis and others. Pathological halitosis includes oral pathological halitosis and extra oral pathological halitosis. Other types include physiological halitosis.Premium Sample Report Available atOn the basis of indication, the market is segmented into respiratory, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, systemic, and others. Respiratory segment is further sub-segmented into sinusitis, tuberculosis, emphysema, pharyngitis, pneumonia, and others. Liver segment is further sub-segmented into liver failure, gall bladder diseases, and others. Kidney segment is further sub-segmented into Uremia. Gastrointestinal segment is further sub-segmented into esophageal reflux, stomach cancer, malabsorption, and pharyngitis. Systemic segment is further sub-segmented into diabetes.On the basis of diagnostic test, the market is segmented into halimeter, gas chromatography, BANA test, -galactosidase activity assay, and other tests.On the basis of drug treatment the global halitosis treatment market is segmented into antacids, antiseptic, ranitidine and other drugs. Other drugs available of the treatment of halitosis are Cetylpyridinium chloride and Cimetidine.Global Competitive Analysis:Companies are transforming the sector in a major way which has led to an accelerated the growth pace of the sector. The industry players in the segment are utilizing their primary resources to initiate a trend of solid, volume-driven growth that has been observed in the market with the development of different varieties of product types. The firms are also aiming to capture a considerable share of the market segment as early as possible by experimenting with various advantage points. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be harnessed by ensuring ongoing process improvements and maintaining financial fluidity to invest in the optimal strategies. Some of key players profiled in the report are Colgate-Palmolive Company (U.S), All USA Partners LLC (U.S), Dr. Harold Katz, LLC (U.S), Rowpar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S), Abbott (U.S) and Listerine (U.S).Detailed Regional Analysis:The halitosis treatment market globally covers four main regions namely America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. The Americas account for a substantial market share owing to escalating frequency of gum diseases and wide-ranging use of oral care products such as toothpastes, mouth washes, mouth sprays, etc. Europe is the second largest market in the world following Americas, whose progress can be attributed to a surge in awareness related to halitosis and the products available for its treatment. Additionally, growing demand for new oral care products are positively influencing the markets growth.Browse Complete Premium Research Report Enabled with Respective Tables and Figures atAsia Pacific region is projected to grow briskly due to mounting occurrence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, kidney or liver failure within the increasing population. Rising geriatric population levels who are suffering from these diseases have also contributed to the market growth rate. In the Middle East & Africa, the industry is expected to witness a moderate growth rate due to poor financial conditions and lack of awareness about oral health.Major TOC Halitosis Treatment Market:1 REPORT PROLOGUE2 MARKET INTRODUCTIONS2.1 INTRODUCTION2.2 SCOPE OF STUDY2.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE2.4 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS2.4.1 ASSUMPTIONS2.4.2 LIMITATIONS2.5 MARKET STRUCTURE3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: HALITOSIS MARKET3.1 RESEARCH PROCESS3.2 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION3.2.1 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS3.3 FORECAST MODELTOC ContinuedAbout US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Molecular Diagnostics Market: Global Trends, Size & Forecast 2022 Major Leading Players are Roche Holding AG, Abbott Laboratories, Danaher Corporation and Hologic Inc. Molecular Diagnostics Market Analysis http://www.marketreportsonline.com/781436.html http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=781436 http://www.marketreportsonline.com/cat/healthcare-market-research.html MarketReportsOnline.com adds "Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2018-2022)" report to its research store.The report offers an in-depth analysis of the Global Molecular Diagnostics Market. It covers the regional and global aspect of the market. Competition is concentrated in the hands of few major companies, of which Roche Holding AG, Abbott Laboratories, Danaher Corporation and Hologic Inc., have been covered in the report.Access Full Report with Table of Contents @Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. It involves two different types of testing method: in vivo and in vitro diagnostics. In vitro diagnostics (IVD) are the medical tests which are intended to perform diagnoses from sample of body fluids in a controlled environment outside a living organism. In vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests are performed to conduct diagnoses from assays in a test tube, or in a controlled environment outside a living organism.Molecular Diagnostics (MD) is a technology used in the process of in vitro diagnosis. Molecular diagnostics involves the measurement of DNA, RNA, proteins or metabolites in order to detect genotypes, mutations or biochemical changes in the body. Molecular diagnostics market is escalating beyond the identification of infections. It is becoming an essential part of disease management and therapy. The variety of technologies used in molecular diagnostics has transformed clinical laboratory medicine. The market is further expected to see a robust growth with increased research and development.Purchase a copy of this Global Molecular Diagnostics Market research report atThe global molecular diagnostics market is expected to see innovation driven growth. With recent outbreak of infectious diseases like Ebola and swine flu, they would require accurate diagnostics, which will instigate the growth of the molecular diagnostics technology in the future, thereby posing tremendous growth potential for the market.The key factors driving growth of the MD market includes fast approvals for companion diagnostics reagents, increase in emergence of infectious disease, innovation and technical development, rising ageing population, and escalating global healthcare expenditure. However, there are certain factors hindering the growth of the market like high initial cost, obligation of skilled labor, and lack of proper healthcare infrastructure. The major trends featuring the market include progressing sample-to-answer molecular diagnostics market, growth in Point of Care Diagnostics (POCT), and emergence of Liquid Biopsy Solutions among others.Browse all latest healthcare market research reports @About Us:Market Reports Online is a comprehensive online library of more than 100,000 reports, in-depth market research studies on thousands of micro markets and a range of industries. The reports are analytically and statistically rich, and offer a comprehensive view of the dynamic market scenario across the globe. We offer online and offline support services to ensure your research requirements are met on time.Contact Us:Hrishikesh PatwardhanTel: + 1 888 391 5441Email: sales@marketreportsonline.com Branded Generics Market CAGR Projected to Grow at 7.3% by 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1260 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1260 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/branded-generics-market https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Differential and innovative product strategies that are adopted by various multinational pharma companies have been fuelling the growth of branded generics market at a global scale. These strategies include establishing sustained local capabilities with the strong local talents, engaging in portfolio marketing, recalibrating regulatory affairs, bolstering sales force with the multi-channel engagement and enhancing contracting capabilities. Developing regions are witnessing a rapid increase in demand for branded generics on account of increasing affordability of the products and ease of regulations. Rising disposable income and changing lifestyle of consumers is also expected to augur well for growth of the branded generics market in the near future.The study predicts that patent expiries of the blockbuster drugs are likely to create demand for branded generics during the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of the lifestyle and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes together with increasing purchasing power makes branded generics market attractive for investors. The study by Future Market Insights predicts that branded generics market is likely to register a healthy 7.3% CAGR over the forecast period, 2016-2026. Commodity generic products and huge competition from the branded drugs have prevailed as major challenges inhibiting the growth of branded generics market, in terms of price structure.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Cardiovascular Diseases are likely to prove highly lucrative for revenue growth of branded generics market due to rising prevalence of diverse types of cancers and increasing comorbidities across the globe. Anti-hypertensive segment is expected to prove highly lucrative for the purpose of reducing premature cardiovascular disease. Oral formulations hold the largest demand from medical providers and patients for branded generics. This is mainly due to the benefits that oral formulation offers such as accuracy, dosing convenience and easy adherence to a medication plan.Parenteral formulations are likely to gain traction in branded generics market during the forecast period, with API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) being degraded in intestinal tracts, thereby driving the demand for parenteral delivery. The report predicts that APEJ and North America are likely to remain lucrative for parenteral formulations during the forecast period. Retail Pharmacies are expected to prove as the most lucrative distribution channel for branded generics, as the pharmaceutical companies manufacturers are highly dependent on this distribution channel for selling the products over-the-counter.APEJ accounts for the largest revenue share in the branded generics market owing to lack of worldwide health coverage and higher out-of-the-pocket expenditure on healthcare. China, India and ASEAN countries are expected to pose lucrative growth opportunities for the new and existing key players in the forthcoming years. Most of the leading manufacturers in the global market are concentrated in Asian countries and have been working towards expansion of their production capacity, for catering to the existing and emerging global demands.Statutory regulatory bodies have been playing a significant role in the growth branded generics market in APEJ by providing approvals for products. Furthermore, growth through the adoption of inorganic approaches have been forming cornerstone of the branded generics drug makers in APEJ region. Latin America, Eastern Europe and North America will prove significantly lucrative for the branded generics market in the forthcoming years.Need more information about Report methodology ? @Brand-name prescriptions are anticipated to remain ubiquitous amongst the aged people worldwide. Since geriatric demographics hold a larger portion of drug-consuming population across the globe, demand for branded generics are expected to rise substantially. Branded generics market has been projected to develop at a healthy pace as enormous number of the pharmaceutical products are expected to go off-patent within the assessment period of 2016-2026.View Report Preview @About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: Antivirus Software Market Report 2018 Companies included AVG Technologies., Avast Software s.r.o., McAfee, LLC, Lavasoft, Adaware Advertising, Symantec Corporatio Antivirus Software Market https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/483 https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/483 https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/antivirus-software-market Antivirus Software MarketA market study Global Antivirus Software Market examines the performance of the Antivirus Software market Size 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Antivirus Software market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Antivirus Software market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request for sample Antivirus Software Market Report@The global antivirus software market size is expected to grow to a promising value of USD xxxx Million by the end of 2025, from USD xxx Million in 2018, at an optimistic CAGR of x.x%. Top Manufactures/vendors of Antivirus Software market:The global antivirus software market is operated by by key players such as Microsoft, AVG Technologies., Avast Software s.r.o., McAfee, LLC, Lavasoft, Adaware Advertising, Symantec Corporation, Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG., F-Secure and BullGuard.The factors that contribute to high growth of antivirus software market is, antivirus software helps detect, prevent and remove malware including computer viruses, Trojan horses and worms from home systems, leaving a user device safe and secure from any threat. Along with that higher number of partnerships among telecom services providers, antivirus software vendors and smartphone manufacturers favors the global antivirus software market. In addition, usage of the internet and growth in dependency, upsurge in popularity of cloud-based antivirus, requires safeguard information & data which propel the growth. However, the factor that may hamper the growth is performance threat of virtual machines. The requirement to provide both preventative and detective capabilities between all elements of the cumulative "network" of communities of interest proposes major opportunity for market growth.Enquire before buying Antivirus Software Market Report @The global antivirus software market is classified on the basis of region, device and end use. The device classification includes desktops, laptops, and others. On the basis of end use, the market is divided into personal use and corporate use. On the basis of region, the segmentation includes Europe, North America, LAMEA and Asia-PacificThe factors that boosted antivirus software in all these regions are, as ransomware cybercriminals focused their efforts on businesses, especially North American enterprises. As North American companies have most to lose, they account highest antivirus market share 2018. The most dominant malware in 2016 was ransomware and other prominent malware is ad fraud malware. Unsurprisingly, Europe and US-targeted attacks were extremely differentiated. The United States registered the most malware detections and prominent in the detections of every category charted, except for banking Trojans, where Turkey leads.Furthermore, Europe leads in all regions as approximately half of the ransomware detections were found here. In addition to that, Europe also leads all these regions in Adware and Android malware. 37 percent and 31 percent detections were from Europe-based devices in Android malware and adware respectively. Europe and Asia were highly affected from the antivirus called botnet families. In 2016, the Kelihos botnet increased to xxx percent in July and xxx percent in October, while IRCBot increased to xxx percent in August and Qbot grew to xxx percent in November. The countries that are hit hardest in Europe are Spain, the United Kingdom and Francealthough the Vatican City recorded steepest rise. The France ranks first as most targeted country in Europe, France is followed the UK. With these record, requirement for global antivirus software market is expected to grow tremendously.To Get Antivirus Software Market@Key segments of Global Antivirus Software MarketBased on applications, the market has been segmented into,Individual UsersEnterprise UsersGovernment UsersBased on device, the market has been segmented into,LaptopsDesktopsOthers (Smartphones and Tablets)Based on region, the market has been segmented into,North AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeUKGermanyFranceRussiaRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanAustraliaRest of Asia-PacificLAMEALatin AmericaMiddle EastAfricaWhat to expect from the upcoming report on Global Antivirus Software Market: Future prospects and current trends of the global antivirus software market by the end of forecast period (2018-2025) Information regarding technological progressions as well as innovations taking place in developing economies Supportive initiatives by government likely to influence the market dynamics Trends, drivers, opportunities, restraints, challenges and key developments in the market In-depth analysis of different market segmentations including regional segmentations, and product types Deep analysis about the competitive landscape of the market and the initiatives by them to improve this marketWho should buy this report? Venture capitalists, Investors, financial institutions, Analysts, Government organizations, regulatory authorities, policymakers ,researchers, strategy managers, and academic institutions looking for insights into the market to determine future strategies.About Adroit Market Research:Adroit Market Research is an India-based business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.Contact Information:Ryan JohnsonAccount Manager Global3131 McKinney Ave Ste 600, Dallas,TX75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: USA: +1 (214) 884-6068 / +91 9665341414 Embolic Protection Devices Market Industry Insights 2018| Key Players: Keystone Heart Ltd., Allium Medical, Boston Scientific Embolic Protection Devices Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2417 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2417 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/embolic-protection-devices-market The Embolic Protection Devices Market is set to exceed USD 1.8 billion by 2024; according to a new research study published by Global Market Insights, Inc.The demand for embolic protection devices is predominantly driven by the increasing adoption of minimally invasive heart procedures such as carotid artery stenting and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Moreover, growing awareness among physicians regarding risks of brain injuries during cardiovascular interventions should drive the market penetration of embolic protection devices.Request for a sample of this research report @Increasing aging population has further contributed to rise in number of cardiovascular disease deaths globally. According to estimates, the percentage of population aged 60 and above is likely to reach to 1.6 billion by 2050. Since, aging is one of the significant factors responsible for cardiovascular diseases, the potential patient pool serves as a huge market opportunity for embolic protection devices in the coming years.Rising prevalence of cardiac diseases along with shift towards minimally invasive procedures is likely to stimulate embolic protection devices market growth. According to American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases are identified to be the most common cause of death globally, claiming more than 17 million deaths in 2013. Citing this, various companies strive to enter the market by developing devices to protect brain injuries during various cardiac procedures.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Medtronic Kalila Medical (Abbott Laboratories) Allium Medical Keystone Heart Ltd. Boston Scientific Cardinal Health Metactive Medical, Inc. Contego Medical, LLC Edward Lifescience Transverse Medical IncCarotid artery diseases segment contributed largest share to the overall embolic protection devices market, mainly due to increase in the number of carotid artery stenting procedures. The adoption of minimally invasive procedures has led to popularity of carotid artery stenting over carotid endarterectomy. Further, increasing prevalence of carotid artery diseases should drive the segment growth during forecast period.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Peripheral artery diseases segment represents a significant market opportunity, since this segment is less penetrated. Embolic protection is required to prevent blood clots travelling into blood stream during peripheral artery interventions.Distal filters are the largest revenue generators in embolic protection devices market owing to the advantages offered such as easy deployment, maintenance of antegrade blood flow, and non-interference with lesion visualization. Most of the manufacturers operating in this industry provide distal filter embolic protection devices.U.S. dominated the embolic protection devices market in 2016. The largest share of the region should be attributed to increasing aging population. People aged 65 and above are set to increase to 20% of U.S. population in 2030 from 13% in 2000. In addition, increased adoption of new technologies to reap immediate benefits and favorable reimbursement scenario should further propel embolic protection devices market.Browse Full Report Details @Embolic Protection Devices Market by Product Distal Occlusion Systems Proximal Occlusion Systems Distal FiltersEmbolic Protection Devices Market by Application Carotid Artery Diseases Coronary Artery Diseases Peripheral Vascular DiseasesGlobal Market Insights Inc. is a global market research and management consulting company catering to leading corporations, non-profit organizations, universities and government institutions. Our main goal is to assist and partner organizations to make lasting strategic improvements and realize growth targets. Our industry research reports are designed to provide granular quantitative information, combined with key industry insights, aimed at assisting sustainable organizational developmentGlobal Market Insights, Inc.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USAPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email:sales@gminsights.com Global Dealer Management Services Market Opportunities, Demands, Size, Share, Trends, Industry Sales Area and Its Competitors by 2023 Dealer Management Services https://www.researchreportsinc.com/sample-request?id=238085 https://researchreportsinc.com/enquiry?id=238085 www.researchreportsinc.com The "Dealer Management Services Market by Current and Latest Technology, by Spectrum, by Installation Type, New Installation, Retrofit, by Application, by Geography - Global Market Value, Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast, 2017-2023" report has been added to researchreportsinc.com offering.Download Sample @Global Dealer Management Services Market to reach USD 10.10 billion by 2025.Global Dealer Management Services Market valued approximately USD 6.0 billion in 2017 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than % over the forecast period 2018-2025. The major driving factor of global Dealer Management Services market are growing demand across automotive sector, rise in adoption fleet management analytics and optimization of product lifecycle management. Growing challenges in manufacturing, consumer goods, and automobile sectors related to handling multiple levels of dealers/distributors globally or locally has given rise to dedicated dealer management systems. The one of the major restraining factor of global dealer management services is lack of skilled professionals. A dealer management system provides a centralized application to collect customer and vehicle inventory information.Make an Enquiry @It covers vehicle sales, pre-sales, customer relationship management, workflow automation, and financial accounting information. Manufacturers deploy dealer management systems to improve inventory management, dealer operations, and customer retention along with a remote help desk. New government initiatives and regulations are also expected to contribute to the market growth. There are many benefits of dealer management services such as high flexibility for dealers in rapidly changing markets, better administration of key financial figures and sales data, recording & monitoring of customer satisfaction and end-to-end services help dealers focus on core business.The regional analysis of Global Dealer Management Services Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America has accounted the leading share of total generating revenue in 2017 across the globe due to innovation in the dealer management system market and rise in the number of vendors of dealer management services. Asia-Pacific region region is also anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025, due to booming logistics industry in the region. Furthermore, the highly connected and advanced economies of Southeast Asian countries along with the increasing awareness about dealer management systems is adding to this already growing market.The major market player included in this report are:IBMCACOX AutomotiveCDK GlobalReynolds and ReynoldsRouteOneDealerSocketInternet BrandsDominion EnterprisesWiproEpicorSAPThe objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:By Type:On-PremisesCloudBy Application:AutomotiveRetailManufacturingOthersBy Regions:North America, U.S., Canada, Europe, UK, Germany, Asia Pacific, China, India, Japan, Latin America, Brazil, Mexico, Rest of the WorldFurthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2015, 2016Base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2025Target Audience of the Global Dealer Management Services Market in Market Study:Key Consulting Companies & AdvisorsLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesVenture capitalistsValue-Added Resellers (VARs)Third-party knowledge providersInvestment bankersInvestorsResearch Reports Inc. is one of the leading destinations for market research reports across all industries, companies, and technologies. Our repository features an exhaustive list of market research reports from thousands of publishers worldwide. We take pride in curating a database covering virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories. We are one of the premier sources for such reports & report customization services.Research Reports INC.#766, 99 Wall Street, New YorkNY 10005,USA/Canada: +1-8554192424UK: +44-0-330-808-7757Website:Email: sales@researchreportsinc.com SAN FRANCISCO Authorities were searching Wednesday for a gunman who shot and killed a police officer during a traffic stop in California. Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh, 33, had called in a traffic stop early Wednesday and a few minutes later reported "shots fired" over his radio, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. Multiple agencies responded and found Singh with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. A manhunt was underway for the killer, who was believed to be driving a gray Dodge Ram pickup when the shooting happened around 1 a.m. in Newman, about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco. Authorities released photographs of the suspect and the truck that were taken by surveillance cameras at a convenience store moments before the traffic stop, said Sgt. Tom Letras, a sheriff's spokesman. He said authorities do not know the suspect's name. In the photos, the heavyset suspect with short dark hair is wearing jeans, navy blue hoodie and navy T-shirt with a thick chain necklace. Singh was a native of Fiji and had worked since July 2011 for the police department in Newman, a town of about 10,000 people. On his Facebook page, Singh posted pictures on Christmas Eve from a deep sea fishing trip that produced a big haul of crabs and fish. The profile picture shows him smiling as he stands at a patrol car with a dog the same photograph of the officer released by the sheriffs department. President Donald Trump touched down Wednesday in Iraq in his first visit to a conflict zone as commander in chief, a week after announcing a victory over the Islamic State that his own Pentagon and State Department days earlier said remained incomplete. The president's visit, which was shrouded in secrecy, follows months of public pressure for him to spend time with troops deployed to conflicts in the Middle East and punctuates the biggest week of turmoil the Pentagon has faced during his presidency. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted Wednesday afternoon, "President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas." Defense Secretary Jim Mattis tendered his resignation last Thursday over Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria and draw down numbers in Afghanistan in addition to other differences. Although Mattis planned to leave in February, Trump on Sunday dismissed him early, demanding the retired Marine Corps general leave the Pentagon by year end. Mattis and other top advisers had cautioned Trump not to order a precipitous withdrawal from Syria, where roughly 2,000 U.S. troops enabled a Kurdish-led militia to roll back the self-declared caliphate of the Islamic State. Despite declaring victory over the Islamic State, Trump later tweeted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria." Turkey views the Kurdish-led force U.S. troops have relied on to roll back the Islamic State in Syria as enemies, and Pentagon officials worry Turkish forces will massacre the Kurds while failing to prevent a resurgence of ISIS. Trump hasn't said anything in the past week about the U.S. presence in Iraq, where some 5,000 American troops remain, assisting Iraqi government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in the north in the effort to secure the nation from the threat of the Islamic State. U.S. forces reentered Iraq in 2014 after the Islamic State established a self-declared caliphate in Syria and swept through Iraq, reaching the outskirts of the capital, Baghdad. Trump's unannounced visit on the day after Christmas continues a holiday tradition followed by previous presidents. Vice President Pence visited Afghanistan on Dec. 22, 2017, to address troops and meet with commanders at Bagram Airfield near Kabul. Although Trump has previously addressed U.S. troops stationed overseas, including in Italy, Japan and South Korea, he has drawn criticism for not yet visiting those deployed to combat zones. Trump has long been critical of the war in Afghanistan, which was born of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and has stretched on for more than 17 years, becoming America's longest war. The United States is currently engaged in peace talks with the hope of ending a long-running stalemate between a resurgent Taliban and the Afghan government forces that Washington backs. But Trump has directed the Defense Department to withdraw nearly half of the more than 14,000 troops deployed to Afghanistan, U.S. officials said last week, despite warnings from many of the president's senior advisers and military officials that the move would invite chaos and terrorism. Trump has described the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan as a "complete waste" and vowed to bring home American troops. Top U.S. officials have warned that absent a peace deal with the Taliban, Afghanistan could collapse and descend into further turmoil after a precipitous U.S. withdrawal. The Afghanistan withdrawal order came alongside Trump's abrupt announcement last week that he would pull all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, a decision made against the counsel of his top advisers and without warning allies in the fight there against the Islamic State. Mattis resigned in the wake of the Syria decision, writing in his resignation letter that he and Trump disagree in their worldview and that the president's policies threaten the alliance structure the United States helped construct in the aftermath of World War II. Trump was furious with media coverage of Mattis' resignation, aides said, and especially the notion of the defense secretary as a human guardrail protecting the country from the president's impulses. In retaliation, Trump moved Sunday to oust him ahead of schedule, directing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to deliver the news to Mattis because the president was not on speaking terms with his outgoing defense secretary. Trump follows a long tradition of presidents visiting troops overseas. Barack Obama visited Afghanistan four times as president, most recently in 2014, and also made a trip to Iraq shortly after his 2009 inauguration. George W. Bush made a surprise Thanksgiving visit to troops in Iraq following the invasion in 2003 and traveled back three additional times as president. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton visited troops in Bosnia in 1996 and spent Thanksgiving with troops in Kosovo in 1999, while George H.W. Bush spent Thanksgiving with service members in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield in 1990 and New Years with troops in Somalia in 1993. By Tim Palmer The fate of the largest fossil fuel project in Oregon history and the largest statewide source of carbon pollution is again on the table at Jordan Cove in Coos Bay. There, a Canadian corporation proposes a massive fossil fuel facility and 232-mile pipeline to serve supertankers filled with American gas bound for Asia. Meanwhile we have growing urgency about the climate crisis and its principal cause: fossil fuel. For three months this year, Oregonians choked on wildfire owing to global warming. Worldwide heat waves in 2017 cost businesses 153 billion hours of labor. Floods and hurricanes are intensifying. Sea level will rise, and who in Oregon cannot care about the 363 miles of our coastline with tides fingering up the Columbia and on through Portland? The oceans are acidifying, which endangers our way of life along the shore. The Cascade Mountains' snowpack is dwindling, and with it go the water supplies of cities, farms and fish. The International Panel on Climate Change's 2018 report alarmed the world, and in November our own government's National Climate Assessment stressed an unprecedented call for remedial action. Virtually every other nation and a majority of Americans know we must take decisive steps against global warming if we're to leave an inhabitable planet to the children we love. Frustration at President Donald Trump's know-nothing denial and the power of fossil fuel apologists from the Interior Secretary on down is palpable among many Oregonians, including political leaders. And yet elected and appointed officials remain silent while our state teeters on the decision to allow the greatest contributor to climate change in Oregon history to stagger onward. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- puppeteered by Trump and his fossil fuel cronies -- is not the only checkpoint for this kingpin contributor to climate change. Within two months, the Oregon Department of State Lands will also determine whether or not the Jordan Cove facility will relegate whole generations to even worse global warming. To do so is unconscionable in a world of rational thought and responsibility. And none of this recognizes the various other valid reasons for alarm with Jordan Cove: f buying and condemning private property from 700 rural landowners; the dangers of erecting one of the world's most hazardous facilities in a location where a magnitude 9 earthquake and Fukushima-style tsunami are inevitable; and a pipeline where 400 cherished streams and rivers -- many harboring salmon we've worked to restore -- will be threatened. LNG boosters claim gas is less damaging than coal. But thats a myth. Natural gas is essentially methane, which is 86 times as potent as coal over a 20 year period. Methane routinely leaks from pipelines and gas facilities. To simply equal the harmful effects of coal, leaks must be limited to 2 to 3 percent of the gas supply, but leakage is typically more than that, making gas worse. Boosters also argue that Jordan Cove will create 146 long-term jobs. For that we would turn our backs on all future generations that will judge our generation by whether or not we acted on global warming? Maybe Coos Bay officials think that 146 local jobs and a local tax revenue boost justifies Jordan Cove's costs to ours and future generations. But the rest of Oregon's public officials have no such excuse for allowing this shortsighted violation of our future to become an excruciating and regretful reality. -- Tim Palmer lives in Port Orford on Oregons south coast. He is the author of 26 books published about natural resources and the environment. The warm glow of the holidays fades as our thoughts turn to credit card bills, which resolution to ignore first and the worsening weather. Dont worry: Wineries around the state are standing by to help chase away those January blues. Here are eight events, from competitions and crab feasts to classes and Champagne, to ease your transition to February. Remy Wines Remy Wines library tasting Winemaker Remy Drabkin is known for her superb takes on classic Italian grapes like lagrein, sangiovese and nebbiolo. This special Sunday library tasting features several vintages of Drabkins dolcetto. Do not miss out on these age-worthy treats. Tasting fees are $10 to $20. Noon-5 p.m. Jan. 6, Remy Wines Tasting Room, 17495 N.E. McDougall Road, Dayton, remywines.com or 503-864-8777. A sample worksheet from a Brooks Wine course. (Michael Alberty) Brooks Wine pinot noir class Where did pinot noir get its start? Do pinot noirs made in New Zealand taste the same as our Willamette Valley wines? The wine education staff at Brooks Wine will lead you through a side-by-side comparison of five Old World and New World versions of pinot noir to answer all your questions. Who said education couldnt be delicious? The enrollment fee is $35. 10-11 a.m. Jan. 12, Brooks Wine, 21101 S.E. Cherry Blossom Lane, Amity, brookswine.com or 503-435-1278. Cliff Creek Cellars blind wine tasting Think you have what it takes to guess a wines identity without being able to see the label? Have you ever wanted to be just like Niles and Frasier Crane? Then drop by the Cliff Creek Cellars tasting room in Newberg and see how well your senses stack up against fellow wine geeks in this blind tasting challenge. This event is free. Noon-5 p.m. Jan. 13, Cliff Creek Cellars, 214 E. First St., Newberg, cliffcreek.com or 503-487-6692. Keep the Champagne flowing in mid-January with a Chateau Bianca tasting flight. (CCO Creative Commons) Chateau Bianca Winery Champagne flight The good people at Chateau Bianca dont think you should stop drinking Champagne just because it is a new year. They also have a new federal designation to celebrate they are in the newly created Van Duzer Corridor American Viticultural Area so drop by their winery for a flight of Champagnes. Rumor has it that mimosas will be available as well. Contact the winery for pricing information. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 13, Chateau Bianca Winery, 17485 Oregon 22, Dallas, chateaubianca.com or 503-362-6181. Pinot noir vines surround Archery Summit's tasting room and production facility. (Valerie Reed/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT). The Plain Dealer Archery Summit seventh annual crab feast Beat the January blues with a weekend of Chef Peter Janiaks Oregon Dungeness crab dishes, all paired with Archery Summit wines. Tickets for the event are $195 per person, $175 for Archery Summit A-List members. Contact Karina Gordon at 503-714-2040 to RSVP and purchase tickets. 6-9 p.m. Jan. 18-19, Archery Summit Winery, 18599 N.E. Archery Summit Road, Dayton. archerysummit.com or 503-714-2030. Oak barrels have long been popular for aging wines. (Michael Alberty) Fullerton Wine Course: Oak and Fire The decision whether or not to use oak barrels for fermentation and aging is one of the most significant choices a winemaker has to make. How do oak barrels influence the way the wine tastes and smells? How are French oak barrels different from Oregon oak barrels? The Fullerton wine course will address those questions in this enlightening class. Attendees will also participate in an interactive blending and tasting experience designed to explore oak's influence on wine. There is a $40 fee for the class. 10 a.m.-noon. Jan. 19, Fullerton Wine Bar and Tasting Room, 1966 N.W. Pettygrove St., Portland, fullertonwines.com or 503-544-1378. Mike Freed of Freed Estate Winery clips tempranillo grapes at the Winston, Oregon, winery in the Umpqua Valley in 2016. (Emily Hoard/The News-Review via AP)AP Grand tasting at the Oregon Tempranillo Celebration The tempranillo grape is best known in Spain, but Oregon winemakers are creating their own world-class versions. This grand tasting event is an excellent opportunity to try dozens of the best examples of Oregon tempranillo and check out what all the fuss is about. There will be a silent auction and tapas to snack on as you sip and bid. Tickets are $50. 1-4 p.m. Jan. 20, Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites Convention Center, 2525 Ashland St., Ashland. oregontempranilloalliance.com/tickets. Suttle Lodge on Suttle Lake in central Oregon. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)LC- Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Crowley Wines dinner with St. Jack at Suttle Lodge What happens when one of Portlands top chefs joins forces with one of Oregons top winemakers? You get a multi-course dinner for the ages. The fact the dinner takes place at one of the most beautiful spots in all the Cascades is just a bonus. Chef Aaron Barnett from St. Jack will be preparing the meal at Suttle Lodge and Crowley Wines will be offered a la carte throughout the dinner. Tickets for the dinner are $95, gratuity included. 6-9 p.m. Jan. 26, Suttle Lodge, 13300 Oregon 20, Sisters, thesuttlelodge.com or 541-638-7001. 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. A bill to give uniformed Michigan National Guard personnel the right to carry a concealed weapon at state military posts and in public recruiting offices was passed by the state Senate last week by a vote of 34 to 4. The bill is on its way to Gov. Rick Snyder, who is expected to sign the legislation, according to a press release from Representative Gary Glenn, R-Midland. Glenn, a former guardsman, introduced House Bill 4474, which passed the state House of Representatives 103 to 5 in June 2017. Glenn introduced the legislation, with fellow members of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee from both parties as cosponsors, in response to a 2015 attack by Islamic terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez on two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The attack claimed the lives of four unarmed U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy sailor. "Our military service men and women place themselves at higher risk of being targeted for terrorist attack just by putting on that uniform, sadly here at home as well as abroad, as we tragically learned in Chattanooga and before that, at Fort Hood," Glenn said. "Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have a God-given right to defend themselves while training to defend us, and past, present or future policies that would deny them that right are unconscionable and without honor." A representative for Adjutant General Gregory Vadnais, director of the state Military and Veterans Affairs Division, testified in favor of the bill. It was also supported by American Legion and other veterans organizations. Glenn cited the Pentagon's policy under former President Barack Obama, which prohibited military personnel from carrying personal weapons at military installations, as a contributing factor to the attack. In February, President Donald Trump moved to change the policies for military personnel on military installations under federal jurisdiction. Glenn said the change in Pentagon policy would not apply to the about 400 full-time National Guard personnel at about 40 training and recruiting facilities under the jurisdiction of the state and of the Michigan National Guard. The legislation gives the force of law to existing National Guard policy under Vadnais, allowing uniformed personnel and civilians with a state Concealed Pistol License to carry a concealed personal weapon while at military facilities. If signed by Snyder, the legislation would prevent a future governor or adjutant general from revoking the right without legislative approval. Under the legislation, military commanders will remain free to block civilians from carrying concealed weapons at military facilities under emergency circumstances by blocking civilian access to such facilities altogether. Highs on Friday will flirt with the 50s but don't expect the sun to accompany the mild temperatures. Forecasts call for a high of 48 and rain in Midland County, with as much as one-half inch possible, says Trent Frey, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake/Pontiac. Making that happen, according to Frey, is a low pressure system that will develop over the Great Plains tonight and move northeast, reaching the Great Lakes Friday and dumping snow in northern Minnesota and western Upper Peninsula. Midland, on the southeast side of the storm the warmer side will get rain while the Upper Peninsula's Houghton, on the northwest side of the system the coldest side will get the heaviest dump of 6 to 8 inches of snow, Frey said. "We're not expecting to break any records," Frey said of Friday's mild temperatures. Temperatures usually hover at about 31 this time of year, records show. Cooler temperatures will return Friday night when a cold front sweeps down from the north, bringing with it cold air to Midland County, Frey said. Saturday and Sunday highs are expected to climb above freezing. "There's no indication for any kind of cold spell," Frey said of short range temperatures. "A year ago we had a stretch of 12 or 13 days below 20 degrees. There's no indication that is going to happen in the next seven to 10 days." Temperatures are forecast in the upper 20s and mid 30s. Released earlier this month, an NWS outlook for central Michigan for January into February calls for colder than normal temperatures and slightly above normal snowfall. Records for MBS International Airport date back to 1898, and show an average temperature of 22.4 degrees and an average of 20.6 inches of snow for those dates, Frey said. As a side note, records show Midland County usually has a white Christmas 50 to 60 percent of the time, Frey said. This year wasn't one of those years. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Sunday, Dec. 23 9:07 p.m. -- Deputies responded to Jerome Township in reference to a death investigation. A 55-year-old Jerome township man appeared to have died from natural causes. 7:34 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a Jerome Township location for a suspicious vehicle. Deputies Checked the area and were unable to located the vehicle. 5:24 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a business in Lincoln Township and met with the store owner, a 65-year-old man. The deputy found damage to a side door and it appeared someone had attempted to break into the business. The incident was documented. There are no suspects at this time. 4:09 p.m. -- A deputy checked up on a 911 hang up call form Jasper Township. It was young children playing with an old cell phone. The mother of the children took the phone away from her children. 3:55 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to Lee Township on a report of a speeding and weaving vehicle. The deputy made contact with with the driver, who was found to be fine -- just tired from a long day at work. The driver was warned and apologized for her poor driving habits. 12:50 a.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township location for a possibly intoxicated driver. Deputies located the driver and performed a traffic stop for a speeding violation. The driver, a 63-year-old Greendale Township man, was not intoxicated, but was experiencing mechanical issues with his vehicle. Saturday. Dec. 22 11:20 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township location for a vehicle parked in the roadway. The vehicle was out of gas. A 21-year-old Lee Township woman was waiting with the vehicle until help arrived. The woman had a valid fugitive warrant out of Midland County, and was arrested and transported to the Midland County Jail, where she was lodged without incident. A family member responded and removed the vehicle from the roadway. 10:22 p.m. -- A 19-year-old Bay City woman was arrested on a warrant out to the Bay County District Court following a traffic stop in Lincoln Township. The woman was transported to Auburn and turned over to Bay City Public Safety. 9:25 p.m. -- A 38-year-old homeless woman was arrested on parole absconder warrants at a Mount Haley Township gas station. The woman was transported to the Midland County Jail without incident. 7:49 p.m. -- A deputy was notified of a failure to pay on a $22 gasoline payment form a Warren Township gas station. The only description given was a "dark car," with no license plate given. The case has been closed pending further investigation. 1:31 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to the Emergency Room to speak to a 27-year-old man after he overdosed on heroin at his Homer Township residence. 10:08 a.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to an Ingersoll Township property for a neighbor dispute about a fence and property line. One of the neighbors, a 63-year-old man had a recent survey done and found out that the other neighbor's fence was on his property. The 48-year-old fence owner was upset over the situation and called police because he wanted to know his legal options. The fence has been carefully deconstructed as to not damage it. The 63-year-old neighbor also trimmed an evergreen tree thay was partially over the property line. 1 a.m. -- Deputies responded to a Lincoln Township business for a verbal dispute between a 47-year-old Mills Township man and a 42-year-old Midland woman. The woman was an employee of the business and had requested the man leave the property. The man left without incident and agreed not the return. Friday, Dec. 21 11:59 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to Lee Township for a report of an unknown man walking down the middle of the roadway. The highly intoxicated 42-year-old Harrison man was located and found to be in violation of his probation. He arrested and transported to the Midland County Jail. 4:40 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a residence in Jasper Township and made contact with a 77-year-old woman. She said she was unable to find three oil paintings, her extra pair of reading glasses and her fish food. The woman had her residence "extremely secured." The deputy found no evidence of criminal activity. 4:03 p.m. -- A 39-year-old Warren Township man reported he found a handgun lying on the edge of the road in Hope Township. A deputy took possession of the gun. 2:47 p.m. -- A deputy was sent to a Lee Township trailer park for a loud music complaint. Contact was made with a 15-year-old boy, who agreed to keep the music down. 1:43 p.m. -- A 32-year-old Hope Township man reported that six metal fence posts, worth $24 in total, were stolen off of a utility trailer that he stores behind his pole barn. It is believed the posts were taken recently. 11:55 a.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Homer Township school in reference to a criminal sexual conduct incident involving a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. 11:54 p.m. -- A 32-year-old Lee Township woman reported that her beagle broke his chain and ran toward the neighbor's yard chasing their cats. When she went to retrieve the dog she heard the neighbor, a 36-year-old man, yell that he would shoot the dog and the owner if the dog kept chasing his free-range chickens. She only heard the man and did not see him or any weapons. She was able chain her dog back up, and while she did not wish to pursue charges or have him contacted, she wanted to have the incident documented. 11:28 p.m. -- A 34-year-old Jerome Township woman called after getting in a verbal argument with her 66-year-old mother-in-law. The mother-in-law was gone upon the deputy's arrival. The 34-year-old had civil questions and wanted to know her legal options for preventing her mother-in-law from coming around her and her children. 11 a.m. - A 28-year-old Midland woman reported she was assaulted by a 21-year-old Lincoln Township man at a Lee Township residence. The man was arrested for domestic assault and transported to Midland County Jail. In one breath, Trump commends soldiers for working hard to protect our country. In the next, he insults prisoners of war, quarrels with a slain soldiers parents and disparages those who arent candid about their involvement in the Vietnam War (in October, he insulted Senator Richard Blumenthal for being dishonest about his time in Vietnam). New findings from the New York Times show, yet again, how hypocritical Trump is. Thanks to an anonymous tipster, the Times led an investigation suggesting that Trump himself used familial connections to dodge the draft. Donald Trump was diagnosed with bone spurs in his heels in 1968, an analysis that would exempt him from military service in the Vietnam War. The Times found that Dr. Larry Braunstein, who died in 2007, was the podiatrist who provided Trump with that diagnosis and reached out to his two daughters, Dr. Elysa Braunstein and Sharon Kessel. Dr. Elysa Braunstein said it was family lore, and something we would always discuss. She added, I know it was a favor, and implied that her father knew that the young Trump didnt actually have bone spurs. Apparently, at the time, Dr. Braunstein saw it as a kindness. Braunstein gave the diagnosis in an office he rented from Trumps father, Fred Trumpthats where the favor part comes in. If there was anything wrong in the building, Elysa Braunstein said, my dad would call and Trump would take care of it immediately. That was the small favor that he got. That account is corroborated by one of the podiatrists coworkers, Dr. Alec Hochstein, who recalls Braunstein talking about Trumps kind treatment and openness to backing off rent payments. Another doctor was frequently brought up in Dr. Larry Braunsteins family tale: Dr. Manny Weinstein. The kids arent certain about how he was involved since their father never specified, but records show he moved into a Trump-owned building the same year Donald was granted his medical exemption. Its suspected that Weinstein played a deeper role. During final examinations, a citizen specialist would have been present at the exam station to give a second opinion, and help approve or deny medical exemptions. Although theres no paper evidence, the Braunsteins believe Weinstein was this man for Trump, working with the podiatrist and Trumps father to move the exemption along. Unfortunately, there are no remaining medical documents from this time, and Dr. Weinstein and Dr. Braunstein are both deceased, meaning these stories cannot be corroborated, convincing as they are. Trump, however, doesnt help his case. When asked by the Times about his medical exemption, Trump dodged questions with his trademarked ham-fisted confidence. Trump told a biographer in 2014 that he didnt have power in those times, but a doctor who moved into the neighborhood later on said everybody recalls the Trump family around Jamaica Estates, per the Times. Trump couldnt remember the name of the doctor who diagnosed him either, but note that the presidents memory is notoriously faulty when it comes to potentially incriminating circumstances. He also mentioned that he had paperwork (no one was allowed to examine it) and that the real reason he was able to avoid the draft was thanks to a high lottery number. Yet Trump received his medical exemption a year prior to the draft lottery. Even without the faulty story, experts say the diagnosis is doubtful. Before Trumps bone spurs, he passed a physical exam and had already avoided military service with an educational deferment four times. He was declared fit for service, then, out of nowhere, he had bone spurs in his heels that just happen to be severe enough to keep him home. Oh, and nothey dont bother him anymore. Photoshop Elements brings much of the visual magic pioneered by Adobe Photoshop to nonprofessional consumers. Adobe's consumer photo editing software continues to make splashy Photoshop effects possible for novices to accomplish. Like Adobe's Creative Cloud applications, new features in the 2021 versionincluding face tilting and photo animationtake advantage of Adobe's AI technology, called Sensei. What's more, Elements provides many of Photoshops tools and capabilities without requiring you to sign up for a subscription, as its big brother does. With its wealth of tools and ease of use, Photoshop Elements remains a PCMag Editors' Choice winner for enthusiast-level photo editing software. How Much Does Photoshop Elements Cost? You can either purchase Photoshop Elements together with its enthusiast-level video-editing companion, Premiere Elements, for $149.99, or buy it alone for $99.99. A 30-day trial version is available for download, too. Note that the app's installer is not small, at 2.4GB, and the installed program takes up 2.5GB, so make sure your PC (or Mac, for which Elements is also available) has enough free disk space. The software requires an Intel 6th Generation or newer processor or AMD equivalent with SSE4 support runs on Windows 10 version 1903 or later, and on Apple macOS versions 10.14 through 11. You Can Trust Our Reviews Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( Read our editorial mission .) Whats New in Photoshop Elements? New for the 2021 version is AI-powered Moving Photos (which turns static pictures into animated GIFs) and face tilting. Three new Guided Edits bring the total number to 58. New choices let you create social posts with text overlays, perfect landscapes (complete with enhanced skies), and create duotone images. The 2021 version adds support for Adobe Creative Cloud online storage so you can share work between Elements and Creative Cloud apps such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop proper. It also lets you back up the database catalog that keeps track of all your edits. Recent years updates have progressively added powerful improvements and tools, often inherited from Photoshop itself. Notable among them are Subject Select, Automatic Colorization, Object Removal, one-click skin smoothing, pattern objects, and the astounding Open Closed Eyes capability. Adobe has also gradually made improvements to the interface as well as underlying performance and image format support, such as adding support for the HEIC format used by recent Apple iPhones. Adobe Photoshop Elements for macOS As with its Elements stablemate, Premiere Elements, Photoshop Elements for macOS matches its Windows 10 counterpart feature-for-feature. The software requires macOS 10.14 or later, but it doesn't yet support Apple Silicon M1-based Macs. That's on Adobe's roadmap for the software, however. An Adobe M1 webpage details the company's progress in moving software to the new hardware platform. Unlike Premiere Elements, Photoshop Elements is available on the Mac App Store, which simplifies installation, updating, and moving the app to another computer. The Organizer App The main photo editing program is joined by two utilities, the Start window and the Organizer, which you generally pass through before opening the actual editor. In the past, Ive lamented the delay in getting to the editor, but I do see value in both. The Start window is not only your portal to both Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, but it also presents some extremely useful features. On it you see tips for how to use new editing tools, links to most recent files you worked on, and Auto Creationsslideshows and collages the program automatically generates from your content. The Organizer application, as its name implies, is where you import, group, tag, and output your photos. You don't have to use it, but it offers a lot of capabilities that would otherwise clutter the main editing application. Its powerful search, auto curation, and sharing tools can be useful additions to the standard organization tools. Competitors like Corel PaintShop Pro and ACDSee dispense with the extra application and do everything in one interface. Four main mode choices appear at the top of the Organizer's window: Media, People, Places, and Events. The Organizer search bar lets you filter content by people, place, keyword tags, media type, date, and folder. You can combine search criteria to narrow down the results, too. Smart Tags automatically identify what's in the photoan animal, a face, a landscape, a flowerfollowing the artificial intelligence and machine learning trend we've seen in Flickr, Google Photos, and OneDrive. This cutting-edge technology saves you from having to explicitly apply tags to photos, though you can still do it yourself if you want more control. Organizer's Places mode showed my iPhone photos' location based on their embedded GPS data, but the Places section on the Search page told me there were no Places tags to search byyou have to enter location tags manually for anything to show up here. It's annoying when one part of a program has information that's not accessible in another feature. Also, I prefer the way the built-in photography apps in Windows 10 and macOS let you see a small map in the Info panel while viewing an individual photo. To search based on faces, you must first supply names in the People module. The program detects all faces and tries to match them to any you've already identified, but it's not 100 percent accurate and sometimes is fooled by profiles or weird angles. It's easy to add photos to a face tag by confirming the program's proposed images. Once you do this, though, you can search for all photos that have Jordan and Max in them, or for all photos with Jordan or Max, which is nifty. Below the search bar is the Auto Curate check box. The first time I tried to check this, it said Auto Curation was in progressunderstandable, since it analyzes your entire photo library. A few minutes later I could see the chosen images, with a slider to increase or decrease the number of photos shown. The fewer you choose, the higher the quality of the photos that appear. So, for example, you can see what the program thinks are your 50 best photos or your 100 best (10 is the minimum). The app looks for things like lighting, composition, focus, and even emotional impact. Most of my results understandably included humans, and the tool did turn up a bunch of good shots I'd forgotten about. You can even apply Auto Curate to a search, so you could find, for example, your best shots of mountains or cats. I have a couple of quibbles with the interface, however. One is that you can't double-click on a photo in Organizer's search results to launch it in the editor. The second is that theres no option for smart albums, such as Last Import, like those you get in Apple Photos and Adobe Lightroom. Speaking of importing, Photoshop Elements trails other software in the speed of this operation. I tested import performance with a batch of 146 raw images on an SDHD Class 4 card from my Canon EOS 80D to a Core i7 PC with 16GB RAM and an SSD. The import took Photoshop Elements 5:29 (min:sec) compared with the pro industry standard Lightroom Classics 4:09 and direct competitor CyberLink PhotoDirector's 3:58. I have yet to test import speed on more photo applications on my new work-from-home system for more comparison. Auto Creations After I had Elements import about a couple hundred photos and video clips, the home screen showed me more than a dozen Auto Creations it had produced from my content. From photos shot around the same area and time, it produced pleasant collages, which benefited from a bit of editing and photo swapping. The feature also produced several slideshows of varying interest from my test media, with effective transitions and backgrounds. The background music was usually well chosen to fit the image subjects, but it often stopped abruptly, rather than fading out. Some were so short as to be pointless. In any case, the project can provide starting points for your own creativity. Elements still lacks one feature found in Apple Photos, Google Photos, and Windows Photosautomatic album creation. Those products group photos from locations and time periods and automatically suggest albums. Though these don't always hit the mark, they can be a good way to get you started with albums. Adjusting Photos Photoshop Elements really comes into its own when you move from the Organizer to its full editor app. The program makes many of Photoshop proper's high-end image manipulation capabilities but without the same degree of difficulty. Many of the toolsparticularly content-aware ones that let you do things like removing areas or objects without disrupting the backgroundare unique to Adobe software. Elements Effects feel like Instagram squared, with controls that the mobile app simply can't match. The Smart Looks tool chooses an effect based on image analysis, with four variations. These matched the image types of my test shots well. And Quick mode's FX options offer four variations on the standard Vintage, Cross Process, and Toy Camera options, among seven others. I like how this tool shows your actual image under the influence of the effect, rather than just a sample image, as some programs do. When you choose the crop tool, you see four proposed crops in the bottom panel, based on faces found and other criteria. It works impressively, framing group photos and suggesting creative looks for landscapes. The crop tool, too, is suitable for many professional use cases, letting you specify standard aspect ratios and even a target size in pixels. Expert mode offers near-Photoshop levels of control, complete with filters, layers, actions (the ability to run preset Actions like resizing and effects, not to create them), histograms, and tons of artistic and graphic effects. As with Photoshop, you get an array of tool buttons along the left, and edited files are saved in Photoshop PSD format. For web producers, there's the Save for Web option, which optimizes (that is, reduces the file size) of images for online display. Comic, Graphic Novel, and Pen & Ink are among some of the more noteworthy filters you can apply to your images. These don't appear in the Filter Gallery, but must be chosen from the Filter menu directly, which may be an oversight. That said, they can produce some pretty amazing effects. Expert Mode also has a generous selection of content, such as backgrounds, frames, and shapes to spruce up a photograph. The Text tool lets you wrap text around a shape, so it doesn't overlap important parts of an image. Character-styling options are far less extensive than those in Photoshop, however. Select Subject is simply a button that appears at the bottom panel when you're using the selection brush; it's also available from the Select menu. It worked admirably on all but photos with backgrounds that blended in with the subject using similar colors. The Recompose tool is one of the program's most impressive features, letting you change the aspect ratio of an image without stretching or squashing faces and the like. You can even remove selected objects and mark others for preserving. Recompose did a good job letting me move my big head closer to a friend without distorting a test picture, though I did have to crop the photo to remove a duplicate head. You can also do standard Photoshop things, such as blur, sharpen, and add imagery. There's a good selection of clip art, too. The spot-healing brush does an excellent job at removing blemishes. I also removed a sign in the background of a photo by brushing in the texture from a forest in the image with the healing brush. When you open a raw file from a DSLR or high-end mirrorless camera, the program starts out in a separate Adobe Camera Raw window, where you have access to color, exposure, and detail, controls. It does include Adobe's raw Profilessuch as Color, Portrait, and Vividalong with noise reduction, but Elements has no chromatic aberration correction. There are also lens distortion corrections, but they don't use profiles to base automatic corrections on your equipment the way Lightroom and DxO PhotoLab do. The raw importer has red-eye reduction and cropping, which seems like an unnecessary duplication of what's in the editor app. Fixing Faces Most portrait photographers are adept at smoothing skin, and Element's Smooth Skin enhancement is designed to simplify the process. It identifies faces, overlays a circlenot an ellipseand lets you smooth or blur the area; you can adjust the intensity of the smoothing. It's a quick fix, but I think you're better off applying Gaussian blur to a selection or using the Spot Healing brush. The Adjust Facial Features tool is accessible from the Enhance menu. Open this, and a window pops up with all the faces circled. A right-side panel offers adjusters for Lips (with Smile and related sub-choices), Eyes, Nose, and Face. The last lets you change the forehead height, jawbone shape, and chin height. Just as with the similar tool in Photoshop, you can have a lot of fun with this. It does a great job identifying the facial features and convincingly modifying them. It's probably best to use these tools sparingly unless you want your friends looking like strangers. A new face feature for 2021 lets you change the tilt and direction of multiple faces in a photo. It works well for subtle adjustments but cant help you if the face in the original is in profile. Open Closed Eyes is a cool tool that debuted in the 2018 version. You find it under the Enhance menu in either Quick or Expert mode. When you open a photo in Open Closed Eyes, you see circles around any faces in the image, with the closed-eye faces highlighted. Then you have to choose an eye sourcethe fixed open eyes needn't come from the same person's face as the one with closed eyes! Believe me, if you do this with the glamor model sample eye source photos Adobe provides, you'll be in for some laughs. When using the same person's eyes, the results are decent; the closer the shot of the source eyes to the shot you want to open eyes on, the better. I still wish Adobe included some type of refinement tools for getting the lighting and detail closer to the original's. If nothing else, Open Closed Eyes is a fun trick. Moving Pictures New with the 2021 version of Photoshop Elements is the Moving Photos effect, found at the bottom of the Enhance menu. Creating animated GIFs can be tricky without tools designed specifically for them. This feature creates a very specific type of animation, in which the photo subject or the whole photo zooms, pans, or rotates. There are 11 movement options, with thumbnails that preview what they do for you. You double-click one of them to apply them to your picture, which took about 20 seconds for some photos in my tests. You can play the effect with a standard play arrow button. The 3D option is probably more impressive, as it selects the photos subject and only moves that. If you turn off the 3D Effect slider, the whole photo moves, rather than just the subject. If you choose a photo without a clear subject, the 3D can still be cool, making it look like the camera is moving in a circle. I like that the tool lets you choose export file size, since one image I tried to share was over 25MB, which Facebook Messenger didnt accept. That said, it would be nice to have more options when creating the animation, such as looping, refining the selection of what moves, or adjusting the distance of the motion. Colorizing Photos This tool makes impressive use of AI to colorize black and white pictures. After converting your image from monochrome to RGB and churning for a while, Auto mode presents you with four versions of your photo colorized. The top two choices skew towards warm tones, and the bottom two cool. It handles various skin colors with aplomb. I do wish you could adjust the intensity of the colorization within the tool, but you can always tweak colors with the separate Hue/Saturation tool. Colorization is especially adept at identifying water bodies and vegetation for correct color rendering. The Manual mode is completely different. It lets you select areas of an image that you want to out and out change the colors. You can turn a blue shirt red, for example. This works better with solid colors than for patterns, though it handles varying lighting on the selected areas well. Guided Edits Guided Edits are one way that Elements helps novices create advanced, pro-level Photoshop Effects. They're basically wizards that use tools within the app. If you knew what you were doing, you wouldn't need the Guided Edits to create these effects, but we don't all have MFAs. Meme-Maker, Partial Sketch, Text and Border Overlay, and Multi-Photo Text appeared in the 2019 update. A gallery of Guided Edits shows sample images of what they do, and swiping the cursor over these reveals the before and after. There are also tabs for different effect types, like Basics, Color, and Fun. There are now over 50 Guided Edits in all (enough that it would be nice if you could search for them). Below, I take you through a few of the newer and cooler Guided Edits. Perfect Landscapes. Photoshop recently got the Sensei AI-powered one-click sky replacement tool, and it makes loads of sense for Elements to have it, too. Its included in the Perfect Landscapes Guided Edit, which also suggests cropping, straightening, and dehazing. It did a bang-up job of beautifying my originally drab shot of the Vatican plaza. Object Removal. This Content-Aware capability has appeared in many photo apps in the last few years. Now we get a Guided Edit to simplify the process. You use one of the selection tools, and then you simply hit the Remove Object button. You can fine-tune your results with the Spot Healing Brush and Clone Stamp tool after the initial removal. Duotone Effect. This Fun Guided Edit new for the 2021 version creates a time-honored effect that back in the film days was accomplished with dye toners during enlargement developing. Of course, digital photography and software make it a snap, and far more customizable. Its one of the simpler Guided Edits: Crop options optimized for social posts get you started, and after that, its a simple matter of choosing which color tone you want to apply. Adjust the opacity, and if you want, use two colors separated by a gradient. Shape masks are another option that work for some images. It lives up to its name as a truly fun exerciseand an easy one to use. Pattern Brush. Corel PaintBrush Pro has long offered what it calls Picture Tubesshapes like stars or hearts that you can spray onto your image. This Elements Guided Edit is pretty much the same deal. It may sound cheesy, but it's actually fun. If you're making a gift card or poster, it could be just what the doctor ordered. You simply select a pattern from the right panel (there are 15 of them, including fireworks, footprints, and leaves as well as hearts and stars) and go to town on your photo. Extra niceties are that the tool can automatically protect the subject from being covered in patterns, and you can blur its edges to make it stand out. Meme-Maker. Not everyone is a fan of memes, and I realize that this definition of the termto mean a photo with big textis a dumbing-down of what the word actually means. But those images with the big text can be effective. Element's Meme-Maker tool puts a colorful radiating background to your photo along with adding that big block-letter text. You can change the background and optionally apply a few different filters, including newsprint and one similar to the famous Obama Hope poster designed by Shepard Fairey using a photo by Mannie Garcia. Multi-Photo Text. A while back the video editing programs were all adding features that could create text using your video content. The twist with this image tool is that you can use multiple photos for the letters in your text. You can either add a photo for each letter or preload the Photo Bin and have them flow automatically into the text. You can then choose a solid background color. I could see this being an effective tool for organizations' flyers and posters. Painterly. I'm far from being an artist, so if this tool can make me look like one, it has accomplished quite a feat. In fact, Painterly doesn't require any artistic ability at all. What it does is to use your existing photo for brush strokes. You get five brush styles, and, after applying one (and removing unwanted areas), you can choose a background canvas texture and optionally apply a painterly filter, such as watercolor. Again, this is a fun, easy way to create a more compelling image than your typical snapshot. Many Photoshop effects involve selecting objects precisely, and either adding or removing them to or from an image. With the Auto Selection tool, you draw a rectangle or shape over the object you want to select, and the tool determines your object's edges. The earlier Quick Selection tool has you scribble on the object you want to select. I still prefer Quick over Auto, since getting the right shape size and placement is trickier than simply scribbling over the object. All the selection tools offer a Refine Edge option, which uses a circle with inner and outer selection circumferences. The brilliance of the tool is that it switches between adding and subtracting from your selection depending on whether you're inside or outside the original selection. You can also hover the tool right over the edge to have Photoshop Elements refine the selection for youthat usually means adding those stray hairs to it. The tool worked impressively on a photo of my niece's Shih Tzu puppy. The Photomerge Group Shot tool lets you get the best expression on each person from a series of group shots. You can, for example, give one person's face their eyes from another shot. Scene Cleaner lets you remove passers-by from a landscape or famous site. Exposure, also called high dynamic range (HDR), fixes by using two or more shots to combine the best version of, say, the clouds in the sky from one picture, and a forest below from a second shot. The Photomerge Panorama tool offers lots of control, creating a full panorama rather than one with twisted edges. It even fills in empty areas left by the photos and stitchingto impressive effect in my testingbut it can take a long time to do its work. You won't find that filling option in other software. Another photo-enhancing tool, Smart Brushes, let you paint effects and adjustments onto specific areas of a photo, including B&W, color, lighting, special effects, and artistic treatments like drawing. These offer a really cool and easy way to make a sky bluer or darken areas of an image. One trick missing is CyberLink PhotoDirector's Multiple Exposure, which can automatically build impressive action images with multiple instances of your protagonist. Finally, one tool that has come down from Photoshop is Shake Reduction. This can automatically sharpen shots in which you shook the camera slightly. It gives you the same control as the Photoshop tool, letting you select the area you want to correct. Sharing and Output Elements offers the most output options of any consumer photo editorwhether you're into creating slideshows, sending picture emails, printing via Shutterfly, burning discs, or uploading to web galleries. You can directly upload to online photo sites, including Flickr and Twitter. I would like to see more social outlets here, such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. One minor disappointment is that Elements' own keyword tags don't carry over into Flickr, though you can add tags when you do the uploading. Others include the lack of direct sharing to Facebook Messenger, Skype, or WhatsApp. If Adobe had produced a UWP app, all this sharing could be built-in via Windows' standard Share button. Elements' photo slideshows are actually videos. You can start creating one from either the Organizer or by selecting images in the editor and choosing the Create drop-down. You get six templates, including WaterColor, Woods, Pan and Zoom, and Classic. You can change the background music and add or remove images to taste, but the slideshow is generated automatically and starts playing right away, so your layout choices are limited. The tools in Apple Photos and Microsoft Photos offer more customization at this point, with more canned music choices and control over slide duration. A new option for 2021 in the Create menu is Quote Graphic. Its basically templates that look sort of light greeting cards that are for use on social media. You can choose a shape that works for stories or posts on Facebook and Instagram primarily. Shapes and graphics can adorn your image as well as text. You can even choose an animation style like those in the Moving Photos discussed above. Adobe lets you order photo prints from within the Photoshop Elements application. From the Create menu, choose Photo Prints, FujiFilm Prints and Gifts, and accept the Fuji terms of use. You then see a window that's basically the FujiFilm website, where you can choose what sort of prints you want and on what surfaces. 4-by-6-inch prints cost a reasonable 19 cents each. It uses a clear and simple interface, but dedicated options like Editors' Choice winner Mpix have more printing options, and sending pictures to CVS or Walmart gets you the option of same-day pickup. A final quick word about help: I'm not a big fan of Adobe's Web-only help system. I'd love to be able to search within the application for help on tools and techniques. Even a user-guide-type offline help document would be an improvement. All the Elements You Need for Your Photos For amateurs who want to get creative with their photos, Adobe Photoshop Elements is still the best game in town. Professionals, of course, can do all this and more with the full Photoshop application, but that comes with a high learning curve and recurring price tag. Elements makes a lot of the coolest Photoshop effects accessible to laypeople. It offers a generous subset of the pro editor's features in a simpler package. Competitors can't match Elements' array of photo effects, organizational tools, and sharing and output options. With best-in-class tools for getting creative with your digital images, Adobe Photoshop Elements wins our Editors' Choice for enthusiast photo editing software. Those who are only interested in photography without the extra creativity tools should look to our photo workflow software Editors' Choice winner Lightroom, and pros will certainly want Photoshop, our Editors' Choice for professional image editing software. Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.5 Editors' Choice See It $99.99 at Amazon MSRP $99.99 Pros Many powerful image-manipulation tools Strong face- and geo-tagging capabilities Excellent image output options Powerful search Helpful guidance for advanced techniques View More Cons No chromatic aberration correction or lens geometry profiles Too few social sharing options No local help system The Bottom Line Adobe Photoshop Elements is an excellent option for photo hobbyists who don't want to pay a subscription or learn complex Photoshop techniques. A week after his girlfriend broke up with him, Edward L. Baker Jr. crept into her apartment and waited for her to come home from work. When she arrived, police said, Baker shot the 30-year-old woman in the face, slit her throat twice and then shot her in the back of the head. As she lay dying, he raped her. Last year, a Beaver County jury convicted Baker of a grisly trifecta first-, second- and third-degree murder plus charges of rape, burglary and criminal trespass. A state Superior Court panel has just upheld that verdict, along with the life-plus-20-year prison term Baker is serving for the slaying. The state court, in an opinion by Judge Jacqueline O. Shogan, rejected every argument in Bakers appeal, including his claim that a confession he gave to two state troopers should have been suppressed. Despite Bakers contention to the contrary, it is obvious this was a premeditated murder, Shogan found. As Shogan noted, Addeleigh Huzyak ended her 6-month relationship with the 29-year-old Baker in late May of 2016. On June 5 of that year, she found him waiting for her in her apartment with a gun in his hand. Baker used a key Huzyak had given him when they were a couple to get in, investigators said. After killing and raping Huyzak, Baker climbed out an apartment window and fled to Kentucky, where he was arrested two days later. On appeal, Baker argued there wasnt proof he went to Huzyaks home with the intent to kill her. Shogan agreed with county Senior Judge John D. McBride, who presided at the trial, that there was solid evidence the murder was premeditated. As McBride noted, in the days before the slaying Baker performed Google searches for countries that dont have extradition treaties with the U.S. An hour before the slaying Baker searched for How to knock someone out fast, McBride added. Also, Baker bought a .22 caliber pistol, the weapon police believe was used in the killing, four days before he waited in ambush for Huzyak, Shogan noted. Prosecutors said Baker confessed to killing Huzyak when two Pennsylvania state troopers arrived to bring him back from Kentucky. Baker argued on appeal that McBride should have refused to allow prosecutors to use that confession during his trial. It should have been off-limits, he insisted, because the troopers did not tell him his family had hired a lawyer who would instruct him not to talk to police. Shogan found Baker voluntarily waived his right to remain silent when he gave that statement. Therefore, she wrote, the troopers failure to inform (Baker) that his family had hired counsel and that counsel had instructed (one trooper) that no one was to speak with (Baker) is immaterial to the voluntariness of (Bakers civil rights) waivers. A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a Wednesday morning fire at a commercial building in Pequea Township, Lancaster County. Firefighters were called after midnight to the blaze at 242 Marticville Road, according to a news release from Southern Lancaster County Regional police. When firefighters arrived, flames were found on multiple floors of the building, which housed construction supplies, according to police. Photos and videos posted online by the West Willow Fire Company show heavy smoke and flames coming from the building as firefighters work to extinguish the blaze. According to the news release, the fire is being investigated, and police have asked anyone with information about the blaze to contact them at 717-664-1180. Police did not list information about whether anyone was injured as a result of the fire. When visiting Wallenpaupack Area School District, Carolyn Dumaresq met a clever first grade student who she said inspired her to pursue opening a STEAM Academy in midtown Harrisburg. Dumaresq, the academys board president, said she expects to field rigorous questions from the Harrisburg School Board next month as the board decides whether to approve the application to establish the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics charter school. Wallenpaupack first-grade students enrolled in a reading program, which showed successful proven practices, wowed Dumaresq, former Pennsylvania secretary of education. She said she observed them writing and writing in their journals about plants and animals. The rural school district has an over 50 percent food and reduced lunch population. One of the first graders, he liked trees, she said. "He wrote down the word habitat. I said, oh, habitat, thats a big word.' I asked him, what does that mean? He said, where they live. Then I said, nutrient, thats another big word. Whats that? And, he says, its the stuff in the soil that feeds the plant; giving me a look like, dont you know anything lady? It was one of the most amazing experiences. They could pronounce the words, they could spell them, and they could use them in a sentence. For the past two-and-a-half years, Dumaresq said, shes been looking for the best programs for the STEAM Academys curriculum. She wants to work with Harrisburg School District to crack the cycle of poverty" linked to poor academic performance, she said. A reading program like the one in the Pocono Mountains is what she wants to offer students at STEAM. Having previously served not only as secretary of education but as a superintendent, principal and teacher, Dumaresq said shes examined her proposal from several different angles. Shes worked with a number of community stakeholders, some of whom have been appointed to the academys board, she said. Another former state education secretary, Ron Tomalis, is among the board members. "I believe STEAM education throughout the commonwealth is needed, she said. Its the way of the future. And, Harrisburg already has a nine through 12 sci-tech academy. It seems the STEAM Academy would be a natural feeder system. If approved by the Harrisburg School District school board, the inaugural classes would consist of students in kindergarten, first and second grades. There will be about 20 students in each classroom, Dumareq said, and one teacher and one teachers aide for every 10 students."We already have over 160 pre-enrollment applications, she said, which were collected through word of mouth, and a parent information session hosted by the Salvation Army. Classroom seats would go to Harrisburg School District students first before they would be opened to students attending nearby school districts, Dumaresq said. The academy board would use a lottery to determine who would attend the charter, she said. If a students number is pulled, and they have siblings in the corresponding grades, then the family could attend the academy, she said. Weve made a promise to let parents know what we are doing, she said. We will most likely hold parent information sessions in early Spring. If the 120 seats arent filled by Harrisburg students, then the lottery would be used again to fill remaining seats of interested students enrolled in nearby districts, she said. The curriculum, she added, is jam-packed. Days would start with a 30-minute soft landing, she said. A soft landing is an intentional interaction between teacher and student to ensure that students are emotionally prepared to learn, Dumaresq explained. Many of these students have dealt with trauma, and they are behind because of living in poverty, she said. After the soft landing, then students spend two hours reading, as well as dive into intensive science, math and engineering lessons. Students would also engage in assessing the citys culturally rich art studios and museums, she said. Students would attend classes on the third floor of 1500 N. 3rd Street. Harrisburg Area Community College currently occupies the building, but they are moving out when the colleges lease expires. There is room to grow, GreenWorks Development Chief Executive Officer and STEAM board member Doug Neidich said. The buildings security has been brought up-to-date, and he hopes to soon build recreational areas both inside and outside, he said. Weve got to break the cycle, Neidich said. This building is a 115,00 square-foot building built one hundred years ago this year. In 2005, we worked with Harrisburg Area Community College to purchase the building and we turned it into an educational facility. We tried to keep as many old features of the building as possible, but we have updated it. It is ideal for the charter school. Dumaresq said shes confident the STEAM Academy board has negotiated reasonable fees to pay for the use of the building. Board members have also arranged for Commonwealth Charter Academy to oversee office day-to-day tasks. The academy would be funded through a per-pupil allocation, meaning a portion of each students' operational costs both state and federal funds already allocated to the district would follow the student, she said. In addition, STEAM Academy board members would independently apply for federal funds, she said. Not all of a students per-pupil allocation follows the student because the district needs to fund their own programs, for example, student transportation, Dumaresq said. There is no for-profit component to this proposal, she explained. There are no additional fees, or tuition, per student and no increased costs to the district, Dumaresq said. Harrisburg School District did not respond to requests for comment regarding the pending application. School board members who attended a December district meeting about the application asked good questions, Dumaresq said. Far more rigorous questioning is expected in January, she added. Its a parental choice, she said. I think what it provides, in my vision and my hope, is that its a training ground. Its easier to implement programs in smaller settings. We want to make sure the curriculum works before we replicate it. We want to make sure we found the right strategies. If it works, let us show you and then we can train together to implement in other city schools. This Christmas, were mourning a Pennsylvania icon. Radio talk-show host Bob Durgin has died. His passing, appropriately, was announced on Christmas Eve. Though the outspoken conservative personality, known for his Stetson and his plain talk, more than made a mark on state politics, listeners came to learn every Christmas Eve what a big heart he had . Before the days of cellphones and internet, Durgin would invite military families on the show on Christmas Eve, and the station would make calls to their loved ones overseas. During an hour of the show, a friend would call in as Santa and listeners could call in to talk to him. Even after his retirement in 2013 at the age of 70, Durgins Christmas spirit bubbled up. Just last year, Durgin called in and narrated The Night Before Christmas, friends recall. But Pennsylvanias politicians knew another side of Durgin. While he was conservative, he was not partisan, and lawmakers left, right and center knew he would hold them accountable. His most memorable campaign was to persuade the legislature in 2005 to rescind the notorious pay raise they gave themselves in the middle of the night. He gathered nearly 130,000 signatures in protest of the raise and rolled the yards and yards of petitions down the steps of the Capitol. Not long after, those same lawmakers pulled back the pay hikes, which had ranged from 11 percent to 54 percent. Durgin loved radio. He was born in Boston but graduated from Upper Merion High School and started his radio career at a radio station in Norristown when he was 16. He began working at WHP-AM in Harrisburg in 1989. His show, which ran from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, was one of the top-rated radio shows in the midstate from its inception. He had a gift for connecting with people and seemed to understand instinctively what motivated them. He tackled issues on the national level but brought the same passion to local school board decisions. He was blunt, and he kept himself well informed. He was truly one of a kind, WHP producer Dan Steele, said Monday. He loved to pound on the desk and hold people accountable for some of the things they did in the state capital. He was a bigger-than-life character that had a tremendous sense of humor and a tremendous sense of civic pride, and all of that came through on the radio, said WHP morning host RJ Harris. When Bob Durgin retired, many wondered who would fill his shoes but the answer was apparent even then. Nobody could. Durgin was unique, and when he left central Pennsylvanias airwaves, he took a little bit of the midstate with him. Our views as an institution and his own did not intersect or rarely did. But his was an independent voice that spoke for a large portion of people, and those voices are important. But what would this radio pioneer have to say about all the praise now heaped on him? No doubt hed brush it off with his trademark reply: Give me a physical break. Area holiday open houses on tap for this weekend A number of area holiday open houses will take place this weekend in the region, providing holiday cheer and family friendly festivities. In February of his senior year, John Wise would receive his "D" letter. This was not a bad grade, but a letter notifying him that upon graduation from high school he would be drafted. The native of Pine Bluffs decided to check out all the branches of the military to see which one would offer him the most in opportunities, schooling and training. Wise chose the Navy after researching showed him what the Navy would offer. He enlisted in the Navy on their 120 delayed enlistment, and graduated high school. "I wanted to see more of the world than just FE Warren AFB, in Cheyenne!" stated Wise. From high school in Nebraska, to Arthur Murray's Dance Studio in California, to the Navy, Dalton Fuller made major changes in his life out of high school. This soft spoken young man, who was born in his grandma's house on the old homestead in Keith County, Nebraska would find himself visiting other countries he never dreamed of. Fuller graduated from Ogallala High School in Ogallala, Nebraska in 1958. Upon graduation he packed up with his dad and they headed to the west coast, where his dad lived in Granada Hills, California. He found employment at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and found himself faced with employment dislikes. While sitting in a coffee shop near by, he would talk with the Army and Navy recruiters. After much thought and consideration, and the fact the Navy recruiter was nicer, Fuller enlisted in the Navy. Jon D. Abrams believes strongly that it is in his DNA to enlist and serve in the military. When he first went to enlist, his father was not happy with his choice. Once his dad saw his passion, and desire to serve, he had his full support. Abrams is one of 12 children, and followed in his brothers footsteps by enlisting in the Idaho Army National Guard. While in high school, Abrams struggled with school. His outlook was not the greatest and will tell you that he hated school. So much has changed since then. "I enlisted when I was a junior in high school, just as the Vietnam war was coming to an end. Abrams enlisted in the military and his job was a cook in Preston, Idaho. Sean B. Romans had an early influence in his life with regards to the military. He enlisted into the Army reserves in between his junior and senior year of high school. The influence that was the driving force of his dad who served in the United States Marines 1960 to 1964 during the Cuban missile crisis as a draftsmen. Romans was born in Saginaw Michigan. When he was very young, his family moved to Tampa, Florida. In his teens he moved back to Michigan. His desire to be in the military was so strong, he completed basic for the Army National Guard during the summer prior to his senior year. After serving his enlistment, he was discharged and went about civilian life. The pull to the military was still strong and when a buddy suggested the U.S. Air Force, Romans jumped in with both feet, and has been serving since. Jo E. Radcliffe comes from a military family. Her grandfather, and father both served in the U. S. Navy. Serving in the military, was a given in her mind and heart. Courtesy Jo Radcliffe Jo E. Radcliffe completes basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas Radcliffe, is born and raised Californian. She graduated from Baldwin Park High School, in Baldwin Park, California in 1978. Upon graduation, she entered the work force. She worked for Bank America Card in Pasadena, California, and for a law firm in Los Angeles. This was not enough in her eyes, as she was looking for the right job and what she was doing at the time, did not fulfill her goals. Radcliffe entered into the military in 1982, and headed to basic training in Texas. From basic training at Lackland AFB, she headed north to Shepard AFB for tech school. She would find herself in aircraft maintenance on the F4s. She was on the crash and recovery crew. "In all my time serving, I only had to go out once for crash and recovery" she said. More to follow next week. CHEYENNE - Fall K-12 enrollment data for Wyoming public schools for the 2018-19 school year is available online. Fall enrollment rose from 92,976 in 2017-18 to 93,029 students this year. As our state is focused on economic diversity, its encouraging to see a slight increase in school enrollment, said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. Wyoming has a quality education system and it is a factor families certainly consider when moving to or staying in Wyoming. Sheridan County School District #1 gained the most students with 88, followed by Laramie County School District #1 with 81, and Natrona County School District #1 with 64. The biggest drop in enrollment occurred in Sweetwater County School District #1 with 101 fewer students. The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has prepared the following reports that break down the enrollment statistics: Historical Fall Enrollment since school year 1991-92. Districts ranked by enrollment total. Districts ranked by enrollment per grade. District demographics. This data was gathered from all school districts throughout the state in a snapshot performed on October 1, 2018. 744 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) took apart Donald Trump for daring to question anyones patriotism even though he had five deferments to get out of going to Vietnam and cant remember which foot his bone spur was in. Video: Transcript via CBS Face The Nation: NANCY CORDES: You called him a five deferment draft dodger. SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Four for school and one for medical reasons that he cant even remember what foot the bone spur was in. I can still feel the hangnail in my right foot, and its missing! And and you know, we have a guy that says he had a bone spur that kept him out of Vietnam and he cant remember where it was. NANCY CORDES: Do you think that disqualifies him from being commander-in-chief or making decisions about the military? SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: No, I think he was elected rightfully to be president of the United States. But I dont think that he has the right to question other peoples support for our military, especially those of us who have served. Sen. Duckworth was correct. Trump has zero room talk about supporting the military. Trump dodged serving his country during a time of war, and as president, his actions have not matched his support the troops rhetoric. In December 2017, Trumps VA had to back off of a plan to shift money away from a major program that combats homeless in veterans. Vets have seen their benefits under constant assault from the White House and the Republican-controlled Congress, as the GOP has talked their usual flag-waving big game, but their policies show that they have little concerns for the problems our veterans face. Those who have served and sacrificed for their country know a fraud when they see it, and when Trump attacks any American for not supporting the military, he is reminding us all real patriots dont hide behind fake bone spurs and daddys money to avoid service. Real patriots also dont cooperate with hostile foreign powers to win presidential elections. 873 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Another migrant child from Guatemala has died while being held by U.S border patrol officials. An eight year old boy was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Christmas Eve and died shortly after midnight on Christmas Day, in a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The news was first reported in a tweet posted by the San Antonio Express News. Early this morning, an 8-year-old Guatemalan child died in CBP custody at a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Official cause of death is still unknown. #BREAKING: SCOOP: Early this morning, an 8-year-old Guatemalan child died in CBP custody at a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Official cause of death is still unknown. pic.twitter.com/reKlHD3C5J Silvia Foster-Frau (@SilviaElenaFF) December 25, 2018 Information about the childs death came from a press release issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Christmas Day. The news release said that a U.S. Border Patrol agent had noticed the child was ill after being taken into custody and then the boy and his father were promptly transferred to the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo. The child was initially diagnosed with a common cold, the statement said, but hospital staff later found he had a fever. After being held for observation for another 90 minutes, the child was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon with prescriptions for amoxicillin and ibuprofen. Later that same evening, the statement said, the boy began vomiting and was brought back to the hospital, where he died shortly after midnight on December 25. The information released by the government did not identify the child nor give an official cause of death. The death of the Guatemalan boy came just weeks after a 7-year-old migrant girl, Jakelin Caal Maquin, died in Border Patrol custody. A CBP timeline showed she had not been able to access emergency medical care until roughly 90 minutes after she first began showing symptoms. The girls father said his ill daughter was given no water for 8 hours while in Border Patrol custody. Jakelin died on December 8, shortly after she and her father were apprehended while illegally crossing into a remote area of the desert in New Mexico as part of a group of 163 migrants. The Department of Homeland Security and its secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, drew backlash in recent weeks after appearing to blame Jakelins death on the family members who brought her across the US-Mexico border. In an interview Nielsen said that the girls death is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey migrants take. This family chose to cross illegally, she said. What happened here was that they were about 90 miles away from where we could process them. They came in such a large crowd that it took our Border Patrol folks a couple of times to get them all. Congressional Democrats were outraged after hearing about the second childs death. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) wrote on Twitter. What is happening at our southern border ?! This makes the second death of a young child at our border in as many weeks. This is outrageous! This shocks the conscience, Rep.(D-Texas) wrote on Twitter. What is happening at our southern border?! This makes the second death of a young child at our border in as many weeks. This is outrageous! This shocks the conscience.https://t.co/38VLtmtVFz Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 25, 2018 7.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard General Wesley Clark, the former commander of all NATO forces, has suggested that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blackmailed President Donald Trump in order to get him to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. Trump dropped a huge political bombshell last week when he announced that he had unilaterally decided to pull out of Syria because the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State, Iraq and Syria) had been defeated. However, as many knowledgeable people have pointed out since Trumps announcement, ISIS has NOT been defeated. So what was the justification for the pullout? We do know that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved of the move. Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of the president, was one of many critics of Trumps Syria move on Capitol Hill. He called Trumps claim of ISIS being defeated fake news. The highly-respected Clark was also very critical. He said that U.S. allies in the Middle East have been openly wondering if Erdogan coerced Trump in some way. During a television interview over the Christmas holiday Clark said: There doesnt seem to be any strategic rationale for the decision. And if there is no strategic rationale, then you have to ask, Why was the decision made? I can tell you that people around the world are asking this. And some of our friends and our allies in the Middle East are asking: Well, did Erdogan blackmail the president? Was there a payoff or something? Why would a guy make a decision like this? Clark also strongly disagreed with Trumps false claim that ISIS has been defeated, saying: Were not finished with ISIS.What does this say about the foreign policy of the United States? That were not reliable? That we make strategic decisions based on no strategic logic? Trumps announcement last week of his planned troop withdrawal from Syria reportedly led to the resignation of another highly-respected general, Defense Secretary James Mattis. These two events have added to a strong feeling among many observers all over the world that the White House has descended into chaos. This belief was strengthened when Trump decided to shut down the U.S. government and then threatened to fire the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury Secretary. Members of Congress, as well as leaders of the military, have said that removing U.S. troops from Syria will help Russia and Turkey achieve their goals in the Middle East, but hurt U.S. allies. Trump disclosed on Monday that he had spoken to Erdogan about the Syria troop withdrawal, writing on Twitter: President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria.and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right next door. Our troops are coming home! President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria.and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right next door. Our troops are coming home! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018 The fact that General Wesley Clark, after speaking to U.S. allies in the Middle East, believes that Trump may be being blackmailed by Turkey, is a very bad sign. There is already a great deal of evidence that Trump makes U.S. policy decisions based on how they affect his personal business interests. What is it that Erdogan has over Donald Trump? Nobody seems to know for sure yet. Perhaps some time in the near future we will discover that a secret real estate deal is in the works, and they will soon break ground on the new Trump Tower Istanbul. And in breaking news, to support this hypothesis, it has just been reported this morning that President Erdogan has issued an invitation to President Trump to visit Istanbul sometime in the coming year. 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. An upgrade to parking area, drive-though lanes and restaurant is on way for the Chick-fil-A on Dorchester Road in North Charleston. Above, the Chick-fil-A off Magwood Drive in West Ashley is slated to be torn down and replaced with an updated model in 2019. It was built in 1995. File/Warren L. Wise/Staff David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune. Sometimes an event changes the course of a life, as it did for Kati Carpenter when she was 15 years old. She was struggling with direction and what she would do in her future. College didnt seem like it would be her cup of tea. One morning at Mayo High School she walked into her Latin class and saw her instructor watching television. Tears were in her teachers eyes. It was Sept. 11, 2001. The North Tower of the World Trade Center had just been struck by a passenger jetliner. As Kati sat down at her desk, the South Tower was struck by another jetliner. In the months that followed the attack, Kati started to feel a call to the service of her country. Kati comes from a proud military family. Her great grandfather, both of her grandfathers and her dad all served. The call she felt did not dissipate and she left for Navy boot camp on Sept. 14, 2004, at 18 years of age. Mission-ready Assigned as an airman in a maintenance department, Kati became one of the "caretakers of the jets," as she puts it. Soon her dedication, work and skill earned a designation as plane captain. This responsibility is to ensure that every aircraft is mission-ready. This charge for a young Navy airman is heavy. In 2006, her outfit was called up to the 5th fleet during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her Navy squadron would be the first to do split site operations, with the maintenance crews rotating between the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and Iraq. Kati loved the work and was proud to serve with men and women who became her family they were in it together. Kati was ready to make the Navy her career, but as troops began to withdraw from Iraq she was told her experience and expertise were no longer required. All branches of the military went into a troop reduction mode. This was hard to accept and she was resentful for a while. She was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2011. Katis commitment to her fellow veterans never left her. There have been stories across the country and right here in our state and community regarding veterans taking their own lives. Kati felt another call to service, as five people she served with committed suicide. Those tragedies, she said, felt like another 9/11. Kati became active in many ways to help members of her military family. This past September she saw a posting of a new position with the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota. The job was the Southeast Transportation Coordinator. Kati applied and said in her interview that her mission, her passion, was to be part of what they were doing helping veterans. She was hired. Critical need The main part of Katis job is to coordinate transportation for veterans in Southeast Minnesota, to ensure that veterans who need transportation assistance get to their VA medical appointments. This service is provided at no cost to the veterans. As the DAV takes responsibility for this critical mission, it is in need of volunteer drivers. It is crucial that veterans get to their scheduled medical appointments. It is critical that a veteran get to his or her mental health appointment. We never know what a veteran is going through. If an appointment is missed, it might be months before they can be scheduled again. The DAV SE Transportation Office is responsible for Olmsted, Winona and Steele counties. The program serves ambulatory and non-wheelchair-bound veterans to and from VA-approved medical appointments. The key to the program is having enough drivers. There is a certification process for volunteer drivers who will have a background investigation, will be interviewed and provided with training. In all, Kati says the official blessing to become a driver takes about four hours. You dont have to be a veteran to become a volunteer driver, and you can volunteer once a week or once a month. Katis goal is to recruit and have in place 20 volunteer drivers per county. Vans, sometimes carrying four to five veterans, will be making a few trips a day. In Olmsted County trips will go to the Twin Cities and some will make local trips to the VA clinic in Rochester. The trips from Winona and Steele counties may go to Tomah, Wis., or Madison, Wis. Kati said she has a critical need for drivers in Rochester. If you are looking for a rewarding new opportunity in 2019 this is the ticket. (Make sure you dont get a ticket.) If you can help, call Kati Carpenter at 507-703-1139 or go to the website www.davmn.orgfor additional information. In Katis life, she told me, she has always felt like a protector. This job has given her a purpose to assist her military family. Suicide prevention and veterans receiving the medical care they were promised are missions that Kati is on. She needs help. The Guam Police Department launched a criminal investigation Wednesday into an unauthorized fireworks display that lit up the sky in Agat on Christmas Eve, according to a news release. Deputy Fire Chief Joey San Nicolas said his office did not authorize the fireworks and no fireworks show was scheduled on Monday night. I didnt authorize it, said Agat mayor Kevin Susuico, nor did I have any knowledge of it. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. We had family here at my home celebrating our Christmas Eve novena, said Mayor Susuico, and to our surprise we saw the fireworks. A release from Guam Police Department spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao said that the Agat Precinct got a 911 call around 9 p.m. Monday reporting illegal fireworks being discharged on Finile Drive in Agat. However he says the report "was noted at that time to be unfounded." The investigation was not launched until Wednesday said Sgt. Tapao, when the Guam Police Department was made aware of (an) illegal fireworks display that was captured on video. According to the release, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has been asked to assist with the investigation in order to determine the grade of the fireworks that were set off. Sgt. Tapao also confirmed that an off-duty police officer was identified in the video. The Guam Daily Post has confirmed that the person who shot the video is a Guam police officer. In-line with the criminal investigation, Tapao said, GPD will be conducting an administrative investigation relative to the off-duty officer's involvement with this case. Former Guam Police Col. Mark Charfauros is also seen on the video, stepping into the frame and raising his arms as the fireworks go off in the distance behind him. On Christmas Eve in 2016, then GPD Col. Charfauros was accused of interfering with a police investigation of illegal fireworks being set off in Agat in an effort to protect members of the Agat Blood Town gang from arrest. A video of that two year old incident showed Charfauros berating officers at the scene. Charfauros was subsequently fired from the police department and charged with obstructing government functions. The case is still ongoing and Charfauros is appealing his dismissal from the force. About this most recent incident, Mayor Susuico said he does not know who set off the fireworks that he said appeared to be coming from the Finile Drive area of Agat. I was nowhere near it, he said. Mayor Susuico also said the only time that we do these type of shows is during our fiestas and its always through the licensed company that we work with. We know that fireworks without a permit is illegal, said the mayor. "Unfortunately we are not law officials, he said. The only thing we can do is pass it through the proper channels. GPD was informed right away on Monday night, said the mayor. Mayor Susuico reminded the individuals who are setting off the fireworks to be mindful of the rest of the community because of the chance of fire, or danger or injury to children and adults. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that might well have major implications for administrative law. The case is Kisor v. Wilkie, in which a Marine seeks retroactive benefits for his PTSD. Why is this case so important? Because, as David French explains, it turns on the deference, if any, the VAs interpretation of the word relevant in the applicable federal regulations should receive. French explains that, under current law, courts defer to an agencys reasonable interpretation of its own ambiguous regulation. This means that the administrative state receives the benefit of the doubt twice. First, under Chevron, courts defer to an administrative agencys regulation if Congress hasnt directly spoken to the issue and the agency has engaged in a permissible construction of the statute. Second, under Bowles v. Seminole Rock and Sand Co, and Auer v. Robbins, courts defer to the agency when even its own regulation is ambiguous. The agency thus receives deference both for its interpretation of the statute and for its interpretation of its interpretation. This leaves regulatory agencies with enormous authority to craft and then interpret their own regulations. They are able, in Frenchs words, to expand their constitutional role and essentially combine all three constitutional functions under a single bureaucratic tent. The agency becomes the lawmaker as it drafts regulations, the judge as it interprets its own laws, and the executive as it enforces the laws that it has drafted and interpreted. The Supreme Court decided to hear Kisor v. Wilkie for the stated purpose of considering whether to overrule Seminole Rock and Auer. If the Court does overrule these decisions, agency rules will continue to receive Chevron deference. However, they will no longer receive that second dose of deference. Auer was decided in 1999 by a unanimous Court. Justice Scalia wrote the opinion. Since then, however, Chief Justice Roberts, in a concurrence joined by Justice Alito, has expressed a willingness to revisit the Auer doctrine. (Neither Roberts nor Alito was on the Court in 1999). Indeed, Scalia himself attacked the doctrine in a 2015 dissent. The Court should overrule Auer. As my friends Jim Christman, David Harlow, and Craig Harrison observed nearly 20 years ago, in a May 12, 2000 Legal Backgrounder for the Washington Legal Foundation, wholesale deference has caused some agencies to stop trying to write clear rules. Instead, they write mush and then give it concrete form only through subsequent, less formal interpretations without providing notice to the public and without following the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). More fundamentally, once regulations have been promulgated, the question of what they mean is a pure question of law that only a court should be allowed to decide. The agency has already had the opportunity to exercise its expertise and policymaking prerogatives the rationale for granting it deference in Chevron. As Christman, Harlow, and Harrison concluded: Regulations are laws just as statutes are laws. Like statutes, regulations dictate behavior by those to whom they apply. Like statutes, regulations drive the expenditure of time and other resources on the part of those who are being regulated. Like statutes, if regulations are violated, enforcement proceedings, civil penalties, and perhaps even criminal sanctions may follow. Accordingly, the responsibility for determining the meaning of regulations must rest ultimately not with any element of the executive branch that promulgated them, but with the judiciary. The Supreme Court should take the opportunity presented by Kisor v. Wilkie to overrule Seminole Rock and Auer, and restore the control of courts over unbridled agency creativity in the reinterpretation of agencies own words. I tweeted my post on Dave Orricks St. Paul Pioneer Press story A lot of cops dont like Keith Ellison. Hows that going to work when hes attorney general? Citing my August 15 Weekly Standard column Can Keith Ellison turn lawman?, I criticized Orricks Pioneer Press story as being late and pathetic. Orrick responded with a tweet citing his November 1 Pioneer Press article Keith Ellison, Louis Farrakhan, and cop killers: Smear campaign or fair game? According to Orricks tweet, he had written about all this during the campaign. I was aware of Orricks November 1 article when I asserted that his current story was late and pathetic. His current story is indeed late and pathetic. Although Orricks November 1 story was better on Ellisons history with law enforcement than is his current story, that history is seen as in a glass darkly. Arriving five days before the election, the story was late and lame. On Ellisons history with Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Orricks November 1 story was a joke. Orrick does not understand that Ellison was a self-avowed member of the hate cult or that he followed its doctrines including anti-Semitism as an active local leader. Orrick is proudly ignorant of Ellisons persistent lies on this subject over the past 12 years. Instead, Orrick cited the support of Ellisons local Jewish supporters. Ellison certainly has local Jewish supporters; they are devout Democrats. They cannot wish away Ellisons past work with Farrakhan or his active membership in the hate cult. Their support of Ellison is a painful variant of an old phenomenon. The quality of Orricks work on Ellison this year is a notch above that of the Star Tribune. The Star Tribune adheres to the adage that silence is golden. The quality of Orricks work is nevertheless poor. Dave, I hereby offer you a personal look at my file on Keith Ellison. You can reach me on Twitter or at [email protected] In the alternative, you can consult Tim Murphys 2017 Mother Jones story Keith Ellison Is Everything Republicans Thought Obama Was. Maybe Hes Just What Democrats Need. Writing from the left as a fan of Ellison, Murphy nevertheless gets the story straight. For example: Ellison has said that he was never a member of the Nation of Islam and that his working relationship with the organizations Twin Cities study group (the national organizations term for its chapters) lasted just 18 months. He has said that he was an angry young black man who thought he might have found an ally in the cause of economic and political empowerment, and that he overlooked Farrakhans most incendiary statements because when youre African American, theres literally no leader who is not beat up by the press. In his book, Ellison outlines deep theological differences between the group and his mainstream Muslim faith. But his break from Farrakhan was not quite as clean as he portrayed it. Under the byline Keith X Ellison, months after the march that he described as an epiphany, he penned an op-ed in the Twin Cities black weekly Insight News, pushing back against charges of anti-Semitism directed at Farrakhan. In 1997, nearly two years later, he endorsed a statement again defending Farrakhan. When Ellison ran (unsuccessfully) for state representative in 1998, Insight News described him as affiliated with the Nation of Islam. Two organizers who worked with him at the time told me they believed Ellison had been a member of the Nation. At community meetings, he was even known to show up in a bow tie, accompanied by dark-suited members of the Fruit of Islam, the Nations security wing. Minister James Muhammad, who in the 1990s led the Nation of Islams Twin Cities study group, confirms that Ellison served for several years as the local groups chief of protocol, acting as a liaison between Muhammad and members of the community. He was a trusted member of our inner circle, says Muhammad, who is no longer active in the Nation of Islam. Ellison regularly attended meetings and sometimes spoke in Muhammads stead, when the leader was absent. An Ellison spokesman declined to answer questions about the congressmans role in the study group and instead replied in an email, Right wing and anti-Muslim extremists have been trying to smear Keith and distort his record for more than a decade. Hes written extensively about his work on the Million Man March, and has a long history of standing up against those who sow division and hatred. It was only in 2006, as his run for Congress floundered, that Ellison repudiated Farrakhan. Compare this history (as I also had it in my 2006 Weekly Standard article) with Ellisons 2006 letter to the Jewish Community Relations Council, accessible in the Power Line post Keith Ellison for dummies. Ellisons 2006 letter to the JCRC is the cornerstone of his congressional career and it is a tissue of lies. It tells you (Dave) just about everything you need to know about Ellison if only you would take the trouble to figure it out. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has advised retail investors in the capital market to invest in Collective Investment Schemes and Mutual Funds to help reduce risk. The acting director-general of SEC, Mary Uduk, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. Ms Uduk said such investments were managed by professionals and they help investors invest in various asset classes to minimise risk. She however reiterated the commissions commitment to protect investors through various initiatives. The Commission has put in place a number of initiatives to protect investors as well as boost their confidence. These include the e-dividend mandate Management System, Direct Cash Settlement, we set up a committee on identity management in the Nigerian Capital Market Regularisation of Multiple Subscription and Complaints Management Framework. We protect investors through the National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF), Risk Based Supervision and the Complaints Management Framework. We want investors to take ownership of their investments; they have to be able to monitor their investments, attend Annual General Meetings as well as read the annual reports sent out to them, she said. According to Ms Uduk, the commission is working with other major stakeholders to set up a committee that will look into and proffer solutions to problems around identity management in the Nigerian capital market. For instance, to boost the e-dividend mandate and Direct Cash Settlement initiatives, we are engaging the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to facilitate identity and account validation to enhance market processes, she said. She said the electronic distribution of annual accounts by public companies to shareholders had continued to record tremendous success, as shareholders had accepted the new initiative. Ms Uduk said the SEC and other stakeholders have continued sensitisation to further enlighten shareholders on the benefits of the initiative. On the need to grow the market for trading in securities on unlisted public companies, Ms Uduk said the SEC was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to assist public companies yet to register their securities to do so without much difficulty. The acting director-general also said innovations in financial technology had made possible the potential of using digital tools to make financial services available to a wider range of consumers and enterprises. She said innovative technology had also promoted financial inclusion and the affordability of financial services in the country. A financially inclusive society will provide increased access to finance, especially for women, help support sustainable growth and will create a million more jobs. The gains of having a more inclusive financial system are enormous, as it helps broaden financial markets and make policies more effective. These initiatives continue to highlight and promote developments and trends in the Nigerian capital market and drive financial inclusion aimed at reducing adult exclusion from financial services, the statement read in part. (NAN) At least 25 states of the federation have so far graced the 2018 Calabar Cultural Carnival which began in Calabar, Cross River State, on Wednesday. Speaking at the inauguration of the event, the Governor of the state, Ben Ayade, said the 2018 carnival with the theme: Africanism, would be used to tell the African story. Mr Ayade said that Africa was not about poverty, adding that the organisers, in conjunction with writers like Wole Soyinka and Ngugi Thiongo must tell the African story from our own perspective. Why should Africa wait for the Western world to tell its story and show its own heritage. When I see Africans cross the Mediterranean and deserts, I wonder why people would want to leave this continent that is so blessed with human and natural resources. Cross River wants to tell all young men and women that, the best place to be is Africa where there is rich human and natural resources, he said. The governor thanked God for giving the state government the grace to sustain the carnival. Similarly, the Chairman, Cross River Carnival Commission, Gab Unah, said the event was significant because it brought the African culture to the front burner, especially the concept of hospitality which African were best known for. According to Mr Unah, the African man empathises with everything, both birth, death and other celebration that is how we share love. He said that he was extremely happy with the attendance, adding that 25 states out of the 29 accredited for the event were in attendance. Some leaders of troupes from different states also commended the state government for sustaining the carnival but urged improved accommodation for the visiting states to make next year edition better. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that states such as Anambra, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Osun, Ekiti amongst others graced the event. (NAN) Nissan director Greg Kelly was being examined in a hospital on Wednesday, a source said, a day after he was released on bail from a Tokyo jail. His former boss, Carlos Ghosn, is still being detained in the Tokyo jail. Mr Kelly, an American who was released late on Christmas Day after more than a month in detention, has been charged with conspiring to under-report Ghosns income. He posted bail of 70 million yen ($640,000). Their November 19 arrests jolted the global car industry and have strained Nissans (7201.T) alliance with French carmaker Renault SA (RENA.PA). Nissans board last month fired Mr Ghosn as chairman and Mr Kelly as representative director, although both men technically still remain board members who can only be removed by shareholders. Mr Kelly suffers from spinal stenosis, causing numbness, tingling and shooting pain in his extremities, according to a video message last week from his wife, Dee Kelly. Dee appeals for his release. The condition compresses or pinches the spinal cord. Those symptoms worsened during his five weeks in the Tokyo Detention Center, his wife said, citing Mr Kellys lawyer. Mr Kelly was scheduled to have surgery on December 7 in Nashville, Tennessee, but flew to Japan last month after being told that he was needed in person at a board meeting, Dee Kelly said in the video. Mr Kelly was arrested soon after his arrival. Under the conditions of his bail, Mr Kelly is barred from travelling overseas and his residence must be restricted to a designated place, the Tokyo District Court said. Lawyers say that travel exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Mr Kelly walked out of the detention centre around 10:45 p.m. (1345 GMT) Thursday night wearing a light-coloured jacket and was whisked away in a black taxi. Japanese media showed footage of Mr Kelly entering a hospital around midnight. After his release from detention, Mr Kelly issued a statement through his lawyer saying he had not falsified any documents and looked forward to restoring his honour in court. I believe my innocence will be revealed in the trial, he said. Mr Kelly also said in the statement he wanted to see a doctor immediately and get the appropriate treatment or operation originally scheduled for early December. The office of his lawyer, Yoichi Kitamura, did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Ghosn was re-arrested on Friday based on suspicions that around October 2008 he shifted personal trades to Nissan to make it responsible for 1.85 billion yen (16.6 million dollars) in appraisal losses, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Mr Ghosn had inflicted damage on Nissan by having it deposit a total of 14.7 million dollars on four occasions between June 2009 and March 2012 into a related bank account. Mr Ghosn said through his lawyer that he was not guilty of the allegations, for which he has not been formally charged. He will remain in Tokyos main detention centre until at least January 1, although prosecutors can request to extend his detention. A Nissan spokesman said the company was not in a position to comment on the latest twist in the more-than-month-long saga. The companys own investigation uncovered substantial and convincing evidence of misconduct, resulting in a unanimous board vote to dismiss Ghosn and Kelly as chairman and representative director. Our investigation is ongoing, a spokesman said on Tuesday. (Reuters/NAN) With new cases of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) confirmed in two states, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has called on Nigerians to be on high alert against the disease. This advice was given in a press statement signed by the agencys director general, Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Tuesday. According to the disease control agency, over the last one month, there has been an increase in suspected cases of CSM in Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Bayelsa and Ondo with confirmed cases of Neisseria Meningitis Type C (Nmc) reported in Zamfara and Jigawa States. This situation had necessitated the issuance of a precautionary statement to advice Nigerians on tips to prevent spread of the disease. Cerebrospinal Meningitis is a seasonal disease that occurs yearly in Nigeria. This is because Nigeria happens to be one of the African countries on the African meningitis belt. CSM remains a major public health challenge, affecting 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria. Although the disease is vaccine preventable, Nigeria experiences sporadic bursts of strains of meningitis A and recently C. CSM is an acute inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. It is a very serious infection that can lead to death if left untreated. The disease is associated with dry season, high temperatures and low humidity. This increases the likelihood of transmission of organisms causing CSM in Nigeria. The disease is contagious and can be transmitted through tiny droplets of respiratory secretions from an infected person, during close contact such as coughing or sneezing. Meningitis is more common among persons aged less than 15 years and deaths are higher among untreated cases. Signs and symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, and convulsions. Mr Ihekweazu said the major risk factors for infection include overcrowding and poor ventilation. During outbreaks, reactive vaccination campaigns can be used to prevent the spread of the disease, he said. He also assured Nigerians that NCDC and partners have commenced preparedness activities, through the national CSM Technical Working Group (TWG). He explained that the TWG has completed a risk assessment exercise for prioritisation, and issued letters of alert to states to ensure adequate preparedness this season. He, however, said NCDC is issuing a public health advisory note to members of the public to be aware of the risk and take appropriate precautions. To prevent the spread of CSM, NCDC offerred five important tips to members of the public: Avoid overcrowding and ensure adequate ventilation in the home. Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or by blowing into the elbow when sneezing or coughing. Wash your hands frequently especially after coughing or sneezing. Visit a health facility if you have sudden high fever or neck stiffness for diagnosis and treatment. All health workers are advised to practice universal care precautions at all times: i.e. wearing gloves while handling patients or providing care to an ill relative. It is very important to report to the nearest health facility immediately, if you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above. If you notice any member(s) of your family or neighbourhood with any of the listed signs or symptoms, kindly encourage them to report to the nearest health facility. Early presentation to a health facility and treatment increases chances of survival. The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said 13 of its soldiers and two police personnel died in a Boko Haram ambush on Monday. It said troops successfully repelled the insurgents in another attack at a military formation in Kukareta, Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe on Monday. A statement by Onyema Nwachukwu, the deputy director, Army Public Relations, said the insurgents on Monday at about 6: 30 pm attacked a military forward operational base in Kukareta community of Yobe. Mr Nwachukwu said the troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle and repelled the attack, killing many of them, adding that a soldier was wounded in the attack. He said that 13 soldiers and two police personnel also lost their lives when they ran into an ambush by the insurgents on Damaturu-Maiduguri Road. In another encounter; troops of 1 Division on escort duty along Damaturu Maiduguri Road, yesterday fought through an ambush staged by Boko Haram terrorists. The gallant troops engaged the terrorists in a fire fight, courageously wading through the ambush. Sadly, thirteen military and a police personnel including an officer, paid the supreme price while extricating themselves from the ambush. A clearance operation to pursue and eliminate the Boko Haram terrorists ambush party is still ongoing, he said. According to him, bodies of the soldiers and the wounded were evacuated, adding that the wounded soldier was currently receiving treatment. (NAN) The incessant killings in Zamfara State has led to a disagreement among politicians on whether or not a state of emergency should be declared in the North-west state. A state of emergency could mean the federal government taking over governance in the state and massively deploying soldiers to maintain peace there. The federal government could also choose to appoint an administrator to govern the state during the period of the emergency rule. The debate over a state of emergency follows the repeated killings in Zamfara in recent weeks by armed bandits. While dozens have been killed in recent weeks, hundreds have been killed in the state in 2018. Many others have been kidnapped for ransom and several houses destroyed. The killings have continued despite the deployment of soldiers and other security operatives to the state. The killings led the governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari, saying he has relinquished his position as chief security officer of the state as he has no control over security agencies. Mr Yaris critics, however, say he has not done enough to stop the killings. Leading the call that a state of emergency be declared in Zamfara is a governorship candidate in the state, Saidu Dansadau. Mr Dansadau, a former senator, said President Buhari should embark on the move to rescue the state from bloodletting. On Tuesday, he berated Mr Buhari over the incessant killing of people in the state and his failure to act to stem the bloodletting. Mr Dansadau made the disclosure in Gusau, capital of the state, while briefing reporters on the activities of his party, National Rescue Movement (NRM), which he also leads as chairman. He said due to the increasing insecurity in Zamfara, his party has decided to suspend all activities including campaigns. According to him, the crisis in Zamfara today is beyond the knowledge of every individual, and unless something positively is done, no one knows where finally the state will find itself in. The candidate said as a result of the insecurity bedeviling the state, even visitors are scared of coming. The redeployment of the troops as far as I am concerned has not yielded any positive result, because instead of reducing (insecurity), it only increases day by day, he added. He said the two letters he wrote to Mr Buhari suggesting solutions to the carnage have not been reposnded to. I also attempted to see the National Security Adviser as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also all in vain. This is why I said that the president has less concern with the people of Zamfara. Mr President should be aware that the state is now being administered by the insurgents. The governor of the state has since made it clear he has ceased to be the chief security officer of the state. The candidate said orphans and widows have increased due to the rising killings in the state. However, in opposition to a state of emergency in the state is the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. Mr Fayose accused the federal government of plotting to impose an emergency rule in Zamfara. He alleged the Buhari-led government was planning to hide under the rampant killings in Zamfara State by armed bandits to impose the rule on the state. Mr Fayose, on Tuesday warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government cannot hide under its own failure to secure the lives of Nigerians to achieve its selfish partisan agenda. Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose. Mr Fayose is a member of the opposition party, PDP, while Zamfara is governed by Nigerias ruling party, APC. In reaction to the killings in the state, President Buhari has repeatedly vowed to the end the violence and apprehend the perpetrators. Mr Buhari on Monday expressed sorrow over the loss of lives following a recent attack on communities in Zamfara by bandits and cattle rustlers. He assured that the federal government will do everything to end the horrendous attacks. In a telephone call he made to Garba Tambari, the Emir of Maradun in Zamfara State, President Buhari said he was extremely saddened by the loss of lives and destruction of property. He urged the emir to console his people, and citizens in the entire state over these heart-wrenching tragedies. But Mr Fayose is unimpressed with the presidents move to douse tension. Mr Fayose, who is the South-west coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, alleged that the plot to impose emergency rule was a response to the insistence of the electoral commission, INEC, not to allow the APC field candidates for the 2019 general election in Zamfara State. President Muhammadu Buhari INEC made the decision following what is said was the ruling partys failure to hold primaries within the stipulated time frame. In a statement personally signed by him on Tuesday, Mr Fayose alleged that the federal governments plot was aimed at paving way for a fresh electoral process in the state so that APC can field candidates. With the emergency rule, there will only be Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state in February next year while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will be postponed till May, he said. He advised the federal government to admit its failure and apologise to the people of Zamfara State, who were left at the mercy of armed bandits, noting that using the killings to achieve political goal is not only wicked but inhuman. Mr Fayose said the federal government must be reminded that; under the PDP government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, emergency rule was declared in three states in the North-east without dismantling democratic institutions. The former governor also urged Governor Yari to stand up for his people and democracy so as to save the country from going under. Im aware that the governor is abroad and I advise that he should return home. This is the time for him to be a man and stand in defence of his people rather than standing with their oppressors. Mr Fayose, who has remained an unrelenting critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested over graft allegations by the EFCC after the end of his tenure earlier this year. He has since been released on bail. In yet another tragic setback for Nigerias counter-terrorism war, at least 167 police officers have absconded from a training facility after being told they would be deployed in active combat against Boko Haram insurgents, PREMIUM TIMES can report today. The fleeing officers, who have now been declared wanted with potentially grave consequences if found, were amongst the 2,000 additional police officers recently drafted by Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris to complement the efforts of the military against rampaging terrorists in the volatile North-east. The officers did not submit their arms, ammunition and other official equipment in their possession when they fled, introducing a serious security threat to their abscondment, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Mr Idris deployed them after Boko Harams invasion of Nigerian Army 157 Task Force Battalion on November 18 prompted calls for intensified synergy amongst security agencies. They were sent on an induction training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. But many of them started fleeing last weekend after learning that they would be deployed to locations where Boko Haram fighters are still active, especially communities along Nigerias border with Niger and Chad Republic. Top security officials briefed on the development told PREMIUM TIMES the mobile police officers had expected to be deployed around Maiduguri, the capital of Boko Harams heartland of Borno State, and other relatively peaceful settlements in the region. It was after their training when they were told that they will be deployed to the frontlines that many absconded, the official said under strict anonymity because the matter was still being handled with utmost secrecy amongst the military and police leadership. They thought they will be deployed in town to mount checkpoints and be extorting innocent citizens. The official, however, said the public should be reluctant in condemning the police officers, saying their action was largely informed by the recent development in the counter-terrorism operations. They are seeing how the operation is being mismanaged by an incompetent and corrupt Army leadership, and therefore do not want to suffer the same fate as soldiers who are being wasted carelessly in large number, the official said. Another senior mobile police officer in one of the units affected questioned both the training and deployment of the officers. When did the police start sending its officers to army training school when we have our own. Even when they are deployed for joint operations, each agency trains its own, the officer said. He confirmed that the various heads of the mobile units had been informed about the deserters and given orders to find them. PRODUCE WITH ESCORT Neither the police nor the Nigerian Army was willing to comment on the development when reached by PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning. But this newspaper has obtained documents showing that all the 167 officers who absconded have been declared wanted. Security sources said messages had been sent to different mobile police units where the 167 officers were respectively drawn, with strident instruction that they must be tracked down, arrested and produced with escort because they might be harmful, especially since they fled with their arms. The alert was sent to about 25 mopol units in 20 states across the country, with their names and service numbers attached. Like the military, there are usually serious consequences for refusing deployment in the police. Since the officers are still within the rank-and-file, they are likely to face orderly room proceeding if found, and disciplinary actions could range from long suspension to outright dismissal, depending on the trial officer and individual context. A WORSENING INSURGENCY HUSHED UP Military sources said the disappearance of the 167 police officers, when considered alongside the string of attacks on military bases by Boko Haram, showed that the military leadership was insincere about the state of the war against the insurgency. Mr Buratai often warns military personnel against sending out details about developments on the battlefronts, saying such disclosure could demoralise troops. This is despite President Muhammadu Buhari and service chiefs perennial insistence that the insurgency had been defeated, ascribing frequent deadly attacks to the sects remnants hibernating along the fringes of Nigerian divide with Niger and Chad. The situation is really terrible in the North-East, a military chief said of the nearly 10-year-old war. It has never been as bad as it is right now. Security analysts acknowledged there were initial successes between late 2014 and late 2015, but this was largely attributed to foreign mercenaries who were contracted by the last administration. Dozens of attacks have been carried out against Nigerian military formations since July, leaving hundreds of soldiers dead amidst fear of a resurgent sect. But the military rejected insinuations that the insurgents had regrouped, pointing to its recorded gains of pushing them back into the fringes of three states of the North-east, as against several states they were operating in before 2015. The military said asides being confined to fewer states along the Nigerian border with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the sect has also been prevented from being able to carry out attacks on major Nigerian cities like Kano, Abuja and Kaduna, where it detonated several explosives in the past, including the bombing of the United Nations office in Abuja. See Full List Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. The police on Wednesday embarked on what appeared an effort to deceive Nigerians, issuing a haphazard denial to a PREMIUM TIMES story that detailed the disappearance of 167 police officers who were set to be deployed in active combat operation against Boko Haram fighters. The fleeing officers, who have now been declared wanted with potentially grave consequences if found, were amongst the 2,000 additional police officers recently drafted by Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris to complement the efforts of the military against rampaging terrorists in the volatile North-east. The officers did not submit their arms, ammunition and other official equipment in their possession when they fled, introducing a serious security threat to their abscondment, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Mr Idris deployed them after Boko Harams invasion of Nigerian Army 157 Task Force Battalion on November 18 prompted calls for intensified synergy amongst security agencies. They were sent on an induction training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. But many of them started fleeing last weekend after learning that they would be deployed to locations where Boko Haram fighters are still active, especially communities along Nigerias border with Niger and Chad Republic. Top security officials briefed on the development told PREMIUM TIMES the mobile police officers had expected to be deployed around Maiduguri, the capital of Boko Harams heartland of Borno State, and other relatively peaceful settlements in the region. But hours after the story was published, police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood circulated a statement that the story was untrue, even though the story made stated that the findings were based on official documents and top security sources who knew of the abscondment. Mr Moshood said the police leadership could categorically state that the story is untrue, absolute falsehood and a deliberate attempt to cast aspersions on the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. Mr Moshood emphasised that the police were unable to substantiate any elements of the story following an investigation conducted shortly after it was published, and there was no basis whatsoever for police officers to abscond from postings. The insinuation in some quarters and as reported in the story that 167 out the 2,000 additional police officers recently deployed by the IGP absconded is not correct and should be disregarded by members of the public. These 2,000 police personnel are to complement the efforts of the military to add new impetus to the fight against the decimated Boko Haram insurgency. This story was investigated and it was found out not to be correct, there is no reason whatsoever that Police personnel deployed for the operations in the North-East would abscond. These 2, 000 police officers recently deployed are in addition to several thousands of police personnel already engaged in the fight against insurgency with the military in the North-East, Mr Moshood said. He dismissed the list of 167 names published with the story as fake, adding that the officers whose names appeared on the list are actually on the ground in the North-east. But PREMIUM TIMES stands by its story, and has also decided to publish the initially redacted part of the police document that showed the memo authorising the arrest of the deserters was raised by the police commissioner in charge of the mobile police unit. Outside PREMIUM TIMES, some media reports, including Sahara Reporters, cited as many as 190 officers fled, but this newspaper was only able to confirm 167 based on official police documents. A senior police officer at the Force Headquarters who was among those who confirmed the authenticity of the list to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday morning said the denial was a new low for the current police leadership. This is a new low for those of us running the affairs of this institution at the top, the police chief said by telephone Wednesday evening. Even plausible deniability does not have a place in what happened here, it is shameful to deny this. This is laughable, shameless propaganda against the citizens and the state, a military chief said in a message to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. Document showing the list of 167 Nigerian Police officers who absconded. As stated in our original publication, the police signal was copied to several mobile police units across the country, presumably the units where the deserted officers were called-up for deployment to the North-East. They include: Mopol 2, Keffi, Nasarawa State; Mopol 3, Enugu, Enugu State; Mopol 5, Benin, Edo State; Mopol 8, Jos, Plateau State; Mopol 11, Calabar, Cross River State; Mopol 16, Abeokuta, Ogun State; Mopol 17, Akure, Ondo State; Mopol 18, Owerri, Imo State; Mopol 19, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Mopol 20/22, Ikeja, Lagos State. Other affected units include: Mopol 23, Keffi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos; Mopol 26, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Mopol 28, Umuahia, Abia State; Mopol 30, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Mopol 31, Asaba, Delta State; Mopol 32, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Mopol 35, Dutse, Jigawa State, Mopol 39, Osogbo, Osun State; Mopol 43, Lion Building, Lagos; Mopol 50, Kubwa, Abuja; Mopol 51, Oghara, Delta State, Mopol 54, Onitsha, Anambra State and Mopol 56, Ogoni, Rivers State. A top official of one of the mobile police units who received the memo simply laughed it off when told the police spokesperson had denied it. You know our people, they can say anything publicly just to save face, he said. The presidency has released the statement below warning the main opposition party, PDP, not to make family matters an issue in the 2019 elections. The statement was sent to PREMIUM TIMES by Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu. The warning follows the reactions that trailed Mr Buharis public response to criticisms by his wife Aisha. Mrs Buhari had alleged that two men within the Presidential Villa are responsible for many of the presidents actions. The president in his response dared his wife to present any evidence of such claim. Mr Shehu said he was reacting to PDP statements on the controversy. Read Mr Shehus full statement below. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu says if the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP wants to make family the issue in the coming elections, the APC would gladly accept the challenge. Let this be the subject for 2019 election, he told State House Correspondents in an interaction on Wednesday. Reacting to various comments by several organs of the opposition party on remarks made by the President on views publicly expressed by his wife, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, in an interview, the presidential spokesman said questions raised of the president by the PDP in regard to his wife only amounted to an own goal. The PDP leadership cannot afford to make family an issue in this campaign. Need I say more? The only thing I want to add is that PDP is engaging in mud-slinging because it finds it easier than speaking on their despicable 16-year record in the course of which they abused the trust of Nigerians. They made a mess of everything including the economy, security and infrastructure. It has come to the destiny of President Muhammadu Buhari to correct their mistakes. The PDP doesnt see anything beyond grabbing power, power at all costs. As an opposition party, they have failed. They have remained disconnected with the masses of our people. It is an irony that a party that boasted as being the largest in Africa is now begging small parties for alliances. Even if they get all those paper parties behind them, they will still fail. A Presidential contest is more than the issuance of daily press releases containing falsehoods. They have launched a campaign for the Presidency, a campaign that has failed to get any traction. PDP members are themselves admitting that the campaign hadnt made a good start, that attendance at rallies had unarguably been thin. The whole thing is not working; that President Buhari is unstoppable, Garba Shehu said. He continued, rather than a so-called cabal, an imaginary creation attached to all past governments of the country, President Buhari is remote-controlled by the 200 million-plus Nigerian people whose interest is uppermost in everything he says and does. The PDP doesnt have the strength and support to fight President Buhari. They dont have the records in security, economy and the war against corruption to mount any meaningful challenge. They have no records of accomplishments in infrastructure. In the 16 years they held sway, they have nothing to show for the colossal oil revenues earned, including USD 16 billion doled upfront from the Central Bank for power, without a single megawatt to show for all that money. That is why they are dragging the Presidents wife into their politics. The federal government says the persistent attacks on residents of Zamfara by bandits will affect food security in the country. The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, said this on Wednesday in Gusau during an on-the-spot assessment of the activities of the bandits in the state. Since those affected by the killings are largely the agrarian rural dwellers, the activities of the bandits will have a serious impact on agriculture and food security, said Mr Dambazau. This is a final warning, the bandits must stop these acts forthwith because the Federal Government has devised more stringent ways to deal with them. I want to assure them that they cannot withstand the consequences. He said stakeholders in the security sector in the state would meet to fine tune the new measures that would be used in tackling the threat posed by the bandits. The minister, however, advised the hoodlums to immediately surrender and embrace peace. He expressed Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buharis condolences to the people of the state over the attacks. This administration will continue to go to any length to protect the lives and properties of the citizens because any single innocent life lost has a devastating effect on the nation and is unacceptable, he said. Responding, Sanusi Rikiji, who is the acting governor and speaker of the House of Assembly, lamented that the security situation in the state was getting out of hand and required the concerted efforts of all stakeholders. This crisis started as a farmers /herdsmen conflict but has now escalated to the killing of the innocent, rustling and kidnapping, he said. The acting governor, who commended the joint efforts of the security agencies at all the flashpoints, noted that the hoodlums had devised fresh tactics to evade confrontation with security personnel. (NAN) A senior lawyer, Femi Falana, has written the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, to demand the release of the contract award letter to the successful consultant for a revenue generation project facilitated by the commission. A letter signed by the activist said the contract is on the deployment of revenue assurance solution to facilitate the collection of the NCCs 2.5 per cent annual operating levy and other government taxes from the Nigerian telecommunication industry. Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said that should the commission fail to address concerns raised in the request, he would apply to the Federal High Court for an order of mandamus to compel the NCC to issue the contract award letter to the successful bidder. This, he said, in the letter sent to Premium Times, is in line with provisions of the Procurement Act. The letter read in part: We have confirmed that the Nigerian Communication Commission under your management has since concluded the procurement process for the deployment of the revenue assurance solution that will aid the government to block the leakages associated with the revenue collection and ensure that the revenue of over N600 billion that ought to accrue to the government from the Nigerian Telecommunication Industry is monitored, analyzed and collected automatically and deposited in the Treasury Single Account (TSA ). We are however surprised to note that several months after the issuance of the Concurrence/Guidance on the award of the contract to the successful consultant by the Federal Ministry of Finance, your Commission has deliberately refused to issue the contract award letter to enable the successful consultant to deploy the software and save Nigeria from further loss of huge revenue. Mr Falana said that the speedy deployment of the revenue assurance solution will greatly increase the countrys non-oil revenue and reduce her dependence on loans from China, Western Countries and International Financial Institutions to fund the annual budget and the infrastructural development of the country. The action will be in line with the governments plan to diversify the economy, he added. In the circumstance, we are compelled to request you to use your good offices to ensure the immediate release of the contract award letter to the successful consultant for the deployment of revenue assurance solution to facilitate the collection of the Nigerian Communication Commissions 2.5 % annual operating levy and other government taxes from the Nigerian telecommunication industry, the letter stated. The lawyer added that the commission would not allow the request become a subject of litigation which, according to him, will lead to dire consequences for the Management of the Nigerian Communication Commission for causing the nation to lose the revenue of over N600 billion per annum. President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is slow in fighting corruption because the system is slow. The president said this when he received the Federal Capital Territory community, who paid him Christmas homage at his official residence on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Buhari, who apparently was reacting to those allegedly accusing his administration of being too slow in tackling the nations challenges, including `endemic corruption in the society, said: Its not Baba (Buhari) that is slow but it is the system. So, I am going by this system and I hope we will make it. The president announced that he would soon embark on an aggressive campaign for the 2019 presidential election, saying that the campaign would start with visits to each of the six geo-political zones of the country. According to him, the three areas of focus with which he campaigned in 2015 are still very relevant today, adding that he will continue to focus on the fight against corruption, tackling insecurity and improving the economy. We are watching the Independent National Electoral Commission very seriously and we are going out very soon; we will go from geo-political zone to geo-political zone, to remind the people of our promises in 2015. These three fundamental things include security, because you have to secure the country before you can govern it and talking about what we have done regarding securing the country, the people of the North-east know better. The three fundamental things we campaigned with are still very relevant. On improving the economy, which we are still going to explore, we have done well in agriculture, and those who embraced farming are not regretting it and we have also addressed unemployment and we are very lucky, through that we are now attaining food security. The third thing with which we will campaign is the issue of corruption. I told you what I did when I was in uniform but now when I have to go by this system (Democracy,) where people have to be arrested and then prosecuted, taken to court and then with evidence, we will collect back what they had taken illegally and for doing that, people are calling me Baba go slow. I am going slowly but whatever the case, I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them. I will keep on trying to do my best for this country and get back what belongs to the country. He reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to repair the roads and revive the railway and electricity with the little resources at its disposal. The president, who thanked the FCT community for the visit, urged people in leadership positions to always do the right things so as not to betray the confidence reposed on them. Earlier, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Muhammed Bello expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the Buhari administration in the last three and half years. He said inhabitants of the FCT had resolved to reward the president over his recorded achievements with massive votes during the forthcoming general elections in 2019. The minister said: We pray that God almighty continues to grant you good health, strength, capacity, ability and patience to continue to lead us to the Promise Land. On behalf of the FCT, we appreciate you for the good works you are doing for the territory. Just last week you commissioned for us a new airport terminal and so many road projects that are ongoing in Abuja. We feel highly delighted to be hosting you here and its my honour on behalf of the FCT community. I want to assure you that we are solidly behind you and by the grace of God we look forward to you spending another four years in the State House so that you can truly make Abuja the city of our dream. This is because we want Abuja to be among the 20 best cities in the world in the next few years to come and I think that is possible. The Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh, congratulated the president for overcoming his health challenges. According to him, the spirit of unity among followers of different religions in the Federal Capital Territory is exemplary and should be replicated in all parts of the country. He gave assurance that religious leaders across the country would continue to work for harmony, to sustain peace in the country. (NAN) A mediation and peace-building organisation, Farmers and Herders Initiative for Peace and Development, has proffered solutions to ending the conflict between farmers and herdsmen especially in North-central and North-western Nigeria. The conflict in states like Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and Kaduna states has variously claimed lives and property on both sides. The organisation said it embarked on peace-building mission in July in seven of the most affected states. The initiative, it said, is sponsored by a leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu. In a statement by Salim Umar, the groups secretary, the organisation identified some ways that can lead to curtailing of the perennial conflict, arising from its five-month field work. The organisation advocated for checking activities of armed vigilante groups, which, it said, often go beyond their own briefs and do things inimical to peace and harmony. They also identified educating the rural populace as one way of increasing their awareness levels. The group said governments must intensify their efforts in taming the activities of illegal vigilante groups and armed gangs operating with impunity in many states. They indirectly instigate farmers and herders clashes in the Middle Belt areas. They are also responsible for cattle rustling and burning of herders hamlets including the outright shooting of cattle. These groups are posing a serious threat to peaceful coexistence as they are mostly engaged in criminal activities that are provoking negative emotions and reactions, the statement added. The group said, there is an appreciable level of peace in all the states visited thereby minimizing the infamous farmers-herders violent confrontations that were hitherto a weekly incident. The initiative, it said, is desirous of ensuring that peace reigns supreme between our farming communities and the pastoralists in the country. There had been this age-long harmonious relationship between them, which suffered a serious setback not too long ago. It is in the light of this objective that we embarked on sensitization, peace advocacy visitations in order to reach out to the communities in disputes across the seven states that cut across the North East, North West and North Central zones of Nigeria. All this was made possible through the interventions of many distinguished Nigerians particularly that of elder-statesman Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu The Jagabanof Borgu Kingdom, who single-handedly sponsored all our engagements in the states mentioned earlier. It is important to note that the intervention of Asiwaju BolaAhmed Tinubu was informed by his personal desire to see the two communities of herders and farmers live in peace with one another. The group said the politicians sponsorship of the initiative was a patriotic act and a humanitarian intervention that is devoid of any political affiliation whatsoever The organisation said the project has the full support of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying the two leaders provide support and guidance for the peace-building mission. About a year and a half after his appointment was illegally terminated by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Murtala Ibrahim, Head of ICT Process Audit and Special Investigation Unit at the bank has been reinstated, PRNigeria gathered. It would be recalled that FMBNs management board had on May 8, 2017, sacked Mr Ibrahim for blowing the whistle on a contract scam and the banks doctored 2016 Half-Year Validation Report. In the wake of Mr. Ibrahims disengagement last year, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), a civil society organisation working on building support for the whistle-blower policy of the federal government, issued a statement condemning the unjustifiable sack. According to the statement by AFRICMIL Coordinator, Chido Onumah, the treatment of Mr Ibrahim by FMBN brought to the fore the recurring victimisation of officers who report wrongdoings in government offices. The persistent victimisation in any form of those who are courageous enough to blow the whistle must not be tolerated if the whistleblower policy of this administration must succeed. We have said it repeatedly that whistleblowers deserve nothing more than full protection as this will further encourage accountability and enrich the right of the public to know. We hereby call on the federal government to take decisive action on safety of whistleblowers. If the government cannot protect internal whistleblowers, what more can be expected for outsiders and other Nigerians? Instead of persecution or victimization, whistleblowers should be rewarded for their acts of patriotism, AFRICMIL said. The NGO called on the Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, to order the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Mr Ibrahim. Mr Ibrahim was first transferred from FMBNs headquarters in Abuja to a branch in one of the states. This was followed up with a query which cautioned him for doing his official work. When Mr Ibrahims explanation couldnt be faulted, the bank went on to dismiss him saying his service was no longer needed. But in a report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) in October last year, Mr Fasholas directive, following a committee investigation into the case, that Mr Ibrahim is reinstated was flagrantly disobeyed by FMBN authorities. The flouting of the ministers directive again drew the ire of AFRICMIL, as Mr Onumah described the banks refusal to obey Mr Fasholas order as unfortunate and an act of gross insubordination. He added that the banks attitude constitutes a serious threat not only to the successful implementation of the whistleblower policy but also endangers the anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. However, the sacked Mr Ibrahim, on Tuesday, confirmed to PRNigeria via a telephone interview that he has been reinstated, and even received a letter to that effect. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) building. [Photo credit: Guardian Nigeria] Expressing his joy, the recalled FMBN staff, in a social media post, said: The report of the Ministerial Investigative Committee (MIC) inaugurated by the Hon. Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is out. The Hon. Minister, who was the then supervising minister of the Bank, had earlier directed for a thorough investigation into the petition that I filed challenging the termination. The MIC extended invitations to parties involved in the matter and after several rounds of sittings, the committee concluded among other things that the recommendation of the Banks DC was flawed, null and void, and that I should be reinstated. I would like to thank the Hon. Minister Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) for constituting the MIC. My sincere appreciation also goes to the Chairman, Executive Management Committee, and other members of the Governing Board for ratifying the findings of the MIC. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party has demanded a probe into the ownership of Etisalat Nigeria and Keystone Bank. Mr Abubakar, in a statement by a spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, said the call was necessary in view of reports that members of President Muhammadu Buharis family now own substantial share in Etisalat Nigeria which has an estimated $2 billion (about N727 billion at 360 per dollar) of its estimated $20 billion global net worth. Read Mr Shaibus full statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES below. The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on the appropriate authorities to urgently institute a probe to unravel the hidden faces behind the new ownership structure of multi-billion naira telecoms giant, Etisalat Nigeria, as well as Keystone Bank. In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Special Assistant to Atiku on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said such a probe was necessary in view of reports that members of President Muhammadu Buharis family now own substantial share in Etisalat Nigeria which has an estimated $2 billion (about N727 billion at 360 per dollar) of its estimated $20 billion global net worth. Atiku also expressed shock at reports from unimpeachable sources that the first family now plays big in the nations financial sector after acquiring mouthwatering shares in Keystone Bank with total assets of $1.916 billion (equivalent to N307.5 billion) as well as purchasing about 3 billion worth of shares in the new Pakistani Islamic Bank. I know that last week was turbulent for President Buhari and I apologise for adding to his woes, but as he is insistent on the myth that he is spotless and anti-corrupt, If this is found to be true, this scandal would break every rule of corporate and public governance, since this will be the first time members of the first family will be openly involved in a once-in-a-lifetime deal that would make them all richer beyond their wildest dreams, the statement said. The accusation is coming amidst reported allegations in the media that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government plans to use billions of Naira from the Anchor Borrowers Programme allocated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for farmers, using imaginary donations from 12 million farmers as a facade. But the presidential candidate of the PDP advised President Buhari to shun the use of state resources and machinery for the upcoming 2019 presidential poll. Specifically, Atiku said no farmer contributed any N1.7billion for Buharis re-election campaign, warning that APCs decision to use monies meant for farmers to run his campaign is not tidy at all. The other day, a man who scored 15,424,921 votes to win the 2015 general election was reported to have been nominated by 14 million APC members at the Presidential primaries for 2019. Now, over 12 million farmers have donated to his campaign. Are they indirectly spewing out outrageous figures of people they intend to claim voted for them in the coming elections? Could that be why the President was flashing an occult double four hand signal that has gone viral?What did the hand signal mean? Does it mean that the President has jettisoned the idea of a free and fair election and telling Nigerians that no matter how they vote, he will return for a second term of four years? In any case , if the farmers who just took a loan through the borrowers anchor programme and have not liquidated the facility can donate this huge sum or any sum for that matter, it means the Association of widows and children of all those slain by Boko Haram and herdsmen will donate N5billion to the Buhari campaign. In fact, the 23.1 million youth who lost their jobs between 2016 till date will donate about N12billion to the Buhari campaign. Assuming but not even conceding that such a huge sum of money was donated to President Buhari by Nigerian farmers as his handlers would want Nigerians to believe, wouldnt such donation be in contravention of Section 91 (9)of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which says no individual or other entity shall donate more than N1m to an aspirant or a candidate, Atiku said. Section 91 (2) of the Electoral Act further states that a presidential candidate can spend a maximum of N1billion. The law also recommends a fine of N1m or a prison term of 12months or both for any candidate that breaches the provisions of the Act. We have no stand on whether or not President Buhari should run for office. That is his prerogative and that of his party. But we believe it is improper for public office holders to forcefully loot public funds, on behalf of a sitting president seeking a second term in office. What this means is that there is a war chest which apparently is from the national coffers, Atiku said. He said if President Buhari wants to run for office next year, he should take only from monies sourced from donations by his campaign groups that are independent of government. Anything short of that as is currently the case with the use of funds from the CBN meant for farmers will mean there will be no level playing field for all the candidates billed to contest for the presidency during next years presidential elections, Atiku said. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Four policemen attached to Ijanikin Division in the Lagos State Police Command have been arrested for allegedly robbing one Theodore Ifunnaya of 350,000 CFA (about N221,508). The police spokesman in Lagos, Chike Oti, said the victim was a Nigerian based in Togo. Mr Oti said that the policemen faced dismissal if found guilty, stressing, however, that the victim was not stripped naked during interrogation as being alleged in some quarters. Mr Oti said that the affected policemen had been transferred to the Provost Section of the Command for investigation. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the officers allegedly accosted the victim coming from Togo to celebrate Christmas in Nigeria at Iyana Ira, Badagry area on Dec. 17. It was learnt that the suspects subjected the victim to tortuous search and interrogation, where they discovered the sum of money with him. They were alleged to have bundled him into their patrol vehicle to Ijanikin police station where they seized his money and invited a bureau de change operator to exchange the CFA currency into Naira equivalent. NAN gathered that having satisfied they had subdued their victim with a threat, they allegedly released him and gave him N2000 out of his money, to enable him to locate his Lagos residence. It was further learnt that the victim, after regaining freedom from his alleged police captors, told his family all he went through, which led to a complaint to Area K Commander, Hope Okafor. The commander, an assistant police commissioner, was said to have intervened by recovering the stolen money and arrested the erring policemen for interrogation. (NAN) The campaign office of President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the candidate of the major opposition party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, would have been in prison if the Nigerian system was working well. The campaign office was reacting to Mr Abubakars reaction to a statement by Mr Buhari that his fight against corruption is moving on slowly because of the prevailing system in the country. Mr Abubakar said Mr Buhari is the one that is slow and not the system. He also accused the president of allowing corruption to thrive under his watch. The spokesperson of the Buhari campaign, Festus Keyamo, in a statement Wednesday evening said if the system is indeed working well, the former vice president would have been in jail for his alleged past corrupt endeavours. Read the full statement below: Wednesday, December 26, 2018. PRESS RELEASE BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION IF THE SYSTEM WERE TO BE WORKING BEFORE PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI TOOK OVER IN 2015, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR WOULD BE IN JAIL BY NOW INSTEAD OF CONTESTING FOR THE PRESIDENCY Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar disputing the assertion by President Muhammadu Buhari that the system in Nigeria allows corruption to thrive because the system is slow in tackling corruption. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar further blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for perceived failure in addressing some instances of corrupt practices under his watch. Let us remind Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that he is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the failed system in tackling corruption that was in place before President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015. We know he is aware of this, hence his latest diatribe against President Muhammadu Buhari amounts to nothing but disgusting grandstanding and an attempt to mock the system. If the system in Nigeria was indeed working, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would not have acquired substantial shares in INTELS in clear conflict of his duties as a Customs Officer whilst in office. Those shares would have belonged to the Nigerian people by now. If the system in Nigeria was indeed working, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would not have run a monopolistic company called INTELS all these years, ripping off the Nigerian people and the Nigerian State before Muhammadu Buhari came and broke that monopoly. If the system was working, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would have been prosecuted and jailed for various acts of corruption and abuse of office after he left office as Vice President, some of which are: (a) For himself and his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, granting themselves licenses to build universities as President and Vice President whilst in office in clear breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. Those Universities would have been probed, seized and transferred to the Nigeria State and the Nigerian people by now. (b) Laundering slush funds to the United States of America using phoney companies, part of which was used to fund his present American University in Adamawa State through which he is also extorting Nigerians through exorbitant fees. It is public knowledge that this indictment is contained in a US Congressional Report that has led to the prosecution and conviction of his accomplices in the US, which are William Jefferson and Siemens. They were convicted under a system that works, whilst he has been walking free in Nigeria and even aspiring to the highest office in the land. It is also public knowledge that his ban from entering the United States was as a result of these indictments. (c) His indictment and recommendation for prosecution by the Report of the EFCC over the PTDF scandal whilst he was Vice President. We have also read with keen interest the case filed against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by some public spirited Nigerians alleging that he never paid his Personal Income Taxes as at when due, yet he wants to get Nigeria working again. In this regard, we are also challenging Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to publicly display his Personal Income Tax receipts for the 3 years preceding 2018 to show that he did not just run to FIRS in 2018 to pay his backlog of Personal Income Taxes. For the information of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, President Muhammadu Buharis gallant efforts in tackling corruption headlong has led to the conviction of the Presidents own party men and ex-governors who served under PDP and for acts they committed whilst in PDP. 703 persons and institutions have been convicted by the EFCC under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The biggest recoveries of stolen public funds in the history of Nigeria are being carried out by President Muhammadu Buhari. These recoveries were made from principally his party men who now wish to lead Nigeria with him. Some of these recoveries/seizures/forfeitures (interim and final) are: (a) 407 Mansions since 2015. (b) N794 Billion, over $261 Million Dollars, 1.1 Million Pounds Sterling, 8.1 Million Euros, (c) 259 Automobiles. (d) A fully functional hospital, St. Solomon Health Care Centre at 24, Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja Lagos e.t.c. There are so many other instances too numerous to mention. These are a world apart from the few instances of the reluctant fight against corruption that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claimed happened under his watch as Vice President. During his time, there was a competition for corruption between himself, his boss and public officers. We also urge the PDP to stop making wild, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption without a modicum of proof. We have no time to respond to any allegation by the PDP without the backing of some kind of document or proof. When we see some scintilla of proof, we shall respond appropriately. And that is how we have treated the recent allegation of acquisition of shares in Etisalat and Keystone Bank by some supposed family members of the President. No name was mentioned and no document was shown. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar latest adventure in trying to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in matters of integrity with President Muhammadu Buhari is a political suicide mission from which we thought his handlers would have tried to steer him away. But alas! They have decided to test the waters. Locally and internationally President Muhammadu Buhari stands several miles away from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in matters of integrity. When the President used all his life in public office building a reputation and a name, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar used all his life in public office to build mansions and acquire personal wealth. Now Judgment Day has come when the credentials needed by the Nigerian people for the highest office are not the buildings and wealth but the simple quality of integrity. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar cannot eat his cake and have it. FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK) Director of Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization. The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said its troops are fighting Boko Haram insurgents who attacked a military formation at Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno. The army in a Twitter post said the troops engaged and neutralised the insurgents who attempted to infiltrate the 7 Brigade location in the area. Gallant Troops of 7 Brigade, Baga are currently engaging and neutralising Boko Haram terrorists who attempted to infiltrate their location in Baga. Details later, the army tweeted. (NAN) The Benue State Livestock Guards has impounded 105 cows and four sheep caught grazing openly near Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi. Confirming the development, the commander of the Livestock Guards, Linus Zaki, disclosed that one herder, Kunje Saija, was also arrested in the course of the operation. He explained that in accordance with the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, the impounded cows will be quarantined for seven days. He added that the animals would be auctioned, if the owners fail to pay the fines stipulated by the law. He cautioned herdsmen against the consequences of flouting the law, stressing the need for ranching of all forms of livestock in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Samuel Ortom, the states governor, recently restated the commitment of the government to fully implement the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law. The governor had also emphasised that anyone who violated the law would be prosecuted. (NAN) The Kano State Hisbah Board has seized and destroyed more than 30 trailer loads of beer. The boards public relations officer, Adamu Yahaya, said this in a statement in Kano on Tuesday. Mr Yahaya said the cartons of beer were destroyed on Monday evening after interception at Kalebawa on Danbata Road in Dawakin Tofa area. The Kano State Law No. 4 of 2004 has banned the manufacture and use of intoxicants in the state. Furthermore, an order was given by a magistrates court for us to go ahead with the exercise, the official said. Mr Yahaya warned those selling beer to stay within their limits. He appealed to members of the public to be of good conduct and be one anothers keeper. (NAN) For 25 years, Babalola Adewale, a resident of Okokomaiko in Lagos has been paying tolls to use a wooden bridge constructed over a perpetually flooded section of the road leading to his house. Mr Adewale, who is also a trader at the nearby Alaba International Market, said the bridge has since become a symbol of the state governments neglect of communities in the area. The wooden bridge has been existing for more than 25 years and I dont see it not existing for there is no other route to the market, said Mr Adewale. Council government is aware of the wooden bridge and I dont think they can proffer solution but we will appreciate the state government if they can intervene. Following the damage of a canal at Franklas in Ojo in the early 1990s, some roads linking nearby communities such as Seriki, Alaba Rago, Jakara and the multi-billion naira Alaba International Market, commonly believed to be the biggest electronic market in Africa, have constantly remained flooded all year round. The failure of the state government to fix the damaged canal or the adjoining roads to these communities created an opportunity for some community leaders and the local government officials to make easy money charging pedestrians between N10 and N20 naira to use the bridge. Accustomed to the neglect of the areas by the state government, residents have resigned to fate even as they groan about the financial burden the neglect is placing on them. Residents and traders said they pay an average of N50 daily to use the bridge in the area. Pedestrians carrying goods are charged as much as N500 to use the wooden bridges. This reporter counted more than 200 people using the wooden bridge linking Alaba Rago to the Alaba International Market within 30 minutes. I have been taking this wooden bridge to my house and shop every day. I pay N500 whenever I carry load, we have a government they should build a bridge, said Segun Afoyade, an electrician at Alaba International Market. Despite making millions of naira from the tolls collected from users of the wooden bridge, it is mostly in a perpetual state of disrepair, creaking, decaying and without railings. Residents also complained about the smelly flood water and debris flushed onto the road from the broken canal. A [proper] bridge should be constructed, the canal has made the environment dirty, said Jamiu Yusuf, a business man who lives in the area. The state of the bridge has given rise to a cabal of wooden bridge owners whom residents say would do everything to frustrate an attempt by the government to build a proper bridge or repair the leaking canal causing flooding in the area. I dont think the fees collectors will want government to construct the road that is their means of survival, Mr Yusuf added. Toll Cabal A politician in Seriki, who asked not to be named because he does not want to be seen as antagonising the local officials, claimed he and other residents in the area have pleaded with the executive secretary of the Iba local council development area in 2016 to construct the road in the community to no avail. He said the commissioner for local government, Lagos State, visited the community that year and promised to build a proper road and fix the broken canal but nothing has been heard from the government since then. The politician said it is in the interest of the cabal for the road to remain in a state of disrepair as it has since become their cash cow. Indigenes in charge of collection toll fees will not be happy if government demolishes the bridge and construct a road. Seriki street road was half way constructed due to the influence of politicians who dont want to lose the backing of the people in the vicinity. I am sure the state government is aware there is a wooden bridge at Seriki, there is a dam linking from Franklas street down to Sabo that has caused the swamp in Seriki Street, the problem we are facing affects everyone. We hope it will be resolved in the future, he said. Why we collect toll But those responsible for collecting tolls in the area say they are providing a service to the community and they have the backing of the local government charge users of the bridge. The chairman of the self-styled Journey Wooden Bridge Association, Okokomaiko chapter, Amodu Mohammed, told PREMIUM TIMES they could not have operated their wooden bridge without the blessing of the local government. He said his association gives a percentage of tolls collected from pedestrians to the Ojo Local Government. Over 20 years the bridge has been in existence, we pay revenue to Ojo local government, it is registered under the Lagos State Association of Wooden Bridge attached to the Maritime Authority, headquartered in Abuja, this is a branch under Ojo local government area. It is a narrow road leading to Alaba International market built by indigenes, we make renovations of the bridge depending on the weakness of the wood with the revenue generated for the benefit of the people, we generate between 15,000 (naira) and 20,000 on a daily basis. Local council officials often call the association on the payment of the monthly revenue, he added. Mr Mohammed said his association is planning to convert the wooden bridges in the area to metal bridges. He appealed for financial assistance from Ojo Local Government to bring the project to fruition. We want financial support and approval from the government to construct a modern metal bridge, so we can generate more revenue. Oseni Idowu, popularly known as Mickey, who heads a second bridge in the area said the bridge provides employment for youth in the area. The wooden bridge has been available before I was born and since the government is not providing jobs, we have been here for survival and the future of our children. Moreover, we pay revenue to the local government. We pay N10,000 every month to the council. Contrary to the rickety state of the bridges and sordidness of the area around them, Mr Idowu said local officials regularly inspect the bridges for signs of disrepair. He said they also clean the surrounding areas of the canal. We generate between N7,000 to N8,000 daily, depending on how strong the plank is, it is changed three or four times in a year. There is a monthly meeting between the local government and the association on the payment of our revenue, he said. Finger pointing Ali Malami, the chairman, Alaba Rago Market, where the largest and busiest of the wooden bridges in the area is located said his association was not responsible for the toll collection in the area. He said the state government has promised to repair the damaged canal and construct the road in the area next year. Mr Malami, however, accused Baba Lawal, one of the leaders in the Alaba community and the Seriki (traditional head) of Alaba Rago, Umaru Nagogo, of keeping the tolls collected on the bridge for themselves. They have been collecting the revenue for 17 years, I was installed as the chairman in 2016. I only get revenue from the bus stop which I remit N100,000 to the Iba L.C.D.A (Local Community Development Area) weekly, no penny is paid to me from the revenue generated from the bridge, he said. However, Mr Nagogo, denied collecting money from the bridge and accused Messrs Malami and Lawal of keeping the toll collected from the bridge. The council chairman promised the market that there will be a road construction in the area. Alaba market road was constructed in 1996 but the canal was left with no bridge, indigenes and trader made a joint effort to build a wooden bridge. Indigenes collecting the fee of the wooden bridge in Alaba dont pay remittance to the local government but other bridges in the area pay to council. I refuse to be part of the money sharing committee at the bridge. Seriki Baba Lawal and Ali Malami boys are collecting the money form the bridge, he said. When reached for comment, Mr Lawal declined, stating that he was busy. The councillor, representing Ward C in Okokomaiko, Ibrahim Bakare, said the bridges are not part of his responsibilities. I am aware there is a bridge at Seriki Street but it is my responsibility to make laws and not projects, he said. The Iba local council supervisor for works and infrastructure, Haruna Muhammed, told this reporter he was busy when he visited his office. He also added that he had no information regarding the bridge and was not ready for an interview. Also, his spokesperson, Ifedayo Victoria, said she was not aware of the existence of a wooden bridge in the area. Is there a pako [wooden bridge] there? The road was constructed in 2016 by the state government, the council government has no information regarding the construction of the road? The States Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, did not respond to letters requesting for comments submitted at his office. In early December, China's General Office of the State Council released the "Notification of Holiday Arrangements in 2019". According to the arrangement, the three-day May Day Holiday is shortened to one single day. As the HDE originally scheduled time - on April 26 th , 27 th and 28 th is on days off, Hotel Plus - HDE 2019 decides to reschedule the time. As the biggest hotel show in China with the exhibiting space of 80,500 square meters, Hotel Plus - HDE is a one-stop purchasing platform offering building materials and supplies for hotels, restaurants, clubs, retail shops and shopping malls. The event gathers over 800 exhibitors spanning diverse categories on construction and operation, offers opportunities in market information exchange and network building with the excess of 50 conferences on and off the show floor. This annual trade show for industry professionals draws upward more than 130,000 global buyers - designers, architects, hoteliers, developers, retailers and distributors - to engage with one another, learn about the latest industry trends and technology, and push the hotel and commercial space industry forward. "I'm from a property company and find the event is different from the others. There are many innovative materials and new technologies for contract business, which make material selection easy. I have visited exhibition halls for lighting, ceramics and building decoration materials." Said Sun Qi, Zhongnan Group Research & Design Center deputy general manager, "I feel HDE makes progress every year and I would like to share some new materials with my partner." In the coming intensive event, there are some enhanced features for every trade visitors to take advantage of: 1. Design Week Shanghai: Sponsored by China Tourist Hotel Association and International Association of Lighting Designers, this series of conference experiences will focus on latest design cases, and how design can be applied to create more added value for hotels and commercial space, contributing to the dialogue among the Chinese and foreign designers, hotel management group representatives and large property developers for sharing and exchanging ideas and practices. 2. Mockup Room Show: Gathering the most innovative hotel brands and design firms at home and abroad, the show is designed for presenting near-future scenario of traveling and lodging with different themes. The special area will also help visitors to better understand how to use products of suppliers which is exhibited nearby. 3. Charm of Light, Ingenuity of Hear: Integrated with expo lighting covering the field of lighting device, lighting design and intelligent control, the dynamic and inspiring event program will provide a good opportunity for attendees to gain industry insight, source unique products and develop business collaboration. 4. Global Real Estate Architect Festival: As a great event in the real estate world, GREAF will be featured in Hotel Plus - HDE with various activities as well as more networking and engagement built in: China Real Estate Architects Forum 10+10+10 Real Estate Strategy Consulting Session Real Estate R&D and Innovation Conference China Real Estate Design Award 5. Hotel Plus Night and Gala Dinner: The annual awards ceremony aims to encourage excellent hotel designers and suppliers involved in latest projects, and highlight the industry development and achievement. For complete details about Hotel Plus - HDE and registration for free ticket, please visit http://www.hdeexpo.com/en-us. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802140/Forum.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/802137/Gala.jpg SOURCE UBM Sinoexpo LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it will ban a device that delivers painful electrical shocks to the skin to "modify" behavior in disabled students at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center (JRC) in Massachusetts. In a publication of its upcoming priorities, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said the FDA was planning to issue a final ban of the Graduated Electronic Decelerator (GED) in the fall.[1] But Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), a mental health watchdog, says media reports say the FDA may take another year to ban it, leaving children, adolescents and adults at risk from the device. CCHR says that all electrical devices used to alter behavior should be banned, including the electroconvulsive therapy devices, also known as electroshock or ECT machines. These deliver up to 460 volts to the brain causing a grand mal seizure throughout the body. Click here to sign CCHR's Petition to Ban ECT. FDA accused of delaying ban on the electrical device that uses pain to modify behavior A petition started by Gregory Miller to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Massachusetts calling for a ban on the skin shocks garnered nearly 270,000 signatures before closing about six years ago. It stated, "Not only does the JRC need to immediately stop this practice but Massachusetts legislators need to make these shock procedures illegal." It pointed out that students have "no voice of their own to describe their pain. They need your help."[2] Yet CCHR says the FDA has failed to speedily provide that help which requires the device to be banned immediately. "FDA continues to procrastinate, as it has done with the ECT, electroshock device, putting individuals at risk of devastating harm," stated Jan Eastgate, international president of CCHR. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) also just issued a formal notice known as "precautionary measures" that called for immediate cessation of the electric shocks at JRC. In a seven-page resolution, the Washington-based panel said that the practice poses a "serious impact on the rights" of the vulnerable children at the school, "particularly on their right to personal integrity which may be subjected to a form of torture."[3] Both the GED and ECT procedures are equated with torture, added Diane Stein, president of CCHR Florida, and commenting that Florida residents have been treated at JRC.[4] ECT uses anesthesia and muscle relaxants largely in the treatment of "depression," while the GED is an external skin shock to control behavior in those with severe emotional, behavioral and psychiatric problems and autism-like disorders. ECT can cause severe memory loss and permanent brain damage a fact that one of its manufacturers recently admitted.[5] The skin shock works by "hooking the students up to electrodes worn on different parts of the body." When the student engages in "forbidden behavior, a staff member administers a shock. Some students wear the electrodes as much as 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And sometimes for years," according to ABC News.[6] Manfred Nowak, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture, wrote to the U.S. government in May 2010, appealing to them to investigate.[7] In 2012, another Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, also formally approached the U.S. government, concerned about the procedure and how it "inflicts pain and suffering tantamount to torture in violation of international law." His remarks followed a video being shown online of then-18-year-old Andre McCollins being given 31 shocks over a seven-hour period in 2002. In the video, Andre can be heard screaming and shouting, "Help me. Help me." He was restrained with belts, face down on a board as the electricity was discharged into his body.[8] About 90 percent of the center's students are people of color.[9] Mendez was himself subjected to torture by electric shock at the hands of the Buenos Aires police in 1975. "I feel very strongly that electricity applied to a person's body creates a very extreme form of pain," he stated.[10] Speaking about ECT used in the treatment of "mental disorders," Mr. Nowak stated, "Against-your-will electroshock therapy is in my opinion absolutely prohibited." He called such treatment, "torture."[11] In 2013, the UN again cited the GED in a report on torture, which stated that the FDA had "sent a warning letter to the JRC on 6 December 2012" and that "the use of aversive therapy by JRC has been challenged through a variety of state and federal legislative and judicial actions," including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) investigation into possible violations of civil rights laws "[12] The DOJ condemned the practice.[13] The updated GED-4 emits 45.5 milliamps of electricity more than 15 times as powerful as stun belts used on incarcerated adults that deliver shocks of 3 to 4 milliamps.[14] Modern electroshock delivers a pulse of current to the brain that is 7.5 times stronger than electrical fences used to deter wild bears. In a 2007 interview with ABC, the developer of the JRC skin shock system, a doctor, said the procedure "has no detrimental effects whatsoever." Further, "And if it didn't hurt it wouldn't be effective. It has to hurt enough so that the student wants to avoid showing that behavior again." The price tag per student is $200,000 a year and is financed by tax dollars.[15] Similarly, psychiatrists dismiss any damage from ECT, while a course of treatments can cost up to $35,000 a year, not including hospitalization costs, in a lucrative $5 billion a year industry. People are encouraged to write to Laurie Lenkel, Director, FDA Office of the Ombudsman, [email protected], and demand the Graduated Electronic Decelerator be banned immediately not in another year's time. People can also write to Taunton's Bristol County Probate and Family Court, which approves the use of GED shock device on JRC students, to protest the court's approval of a procedure criticized for its torturous affects.[16] Write to the Register's Office, Taunton Family and Probate Court, 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780. Disability rights group ADAPT, the American Civil Liberties Union, IACHR and many others have opposed GED shock.[17] Independently, CCHR has campaigned for a ban on all electric shock devices in the treatment of mental disorders, autism or emotional or aggressive behavior, as a violation of fundamental human rights. CCHR is a nonprofit mental health watchdog group dedicated to eliminating abuses committed under the guise of mental health. CCHR works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld as there is rampant abuse in the field of mental health. In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 180 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed over 49 years ago, including a ban on electroshock use on children in four U.S. states and in Western Australia. As a nonprofit, CCHR relies on memberships and donations to carry out its mission and actions to curb psychotropic drug use in foster care. Click here to support the cause. Contact: Amber Rauscher, [email protected] or (323) 467-4242. References: [1] "FDA eyes ban on device that delivers shock treatment to disabled students," WCVB 5, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2018, https://www.wcvb.com/article/fda-eyes-ban-on-device-that-delivers-shock-treatment-to-disabled-students/25564530. [2] https://www.change.org/p/judge-rotenberg-educational-center-please-stop-painful-electric-shocks-on-your-students [3] "Human rights body calls on US school to ban electric shocks on children," The Guardian, 18 Dec. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/18/judge-rotenberg-center-electric-shocks-ban-inter-american-commission-human-rights; https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5632074-Resolution-86-2018-PM-1357-18-US.html. [4] "Judge Rotenberg Center Living Archive," https://autistichoya.net/judge-rotenberg-center/. [5] http://www.thymatron.com/downloads/System_IV_Regulatory_Update.pdf [6] "UN Calls Shock Treatment at Mass. School 'Torture,'" ABC News, 30 June 2018, https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/shock-therapy-massachussetts-school/story?id=11047334. [7] Ibid. [8] "UN calls for investigation of US school's shock treatments of autistic children," The Guardian, 2 June 2012, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jun/02/un-investigation-shock-treatments-autism. [9] Shayna Korol, "Abuse is Not the Answer: Shut Down the Judge Rotenberg Center," Huffington Post, 22 Dec. 2016, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/abuse-is-not-the-answer-shut-down-the-judge-rotenberg_us_585be5dde4b068764965bab3. [10] Op cit., The Guardian, 2 June 2012. [11] Interview with Manfred Nowak by CCHR International, 17 Apr. 2014. [12] https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22 /A.HRC.22.53.Add.4_Advance_version.pdf, p. 83. [13] Debra Bruno, "An electric shock therapy stops self-harm among the autistic, but at what cost?," The Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/an-electric-shock-therapy-stops-self-harm-among-the-autistic-but-at-what-cost/2016/11/21/b9b06c44-8f2c-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5dc5fea73fbc. [14] Op. cit., Huffington Post, 22 Dec. 2016. [15] Op. cit., ABC News, 30 June 2018. [16] Denise, Powell, "Massachusetts school allowed to continue electric shock therapy on special needs children," Sandhills Express, 2 July 2018, http://sandhillsexpress.com/abc_health/massachusetts-school-allowed-to-continue-electric-shock-therapy-on-special-needs-children-abcid36085969/; Emily Shugerman, "Massachusetts school can continue using electric shocks on special needs students, judge rules," The Independent, 3 July 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/electric-shock-therapy-school-special-needs-children-massachusetts-judge-rotenberg-center-canton-a8429736.html. [17] Ibid., The Independent. Related Links Documented Facts & Statistics About Modern Electroshock (ECT) 10 Facts You May Not Know About Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) SOURCE Citizens Commission on Human Rights International Related Links https://www.cchrint.org/electroshock NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Art Teleported, The Art Show and Conference for Nomadic Artists, organized by CICA Museum from Korea, will be held in Brooklyn, New York from the 4th to the 5th of January 2019. Leejin Kim, the art director of CICA Museum, known for featuring experimental and new media art worldwide, curated this event to suggest a new platform for nomadic artists in the global art scenes. Art Teleported Brooklyn NY 2019 Art Teleported Brooklyn NY 2019 Through Project Art Teleported, CICA Museum aims to create a global network among nomadic artists, designers, audiences, and communities and promote culture of fluidity and flexibility. CICA Museum believes that we can make, share, appreciate, and live in art in any regions and cultures by understanding and appreciation of each other. The art director, Leejin Kim, added that, "many artists, including me, have multicultural experiences and also have experienced new media culture. We often feel that we don't fall into a specific identity. Rather, it becomes more like a hybrid. We are living in rapidly changing new media culture, and sometimes we can relate ourselves more to someone who is from halfway around the world than someone next door. It would be wonderful if we meet and do something exciting anywhere." Art Teleported Brooklyn NY 2019 will feature 26 international artists from the US, Korea, Swiss, Germany, Venezuela, UK, Canada, Japan, China, and Israel. Featured artists and scholars are Rora Blue, Kris Casey, Eun Hyung Chung, Maria Dundakova, Cedric van Eenoo, Genesis Gonzalez, Steve Guynup, Suji Han, Rhys Himsworth, Jee Youn Hwang, Nayoung Jeong, Hyunsoo Kim, Zahra Komeylian, Eun Lee, Christina Ivelisse Morris, Ryohei Oba, Seungkyung Oh, Nitzan Satt, s/n, Cecilia Suhr, Rebecca Vickers, Fu Wenjun, Kyungjin Yoo, Kay Yoon & Jonas Wiel. The event will be held from the 4th to the 5th of January, 2019 at 100 Bogart St. Brooklyn, NY 11206. The conference sessions will be from 9 am to 1:45 pm on January 5, 2019 and the Party and Performance will be from 2 to 5 pm on January 5, 2019. The general registration is available on the Art Teleported website ( http://cicamuseum.com/artteleported ). Started from the sculptor Czong Ho Kim's studio in 1994, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA) became a unique cultural space founded and cultivated by artists. Since 1994, Czong Ho Kim has designed and built the art complex with a distinctive style, consisting of five buildings in Gimpo, the satellite city of Seoul. CICA Museum has organized diverse experimental publication & international exhibition series including the CICA international exhibition & publication on New Media Art, Art Yellow Book, and Artist Statement. In 2017, CICA Museum formed the CICA New Media Art Conference (CICA NMAC) with collaboration of Gimpo City and it became the annual conference since then. Contact: Myungsook Kim (929) 900-6009 [email protected] http://cicamuseum.com/artteleported SOURCE CICA Museum Related Links http://cicamuseum.com/artteleported EFFINGHAM, Ill., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2018 year to date, Heartland Dental and the company's supported dentists have given back over $2 million combined in charitable donations and free dental care. Heartland Dental currently supports 1,400 dentists in over 900 dental offices in 37 states. "Giving back as an organization is an important part of who Heartland Dental is and the culture we have built. We seek to not only help dentists achieve more, but support organizations locally and nationally who are helping others daily, as well as the educational institutions who are shaping future leaders," said Patrick Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer at Heartland Dental. "I'm also very proud of all our supported dentists who are donating their time and energy to give back to those in need in their communities." Heartland Dental as a company has given back locally to prominent charities and educational institutions in the Effingham, Illinois areas, as well as charitable organizations within the dental industry. In addition, Heartland Dental supported dentists have impacted the patients and communities they serve by donating free dental care in events such as Free Dentistry Day, an event created to provide aid to the growing number of adult Americans who can't afford dental services. About Heartland Dental Heartland Dental was founded in 1997 by Rick Workman, DMD with two dental offices in Effingham, IL. Today, it is the nation's largest dental support organization with 11,000 employees providing non-clinical administrative support services to 1,400 supported dentists in more than 900 supported dental offices in 37 states. Its non-clinical administrative services include staffing, employee relations, procurement, administration, financial, marketing assistance, and information technology. Heartland Dental is majority owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. Heartland Dental remains headquartered in Effingham and offers supported dentists and team members continuing professional education and leadership training. For more information, visit www.Heartland.com. Follow Heartland Dental on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Adam Lueken, Corporate Communications (217) 540-5664 or [email protected] SOURCE Heartland Dental Related Links https://heartland.com/ CALABASAS, Calif., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Barraza has recently joined Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation as a Branch Sales Manager in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Barraza's top producing team will be offering a vast range of home loan products including jumbo loans, fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), loans for first-time homebuyers, FHA, VA and Conventional loans, and what others might term as 'hard to do' niche loans. Barraza has a solid reputation of excellence in the mortgage industry, always working hard to meet his customers' needs, no matter how unique they may be. He brings more than 14 years of mortgage and sales experience to Fairway and is very pleased to be joining the company. Barraza looks forward to assisting clients and his business associates throughout the state of California. "Integrity is the cornerstone of my business. I believe that the mortgage experience should be about building relationships, and helping my clients achieve their home financing goals, not just a transaction," Barraza stated. "Fairway's strong core values, multitude of products, technology, and marketing capabilities, create an unrivalled platform for success and excellent customer service. I am proud to be joining the Fairway team." Barraza has extensive experience with first-time homebuyers, jumbo financing and government loans and his team is conveniently located in the Calabasas area. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 818-601-2389. About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation: Founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson, and named by a childhood best friend, colleague and forever member of the Fairway family, Randy Cross, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is a mortgage lender headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and Carrollton, Texas. The company has more than 500 locations and over 6,800 employees nationwide. At Fairway, customer service is a way of life. Not only are we dedicated to finding great loan products and rates for our customers, but we also offer some of the fastest turn times in the industry. Our goal is to act as a trusted advisor, providing highly personalized service and helping clients through every step of the loan process. It's all designed to exceed expectations, guarantee satisfaction and earn trust. For more information, please visit our website at www.FairwayIndependentMC.com. SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Related Links http://www.fairwayindependentmc.com WASHINGTON, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kevin Bacon's SixDegrees.org is partnering with SOS Children's Villages USA to raise money and awareness for SOS's extraordinary work, using SixDegrees' new platform, 6Tag, to launch the #HomecomingChallenge. Kevin Bacon, Actor, Musician, Philanthropist and Founder of SixDegrees.Org Children supported through SOS Children's Villages SixDegrees.org has developed a revolutionary web-based platform called "6Tag" for launching socially driven campaigns in order to raise financial support, volunteerism, awareness and anything else a charity might need to fulfill its mission. 6Taga messaging app for giving backgives users the opportunity to challenge their friends to create 30-second videos in order to create awareness and fundraise for a great cause. Inspired by the wildly successful ALS ice bucket challenge, which raised over $115 million for the ALS Association, 6Tag makes it easy to duplicate the video challenge concept at scale for multiple charities. By inviting their friends to participate in the #HomecomingChallenge, SOS USA and its partners hope to inspire growing support for SOS's global work with orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children. "In 2017, we directly helped over 2 million vulnerable children and families in 135 countries, including right here in the United States. But right now, there are still 220 million children at risk of growing up alone. We need to do more. I believe this partnership with SixDegrees.org and Kevin Bacon will energize people to contribute to SOS USA so every child has a loving home and the opportunity to reach their potential," explains Neil Ghosh, CEO of SOS USA. Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Jesse Metcalfe, Beverley Mitchell and other celebrity influencers have already taken the Homecoming Challenge and are declaring that every child deserves a place to call home. "At SixDegrees, we really try to shed light on charities that are doing extraordinary work," says founder Kevin Bacon. "We wanted to invite more people to join us. With 6Tag, people can start to see how small actions can create real change. As a community, we can gather to create real impact." SOS Children's Villages builds loving, stable families for orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children in 135 countries, including the United States. In addition to providing family-based care for kids who would otherwise grow up alone, SOS supports struggling families so children can stay with their parents, and helps at-risk teens navigate the road to adulthood. Through family strengthening programs, long-term care for children, education and job skills training, and emergency relief efforts, SOS provides life-changing support to millions of children and families worldwide each year. Over the past two decades, Golden Globe-winning actor, musician, and philanthropist Kevin Bacon's wide-reaching professional network has inspired a popular game that connects him to anyone in the Hollywood film industry in six degrees or less. Bacon decided to turn the idea on its head. Bacon launched SixDegrees at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. In the beginning, the nonprofit partnered with institutions like the University of Maryland and Stanford University to launch projects that promoted giving and fundraising for a variety of causes. Over the last two years, the organization has refocused and has coordinated countless drop-ins and surprise pop-ups to amplify causes, community organizations, and campaigns around the country. SixDegrees makes it easy for celebrities to give a small amount of their time and lend their influence to draw attention to unsung heroes around the world. SixDegrees continues to gain involvement from a growing list of stars. If you would like to learn more please contact Stacy Bradford at (571) 265-3585 or [email protected]. SOURCE SixDegrees.org Related Links https://www.sixdegrees.org ALLENTOWN, Pa., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) has scheduled the company's 2019 annual meeting of shareowners for Tuesday, May 14, 2019. The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Lexington, 401 West High St., Lexington, Kentucky. It will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) is one of the largest companies in the U.S. utility sector. PPL's seven high-performing, award-winning utilities serve 10 million customers in the United States and United Kingdom. With more than 12,000 employees, PPL is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and reliability and delivering superior value for shareowners. To learn more, visit www.pplweb.com. Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation. Contacts: For news media: Ryan Hill, 610-774-5997 For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig, 610-774-3389 SOURCE PPL Corporation Related Links http://www.pplweb.com TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Seedo Corp. (OTC: SEDO), a leader in the manufacturing of automated commercial growing devices for medical grade cannabis, announced today that the Israeli Parliament (the "Knesset"), on December 25th, passed a bill that concerns the governance and regulatory aspects of exporting medical cannabis from Israel. The bill, which passed the Knesset's internal affairs committee and two additional votes in the Knesset's grand hall, authorizes the Israeli Police to conduct supervision and grant approvals for cultivating, growing and exporting of Cannabis and Cannabis related products, thus clearing a legal obstacle necessary for the final approval of export of medical cannabis from the country, which is expected during 2019. "Israel is a medical cannabis power," said Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel, "The Israeli research conditions for growth in the field precede most of the countries in the world by 5-7 years because of progressive regulation." "Furthermore, the products in Israel are manufactured according to strict production standards, on a medical level, like in the pharmaceutical industry - including strict security rules for the entire value chain, developed following inter-ministerial work which took place over a prolonged period of time." Seedo is well positioned to take advantage and leverage the opportunity to export medical grade cannabis, cultivated and grown by Seedo's commercial auto-growing facility, which Seedo manufactures for the industrial sector. The Automated growing facility is remotely controlled by algorithms that take into consideration multiple variables parameters data from within the facility. The automated growth ensures maximum yield of pesticide free, high quality medical grade cannabis which can be then processed and exported from Israel. "This new legislation removes the last legal obstacle which remained in the path towards approving export and singing it into Israeli law," Said Zohar Levy, CEO of Seedo. "By the end of the year 2019, Israeli companies will be able to take advantage of our edge technology and leverage the possibility to export high quality, pesticide free medical cannabis to the world. We are proud to be able to offer this solution to the local Israeli and international growers." About Seedo Seedo has developed and produced the world's first fully-automated plant growing device managed and controlled by an artificial intelligent algorithm, monitored by your own smart phone Application, allowing consumers to grow their own herbs and vegetables effortlessly from seed to plant, while providing optimal conditions to assure premium quality produce year-round. Our product is suitable for both personal and commercial use. Visit Seedo at: www.seedolab.com. Disclaimer: Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and/or regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, Seedo Corp. latest 8-KA Report filed on November 27th , 2018. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Seedo Corp. which are condoned by the Company must emanate from the Company itself, and bear our name as its Source. For further information, please contact: SEEDO CORP +1-877-424-2429 http://www.seedolab.com SOURCE Seedo Corp. Related Links https://www.seedolab.com/ Standing on a cliff in southwest China, Atuleer village was once an isolated and impoverished place and it first came to the public's attention when it was connected to the outside world by a steel ladder. The steel frame, though it looks a little intimidating to outsiders, is much safer than its predecessor, a rattan one. Villagers live here for generations with their braveness and talents and now they are embracing a better life brought by a newly-built signal tower. Behind this transformation is a group of determined people who lugged many tons of construction materials. "Due to lack of facilities, construction materials could not be transported by vehicle. All of them, weighing 20 tons, were carried up the mountain by manpower," said Huang Jizuo, a worker of the tower project. After two months their hard work paid off. The village has access to 4G signal and the internet. "Many young people can get a glimpse of the outside world by reading the news on their mobile phones. Walnuts, green Sichuan pepper and potatoes grown by villagers can be sold to customers online through the platform," said Pachayouge, chief Party secretary of Atuleer village. "The future is promising with more and more tourists. I am sure that our village will see further dramatic changes in the future," said Yang Yang. Sichuan in China: A "tower" built in cliff village for better life http://p.china.org.cn/2018-12/20/content_74296911.htm About China.org.cn Founded in 2000, China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn/China.com.cn) is a key state news website under the auspices of the State Council Information Office, and is managed by China International Publishing Group. We provide round-the-clock news service in ten languages. With users from more than 200 countries and regions, we have become China's leading multi-lingual news outlet introducing the country to the outside world. We are one of the country's authoritative outlets for government press releases and are authorized to cover various major events. "Live Webcast" is our online webcasting service to present State Council Information Office press conferences in both Chinese and English languages. We are reputed for timely and accurate delivery of news and information, and wide interactions with audiences. In addition, we are authorized to publish and live broadcast major events and press conferences of ministries, local government agencies and institutions as well as enterprises. In the era of mobile internet, we endeavor to create an array of products for mobile devices headed by the multilingual WAP platform and the mobile APP. We also use Chinese and international social media to publish information for different user groups. In the future, CIIC will continue to offer authoritative information about China, tell China's stories, voice China's opinions, and introduce a vivid, panoramic and multicultural China to the world through multi-language, multi-media and multi-platforms. SOURCE China.org.cn TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University today announced a generous $3 million gift from Chuck Robel to establish the Charles J. Robel Dean's Chair in Business. Charles J. "Chuck" Robel is a 1971 graduate of the W. P. Carey School and a 2014 inductee into its Alumni Hall of Fame. Since 2008, he has on the board of directors of GoDaddy Inc., an internet domain registrar and web hosting company based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and has served as its chairman of the board since 2015. Previously, he served as chairman of the board of McAfee, one of the world's best-known computer-security software companies, prior to its multibillion-dollar sale to Intel. Robel spent the first 26 years of his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, leading its M&A technology group and software industry practice in Silicon Valley. Earlier this year, he was named to the board of directors of Sumo Logic, a cloud-native, machine data analytics platform, and was appointed chairman of the board of Model N, Inc., a revenue management cloud solutions provider. Robel has served on the boards of numerous public and private companies. He has been involved in more than 80 initial public offerings (IPOs) as an adviser, investor, and board member. "Chuck has been a longtime supporter of the W. P. Carey School and of ASU in general," said Amy Hillman, dean of the W. P. Carey School and recipient of the Charles J. Robel Dean's Chair. "We've been fortunate to have his commitment for a number of years, and we are proud that this new position will extend a vital relationship for both of us. By giving back to his alma mater, this gift also speaks to the importance education plays in someone's life." Mr. Robel has previously supported the Chuck Robel Professorship in Business Ethics and the Chuck Robel Chair in Business. "I've always felt like I have a very strong connection with ASU, and as a graduate of the business school, seeing how far it has come over the years has been tremendously gratifying," Robel said. "I have been honored to assist in its mission in the past, and am thrilled to be a member of its prestigious hall of fame. Now, I'm very proud to continue my association with the W. P. Carey School through this gift and help the school build on its reputation for excellence." The donation to the business school comes as part of Campaign ASU 2020, an ongoing initiative to generate $1.5 billion dollars in private funding for ASU, named the most innovative university by U.S. News & World Report the past four years, ahead of MIT and Stanford. An endowed chair is a coveted honor for faculty, recognizing years of thought leadership, leading-edge research, and dedicated service. Through the endowment, a chair receives much-needed resources that assist its recipient in conducting research, devoting time to service projects, and other extracurricular responsibilities. About the W. P. Carey School of Business The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States. The school is internationally regarded for its research productivity and its distinguished faculty members, including a Nobel Prize winner. Students come from more than 100 countries and W. P. Carey is represented by alumni in more than 160 countries. Visit wpcarey.asu.edu. Media Contact: Rebecca Ferriter, ASU W. P. Carey School of Business [email protected] (310) 871-9041 SOURCE W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University Related Links http://wpcarey.asu.edu NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain D's, the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant, announced today the opening of its newest franchised location in Wytheville, Virginia, marking the brand's 23rd restaurant in the state. Owned and operated by Captain D's largest existing franchisees Chris Benner and Tim Stokes of Trident Holdings LLC, the new restaurant marks the first of four additional locations the pair plans to open throughout the state and highlights the brand's ongoing development in the Southeast with more than five restaurants opened this year in markets such as Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi. Located at 215 E. Commonwealth Drive, the new Wytheville Captain D's is Benner and Stokes' third restaurant in Virginia. The duo will continue to grow the brand's footprint throughout the state, targeting Roanoke and Blacksburg for their four additional locations. As Captain D's largest operators, Benner and Stokes have continually leveraged their success with the brand to develop new restaurants, currently operating more than 30 Captain D's locations across six states in the Southeast, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. "It's easy for business owners to believe wholeheartedly in a brand's potential, but if the concept doesn't resonate with residents in the area then you'll have trouble staying in business," said Tim Stokes. "Chris and I's success and boundless growth is not only a testament to the incredible dining experience and support Captain D's provides, but is also a reflection of the brand's loyal and widespread fan base. Virginia is a perfect example of this bond and we are thrilled to now be sharing Captain D's with the residents of Wytheville." Captain D's ongoing growth in Virginia further signifies the outstanding success the brand has achieved over the past several years, which has fueled a surge in franchise and corporate development. Throughout the past year, the company has opened more than a dozen new locations and inked numerous franchise development agreements to open new restaurants in states like Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan and Oklahoma. Coupled with its ongoing menu innovation, Captain D's credits its new restaurant beach design with contributing to the brand's ongoing strong performance. To date, nearly 80 percent of all restaurants have been reimaged to the brand's new vibrant, coastal design. With these efforts, Captain D's has remained true to what it does best serving high-quality seafood with warm hospitality at an affordable price in a welcoming atmosphere. With more than 530 restaurants in 22 states, Captain D's is the fast-casual seafood leader and number one seafood franchise in America ranked by average unit volume. The company is currently seeking single- and multi-unit operators to join in the brand's rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.captaindsfranchising.com or call 800-314-4819. ABOUT CAPTAIN D'S Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D's has more than 530 restaurants in 22 states. Captain D's is the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D's has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for almost 50 years. Captain D's serves a wide variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company's signature batter dipped fish. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled items such as shrimp, Tilapia and Salmon, as well as hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D's favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com. Contact: Nikki Rode Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Captain D's Related Links http://www.captainds.com HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Confie, a national provider of personal and small commercial lines insurance, captured the #1 spot for the third year in a row in the annual Top 50 Personal Lines Leaders report by Insurance Journal West. The prestigious list, published in the national edition of Insurance Journal on November 18, 2018, was ranked by total 2018 revenue for personal lines independent agencies and brokerages. The journal is the nation's foremost publication for independent insurance agents and brokers. "We're honored to be recognized once again as the leader in our industry, and we look forward to an even more robust 2019," said Confie Chief Executive Officer Cesar Soriano. The company has more than 4,000 employees and nearly 800 offices in 21 states, and is one of the largest and fastest-growing privately-owned insurance brokers in the U.S. "We have had a landmark year with many milestones," Soriano said. "Strengthened by a successful refinancing effort, we redoubled our focus on strategic, sustained growth. Our commitment to a winning culture played out in an unprecedented level of community service. Above all, we have not and will not lose sight of our aspiration: to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind." About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is a leading national insurance distribution company primarily focused on personal lines and small commercial insurance. The experienced Confie management team continues to build Confie's portfolio of regional personal lines brokerages. Today, Confie has nearly 800 retail locations. The company has leading market positions in California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, Alabama, Kansas, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Missouri, Louisiana, Indiana and New Mexico and expects to continue its expansion in those and other states. Confie is a portfolio company of ABRY Partners. For more information about Confie, please visit www.confie.com. SOURCE Confie Related Links http://www.confie.com CHICAGO, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Corboy & Demetrio has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Lion Air passenger Sudibyo Onggo Wardoyo, 40, of Jakarta, Indonesia, who was killed in the crash of Lion Air Flight 610. The lawsuit, filed in Cook Co. Circuit Court on Dec. 24, 2018, names Boeing as Defendant and alleges the two-month-old 737 MAX 8 aircraft was unreasonably dangerous because its sensors provided inaccurate data to its flight control system resulting in its anti-stall system to improperly engage. The lawsuit also alleges Boeing failed to provide adequate instructions to pilots on how to respond to and disengage the plane's anti-stall system. "Not only did Boeing place sensors that provided inaccurate data, it also failed to provide the plane's pilots adequate instructions. It was like Boeing first blindfolded and then tied the hands of the pilots," said firm co-founder Thomas A. Demetrio, who with Partner Michael K. Demetrio, represents the Estate on behalf of Mr. Onggo Wardoyo's parents and three siblings. The two Demetrios and the firm have extensive experience in airline disaster lawsuits including suits against the manufacturers Boeing and McDonnell Douglass. The firm represented the families of 26 passengers who died in the American Airlines Flight 191 crash at O'Hare International Airport when an engine attached to a wing on a DC-10 fell off 17 seconds into flight killing all aboard; the families of 39 passengers of United Airlines Flight 232 that crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, when defective blades fractured in the rear engine of a DC-10 severing the plane's hydraulic system; and several families of passengers killed in the crash of USAir #427 near Pittsburgh due to a poorly designed rudder of a 737 aircraft. Case Info: #2018L013820, filed in Cook Co. Circuit Court. About Corboy & Demetrio Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation's premier law firms with more than $4 billion in settlements and verdicts. To reach one of our Chicago personal injury attorneys, call 312-346-3191. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Media Contact: Helen Lucaitis, Esq., 312-346-3191(office) or 312-550-2077(cell); [email protected] SOURCE Corboy & Demetrio NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) announces the first regulatory approval of a Parkinson's treatment funded by the Foundation. Inbrija from Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on December 21, 2018, for the treatment of "off" episodes, when Parkinson's symptoms are not well controlled with oral medication. "Our strategy of funding high-risk, high-reward projects with a focus on patient impact has paid off," said MJFF CEO Todd Sherer, PhD. "Today people with Parkinson's have a new option to manage life with the disease. Because of our Foundation's investments, many more treatments to manage symptoms and to stop progression are moving closer to pharmacy shelves and patient hands." The Foundation partially funded Phase I and II trials of Inbrija an inhaled powder of the gold-standard Parkinson's medication levodopa by biotechnology company Civitas Therapeutics in 2011 and 2013 with two grants totaling $1.3 million. After multiple rounds of venture capital investment, Acorda Therapeutics acquired Civitas in 2014 and continued the development of Inbrija. De-risking Investments for Larger Partners MJFF provides early-stage therapeutic projects with the capital needed to advance. Grantees use its funding to build evidence of safety and efficacy, which can attract larger partners with resources for later-stage testing, regulatory processes, and commercialization. The Foundation directs its donor-raised funds to the areas of most pressing patient need: from better symptom management to treatments to slow, stop or even prevent Parkinson's progression. "The way The Michael J. Fox Foundation does it is really best in class. The lack of bureaucracy and obstacles encourages emerging companies to seek funding and engagement and ultimately advance their projects," said Glenn Batchelder, co-founder and former CEO of Civitas Therapeutics and member of the MJFF Board of Directors. This "de-risking" model has advanced dozens of Parkinson's therapies. Treatments with potential to slow or stop the disease are marching through clinical trials with new partners after early MJFF funding. Therapies targeting individual symptoms are experiencing similar momentum, and the Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing another MJFF-funded Parkinson's treatment for "off" episodes: APL-130277 from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. New Option for Unmet Patient Need The newly approved Inbrija helps quickly alleviate symptoms of tremor, slowness and stiffness. With long-term oral levodopa use and advancing disease, these aspects of the disease can re-emerge between medication doses. These "off" episodes can greatly impact quality of life, bringing uncertainty to one's days and limiting ability to complete daily tasks. A 2014 MJFF survey of more than 3,000 people with Parkinson's disease found that more than 60 percent of respondents were in an "off" state for two or more hours per day and nearly 50 percent said their "off" episodes caused them to avoid or stop activities. Acorda Therapeutics CEO Ron Cohen notes, "It was clear thanks to the work of MJFF that 'off' episodes were a serious symptom for many Parkinson's patients. Acorda committed to addressing this, and the FDA approval means patients will soon have a new treatment option." Acorda and The Michael J. Fox Foundation are collaborating on a number of projects, including a study of how patients, care partners and doctors discuss "off" episodes to identify gaps in communication and thereby optimum care. About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $800 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit www.michaeljfox.org. SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Related Links http://www.michaeljfox.org SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Further to the Material Fact of December 20, 2018, Embraer S.A. (" Company ") hereby informs its shareholders and the market that, on December 21, 2018, the Chair of the Federal Court of Appeals (3rd Region) revoked the injunction granted in the Public Civil Action n. 5031433-18.2018.4.03.6100, filed before the 24th Federal Civil Court of Sao Paulo (" Public Civil Action "). The Company will keep its shareholders and the market informed on any material developments related to the Public Civil Action. Nelson Salgado Vice-President and Investors Relations Officer SOURCE Embraer S.A. Most conventional rehab methods only provide firm, rigid ways to exercise and recover. exoRehab, on the other hand, aims to provide the most effective and efficient rehab by inducing joy, providing personalized physical and electrical stimulation programs based on the user's musculoskeletal data. To help elevate patients' muscular rehab experience, exoRehab set out to fix one of their biggest complaints: tedious exercises. This includes repeating, boring movements in out-of-the-way hospitals. The exoRehab program will eliminate these issues thanks to features including portability, gamified exercise, and AI-based personalization. These treatments are done using exoRehab's electrical stimulation through a gamified treatment program. For example, a knee injury patient would wear the exoRehab device and, with the help of their doctor, activate its Training software to receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The program also allows users to execute rehab training exercises based on their own body data, all while monitoring the rehabilitation progress of their affected body part. Next step of exoRehab will be recognizing a patient's movement patterns and inducing artificial body movements by using its finely-tuned stimulation tech based on pattern learning. This machine- learning based stimulation will improve muscles' strength while relieving fatigue. Along with its CES debut, the company's inaugural rehab device is ready to hit the European and North American markets in the coming months. The company will be holding demonstrations at Eureka Park, Sands Level 1, Booth 52708. You can download high-res photos of exoRehab here . About Exosystems Exosystems is a Pangyo, South Korea based healthcare robotics company with funding from SparkLabs and Kakao Ventures . Exosystems' product exoRehab provides a wearable rehabilitation solution for rehabilitation patients. Their rehabilitation solution provides an optimized exercise program to patients through analyzing the user's rehabilitation activity data to give personalized care. SOURCE K-ICT Born2Global Centre "This acquisition presented a unique opportunity for Go Store It. On a personal level we are big fans of Nantucket and see the demand for quality self-storage on the Island. Nantucket has significant barriers to entry, and we are very pleased to now own an institutional quality asset there. We look forward to working with the local Nantucket community for several years to come," said Ryan Hanks, Founder of Go Store It. Go Store It finished the year with 13 acquisitions in 2018 and delivered 4 new development projects. While Go Store It's primary foot print has been in the Southeast, the company is now looking to expand in select Northeast Markets, Texas, and the Southwest. Go Store It will also begin offering third party management services in 2019 and looks to selectively partner with developers and owners that would like to maximize revenues and grow their own platform. Based in Charlotte, NC Go Store It specializes in the acquisition, development and management of self-storage assets throughout the county. Go Store It currently owns over 2,200,000 square feet of storage space and has another 900,000 square feet in the pipeline through acquisitions and development. Contact: Ryan Hanks, Founder/CEO, Madison Capital Group, LLC, 704.998.8646, for Go Store It SOURCE Go Store It Self Storage Related Links https://www.gostoreit.com TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In a long-awaited move, the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, has finally approved the export of medical cannabis allowing Israel to fully participate in the exploding cannabis industry world-wide. Saul Kaye, CEO of iCAN: Israel-Cannabis issued the following statement: "This is a long overdue but welcome development. iCAN has been diligently working together with Israeli regulators to further the growth of the cannabis industry with the goal of having Israel become the leading global export nation of medical cannabis. "Israel, already the most advanced nation in cannabis R&D will now be able to produce and market cannabis and cannabis-based products that will help millions of people suffering from illnesses including cancer, MS, Parkinson's, sleep disorders, epilepsy, and PTSD, to name just a few. "Israel's expertise in the field extends from cultivation and processing to research and development. By law, Israeli companies will be subject to strict supervision and maintain high medical grade standards. Israel is perfectly positioned to enter and disrupt the medical cannabis market that is expected to soar to $33 billion dollars worldwide in the next 5 years. In Israel alone, we quickly expect over $1 billion in sales to countries interested in our products. "We are proud of our forward-thinking government and will continue to work together to build the industry and help patients world-wide access safe, quality medical cannabis." The law, which passed today, provides a budget that allows the Interior Ministry and specifically the Israeli Police, to monitor, track and control the production and delivery of cannabis for export, and ensure there is no risk of leakage to the local illegal drug market. iCAN, through its partner Theracann, has secured the technology that can power the police and Ministry of Health in Israel and provide complete transparency and tracking of every gram of cannabis both for export and the local market. The new law also specifies that any foreign investment of more than 5% in an Israeli cannabis company will require regulatory approval. About iCAN: Israel-Cannabis iCAN is building the global cannabis ecosystem. iCAN identifies and accelerates innovative medical cannabis technologies and creates synergies and cooperation across the industry. iCAN uses its global network and reach to position Israel as the world's leading medical cannabis tech hub. Contact Laura Kam, [email protected], +972-54-806-8613 for further information. SOURCE iCAN: Israel Cannabis Related Links https://www.israel-cannabis.com/ MINNETONKA, Minn., Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- M1 Gaming of Dayton, Nevada has contracted with Table Trac, Inc. (OTCQB: TBTC) to replace their existing online slot system with the CasinoTrac system. The Nevada Nugget Casino joins the growing number of Nevada casinos that have chosen Table Trac's casino management system. The Nevada Nugget Casino, "the coolest little joint in Dayton" will feature many of your favorite games and will enjoy the enhanced customer service experience that their new state-of-the-art players club provides patrons. The CasinoTrac system will provide the Nevada Nugget with new exciting ways to win and receive extra rewards. Chad Hoehne, President of Table Trac, Inc. stated, "I am very pleased to be adding the Nevada Nugget Casino to our portfolio of satisfied customers. Our number one goal is to make our system easy to use, easy to train and easy to own, with our full commitment to service and value." About Table Trac, Inc. Founded in 1995, Table Trac, Inc. designs, develops and sells casino information and management systems. The company has over 140 systems installed in North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. More information is available at http://www.tabletrac.com/ . For more information: Robert Siqveland Table Trac, Inc. 952-548-8877 SOURCE Table Trac, Inc. Related Links http://www.tabletrac.com QINGDAO, China, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 17, the 2nd Overseas Academicians' Qingdao Tour & Qingdao International Academicians Forum was held in Li Cang District, Qingdao, there were more than 100 academicians from 22 countries and regions that participated in the forum. Over 40 signed agreements with Qingdao International Academician Park. The aim is to expand the method of introducing top talent and technology, improving the high-end talent structure and the innovation environment in Qingdao to ensure the principles of the Park enable talent and technology to grow in Qingdao. Qingdao International Academician Park signed contracts with a number of academicians during the forum. This helps the Park explore different methods that enable cooperation with enterprises and universities, it will maximize the effect of academicians, and contribute to the development of universities, research institutes and enterprises. Located in Licang District, Qingdao, Qingdao International Academician Park has built a scientific research facility that cooperates with many international universities. It is committed to providing Nobel Prize winners, world-renowned academicians and the world's top scientists with first-class scientific and technological research and development, achievement transformation, quality living environment, while working hard on the logistics of scientific research, an important guarantee for them to sprint towards the goal. The scientific research projects at the Park proceed from the actual needs, discovering problems and are used to solve the existing problems, truly utilizing scientific research technology to optimize people's lives. At the beginning of 2018, Qingdao International Academician Park opened the overseas social media communication, being the first government scientific research institution in China to have a presence on foreign social media. Through the continuous popularization of scientific knowledge and the spreading of the progress of scientific research projects on social media, the Park hopes to attract more attention to science and technology and ensure that people are more aware that science is changing our lives. It focuses on the fact that Chinese scientific research institutions are leading the world. Qingdao International Academician Park will continue to expand on overseas social media platforms and popularize scientific research. This will give the public a chance to understand the work taking place at the Academician Park and show how it has improved our lives. SOURCE Qingdao International Academician Park NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Actress Eliza Dushku, known for her work in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," signed on as what was meant to be a long standing character on CBS' "Bull" but was abruptly written off after confronting lead actor, Michael Weatherly, over sexual remarks. In what we now know as a confidential $9.5 million harassment claim settlement, Eliza Dushku was paid by CBS in the amount of what would have been her paycheck for her expected lengthy stint on "Bull." Ms. Dushku's settlement came as a result of confronting Mr. Weatherly over multiple inappropriate comments and jokes made towards Ms. Dushku while on set. The comments were sexual in nature, making Ms. Dushku uncomfortable and embarrassed. After other set members began following Mr. Weatherly's lead and confronted Ms. Dushku with sexual "humor," she confessed her concerns to the show's producer and writer, Glenn Gordon Caron and Mr. Weatherly directly. Soon after expressing her concerns, she was written off of the show. Carney Shegerian, the founder of Los Angeles-based employee rights law firm Shegerian & Associates, has weighed in on the settlement. "The harassment claim settlement by CBS shows the need for employers to curb sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior in the workplace," Shegerian says. "Following the #MeToo movement, more allegations have come to light, but there's still a serious need for further actions to be taken." Ms. Dushku's settlement became public because of a recent investigation into CBS', Leslie Moonves, and sexual misconduct allegations made against him by multiple women. After investigating, the lawyers determined that not only was Ms. Dushku's case mishandled, but it reflected a much larger dynamic of putting the corporation before the victim when it came to internal issues or investigations of misconduct. About Shegerian & Associates: Shegerian & Associates has won clients over $200 million in employment-based disputes and maintains a 98% success rate. We have offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and New York. Media Contact: Pace Public Relations Caroline Kropke [email protected] SOURCE Shegerian & Associates Related Links www.shegerianlaw.com MIAMI, Dec. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians (AAOSCP) is hosting an upcoming Conference, Cadaver and Live Workshop on Jan. 26-27, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency in Miami, Florida. The event will feature two days of interactive workshops with small participant-to-instructor ratios with a curriculum focused on regenerative medicine (RM) techniques. The training activities will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The AAOSCP is an organization created to advance the research and development of therapeutics in regenerative medicine, including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease related to or occurring within the human body. Its aim is to be an educational resource for physicians, scientists, and the public in diseases that can be caused by physiological dysfunction that are responsive to medical treatment. The AAOSCP's Jan. 25-26 workshop will focus and involve the use of cadavers as well as live patients, presenting simulations of new techniques that leverage regenerative medicine as the primary treatment plan. For this reason, physicians who are interested to bring a family member as a teaching case are welcome to do so. The workshop is worth 8 CME credits and the schedule is shown below. Both days will encompass teachings and techniques with the following experts in the field of Regenerative Medicine; AJ Farshchian, MD and Leonid Macheret , MD Techniques in Working With the Head and Neck , MD Techniques in Working With the Head and Neck Benjamin Bieber , MD Techniques in Working With the Upper Limbs , MD Techniques in Working With the Upper Limbs Bruce Werber , DPM Techniques in Working With the Lower Limbs , DPM Techniques in Working With the Lower Limbs Ramon Castellanos , MD Techniques in Working With the Lumbar Spine , MD Techniques in Working With the Lumbar Spine Joseph Purita , DO Techniques in Working With Harvesting Bone Marrow , DO Techniques in Working With Harvesting Bone Marrow William Song , MD Techniques in Harvesting Fat Cells This workshop benefits doctors and business owners, as the event represents a unique opportunity to enhance their training, network, learn and make connections, all while exploring new treatments and technologies. The spokesperson for AAOSCP, A.J. Farshchian, MD, "The American Association of Stem Cell Physicians is solely committed to creating an educational platform based on solid foundational research. Our goal is to enhance the quality of medical practice and the continued education of physicians. Currently, we are the most research-oriented group representing academia, clinical researchers and physicians from around the world." The AAOSCP's interactive sessions will feature small participant-to-instructor ratios with a customized curriculum focusing on developing hands-on skills. Each technique will be taught by experts in the field, using didactic sessions with dynamic multimedia presentations, live demonstrations and scanning on live model, as well as phantoms. Although the workshop will be held Jan. 26-27, registration closes on Jan. 17, 2019. To get registered or learn more, visit aaoscp.com/workshops. For questions, contact the AAOSCP at 305-866-8384 or email [email protected]. SOURCE The American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians Related Links http://www.aaoscp.com Bengaluru, Dec 25 : India witnessed a dramatic rise of eight unicorns in 2018 from among the start-ups across verticals as against a mere nine in six years from 2011 till 2017, according to IT industry apex body Nasscom. The start-ups joining the select club for their valuation over $1 billion (Rs 7,000 crore or more) are Oyo Rooms (hospitality), Zomato and Swiggy (food delivery), Udaan (retailer marketplace), Byju's, (edu-tech), Paytm Mall (e-tail), Freshworks (software programmer) and Policybazaar (digital insurance). "As the start-ups that became unicorns this year are based on subscription and Software as a Service (SaaS) models, they took a few years to mature," Nasscom Vice President (Industry Initiatives) K.S. Viswanathan told IANS. The focus of these start-ups to acquire customers globally made them unicorns from India, he asserted. According to the National Association of Software and Services Companies' (Nasscom) October report on "Indian Start-up Ecosystem: Approaching Escape Velocity", about 1,200 start-ups were added till September. "The Indian ecosystem is adding about 1,300 start-ups every year but also seeing the demise of at least 300 of them from previous years," Viswanathan admitted, assessing their survival rate at three to five years. With the addition of the start-ups, about 40,000 jobs were created during the year, taking their total in the ecosystem of 7,200-7,500 firms to 1.6-1.7 lakh. The world's largest retail giant, Walmart, in May bought 77 per cent equity stake in the country's earliest e-tailer unicorn, Flipkart, for a whopping $16 billion in one of the largest e-commerce deals globally. "The Flipkart acquisition by Walmart was a shot in the arm for the country's start-up sector," Viswanathan said. The investment in the native start-ups rose by a phenomenal 108 per cent annually to $4.2 billion in nine months (January-September) from $2 billion in the same period of 2017, the Nasscom report said. By year-end, Swiggy and Byju's raised hefty venture funds of $1 billion and $540 million (Rs 3,866-crore), respectively, indicating that global institutional and angel investors are betting on Indian unicorns. According to the New York-based market intelligence platform CB Insights, about 60 per cent of the funds raised by Indian start-ups were invested in unicorns. Adoption of disruptive technologies across verticals spanning education, food, health, hospitality and transportation has been driving growth of Indian start-ups. For instance, the four-year-old Swiggy, which has raised $1.26 billion so far, has been investing in its digital platform and delivery fleet. "One of the reasons for our success is our industry-changing innovations and focus on delivering the best consumer experience. Our delivery-only kitchens have also enabled our entry into 42 cities across the country in last six months," a Swiggy spokesperson told IANS. During the year, Oyo and Ola also began expanding aggressively in the international markets. Gurugram-based Oyo said it invested on its technological prowess, sustaining demand generation across online and offline channels and identification and upgradation of properties within a short time to spur growth. The company raised $1 billion from SoftBank and other investors to become a unicorn. "We saw many firsts and celebrated key milestones this year. We entered three international markets -- the UAE, Britain and Indonesia," Oyo founder and chief executive Ritesh Agarwal told IANS. Competing against the American ride-hailing firm Uber, city-based Ola forayed into international markets starting in Australia and entered Britain and New Zealand. Food delivery and restaurant search platform Zomato, which raised over $600 million since its founding in 2008 in Gurugram in Haryana, entered the unicorn club this year, according to Nasscom data. Zomato has been expanding overseas since 2012 and operates in 24 countries, including Australia, Britain, Canada and the US. The start-up ecosystem and its enablers, including stakeholders and policy regulations, play a key role in the growth of any firm, said Zomato's global head of classifieds business Oytun Calapover. "Zomato is a great example of a homegrown start-up, which has been able to build equity not just in the home country, but overseas as well. This has been made possible by factors like government regulations and stakeholders," Calapover told IANS. The central government's policies like Start-up India, Digital India and 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce have helped the country become a "land of unicorns", Calapover added. Though the start-ups had a satisfactory year, the number of women leading some of them remained low. Of the total start-up founders, 11 per cent were women in 2017-18, up a mere three percentage points from eight per cent in 2016-17, according to Nasscom. There is a need to advocate more women in start-ups for the government support, particularly at the seed-funding stage (early investments until they can generate revenue) and improving the ease of doing business to propel their growth, the industry body added in its report. (Bhavana Akella can be contacted at bhavana.a@ians.in) Bangkok, Dec 26 : Thailand's interim parliament voted to approve marijuana for medical use and research, one of the senators who worked on the bill told CNN on Tuesday. Recreational use of the drug remains illegal. Lawmaker Somchai Sawangkarn said the passing of an amendment to allow medical marijuana in the country "could be considered as a New Year gift to Thais." "The amendment (on the Narcotics Bill) was passed the second and third readings today. And will become effective once it is published on the Royal Gazette," he said." The National Legislative Assembly's 166 members voted in favour of the change and there were no votes objecting to the motion. There were 13 members who abstained from the vote, CNN reported. This makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to allow the use of medical marijuana. The region is notorious for its hardline approach to drugs and strict penalties for drug-related crimes. The British government approved medical marijuana earlier this year, and it became available on November 1 from the National Health System to patients with a prescription. Medications derived from cannabis became legal in Germany last year. Medical marijuana is also legal in Australia and Ireland. In the US, medical marijuana is legal in 30 states, though the laws governing what's permitted vary from state to state, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Google on Wednesday honoured the life and legacy of Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, affectionately known as Baba Amte, celebrating his 104th birth anniversary. The Doodle slideshow followed Amte's life, which he dedicated to serving those in need, especially the ones afflicted with leprosy. Created by Vrinda Zaveri, the doodle starts off with a portrait of Amte looking ahead in the distance future. The next features his unity marches which crisscrossed from north to south and later west to east. Another featured his "Anandawan", a village and centre he established for leprosy patients. "We salute Babe Amte for a lifetime of service to humanity," said Google as they dedicated the day in 1914, when Amte was born. Exposed early on to a life of privilege, Amte, who came from a wealthy family in Maharashtra, would indulge in hunting wild animals, play sports, and drive luxurious cars. He studied law and ran his own successful firm by the time he was in his 20s. Always perceptive, Amte was aware of the class inequalities existing even as a child. In his 30s, he left his practice in order to work alongside the underprivileged. It was during this time that he came across Indu Ghuleshastri, whose kindness to an elderly servant touched him deeply, and the two got married. According to the blogpost, Amte's life was changed forever when he encountered a man suffering from leprosy. The sight of the man's decaying body filled him with overwhelming fear. Confronting that fear, Amte identified the state of "mental leprosy" that allowed people to feel apathetic in the face of this dreaded affliction. He said: "The most frightening disease is not losing one's limbs, but losing one's strength to feel kindness and compassion." Amte defied social stigmas faced by leprosy patients by injecting himself with bacilli to prove that the disease was not highly contagious. In 1949 he established Anandwan-meaning "Forest of Bliss"-a self-sufficient village and rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients. A strong believer in national unity, Amte launched his first 'Knit India March' in 1985. At the age of 72, he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, more than 3,000 miles, with the simple purpose to inspire unity in India. In a time of national strife, Amte was accompanied by 100 men and 16 women, all under the age of 35. He organised a second march three years later, travelling over 1,800 miles from Assam to Gujarat. In recognition of Amte's tireless work, he was awarded the Padma Shri Award in 1971; in 1988 the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights; and in 1999 Gandhi Peace Prize. His legacy lives on through his two sons who share their father's sense of compassion, said the blog as the Doodle ends with a family potrait of six. Mexico City, Dec 26 : No traces of explosives were found in the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed on Monday, causing the death of Puebla Governor Martha Erika Alonso, her husband Senator Rafael Moreno Valle and three other people, official sources have said. The Secretariat of the Mexican Navy has reported that the experts, after an analysis of the remains of the aircraft, found no explosives or foreign substances that could have caused the crash, Efe news quoted Alfonso Durazo, Public Security and Civil Protection Secretary as saying on Tuesday. According to the early investigations, the helicopter crashed upside down, and a data recording device has been recovered, he added. On Monday, Durazo said that "when the aircraft was in flight some three nautical miles from the Puebla airport, it suffered an apparent failure which hasn't been determined yet". Earlier, the National Civil Aeronautics Directorate had established a team of investigators to probe the incident. The team includes representatives of the Italian manufacturer of the AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter, the Canadian manufacturer of Pratt & Whitney engines, "as well as a group of verifying inspectors, and specialists in analysis". New Delhi : No pet parent likes to confine their little ones to a leash and walk them around narrow lanes and filthy footpaths, subjecting them to bustling crowds and traffic noises in their playtime. Even though parks can be found in every nook and corner, one simply cannot unleash dogs, and sit back and watch them run about in all of them. Parents always have to be on their toes, and literally so. With a lack of dog-friendly spaces around in general, here are five parks across the country that provide respite to both the furry companions as well as their parents: Gachibowli, Hyderabad: A first-of-its-kind in the country, this park is exclusively for the enjoyment of your four-legged buddies and is equipped with facilities such as an exclusive dog play area, pool, training and playing equipment, separate enclosures for the little ones and the bigger woofers, and an amphitheatre. Converted into a park from a dump yard, the brainchild of IAS officer Harichandana also has certified trainers and veterinary professionals, thus becoming the first park in India to match the international standards that have been set for the pet's holistic well-being. Petboro Dog Park, Bengaluru: Spread over a large space and equipped with canine-exclusive play tools such as ramp, see-saw, jump hoops and bars, weave posts, and others, this park is a haven for dogs to play and socialise as they exercise. Since the area is entirely fenced, the canine buddies can prance about, crawl, jump and relax as freely as they wish to. This park also serves as an ideal place for pet parents to train their little ones while they enjoy. Carter Road Dog Park, Mumbai: Stretched along the coastline overlooking the sea, the park is enclosed and absolutely secure for the little snoots to run about freely and make friends among both fellow dogs as well as humans. The park also provides dogs with several opportunities to socialise and have the time of their lives by organising interesting parties on numerous occasions. The best deal is that this park is open 24x7, so pet parents know where to head to when their furry buddy nudges them awake at 3 am for some fun! Off The Leash, Gurugram: True to its name, Off the Leash is a park-cum-cafA where you can let your furry one run around, make fellow pooch friends and explore the area without having to trail behind them the entire time. They are in for a treat, literally, with an amazing doggie menu for them to hog on as the parents sit back in admiration and sip their coffee. And a pool to do away summer jitters serves as a cherry on the cake! Domlur Dog Park, Bengaluru: Through concerted efforts by the Ugly Indian association, concerned pet parents and other animal lovers, a former garbage dump was converted into a dog-friendly park and is regularly maintained by them, too. With play equipment such as kennel, dog-exclusive benches and tier tunnels, this park serves as a relief for pets and their parents to relax and enjoy. Furthermore, a "poop pit" has been dug in a corner which acts as a compost for the responsible parents to scoop out and put the excreta left behind by their furry children, thus ensuring a clean area for them to unwind. (Bhupendra Khanal is Founder and CEO of Dogsee Chew, which retails natural and organic dog treats and chews. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at bhupendra@dogseechew.com) New Delhi : Book: Bullocks from the West; Author: N.A. Muthuswamy; Publisher: Westland Books; Pages: 175; Price: Rs 499 If you are living a life in urban India, which passes like a blur each time you open your eyes, the stories in N.A Muthuswamy's "Bullocks from the West" are representative of an invaluable pause. A pause which transports the reader back to a life where beasts still share the human burden and prized bullocks are to farmers what Ferraris perhaps are to stock brokers today. The short story "Bullocks from the West", from which the book borrows its name, is just one slice of village life, which Muthuswamy captures with his rich description, laced with mystical regional lore. The story deals with the ambition of a young boy who is in a tearing hurry to tame and train a pair of bullocks and how his hurry leads to a series of events that eventually lead to the beasts being finally sold off. Another dramatic story, "Panchali", is a commentary as well as an evocative tale of a village devdasi -- a woman offered to a temple and often driven to "socially sanctioned" prostitution -- who plays the role of Panchali as part of a popular village ritual. The story examines the now-outlawed devdasi custom, which was a common practice in Southern states, in the context of a temple procession which goes out of control. Factual nuggets -- like how the date for the ritual where the devdasi is expected to perform was fixed after ascertaining when she was due for her monthly periods -- makes for fascinating reading as well as underlines the quality of observation and research conducted by the writer. The menstrual period is significant because Panchali was undergoing this when she was ordered to present herself to the gambling arena where the Pandavas had already "lost" her to Duryodhana. Then, there's the story of Ramayya Padayachi, an old man who believes he is a great general of the Chola king of Kadarankondan and refuses to come to terms with the real world, as it plays out around him. The solitary play "England", which accompanies the five stories, is a stinging critique of the social inequities, which did not cease to be despite the independence of India, while also capturing the sum of resistance to British rule. Set in the hinterland of Tamil Nadu, the book makes the lives in the back of beyond of the South Indian state come alive with liberal use of regional phrases, metaphors and vivid descriptions of the human as well as the natural landscape of these villages. "Bullocks from the West" has been translated by David Shulman one of the foremost authorities in Indian languages, and S. Ramakrishnan, a publishing editor. And it would take a special team of translators to retain the inherent charm and layered enigma, as well as retain the ultra-regional flourish, which life in a village really is about. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in) Los Angeles, Dec 26 : Actress Roseanne Barr says she will be travelling to Israel in January and has been invited to address the country's parliament. Barr says her aim is to "further my own knowledge of Jewish and Israeli history" and speak out "against the insidious and anti-Semitic BDS movement", reports pagesix.com. BDS refers to the anti-Israel movement calling for boycott, divestment and sanctions of the state. "While I intend to further my own knowledge of Jewish and Israeli history, I have important work to do as a voice against the insidious and anti-Semitic BDS movement," Barr said. "We are in an age where Israeli innovation is ascendant and changing the world in areas of medicine, technology, media and the arts. Israel is an oasis of openness, freedom, democracy and tolerance amidst a desert of brutality from an age gone by. I want to shout this from the heights of the Galilee to the halls of the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel's capital city - and from the cafes and art galleries of Tel-Aviv to the beaches of Eilat," she added. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, whose organisation has sponsored Barr's trip, says that "bringing an incredibly proud Jewish woman like Rosanne to Israel will be a great boost to its citizens". She will speak at the Israeli Knesset on January 30. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Sikkim's sole MP P.D. Rai says the continuing non-functioning of Parliament is jeopardising the interests of smaller parties like the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and is preventing them from raising important issues concerning their states. Referring to the ongoing gridlock in Parliament over various issues, including the Rafale fighter jet deal, Rai said it was not only undermining the interests of the regional parties but also trampling their rights. "Already two weeks have passed and there is no work in Parliament. This is having a very, very negative impact on smaller parties like us. Because we want the government to bring an amendment to the constitution for the Limboo-Tamang seats for which we have been fighting so long," Rai told IANS. The lone MP of the SDF said that he is under instructions from Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is also the party president, to raise issues like the state's long-pending demand of expansion of its assembly from 32 to 40 seats and reservation for five seats to the Limboo and Tamang scheduled tribe communities. "In 2016, the Supreme Court had directed the Government of India to give justice to the Limboo-Tamang communities. The government of Sikkim has given its responses within 2016... and now it is 2018, and the central government is still not able bring it in Parliament. "In fact, it has not been brought to the cabinet," he said, urging that if a bill is not viable, an ordinance must be promulgated by the government giving effect to the same. He also wanted to rake up the issue of giving tribal status to the 11 left-out communities from the border state under Article 371F of the Constitution of India but could not do so because of the continuous deadlock in Parliament. "The way Parliament is not functioning has a direct impact on smaller parties like us. Because we are just waiting, we are not going into the well of the House... we are not able to participate in Question Hour or Zero Hour or any of the parliamentary proceedings. It becomes a total waste of time... In many ways our right to be heard in parliament is being trampled," he said. He said that be it Rafale or any other issue between the BJP and the Congress, this should not be such a bone of contention that the entire Parliament functioning comes to a halt. "The whole institution of Parliament today is being jeopardised by this kind of behaviour by members of both the opposition parties as well as the treasury benches," he said, accusing the ruling dispensation of not reaching out to the opposition on contentious issues. "What I recall in the 15th Lok Sabha, the government would reach out and by this time (two weeks) things were settled down. But there seems to no such settlement right now. I am most disappointed as the rights of the people of the Sikkim and even other parts of the country are being taken away by this kind of behaviour," he said referring to the UPA government agreeing to a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the alleged scam in allotment of the 2G telecom spectrum that had rocked Parliament then. "That time the Congress did agree at the end of the day. Also a discussion was allowed on the floor of the House. Similarly, the BJP could also do that. In my opinion they could also do that, but why they are not doing this is you have to find out from them," he said. (Brajendra Nath Singh can be contacted at brajendra.s@ians.in) London, Dec 26 : British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and how much help they get from the UK. According to the Foreign Office, the review, led by the Bishop of Truro, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians who faced discrimination and violence in 2017, the BBC reported. Officials said violence against Christians is rising dramatically, with an average of 250 persons killed every month. "Britain has long championed international religious freedom," Hunt said, adding that the UK "must do more". The Foreign Office said the review would "consider some tough questions and offer ambitious policy recommendations". The intervention comes after an outcry over the treatment of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan. Bibi spent eight years on death row until her conviction was reversed by Pakistan's Supreme Court earlier in 2018. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The year turned out to be an eventful one for the Indian real estate marked by the improvement in sales and its return to stability after the double blow of GST and demonetisation. For the sector, the liquidity crunch, the rupee falling to its record low, changes in the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) and recognition of home buyers as lenders to developers under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) were other major events during the year. Although real estate did not witness an increase in launches, developers say, the market registered higher sale of inventory in 2018 compared to last year. "It was a year of stabilisation of reforms implemented in residential real estate over 2016-17. Sales numbers saw 25 per cent improvement over 2017," said Ankur Dhawan, Chief Investment Officer at PropTiger.com. Data provided by PropTiger.com showed that units sold across the country's nine major cities in 2018 were around 3.1 lakh, around 25 per cent higher than 2.5 lakh units sold last year. The number of new projects, however, declined this year, with around 1.9 lakh units being launched - 22 per cent lower on a year-on-year basis. According to market players, growth and demand in the affordable housing segment outgrew the overall demand in Indian real estate in 2018. Mumbai-based Spenta Corportation's MD Farshid Cooper said: "Affordable housing is doing fantastically well actually. As there is an impetus from the government in terms of taxes etc, that is an added benefit to the segment." The Centre provides interest subsidy to home buyers belonging to the Low Income Group (LIG) and Middle Income Group (MIG) categories under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. In June this year, the government increased the carpet area of houses eligible for the interest subsidy by 33 per cent, broadening the ambit of the scheme. The change would be effective from January 1, 2019. In the new guidelines, the carpet area of a house for Middle Income Group-I (MIG-I) was raised to 160 square metres (sq mt) from 120 sq mt, while it has been increased to 200 sq mt from 150 sq mt in the case of MIG -II. Speaking of commercial real estate, Cooper said that sale in the segment has performed better than that in residential housing due to demand from investors and funds such as sovereign wealth funds. Non-resident Indian (NRI) investments in the realty sector got a boost this year on the back of a weak rupee. Rupee was on a slide for months and in October touched its lowest-ever level of 74.47 per dollar. Market participants say investments by NRIs in Indian real estate crossed $10 billion in the current financial year, up from $8.9 billion invested in fiscal 2017-18. "The (NRI) investments earlier were about 8-10 per cent of the total inventory, but in the current scenario it may rise upto 15 per cent in the near future," Surendra Hiranandani, Director, House of Hiranandani said. With Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) becoming a reality in the near future investments are only likely to go higher, he added. A major headache for the sector this year proved to be the liquidity crunch, which came to light when the lending major Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) defaulted on its commercial papers in September. Parth Mehta, MD of Paradigm Realty said: "The liquidity crunch that is going on currently has given a tough time to the real-estate sector as developer can't slow down their construction to meet the RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act) timeline and on the other side NBFCs have stopped disbursals even against approved sanctions." "This liquidity crunch hit both developers and buyers and has led to a slowdown in home buying decisions creating mismatch in housing demand-supply," Mehta said. The RERA implementation was lacklustre across the country during the year, with majority of the states yet to set up a permanent regulator, although most of them have notified the rules. "Currently 28 states and union territories have notified rules under RERA and 15 of these have established a permanent regulator, the latest one being Delhi, which appointed a full-time regulator in November. As of November, more than 34,000 projects had been registered under RERA," said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman, India and South East Asia region for CBRE, a global commercial real estate investment company. In July, the Parliament amended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code allowing home buyers to be treated as financial creditors. "Modification in Insolvency and Bankruptcy code to make home buyer a secured creditor was one of the major policy move of government. This will ensure home buyers are not shortchanged in bankruptcy process," Dhawan from PropTiger.com said. With the liquidity crisis likely to subside with the RBI and the government stepping in, the segment players feel 2019 would see better investment and demand. The period upto the general elections in 2019 could, however, see caution and subdued interest with the market waiting for a stable government and policies. "2019 will start on a cautious note due to the upcoming elections, but will pick up significant momentum thereafter, in all real estate segments," Hiranandani said. (Rituraj Baruah can be contacted at rituraj.b@ians.in) New Delhi : If nothing else, the Kurds of the world now know they are the world's most-loved ethnic group. For that, they owe a debt of gratitude to Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Had the two leaders not made the infamous December 14 telephone conversation that purportedly inspired Trump's tweet announcing a sudden US withdrawal from Syria, the massive outpouring of moral support for Syrian Kurds from Western capitals and the Washington establishment would perhaps never have occurred. But more about the bright side later. In the immediate term, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), which governs over a quarter of war-torn Syrian territory, has to gird for all kinds of catastrophic scenarios, from a barely disguised Turkish invasion to a tightening of Syrian coercive measures. Whether or not the US President changes his mind again, the Western-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clearly cannot count on American support for the rest of Trump's presidency. With any luck, the Turks and their local proxies will not rush into the area with indecent haste and end up destabilising the only part of Syria that has a semblance of law, order and stability, not to mention the richest oil fields. The hope also is that the French and British forces already present in the Kurdish-controlled portion will act as a deterrent against the designs of Turkey, Iran, Syria and Russia. The SDC decision to send a team to Paris to ask France to fill the gap that will be left by the withdrawing Americans may well be a case of too little too late. But, for their part, European countries, including Germany, should not sit idly by in the wake of the events that were summed by Carl Bildt, the European Council on Foreign Relations co-chair, as "a morning of alarm in Europe". Hypothetically speaking, replacement of the US contingent by elite troops from the Kurds' European and Arab partners could be a blessing in disguise for the local population, who in any case had been living in fear and anxiety since Trump announced at a rally in Ohio in March that "very soon, we're coming out". Until the outcry sparked by Trump's latest announcement, few in the international community had noticed the sheer meanness of his move, also in March, to not spend the $230 million that had been set aside for recovery efforts in northeastern Syria. US officials had then claimed the freeze on aid meant for areas cleared of ISIS would be offset by $300m pledged by coalition partners when the extra money could have actually supplemented the stabilisation efforts. Now that the balance of power has tilted abruptly in favour of the Syrian Kurds' foes, whether the pledged sums would materialise is open to question. While the security challenges thrust on the SDF by the imminent US withdrawal are undoubtedly grave, to view the situation as all doom and gloom would be to miss the big picture. With one tweet, Trump inadvertently unlocked an enormous reservoir of goodwill not just for Syrian Kurds but presumably the Middle East's entire Kurdish population spread across four countries. Public memory can be short, but it is evidently not so in regard to the Kurds' sacrifices -- about 4,000 dead and 10,000 wounded -- since the launch of the international coalition campaign to defeat ISIS in 2015. Moreover, it is clear that the SDF's ongoing campaign to root out ISIS diehards from their remaining strongholds is being noticed and appreciated by its beneficiaries far and wide. Except for a few oddballs and social-media mavens with known sympathies for Islamists, Russia or Syria, the international commentariat has been overwhelmingly critical of the new Trump-Erdogan axis and supportive of the Syrian Kurds. The stinging broadsides have come not just from the "never-Trumpers" but also Western liberals who were previously opposed to military entanglements abroad and had backed President Barack Obama's decision in 2011 to withdraw all troops from Iraq. Admittedly, Trump's simultaneous decision to withdraw 5,000 US soldiers from Afghanistan in the face of a brutal offensive by the Taliban has compounded the concerns of Western politicians and moderate Arab regimes. But until the December 19 tweet went out, a consensus of this scale on a major foreign-policy issue was almost impossible to imagine in Washington. The unifying force of the backlash was further underscored by the resignations of a Trump appointee (Pentagon chief Jim Mattis) and an Obama-administration holdover (anti-ISIS coalition pointman Brett McGurk) in quick succession. The expected turbulence in the coming days may not produce the kind of cross-border and cross-ideological unity that many Kurds dream of. But it has certainly created an opening for them to mobilise international public opinion in their favour, with the protection and preservation of the de-facto autonomous region in northern Syria as the immediate objective. (In arrangement with Rudaw Media Network, Erbil, Iraq. Arnab Neil Sengupta, a freelance journalist, divides his time between Delhi and Dubai. He can be reached at arnabnsg@gmail.com) Beijing, Dec 26 : Three students were killed in an explosion in the laboratory of Beijing Jiaotong University on Wednesday, news outlets here reported. The incident occurred at 9.34 a.m when students from the Municipal Environmental Engineering Department of the university were conducting an experiment on sewage treatment. The cause of the explosion was immediately not known and the authorities have launched an investigation, Xinhua news agency said. Eight fire squadrons and 30 fire engines were sent to the scene. According to The Beijing News, some students who were taking exams in a nearby building heard a loud explosion. Their room also got filled with smoke which was billowing out from the varsity's building. A statement from the university said the fire was brought under control within an hour and there were no other casualties, according to the South China Morning Post. Warsaw, Dec 26 : Six persons were killed in a fire in Poland's capital Warsaw, fire officials said on Wednesday. A small wooden building had caught fire on Tuesday night. The cause of the fire, which was put off early in the morning, and the identities of the six victims are still unclear, Xinhua news agency reported. Panaji, Dec 26 : The Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP-led coalition government in Goa of being "communal", after police, early on Christmas eve, stopped a traditional Christmas eve gala dance at Nuvem village, citing absence of permission. Addressing a press conference in South Goa's Margao town on Wednesday, state Congress president Girish Chodankar said that traditional dances and Christmas eve balls have been a common practice for generations and that it was for the first time that the police, allegedly on the instructions of Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai, had cracked down on an event linked to one of the state's most popular festivals. "There is no rule of law in Goa. Worse still, this was a communal act to stop a traditional dance on Christmas eve. Our party condemns this. Sardesai is responsible for pressurising the police and district administration to stop the event," Chodankar said. Christmas eve balls are commonplace in Goa, which has a 26 per cent Catholic population, where folks head to after the midnight mass to usher in Christmas. Over 500 guests were present on Christmas eve at the traditional ball at Nuvem, located 30 km from Panaji, when police stopped the event. Chodankar said that the office of the South Goa District Collector had failed to give any reason for stopping the traditional dance event. "Such dances are a part of our custom. The Collector first sat on the request for permission for several days, before rejecting it without citing any reason," Chodankar said. Rejecting the charge, Sardesai said that he had no role in the decision taken by the district administration to halt the dance and also questioned the Congress' concern about a commercial event, with ticketed entry. "When the organiser of the event is not complaining, why is the Congress taking up an issue related to a commercial event, with ticketed entry? The oldest party in the country has come down to the level of taking up cudgels on behalf of a commercial event!" Sardesai said, while accusing Chodankar of unnecessarily targeting him. While South Goa District Collector Tariq Thomas was unavailable for comment, an official requesting anonymity said that the police were forced to stop the event because it had no formal permission from the district administration, and there was opposition from the local community residing near the venue. Jammu, Dec 26 : A civilian was killed on Wednesday in Pakistan ceasefire violation at the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district. Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said here: "At around 12 p.m today (Wednesday), the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing in Nowshera Sector resulting in critical injuries to a civilian, Bodhraj, aged about 55 years, a resident of Deeing in Nowshera Tehsil. The Indian troops replied to the Pakistani belligerence "in a befitting manner", the official said. "Indian Army immediately evacuated the injured for medical aid. However, the individual succumbed to his injuries." The Army authorities have promised all possible assistance and help to the family of the deceased, Anand said. Chandigarh, Dec 26 : Punjab Education Minister O.P. Soni on Wednesday warned that officers and principals will be held fully accountable for the poor performance of students in examinations. Presiding over a meeting with the District Education Officers (DEOs), Soni said that DEOs should regularly check schools and punctuality among the teachers and other staff to ensure better results. He further said that the examination centre should be set up keeping in mind that students do not have to travel more than three kilometer from their home. Making it clear that the responsibility of poor results of the government schools will be on DEOs and principals, Soni asked them to ensure remedial measures before the start of examinations of various classes. On the issue of vacant posts of teachers and other employees in various schools, Soni directed that these posts will be filled with due promotions and rationalisation. He also said that the list of those schools, whose buildings are unsafe and in dilapidated condition, should be sent immediately and all such buildings will be rebuilt in one year. Kolkata, Dec 26 : A 22-year-old man in Purba Bardhaman district took money from a neighbour's father pretending to be his son and killed the real son out of fear, police said on Wednesday. "Jamal Sheikh of Babuidanga village has been arrested on Monday for killing his neighbour Arshed Sheikh, 14," a police officer of Purbasthali police station said. The officer mentioned that the accused knew that the teenager had never seen his father, who lived and worked in Kerala and was separated from his wife years ago. The boy lived with his maternal grandparents. Police said that taking advantage of the situation, the accused collected the man's phone number, spoke to him as his son and asked for monetary help. "The father had sent money to Sheikh but when the man expressed his desire to pay a visit, the culprit killed Arshed out of fear," said the officer. Arshed went missing on December 3 and his body was recovered from the fields, the officer added. Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 26 : More than a million people stood with a lit lamp from the northern most district of Kasargode to the southern tip in the state capital to protest against the Pinarayi Vijayan government's attempt to dilute the traditions of the Sabarimala temple. The Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SKS) spearheaded the Ayyappa Jyothi campaign on a stretch of 795 km across Kerala. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi handed over the lamp to devotees near Kerala border. Giving support to the campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh parivar forces turned out in full strength to make the event a success. In front of the state secretariat here stood state BJP chief P.S. Sreedharan Pillai and BJP legislator O. Rajagopal, besides yesteryear actress Maneka Suresh. "This is being staged to open the eyes of those who are trying to break the traditions of the temple. Numerous women have expressed their unhappiness in breaking the tradition of the temple," said Suresh, a hugely popular actress. The Sabarimala Karma Samithi and 41 other Hindu organisations, besides the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, had been working on the campaign. Taking active part in the programme was the Pandalam Royal family members who are the official custodians of the Sabarimala temple jewellery. Their spokesperson P.S. Varma told the media that all of them are extremely happy that this programme is being held. While the NSS, a socio cultural body of the Hindu Nair community, was part of the event, the SNDP Yogam, a similar body of the Hindu-Ezhava community, was not. However, SNDP Yogam is taking part in the Women's Wall being organised by the Pinarayi Vijayan government to uphold renaissance values and gender equality in society from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram on January 1. Even though it was Vijayan who announced his programme first, the Sabarimala Karma Samithi sprang a surprise by deciding to hold theirs on December 26. The state unit of the BJP was quick to support this programme when Pillai said: "Let us see how we match the Women's Wall." Ayyappa Jyothi is "nothing political and anyone can participate", he said. The temple town has witnessed protests by Hindu groups since the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple that hitherto banned girls and women aged between 10 and 50. The BJP and the Congress-led UDF are up in arms against the manner in which the Vijayan government is trying to use the apex court verdict to dilute the traditions of the temple. But the state unit of the Congress party had directed its workers to boycott both these two events. Kolkata, Dec 26 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the Central government of doing politics in providing funds for agricultural insurance scheme. Banerjee said for the farmers' agricultural insurance scheme, both Central government and the state government provide the funds. "Our government has paid the amount to the office of the insurance company for the farmers. But while allocating money, people are claiming that the entire amount is being given by the Central government. They are doing politics with the scheme," she said. Banerjee said that she has heard that in some blocks of Sagar island of South 24 Parganas district and in another block in Howrah's Uluberia, the Agricultural Insurance Company claimed that the entire money was being given by the Centre. She said that her government does not want any kind of sympathy and can also pay the Centre's share in the scheme. "We don't want their money. Our government can look after the farmers of the state. The Centre's measures are such that the farmers in Nashik are compelled to sell onions at less than Rs 2 per kilogram," she pointed out. Banerjee said under the current regime at the Centre, almost 12,000 farmers have committed suicide so far. New Delhi/Bengaluru, Dec 27 : Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari will convene a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers on the implementation of the controversial Cauvery river project at Mekedatu for drinking water supply, said an official on Wednesday. "Gadkari conveyed the decision on the proposed meeting to Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy when they met in New Delhi," said an official of the Chief Minister's Office in Bengaluru in a statement. Karnataka has sought the Central government's approval to build a dam at Mekedatu on the river near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district, about 100km southwest of Bengaluru, for storing and supplying its water to the parched districts of Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts. Objecting to the project fearing denial of its share of the river water, Tamil Nadu has also petitioned the Central government and the Supreme Court not to allow Karnataka to build the balancing reservoir at the goat's leap gorge. "Kumaraswamy has sought Gadkari's intervention to resolve the issue between the two riparian states and convince Tamil Nadu that the project would be beneficial to both the neighbouring states," said the statement. As sharing the river water for agriculture and drinking in the state's old Mysuru region became contentious, leading to the apex court modifying the inter-state dispute tribunal award, storing it (water) at Mekedatu for drinking only has turned into a protracted legal and political battle. "Tamil Nadu is objecting central permission in mid-November to Karnataka to even prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for building the dam on the grounds that storing water would deny its share for its farmers in the delta region," an official of the state Water Resources Department told IANS here. The project is estimated to cost the state a whopping Rs 5,192 crore. Tamil Nadu has also disputed Karnataka's claim on the project's purpose, as storing the river water will allow it generate hydel power and thus restrict its flow into its delta region. Kumaraswamy also sought Gadkari's intervention to make Goa allow Karnataka utilise the Mahadayi river water for drinking purpose in the four drought-prone districts in the state's northwest region. "Though the inter-state river tribunal has permitted Karnataka to utilise the water for drinking purpose, the Goa government has approached the top court against the tribunal award, which is in the state's favour," said the official. In a related development, Gadkari, who is also the Surface Transport Minister, has agreed to build an elevated highway between Hubballi and Dharwad, about 400km from Bengaluru to ease the gridlock between the twin cities in the state's northwest region. "Gadkari has directed the state government to complete the land acquisition to allow the state-run National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to begin the elevated road projected work," added the statement. State PWD Minister and Kumaraswamy's elder brother H.D. Revanna, state Chief Secretary T.M. Vijayabhaskar and Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister E.V. Ramana Reddy were present on the occasion. Gandhinagar, Dec 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream project of a Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) ferry service between Dahej in south Gujarat and Ghogha in Saurashtra region has run into rough weather with the firm running the service blaming it on the Gujarat Maritime Board for not carrying out regular dredging in the area, while it is unable to handle the high tides in the erratic Arabian Sea. Indigo Seaways Chairman and Managing Director Chetan Contractor told reporters: "It is not feasible to run a scheduled ferry service in absolutely unreliable high tides, so it is a must that continuous dredging is taken up in the region." "If this is not done, there is no point running an erratic service completely dependent on high tides," the contractor said. His company is also learnt to have conveyed this to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). "The services have become unreliable because of the erratic high tides. We can't ask the passengers to come at different times everyday. The passengers too have commitments to maintain," he asserted. When contacted, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman Mukesh Kumar told IANS that dredging was affected because of the breakdown of the machinery for the purpose. "There was a breakdown in the dredging machines of Adani Company and so the problem," he said. The machinery is worth Rs 600 crore. "Alternative arrangements have been made and the dredging work will start in a couple of days," Mukesh Kumar added. According to him, the ferry service is functional and will remain so. "You must understand this service has started only a couple of months ago and facing some teething problems. The high tides in this region are considered to be the second-worst in the world and so this happens sometimes." Then Gujarat Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dreamt of making the RoRo ferry services between Dahej and Ghogha successful and possible despite various feasibility studies giving a negative report. The nautical distance between the Saurashtra region's Ghogha and the south Gujarat region town of Dahej is just 31 km, whereas the distance via road is almost 310 km. Reliable official sources said various feasibility studies, which were carried out prior to the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat, had suggested that the seawaters in the Gulf of Khambhat were extremely turbulent and running any sort of ferry would not be possible. Despite that the project was taken up and last year the ferry services were inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Indigo Seaways was awarded the contract to run this services. But since its start, the service has never been regular because of the weather and technical glitches. Sources said for a successful ferry service to operate, there should be at least five-meter depth underneath the sea vessel at the terminal. But as the waters in the Gulf of Khambhat, through which the ferry service is run, are extremely turbulent, the sea constantly deposits silt at the banks, making dredging a constant process, thus making it an expensive proposition. Baghdad, Dec 27 : US President Donald Trump visited the US troops in Iraq to celebrate Christmas, the official Iraqiya television reported on Wednesday. The state-run channel briefly said that Trump "denied any plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq," reports Xinhua news agency. The US House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on its twitter account that "Trump and the First Lady travelled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit our troops and senior military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas." Trump's visit to Iraq is his first since taking office nearly two years ago. Mumbai, Dec 27 : Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who is looking forward for the release of his forthcoming film "Simmba", has said that the film will make audience feel high as it has the combination of action, comedy, romance and emotions. "I am not saying that we have created something different but this film will give you a high. The film will make you happy and cry at the same time" Rohit said while interacting with media here on Wednesday at the promotional meet of "Simmba" along with the star cast of the film Ranveer Singh, Sara Ali Khan and Sonu Sood. "Simmba" is an action-comedy drama which revolves around a corrupt police officer who eventually stands up against rapist in the film. On Tuesday, Rohit hosted screening of "Simmba" for his friends in the film industry, when asked Rohit what kind of response he received after the film's screening, he said, "I think we have made a good film. I make films every year. Last year, "Golmaal Again" was released." "I am not one of those filmmakers who make one film in four years but there are few films like "Chennai Express", "Golmaal 3", "Golmaal Again" and "Singham" that you know that it's an on beat film and it has been made the way we wanted it to make so, 'Simmba' is one of them." he added. "Simmba" is produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. The film is a Hindi remake of 2015 Telugu film 'Temper'. It will release on December 28. Brian Mohr to assist Rick Bowers in 2019 Employment Conditions Webinar TTI Success Insights president Rick Bowers and Brian Mohr, current president of Conscious Capitalism Arizona, will be conducting a joint webinar on Friday, January 4th at 12:00 p.m. EST, addressing 2019 employment conditions. Mohr and Bowers will discuss unemployment conditions today nationally and, specifically, in the Phoenix market, reasons why talent leaves jobs, and areas where there is a talent shortage. To sign up for the webinar, or to have access to the webinar materials at a later time, click here. In 2000, Mohr was one of nine founding members of Jobing.com. Over an 11-year period, he helped build the company to nearly 400 employees and $38 million in revenue. Hes seen, first-hand, the power of values, culture, and unwavering purpose. Mohr believes those provide the ultimate competitive advantage when done right. Mohr is the current co-founder of Y Scouts, a purpose-based leadership search firm, focused on finding purpose-aligned and performance-proven leaders to help organizations achieve their missions faster. Mohrs belief is that todays leaders must authentically connect to the purpose and values of the organizations they lead. If disconnected, the strength of their experience (i.e. their resume) will only compensate for so long. With Brians robust history and many life and work experiences, he is well positioned to share his unique insight into 2019 market trends which will be both informative and eye-opening, said Candice Frazer, vice president of marketing, TTI Success Insights. Mohr will also be a featured speaker at TTISICON in Phoenix this January. He will share the stage with several globally recognized experts such as Frans Johansson, Ron Price, Molly Fletcher and Andy Johnson, who will create a story arc that speaks to transforming the way organizations think about success - through people. To register and learn more about the event, visit http://www.ttisicon.com. About TTI Success Insights TTI Success Insights reveals human potential by expanding the awareness of self, others and organizations. Diving deeper than DISC, TTI SI provides professionals solutions to hire, engage and develop the right people and build strong teams. To learn more, visit http://www.ttisuccessinsights.com. Carolina Games Summit announces their 2019 event will be held at Eastern North Carolina's premier venue, The Maxwell Center. Opened in March 2018, The Maxwell Center, is located in Goldsboro, NC and features over 35,000 square feet of space filled with state of the art audio video equipment. "The Maxwell Center is thrilled and excited to be the new home for the Carolina Games Summit," said James Wade Jr, General Manager of the venue. "We are proud of our building and believe we have the event space and technology to help the Carolina Games Summit grow and expand. It is great to work with a locally produced event that will bring regional participants to Wayne County." The 14,500 square foot ballroom will be filled with exhibitors, open gaming areas, and esports competitions. While the outdoor courtyard will feature over 10,000 square feet of food trucks and gaming attractions. The entire facility will be utilized for the event and include free public wireless Internet powered by Spectrum fiber. Johnna Koonce, Executive Producer for the Carolina Games Summit states, The Maxwell Center will allow us to expand not just the size of the event but the technology and variety of individual attractions. The event will be held February 2nd from 10am - 9pm and includes video game bands, a cosplay contest, tabletop gaming, and speakers from video game development companies. Representatives from colleges and schools will be on site to discuss career opportunities within video game development, art, and film production curriculums. Our goal is to showcase all the technology The Maxwell Center has to offer today, while pushing the capabilities to new heights for every future event we book at the venue says Michael Everett, Creative Director for the Summit. Tickets are available to the public and may be purchased online or at the door. Visit the official web site,http://www.carolinagamessummit.com, for a full listing of all the speakers, exhibitors, and additional details. Contact the event organizers at info@carolinagamessummit.com for more information on attending, exhibiting or speaking at the Carolina Games Summit. About Carolina Games Summit Carolina Games Summit is held yearly on the first weekend of February in Goldsboro, NC. This hybrid event consistently delivers industry speakers, video game tournaments, concerts, exhibition booths, cosplay, educational sessions, and trading card games. Attendees will be able to compete against gamers from all over the country in a variety of popular tournaments. Enjoy all your favorite platforms including arcade, computer, and console games with both tournament and free-play options available. Additional information can be found on the official web site: http://www.carolinagamessummit.com About The Maxwell Center The Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center, referred to as The Maxwell Center is Eastern North Carolina's high-end venue opened in March 2018 and located in Goldsboro, NC. It features state of the art audio-visual equipment. This new showpiece is now hosting many local, regional, and statewide events that add to the economic income of Goldsboro and Wayne County. The Maxwell Center is owned and managed by the County of Wayne. The City of Goldsboro is a partner in the undertaking by supplying land and support to this great project. The Maxwell Center provides many in-house services that include beverages, audio visual, internet access, electrical and trade show decorating services, creating ease and convenience for any event. Working with regional caterers, The Maxwell Center offers a list of delicious food options. Additional information can be found on the official web site: http://www.themaxwellcenter.com I cant wait to join hundreds of new hotel design friends in Scottsdale this summer for HOTEC Design 2019. Together, well explore bold ideas, make meaningful connections, and recognize the limitless possibilities within all of our lives." - John O'Leary, #1 National Best-Selling Author & Speaker Crafted specifically for hospitality design professionals, HOTEC Design is a unique experiential and educational networking event that brings designers, hoteliers, architects, management companies and purchasing firms face-to-face with innovative suppliers for two days and three nights of well-curated activities and receptions in a 5-star luxury setting. This year, HOTEC Design will be held at The Phoenician, a collection luxury resort, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Each day, hospitality design buyers and suppliers are strategically matched up according to their preferences for a series of twenty-minute face-to-face meetings. In 2018, 100% of attendees reported that they fostered valuable relationships and drove new business through the HOTEC Design experience. HOTEC Design is produced by Questex Hospitality Group, the leading B2B events and media company dedicated to global hospitality professionals looking to expand their businesses in hotel investment, development, operations, design and more. HOTEC Design is pleased to announce John OLeary as this years headliner. In 1987, OLeary was a curious nine-year-old boy, playing with fire and gasoline, which led to a massive explosion in his home and burned 100% of his body. Given a 1% chance to live, OLeary shares his story of survival and teaches professionals around the world how to tackle challenges without relinquishing joy and the possibility of tomorrow. The motivational speaker and author says, I cant wait to join hundreds of new hotel design friends in Scottsdale this summer for HOTEC Design 2019. Together, well explore bold ideas, make meaningful connections, and recognize the limitless possibilities within all of our lives. The best is yet to comewe just have to open our eyes to see it! See you soon! Event Director Mary Malloy says, We are so excited to host HOTEC Design 2019 at our gorgeous host property, The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona! HOTEC 2018 was sold out, and the 2019 event is filling up quickly. We are behind the scenes curating another productive, fun event for our select audience of hospitality buyers and suppliers looking to find creative inspiration and foster new relationships. Click here to reserve your spot for HOTEC Design 2019. The HOTEC Design agenda consists of a rigorous schedule of events including a welcome reception, networking meals, one-to-one appointments, free time to enjoy the resort, and more. Click here to view the full agenda. For those buyers and suppliers located in or who do business in Europe, HOTEC Europe will take place 8-11 October 2019 at the Corinthia Hotel in Budapest, Hungary. HOTEC Europe brings together senior executives of leading hotel chains, purchasing companies and interior and architectural design from Europe to meet face-to-face with key leading domestic and international suppliers representing innovative products and services to participate in a series of one-to-one meetings over two dedicated business days. Editors notes: About Questex Hospitality Group Questex Hospitality Group serves the worldwide hospitality, travel and related industries that together contribute over $6 trillion to global GDP. Through our innovative platform of targeted solutions, the group serves the sectors entire ecosystem from tourism and hotel development and investment to hotel design, purchasing, management and operations. The Questex Hospitality+Travel Group serves every B2B segment of the industry via our proven demand generation, learning, loyalty and rewards solutions as well as our network of live events. For more information visit https://www.questex.com/markets/hospitality. Mary Malloy, Event Director, 212-895-8279, mmalloy@questex.com Alexandra Aldridge, Marketing Director, 212-895-8284, aaldridge@questex.com Angela De Palma, Marketing Coordinator, 212-895-8445, adepalma@questex.com Led Zeppelin plaque presented to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame Congratulations to Colorado music fans & the family of concert promoter Barry Fey for the Mayor and City of Denver's proclamation designating December 26 as Led Zeppelin Day commemorating the band's legendary 1st U.S. appearance right here in Denver in 1968 Chris Daniels Today is the 50th anniversary of the first live performance of English rock legends Led Zeppelin in the U.S., which occurred at the Denver Auditorium on December 26, 1968. To commemorate this date as one of the most important moments in rock and roll history, the City and County of Denvers Mayor Office has proclaimed December 26th Led Zeppelin Day, where a plaque will be presented to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame at an upcoming special event in 2019. Fans of the iconic band may not know the Denver Auditorium was the first venue to host Led Zeppelin in America. At the time, late concert promoter Barry Fey almost turned down the act. In order to convince Fey, headline act Vanilla Fudge paid half the cost to book Led Zeppelin, adding them to the lineup just 10 days prior to the show. Many in the crowd had no idea the group was added. Those who were there were reportedly so impressed they flooded the local FM rock station KLZ with calls requesting to hear the band. "Congratulations to Colorado music fans and the family of concert promoter Barry Fey (inducted in 2012) for the Mayor and City of Denver's proclamation designating December 26, 2018 as Led Zeppelin Day commemorating the band's legendary 1st U.S. appearance right here in Denver in 1968, said Chris Daniels, Executive Director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Thanks to the Mayor for helping to promote the long history of music in Colorado and to the family of Barry Fey, who had the vision to bring a young British band to Colorado for their debut concert in the U.S. They opened for Vanilla Fudge at the old Denver Auditorium. Back then tickets were just $5 and the band was paid a total of $1,500, half of which came from Vanilla Fudge's proceeds from the concert. The Colorado Music Hall of Fame presented by Comfort Dental will be proud and honored to display the plaque at our home at the Trading Post at Red Rocks." The day will be commemorated in many ways. A local artist has created and dedicated a sculpture depicting the bands live performance to be permanently displayed at the Colorado Music Hall Of Fame at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In 2019, the concert promotion company Feyline and local experiential marketing firm The Pineapple Agency aim to produce a special event to honor the anniversary. Details are still forthcoming but may include such immersive features as a Led Zeppelin memorabilia exhibit and guest appearances. About The Pineapple Agency The Pineapple Agency is a Denver-based award-winning experiential marketing and creative events agency supporting big, bold clients like Google, Under Armour, Live Nation, and FirstBank. With a specialty in creating memorable brand experiences that result in lifelong fans, The Pineapple Agency offers custom event marketing, trade show exhibits and booths, marketing strategy, music festivals and concert consulting, custom fabrication, event staffing, promotional tours, corporate parties, and conferences. See examples of our work on our website at https://thepineappleagency.com or follow us here https://www.instagram.com/thepineappleagency. Barry Fey tells the Led Zeppelin story: https://feylinepresents.egnyte.com/dl/C2iVn1bbXZ. 3D plans for Italian hotel/building/villa remodeling opportunity in Perugia, near Assisi This property could be used as an 'agriturismo' vacation resort, very popular in Italy with tourists looking to connect with nature and pick their own fruits. It is near Assisi, in the central Italys Umbria countryside, close to St. Francis Cathedral, the place where St. Francis made miracles. Do you want to own a great historical property in Italy, as a commercial investment or for your own use? This is a wonderful opportunity! This property is located in the medieval Borgo Castello, at Cannara 06033 - a suburb of Perugia, Italy. Map the location online at http://bit.ly/ItalyCannara Listing realtor: Gregory Graham, Real Estate Broker Associate and Mortgage Loan Originator/Officer (calBRE# 01379697; NMLS# 1320744) For more information, text or call the listing broker, Gregory Graham, at 310-487-5230. Also, text him to confirm receipt of offer. Sellers answer all offers. This is a beautiful historical building of 6,400 sq ft, with permitted plans to turn it into a 14-unit (each sleeps 4-6) hotel/multi-residential/apartment building with 2 restaurants, pool, solarium, and parking lot. Plans have been created by a renowned Italian architect (buyer pays renewal fee before construction begins). Click on attached files to see the wonderful remodeling plans. The property comes with 2.5 acres of land with mature fruit trees. "This property could be used as an 'agriturismo' vacation resort, very popular in Italy with tourists looking to connect with nature and pick their own fruits. It is near Assisi, in the central Italys Umbria countryside, close to St. Francis Cathedral, the place where St. Francis made miracles," Gregory shared. Its great location near Assisi is also close to several celebrity-filled Italian locations. For instance, it is located 15 minutes from Spello, 20 from Foligno, 30 from Spoleto, 35 from the beautiful Lake Lago Trasimeno, 45 from famous Val D'Orcia in Tuscany, and it is only 20 minutes from the Perugia airport. The property could potentially qualify for remodel/rebuild funds from the European Union to boost tourism in Italy (buyer to verify). Or, you can use it as your vacation home! Gregory Graham, Broker Associate at Keller Williams Larchmont in Los Angeles, has distinguished himself in the field of global real estate transactions. He is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS). This designation is given to real estate agents who have acquired specialized education, market knowledge, competence, and experience in successfully and effectively listing and selling international real estate properties. Contact Gregory for information on his other Italian real estate listings. He saw that the trend was moving away from small cars and towards SUVs and trucks, Tinson said of Marchionne, who died in July at age 66 after suffering complications during shoulder surgery. Our sole focus since 2016 is really expanding on the Jeep and Ram brands because thats where we saw the market going, and thats what we continue to do. MEA is proud to present Meritorious Service Awards to Jeremy Strickland, sr. measurement technician and Ray McCrickard, measurement technician, both employees of City Utilities of Springfield for assisting a mentally and physically disabled individual walking on the shoulder of a very busy road. McCrickard distracted the gentleman with conversation trying to find out where he was from. When authorities finally arrived, with Strickland and McCrickard's help, they found that the gentleman had walked out of a long-term care facility seemingly unnoticed. MEA presents the Meritorious Service Award annually to recognize individuals of MEA member companies who have performed actions in the service of another that are considered above and beyond. It is a privilege to present the Meritorious Service Awards, said John Gann, MEA Energy Association vice president. These awards serve to highlight the outstanding individuals in the energy industry who rise up when called and make a positive contribution to society. City Utilities of Springfield is a community-owned utility that serves southwest Missouri. Theyve been a member of MEA since 1960. Applicants for the Meritorious Service Award are approved by the Executive Committee of MEAs Board of Directors. Read about all MEA awards at https://www.meaenergy.org/outreach/awards/. For questions contact John Gann, johng (at) MEAenergy (dot) org, or (651) 289-9600 x105. About MEA: MEA serves the people that deliver electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses. We were founded as a trade association over 110 years ago by distribution utilities whose vision was to improve safety and efficiency. Today, we fulfill the same purpose through education, leadership development, and industry connections. Energy delivery companies, contractors, and suppliers around the country benefit from our 55 summits, roundtables, and webinars, 400+ online technical courses, safety assessments, evaluator training, operator qualification compliance tools, and leadership courses for field personnel. Leading Social Media Marketing Agencies 10 Best SEO, a search marketing firm featuring a list of the most elite members of the marketing and advertising trade, recently announced the winners of its Best Social Media Marketing Agency award winners: Straight North, Ignite Visibility and Boostability. This is a new monthly award offered by the search marketing firm, and the firm intends to continue featuring the best SMM firm in the industry. The Social Media Marketing Agency awards subject marketing agencies across the county through a rigorous evaluation process. Candidates include large and small firms alike and the firms' also range from high to low price points. The emerging award winners are comprised of companies who have proven their skills and expertise time and again in the highly competitive field of social media marketing. This months big winner was Chicago-based Straight North, a top SMM firm that earned a near-unprecedented rating of 98%. Straight North provides a complete offering of services for B2B and B2C companies and specializes in complex SEO, PPC, display and social media marketing. The December winners also include San Diego's Ignite Visibility, leading SMM firm that took home the second-place prize. Ignite Visibility is a prior recipient of the Landy Awards and was recently named the No. 1 SEO company in the USA, UK and Canada by Clutch. Boostability, a firm based out of Lehi, Utah, was honored with the third-place prize among the countrys best social media marketing agencies. Of particular interest was Boostability's Boostsocial product line, featuring world-class social media marketing services for small businesses. Other close contenders for this months award included SocialFix, Northcutt, Victorious SEO and SearchBloom. Each of the businesses featured as one of the best social media marketing firms has more than earned its place on 10 Best SEOs list through dedication and hard work. 10 Best SEO was founded in 2012 and is located in San Francisco, California. In 2014, 10 Best SEO received recognition for its services, and it continues to be regarded as one of the most well-known SEO Agencies. Its Best SEO Agency awards are among the largest and most well-known industry awards. For more information about this months winners, visit http://www.10bestseo.com. At just 24, Simmons is Wall Streets only full-time female trader. Mediaplanet announces the launch of the first edition of the Diversity In Business campaign. This campaign will advocate for awareness of diversity and inclusion in Corporate America, and will highlight those organization that are pushing the needle forward for increased representation. The print component of Diversity In Business is being distributed within todays edition of USA Today in Atlanta, Washington DC, Denver, Nashville, Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Dallas markets. The publication will also see distribution through various industry events in 2019 hosted by The National Minority Supplier Development Council, The Women's Business Enterprise National Council, The National Association of Female Executives, and many more! The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit: http://www.futureofbusinessandtech.com/topic/diversity-in-business The New York Stock Exchanges young star Lauren Simmons graces the cover of the print publication. At just 24, Simmons is Wall Streets only full-time female trader. Not only that, she is the second African American woman and the youngest person to ever hold the job. Through an exclusive interview on the interior, Simmons encourages other women to follow their passion by sharing her powerful story. This campaign was made possible with the support of Lauren Simmons, Lisa Vogl, Ade Hassan, The National Minority Supplier Development Council, The Women's Business Enterprise National Council, The National Association of Female Executives, RBC Wealth Management, Delta Airlines, Ford Motors, The Richwell Group, Open To All, Diversity Best Practices, CDW Corporation, Unum Group, and many more leaders featured in print and online. Mediaplanet specializes in the creation of content marketing campaigns covering a variety of industries. We tell meaningful stories that educate our audience and position our clients as solution providers. Our unique ability to pair the right leaders with the right readers, through the right platforms, has made Mediaplanet a global content marketing powerhouse. Our award-winning stories have won the hearts of countless readers while serving as a valuable platform for brands and their missions. Just call us storytellers with a purpose. Please visit http://www.mediaplanet.com for more on who we are and what we do. Press Contact: Isabel Carretero isabel.carretero(at)mediaplanet.com (646) 619-3514 Attorney John S. Fotopoulos The Elite Lawyer Award assures that each attorney selected to the directory has received a nomination from their peers for displaying excellence and a high level of skill with the law. Attorney John S. Fotopoulos, of Fotopoulos Law Office, a division of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz, has been honored with a 2018 Elite Lawyer Award for the areas of personal injury. The Elite Lawyer rating service recognizes attorneys who display a high level of competence in their practice and receive acknowledgment from their peers, community, bar, and committees. Orland Park, Illinois, lawyer John Fotopoulos recently returned to his personal injury practice after finishing his appointment as a Cook County judge. He opened his original law office in 2000 on the principle of providing available and affordable legal counsel to all clients Fotopoulos received the Client Satisfaction Award from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, and American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys in 2014 and 2015. The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys named him a Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney in 2013. Designed to assist potential clients in finding an experienced legal professional to address specific legal needs, the Elite Lawyer tools and resources provide information on distinguished attorneys throughout the United States. The Elite Lawyer Award assures that each attorney selected to the directory has received a nomination from their peers for displaying excellence and a high level of skill with the law. Awarded only to those who have met or exceeded the criteria of a rigorous, multi-phased selection process, the Award recognizes top-rated attorneys for their excellence and outstanding service in their specific area or areas of practice. Only the most outstanding and experienced attorneys receive the Elite Lawyer Award. A prestigious nomination and presented only to legal professionals who are able to meet or exceed its demanding criteria, it sets these exceptional attorneys apart from their peers when consumers use the directory to search for a top-notch attorney in their area. The Elite Lawyer Award speaks highly of how well each nominated attorney is perceived by their legal community. For more information about Elite Lawyers, or to become a member of the esteemed directory, visit http://www.elitelawyer.com. About Fotopoulos Law Office: Attorney John S. Fotopoulos is a former Cook County judge with more than a decade of experience providing legal protection and guidance to clients in the Chicago area. At Fotopoulos Law Office, a division of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz, he represents clients in personal injury and criminal defense cases. Schedule a consultation at his Orland Park office by calling 708-942-4800 or by filling out an online contact form. Natalie Stentz, M.D. of SGF Atlanta will be hosting the What to Expect When You're Not Expecting Seminar on Wednesday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. With advanced age comes a decrease in fertility potential. Egg freezing allows women who arent quite ready to build a family to plan for the future when the time is right. Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) remains dedicated to their core mission of helping the one in eight couples affected by infertility by hosting regular free educational events. To kick off the new year, SGF will host eight seminars and six webinars on topics ranging from what to expect when youre not expecting, getting started with fertility treatment, preserving your fertility through egg freezing, financial options for affording fertility care, and much more. Each event concludes with a question and answer session so that attendees have the opportunity to get their personal questions answered by the practices physicians and specialists. Medical advances and changing societal norms are causing a huge rise in the number of women who are choosing to freeze their eggs to preserve their fertility and reduce the relentless pressure of the ticking biological clock. SGF recognizes that cost is a determining factor of whether or not someone might move forward with egg freezing, which is why they have developed unique financial programs to help make egg freezing more affordable. The newest financial program offers one cycle with long term (5 years) storage for as low as $195 per month depending on credit and length of financing term, plus a refund for women who choose to thaw/use their eggs early. With advanced age comes a decrease in fertility potential. Egg freezing allows women who arent quite ready to build a family to plan for the future when the time is right, says Shruti Malik, M.D. an egg freezer herself, of SGFs Fair Oaks, VA office who will be hosting the Egg Freezing webinar on Thursday, January 17 at noon. During the webinar, Dr. Malik will discuss the modern day technological advances in the field of egg freezing and why egg freezing is a viable option for preserving a womens fertility. She will discuss the best time to freeze eggs, what outcomes can be expected, how to interpret success rates, and review SGFs unique financial programs for affording egg freezing. The What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting seminar is SGFs signature event that is hosted in each of the practices six regions. This month, SGF Atlanta physician, Dr. Natalie Stentz will be hosting the event at their Atlanta-Northside location on Wednesday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. During the seminar, attendees will learn about the different touchpoints of the fertility journey at SGF and what to expect under the care of a fertility specialist. Not knowing what to expect when seeing a fertility specialist is what sometimes prevents people from scheduling that initial appointment. The purpose of this event is to alleviate some of that fear and arm attendees with the knowledge and confidence they need to make informed decisions, says Stentz. If you want to learn more about how a fertility specialist can help you conceive, find a seminar near you in one of the practices six regions: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Georgia, and Florida, or sign up for a virtual webinar. Visit the SGF calendar of events. All events are complimentary but interested parties must register to attend. Upcoming January Seminars January 3 | Leesburg, VA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Naveed Khan January 9 | Atlanta-Northside, GA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Natalie Stentz January 15 | Warrington, PA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Ryan Martin January 23 | Tampa, FL | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Celso Silva January 23 | Fredericksburg, VA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Nancy Durso January 29 | Mechanicsburg, PA | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Melissa Esposito January 31 | Silver Spring, MD | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Lauren Roth January 31 | Annapolis, MD | What to Expect When Youre Not Expecting | Dr. Jeffrey McKeeby Upcoming January Webinars January 8 | Online | IVF Webinar | Dr. Shruti Malik January 10 | Online | Becoming an Egg Donor | SGF Egg Donor Team January 16 | Online | Weight and Fertility | Megan Sylvester, RDN, LDN January 17 | Online | Egg Freezing | Dr. Shruti Malik January 22 | Online | Getting Started | Dr. Naveed Khan January 23 | Online | Financial Options | Patient Financial Services Team January 29 | Online | What Your Menstrual Cycle Says about Your Fertility | Dr. Brianna Schumacher About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 50,000 babies born and counting. With 32 locations throughout MD, PA, VA, D.C., GA, and FL, we offer patients individualized care, accept most insurance plans, and make treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including treatment guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com. We prioritize safety. It's not just a best practice, it's a requirement. We value any educational opportunity to prevent work-related injuries. Each and every staff member is certified and equipped with life-saving skills, says Stephen Shanton, president of Venture Construction Group of Florida. Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) held a First Aid, CPR and AED training on Nov. 10. All staff members including field workers, superintendents, sales teams, site managers, production managers, project managers, senior management, and administrative personnel attended and received certifications. The course was led by Life Safety Solutions, an American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center and an Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) Education Center. Based in Palm City, Life Safety Solutions provides extensive training by AHA certified instructors. We prioritize safety. It's not just a best practice, it's a requirement. We value any educational opportunity to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and death. In the event our team is met with the challenge of mitigating an unforeseeable health-related circumstance, each and every staff member is certified and equipped with life-saving skills, says Stephen Shanton, president of Venture Construction Group of Florida. The First Aid, CPR and AED certification meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace requirements and provides preparedness skills to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and infants. The course incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, head, neck, back injuries, heat and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies. The AED training teaches how to use an automated external defibrillator on both children and adults. According to the American Heart Association, there are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) annually in the U.S. It is estimated that nearly 90 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before they reach a hospital or other source of emergency help. Communities with AED programs, which include comprehensive CPR and AED training, have achieved survival rates of 40 percent or higher for cardiac arrest victims. Life Safety Solutions provides training and safety programs including First Aid, CPR, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), Emergency Epinephrine Training & Management, Safety & Security Assessments, Emergency Planning and Loss Control Services Florida and at locations throughout the United States. About Venture Construction Group of Florida Founded in 1998, Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is an award-winning leader in construction, restoration, renovations, roofing, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services throughout Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and the Caribbean. Specializing in industrial/ commercial projects, VCGFL assists property managers, condominium boards, homeowner associations, association boards, hotels and business complexes with general contractor services, specialty construction, historical restoration, water and flood mitigation, and property repairs due to fire, flood, water, wind and hurricanes. VCGFL holds leading industry awards including the Coatings Pro Contractor Award, Pro Remodeler Forty Under 40 Award, Qualified Remodeler Top 500 Remodelers Award, Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association S.T.A.R. Spotlight Trophy for the Advancement of Roofing Awards in Sustainability and Community Service. CEO Stephen Shanton is a proud member of the prestigious Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). Entrepreneur Magazine hails YEC Consists of Some of the Most Well-Respected Minds in Entrepreneurship. With offices in Boca Raton, Ft. Myers, Naples, Orlando, Panama City Beach, Stuart, Tampa, San Juan, and Nassau, VCGFL is committed to operational excellence and exceptional customer service. VCGFL takes care of the details every step of the way including roofing, siding, windows, drywall, flooring, paint, gutters to rebuilding properties after major storm events from hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms. VCGFL carries the industrys leading accreditations and is an exclusive certified National Storm Damage Center Preferred Contractor, Windstorm Insurance Network WIND Certified Umpire, WIND Certified Appraiser, WIND Certified Fellow, Certified Member of the United Association of Storm Restoration Contractors, Platinum Preferred Certified Contractor with the National Insurance Restoration Council. VCGFL is a proud member of Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association (IAUA), Restoration Industry Association (RIA), Property Liability and Resource Bureau (PLRB), Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA), Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Industry Members Association (EIMA), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). VCGFL is a registered U.S. Federal Government Contractor and holds leading certifications including Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, Mule-Hide Legacy Contractor, Certified CertainTeed Contractor and Duro-Last Certified Contractor status. VCGFL credentials have been vetted and screened through independent third party Global Risk Management Solutions. For more information call 866-459-8351 or visit us online at http://www.VCGFL.com. Media Inquiries: Kristina Moreno Elev8 Consulting Group Ph: 386.243.5388 Em: kristina@elev8cg.com Web: http://www.elev8cg.com This year I read every Gaito Gazdanov book available in English; there are six, and if there were 20 others I would have read those too. Gazdanov was a Russian who fought with Wrangel and the Whites during the Russian Civil War and afterward emigrated to Paris, where he wrote most of his great novels in the 30s and 40s (The Spectre of Alexander Wolf, Buddhas Return). Several have been translated recently by Bryan Karetnyk for Pushkin Press, but Gazdanovs first novel, An Evening with Claire, published in 1930, was released by Ardis in the late 80s in an excellent translation and left the strongest impression on me (its since been reissued by Overlook). Gazdanov is often compared to Proust, but hes a sort of shabby emigre Proust who spent his evenings driving taxis around Pigalle rather than attending parties in the Faubourg St.-Germain. The narrator of Claire reunites with his Gilberte in the books opening pages, then lies awake in her bed and recollects his entire life until then, which strongly resembles Gazdanovs own and is recorded as a series of intense and shifting inner states. But for him, time can never be regained, since between past and present stand revolution, war, burning cities, and a hostile government. Gazdanov may have been, as the narrator of Claire at one point says disparagingly of his teacher, one of those irreconcilable Russians who see the meaning of life in the search for truth even if they become convinced that truth, in the sense in which they understand it, does not and cannot exist. Daniel Berchenko, managing editor Refresh your linen closet with high-quality sheet sets and more from QVC during our White Sale. Treat yourself to an impressive variety of warm and cozy pillows, blankets, throws, and quilts. We carry the styles you adore and offer them at a price that's difficult to pass up. Put a fresh spin on the design of your bedroom and bathroom with a selection of premium linens that'll make your space look and feel brand new. Shop QVC for top-rated linens, pillows, shams, furniture covers, and bed ensembles. Plus, explore best-selling products from some of the top names in the industry, including Northern Nights, Berkshire Blanket, and Malden Mills. Check out brands that manufacture bed sheet sets that are so soft and snug, you won't want to get out of bed! Relish the unparalleled lushness, warmth, and style of our selection. Eye up cozy options such as blankets with fleece construction, sets that arrive with extra pillowcases, sheets with deep pockets, and all available in a stunning array of different colors and prints. There's so much to choose from, you're sure to find a set that's the perfect match to your home decor. Tune into our White Sale for mattress covers that are built to last, some of which help provide bed bug protection or allergy relief. We even offer coverlets, so you can protect your investment without sacrificing the elegant appearance of your bedroom. So when the mercury begins to drop, turn to QVC to keep cozy with a snuggle-worthy selection of blankets, linens, bed sheet sets, and more. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Porterville, CA (93257) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Simpler GST structure will be key poll plank, Congress sources tell Archis Mohan. IMAGE: Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, left, and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh (retd) with Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: PTI Photo A revamped goods and services tax will be a part of the Congress manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. A Congress-led government at the Centre in 2019 would launch a comprehensive redesign of the current GST, party leaders said on Tuesday, December 25. "The current design of the GST has defects and is flawed to the extent that mere tinkering is not the solution. The Congress government at the Centre in 2019 will bring the next generation of GST," Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, said. Sources in the Congress's manifesto drafting committee said a revamped simpler GST with a single tax rate would be a key election plank of the Congress for the 2019 polls, along with reducing agrarian distress and suggesting ways to create jobs for the youth. The Punjab finance minister said the current GST has had over a thousand changes and was like a kurta full of patchwork. "Instead of putting more patches, it is time the tailor stitches a new kurta," Badal said. However, Badal rejected speculation that the Congress favoured scrapping GST altogether as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed did after winning the election in his country earlier this year on the back of promising jettisoning the GST. "Farming is no longer feasible with the help of bullocks. A tractor is essential for ploughing the field, and so is GST necessary. The Congress would not sacrifice GST, which is our brainchild, to gain some cheap publicity during the election campaign. We would not sacrifice GST for a win in 2019 polls," Badal said. Party sources said a Congress-led government would be willing to amend the Constitution to get India a GST 2.0. "However, that might not be necessary. I believe the GST Council is empowered enough to carry out the amendments needed to correct the flaws," said Congress spokesperson on economic affairs Gourav Vallabh. The Congress's GST version 2.0 would correct the major flaws of the current architecture of the tax by making it simpler, rectify the distortion in tax rates, provide for 'manual inputs', consult stakeholders and improve the technology network. Badal said the Congress also wanted petrol and electricity to come under the ambit of the GST. The Bharatiya Janata Party, he said, is spreading misinformation that Congress finance ministers opposed the move to lower taxes. "These have been all Congress suggestions in the earlier GST meetings. These are now part of the minutes of the GST Council meetings. The BJP agreed to lower taxes because of the Gujarat assembly polls (in December 2017), and is now nervous after its recent assembly poll losses," Badal said. The Congress, Badal said, had demanded tax rationalisation for the textile sector, which is a labour-intensive sector and creates jobs; increase the composition limit for the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises), exempt job work in various industries, including bicycle industry, from the GST. The government, Badal said, needed to check evasion of GST. Flawed GST, he added, had caused a drop of 2% in India's GDP. The Congress favoured a single rate GST or a maximum of two rates, Badal said. Badal, who leads the Congress's state finance ministers at GST Council meetings, complained that the Centre circulated the agenda of the meeting late on the eve of the meeting and early morning, which prevented state finance ministers of non-National Democratic Alliance state governments from doing a scrutiny of the agenda. According to Badal, Finance Union Minister Arun Jaitley told Congress state finance ministers that he was a democrat and agreed that the position of the vice-chairperson at the GST Council should go to the Congress. A decision on this is likely at the next GST Council meeting. Congress leaders ridiculed the change in the Narendra Damodardas Modi government's position on a single GST rate. On his blog on Monday, Jaitley stated that 'the country should eventually have a GST which will have only slabs of zero, 5 per cent and standard rate with luxury and sin goods as an exception.' On Tuesday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted: 'Climate change: BM (bluff master) NaMo on July 1, 2018: How can Mercedes and milk be taxed at same rate? BM (Blog mantri) Jaitley on December 24, 2018: India must work towards a single rate GST.' A chunk of divestment till now has come from follow-on offerings in the Centres two ETFs, Bharat-22 and CPSE. Now, there will be initial public offerings of Mazagon Docks, rail companies RVNL and IRFC and MSTC. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com The government is confident of crossing the divestment target of Rs 80,000 crore (Rs 800 billion) for the financial year 2018-19 (FY19). We may even go up to Rs 85,000 crore (Rs 850 billion), said an official in the know. At present, the total divestment is Rs 34,000 crore (Rs 340 billion). Once Power Finance Corporation (PFC) buys stake in REC, as planned, the divestment amount for the year would be Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion). For the rest of the year, the government plans to have another follow-on public offering of its Bharat-22 exchange-traded fund (ETF), which could rake in upwards of Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion). It also plans to complete the strategic sale of Pawan Hans, Central Electronics, Air Indias ground handling subsidiary, and possibly Scooters India. A chunk of divestment till now has come from follow-on offerings in the Centres two ETFs, Bharat-22 and CPSE. These earned Rs 8300 crore (Rs 83 billion) and Rs 17,000 crore (Rs 170 billion), respectively. Now, there will be initial public offerings of Mazagon Docks, rail companies RVNL and IRFC (in which 10 per cent each will be divested), and MSTC. Then there are state-owned companies buying back shares. Senior government sources said buybacks by public sector units could get the exchequer between Rs 12,000 crore (Rs 120 billion) and Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion). There could also be the offer-for-sale of general insurance companies GIC and New India Assurance. Top sources in the government also said the Centre was still trying to push through the acquisition of its stake in SJVN by NTPC, valued at Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion). The Cabinet has already cleared the selling of enemy shares, currently with the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), in 996 companies, and gave its nod to the government divesting its entire stake in Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) to a consortium of four ports. These two could add around Rs 3,070 crore (Rs 30.7 billion) to the divestment kitty. All this of course adds to PFC-REC deal. We are hoping for a decent premium on the deal. "Anything around Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) will be good for us, said an official. The deal between the two power sector non-banking financial companies will be the single biggest divestment move of the year and will require regulatory approvals from the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, and the Competition Commission of India. Officials in the department of investment and public asset management (Dipam) are confident regulatory hurdles will be cleared and that the deal will be completed on time. There was a lot of apprehension within the government on whether the total target will be met or not, especially after the planned privatisation of Air India found no takers. "As things stand, various departments have come together to work out alternative routes and the political leadership has backed these plans. We could exceed Rs 80,000 crore (Rs 800 billion), said a second official. If the proceeds this year do exceed the target, this would be in line with Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys statement in September. After a meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modis residence to take stock of the economy, Jaitley had said the Centre will stick to its fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product without cutting capital expenditure, in spite of an anticipated shortfall in the goods and service tax. This would be partly balanced by the direct tax and divestment budgeted targets being exceeded, Jaitley had said. In 2017-18 as well, divestment proceeds had exceeded the target, though by a substantially larger degree. Against a budgeted estimate of Rs 72,500 crore (Rs 725 billion), Dipam raked in a record Rs 1 trillion. A big portion of that was ONGCs acquisition of Hindustan Petroleum, which garnered Rs 39,600 crore (Rs 396 billion) on its own for the government, and took Dipam to a record divestment realisation. 'What is there to worry about, he has asked, when there is so much freedom in the country?' 'Freedom can never be adequate, as Kher seems to think.' 'Its presence should be so pervasive that all citizens will feel secure and expect justice to be done if anything untoward happens,' argues Amulya Ganguli. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Anupam Kher has returned to the politically/communally charged battlefield after a longish absence. The saffron film star was probably mulling over the seemingly fading fortunes of his favourite party, the BJP, as it has lost four assembly elections in a row -- Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. For a person who believes that the country's future is dark without the BJP at the helm, the setbacks must have been disheartening and somewhat puzzling as well as to why the voters are so foolish as not to understand what is good for them. Now, he also appears to be puzzled by his fellow film star, Naseeruddin Shah's unease over the safety of the Muslims in the wake of the Bulandshahr killing of a cop by the saffron gau rakshaks. If a policeman can be gunned down with impunity, how safe are the Muslims? Kher, however, has looked at the scene from a different angle. What is there to worry about, he has asked, when there is so much freedom in the country? Where else, he wants to know, can troops be pelted with stones and an air force chief be criticised? However, the answer lies in the fact that these 'liberties' can taken by the citizens because fascism has not yet been fully established in the country. Had it been in force, the stone-pelters -- mostly teenagers -- would have been shot and not targeted only with pellet guns which can inflict no graver injury than blindness. In fact, the army chief had once regretted that the pelters only threw stones and not bombs or used guns, in which case, the army could be opened fire with ease of conscience. Now, the most that the security forces can do is to tie a pelter to the bonnet of a jeep so as to deter the miscreants. It is another matter that such treatment of a civilian falls foul of the Geneva conventions. As for the Congress leader, M Veerappa Moily, criticising IAF hief, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh 'Tony' Dhanoa, the laws of defamation are there for anyone who feels aggrieved. But the security forces are not above the law in a democracy unlike in a fascist State. Kher may believe that it is not a big deal if a particular community feels threatened and one of their prominent members expresses his misgivings. Given all the prevailing freedom, as he thinks, they can seek police protection, either as individuals or in groups. But the point of democracy, unlike fascism, is that no one should feel scared about being set upon by ideologically and politically motivated thugs. Nor should anyone be forced to cancel a show as Naseeruddin Shah had to do after protests by the Hindu Right. Nor told to go to Pakistan, which is the destination favoured by the right wing for dissenters. It is unlikely that Naseeruddin Shah will be forced to leave as M F Husain had to for offending the Hindu Right and die in exile. But these are signs of an incipient fascism, which bring no glory to a nation. Freedom can never be adequate, as Kher seems to think. Its presence should be so pervasive that all citizens will feel secure and expect justice to be done if anything untoward happens. If a community thinks that freedom is not omnipresent, as it should be, it is cause for concern and does not call for a mocking response. Amulya Ganguli is a writer on current affairs. Embroiled in a row over his 'shoot mercilessly' remarks, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday rejected the Opposition demand for an apology over his comments, saying he was an 'emotional person'. Kumaraswamy landed in a raging controversy Tuesday after a video of his telephonic instruction to 'shoot mercilessly' those who had killed a Janata Dal-Secular worker in the party's stronghold of Mandya district on Monday went viral. As the controversy refused to die down despite his clarification that it was an 'emotional outburst' and he did not mean it, Kumaraswamy said, "It is not a big issue... it is human tendency... in that sort of a situation any human being will react like that. I have already clarified it, that is why I changed the word also." JD-S worker Prakash, a zilla panchayat member, was hacked to death, allegedly by four men in Maddur town on Monday evening, creating tension and infuriating Kumaraswamy, who told a police official 'he (Prakash) was a good person. "There is no problem if you shoot such people mercilessly," alluding to the alleged killers. Seven suspects have been booked for the killing of the JD-S worker, Additional Superintendent of Police Mandya District Balaramegowda told PTI, adding that old rivalry or a political motive may be behind the killing. "We have not arrested anyone yet. Investigations are on. We have registered an FIR against seven suspects," he said. He said the suspects have been booked under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Claiming that he was an 'emotional' person, Kumarswamy told reporters, Even if a single citizen is in trouble, I will involve myself...that issue is over according to me, that is why I said instead of encounter, I said smoke them out...that is my final word" Hitting out at Kumaraswamy for his 'irresponsible' comments, state Bharatiya Janata party president and Leader of Opposition in the assembly B S Yeddyurappa demanded that he apologise to the people of the state. Questioning BJP leaders about an incident where two farmers were allegedly shot dead by police during Yeddyurappas tenure as chief minister at Haveri in north Karnataka, Kumaraswamy questioned, "Was it not a big issue?" To a question about the demand for an apology, he snapped back, Why should I apologise? A human rights activist has, meanwhile, petitioned the State Human Rights Commission, terming the chief ministers remarks as a clear violation of human rights. The petitioner, T Narasimha Murthy, urged the Commission to issue notice to the chief minister seeking an explanation from him with immediate effect, to examine the implications and impact of such emotional remarks on the police, judiciary and public, and to issue appropriate direction to Kumaraswamy. The plea said it hoped that the commission would examine the issue and direct the chief minister as executive head of the state to maintain decorum and also restore the law and spirit of the Constitution. IMAGE: A view inside US Customs and Border Protection detention facility, in Rio Grande City, Texas. Photograph is used for representational purposes/Reuters An eight-year-old Guatemalan migrant boy died shortly after midnight on Tuesday after being detained by United States border agents, the US Customs and Border Protection said, making him the second migrant child this month to die in U.S. detention. The death came when the government is partially shutdown over the dispute of funding for the border wall. US Customs and Border Protection said the boy -- identified by the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix as Felipe Gomez Alonzo -- along with his father were in CBP custody when a Border Patrol agent noticed the child showing signs of illness. He was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a common cold and fever, and eventually released by hospital staff. However, later, the boy started vomiting and died shortly in the hospital. The reason behind his death is still to be ascertained. According to Guatemalas foreign ministry, the boy and his father entered the United States via El Paso, Texas, on December 18 and were transferred to a border patrol station in Alamogordo on December 23. The boys death followed the death in early December of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal, also from Guatemala. She died after being detained along with her father by US border agents in a remote part of New Mexico. Noida administration's diktat asking private firms to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park snowballed into a major controversy on Wednesday with Bahujan Samaj Party terming it 'arbitrary' and the Bharatiya Janata Party asserting that the issue is being politicised on communal lines. The BJP also defended the order saying the primary duty of police of any place is to maintain communal harmony so that there is no law and order issue. The Station House Officer of Noida's Sector 58 Police Station Pankaj Rai had earlier this month sent notices to 23 private firms asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park citing a 2009 Supreme Court order which prohibits religious gatherings at public places. The Noida administration also on Tuesday said that 'unauthorised' religious gatherings will not be allowed at public places. "The order regarding prior approval for offering Friday namaz at public parks and warning of strict action on firms whose employees are found flouting is improper and arbitrary," the BSP chief Mayawati said in a release. "If the Yogi Adityanath government in the state has any such policy of banning religious activities at public places, why is it not being implemented on people belonging to all religions and in all the districts of the state without any discrimination," she added. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister claimed that prayers were being offered in the park since 2013 and questioned the logic behind banning them ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "It is most natural that questions will be raised on the BJP government's policy and intentions as elections approach," she said. "This also strengthens the doubt that the BJP regime wants to divert attention from its failures and shortcomings by creating such religious controversies," she added. It only highlights the frustration of the BJP leaders following their defeat in the recent assembly elections, she said. BJP leader Giriraj Singh said, "Jo kanoon aade aa jaye, use dharam se jod dete hai (whenever law becomes a hurdle, it is linked to a religion). Is it necessary to encroach a park to offer namaz? One can do so in their houses or in a mosque..." Another BJP leader Anila Singh said the primary duty of police force of any place is to maintain communal harmony so that no law and order situation arises there. "If we talk about this issue, some 10-20 people started offering 'namaz' and then the number increased to 900-1000. When 1,000 people at a particular time get together in that area, it becomes little problematic for others. "Secondly, because elections are round the corner, there are certain forces -- they may be in the form of political parties -- that do not want communal harmony in the state. "Today there are Muslims who are going and offering namaz, tomorrow Hindus may gather and say we do 'kirtan' there. Imagine the situation which will arise. We should not politicise the issue on communal lines," she said. Citing a Supreme Court order of 2009, Noida officials had said there is a clear ban on unauthorised use of public places for religious activities by all religions. Officials said a Hindu religious event scheduled to be held on a government land in Greater Noida was stopped on Wednesday after authorities found it lacked requisite permission. The nine-day Bhagwat Katha was to begin on Wednesday in Greater Noida's residential Sector 37, the added. Officials of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, which owns the land plot where the event was to take place, removed tents, stage and loudspeaker this morning from the land plot, leading to a protest by its organisers. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Chief Asaduddin Owaisi also hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government and said it was 'showering petals on Kanwariyas' (devotees of Lord Shiva) but was issuing notice to Muslims who want to offer prayers once a week saying that would mean disrupting peace and harmony. "This is telling Muslims: Aap kuch bhi karlo, galti to aapki hi hogi (No matter what you do, you will be in the wrong). Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what their employees do in individual capacity?" the Hyderabad MP questioned. Former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also slammed the order, saying the government and the administration were working like the BJP workers. "They will not be able to tell about their achievements in the elections, so at the end this is what they will do," he added. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhie Singh asked whether a district administration can issue orders to companies asking them to do a religious profiling of their employees and whether these firms can be held liable for the place and time of their prayers. Condemning the order, Janata Dal-United leader K C Tyagi said, "We are astonished about this notice of the Noida administration and the police. This type of action taken by the administration is the first of its kind in independent India. We condemn it." 'Just because a girl accuses someone of sexual harassment it does not mean that person should be held guilty.' 'A man must be given a fair chance.' 'Even if he is able to clear his name in the case, he would not be able to face the world.' IMAGE: Genpact employee Swaroop Raj, who took his life after facing allegations of sexual harassment at work, with his wife Kriti. After working for 11 years at Genpact, Swaroop Raj, assistant vice president, was called for a meeting on December 18, 2018. At the meeting he was told that two lady colleagues had accused him of sexual harassment. Swaroop was suspended with immediate effect. He was told to leave the company premises immediately. His laptop was confiscated. Swaroop went home and hanged himself. Before committing suicide, Swaroop wrote a letter to his wife Kriti, telling her he was innocent and that the sexual harassment charges against him were false. Speaking to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Kriti Swaroop, also a Genpact employee, narrates the events that led to her husband's tragic death. *** On December 18, Swaroop told me he had to go to office early. Since both of us work in the same office, we used to go and come together. On that day, it did not happen. Around 10.30 pm when I was leaving office, I called him. His phone was switched off. I tried calling him many times, but his phone was switched off. I checked his last seen message (on WhatsApp) and it was showing he had not checked it for the last 8 hours. This was surprising because he never used to be offline for so long. I called one of his office friends who told me Swaroop had left for home early. When I reached home, the door was locked. I called the neighbours after sometime. We had to break the door to enter our house. As soon as we entered, we saw Swaroop's body. I am still wondering what happened to him, why did he commit suicide. My husband did not discuss anything about this sexual harassment case with me even a day earlier. He was not that kind of person who would do something like this. He used to share each and everything with me. A day before his death, we planned for a New Year's Eve night and also our future plans. A night before his death, we came back from office together, watched TV. Everything was normal. I don't know what happened in just one day. He was called for a meeting on Tuesday morning and told he is being charged with sexual harassment. He was suspended with immediate effect. This shocked him so much as he was falsely accused. In his suicide letter he wrote that two girls had accused him of sexual harassment in office. He said he was innocent and he did not do anything wrong. He wrote that even if he is able to clear his name in the case, he would not be able to face the world. He was in such a high position so many people knew him. He just could not take this false allegation against him. IMAGE: Swaroop's suicide letter. Though I work in Genpact, I have no idea who these girls accusing him of sexual assault are. He used to discuss every issue in office with me, but never discussed this. I don't know whether the case is of internal politics or if these two girls wanted to get something professional out of Swaroop. That is why I am begging the police that they must tell me the names of the girls. If the police tell me their names, then I can tell them (the accusers) what Swaroop used to feel about them. I know almost everyone in Genpact. I have worked there for the last three years. Swaroop worked for Genpact for 11 years and had a spotless career. He was my loving husband. If there was some kind of problem in the job, he would have come and discussed it with me. 98 per cent of his professional life was spent in this company. He was too shocked by the way they treated him. If these girls had such serious allegations, why did they not file a police complaint? Why are they hiding their faces even now? The company is not telling me anything. Some employees came to meet after Swaroop's death, but only on a personal level. Genpact employees have been told not to speak to the media or even me about his death. It has been a week since Swarooop's death and I have not been back to the company. 'This is a very difficult time for all of us and our hearts go out to the employees and their families. Genpact's priority is to protect the dignity and privacy of everyone impacted.' 'We would like to state that there was a serious complaint of sexual harassment made by two female employees against the deceased. The complaint was being duly investigated by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as per the mandated process.' 'To have a fair and uninfluenced inquiry, he was placed under temporary suspension pending the closure of the inquiry.' 'This is in accordance with the Prevention and Prohibition of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act (POSH) and in line with legal requirements and company policy.' 'We implore the public and media to give the deceased and the complainants the space and dignity they deserve.' Genpact Statement The #Metoo movement has to be looked at from both sides. Be it a male or female. There has to be equality in justice. Just because a girl accuses someone of sexual harassment it does not mean that person should be held guilty. A man must be given a fair chance. Genpact did not follow the Vishaka guidelines. As per the Vishaka guidelines, there has to be an internal complaint committee that has to be formed and both parties must sit in front of each other. According to the guidelines, a copy of the complaint has to be given to the accused person in 7 days. However, this was not followed in this case. Tell me, in which office can a man be suspended in just one day? Read the suspension letter. They suspended him on sexual harassment charges and asked to leave his ID card and laptop behind. The letter made him feel guilty. They never allowed Swaroop a chance to explain his position. They just assumed that he was guilty. If Swaroop had got even one day to explain his position, he would have surely come and spoke to me about this issue. He would have said something to me on the issue. Without any basis they just told him to leave. I am now planning to go to court against Genpact. How mac and cheese is eaten and prepared, and its purpose depend wholly on where youre from or if youre black or white. Perhaps in Vermont, youd use the states well-known extra sharp cheddar, while in other parts of New England, youd throw in lobster for a more decadent version. Overall, regional variation seems to determine what kind of mac and cheese is your norm. In the event of a Chinese attack on Arunachal, troops and equipment from mainland India will travel on the existing south bank railway till Bogibeel, cross the Brahmaputra on the new bridge and then head further east on the Strategic Rail-Road Link, once it is ready. Ajai Shukla reports. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, flanked by Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi to his left, and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, on the Bogibeel Bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge on the Brahmaputra river, after it was inaugurated, in Dibrugarh, December 25, 2018. Photograph: PTI photo On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi inaugurated the Rs 59.2-billion railway-road bridge at Bogibeel in Assam. It will link Dibrugarh, south of the Brahmaputra, with Dhemaji district on the north bank. 'The Bogibeel Bridge is a lifeline for the people of Assam. It has enhanced connectivity between Assam and other parts of the nation,' said Modi. This is the fourth bridge over the Brahmaputra and has taken 33 years to build after it was promised as a part of the Assam Accord in 1985 -- an initiative directed towards improving the state's infrastructure. It took 12 years for then prime minister H D Deve Gowda to lay its foundation stone in 1997, and another five years to start work, with then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurating construction in 2002. The construction itself has taken 16 years. Spanning 4.94 km in length, the Bogibeel Bridge caters to both rail and road traffic. It has two-way railway tracks on its lower level and a three-lane road on the upper level. Another 73 km of new railway track will connect the existing trunk rail line on the Brahmaputra's so-called south bank with a new strategic railroad coming up on the north bank. The new strategic infrastructure being built on the north bank is called the Strategic Rail-Road Link and will allow rail and road access to Upper Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh -- the northeastern tip of India. In the event of a Chinese attack on Arunachal, troops and equipment from mainland India will travel on the existing south bank railway till Bogibeel, cross the Brahmaputra on the new bridge and then head further east on the Strategic Rail-Road Link, once it is ready. The Indian Army sees the Bogibeel Bridge as "strategic infrastructure" that dramatically cuts rail travel time to the Dibang and Lohit river valleys in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. "Earlier, military troops and equipment had to cross the Brahmaputra, and Arunachal rivers like the Lohit, only on barges and rafts. The nearest railway bridge at Guwahati was more than 400 km away, while Tezpur had only a road bridge. Now, trains can cross the Brahmaputra at Bogibeel and then travel further east on the new Strategic Link," explained a senior general. Further, the Bogibeel Bridge allows troops located in Nagaland and Manipur to be rushed to the Sino-Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh much more quickly. Earlier, they had to cross the Brahmaputra either at Tezpur -- 250 km west -- or at the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge on the Lohit. The mighty Brahmaputra, which can be up to 10 miles wide in many places, requiring a two-hour ferry ride to cross the river, divides Assam geographically, strategically, and culturally. The north bank and south bank developed separately, even their economies barely linked. This changed only marginally in June 1963 when the Saraighat rail-road bridge first spanned the Brahmaputra at Guwahati. That bridge was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, after being completed on a war footing in the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. Almost a quarter century later in 1987, Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Kolia Bhomora road bridge at Tezpur. In 1988, Vajpayee inaugurated the third bridge over the Brahmaputra, a rail-road bridge in Lower Assam's Goalpara district. Three bridges were also built over the Lohit River -- the Parshuram Kund Bridge at Wakro in 2006; the Lohit-Digaru Bridge at Alubari in 2017; and the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge the same year. The three Lohit bridges do not cater to rail traffic. Modi took note of the endemic delays in construction, stating: 'Things have changed after May 2014, when topmost priority is being accorded to key projects.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi on the Bogibeel Bridge, December 25, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo Manoj Jalan, who heads the Dibrugarh-headquartered Jalan Tea Estates Group, points out the need for more bridges linking the north bank and south bank. "During the monsoons, the ferry sites often get washed away and cross-Brahmaputra movement comes to a halt. The people of Assam resent the fact that there are some 32-odd bridges across the Yamuna and just four across the Brahmaputra," he observes. Thanks to the new rail connectivity over the Bogibeel Bridge, Modi also flagged off a new Tinsukia-Naharlagun Intercity Express, which will run five days a week. The Bogibeel Bridge will cut down the train travel time between Tinsukia to Naharlagun by more than 10 hours. 'Modi campers are aware that the Sangh may keep a Nitin Gadkari under wraps.' 'He may be pulled out of the hat if push comes to shove and if the Modi-led BJP is unable to deliver a decisive victory.' A revealing excerpt from Kingshuk Nag's new book, Mohan Bhagwat: Influencer-in-Chief. IMAGE: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat at a programme in Thane, October 26, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo With the general election not too far off, the RSS is flexing its muscles. That is not surprising considering the fact that with the general elections approaching, there is no certainty of the BJP returning to power. This is especially because of the attempts being made by the Opposition parties to forge a common front to take the BJP head on in the 2019 elections. Various opinion polls also show that Modi's popularity is sliding. "There is time," RSS seniors say when asked whether the BJP can win the next elections, but in private, worry lines appear on their foreheads when queried about this. For the record, the RSS is not a political outfit. It is a sociocultural organisation. But in the last decade -- and more prominently since the BJP came to power in 2014 -- there is a discernible interest of the organisation in politics. This is because the RSS's top brass realizes that only if the BJP wins the election can the agenda of the Sangh be furthered. This means that over the next few months, the RSS would want to have a greater say over policymaking and appointments and, of course, election strategies. "It's like an examination where the student has to answer the question papers. The others can help and assist the student before the examination by advising him what to study and how to study. Similarly, Modi and his candidates have to contest the polls; we can only help in campaigning and in formulating strategies. We will work intensively for this like parents do for their children," an RSS insider told this author The insider says that Modi and the BJP have to showcase everything that they say has been achieved by the government since 2014. "The performance of the Modi government is fairly good although its popularity is now going downwards," admits the RSS insider. He breezily suggests that the plummeting popularity is most visible in urban and metro cities and the Modi government maintains its good rating in small cities. "So all you people may be getting it wrong," he suggests. Many think that the Modi government will raise the ante on Pakistan and there could be a conflict between the two countries -- however small it might be. However, an army general says that this is ruled out. "Both are nuclear powers and thus none can take resort to warfare," he adds. However, the Modi government will not be averse to producing all records of strikes by Indian forces in Pakistan as is evident from publicity of a strike 20 months earlier by the government in June 2018. Similarly, in the case of the Ayodhya dispute, the RSS would hope that the Supreme Court will give a judgement that will allow the process of beginning the construction of the Ram temple before the elections. One does not know whether this will happen. The VHP is mounting counter pressure on the central government to legislate on the matter to acquire the disputed land and build a Ram mandir. The VHP has said if the ruling alliance does not have the numbers, it should convene a joint session of the two Houses of Parliament and get such legislation cleared. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is also arguing that the central government should take over the disputed land through an ordinance and hand over the land to agama experts and a representative Hindu body who can build the temple. To ensure that the BJP wins the next polls, the RSS is also getting into the nuts and bolts of the 2019 elections. At a three-day conclave held in Suraj Kund in Faridabad in mid-June 2018, RSS leaders confabulated with organizational secretaries of BJP units to figure out the popularity of BJP MPs. The organisational secretaries -- who are hardcore RSS members on deputation to the BJP -- were asked to prepare a report on the performance of the MPs and assess if they had a chance to win the next elections. According to reports, caste and winning combinations in various states were also discussed. Seats will be given based on the findings of this report. The RSS team was led by Sarkaryavah Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi and had other joint secretaries like Krishna Gopal and Manmohan Vaidya to assist him. BJP President Amit Anilchandra Shah had come along and so had Ram Lal, the organisational secretary for the central unit of the BJP. The only omissions were RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi! UP was discussed threadbare at the meeting, which was attended by all the chiefs of the prants in the state. UP is of special interest to both the BJP and RSS. The victory in 2014 was largely because of the sweep of BJP of the state. "This time this is being threatened by the proposed alliance between the two former chief ministers, the so-called bua-bhatija duo of Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav. If the BJP sweeps UP it is through, but this time the 2014 results cannot be duplicated," says a senior RSS functionary. Analysts say that the problem for the BJP is that south of the Vindhyas the party still does not have much traction. The party -- with RSS help -- will try to consolidate its position in Karnataka where the BJP came first in the recent assembly elections but could not form a government because of the lack of majority. In the neighbouring states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the BJP has barely any presence. Additionally, in Andhra Pradesh, its long-time partner N Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party has broken the alliance. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana account for 70 Lok Sabha seats against 80 seats in UP. The RSS may not be too comfortable with Modi's power politics and his none-too-discreet attempts to corner all the glory but for Nagpur he is still their best bet to keep the Hindu flag afloat. Modi campers are, however, aware that the Sangh may keep a Nitin Gadkari under wraps. He may be pulled out of the hat if push comes to shove and if the Modi-led BJP is unable to deliver a decisive victory. Excerpted from Mohan Bhagwat: Influencer-in-Chief by Kingshuk Nag with the kind permission of the publishers, Rupa Publications. Venezuela saw bloody protests in 2018 and January 20 was like no other. Security forces clashed with mourners for Oscar Perez at the main morgue in the Venuzuelan capital, Caracas. Oscar Perez had been the leading man in an action film, a pilot who fought crime from parachutes with a dog strapped to his back. In June, he commandeered a helicopter during protests, fired on the Venezuelan supreme court and unfurled a banner urging Venezuelans to rebel. Perez was an actor, a detective and an insurgent. To the government he was a terrorist. To his followers he was a freedom fighter, a modern folk hero like Che Guevara. Perez's end came on January 15. His body sat in a freezer at the Caracas morgue, with two bullet wounds and a cracked mandible, under armed guard. On January 21, the government released the corpse, which was buried naked, except for a white sheet wrapped around it. Photograph: Marco Bello/Reuters CORNWALL YMCA Camp Mohawk, of Cornwall is celebrating its centennial camping season in Summer 2019, during a Labor Day weekend celebration for alumni and families. The camp is seeking memoris to document this milestone. For almost a century, YMCA Camp Mohawk has served as a home away from home for nearly 60,000 children, from near and far in the summer months. Nestled at the base of Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, Camp Mohawk operates as an all-girls summer sleepaway camp. However, from 1920 until 1968, Camp Mohawk ran boys and girls camps on the same site. Today, Camp Mohawk offers girls a place to discover personal strengths, become more confident, and develop an enhanced sense of self. Camp Mohawk boasts renowned leadership development programs that guide girls so that they grow in confidence, helping them develop a strong sense of self early, and enabling them to better handle the challenges of young womanhood. Thanks to the enduring strength of Camp Mohawk, since 1920 nearly 60,000 children have learned how to swim, canoe, and sail on Mohawk Pond, explored nature through hiking, attended to hatchlings in the barn, honed their macrame skills, and expressed themselves through song and dance. Camp Mohawk boasts many successful alumnae, including Kristin Anderson-Lopez, who won the Academy Award for writing Let It Go from Frozen and Remember Me from Coco. Both of Anderson-Lopezs daughters now attend Camp Mohawk. Savannah and Grace Carpenter, 14-year-old twins, are third generation Mohawkers. Their grandmother, Suanne Beverly, attended camp in the late 1950s through the 1960s. Their mom, Morgan (Beverly) Carpenter attended camp in the 1980s and 1990s and now serves on the Board of Trustees. Through Camp Mohawk, I have formed friendships that I hope will last through adulthood, said Grace. Camp has been a huge part of my life, and I could not ask for a better one, Savannah said. For the centennial, events and activities throughout the summer will orient campers to the history of Camp Mohawk. The Camp Mohawk Alumni Association is also planning events for Labor Day weekend. As they prepare for this celebration, the Camp Archivist and board member/former camper/staff member Kathryn Krase, is collecting and preserving Camp Mohawk Memorabilia. Having recently received a stack of old t-shirts worn by staff members in the 1960s through the 1980s, Dr. Krase is working through social media to identify alumni who remember the shirts and hopes to find pictures of the shirts in action. She recently posted to the Camp Mohawk Alumni Association Facebook Group towards this end. The shirts and related pictures will be framed and displayed at camp in honor of Camp Mohawks Centennial. While Camp Mohawk alumni can be found far and wide, it is estimated that thousands of Camp Mohawk alumni live in and around Litchfield County/Northwest Connecticut. Dr. Krase is hoping to connect with any alumni who might be willing to donate (or lend) Camp Mohawk Memorabilia towards the Centennial Celebration. She is also willing to help archive, and share, Camp Mohawk stories. Former campers with memorabilia to be archived, or those with a story to share can call 800-842-1143, or email alumni@campmohawk.org. Camp Mohawk alumni who are interested in learning more about the upcoming centennial celebration, or just want to stay in touch with Camp Mohawk, should complete the Contact Form available here: https://ymcacampmohawk.campintouch.com/v2/login/login.aspx?cx=a , follow YMCA Camp Mohawk on Facebook or Instagram, and/or join the Camp Mohawk Alumni Association Group on Facebook. What just happened? On Friday the federal government entered a partial shutdown after the Senate failed to pass a spending bill that includes border wall funding. President Trump refuses to sign any additional funding that does not include $5.1 billion in additional money to pay for an extension of the border wall, allowing him to fulfill his primary campaign promise. What is a partial government shutdown? A government shutdown occurs either when Congress fails to pass funding bills or when the president refuses to sign a funding bill before the current appropriations expire. A partial government shutdown occurs when many or most government government agencies have already been funded by other legislation but there remains some areas that still need funding. What parts of the federal government are affected by the shutdown? Several government agencies were already funded for fiscal year 2019. But another funding bill was needed to cover several agencies for about seven weeks. Nine out of 15 federal departments, dozens of agencies, and several programs will be closed or reduce operations: Department of Commerce Department of Homeland Security Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Interior Department of Justice Department of State Department of Transportation Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Drug Administration (FDA) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Programs related to science, financial services, and other agencies The National Flood Insurance Program The Violence Against Women Act The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Immigration extensions (EB-5, E-Verify, Conrad 30 program for international medical school graduates, Special Immigrant Religious Workers program, and H2B returning worker authority for DHS) The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Act Two expiring provisions of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act Medicaid Money-Follows-the-Person and Spousal Impoverishment, through March 31 Will federal law enforcement be affected? According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, more than 41,000 federal law enforcement and correctional officers will be affected, including: 2,614 ATF agents 16,742 Bureau of Prisons correctional officers 13,709 FBI agents 3,600 deputy U.S. Marshals 4,399 DEA agents 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents and customs officers 42,000 Coast Guard employee Why dont government agencies just ignore the shutdown? Under a federal law known as the Anti-Deficiency Act, it can be a felony to spend taxpayer money without an appropriation from Congress. Why does Congress have to vote to keep funding the government? The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to allocate all funds collected through taxes (No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.). Most government spending is mandatory spending, which means Congress has passed a law requiring monies to be used for specific purposes. Examples of mandatory spending are Medicare and Medicaid, Social security, and unemployment benefits. Approximately 35 percent of government spending, though, is non-discretionary spending. This type of spending includes spending on such things as defense, homeland security, and education. For the federal agencies to receive this funding Congress has to authorize this spending. In December Congress passed the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 1370) which provides non-discretionary funding through January 19, 2018. The entire government doesnt actually shut down during a government shutdown, does it? No. Even in a full, rather than partial, shutdown, programs deemed essentialwhich includes, among other agencies and services, the military, air traffic control, food inspections, etc.would continue as normal. Non-essential programs and services such as national parks and federal museums would be closed. Federal workers deemed non-essential are also furloughed. Are government benefit checks affected by a shutdown? Not directly. Benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and retirement for veterans are mandatory spending so they are unaffected. However, if the workers who mail the checks are considered non-essential it may result in delays in the checks being sent out. How do lawmakers work if the Capitol is shut down and their workers are furloughed? Congress is exempted from the furloughs and the Capitol building will stay open, so lawmakers arent really affected. Several types of executive branch officials and employees are also not subject to furlough. These include the president, presidential appointees, and federal employees deemed excepted by the Office of Public Management. Will I still get mail during the shutdown? Yes. The United States Postal Service is exempt from the federal government shutdown because it does not receive its budget from annual appropriations from Congress. Will government workers still get paid? Federal workers placed on furlough will not get paid during a shutdown. However, after past shutdowns, Congress has always voted to pay furloughed workers retroactively. Will the shutdown save the government money? Not if past shutdowns are any indication. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reports that estimates vary widely, but evidence suggests that shutdowns tend to cost, not save, money. A recent shutdown cost the government $1.4 billion, according to an estimate by the Office of Management and Budget. So weve had such shutdowns before? Since 1976, there have been almost two dozen shutdownsincluding three under President Trump. However, before the 1980s the government continued operating at reduced levels without furloughing workers. The two shutdowns in 2018 lasted mere days while the shutdown in 2013 lasted 16 days. Prior to that was the longest shutdown of modern historya 21 day shutdown in December 1995 that came soon after a five-day shutdown that lasted from November 13-19. Those shutdowns were sparked by a disagreement over tax cuts between then-President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Since the Republicans have a majority in the House and Senate, why cant they just pass the spending bill? Because the spending bill requires a filibuster proof majority to pass in the Senate, Republicans need several Democrats to support the funding proposal that includes border wall funding. Who gets blamed for government shutdowns? On December 11, President Trump told two Democratic leaders of Congress, I am proud to shut down the government for border security . . . I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. Im not going to blame you for it. The President has backtracked, though, and attempted to avoid blame. On Friday he tweeted, The Democrats now own the shutdown! However long the shutdown lasts, the GOP will likely be considered at fault. Since the 1990s, polls show that Republicans are the party most blamed for government shutdowns. Today, bannock is still much-loved in Canada, but it takes many forms: baked on a griddle, dough shaped around a stick to bake over an open fire, or fried. It is made with oat flour, wheat flour or any other ingredient that can be formed into a simple dough, and todays bannock is usually leavened with baking powder. Since bannock just means bread and, like bread, is the same in both singular and plural theyre all legitimate versions. Our bannock is lightly leavened and seasoned with sage and cheddar, which makes it equally good at breakfast with the porky goodness of bacon or sausage, and at supper, with an earthy bean soup rich with kielbasa. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday issued a challenge to self-exiled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Acting President Sam Rainsy, daring him to return to the country. Sam Rainsy, who recently took the office of acting president of the now banned major opposition party last week vowed to return to Cambodia in 2019 to fight for democracy. I want to clear everything up with this person, the prime minister said during a meeting of garment factory workers in Kandal province. I have already ordered Civil Aviation to not ban this awful guy because we need to put him in handcuffs. Weve been trying to arrest this guy for a long time, and now hes going to surrender. If you dont come before March, youre a dog! Hun Sen said. Sam Rainsy, who has been living in self-imposed exile for nearly three years to avoid a string of convictions by courts seen as tied to Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen, made the announcement that he would return to Cambodia before March 2019 at a public forum held on Dec. 16 for party supporters in Paris. CNRP activists across Cambodia welcome Sam Rainsys announcement and many said they would risk their freedom to welcome the self-exiled politician upon his return. Political analyst Kim Sok believes the prime ministers threat is an attempt to prevent Sam Rainsys return. If Sam Rainsy returns to Cambodia, thats an alarming situation for Hun Sen, said Kim Sok. He said if Sam Rainsy is arrested, Hun Sen will face more pressure, but if Hun Sen doesnt arrest Sam Rainsy then his power will be challenged. Meanwhile, the CNRPs chief in Kampong Chhnang province Keo Thai said even though the prime minister is threatening Sam Rainsy, he would still support the CNRP. He also said that he would lead his supporters to welcome Sam Rainsy upon his arrival in country. I am committed to the revival of Cambodias democracy, Keo Thai said. As long as there is no democracy, I will continue my work for the sake of the democracy-loving Cambodian people Hun Sen on Wednesday also said that former CNRP commune councilors would not be allowed to resume the positions, to which they had been elected in local elections in 2017. He urged the former officials of the banned party to instead find other means of making a living. The prime minister then praised CNRP defectors who joined his Cambodia Peoples Party (CPP), saying they would be allowed to continue in their positions until the end of their terms, and could run again as CPP candidates in 2020. Dont dream of returning to your [former CNRP] positions, he said. Hun Sen also said he is working to create more rural CPP positions to encourage more CNRP to defect. A former CNRP commune chief named Seik Chamnap said he wouldnt sell out and take any position from the CPP. He reiterated that the people didnt vote for a CPP candidate. We are standing firm. We wont bow our heads, Seik Chamnap said. Hun Sen also said again that he would not request that Cambodias king restore the political rights of the entire group of 118 CNRP officials who were banned from politics, but would allow them to request reinstatement individually. He urged those still banned to complete their requests soon so that they can return to politics in time to compete in future elections. RFAs Khmer Service attempted to contact Sam Rainsy for comment but was unable to reach him. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Chinese dissident Wu Yuhua stands in front of the Pathumwan Court in Bangkok, Sept. 21, 2018. A Bangkok court has acquitted Chinese dissident Wu Yuhua of violating Thailands immigration law, her lawyer said Wednesday, three years after she and her husband fled their homeland, claiming they were targeted by Chinese police for taking part in press freedom protests. The Pathumwan Municipal Court ruled Tuesday that Wu had entered Thailand with proper documents, Warissara Rungthong, a lawyer with the People Serving People foundation, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, by phone. The court handed down a verdict on Dec. 25, 2018, acquitting the defendant who was tried for illegal entry, because she was proven to have necessary travel documents, Warissara said. They are close to receiving asylum from a third country, she added, declining to identify the country for what she described as security reasons. Wu and her husband, Yang Chong, fled China and made their way to Thailand in February 2015, arriving at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport. They were arrested on Aug. 2, along with another Chinese national, outside the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok, where they had hoped to persuade New Zealand officials to consider their asylum application. Yang was tried and found guilty in November of remaining in the country after his visa had expired. He was sentenced to six months and a fine of 10,000 baht (U.S. $303), but allowed to walk free on a one-year probation because he had no criminal record, court officials said. The couple told reporters they were initially targeted by Chinese police after taking part in press freedom protests in the southern city of Guangzhou in January 2013. They fled to Thailand after Wu started a support group for Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who disappeared in Chinas Xinjiang region in 2010, lawyers said. The couple spent time in the town of Pattaya, about 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Bangkok. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) declared them political refugees in 2017. Lawyers said the couple then started looking for resettlement in a third country amid a global tightening of national immigration policies. Yang earlier told the court he went to the New Zealand embassy to request asylum, but was detained following an argument over his request. Thailand has a record of sending refugees from China back home. In July, authorities in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing sent rights activist Dong Guangping and political cartoonist Jiang Yefei to prison after they were repatriated from Thailand where they were awaiting resettlement as political refugees. The incident prompted an international outcry. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Activists tape posters of detained Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang and his wife Li Wenzhu to signage during a rally outside the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, Dec. 26, 2018, as Wang's trial is set to begin in China. Chinese rights attorney Wang Quanzhang, who has been held by the authorities for more than three years, stood trial for subversion on Friday in the northern city of Tianjin, in a process slammed by an international rights group as "a cruel charade." Wang, detained in July 2015 as part of a nationwide police operation targeting hundreds of human rights lawyers and activists, stood trial for "incitement to subvert state power" at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. "Defendant Wang Quanzhang, suspected of incitement to subvert state power, will today stand trial at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court," the court said in a notice on its official website. "This trial will not be open to the public because it involves state secrets," the statement said. "The verdict and sentencing will be announced on another date." But Swedish rights activist Peter Dahlin, whose "testimony" under interrogation by Chinese police was referenced in Wang's indictment, said he had confirmed that the court had been forced to adjourn within the first minute after Wang fired his own defense attorney. "Confirmed. #WangQuanzhang fired his state-appointed lawyer #LiuWeiguo within first minute of trial opening," Dahlin wrote via his Twitter account on the day of the trial. According to the Los Angeles Times, Wang fired his state-appointed lawyer Liu Weiguo within minutes of court proceedings opening on Wednesday, citing a posting by Liu to a WeChat news group. Separately, The Wall Street Journal quoted Wang's wife as also saying that Liu had been fired. The firing could not be independently confirmed. Calls to Liu Weiguo's phone were cut off after an RFA journalist identified themselves on Wednesday. Cheng Hai, who had previously represented Wang, said there were no genuine state secrets involved, and that the court was acting illegally in holding the trial behind closed doors. "The main reason is that they want to minimize the international impact," Cheng said, adding that Wang had refused to plead guilty to the charges against him. "He wasn't happy with his lawyer, who had taken the case illegally, so I think he was going to fire him during the trial today," he said. Surrounded by police Wang's wife Li Wenzu said she had been prevented from traveling to Tianjin to attend the trial by Beijing state security police. "I left home at 5.30 a.m., and there were 20 or 30 plainclothes police down there, who surrounded me," Li told RFA. "They told me that it would be a secret trial, and they wouldn't let me travel to Tianjin." "They also got the private security guards to chase away journalists who were at the scene," Li said. Security was also tight outside the court buildings on Wednesday, although a number of diplomats from the U.K., the U.S., Germany and other nations tried to attend the trial, amid a strong international media presence. Rights activist Yang Chunlin was taken away from outside the court buildings after he chanted slogans in support of Wang. "Release Wang Quanzhang!" Yang shouted. "Wang Quanzhang is a good person! He is the best in China!" "What has this fascist, totalitarian regime turned China into?" Yang shouted, before being taken away by police. Supporter Wang Su'e said she was detained before she got anywhere near the court buildings. "The plainclothes police surrounded me, and put me onto a bus, then they took me to a police station somewhere in Hebei, and told me to cooperate," she said. A sham trial London-based rights group Amnesty International called for Wang's immediate and unconditional release. This is a sham trial in which Wang Quanzhang is being persecuted only for peacefully defending human rights, Amnesty International China researcher Doriane Lau said in a statement. Wang Quanzhang has already been unjustly held for more than three years, during which his family suffered the anguish of not knowing whether he was alive until recently. He must be immediately and unconditionally released," Lau said. Wang was taken away by police on Aug. 3, 2015, but his family was not informed of his whereabouts until July 2018, when a lawyer hired by Wangs family finally met with him, saying that Wang "seemed very scared." "Without legal safeguards, including regular access to his lawyer and his family, he remains at grave risk of being tortured and otherwise ill-treated, Lau said. Other human rights lawyers who were detained in the 2015 crackdown and later released have reported been beaten, made to stand for up to 15 consecutive hours and force-fed medication, the group said. The indictment against Wang bases the subversion charge on two areas of his work for the now-shuttered Beijing Fengrui law firm, and on work with Dahlin's non-government organization (NGO), China Action, Dahlin wrote on the rights website RDSLmonitor.com, which he set up. "There is no legal basis for the prosecution of Wang Quanzhang as presented by the prosecutor," Dahlin wrote, adding that the witnesses named in the indictment all made statements under duress. Fellow rights attorney Wang Yu, Chen Songzhu, Xing Jianshen and Dahlin were all "held in solitary confinement, without access to a lawyer, incommunicado, and as testimony released before has shown in some of those cases, some received physical and mental torture," Dahlin said. "Any evidence collected through such interrogations should be inadmissible, as per Chinese law," he said. Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Detained Chinese rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday accused of subversion, but his wife won't be permitted to attend the trial, RFA has learned. Wang's wife Li Wenzu said she was stopped by state security police as she took the couple's child to school from their Beijing home on Tuesday, and warned not to try to attend the trial. Li, who last week protested Wang's continued detention with a shaved head outside Beijing's Supreme People's Court, is now under close surveillance, with police preventing her friends from visiting, she said. "The state security police came here and told me that I shouldn't travel to Tianjin, because I wouldn't be allowed to sit in the gallery," Li said. Wang is to appear at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, which has held him far beyond legally allowed time limits, according to Li and fellow rights lawyers. "I just looked out of the window, and saw that there are about five police cars downstairs, all with police in them, so there are huge obstacles to my going to Tianjin [on Wednesday]," she said. "I will try going out tomorrow, because I should be free to attend the trial." "They are breaking the law, and they don't really have any reason for this that would pass muster," Li said. Calls to the police department in Li's home district of Shijingshan rang unanswered during office hours on Tuesday. Christmas Day isn't a public holiday in China. Police prevent visit Beijing-based rights lawyer Xie Yanyi said he had been prevented from visiting Li on Tuesday by state security police. "I was just about to get on the bus, when they came and stopped me," Xie said. "The state security police told me that Wang Quanzhang's trial won't be public; it'll be held in secret." "Even if I went, I wouldn't be able to get in," he said. "They also threatened me, warning that there would be serious consequences if I did try to go." "I'm back home now," Xie said. Hunan-based rights activist He Jiawei said dozens of rights activists were planning to travel to Tianjin for Wang's trial, with some managing to arrive in the city by train without being stopped. But he said state security police had called him en route and told him to return home immediately, or face "serious consequences." "They called me to tell me to go back immediately," He said. "They didn't give a reason, but they said it would be on my head if I didn't go back home in a hurry." But he said he hadn't complied with the request. "I'm worried about being detained now, but I plan to go to the court anyway, and if I can't get in, I'll hold up a banner," he said. Fellow attorney Huang Hanzhong said Wang is unlikely to get any kind of fair trial in Tianjin on Wednesday. "We don't have very high hopes for a case like this," Huang said. "They are holding the trial at Christmas time to minimize the interest from overseas." No hope of a fair trial Rights activist Ye Jinghuan said the authorities have also detained Liu Ermin, wife of detained rights activist Zhai Yanmin, who shaved her head alongside Li Wenzu in last week's protest. "Liu Ermin has been detained and taken away," Ye said. "There is no way that this trial is going to be fair, because the authorities have already broken criminal procedure law." "They have totally broken the law, especially the court," he said. Li protested along with three other women outside the Supreme People's Court with the saying: "I can go without hair, but you can't go without the law." The phrase, attributed to a Buddhist monk, puns on the similarity of the words for "hair" and "law" in Mandarin Chinese. Li was joined in the protest by Yuan Shanshan, wife of rights lawyer Xie Yanyi, Wang Qiaoling, wife of rights lawyer Li Heping and Liu Ermin, wife of rights activist Zhai Yanmin. The women gathered outside the Supreme People's Court in Beijing on Monday, where they presented a letter calling on the court to investigate the actions of two judges at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, which has held Wang far beyond legally allowed time limits. Wang's case was sent to the Tianjin No. 2 People's Court on Feb. 14, 2017, and he should have then stood trial for subversion, but presiding judges Lin Kun and Zhou Hong had dragged their feet on the case, leaving him in pretrial detention far beyond the legal maximum, Li said. Last month, Li was awarded Sweden's Edelstam Prize for "exceptional courage" in defending human rights, but the prize was presented to U.S.-based activist Yuan Weijing in her place, as Li was prevented from traveling to Stockholm to receive the award in person. Wang, who has been held in police detention without trial for three years, has been forced to take medication while in the custody of the Tianjin No. 1 Detention Center, his attorney Liu Weiguo said after being allowed to visit his client for the first time in July. According to international law, family members of the disappeared are recognized as victims of enforced disappearance as well. Reported by Wong Lok-to and Wen Yuqing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Han Jie for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Police in Beijing on Wednesday detained the head of Peking University's Marxism study group as he was heading to attend an anniversary event marking the birth of late supreme leader Mao Zedong. "This morning, the president of #Marxist Society in Peking university was brutally taken away from the campus by a handful of unidentified men and violently dragged into a black car owned by Public Security Department!," the Maoist Jasic Workers' Solidarity Group (JWSG) said via its Twitter account. Qiu Zhanxuan, who heads the Peking University Marxism study society, was grabbed and forced into a black car outside the east gate of Peking University by a group of men who identified themselves as police, Reuters reported, citing a student eyewitness. I saw a black car parked by the gate and seven or eight men in plain clothes lifting him by his arms and legs and forcing him into the car, the student, who asked to remain anonymous, said. Qiu was on the way to attend a memorial he had organized for the 125th anniversary of Mao Zedongs birthday, the report said, adding that his detention came after he was warned by a school official not to go ahead with the event. Qiu's detention comes after authorities closed and banned the Marxism study group at Peking University, and shut down similar groups on several other elite university campuses, after they supported a workers' unionization movement at a factory belonging to Jasic Technology in the southern city of Shenzhen. The ruling Chinese Communist Party has been quick to clamp down on student support for workers' rights in recent months, detaining, assaulting, or harassing dozens of workers, activists, and students since July. Marxist and Maoist activists, many of them students, had flocked to Shenzhen to support the Jasic workers' cause, with some of them taking jobs in the factory and lodging an official application to set up a labor union. Campaign for release As Qiu was being detained, the JWSG launched a campaign for the release of dozens of former Jasic workers and their Maoist supporters to coincide with the anniversary of Chairman Mao's birth. "On the occasion of the 125th birthday of #MAOzedong and five months after the arrest of #jasic activists[, w]e hope all comrades can send their best wishes to the arrested person[s] to us," the group said via its Twitter account. It said the greetings campaign would run from Dec. 25-30. According to the Peking University Marxism study group, members of that group and others across China have been subjected to detention, chats with state security police, surveillance, following, and isolation, it said in a statement posted to the Jasic Workers' Solidarity Group (JWSG) page on Github. Some students have been forced to suspend their studies, while Peking University authorities did nothing to prevent the violent physical assault and abduction of recent graduate and labor activist Zhang Shengye in November. A total of 32 individuals are still in custody, disappeared, or under "residential surveillance in a designated place," while four former Jasic workers have been criminally charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt social order," according to the U.S.-based group Human Rights in China (HRIC). Of the 32, only five are known to be held at an official detention facility with an addressthe Shenzhen Municipal No. 2 Detention Center, according to HRIC. The remaining 27 are being held at unknown locations. According to the JSWG, the detentions followed coordinated nationwide police raids on July 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 9, Nov. 9, and Nov. 11. Among the detainees are Beida graduate and former #MeToo campaigner Yue Xin, Shang Kai, editor of the Maoist website Red Reference, and Maoist youth campaigner Yang Shaoqiang. A political dilemma More than 40 years after his death at the age of 82, late supreme leader Mao Zedong still presents a political dilemma to the ruling Chinese Communist Party. While revering Mao as the leader who founded the People's Republic on Oct. 1, 1949, the party has been forced to conclude publicly that the leader made some "serious political mistakes." Locally funded statues of Mao have been torn down in recent years, reflecting official concerns over the potential use of the Great Helmsman's image as a focus for millions of poor and dispossessed people in China, including the country's army of petitioners, many of whom have lost their land or homes to government-backed development. Some supporters of the Jasic movement traveled to Mao's birthplace at Shaoshan in the central province of Hunan, now a major tourist attraction, on Wednesday. "We came here today to express our unending reverence for Chairman Mao, as Jasic workers and as students in higher education," one visitor told RFA. "Also, our determination to forever stand with the people." Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Win Myat Aye, Myanmar's minister of social welfare, relief and resettlement, talks to reporters at a workshop in Naypyidaw, Dec. 26, 2018. Myanmars armed forces have completed their handover of the countrys drug rehabilitation centers under the Ministry of Home Affairs to the government, in the latest move by the military to transfer some of the services under its auspices to civilian control, a government minister said Wednesday. The centers have been switched over to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Minister Win Myat Aye told reporters following a workshop in Naypyidaw. The move is the first administrative transfer by the military-controlled home affairs ministry to the National League for Democracy-led government, which has been in power since April 2016. The home affairs ministrys Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control has transferred the Shwe Pyi Thar center in Pyay in central Myanmars Bago region, the Shwe Pyi Thit center in Muse near the Chinese border in Shan state, and the Shwe Pyi Aye center in the town of Pekon in Shan state, he said. The administrative transfers came less than a year after the social welfare ministry established a rehabilitation department on Jan. 31, Win Myat Aye said. All rehabilitation centers under the Ministry of Home Affairs have now been transferred to us, he said, adding that the military-led ministry will continue providing assistance with security issues, while the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement will administer the facilities. Win Myat Aye also said that his ministry will focus on fighting drug addiction and on providing effective rehabilitation services. Anti-drug campaigns have been successful, but its important that addicts kick their habits, he said. So were remodeling some centers, and others are being rebuilt. Some previous centers were not very effective, so we have to reform them from scratch. Khin Maung Myint, a legal expert and former warden of Yangons notorious Insein Prison, said more assistance is needed to succeed in rehabilitating young drug offenders. The social welfare ministry has been providing medical treatment and counseling services for a while, and the Prison Department has been providing security, he said. The social welfare ministry also provides correctional services, so I dont think there will be many changes, he said. But young people will be better off and have more educational opportunities if more assistance is provided in accordance with international practices. Myanmars 2008 constitution, drafted by a former military junta that ruled the country at the time, grants the armed forces control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Border Affairs, whose leaders are appointed from serving officers by current military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing. Military hands over GAD In a move with wider effect, the military will also relinquish control of the General Administration Department (GAD) under the Ministry of Home Affairs to the civilian-led government, Zaw Htay, spokesman for President Win Myints office, told reporters on Dec. 21 at a weekly news conference in Naypyidaw. The GAD would soon be handed over to the Ministry of the Office of the Union Government, he said, though he did not provide details. The switch has been agreed to in principle by both sides, which are working on the transfer process, he said. The GAD is the administrative backbone of the country, acting as the civil service for Myanmars 14 state and regional governments and providing the administration for its districts and townships, according to an October 2014 report on the agency issued by The Asia Foundation and the Myanmar Development Resource Institutes Center for Economic and Social Development. The GAD plays a variety of roles, ranging from tax collection to land management and assorted registration and certification processes, the report said. Some Myanmar lawmakers believe the move will advance administrative reform in the country by reducing the GADs centralized control of government bureaucracy in keeping with a pledge by Win Myint earlier this year to reinvent the government and prepare Myanmar for a federal system. There couldnt be much effective change if they still go on with those senior officials like the director generals and other directors appointed by the top brass under the old system, Sai Laik, joint secretary of the Shan National League for Democracy Party (SNLD), told RFAs Myanmar Service. There are many efficient civilian officials who have risen up through the ranks by providing good service and gaining experience, so they should be given a chance, he said. Thein Tun Oo, spokesman of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USPD), noted the importance of the GAD as a government agency and said that those who oversee it must have adequate expertise. They must know all the important aspects and procedures of the machinery, he said. What I mean is if the top officials make wrong decisions, those in the lower ranks who have to implement the policies will have great difficulty. Critical building blocks It is through the minister of home affairs that the military plays a significant role in state and regional government administration. Those who are appointed as leaders of state and regional GADs are designated secretaries of their respective locales and ultimately report to current Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe. Below states and regions, district administrators who are also GAD officers oversee district General Administrative Offices and supervise townships, which are the critical building blocks of administration in Myanmar, according to The Asia Foundation report. Township administrators, who are always GAD officers, manage each township and provide direction to village tract and ward administrators. Ye Myint Swe, a lawmaker who represents the Tanintharyi township constituency in the Tanintharyi regional legislative assembly, said that the transfer of the GAD to the civilian-led government could produce a more effective administration at the township level. If a law is enacted for township administrators just like the one adopted for villages and village tract-level officials, we could have a very effective administrative machinery in the country, he told RFA. Reported By Win Ko Ko Latt, Kyaw Tun Naing, and Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Nandar Chann. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. A father whose push to learn the cause of his son's death has sparked months of protest and his own detention has vowed to push on with his cause after being released by police in the capital of the Serb-dominated entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Prosecutors in Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska, said on December 26 that legal proceedings would continue against Davor Dragicevic but that there was no need to hold him in custody. Dragicevic, 49, was detained on December 25 after failing to respond to a police summons over alleged threats he made to the Bosnian Serb interior minister. Shortly after his release, Dragicevic led a protest march of some 1,000 people that was blocked by police from occupying the city's central square. "They claim I threatened someone and I did not," Dragicevic said. "I will never give up!" Dragicevic founded the Justice For David movement after the death in March of his 21-year-old son, David Dragicevic. David, a technology student, was found dead in a local creek a week after going missing. His father says he was abducted, tortured, and murdered. He has accused police of involvement. The 21-year-old had gone out on March 18 with his friends but never returned. Six days later, his body was found. Police say that Dragicevic had been caught up in a fight at a cafe and that they found alcohol and drugs in his system. The case was called a drowning and originally ruled a suicide. The local coroner said Dragiceivcs body had several bruises on it, most likely from the fight. But they also noted postmortem injuries on his hands, which may have been caused in another altercation or when he hit the bottom of the creek. Dragicevics mother claims she received a text message from David on the night of his disappearance saying that if anything happens to him, the perpetrator will be F.C. It was not immediately clear who the text was naming as the perpetrator. Prosecutors later opened a homicide investigation following the beginning of protests. Protests around the case have tapped into local discontent over widespread corruption and Bosnia's weak economy. Republika Srpska Interior Minister Dragan Lukac said police would thwart any unregistered protest and that if Dragicevic attempts to organize an unauthorized gathering, he will...have a conflict with police and be sanctioned. With reporting by AP and Reuters Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a Pakistani politician outside his home in the southern port city of Karachi on the evening of December 25, before fleeing the scene, police said. Former lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi, 46, was critically wounded in the attack and he later died at a hospital, senior police officer Javed Alam Odho told reporters. Abidi was alone in his car when the attack took place, authorities say, adding that a postmortem examination showed that he sustained four bullet wounds. No one claimed responsibility for the killing. Police cordoned off the scene of the attack, local media reported. Abidi, the former leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement party, was elected to the National Assembly in 2013. The party urged the authorities to immediately find and arrest Abidis killers. Prime Minister Imran Khan and several other opposition politicians condemned the attack. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement party represents the Urdu speaking population and its two factions have an uneasy relationship with each other. Based on reporting by AP and dawn.com Iran has been holding talks with the Afghan Taliban with the knowledge of the Afghan government, Iranian media quoted a top Iranian security official as saying. The news comes just days after the militant group attended reconciliation talks with a U.S. peace envoy in Abu Dhabi. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, made the announcement during a visit to Kabul on December 26, according to the Fars and Tasnim news agencies. According to IRNA, Shamkhani said the talks between Iran and the Taliban were held "to help curb the security problems in Afghanistan." "The Afghan government has been informed of the communications and talks carried out with the Taliban, and this process will continue," Shamkhani added. The reports provided no details on where and when the meetings took place. Shamkhani said that "cooperation between [Iran and Afghanistan] will certainly help in fixing Afghanistan's security issues of today." Abas Aslani, a Tasnim reporter, tweeted that it was the first time talks had been officially confirmed between Iran and the Taliban. The announcement follows reconciliation talks last week between the United States and Taliban officials in the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this month, the U.S. special peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad held a meeting with the Taliban in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). The three-day talks that started on December 17, were also attended by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the U.A.E. -- countries that have significant influence over the Taliban. Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib was also in the U.A.E. and, while he did not attend the talks, he met with Khalilzad, who reportedly kept him informed of the discussions. The talks were seen as an important step to launch formal peace negotiations with the Taliban to end the Afghan war. However, after the Talibans refusal to meet with an Afghan government-backed negotiating team, Khalilzad said that, while he was certain the Afghan government wanted to end the conflict, it was unclear whether the Taliban were "genuinely seeking peace." With reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan, AFP, tasnimnews.com, farsnews.com Japan has decided to pull out of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) as it looks to restart commercial whaling. A government spokesman said on December 26 after the Cabinet decision was taken that the resumption of commercial whaling operations would be limited to Japans territorial water and exclusive economic zone. 'We have decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission in order to resume commercial whaling in July next year," government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters. The Japanese government had proposed lifting a 32-year ban on whaling at an IWC annual conference in September, but the move was rejected. Despite the ban, Japan kills some 450 whales annually for what it calls scientific research whaling. Tokyo claims that most whale species are not endangered and that whale is part of its cultural cuisine. Based on reporting by Reuters, CNN, and dpa. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced the end of martial law in the country's border regions that was imposed last month after Russia seized Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea. "Today, right now, at 2 p.m. martial law ends. This is my principal decision," Poroshenko said during a military cabinet meeting in Kyiv on December 26. Poroshenko said he had reached the decision "based on an analysis of all the components of the security situation in the country." Later the same day, the Interior Ministry announced that Ukraine would nonetheless maintain its ban on entry into the country for male Russian citizens aged 16 to 60. More than 1,600 Russian men have been denied entry into Ukraine since the ban was imposed in late November. On November 26, Ukraine's parliament backed Poroshenko's request to introduce martial law after Russian forces fired on Ukrainian ships and seized 24 Ukrainian nationals near the Kerch Strait. The seamen remain in Russian custody and are facing criminal charges of illegally crossing Russia's border. The European Union and the United States have said Russia's actions were illegal and have called on Moscow to immediately return the vessels and their crews to Ukraine. The incident, during which a Russian vessel rammed a Ukrainian Navy tugboat, further escalated the conflict between the ex-Soviet neighbors that flared up in 2014 with Russia's occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Russia has provided military, economic, and political support to separatist militants in eastern Ukraine. About 10,300 people have been killed since early 2014 in that conflict, which the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled in November 2016 was "an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation." The 30-day martial law was imposed in 10 regions, including those close to areas controlled by Russia-backed rebels in the east of the country, abutting the Russia-backed separatist Transdniester region in Moldova, and along the Sea of Azov coast. Despite the lifting of martial law, tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high, with both sides asserting that the other was planning aggressive acts. 'Provocation' Claims Despite the lifting of martial law, tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high. Top Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have claimed that Kyiv was preparing a "provocation" in the border area. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on December 24 that Russia was concerned Ukraine might "switch to full-scale combat actions within the next few days" or stage a provocation using "chemical-warfare agents." Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said in an interview published in Rossiiskaya Gazeta on December 26 without providing any supporting evidence that "leaders of ultrarightist groups from the U.S. have been training for months together with radical organizations in Ukraine." "Feeling such support [from the United States], Poroshenko confidently resorts to provocative steps, including on the Ukrainian-Russian border," Patrushev said. "In the light of upcoming [Ukrainian presidential] elections, it can be predicted that new such actions with U.S. support could be expected in the near future." Ukraine has said Russia is amassing military forces along the border, in the annexed Crimea region, and in the Black Sea area. Speaking at a military event in Kyiv on December 1, Poroshenko said Russia has deployed "more than 80,000 troops, 1,400 artillery and multiple-rocket-launch systems, 900 tanks, 2,300 armored combat vehicles, 500 airplanes, and 300 helicopters" near the border. During the National Security and Defense Council meeting on December 26, Poroshenko said "Ukraine will never halt the use of its Azov ports, including by military vessels." With reporting by AFP, AP, UNIAN, and TASS If you know in advance that you'll have a long layover during your travels, you may want to check out programs such as LoungeBuddy or Lounge Pass, in addition to the airline you are flying. These websites offer access to hundreds of lounges globally. Amenities and pricing vary by lounge - for example, some passes are only good for a few hours, or at limited times - and you may need to book at least 24 hours in advance, so read the fine print and plan accordingly. Cancun Christmas day kidnapping ends in arrests Cancun, Q.R. UPDATED: Five people have been taken into custody for their alleged participation in a Cancun kidnapping that involved nine people. The Anti-kidnapping Prosecutors Office of the Attorney General of the State of Quintana Roo reported that four men and one woman were detained by federal police at an address in Region 229 for the alleged crime of illegal deprivation of freedom. According to the report, the five kidnappers held two adults and seven minors hostage in their home Christmas day, demanding 20,000 peso and two cell phones for their freedom. One of those held in the home was released with the agreement she was to return with the money and cell phones, however, instead, she flagged down a federal police unit and reported the incident. The five were arrested. The detainees have been identified as 27-year-old Jaime Guadalupe S.L., Juan M.Z. 52, Elmar J.D. 23 years of age, Ana Maria E.M. 51 and Alen Javier K.B. 26. All have been made available to the Anti-kidnapping Prosecutors Office. UPDATE: The attorney general of the state says that the deprivation of liberty of the family was not a random kidnapping, but a dispute between neighbors. They report that the five who went to the home did hold family members inside, but it was for an alleged collection of debt and not a random kidnapping or criminal group. In a statement, the Attorney Generals Office said It was not a criminal group dedicated to kidnapping, but it was a dispute between neighbors. Police continue to investigate. Deceased woman found on Playa del Carmen beach identified as Italian tourist Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Local authorities have identified the deceased woman found on a Playa del Carmen beach last week as an Italian tourist. The woman has been identified as 27-year-old Anna Ruzzenenti. Her death is being ruled a suicide. Ruzzenenti, who is a native of Italy and arrived in Playa del Carmen mid-December, was in the process of deportation from Mexico back to Italy. Reports say the young woman was being treated for a previous suicide attempt in Playa del Carmen when, on December 19, she attempted to drown herself. She was rescued from the sea by personnel of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone and taken to hospital where she was stabilized. Mexican authorities were in contact with the Italian embassy and working with them for her return via deportation. While details in between remain unclear, Ruzzenenti was escorted back to the beach at her request to see the sea one last time. Photo: La Fiscalia General del Estado One day later, on December 20, her body was found washed up on a beach at the Royal Hacienda Hotel. The Italian Embassy is investigating the events in coordination with Mexican authorities. According to la Repubblica.it, Anna Ruzzenenti was an instructor with Scuba School International and was from Bardolino, in the province of Verona. A ShotSpotter alert around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday brought police to the 2500 block of South Whipple Street, where they found a vehicle leaving the scene, police said, citing early reports. Officers later learned that the victim identified by the Cook County medical examiners office as Jose Hernandez was shot multiple times by an unknown offender and was being driven to Mount Sinai Hospital. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging winter anglers and late-season hunters to use extreme caution when venturing out on ice. Ice thickness is never consistent, especially early in winter, and can vary significantly on the same body of water. Edges become firm before the center. A few reminders include: - Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, and hides cracks, weak and open water areas. - Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures. - Ice thickness is not consistent and can vary significantly even in a small area. Ice shouldnt be judged by appearance alone. Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around. - Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength. - The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in the winter its a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck. These tips could help save a life: - Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone. - Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through. If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit. If thats not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front. - To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport victim to a hospital. The American Petroleum Institution (API) is a national trade association that represents the oil and gas industry, with local chapters in oilfield regions throughout the United States. The organization includes more than 600 companies in an industry that employs more than 10.3 million people nationwide. As the end of 2018 draws nigh, The Roundup reached out to office holders with the MonDak chapter of API and asked for their insights on the petroleum industry in our current local economy. Terry Williams has been the president of the MonDak chapter of the American Petroleum Institute (API) for ten years and is a shop foreman for Elim's Economy Polymers and Chemicals. The Roundup spoke with Williams and asked about the function API serves in the region. Williams explained, "API is an organization that tries to be the liaison between the oilfield and the public to try to keep everybody on the same page. I kind of feel that's what we do best. We're not strictly oilfield. We are a community service organization and donate a lot of money back to the community. We give scholarships and support community organizations." Williams was asked for his opinion regarding the petroleum industry in the MonDak region and whether or not Bakken residents should be optimistic for 2019. Williams said, "Yes, I think we're optimistic this year. From what I'm hearing, everybody is doing better. Production is steady and on the rise, but it's not getting out of hand. It's a good, steady economy out there. Everybody is looking for help, but it's a good problem to have I guess." When asked if production was on the rise in Montana as well as North Dakota, Williams said, "I would have to say yes. There's four rigs drilling in Montana, and we've been having zero, so that's an improvement for Richland County. A couple of those rigs might be near Baker. But there's more than fifty in North Dakota, so there's room for improvement." Williams was asked to explain the reason why Richland County has not seen the type of growth as that seen in Williams or McKenzie County or elsewhere in North Dakota. "What I'm hearing," Williams reported, "is that right now, where oil price is at, they're going after the heart of the oil and that's in Stanley, New Town, over there. But in the future, they'll be expanding and coming back to Eastern Montana and re-fracking some of those wells. Those were early fracks, and they'll one day need to be redone and invested in again." Williams predicted that Montana would eventually see an uptick in petroleum activity over time. "As those leases get used up over there in North Dakota, they'll come back over this way. I foresee Eastern Montana to be a player again. And that's coming from two different oilfield sources we've worked with." Regarding recent instability in oil prices that have led to dramatic ups and downs toward the end of 2018, Williams dismissed concern and explained it was just a part of normal market activity. Williams said, "One thing that happens is that as price goes up, there's more activity, so you're over-producing again. So then, in a way you cause it to go right back down. I think the morale is good out there. I feel comfortable that there's going to be steady growth." Williams also said that the economy still had room for small petroleum-related industries getting started or making their way in an industry with corporate giants. "I think the mom and pops still have a shot out there. I think it's pretty steady for everybody." Jeff Aisenbrey, the treasurer for the MonDak API and the owner of J&L Fencing and Pit Liners, explained that it's not impossible, but more difficult than it used to be, for new companies. Aisenbrey told The Roundup, "There's not as many start-ups as there used to be. A lot of those companies that were around before the boom have disappeared. The issue is that there are only so many acres companies can drill, and those mineral rights have been tied up. Then it's hard to get your foot in the door. He continued, "Those companies contracting with the major producers thought bigger was better, and when the boom ended in 2015, they over-extended themselves. Our company has been doing this since 1981, and the key to maintaining growth is to not over-extend yourself, don't borrow, and to stay steady." Aisenbrey reported that his company had a good year, and in his estimation, most others did also. Like Williams, he was not greatly concerned about the instability of the market. Aisenbrey said, "The instability all hinges on the oil price. The media can help control the price by what they report. If all in a sudden there's a surplus, the price will go down. And then when it goes down, they'll produce less and then the price will go up. It's just how things work." Akhilesh Lucknow, Dec 26 (PTI) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Wednesday lauded TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for "striving hard" to form a federal front of regional parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.He also accused the BJP's Central and state governments of failing to fulfil their promises and claimed that the people are not happy with them. "I will soon go to Hyderabad to meet Rao, who is striving hard to bring the regional players together on a common platform," Yadav told mediapersons here.Lauding the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo's efforts to form a federal front to take on the BJP in the general elections next year, he said, "I spoke to Rao and we were supposed to meet on December 25-26. But somehow it could not take place. Advertisement Now I will see him in Hyderabad." The TRS chief, who is in Delhi since Monday night, plans to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Rao met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday in Kolkata wherein he discussed with them, among other issues, the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.To a question on including the Congress in any alliance to take on the BJP unitedly, Yadav expressed displeasure over the Samajwadi Party's lone MLA in Madhya Pradesh not being made a minister in the Kamal Nath-led government.Though the Congress, with 114 seats, emerged as the single largest party in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, it failed to cross the halfway mark (116) on its own and enlisted the support of the BSP and the SP, which have won two seats and one, respectively.However, no MLA from the Mayawati-led BSP or the SP was given place in the Cabinet.Responding to another question, the Samajwadi party chief said, "In the days to come, who all will join hands with the SP, who all want to come, all options are open." Hitting out at the saffron party, Yadav said, "The BJP has deceived the common people. They only made tall promises but have done nothing on the ground for the people. Four-and-a-half years' rule of the BJP at the Centre too stands exposed now. The male victim, described as being in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene, with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. The Cook County medical examiners office confirmed the death but could provide no further details. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev Madurai, Dec 26 (PTI) Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has said it was "very difficult" to predict the country's next Prime Minister in view of the current political situation. Noting that he was "not focussed" on politics, the 53-year-old yoga guru said he would not support or oppose anyone in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters at the airport here Tuesday, Ramdev said, "We can't say who will become the next prime minister (after the 2019 general elections)." "We do not have a political or religious agenda... We want to make a spiritual India and world... Not Hindu India or communal India," he added. His comments come days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a big blow as it lost power in its earlier ruled Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Congress won convincingly in Chhattisgarh, less so in Rajasthan and edged out the saffron party in a cliffhanger in Madhya Pradesh. Advertisement 2019 Lok Sabha elections Referring to the Ayodhya dispute, Ramdev claimed that the BJP would lose trust if the 'Ram Mandir' was not built in Ayodhya now. The yoga guru was in the state to attend a national executive meeting of Bharat Swabhiman in Rameswaram. On Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on mob violence in Uttar Pradesh, he said, "accusing India of religious intolerance amounts to degrading the country's pride". The charge that country was religiously intolerant was tantamount to "ungratefulness, disrespect and treason," he added. Apparently referring to the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, Shah had said that at many places in the country the "death of a cow is being given more importance than the killing of a policeman". Advertisement Naseeruddin Shah The veteran actor had also expressed anxiety over the well-being of his children, who he said, have not been brought up as followers of any particular religion. The violence, which occurred earlier this month over an incident of alleged cow slaughter, had claimed two lives, including that of a police inspector. The Israeli official said the air force had attacked several Iranian targets in three main locations late Tuesday and early Wednesday. He said the targets were primarily storage and logistics facilities used by archenemy Iran to ship weapons to Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese group that fought Israel in a 2006 war. Just after 4:40 a.m., James Sampaga started unstacking chairs and rearranging tables, thunking furniture against the floor so loudly that employees in the next building could hear the ruckus. When he finished, the cafeteria of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church grew quiet, aside from the hum of commercial-grade refrigerators stuffed with 200 hams and 300 turkeys. Here, in the early hours of Christmas Day, before San Franciscos homeless and low-income residents began lining up for a tray of hot food, before 500 volunteers arrived to serve them, Sampaga, 51, was alone. He was once on the receiving end of the line. Shortly after moving to the Tenderloin from Salinas, Sampaga worked at a restaurant on Pier 39, but his paycheck barely paid the bills. He was just another man in the city, hungry, unable to afford a holiday meal. Accepting a hand-out hit his pride, but it was better than an empty stomach. That was more than a decade ago. Sampaga now works full-time at Glide as a supervisor, helping to run the churchs annual Christmas meal program. Thirteen years on, he still possesses the same sympathy and empathy others once showed him. As 10 a.m. neared, and light filled the cafeteria windows, Sampaga smoothed the black tablecloths and double-checked the volunteer shift schedule. Tattoos snaked under his plastic gloves, and he shouted above the growing clamor. A ring of keys on a chain hung from his pocket, tinkling like bells with each step. He was a blur of movement, zipping from the kitchen to the dining room, pausing only to guide a petite woman one of the first to receive her holiday meal up some steps. Steady, mama, steady! Change started with a bet Sampaga made himself. He had to see if he could make it a whole paycheck, then 30 days, then six months, without drugs. He wont say which drugs, because that seems too personal. Dont you think? Maybe too personal, he said. When youre young and wild, living on nothing and doing drugs is romantic. But Im 51. I like stability now. With a destructive lifestyle, you cant have that. To move forward, you have to change. He paused: Hold on I know that guy, lemme say hi. The bet worked. Sampaga now lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Castro Valley with his fiancee. She has an engagement ring. He has a sport utility vehicle. Together, they have a mutt named Mason, who goes to day care while theyre at work, the kind that serves doggie ice cream and throws doggie birthday parties. Sampaga considers it a miracle. Even he didnt go to day care as a child. Sampaga has self-respect now. He values his life too much to take drugs. He realizes, even though hell probably never get the whole pie, he can definitely get a bigger piece, so he works harder. Hes studying to get his high school diploma and stands just 65 credits away, even though he cant really remember algebra. Having to come here and eat was hard, Sampaga said. For someone to put down their pride and let someone else feed them and help them, that was tough. I know a lot of them feel this way. Ive been lucky enough to get through it, and hopefully some of these cats will, too. He adjusted his black and purple Lakers cap and pointed to an open seat. Sir! Youngster! Hey, youngster! Theres an open chair right here. Another five people went through the line. They carried bags filled with Tupperware maybe they could stretch the meal two or three days. But if they ate the entire entree, they could go outside and get a second red paper ticket for a second meal. Behind the glass guard, volunteers heaped mashed yams, cranberry sauce and vegetables onto the trays. Anthony Balunsat, 64, wearing a Santa Claus cap fringed with white fur and a red raincoat, received his meal and spied the steaming mashed yams. It wasnt the kind of food he could cook in his single-room occupancy apartment, which only has a hot plate and a small fridge. He never imagined holidays like this when he was a child, growing up in the Mission. Back then, Balunsat would bring his new toys outside to show the neighbor kids and theyd play on the sidewalk together. That was a different time. Now he lives on a fixed income and tries to survive off social security. 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 this holiday, Glide helped fill in one of the gaps. I just wanted some food to eat, Balunsat said. Ive been coming here for years. After this, Ill go to St. Anthonys, because they serve food, too. I can make this last awhile. Sampaga patted him on the shoulder. He knows the feeling. Around 11:30 a.m., more people rushed past and the line momentarily dissipated. Sampaga called out over the cacophony of conversation and clattering forks. I have my next shift, volunteers, he said. So, youre free to go. Come back on a Tuesday in February when people arent feeling the love. Sampaga gave a round of high fives and fist bumps, then turned back to work. More hungry people were waiting. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn SACRAMENTO California community college students could reap the benefits of Democratic dominance in the Legislature, with lawmakers pushing for the state to cover the cost of two years of tuition for students who commit to enrolling full time right out of high school. Democratic lawmakers across the country have made affordability at public colleges and universities a rallying cry, with free tuition programs popping up at the state and local levels. During the 2018 midterms, the free-college mantra of Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders became a key campaign promise for liberal candidates in congressional and state races. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom pledged during his own campaign to make the first two years of community college free in California, as did some of his Democratic challengers. This is about strengthening the middle class, said Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, who partnered with Assemblymen David Chiu, D-San Francisco, and Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, to pass a bill last year making the first year of community college free for full-time freshmen. Democrats were solidly behind AB19 all the no votes came from Republicans, who will be even more badly outnumbered next year and unable to block anything, including the Democratic legislators new measure. Their AB2, introduced this month, would waive tuition for the second year as long as a student takes a full course load each semester and remains continuously enrolled. Santiago said that requirement will get students to an associate degree or certificate program quicker and improve the pipeline between community colleges and the states public university systems. The two-year savings for a student taking 12 units a semester would be $2,208. That could mean the difference between having to take out more loans or pick up extra hours at a job, said YaMese Johnson, student body president at Merritt College in Oakland. To have the second year free, it allows students to ground themselves in school, said Johnson, 20. The state set aside $46 million for community colleges to offer the tuition waivers to first-year students in the current budget. That program, California College Promise, is expected to cover first-year costs for 50,000 students, according to the state Department of Finance. Community colleges must offer support to students such as academic counseling to qualify for the state funding. Santiago said paying for a second year will probably cost the state about the same amount, but that its too early to say for certain. Newsom will release his first budget proposal in January. Its unclear whether the new governor will include funding for free tuition. However, a new poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California indicated strong support among state residents for using part of the states nearly $15 billion budget surplus on free community college tuition. The idea was second among poll respondents top priorities for spending the money, behind only creating a system of universal health care. Among the students who have benefited from a first-year tuition waiver is Carlos Gaitan, a 19-year-old student at Moreno Valley College in Riverside County. This is about entries of access for students who would not otherwise have it, Gaitan said. Right after high school, most students get trapped in these night jobs that dont allow them to succeed in life. If we have an opportunity where people know they can go to college for two years without paying tuition, they would take advantage of that. City College of San Francisco, with 60,000 students at 10 campuses, will begin offering tuition waivers in January after receiving $416,000 from the state. City College has a separate tuition-assistance program called Free City reserved for San Francisco residents through a partnership with the city. City College spokeswoman Connie Chan said its unclear how many more students will have their tuition waived with the added state money. We are trying to maximize support to as many students as possible, Chan said. We want them to have the funding and financial resources to enroll, be here and accomplish their academic goals. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com The full impact of the U.S. government shutdown was expected to materialize this week as federal workers returned to their jobs after Christmas or didnt. Even before the partial shutdown began Friday, most employees had not been scheduled to work the four days that followed, through Christmas. But on Wednesday, most public services would have resumed on schedule had Congress and the president not stumbled over funding for a border wall. Instead, many services were inching along, and the impact is likely to worsen with time. About 400,000 employees nationwide were estimated to be furloughed across nine federal agencies that havent had their budgets approved. Another 420,000 employees deemed essential have to work without pay. The staffing losses were resulting in slower or shuttered services at many government offices. National parks: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Point Reyes National Seashore, Yosemite National Park and other parks are making site-by-site decisions about what to close. While many parks remain open, most visitor services are down. Restrooms are locked, trash cans are not being emptied and campground reservation check-ins are unavailable. In snowbound parks, roads are not plowed. Muir Woods National Monument and Alcatraz Island remain open, albeit without many services. The Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tours and night tours are canceled. Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Point Bonita Lighthouse are closed. The Presidio Trust, which is not funded by taxpayers, is taking over some of the functions at the Presidio in San Francisco that are usually performed by the National Park Service. Baker Beach and the visitors center remains open. Home/business loans: The Federal Housing Administration may be delayed in processing home loan applications, while the Small Business Administration may be slow to approve commercial loans. Food/farm services: Inspections of food-processing plants continue, but they could become backed up because of reduced staffing. Local offices of the U.S. Farm Service Agency that provide information to growers may close. Taxes: Customer service at the Internal Revenue Service could be curtailed. Passports: The processing of visas and passports could be delayed. The State Department, which has limited staffing, may be slow in updating foreign travel advisories. Food assistance: Aid programs are not affected for now, though some could be reduced in a prolonged shutdown. The programs include the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, food stamps and school lunches. Benefits: Social Security and Medicare operations continue. Disaster/emergency assistance: Cleanup of the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, which is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, continues. Firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service remain on the job. Federal courts: Northern California court offices remain open. Military: The military services continue operations. Mail: Post offices remain open, and mail is being delivered. Airports: Security checkpoints remain staffed, and air traffic controllers will stay on the job. Washington: Members of Congress continue to be paid. So does President Trump, though he has donated his salary to various government agencies since taking office. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander Even in an election with an unusually high level of voter interest, a precinct in southwest San Francisco stood out: Its turnout was up nearly 50 points from the 2014 midterms. There was plenty of anti-President Trump sentiment at work turnout among registered voters in the city was up across the board but Precinct 9741 also had a San Francisco State University student named Garrick Wilhelm working the levers. Wilhelm led San Francisco States get-out-the-vote initiatives, efforts that contributed to a 60.1 percent turnout in the precinct that encompasses the university. In 2014, that figure was 11.3 percent. It was an accomplishment made all the more striking because when those 2014 midterms were held, Wilhelm was in his mid-40s, homeless and struggling. Its kind of crazy, isnt it? Wilhelm said. Precinct 9741 is entirely bounded by the San Francisco State campus, making the university the logical focal point for getting the areas 552 registered voters to the ballot box. Wilhelm who prefers to be referred to as they rather than he or she enrolled last year and, driven by a passion for advocacy, ran for vice president of external affairs for the student government. When Wilhelm won, they made a get-out-the-vote push a priority. They and the external affairs council led voter registration drives, hosted San Francisco candidates for a campus event and urged people who hadnt registered to vote by election day to sign up then and cast a provisional ballot something California law allows. With a $1,000 grant from the nonprofit Civic Nation, which promotes activism related to social issues, they hosted a vote party on election day. To sidestep rules about posting signs on campus, Wilhelm went through a case of chalk to draw messages of electoral encouragement on campus sidewalks. Vote like an American, party like a Gator, referring to the schools mascot, was a favorite phrase. The turnout would not have been so strong if it were not for Garrick, said Alondra Esquivel Garcia, who serves on the council with Wilhelm, who had a mission, and ...wanted to accomplish that mission. A senior majoring in communications, Wilhelm, 49, plans to earn a masters degree and eventually teach at the college level. Wilhelms ambitions also include the more immediate, including a determination to preserve the security that having a roof over ones head full-time provides. Wilhelm reported initially becoming homeless in 2009 after successive blows of divorce, job loss and a dual diagnosis of depression and HIV. Its an interesting place to be in life when youve lost everything, Wilhelm said. I literally just gave up. With the help of friends and community groups, Wilhelm mostly managed to avoid spending nights on the streets. For more than four years, Wilhelm bounced from couch to couch, first in hometown San Diego and later in Denver, where Wilhelms ex-wife had moved with their two young daughters. It just felt like everybody had control over my life but me, Wilhelm said. It was a long road of dealing with that depression. It got better, it got worse. In 2015, Wilhelm moved back to San Diego, eventually connecting with a social worker, moving into a shelter and participating in mental health treatment programs. With a secure place to stay, insulated from the anxieties of daily survival, Wilhelm was able to focus on bigger goals like finding a job, getting HIV treatment and returning to school. Housing is the basis of stability for everything, Wilhelm said. If you dont have the stability of housing, its just like you dont have a floor underneath you. Its almost like youre trying to walk on a waterbed. But it took almost four months in the shelter before Wilhelm started to see past the depression that had been a shroud for years. I never thought I was going to get better, Wilhelm said. There was a very noticeable day where I just realized I wanted things to be different. ... I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Self-acceptance was vital to recuperation, addressing injuries Wilhelm says were inflicted as a child, growing up in a devoutly Mormon household and moving every three years for their fathers job in the Navy. Especially in regards to sexual orientation, I never felt worthy, I never felt like I was accepted, Wilhelm said. Its really just allowing me to be me, and everything flows from that. Wilhelm completed two associate/s degrees at San Diego City College before transferring to San Francisco State last year. Wilhelm and Eddie, their 10-year-old chihuahua, moved into a student residence in the Tenderloin, a converted single-room-occupancy space. It was the first time Wilhelm had lived anywhere other than a shelter since becoming homeless. It was kind of weird transitioning to having a key again, Wilhelm said. Wilhelms long battle with homelessness was a source of enthusiasm for involvement in this falls election. The big issue on the San Francisco ballot was Proposition C, which called for taxing large businesses to raise $300 million a year for homelessness services. The measure won 61 percent of the vote but is in limbo pending possible legal challenges over whether it had to pass by two-thirds to take effect. I see Prop. C as a savior, Wilhelm said. I see it as a major step forward in homelessness. Still, Wilhelm said, when it came to getting out the vote, I wasnt going to go out and just be (for) Prop. C. That seemed self-serving. It made a lot more sense for me to come out and make a general effort than just pushing one issue. Though Wilhelm avoids claiming credit for voter turnout they point to generalized anti-Trump inclinations and San Francisco States history of activism their efforts were, at the very least, adjacent to a striking rise in participation. Being on San Francisco State campus and realizing that I could take a position that had influence, Wilhelm said. Im blown away by all of that. This spring, 32 years after graduating from high school, Wilhelm will accept a bachelors degree in communications. In the interim, in addition to course work, Wilhelm teaches a class on the rhetoric surrounding homelessness, the thing I know most about. The transition of the past few years is incredible, Wilhelm said. I still have that opportunity to look back and see that dark tunnel and appreciate that Im not in it anymore. Holly Honderich is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: holly.honderich@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hollyhonderich Another year, another new set of reasons to drink. Luckily, the Bay Areas talented crop of bartenders, wine directors and beer nerds never seems to sleep, and 2018 turned out a fantastic new crop of places to dine, hang out and discover great beer, wine and cocktails. While some of our favorite 2018 newcomers like the Cordial and Fools Errand really do feel like drinking establishments primarily, the line between bar and restaurant continues to feel vague here. So many restaurants like Dyafa and Angler are now putting just as much thought into their drink lists as their food menus. Meanwhile, top bars like Violets and Bon Voyage are just as likely as any restaurant to serve you a great meal. So as we reflected on the year in drinking, we decided not to distinguish between bars, restaurants and anything in between. After all, we often dont make that distinction for ourselves when were deciding where wed like to go out on a given night. As always, the particularities of timing prevented us from considering some notable bars for this years list. Because we try to wait to evaluate bars and restaurants until theyve been open for a few weeks, we werent able to review, for example, Obispo, Thad Voglers hotly anticipated rum bar, or Zombie Village, the new tiki bar from the Future Bars group, or Ungrafted, a Champagne-driven wine bar in Dogpatch which squeaked open during the final days of the year. Similarly, we regrettably had to leave some late-2017 bars like True Laurel and White Cap off of last years best-of list. So here we go: 2018, the year in drinking. Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to the Chronicle Violets It was a banner year for San Franciscos Outer Richmond District, which welcomed Violets, a stylish cocktail bar from the team that owns Fiorella nearby. Come here for the raw seafood platters and decadent burger, but mostly for colorful drinks like the Violet Skies ($10), a riff on the Aviation with mezcal, strawberry brandy and creme de violette, or the Trans Siberian Tea Service ($12), a warm drink that recalls mulled wine with Japanese whiskey, plum wine, oolong tea and hibiscus. 2301 Clement St., San Francisco (Visit SFChronicle.com for our full review of Violets.) Nader Khouri / Special to The Chronicle Pearl 6101 Just a few blocks from Violets is Pearl 6101, a neighborhood gem in the Richmond that feels more sophisticated than its surroundings. You can book a tufted leather booth for a friends night out, but were happy at the bar, diving into a big chicory salad with prosciutto chips and a few rounds of Bar Star Nahiel Nazzals aperitif- and Sherry-driven cocktails. The frothy, bitter and citrusy Franciscan Wallflower ($12), which she added to the menu this fall, is particularly tasty. 6101 California St., San Francisco (Visit SFChronicle.com for our full review of Pearl 6101.) Maggie Hoffman Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle The Cordial We all need a go-to downtown bar to grab a drink with a co-worker or stop by on the way to the movies, and if youre craving a bitter spritz, that spot should be the Cordial, opened in July by Greg Lindgren and Jon Gasparini of Rye and 15 Romolo. Half the menu is dedicated to an array of fizzy, bracing spritzes, ranging from light and friendly options to more robustly bitter and vegetal versions. The back bar is well stocked if youre looking to explore unfamiliar bottlings of amaro. Note that the Cordial is currently not open weekends, so plan accordingly. 163 Jessie St., San Francisco (Read our full review of the Cordial.) Maggie Hoffman Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Angler The drinks at Angler, like the restaurants food, are so dialed-in and so beautifully presented that its almost annoying. The Saison spin-off on the Embarcadero may not be as pricey as its older sibling, but be warned: A night out at Angler still comes with a big tab. Showstoppers from bar director Brandyn Teppers cocktail list include a daiquiri with barbecued pineapple slices ($15) and a White Russian made with Pedro Ximenez Sherry and ember-infused cream ($17). Head sommelier Morgan Harris oversees a wine list of biblical proportions, heavy on the Burgundy, which he promises will grow more value-centric, and more California-centric, with time. 132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco (Read our full review of Angler.) Bon Voyage The latest entry from the Trick Dog cocktail team is Bon Voyage, whose setting conveys a global hodgepodge of animal carvings, Chinese food and disco balls. Owners Josh Harris and Morgan Schick of the BV Hospitality group are behind the new Valencia Street destination, and the drinks are predictably wacky. (One is garnished with Japanese Kit-Kat.) Already the Bananarac ($14) has become a calling card, based on a house-made anisette from fermented banana. Its mellow and balanced, the boozy heat met by the herbal, bitter side of rye. The highly sippable Lord Stows ($14) is a tangy, refreshing number served over a mound of crushed ice with Riesling, whiskey, coconut cream and turmeric. 584 Valencia St., San Francisco Fools Errand 2018s smartest new wine bar is Fools Errand, which replaced the former Mojo Bicycle Cafe on Divisadero. Owner John Dampeer, who formerly owned Caskhouse and Hamlet in Noe Valley, maintains an exciting list of wines that veer toward the funky and esoteric without alienating a Chardonnay drinker. Lovers of natural wine will find plenty to imbibe here. Thats not to say anything of Fools Errands beer selection, which always includes some hard-to-find draft pours from Berkeleys finest sour house, the Rare Barrel. 639A Divisadero St., San Francisco (Read our full review of Fools Errand.) Jen Fedrizzi/Special to the Chronicle Dyafa At Dyafa, the Oakland Arabic restaurant from Reem Assil and Daniel Patterson, the cocktails (all $13) match the food to an extraordinary degree, drawing on many of the same ingredients. Dates and almonds give a Middle Eastern touch to a drink that might otherwise taste tropical, with rum and coconut. Greek yogurt provides a tangy foil to the sweet-tasting flavors of brandy, fig and cinnamon in the Bint Al Shalabeeya, which has the mouthfeel of a milky iced coffee. Youd think the Mexi-Pali was a salad if it werent in the menus cocktail section, since the Tequila-based drink lists beets, lemon and zaatar. These cocktails are the work of Aaron Paul, who oversees the bars for all of Daniel Pattersons Alta Group. 44 Webster St., Oakland Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. FOB Kitchen After years of operating as a pop-up, FOB Kitchen finally found a permanent home in Oakland in November, in the space that was once Juhu Beach Club. Created by Bar Star Cali Gold, the cocktail menu pays homage to the departed tenant with a concoction of Indian rum, ginger, cardamom and chai ($11), while the other drinks embrace a rainbow of pan-Asian flavors. Look for the juicy, citrusy Blow the Whistle ($11), which conveys a deliciously spicy kick, and the Fresh Off the Boat ($12), which mixes pandan and red bean with coconut and rum. 5179 Telegraph Ave., Oakland Rosa Furneaux / Special to The Chronicle The Rake The opening of Admiral Maltings and its accompanying bar, the Rake, marked a milestone for Bay Area craft beer: A community that prides itself on sourcing artisanal hops and local ingredients can now, for the first time ever, use local, craft malt the backbone of a beers flavor profile. The Alameda facility is run by Thirsty Bear owner Ron Silberstein and Magnolia founder Dave MacLean. Visitors to the Rake can taste a range of excellent beers made with these malts from a long list of breweries that includes Almanac, Alvarado Street, Sierra Nevada and the Bruery as they glance toward the heaps of barley on the malting floor. 651A W Tower Ave., Alameda (Read our full review of the Rake.) Chronicle freelance writer Maggie Hoffman contributed to this report. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob Three months ago, one of the nations largest programs for land conservation suffered a quiet demise. The 53-year-old Land and Water Conservation Fund authorized the U.S. Treasury to direct millions of dollars from oil and gas royalties to the acquisition of parks, wilderness areas and historical sites in California and across the country. But Congress allowed the program to expire Sept. 30, leaving no money coming in for new real estate purchases, the likes of which have given rise to Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore, Mount Diablo State Park and Redwood National Park. Last week, with an estimated $200 million lost and counting a group of lawmakers tried to revive the fund as part of the federal governments year-end spending package. Political infighting, even before Congress and President Trump failed in reaching a budget deal, however, sank the effort, leaving an uncertain future for the program and for conservation. Were losing money every day that could be put to good use, said Shelana deSilva, director of government affairs for the Save the Redwoods League, a San Francisco conservation group that has won grants from the fund to protect California wildlands. When people see that this program has been allowed to expire and is uncertain going forward, it has an impact on our ability to keep momentum, deSilva said. For the most part, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has enjoyed broad political support. The Senate first passed it with a 92-1 vote in 1964. Only a Louisiana Democrat opposed it. The initiative has since been a popular way for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, as well as numerous state and local agencies, to acquire land for conservation and recreation, without leaning on taxpayers. The fund has helped preserve the Grand Canyon, Floridas Everglades, areas along the Pacific Crest Trail, and Civil War battlefields in Gettysburg, Pa., and Fredericksburg, Va. In 2015, the program began running into bumps. Several Republicans criticized it as an overplay of the governments hand and a slush fund for environmental groups. The fund ultimately won a three-year renewal, setting the stage for this years showdown. In September, lawmakers from both parties appeared unified on the need for an extension, but no consensus was reached on the terms for reauthorization. Advocates in Congress pledged to revisit the issue during budget talks this month. While details of recent negotiations have been sparse, the House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources had been trying to permanently extend the fund as part of a package of public lands measures, despite disagreement about the scope of the programs financing. The program is bankrolled by a portion of receipts from companies that drill for offshore oil and gas in federal waters. Congress has had the discretion to direct up to $900 million into the Treasury fund each year, though rarely has that much been appropriated. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has pushed to ensure full funding for a renewed program. Others, though, have raised concerns that too much has been spent on land conservation and not enough on maintaining the lands that are already protected. Whether Congress had come up with a budget proposal that satisfied the president last week, the public lands package did not have the votes it needed to move forward. The fund is on everybodys list of what should be done in the lame-duck session (of Congress), said Kathy DeCoster, director of federal affairs at the Trust for Public Land, a San Francisco conservation advocacy group. Its bipartisan. Its supported by the House and Senate. But its the end of the year, and nothing is moving on its own. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has sent money to virtually every county in the nation in the form of grants for land acquisition. Preference has gone to purchases that already had local, state or federal money in place but needed a bit more to close a deal. Over its five decades, the program has delivered about $2.4 billion to California, according to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition. Its helped create local parks and pools, expand public access to popular fishing and boating spots, and conserve large swaths of local, state and federal wilderness. Last year, the program brought in $22 million for Redwood National Park, Mojave Trails National Monument, and U.S. Forest Service tracts in the southern Sierra and Shasta County and two locally controlled parcels, including Save the Redwoods Leagues Mailliard Ranch in Mendocino County. Next years allocations will hinge on whether the fund is reauthorized and how quickly. Its real money thats going out the door now, said Jonathan Asher, government relations representative for the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. If they dont get it done before this Congress is over, not only do we lose out on more money, but we have to start over with the next Congress. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander NEWMAN, Calif. (KCRA) A Newman police officer was shot and killed during a traffic stop Wednesday morning, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said. Officials have identified him as Officer Ronil Singh, 33. Officials said Singh called off a traffic stop at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in Newman. Moments later, he called out "shots fired" over the radio. Multiple officers responded and found that Singh had been shot. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The suspect fled the scene before responding officers arrived. A gray, extended cab Dodge Ram pickup was last seen in the area of the shooting. The truck has paper license plates. Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department has released photos of the unidentified suspect. They are asking the public to come forward with any information. The Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation. A Blue Alert has been issued in Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne and Santa Clara counties. Singh was a native of Fiji and has been employed by the Newman Police Department since July 2011. "Our Newman Police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil," said Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson. "If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately so we can get this cop-killer off the streets." Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. If you subscribe, Ill be part of your domain every Wednesday. Marc Benioffs domain As I was leafing through the latest issue of Time, my eyes wandered to the circulation statement, where magazines must disclose their owners. Time changed hands this year, with magazine giant Meredith selling the former Time Inc. flagship to Marc and Lynne Benioff. The owner, however, wasnt Benioff Enterprises or Time Holdings or anything conventional. It was You.com USA LLC. A search of New York state corporate registrations revealed that You.com USA was the even newer name for a recently registered entity called MBLB Chronos Opco LLC. Let me decode that for you: MBLB stands for Marc Benioff and Lynne Benioff; Chronos is Greek for time, and opco is MBA-speak for operating company. Last month, the New York Post erroneously reported the name as You.com Global LLC, an entity that does not appear in any corporate registrations. Kristin Matzen, a spokeswoman for Time, said the MBLB name was a placeholder and the magazine would soon be owned through an entity called Time LLC. So where does You.com come in? I bought it in 1996 when I was on sabbatical from Oracle while living in Hawaii, Benioff told me. We only used You.com temporarily as a name to acquire Time. Benioff had tried out some things on the You.com site in the 90s, he said, but decided not to use the name or site, and its been in hiding. You.com is currently a parked domain. You sorry, one would think Benioff could at least redirect it to Times website. In 2006, Time declared you the Person of the Year, after all. James Tensuan / Special to The Chronicle Records for the domain and snapshots on the Internet Archives Wayback Machine suggest that theres more to this story, though. In February 1998, a statement on www.you.com said it was a dynamic application built using technology from mBED software. mBed Software was a company started by Evan Goldberg, a programmer who, like Benioff, worked at Oracle before becoming an entrepreneur. Benioff and Goldberg were tight at the time; that year, Benioff became ordained as a minister so he could conduct Goldbergs wedding. Goldberg went on to start NetSuite, which delivered software through the web. Benioff soon followed, starting Salesforce. Oracle which has become Salesforces fiercest competitor bought NetSuite for $9.3 billion in 2016. So how did Benioffs domain end up running Goldbergs software? I was just doing some experiments with it, Benioff said. I wasnt involved with mBed or NetSuite. Sign Up for the Newsletter Want to get the latest on Silicon Valley in your inbox? Subscribe to Tech Chronicle. See More Collapse It certainly is possible he lent (the domain) to us, I honestly cant remember, Goldberg said. Andrew Allemann, the editor of Domain Name Wire, said the fact that the current registration dates back to 1998 two years after Benioff said he first registered it suggests the domain might have been transferred or reregistered at that time, due to the vagaries of the way domain name registries worked in the 1990s. Registration records from 2002, the earliest with detailed ownership records, confirm that it belonged to Benioff by that point. So its possible that You.com, at least for a time, was out of Benioffs hands. Or heres one more theory. A source familiar with both entrepreneurs who asked for anonymity to preserve professional relationships (and who is also so over these people) believes that Benioff and Goldberg were considering working together on a web software startup before they went their separate ways. The recent history of San Francisco maybe even the skyline would have been very different had they teamed up. You.com Tower, anyone? Owen Thomas (othomas@sfchronicle.com) Quote of the week Relative to the issue you referenced regarding the new iPad Pro, its unibody design meets or exceeds all of Apples high quality standards of design and precision manufacturing. Apple executive Dan Riccio, replying to a MacRumors reader who complained about his bendy tablet Coming up Starting Jan. 1, scooter riders will have to wear helmets in California, which will make next years Darwin Awards far less interesting. What Im reading Nikhil Sonnad apparently took months to recover from the experience of going to Dreamforce, where he learned that Salesforce makes money selling software to companies that suck at tech. (Quartz) Sophia Kunthara took a deep dive into the mystery of a San Francisco department stores missing Buddha statue. (San Francisco Chronicle) Julie Bort got her hands on the results of an employee survey at Uber. Engineers working on self-driving cars feel like their careers are in neutral, thanks to the companys fatal missteps in developing autonomous vehicles. (Business Insider) Tech Chronicle is a thrice-weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicle At first glance, it didnt look like a fair fight. On one side: an enormous and powerful global consulting company. On the other: the retired founder of a smaller turnaround firm who has become a thorn in the side of its larger rival. But the brawl that is erupting in the federal Bankruptcy Court in Houston has the potential to cause big problems for consulting firm McKinsey & Co. The courtroom fight hinges on whether McKinsey or its clients have hidden interests in a bankrupt coal company the firm has been advising, a practice prohibited by federal laws meant to ensure that one insider cant effectively cut itself or its friends a great deal at the expense of others. The man leveling the accusations, Jay Alix, is a retired turnaround expert who has made it his personal mission to harry McKinsey. Alix has spent four years first needling the firms leadership, then attacking it in court, accusing it of violating federal laws and unethical behavior. Normally, a firm of McKinseys size would swat away a gadflys attacks. But in this case, which involves the bankruptcy of Colorados Westmoreland Coal, Alix has a powerful ally: the U.S. Justice Department. On Dec. 14, the department said in a court filing that McKinsey is fraught with pervasive disclosure deficiencies and should be dismissed from the Westmoreland case immediately and stripped of the fees it had earned so far. If that were to happen, it would deal a severe blow to McKinseys reputation, as well as its argument that the firm is free of conflicts of interest. The judge overseeing the Westmoreland bankruptcy case, David Jones, warned both sides in a hearing this month about the rising stakes. The way this has been teed up, I dont see an out for both sides, said Jones, chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Texas. The harder you push all this, the more you ensure that someone doesnt survive. Westmoreland had been sprinting through a bankruptcy process that started in October and was on track to be wrapped up in February. But then Alix filed a 163-page objection, accusing the prestigious consulting firm not just of hidden conflicts of interest, but of crimes including fraud all sorts of heinous acts, as Jones put it. Westmoreland asked Jones to overrule Alixs objection, but he said he couldnt do that. I dont like someone to stand up in my court and accuse someone of committing a crime, he said. There has to be an airing of this issue, given whats been done. Both sides are preparing for a trial late in January, when Jones would rule on what he called Alixs incredibly inflammatory accusations. Jones warned that if Alix could show under oath that he had a reasonable basis for accusing McKinsey of fraud, the dispute would escalate in unpredictable ways. McKinseys lawyer, Christine Chung, said in court that she did not think Alix would be able to do that. In an email, referring to Alixs company, Chung said: Judge Jones accurately described Mar-Bows allegations of fraud as incredibly inflammatory and problematic. We welcome the fact-finding ordered by Judge Jones including an immediate sworn deposition of Jay Alix and are eager for the opportunity on Jan. 28 to present evidence in court, she said. We stand behind our disclosures, which have always complied with the law, and are confident that the court will find that Alixs allegations of fraud were reckless, without basis, and should never have been made. Alix has spent more than four years building a case against McKinsey. He says the firm makes a practice of working both sides of the table in bankruptcy, something McKinsey denies. Alix has already sued McKinsey under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in New York and is trying to reopen another bankruptcy case in Virginia, on the argument that McKinsey committed a fraud on the court. McKinsey says Alix is acting on a vendetta borne of McKinseys ability to outcompete the restructuring firm he founded, AlixPartners. Alix no longer works for AlixPartners, but he has a seat on the board and a minority ownership stake. At the heart of Alixs accusations is McKinseys investment division, a $25 billion fund known as MIO Partners that invests on behalf of McKinseys tens of thousands of employees, retirees and alumni around the world. Its activities are confidential. But regulatory filings and records of various bankruptcy proceedings make clear that the fund has sometimes invested in the securities of the entities McKinsey is advising. In Puerto Ricos bankruptcy, for example, a New York Times review of court records found that McKinsey held both direct and indirect investments in the territorys bond debt while also serving as a strategic adviser to the islands federal oversight board. Critics called it a hidden conflict of interest, albeit one that was not illegal. Alix argues that, in some cases, such investments put McKinsey in violation of the U.S. Bankruptcy Codes requirement that all professionals working on a case be disinterested. McKinsey disputes that, saying that MIO Partners is completely separate from the firms consulting business, and that its investments do not taint the advice its consultants provide to clients. Alix is calling for court-ordered access to MIO Partners books, to see how the funds trading activities may or may not coincide with McKinseys work with its clients. Chung, said that was a nonstarter. What we reject is the notion that we have to just open up our file cabinets in response to Alixs accusations, she said. Alix is already having an impact. His recent court challenge prompted McKinsey to return $1.2 million in fees to Westmoreland, according to a court filing. Jones said that because of the grave nature of Alixs accusations, he had called for Gary Pinkus, chairman of McKinsey North America, to appear in his court, along with Alix, so they could decide whether they really want to go through with the legal fight. If one side or the other were to withdraw now, the judge said, the damage to reputations and careers would still be small. Neither side has showed any willingness to back down. Mary Williams Walsh is a New York Times writer. Prison officials are still searching for a minimum-security inmate who escaped from Folsom State Prison on Saturday, and authorities are requesting the publics assistance in locating him. Justin Franks, 27, disappeared from the facility Dec. 22 and was discovered missing during a 9 p.m. inmate count. Officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not release any further details on his escape but noted he was last seen two hours prior to the count. Authorities on Wednesday identified the victims of three San Francisco killings that occurred in the days leading up to Christmas. Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday, police found 64-year-old Christine Moyer of San Francisco stabbed to death on Jessie Street between Sixth and Mint streets. Moyer lived in a renovated hotel, the Rose, owned by Mercy Housing California, a block from where she died. The hotel had been converted into housing for formerly homeless adults in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood. Rick Sprague, a spokesman for Mercy Housing California, said Moyer had lived there since 2013. He declined to comment further, citing the ongoing police investigation. The Police Departments homicide unit is trying to determine if Moyers assault is related to a separate stabbing attack around 12:40 a.m. Tuesday on the 0-100 block of Third Street. In that incident, police arrested Michael Jacobs, 27, on suspicion of attempted murder after a 46-year-old woman was stabbed and left with life-threatening injuries. The second killing occurred earlier Monday: a man crashed his car after being shot in the India Basin neighborhood, police said. Authorities responding to a ShotSpotter alert around 1:15 a.m. found 32-year-old Jovan Reed of San Francisco suffering from a gunshot wound after the car wreck on the 1300 block of Evans Avenue. Paramedics pronounced Reed dead at the scene. And on Saturday, police responded to a shooting around 11:45 p.m. in the Excelsior neighborhood and found 26-year-old Luis Velasquez-Mejia suffering from a gunshot wound inside a building on the 500 block of Naples Street. Velasquez-Mejia, of San Francisco, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested Jonathan Escobar the next day after a three-hour standoff at a home in the Mission District. Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb A new study finds that Maryland and the District of Columbia lead the way when it comes to the efficient administration of federal early-childhood education programs. The study by the Bipartisan Policy Center , which was released last week, measured how efficiently states were administering and implementing these programs. For probably the last 25 years or so, theres been a perception here in Washington and in Congress that if there was more efficiency with the early-childhood system that there was enough money to fund what needed to be done, said Linda Smith , who led the project and serves as the director of the centers early-childhood initiative. Smith notes the center, a nonprofit that looks for bipartisan solutions to problems in areas such as education, the economy, and governance, didnt buy the argument that there was enough money in the system, but knew progress would never be made until you can deal with the perception issue of inefficiency and duplication. The researchers set out to determine if there were inefficiencies and, if so, where. They used the Government Accountability Offices 2017 report on the issue, which examined the nine main federal funding streams of early-care and education programs, to follow the money from Congress, to agencies, and finally the states. They started by looking at the legislation that provided funding for these programs in an effort to see what, if any, restrictions lawmakers placed on the money. Then they checked to see if federal agencies were limiting states choices and examined just how states were administering the programs supported by these funds. They found that a big part of the problem lies outside of Washington. Of the nine funding streams, Congress only directs states where to put one of them. And, federal agencies dont place restrictions on where the money goes either. Smith says they had to show ways for states to be as efficient as possible in order to build a case for more funding. What were trying to say with this report is yes, there are inefficiencies to be found in the system, but that said, theres still not enough money, said Smith. So what sets certain states apart from the rest when it comes to efficiently using the federal money provided? Smith says the main thing is the number of agencies a state uses to administer early-care and education programs. Two states in the bottom 10Texas and New Yorkeach use five different agencies to handle this work, while the most-efficient states such as North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Montana use only two. Smith stresses that these situations have a direct impact on families that need these services. She cited the case of a New York mother who was arrested and had her 1-year-old son torn from her arms after a dispute arose over where she was allowed to sit while waiting to talk to someone about benefits. Its only an example of what weve been trying to say to people, said Smith. These things matter to families because families who are essentially working at minimum-wage jobs, hourly-wage, they have to give up wages to go get child care, to get other services for their children. All these things are scattered around a city or a town, and families are just confused ... about whats out there and then challenged to make it all fit. Recommendations The report makes several recommendations of things that states can do to make this process more efficient. One of them calls on governors to get some outside help. Governors have the ability to manage this better, said Smith. We dont think that many governors even know they have that authority. In some cases the bureaucracy has become so entrenched, the bureaucracy cant look at itself so what were saying to governors is, We need you to have somebody from outside the system look at this and advise you on what makes sense in your state. The report also recommends that governors improve data collection so there is more information available to them about how many children are served and exactly how these systems are working in their states. It also has a few suggestions for Congress and the federal agencies that administer these programs. Congress is encouraged to create what Smith calls a birth-to-5 continuum for early-childhood programs. She notes that Early Head Start and Head Start are two separate programs with two separation applications processes, and the requirements for many of these federal early-childhood programs vary quite a bit creating confusion for families. Were not suggesting that they need to be the same, but can they give flexibility so that a child, for example, in Head Start once qualified stays there and doesnt have to reapply at age 3, said Smith. The report also calls for more alignment between the federal agencies that administer these programs through the reinstatement of the Federal Early Learning Interagency Policy Board in the hope that this would lead to more cooperation and greater efficiency. Image by Getty Related story: for the latest news on policies, practices, and trends in early childhood education. The lesson of Chinas rise is that closed-off countries doom themselves to outsider status and privation. Think: North Korea. Countries that liberalize their economies and engage the world by opening up to competition, investment and trade will become more stable and raise their living standards. Yet that doesnt necessarily translate into a more democratic state. There was a theory of the immediate post-Cold War era that when a country liberalizes the economy, that leads next to liberalizing its political system. In other words, once people gain the freedom to choose which television or smartphone to buy, next theyd get to choose their leader. This pattern played out across Asia in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and elsewhere. An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, U.S. immigration authorities said, marking the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. The death came during a dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown under way over President Trumps request for border wall funding. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the boy identified by the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix as Felipe Gomez Alonzo had shown signs of potential illness on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, N.M. He was diagnosed with a cold and a fever, prescribed amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and after being held 90 minutes for observation, the agency said. The boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting and died there just after midnight, officials said. Border protection officials have not confirmed when or where the father and son entered the United States or how long they were detained, saying only in its statement that the boy had been previously apprehended by its agents. The agency said the cause of the boys death has not been determined and that it has notified the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general and the Guatemalan government. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents in New Mexico. The body of the girl, Jakelin Caal, was returned to her familys remote village Monday for burial Tuesday. The White House referred questions about the latest case to Homeland Security, border protections parent agency. Border patrol officers are working despite the shutdown. According to Guatemalas foreign ministry, the father and son entered the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18, then were taken to the Alamogordo station, about 90 miles from El Paso, on Sunday. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, identified the father as 47-year-old Agustin Gomez and said he remains in U.S. Border Patrol custody. Immigrants are typically detained for no more than a few days when they cross the border. Then they are released or turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say they generally shouldnt be detained for more than 72 hours in Border Patrol holding facilities. Parents and children together are almost always released quickly because of limited space in ICE family detention facilities. Customs and Border Protection promised an independent and thorough review of the circumstances. The Guatemalan foreign ministry called for an investigation in accordance with due process. The hospital declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. Nomaan Merchant is an Associated Press writer. NEW YORK The longtime secretary of imprisoned financier Bernard Madoff should be released from prison in March because her advanced age entitles her to take advantage of a new prison reform law, her lawyer says. By March 19, Annette Bongiorno, 70, will have served two-thirds of her six-year prison term and should be released to home confinement by then, according to attorney Roland Riopelle. He cited the bipartisan First Step Act signed by President Trump last week, saying it permits judges to order some prisoners released to home confinement after serving two-thirds of a sentence. Bongiornos advanced age makes her eligible, Riopelle said. He also noted in his weekend letter to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain that the judge had recommended that Bongiorno serve the final year of her sentence in home confinement. Without early release, Bongiorno would not be freed until May 1, 2020. A spokesman for federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to comment. Bongiorno was among five Madoff employees convicted for their roles in a scheme that cost thousands of investors about $20 billion. She was sentenced in December 2014 and reported to prison in February 2015. The fraud was first exposed in December 2008. Madoff, 80, pleaded guilty within months and was immediately ordered to begin serving his 150-year sentence. During a six-month trial, Bongiorno maintained she was unaware of historys biggest Ponzi scheme. At sentencing, Swain called Bongiorno a pampered, compliant and grossly overcompensated clerical worker who supervised other clerical workers with a ferocious enthusiasm. The judge largely agreed with Bongiornos testimony that she merely did as Madoff instructed for 40 years. Swain rejected a request by prosecutors that Bongiorno serve significantly more than 20 years in prison. In his letter, Riopelle said that his client has been a model prisoner with no disciplinary violations. I am pleased to report that Mrs. Bongiorno is in generally good spirits, although she does find the Holiday Season a bit depressing, the lawyer said. He said she was in decent health, given her age, though she has aches and pains, and pulmonary problems including asthma. She remains an old fashioned family oriented person, who would benefit greatly from the release to home confinement that the First Step Act provides, because it would permit her to see more of her extended family more often than she is able to do so now, Riopelle said. Larry Neumeister is an Associated Press writer. The U.S. Navy has come a long way, from its first wooden frigates to todays nuclear carriers. But in all that time, one thing remained almost as fixed as the North Star: A skippers power to throw troublesome sailors in the brig with nothing to eat but bread and water. Though it sounds like something from an old pirate movie, the antique penalty is not only still on the Navys books, it is still actually imposed, despite a century of abolition efforts. On New Years Day, it will finally go by the boards. A sweeping update of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, passed by Congress in 2016, will take effect Jan. 1, bringing dozens of changes that are intended to make the system fairer and more efficient. Most are the kind of procedural tweaks that concern lawyers, not sailors. But the bread-and-water part will be felt on all decks. Commanders throughout the armed services will still have the authority to punish minor misconduct in various ways without a trial. But the new law deletes the regulation that authorized ship commanders to confine low-ranking sailors on diminished rations bread and water for up to three days at a time. Many in the Navy will be happy to see it go. But some mourn what they see as an expedient and effective tradition. It sounds medieval, and that is sort of the point, said Capt. Kevin Eyer, who regularly sentenced sailors to bread and water for minor misconduct before he retired in 2009. Sometimes you just need to scare a kid. We want them to succeed, but you need to give them a kick in the pants. But just as attitudes about spanking children have shifted, the culture in the Navy has drifted away from corporal penalties like bread and water. It just seems anachronistic and stupid, said Capt. Scott Tait, who joined the Navy in 1992 and has commanded two destroyers. I actually cant believe its still around, Tait said, adding that he had never imposed the punishment himself, nor had he seen it used. People used to joke about putting guys on bread and water, but I was well into my career before I realized I was actually allowed to do that. When young sailors need a minor course correction, he said, he often orders them to write reports on works by authors like Patrick Henry or Ayn Rand. Some people need to think about character and the consequences of their actions, he said. But I dont want it to impact their permanent record, which could hurt their chances of promotion down the line. The change was recommended by an independent Defense Department review group. Asked if the Navy supported the move, a spokeswoman said, Once drafted, the Navy did not oppose the legislation. For major crimes, the military has a justice system somewhat like the civilian courts, with judges and juries, lawyers and formal proceedings. But it also empowers commanders, who may be at sea or in battle, to deal swiftly with minor offenses like disobeying an order or shirking duty. In all military branches, this nonjudicial punishment can include docking pay, reducing rank or restricting troops to quarters. Dave Philipps is a New York Times writer. DAYTON, Ohio A new state law is aimed at reducing how often older Ohioans are defrauded and increasing financial penalties for those who exploit the elderly. The bill, recently signed into law by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, increases financial penalties for theft from an elderly person, defined in state law as someone older than 65. It mandates someone convicted of defrauding an elderly person to pay full restitution, plus a fine of up to $50,000. The fine will go to county agencies tasked with investigating elder abuse. More than 3,630 cases of elder exploitation were reported across Ohio in fiscal year 2018, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services data. That includes 277 cases in Montgomery County, 191 in Butler County and 79 in Clark County. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Steve Wilson, R-Maineville, who is a retired CEO of LCNB National Bank. Day after day we saw our seniors being ripped off, Wilson said of his years working at the bank. It is really an epidemic of people going after our most frail and fragile citizens. They can convince them they won the lottery and they havent bought a ticket. The new law also adds certain financial workers to the list of people mandated to tell authorities if they have reasonable cause to believe an adult has been abused, neglected or exploited. And it requires the Ohio attorney general to distribute at lease six public awareness publications every year informing the public of warning signs that exploitation might be occurring, how to report suspected elder fraud, and resources available to prevent or remedy elder fraud or financial exploitation. Bank employees notice when a regular customer who comes in once a week to make a modest withdrawal suddenly takes out massive sums of money, Wilson said. Often the withdrawals follow suspicious information the senior received from a family member or friend. The new law requires those financial workers to notify authorities if they fear fraud is occurring. It also gives those workers information about resources for victims. Nationwide, seniors lose about $2.9 billion a year to fraud, Wilson said, with only 44 out of every 1,000 cases being reported to authorities. Many types of elderly fraud exist. One common scheme involves fraudsters calling seniors and pretending to be relatives in need of emergency financial assistance. Home repair scams also often target the elderly. Josh Sweigart is a Cox Newspapers writer. WASHINGTON President Trump invited reporters into the Oval Office on Christmas morning to listen to him call military troops overseas. He then unleashed another demand for a border wall a $5 billion price tag that has stalled the federal government through the holidays and introduced a murky new claim that federal employees are happy to work for free until the wall is fully funded. Many of those workers have said to me communicated stay out until you get the funding for the wall, Trump said. These federal workers want the wall. Trump described immigrants as criminals and human traffickers, and he espoused plans for his wall. But he declined to answer questions that invited him to be more specific, especially on a contract he said was signed Monday to begin construction on a lengthy section of the barrier. Later Tuesday, the White House had no comment about a Border Patrol announcement that an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy had died in custody early on Christmas morning. Trump, in the Oval Office session, offered no indication of when he thought the partial government shutdown might end. The president has remained at odds with congressional leaders since funding for nine departments and numerous federal agencies lapsed at midnight Friday. Some lawmakers are becoming resigned to the prospect of the government remaining closed until the new year, when the majority shifts to Democrats in the House. The president, who canceled his 16-day vacation to his Florida estate and instead remained in Washington, continued to offer contradicting assertions about the fate of his signature campaign promise. I can tell you its not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever theyd like to call it, Trump told reporters. Ill call it whatever they want. But its all the same thing. Its a barrier from people pouring into our country. There may be the case of an Olympic champion who can get over the wall, but for the most part you are not able to do it, the president said, describing a wall as high as 30 feet, the equivalent of a three-story building. Trump both insisted, without evidence, that the wall was being built and could be either renovated or brand-new by election day and reiterated his demand that Congress allocate billions of dollars for a wall. The president said he awarded a contract for 115 miles of the wall in Texas, and said he would go there at the end of January for the start of construction. No legislative action to resolve the shutdown is expected before Thursday, when both chambers reconvene. Katie Rogers and Emily Cochrane are New York Times writers. WASHINGTON A shutdown affecting parts of the federal government appeared no closer to resolution Wednesday, with President Trump and congressional Democrats locked in a hardening standoff over border wall money that threatens to carry over into January. Trump vowed to hold the line, telling reporters that hell do whatever it takes to get money for border security. He declined to say how much he would accept in a deal to end the shutdown, stressing the need for border security. You have to have a wall, you have to have protection, he said. The shutdown started Saturday when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and are working unpaid, while an additional 380,000 have been furloughed. While the White House was talking to congressional Democrats and staff talks continued on Capitol Hill negotiations dragged Wednesday, dimming hopes for a swift breakthrough. With no deal at hand, members of the House were told there would be no votes on Thursday, assuring the shutdown would last yet another day. Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will have 24 hours notice before having to return. The Senate is slated to come into session Thursday afternoon. Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a Trump ally who has been involved in the talks, said the president is very firm in his resolve that we need to secure our border. He told CNN, I dont know that theres a lot of progress that has been made today. But he added of Democrats: If they believe that this president is going to yield on this particular issue, theyre misreading him. The impasse over government funding began last week, when the Senate approved a bipartisan deal keeping government open into February. That bill provided $1.3 billion for border security projects but not money for the wall. At Trumps urging, the House approved that package and inserted the $5.7 billion he had requested. On Friday afternoon, a Senate procedural vote showed that Republicans lacked the 60 votes theyd need to force the measure with the wall funding through their chamber. That jump-started negotiations between Congress and the White House, but the deadline came and went without a deal. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York on Saturday said funding for Trumps wall will never pass the Senate. So President Trump, if you want to open the government, you must abandon the wall, plain and simple, Schumer said. Darlene Superville and Juliet Linderman are Associated Press writers. Nevertheless, like others, I have often asked why black political leaders have such a tough time denouncing Farrakhans bigoted remarks. Ironically, the unexpected rise of President Donald Trump, the inspiration for the womens march movement, has shown me how sensible people who dont view themselves as racist can fall for a forceful, entertaining salesmen (Farrakhan was a calypso star before he converted to the Nations version of Islam) who, though he may raise legitimate issues, also uses divisive rhetoric. HOUSTON U.S. immigration authorities said Wednesday that they have done new medical checks on nearly every child in Border Patrol custody after the death of a second youngster in the agencys care in the span of less than three weeks. Authorities did not disclose the results of the examinations. An 8-year-old boy identified by Guatemalan authorities as Felipe Gomez Alonzo died on Christmas Eve just before midnight. He had been in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection with his father since Dec. 18. The boy suffered from a cough, glossy eyes, fever and vomiting and was hospitalized twice on Monday with what was initially diagnosed as a cold, the agency said in a statement. The cause of death was under investigation. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Patrols parent agency, said that almost all checks ordered in reaction to the boys death had been completed. Some children detained in more remote areas were re-screened by emergency medical technicians or Border Patrol agents, officials said. In other places, some children were taken to medical facilities. Homeland Security would not say how many children are in Border Patrol custody. The department also wouldnt say why Felipe and his father were detained for almost a week, an unusually long time, or why they were placed back in detention at a Border Patrol highway checkpoint after being released from the hospital. Another Guatemalan child in U.S. custody, 7-year-old Jakelin Caal, died on Dec. 8 after she began vomiting. U.S. officials said she had walked for days in the desert without food or water, but her family disputed that. Her death which brought down heavy criticism on U.S. immigration authorities is also under investigation. Immigration advocates and human rights groups sharply criticized CBP in the wake of Felipes death. Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said the Trump administrations policies of cruelty toward migrants and asylum-seekers at the border must cease immediately before any more children are harmed. CBP said in a statement late Tuesday that it needs the help of other government agencies to provide health care. The agency is considering options for surge medical assistance from the Coast Guard and may request help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. With border crossings surging, CBP processes thousands of children both alone and with their parents every month. According to CBP statistics, border agents detained 5,283 children unaccompanied by a parent in November alone. Agents last month also apprehended 25,172 family units, or parents and children together. Nomaan Merchant is an Associated Press writer. Mr. Rubio, I heard this evidence, and I saw that video. There is no reason in the world for you to have gone in the bathroom with that young man, none, the judge said. You are an authority figure. You should know better. I don't know what's going to happen with Oak Park Hospital. As far as I am concerned, you shouldn't be anywhere near them. Galinski has said over and over that he is not some pervert interested in young girls. But he has said that if we were the same age he would definitely date me. He said I was free to call him whenever, according to an April 17, 2001, journal entry that was among those Lefkow-Hynes says she shared with district investigators. According to one entry, Galinski told her that if she were older or he were in high school, he would be all over her like stink on a monkey. Its surprisingly easy, in the feverish haze between Thanksgiving, Christmas and everything else, to forget about making New Years Eve plans. But luckily for you (and for everyone else unwilling to auction off a kidney to afford NYE cover charges) theres still time to pull together a perfectly worthy sendoff to 2018 right in your own apartment no bouncer or black tie required. BERKELEY (BCN) Berkeley police are challenging area residents to a 100-mile step challenge in the month of January. Police said sitting is the new smoking, so they asked what better way to start the new year that to move more. Police said 100 miles in a month is not that far. It's about 6,460 steps or 3.23 miles per day. An average person will walk more than that during their normal daily routine. Police are asking residents to keep track of their steps each day and make the challenge fun by urging family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to take the challenge too. Police urge participants to be sure to warm up, stretch and walk in safe areas. Police suggest trying 200 miles in January if 100 miles is already part of a daily routine. A progress chart is available at the front counter of the Police Department or one can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/100mileStepChallenge. At noon on Thursday, Jan. 31, residents and visitors can join officers on the front steps of the Police Department at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way to walk the challenge's last 3.23 miles. 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 58-year-old man died in a crash near City College of San Francisco on Christmas Eve, police said today. The crash was reported at 11:12 p.m. Monday at Ocean Avenue and Howth Street. Officers arrived and found the victim's vehicle had crashed into a pole, according to police. The man's name was not immediately available from the medical examiner'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) A celebration will be held today in San Francisco at the African American Art & Culture Complex to celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa, organizers said. The celebration begins 6 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. at the complex at 762 Fulton St. Celebrants can enjoy games, arts and crafts and an African-inspired meal and celebrate unity among family, community, nation and race. 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 California Highway Patrol has issued a "Blue Alert" in Santa Clara County as well as San Joaquin and neighboring counties through Central California for a man who allegedly killed a police officer in Stanislaus County and fled early this morning. Cpl. Ronil Singh was shot and killed by a man shortly before 1 a.m. during a traffic stop at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in the city of Newman, according to Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies. Singh was a Fiji native and had been with the Newman Police Department since 2011. Deputies said he initiated the traffic stop at 12:57 a.m. and reported "shots fired" over the radio moments later. He was found at the scene with gunshot wounds and died at a hospital. "He was a wonderful brother who we looked up to and a hero to us all," Facebook user Shivy Singh wrote on the sheriff's office page. "I still cannot believe that he is gone." The suspect is described as a heavy-set Hispanic man wearing a black jacket with white Ecko Unlimited brand patches on the sleeves, a black shirt, silver chain and black shoes. He is believed to have left the area in a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck with an extended cab and paper license plates, according to the CHP, which issued the alert in five counties due to his unknown direction of travel. The Blue Alert program is a quick response system to coordinate alerts after a violent attack on the a law enforcement officer, according to the CHP. Anyone who sees the suspect or knows his identity is asked to call 911. He is considered armed and dangerous and may be carrying a gun. "Our Newman Police family is devastated by the loss of Ronil," Newman police Chief Randy Richardson said in a statement. "If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact law enforcement immediately so we can get this cop-killer off the streets." 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. VACAVILLE (BCN) Former Vacaville police Chief and City Councilman Gary Tatum died early this morning at the age of 83, city officials said. Tatum spent 14 years as police chief and four on the City Council, as well as spending 12 years as the chief executive officer of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce. Current police Chief John Carli, who was hired by Tatum, said in a news release that he was "a mentor to me, a guiding example of excellence." A native of New York, Tatum served for 19 years with the Palo Alto Police Department before coming to Vacaville and served in the U.S. Navy, city officials said. Services and other arrangements for Tatum are still pending, according to the city. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco police arrested a man suspected of stabbing a woman early this morning and said he may be connected to a fatal stabbing on Monday evening. The first stabbing happened Monday at 5:38 p.m. in the 400 block of Jessie Street between Sixth and Mint streets. A 70-year-old San Francisco woman was found with stab wounds and died at the scene, police said. At about 12:40 a.m. today, police responded to another stabbing in the first block of Third Street. A 46-year-old woman was found with stab wounds and hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Michael Jacobs, 27, was detained at the scene and later arrested after being identified as the suspect. Police said Jacobs is a transient and was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said the two stabbings might be connected because they happened about two blocks apart. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at (415) 575-4444. 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 who died in a solo car crash near City College of San Francisco on Christmas Eve has been identified by the city's medical examiner's office as 58-year-old San Francisco resident Michael Castellino. The crash was reported at 11:12 p.m. Monday at Ocean Avenue and Howth Street. Officers arrived and found Castellino's vehicle had crashed into a pole, according to 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. Contra Costa County prosecutors are warning residents about a scam involving callers asking for a person's Social Security number, according to an announcement Friday. The scam involves someone calling and telling an individual that they need to pay a fee to unlock their Social Security number because of criminal activity. The scammers ask individuals to confirm their Social Security number, which the scammers can then use to commit identity theft, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, officials with the Federal Trade Commission recently confirmed an increase in this type of scam. Prosecutors said the Social Security Administration will never call and ask for a person's Social Security number and cardholders will never be asked to pay anything over the phone by someone from the Social Security Administration. Prosecutors urge people to avoid giving out their Social Security number or the last four digits of the number to anyone. If someone asks for a payment via a gift card, cash or wire transfer, this is evidence of a scam. 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 celebration will be held today in San Francisco at the African American Art & Culture Complex to celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa, organizers said. The celebration begins 6 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. at the complex at 762 Fulton St. Celebrants can enjoy games, arts and crafts and an African inspired meal and celebrate unity among family, community, nation and race. Oakland families enjoyed films as well as food even though the stock market has been tumbling, according to two theater managers. The Grand Lake Theatre at 3200 Grand Ave. in Oakland opened its doors Christmas Day to show films including "Mary Poppins Returns," a sequel to the 1964 Disney classic, and "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch," a classic story about the meaning of Christmas. "We were very full of families," the theatre's assistant manager Tegan Ryan said. On Piedmont Avenue at the Piedmont Theatre, it was busy Tuesday night. Typically the theatre shows a variety of films including independent and foreign films. Strong sales is a good sign considering the stock market continued to tumble Monday leading to what may be the worst finish for a December since The Great Depression. One person was hit and killed by a Caltrain in Santa Clara, the transit agency reported. The collision occurred Tuesday. Southbound train 426 struck a trespasser at 12:42 p.m. about 500 feet south of the Scott Boulevard Overpass, according to Caltrain. None of the 35 people onboard the train heading from San Francisco to San Jose were injured, according to Caltrain spokesman Haroon Malek. The incident train has since been released to Diridon station in San Jose and the southbound track has been reopened, Malek said. There are still residual delays in the system. The fatal crash was the 13th Caltrain-related death of the year, according to the transit agency. Police said one suspect has died and another has been injured in an officer-involved shooting in San Jose. The shooting happened early Tuesday morning. Officers responded at 2:09 a.m. to the area near Story Road and Clemence Avenue after someone called and said they heard gunshots. Officers arrived to find two adults each suffering from at least one bullet wound. Police said officers also saw a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle used by the suspects and had been reported stolen. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove away and a pursuit began. Police said the vehicle eventually crashed into a chain link fence near Leigh and Fruitdale avenues in San Jose. The vehicle got stuck in the fence temporarily until the driver freed it and drove at officers. The driver rammed her vehicle into a patrol vehicle. Four officers opened fire and bullets struck the driver and passenger. The driver died and the passenger suffered a wound not considered life-threatening. More than 100 people spent the day saving lives on the Golden Gate Bridge, according to organizers of the Bridgewatch Angels. The life-saving effort occurred Christmas Day, a high-risk day for suicides. The volunteer organization was founded in 2011 by Mia Munayer, a Pleasanton police lieutenant. Its members patrol the span on major suicide-risk holidays, engaging with people who appear to be at risk. The bridge remains the No. 1 suicide destination in the world, according to the organization. The Bridgewatch Angels assist the California Highway Patrol and Bridge District police in their efforts to prevent suicides. The volunteers "greet everyone with smiles while bringing hope to those feeling depressed and suicidal," Bridgewatch organizers said in a statement. Contra Costa County prosecutors are warning residents about a scam involving callers asking for a person's Social Security number, according to an announcement Friday. The scam involves someone calling and telling an individual that they need to pay a fee to unlock their Social Security number because of criminal activity. The scammers ask individuals to confirm their Social Security number, which the scammers can then use to commit identity theft, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, officials with the Federal Trade Commission recently confirmed an increase in this type of scam. Prosecutors said the Social Security Administration will never call and ask for a person's Social Security number and cardholders will never be asked to pay anything over the phone by someone from the Social Security Administration. Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown on Christmas Eve pardoned and commuted sentences for 35 individuals in the Bay Area charged with crimes over the course of more than two decades. The executive clemency was part of 143 pardons and 131 commutations throughout the state, granting a Certificate of Rehabilitation for some and cutting down jail and prison sentences for others. Formerly and currently incarcerated people are able to apply for a pardon or commuted sentence through the governor's office on the basis of exemplary behavior. Seven people convicted in Santa Clara County were pardoned on Monday, with San Mateo County receiving the next highest at six pardons. A majority of these individuals had served their sentences several years prior. Most involved drug-related charges, with one individual from San Mateo County being pardoned for voluntary manslaughter. 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. At least one other Illinois city has made changes to limit accelerated payments. Rock Island used to pay comp time in a retiring employees last paycheck, a city official previously told the Beacon-News. Now, she said, the amount of compensatory time Rock Island employees can store up is limited, and payouts are delayed until the window of time to count them toward a pension has passed. Heres how the mission works. Every Monday, volunteers pick up food donations from Rivers Casino in Rosemont during the day. The meals are taken to a Chicago church where they are stored for a few hours and then heated up and packed into approximately 80 individual containers before being picked up again and taken to Lower Wacker. Along with the meals, the recipients are also given hot chocolate, soup and socks. Barrett said the distribution route, which starts at Columbus Drive and ends up by the Lyric Opera building, takes approximately two hours. While the new omicron variant could slow its rebound, business travel is expected to eventually return. While some local companies are eager to get back to their globe-trotting ways, others have realized they dont need to be on the go as much as they used to be. Carsons had been a longtime anchor at malls in Evergreen Park and Orland Park, and had been a fixture at Lincoln Mall in Matteson. The Matteson location abruptly closed in March prior to the wholesale closing of all remaining stores when Bon-Ton was in bankruptcy. JERUSALEM An Israeli security official on Wednesday confirmed responsibility for overnight air strikes in Syria, saying the air force had hit a series of targets involved in Iranian arms transfers to the Hezbollah militant group. Russia had criticized the air strike, saying it endangered civilian flights. The comments highlighted the increasingly tense relations between Israel and Russia, which have grown strained since the September downing of a Russian plane by Syrian forces responding to another Israeli raid. The Israeli official said the air force had attacked several Iranian targets in three main locations late Tuesday and early Wednesday. He said the targets were primarily storage and logistics facilities used by archenemy Iran to ship weapons to Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese group that fought Israel in a 2006 war. He said Israel also destroyed a Syrian anti-aircraft battery that fired at the Israeli planes, and claimed that Iranian forces are operating less than 50 miles from the Israeli border, contrary to Russian assurances. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under standard Israeli security protocols. The military has not commented on the incident. Earlier Wednesday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that six Israeli F-16 jets launched a provocative raid at the moment when two civilian airliners were preparing to land in Damascus and Beirut, creating a direct threat to the aircraft. Lebanons acting Transport Minister Youssef Fenianos confirmed Konashenkovs account, saying the two airplanes in Lebanese airspace narrowly escaped Israeli warplanes, averting a human catastrophe. The Syrian military didnt fully engage its air defense assets to avoid accidentally hitting the passenger jets, Konashenkov said. He added that Syrian air traffic controllers redirected the Damascus-bound plane to a Russian air base in Syrias coastal province of Latakia. Konashenkov said the Syrian air defense forces shot down 14 of the 16 precision-guided bombs dropped by the Israeli jets, while the remaining two hit a Syrian military depot about 4 miles west of Damascus, injuring three Syrian soldiers. But the Israeli official said all targets had been hit. He said errant Syrian anti-aircraft fire had endangered the civilian flights. Josef Federman and Nataliya Vasilyeva are Associated Press writers. ROME As nationalist forces rise globally and populist leaders emphasize the primacy of their own people, Pope Francis used his annual Christmas Day address Tuesday to voice his conviction that all humans are part of an extended holy family that has lost its sense of fraternity. My wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity, Francis, 82, said during his benediction from a balcony above St. Peters Square in Vatican City. Fraternity among individuals of every nation and culture. Fraternity among people with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another. Fraternity among persons of different religions. He added, Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness. The pope, who has been an ardent defender of migrants in a period when speaking in their defense has largely fallen out of fashion, specifically addressed the scars of war in Africa, where millions of persons are refugees or displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance and food security. He called for a spirit of fraternity to be rekindled in places where conflict has prevailed. Francis cited various conflicts, including between Israelis and Palestinians, in Yemen where children are exhausted from war and famine, he said on the Korean Peninsula, in Venezuela, Ukraine and in the beleaguered country of Syria. May the international community work decisively for a political solution that can put aside divisions and partisan interests, so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country, Francis said Tuesday. The popes appeals for peace and fraternity including toward those suffering the ideological, cultural and economic forms of colonization and from hunger and the lack of educational and health care services were in keeping with his traditional Christmas prayers. He also voiced concern for persecuted Christian minorities in countries or regions where the faithful have been killed or had their religious freedom suppressed. The popes Christmas address and earlier remarks delivered on Christmas Eve in which he rejected consumerism, declaring that the food of life is not material riches but love, not gluttony but charity followed the pattern of last years addresses. Jason Horowitz is a New York Times writer. BANGKOK In a region known for its harsh penalties for illegal drugs, Thailand is set to become the first nation in Southeast Asia to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Thailands military government, which has called elections for the end of February, has backed medical usage, which must be approved by the nations monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. By a vote of 166-0, the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly approved legislation this week that would allow the use of cannabis under medical supervision. Thirteen members abstained. The measure is expected to take effect next year. This is a New Years gift from the National Legislative Assembly to the government and the Thai people, the lawmaker who headed the drafting committee, Somchai Sawangkarn, said during a televised session Tuesday. Thailands penalty for recreational use up to five years in prison for possession of 10 kilograms or less would remain in place. Marijuana can be useful in treating a wide range of conditions, including glaucoma, epilepsy, chronic pain and the side effects of chemotherapy. In the United States, California became the first state to legalize medical use in 1996. Now, it is one of 33 states that allow medical cannabis. But in Southeast Asia, there has been little tolerance for medical marijuana until now. In Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, marijuana traffickers who are caught face capital punishment. In Malaysia, a man who sold cannabis oil to patients was sentenced in August to death by hanging. The Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, said the sentence should be reviewed. In Indonesia, a British man told the BBC this month that he faced up to 15 years in prison after he was arrested with cannabis oil that he used to treat chronic pain from arthritis. Richard C. Paddock is a New York Times writer. One visitor was Mark Semro, who said he suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident in Florida and tried to come back too soon from the injury by looking for work in Illinois. He has been staying at the BEDS shelter in La Grange, whose staff is now set to help him get back to Florida, where he has family and a support system. Nazeer Al-khatib / AFP / Getty Images Turkey said Tuesday that it is working with the United States to coordinate the withdrawal of American forces but remains determined to clear U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters from northeastern Syria. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that if Turkey says it will enter, it will, in comments carried by private DHA news agency. There are reports that Turkey-backed Syrian rebels are getting ready to begin a military operation in and near the northern town of Manbij that is controlled by Kurdish-led fighters. January began with the absence of three long-serving, highly regarded judges, all of whom were forced to step down because of the states archaic age-based retirement laws. Michael Brennan had served for several years as the presiding justice of the Brooklyn Veterans Treatment Court. Supreme Court Justice Philip Minardo and Civil Court Judge Philip Straniere, who had been assigned to the Supreme Court, were both veteran jurists with decades of invaluable experience.The potential consequences and illegality of so-called fair fights were driven home in February when a 16-year-old New Dorp High School student was seriously injured in a fight that police said was pre-arranged. A student, who saw a video of the incident, said that the teens injuries were sustained after other kids jumped into the fray. In March, many Staten Islanders joined many others across the state in condemning a decision by the state Parole Board to release serial cop-killer Herman Bell from prison. A member of the Black Liberation Army, Bell and two accomplices lured New York City Police Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini to a Harlem housing project on May 21, 1971, on a fake 911 call for the sole purpose of executing them. Jones was shot in the head while Piagentini, a young husband and father of two, was manically tortured, sustaining 22 gunshot wounds while pleading in vain for his life. Child custody A landmark 1996 decision written by the late Court of Appeals Judge Vito J. Titone, a Staten Islander, was pivotal to the resolution of two important child custody cases by the Appellate Division, Second Department, in April. Upholding applications by custodial parents in each case to relocate with the child to a distant state, the court found that the effect on the noncustodial parents' visitation rights could be mitigated by enhanced communication and extended summer and holiday vacation periods. In May, a federal jury convicted former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on all seven counts of an indictment alleging public corruption. The scheme, carried out by extortion, money laundering and honest-services fraud, involved his using the power of his office to obtain close to $4 million for himself in exchange for benefits conferred on two real estate developers and a medical researcher.Silver was notorious for single-handedly defeating Staten Islands secession bid 25 years earlier by insisting, without legal basis, that it required a home-rule message from the city. In late June, the state Senate and Assembly passed legislation to create a commission to investigate misconduct by New York prosecutors. Comprised of primarily political appointees, it would have the power to remove duly-elected district attorneys should it conclude that they engaged in professional misconduct. Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon joined his colleagues around the state in opposing the bill, warning that defendants would recklessly exploit such a commission and thereby create chaos in the criminal justice system. Guy Molinari Staten Island lost an icon on July 25 with the death of Guy Molinari, whose remarkable career of public service spanned four decades. Following a successful primary challenge against incumbent South Shore Assemblyman Lucio Russo in 1974, Molinari served three terms in the state Assembly, five terms in Congress and 11 years as Staten Island borough president. His only election defeat came in 1995 when he was trounced by incumbent District Attorney William Murphy.Sept. 2 marked the 60th anniversary of Staten Islands most mysterious, perplexing and, to date, unsolved murder case. That Dr. Melvin Nimer, and his wife, Lou Jean, were stabbed to death in their Clifton home was shocking enough; that law enforcement focused on their 8-year-old son, Melvin Dean, as the possible perpetrator generated headlines across the country. In October, a Staten Island jury convicted Michael Sykes of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2016 brutal stabbing deaths of Ziana Cutler, 1, and Maliyah Sykes, 4 months, inside a Willowbrook motel. Sykes, who had been convicted in 2017 of murdering the childrens mother on the same occasion, was sentenced in November to consecutive life prison terms with no possibility of parole. In the November elections, Staten Islanders chose Matthew Titone over Ronald Castorina to be their next Surrogate. He replaces Judge Robert Gigante, whos reached mandatory retirement age. Voters also elected Republicans Ralph Porzio and Marina Cora Mundy to the state Supreme Court. An inexplicable Election-Law mistake by local Democrats had caused their partys Supreme Court candidates, Anthony Catalano and Orlando Morrazzo Jr., to be kicked off the ballot.On Nov. 29, a 17-count indictment against Staten Island attorney Richard Luthmann was unsealed, accusing him of multiple crimes surrounding his alleged creation of fake Facebook pages in the names of two local candidates in primary contests. The controversial lawyer is currently in detention on an unrelated multi-count federal indictment. A: To be able to travel in time. Id like to go back to the 1920s, 30s and 40s. I think that is when America kind of established itself on the world stage. And Id like to go about 200 years in the future and see what the world is like. Did we figure out how to get along or are we still battling each other. 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! If there was a common theme to the recent round of bank shareholder meetings, it was a statement of the obvious. Chairmen and their CEOs were consistent in declaring that shareholders' returns are a result of customers' experiences, and that an undue focus on short-term profitability at the expense of customers can undermine their companies' licence to operate and affect the longer-term returns to shareholders. At all four of the major banks annual meetings (the Commonwealth Banks was back in November) there were mea culpas, apologies and a commitment to becoming more customer-centric. That didnt save their boards from the shareholder backlash. In a demonstration of shareholders anger, three of the big four banks have experienced strikes against their remuneration reports (oddly, Commonwealth Bank received a 94 per cent endorsement), with National Australia Banks attempt to redesign its remuneration structure attracting a staggering (and record) 88 per cent hostile vote. Four major African airlines are in talks to create an alliance in an effort to fight off mounting competition. South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Mauritius and RwandAir are looking to join forces to protect market share. South African Airways is one of a number of struggling African carriers. Credit: "Air Mauritius took the initiative to join forces with three other African airlines in a bid to create an alliance that would develop air connectivity in the region," the airline's CEO Somas Appavou said on Wednesday. "In a highly competitive environment, this alliance would allow the potential partners to create a consolidated network using the individual strength of each airline to offer passenger better choice and flexibility. The inspiration for Succession is plainly obvious. A drama about a clan's struggle for the reins of a global media empire held by their ageing patriarch, it is a palimpsest for the reach and travails of Rupert Murdoch and his children. The fictional Logan Roy, played with an intractable desire for control by Brian Cox, may be Scottish by birth instead of Australian, but the thrust of his businesses, the array of his children, and the issues raised by his defiant estate planning would make a Murdoch biographer nod in acknowledgment. The HBO series, which after a tip-toe delay is currently screening on Foxtel's Showcase channel, the cable broadcaster owned and operated by Murdoch's News Corp, makes great use of the unofficial source material. Creator Jesse Armstrong masterfully sketches an ageing ruler King Lear is one of many subordinate influences whose offspring circle him like wary satellites, at once suspicious and loving, wilful and caring. But the story doesn't overdo the comparison, or try to nail down the Murdoch pathology. Succession keeps the focus on the family members, and those close physically, if not emotionally to them. Credit:Colin Hutton The episodes never dwell too closely on what Logan's Waystar Royco truly does; the multinational's fictional cable news network ATN is conservative and primed to throw punches, but it's nowhere near the deluded propaganda machine that Fox News is. The focus is always the family members, and those close physically, if not emotionally to them. The settings are often family functions, beginning with Logan's 80th birthday celebration, and controlling the company is secondary to what achieving that would signify in terms of the family dynamic. When Logan postpones a succession plan for Kendall (Jeremy Strong), the ambitious heir desperate to prove himself after being previously side-tracked by drug addiction, it brings into play Kendall's siblings from his father's second marriage. There's the mocking dilettante Roman (a perfectly cast Kieran Culkin) and political strategist Siobhan (Sarah Snook), known to all and sundry as "Shiv"; that shiv is also a term for a homemade prison knife is a succinct expression of her propulsive drive to succeed. The Australian government has condemned Japan's "regrettable" decision to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission and resume commercial whaling. The Japanese government's withdrawal from the global body, announced on Wednesday, will see commercial hunts in the country's territorial and economic waters start in July 2019. Announcing the decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also said Japan would end its so-called "scientific" hunts in the Southern Ocean, operations that have for years caused tension between Tokyo and Canberra. A minke whale is unloaded at the Japanese port of Kushiro. Credit:AP The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday after the government decided it would be difficult to resume commercial whaling while a member of the IWC. Loading What Kerr, Franklin and Knowles have failed to acknowledge is actually a key pillar of their success. They were all born white. It seems so simple because it is, but the biggest asset in the Australian modelling industry or in the media, or the arts is whiteness. Think of the brightest stars in each genre, the people who host our breakfast television shows, front our ad campaigns, or even act in Home And Away. How many of them look the same? No matter how many early calls, late nights, or positive affirmation chants, for women of colour like Duckie Thot, "working hard" simply doesnt cut it Down Under. Last year, the Australian-Sudanese model described her lack of recognition in the Australian market as a mindf--k. I think it was a very confusing part of my life, she told PAPER magazine. I was just this little black girl in Australia just being like, Oh, yeah I want to do modelling, but [while also] being in a country that doesnt promote black models. I just thought why am I here? So I was just like, Let me make the executive decision to move to New York.' Im not getting my coins in Australia. Moving to the US was the best decision the 22-year-old could have made; shes gone on to walk in the Yeezy shows, appeared on the Fenty x Puma Paris runway, and closed Naeem Khans Spring 2017 collection. And she just walked in her first Victorias Secret catwalk show in New York. Santilla Chingaipe. The not-so comfortable truth about Kerr, Franklin, and Knowles career success is that, in part, they have benefited from a society that is stunted. Its something Santilla Chingaipe a film-maker whose latest work, BLACK AS ME, explored the perception of beauty and race in Australia would like to see change. Ive got a few friends who are professional models overseas, a lot of them are Australian and theyre of African descent but they really cant get any work here because no-ones booking them, Chingaipe said. They tend to do better overseas because theres more awareness, and theres more opportunities for people to hire them outside of tokenistic gestures. In 2013, marketing experts put a figure on just how far behind Australia is when it comes to using ethnically diverse people to sell products. That number? 15 years. The rest of the modern world is enjoying 2018. Were stuck somewhere around 2003. [The people we see in mainstream media are] just not representative of the Australian make-up, Chingaipe said. And I completely get it I empathise with people who say, I worked hard and nothing was handed to me,' but when you enter an industry where thats the standard of whats considered beautiful, everyone else who doesnt fit that norm needs to work even harder just to be considered. As white women, we dont need to apologise for the skin we were born in but we should acknowledge our privileges where possible. Doing so doesnt only encourage self-awareness and humility, its a step towards a more compassionate world. Crediting yourself as a hard worker is fine. But please, lets not pretend like thats the full story. All of this comes down to equality and going, Where is the injustice, and why are some women not part of this conversation?, Chingaipe said. [White women should be] platforming women [of colour] whenever the opportunity arises, by asking, How can we champion those voices? The only way we can close that gap is if were considerate of the people who may not have not had the opportunities youve had. This isnt to say Kerr, Franklin and Knowles dont deserve to be where they are but it is to say they could be a little more cognisant of the affordances they have been gifted since birth. Voicing your privilege is helpful. Pretending it doesnt exist, or is irrelevant, perpetuates how we gaslight women of colour. As Chingaipe told me: Were all on this journey together, and we need to ensure that the things weve overlooked in the past are not overlooked going forward. It is easy to be down when reflecting on the news of the year. The #MeToo movement continued to reveal the extent of sexual harassment and assault across multiple industries at home and abroad, and the gender pay gap was weakly celebrated for its biggest annual drop ever (with men now only taking home an average $25,717 per year more than women). In October, nine women were killed in acts broadly described as gendered violence (a figure double the already abhorrent one killed each week). But amongst the sadness and despondency, there is hope. Here, five influential Australian women share the stories of 2018 that made them optimistic. Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins. Credit:Paul Jeffers Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins: Saxon Mullins wins human rights award At Christmas time, Santa isn't the only one circumnavigating the globe to deliver joy. At this time of year, it feels like the entire million Australians who live overseas fly home for beach time, family time, and frenzied catch-ups with those of us lucky enough still to be deemed their friends. I love seeing my expat mates theyre lovely, clever, entertaining people who are doing terribly well in NYC or Singapore or Kalamazoo or wherever is lucky enough to have them. But as our globetrotting pals regale us once more with their tales of their glamorous existence exhibiting avant garde paintings in Shoreditch or collaborating with the UN in Geneva or saving lives in rural Myanmar, I have one small request. Expats flock home at summer but bring their insecurities with them. Beloved expat buddies, could you please refrain from those subtle, snide comments designed to show how utterly youve transcended Australia? You know the ones about how you cant have a global career in this backwater, or how we arent on the map for major events, or how you cant imagine not being able to fly to Europe for the weekend. We never contradict you, we just think quietly to ourselves that youve become a bit full of yourself since you bought that one-way ticket overseas and you know how much we Aussies dislike people who are too full of themselves. Or at least, you used to. Back in the early 1970s, before Seattle became the Emerald City it is today, it was a stressed metropolis as the Boeing Corp., the regions main employer, was struggling and laying off workers. People were leaving by the carloads and the cry then was for the last person out of Seattle to make sure to turn out the lights. Police will be told to stop using their radios to advise of low-priority incidents such as the roadside stopping of suspicious drivers and vehicles when a new communications system is rolled out early next year. It's a move which the police union believes may isolate officers from immediate support and has the potential to compromise safety. The police union is concerned about changes to the radio network. Credit:Rohan Thompson Called the unified operational communications program, the plan will dismantle the long-running and highly effective split channel system and combine it into one for the entire ACT. Australian Federal Police Association president Angela Smith said that situational awareness was vital to good policing and the current split channel network allowed the police operations centre to maintain regular contact with its officers, some of whom are out patrolling alone. As the year winds down, the Coalition and the ALP have ramped up discussion on Israel and the Palestinians. Each assert they have the same goal a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians live in safety and security. There is also an acknowledgement that the status quo cannot continue. In a two-day period earlier this month, 460 rockets were fired indiscriminately into Israel from Gaza. Israel retaliated against military targets in the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack on the West Bank this month in which a young woman, who was 30 weeks' pregnant, was shot in the stomach, killing the baby. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority continues to name childrens sports events after those who have killed Israeli civilians. Since 2014, the PA has refused all peace talks, and there have been no serious talks between it and Israel since 2008. Midwives are pleading with the NSW government to fix the "broken" staffing system in public hospitals, claiming that staff shortages, inadequate training and ongoing unfilled vacancies are placing mothers and babies at risk. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has asked Health Minister Brad Hazzard to introduce mandated midwife-to-patient ratios in maternity wards - at least one midwife to three mothers in postnatal - but this has been knocked back. NSW midwives say they're working in a "broken" system where patients are at risk. Credit:Shutterstock NSW Health denied there was a shortage, saying this year it had employed 134 new midwives, and that 190 registered nurses had started training to become midwives. A survey of more than 1000 midwifery members has found about 90 per cent have contemplated leaving the profession, with 80 per cent blaming "understaffing and staffing problems" and 40 per cent citing "dissatisfaction with rosters". A woman has been hit in the face with a gun and her father had a car reversed into him during an assault in Brisbane's north on Christmas Eve. Detectives released vision on Wednesday of a man who could help with investigations following the incident at Alderley on December 24. Police are investigating an assault at Alderley on Christmas Eve. Police are seeking this man, who may be able to help. Credit:Queensland Police Services Police said a 19-year-old woman parked her car outside a Goskar Avenue home about 6.15pm when a stolen black Mazda CX5 was pulled up near her and the male passenger got out and demanded her car keys. The woman refused and the man hit her in the face with the butt of a gun, police alleged. In late 2001, soon after the Twin Towers attack, American legal expert Cass Sunstein coined the term probability neglect for an observable and common cognitive bias. The concept is simple: sometimes people focus on the worst possible case, which triggers strong emotions. When this is so, people fail to inquire into the probability that the worst case will occur. I believe that probability neglect is the defining feature of our current response to the rare attempted migration by boat to Australia. It is also probably behind the federal government's rejection of the Kerryn Phelps bill that would ensure an extremely sick person on Manus or Nauru would be transferred to Australia if two doctors recommended it. The immigration minister would have the power to block that transfer on security grounds. It is a modest change that would probably prevent further unnecessary deaths. An asylum-seeker boat that went on to sink near Christmas Island in 2012. Credit:AMSA The worst possible case in this scenario is that the people-smuggling business will start up again and we will see the numbers of arrivals that we saw in 2012-13. If you look at the history, the build-up to this level of migration took a long time and was largely due to the decision to allow asylum seekers to live in the community before their refugee claims were assessed. Sadly, this encouraged a significant number of people to abuse the system for economic reasons, which is what swelled the overall numbers. It was not a small policy change, but a very significant one that led to the situation spiralling out of control. Despite this, we are told even a small shift in policy will end in a similar result overnight, with no chance of arresting the decline. Realistically, the probability of any small shift in policy being so catastrophic is close to zero. With the state in for a scorching heatwave over the coming days and the bushfire risk deemed very high, Victorias emergency chief has said firefighting aircraft could be grounded if drones were spotted nearby. The warning comes as Tasmanian authorities revealed seven helicopters waterbombing a bushfire on Bruny Island on Tuesday had to be called off because of a drone flying in their airspace. An aircraft fighting the Buninyong bushfire earlier this month. Credit:Nine News A collision between an aircraft and a drone could cause a serious accident, with choppers most at risk. Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said any grounding of aircraft could significantly set back the Country Fire Authoritys ability to control the spread of fires. On August 3, 2012, two days after being told that our baby had died in utero at 38 weeks and three days for no known reason, our son, Liam Henry, was stillborn. As a result of our loss we discovered how lacking in empathy most people are to those who have had a stillborn child. They often respond with "Oh, you can just have another child" as if it is just an unfortunate incident, a bit like losing your wallet. We discovered that friends and family are unable to be supportive and eventually disappear. Employers figure you should be good after a few days off and can return to work in your normal capacity. What people forget is that when you lose a child you lose a life, all of the hopes and dreams for that child die as well. Bruce and Janet McMillan discovered many people did not understand the depths of their loss. Credit:Dame Price Unfortunately, we are far from alone in these experiences. Australia is one of the safest places in the world to give birth, yet six babies are stillborn every day, making it the most common form of child mortality in Australia. While the national road toll has not been more than 2,000 deaths since 1991, every year since then Australia has reported more than 2,000 stillbirths a year: that is six stillbirths a day, a rate dramatically higher than SIDS. For every 137 women who reach 20 weeks pregnancy, one will experience a stillbirth. The rate of stillbirth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies is double that of other Australian women (13 in 1,000 births compared to six in 1,000 births). The rate of stillbirth in Australia has not changed over the past two decades, despite modern advances in medical practice and health care. Australian rates of stillbirth are higher than New Zealand , the UK, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries. A 25-year-old man has been charged after a Christmas Day rampage where he allegedly spat on officers, smashed windows and threatened bystanders. The man allegedly spat on officers who were called out on reports he was armed with a knife. Credit:Katherine Griffiths Esperance Police were called to the suburb of Castletown about 7.10pm on reports a man armed with a knife was causing a disturbance on Burton Road. The man had allegedly smashed two windows, acted aggressively and fought in front of a child before police arrived at the scene. As police approached the man, who had dropped the knife by that point, it is alleged he spat on one of the officers as he was taken into custody. A 37-year-old Perth man has been charged over an alleged home invasion in which a grandmother and two children were threatened before he ordered a seven-year-old girl to go with him. Detectives say the incident occurred in Forrestfield about 10.15am on December 19, when a man pretending to deliver a letter knocked on the door and forced his way inside. Police said he threatened a 67-year-old woman and two children, aged seven and eight, with a toy handgun. He left when the seven-year-old refused to leave with him. He was arrested on Christmas Day and is due to face Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and going armed to cause fear. The Perth Scorchers look set to become the most supported team in the T20 Big Bash League this season, with a near sell-out crowd expected to fill Optus Stadium for the teams first home game on Boxing Day. A Western Australian Cricket Association spokeswoman said 41,650 tickets had been sold to the Perth season opener by midday on Wednesday, with last-minute ticket sales for the 4.15pm match expected to take the final crowd number to about 45,000. The Perth Scorchers' opening home game is set to break attendance records Credit:Matthew Tompsett Optus Stadium's maximum capacity for cricket matches is 55,000 due to some seating being closed off to allow for screens. Wednesday's crowd will double the 22,475 fans who attended the Scorchers' best-attended match at the WACA last year against the Renegades. Another direct international flight to and from Perth Airport is expected to help boost WAs struggling tourism industry. Travellers will have access to daily flights seven days a week between Perth and Tokyo next year via Japans five-star airline, All Nippon Airways' (ANA) Boeing 787. Tourism Minister Paul Papalia (centre) announces daily direct Perth-Tokyo flights to boost WA's struggling industries, Credit:Lauren Pilat. Flights will take off between Perth Airport and Narita International Airport from September 1, with first tickets expected to go on sale in mid-January. The State Government made the announcement on Wednesday at Terminal 1 where unexpecting international guests arrived to a Japanese drum performance by Taikon celebrating the additional flights. Trump's critics have said that the fight is far from over and the withdrawal leaves allies in the lurch. Trump told reporters travelling with him that he had "no plans at all" to remove US troops from Iraq and that, if needed, the US can attack Islamic State "so fast and so hard" that they "won't know what the hell happened". First lady Melania Trump talks with troops at a dining hall. Credit:AP The US still has more than 5000 troops in Iraq supporting the government as it continues the fight against remaining pockets of resistance by IS militants. IS has lost a significant amount of territory in Iraq and Syria but is still seen as a threat. Trump said security concerns forced him to scrap an earlier trip to visit US troops in the Middle East. Trump told reporters he had planned to make the trip three or four weeks ago, but word of the trip started getting out and forced him to postpone it. The president called it "pretty sad" that after all the US has spent in the Middle East, his trip still had to be a surprise for safety's sake. It was his first visit to a troubled region, and Trump said he was more concerned for the people accompanying him than he was for himself. Trump says he was concerned about the institution of the presidency and first lady Melania Trump. The visit to Iraq is President Donald Trump's first since he took office. Credit:AP Trump made the 11-hour flight on a darkened Air Force One with lights off and window shades drawn plus military jet escorts. He said he had never seen anything like it. While in Iraq, Trump also spoke to military commanders and the US ambassador. Sanders said they "came up with a powerful plan that will allow us to continue our path to total victory" over Islamic State. Trump was supposed to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi but in the end they only spoke by telephone. Our presence in Syria was not open ended and it was never intended to be permanent. Donald Trump Abdul Mahdi's office said there was "a disagreement over how to conduct the meeting." Iraqi lawmakers said the prime minister declined Trump's request to meet him at the military base. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the meeting could not be arranged due to security concerns and the short notice of the trip, but she said they had a "great call" and that Abdul Mahdi accepted Trump's invitation to the White House in the New Year. On his way home, Trump stopped for about an hour and a half at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he shook hands and posed for pictures with some of the hundreds of troops lined up inside a hangar. After Ramstein, Trump headed back to Washington. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet members of the military at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Credit:AP Trump has drawn fire from some in the US military for not having visited US troops in conflict zones since taking office in January 2017, particularly after he cancelled a trip to a WWI cemetery in France last month due to light rain. While there has been no full-scale violence in Iraq since Islamic State suffered a series of defeats last year, US troops train and advise Iraqi forces still waging a campaign against the militant group. Trump was looking for some positive headlines after days of turmoil over his decisions to withdraw all US troops from Syria, pull out half of the 14,000-strong contingent in Afghanistan, and push out Defence Secretary James Mattis two months earlier than planned for criticising his policies. Loading Many Republican and Democratic politicians have heaped scorn on Trump for his sudden order last week to withdraw from Syria. His critics have said that fight is far from over and the withdrawal from Syria leaves allies in the lurch. One of those critics was Mattis, who said in a candid resignation letter last week that his views did not align with the President's, particularly in regard to the treatment of US allies. Mattis had planned to leave at the end of February but Trump forced him to go on January 1 after his resignation letter. Trump has also faced negative headlines for wanting to pull troops from Afghanistan where they have been since 2001. Trump has questioned how long troops there should have to remain in what has become America's longest war. Loading Trump's unannounced visit to Iraq followed in the footsteps of two of his predecessors, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, who both made surprise trips to see troops. The US military says it has about 5200 troops in Iraq, focused on training and advising Iraqi troops to ensure that Islamic State does not re-emerge. NATO defence ministers agreed in February to a bigger "train-and-advise" mission in Iraq after a US call for the alliance to help stabilise the country after three years of war against Islamic State. Washington: US President Donald Trump invited reporters into the Oval Office on Christmas morning to listen to him call military troops overseas. He then unleashed another demand for a border wall a $US5 billion price tag that has stalled the federal government through the holidays and introduced a murky new claim that federal workers are happy to work for free until the wall is fully funded. "Many of those workers have said to me communicated stay out until you get the funding for the wall," Trump said. "These federal workers want the wall." Donald Trump listens to members of the five branches of the military on Christmas morning. Credit:AP Trump described immigrants as criminals and human traffickers, and he espoused plans for his wall. But he declined to answer questions that invited him to be more specific, especially on a contract he said was signed on Monday to begin construction on a lengthy section of the barrier. On Christmas Day, the President also veered into an unprompted attack on James Comey, the former FBI director he fired more than a year ago. Resumes seasonal direct service to Canada AIRPORT:---Travel from Toronto or Montreal Canada is now easier than ever as Air Transat has returned to St. Maarten following a fifteen-month hiatus caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. The return of Air Transat now creates direct flight opportunities for persons wanting to travel to Canada. The airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft landed on Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday, December 22nd with 144 passengers who were all "eager to return to the Friendly Island after not being able to visit since 2017. Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication (TEATT) the Honourable Stuart Johnson greeted the flight and welcomed the Captain and crew back to the island. Johnson said that the return of this airline is crucial because it helps to tell the story of St. Maartens recovery post-Irma. We have to continue to let the world know that St. Maarten is opened for business and that is what the return of the many airlines we have been working with, signals internationally." He said, "In 2019 we will build on the momentum that has been created this year, with our Tourism partners on the northern side of the island, to ensure the message that we are open for business reaches all corners of the globe. According to Station Manager for Air Transat in St. Maarten Evelyn Munoz the airline offers a seasonal service to St. Maarten and is now able to offer commercial flights to persons wishing to travel to Canada. She said, We are delighted to be back, and we are especially happy with the service from the SXM Airport and the assistance we have received from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. The direct flights to Montreal and Toronto are offered every Saturday departing St. Maarten at 1:15pm to Toronto and 5:00pm to Montreal. Munoz said while in the past Air Transact offered only Chartered services to St. Maarten for hotels on French and Dutch St. Maarten, I am very pleased that we can now offer full commercial flights to residents and visitors alike who wish to travel to Canada. Interested persons can book flights via www.Airtransact.com or from any local travel agency. Also on hand for the welcome ceremony were members of the SXM Airport Marketing Team as well as representatives from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB) and the French Sides Tourist Office. The return flight was captained by K.C. Aatecma who incidentally was Station Manager for Air Transat in St. Maarten and also Piloted for Winair several years ago. His First Officer was Francois Lupiden. PHILIPSBURG:---After an evaluation of each department, the Head of the eight (8) departments within the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication (TEATT) the Honourable Stuart Johnson, each identified one member of their staff who they considered to have performed exceptionally throughout 2018. In recognition of their exceptional performance, the Honourable Minister of TEATT Stuart Johnson met the employees on Friday morning during a brief ceremony and extended congratulations to them for their hard work. He also handed them each a Christmas Gift Basket along with a Gift Voucher of Naf. 250 as a token of appreciation for their service. The Civil Servants who were recognised for their outstanding service are Suzette Kramers (IDEZ), Rosette Generlette-Pantophlet (STB), Stephany Douglas (Civil Aviation/Maritime), Sheryl Leblanc (MET), Jacqueline Peterson (EV), Jude Houston (ETT), Jaghaira Lioe-A-Tjam (STAT) and Saskia Thomas-Salomons (Staf Buro). The heads of each Department within the Ministry of TEATT were given gift vouchers to distribute amongst their staff, each valuing Naf. 250 as a token of appreciation for their dedication to service and hard work within the ministry of teat for the people of St. Maarten, from Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication (TEATT) the Honourable Stuart Johnson on Friday morning during a brief presentation ceremony. Minister Johnson said the service these individuals provide each week to the people of St. Maarten should not go unrecognized. He said, "While it may be difficult at times to accomplish some tasks, the effort that the Civil Servants put into making the goals of the St. Maarten United Christian Democratic Coalitions Governing Program 2018 2022 must never be taken for granted. He extended a Merry Christmas to his staff and wished all a Happy 2019 when it comes. PHILIPSBURG:--- Music brings people together a project by the National Institute of Arts, supported by the Nationaal Rampenfonds (Dutch Disaster Fund) has been launched successfully during the month of December in several primary schools and the St. Dominic High School. Youth Orchestras Director Mr. Neville James joined forces with the Band Director Mr. Connis Vanterpool and several musicians to tour the schools conducting 45 minutes lecture demonstrations, introducing the students to the different instruments to be incorporated in the Youth Orchestra (YO) to spark their musical interest and curiosity to join the YO, said the Director of NIA, Arlene Halley. The lecture demonstrations will continue in January visiting the remaining schools on the Dutch side of the island exposing students to the many possibilities of the Youth Orchestra. In addition, NIA will hold two auditions, one on Saturday, January 19 at the John Larmonie Center from 9 -11 am for students ages 8-18 with an instrument and previous music experience. The second audition is scheduled for beginners and aspiring musicians with no instruments and no prior experience, on Saturday January 26, also at the John Larmonie Center from 9-11 am. No registration is necessary. We kindly ask parents to accompany their children. For further information please send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . LA PLATA, Md. College of Southern Maryland (CSM) graduate Danin Turner of La Plata is living her dream of owning her own performing arts studioand she is only 21 years old. She credits CSM for preparing her to become a small business owner and for putting her on a path to achieve her goals so early in life."I graduated in 2017 after completing my business administration degree program," she recently shared. "I chose CSM because it was such an awesome option. It allowed me to stay local, continue to dance and teach dance while furthering my education."She said she was thrilled this past winter, just months after graduating from CSM, to join the other 581,712 small business owners in Maryland when she opened Danin's Showbiz Boutique in La Plata. Dancing since the age of 2, Turner said that for as long as she can remember she has always wanted to dance and have a career doing what she loves."I have had a vision since I was younger to share my passion for dance and performance with othersto create a positive environment for children to pursue their passions with confidence," she said.Now, just shy of its one-year anniversary, Danin's Showbiz Boutique is a bustling performing arts studio offering ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop classes for all ages and features daytime dance classes for homeschooled children. The boutique also offers acting and singing classes for all ages and provides jobs for four part-time employees.CSM's Entrepreneur & Innovation Institute Director Thomas Luginbill said Turner's success is an example of CSM's deep commitment to its students and preparing future business leaders for success."Real-world business knowledge among students has been a subject of intense debate, both in rural and urban communities, as students' debts have swelled into trillions of dollars," Luginbill said. "As a regional education institute, it's our job to promote entrepreneurship and business studies in the classroom to help our students prepare for life after college. The college is proud of Danin and the many other CSM alumni who have gone on to start and work at successful businesses."Turner's said her start at CSM made all the difference for her."Business is going great," she said. "I absolutely love it. I love all the new people I get to meet through being a business owner. It's like a new adventure every day. There are some things that come up that are unexpected, but it has been so much fun learning the ins and outs of owning a business."The dancer turned entrepreneur said that her time at CSM equipped her to achieve her dream. "I had an overall great experience at CSM," Turner said. And while she has learned a lot about being a small business owner, she has bigger dreams. "My ultimate career goal is to keep growing my performance arts studio. I love kids and want to have a positive impact on as many children as possible."The Charles County Department of Economic Development applauds Turner's goals and CSM's commitment to student success."The College of Southern Maryland is an outstanding resource for workforce development and entrepreneurial training," said Economic Development Director Darrell A. Brown, Esq. "Whether it's an affordable start on your bachelor's degree, a two-year technical training program or a myriad of continuing education options, CSM is creating and maintaining a well-educated workforce, which in turn drives a healthy economy. We value their partnership."Registration for spring semester classes at CSM is underway with several options available. For information visit www.csmd.edu/programs-courses/. The driver then handed over his car keys, his wallet and a Samsung cellphone to a second man, who was also holding a dark handgun, police said. The second man is described as between 18 and 20 years old, 6 feet tall, with a thin build. Police said he had short hair in a fade style. NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is on track for a Jan. 1 flyby of Ultima Thule, a distant Kuiper Belt object that lies 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) beyond Pluto. The encounter will be the farthest planetary flyby in history. What New Horizons will see is a mystery, and mission principal investigator Alan Stern is prepared for puzzlement. The stalwart, piano-size probe designed, built and operated by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland already has one exploration milestone under its belt: it zoomed past Pluto in July 2015. [NASA's New Horizons Mission in Pictures] Stern, who's based at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, literally wrote the book on that mission, along with astrobiologist David Grinspoon "Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto" (Picador, 2018). Space.com caught up with Stern recently to talk about New Horizons and the imminent record-setting flyby of Ultima Thule, which scientists think is about 23 miles (37 km) wide. Space.com: How is the overall health of New Horizons as it approaches Ultima Thule? Stern: The spacecraft is essentially in perfect health. As for the thrusters, we share them between the A and B redundant sides of New Horizons. So, we don't run them until they break. They are ultimately life-limited items, like your tires. All the scientific instruments are in good health. We're right on course, and we couldn't ask for more at this point. Artist's illustration of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flying by Ultima Thule on Jan. 1, 2019. Ultima is a Kuiper Belt object that orbits 1 billion miles (1.6 billion km) beyond Pluto; the upcoming encounter will be the most-distant planetary flyby in history. (Image credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute (JHUAPL/SwRI)) Space.com: What's the prospect of an extended mission after investigating this Kuiper Belt object? Stern: There may be another KBO flyby after this one; we'll see. We proposed for a five-year extended mission to take us through 2021 and out to 50 astronomical units and study the Kuiper Belt many different ways. [Note: One astronomical unit is the Earth-sun distance, about 93 million miles, or 150 million km.] We'll have to propose for future extended missions. If the science is good and the spacecraft remains healthy, I think we have an excellent chance. We're the only spacecraft out there that can do this. Nobody else is coming with a second mission. It's really a unique opportunity to do things that otherwise can't be done, and we've got plenty of propellant left. Artist's concept of New Horizons spacecraft encountering Pluto and its largest moon, Charon (foreground), in July 2015. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Steve Gribben/Alex Parker) Space.com: How long can New Horizons function? Stern: In principle, New Horizons could operate another 15 or 20 years until the radioisotope thermoelectric generator power levels drop to the point where we can't run the spacecraft anymore. Space.com: New Horizons represents exploration of the unknown. You must be anxious to see what's lurking out there so distant from Earth. Stern: Very few people appreciate the fact that the solar system is so vast. The sun's gravity is strong enough that it holds onto comets orbiting in the Oort Cloud 100,000 astronomical units away. That's 3,000 times as far as Pluto. Because the sunlight gets weaker and weaker with the square of the distance, it's very hard to find things that are that far out. Space.com: So, we should expect to be surprised at what the spacecraft may find? Stern: We've only scratched the surface of the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. Personally, from the work I have done and published, I expect that we're going to find not just dozens, but potentially hundreds of more planets. That will include finding more small planets farther out in the Kuiper Belt, and then larger planets much farther out in the Oort Cloud. I think it's kind of funny when somebody talks about finding Planet X. We're going to find Planet X, Planet Y, Planet Z and a very large number more. There are clues forensically around the solar system that there used to be a large number of planets, most of which got scattered out to great distances. [Our Solar System: A Photo Tour of the Planets] Alan Stern, the New Horizons mission's principal investigator, and planetary scientist David Grinspoon described the mission in their thrilling book "Chasing New Horizons," available in print, ebook and audiobook with narration by the authors. (Image credit: Picador) Space.com: Given your book tour and talks around the globe, what's the message you receive back from the public? Stern: What I hear is that the exploration of Pluto has been incredibly inspiring to many people. I've had people, young people particularly, that tell me it's the best thing that's happened in their lifetime, or that it has inspired them to go from a slacker to a straight-A student. In one talk, there was a gentleman that stood up in the audience and said that he was borderline suicidal until he saw the New Horizons flyby of Pluto. He said he realized that there were so many amazing things to live for. Wow! Those of us on the New Horizons project never expected that kind of response. So, in the book we explain that the most important "discovery" for my co-author David and I was that the mission was so inspiring it could change so many people's lives. Space.com: New Horizons flew past Pluto in July 2015, but there seems to be a constant, steady stream of discovery stemming from that encounter. Why so? Stern: I expect it's going to take the scientific community a solid decade from now to get to the bottom of everything that New Horizons taught us. If Pluto and its satellites weren't so complex it would not take so long but it's a scientific wonderland full of puzzles. New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern, who's based at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. (Image credit: Aubrey Gemignani/NASA) Space.com: The flyby of Pluto and now a KBO is emblematic of exploration and inquiry into the unknown. It would seem the mission is a metaphor for surprise, even bewilderment. Stern: Go back to the early 1960s into the 1970s. Those first missions to Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter they all provided the same experience we had. Those spacecraft knocked down everything that was known by telescope and showed us at each planet a much more complex and nuanced situation, and new kinds of physical phenomena. We were surprised and surprised over and over. The Pluto flyby showed that nature just wowed us again. It was so surprising that I told my New Horizons science team colleagues after we looked at the data sets that we probably got an "A" for exploration but an "F" for scientific predictive abilities. [Pluto's Heart: A Cosmic Valentine in Photos] New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern (left) with a print of a U.S. stamp with a suggested update after the New Horizons spacecraft explored Pluto in July 2015. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA) Space.com: So, your prediction about what you'll find at Ultima Thule? Stern: New Horizons is flying towards the object at almost a million miles a day. It will be a dot in the distance until the day before the flyby. The day after flyby we'll start receiving high-resolution images and other data. There will be a search for an atmosphere that may or may not be there. We'll also look at the KBO for moons and rings, and we'll map it and map its surface composition, take its temperature, and more. The data will pour down after the spacecraft has passed by on January 1st. That data will continue to be transmitted back to Earth, not just for weeks, but for a year and a half. It's going to be late summer 2020 before we've got all the data sets on the ground. So, expect this to be the gift that keeps on giving. Nothing like this has ever happened before. No mission has ever been to this type of object. It's studying something so wild something that's been out there so far from the sun where it's un-evolved because temperatures are so low that we have no parallel for it. Ultima Thule may be something unlike anything we've ever seen before. Leonard David is author of the forthcoming book, "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" to be published by National Geographic in May 2019. A longtime writer for Space.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. This version of the story published on Space.com. This Christmas season marks the 50th anniversary of one of humankind's most memorable spaceflights: the Apollo 8 moon mission. The Apollo 8 astronauts circled the moon in December 1968, marking the first time human ever saw the lunar surface from up close with their own eyes. And like every good astronaut today, the Apollo 8 crew brought the public along using cutting-edge technology of the day color television. To chronicle that epic flight, a new documentary "Apollo's Daring Mission" will air tonight (Dec. 26) on PBS at 9 p.m. EST (or 8 p.m. CST, depending on the time zone you see it in). While many today remember Apollo 8 as a shining triumph, the new documentary reminds viewers that the Apollo moon program was fighting for its life at the time. [Apollo 8: NASA's First Crewed Trip Around the Moon in Pictures] "I've always been a fan of the space program," said filmmaker Rushmore DeNooyer in a Space.com interview. "I was lucky to have lived through a lot of these Apollo missions, and I was old enough to follow it and be excited about it." As DeNooyer's film shows, less than two years before Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders made their daring voyage to the moon, three fellow astronauts and friends died in a terrible pad fire during preparation for the Apollo 1 mission. NASA swiftly implemented managerial and technical changes, and DeNooyer said the tragedy taught the agency a lot about spaceflight. While there were many causes for the Apollo 1 fire, the most famous ones are the pure oxygen atmosphere in the spacecraft which accelerated the fire and the hatch that proved too difficult for astronauts to open in an emergency. NASA addressed both design problems in future spacecraft. Three astronauts rode aboard Apollo 8: James Lovell, William Anders and Cmdr. Frank Borman, shown here in a photograph taken a few months before their flight. (Image credit: NASA/MSFC) "What they learned from that probably helped them get to the moon successfully," DeNooyer said. With new knowledge in hand, NASA flew Apollo 7 safely in October 1968, but doubt still persisted; could the agency meet its goal of landing humans safely on the moon by the end of 1969? Adding drama was a space race. Today Russia's space agency is a partner of NASA and they work together daily on the International Space Station, but the 1960s was a different era altogether. Swept up by the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and the United States tried to one-up each other in space milestones to show technological prowess. The Soviets racked up milestones such as the first person in space, the first two-person crew and the first three-person crew, while the Americans did the first docking and broke altitude records above Earth. The moon was NASA's ultimate goal, however, intelligence flowed from the closed Soviet society that the other country also wanted to plan a moonshot to upstage the United States. Apollo 8 was a gamble. At first, NASA planned to keep Apollo 8 in low-Earth orbit to test out spacecraft and systems. But with the Soviets dogging NASA's heels, the agency surveyed its people to see if they were ready to push out to the moon. Flight controller Jerry Bostick was one of that small group who knew before news became public. "I was a part of a handful of guys who started working on it in secret; we couldn't tell anybody what we were doing," Bostick said in a separate interview with Space.com. While the decision to go was obviously elating for the public, Bostick said all was "serious business" in Mission Control, where employees knew they were undertaking a dangerous mission. "The flight to the moon was coming earlier than what we had expected," he said, and they wanted to be ready. Spoiler alert: Apollo 8 was a spectacular success, and one of the key milestones along the long road to landing Apollo 11 on the moon on July 20, 1969. The mission also generated a photo that Bostick jokes must be on 75% of people's desktops, including his Earth's glowing globe silently sitting above the moon's surface, an Anders photo that space people call "the Earthrise picture." "I'm told that Bill Anders has the picture in his home, and it's rotated 90 degrees because that's the way they really saw it with the earth off to the left, and the lunar surface vertically to the right," Bostick said. While Apollo 8's story is well-documented, DeNooyer says there are parts of history that are more ignored such as the role of the guidance computer, or the help of mission controllers who kept Apollo 8 safe during a week of spaceflight far from home. This former teenaged fan of Apollo said it was the chance of a lifetime to speak with former mission controllers Bostick and John Aaron to learn more about Apollo 8's story. "It's a privilege, I think, to sit down and talk to them, and they put a tremendous amount into getting us to the moon," DeNooyer said. "I mean, this wasn't Monday through Friday, 9 til 5." "Apollo's Daring Mission " premieres tonight, Dec. 26, on PBS at 9 p.m. EST/PST (8 p.m. CST). Check local listings. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com. Strasbourg, Dec 11, 2018 (SPS) - Frente POLISARIO representative to Europe Mohamed Sidati has denounced on Tuesday the adoption by the European Parliaments Committee on International Trade (INTA) of the report of the controversial Eurodeputy Patricia Lalonde, which provides for the expansion of the EU-Morocco Agricultural Agreement to the occupied Western Sahara territory It is "shameful" to approve a document which author has been forced to step down over "conflict of interests". During their meeting in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament headquarters, the "INTA" Committee members adopted the report of the controversial MEP, Patricia Lalonde, who provides for the extension of the agricultural agreement between the EU and Morocco to the occupied Western Sahara territory, while the European justice rejected the deal, in its decisions, citing the non consent of the Sahrawi people. In reaction to the Committee decision, the Frente POLISARIO denounced, in a statement, "a vote that marks the European leaders willingness to ignore the precise and clear terms of the decisions of the EU Court of Justice." The Frente POLISARIO representative added that "this agreement is clearly illegal". In its December 2016 ruling, the EU "Court of Justice has ruled that Western Sahara is a separate and distinct territory from that of the Kingdom of Morocco by virtue of the principle of self-determination. No agreement with Morocco may include the territory, the adjacent waters, or the outer space of Western Sahara," Sidati added.SPS 125/090/TRA Dunedin (New Zealand) Dec 20, 2018 (SPS) - Friends of the Sahrawi people in New Zealand organized a demonstration to denounce the arrival of a shipment loaded with Sahrawi phosphate bound for the city of Dunedin in southern New Zealand, calling for stopping this "theft and crime". The demonstrators gathered in front of the ship that arrived at the port earlier this week, and chanted slogans against the looting of Sahrawi wealth, brandishing placards on which sentences like "stop the flight" and "we took you in flagrante delicto" were written. The ship "Triton Folk" came from the port of the occupied city of al-Ayoune, loaded with some 53,000 tonnes of phosphates, worth USD 7 million, illegally imported by Ravensdown Company. The representative of the Frente POLISARIO in Australia, Mohamed Fadel Kamal, quoted by the agency, wrote to the company's executive director with a view to "stopping its involvement in the systematic plundering of the Sahrawi people's wealth. In addition, a documentary film entitled "Les vents de la resistance" (The Winds of Resistance) by Canadian director Josh Cambelas projected last Wednesday in Dunedin. The movie recounts the resistance of the Sahrawi people and the involvement of a Canadian company in the looting of the Sahrawi phosphate, with the complicity of the Moroccan occupier, Many friends of the Sahrawi people reaffirmed their willingness to put more pressure on New Zealand companies to deter them from looting the Western Saharas resources. SPS 125/090/TRA A: One of the things professional musicians do is teach private lessons. I was teaching at private schools, and I was at St. Giles in Oak Park as an adjunct brass lesson teacher when the band director left suddenly. Some parents said, Would you take over the band program? I said, No, but Ill help you out until you find somebody. But I discovered I loved it. I loved the feedback of 50 kids in front of me making progress in music. It was 50 times more exciting than spending my own time in the practice room. So I went back and said, Ill take you up on the offer. I was at St. Giles from about 1984 to 1988. Madrid, December 22, 2018 (SPS) - Spanish Euro-deputy Clara Aguilera, who led a delegation of European parliamentarians to the Province of Cadiz from 17 to 19 December, pointed out that it is not evident that the European Parliament will approve EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement as several Euro-deputies consider that it is not in compliance with the two decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Several parliamentarians think that the text signed in July between the European Union and Morocco doesnt meet the criteria set by CJUE, said Aguilera in statements to the press reported by Spanish news agency EFE. Aguilera, who chairs the parliamentary mission in Cadiz, said that several European parliamentarians have doubts about the conformity of this agreement with CJEUs two decisions which affirmed that Western Sahara is a separate territory from Morocco and that any extension of the agreement to include the occupied territory requires the consent of Western Saharas people. She underlined that it is not evident that the European Parliament will approve this new agreement. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS Every Thursday and Sunday through the end of the year, the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time are publishing short stories about local families in need of a helping hand. Each case includes an estimated dollar amount that would help them face everyday challenges such as rent payments, child care costs and transportation. Every dollar donated to the Giving Fund goes directly to the people in need. One of the people who needs help is Annie, who can afford to take only one class at a time at Norwalk Community College. Her family is struggling to make ends meet. A gift of $500 would help Annie take more classes and earn her degree sooner, which would increase her employment opportunities. (The names of those included have been changed to protect their privacy.) To support one of these or another community member this year, chose the corresponding case number at The Giving Fund donation page. The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time sponsors The Giving Fund in partnership with Family Centers and Person-to-Person. Here are their stories: Case #335 The youngest of several siblings, Sehar lives with her elderly parents, who live paycheck to paycheck. Her parents are ready to retire but cannot because Sehar is still in high school and hopes to go to college next year. She has taken on two after-school jobs but money is still tight. A gift of $500 for food and utilities would be an incredible help for this hardworking family. To contribute, click here and select case #335. Case #336 Bernard and his four siblings, mother and grandmother fled violence in Haiti and are trying to find safety and security in Stamford. Bernards little sister was stricken with cancer, and most of the familys resources have gone toward her medical care. A gift of $800 would help to cover some living expenses that this fragile family faces. To contribute, click here and select case #336. Case #337 Family violence left Marina, her younger brother and mother in a precarious financial situation. After months of legal and police involvement, the little family is feeling safe but their finances are drained. A gift of $500 would help Marina and her family purchase food and move on in a positive direction. To contribute, click here and select case #337. Case #338 Kailas parents were 14 when she was born. Though their relationship ended, their responsibilities did not. After some turbulent times, Kaila is living with her father; she is proud that he is taking his role as a parent so seriously. He is a young man who works two jobs to care for his daughter. A gift of $500 would help pay rent and relieve some stress for this dedicated dad. To contribute, click here and select case #338. Case #339 Jaydas mother wont let friends come to their apartment to visit: there are too many mice, which are a health hazard and embarrassment. The family is looking for a new apartment to rent for the New Year. A gift of $800 for rent would help this family find a cleaner, safer home. To contribute, click here and select case #339. Case #340 Kelli lives with her two siblings, grandfather and parents in a three-bedroom apartment. Kelli shares a double bed with her sister. She longs for privacy and space. A gift of $400 for a mattress and box springs would give her a bed of her own where she could stretch out. To contribute, click here and select case #340. Case #341 Jeremys mom takes care of her two young sons and works as a housekeeper six days a week. She is tired when she gets home and often goes straight to bed, leaving her teenage sons to do a lot around the house, including cooking the meals. There is often not enough money by the end of the month for food. A gift of $500 would tide this family over with groceries when money gets tight. To contribute, click here and select case #341. Case #342 Calebs family has been living in a hotel for the past six months. His father cannot work because of disabilities; his mother holds down a job to pay the familys bills. The family does not make enough to save up for the first and last months rent for an apartment. A gift of $800 would help get this family into their own home. To contribute, click here and select case #342. Case #343 Antonia is the oldest of five children. Her mother works at a fast-food chain to support the family and brings home dinner from the restaurant. These children rarely have fresh produce or home-cooked meals, because money is tight. A gift of $500 for groceries would help this family eat healthier during the holiday season. To contribute, click here and select case #343. Case #344 Rashels mother suffered a stroke and remains hospitalized. Rashels father is a deliveryman for a grocery store and works long hours to keep food on his familys table. Rashel does the cooking and housekeeping for her family of four now that her mother is disabled. A gift of $500 for groceries would help this family in an extremely stressful time. To contribute, click here and select case #344. Case #345 Annie is a 19-year-old taking a minimum number of classes at Norwalk Community College because she doesnt have enough money to pay tuition for more than one class at a time. She receives some financial help from her dad, however, he is also struggling to make ends meet. Annie wants to earn her degree, which would increase her employment opportunities. A gift of $500 would help pay the tuition for an additional class and allow Annie to earn her degree sooner. To contribute, click here and select case #345. Case #346 Erica is a 25-year-old mother to a 6-month-old little boy. Erica, her son and her mother recently moved into a new apartment. The little boy had been sleeping in a bassinet next to her bed in her old home, but this is no longer safe because he is pulling himself up and could easily fall. Erica is left with no safe place for her son to sleep. A gift of $350 would pay for a crib so this growing boy has a bed of his own. To contribute, click here and select case #346. Case #347 The past few years have been difficult for Jessica. She is a single mother to two children and has worked hard to provide for them. Jessica has suffered from severe health issues in the past and was recently told that some of those concerns had returned. This will put a financial strain on the family. A gift of $500 would help this family into the New Year. To contribute, click here and select case #347. Case #348 Susan is a single, unemployed woman just a few years shy of retirement. She is also the primary caregiver for her ill brother. Since recently becoming unemployed, Susan has struggled to find a job and is falling behind on her bills. A gift of $300 would allow her to cover her basic needs so that she can focus on her job search. To contribute, click here and select case #348. Case #349 Tara is a single hard-working mother of two children who doesnt receive child support because her ex is living in a nursing facility due to a terminal illness. But Tara fears her car could be repossessed, because she is behind on her payments. She relies on her car to go to and from work and to go to night school. She also needs the car to pick up her children at an after-school program. Tara would benefit from receiving $600 to catch up on her car payments. To contribute, click here and select case #349. STAMFORD Within 48 hours of the new year, the Board of Representatives Land Use Committee is slated to review several hot-button zoning issues and assess whether efforts made in the last year to curb abuses are yielding any results. In three separate review sessions scheduled for next Wednesday, the panel will discuss what the city does after it learns of a zoning complaint, how the city imposes and collects fines on such complaints and the feasibility of regulating Airbnb rentals as the rental listings continue to grow. The city last year added a zoning enforcement officer position and gave officers more teeth, allowing them to issue daily fines for violations. Board President Matthew Quinones, D-16, said the big question to him is whether the investment we made has been productive and has the ordinance helped? One topic to be discussed in particular is the growing presence of roadside lawn signs advertising area services. Although its a surprise to some, the two-staked placards are illegal in citys right-of-way and offending businesses can be fined $90 a day, per sign, for the street-side clutter. That hasnt stopped what city Rep. Bob Lion, D-19, calls a plethora of offenders. If its not stopped it becomes like New Jersey, advertising everywhere, said Lion, who co-sponsored one of the reviews. A lot of people might be unaware of it when they first put it up. Lion said he sees signs all over my district, and on the exits to the Merritt. The worst offender is the personal-training company GymGuyz, he said. The city has fined GymGuyz some $9,000 for signs, but hasnt heard back from the company, Lion said. A man who answered the phone Wednesday for GymGuyz Southern Fairfield County declined to comment and declined to give his name or title. Another issue before the committee will be how the city can regulate short-term rentals. By late summer, city hosts had taken in nearly double the 2,000 guests housed in Stamford through Airbnb in all of 2017. City Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11, has led the charge to regulate Airbnb and similar companies after hearing complaints of over-parked streets and overstuffed homes in otherwise residential neighborhoods. He had initially hoped for a ban, and then a fast-tracked ordinance to instead regulate the rentals, but said he is glad to start with a review on Jan. 2. A lot of residents are upset about it and would like to have something done, he said. Stamford isnt the only municipality wrestling with how to regulate the rentals. The state Office of Legislative Research just this fall filed a report outlining how Connecticut towns are regulating the fledgling industry. Of the towns that have weighed in, most treat the rentals like bed and breakfasts, the report said. If Stamford were to adopt a zoning regulation, for example, it would be only the second Connecticut city to have one. Hartford codified a regulation in recent years that requires short-term rental hosts to obtain a zoning permit before offering rentals and also puts limits on the number of occupants and stay lengths, among other restrictions. The review sessions are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 2 in the Government Centers fourth-floor Democratic Caucus Room. barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton A clamor to create "Medicare for All" has exploded on the left. Democratic presidential hopefuls are racing to co-sponsor legislation, rising stars in the party are embracing it, and national polls show Americans warming to the concept. But even the idea's most fervent backers acknowledge that the goal is far off in the distance, beyond the next year or even the 2020 election. Their aim for now is to shift the health care debate. By making single-payer health care -- a model under which all Americans would get their insurance from a single government plan -- the progressive position, advocates argue that gives Democrats representing conservative areas of the country political cover to support more modest proposals to expand the government's role in health insurance. "Everybody understands we're not going to get Medicare for All enacted in January. But it's a marker about where we want to land, which is to say we want everybody to have health care," Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said in an interview. "This is about moving the so-called Overton window." Moving that Overton window -- the spectrum of ideas the public will accept -- captures the progressive strategy for making the government's Medicare program available for everyone, not just those over 65. Schatz, for instance, is a co-sponsor of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All legislation, but has also offered a less comprehensive alternative which would give states the authority to let people who aren't otherwise eligible buy into the Medicaid program targeted to aiding low-income individuals. The maneuvering on health policy comes as the Affordable Care Act, which expanded insurance coverage to millions of Americans, is under a Republican-led court challenge. While the law, popularly known as Obamacare, remains in effect, the court case may drag into the 2020 campaigns for the White House and Congress. In the meantime, there's a wide range of potential proposals between the status quo and a government-run single-payer system that are gaining support among Democrats. "We will be having a conversation about many ideas on how we can lower the costs of health care," said Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico. The Democratic-led House will discuss the Medicaid buy-in that he co-sponsored with Schatz, as well as Medicare for All and "other initiatives members have, as opposed to Republicans who were only intent on repealing the Affordable Care Act," he said. President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans are unlikely to give up their opposition to Obamacare, much less embrace an expansion of Medicare. Any hope of movement would rely on Democrats riding the issue to control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2020. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declined to say if he supports Medicare for All. "There are lots of different routes," the New York Democrat said on NBC's "Meet The Press" program on Dec. 16. "Many are for Medicare for All. Some are for Medicare buy-in. Some are Medicare over 55. Some are Medicaid buy-in. Some are public option." Schumer said Washington has to "do a lot more on health care," and that it'll be "a major issue in 2020." Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., poised to become House Speaker in January, has also kept her distance from a federal single-payer program, suggesting states adopt it first. While Republicans have struggled to coalesce around a health care alternative, they found unity in attacking Medicare for All against Democrats in 2018 House races, calling it a radical and costly government takeover of health care. Democratic candidates running in swing districts generally distanced themselves from the idea. But the Kaiser Family Foundation found in March that 59 percent of Americans favor "Medicare for All," a figure that's grown in recent years, while 38 percent oppose it. Support fell to 53 percent, though, when it was dubbed a "single-payer plan." Meanwhile, 72 percent favor a "Medicaid buy-in for everyone" and 75 percent favor an optional "Medicare for All" proposal that also lets people who already have coverage keep their plans. The obstacles are enormous. Major changes to health care are politically treacherous as Americans, about half of whom get insurance from an employer, fear their coverage will be reduced. Opposition from industry and conservatives would make plenty of Democrats wary of such a disruptive change. "We don't have the support that we need," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who will co-chair the Progressive Caucus. She said that she'd favor modest expansions of Medicare or Medicaid eligibility as a step toward Medicare for All. "I am a big bold thinker; I'm also a good practical strategist," Jayapal said. "It's why the Medicare For All Caucus was started, because we want to get information to our members so people feel comfortable talking about the attacks we know are going to come." The Democratic Party shift is already under way. In September, former President Barack Obama praised Democrats are running on "good new ideas, like Medicare for All" -- a stark reversal after he rejected the idea of a single-payer system at the outset of his health care overhaul push in 2009. Medicare for All legislation offered by Sanders is backed by numerous Democratic senators considering 2020 presidential bids, including New Jersey's Cory Booker, New York's Kirsten Gillibrand, California's Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The Sanders proposal is estimated to raise federal spending by $32 trillion, according to a study by the conservative Mercatus Center, which also found that it would modestly reduce overall U.S. spending on health care by saving money on provider payments and administrative costs. In other words, Americans would pay higher taxes to finance universal coverage and save on premiums and out-of-pocket costs. "Our first job is to defend the Affordable Care Act. Our second is to improve it and make changes, for example to families' vulnerability to the impact of high-priced drugs. And the third is to find a system of Medicare available to all that will increase the qualify of care while it decreases the cost of all of us," Warren said in an interview. Jayapal predicted it would be "the top issue of the 2020 presidential campaigns." "The left is not bulls---ing when it suggests we should have a single-payer system, but there is definitely some Overton window playing on Medicare for All," said Sean McElwee, a left-wing activist and researcher with advocacy group Data For Progress. McElwee said there are "significant political hurdles in the way of single payer" and there likely will be attempts "water down" the idea of Medicare for All so that it becomes palatable to centrist Democrats. The biggest challenges, he said, will be in the Senate, where less populous, solidly Republican states are on equal footing with larger, solidly Democratic states and there's a 60-vote threshold for legislation. In addition, several Democratic senators, including Ohio's Sherrod Brown and West Virginia's Joe Manchin, have conservative constituencies. Even before the next Congress convenes in January, young, newly elected House progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota are pushing the idea of Medicare for All to their social media followers. Liberal groups like MoveOn and the Sanders-aligned Our Revolution want to make it a litmus test for Democratic presidential candidates in 2020. "In the debate about what it means to be a Democrat, the progressive vision has won out. They've lost the war. They're going extinct," McElwee said of some of the conservatives who prevented a single-payer system from being considered when Obamacare was first debated. "They're like the dinosaurs and the meteor's already coming." Between Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding and Prince Charles 70th birthday, 2018 has been a landmark year for British royals - not least for the tiniest members of The Firm, who have been out and about in their best this year. The christening of Prince Louis in July / Getty Images Prince George and Princess Charlotte visited their newborn brother, Prince Louis, after his birth on April 23. Princess Charlotte had time for a quick over-the-shoulder wave on the steps of the Lindo Wing before the Duchess of Cambridge emerged with Prince Louis, who is fifth in line to the throne. Princess Charlotte at the wedding of her uncle Prince Harry / AFP/Getty Images Nearly two billion people then tuned in to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding on May 19, with George and Charlotte taking key roles in the ceremony as pageboy and flower girl - Prince George's outfit also inspired this spot-on Harry Potter meme. Prince George after the wedding of his uncle Prince Harry / AFP/Getty Images The young royal entourage came out in force again for Princess Eugenies wedding in October, where George stifled a giggle during the ceremony. Prince George giggles at the wedding of his father's cousin Princess Eugenie / AFP/Getty Images Then for Prince Charles' 70th birthday, a series of Royal Family portraits were released of the heir to the throne and his immediate family - including a grinning Prince Louis. Now there's another young royal on the way in 2019 as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting their first child in the spring. Until then, look back at some of this years best shots of the smallest Royal Family members, and scoll through our gallery below to see some of the best royal moments of 2018. B order Force officials are stepping up their efforts to tackle people smugglers after 40 migrants crossed the Channel towards Britain on Christmas Day. Authorities were called to five separate instances involving people claiming to be from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, the Home Office said. The Christmas Day crossings follow a number of migrant rescues in recent months involving people trying to travel across the Channel to Britain. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Border Force has intercepted a number of boats containing migrants attempting to cross the Channel overnight and this morning, and has deployed resources to deal with these incidents. "The evidence shows there is organised criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel. "We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk." A girl was among eight people who arrived in Folkestone, Kent, at around 2.40am on Christmas Day. A child was also one of 13 people on board a dinghy assisted by Border Force off the coast of Deal, Kent, shortly before 7am. Separately, a Border Force cutter was deployed at 5.50am to the Channel to help a dinghy which was travelling towards the UK with seven men and a woman onboard. All of those involved underwent a medical assessment and the adults have been transferred to immigration officials to be interviewed. The children will come under the care of social services, officials said. In another incident in French waters, nine migrants were rescued and are now in the UK after the engine of the vessel they were travelling in failed. They have been transferred to the Coastguard to be assessed. Border Force officials are being assisted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after being called to an incident in the Channel before 9.20am involving two people in a small boat travelling towards the UK. All 40 people are now in the UK, the Home Office said. T wo endangered tiger cubs are set to be unveiled to the public at Dublin Zoo next year. The Amur cubs, who are both females, were born in October after a 106-day pregnancy to first-time mother, three-year-old Tundra, and eight-year-old father Ussuri. Director Leo Oosterweghel said the zoo has been celebrating the arrivals, who have not yet been shown to the public. He said that Tundra was taking to motherhood very well and her cubs have bonded well with her. Two-month old Amur tiger cub / PA Wire/PA Images "She's perfect, she's just amazing looking after them," he said. "Often with cats, the first litter is touch-and-go - but these guys, they are powering ahead." Mr Oosterweghel said it has not been decided when visitors will be able to catch a glimpse of the cubs, it will depend on when the cubs are ready. "They are still with their mother, they're weaning now, they are eating meat and they've sharp little teeth," he said. An endangered species, Amur tigers - which were formerly known as Siberian tigers, are native to eastern Russia, China and the Korean peninsula. They are now found primarily in a small part of the Amur river region on the border between China and Russia. It is estimated that about 540 remain in the wild. In the 1940s, numbers had dwindled to 40 due to hunting before a conservation effort boosted the population. Dublin Zoo director Leo Oosterweghel holds a two-month old Amur tiger cub / PA Wire/PA Images Mr Oosterweghel said he keeps a close eye on the cubs via a live feed camera set up in the habitat that he can access on his phone. They are currently in a private enclosure with their mother, while their father remains outside. Like all tiger cubs, they were born with their eyes closed and were unable to see for the first 12-14 days. At two weeks, one cub weighed 3.14 kg and the other weighed 2.79kg. They have been gaining weight every day but it will still take them time before they catch up with their parents. Their mother weighs 124 kilos while their father weighs almost 200 kilos. Oussari, a male amur tiger, takes a dip in the water at Dublin Zoo / PA Wire/PA Images Team leader Ciaran McMahon said: "They're doing extremely well. All they do is feed all day constantly off the mother. Their growth rate is quite rapid." He added that it was significant that both cubs were females. "It's a big, big lottery plus for us," Mr McMahon said. Dublin Zoo is part of an international breeding programme designed to ensure the survival of tigers in their natural habitat. A man has died after being hit by a police car as it responded to an emergency call in Liverpool on Christmas night. The pedestrian was knocked down on Scotland Road in the Vauxhall area of the city at about 6.50pm. A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "We can confirm an investigation is currently under way following a fatal road traffic collision in Liverpool. "At around 6.50pm a collision occurred between a police vehicle and a male pedestrian on Scotland Road. PA Wire/PA Images "Emergency services attended and the pedestrian was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead." The force said the man had been identified and his next of kin had been informed. Police at the scene of an accident on Scotland Road / PA Wire/PA Images The incident has been reported to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has launched an investigation. An IOPC spokesman said: "Merseyside Police has referred to us a fatal collision involving a police car and a pedestrian on Scotland Road in Liverpool. "We have sent investigators to the scene. "Following a brief assessment, we have decided to carry out an independent investigation. "On current information, we understand the police car was responding to an emergency call when it collided with the man crossing the road at around 6.50pm." On Wednesday, Scotland Road had been reopened and police signs appealing for witnesses had been placed near to a pedestrian crossing. A witness told the Liverpool Echo he saw the police car hit the pedestrian as he was crossing the road. He said: "Two police officers were trying to hold the man. I offered them a bottle of water in case they needed it but I didn't want to get in their way." Other witnesses told the Echo that the police car had its blue lights flashing at the time of the collision. The fourth annual Bozak Family Christmas Light Show, a local holiday tradition programmed and constructed by Porter County Councilman Andy Bozak, his son Ayden and daughter Ava, will run through Tuesday, Jan. 1. Lights will be on from 4:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and from 4:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 259 Lake Park Road, Burns Harbor. Drawing more than 6,000 watts of electricity, the lights are timed to music that can be heard on 92.5FM. Although the show is free, a secure donation box will be on site. All money collected will be donated to The Caring Place in Valparaiso, a shelter for women and children in need. From 5-8 p.m. Sunday, the Bozak family along with The Amanda Forum, part of The Caring Place, will be handing out hot cocoa and candy canes, and Santa will make an appearance to pose for free photos with visitors. More information is at andy@abphotoshots.com or at www.facebook.com/bozakfamilylights/. I ts been one hilarious year for television, from This Morning mix-ups to Love Island takedowns. From Phillip Schofield getting tongue-tied to Holly Willoughby running screaming from critters, our favourite presenters havent failed to keep us entertained. Here are our favourite laugh-out-loud moments: Phillip Schofield gets his words in a muddle on This Morning Philip Schofield accidentally says 'dick out' live on air_2 Telling viewers about an upcoming interview with Rita Ora, Schofield brightened up the Monday morning rundown by telling viewers to get ready to d*** out. He immediately clasped his hands over his mouth while Holly Willoughby fell about in hysterics. Fans of the show hailed the moment telly gold. Piers Morgan chases Janet Street-Porter around Loose Women studio for a hug Piers Morgan chases Janet Street-Porter round the Loose Women studio Piers Morgan swapped Good Morning Britain for Loose Women when he joined the lunchtime ladies to chat about his then-upcoming Life Stories interview with Pamela Anderson. But he was less than welcomed by journalism stalwart Janet Street-Porter, who ran away from him as he went in to for a hug. Morgan then chased the hug-phobic panellist around the studio before admitting defeat. Declan Donnelly dresses up as Kylie during Saturday Night Takeaway Declan Donnelly dresses up as Kylie during Saturday Night Takeaway During the End of the Show Show from the Princess of Pop, Donnelly pulled out all the stops with his costume and donned a gold minidress. Relaxing on the bar, he twerked suggestively before kicking his bare legs in the air. Hayley Hughes on Brexit As with most conversations between Brits this year, conversation among the new pals soon turned to Brexit. And model Hayley had an important question - does that mean there wont be any trees? Turns out she actually said cheese. And when she was out of the villa, Hayley sat down with Nigel Farage to learn about Britains ever-confusing exit from the European Union next year. Alexandras mum savaging Dr Alex on Love Island Love Island fans were jubilant after Dr Alex was roasted by Alexandras mum during the Meet the Parents episode, after she had to watch her daughter be messed around by the medic. Janice blasted the doctor for expecting her daughter to be grateful when he picked her and then wondering why she was grumpy with him. She also told Alexandra how she had to pull herself back when she watched him in action. Sir David Attenborough telling Naga Munchetty off because he wants to talk about butterflies Sir David Attenborough on BBC Breakfast Britains favourite naturalist backed The Big Butterfly Count, urging residents to count the flying insects, but an interview about the project was somewhat hijacked on BBC Breakfast. Presenter Munchetty asked Attenborough about his meeting with the Queen, leaving the 92-year-old unimpressed as he retorted: "I want to talk about butterflies. Thats why you asked me here." Holly and Phil do Baby Shark Holly and Phil do the baby shark dance on This Morning The popular This Morning duo paid homage to catchy viral song Baby Shark (which is now in your head, sorry) by performing it at the opening of the show. After the dance, Schofield hailed it as one of the weirdest openings theyd ever done while viewers shared videos and pictures of their excited children giggling along. Alison Hammond chucking a poor sailor into freezing water during anniversary episode Alison Hammond pushes a man in the water on This Morning When This Morning turned 30 in October, they sent Alison Hammond back to Liverpool where it all began and put her in charge of the floating weather map that was back for one day only. All was going swimmingly until Hammond tried to jump from Wales to Ireland and pushed an unsuspecting sailor into the freezing water in the Albert Docks. Holly and Phil were in hysterics. Hammond was in hysterics. Fans were in hysterics. November: Shirley Ballas messes up the Lindy Hop-a-thon scores on Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing: judges muddle the scoring During week 10 of the BBC competition, the remaining seven couples faced the Lindy Hop-A-Thon with all the couples on the floor at the same time. When it came to announcing the scores, the digital score sheet went berserk and head judge Ballas was forced to resort to an old-fashioned piece of paper to read out the rankings. But things went from bad to worse for Ballas who mixed up the placings and even got one of the couples names wrong. It really comes to something when Bruno Tonioli is the voice of reason, but thats exactly what happened. Holly Willoughby cowers behind Dec as she gets to grips with Im A Celeb Holly Willoughby screams after being attacked by cockroaches and crickets Before jetting off to Australia, Willoughby was up front about being scared of everything that moves but the presenter managed to keep her cool in the Bushtucker Trial area right up until the last day when Emily Atack was forced to wear a helmet of critters. But, Ahmed said, many families in the area have kids who were born in the United States to immigrant parents, or brought here when they were young. Those parents might not be acclimated to American culture, something that can be a unique stressor for their kids. Despite challenges in China's car-sharing economy, shared mobility still has a promising future, according to Huashang Daily. TOGO, an internet-based car sharing company, has faced a flurry of deposit refunds recently. While some companies are in trouble and the industry profitability is not clear, auto manufacturers are stepping up their efforts in the market. At present, local players can be divided into three categories -- internet startups, local self-owned original equipment manufacturers, and traditional car rental companies. Carmaker SAIC Motor launched its online ride-hailing platform Xiangdao Chuxing on Dec 18, four days after a similar service called ReachNow was unveiled by BMW Group in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province. In addition, auto manufacturers including Dongfeng Motor, Geely Auto and Great Wall Motor have all opened their own ride-hailing services. The moves follow a drop in auto sales in the world's largest auto market. In the first 11 months of this year, China's auto market saw a sales decline of 1.7 percent year-on-year to 25.42 million vehicles, while output fell 2.6 percent to 25.33 million vehicles, the CAAM data showed. Carmakers' transformation to a customer-oriented service provider has become a way to ease the burden of excess inventory, the report said. However, the lack of industry standards, the occupation of public resources by shared cars, parking problems, and safety regulations for new energy vehicles still need to be resolved. The potential market capacity this year for China's car-sharing market may be 1.8 trillion yuan ($261 billion), according to the consultancy Roland Berger. From 2020 to 2025, the ride-sharing industry will gradually be dominated by online ride-hailing and car-sharing, it predicted. Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu is paying an official visit to the Republic of Serbia on Wednesday, at the invitation of his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic, the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs in a press release. The Romanian chief diplomat will have in Belgrade talks on topical matters on the bilateral agenda, particularly concerning the development of the relations on an economic level and on European affairs, namely the European bid of the Republic of Serbia and Romania's concrete support for speeding up the accession negotiations of this state to the EU during Romania's Presidency at the EU Council. Moreover, they will also tackle aspects regarding the situation of the Romanian minority in the Republic of Serbia and the continuation of the bilateral dialogue within the Intergovernmental Joint Committee in this area, as well as regional developments. Read also: Code Yellow for strong wind in 14 counties At the same time, Melescanu will also discuss with members of the Romanian community of the Republic of Serbia. During the official visit, Teodor Melescanu will hold consultations with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, PM Ana Brnabic, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, as well as with National Assembly President Maja Gojkovic. AGERPRES . Border policemen of Timis County discovered on Tuesday eight Cuban citizens who were trying to illegally cross the border from Serbia to Romania, on foot, as they wished to reach Spain, the Border Police Inspectorate General (IGPF) informs in a release. The eight foreign citizens were taken over by the Serbian authorities based on the readmission agreement. On Tuesday, around 8 o'clock, the border policemen initiated an action on illegal migration combat following which they discovered, close to the border locality Teremia Mare, eight persons who weren't speaking Romanian and couldn't justify their presence in the area. "The border policemen immediately escorted those in question to the border police headquarters for investigations, where it was established they are from Cuba, five men and three women, aged between 21 and 42. The persons in question declared they had tried to illegally cross the border from Serbia to Romania, on foot, through the 'green border,' as they wished to get to Spain. At the same time, they also pointed out that from Belgrade to the border with Romania they used various public transport means," the release reads. Read also: ForMin Melescanu paying official visit to Serbia Investigations are conducted in the case related to the fraudulent state border crossing. AGERPRES . Huawei's rotating chairman Ken Hu, or Hu Houkun, held a media roundtable with journalists from 14 international media organizations at the company's new campus in Dongguan, South China's Guangdong province, on Dec 18, sharing Huawei's business progress and future planning. Hu said the company will achieve more than $100 billion in total revenue by the end of this year, adding that Huawei will launch more chipsets, hardware and software solutions for artificial intelligence to help customers maximize the benefits of 5G technology. When it comes to security allegations, Hu said it's best to let the facts speak for themselves. Huawei's record on security is clean, and it believes that cybersecurity is a global issue. "It's an industrywide issue and we need to address it together," Hu added. Peter VAN BUREN Senior officials never seem to resign over a president starting a war. Now Trump, the guy everyone expected to start new wars, has instead ended one and is on his way to wrapping up another. The New York Times, its journalists in mourning over the loss of a war, ask, Who will protect America now? Mattis the warrior-monk is juxtaposed with the flippant commander-in-Cheeto. The Times sees strategic disaster in an abrupt and dangerous decision, detached from any broader strategic context or any public rationale, [that] sowed new uncertainty about Americas commitment to the Middle East, [and] its willingness to be a global leader. A major blunder, tweeted Senator Marco Rubio. If it isnt reversed it will hauntAmerica for years to come. Senator Lindsey Graham called for congressional hearings. And what is history if not irony? Rubio talks of haunting foreign policy decisions in Syria seemingly without knowledge of previous calamities in Iraq. Graham wants to hold hearings on quitting a war Congress never held hearings on authorizing. Thats all wrong. Jim Mattiss resignation as defense secretary (and on Sunday, Brett McGurk, as special envoy to the coalition fighting ISIS) and Trumps decision to withdraw from Syria and Afghanistan are indeed significant. But thats because they mark the beginning of the end of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), the singular, tragic, bloody driver of American foreign policy for almost two decades. Its 2018, soon to be 2019. Why does the U.S. have troops in Syria? To defeat the Islamic State? ISISs ability to hold ground and project power outside its immediate backyard was destroyed somewhere back in 2016 by an unholy coalition of American, Iranian, Russian, Syrian, Turkish, and Israeli forces in Iraq and Syria. Sure, there are terrorists who continue to set off bombs in ISISs name, but they are not controlled or directed out of Syria. They are most likely legal residents of the Western countries they attack, radicalized online or in local mosques. They are motivated by a philosophy, which cannot be destroyed on the ground in Syria. This is the fundamental failure of the GWOT: that you cant blow up an idea. Regime change? It was never a practical idea. As in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, there was never a plan for what to do next, for how to keep Syria from descending into complete chaos the day Assad was removed. And though progressives embraced the idea of getting rid of another evil dictator when it came through the mouthpiece of Obamas own freedom fighter Samantha Power, the same idea today has little drive behind it. Russia? Overwrought fear of Moscow was once a sign of unhealthy paranoia satirized on The Twilight Zone. Today, Russia hate is seen as a prerequisite to patriotism, though it still makes no more sense. The Russians have long had a practical relationship with Syria, having maintained a naval base at Tartus since 1971, which they will continue to do. There was never a plan for the U.S. to push the Russians outObama in fact saw the Russian presence are part of the solution in Syria. American withdrawal is far more of a return to status quo than anything like a win for Putin. (Elsewhere at TAC, Matt Purple pokes more holes in Putin paranoia.) The Kurds? The U.S.-Kurd story is one of expediency over morality. Weve used them only because, at every sad turn, theres been no force otherwise available in bulk. The Kurds have been abandoned many times by America: in 1991 when it refused to assist them in breaking away from Saddam Hussein following Gulf War I, when it insisted they remain part of a united Iraq following Gulf War II, and most definitively in 2017 following Gulf War III when the U.S. did not support their independence referendum, relegating them to Baghdads forever half-loved stepchild. After all that, Americas intentions toward the Kurds in Syria are barely a sideshow-scale event. The Kurds want to cleave off territory from Turkey and Syria, something neither nation will permit and something the U.S. quietly understands would destabilize the region. Mattis, by the way, supported NATO ally Turkey in its fight against the Kurds, calling them an active insurgency inside its borders. Iran? Does the U.S. really have troops in Syria to brush back Iranian influence? As with all of the above, that genie got out of the bottle years ago. Iranian power in the greater Middle East has grown dramatically since 2003, and has been driven at every step by the blunders of the United States. If the most powerful army in the world couldnt stop the Iranians from essentially winning Gulf Wars II and III, how can 2,000 troops in Syria hope to accomplish much? The United States, of course, wasnt even shooting at the Iranians in Syria; in most cases it was working either with them or tacitly alongside them towards the goal of killing off ISIS. Tehrans role as Assads protector was set as America rumbled about regime change. Iran has since pieced together a land corridor to the Mediterranean through Iraq and Syria, which it will not be giving up, certainly not because of the presence of a few thousand Americans. What remains is that once-neocon, now progressive catch-all: we need to stay in Syria to preserve American credibility. While pundits can still get away with this line, the rest of the globe already knows the empire has no clothes. Since 2001, the United States has spent some $6 trillion on its wars, and killed multiple 9/11s worth of American troops and foreign civilians. The U.S. has tortured, still maintains its gulag at Guantanamo, and, worst of all credibility-wise, has lost on every front. Afghanistan after 17 years of war festers. Nothing was accomplished with Iraq. Libya is a failed state. Syria is the source of a refugee crisis whose long-term effects on Europe are still being played out. We are the indispensable nation only in our own minds. A lot of people around the world probably wish America would just stop messing with their countries. So why does the U.S. have troops in Syria? Anyone? Bueller? Mattis? Americas presence in Syria, like Jim Mattis himself, is an artifact of another era, the failed GWOT. As a Marine, Mattis served in ground combat leadership roles in Gulf Wars I and II, and also in Afghanistan. He ran United States Central Command from 2010 to 2013, the final years of The Surge in Iraq and American withdrawal afterwards. There is no doubt why he supported the American military presence in Syria, and why he resigned to protest Trumps decision to end it: Mattis knew nothing else. His entire career was built around the strategy of the GWOT, the core of which was to never question GWOT strategy. Mattis didnt need a reason to stay in Syria; being in Syria was the reason. So why didnt Trump listen to his generals? Maybe because the bulk of their advice has been dead wrong for 17 years? Instead, Trump plans a dramatic drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. presence in Iraq has dwindled from combat to advise and assist. Congress seems poised to end U.S. involvement in Yemen against Mattiss advice. There is no pleasure in watching Jim Mattis end his decades of service with a bureaucratic dirty stick shoved at him as a parting gift. But to see this all as another Trump versus the world blunder is very wrong. The war on terror failed. It should have been dismantled long ago. Barack Obama could have done it, but instead became a victim of hubris and bureaucratic capture, and allowed it to expand. His supporters give him credit for not escalating the war in Syria, but leave out the part about how he also left the pot to simmer on the stove instead of removing it altogether. The raw drive to insta-hate everything Trump does is misleading otherwise thoughtful people. So lets try a new lens: during the campaign Trump outspokenly denounced the waste of Americas wars. Pro-Trump sentiment in rural areas was driven by people who agreed with his critique, by people whod served in these wars, whose sons and daughters had served, or, given the length of all this, both. Since taking office, the president has pulled U.S. troops back from pointless conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Congress may yet rise to do the same for American involvement in Yemen. No new wars have been started. Though the results are far from certain, for the first time in nearly 20 years, negotiations are open again with North Korea. Mattiss ending was clumsy, but it was a long time coming. It is time for some old ideas to move on. theamericanconservative.com "After going through difficulties and challenges, Huawei will become stronger," said its Chairman Liang Hua at a press conference on Tuesday. Despite the recent event, Huawei's operations and performance have been as usual. Its smartphone business won't be affected, either, Liang added. Businesses as usual In Germany, Huawei's businesses are going as usual; in France, it has been actively participating in the 5G construction for local operators; in New Zealand, its clients will maintain cooperation with Huawei while mediating with the government, he said. Though opportunities for 5G market have just begun, the company has secured over 25 commercial 5G contracts, signed cooperation agreements with more than 50 global business partners, and shipped more than 10,000 base stations for 5G, the largest in the world. So far this year, it has shipped more than 200 million smartphones, a new record for the company. Huawei overtook Apple in the second and the third quarters of 2018 to become the world's second-largest phone vendor, according to market research firm IDC. The company will release smartphones equipped with 5G chips in the first half of 2019, which will be massively produced for commercial end in the second half of next year. Compliance and transparency to be strengthened Huawei will strengthen compliance and transparency in its operations to secure customers' trust, and keep increasing investment in its advantageous fields, said Liang, who believes trust is the foundation for the company to grow further. Since 2007 when the company first started cooperation with U.S. companies, Huawei has established a trade compliance management system, which covered all procedures including marketing, research and development, manufacturing, procurement and supply chain. It has also established a financial compliance management system that systematically manages financial compliance risks. A leading 5G service provider Despite external pressure and difficulties, Huawei has developed by leaps and bounds in 5G technologies and will put more efforts in the industry. As an industry-leading provider for 5G service, both in technology and commercial use, the company has built up its competitiveness with over 1,600 core patents. "Huawei has participated in commercial testing of dozens of 5G networks around the world, and the data shows that Huawei is at least 12 to 18 months ahead of the rest of the industry in technology maturity," said Liang. "The 5G network deployment involves the entire industrial chain of terminals, system equipment, core network, transmission, load bearing," he said, calling on related enterprises to cooperate for better exploration in technological development and commercial application. Besides advanced technology, the company takes network security and privacy protection as the highest priority. The company has decided to invest two billion U.S. dollars as a special budget for an overall upgrade of software engineering capability in five years, enabling products to better meet future challenges and a more complex network environment. The company's original system will be further optimized and improved under the requirements by new technology development and operation. "Huawei will follow the strategy set earlier, and won't make fundamental changes with the change of external environment," said Liang. Ron PAUL We all had a big shock this week when, seemingly out of the blue, President Trump announced that he was removing US troops from Syria and would draw down half of the remaining US troops in Afghanistan. The president told us the troops were in Syria to fight ISIS and with ISIS nearly gone the Syrians and their allies could finish the job. All of a sudden the Trump haters who for two years had been telling us that the president was dangerous because he might get us in a war, were telling us that the president is dangerous because he was getting us out of a war! These are the same people who have been complaining about the presidents historic efforts to help move toward peace with North Korea. There was more than a little hypocrisy among the never Trump resistance over the presidents announcement. Many of the talking heads and politicians who attacked George W. Bushs wars, then were silent for President Obamas wars, are now attacking President Trump for actually taking steps to end some wars. It just goes to show that for many who make their living from politics and the military-industrial complex, there are seldom any real principles involved. Among the neoconservatives, Sen. Lindsey Grahams reaction was pretty typical. Though it seems Sen. Graham is never bothered when presidents violate the Constitution to take the US into another war without authorization, he cannot tolerate it when a president follows the Constitution and removes US troops from wars they have no business being involved in. Sen. Graham is now threatening to hold Congressional hearings in attempt to reverse the Presidents decision to remove troops from Syria. Neoconservatives are among the strongest proponents of the idea that as a unitary executive, the president should not be encumbered by things like the Constitution when it comes to war-making. Now all of a sudden when a president uses his actual Constitutional authority to remove troops from a war zone the neocons demand Congressional meddling to weaken the president. They get it wrong on both fronts! The president does have Constitutional authority to move US troops and to remove US troops; Congress has the power and the obligation to declare war and the power of the purse to end wars. Most of the Washington establishment especially the resistance liberals and the neocons are complaining that by removing US troops from these two war zones President Trump has gone too far. I would disagree with them. I call President Trumps announcement a good start. Americans are tired of being the worlds policemen. The United States does not lose influence by declining to get involved in disputes oceans away. We lose influence by spending more on the military than most of the rest of the world combined and meddling where we are not wanted. We will lose a whole lot more influence when their crazy spending makes us bankrupt. Is that what they want? We should pay attention to Washingtons wild reaction to Trumps announcement. The vested interests do not want us to have any kind of peace dividend because they have become so rich on the war dividend. Meanwhile the middle class is getting poorer and were all less safe. Lets hope President Trump continues these moves to restore sanity in our foreign policy. That would really make America great again! ronpaulinstitute.org On December 19, Donald Trump announced in a Twitter message: "Our boys, our young women, our men, they're all coming back and they're coming back now. We won". Shortly thereafter, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement: "We have started the process of returning US troops home from Syria as we transition to the next phase of the campaign". The reasons for Donald Trumps move are many, but they are mainly driven by US domestic concerns. The temperature is heating up for Trump following the midterms, as the Democrats prepare to take command of the House of Representatives in January, something that Trump had always hoped to avert. He surrounded himself with generals, in the forlorn hope that this would somehow protect him. If the last two years of his presidency were constantly under the cloud of Muellers investigation, or insinuations of being an agent of Putin, from January 2019 the situation is going to get much more complicated. The Democratic electoral base is baying for the Presidents impeachment, the party already in full pre-primary mode, with more than 20 candidates competing, with the incumbent of the White House offering the rallying cry. The combination of these factors has forced Trump to change gears, considering that the military-industrial-intelligence-media-complex has always been ready to get rid of Trump, even in favor of a President Pence. The only option available for Trump in order to have a chance of reelection in 2020 is to undertake a self-promotion tour, a practice in which he has few peers, and which will involve him repeating his mantra of Promises Made, Promises Kept. He will list how he has fought against the fake-news media, suffered internal sabotage, as well as other efforts (from the Fed, the FBI, and Mueller himself) to hamper his efforts to Make America Great Again. Trump has perhaps understood that in order to be re-elected, he must pursue a simple media strategy that will have a direct impact on his base. Withdrawing US troops from Syria, and partly from Afghanistan, serves this purpose. It is an easy way to win with his constituents, while it is a heavy blow to his fiercest critics in Washington who are against this decision. Given that 70% of Americans think that the war in Afghanistan was a mistake, the more that the mainstream media attacks Trump for his decision to withdraw, the more they direct votes to Trump. In this sense, Trump's move seems to be directed at a domestic rather than an international audience. The decision to get out of Syria is timed to coincide with another move that will also very much please Trumps base. The government shutdown is a result of the Democrats refusing to fund Trumps campaign promise to build a wall on the Mexican border. It is not difficult to understand that the average citizen is fed up with the useless wars in the Middle East, and Trump's words on immigration resonate with his voters. The more the media, the Democrats and the deep state criticize Trump on the wall, on the Syria pull out and on shutting down the government, the more they are campaigning for him. This is why in order to understand the withdrawal of the United States from Syria it is necessary to see things from Trump's perspective, even as frustrating, confusing and incomprehensible that may seem at times. The difference this time around was that the decision to withdraw US troops from Syria was Trumps alone, not something imposed on him by the generals that surround him. The choice to announce to his base, via Twitter, a victory against ISIS and the immediate withdrawal of US troops was a smart election move with an eye on the 2020 election. It is possible that Trump, as is his wont, also wanted to send a message to his alleged French and British allies present in the northeast of Syria alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US soldiers. Trump may be now taunting: "Lets see what you can do without the US!" It is as if Trump is admonishing these countries in a more concrete way for not lifting their weight in terms of military spending. Trump is vindictive and is not averse, after taking advantage of his opponent, to kicking him once he is down. Trump could be correct in this regard, and maybe French and British forces will be forced to withdraw their small group of 400 to 500 illegal occupiers of Syrian territory. Macron has for now reacted angrily at Trump's decision, intensifying the division between the two, and is adamant that the French military presence in Syria will continue. There is also a more refined reason to justify the US withdrawal, even if Trump is probably unaware of it. The problem in these cases is always trying to peer through the fog of war and propaganda in order to discern the clear, unadulterated truth. We should begin by listing the winners and losers of the Syrian conflict. Damascus, Moscow, Tehran and Hezbollah have won the war against aggression. Riyadh, Doha, Paris, London, Tel Aviv and Washington, with their al Qaeda, Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist proxies, failed to destroy Syria, and following seven years of effort, are forced to scurry away in defeat. Those who are walking a tightrope between war and defeat are Ankara and the so-called SDF. The withdrawal of the United States has confirmed the balance on the ledger of winners and losers, with the clock counting down for Erdogan and the SDF to make their next determinative move. The enemies of Syria survive thanks to repeated bluffs. The Americans of the military-industrial-intelligence apparatus maintain the pretence that they still have an influence in Syria, what with troops on the ground, attacking Trump for withdrawing. In fact, since the Russians have imposed a no-fly-zone across the country, with the S-300 systems and other sophisticated equipment that integrate the Syrian air-defenses into the Russian air defenses, US coalition planes are for all intents and purposes grounded, and the same goes for the Israelis. Of course the French and British in Syria are infected with the same delusional disease, choosing to believe that they can count for something without the US presence. We will see in the near future whether they also withdraw their illegal presence from Syria. The biggest bluff of all probably comes from Erdogan, who for months threatened to invade Syria to fight ISIS, the Kurds, or any other plausible excuse to invade a sovereign country for the purposes of advancing his dreams of expanding Turkish territory as far as Idlib (which Erdogan considers a province of Turkey). Such an invasion, however, is unlikely to happen, as it would unite the SDF, Damascus and her allies to reject the Turkish advance on Syrian territory. The Kurds in turn seem to have only one option left, namely, a forced negotiation with Damascus to give back to the Syrian people, in exchange for protection, the control of their territory that is rich in oil and gas. Erdogan wants to eliminate the SDF, and until now, the only thing that stood in his way was the US military presence. He even threatened to attack several times, even in spite of the presence of US troops. Ankara has long been on a collision course with NATO countries on account of this. By removing US troops, Trump imagines, relations between Turkey and the US may also improve. This of course is of little interest to the US deep state, since Erdogan, like Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is considered unsuitable, and is accordingly branded a "dictator". Trump probably believes that with this move, as with his defense of MBS concerning Khashoggi, that he can try and establish a strong personal friendship with Erdogan. There are even talks about the sale of Patriot systems to the Turks and the extradition of Gulen. When Will They Leave, and Cui Prodest? It remains to be confirmed when and to what extent US troops will leave Syria. If the US had no voice in the future in Syria, with 2,000 men on the ground, now it has even less. Leaving behind 200 to 300 special forces and CIA operatives, together with another 400 to 500 French and British personnel, will, once they are captured with their Daesh and al Qaeda friends, be an excellent bargaining chip for Damascus, as they were in Aleppo. The military-industrial-intelligence-media complex considers Trump's decision the worst of of all possible moves. Mattis even resigned on account of this. The presence of US troops in Syria allowed the foreign-policy establishment to continue to formulate plans (and spend money to pay a lot of people in Washington) based on the delusion that they are doing something in Syria to change the course of events. For Israel, it is a double disaster, with Netanyahu desperate to survive, seeking to factor in expected elections in a now-or-never political move. Trump probably understands that Bibi is done for, and that at this point, the withdrawal of troops, fulfilling a fundamental electoral promise, counts more than Israeli money and his friendship to Bibi. Erdogan has two options before him. On the one hand, he can act against the Kurds. On the other hand, he can sit down at the negotiating table with Damascus and the SDF, in an Astana format, guided by Iran and Russia. Putin and Rouhani are certainly pushing for this solution. Trump, on the other hand, would like to see Turkey enter Syria in the place of US forces, to demonstrate he concluded a win-win deal for everyone, beating the deep-state at their own game. Erdogan does not really have the military force necessary to enter Syria, which is the big secret. He would be against both the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the SDF, though the two not necessarily in an alliance. There is a triple bluff going on, and this is what is complicating the situation so much. On the one hand, the SDF is bluffing in not wanting help from Damascus in case Erdogan sends in his forces; on the other hand, Erdogan is bluffing in suggesting he is able to conquer the territory held by the SDF; and finally, the French and British are bluffing by telling the SDF they will be able to help them against both Erdogan and/or Assad. Iran, Russia, Syria are the only ones who do not need to bluff, because they occupy the best position the commanding heights. They view Trump's decisions and his allies with distrust. They know very well that these are mostly moves for internal consumption by the enemies of Syria. If the US withdraws, there is so much to be gained. The priority then becomes the west of Syria, sealing the borders with Jordan, removing the pockets of terrorists from the east, and securing the al-Tanf crossing. If the SDF will request protection from Damascus and will be willing to participate in the liberation of the country and its reconstruction, Erdogan will be done for, and this could lead to the total liberation of Idlib. It would be the best possible outcome, an important national reconciliation between two important parts of the population. It would give Damascus new economic impetus and prepare the Syrian people to expel the remaining invaders (ISIS and the FSA/ Turkish Armed Forces) from the country, both in Idlib and in the northeast in Afrin. Russia is aware of the risk that Erdogan is running with the choices he will take in the coming days. Perhaps the reason why Putin chose diplomacy over war with Turkey after the downing of a Russian Su-24 in 2015 was in order to arrive at this precise moment, with as many elements as possible present to convince Erdogan to stick with Russia and Iran instead of embracing Trumps strategy and putting himself on an open collision course with Damascus, Moscow and Tehran. Putin has always been five moves ahead. He is aware that the US could not stay long in Syria. He knows that France and the UK cannot support the SDF, and that the SDF cannot hold territory it holds in Syria without an agreement with Damascus. He is also conscious that Turkey does not have the strength to enter Syria and hold the territory if it did. It would only be able justify an advance on Idlib with the support of the Russian Air Force. Putin has certainly made it clear to Erdogan that if he made such a move to attack the SDF and enter Syria, Russia in turn would militarily support the SAA with its air force to free Idlib; and in case of incidents with Turkey, the Russian armed forces would respond with all the interest earned from the unrequited downing of the Su-24 in 2015. Erdogan has no choice. He must find an agreement with Damascus, and this is why he found himself commenting on Trump's words the following day, criticizing US sanctions on Iran in the presence of Iranian president Rouhani. The SDF know that they are between a rock and a hard place, and have already sent a delegation to start negotiations with Damascus. Trump's move was driven by US domestic politics and aimed at the 2020 elections. But in doing so, Trump inevitably called out once and for all the bluffs built by Syrias enemies, infuriating in the process the neoliberal imperialist establishment, revealing how each of these factions has no more cards to play and is in actual fact destined for defeat. China has been very successful at using Russian weapons designs but not the by copying original Russian models but by checking with users (often Chinese troops) to discover likes and dislikes as well as desired changes. As a result, the Chinese copies are increasingly a major improvement over the Russian original. Case in point is the new (2018) Chinese QN-506/ZPT 99 Fire Support Vehicle. This is built on the chassis of a Type 59 (Russian T-54) tank with the original turret removed and replaced with a smaller one that is filled with weapons and sensors. The three man crew (driver, commander and sensor operator) are within the body of the vehicle. The commander and sensor (vidcams, thermal imager) operator also operate the multiple weapons that are remotely controlled from inside the vehicle. These include a 30mm autocannon, a 7.62mm machine-gun, four QN-502 ATGM (anti-tank guided missiles), 20 70mm laser-guided missiles (similar to the several models used in the West), four vertically launched S570 missiles that are actually small propeller-driven loitering missiles with a range of 10 kilometers that can act as reconnaissance aircraft for about 10 minutes before being sent against a target or self-destructing. There is also a quad-copter on board that can fly out to ten kilometers from the vehicle and return. The vehicle also has an APS (active protection system) for protection against RPGs and ATGMs. ERA (explosive reactive armor) is added to protect against tank shells and inside the vehicle there is a modern fire suppression system. The ZPT99 is marketed for counterterrorism operations, especially in urban areas. The small crew and complexity of the 30 ton ZPT99 (which is a track laying vehicle) means it, like an aircraft, needs a crew of maintainers to keep all the sensors, weapons and tracked vehicle operational. The ZPT99 was inspired by the earlier (2002) Russian BMPT 72 Terminator 2, which is similar in design to the ZPT99 but uses the chassis of a T-72 tank, has a crew of five, weighs 48 tons and has fewer weapons and sensors. The BMPT has four ATGMs, two 30mm autocannon two 30mm automatic grenade launchers and a 7.62mm machine-gun. Terminator 1 was designed in the 1990s and quickly evolved into Terminator 2. Since they depend so much on export sales, Russian weapons manufacturers now pay close attention to user comments. The Russian military received some evaluation models of the BMPT and some of these were sent to Syria in 2016. Russia placed an order for several dozen BMPT in 2017. Between 2010 and 2016 the manufacturer sold 320 BMPTs to Kazakhstan and Algeria. The ZPT99 is a far superior design because the Russians started out designing the BMPT as a tank escort vehicle while the Chinese saw that the most effective use of such a design is as a counterterror or irregular warfare weapon. Russia seems to realize this as Terminator 3 is to be built on the Armata common chassis used for the new Russian T-15 infantry fighting vehicle (and T-14 tank). Terminator 3 will have more weapons and will function more like the ZPT99. But the ZPT99 is available now and Terminator 3 wont be showing up until the mid-2020s and the way the Chinese operate there may already be a new model of the ZPT99 by then if the design proves useful enough to the buyers. The United States is withdrawing its troops from Kurdish controlled northeast Syria by March, at least that is the current plan. The 2,000 troops consist of air controllers, Special Forces and a rotating number of other combat troops (like the battery of marine artillery that fired thousands of guided shells during the battle for Raqqa). The Americans provide air and artillery support for the SDF (Syrian Kurd rebels) as well as commando trainers and a crucial link to the American government. The SDF has about 60,000 armed personnel in the northeast, most of them Kurds. But over half of those Kurdish fighters belong to the Kurdish separatist YPG. This group, like the PKK in Turkey, PKAK in Iran and the autonomous Kurds of northern Iraq all want the Kurds united into a Kurdish state. Kurds have wanted this for over a thousand years but have never been able to unite and take territory away from the two local superpowers (the Turks and Iranians). While the Turks and Iranians have always been independent (and usually empires) the Arabs in the region have only been independent since the 1920s and before that were ruled Turks (usually) and Iranians (occasionally) for over 500 years. The Kurdish minorities in Turkey and Iran have been kept down, often with force, for centuries. This is one of the few things Turkey and Iran agree on. Turkey has been firing on SDF forces near the Turkish border for over a year. Their intention is to keep the YPG forces on the border from trying to get into Turkey or attack Turkish border forces. The Americans were not able to get the Turks to stop this but were able to discourage the Turks from advancing into SDF territory. The Turks say they are firing on the YPG faction of SDF. While SDF is largely Kurd most of the Syrian Kurds have not been active supporters of Kurdish separatism, at least not while their very existence was threatened by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). The Syrian Kurds in YPG are active separatists and the Turks consider them a branch of the larger PKK (Turkish Kurdish separatists) and there is some truth to that because before the civil war started in 2011 the Assads supported any Islamic or Kurdish terrorist groups that would carry out attacks against the Turks and not reveal the support (often just sanctuary) they received from Syria. The Turks were well informed about this Assad policy and would occasionally move troops to the border and threaten to invade unless the Assads reduced their support for anti-Turk groups. That would work until it didnt. The Turks have been at war with the PKK since the 1980s. The U.S. and Turkey disagree about the YPG and that may have more with Turkish politics than anything else. After 2011 growing PKK violence inside Turkey was seen as a violation of the 2013 ceasefire with the PKK and in mid-2015 that led to a resumption of open warfare between the Turks and PKK. The Kurdish government of northern Iraq agreed with the Turkish attacks on the PKK. While the PKK still calls for an independent Kurdish state made up of majority Kurd portions of Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran, the largely autonomous Kurds of northern Iraq refuse to go along, at least not with any enthusiasm. For a while, many in the PKK agreed with the Iraqi Kurds and were willing to settle for more autonomy in Turkey. But the radical PKK factions refused to go along and the 2013 ceasefire began to fray. While the Iraqi Kurds continue condemning the PKK they have not tried to expel the PKK fighters by force. So far the more radical YPG factions appear to be kept in check by the need for American aid. The U.S. has lots of Special Forces troops who speak Kurdish, understand the culture and have years of experience working with the Kurds. Thus it is difficult for the YPG radicals to violate the deal YPG has with the Americans and keep it secret. With the Americans gone the SDF is more vulnerable to attack by the Turks (security forces regularly confront and defeat PKK forces in Turkey and northern Iraq) and Syrians (mainly using their Iranian mercenaries who are more of a threat to the SDF than the usual Syrian Arab troops). The Syrians are particularly keen on getting back the Syrian oil fields, which the SDF currently control. Syrian oil production was never great (about 340,000 barrels a day at most) but it was a major national asset and about 40 percent of that oil was exported for hard currency. Before the war began in 2011 that came to $4 billion a year. For a relatively poor nation like Syria, that was a serious amount of money. Any conflict is easier to understand if you follow the money. With the Americans leaving the SDF is shifting its forces to face the Turks who are, and always have been, their most formidable threat. Ominously the Turks have also reinforced their forces facing the SDF. But figuring out who might attack, or support, the SDF now is not easy. The Turks do not want to fight the SDF for the very simple reason that there is not much popular support in Turkey for any operation that would get a lot of Turkish troops killed in Syria. For that reason, since the Turks crossed the border into Syrian in 2016 they have used local FSA (secular Free Syrian Army rebels) forces to do most of the fighting. What the Turks do want is to get the Kurds, especially YPG forces, away from the Turkish border. Going much further than 20 kilometers south of the border (at least on a permanent basis) is not part of the Turkish strategy. Turkey expects to use over 10,000 FSA fighters against the Kurds, along with Turkish tanks, artillery and air power. Likewise, the Syrians use Iranian mercenaries (many of the Afghan Shias) for the heavy combat. The Syrian Army was never noted for its combat capabilities and after seven years of civil war there are few Syrian combat units with much ability or willingness to carry out a successful offensive. The Russians dont have sufficient ground troops to carry out a large-scale offensive and the most effective Russian ground troops are Russian mercenaries because Russian popular opinion is very hostile to Russian troops getting killed in foreign wars. Iraqi officials openly discussed sending Iraqi troops into Syria but the Iraqis have an even worse reputation for combat effectiveness than the Syrians. There was talk of the Saudis and UAE replacing the Americans in Syria. Possible in theory but not likely in practice. The Saudis are more concerned with the Iranian threat to Saudi Arabia itself. That leaves Israel, which is focused on Iranian forces in Syria and Lebanon and continuing Iranian public backing for the destruction of Israel. Armed with the most formidable air force and special operations troops in the region Israel is currently allied with the Gulf Arab states being threatened by Iran. The Americans are long-time allies of Israel and Saudi Arabia (and most other Gulf Arabs) but the American government has no popular support back home for getting into another Middle Eastern war. The American troops were in Syria to help the Kurds defeat ISIL and other Islamic terrorist threats. That is one thing most everyone in Syria (Turks, Russians, Iranians and most Syrians) can agree on. With the Americans gone, there are few factions in Syria who do not want to see all the Islamic terrorists eliminated. There are some ISIL remnants still active in eastern Syria which everyone has been allowing the American backed SDF deal with. In northwest Syria, the remaining non-ISIL Islamic terrorists are trapped in Idlib province and the Turks, Syrians, Iranians and Russians are still debating how to eliminate that lethal (if attacked or left alone) collection of over 20,000 Islamic terrorists (including some ISIL members). With all this, the Syrians are willing to discuss some sort of autonomy deal for the SDF led Kurds in the northeast. All Syrians agree the Turks should be kept out as much as possible. All factions in Syria agree that Iran is a serious problem what with the Iranian goal of trying to destroy Israel the most militarily effective nation in the region and the only one with nukes. No one wants to be collateral damage if Iran makes a major attack on Israel. The War On Israel Israeli military leaders believe they are winning their battle to keep Iran from establishing a permanent presence in Syria, even with American troops leaving northeast Syria. This Israeli goal has been achieved via a combination of force (air and artillery strikes on Iranian bases and personnel in Syria) and diplomacy (convincing Russia to persuade Iran to keep their forces away from the Israel border or suffer Israeli attacks the Russians will not interfere with). Other diplomatic activities involved the Americans and Arab nations. There is general agreement by Israel and their Arab allies that the forces Iran has assembled in Syria and Lebanon are a far greater threat than Hamas in Gaza. But this war is not yet won and whether it is depends more on what happens in Iran. The Americans are preparing to pull their 2,000 troops out of Syria but not their support for the large force of Syrian Kurds who did most of the fighting to destroy the ISIL presence in eastern Syria. Law And Disorder The Syrian government now controls over 60 percent of the country and about the same portion of the remaining population. A year ago the government controlled only 20 percent of the country and this rapid expansion has encountered lots of problems restoring law and order to newly occupied areas. The general disorder is a result of the war having killed over half a million people (most of them Syrian civilians) and driven a third of the population into exile (most to Lebanon or Turkey). There are dozens of pro-Assad Syrian militias that have to be demobilized. Since many of these militias exist mainly to protect a specific part of Syria (where the militia members and their families come from) there will be reluctance to demobilize until it is safe. Then there is the economy, which is a mess. GDP is about half what it was in 2011 and limping along largely with the help of economic aid from Iran. The enormous expense (billion a year) has caused growing unrest in Iran and that aid may have to be cut. Gulf Arab states have expressed an interest in providing huge amounts of aid and loans for reconstruction, but only if Iranian troops and mercenaries are removed from Syria. In fact no one is willing to put a lot of money into rebuilding Syria has long as Iran has a large military force there whose main goal is to start a war with Israel. This presents the ruling Assad clan with a dilemma. Do they try and betray their long time (since the 1980s) benefactor Iran for the good of Syria or stand by while Syria remains rubble, poverty and hunger while Iran tries to take on Israel. Even Iranian allies Russia and Turkey are unwilling to invest in a potential war zone and would prefer that Iranian military forces leave Syria. Worse, for the Iranian religious dictatorship, most Iranians back withdrawal from Syria and have been openly demonstrating for that since late 2017. With the Americans gone Iran cannot use the excuse that the Iranian presence in Syria is to help prevent the creation of another autonomous Kurdish area in northeast Syria which would, because of the autonomous Kurds of northern Iraq next door, create the basis for the Kurdistan state Kurds in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey have been seeking for centuries. Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey most definitely agree on none of them wanting to contribute territory and population to create a Kurdistan. One of the founding principles of the UN was to respect existing borders. This has not prevented the creation of new breakaway states (like Kosovo and South Sudan) but officially the UN does not encourage it (otherwise the UN would lose a lot of its major members and most of its financial support.) This was one reason for pulling American troops out of northeast Syria. Helping the Kurds create an autonomous area in Syria was never an American objective and it is obvious that the Syrian Kurds thought otherwise by the way they have reacted to the American departure. Some Arab states (like the UAE) who have been quietly working with the Americans in Syria to support the SDF have indicated they would be interested in staying and expanding their commitment (by bringing in more special operations troops and providing some air support) but that wont replace the U.S. effort and may not be possible because of threats from the Turks. The SDF is technically rebels but have always been willing to make deals with the Assads. Iran and ISIL are another matter and everyone knows it. The Syrian Kurds could still get some autonomy if they cooperate in crushing ISIL in eastern Syria. The only complication is Iran. December 25, 2018: In the south, Israel carried out air strikes against three targets outside Damascus that were apparently Iranian or Hezbollah bases or warehouses. One of the targets was a meeting of senior Hezbollah leaders that left several of those Hezbollah commanders dead, or not. The Hezbollah leaders may have flown off to Iran shortly before the attack. Half an hour before the airstrikes an Iranian B-747 freighter aircraft left Damascus after making a delivery from Iran that was believed to be weapons because the 747 belonged to the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps). The same 747 had left Iran earlier in the day and apparently arrived in Damascus and unloaded before it returned to Iran. Shortly after the airstrikes in Damascus, an Israeli anti-missile missile intercepted a missile from Syria. There was no damage (from falling debris) to any residential areas. The Syrian missile was apparently an S-200 antiaircraft missile that fired at a target south of Damascus and missed. Because Damascus is so close to the Israeli border this sort of thing was expected and has already happened before. The problem is the incoming spent S-200 (not aimed at anything in particular) looks like an incoming missile headed for a specific target and Israeli anti-missile defenses react automatically. Since the missile is intercepted over Israeli territory fragments of that missile can be collected and the missile identified. December 24, 2018: Turkey revealed that an American military delegation would visit Turkey in the next week to discuss how and exactly when American troops would withdraw from northeast Syria. December 23, 2018: In the south (the Israeli border in Golan Heights), Israeli troops fired on several armed men trying to enter Israel. The intruders fled back into Syria. Iran is trying to move more Iranian controlled forces to the Israeli border. December 22, 2018: Since 2016 Turkey has persuaded about eight percent of the 3.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to return home. Most refugees refuse to even try returning and many of those who do regret it and let those still in exile know it. The Turks know that going to war with the SDF will cause more chaos in Syria and more reluctance of Syrian refugees to go home. December 21, 2018: In the east (Deir Ezzor province), SDF forces repelled another complex and desperate attack by several hundred ISIL fighters seeking to protect their last stronghold near Hajin city and the Iraqi border. This is the second such attack since a similar one was defeated a similar one at the end of November. The current attack began with at least 17 suicide bombers approaching SDF positions followed by a barrage of rocket and mortar fire. The attack faltered and failed but during the November attack the SDF lost 92 dead over three days, the most ever in a single battle. Since SDF began moving against this ISIL stronghold in early September the primarily Kurdish group has lost nearly 500 dead. The three day ISIL November offensive was like the December one stopped by stubborn SDF defensive tactics, which had American artillery and airstrikes on call. ISIL lost over a hundred known dead but many of the ISIL bodies are in what is still ISIL territory where airstrikes hit any group seen moving during the battle. Because of that a lot of the ISIL attackers never reached SDF positions. Many of the attackers, especially suicide bombers, got close to SDF forces by claiming to be civilians fleeing ISIL. There are a lot of civilians in this ISIL controlled area. Many of them are wives and children of ISIL fighters but many are not and are discouraged from leaving the area. ISIL wives are often willing to participate in suicide attacks and take the kids with them. Soon SDF forces will advance into this last ISIL stronghold and have to deal with landmines, explosive traps and suicide bombers that appear to be civilians. This is why ISIL is often described as a suicidal death cult. The hundreds of ISIL fighters surrounded near Hajin are all diehard and desperate Islamic terrorists who realize this is their last stand and the possibility of getting out is very low. After this most recent battle and the heavy losses, SDF suffered there is even more resolve by the SDF to ensure that none of the ISIL personnel escape. Taking prisoners is unlikely because the trapped ISIL men know about the growing number of captured ISIL men and women being sentenced to long prison terms or execution. December 19, 2018: The American president, in keeping with a campaign promise, announced the withdrawal of American forces (about 2,000 troops) from Syria and about half the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. No timetable was given but preparations are being made to establish new American bases in southern (Anbar province) and northern (Kurdish controlled border area) Iraq. This campaign promise arose from the fact most Americans have noticed that since the 1990s there have been a growing number of overseas military operations undertaken by different American governments and that these operations, initially described as short-term, never seem to end. For example, there are still U.S. troops stationed in Kosovo, a late 1990s assignment which was to have ended within a year but somehow never did. Putting American troops into Syria was supposed to be temporary until ISIL was destroyed. That task has largely been accomplished and the remaining anti-ISIL forces in Syria can mop up. December 18, 2018: Diplomats from Russia, Iran and Turkey decided they were stalemated at a meeting in Switzerland. This is a UN sponsored conference to decide who shall be on the Constitutional Committee that will create a new constitution for Syria. The three nations could not agree on several dozen of the 150 committee members. The three nations will try again in early 2019. This committee is the result of a UN proposed compromise that includes a new constitution and monitored elections in Syria to form a new government. Iran wants to ensure that the Assads retain power, Turkey wants someone elected who has popular support and Russia will back whoever seems to have the best chance of getting on the committee. The three countries also disagree on who shall control what territory in eastern Syria once ISIL and the Kurds are pacified. December 17, 2018: In the northwest (Latakia province), another Russian (an army veteran serving as a contractor) was killed by mortar fire from an Islamic terrorist group. Russian officials also revealed that Russian air power had reduced their air operations since November from over 750 sorties a week to four or less (mainly for reconnaissance). Russia making more use of UAVs as well for surveillance and reconnaissance. This reduction in sorties saves Russia a lot of money and gives its aircraft maintainers a break and an opportunity to catch up on deferred maintenance and upgrades. Russia confirmed that they had used their Iskander ballistic missile in Syria along with the new 300mm six cell Tornado-G MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) system. These 800 kg (1,760 pound) rockets have a range of 90 kilometers. There is also a GPS guided version of the 300mm rockets. This one weighs 820 kg and has a max range of 120 kilometers. December 13, 2018: An Israeli military and diplomatic delegation are meeting with their counterparts in Russia to work out details of future cooperation in Syria, especially with regards to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Russia has never agreed with the Iranian goal of trying to destroy Israel. Russia sees Israel as a valuable ally in the region while Iran is considered, apparently, a necessary evil for Russian operations in Syria. December 12, 2018: Turkey confirmed that it had moved a force of over 14,000 troops (nearly all of them FSA militiamen) to the Euphrates River valley opposite SDF controlled territory. The Turkish said the Turkish offensive would begin in a few days (but it didnt and was delayed for unspecified reasons). December 11, 2018: In the east (Deir Ezzor province), Iraqi F-16s attacked two ISIL targets killing an estimated 44 Islamic terrorists and destroying equipment and weapons stockpiles. These two ISIL bases are near the Iraqi border where a number of ISIL members are still maintaining a presence. ISIL targets in this area were hit by Iraqi F-16s on November 20 killing at least 40 Islamic terrorists. Syrian Kurd SDF militias are on the ground shutting down these ISIL base areas. December 9, 2018: In the east, across the Iraqi border in Anbar province local officials confirmed that the Americans appear to be establishing a third base along the Syrian border, 30 kilometers north of the Euphrates River near the Nineveh province border. Two more American bases in Anbar are at the Tanf crossing (near the Jordan border) and further north at the Qaim border crossings into Syria on the Euphrates River. December 5, 2018: Russia voiced open support for the Israeli anti-tunnel operation on the Lebanon border, which Iran did not appreciate. Russia, as always, is caught between its desire to maintain good relations with Israel while also maintaining a working relationship the Iran, Turkey and the Assad government of Syria. November 30, 2018: In the south (the Israeli border in Golan Heights), Israeli troops found fragments of a Syrian missile on the Israeli side of the border. The Syrian missile had been fired at Israel after an Israeli airstrike yesterday. November 29, 2018: In the south, an Israeli airstrike hit Iranian bases south of Damascus, or at least that is what Jordanian media first reported and later eyewitness accounts confirmed there were numerous large explosions that went on for about an hour. Syria said its air defenses shot something down but could not produce any wreckage and Israel would only say they had not lost any aircraft or sent any into Syria. That does not rule out a missile strike, because Israel has some new air-launched missiles that strike targets as a ballistic missile would. This would be the first reported Israeli airstrike in Syria since September. A Syrian anti-aircraft missile landed in the Golan Heights but it is not clear which side of the border. It was later revealed that the attack was carried out by short-range ballistic missiles and air-launched (apparently from outside Syria) surface to air missiles. In the United States (Washington DC), the Americans put a vast trove of Iranian weapons or fragments (of ballistic missiles, naval mines, remotely controlled bomb boats or UAVs) collected from countries throughout the Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and so on) as evidence of illegal Iranian arms exports. Most of the items displayed have Farsi (the Iranian language) markings. Opening the display in Washington makes it accessible to many foreign embassy personnel and journalists. Two more interesting items (Iranian made rocket launchers) were recently found in Yemen. And Iranian weapons are so common in Iraq that it is no big deal unless it is components for landmines and roadside bombs. These are provided by Iran to be used against Iraqi security forces and American troops. November 28, 2018: For the first time an Iranian B-747 freighter aircraft delivered missile components directly to Lebanon. These components add GPS guidance to long-range unguided rockets. The transport flew from Iran via Iraq and Syria. 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 The completion of the $2 million redevelopment of the Port Ohope Reserve was marked by a special blessing ceremony on Friday December 21. Speaking at the ceremony, Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne says the upgrading of the reserve area at the Port Ohope Wharf had been a longheld dream for the council and the Ohope community. Its wonderful to see this major project brought to fruition, ahead of the busy summer season, because it really does create a superb public space linking the harbour, wharf and reserve directly to the Bob Byrne reserve and playground and the Oceanside reserve and beach, says Tony. The concept was great, but the reality is absolutely stunning and provides a great place for the community to gather and enjoy the recreational treasures this area offers. Mayor Boone says a generous grant from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust had played a key role in the redevelopment. EBET contributed $100,000 to install three-phase power, the lighting elements and barbecues for public use in the promenade area and its already clear that those aspects will add significantly to the reserves attractions. Our regional community is very fortunate to have the Trusts ongoing support, which has enabled organisations across the Eastern Bay to undertake energy-related developments which would otherwise have been beyond their reach. Energy Trust Deputy Chairperson Aaron Milne says EBET was delighted to have been able to contribute to such an important asset for the Ohope community. The timing of the completion of the project is perfect, with it now being available for use by locals and visitors alike over the summer holidays, he says. Other significant elements of the redevelopment include new landscaping and carparking features, realigned road access to link to Charles Street and the adjacent Bob Byrne Reserve, and a new toilet and changing block. The councils Places and Open Spaces group anticipates that the promenade area will be a popular venue for future community activities and events. Booking inquiries should be directed to the Whakatane District Council Customer Services team. Eight people were killed and 22 others injured after a hijacked bus in eastern China's Fujian province crashed into pedestrians on the street Tuesday afternoon, local authorities said. The incident occurred at around 3:20 p.m. in the city proper of Longyan. The 22 injured, including one with serious injuries, have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, according to the city government. Police have caught the suspect and identified him as a 48-year-old man surnamed Qiu, who was unemployed and a native of Longyan. The initial police investigation showed that on that day, the suspect had a conflict with an official of the neighborhood committee, with whom he had long been at odds, during the official's visit to his home. He then attacked people with a knife, hijacked a bus and used it to hit pedestrians. The suspect is in police custody and rescue work is ongoing. Further investigation is underway. Stats show the number of space launches from China this year has hit 37, making China the top destination in the world for space launches for the first time. This follows a launch on Tuesday, December 25, 2018 of a telecommunication satellite. Among the 37 launches, 36 have involved the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The other involved the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation. Chinese private rocket firm LandSpace also attempted to launch a satellite on October 27, 2018. However, that mission failed. The 31st and final space launch of 2018 in the United States took place on December 23, with the US Air Force contracting SpaceX to put up the first satellite for an updated GPS system. Russia, the European Space Agency, India and Japan have conducted 16, 11, 7 and 6 launches respectively this year. Responding to the number of Chinese launches this year, Elon Musk, CEO of the SpaceX, tweeted on Monday that he is amazed by the amount of progress being made in China in space exploration. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Gas prices in Central New York are dropping just in time for the holidays. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Syracuse metropolitan area was $2.47 on Wednesday, down 4 cents from a week ago and 18 cents from a month ago, according to the GasBuddy price tracking service. Prices are lower in Onondaga County ($2.43) than they are in Oswego County ($2.57) and Madison County ($2.62). The three counties make up the Syracuse metro. Prices are now back down to where they were a year ago after rising in the first half of the year to almost $3 a gallon. AAA Western and Central New York said a surplus of crude oil in the U.S. and globally has driven prices at the pump to the lowest levels of the year. But the motor club warned that gas prices could rise in 2019 because OPEC and Russia announced earlier this month that they will reduce crude production by 1.2 million barrels a day. This could drive crude oil prices up, and in turn drive gas prices higher in the new year, AAA said. Nationally, state average gas prices range from $1.87 a gallon to $3.42 a gallon, with an average prices of $2.31, according to AAA. WASHINGTON -- Lockheed Martin's plant in suburban Syracuse has landed a U.S. Navy contract worth $184.1 million to provide electronic systems that defend aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers from anti-ship missiles. The Navy's end-of-year decision guarantees the Lockheed plant at Electronics Park in Salina will continue work on the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, through June 2021. The Navy exercised its latest contract option on the Block 2 phase of SEWIP in the order announced Friday. Lockheed's Salina plant had previously received at least $800 million in contracts for SEWIP Block 2 work. The systems provide Navy ships with early detection, analysis, threat warning and protection from anti-ship missiles. About 23 percent of the work on the new contract will be performed on Lockheed's campus at Electronics Park in Salina, the Pentagon said. The local plant employs between 1,500 and 1,600 people. Other plants that will perform large portions of work on the new contact are in Lansdale, Pa. (23 percent), Andover, Mass. (21 percent), Frankfort, N.Y. (9 percent), Hamilton, N.J. (7 percent) and Hauppauge, N.Y. (7 percent). Lockheed's plant in Salina has been on a hiring spree this year because of a string of new contracts, retirements, and increased manufacturing. As of Wednesday, the company had 92 job openings. A Lockheed official said the new Navy contract will not lead to additional hiring. The open jobs include those for entry-level and experienced professionals in engineering, finance, manufacturing and electronics assembly. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Big quote: "Sprint knew exactly how New York sales tax law applied to its plans yet for years the company flagrantly broke the law, cheating the state and its localities out of tax dollars that should have been invested in our communities." New York's government and residents are raking in the cash lately, due to a recent barrage of legal settlements with ISPs and telecom companies. The latest example of this is New York's recent settlement with sprint, which puts an end to a long-running tax fraud suit that began in 2012. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood has announced that Sprint will settle the case with a $330 million payout, given to the government itself - this is in stark contrast to New York's recent settlement with Charter, which involved the company refunding over $117 million to consumers directly. According to Underwood's office, Sprint filed misleading tax documents with the state, while "knowingly" failing to collect "more than $100 million" in taxes from its New York-based subscribers. "Sprint knew exactly how New York sales tax law applied to its plans yet for years the company flagrantly broke the law, cheating the state and its localities out of tax dollars that should have been invested in our communities," Underwood said in a statement, though she did not explain what form such investments may have taken. "Sprint knew exactly how New York sales tax law applied to its plans yet for years the company flagrantly broke the law, cheating the state and its localities out of tax dollars that should have been invested in our communities." Underwood's office also claims that this is the "largest-ever [tax] recovery" by a single state due to an action brought under a state "false claims act." It's worth noting, of course, that just because Sprint has settled with New York's Attorney General does not mean it's necessarily admitting guilt. On the contrary; in a statement to Engadget, Sprint said that while it was pleased that it could reach a settlement with Underwood after so many years of legal sparring, it "disagreed" with her "portrayal of events." However, the company clearly has no interest in duking it out with New York's tax authorities any longer - instead, Sprint will simply suck up the $330 million fine (and its extensive legal fees) and move on. President Donald Trump shakes hands with former President Barack Obama during a State Funeral service for former President George H.W. Bush at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Washington: A seven-year-old girl who talked to President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve still left out milk and cookies for Santa despite the president telling her it was "marginal" for a child of her age to still believe. Then again, Collman Lloyd of Lexington, South Carolina, says she had never heard the word "marginal" before. Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump talking to children on Christmas Eve to share updates on Santa's movements from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve. Credit:AP Collman had called the NORAD Tracks Santa program on Monday night to check on Santa's journey delivering toys. In an interview with the Post and Courier of Charleston, she said the scientist who answered the NORAD phone asked her if she would like to speak to the President. Six minutes later, Trump was on the line. "Are you still a believer in Santa?" Trump asked. When she responded, "Yes, sir," the President added, "Because at seven, that's marginal, right?" Two friends have transformed their shared hobby of tabletop gaming into a new specialty shop in Steinbach. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1072 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Two friends have transformed their shared hobby of tabletop gaming into a new specialty shop in Steinbach. Andrew Barkman and Egon Krahn opened Arctic Board Games on Nov. 14, after launching an online store last year and using a summer flea market booth to gauge local interest in board, dice, and card games. "We got a lot of good feedback," Krahn said. Late fall seemed like the best time to unveil a brick and mortar location, as shoppers search for the perfect Christmas gifts. Krahn, whose background is in web development and computer services, manages the retail and online stores. Barkman handles purchasing and inventory while maintaining his sales position at The LumberZone. While Krahn acknowledged entrepreneurship is a roll of the dice, he said its been "a dream" to start a business based on a pastime he and Barkman have enjoyed since they were kids. "Its just become more and more of a passion," said Barkman, 27. Acquire, a property game with a board resembling a downtown city block, is a current favourite of his. Krahn, 32, said he "played a lot of the classics growing up," and now gravitates to strategy games that rely less on luck. In their own shop, housed in a 700-sq-ft. lower level space at 336 Main Street, they carry old favourites like Dutch Blitz and modern staples like Carcassonne, but also offer an array of new titles. Krahn estimated they have 340 different games in stock. Popular titles this season include Azul, Deception, and Exit, which Krahn described as "an escape room in a box." "The new release list is always long," he said. The pair enjoy recommending new titles based on past favourites, and take special orders for hard-to-find games. "We will try and hunt it down," Krahn said. Customers tend to be between 20 and 40 years of age, but all-ages and childrens games are also stocked. Tabletop gaming has enjoyed a renaissance over the past decade, as consumers rediscover analog hobbies as a reprieve from screen time. Krahn said board games offer a sociality that video games cant match. "A big reason why we like it is it builds relationships," he explained. "It builds community, it builds friendships, (and) its good for families." The two friends are a case in point. In high school, Krahn joined a biweekly games group, and through it, met Barkman. The group still tries to meet every couple of months. If a customer walks through their door looking to connect with other players, Krahn said he can point them toward the "huge community" of players in the Southeast. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. While they enjoy the unplugged nature of board games, Krahn said the internet offers potential to grow their business. "It allows us to sell across Canada," he said. Many orders come in from Quebec. Krahn isnt sure what sales will be like after the holidays, but believes demand for good indoor hobbies continues throughout the winter. Retail giants offer a narrower selection of games, and often dont stock expansion packs, a popular add-on which allow for more players or create new scenarios for existing games, he noted. Board game cafes have popped up in Winnipeg, offering patrons a chance to try before they buy. Krahn said hed like to add a play area one day, as customers are hungry for more chances to play. "Theyre excited about us being here," he said. 7-Year-Old Who Spoke With President Trump on Christmas Eve Identified The 7-year-old who spoke with President Donald Trump over the phone on Christmas Eve said that she was surprised to talk to the nations leader. Collman Lloyd of Lexington, South Carolina called the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which tracks the location of Santa Claus, to ask where Santa was located. The scientist who answered the phone asked the girl if shed like to speak with President Trump. Six minutes later, Trump came on the line. Trump asked her what her plans were for the evening, and she told him the family planned to make cookies and hang out with friends. Well thats very good, you just have a good time, Trump said. Are you still a believer in Santa? he added. Yes, sir, she said. Trump replied, Because at 7, thats marginal, right? Yes, sir, she said again. Trump bid her farewell and to enjoy herself on Christmas. Collman told the Lexington Post and Courier that she was surprised to speak with the president. I was like, wow. I was shocked, she said. It wasnt really (nerve-wracking), I just had to think of what the truth was. After the call, she sat in the kitchen with her two siblings, a friend, and her parents, musing about Trumps family and his plans for the holiday. She said she wished she had asked him about his family. Most people know this question. I would like to ask if he has any kids, she said. Ive honestly never heard of them or seen any of them so I was wondering. She said she found gifts under the tree on Christmas from Santa, including a brand new American girl doll. Trump Stays at White House President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump later on Christmas Eve attended a service at the National Cathedral. Trump told reporters on Christmas that he stayed behind at the White House due to the government shutdown. I love the White House but I wasnt able to be with my family, he said. I thought it would be wrong for me to be with my family. My familys in Florida, Palm Beach, and I just didnt want to go down there and be there when other people are hurting. But its going to all work out. The House passed a budget and the Senate passed a separate budget but lawmakers couldnt reach an agreement with Trump, who wanted the House budget to pass the Senate. That budget included $5 billion for the border wall. He said that many workers have told him that they want the government shutdown to continue until Trump receives funding for the wall. These federal workers want the wall, Trump said. The only one that doesnt want the wall are the Democrats because they dont mind open borders. Trump later spoke to members of the U.S. military, thanking them for their service. From NTD News The award-winning documentary In The Name of Confucius premiers in Western Australia in the state library on Dec. 5, 2018. (The Epoch Times) Award-Winning Film Warns Communist Chinese Propaganda Has Spread to the West The award-winning documentary In The Name of Confucius premiered in Western Australia in the state library in early December. The film explores the controversy surrounding the operation of the China-administered Confucius Institutes and classrooms that are operating in Australian universities and schools under the guise of teaching Chinese cultural and language. The screening was hosted by a panel which included the documentarys lead actress and Miss World Canada 2015 Anastasia (Yefan) Lin. Having grown up in China, Lin said she was all too familiar with the distortion and lies of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and does not want to see these exported to the West. Other panelists included former MLA Peter Abetz and Dr. Wai-Ling Yeung, the former head of Chinese Studies at Curtin University. Documentary Exposes Export of Human Rights Abuse In the documentary, Lin plays Sonia Zhao who is recruited as a teacher by a Confucius Institute (CI) in China to be sent to Canada to teach at one of their facilities. During her training in China, Zhao was told to avoid such topics as the Tiananmen Square massacre, Tibet, and Falun Gong in the classroom. The film explores how the CCPs network of CIs has actively extended the CCPs persecution of groups such as Falun Gong by stipulating that its members cannot gain employment at CIs. It also explores how the CIs infuse communist propaganda into the teaching syllabus, such as teaching children songs that praise the CCP. While the CCP is attempting to export its propaganda to the West, it has at the same time, banned the discussion of western ideologies and democracy in Chinese classrooms, Lin said. This is not only in universities but in elementary and high schools as well, she added. Political and education reporter and columnist of 30 years Joseph Poprzeczny said that CIs are a part of a sinister ploy used by Beijing against the Australian people and also against the Chinese people, actually denigrating their own tradition. Poprzeczny, who was among the audience, said that watching In the Name of Confucius was very informative. Ive always suspected that the Confucius Institute had what I call a hidden agenda; a secret goal, he said. Action to Block Confucius Institutes In the Name of Confucius follows the story of Zhaos defection and her complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario about the discriminatory hiring criteria of the institute. Her actions led to the first instance of a CI being closed on a North American university campus. The story reaches a defining moment with the cancellation of the Toronto District School Boards plans for the worlds largest Confucius Institute. Protests from local parents and residents had fueled public hearings and debates, culminating in the Boards decision to abort the planned CI facility. The University of Western Australia (UWA) is the sole university in the state to host a Confucius Institute. In that states schools however, there are more than 40 Confucius classrooms in operation, according to UWAs website. Poprzeczny, who served as a research director for the Perth Chamber of Commerce, said that its necessary to constantly expose the true intentions of the CCP through its soft power arms like the Confucius Institutes in order to counter its penetration of Western democratic societies. I believe they have a secret contract that has never been exposed, Poprzeczny said, referring to the alleged clandestine parts of business contracts made between CIs and western universities that are never made public. Id like to expose [that secret contract] myself, he added. This article was first reported in the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times by Epoch Times reporter Guan Youlan. Border Patrol to Conduct Medical Checks on All Children in Their Custody The Customs and Border Protection agency said Border Patrol agents would conduct medical checks on all illegal children following the deaths of two this month. The first, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, likely died of septic shock after agents tried to save her life. An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy, died shortly after midnight on Dec. 24 after agents rushed him to a medical center. The cause of death wasnt clear. Multiple investigations were launched, per protocol. American officials have stressed that the journey through Central America and Mexico is dangerous for anyone, especially children, and urged asylum-seekers to apply at official ports of entry versus trying to traverse remote desert areas. Most migrants who seek asylum are ultimately rejected. Kevin McAleenan, the commissioner of the agency, said in a statement after the second death that it will conduct secondary medical checks upon all children in CBP care and custody, with a focus on children under 10 years of age. He noted that the agency was reviewing its policies with particular focus upon care and custody of children under 10. This is a tragic loss. On behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our deepest sympathies go out to the family, McAleenan added. Due to the high number of people crossing illegally into the United States, the commissioner said that the agency was considering seeking support from other agencies including the Coast Guard and Department of Defense. Because of loopholes in United States immigration laws, more than 100,000 migrants poured across the border in October and November alone. What were seeing with these flows of huge numbers of families with lots of children, young children, as well as unaccompanied minors, coming into Border Patrol custody after crossing the border unlawfully, McAleenan told CBS on Tuesday. Our stations are not built for that group thats crossing today, they were built 30, 40 years ago for single adult males, and we need a different approach, we need help from Congress, we need to budget for medical care, and mental health care, for children in our facilities. He also noted that childrens deaths are extraordinarily rare. Its been more than a decade since weve had a child pass away anywhere in the CBP process, so this is just devastating for us, he said. The Border Patrol includes more than 1,500 agents who are co-trained in medical care, he said. Agents take dozens of trips to hospitals every day, transporting children who display adverse symptoms, he added. Congress Needs to Act Besides funding for medical care, Congress should also act to change the laws so migrants arent incentivized to risk crossing the border in remote areas, McAleenan emphasized. President Donald Trump said on Christmas that the government shutdown will continue until a budget proposal that includes funding for border security, including a border wall or fence, gets passed by Congress. Many federal workers have spoken with him and conveyed their support for his stance, he told reporters at the White House. Stay out until you get the funding for the wall, they told him, Trump said. These federal workers want the wall. The only one that doesnt want the wall are the Democrats because they dont mind open borders. From NTD News British Interior Secretary Defends Potential Deportation of Pakistani Sex Abusers British interior secretary Sajid Javid says its wrong not to look into why recent UK child-abuse cases predominantly involve men with Pakistani backgrounds. Speaking on BBC Radio Fours Today program, Javid, who is of Pakistani heritage and is a Muslim, said, When it comes to gang-based child exploitation, it is self-evident, to anyone who cares to lookif you look at all the high-profile casesthere is a high proportion of men that have Pakistani heritage. There could beand Im not saying there aresome cultural reasons from the community that those men came from that could lead to this type of behavior, Javid said. For me to rule something out just because it would be considered sensitive would be wrong. If I had ignored it, or been seen to ignore, that is exactly what I think extremists would like to see in this country. It would give them oxygen and I refuse to do that, he added. Javid was also asked about stripping certain offenders, who have dual nationality, of their British citizenship. He said that there is a very high bar to strip someone of their citizenship, and such decisions shouldnt be taken lightly. The guest editor of the Today program, British-Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie, asked him about the governments right to deport convicted gang members to Pakistan, where there is no sex offenders register, meaning more people could potentially fall victim to abuse. Javid insisted his responsibility is with UK citizens. My job is to protect the British public, he said. In August, the court of appeal upheld a decision to strip three members of a notorious Rochdale grooming gang of their British citizenship. Abdul Aziz, Adil Khan, and Qari Abdul Rauf were among nine men found guilty of grooming and sexually exploiting young girls in May 2012. They now face deportation to Pakistan. Javid told Today that he took the Rochdale sex scandal personally, as it involved people in his hometown who, like him, have a Pakistani background. It is my hometown, I still go there now and again, because I have family there that I care deeply about, he said. I cant help noting the fact that Rochdale is a town that means something to me and I am also of Pakistani heritage. I think it would be true of anyone that if they heard about somethingin this case badconnected to a town that was something special to them, naturally that would be a thought in their mind. In October, Javid faced criticism over a Twitter post, in which he described members of a Huddersfield grooming gang as sick Asian pedophiles. The gang were found guilty of rape and the sexual abuse of girls as young as 11. These sick Asian paedophiles are finally facing justice. I want to commend the bravery of the victims. For too long, they were ignored. Not on my watch. There will be no no-go areas https://t.co/cZGqDOxt4u Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) October 19, 2018 Bus Hijacker Kills 8, Injures 22 in Southeastern China A knife-wielding man went on a rampage with a stolen bus in the southeastern Chinese province on Fujian on Dec. 25. At the time of reporting, 8 individuals have been killed, and 22 others are injured, one in critical condition. According to the CGTN News Agency, an English branch of the state-run China Central Televison, a man by the surname of Qiu hijacked the bus and ran into pedestrians, moped riders, and taxis. He was detained by police. The police have not confirmed that the bus was hijacked, nor the state of those injured. The news agency reported that Qiu is unemployed and from Longyan City in Fujian province. He had grievances with the local governments residential committee about obtaining a Special Assistance Certificate for his father. This certificate is often given to military veterans. When the officials from the local government branch arrived at his house, an argument arose, and Qiu was reported to have grabbed a knife and stabbed an official to death. According to the Twitter account Wang Shis World, he then killed a police officer. Qiu then boarded a city bus and stabbed a female passenger. The other passengers quickly ran off the bus, including the driver, who left the keys in the ignition. Qiu then drove the bus through the city, crashing into mopeds, pedestrians, and two taxis before being finally apprehended by the police. One eyewitness said that Qiu was shouting about the Chinese Communist Party. I heard other people say it was about reimbursement for his house getting demolished, the eyewitness said. I cant confirm it, but these things with the Communist Party are hard to be sure about, and they have happened before. High-rise apartments, often called houses in China, are commonly demolished by the authorities. Residents typically have no choice but to accept the reimbursement, which is often inadequate, and find new residence. Ning Hong and Qinger Gu contributed to this report. California Man Donates Van on Christmas to Couple Who Had Theirs Stolen A California man donated a new van to a family who had their van stolen while receiving medical care. Brandi and Brian Hampton traveled from their home in Colorado to St. Johns Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California, so that Brandi could undergo brain surgery to treat her epilepsy. But while they were inside the medical center, their van was stolen. Even worse, basically all of their possessions were inside, the couple told KABC, along with their 7-month-old puppy who was being trained as a service dog for Brandi. He was really good at toning in on her seizures. Its a gift that dogs are born with, you cant train it. We got really lucky with our dog, Brian Hampton told the broadcaster. Everything was in that vehicle. Like I said, my wife doesnt even have a change of clothes. When she gets discharged, I dont know what were going to do. I honestly have no clue. Stranger Steps Forward After the story circulated on Christmas Eve, a stranger stepped forward and donated a van to the Hamptons on Christmas. Jason Thorwegen saw the story and decided to help. He said he has two vans and didnt need them both. Just try to do good where I can and when I can, Thorwegen told KABC. Were all just human, were all just trying to do good when we can. The Hamptons called the donation life-changing. I cant describe how grateful we are, Brian Hampton said. I think its more of a Christmas miracle. This is life-altering. Hurricane Victims Get Donations Victims of Hurricane Florence received donated furniture days before Christmas to help them celebrate the holiday and recover from the devastating storm. We fill homes with furniture. We service 80 families a year, but weve done several more since the hurricanes have hit, Designing Station owner Cheri Smith told WTVD. The organization partners with furniture companies to help families who are entering homes after being homeless, and those who had to relocate due to the damage the storm wreaked. The Crows, one family, received furniture. Its finally more like a home now. You dont have TVs sitting on boxes on the floor, said Kevin Crow. It was hard having this happen to us with me being so close to retirement. Charitable Giving Donations from Americans surged in 2017 to an estimated $410 billion, according to a report from the Giving USA Foundation. The mark exceeded $400 billion in a single year for the first time. Americans record-breaking charitable giving in 2017 demonstrates that even in divisive times our commitment to philanthropy is solid. As people have more resources available, they are choosing to use them to make a difference, pushing giving over $400 billion, said Aggie Sweeney, CFRE, chair of Giving USA Foundation, in a statement. Contributions went up nearly across the board, signaling that Americans seem to be giving according to their beliefs and interests, which are diverse and wide-ranging, she said. From NTD News Chinas Global Control of 5G Could Be a Cyber Pearl Harbor for US WASHINGTONChina is determined to control fifth-generation wireless technology (5G) networks, posing a threat to American telecommunication firms and raising national-security concerns. To win the next-generation mobile race, the U.S. government has to act fast, an expert warns. Cyberspace is considered the fifth strategic domain of warfare, along with land, sea, air, and space. And the Chinese are on the verge of dominating this domain. The Chinese government is heavily investing in 5G networks and significant state subsidies are part of the communist regimes comprehensive industrial blueprint to beat competition and cement global dominance in the 5G race. Declan Ganley, an Irish telecommunications entrepreneur and founder of Rivada Networks, likens Chinas threat to Pearl Harbor. Seventy-seven years ago, the Japanese attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, drawing the United States into World War II. Were at one of those moments in history where you need to know whats right in front of you, he said. On a Sunday morning before the Japanese assault, U.S. Army radar operators actually did spot a large number of fast-approaching aircraft, Ganley explained. However, they decided it was some U.S. B-17 planes that were due in from the mainland and ignored them. Similarly, Americans today dont realize whats on the screen coming at them, he said. Its hiding in plain sight now, and to defeat it, you have to act now. Washington has barred Chinas two largest telecommunications equipment makers, Huawei and ZTE, from selling network equipment in the U.S. market, citing national-security risks. It also has sought to deter foreign allies from buying 5G services from Chinese companies. The Chinese government and telecom operators, however, are working hard to be at the forefront of equipment production for this new technology. According to the consulting firm Deloitte, China has exceeded the United States in mobile technology spending. Looking forward, Chinas five-year economic plan specifies $400 billion in 5G-related investment, a Deloitte report said, adding that Chinas strategy is creating a 5G tsunami and making it harder for America to catch up. New Era Fifth-generation technology marks the beginning of a new era in the wireless industry. It will replace the fourth-generation mobile (4G) network. It has the potential to change our lives by greatly increasing data speeds and transforming the internet. It also enables widespread device connectivity through the internet of things. The new technology is not just for phones. Industrial machines, farming equipment, cars, and many other devices will be using 5G technology in the future as well. Its going to touch every aspect of our lives. And this domain is the cyber domain, Ganley said. Thats where the Pearl Harbors of the future will take place. And whoever dominates the architecture of 5G has got enormous strategic security and, frankly, economic advantage. 5G and subsequent technologies are expected to bring trillions in economic benefits. Faster data transmission and more reliable connectivity may improve productivity growth across the economy. Its a technology shift that has the potential to add at least between 0.75 and over 1 percent to GDP of any given country in any given year, Ganley said. Thats a big economic shift. Chinese Strategy International 5G standards will be set by 2019 and large-scale commercial deployment is expected by 2020. U.S. and Chinese companies are engaged in a fierce competition to secure first-mover advantage in the race. Beijing has recognized 5Gs enormous economic advantages and identified it as a national priority in its blueprint Made in China 2025. Hence, the Chinese regime supports the efforts of its mobile carriers and equipment manufacturers. Presently, U.S. firms such as Qualcomm, Intel, Cisco, Amazon, and Google are global leaders in next-generation network development. Chinas state-led policies, however, weaken Americas competitiveness. According to Ganley, Beijing has spotted an opportunity to dominate the cyber domain globally. To build 5G networks, China has been using mobile carriers around the world as its Trojan horses that do the lobbying for the Chinese, he said. Its a brilliant plan, and it has almost worked, he said. The mobile carriers want Chinese technology because it is cheaper and subsidized by the Chinese government. They arent bothered by the strategic concerns, he explained. The recent arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities, however, creates a big challenge for the Chinese. Governments around the world consider the company an important tool for Chinas communist regime. Can Huawei be trusted to deliver vital national infrastructure in any given country around the world given the top-down nature of the Chinese Communist Party and the way that it operates? And I think that question answers itself, Ganley said. To win the 5G competition, the United States has to fix the vulnerabilities in the mobile business model that the Chinese have been exploiting for years, according to Ganley. The companies write massive upfront checks to governments for spectrum, and that affects their financial ability to compete with Chinese companies, he argues. Western governments need to change their business model by creating wholesale markets for capacity, similar to the electricity industry where the government still owns the spectrum, he explained. If you do that, you can destroy the Chinese advantage, he said. US House Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) speaks during Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 25, 2016. Grijalva is likely to be the next chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) Communist Party Ally Raul Grijalva to Chair Key Congressional Environment Committee Commentary Long-time Communist Party USA ally Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is to chair the critical House Committee on Natural Resources. This position will give Grijalva significant influence over key economic and environmental decisions. In this position, he will be able to stall and otherwise influence legislation and create major uncertainty for potential infrastructure, natural resource, and energy investors. Grijalva is so excited about his new post that he has even opted to resign from his influential position as co-chair of the far-left Congressional Progressive Caucus. Allowing a man with Grijalvas radical record to wield such influence could have disastrous implications for American jobs and economic growth. The Early Years Grijalva foreshadowed his legislative strategy in 2013 when he revealed to In These Times, a Democratic Socialists of America affiliated publication, that Im a Saul Alinsky guy, referring to the community organizer who mentored Hillary Clinton and inspired Barack Obama. But even the Marxist Alinsky wasnt Grijalvas most radical influence. According to a 2009 Center for Immigration Studies memorandum, as a young activist in Tucson, Arizona, Grijalva became a leader in several Marxist-leaning groups including the Chicano Liberation Committee, which pressured the University of Arizona to implement affirmative action for Chicano staff and establish a Mexican-American Studies program. Grijalva was also active in Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), which agitated for the return of the Chicano areas of the U.S. Southwest to Mexico. The groups motto was Por la raza todo, fuera de la raza nada, which translates to For the race, everything; outside the race, nothing. Grijalva further joined the radical Raza Unida Party. After losing a school board race in 1972, Grijalva dropped some of his revolutionary posing and sought to involve himself in more mainstream Democratic Party politics. In 1993, Grijalva, identified at that time as a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, wrote an anti-NAFTA article headlined North America Needs Fair Trade for the Nov. 13 edition of the Communist Party USAs newspaper Peoples Weekly World (which has since changed its name to Peoples World). Through the 1990s, Grijalva used his Pima County position to assist Communist Party USA-affiliated organizations, such as the Southern Arizona Peoples Law Center and the Tucson Tenants Union. By the early 2000s, Grijalva was ready for the big time, and the Communist Party USA was eager to help. Communist Party Assistance According to Tucson Communist Party USA leader Steve Valencia, his mentorthe late Arizona Communist Party USA chair Lorenzo Torrezwas a pioneer in the struggle for Mexican-American political representation. Valencia told Peoples World newspaper in 2012, I always say: Before [Communist Party USA-aligned Democratic Rep.] Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva, there was Lorenzo Torrez. The article continues: Pastor and Grijalva are Arizonas first two Mexican Americans [sic] members of the U.S. Congress. But Torrez ran for Congress before they ran, and also boldly ran against Republican Senator Barry Goldwater. Lorenzo told us it is time for these majority Latino districts to be represented by a Mexican American, said Valencia. He wanted voters to see a Latino name on the ballot. When Pastor declared his candidacy, Torrez rallied the Tucson CP [Communist Party] club to join in the effort. Pastors victory in 1991 set the stage for Grijalvas election in 2002. On Sept. 21, 2002, the Peoples World published an article headlined People Gain in Arizona Primaries by local Communist Party leader Joe Bernick. It dealt mainly with Grijalvas victory in the recent Democratic Party primary: The tireless efforts of hundreds of grassroots volunteers dealt a blow to the corporate establishment here and their attempt to dominate Southern Arizona politics in the Sept. 10 primary election. Long-time progressive Raul Grijalva routed seven other candidates to win the Democratic nomination for CD-7, one of Arizonas two new Congressional seats. As a Pima County Supervisor and Tucson School Board member Grijalva consistently fought for working peoples interests. The Grijalva campaign was a textbook example of how to conduct a peoples campaign, beginning with its name: A whole lot of people for Grijalva. Hundreds of people came out seven days a week, sometimes twice on Saturday, to wear out tons of shoe leather. Grijalva thanked labor for its key support and for putting the union label on me. He promised the Southern Arizona Central Labor Council, at its Sept. 12 meeting, to become an extension of the voice of labor in the U.S. Congress. At a meeting of the National Board of the Communist Party USA in South Chicago, on the last weekend of January 2003, an Arizona activist boasted, Using street heat tactics, all of labor worked to back one candidate Raul Grijalva in Tucson And we won! Tucson Communist Party USA supporter Susan Thorpe confirmed this narrative in an article covering the 2002 Grijalva campaign in an article in Peoples World on Nov. 7, 2003, titled Arizona: Grassroots Can Beat Big Bucks: Nevertheless, here in Tucson, we are gearing up for local elections in 2003 and the presidential election ahead in 2004 by using the same tactics we did in 2002 to get Raul Grijalva elected to Congress. Congressman Raul Grijalva is proving to be a wonderful voice for the people of Arizona. And our movement and those important connections made during his campaign are still alive in Tucson. In Congress, Grijalva worked to help the Communist Party USA where he could. Returning the Favor According to a 2005 statement by Latinos for Peace (an anti-Iraq War front for the Communist Party USA) published in the Communist Party USA theoretical journal Political Affairs on Oct. 4, 2005: On Monday September 26 we participated in the peace movement lobby day at the capitol. We met with Rep Raul Grijalva who said he would work to help build our campaign. On July 13, 2006, Communist Party USA member Carolyn Trowbridge addressed 14 fellow black-shrouded members of the peace group Raging Grannies along with 40 supporters. Trowbridges speech was followed by a reading of an antiwar speech by Grijalva. They then marched to the late Sen. John McCains office to deliver a petition on Iraq demanding an immediate end to the U.S. occupation, the closing of all U.S. military bases and the removal all U.S. mercenaries and corporate involvement, according to Peoples World. Later that same year, on Nov. 7, Arizona voters became the first in the nation to reject a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The campaign was led by activist group Arizona Together. Both Arizona state Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and Congressman Grijalva assisted the campaign. According to Arizona Communist Party leader and Arizona Together activist Joe Bernick, who wrote it up in the Peoples World: Why Arizona? How come voters in more liberal states have voted for similar hateful laws while conservative Arizona voted no? So how did we do it? The answer is: educating, organizing and mobilizing. As soon as proponents started circulating petitions to put 107 on the ballot, opponents brought out their own clipboards, signing up thousands of volunteers. Arizona Together emerged as the campaign committee, chaired by progressive state Rep. Kyrsten Sinema. Congressman Raul Grijalva appeared on radio ads calling Prop. 107 an attack on working families. The Grijalva campaign worked closely with Arizona Together, using its literature in their extensive door-to-door canvassing. Sinema, now the newly elected U.S. senator from Arizona, also has close ties to the Communist Party USA. On March 29, 2003, Grijalva sponsored and addressed the Third Annual Cesar Chavez Day March and Rally for Peace. The rally was organized by Tucson Communist Party member and high school teacher Ray Siqueiros, one of the most militant teachers in Tucson. In 2006, Siqueiros was involved in organizing a mass walk-out by Tucson high school students protesting proposed legislation that would classify illegal immigrants as felons. Some of the students waved Mexican flags. In June 2015, Siqueiros received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Grijalva for valuable service to the community. Border Security In September 2015, the late Sen. John McCain from Arizona introduced legislation (S750) to exempt certain projects from environmental protection laws, in order to better enhance border security. S750, if passed, would exclude new surveillance installations and other border patrol activities from environmental protection laws. The bill would apply to federal lands within 100 miles of the U.S.Mexico border in Arizona and parts of California, according to Peoples World. Grijalva was apparently willing to work with the Communist Party USA to stop legislation designed to keep Americas borders secure. Then the senior Democrat in the Houses Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulations, Grijalva fought back against the proposal. Grijalva spoke at a forum co-sponsored by the Communist Party USA-led Arizona Peace Council, and the Communist Party USA-run Salt of the Earth Labor College, saying he was confident regarding the ability to defeat S750 provided people stay aware of it and speak out against it. According to Peoples World, Grijalva said in part: Its a two pronged agenda. Part of the agenda [is] to end any legislative hope that we would end up with something semi-rational in terms of comprehensive immigration reform because this bill is about enforcement onlyonly enforcement. The other agenda is about attacking bedrock environmental laws that have been on the books for 50, 40, 45 years. Its both about immigration and the environment and citizen accountability and participation in decision making. As todays Communist Party USA is loyal to Cuba, China, and Venezuela, Grijalva was effectively attempting to aid and abet enemies of the Republic. The Communist Party USA is the sworn enemy of American capitalism. Houston Communist Party leader Bernard Sampson wrote only this past September: We arent like other parties. We are a party dedicated to the overthrow of the capitalist class in this country. Yet Grijalva has worked with these people for more than 30 years. He is clearly fully on board with the Communist Party USA agenda. Imagine the damage Grijalva will be able to do to Americas economy, environment, and national security as Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Communist Party USA leaders must be rubbing their hands in revolutionary glee. Americans likely do not realize that elected officials such as Grijalva are not required to undergo any form of background security check before serving on sensitive committees. If they were, Grijalva would certainly fail. Americas enemies are aware of this loophole and are using it to their advantage. Trevor Loudon is an author, filmmaker and public speaker from New Zealand. For more than 30 years, he has researched radical left, Marxist, and terrorist movements and their covert influence on mainstream politics. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The International Building at Griffith University where the Tourism Confucius Institute operates on the Gold Coast campus. (Richard Szabo/The Epoch Times) and the Confucius statue at Gold Coast Chinatown, which was partly funded by the Confucius Institute. (Shiftchange/Wikimedia Commons CC) Community Event Seemingly Linked to Confucius Institute Focuses on Chinas Rise, Denouncing Its Critics GOLD COAST, AustraliaThe Tourism Confucius Institute of Griffith University held a free reading community activity at the Gold Coasts Southport Library on Nov. 30 that was advertised as a seminar about Chinese culture. However, people who attended could be forgiven for thinking it was an event by the Beijing-backed Confucius Institute on how China is rising in the world and why those who criticize Beijing are wrong. The advertisement posted on Gold Coast City Councils booking system indicated the event would be a presentation from a China academic introducing the beautiful world of Chinese culture and history. The ad did not say the presentation would cover the state of politics regarding China. At the event, there was a Tourism Confucius Institute (TCI) pull-up banner at the front of the room, and TCI brochures on each seat. The event was also advertised on TCIs Facebook page. Confucius Institutes (CIs) are advertised by the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) Office of Chinese Language Council International, also known as HanBan, as educational organizations to promote Chinese culture and language. However, western intelligence agencies have warned that the institutes are used as part of the Chinese regimes apparatus to gain influence abroad. Read More Huaweis Role in Underhanded Deals and Influence Operations CIs are funded by the CCP through HanBan and documented to be involved in organizing protests against topics the CCP considers to be a threat to the stability of its rule, according to a staff report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (pdf). The report also gave examples of the soft power influence of CIs that repeat Beijings lines on sensitive issues. For example, CIs will host speakers who parrot the CCPs propaganda points about issues like Tibet and follow the CCPs distortion of history such as blaming the United States for drawing China into the Korean War by bombing villages. Emeritus Professor Colin Mackerras, a Sinologist and honorary director of TCI, gave an 80-minute presentation of which only 15 minutes was devoted to Chinese language and culture. Mackerras spent much of the remaining time speaking about geopolitics. He talked about the rise of China and political affairs surrounding China, which included his views on what he called U.S. Vice President Mike Pences recent extremely hostile speech about China as well as his criticism of then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls strong words on Chinas attempt to influence Australian politics. He also touched on which political party he thought was going to win Australias next federal election and how they have been more positive towards China. Chinas rise is important to the world and should be welcome to Australia, he told the audience, as a security guard stood next to the meeting room door. US Views on China Relations Debated Mackerras criticized Pences speech on China-U.S. relations that was given at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. on Oct. 4. During his speech, Pence denounced Beijings whole-of-government approach in undermining and sabotaging the United States. Pence said the CCP had interfered in U.S. politics, academia, and domestic and foreign policy, among other things. As we speak, Beijing is employing a whole-of-government approach, using political, economic, and military tools, as well as propaganda, to advance its influence and benefit its interests in the United States, Pence said. Mackerras described Pences remarks as extremely hostile, especially towards the CCPs cyberspace crimes, derelict trade practices, and human rights abuse in Tibet. It seems to signal a new cold war with China, he said. Mackerras warned the Australian government should not let the 1951 Australia, New Zealand, United States (ANZUS) Security Treaty influence its decision on whether to follow the China policy set by the United States. He argued that Australia should not annoy the Chinese politically because China is Australias biggest trading partner. We should be putting more weight on good relations with China and less on towing the American line, he said. Australian Politics Discussed at Length In his speech, Mackerras predicted the ruling center-right Coalition government will lose the 2019 Australian general election, adding that a left-leaning Labor Party government will be more sympathetic to socialist China. He also commented on how the federal Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten and shadow Labor foreign affairs minister Penny Wong are friendlier towards China. Scott Morrison wont be prime minister for very long, he said. And just say that Shorten gets in the next year, which I think is highly likely, [Shorten and Wong] have been much more positive about China than the present government. I think its going to improve, he added about his view of Australia-China relations. Mackerras also attacked Australias former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, for what he described to be worsening relations between China and Australia, especially when Turnbull supported the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme in June 2018. Mirroring similar laws in the United States, the scheme broadens the definition of espionage and requires people working for foreign countries to register as foreign agents or face criminal prosecution if found to be meddling in national affairs. Turnbull said in December 2017 the new laws were necessary to fight the rapidly escalating threat of foreign interference and the disturbing reports that the CCP had interfered with the nations media coverage, universities, and the decisions of Australias elected representatives. Criticism of the Communist Regime Called Sinophobia Mackerras dismissed some of the in-depth reports on CCP infiltration in Australias political and education systemincluding the ABCs Four Corners segment Power and Influence and Charles Sturt University ethics professor Clive Hamiltons book Silent Invasion. Both presented detailed research on the operations of the CCPs United Front Work Department (UFWD). The UFWD is an organization mandated with expanding CCPs control of overseas Chinese communities and gaining influence abroad. Read More Chinese Front Operations Exposed in Australia Part of a Global Problem Mackerras labeled parts of Power and Influence and Silent Invasion as Sinophobic fear or hatred of China that would hurt Chinese student numbers. China is Australias largest source of international students with more than 540,000 enrolments at universities, private colleges, English language courses, and schools, according to Australias Department of Education. [Chinese student numbers] are beginning to reduce because the Chinese government does not think this is very suitable if they are just going to be treated like that, he said. I dont know [if] there are that many people in the Chinese community who side with Clive Hamilton. I have seen a number of reviews, most of which are quite hostile to the book. In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, Hamilton said the CCP brands all criticisms of the communist party as anti-China or Sinophobic. Silent Invasion was launched in Sydney by 100 or more Chinese-Australians packed into a room in Parliament House. A Chinese edition of Silent Invasion will soon be published in Taiwan, Hamilton said. It is sad to see an eminent China scholar like Professor Mackerras fall for the CCPs trick. Watch: Prof. Clive Hamilton explains how the Chinese Communist Party influences milions through propaganda Educational Content Questioned for Bias There have been concerns from the wider community that CIs could be silencing academic criticism of the CCPs leadership. When asked how freely teachers from China can speak about human rights, Mackerras ruled out the possibility of CI Chinese teachers discussing the topic in class. I doubt they would talk about human rights most of the Chinese who belong to that Confucius Institute probably wont, he said. CI teaching material is being scrutinized across the state border in New South Wales after the state government received complaints that it only presents a pro-CCP perspective. Chinas Hiring Criteria Gags Teachers on Australian Soil Chinese teachers could be refraining from speaking in Australia about human rights issues like the persecution of Falun Gong or Tibetans, because HanBans criteria for joining the Overseas Volunteer Chinese Teacher Program states teachers must have no record of participation in Falun Gong and other organizations banned in Mainland China. Mackerras confirmed he was aware of HanBans selection criteria that requires TCI teachers to sign contracts before arriving in Australia promising not to participate in Falun Gong or any CCP banned organizations. Is that so terrible? of course, you could argue that it should not be illegal, he said just before a teacher from TCI loudly cleared her throat. Mackerras referred to the example of Chinese-born Sonia Zhao who taught at McMaster Universitys Confucius Institute in Canada. Zhao resigned in 2011 since the Chinese regime would not allow her to continue practising Falun Gonga spiritual practice of mind and body banned and severely persecuted by the CCP in Mainland China since 1999. After lengthy litigation in Canada over Zhaos religious freedom and her complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario that McMaster was giving legitimization to discrimination, the university decided to shut down its CI because the CI would not change its requirement for teachers to declare they do not practice Falun Gong. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Griffith University said in Australia it is unlawful to discriminate against applicants, and the university doesnt engage in such a practice. Discrimination in recruitment practices is quite rightly illegal under Australian law, said Griffith Vice President Global Professor Sarah Todd. Watch Next: Huawei Exposed: How the Media is Getting it Wrong House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) talks to reporters during her weekly news conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington on Dec. 13, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Democrats to Focus on Green Infrastructure, Campaign Finance, Lower Health Costs, Investigations in 2019 WASHINGTONSoon-to-be House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said that going into 2019, Democrats plan to focus on shoring up the countrys infrastructure with green technology, reforming campaign-finance laws, and lowering health care costs, while leaving room for the incoming representatives to have a say in the partys agenda. When asked about the Democrats plans to investigate President Donald Trump, she was less willing to make a prediction, telling reporters that each committee will have to make a judgment at that time when they come in as to where we go. Some of her committee chairs have already announced their plans for investigations. Health Care There are two areas that Pelosi sees as being able to work on with Republicans and the president: improving the countrys infrastructure and lowering the costs of prescription drugs. Pelosi also has signaled that the Democrats plan to protect the equal coverage mandate for people with pre-existing conditions, a now-bipartisan issue, should the Affordable Care Actalso known as Obamacarebe overturned in the courts. On the issue of drug prices, House leadership says on its party-platform website that Democrats plan to target drug companies that excessively raise prices without justification by creating a price gouging enforcer, who would be in charge of a new agency to stop companies from jacking up drug prices. Democrats also want, according to the leadership website, drug companies to submit a justification for any price increases to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at least 30 days before they go into effect. Meanwhile, on Medicare Part D, which covers mostly prescription drugs for the elderly, Democrats are in line with the Trump administrations proposal to allow for better negotiation with drug companies. However, they differ on who should be doing the negotiating. Democrats seem to want the government to use its leverage to get a better deal, while the administration has, in a proposed rule, left the negotiation to private insurers working with Medicare Advantage. Infrastructure While Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have stopped short of calling for a green new deal, as some in their party have, they both want any federal infrastructure investment to go hand-in-hand with raising wages and developing green technology. Schumer even said in a Washington Post op-ed that if Trump wants Senate Democrats to support an infrastructure bill, it will have to include policies and funding that help transition our country to a clean-energy economy. Democrats have proposed a $1 trillion infrastructure investment that would be financed by removing tax cuts on multinational corporations and the wealthiest Americans. According to the House leadership website, that would be spent on expanding high-speed internet and renewable energy infrastructure, and shoring up the countrys schools, rail lines, airports, roads, water infrastructure, and waterways. Schumer also has called for tax credits for clean energy production and other green investments that Americans make. Pelosi has said they plan to reinstate the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which was dissolved in 2011. However, the soon-to-be chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which would oversee that committee, has said its not necessary. Money in Government Pelosi says the first thing House Democrats plan to do when they take the gavel in 2019 is to work on passing legislation to clean up government, mainly campaign-finance reform. While the specifics havent been laid out, the Democrats proposals center around requiring a presidential tax-return disclosure, removing dark money from campaign contributions, giving tax credits to small political donors, and removing barriers to voting. They are already calling this compendium of old legislation HR 1, but are keeping it separate from a Voting Rights Act bill modeled off of HR 2978 of 2017 that increased penalties for violating voters rights. Other Priorities While they arent likely to go far in the Senate, Democratic leadership has also talked about wanting to pass legislation on gun control, mainly strengthening background checks, granting citizenship to children brought into the country illegallyknown as Dreamersand safeguarding the Russia investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have both said they dont plan to cut Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 elections short. Depending on the outcome, though, the House and Senate may be at odds on what comes next. Pelosi and Schumer havent made impeachment of the president part of their platform, but Pelosi has also said she would be willing to entertain it, depending on the results of the Mueller investigation and if it was to get bipartisan support. We shouldnt impeach the president for political reasons, and we shouldnt not impeach the president for political reasons, she told The Associated Press. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has said he plans to have acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker testify before the committee about his decision not to recuse himself from overseeing Muellers investigation. He has also said that Trumps permanent pick to lead the Justice Department, William Barr, has disqualified himself by writing a letter taking issue with the investigation, and that Democrats could use subpoena power to, if Barr decides to bury Muellers report, either subpoena it or get Mueller to testify about its contents. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has said he plans to ask for Trumps tax returns, which Trump hasnt yet disclosed. And Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have made 64 subpoena requests, many of them focusing on the Trump administration, that have so far been blocked by House Republicans. Brooke Burke attends the 2018 World of Children Hero Awards Benefit at Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 19, 2018. (Rich Polk/Getty Images for World of Children ) Fire Damages Brooke Burkes Home in California A fire in California burned the house of actress and producer Brooke Burke. The Dec. 24 blaze damaged the house on Cross Creek Lane in Malibu, the Los Angeles County Fire Department told CBS. Fire crews found flames spreading into the floor and some of the walls but were eventually able to find the fire and extinguish it. The house is valued at $3 million. Firefighters said there were no injuries. It wasnt clear whether Burke or anyone else was home at the time. Burke hasnt commented on the fire on her social media pages. Burke has appeared in a number of television shows, including co-hosting Dancing With the Stars from 2008 to 2013. Her latest projects were producing the television series Hidden Heroes and playing Ellies mother in the show Chicken Girls. The blaze came after a number of fires in California forced various celebrities to evacuate from their homes earlier this year. Kim Kardashian West, Scott Baio, Rainn Wilson, and Guillermo del Toro are among numerous celebrities forced to evacuate their homes, in some cases hurriedly trying to arrange transport for their horses, reported The Epoch Times in November. Some, like del Toro, did not know the fate of their homes, but the wind-driven wildfire has destroyed the home of Dr. Strange director Scott Derrickson and the historic Paramount Ranch where shows like HBOs Westworld and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman were filmed. Anthony Hopkins house in Malibu was untouched but some nearby homes were ravaged. Woman Names Baby After Medic Paramedic Mickey Huber was helping people evacuate from the terrifying wildfire that tore through the Northern California town of Paradise on Nov. 8 when he heard on the scanner about a pregnant woman going into premature labor. Anastasia Skinners baby wasnt due for another month, but she began to feel contractions as she grabbed her mothers two dogs and raced to escape the fast-moving blaze. The flames had already hit her car by the time she fought the panic-driven traffic jam out of town and reached a gas station, honking the horn and screaming for help. I knew I wasnt going to make it, Skinner, 25, said during a phone interview. I called my husband and told him goodbye, tell all the kids I love them and make sure they remember me. Huber rushed to the scene after bystanders and law enforcement officers helped Skinner into another vehicle. The smoke was thick, and the winds were blowing. The helicopters were having a hard time fighting the fire let alone airlifting patients, Huber said. Because Skinner was having a high-risk pregnancy after suffering two miscarriages and other complications related to an inherited disorder, Huber said she may not have made it if she went into full-blown labor. He arranged a caravan that included three police vehicles to rush Skinner to an ambulance. Then he jumped in the back seat, where he kept her calm until she reached a hospital where her labor was stopped. Skinner said a doctor later told her smoke inhalation put her body under stress and triggered the contractions. On Dec. 12, more than a month after the fire began, Skinner gave birth via C-section to a full-term, healthy girl and named her after the man she believes saved her life. Shes a blessing in every way including what happened at the Camp Fire, she said about her daughter, Zoele (rhymes with Noel) Mickey Skinner. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News A U.S. Border Patrol agent rides a snowmobile on a frozen lake near the Vermont-Quebec border in a file photo. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Four Missing Snowmobile Riders From South Dakota Spotted in Wyoming A widespread search that included a helicopter and airplane located four missing South Dakota snowmobile riders in Wyoming. The four men were riding snowmobiles in Wyomings Snow Range Mountains went missing on Dec. 22. The men were spotted by the search helicopter on Dec. 25 but had not been located on the ground as of Dec. 26. Information relayed from the pilots was that all four subjects appeared to be in good health and had a fire. The pilots were able to drop the party some food and water with a note to stay put, help will be on the way, reported WYO4. They were located deep into Carbon County, in the area of Deep Creek, but the difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions prevented snowmobile search teams from making contact with them by nightfall and recovery efforts were set for Wednesday. The snowmobiles were reported overdue on Sunday, triggering a search for the men, the Albany County Sheriffs Search & Rescue said. Their truck was later found in the Green Rock parking area at the Snowy Range Ski and Recreation Area, about 30 miles outside Laramie, reported KSFY. Family members told KELOLAND News previously that a helicopter and airplane were involved in the search, in addition to more than 50 snowmobilers who were assisting authorities. The search area was large because the mens planned route was unknown. Snowmobiling Snowmobiling is most popular in the United States and Canada. In 2018, there were 124,786 snowmobiles sold worldwide: 53,179 were sold in the United States and 47,024 were sold in Canada, according to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association. There are over 1.2 million registered snowmobiles in the United States and 600,000 registered snowmobiles in Canada. In Wyoming, there were 30,276 registered snowmobiles and in South Dakota, there were 11,407 registered snowmobiles, the group said in a fact book (pdf). The states with the most registrations were Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. The group said that the average age of a snowmobiler is 45 years old and that the average snowmobile rider travels 1,250 miles a year in North America, typically between 30 and 75 miles per trip. The majority of owners are married and have children. Snowmobiling is great exercise bringing people outdoors interacting with nature and each other. It is an invigorating sport, great for stress release and good mental health, the group stated. Reasons for snowmobiling include viewing the scenery, hanging out with friends, and doing an activity with family members. Snowmobile History Snowmobiles were originally developed in the late 1950s, with the development of smaller gasoline engines. A new recreational activity was born, the group stated. Today, with more than four million riders, snowmobiling is a major winter recreational activity and a significant factor in increased winter tourism in much of Canada, the snow belt of the United States, in Northern Europe, and in Russia. The machines nowadays are updated so much that they bear little resemblance to those manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s, according to the organization. From NTD News Victims' items collected from a pit which was used as mass grave during 1994 Rwandan genocide and hidden under a house in Kabuga, on the outskirts of Kigali, Rwanda. The photo taken on April 30, 2018. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) France Drops Charges Against Rwandan Officials in Habyarimanas Death PARISInvestigative magistrates in France have dropped charges against nine Rwandan officials investigated over the death of the countrys president in 1994, an event that sparked the genocide in Rwanda, a judicial source said. France launched the investigation, which also targeted Rwandas former Defense Minister James Kabarebe, in 1998 following demands by the relatives of the French crew who died when President Juvenal Habyarimanas plane was downed. Militants from the Hutu majority in Rwanda blamed the minority Tutsis for the former presidents death, leading to the ethnic slaughter of 800,000 people over 100 days. Most of those killed in the genocide were of the Tutsi minority. While reports said ethnic violence in Rwanda isnt a rarity, the scale and speed in which the 1994 genocide spread has been described as shocking. The investigation, and accusations by Rwandan officials that France was complicit in the 1994 genocide by supporting the Hutu regime, has damaged relations between the two countries. Several people close to current Rwandan President Paul Kagame have been charged in the probe. The judicial source said Dec. 26, that the charges were dropped on Dec. 21. In October, a French prosecutor had recommended that the charges be dismissed, due to insufficient evidence. Jean-Louis Bruguiere, the first judge to lead the investigation, supported the theory that Tutsi extremists from the former rebellion led by Kagame were responsible for shooting down the plane, according to the AFP news agency. Philippe Meilhac, a lawyer for Habyarimanas widow, Agathe, told AFP that authorities in Rwanda have never sought to help bring truth to the light. He said the plaintiffs would appeal the decision to end the investigation. We have to interpret this decision by French judges as a form of resignation faced with a political context, which prosecutors did not know how to fight, he said. Rwanda said on Dec. 24 that it welcomed the definitive end of what it called a politically motivated investigation. We welcome this decision, which brings to an end a brazen attempt over two decades to obstruct justice for the genocide against the Tutsi and prevent accountability for both the perpetrators and their wilful accomplices, Rwandas Foreign Minister Dr. Richard Sezibera said in a statement cited by The Associated Press. By Myriam Rivet Epoch Times reporter Jane Gray contributed to this article Hollywood Celebrities Who Had Near-Death Experiences Talk About Life After Death The content is not available due to expiration. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, in this file photo. Musk has transformed the automobile industry but now needs to move on. (DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images) Life-Blood of Tesla Batteries Hits Supply Limits in Andean Mine For the past nine months, a U.S. company that is the worlds largest producer of lithiuma key ingredient in electric-car batterieshas been locked in battle with the Chilean government over pricing issues, production quotas, and environmental compliance. With no resolution in sight, the fight is sending tremors all the way up the electric vehicle supply chain that provides batteries to Tesla Inc., Nissan Motor Co., Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, and other car makers. The drama is playing out in the northern reaches of Chiles Andes Mountains amid the arid and austere Atacama Desert, a vast, high-altitude bowl surrounded by snow-capped volcanic peaks named after ancient gods of the indigenous people. The U.S. company, Albemarle Corp., has taken over a massive salt-flats mine, pumping scarce briny water through dried-out salt marshes and lagoons to extract the prized mineral. A dozen or so miles away, thick flocks of Andean flamingos feed peacefully in a lagoon teaming with tiny shrimp, as they have for countless millennia. But as mining activity surges, water tables are falling amid growing environmental concerns. Its bad news for the flamingosand boom times for the miners. Automakers have moved so fast to boost production that prices have tripled in less than four years, sending miners in a frantic search for lithium all over the world. And its still early days. Demand for lithium for electric vehicle batteries is projected to rise to around 500,000 tons over the next seven years, from a current 64,000 tons, according to estimates by Bloomberg NEF. And Charlotte, North Carolina-based Albemarle aims to invest almost $1 billion to more than triple its production capacity in Chile, which has more lithium reserves than anywhere else on the planet. Not so fast, says the Chilean government, which has slapped the company with a myriad of complaints that threaten to slow that expansion push. The government alleges the company has ignored its requests to adequately detail its expansion plans. At least two government agencies responsible for lithium permits have rejected the companys request for licenses it needs to expand. A third agency has said it will file for international arbitration before the end of the year over a pricing spat between the company and the government. It will be the first time the government has ever taken such a step against a foreign company. Albemarle, which declined to comment for this article, has previously said that it believes very strongly in the legality of its position. Until a few years ago, lithium was a minor business, mined mostly for medical uses. In 2015, Albemarle acquired the Atacama lithium operation from another U.S. company; as production rose and prices skyrocketed, several executives from the former ownership were edged out, including John Mitchell, lithium operations president. As production ramped up, Albemarle failed to respond to Chilean officials calls, emails and formal requests for information about changes at the mining operations, according to government officials. When they did respond, their answers were lacking, according to Maria Elina Cruz, a prosecutor at government development agency Corfo, suggesting that the always delicate relationship between a foreign, multinational company and its hosts might have turned sour as the company changed hands. Their proposals havent been reasonable, Cruz said in an interview in Santiago. It is not such a complex issue. In the end, the problem is that they are not ready to lose one single pesothats the issue. At a conference call with analysts in November, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Luke Kissam acknowledged that theres a dispute with Corfo, but didnt elaborate on the overall relationship with the Chilean government. In 2016, Corfo signed a contract with Albemarle that awarded the company authorization to mine increasing levels of lithium through 2043. In exchange, Albemarle agreed to give a break on the price of up to 25 percent of its increased production to companies developing lithium products in Chile. The idea is for Chile to turn the corner from being a mere supplier of raw materials to getting a toe-hold in the lucrative and more technologically advanced world of battery design and production. The clause is part of the governments broader push to develop lithium-based components for batteries. In March, Corfo picked Chiles Molibdenos y Metales SA, or Molymet, a consortium of South Koreas Samsung SDI and Posco, and Chinas Sichuan Fulin Industrial Group Co. The companies vowed to invest a combined $754 million in northern Chile. The plan is now frozen after Corfo and Albemarle couldnt come to terms on lithium prices. Albemarles position is that they wont negotiate anything that impacts their benefitand this does, because it involves selling lithium at a price lower than the market price, said Cruz, who has led the negotiations with Albemarle. The problem is that this was a clause in the contract. If I thought there was the smallest chance of Albemarle fulfilling its contract, we wouldnt be in this position. Company executives see it differently. With Corfo, its been very public what that confusion is; its a matter of what price needs to be offered to any third party who would build a cathode facility in Chile to build lithium components for electric autos, Kissam told analysts in November. We believe very strongly in our positionwe think its clear. Arbitration is expected to last about 18 months, Cruz said, likely delaying investments that would allow the country to become a hub for the industrialization of lithium products in South America. We havent made this decision lightly, Cruz said. If I thought there was the smallest chance of Albemarle fulfilling its contract, we wouldnt be in this position. This is our last resort; theres no other way of reaching an agreement. Albemarles troubles with Chilean authorities dont end there. The countrys environmental authority, SEA, turned the company down for a license it would need to build a planned $584 million lithium processing plant needed to increase production. The rejection came after the company failed to submit a thorough report on the projects impact on the environment in the area. Obtaining such licenses typically takes months, sometimes years. The company is confident that it will be able to bring new capacity in line in the coming 12 to 18 months, Kissam told analysts earlier this month. Both Corfo and another agency known as Cchen detected that Albemarle was selling Chilean lithium at a price much lower than the market average to its own subsidiaries in the U.S. and Germany. This could constitute a violation of price parity rules from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and could mean that the company would be paying lower taxes than it should. Both agencies reported the issue to Chiles internal revenue service, known as SII, which declined a request for comment on whether an investigation is ongoing. Cchen also recently rejected a permit Albemarle needed to extend operations beyond 2021. The agency said the company didnt sufficiently explain how the use of a new technology would make the mine more efficient, allowing Albemarle to increase production without pumping more brine from the salt flat. Albemarles recent actions signal it has no intention to negotiate anytime soon with the Chilean government. The company has now put its long-term Atacama expansion plan on hold as it focuses on its Australian operations. When you cross a regulator, it doesnt matter in what country, said Chris Berry, a New York-based battery-metals analyst and founder of research firm House Mountain Partners. Whether the U.S., China, Argentina or Chile, you got a real problem on your hands. By Laura Millan Lombrana From Blomberg Presenter David Letterman speaks onstage at the 32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center in New York City on April 7, 2017.(Mike Coppola/Getty Images) Man Who Planned to Kidnap David Lettermans Son Released on Parole A man in jail for plotting to kidnap the son and nanny of talk show host David Letterman has been released on parole. According to the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole, the man, Kelly Allen Frank, was released from Montana State Prison in mid-November, Great Falls Tribune reported. Frank worked as a painter at Lettermans Montana ranch in March 2005 when a friend told police of his plot. The friend told police Kelly was going to seek a $5 million ransom. According to court documents, Frank said he had a key to the property and could sneak in, according to the Tribune. According to CBS News, Frank told the friend that the nanny was part of the plot so that there would be someone to take care of Lettermans son while he awaited ransom. The conditions of Franks parole include at least six months in semi-restricted housing, wearing a GPS monitor, and not being allowed to hunt. He is also restricted from entering Montanas Cascade County, according to the Tribune. Frank was arrested in 2005 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on a guilty plea for poaching, embezzlement for overcharging Letterman for work, and obstructing a police investigation, according to the Tribune. Frank escaped Montana State Prison prison in 2007 with another inmate. He was arrested six days later after reportedly walking ten miles through mountains without socks or shoes. After getting parole in 2014, he was arrested again in 2015 for violating the terms of his parole, the Tribune reported. David Letterman started hosting his own late night talk shows in 1982 and retired in 2015. He got his big break in late night television with appearances and guest host duties for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Letterman then started hosting his own morning talk show The David Letterman Show on NBC in 1980, according to CBS New York. Shortly after, Letterman followed with own own late night show Late Night with David Letterman on NBC, which ran for 11 years. After NBC granted Jay Leno hosting duties on NBCs Tonight Show, Letterman moved to CBS with The Late Show, which he hosted until his retirement. Lettermans early career started when he hosted radio programs at Ball State University. He then went on to be a weatherman at a local Indiana TV station, and worked in other news media roles before moving out to Los Angeles to pursue comedy, according to Ball State University. Currently, Letterman hosts the Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. Variety reported that Netflix reviewed the show for a second season earlier this month. Season 2 is scheduled for release in 2019. My Next Guest Needs No Introduction is Lettermans first show since his 2015 retirement. In a 2017 interview with The Washington Post, Letterman likened hosting late night TV to a prison sentence. He also is baffled by his own participation in the well-known late night talk show wars between himself and Jay Leno. But he does wish he had listened to his wife earlier about having children. He didnt feel he could be both talk show host and father. And he wishes son Harry had a sibling, but now he is too old to adopt a child, according to the Post interview. From NTD.com Watch Next: SpyGateCollusion Scandal bigger than Watergate [Part 1/2] Those Involved to Take Down Trump Americas most powerful agencies were weaponized against President Donald Trump in a collusion scandal perpetrated by top officials in the #Obama administration. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were killed by a group of men hoping to be recognized as an ISIS terrorist cell. (Reuters) Morocco Police Uncover Terrorist Cell While Investigating Tourist Beheading Moroccan security officials investigating the murder of two European backpackers stumbled across a terrorist cell trying to link itself to ISIS. As of Dec. 21, 13 people had been arrested in connection with the brutal murders, which were filmed and posted online. Four of the killers also posted videos pledging their lives to the ISIS terrorist group and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIS has not acknowledged the people as members, nor claimed responsibility for the killings. Morocco says police accidentally foiled a terror plot while hunting the killers of two Scandinavian backpackers https://t.co/k9kGKaE8aF INSIDER (@thisisinsider) December 24, 2018 The Danish intelligence service, Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) stated on Dec. 20, The video and preliminary investigation according to the Moroccan authorities indicate that the killings may be related to the terrorist organization Islamic State, Reuters reported. Moroccan Police spokesman Boubker Sabik described the four as lone wolves, acting without official sanction from ISIS. The crime was not coordinated with Islamic State, he said, according to This Insider. Lone wolves do not need permission from their leader. Sabik did not say how Moroccan authorities had reached this conclusion. Moroccos Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations said the nine men arrested on Dec. 21 were carrying weapons and materials which could be used to make bombs, the Star Tribune reported. So it took 13 men to end the life of two great friends that celebrate life. This goes beyond terrorism, and we must stop using terrorism to describe barbarism. The world must remove antisocial person willing to harm happiness and society well being. https://t.co/I5ryGKgDWB Gustavo Torres (@CPAGtorres) December 24, 2018 Tourists Hiking in the Mountains The two young ladies, Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, both lived in southern Norway where they were enrolled in college. The women were hiking in the Atlas Mountain range, which spans the border between Morocco and Algeria. They first traveled to the village of Imlil, which is commonly used as a starting point for hikes up Mount Toubkal, North Africas highest peak. Before departing, Jespersen had asked her Facebook friends for tips on hiking in the Atlas Mountains, Reuters reported. Dear friends, Im going to Morocco in December. Any of you guys whos around by then or any mountain friends who knows something about Mount Toubkal? she posted. Dear friends, im going to Morocco in december. Any of you guys whos around by then or any mountain friends who knows something about Mount Toubkal? Louisa Vesterager Jespersen 20181121 A party of French hikers found the bodies a little over six miles from the village, at the head of a trial up to the peak. It was horrible. They were broken, one of the French hikers told News.com. We warned everyone we saw in Imlil not to go up there. I did not want more to see what we had seenIt was a big shock, were thinking about it all day. It makes you think about whats important in life. The womens bodies were found on Dec. 17. The first suspect had been identified and arrested by Dec. 19, at which time Moroccan police spokesman Boubker Sabik told Reuters, We are working to bring before justice three other suspects on the run. Two days later, those three and nine more had been apprehended. 6. ISIS has not claimed the murder but the group typically doesn't claim attacks when their followers are in custody. So we may never have an official claim. At a minimum, the European officials I am speaking to consider this an attack inspired by the group. Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) December 21, 2018 Video Brutality The video of the killings shows one of the women, apparently Louisa Jespersen, being beheaded with a kitchen knife. It was posted on Dec. 19. A person in the village of Imlil told a Reuters reporter that one of the bodies was found it the womens tent, while the other was outside on the ground. Moroccan authorities said the video was not taken where the womens bodies were found. Some people are using social media to urge others not to watch the videos. So heartbroken and terrible what happened in Morocco with those beautiful girls ; Rest in peace Maren Ueland and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen Warning if you come across the video please do not watch it for the sake of your own mental & emotional health. pic.twitter.com/g5ePHZmvnf Ornella . (@hsftangel) December 20, 2018 According to the Star Tribune, Norwegian police believe that the part of the video showing at least one of the murders is authentic. Norways National Criminal Investigation Service, after analyzing video, stated, There is no concrete evidence indicating the video is not real. 2. The bodies of the tourists 24-year-old Louisa Jespersen of Denmark & 28-year-old Maren Ueland of Norway were found at the head of a trail in Morocco's Atlas Mountains. I watched the horrific video and it's hard to even find words to describe the brutality it contained. pic.twitter.com/9VyGccBL1V Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) December 21, 2018 Revenge for Hajin In the video of the beheading, one of the terrorists can be heard saying, This is a revenge for our brothers in Hajin. Hajin is a small town in Syria where ISIS forces were fighting Kurdish forces backed by the United States, prior to the United States ending its involvement in the area. Morocco has mostly avoided the terrorist violence that has struck other North African states. A restaurant bombing in 2011 which claimed the lives of 17 people was the last major attack the nation had suffered. In 2015, Morocco formed the Bureau for Judicial Investigations, dedicated to eradicating terror cells and stopping terrorist plots. The Bureau claims it has broken up 57 cells since its inception, including eight in 2018. From NTD News Nissan American Exec Greg Kelly Released on Bail in Japan Nissan Motor Co. executive Greg Kelly was released from detention in Japan on Dec. 25 after being granted bail over the alleged underreporting of his boss Carlos Ghosns pay. The late-night release of Kelly, who is American, followed the Tokyo District Courts approval earlier in the day of a bail request filed last week by his Japanese lawyer. Kelly was freed on 70 million yen ($635,600) bail, ending his detention after more than a month. Television footage captured the bespectacled Kelly, wearing a beige jacket, slowly walking out of the detention center and getting into a black car. The vehicle carrying Kelly, who was seated next to his lawyer and looking straight ahead, drove past reporters as cameras flashed. He was expected to go straight to a hospital for treatment of his chronic neck problem. Kelly and Ghosn were detained in Tokyo immediately after their Nov. 19 arrest. They are charged with underreporting Ghosns pay by about 5 billion yen ($44 million) in 2011-2015. Kellys Japanese lawyer sought bail after the court dismissed prosecutors request for more detention for the two to investigate their second allegation of underreporting Ghosns 4 billion yen ($36 million) pay. Charges for alleged underreporting of 4 billion yen ($36 million) in the past three years are pending, and no trial date has been set. Ghosn will be detained until Jan. 1 or longer since he also faces breach of trust allegations. Prosecutors say Ghosn and Kelly are flight risks. Following his release, Kelly will have to follow rules set by the court, including those regarding his residence and travel, prosecutors have said. Kelly, in a statement released Dec. 25 to the Japanese media through his Japanese lawyer, said he is innocent. I have not been involved in alleged false entry, he said, according to a copy of the statement shown by Japanese networks and print media. I believe my innocence will be revealed in the trial. I would like to have a judgment of non-guilty and restore my impaired reputation, and then return to my family as soon as possible. The arrests of Ghosn, who is an auto industry icon, and his right-hand man have triggered international attention and raised concerns about the Japanese practice of extended detentions. Nissan has removed Kelly as representative director and Ghosn as chairman, but they are still company board members. The board of Renault SA, the French ally of Nissan, has retained him while naming an interim chair. Mitsubishi took a measure similar to Nissan. President Trump, First Lady Visit With US Troops in Iraq on Christmas President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump traveled to Iraq for an unannounced visit with American troops for Christmas. The trip wasnt made public until after they landed. President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice, and to wish them a Merry Christmas, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. She shared a picture of the president and first lady posing with troops. FLOTUS and POTUS have made a surprise visit to our brave U.S. service members currently deployed in Iraq. Thank you to all who serve!!! Stephanie Grisham, spokeswoman for the first lady, added on Twitter. Its Trumps first visit to troops serving abroad. President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas. pic.twitter.com/s2hntnRwpw Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 26, 2018 He was spending the holidays at the White House after a planned family trip to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida carried on without him as the government shut down. The first lady returned to Washington from Florida on Dec. 24. Trump insisted that federal appropriations needed to avoid a shutdown must include $5 billion for the border wall, one of his signature campaign promises, but Democrats have fought against the funding. With neither side giving in, the shutdown that affects approximately 25 percent of the government started. Secret Visit Trumps predecessors, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, also made surprise trips to visit the troops. For security reasons, the visits are usually kept secret until after the president arrives. Trump said his main security concern was for the first lady and related how Air Force One took special precautions when landing in Iraq. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all windows closed with no light anywhere. Pitch black, he said. So did I have a concern? Yes, I had a concern. While in Iraq, Trump spoke to military commanders and the U.S. ambassador and, according to White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, they came up with a powerful plan that will allow us to continue our path to total victory over the ISIS terrorist group. The Trumps posed for pictures at Al Asad Air Base on Dec. 26 during the unannounced visit. National security adviser John Bolton joined the president and first lady on the trip. The United States has more than 5,000 troops in the country. Trump said earlier this year that hes been busy, when asked why he hadnt visited troops serving abroad as of yet. I will do that at some point, but I dont think its overly necessary. Ive been very busy with everything thats taking place here. We have the greatest economy in the history of our country. I mean, this is the greatest economy weve ever had, best unemployment numbers, he told the Associated Press. Im doing a lot of things. But its something Id do. And do gladly. Nobody has been better at the military. Hey, I just got them a pay raise. I havent had a pay raise in 11 years. I just got them a substantial pay raise. They meaning our military people. I just got them new equipment. They have stuff that was so old that their grandfathers used to fly it. I have done more for the military than any president in many, many years. Following through on another campaign promise, Trump announced just before Christmas that he would withdraw U.S. troops posted in Syria, saying that, after touting the defeat of ISIS, its time to let U.S. allies take over in the war-torn country. We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency, Trump wrote on Twitter on Dec. 19. These victories over ISIS in Syria do not signal the end of the Global Coalition or its campaign, Sanders added in a statement. We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign. From NTD News. Reuters and The Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab contributed to this report. Plainclothes police officers gesture to stop photographs from being taken in front of the number 2 intermediate people's court in Tianjin on December 26, 2018, where the trial of human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang is set to begin. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images) Secretive Trial of Chinese Human-Rights Lawyer Wang Quanzhang Ends Without Announced Verdict The trial of prominent Chinese human-rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, which was closed to the public, ended just hours after it began on Dec. 26. Wang, who took on cases defending citizens from state abusesuch as Christians and adherents of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement who have been detained for their faithwas charged with subverting state power, a charge often used to prosecute dissidents and rights activists. He went missing in August 2015 during a sweeping crackdown on rights activists across the country, known as the 709 crackdown. The No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court in the northern city of Tianjin claimed that because Wangs case involved state secrets, it would be a closed trial. Wangs wife, Li Wenzu, was among those prevented from attending. Roughly four hours after the hearing began at 8:30 a.m., the court adjourned. At around 3:45 p.m, the court posted a notice online that indicated a verdict will be announced at a later date. Speaking to the Chinese-language Epoch Times, human-rights lawyer Xie Yanyi said that it was suspicious for the trial to end so quickly. I feel there is reason to suspect that independent judicial power was not exercised, he said. [The court] deprived Wang of his rights and wanted to end the trial as quickly as possible. Wives Barred From Attending Trial Li Wenzu recently shaved her head to protest the treatment of her husband by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Li and Wang Qiaoling, the wife of another arrested lawyer, left their homes in Beijing at 5:30 a.m. to attend the trial. According to Wangs Twitter post, as they exited their building, a group of people approached them with bright lights and cameras. She wrote that she and Li were relieved, thinking that it was reporters who were approaching. However, they were met by a group of flashlight-wielding Internal Security Bureau officers. The Bureau is a police force specifically for controlling dissidents and activists. An officer, who informed them that the proceedings were closed to the public, offered to drive them to the trial. Both Wang and Li declined the offer and attempted to travel on their own, only to find all six exits of their housing complex blocked by officers. Wangs supporters, reporters, and foreign diplomats from the United States and some European countries also werent allowed to attend, according to the Associated Press. More than 20 plainclothes police officers stood outside the court, preventing anyone from entering. Secret Trials Since being jailed, Wang has been cut off from his own lawyer and his family. Wang is the latest victim in a continuing string of both secret and show trials. Lawyers are harassed or beaten, and evidence is withheld. Court dates are changed without warning. Li was only recently informed by a government lawyer that her husbands trial date had been changed to two days later than originally scheduled. During the holidays, it is easy to eat up to double or triple our needed calories, leading to weight gain that is often permanent. (Pixabay) Self-Weighing, Self-Awareness May Prevent Holiday Weight Gain Researchers devise method to prevent holiday weight gain A brief program that encouraged people to track their weight and be mindful of the excess energy in every holiday cookie or cup of eggnog seems to have helped participants get through the holiday season without gaining weight. The trial in the United Kingdom recruited participants in November and December of 2016 and 2017 and followed up with them about 45 days later. Those assigned to the weight-gain prevention program ended up losing 0.13 kg (about one-third of a pound), on average, while the control group gained 0.37 kg (nearly a pound), the study team reported Dec. 10 in The BMJ. On Christmas Day alone, someone might consume 6,000 calories, or three times the recommended daily allowance, said a co-author of the study, Amanda Farley of the University of Birmingham. We were unsure how well the public would respond to the idea of controlling their food and drink over Christmas, Farley told Reuters Health by email. But we found that participants were very motivated. Past research has found that holiday periods are often when people put on extra pounds, but they dont tend to lose that weight after the holidays are over. Since even a holiday weight gain of just a pound or two each year will add up over a decade, the study team wanted to explore tactics to help prevent putting on weight in the first place. They recruited 272 adults who were told only that they would participate in a study of winter weight gain. About half were randomly assigned to receive a general brochure on healthy living. The other half got advice to weigh themselves frequently, ideally every day, record their weight, and reflect on weight trajectory. They also got 10 tips for weight management, as well as a graphical list of holiday foods showing the amount of exercise that would be required to offset the calorie content of each. For instance, expending the calories in a mince pie requires 21 minutes of running, and a small glass of mulled wine requires 32 minutes of walking. The 10 tips for weight management included sticking to a regular meal routine, choosing reduced fat options, walking 10,000 steps daily, opting for healthy snacks, reading food labels, thinking twice about large portions and seconds, breaking up sitting time, reducing alcoholic and sweet drinks, slowing down while eating and aiming to include five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. About 80 percent of the participants were women, roughly one third in the normal weight range, more than one third were overweight, and the rest obese. The researchers goal was for participants to gain no more than half a kilogram, or about one pound, over the holiday period. Instead, the research team found that the intervention group, on average, lost a little weight while the control group gained a bit. The difference in weight gain between the groups was 0.49 kg, a little over one pound, a statistically meaningful amount, the study team concludes. Based on questionnaire responses at the follow-up, people in the intervention group also scored higher for practicing cognitive restraint. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in changes in body fat percentage, emotional eating or uncontrolled eating. Many people gain weight over Christmas, but that is not inevitable, Farley said. It is possible to demonstrate some restraint of eating and drinking and build in simple ways to be active while still enjoying the festive season. Few randomized controlled trials have studied effective programs to combat the year-end bloat, noted Dale Schoeller of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, who wasnt involved in the study. Although this study showed a change, its hard to say which aspect was effective, Schoeller said. It would be interesting to take this program apart and try to understand what changes led to the prevention of weight gain, he said in a phone interview. Did restraint with food or alcohol, or compensating with exercise, make the difference, or was it a combination? In this study, the majority of participants were white women in their 40s. Future studies should include different communities and could tailor the tips to appeal to different audiences and countries, said Rolando Giovanni Diaz Zavala of the University of Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico, who also wasnt involved in the research. Once people are overweight, there are metabolic and neuroendocrine changes (possibly irreversible) that fight to regain weight lost, he said in an email. Preventing weight gain seems to be the smartest strategy. By Carolyn Crist Canned tomatoes line the shelves of a pantry at the SF-Marin Food Bank in San Francisco, Calif. on May 1, 2014. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) South Carolina Man Uses Food Stamps to Offer Free Community Christmas Lunch A South Carolina man used his food stamps to buy food and prepare a free community lunch on Christmas Day. Merrit Eggleston set up a tent outside of his home in Rock Hill on Tuesday and offered free hot meals. He used the $70 in food stamps he gets each month to buy the food. I do everything I can to help anybody I see who needs help, Eggleston told WSOC-TV. They say no one else out there is doing this, why do you do it. I say because I want to. He said others in the community contributed to the meal, such as two ministers who contributed $20 each. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 42 million Americans received food stamps in 2017, including 420,000 South Carolina residents. Oklahoma Dealership Gifts Free Car to Mother A mother in Oklahoma was shocked to receive a brand new car on Christmas Eve. Sheraiah Cricks story was one of hundreds submitted by friends to the Big Red Kia dealership in Norman. The owner wanted to give a car away but wanted to make sure the recipient would really need it. Thats what we were actually looking for, looking for someone who actually deserved the car, sale manager Andrew Faller told KFOR. Crick has been without a car for the past year, walking to where she needs to go, including 30 minutes to work each day at Family Dollar. Crick is a widow who has five children. Its been tough, Crick said. Ive missed kids doctors appointments because I havent been able to get them to the doctor because I didnt have the vehicle. She said the gift left her stunned. I stopped breathing. I stopped breathing for a second, Crick said. I thought I was dreaming. California Man Donates Van A California man donated a new van to a family who had their van stolen while receiving medical care. Brandi and Brian Hampton traveled from their home in Colorado to St. Johns Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California, so that Brandi could undergo brain surgery to treat her epilepsy. But while they were inside the medical center, their van was stolen. Worse still, virtually all of their possessions were inside, along with their 7-month-old puppy, which was being trained as a service dog for Brandi. After the story circulated on Christmas Eve, a stranger stepped forward and donated a van to the Hamptons on Christmas Day. Jason Thorwegen saw the story and decided to help. He said he has two vans and didnt need them both. Just try to do good where I can and when I can, Thorwegen told KABC. Were all just human, were all just trying to do good when we can. The Hamptons called the donation life-changing. I cant describe how grateful we are, Brian Hampton said. I think its more of a Christmas miracle. This is life-altering. From NTD News Suspect Allegedly Kills Police K-9 in Florida Mall Shooting 'He gave his life to save others' A police K-9 who saved the lives of several officers is dead and a suspect hospitalized, after a shooting near a Florida shopping mall on Christmas Eve, authorities have announced. In a statement dated Dec. 25, Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Therese Barbera confirmed authorities had searched for two suspects wanted on warrants for attempted first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. The suspects were located in the afternoon on Dec. 24 at the Wellington Green Mall. He gave his life to save others. Hes a good boy and he will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace #K9Cigo, said the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office in a post to Twitter of the dog, named Cigo. Barbera said undercover deputies secured an area of the mall parking lot and confronted the men when they came outside. He gave his life to save others. Hes a good boy and he will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace #K9Cigo pic.twitter.com/7Snb2LvVFt PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) December 25, 2018 The pain felt by #K9Cigos handler/partner is strong. Our prayers are with him tonight, the department said on Twitter. Suspect Justin Vazquez, 19, surrendered immediately. The other Giovany Ramos Alvarez, 28, ran off according to Barbera. Cigo, 3, pursued Alvarez. Barbera said Alvarez turned and fired multiple times, striking Cigo before two deputies returned fire, wounding the suspect. No bystanders at the mall were injured in the shooting. Both deputies involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave with pay, according to the sheriffs office. Alvarez was hospitalized on Dec. 25 in a serious condition, Barbera said. Hes pretty well wounded, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a news conference about the dog, reported WPTV. Its very unfortunate but at least no deputies are dead, no civilians dead, and we got two very dangerous people off the street right now. Cigo was pronounced dead at an animal hospital. We made sure that there wasnt going to be any pedestrian traffic, there wasnt going to be any danger to the public but we had to get these two guys, Bradshaw said. They are very dangerous people already involved in an attempted first-degree murder so, once we found them, we werent going to let them out of this parking lot. Bradshaw reminded reporters the dog did its job to protect the lives of officers. Remember, the dog did his job and he saved those officers lives, he said in the Florida Sun-Sentinel. We got two very dangerous people off the street. Unfortunately it took the life of one of our dogs. Both deputies involved in the shooting are on administrative leave. Other details about the case are not clear. According to one K-9 training school, a K-9 officers responsibilities are multi-faceted. A K9 officers responsibilities are those of a general police officer, except that they are carried out with a police dog, the website said. Police dogs may accompany their human partners on traffic stops, responding to assistance calls or emergencies, apprehending suspects, and acting as a representative of the police force in public engagements. A K9 officers responsibilities go beyond shift hours. A police dog is the officers partner at home and at work, the website added. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Huawei booth is seen at a China Mobile 5G experience center in Shanghai on Dec. 20, 2018. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) Tech Companies Step Into 5G Market Void Left by Troubled Chinese Telecom Firms As embattled Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei faces scrutiny over the security of its products, some companies have stepped in to fill the void, especially in providing technology for the rollout of next-generation 5G wireless mobile networks. Altiostar Networks, a Massachusetts-based startup and telecom-equipment provider, along with Nokia, a Finnish telecom firm, were awarded contracts to build a new 4G mobile network earlier this year for Rakuten, an e-commerce giant that also provides mobile services (set to become Japans fourth-largest provider), according to a Dec. 25 report by Japanese media Nikkei. Rakuten plans to stick with Nokia and Altiostar for its transition to 5G from 4G. The losing bidders for Rakutens network contract earlier this year were Ericsson, a Swedish telecom firm, and Huawei. Both companies manufacture telecom equipment that are typically part of mobile network infrastructure. Altiostar claims to be the worlds first provider of virtualized radio access network (vRAN) technology, which allows telecom providers to expand their network capacity and prepare their existing telecoms infrastructure for 5G through specialized software. Rather than building a 5G network from the ground up and purchasing new 5G base stations to relay signals, service providers can use general-purpose equipment to roll out 5Ga much cheaper option. We will be able to handle 5G just by updating software at [4G base stations], said Yoshihisa Yamada, president of Rakuten Mobile Network, during an Oct. 3 Japanese government hearing. Yuichiro Takagawa, a researcher at Tokyos Waseda University, told Nikkei that there is a good possibility that companies like Altiostar will spell the end for the likes of Ericsson and Huawei. Many governments around the world, such as the United States, the UK, and Australia, have raised concerns about security loopholes in equipment and phones made by Chinese tech companies, especially Huawei and ZTEtwo firms that have close ties to the Chinese regime. Beijing had supported the two firms aggressive development of 5G technology in the hopes that they could become the primary provider of 5G around the world. Having been shut out of many Western markets, Huawei and ZTE have left a void in the market demand for 5G. South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics has benefited. According to Nikkei, U.S. telecoms operators Verizon Communications and AT&T will buy 5G base stations from Samsung and Ericsson, with AT&T also buying from Nokia. In South Korea, two of the largest mobile carriers, SK Telecom and KT Corp., have both selected Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia to supply equipment for their 5G networks, ruling out Huawei. LG U+, a subsidiary of South Korean tech conglomerate LG, is the only major mobile carrier to have plans to buy equipment from Huawei for rolling out 5G. Japans current three major telecom operators, SoftBank Group, NTT Docomo, and KDDI, have all recently announced that they will reject 5G equipment from Huawei and ZTE, a few days after the Japanese government announced a ban on government purchases of equipment from the two Chinese companies. The United States has also banned government purchases from the two firms. In May, the Pentagon issued an order to remove all Huawei and ZTE phones sold at stores on U.S. military bases, out of concern that the devices could be used to spy on U.S. forces. In a recent poll by research firm Gartner, 66 percent of organizations polledwhich included business executives in IT and other fieldshave plans to deploy 5G by 2020, with many expecting that the next-generation network will mainly be used for internet-of-things devices. Texas Endowment at $31 Billion Passes Yale With Oils Help Oil has been very good to university endowments in Texas. It was so good in the year through June 30 that the University of Texas saw the value of its endowment reach $31 billion, surpassing Yale to become the second-largest endowment in U.S. higher education, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The endowment was fueled by mineral rights from land it controls in the Permian Basin. Its an area bigger than Delaware that has emerged in the past decade as the worlds fastest growing oil-producing region due to advances in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The state system shares the mineral rights revenue with Texas A&M University, which saw its endowment value surge to $13.5 billion. The boom may recede as the price of a barrel of oil has tumbled by 40 percent from a high this year of $76 in October. Still, endowment performance out of the Lone Star state is a testament to the influence of the Permian. A small school outside of Dallas with a big energy bet produced one of the best returns in higher education in fiscal 2018. Most universities began reporting fiscal 2018 endowment investment returns in the fall. Its very common in Texas to have a lot of exposure to energy, said Christian Busken, a senior vice president who oversees real asset investments at Fund Evaluation Group in Cincinnati. Fortunes are made and lost but if you play it in the right way it can be a great long-term investment. Low Risk Mineral rights, which can be split from holdings of the surface property, convey ownership of the underground gas, oil, and other natural resources. They are a common asset at Texas colleges. The two public systems receive royalties from land the state designates for higher education while other schools are often given mineral rights by donors. Mineral rights are also seen as a relatively low-risk way to get exposure to energy and generate income compared with buying shares in drillers or taking stakes through private equity funds. The University of Texas controls 2.1 million acres of land in the Permian, which generated a record 5.3 million barrels in July as drillers built longer and longer horizontal wells to frack. The companies paid out a little more than $1 billion of royalties to the state school endowments in the year through August, the most since 2014 when oil prices topped $100 a barrel. More Wells The oil has always been there, said Mark Houser, chief executive officer of University Lands, the state systems arm that leases and oversees the companies drilling on the properties. Really its the technology thats enabled us to open up more wells. Royalties flow into a fund that is controlled by University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Co., which invests in stocks, bonds, and alternative assets. About 5 percent a year is paid out to support the state schools. While Yale University now trails Texas with an endowment of $29.4 billion, its still by one measure richer because it has about a third of the undergraduate student body of the flagship school to support. The UT system has 235,000 students across all of its campuses to more than 12,000 at Yale. Other schools that have benefited include Texas Christian University. The school in Fort Worth has 10 percent of its $1.6 billion endowment allocated to energy, with more than two-thirds in mineral rights it received from donors, said James Hille, the investing chief. Abilene Christian University, a small private college west of Dallas, committed a quarter of its $450 million endowment to energy, including a big bet on the Permian region. The fund gained 15.8 percent in fiscal 2018, better than most wealthy U.S. colleges and eking past Bowdoin Colleges 15.7 percent return. Abilene Christian had a mix of energy investments when it decided in 2013 to ramp up its exposure with shares in Texas Pacific Land Trust, which controls vast tracts of land in the Delaware Basin in the western region of the Permian. The move proved prescient as Texas Pacific became the hottest oil stock from the U.S. shale boom, climbing more than 2,200 percent from 2010 before prices corrected in October. Lifted Limit The university had so much conviction in the investment it lifted its limit on how much the endowment may own in one company, said Jack Rich, the chief investment officer. A 3 percent commitment was increased to 11 percent this year and generated a 130 percent gain when some shares were sold, he said. Thats off the rails, said Rich, whos worked for the universitys administration for 28 years, creating an investment office about a decade ago. We took some risk there. Its rare for school funds to hold more than single-digit allocations to energy, said Fund Evaluations Busken. Many endowments and foundations have cut oil and gas under pressure to divest from fossil fuels. Rich said Abilene Christian is diversifying into wind, solar, and other sustainable energy producers. Its also holding a position in Texas Pacific, even as the share price has tumbled with oil prices. Our edge is our willingness to buy into what we know, and thats the energy market, Rich said. By Michael McDonald From Bloomberg Report: Top Chinese Doctors Admit to Harvesting Organs From Falun Gong Practitioners A new round of chilling phone calls reveals that live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners continues in China at a variety of leading transplant centers in different regions of the country, according to a recent report. The conversations, with doctors from 12 transplant hospitals in China, also show that this business has become normal at these facilities: None of the doctorsall leading figures in organ transplantation in Chinashowed surprise, dismay, or anger when asked whether the organs are harvested from Falun Gong practitioners. The calls are the latest research documenting forced organ harvesting in China, which developed as part of the persecution of the spiritual practice of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa. Immediate Admission In the report released by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), of the 16 doctors who spoke to Wang, 11 doctors from nine hospitals immediately admitted that their organs came from Falun Gong practitioners, while the other five doctors either didnt deny that the organs were from Falun Gong practitioners, or avoided responding to the question. A transcript from one call reads: I have another [question]. You are using Falun Gong practitioners as the donors, that is, those healthy donors, right? Definitely healthy. How can it be acceptable if theyre not healthy?! The above conversation occurred between Dr. Wang Zhiyuan, president WOIPFG, who posed as a relative of a patient who needed a liver transplant, and Peng Zhihai, director of the Organ Transplantation Center and vice president of Shanghai General Hospital, on Nov. 11. In addition to claiming to be a relative, Wang also presented himself as the vice director of the Stability Maintenance Office of Sichuan Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which likely encouraged the doctors he called to speak more candidly than they might to an average individual. The Political and Legal Affairs Commission is responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong. As a high-ranking official on the panel, Wang could be assumed to be knowledgeable about the forced organ harvestingthe doctors may have felt they were speaking to a co-conspirator. Moreover, hospitals and doctors would want to maintain a good relationship with the commission to get organs from Falun Gong practitioners. But none of the doctors showed any surprise or anger when asked whether the organs were from Falun Gong practitioners, as if harvesting organs from living Falun Gong adherents is business as usual. This round of investigation was conducted from Oct. 19 to Dec. 2, 2018, and involved 16 doctors from 12 hospitals in China, said Wang, who is also a former chief physician for the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force and a former histology research specialist at Harvard Medical School. The 12 hospitals range from Beijing and Tianjin in the north, all the way to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Guangzhou in the south. The investigated doctors are all either presidents or directors of top-level organ transplant hospitals in China. Many are responsible for state-level projects in the field of organ transplantation. No-Ischemia Liver Transplant Seven of the doctors who were contacted confirmed that both organ harvesting and transplantation are done at their hospitals. This seems to be explicit in the case of one doctor boasting about a no-ischemia liver transplant. Ischemia is the inadequate supply of freshly oxygenated blood to an organ, and dealing with the ischemia timethe time an organ is without such blood supplyis a significant issue for transplantation, impacting chances of rejection, survival rates, and outcomes for the recipient. In most transplantation surgeries around the world, after organs are procured, they are kept chilled in both a cold preservative solution and crushed ice. During this time, there is no warm, oxygenated blood flow to the organ. This is called cold ischemia time. There is also another measure of ischemia time, called warm ischemia time, which measures the time the organ is still in the body but not receiving freshly oxygenated blood (typically because the heart has stopped). Warm ischemia time ends when the organ is perfused with a cold solution and then quickly extracted and put in ice, awaiting transplantation into the new host body. Livers, and also the heart and lungs, are particularly sensitive to ischemic damage and require minimal warm ischemic time to ensure a successful graft. The following is a conversation between Wang and He Xiaoshun, vice president of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, in the southeastern city of Guangzhou on Nov. 16: Wang: You mentioned that you have a new technology, that is, which can shorten the warm ischemia time, correct? He Xiaoshun: Correct, we do have it. Actually, it is not shortening the time, it is to (inaudible). Wang: Oh, really? That means there is no more warm ischemia time at all, right? He: Right, right. We always perform the [organ] transplants when the livers have continuous blood circulation during the whole process. Wang: Oh, being performed when there is always blood circulation. What is the name of your technology? He: It is. We call it no ischemia. There is no loss of blood, so it is called no-ischemia liver transplant. Wang: Oh, let me confirm with you one more time. So, the organs you currently use are all from Falun Gong [practitioners], who are healthy. So they are very healthy organs, right? He: Uh, right. There is no need to rinse [the organs] with ice-cold water or to preserve them in ice. All such procedures can be omitted! Wang: Oh, that makes sense. So inherently, organs from Falun Gong [practitioners] are very good, on top of that, there is no issue of warm ischemia, it would be even better. He: Right, right. Wang said that no-ischemia liver transplants almost certainly meant that the organs are being harvested from living human beings, given the extremely low incidence of genuine brain death cases that go on to become donors in China. In particular, the promise of He Xiaoshun that such surgeries could be carried out as needed to obtain organs indicates that the organs are not coming from voluntary donors who happen to suffer brain death, typically through accidental head trauma, but were from people held in captivity. That the doctors had no problem confirming that organ harvesting happened in the hospital to ensure the quality of organs indicates that live organ harvesting, or killing people for their organs, is still happening in hospitals, Wang said. We May Have It as Soon as Tomorrow When asked how soon the transplants could be done, most doctors promised within one week or two, with the longest wait being two months and the shortest as soon as tomorrow. Wang also had a conversation with Liu Dongfu, director of kidney transplantation at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, in Shandong Province, on Nov. 18: Wang: So how long does he have to wait if he can have the surgery? Liu Dongfu: Let me tell you this. It can be as fast as within a week. If not that fast, you can have it after waiting for two months, in two months. Wang: Oh, OK. So if fast, one week; if slow, one to two months? Correct? Liu: We may have it [the source for a kidney] as soon as tomorrow. The average wait time for a kidney in the United States is three to five years, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Wang said that these short wait times are only possible if a large number of living human beings are available to be killed at any time, once matching is done. Same Organs as From Organ Brokers A doctor on duty at the Urology Surgery Department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital not only confirmed that organs came from Falun Gong practitioners, but also said that their sources were the same as those from organ brokers. Wang had this conversation with the doctor on duty, Dr. Li, on Dec. 2: Wang: I heard from my friends that, sometimes, you go directly to the source of kidneys to get the organs. Sometimes, [the organs] are transferred through a broker, from outside of the hospital. Now, there is no more broker, right? Dr. Li: There may still be brokers, but normally the sources are Wang: The organs taken by the brokers are also the normal organs from Falun Gong [practitioners], and the organ sources are the same, right? Dr. Li: Yes, all taken by them. Wang: My question is, what the brokers take and what you take are the same thing, right? Dr. Li: Right, right, right. Wang said that offers important new evidence for the crime of live organ harvesting. When The Epoch Times broke the news of live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in 2006, the Chinese Communist Party sought to cover it up by claiming the organs came from death-row prisoners, Wang said. After they found out that death-row prisoners were too few for the transplants done every year, and that harvesting organs from death-row prisoners also was not accepted by the international medical community, they tried to say that they would set up an organ donation system and would use only donated organs in the future. However, people soon found out that their organ donation system was a hoax, as for one, none of their claimed organ donation centers had enough donors to sustain the huge number of organ transplants in China; two, people could never find out information regarding the donors. If the organs are really from legitimate donors, all the information should be transparent. But in China, transparency doesnt exist. Wang said that when the organ-donation system wasnt good enough to convince the outside world, the CCP managed to attribute the source to black marketeers. Now, if a doctor admits that the organ sources of organ brokers and hospitals are the same, what does that mean? It means that brokers are only a disguise for the state-sanctioned business, Wang said. What Is the Price? When Wang Zhiyuan asked about the price of an organ transplant, Wang Jianli, associate chief physician of the Organ Transplant Institute at the Beijing Armed Police General Hospital, said that the price was not high and that 200,000 to 300,000 yuan [US$28,000 to $43,000] would be good enough for a liver transplant. Dr. Li of the Urology Surgery Department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital cited 100,000 yuan (US$14,000) as an upfront payment for a kidney transplant. Wang said that a liver transplant in China usually costs between 700,000 yuan to more than 1 million yuan (US$101,000 to $144,000). He believes he was given a discount price because Wang Jianli believed he was a high-ranking official on the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Wang Zhiyuan said the astronomical profit from organ harvesting is one of the reasons why this crime against humanity still occurs on a large scale in China. Genocide After then-dictator Jiang Zemin ordered a campaign in 1999 to eradicate the spiritual practice of Falun Gong, forced organ harvesting developed as an aspect of the persecution of adherents. Falun Gong involves living according to moral teachings that are based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and doing slow-motion, meditative exercises. Jiang feared Falun Gong because of the large number of practitionersestimated at 100 million in 1999 in Western media reportsand the attractiveness of its traditional moral teachings to the Chinese people. Beginning in 1999, there was an immediate uptick in the number of organ transplants done in China, and that became more pronounced in subsequent years. For instance, at the Tianjin First Central Hospital, while nine liver transplants were done in 1998, there were 33 in 1999 and 111 in 2000. By 2004, the number had jumped to 1,601. The coolness recorded by WOIPFG of top transplant administrators when it comes to taking organs from prisoners of conscience contrasts sharply with the account of one of the witnesses interviewed in March 2006, when The Epoch Times broke the story about forced, live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. Annie was the wife of an eye surgeon at the Sujiatun Thrombosis Hospital in Shenyang City, in Liaoning Province. She reported that her husband had become depressed and suffered from insomnia and nightmares. Finally, he confessed to her that hed been harvesting corneas from living Falun Gong practitioners. The initial accounts of organ harvesting in Sujiatun were followed in July 2006 by the report Bloody Harvest by David Kilgour, a former Canadian crown prosecutor and secretary of state for Asia-Pacific, and human-rights lawyer David Matas, which supported the allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong adherents. Among the evidence considered for the report were phone calls made to Chinese transplant doctors, in which the doctors admitted to harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners. Kilgour and Matas were joined by Ethan Gutmann (author of The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and Chinas Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem) in writing an update to Bloody Harvest. Released in June 2016, the update was based on a meticulous examination of the transplant programs of hundreds of hospitals in China, drawing on media reports, official propaganda, medical journals, hospital websites and a vast amount of deleted websites found in archives, according to the reports website. The report concludes that the number of transplants done in China far exceeds the official numbers and that the main source for the organs is the killing of innocents, primarily Falun Gong practitioners. Some researchers are describing the 19 years of mass killings as a cold genocide. TV Guide Piece Trashes Actor Chris Pratt for Being a Successful, Straight White Man Actor Chris Pratt was criticized in a TV Guide article, as part of a series called The 12 Days of Chris-Mas. The series looked at 12 actors named Chris. But TV Guide skewered Pratt in ways that many people found strange. The article explored what the author considered problematic aspects of his life offscreen. TV Guide received backlash for looking down on Pratt for holding what are essentially mainstream American values. The article, written by Kaitlin Thomas, talks about how Pratt considers himself to be from a blue-collar, working-class background, and then attempts to convince readers why thats bad. According to Fox News, some people are calling the article a hit piece. I love that not a single one of these problematic things is actually problematic. @prattprattpratt Ignore them man, commented Twitter user @endeavor_home. The piece is titled How to Love Chris Pratt Without Hating Yourself: Hes definitely the most divisive of the Chrises. Twitter user @texasbusboys suggested another title in the comments section of TV Guides article link tweet: Better title proving Im out of touch with average American views by Kaitlyn Thomas or maybe I wish I was as cool as Chris Pratt The article also criticized Pratt for farming lambs. Pratt has posts expressing pride in his lamb farm and the fresh meat it provides him. The TV guide writer expresses disdain for a lifestyle that consists of hunting and raising animals that you then eat. Hunting and farming is how we get 100% of our meat supply. And the vast majority of us eat it. Grow up, commented @EarnieBliss, under the Twitter article. The magazine also criticizes for an interview he did in Mens Fitness where Pratt said he didnt see people with a life story like himself represented in Hollywood productions. TV Guide pulled this quote from the interview: I think theres room for me to tell mine, and probably an audience that would be hungry for them. The voice of the average, blue-collar American isnt necessarily represented in Hollywood. TV Guide disagreed with Pratts assessment, not denying that he is from a blue-collar background, but minimizing his point by confining his identity to a successful, straight white man at the heart of two major film franchises, perhaps failing to recognize the diversity of opinions, perspectives, and experiences among straight white men, and confining Pratt to a stereotypical monolith. @TVGuide is basically saying if your a white Christian in this country u r a piece of trash and r irrelevant, if they didnt already know thats pretty much over half the population of the U.S, wrote @jimmyevans57, under TV Guides article link post on Twitter. The article series also explores the other Chriss popular for acting in comic book-related movies, like Chris Pine, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Evans, along with those who havent, like Chris Tucker, Ludacris, Chris Wood, Chris Klein, Chris Lowell, Chris Parnell, Chris Meloni, and Chris Messina. Even in the introduction to the article series, TV Guide expresses dismissiveness to the four key Chrises. the four Chrises most people talk about with regard to the rankingsEvans, Hemsworth, Pine, and Prattare all conventionally attractive, nondescript white guys most people cant tell apart, as if TV Guide was hoping for readers who also dont fit such a mold. From NTD News Two cousins were killed in two separate shootings in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 21 and Dec. 23. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Two Cousins Killed Within Three Days in Separate Shootings in Florida Five children spent Christmas without a mother after two separate shootings killed two cousins just before Christmas in Jacksonville, Florida. Police discovered the body of mother of two Nekecheana Phillips, 27, with a gunshot wound and dead outside her home on Hunt Street in the Lackawanna neighborhood, on the afternoon of Dec. 21. Phillips had filed a domestic violence petition two days earlier to obtain a restraining order against her former boyfriend. She was a good mother, Phillips neighbor Ronald Dennis said. Always smiling, always reserved, and just a good person. According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office Eric Lamar Jackson, 27, turned himself in to police and was charged with burglary and second-degree murder. Heartbreaking Dispute Ends in Tragedy Police allege Phillips arrived home on Dec. 21 and found Jackson waiting inside. The pair have a history of domestic violence. Im really shook by the whole thing, Phillips neighbor Brandi Salinas said. You see people fighting all the time you know what I mean, and they say things out of hate, but to actually do what he did is just heartbreaking. Jackson reportedly confronted Phillips after she ran outside to escape and shot her in front of others, including her two daughters before running off. Christmas is Tuesday, and theyre going to be burying their mother, Salinas said. Everybody today needs to stop. Whatever youre going through in your home if you dont get along, whatever it may be, its not that serious. It affects so many lives. Family members are devastated by the loss and said Phillips, who happened to be the daughter of a Jacksonville police officer, had taken steps to distance herself from Jackson. She did the right thing, Phillips aunt Barbara Young said. She got a restraining order, she did everything and changed the locks. Im just devastated, Im just so sad, she did the right thing but it was just too late. Phillips cousin Victoria Wyche, a mother of three, shared a post on Facebook from media coverage that accuses the suspect, Eric Lamar Jackson, of murder on Dec. 22. Weekend of Violence Just six miles from where Phillips died, Wyche was gunned down on Dec. 23 along with two others, in a triple shooting near North Pearl Street in the Brentwood neighborhood. Jacksonville Sheriffs Office confirmed the three were rushed to hospital where Wyche died. The hospital has already released the other two victims after they received treatment and finished questioning with police. Investigators said a group of people walked by the porch where the three were sitting and exchanging words before shooting all three of the victims. Wyches shooter has neither been identified nor captured. Gunshots are the acceptable norm in this community, Wyches neighbor Nahshon Nicks said. We hear gunshots every night. According to Jacksonville Sheriffs Office website, there have been over 100 murders this year in Jacksonville. Three shootings were reported to police on Christmas Eve, with three dead and several wounded in four shootings in Jacksonville over the weekend. Anyone with any information about the shootings is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office by phoning 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS(8177). Two Minors, Three Adults Arrested in Possible MS-13 Killing in New York Five people from Queens, New York were arrested on Dec. 22, in connection with a murder in Bayswater Point State Park on Dec. 15. Police received a call about an unconscious and unresponsive male in the bird sanctuary of Bayswater Point State Park in Far Rockaway around noon on Dec. 15th, WPIX reported. They investigated and found the body of Ian Cruz, 23. Cruz was stripped to underwear and socks. According to WABC, he had been shot in the head multiple times. He had also been beaten. Police said the scene bore the marks of a low-level MS-13 gang initiation or killing. A surveillance video led police to a residence in Far Rockaway where three of the suspects lived. The bedroom contained a .22-caliber revolver and more than 900 rounds of ammunition. Police arrested three adults: Elmer Guttierez, 18, Yonathan Sanchez, 22, and Carlos Guerra, 18. They were all charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Police also arrested a 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. Bail for Elmer Guttierez was set at $500,000. The rest are being held without bail. Possible Ties to Another Gang Murder Police believe the group arrested for the murder of Ian Cruz might also be involved in the murder of a 17-year-old on Long Island. Police officers found the corpse of Harold Sermeno, of Far Rockaway, lying on its back in a wooded area behind the Five Towns Community Center at 270 Lawrence Avenue in Inwood around 9 a.m. on Dec. 19. Semeno had been beaten, shot, and stabbed at least once, ABC News reported. Police believe he was killed the night before and deposited there. Detective Lieutenant Richard LeBrun told ABC the body was discovered by a neighbor walking his dog. At that time LeBrun refused to categorically identify the crime as a gang-related murder. At this point the investigation is still early, its very fresh, he told ABC. Will it be one of the avenues we look into? Of course it will. Spreading Through New York MS-13 originated on the West Coast in the late 1980s, formed mostly of El Salvadorans fleeing the civil war in their home nation. The gang soon displaced many of the traditional California gangs, and began spreading across the United States. In the past few years, the gang has gained a foothold in New York, the Daily News reported, with branches in Long Island and Queens. MS-13 is known for their casual application of extreme violence. The gangs favorite tactic to eliminate rivals is to lure people to remote areas and set upon them with knives and machetes. Brooklyn federal prosecutors have charged MS-13 members with more than 45 murders in the New York area since 2010. The actual number of killings is unknown, but could be much higher. From NTD News Watch Next: Texas Sheriff Andy Louderback Talks About MS-13 Update: 5 More Arrested Including Mastermind After 2 Tourists Beheaded in Morocco Five more arrests were made on Dec. 24 in relation to the murder of two Scandinavian women in the High Atlas mountains in Moroccoan attack that has been described by local authorities as a terrorist act. The five arrests bring the total number of arrests from the incident to 18 members as authorities work to dismantle the extremist cell. The arrests on Christmas Eve included the so-called emir who masterminded the group, the chief of Moroccos Central Bureau for Judicial Investigation Abdelhak Khiam confirmed, reported AFP. Four of the 18 arrests were of main suspects in the attack on the two Scandinavian tourists who were visiting the country on a camping trip. The two victims were stabbed, had their throats slit, and were then beheaded, Khiam told AFP of the brutal murder. Three of the suspects already had terrorism-related criminal records. Dane Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland found dead on Dec. 17 around 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from the village of Imlil on the way to ToubkalNorth Africas highest peak and a popular hiking destination. Abdessamad Ejjoud, a 25-year-old street vendor living on the outer part of Marrakesh, has been identified as the alleged ringleader and had formed a kind of cell that discussed how to carry out a terrorist act inside the kingdom, Khiam said, according to AFP. The three other suspects who had direct involvement in the killings were Abderrahim Khayali; a 33-year-old plumber, Rachid Afatti; a 33-year-old street vendor, and Younes Ouaziyad; a 27-year-old carpenter. An investigator has said that a week before the murders, Ejjoud along with the other three main suspects were seen in a video pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, neither Norway nor Denmark appear to have been mentioned in the video, and the men had not said anything specific about what action they were planning to perform, according to the Norway police. Khiam also had told AFP that the four main suspects had not had any contact with ISIS leaders in conflict zones, whether in Syria, Iraq, or Libya, and added that the alleged killers had formed a kind of cell that discussed how to carry out a terrorist act inside the kingdom targeting the security services or foreign tourists. Two days before the murders, the men allegedly traveled to the Imlil region because it is frequented by foreigners and targeted the two tourists in a deserted area, Khiam said. The murder that shocked the world lead to hundreds of Moroccans rallying in front of the Norwegian and Danish embassies in their capital Rabat on Dec. 22 in remembrance of the two slain Scandinavian tourists. Morocco has generally been considered safe for tourists but has battled with Islamic extremism for years. More than a thousand Moroccans are believed to have joined ISIS. The Associated Press and Tom Ozimek of The Epoch Times contributed to this report. From NTD.com Watch Next: SpyGateCollusion Scandal bigger than Watergate [Part 1/2] Those Involved to Take Down Trump Americas most powerful agencies were weaponized against President Donald Trump in a collusion scandal perpetrated by top officials in the #Obama administration. Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)and US soldiers patrol the Kurdish-held town of Al-Darbasiyah in northeastern Syria bordering Turkey on Nov. 4, 2018. (DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images) US-Led Coalition Continues Air Strikes Against ISIS in Syria The U.S.-led coalition in Syria continued to conduct air strikes against the ISIS terrorist group, American officials said Dec. 25, about a week after President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw 2,000 U.S. troops from the war-torn country. From Dec. 16 to Dec. 22, the coalition said it conducted multiple strikes, including precision air strikes and coordinated fires, that successfully destroyed logistics facilities and staging areas used by ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, and removed several hundred ISIS fighters from the battlefield. The attacks also damaged the groups ability to fund its activities by targeting several ISIS financial centers and capabilities in Susah and As Shafah. The coalition partner forces said they would continue to advance and dig out the positions of ISIS fighters, describing the war zone as the last remaining stronghold ISIS has in the region. ISIS presents a very real threat to the long-term stability in this region and our mission remains the same, the enduring defeat of ISIS, the deputy commander of the coalition, UK Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, said in a statement. The continued air support contrasts with initial reports last week that said the United States would likely end its air campaign against ISIS when the troops exit. Trump declared victory against ISIS in his Dec. 19 announcement of the withdrawal, arguing that U.S. troops had no other reason for staying in Syria now that the group has already been defeated. ISIS has lost all of the territory it once held in Iraq and controls only one percent of the territory it once held in Syria, according to a November report by the Department of Defense. One U.S. official said last week that a final decision hasnt been made regarding air-campaign support in Syria, adding that he didnt rule out some kind of support for partners and allies. The coalitions recent air strikes also signify the United States continued support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who have been an effective force against ISIS. The United States has also told the U.N. Security Council that its committed to the permanent destruction of ISIS and would keep pushing for the withdrawal of Iranian-backed forces in the country. The withdrawal of the U.S. troops could potentially open the region to the Turkish military. The SDF, with the U.S.s support, has been fighting against ISIS for three years. In a series of tweets on Dec. 23, Trump said that he had a productive call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which they discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, as well as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area, which he described as highly coordinated. President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria.and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right next door. Our troops are coming home! the president said in another post on Twitter. Meanwhile, France, a leading member of the U.S-led coalition, said that it would keep troops in northern Syria and continue to fight ISIS. Israel Maintains Red Lines Speaking to air force cadets at the Hatzerim Air Force Base on Dec. 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Trumps decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria does not change our policieswe will maintain our red lines in Syria and everywhere else. Netanyahu said that Operation Northern Shield,a part of Israels effort to thwart outside threatswill continue to eliminate Hezbollah attack tunnels. Hezbollah is an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in neighboring Lebanon. We are destroying Hezbollahs terror tunnels one after the other, he told cadets, according to the Jerusalem Post. They thought to create a weapon of destruction to be used against us, but we defeat them with trickery, daring, and determination. Netanyahu also hinted that Israel was responsible for the recent air attacks against Iranian targets near Damascus, saying that Israel is acting against Iranian entrenchment in Syria continuously and with firmness. At the same time, the Russian military on Dec. 26 criticized the alleged Israeli airstrike, saying that it had endangered civilian flights and describing it as provocative. Defending the homeland starts with eradicating major hostile threats, Netanyahu told cadets. We are not willing to accept an Iranian entrenchment in Syria that is directed against us. Netanyahu pledged that Israel wouldnt allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, and that Israels air force had special capabilities that no other country in the region has. Those capabilities, he added, include weapons systems, defensive systems, and attack missiles that can reach everywhere and every target. The United States ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, was only a few hours into his new job when he caused a kerfuffle: a tweet he sent warned German companies about doing business with Iran. The move offended one of the United States' closest allies, and drew sharp responses from critics in the U.S. But it also strengthened Grenell's bona fides as a Trump loyalist, the president's "Right Hand Man in Europe," as the far-right website Breitbart called him at the time. Now, Grenell has picked another target that is favored of the president: news media that has been critical of the United States under President Donald Trump. Since the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel disclosed a fabrication scandal that has sent tremors through the news world at a tense time for journalists globally, Grenell has taken aim at the company. He has tweeted about Der Spiegel, often harshly, and retweeted the criticism levied by others, more than a dozen times in the past week. "Spiegel hasn't answered as to how this fraud happened," he wrote, for example, on Dec. 23, apparently dissatisfied with the company's somewhat extensive efforts to publicize the wrongdoings of the reporter, Claas Relotius. "It's absurd for them to pretend this is only about one reporter." Grenell also got into a debate with a correspondent for the German public broadcaster ZDF, whom he told to "stop defending fake news and fabricated stories." "We do," the correspondent, Andrea Kynast, wrote back. "Do you?" And Grenell wrote an incendiary letter to Der Spiegel, which it published on its site, in which he asked the company arrange for an outside organization to conduct a thorough investigation of what went wrong. "These fake news stories largely focused on U.S. policies and certain segments of the American people," Grenell wrote. "While Spiegel's anti-American narratives have expanded over the last years, the anti-American bias at the magazine has exploded since the election of President Trump." Dirk Kurbjuweit, Der Spiegel's deputy editor in chief, wrote a letter back to Grenell that admitted its significant lapses and apologized for Relotius's work. "I would, however, like to counter you on one point. When we criticize the American president, this does not amount to anti-American bias - it is criticism of the policies of the man currently in office in the White House," Kurbjuweit wrote. "Anti-Americanism is deeply alien to me and I am absolutely aware of what Germany has the U.S. to thank for: a whole lot." Grenell's battle against Der Spiegel comes at a fraught time. The respected newsmagazine has published a handful stories about the problems it said it found with Relotius' reporting, as it continues to investigate the extent of the alleged fabrications. Relotius, 33, wrote about 55 articles for it over about four years and won numerous awards, including CNN's "Journalist of the Year," the European Press Prize and Forbes List of "30 under 30 - Europe: Media" award. But the editors say that they believe that most of his stories contain made-up passages, including fictional sources. Stories with sensationalized or entirely fabricated accounts included those that were about a Yemeni prisoner in Guantanamo Bay, a pro-Trump town in rural America and vigilante groups along the U.S.-Mexican border, among others. It is now doing an investigation to figure out "what happened and why." Earlier this week, the newsmagazine said it believed the reporter had run an improper fundraising campaign to raise money for two Syrian orphans he claimed to have met in 2016, according to Deutsche Welle. "The fate of two Syrian children described in Relotius's story 'King's children' so moved readers that they wanted to donate to them," Der Spiegel wrote on Saturday, according to a translation by Deutsche Welle. But "he collected the readers' money under false pretenses, which he apparently has not, as promised, passed on," it said. An explainer published by Der Spiegel on the scandal also says that Relotius deceived "intentionally, methodically and with criminal intent." Relotius declined to comment on the case to The Post by email this week, saying that more information would come out soon. Trump, who has made undermining otherwise credible news reporting a central effort of his presidency, has often claimed, without evidence, that reporters make up their sources. Amid this backdrop, the Relotius affair has predictably given fuel to the long-standing right-wing campaign to criticize media whose reporting is not friendly to Trump. Shawn Steel, the committeeman of the Republican National Committee in California, tweeted about it on Christmas, calling it the "German Fake News," that was guilty of "hating" Trump and America. And the right wing in Germany has done the same. "CNN Journalist of the Year 2014 is #FakeNews. Enjoy #TeamTrump," Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party wrote last week. - - - The Washington Post's Rick Noack and Luisa Beck contributed to this report. WILTON Students from kindergarten to 12th grade could see some changes to their schools math curriculums starting next school year. Wiltons Math Curriculum Review Steering Committee recommended the district make three substantive changes to its district-wide math curriculum based on its findings during the curriculum review cycle, which occurs about every five years. The Math Program Recommendations-Implementation Plan, which was unveiled in late November, seeks to usher in three changes to the districts overarching math curriculum. Peggy Meurer, a math instructional leader at Wilton High School whose input helped shape the plan, said the changes would go a long way toward better accommodating the Common Core State Standards. Everything we do is for the kids, and we felt there was a better way to help kids learn math at the level they need to learn math, Meurer said. We just thought we could do be doing a better job of supporting the education of our students. The first change, which has two components, would vertically align the math curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade, while also ensuring instructional practices are consistent throughout the district. Trudy Denton, a math instructional leader at Wilton High School who also helped pen the plan, said the realignment of the curriculum is meant to ensure students are being taught the correct math facts in an order that allows them to build adequately on prior knowledge. What we found was that there was a better way to organize the material, Denton said. The second change aims to add more math instructional time for students at Middlebrook School and the high school, while protecting existing instructional time for at Miller-Driscoll and Cider Mill schools. An analysis of Wiltons math instructional time found that the district was on the low end of their district reference group (DRG-A), as well as nationally. To fix this, the district is considering the implementation of a block schedule, allowing administrators to stretch the amount of math instructional time in class from 41 minutes to 45-50 minutes. The final change seeks to adjust the course sequence from middle school through high school to enable students to develop a solid foundation in core math content prior to high school and provide additional pathways for students to accelerate after foundational content is mastered, according to the committees recommendations. We found that the way in which we provide acceleration opportunities for students involved skipping content specifically in sixth grade, and that really doesnt serve students well, Denton said. Under the revised curriculum, sixth-graders would only be given one course option, as opposed to the three levels that were previously offered. In the seventh grade, students will be given their first accelerated course options with a choice between regular seventh-grade math or pre-algebra. Denton said high school students will then be given a wider breadth of courses to choose from during their freshmen and sophomore years. From junior year on, the math offerings will not be changed, she said. The curriculum overhaul will take approximately five years to fully implement, Denton said, which will give the district additional time to develop and tweak the changes. The changes come on the heels of a few years of math scores that dont stack up well with comparable school districts in the state. In 2017-18, Wilton schools had the second lowest percentage of students meeting or exceeding the state goal in Smarter Balanced Assessment math scores when compared to the other districts in its reference group scoring higher (73.3 percent) than only Ridgefield schools (72.3 percent). The prior school year, Wilton schools ranked last in the same category when compared to the rest of their DRG, which includes some of the highest-scoring schools in the entire state. On the flip side, Wiltons math scores have always been well above the state average and they have been climbing steadily each year since the state began tracking Smart Balanced Assessment scores in 2014-15. That year, 57.3 percent of students met or exceeded the state goal for math scores. In 2015-16, that total rose to 66.8 percent and last year reached 69.1 percent. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Endy Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 09:12 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e404488 1 Opinion #commentary,Security-Council,Indonesia,Jokowi-administration Free When Indonesia joins the Security Council on Jan. 1, a lot of expectations fall on our shoulders from both the domestic and international public for the coming two years. Unlike in previous seatings, this time Indonesia is entering the global stage as an aspiring middle power. As a non-permanent member, Indonesia along with 14 other countries in the United Nations body will bear the responsibility of ensuring peace and stability around the world. With the world being uncertain as it is, dotted by wars, tensions, trouble spots and flash points, the Security Council has its work cut out, and Indonesia will be ready to play its part during its term in the next two years. This is not the first time that Indonesia becomes a member of the council. But unlike the last time around in 2007 to 2008, it enters with more credentials that have conferred it the status of a middle power, if not, certainly a rising middle power. The fourth-most populous nation on earth today is also the third-largest democracy and the largest democracy among Muslim-majority nations; it has been a member of the Group of 20 ( G20 ) wealthiest nations for a while, but since 2018, Indonesia joined the one-trillion dollar nations club; It is also the largest member of ASEAN. Since 2014, under President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Indonesia announced its ambitions to become a maritime power, and will use its clout to help shape the future of the Indo-Pacific region. The status of middle power comes with huge responsibility and a lot of expectations. At home, there may indifference if not ignorance among the public about Indonesias membership in the Security Council, but it is still mandated by the Constitution for the government to participate toward the establishment of a world order based on freedom, perpetual peace and social justice. Can Indonesia live up to these expectations? Since the Foreign Ministry and Indonesian embassies campaigned hard to win the vote for the seat in the UN General Assembly vote in August, we should not squander the opportunity to make its mark as a rising and credible middle power through its Security Council seat. Indonesia should use its seat to be actively drafting resolutions and lobbying for their support to ensure their passage, and to fight against resolutions that go against its own held principles. Indonesia should never abstain in any votes at the Security Council. Abstaining means you have no principles, that you are neither here or there. Whatever reason you may have for abstaining, it is just bad public relations. About the only thing people remember of Indonesias last sitting in 2007 to 2008 was when it abstained from a vote on the resolution for economic sanctions against Iran. The decision was made because of pressures at home after a high profile visit by then-Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Jakarta. That resolution in 2008 was carried out with 14-0 vote. Indonesia actually abstained two other times: One on condemning the Myanmar junta for attacking civilians, although the resolution was vetoed by China and Russia. The other was the resolution to set up tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Russia, China, South Africa and Qatar also abstained. On both counts, Indonesia cited the principle of non-interference for its decision to abstain. It could have just voted no if it felt that strongly. Since the Security Council is still ruled by the five permanent members with veto power United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France Indonesias only strength in the council is really its voice and not so much its vote. This means Indonesia should speak out more on moral principles and always stand on the right side of democracy, freedoms, basic human rights, peace and stability. The fact that Indonesia has some unresolved issues in all these at home should not prevent it from speaking up at the Security Council. But yes, it certainly helps our diplomats in New York if Indonesia walks the talk too. On issues, there will be plenty of opportunity where Indonesia can speak up at the Security Council to leave its mark. They include the emerging rivalry between the US and China, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, the continued repression against the Rohyinga in Myanmar, and the tensions in the South China Sea, on the Korean Peninsula and across the Formosa Strait. Since President Jokowi has made Palestine his overriding foreign policy issue, Indonesia must brace for a confrontation with the US in the Security Council now that Washington is leading the way for other nations to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, and actually moving its embassy there from Tel Aviv. On the South China Sea tension, although Indonesia claims to play an honest broker, it will likely have to confront China. In the scheme of things of Security Council politics, Indonesia is not among the heavyweights, but it is not among the lightweights either. Indonesia is more like in the upper middleweight category. We should keep that in mind. Lets not punch above or below our weight. Relations between China and Laos are continuously improving. The recent visit to Laos by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where he met with his counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith and President Bounnhang Vorachith, marked the successful conclusion of a year of smooth collaboration. Prospects for 2019 look bright, as the two sides will celebrate the tenth anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership and have pledged to boost tourism by announcing the "Visit China-Laos Year 2019." China has placed much importance on the advancement of bilateral relations with Laos. The two sides have pledged to enrich their partnership: Laos President Bounnhang Vorachith visited Beijing in May, and agreed to advance the building of a shared future to achieve positive outcomes. In July 2018, Chinese rescuers played a critical role in supporting people after a dam collapsed in southeast Laos. On the whole, economic relations are flourishing. Bilateral trade volume has exceeded US$2 billion on an annual basis in recent years. According to a report issued by the China Economic Information Service, China is currently the largest foreign investor, the second largest trade partner and the largest aid provider of Laos. The country is also the third largest destination of China's investment in ASEAN countries. Several infrastructure projects are being developed in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. The building of the China-Laos railway constitutes a characteristic example. Additionally, Chinese companies namely Hubei Hongyuan Power Engineering of PowerChina and Hebei Installation Engineering signed contracts in August for the construction and installation of energy units in Laos, as well as for the distribution of electricity. Other developments include the beginning of the operation of the Southeast Asia Tower Company, where the Chinese state-owned China Tower is collaborating with local Lao enterprises to build better communication infrastructure. It can also be expected that the two countries will reach an agreement on the building of the China-Laos economic corridor following a memorandum of understanding signed last winter. Beyond bilateral ties between China and Laos, Wang Yi also visited the city of Luang Prabang where the 4th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) meeting at the level of foreign ministers took place. This initiative was decided in 2015 and launched in 2016. Its objective is to strengthen sub-regional cooperation among China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. On the whole, discussions focus on political and security issues, economic and sustainable development as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Official priorities include connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction. A special LMC fund set up by China is providing funding for relevant projects while other financial instruments such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund and the Asian Development Bank might similarly offer some resources. The five-year plan of action that was announced at the beginning of the year and will expire in 2022 is aligned not only with the Belt and Road Initiative but also with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 as well as the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. The implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development remains an overarching objective. Wang Yi said in Laos that LMC could have a bright future. China is also highly interested in improving its cooperation with ASEAN and the new platform of sub-regional cooperation is contributing towards this direction. The recent Luang Prabang meeting was hailed as a success, as all ministers agreed to continue with synergies and integration schemes. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Afifan Ghalib Haryawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 10:16 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e4064d1 3 Opinion HIV-AIDS,stigma,disease Free Indonesia is one out of three countries that has seen an increase in HIV/AIDS along with the Philippines and Russia. While the world trend is decreasing, Indonesia failed to reduce the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus and mitigate the harm. Thus far, it has only managed to diagnose 47 percent of people living with HIV from an estimated 640,443 HIV positive cases; only 32 percent of people living with HIV received antiretroviral drugs from 301,959 diagnosed HIV positive cases and less than 1 percent of people living with HIV has been successfully treated and exhibited undetectable HIV in their blood. This gap is immense compared with 90 percent of the target for each indicator as urged by the United Nations Agency on AIDS (UNAIDS), which aims to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030. Stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS remain strong in Indonesia. Such stigma elicits an irrational or fear-driven negative attitude, behavior, and judgment toward people living with HIV and those perceived to be living with HIV. Recently, students living with HIV in Samosir, North Sumatra, and Tulungagung, East Java, feared being expelled from their respective schools. Such stigma and discrimination or fear of being stigmatized and discriminated against cause anxiety, depression, guilt, isolation, low self-esteem, disruption of family dynamics, physical and emotional violence, intensification of grief, and loss of social support. Self-stigma bundled with discrimination prevent people from accessing education and information on preventive behavior, refute risk, refuse to test, not seeking health assistance, delay treatment, and not adhering to therapy. This health-avoiding behavior results in the increasing HIV rate of transmission, declining of patients quality of life and a higher risk of AIDS-related death. This years World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, which was its 30th anniversary, addressed this issue with the theme Know your Status. Those afraid of being stigmatized may avoid even testing, let alone seek treatment. According to the Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) 2018, 65.2 percent of Indonesians have a poor understanding of HIV/AIDS. Misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS has contributed to public fear, stigma, and discrimination. People must understand that HIV/AIDS can be prevented and managed so that people living with HIV can live as healthily as normal people. Health workers have the credibility to inform society and convince them to destigmatize HIV/AIDS. Thus, health facilities are pivotal to help put an end to stigmatization and discrimination. They must be strengthened to empower people living with HIV. There are three important messages for health workers to circulate in society. First, with the advent of antiretroviral therapy, HIV is now a manageable disease. We can prevent HIV from becoming AIDS, a very dangerous late stage of the disease. AIDS-related deaths dropped dramatically from 11 per 100 persons per year in 1992 to 0.144 in 2006. HIV infection is no longer a death sentence as newer and safer drugs are available as the government provides free drugs to people living with HIV. Second, HIV transmission can be prevented by abstinence from sex with a high-risk partner, using condoms, and avoiding communal syringes. Transmission from mother to child can also be prevented during pregnancy as long as the mother takes her daily pills. Moreover, not all people who are HIV positive transmit the virus. Recent research shows that people living with HIV who take medication regularly and have undetected HIV in the blood (the virus is suppressed by the drug) do not transmit the disease. Third, this disease is not dependent on morality. Most patients (28 percent) are housewife and her vertically infected children, medical staff accidentally punctured by needles from patient and blood transfusion recipients. Our stigma-producing society makes such people suffer more. UNAIDS has identified that reducing stigma and discrimination is a critical part of the national HIV/AIDS program. Countries with low stigma and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS program have been more successful in their prevention and treatment program. As HIV infection rates are rising, Indonesia must destigmatize HIV/AIDS to reduce its transmission and HIV-related mortality in Indonesia. *** The writer is a physician who graduated from the University of Indonesia (UI) with experience in West Papua and Jakarta. He is working on the LINKAGES project to improve HIV continuum of care in Indonesia. 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, December 26, 2018 14:48 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e410764 4 Inforial Free The Association of Indonesias Maritime Youngsters (Ikatan PPBI) held a Putera-Puteri Bahari Indonesia (a maritime contest for young men and women) in Jakarta from Dec. 4 to 9, which attracted 49 participants from all over Indonesia. They took part in education and training activities at the education and training center (PUSDIKLAT) of the Finance Ministrys tax directorate general in Jakarta. The participants were briefed about the concept of nationhood as well as maritime, entrepreneurship and political knowledge. After that they had to write a test, went through two interview sessions and a final selection process. This year, the ministry held the contest in cooperation with the Indonesian Tourism Association and Dharma Ayu Bahari Jaya Foundation, which is Ikatan PPBIs holding institution. The contests goal is to help Indonesia become the global maritime axis by employing the best and brightest as maritime ambassadors. . (./.) After a tough selection process, Muhamad Afit Syahputra, 21, a law student at Sriwijaya University in South Sumatra and Ramadhanti, 18, a dentistry student at the University of Indonesia, who hails from West Nusa Tenggara, won the Putera-Puteri Bahari Indonesia 2018 award, beating 12 other couples to the punch. All of the finalists expressed their readiness to raise awareness about Indonesia, which is the worlds largest archipelagic country, particularly among youngsters. Having a huge maritime potential, Indonesia can function as the global maritime axis. The annual competition will produce a generation that will contribute to the development of the Indonesian maritime sector, Afit said. Ikatan PPBI hopes that the Indonesian government will fully support the event as a way to strengthen unity and develop its maritime sector. Becoming a Puteri Bahari Indonesia award winner is a huge honor for me and I will help in the fight to develop Indonesias maritime sector, especially in increasing the number of tourists in this sector. It will need the support of Ikatan PPBI and all stakeholders, including the government, private sector and public, Ramadhanti added. Concurring with Ramadhanti, Afit said he was confident that with the help of Ikatan PPBI he would do his best to promote the maritime sector. It is our duty as Indonesian citizens to maximize the use and protect the maritime potential for the welfare of the public, he added. . (./.) Putera-Puteri Bahari Indonesia is committed to producing Indonesias best sons and daughters who are high achievers, active, productive, have a strong sense of nationalism and act as agents of change amid on-going modernization at a global level. As a country with a long history of being a maritime power, Indonesia should have no problem in reaching that heights again. (*) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sophie Bouillon and African bureau (Agence France-Presse) Lagos, Nigeria Tue, November 27, 2018 03:08 1102 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dfe4fa 2 Art & Culture artifacts,artworks,Africa,France,Museum,restitution Free The debate over the restitution of thousands of African cultural artifacts from France has become heated, but in West Africa conservators prefer to call it "collaboration" and are preparing for their return. The French presidency announced on Friday night that it was restoring "without delay" 26 works plundered by the French army in 1892 and claimed by the authorities in Benin. The recommendations come with the delivery of a non-binding report that proposes a change in legislation and urges the return of museum artefacts to Africa from France. Alain Godonou, a Beninese conservator responsible for heritage at the new national agency for tourism promotion in Benin, has been working on this issue for more than 30 years and says now is the time for reflection. The small West African country of Benin, formerly Dahomey, was home to the kingdom of Abomey (1600-1894) and priceless wealth. But instead of sitting in the capital of Porto-Novo, the throne of King Glele from 1858 is one of the centrepieces of the 70,000 African objects kept at the Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris. "To keep war booty in countries that are now friends and collaborate doesn't make sense," Godonou told AFP. "It's a relief but it's only the beginning. There is still so much to be done so that our youth can access this heritage that will make them proud." Sensitive question "We don't want them to have our objects just for the sake of it," Godonou continues. "The cultural education of African youth is important and these objects will help to root them." This includes a rehabilitation of museums. For years, Europeans have justified keeping the treasured artefacts by arguing that African countries didn't have the facilities to take care of their cultural heritage. But in many countries -- including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Benin -- plans are underway new museums have been built and plans are underway for yet more. Beninese President Patrice Talon, whose goal is to make tourism one of the pillars of the national economy, has approved the sites for five museums that will open in 2020 to honour the kings of Abomey and the Amazons, the all-female military regiment in Dahomey. Read also: Art repatriation: Colonial ghosts haunt Europe's museums The country's minister of foreign affairs Aurelien Agbenonci told AFP on Saturday the government is "delighted" with the decision, which he said was "an invitation to get to work quickly." Ousmane Aledji, in charge of heritage for the Benin presidency, welcomed the "new form of cultural exchange" with France. "We're not for a violent claim, but we want to put in place measures for progressive restitution," he says. His sentiment was echoed in Abidjan, where the director of the museum of civilisation of Ivory Coast Silvie Memel Kassi said "it's not a bad thing in itself that they were preserved and indexed in France." "Ancestral pieces" The national museum of Abidjan was renovated last year, but a larger museum is sill in the works. In this case, said Kassi, "we could start talking about a definitive restitution." She added that "the important thing is to work together, we want to have access to these objects, we need this memory, these objects are a memory." In Dakar, the museum of black civilisation, whose inauguration is scheduled for December 6, will be ready one day to house the objects, pledges Kassi. "We have operational reserves that can accommodate such objects," said the Senegalese museum director Hamady Bocoum, stressing the works may not necessarily end up in museums and could go back to communities who may "decide to put them in the altars of the ancestors." "These works came from our ancestors," said Taho Toubo, a traditional leader from Ivory Coast. "I pray for the ancestors that their pieces are returned." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 07:00 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e3fdce3 1 Food organic-farming,organic-food,food,#food,health,#health,climate-change,global-warming,environment Free Organic food has been on the rise since it came into fashion; vegetables, fruit, grains, dairy and meat grown and processed using non-conventional methods not only tend to carry a hefty price tag, but are usually thought to be of higher quality and better for health, although production of organic food products may not be good for the environment. Our study shows that organic peas, farmed in Sweden, have around a 50 percent bigger climate impact than conventionally farmed peas, said an associate professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, Stefan Wirsenius. Recently, it was reported that organic food had a larger impact on the Earths climate than previously thought, mostly because of how much land is required to grow it compared to conventionally grown food, according to the Economic Times. Organic food has become so popular in the United States that the US Department of Agriculture has even provided certain requirements for certification of organic products depending on how much of the product is made organically. Read also: Can eating organic food lower your cancer risk? Hard to prove Putting aside the health benefits, the yields each hectare produces for organically grown food is much lower than conventionally grown food because of the lack of fertilizers. For some foodstuffs, there is an even bigger difference -- for example, with organic Swedish winter wheat the difference is closer to 70 percent, Wirsenius said. To produce the same amount of food organically as is grown conventionally, farmers need more land, according to researchers. Other foods such as organic meat and milk, produced by organic-fed livestock, also require more land and resources, which is bad for climate change. The greater the land use in organic farming leads indirectly to higher carbon dioxide emissions, thanks to deforestation, Wirsenius explained. If we use more land for the same amount of food, we contribute indirectly to greater deforestation elsewhere in the world," he added. (acr/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yuliasri Perdani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 10:26 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e406c54 1 Art & Culture theatrical-play,theater,performing-arts,#theater,Teater-Koma,Teater-garasi,Gong-ex-Machina,puppet-theater,Papermoon-Puppet-Theater Free At a glance, Teater Koma seemed to follow a familiar formula for its 154th production in November, centering on the Mahabharata Hindu epic and supported by a strong cast wearing period costumes. But there was something visually refreshing about Mahabarata: The Love Story of the King of the Gods. It was accompanied by a video narration and three-dimensional animation was projected onto the stage in many scenes. It was a fiery and dark underworld in one scene, and another scene played out against the animated background of an opulent kingdom. The animated visuals were a huge leap for the usually traditionalist Teater Koma, which turned 41 this year. The man behind the play was Norbertus Nano Rintiarno, one of the 12 founders of Teater Koma, who has a bold vision for attracting millennials to the theater. He first tried his new idea with Gemintang back in July. Tapping into the popularity of the sci-fi genre among the youth, Nano penned and directed an interstellar love story set in a foreign yet familiar nation where corruption reigns supreme. Nanos strategy seems to be working. The two productions attracted many young theatergoers thanks in part to the Jakarta administration, which had booked one performance of each show for high school students. From my observation, around 95 percent of the audience, including the young, love the new approach, Nano told The Jakarta Post. Thus, we will feature animation and video projections in next years productions, he said, adding that the theatrical troupe was preparing sequels to Mahabarata: Love Story and Gemintang. Inventiveness is not exclusive to Teater Koma. The Yogyakartan artists collective, Teater Garasi, also made waves with its immersive, sonic theatrical experience, Gong Ex Machina. Gong ex machina by Teater Garasi (JP/Jerry Adiguna) The brainchild of Japanese sound designer Yasuhiro Morinaga and prominent theatrical artist Yudi Ahmad Tajudin evoked different feelings by artfully immersing the audience into 600 different sounds, including sirens and recordings of historical speeches played on a gramophone. Innovative performances aside, Bunga Penutup Abad (The Flower that Ends a Century) shone in its third annual season, mostly using the same formula as before. The play, based on the first two volumes of Pramoedya Ananta Toers Buru Quartet, featured the same starring actors excepting Marsha Timothy, who took over the role of Dutch concubine Nyai Ontosoroh from Happy Salma who remained in the producers chair. Bunga became the talk of the town, thanks to the casts excellent performance and star power, particularly Reza Rahadian. The past year has also shown us the healing power of theater. It was through a play that Gadjah Mada University (UGM) faced the truth about the 1965 purge of alleged members and sympathizers of the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). In 1966, the university dismissed over 4,000 lecturers, students and administrative staffers for allegedly supporting the PKI. Thirteen women survivors of the 1965 dismissals performed in Selamatan Anak Cucu Sumilah (A Banquet for Sumilahs Children and Grandchildren) alongside 30 UGM students and other performers. The two-hour play, which was performed on campus, features scenes depicting the process of making satay from suspending the goat to butchering the meat, and to grilling the meat skewers a subtle metaphor of the various forms of torture that were inflicted on those accused of being PKI supporters. It was likely not easy for the survivors to perform such scenes, but they showed great courage in helping one of the countrys most respected universities to reconcile with its past. Puno (left) and Tala, two puppets from Papermoon Puppet Theater (JP/Bambang Muryanto) One particular performing arts festival highlighted the artists passion for sharing. Ria and Iwan Effendi of Papermoon Puppet Theater made their international puppet biennale in Yogyakarta, Pesta Boneka #6 (Puppet Party), free to the public. The couple achieved this through fundraising shows as well as funding from the local administration. The funds they raised, however, were not enough to cover the international performers transportation costs. So puppeteers from around the globe paid for their own plane tickets to join the event. We were surprised to learn that many local and overseas participants had applied to the biennale, Ria said. In the past, we had 12 performers, but this year we had 29 from 16 countries. In total, 85 artists were involved. Around 5,000 people attended the three-day Pesta Boneka #6, which also held discussions and workshops in addition to puppet shows. On closing day, the puppeteers held a performance and prepared a feast that they shared with the villagers of Kasihan in Bantul, Yogyakarta. Last, but certainly not least, 2018 also marked an end to the two-year drought of international musicals in Jakarta. And what better way to herald a new era than a charming musical that makes us move our feet and sing along: Mamma Mia! Running from Aug. 28 to Sept. 9 at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, the jukebox musical was written by Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of Swedish pop group ABBA. It became an instant hit after its 1999 London premier and has been touring internationally since the early 2000s. The unabashedly lively musical got the audience reminiscing with its rendition of ABBAs greatest hits, from the groovy Dancing Queen to the show-stopping The Winner Takes It All. All in all, this has been an eclectic and refreshing year for theatrical performances. Some drama companies took a journey of self-rediscovery and reinvention, while others paid tribute to iconic works through stage adaptations. In Yogyakarta, a group of real-life survivors of one of the countrys darkest hours reclaimed their past by claiming the stage, while puppeteers from across the country and the globe stepped up to share their craft (and food!). Their approaches and visions may be different, but each gave a performance that experimented with the power of theater to cross generations, to move audiences, to heal, to give and most of all, to spread joy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 14:39 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e40f532 4 Books #books,Indonesian-literature,literary-festival,Literature,The-Comma-Books,Post-Santa,indie-bookstores,Aksara-bookstore,writers Free With more and more literary lovers in Jakarta expanding their repertoire by exploring new titles online, physical bookstores and publishers are finding new ways to engage the sophisticated readers of the digital generation. Weakening sales continued at bookstores in 2018, with independent bookstore Aksara closing its branches at Pacific Place and Cilandak Town Square for financial reasons. But Aksara viewed the setback as an opportunity to grow, launching a major makeover for its flagship store in Kemang, South Jakarta, and turning it into a gathering space for photography, film, music, coffee and visual arts communities. Aside from still offering Indonesian- and English-language titles rarely found in mainstream bookstores, Aksaras Kemang outlet now houses the Ruang Seduh coffee shop, Donut Kampung doughnut shop, La-La Records which sells vinyl the (lab)Rana analog photography studio, Ganara Art Space and the Kinosaurus cinema cafe. Walking into the bookstore is to be transported into a communal atmosphere, with many people sitting down to engage in the various activities the new space offers. I would like to have everyone including those who love music, photography and film to discover the world of literature through their activities at Aksara, creative director Adinda Simanjuntak told The Jakarta Post by phone. Aksara also forged a partnership with POST bookshop, which curates titles for a dedicated section in the Aksara bookstore. The POST team also selects book club themes three times a year for readers to exchange recommendations on loved titles. [The POST co-founders] are so passionate about what they do with regard to books, Adinda said. I already knew they would make an equally passionate partner for us. Tunes and books: Independent bookstore Aksara invites various culinary and art-related stores to fill the space at its newly-renovated Kemang outlet. One of them is La-La Records, which sells a curated selection of vinyl records. (Courtesy of Aksara /-) Tucked away in Pasar Santa of South Jakarta, POST is a place where avid readers go to discover titles that offer fresh literary perspectives. Teddy W. Kusuma and his wife, Maesy Ang, are the brains behind the bookshop. POST has built a strong base of loyal customers through offering Indonesian titles from non-mainstream publishers such as Mojok, Marjin Kiri and Banana, as well as modern Indonesian classics by Yayasan Obor. The bookshop also presents a curated selection of English-language books and journals, such as novels by female African-American writer Ann Petry or the latest edition of Mekong Review, a Southeast Asian literary quarterly based in Cambodia. In selecting the titles, we emphasize the diversity of the writers perspectives, both in terms of gender and race, said Maesy. In an apparent move to embrace the digital era, POST has opened an email ordering service, with online purchases accounting for 30 percent of the bookshops annual revenue. Platform for new talent More Indonesian writers are getting a chance at publishing through several initiatives like Comma Books (c/b), which was established in 2017 as an imprint of the Kompas Gramedia Groups Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia. Our division primarily focuses on works by emerging writers and artists, said Comma Books founder and curator Rain Chudori, adding that the imprint emphasized diversity in genres, from novels to short stories and from travel literature to poetry. Read also: Rain Chudori: Rattling cages with Comma Books We have a lot of readers from our generation, as Comma Books primarily consists of 20-something creatives, the 24-year-old, who is a published author herself, explained in an email on Comma Books first anniversary celebration. Comma Books partnered with the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) 2018 to publish the works of emerging writers for the festival, including Pratiwi Julianis short story collection, Atraksi Lumba-Lumba (A Circus of Dolphins). Another short story collection, Raka Ibrahims Bagaimana Tuhan Menciptakan Cahaya (How God Invents Light) that Comma Books published, has received the National Book Committees Indonesian Literary Translation (LitRI) grant. Rain herself is the translator. More and more Indonesian books have been translated in the last three years. The National Book Committees data shows that by October, foreign publishers had purchased the translation rights to 233 Indonesian titles, compared to 226 titles last year and 219 titles in 2016. PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama (GPU), also of the Kompas Gramedia Group, has also published the English translations of Indonesian titles like Djenar Maesa Ayus 2005 novel, Nayla, and Ratih Kumalas 2010 short story anthology, Larutan Senja (The Potion of Twilight) on its own initiative and dime, said GPU general manager Siti Gretiani. Siti added that GPU had also published the Indonesian translations of two renowned Latin American writers One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as well as Cinco Esquinas (The Neighborhood) by Mario Vargas Llosa due to increased interest among Indonesian readers in Latin American literature. Literary luminaries shine brighter It seems that the rising trend in translated Indonesian titles as well as the popularity of Latin American writers in the country can be attributed to Indonesian literary star Eka Kurniawan, who cited Latin American authors among his many literary influences. Eka reached new heights this year when he received the Prince Claus Award 2018 for his profoundly imaginative storytelling, the remarkable beauty of his prose and the universal relevance of his subject matter. He was also recognized for confronting violent political acts that are absent from official discourse and examining controversial issues in a way that people can really relate to, helping them to reclaim stories of their past and construct a better understanding of their country. Meanwhile, the countrys international literary festivals are still going strong, including the Makassar International Writers Festival, the South Tangerang Literary Festival, the Borobudur Culture and Writers Festival and the UWRF. This year, the UWRF gave its lifetime achievement award to Indonesian writer and poet Sapardi Djoko Damono. At 78, the living literary legend remains productive and has gained newfound popularity, thanks to a growing base of younger readers. This year, Sapardi released his Perihal Gendis (About Gendis) poetry collection, while the reprint of Yang Fana Adalah Waktu (What is Everlasting is Time), the final novel of his Hujan Bulan Juni (Rain in June) trilogy, sold 9,000 copies. This was also the year for Acehnese author Azhari Aiyub, whose novel Kura-kura Berjanggut (The Bearded Turtle) won the Prose category of the 18th Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa literary award. Poet and architect Avianti Armand received her second Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa award in Poetry with Museum Masa Kecil (Childhood Museum), while Rio Johan came out on top in the First/Second Work category with Ibu Susu (Mothers Milk), which he wrote during his 2016 residency with the National Book Committee. Wordsmiths we lost this year The Indonesian literary scene also mourned the tragic loss of two senior writers to traffic accidents: Danarto, at the age of 77, and NH Dini, 82. Danarto was best known for his short story collections like Godlob ( 1975 ) and Adam Marifat ( 1982 ), and was the 1988 recipient of the SEA Write Award. NH Dini, one of the nations most celebrated writers, dared to break the patriarchal concept of women and wives through works like Pada Sebuah Kapal (On a Ship) and La Barka. We will reprint six of NH Dinis works to honor her memory, said GPU editor Mirna Yulistianti. Disclaimer: The Jakarta Posts Sebastian Partogi is the translator of Nayla by Djenar Maesa Ayu. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dmitry Zaks (Agence France-Presse) London Wed, December 26, 2018 09:59 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e405f11 2 Environment dogs,animals,ban,United-Kingdom,Britain,puppies,kitten Free Britain is forbidding puppies and kittens from being sold by pet shops in a bid to crack down on animal exploitation and abuse. The government said it will roll out the legislation next year after holding public consultations that showed 95 percent support for the ban. "This will mean that anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or with an animal re-homing centre," the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said on Sunday as part of its Christmas animal welfare push. The measure is commonly called Lucy's Law in honour of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that was rescued from a puppy farm in Wales in 2013. Lucy, who died in 2016, spent most of her life in a cage and was unable to breed because of her lack of movement. Activist Lisa Garner took her home and launched a social media awareness campaign that changed the way Britons get their pets. The government said the new law would help "end the terrible welfare conditions found in puppy farming and solve a range of existing animal welfare issues". 'Right start in life' The government believes the ban will keep "high volume, low welfare breeders" -- both licensed and unlicensed -- from flooding pet shops with puppies and kittens raised in unethical conditions. Defra released no figures estimating how many sales the new legislation would affect. But London's Battersea Dogs Home chief Claire Horton said the rules will "make sure the nation's much-loved pets get the right start in life". Read also: What to know about adopting pets in Indonesia Battersea has been the focus of several popular TV series about pet rescues and care that reflected Britons' general affection for cats and dogs. Britain's People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) veterinary charity said 49 percent of UK adults owned at least one pet in 2018. PDSA's estimated cat population of 11.1 million edged out the 8.9 million dogs and one million rabbits -- whose numbers have nearly halved since 2011. The British government has unfurled a number of animal welfare initiatives in the past few months that activists hope other European countries will soon follow. One law in October banned licensed shops from dealing in puppies and kittens under the age of eight weeks. Defra is now looking at legislation requiring all non-commercial rescue and re-homing centres to have a licence. It separately urged families to steer clear of the temptation to buying their kids cute pets as Christmas gifts. "This carries a number of risks and can have tragic consequences for animal welfare when pets are either abandoned or given to re-homing centres to deal with," Defra said. "Pets should not be bought as a surprise." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Moscow Wed, December 26, 2018 21:05 1072 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e41e561 2 People Giovanni-Salvetti,Rothschild,Book,writer,Russia Free Giovanni Salvetti, the head of Rothschild in Russia and CIS, takes five flights a week in his job managing the banks operations from Kazakhstan to Ukraine. In-between time, he has written a book of fairy tales for his children. I did not decide to create a book it was a request of my children. Every night I am with them they want me to tell a story. They dont want me to read a story, Salvetti, 47, said after receiving the first printed edition of his book. He has three children: two boys aged 12 and 10 and a girl of eight. Once they told me: We like very much your stories. Why dont you write one? The book, Arturo and the Unicorn, is available in Russian, English and Italian. It tells the story of a poor man from the Italian town of Bergamo working for a local nobleman. The books hero is blackmailed and jailed but he manages to escape thanks to his paintings. The message is that life sometimes can be unjust, but that art can help you even in the darkest moments of your life, says Salvetti, whose bank advises companies and government bodies in ex-Soviet countries. Salvetti did the drawings for the book himself, and published it with his own funds. Read also: Nadya Hutagalung chronicles her life's journey in a coffee table book It can be bought online or in book stores in Russia and Ukraine for about 3 euros and proceeds from sales will go to a charity to help children in Russia and Ukraine who are suffering from cancer. Asked if anything about his business could be learned from the fairy tale book, Salvetti said none of the characters were based on people in real life. See differences as richness, not danger, Pope says on Christmas I think I can write something more interesting not about children but about my... experiences in my business, he said, joking that might carry risks. But then Ill have to move to Argentina or Sri Lanka. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Chris Stein (Agence France-Presse) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Thu, December 27, 2018 01:08 1072 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e4205ef 2 Art & Culture Ethiopia,city,capital-cities,history,Addis-Ababa Free From its hillside overlooking the Ethiopian capital, Berhanu Mengistu's century-old, gabled family home has seen emperors and governments rise and fall. It has withstood economic stagnation and the rapid population growth that replaced its once-patrician neighbours with a rabble of shacks. But it now stands lonely in a field of weeds, the house's corrugated roof and red plaster walls stark against a fast-changing cityscape of cleared slums, tower cranes and glinting high rises. Palatial homes like Berhanu's are scattered throughout Addis Ababa, built for imperial-era courtiers and foreign business moguls, but most have slid into dire neglect as the government focuses on an aspirational building boom. "Nowadays, most of the buildings you see are more of the European architecture," said Berhanu, a supply chain manager whose house has been in his family for seven generations. Across the capital, older, poorer neighbourhoods -- like the one that once surrounded Berhanu's home -- have been levelled to make way for glass-and-concrete towers, lauded by the government as a symbol of the rapid economic expansion transforming one of Africa's poorest countries. But preservationists worry that the breakneck development comes at the cost of the capital's architectural heritage. "There are isolated efforts of protecting, saving historic buildings, but it's really very limited," said Fasil Giorghis, a well-known architect. "It is not even a given that you should protect a historic building." A young city A picture taken on November 1, 2018, shows building under construction in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (AFP/Eduardo Soteras) Addis Ababa was founded in the late 19th century by Emperor Menelik II as he expanded the Ethiopian empire from the country's northern highlands to its modern boundaries. The young city soon filled with houses belonging to members of Menelik's government, among them Berhanu's ancestor Yemtu Beznash, the family matriarch and administrator of a powerful law court. Menelik, who died in 1913, also hired Armenians as city engineers, while merchants came from India and Yemen. That cosmopolitanism was upended in 1974 with the arrival of the Derg military junta, which dismantled the Ethiopian empire. Read also: Fukuoka shaping up to be Japan's startup capital Fasil recounted how, as foreign traders fled, the communist-leaning Derg handed their former mansions to poor tenants, who could not afford to maintain the earthen walls and wooden floors. 'Ideological shift' The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which evicted the Derg in 1991 and continues to rule today, has presided over an economic boom. This has seen contractors from China and elsewhere set to work on half-built skyscrapers that give the capital's skyline a jagged, unfinished feel. Maheder Gebremedhin, an architect who hosts a radio show discussing the trade, says the neglect of the old buildings is due to the cost and complexity of renovation, as well as a lingering ambivalence towards the imperial past. "Because of the ideological shift, there is not a real interest to keep these buildings," Maheder said. Heritage, abandoned A picture taken on November 29, 2018, shows the Mohammed Ali house, build around 1900 as the headquarters of the trading firm GM Mohammad Ali, designed by Armenian architect and urban engineer Minas Kherbekian who worked with Ethiopia's Emperor Menelik to design the capital, in Addis Ababa. (AFP/Eduardo Soteras) Government and private donors have successfully restored a handful of buildings, including one of Menelik's palaces and the mansion of a former defence minister that's been converted into a museum. But city authorities acknowledge that most of the 440 buildings that have been designated heritage sites are rundown. "Because of our capacity as a developing country, they can't be repaired all the time," said Worku Mengesha, a spokesman for Addis Ababa's tourism office. A decade ago, foreign embassies and Ethiopian preservationists tried to restore the Mohammadali house, once the property of a wealthy Indian businessman featuring prominent Indian and Arabian architectural elements in addition to its imperial-era Ethiopian style. However, bureaucracy and shoddy construction scuppered the effort, Fasil said. As a result, it is padlocked and abandoned, with parked cars sheltering beneath its Indian-inspired arches and a pair of discarded trousers draped across its faded cream staircase. Other historic buildings continue in their Derg-era role of housing for the poor, or in their slow decrepitude. Read also: In Mali's capital, donkeys are on front line of fight against waste The expansive former palace of Hojele Al-Hassen, a wealthy traditional ruler during the Menelik era, still houses people from his western region, who spend after-work hours socialising on the wraparound veranda. But it's increasingly dilapidated, with an entire decaying wing that once served as a school classroom sealed off for safety. Family history, city history Three years ago, as city authorities levelled the homes that had mushroomed around Berhanu's house, he kept the bulldozers at bay by having his home designated an historic building. Berhanu now hopes to turn his family history into national history. Standing near a large portrait of the matriarch Yemtu, he spoke of his dream to make a museum of the house whose rooms are filled with family photographs and heirlooms, including a wall-spanning snake skin. "This is not only our property. It belongs to all Ethiopians and people of Addis Ababa," he said. He hopes the city will agree. Across the street in the slum area the government wants cleared, his neighbour Solomon Damana had recently resolved a dispute with city authorities and was following orders to demolish the small family home in which he was born and raised and move to a one-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of town. "I'm happy that one isn't demolished," he said, gesturing at Berhanu's place. "It's an historic house." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Burj Al Shamali, Lebanon Thu, December 27, 2018 03:03 1072 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e42152a 2 Food Lebanon,bakery,Germany,Ali-Kerdi Free When Ali Kerdi, who has impaired speech and hearing, was a teenager, he would look on curiously as his mother kneaded and baked their homemade bread. Years later, he would do the same as he worked as a cleaner at a center in southern Lebanon where people with special needs were being taught how to make German bread. Now, at 35, Kerdi is in charge, running the bakery with two other special needs employees. First, they wanted to teach me sewing, then carpentry, then I was running errands. But I would watch them as I worked. If I touched the dough, they would tell me to go away, said Kerdi, who never gave up on his dream of learning to bake. On a rainy day in December, Kerdi and his team were busy making Stollen, rye bread with fruits and nuts that is a Christmas staple in Germany. The bakery, on the ground floor of the Mosan center for special needs students, began operating in 2003 after a German charity - Bread Against Misery - donated second-hand baking equipment from Germany. Three German bakers came for three months to teach the staff how to operate the equipment and the principles of making bread the German way. Kerdi now trains a group of students on how to make a variety of German breads that were previously alien to their area of southern Lebanon. Read also: Modern art, antiques on show at Lebanon cube museum The main aim of the project was to train them how to make bread, it was not to open a business, said Ali Charafeddine, director of the Mosan centre, which currently has 175 special needs students. But the bakery has become popular among locals and expatriates - even including some U.N. peacekeepers - and its bread and biscuit products are neatly stacked outside for sale. The bakery provides a taste of home for Maria, a foreigner who has been living in Lebanon for seven years. This bread is baked in my country, it tastes like from my home. Its very nice, she said, adding that she will not be going home to Belarus for Christmas this year. Kerdi says his journey towards running the bakery has been a special source of pride because his income supports his family. People were surprised that I was baking. It was the first time they saw this kind of bread. Now they know me as the one who learned here and then became the boss, he said as he showed a student how to fold a pretzel. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday. They had an in-depth discussion on the recent changes concerning the situation in Afghanistan and reached a broad consensus. The two sides both believe that the Afghanistan issue could not be solved through military solutions, and political reconciliation is the only viable way. The two sides welcomed all efforts made by relevant parties and expressed willingness to keep close communication and strategic coordination over the issue. Both sides also pledged to further strengthen China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership so as to elevate the level of all-round cooperation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 12:46 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e40cadb 4 Entertainment Ali-Shahab,obituary,film,director Free Senior director Ali Shahab passed away on Tuesday at the age of 77 after a long battle with illness. The news about Alis passing was shared via Instagram Stories by his granddaughter and actress Zee Zee Shahab. "Perhaps many of you recognize him from his directing works in the past," wrote Zee Zee. Read also: Author NH Dini dies following car crash in Semarang A photo of the late Ali Shahab taken from his granddaughter Zee Zee Shahab's Instagram Stories. (instagram.com/zeezeeshahab/File) According to Antara news agency, Ali was a senior journalist and recognized for starting local soap operas in the 1980s. Born in 1941, his directing career spanned from the 1970s to the 2000s. One of his most notable films is Beranak dalam Kubur (Giving Birth Inside a Grave), which featured Indonesian horror film queen Suzzanna. Among his other renowned works are Gadis Bionik (Bionic Girl, 1982), Manusia 6,000,000 Dollar ($6 Million Man), Bumi Makin Panas (The Earth is Getting Hot, 1973) and the popular soap opera Rumah Masa Depan (Future Home), which aired on state-owned television station TVRI. (wir/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 8, 2018 10:17 1091 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e116cd0 4 Business Garuda-Indonesia,vintage,flight Free Garuda Indonesia launched its Vintage Flight Experience on Friday, giving passengers a taste of the past on three routes served by the flag carrier. Passengers on flight GA304 from Jakarta to Surabaya would notice several differences, from attributes and the attires of the cabin crew to brand livery adapted to the "Garuda Indonesia Classic Brand". In line with the continuous effort of the corporation to improve the service, particularly to give customers a different experience, Garuda Indonesia has introduced a breakthrough with this vintage nuance, said Garuda Indonesia operational director Bambang Adisurnya Angkasa during the Jakarta-Surabaya flight. He said the 100 percent seat occupancy rate during the first vintage flight on a Boeing 737-800NG plane indicated a positive response from the airlines customers. On todays flight, we present different inflight meals in the form of old snacks like bluder wheels, which were well-known in the middle of 1980s, Bambang said. He added that the cabin crew uniforms had been designed by Japanese designer Hanae Mori, and that the same designs had been worn by cabin crews in the 1970s and 1980s. The vintage flight experience will last until Dec. 17 at certain flight times on three routes Jakarta-Balikpapan, Jakarta-Surabaya and Jakarta-Singapore. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26 2018 The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has often drawn criticism for its conservative bent, most recently for deeming a commercial video for online store Shopee featuring South Korean girlband BLACKPINK as too salacious. The KPIs move came after an online petition that called the ad provocative and vulgar because of the skimpy clothing worn by the girlband went viral. This was only the latest controversial move from the commission that has been criticized for placing too much emphasis on politeness and decency while ignoring other aspects of television programs. 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 Wed, December 26, 2018 17:26 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e418bec 1 City odd-even-license-traffic-policy,TrafficAuthorities,Trafficcontrols,jakarta,policy-makers,policy Free As the implementation period for the odd-even license plate policy is coming to an end, Jakartas traffic authorities will make a decision on Thursday about whether or not they will continue enforcing the traffic regulation. According to Gubernatorial Decree No.106/2018, the policy will only be enforced until Dec. 31. We will finalize the regulation tomorrow. There will be an evaluation and establishment of the advanced policy, acting head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency Sigit Wijatmoko said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com. He said his agency had conducted a series of focus group discussions with various stakeholders to obtain insights into the policy. Sigit said he had received many recommendations for the policy to be continued. The odd-even license plate policy was first implemented in 2016 to replace the three-in-one traffic policy on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Transportation Agency at that time agreed that the odd-even policy was a transition policy prior to the implementation of the ERP. On July 31, Anies signed Gubernatorial Regulation No. 77/2018 on the implementation of the odd-even traffic policy on several thoroughfares during the Asian Games, after a trial run starting July 2. The policy is in effect on Jl. Sudirman, Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. S. Parman, Jl. MT Haryono, Jl. HR Rasuna Said, Jl. DI Pandjaitan, Jl. Ahmad Yani and Jl. Kartini. Prior to the Asian Para Games, which started on Oct. 6, the city administration made several adjustments to the odd-even license plate policy. The policy only applies from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday and will end on Dec.31 (rai) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26 2018 It was around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday when around 10 people strangers to one another showed up at Honda Park in Tebet, South Jakarta, each with one or two plastic bags filled with toys. Upon their arrival at the park, they were greeted by Khalilullah Khalil Hamidi, 32, a refugee from Afghanistan who settled in Indonesia in 2016 and initiator of Toys for Refugees, as well as Jesse Morgan, the man behind @jahkarta, who spread the project via social media. The following message was posted on Twitter by @jahkarta: Toys For Refugees! Sunday 23 Dec. @ 3.00 p.m. at Taman Honda, Tebet, South Jakarta Bring toys! This is ad hoc, grassroots, DIY and totally gonna happen. If you cant make it, pls DM and we can collect the new or used toys, books, etc.. The message was posted on Dec. 18 and had earned 254 retweets as of Sunday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Japan News/Asia News Network) Tokyo, Japan Wed, December 26, 2018 08:41 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e400043 2 Business #Japan,#Nissan,prosecutors,Carlos-Ghosn,loss Free In connection with his rearrest on suspicion of violating the Companies Law, former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn has denied he misappropriated Nissan funds for personal use in two particular instances, saying neither instance constituted a special breach of trust under the law. As in the case regarding false reporting of his annual executive remuneration in the automakers securities reports, for which Ghosn, 64, was indicted, the former chairman and the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office are in direct conflict over their assertions. According to the defense counsel who met with him shortly after his third arrest, Ghosn seemed unconvinced with the latest charge, though he showed no sign of dissatisfaction or distress. With his term of detention set to end on Jan. 1, Ghosn faces the prospect of greeting the New Year in detention. There is even a possibility his term will be extended. The latest arrest was on suspicion of two particular acts. One is that Ghosn shifted private appraisal losses worth about 1.85 billion ($16.8 million) incurred through a swap transaction contract with a bank from his own asset management company to Nissan in October 2008, by naming Nissan as the party that had signed the contract. The other is that, from June 2009 to March 2012, he had a total of $14.7 million transferred from funds managed by a Nissan subsidiary to an acquaintance in Saudi Arabia, who aided Ghosn in his bid to obtain a credit guarantee over the contract with the bank. The special squad suspects that, in both cases, Ghosn inflicted property damage on Nissan by actions that ran counter to his duties as representative director and chief executive officer of the automaker. According to informed sources, Ghosn signed a swap transaction contract with Tokyo-based Shinsei Bank in order to exchange executive remuneration paid in yen with U.S. dollars. Swap transactions enable deals involving large sums of money to be made with little capital, but are risky because huge losses can be incurred if market projections turn out to be wrong. Ghosn did in fact suffer private appraisal losses due to the yens steep rise following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in autumn 2008. Ghosn, who was then asked by Shinsei Bank to provide additional collateral, allegedly transferred all of his rights, including the appraisal losses, from his own asset management company to creditworthy Nissan, thus avoiding the need for additional collateral. The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and others consider this move to be problematic. Ghosn allegedly returned these rights to his asset management company around February 2009. But a senior official at the public prosecutors office said, even if it was temporary, as long as Ghosn forced the company to assume the appraisal losses from his private transactions, it would constitute a crime. While admitting to the transfer itself during his interrogation by the special squad, Ghosn told them he only temporarily used Nissans assets and creditworthiness. Although damages totaling several tens of millions of yen incurred in the several months following the transfer were paid under the name of Nissan, Ghosn asserted that he paid the same amount of money into Nissan, and that he had not caused damage to Nissan and had no intention of doing so. The statute of limitations for aggravated breach of trust is seven years. Ghosns defense counsel, Motonari Otsuru, a lawyer and former head of the special investigation squad, said, If it were not Ghosn, who has a presence overseas, the statute of limitations would have been up. Since Nissan has not actually suffered any losses, its not worth punishing him." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Vela Andapita (The Jakarta Post) Pandeglang, Banten Wed, December 26, 2018 17:55 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e4199c3 1 National tsunami,#SundaStraitTsunami,Sunda-Strait-tsunami,Sunda-Strait,Banten,pandeglang,Carita-Beach,Tanjung-Lesung-resort,Krakatau Free Since a tsunami hit western coastal areas of Java island, medical staff in Berkah Palembang General Hospital (RSUD) in Kaduhejo district in Pandeglang, Banten have worked around the clock to tend to the dozens of dead bodies and dozens of injured people. As of Tuesday, 84 dead bodies had been brought in while more than 80 injured people were receiving medical treatment there. It was 7 a.m. on Monday when Kastro and his wife were trying to bring home the bodies of Kastros little sister along with her youngest child. With swollen eyes and a puffy face, Kastro and his wife described their loved ones to a police officer from the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team. She had a mark on her hips, Kastro said describing his niece as the officer took notes. My sisters husband is an employee of PLN [state-owned electricity company]. On Sunday, I saw that my sister posted on her Facebook that they were in Tanjung Lesung Resort to attend the event, he told The Jakarta Post. Tanjung Lesung Resort, where some companies including PLN hold year-end employee gathering events, is one of the most affected areas, hence hundreds of tourists were victims. It was the location of the viral video showing the moment the tsunami hit during the performance of pop band Seventeen. Once I knew about the disaster, I kept my eyes on the TV until finally my sisters name appeared on the fatality list. And then I rushed here, the resident of Karawaci, Tangerang, said. Her husband and two other kids are safe and now in a hospital in Serang. The police have allowed me to take my sister but not my niece, I dont understand why. I just want to bring them home, dress them up, then pray and bury them properly, Kastro added in a weak voice. As of Tuesday afternoon, the death toll had reached 429. The figure is likely to continue rising as search-and-rescue teams keep finding bodies in the water and washed up on beaches. As many as 154 are missing, 1,485 injured and 16,082 people are displaced from their houses. In popular beach Carita, also in Pandeglang, 43-year-old Ugi could not think straight while doing her job as a receptionist of the Sunset View Hotel. She kept working even though her house in Kampung Sambolo, only two kilometers from the hotel, was destroyed by the tsunami on Saturday night. I was here working when the tsunami occurred, Ugi said, noting that the area around the hotel was safe because there was a sea wall some kilometers from the beach. My husband called and told me not to come home because our house was damaged by the tsunami. I rushed home anyway, but he and my daughter were nowhere to be found. Later on I found that they were safe in my brothers house far away from the beach, she told The Jakarta Post. Ugi decided to go back to the hotel, stay there and continue working, although she was worried about her family. The hotel has 37 rooms, all of which are usually full during the Christmas and New Year holiday. But right now the only people staying here are police officers and rescue personnel, she said. In Labuan district in Pandeglang, a few kilometers away from Carita, a shelter was established in a futsal field where residents of Kampung Pangusepan and Kampung Kebon Cau stayed for a while. President Joko Jokowi Widodo paid a short visit to that shelter on Tuesday afternoon. I got books from Mr. President, nine-year-old Fatir cheerfully told his grandmother, Eneh, as he handed over the books he had just received to Eneh. Our house is inundated with seawater, 1 meter high. Fatir insists on going back home, he said he wanted to swim in the flood with his friends, Eneh said, laughing a little bit despite her worries. Kampung Pangusepan has always flooded every time there is a tidal wave, Eneh said. The residents usually stay and wait until the water recedes because the highest flood was usually only around 50 centimeters high. Enehs neighbor, Aan, said this time it was different, the wave was stronger and the flood was too high for them to stay in their kampung. The tsunami also happened very fast, he said. Not only were our houses engulfed, but most of our belongings were damaged and washed away by the seawater. We have nothing else but the clothes on our body, Aan said. He could forget about his loss for a brief time during Jokowis visit; he posed for a wefie with the president and he was happy for the rare chance. Nevertheless, he doesn't want to go home just yet. Im worried about another tidal wave, he said. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Imed Lamloum (Agence France-Presse) Tripoli, Libya Wed, December 26, 2018 09:09 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e400568 2 World #Libya,#Terrorism,Islamic-State,claims,suicide-attack Free Suicide attackers stormed the Libyan foreign ministry in the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people including a senior civil servant in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Twenty-one other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. A car bomb exploded near the ministry, prompting security forces to rush to the scene, said special forces spokesman Tarak al-Dawass. A suicide bomber then blew himself up on the second floor of the building while a second attacker died when a suitcase he was carrying exploded, he said. A third assailant, who was unarmed and wearing a bulletproof vest, was killed by security forces outside, Dawass added. At least three people were killed and 21 wounded, according to the health ministry. Foreign Minister Tahar Siala said one of the dead was senior diplomat Ibrahim al-Shaibi who headed a department in his ministry. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the building as ambulances, paramedics and security forces gathered outside. IS claimed the attack in a statement distributed on social media, saying that it was carried out by three "soldiers of the caliphate" who were armed with suicide belts and automatic weapons. Interior Minister Fathi Bash Agha admitted during a news conference that "security chaos" reigned in Libya and was "out of our control". He said this was creating a "fertile ground" for IS to operate in the North African country. Torn apart by power struggles and undermined by chronic insecurity, Libya has become a haven for jihadists since the ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Jihadist foothold Two competing administrations, rival militias, tribes and jihadists have been vying for control of territory and the country's vast oil wealth. IS took advantage of the chaos to gain a foothold in the coastal city of Sirte in 2015. Forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) regained control of Sirte in December 2016 after eight months of deadly fighting. Since then, some jihadists have returned to the desert in an attempt to regroup and reorganise. The interior minister said his department lacked the equipment necessary to restore law and order in Libya. Bach Agha said he found "zero weapons and zero vehicles" in the ministry's warehouses when he took up his job in October. "Weakness and a security breakdown" allowed assailants to attack the foreign ministry, he said. The foreign minister said the UN should lift an arms embargo it has imposed on Libya since the 2011 uprising. "Stability cannot be restored... without a partial lifting of the embargo. It is needed to guarantee security and combat terrorism," Siala told reporters. Envoys denounce attack The head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) denounced the "cowardly terrorist attack" in a statement. Ghassan Salame also pledged to work with Libyan people "to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven... for their crimes". Frank Baker, Britain's ambassador to Libya, also denounced an "appalling terrorist attack" and tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi joined the chorus of condemnation in a statement reiterating Rome's "solidarity with the Libyan people and their just aspiration to real security". In September, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the headquarters of Libya's National Oil Company in the heart of Tripoli which left two dead and 10 wounded. Four months earlier, it claimed an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters which left 14 dead. In April, the GNA launched an operation to track down IS fighters operating in areas of western Libya under its control. Last month IS claimed responsibility for an attack on militia forces in southeastern Libya in which at least nine people were killed. The US military has regularly carried out strikes on jihadists in Libya, particularly south of Sirte. The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal, but a rival administration based in the country's east aligned with military strongman Khalifa Haftar refuses to recognise its authority. Rival Libyan leaders had agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But instability, territorial disputes and divisions have delayed plans for elections. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26 2018 The Law and Human Rights Ministry has released 160 Christian prisoners across the country and reduced the prison sentences of 11,072 other inmates, in commemoration of Christmas. The special remission was granted to Christian inmates who have served prison sentences of over six months and for good behavior, said the ministrys director general for corrections, Sri Puguh Budi Utami, on Tuesday. She added that the remission was expected to contribute to addressing overcrowding in the countrys prisons as well as reduce state spending of up to Rp 4.76 billion (US$325,726). 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 Wed, December 26, 2018 17:56 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e41a13c 1 City Jakarta-administration,police,ETLE,TrafficAuthorities,Traffic-Corps,Trafficcontrols Free The Jakarta Police have submitted to the city administration a proposal for a Rp 33 billion (US$2.2 million) grant to procure more CCTV cameras for the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) electronic-based ticketing system. The Rp 33 billion grant will be used to procure new cameras to be installed in 20 intersections, the acting head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Sigit Wijatmoko Sigit, said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com. He said the administration was discussing a mechanism in which to disburse the fund, given that the 2019 budget did not take into account the grant. We could add the grant to the 2019 budget revision. However, the police traffic unit would want the fund to be disbursed as soon as possible, Sigit said. Previously, the Jakarta Police proposed that 50 additional CCTV cameras be added to support the ETLE system. Four of the system's cameras currently monitor Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta. The ETLE system was implemented on Nov. 1 following a trial period that began the month prior. (rai) Flash African countries and people have the right and ability to independently choose partners, and the international community should listen more to Africa's voice, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday when responding to a question about Rwandan president's remarks on Africa-China relations. According to media reports, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said recently that China's engagement in Africa is "a good thing," and that "China is active in Rwanda but not in an inappropriate way." "In Rwanda, we know our capacity and which Chinese proposals we should accept, so as not to be overloaded with debt," said Kagame, who was in Vienna, Austria for the High-Level Europe-Africa Summit. "It depends on us Africans. Why wouldn't we know how to negotiate with China?" Noting that China-Africa practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results in recent years, Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a routine press briefing that Africans can feel the true feelings of Chinese toward them and the tangible benefits brought by bilateral cooperation. "It is an indisputable fact that China-Africa cooperation has been sincerely welcomed by African countries and people, and has been positively evaluated by the international community," Hua said. The international community should listen more to Africa's voice, believe in its wisdom and respect its will when conducting cooperation with Africa, the spokesperson said, adding that it is doomed to get no consent from Africa to point fingers at Africa and China-Africa cooperation in disregard of facts or out of political purposes. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 13:42 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e40dfe6 1 City street-crime,shooting-incident,shooter,military,jakarta,crime Free The police shot and arrested the alleged shooter of militay officer Lt. Col. Dono Kuspriyanto at a house on Jl. Wijaya Kusuma, Makasar, Kramatjati, East Jakarta, on Wednesday. A joint team of military and National Police personnel arrested the suspect this morning at 4:24 a.m., Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Wednesday as reported by tempo.co. He declined to reveal further details of the arrest or the alleged motive. Dono was found dead with bullet wounds in front of the Santa Maria Fatima school on Jl. Jatinegara, Bidara Cina, East Jakarta, late Tuesday night. Jakarta Military Command spokesman Col. Inf. Kristomei Sianturi said that a few minutes prior to the incident, several eyewitnesses saw people on a motorcycle in front of Hermina Hospital in Jatinegara, East Jakarta. According to initial reports, a man on a motorcycle aimed his firearm at the victim's car," Kristomei said on Wednesday. A Hermina Hospital security guard who witnessed the incident, M. Ismail, said he heard two shots being fired. Soon after, Ismail heard up to seven shots being fired in front of a nearby Danamon bank branch. The official military car driven by Dobo, a Toyota Kijang, was found 100 meters from the location of the shooting. Dono was found dead inside the car with bullet wounds to the left cheek, neck and chest. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Lombok Tengah, West Nusa Tenggara Wed, December 26, 2018 08:13 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e3ff4dc 1 Business NTB,vehicles-taxes,e-payment Free The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial administration has launched its digital payment service called SAMSAT Delivery to allow people to pay annual tax for their vehicles through their smartphones. This innovative program is for the first time available in Indonesia. We hope this will increase the rate of vehicle tax payment, NTB Police chief Insp. Gen. Achmat Juri said during the launch in Mandalika, Central Lombok, recently. The e-payment platform is not just to help people pay their vehicle tax with an easy payment process, but it will help officers to quickly verify vehicles, said Achmat, adding that it was a New Year gift for NTB residents. Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Polices traffic department, Adj. Sr. Comr. Amin Litarso, explained that to pay tax through SAMSAT Delivery, vehicle owners could open the application and find their vehicle tax bill and complete the payment process. People who spend their leisure time at Lombok Epicentrum Mall, for example, can just open the SAMSAT Delivery application and process the payment before our officers come with a tax notice. It is just as easy as buying smartphone credit, he added. NTB treasury head Iswandi expressed the hope that with the new payment platform, the WTB administration would be able to collect more regional revenue. We are challenged to increase regional revenue for development and the recovery process, he said, referring to the recovery of the areas hit by the recent earthquakes in the province. Rahmat Solihin, a local resident, expressed support for the program. As a local, I am truly happy with the platform. Now, paying motorcycle tax is easier for us. It's just like booking Go-Jek, Rahmat said, referring to ride-hailing app service Go-Jek. (das/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 26, 2018 11:44 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e40a757 4 Business PLN,tsunami,recovering Free State-owned electricity company PLN has begun fixing infrastructure damaged by a tsunami that hit the Sunda Strait, Banten and Lampung provinces, killing 429 people. The disaster was triggered by underwater landslides following the eruption of Anak Krakatau. PLNs executive vice president of corporate communications and CSR I, Made Suprateka, said the company would accelerate the work, both in Banten and Lampung. PLN technicians are working day and night, said Suprateka said on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com. In Bandar Lampung, particularly in Way Muliah village, Kalianda, PLN has fixed 27 out of 30 distribution stations, involving 40 technicians, the company said in a press statement, adding that 90 percent of the infrastructure had been fixed. In Pandeglang and Carita, Banten, PLN has fixed 180 electricity substations, while 68 other substations were undergoing repairs, the statement said, adding that 16 electricity poles that collapsed during the tsunami had been reinstalled. Personnel from Bogor, Banten and Jakarta were involved in the process. Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said the ministrys 17 emergency response teams had been deployed to help survivors. He said some members were equipped with heavy equipment to collaborate with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in the recovery process. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Japan News/Asia News Network) Tokyo, Japan Wed, December 26, 2018 09:43 1073 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e404a2d 2 World #Japan,#SouthKorea,tension,plane,warship,target Free Japans Defense Ministry on Tuesday said it has confirmed that the Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol plane that was lit up by the fire-control radar of a South Korean Navy destroyer was lit up multiple times by radio waves unique to fire-control radars for a certain period of time and continuously. The Japanese ministrys assertion runs counter to South Koreas explanation that the destroyer did not use a fire-control radar. The South Korean Defense Ministry at a press conference on Monday denied having used a fire-control radar, explaining that the destroyer was searching for a missing fishing boat and suggesting that a search and fire-control radar capable of simultaneously scanning the air and the oceans surface was used. The South Korean ministry also claimed that the patrol plane had flown directly over the destroyer and that the destroyer did not respond to radio communication from the aircraft because it was faint. The Japanese ministry denied the aircraft had flown over the destroyer, saying the patrol plane maintained a certain altitude and distance, and did not fly over the destroyer at low altitude. Regarding radio communication, the ministry said the plane called the hull number of the South Korean Navy vessel on three different frequencies and asked in English why it was being lit up by radar. 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. 2 hours ago The 6 Biggest Issues with Early Retirement: Will These Happen to You? When you're slogging away in a cubicle at work, it might sound like a dream to wake up when you want, read a book in a hammock, putter around in the yard, etc. (You know, the things that retired people do.) Almost half of Americans (49.9%) expect to retire before they turn 62, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Read Article Flash U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday the ongoing partial government shutdown won't end until a border wall is approved, demonstrating his unwillingness to budge on the issue. "I can't tell you when the government is going to reopen... (Not until) we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, noting that "much of it is 30 feet high." "It's a barrier from people pouring into our country... It's a barrier from drugs. There is a problem in this world today called human trafficking... We are not going to let that take place," the president said. "We can't do it without a barrier, we can't do it without a wall." The partial government shutdown, which began midnight Friday, was triggered by the White House and Congress' failed attempts to resolve a budget impasse over the funding of the president's promised U.S.-Mexico border wall. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday that a physical barrier is off the option. "What we do support -- Democrats and Republicans -- is real, effective border security. But not a wall. The wall is President Trump's bone to the hard right." "Democrats have always been for smart and effective ways to secure our border," Schumer said. "We are pushing for technology, like drones and sensors, and inspection equipment." Trump has long demanded US$5 billion for the border wall, a centerpiece of his 2016 campaign, but Democrats were only willing to approve a funding of US$1.3 billion to enhance border security. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday" that the White House has given a "counter-offer" that was "between those two numbers." Schumer on Monday denounced the White House for sending mixed messages. "Different people from the same White House are saying different things about what the President would accept or not accept to end his #TrumpShutdown, making it impossible to know where they stand at any given moment," Schumer tweeted. The U.S. Senate will return on Thursday and consider business if a deal is reached on government funding. Mulvaney said on Sunday the ongoing partial government shutdown would likely extend into the new year. Flash A South Korean train carrying about 100 people left from Dorasan Station, just south of the inter-Korean border, for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday morning for the ceremony to modernize and connect railways and roads across the border, local TV footage showed. You are here: World Flash At least three people were killed and 10 others, including a paramedic, injured on Tuesday during a terrorist attack on the Libyan Foreign Ministry's headquarters in Tripoli, the health ministry said. The attack occurred at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), when a car bomb exploded right behind the ministry's building, a foreign ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Afterward, a group of gunmen entered the building from the front and back entrances and exchanged heavy fire with the security forces, he added. There was also a big explosion in the main building, triggering a fire which is yet to be extinguished, the source revealed. The Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and called on the international community to support Libya against terrorism. In September, Islamic state (IS) militants attacked the headquarters of the National Oil Corporation in the center of the capital Tripoli, killing two and injuring several others. Flash Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the U.S. "oppressive" sanction pressures against Iran won't achieve their ends. "The U.S. seeks to bring the powerful Islamic republic to its knees" since Iran is the major obstacle to the U.S. policies in the region, Rouhani told the Iranian parliament. "With no doubt, the U.S. would not achieve its ends, and the powerful Iran will resist its plots with prudence," he added. However, the Iranian president acknowledged that the U.S. sanction pressures will have adverse impact on the development of the country as well as the livelihood of the people. Washington withdrew from the 2015 landmark Iranian nuclear deal in May and imposed batches of sanctions targeting Iran's shipping, financial and energy sectors. Flash China on Wednesday voiced support for the current momentum of positive interaction between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK). According to reports, the ROK Defense Ministry has decided to delete content that frames the DPRK government and the DPRK army as an enemy, from a defense white paper that will be released in January. In response, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China supported the DPRK and the ROK to continue showing goodwill to each other, consolidating mutual trust and improving relations. Recently with the joint efforts of the DPRK and the ROK, both sides actively implemented the consensus reached by their leaders, and the spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Declaration, advanced reconciliation and cooperation, and achieved a host of positive outcomes, Hua said. "We believe that this will help the continuous advancement of the political settlement process of the Peninsula issue, and conforms to the common interests of the two sides on the peninsula and countries in the region." AoT expects 3.1mn travellers for the holidays BANGKOK: Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) estimates that 3.1 million passengers will use its six international airports during the year-end holiday, with airlines set to operate a total of 18,300 flights. tourismtransporteconomics By Bangkok Post Wednesday 26 December 2018, 09:38AM Passengers queue up for security screening at Don Mueang, which expects 126,700 daily visitors during the year-end holiday. Photo: Patipat Janthong / Bangkok Post AoT President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said that from Dec 27 to Jan 2, total air passengers at AoT's six international airports Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai are expected to increase by 11.8%. The number of flights is forecast to grow by 12.6% compared with the same time last year. An average of 453,600 passengers will travel by air each day during the period, with an average of 2,610 flights per day. The company also predicted that Suvarnabhumi airport will be the most crowded with 1.52mn passengers or 217,000 passengers per day, representing growth of 15.3% year-on-year, and there will be 8,000 flights or 1,140 flights per day, showing a 15% increase. Don Mueang airport is expected to follow with total passengers of 887,000 or 126,700 per day, up 11.7%. To facilitate air travellers, AoT has established assistance centres at all six airports. Assisting teams will be stationed around the clock at each centre. During the same period, data surveyed by the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) shows that Thais will begin to travel within the country on Dec 27 and return on Jan 2. Of the total, 36% of them will take a holiday and 33% will return to their hometowns. Some 43% of them will travel by personal vehicles, while 31% will use public transport. Meanwhile, 42% of them will spend money on shopping. Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said local people will make 2.7mn trips within the country from Dec 29 to Jan 1, a 3% increase year-on-year. Local residents are expected to generate tourism income of B9.5 billion, up 3%. During the period, the TAT predicts that 520,000 foreigners will travel in the country and spend B7.8bn, up 9% and 15% respectively. Kasikorn Research Center forecasts Thais to spend B15.2bn on travel from Dec 28 to Jan 1, up 4.9% from a year earlier. One major factor boosting growth is the tourist tax deduction scheme offered for visiting 55 second-tier provinces. The scheme is set to end this month. At the same time, the centre hopes foreign tourists will contribute revenue of B32.2bn, or a 6% increase year-on-year, with guests mostly from Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and India. The TCT forecasts 10.7mn foreign tourists to travel into Thailand in the first quarter of 2019, a 0.8% increase from the first three months this year. Some 2.3mn expected visitors will come from Southeast Asia, 2.5mn from Europe, 4mn from East Asia and the rest from elsewhere. From East Asia, China is expected to remain among the top arrivals with 3mn, up 3.7% versus the first quarter of this year. The council believes that the country will receive 40mn tourists in the coming year, a 5.5% increase from 2018. Foreigners will generate revenue of B2.2 trillion. Read original story here. Phuket Police ready for Seven Days of Danger for New Year 2019 PHUKET: Police across Phuket have staged assemblies in a show of readiness and to announce their intention to do their best to reduce the number of deaths and injuries under the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for New Year 2019. tourismtransportaccidentsdeathSafetypolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 26 December 2018, 12:29PM Meanwhile, the Phuket office of the Highways Department have cautioned motorists to beware traffic delays at the construction site of the underpass at the airport turnoff on Thepkrasattri Rd. Image: Phuket Highways Office Traffic Police show their readiness at the assembly at the Region 8 Police headquarters on Monday (Dec 24). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Traffic Police show their readiness at the assembly at the Region 8 Police headquarters on Monday (Dec 24). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Traffic Police show their readiness at the assembly at the Region 8 Police headquarters on Monday (Dec 24). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Traffic Police show their readiness at the assembly at the Region 8 Police headquarters on Monday (Dec 24). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The seven-day campaign starts at midnight tonight. The public show of readiness began on Christmas Eve on Monday (Dec 24), when Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Chalit Thinthani presided over an assembly of officers at Phuket City Police Station, ordering them to ramp up their efforts to improve traffic safety and to tackle crime during the holiday period. In leading the assembly, Gen Chalit was joined by fellow Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Wisan Panmanee and Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Archeep Jaroensuntisuk. On assembly were police officers from across the island, military personnel and other law-enforcement officers. The parade today is to secure life and property, including traffic safety, for all Phuket people and tourists, and to control all criminal activities during New Year 2019 and Christmas Day, Phuket Provincial Police Chief of Operations Col Kittisak Prasertpon said on Tuesday (Dec 24). All officers are expected to perform their duties with full effort and ensure the safety of the people, he ordered. As part of their drive to improve road-safety, Wichit Police along with Wichit Municipality launched their campaign yesterday (Dec 25), handing out leaflets to motorists reminding them to wear seatbelts and safety helmets, not to send phone messages while driving, and to not drink and drive. Leading the launch of the campaign, held at Wichit Municipality, were Muang District Chief Vikrom Jakthee and Wichit Mayor Kreeta Chotiwitpipat. Phuket has a high rate of deaths and injuries from road accidents because it is a tourist destination, so the road-safety campaign has to be ramped up quickly, including the 100% wearing of helmets (for motorbike riders), District Chief Vikrom said. Meanwhile, the Phuket office of the Highways Department have cautioned motorists to beware traffic delays at the construction site of the underpass at the airport turnoff on Thepkrasattri Rd. There will be a lot of people coming to Phuket for the New Year, said Worawut Wittayaphasuk, Deputy Director of the Phuket Highways Office. Therefore, the Phuket Highways Office would like to advise motorists to avoid the underpass construction site at the intersection of Route 402 and Route 4026, he added. How that was possible for those needing to pass the site was not explained. Regardless, Mr Worawut noted that motorists driving southbound can pass the site uninterrupted. Drivers heading southbound but going to Phuket International Airport can make a U-turn at Km 26 + 350 then turn left onto Route 4026 toward the airport, he said. Drivers heading northbound can turn left onto Route 4026 uninterrupted, while drivers coming from Phuket airport heading toward Phuket Town or any of the other main tourist beach areas in the southern half of the island must turn left from Route 4026 onto Thepkrasattri Rd then head north and make a U-turn at Km 23 + 700 in order to head south. Construction of the underpass, by contractor Italian-Thai Development Co Ltd, began under contract on Oct 1, 2016 with the project scheduled for completion by Aug 26, 2019. For Subscribers Long-time Watertown record salesmans album collection keeps growing As for Chuck Olson, Christmas music makes up only a small part of the 5,000-plus records lining the walls in his home. For Subscribers Long-time Disc Shop owner's record collection huge and still growing At 88, Chuck Olsons love of vinyl records keeps growing. For more than 70 years, he has been the face of recorded music in Watertown. EDMONTONWhile the majority of the Edmonton population is celebrating the birth of Jesus, the citys Pakistani community is celebrating the birth of the founder of their country. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, more popularly known as Quaid-e-Azam (Urdu for Great Leader), is the founder and first governor-general of Pakistan, born on Dec. 25, 1876. He was the leader of the All-India Muslim League, a political party in the Indian sub-continent that was responsible for Muslims getting an autonomous country in 1947, after the end of the British rule following the Second World War. Every year Pakistanis celebrate the birth of their founder with great zeal and zest. Quaid-e-Azam Day is a national holiday back home where Pakistanis cover their buildings in lights and bunting. People take to the streets, most of which are decorated in green and white, fireworks light up the skies and a number of events, festivals and performances take place across the country. Where the Pakistani community in Edmonton have celebrated the event in the past by hosting mini ceremonies, the first festival on a grander scale is being held this year. The Pakistan Canada Association of Edmonton (PCAE) organized a one-day festival called Pakistan Festival on Quaids Day at their community hall located in southeast Edmonton on 39 Ave. The festival includes Pakistani food vendors serving local street food such as bun kebab, papri chaat and biryani, as well as activities for kids and live music followed by since it is a birthday celebration a cake cutting ceremony. Salman Naseer, president of PCAE, says they decided to host the festival to celebrate the culture of Pakistan and bring the community together. Its amazing, you see different people from different provinces like Sindhi, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Baloch, coming under one roof, it feels like a mini Pakistan here, he said. Whatever the dynamics back home, whatever happens in politics, people are eating together and having gupshup (chitchat) and it gives them a sense of being at home. Naseer says the festival is especially focused on children of the community to help them learn more about their roots. They are kind of out of touch with the culture, so the whole idea is to bring them some sort of feeling, so they can connect and know what kind of a flavour they can find when they go back home, he said. The festival offers a balance of activities for kids to have fun as well as learn more about their culture. Where there is a clown and fun games for kids, there is also a quiz where the kids are queried on the history and culture of Pakistan. Naseer stressed that they try to make the questions easy so it doesnt feel like they are in school. They also play a movie that depicts the culture of the country so kids can learn more about their background. Because PCAE owns the community hall, finding a venue for the festival was not an issue, however finding labour on Christmas Day for everything else was. Arranging the arcades, the different activities is a challenge because they charge sometimes twice or three times their actual price because of Christmas Day, Naseer said. But we try our best to make it happen, he added. He said a lot of people from the local community will volunteer their time to help out as well, even to help out the food vendors. The festival begins at the PCAE community centre at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and is expected to go on until midnight. Read more about: EDMONTONAlbertas hypothetical separation from the rest of Canada would be unlikely to end well for First Nations in the province, according to one expert. Separatism has re-emerged as a topic of discussion in recent months, with growing tension and protests over failed pipelines and low gas prices leading some to speculate Alberta would be better off without the rest of the country. James Dempsey, associate professor in the University of Albertas faculty of native studies, said separation could leave First Nations in the lurch. Native issues have (come), over the last 20 to 30 years, quite to the forefront both politically and legally. So I dont see a new country of Alberta just simply ignoring that and saying, Well, youre with us if you want to be and youre not with us if you dont want to be, said Dempsey, who is a member of the Blood Tribe in Southern Alberta. It would be something that Alberta would have to deal with. Dempsey said the treaties that apply to Indigenous people in Alberta would arguably have no relevance in a new country. Read more: Environmental and economic development choices split Canadas First Nations Mad as hell: Emotions surge in Alberta over oil impasse Equalization payments and why Alberta doesnt get them: Were rich, expert says Most of Albertas 44 First Nations would likely choose to stay part of Canada instead of moving out with the rest of Alberta, he added. When Quebec held a referendum on separatism in 1995, the James Bay Cree and three Iroquois reserves openly stated they would stay part of Canada if Quebec left the country. Theres no love for the Indian Act from natives. But its something that they know, Dempsey said. Theyve been dealing with it for over 100 years. And just to overnight get rid of it, they generally want to know what is going to replace it and have a say in what is going to replace it. But being connected to Canada while being physically in another country could make it even more difficult for First Nations to receive resources and services from the federal government. Dempsey said its possible the federal government would renege on its responsibilities. You might have Canada saying, Its not going to be so easy for us to support you now, and sort of ignoring them, he said. The federal government could then question whether Treaties 6, 7 and 8 even still applied to Indigenous people in Alberta. He compared the hypothetical scenario to the treatment of Indigenous groups in the late 1800s, when Canadian and United States governments started looking at Siksika, Assiniboine and Ojibwa that had territory spanning both countries as either Canadian or American, separated by the borders drawn by their colonizers. So, they would become the country of Albertas Indians, and their responsibility, and Canada might take the position, Well theyre not our responsibility anymore, Dempsey said. Feelings of alienation among Albertans are rising, according to an October Ipsos poll, as fewer residents (18 per cent) feel like their interests are represented in Ottawa (compared to 22 per cent in 2001). More than one-third reported feeling less committed to Canada, and one-quarter up from 19 per cent in the same time frame said they believe Alberta would be better off if it separated from Canada entirely. Treaty 6 Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild said hes watching the separatism debate very closely. If its serious, it raises a lot of very serious questions about Indigenous participation, he said. And my own view is that it couldnt happen without us. We would have to participate, clearly by law, in any decision like that. Canadas Supreme Court ruled in 1998, in a case determining whether Quebec could legally separate, that Indigenous rights would have to be taken into account in any future separation negotiations. Coupled with the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was signed by Canada and Alberta, Littlechild said its clear that Indigenous Canadians would have to be part of any such decision. He noted the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement of 1930 where the federal government gave control of crown land and resources to western Canadian provinces would also have to be settled before Alberta could leave. Littlechild said the separatism debate gives Canadians any opportunity to include Indigenous people in conversations around issues of mutual concern. We do share a lot of the concerns that Albertans have when it comes to natural resources, climate change and the environment, he said. Protests heated up this month, with hundreds turning out for separate rallies across Alberta, including a truck convoy that stalled traffic for hours last week in Edmonton. Many protesters donned yellow vests and expressed anger about a range of issues, largely focusing on the federal governments inability to build pipelines to create jobs in Alberta. Some demonstrators made displays threatening or joking about violence toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and some including white supremacist group Wolves of Odin, which has been visible at the rallies expressed anti-immigrant sentiment. If Alberta wanted its First Nations to follow suit in leaving Canada, the provincial government would have to step up and draw up new legislation to replace the Indian Act with something more desirable, Dempsey said. Alberta has a legal relationship with its eight Metis settlements, so he said establishing a relationship with other First Nations would be possible, but a lot of work. Historically, it has been done, he said. Not in Alberta, but if we go back prior to Canada coming into existence, the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada, and Nova Scotia, they did have jurisdiction over dealing with the native groups within their colony. Another possible scenario, which he describes as more of a pipe dream, is that some First Nations with resources and economic stability might take inspiration from Alberta and break off entirely, forming their own countries. Dempsey teaches a university course on self-government, and said some believe the ultimate goal of self-government for Indigenous bands is to become their own countries. They would probably be ones that had some kind of economic base oil for example to take a position that they want to become independent themselves, he said. The logistics might be too much. But there are those that might raise the question of saying, Well, if Albertas separating, then were separating, too. Read more about: We did it. Hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors came together to make a little bit of Christmas magic for underprivileged kids across the Toronto area. Thanks to Star readers overwhelming generosity, 45,000 vulnerable kids woke up on Christmas morning with a box of gifts under their tree. With your donations, our intrepid volunteers helped prepare and distribute the boxes across five cities, braving wind and snow, traffic and parking, to deliver what for many children is the only present theyll receive this year. I am thrilled with the overwhelming community response we have received from across the Toronto area, Torstar President and Toronto Star Publisher John Boynton said. It makes me proud to know that residents have come together once again, all in the spirit of Santa Claus. Thank you to all our generous supporters who have helped put a smile on the faces of more than 45,000 young kids at Christmas. Now that weve accomplished our goal, we can look forward to a wonderful new year knowing that we put a smile on thousands of childrens faces this Christmas, said the Santa Claus Funds director, Barbara Mrozek. Mrozek relates how she received a note from a woman attending the funds annual Christmas concert that described how the donor had been a proud recipient of the Star box when she was a child. Growing up poor in Kensington Market, she and the other kids who got the boxes would trade the gifts. I never realized it then, but the Star box was more than a box filled with goodies, Ellen Trotman wrote in the note. It was something to look forward to and more importantly, it brought the community that much closer. Brought it to care. It created an opportunity to get to know those kids you probably never played with or even offered a passing hello. Unless you lived it, you have no idea what effect the Star box had on peoples lives and community. So, no. It wasnt just a box. It was everything good that only happens at Christmas. One hundred per cent of the more than $1.7 million raised has gone toward warm clothing, small toys, books, cookies and dental hygiene items for thousands of children from newborns to age 12 in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax and Pickering. To everyone who donated their time or money, on behalf of everyone at the Star, thank you and we cant wait to do this again next year. Appadurai Muttulingam is proud his mother tongue is one of the worlds seven classical languages, but the Markham writer always worries how the centuries-old Tamil language and literature can be preserved without a home. Thats why he was thrilled when the University of Toronto joined the Tamil community in the GTA earlier this year to create a chair in Tamil Studies at its Scarborough campus with the mandate to develop an academic program on Tamil language, history and culture through research and scholarship. Tamil is one of the oldest living classical languages and the U of T is ranked No. 1 in Canada. Its only fitting a great language finds a place of honour at a great university, said Muttulingam, 82. This chair is not being created by a single rich man, but rather will be owned by the Tamil community worldwide. For many people in the Tamil Canadian diaspora, the endeavour symbolizes the coming of age of a relatively young immigrant community, many of its members coming here as refugees fleeing wars and conflicts in Sri Lanka over the last three decades. We came and shared apartments. We struggled and worked hard at coffee shops, gas stations and convenience stores to raise families. Others came as professionals and returned to their chosen fields, said Sivan Ilangko of the Canadian Tamil Congress, who joined his wife and settled here in 2001. Our children go to universities and work in different fields. We have done extremely well in a very short time. This (chair) is a recognition of the Tamil community, our language, culture, history and literature. In June, at the launch of the drive to create the Tamil chair, members of the community immediately pledged $700,000 toward the $3-million endowment that they must raise in two years. Since then, the community has organized different events monthly from concerts to galas to achieve the target. The community was inspired by a similar campaign that successfully raised U.S. $6.4 million (U.S.) to fund a Tamil chair at Harvard University last year. Dr. Vijay Janakiraman, a cardiologist in Pennsylvania, who initiated the Harvard project along with Rhode Island oncologist Dr. Sundaresan T. Sambandam, approached the world-renowned university with a proposal in 2015 after reading a story in the Washington Post about the seven classical languages, including Tamil, which is said to be spoken by 80 million people around the world. The others were Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Latin, Persian and Sanskrit. There were all these criteria to qualify as a classical language and Tamil meets all of them, said Janakiraman, who moved to the U.S. in 1975. All the top universities were teaching the other (classical) languages except my mother tongue. Janakiraman, a native from Tamil Nadu in India, said the community was given five years to raise the money but they completed the feat in three, with donations from Tamils in 35 countries. The university has just started its search for the chair. Canada has 300,000 Tamils and the community deserves a chair there, Janakiraman, president of Tamil Chair Inc., which was established to co-ordinate the Harvard project and is helping the community worldwide, including Toronto, to negotiate with universities to develop similar academic programs. Muttulingam said the community had approached U of T with the same idea back in early 2000, and the price tag then was $1 million. We couldnt even raise $100,000 eighteen years ago because at that time 99 per cent of us were new immigrants and most came as refugees. Everyone was struggling, recalled Muttulingam, who has published 17 books in Tamil, including a collection of stories entitled Kuthiraikaran. But now, its different. We have one Tamil MP and two Tamil MPPs. We have Tamil heritage month. Its time to make our mark and leave a legacy for our future generations. And language is such a crucial part of ones culture and identity. Maybe youre wondering if, with a few strategic renovations, an abandoned OPP detachment could be made over into the perfect summer getaway. Perhaps you envision a block of condos on the site of a decommissioned hospital. Those are the type of publicly owned properties the Ontario government says it wants to sell. There are 243 on a list of buildings and land owned by Ontario taxpayers that are on a provincial surplus list. The Progressive Conservative government announced this month that, as part of its mission to cut red tape, it was speeding up the sale of those properties to raise between $105 million and $135 million for the public purse over four years. The divestiture would also save about $9.5 million annually in maintaining unused property, said Government and Consumer Services Minister Bill Walker. Toronto Star readers wanted to know which public assets were being sold and the asking prices. But getting that information has proved a lot more complicated than looking for a home on a website like Realtor.ca. While Walkers office provided the Star with a list of the 243 properties being readied for sale, that information wasnt posted online. A spokesperson for the minister said the list was being translated and prepared for posting. That list includes properties that are in various stages of the sales process some have been recently sold, others are under contract, others are undergoing due diligence and targeted for future sale, according to the ministers office. In many cases it is impossible to determine from the list what is actually on the property, if anything. One line is listed simply as, Toronto Tapscott Rd. and Passmore Ave. Read more: Province wants to speed sale of 243 surplus properties Toronto council approves using 11 surplus properties for affordable housing For properties actually being marketed for sale, the government referred us to the Infrastructure Ontario website. As of Monday, it included 16 properties that had cleared the bureaucratic process to be marketed publicly. Twelve of those listings included sale prices ranging from $5,000 for a quarter-acre in Hornepayne, Ont., north of Sault Ste. Marie, to $14.7 million for 43 acres of employment-zoned land near Burnhamthorpe Rd. and Hwy. 403 in Oakville described as an excellent opportunity for future development or investment. There were 30 surplus properties sold between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018, and 17 of them were listed on the open market through a real estate broker. The average selling time: 100 days. The remaining 13 were sold directly by Infrastructure Ontario to other government entities and arms-length agencies, or they were non-viable parcels sold to the owners of abutting properties. Even before a property is considered surplus, the government is continually monitoring its real estate portfolio to identify highest and best use, said John Cimino, senior vice-president of portfolio planning, development and transactions. If it is declared surplus, the property is circulated through the provincial government. If no other ministry wants it, the real estate goes to the federal and municipal governments and other public-sector agencies for consideration. Each party gets 30 days down from 180 to consider whether they want the site. If nobody is interested, the real estate is appraised and Infrastructure Ontario comes up with a marketing and listing strategy through its broker of record, CBRE. Thats when it shows up on the Infrastructure Ontario website. The true test of market value is allowing the property to be on the market for an exposure period, Cimino said. Typically that is 30 days but it can be extended. We leave them on the market as long as is reasonable and then, like any other prudent owner would do, remove them from the market because theyve become stale, he said. There are relatively few properties on the Infrastructure Ontario site because most are in still being circulated in the government and undergoing due diligence including an appraised value, Cimino said. Not every listing gets snapped up. Some are challenging. There are properties weve had listed in some cases for a year or two years. They dont sell. They are in remote areas of northern Ontario, they are landlocked, theres some issue with them, he said. Sometimes remnants of land from a public project are just taken over by the municipality. In other cases, some of the plots are large and might be attractive to a developer but often those locations also attract municipal interest. We need to be very cognizant of government priorities and initiatives like affordable housing, like long-term care, Cimino said. To get an idea of what is on the provincial list of 243 surplus properties, the Star asked about a handful of the 20 Toronto listings. None of them, as it turns out, is listed on the Infrastructure Ontario website for sale. 305 Bremner Ave. One and a half acres of vacant land serving as a surface bus parking lot for Rogers Centre events under a parking management agreement. Infrastructure Ontario is currently conducting due diligence with the expectation it will be listed on the market in 2019. George Appleton Way Less than an acre of vacant, treed land on the northeast corner of Keele St. and Hwy. 401, north of the off-ramp. It is undevelopable land no longer needed by the Ministry of Transportation. 567 Arlington Ave. and 203 Ava Rd. These houses sit south of Eglinton Ave., east of Oakwood Ave., and are part of land set aside for the former proposed Spadina Expressway Corridor. They are high-demand residential lots with development potential in a desirable area, according to the government. They will be listed on the open market. Spadina Corridor Rear Residential Lands Like Arlington and Ava, these 24 landlocked remnants were also reserved for the Spadina Expressway and make up less than an acre in total. They are owned by the province but under long-term lease to the city. The province says it is working with the city of Toronto to develop an approach by which the property can be sold. West Donlands There are several blocks listed in the West Donlands. The remaining provincially owned parcels in Corktown include a former warehouse on Trinity St. that was used as a paper mill; an irregularly shaped three-acre parcel being leased on Front St.; an acre at Front and Cherry Sts. that has been designated for long-term care and road widening; and 17 and 26 Eastern Ave., part of a strip of commercial and industrial buildings. Infrastructure Ontario says these properties are still being circulated in government to determine if there is interest in continued public use. 27 Grosvenor and 26 Grenville Sts. The adjoining properties a parking structure and a vacant, two-storey office are sold conditionally to developers, Canadian Real Estate Investment Trust and Greenwin Inc., under a provincial affordable housing lands program. Infrastructure Ontario is still doing due diligence on the property. When I was just a baby My mama told me, Son Always be a good boy Dont ever play with guns, But I shot a man in Reno Just to watch him die Johnny Cash wrote that in his classic country hit, Folsom Prison Blues, recorded in 1955. The man in black. Self-styled outlaw. Sex symbol. Shot a man just to watch him die. The line made him famous and anchored a storied career. When N.W.A. released F--- tha Police in 1989, the gangsta rap protest song brought fame as well, but also bans from airwaves and a letter from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The difference underscores the scrutiny rap lyrics and hip hop in general continue to endure, compared to other genres where artistic expression is rarely interpreted as actual criminal intent and deeds past, present and future. Add to this todays vast and easily accessible social media ocean for aspiring rap artists to post their work and express hip hop culture, and everything is a click or swipe away. And it is presenting a challenge in courtrooms in the United States and Canada, where a growing area of study examines the complex and controversial intersection of crime, rap lyrics as evidence, expert witnesses and the courts. Google rap on trial and plenty pops up. Rap lyrics are being used in court cases as proof of intent, confessions and threats, and as character evidence, at times without the benefit of experts who can provide judges and juries with context and history. In other words, taking them to the school of rap. There is this tendency for outsiders in the justice system and police to view the word and the lyrics and stories that are coming out of the mouths of rappers, especially Black rappers, as if they are autobiographical portraits of their lives, says Jooyoung Lee, associate professor of sociology at the University of Toronto. But thats been roundly disproved and theres quite a bit of stuff, both in academia and also just popular writing and documentaries, that really poke holes in this presumption that the kinds of identities and lyrics that people present in their music are actually authentic representations of who they are, says Lee, who teaches a course on hip hop, which examines its beginnings and history and includes comparisons like Cash vs. N.W.A. He has also testified as a witness in court, called upon to provide background context into why aspiring rap artists might talk or boast about involvement in street violence, whether that be in the form of gangs or in shootings or robberies and other kinds of activities that often come up in certain genres of hip hop. The challenge for courts, says Lee, is differentiating between artists who are really trying to make it and this is a way out of the gang life, the street life and an emerging practice of young people immersed or involved in gangs or street crews where theyre increasingly turning to social media as a way to provoke, disrespect, communicate. I think thats where you really do need the expertise of somebody coming in, says Lee, who grew up in California in the 90s, fell in love with hip hop culture and studied and hung out with aspiring hip hop artists in South Central Los Angeles. He wrote a book about the latter, called Blowin Up. University of Windsor law professor David Tanovich examined North American criminal cases where rap lyrics came into play including ones in Canada, and one in which Lee testified and found few excluded rap lyrics as evidence of guilt. However, unlike Canada, the issue of criminalizing rap has received considerable attention in the United States judging by recent newspaper articles and opinion pieces, Tanovich wrote in a 2016 academic paper entitled Rethinking the Admissibility of Rap Lyrics in Criminal Cases. Using media reports, Tanovich identified 36 cases in Canadian courts from the past decade where rap lyrics came into play, and found only one that involved lyrics from another genre. In that case, involving a murder, the Newfoundland Court of Appeal excluded the lyrics to a metal/punk song entitled Kill Kill Kill. Of the 36 rap cases, 16 involved the Crown using lyrics as evidence of guilt. It was used as defence evidence in five cases. In four, rap lyrics were excluded. The remaining cases involved sentencing and charter applications. Generally speaking, the Canadian cases have failed to apply a culturally competent lens when assessing probative value and, to address the relevance of race and bias, when assessing prejudicial effect, Tanovich wrote. Tanovich has said to include lyrics there must be probative value, and rap lyrics should only be entered into evidence in exceptional cases because systemic racism is a problem in the justice system. In a 2018 Toronto murder case, 10 rap videos were excluded from evidence in the trial of Jermaine Dunkley, an admitted criminal gang leader and rapper. Lee was called as a witness in that case by the defence, while a Toronto police officer was called as a witness for the Crown. Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Code ruled that the videos would have a powerful prejudicial effect and very few parts of the videos were relevant to the trial at hand. Nonetheless, a jury found Dunkley guilty of first-degree murder in November in what the Crown portrayed as a revenge killing. Dunkley is to face another trial for another murder in Hamilton. Lee and other American experts on rap and the courts say courts generally fail to regard it as an art form. That, notably, was not the case in another Toronto murder case in which Lee testified. As with lyrics generally, but especially when it comes to rap, it is risky to take any word literally, then-Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer wrote in a 2015 decision excluding lyrics written by Orville Campbell. Rap, particularly gangster rap, often deals with the subject matter of drugs, guns, shootings, violence and the like, wrote Nordheimer, now sitting on Ontarios Court of Appeal. The mere fact that an artist records a rap with lyrics that refers to such activities cannot be taken as an admission by the artist that they were involved in such activities, even where the lyrics are used in the first person. There is a long history of artists writing lyrics as if they had personal involvement in events, but in fact had no involvement with them at all, wrote Nordheimer. The Crown had sought to include a rap video by Campbell that included this, among other, lines: One shot, leave your brains on your Nikes. The victim in the murder for which Campbell was eventually convicted was wearing Nikes at the time of his death. The judge noted that fact, of course, only makes the deceased one among literally thousands of young men in Toronto who, on any given day, would be wearing Nikes. (Campbell is appealing his conviction.) In a landmark U.S. court ruling on rap lyrics, the Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed a lower appeal courts decision to exclude 13 pages of violent rap lyrics in an attempted murder case, overturning a conviction. The difficulty in identifying probative value in fictional or other forms of artistic self-expressive endeavours is that one cannot presume that, simply because an author has chosen to write about certain topics, he or she has acted in accordance with those views, the New Jersey court noted in its decision. One would not presume that Bob Marley, who wrote the well-known song I Shot the Sheriff, actually shot a sheriff, or that Edgar Allan Poe buried a man beneath the floorboards, as depicted in his short story The Tell-Tale Heart, simply because of their respective artistic endeavours on those subjects. Rap is like poetry, or any kind of literary tradition that requires a person who is going to be well versed in that area, says Lee, who hopes the Canadian justice system gets to that point where people realize that, at the very least, you cant proceed in these cases if you dont have experts who have studied and who have an understanding of the culture present to weigh in on what they see and interpret from the evidence and data that theyre given. But theres this other side of me that also, from a long view, sees the persistence of different institutional levers in place that disadvantage people of colour, says Lee, and that end up disproportionately impacting their chances as they go through the justice system. BEIJINGChinese state media say eight people were killed after a hijacker with a knife drove a bus into pedestrians in a southeastern Chinese city. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that 22 others were injured, one seriously, in the Tuesday afternoon attack in Longyan in Fujian province, about 1,000 kilometres south of Shanghai. The attacker was captured, a police statement said. It did not say how many fatalities occurred aboard the bus and how many among pedestrians. A video clip on the website of the Beijing News newspaper showed a half dozen police officers wrestling the attacker to the ground in the middle of a street as traffic flowed past. Xinhua said that police have identified the attacker as a 48-year-old unemployed man. The news service said that initial investigation had found that the man had had a conflict earlier in the day with an official of a neighbourhood committee with whom he and long been at odds. The investigation was continuing. Read more about: WASHINGTONA shutdown affecting parts of the federal government appeared no closer to resolution Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats locked in a hardening standoff over border wall money that threatens to carry over into January. Trump vowed to hold the line, telling reporters during a visit to Iraq that hell do whatever it takes to get money for border security. He declined to say how much he would accept in a deal to end the shutdown, stressing the need for border security. You have to have a wall, you have to have protection, he said. The shutdown started Saturday when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and are working unpaid, while an additional 380,000 have been furloughed. While the White House was talking to congressional Democrats and staff talks continued on Capitol Hill negotiations dragged Wednesday, dimming hopes for a swift breakthrough. With no deal at hand, members of the House were told there would be no votes on Thursday, assuring the shutdown would last yet another day. Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will have 24 hours notice before having to return for a vote. The Senate is slated to come into session Thursday afternoon. Read more: Trump sees winning hand as critics see presidency spiralling down A second Guatemalan child has died in immigration custody, U.S. authorities say Trump forces Mattis out two months early, names Shanahan acting defence secretary Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a Trump ally who has been involved in the talks, said the president is very firm in his resolve that we need to secure our border. He told CNN, I dont know that theres a lot of progress that has been made today. But he added of Democrats: If they believe that this president is going to yield on this particular issue, theyre misreading him. The impasse over government funding began last week, when the Senate approved a bipartisan deal keeping government open into February. That bill provided $1.3 billion for border security projects but not money for the wall. At Trumps urging, the House approved that package and inserted the $5.7 billion he had requested. On Friday afternoon, a Senate procedural vote showed that Republicans lacked the 60 votes theyd need to force the measure with the wall funding through their chamber. That jump-started negotiations between Congress and the White House, but the deadline came and went without a deal. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York on Saturday said funding for Trumps wall will never pass the Senate. So President Trump, if you want to open the government, you must abandon the wall, plain and simple, Schumer said. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is in lockstep with Schumer against the wall funding. If the shutdown continues into 2019, she has vowed that her new Democratic majority will act quickly to pass legislation reopening the government. The shutdown has been playing out against the backdrop of turmoil in the stock market, which is having a roller-coaster week. Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the White Houses Council of Economic Advisers, said the shutdown does not change the administrations expectation for strong growth heading into 2019. He told reporters a shutdown of a few weeks is not going to have any significant effect on the outlook. The shutdown that began on Saturday the third of 2018 caused a lapse in funding for nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and were working unpaid, while another 380,000 were furloughed, meaning theyll stay home without pay. The shutdown complicates things for essential employees who planned trips for the holidays: According to the Office of Personnel Management rules, employees deemed essential or otherwise exempted from their respective agency furloughs cant take any vacation or sick days. Furloughed federal workers have been given back pay in previous shutdowns. Those being furloughed include 52,000 workers at the Internal Revenue Service and nearly everyone at NASA. About 8 in 10 employees of the National Park Service are staying home, and many parks have closed. Roughly 44,000 U.S. Coast Guard employees are considered essential, and will report to work this week without pay, with another 6,000 furloughed. The Coast Guard is the only arm of the military affected by the shutdown because it is funded through the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown didnt stop people from visiting the White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico, where hundreds of unauthorized visitors have in recent days climbed over a fence to enter the monument, according to The Alamogordo Daily News. State highway workers were sent to the area Monday to erect no parking signs along U.S. 70 outside the monument. Trump claimed on Monday that federal workers are behind him in the shutdown fight, saying many have said to me and communicated, stay out until you get the funding for the wall. He didnt say who he had heard from. Many rank-and-file workers have gone to social media with stories of the financial hardship they expect to face because of the shutdown. One union representing federal workers slammed Trumps claim. Paul Shearon, the president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, in a statement said the union has not heard from a single member who supports Trumps position. Most view this as an act of ineptitude, he said. Read more about: WASHINGTONSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was discharged from the hospital Tuesday, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg confirmed. The 85-year-old justice underwent a pulmonary lobectomy at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center last week to remove two malignant nodules in her left lung. Fridays procedure went smoothly, doctors said, and there was no evidence of any remaining disease elsewhere in the body. Ginsburg, the oldest sitting member of the nations highest court, has had her fair share of health scares: She has combated colorectal and pancreatic cancer, though she did not miss an oral argument during treatment, and received a heart stent in her right coronary artery. Last month, she was hospitalized for three fractured ribs. As one of four liberals on the court, Ginsburgs bill of health has been a point of scrutiny and observation since U.S. President Donald Trumps rise to power. Trump called for her resignation during his 2016 presidential campaign, tweeting that her mind is shot. Ginsburg has said she intends to remain on the bench. As long as I can do the job full steam, I will do it, Ginsburg said last year, despite being five years above the average retirement age of the 11 justices preceding her. She has also reportedly hired law clerks through 2020. Ginsburg will spend the remaining holiday season recuperating at home. The Supreme Court, which is not in session until the new year, will next hear cases Jan. 7. Read more about: U.S. President Donald Trump greeted U.S. troops on an unannounced trip Wednesday to Iraq, where he defended his decision to withdraw forces from neighbouring Syria and declared that Daesh is very nearly defeated while making his first visit to a conflict zone as commander in chief. The president used his visit to al-Asad airbase to amplify his call to draw down the U.S. presence in foreign wars and assert his personal influence over the military at a moment of tremendous turmoil at the Pentagon. After months of public pressure for him to spend time with troops deployed to conflicts in the Middle East and Central Asia, Trump touched down at the joint U.S.-Iraqi base west of Baghdad after a secret flight from Washington. Accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, the president sounded a triumphant note as he addressed U.S. service members on the day after Christmas. Were no longer the suckers, folks, he said. And he warned that he was committed to withdrawing troops from foreign wars even when his administrations experts object. The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world, Trump said. Its not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States. After a briefing with military and diplomatic leaders on the ground, Trump strongly defended his decision to pull out of Syria. But he said he had no plans to withdraw forces from Iraq, which he said the U.S. could use as a staging ground in the heart of the Middle East from which to combat Iran, or someday re-enter Syria. If we see something happening with ISIS that we dont like, we can hit them so fast and so hard they really wont know what the hell happened, Trump said, according to Bloomberg News, using another name for Daesh. Trump told reporters travelling with him that he would deny any request from generals to extend the U.S. operation in Syria, where roughly 2,000 troops are deployed. Read more: Trump signals no end to shutdown You have to have a wall The two favours that may have helped Trump avoid the Vietnam War A second Guatemalan child has died in immigration custody, U.S. authorities say They said again, recently, Can we have more time? Trump said of U.S. generals. I said: Nope. You cant have any more time. Youve had enough time. Weve knocked them out. Weve knocked them silly. Trumps sudden decision last week to withdraw troops from Syria led Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the global coalition fighting Daesh, to resign in protest. Trump, who spent the holiday at the White House amid a partial federal government shutdown, departed Joint Base Andrews near Washington aboard Air Force One at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday. He flew in the dark of night in an attempt to preserve operational security. Trumps cover risked being blown by eagle-eyed social media users. A Twitter user in Germany posted that he had tracked an aircraft that could be Air Force One, while a British-based Flickr user later posted a photo of a plane bearing the presidential aircrafts blue-and-white colour scheme flying through clear skies over Yorkshire. After an 11-hour flight, the president was scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, but the meeting was cancelled for undisclosed reasons. Trump travelled with a small group of journalists, who were ordered for security reasons not to report that he was in Iraq until he had finished delivering his remarks to the troops, roughly three hours into his visit to the base. Asked why he decided to visit Iraq, Trump told reporters: Its a place I have been talking about for many years many, many years. I was talking about it as a civilian. The president added, I want to come and pay my respects, most importantly, to the great soldiers, great troopers we have here. Although Trump initially supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he later criticized the effort. He was also critical of then-president Barack Obamas withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, saying the move created Daesh. The unannounced visit continues a holiday tradition followed by past presidents. Obama visited Afghanistan four times as president, most recently in 2014, and made a trip to Iraq shortly after his 2009 inauguration. George W. Bush made a surprise Thanksgiving visit to troops in Iraq after the invasion in 2003, and travelled back three times as president. Bill Clinton visited troops in Bosnia in 1996 and spent Thanksgiving with troops in Kosovo in 1999, while George H.W. Bush spent Thanksgiving with service members in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and New Years with troops in Somalia in 1993. Although Trump had previously addressed U.S. troops stationed overseas, including in Italy, Japan and South Korea, he had drawn criticism for not having visited those deployed to combat zones. Vice-President Mike Pence visited Afghanistan on Dec. 22, 2017, to address troops and meet with commanders at Bagram Airfield near Kabul. Al-Asad base is northwest of Ramadi, a city that Daesh captured before U.S.-backed Iraqi forces retook the area. Trump said he considered the safety risks in making his first trip to a war zone. I had concerns about the institution of the presidency, he told reporters. Not for myself personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all windows closed, with no light anywhere. Pitch black. Ive been on many airplanes. All types and shapes and sizes. So did I have a concern? he continued. Yes, I had a concern. For Trump, the war-zone visit was a chance to momentarily escape the growing peril for his presidency and generate images of himself acting as the commander in chief, complete with a bomber jacket. Trump and the first lady mingled with uniformed service members at a base dining facility that was decorated for Christmas with foil balls, twinkling lights and snowmen made of stacked tires painted white. The president stopped to sign several Make America Great Again hats that service members brought, and at one point he autographed an embroidered patch that read TRUMP 2020. Kyu Lee said that after he told Trump he was the chaplain for Seal Team Five, the president responded, Hey, in that case, lets take a picture. Trumps speech to troops had the feel of one of his campaign rallies. Elton Johns Candle in the Wind played as the service members awaited his arrival, and Lee Greenwoods God Bless the U.S.A. played when the president strode on stage. Troops chanted, USA! USA!, and Trump told them: At ease! Lets have a good time. The feel-good atmosphere of Trumps visit belied the pitched tension in Washington between the president and the Defence Department. Mattis tendered his resignation last Thursday over Trumps decision to withdraw troops from Syria and draw down numbers in Afghanistan, in addition to other differences. Although Mattis planned to leave in February, Trump on Sunday dismissed him early, demanding that the retired Marine Corps general leave the Pentagon by years end. Mattis and other top advisers had cautioned Trump not to order a precipitous withdrawal from Syria, where the 2,000 U.S. troops enabled a Kurdish-led militia to roll back the self-declared caliphate. Despite declaring victory over Daesh, Trump later tweeted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria. Turkey views the Kurdish-led forces which the U.S. has relied on in the fight against Daesh in Syria as enemies, and Pentagon officials worry that Turkish forces will massacre the Kurds while failing to prevent Daeshs resurgence. Trump has not said anything in the past week about the U.S. presence in Iraq, where about 5,000 troops remain, assisting Iraqi government forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters in the north in the effort to secure the nation from the threat of Daesh. U.S. forces re-entered Iraq in 2014 after Daesh established its self-declared caliphate in Syria and swept through Iraq, reaching the outskirts of the capital, Baghdad. Trump has long been critical of the war in Afghanistan, which was born of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and has stretched on for more than 17 years, becoming the longest U.S. war. The U.S. is engaged in peace talks with the hope of ending a long-running stalemate between a resurgent Taliban and Afghan government forces, which Washington backs. But Trump has directed the Defence Department to withdraw nearly half of the more than 14,000 troops deployed to Afghanistan, U.S. officials said last week, despite warnings from many of his senior advisers and military officials that the move would invite chaos and terrorism. Trump has described the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan as a complete waste and vowed to bring home troops. Top U.S. officials have warned that absent a peace deal with the Taliban, Afghanistan could collapse and descend into further turmoil after a precipitous U.S. withdrawal. But as he visited Iraq, Trump bemoaned U.S. commitments overseas. We are spread out all over the world, the president said. We are in countries most people havent even heard about. Frankly, its ridiculous. Read more about: Kudos to Jim Mattis for resigning as U.S. defence secretary, saying that the president deserves someone atop the Pentagon who is better aligned with his views. This is the latest of many high-profile members of Trump Nation to follow their conscience, show some backbone and not sell their ethical souls. It may be a bit early to judge high profile members of Ford Nation on this basis and, so far, the only member not willing to sell her soul and principles is Amanda Simard, who has resigned from the Regressive Conservative caucus. What a courageous stand. The rest must be hoping that that stuff on their shoes is just a little mud and not something worse that could smell for a very long time. No Carolyn, buying new shoes wont help. At this point, let us praise those who have expressed dissent over Emperor Dougs edicts with some success: the public and the media are standing up and shining a bright light on the Queens Park follies and, in so doing, have succeeded in painting Mr. Ford into a bluster-proof corner. This seems to be the case with the appointment of buddy Ron Taverner as head of the OPP and, with any common sense, the sex-ed curriculum. Citizens and media of Ontario, please keep up the good work in expressing intelligent dissent. Keep shining those lights and eventually there will be one at the end of this unfortunate tunnel we find ourselves in. OTTAWAThe leader of the New Democratic Party is talking about fear and insecurity. Not his own, mind you; nor that of his party. Perched on a couch in his Parliament Hill office, Jagmeet Singh is in his usual high spirits, his ebullience by now a well-known characteristic. Its almost enough to mask the starkness of his talking points. Singh is making the case that, behind the rosy economic statistics held aloft by Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government, real people, real Canadians are struggling. Look at the General Motors shutdown in Oshawa, he says. Hundreds laid off in Cape Breton. Workers protesting wage cuts at the Montreal airport. On the cusp of an election year, this insecurity, this fear pervades Trudeaus Canada, Singh says. People are worried about precarious work, the cost of living, the looming scourge of climate change and the NDP is here to assuage that fear. The reality is that, for everyday people, things arent going well, Singh told the Star early one evening in December. Our mission is to make sure we stand up for those people who dont feel like there is anyone in their corner. Singh might know something about being on the ropes. More than a year since his dominant campaign to clinch the federal NDP leadership, Singh has had by his own acknowledgement some political ups and downs. Fundraising has tanked since the days when the New Democrats were the official opposition in Ottawa. A parade of sitting MPs have decided to sit out the 2019 federal election, including veterans from the NDPs front bench (though Singh points out at least one former parliamentarian is vying for a comeback, Torontos Andrew Cash). Through it all, Singh has been forced to quell controversies like the furor last spring over his attendance at Sikh separatist events and allegations of inappropriate behaviour against two of his MPs. Now Singh is looking to turn the page on all that in the new year, when the NDP leader has not one, but two all-important elections on the calendar. First, at some point in February, Singh will get his chance to enter the House of Commons for the first time. The former Ontario MPP from Brampton has never held a federal seat. But in his search for a vacancy, the NDP leader decided in August to relocate to British Columbia so he can run in Burnaby South, a riding that was held by New Democrat Kennedy Stewart until he resigned to run successfully for the Vancouver mayoralty. If all goes well for Singh in Burnaby and one poll conducted this fall suggested the riding is by no means a lock for him Singh will then turn to the larger battle: the general election slated for October. Farouk Karim, a former NDP press secretary who campaigned with Quebec MP Guy Caron in the 2017 NDP leadership race, said theres no doubt Singh and his party are in a slump. The party was roundly defeated in each of the eight byelections held since Singh became leader, posting a lower share of the total votes in each contest compared to the general election in 2015. Singh himself has foregone a salary from the NDP while the party has struggled to fundraise. Donations have dropped to less than $5 million in 2017 from $18.6 million in 2015, according to filings with Elections Canada. Quarterly reports so far in 2018 dont look any better. Meanwhile, the partys standing in national polls has stalled in third place, well behind the Liberals and Conservatives and not that far ahead of Elizabeth May and the Green party. The challenge for the NDP, Karim said, is to make the case to voters on the progressive side of the spectrum that Trudeaus Liberal government has failed to deliver on their priorities. That might be hard, given that the Liberals are still governing on their first mandate from voters. Voting for change is like trying to convince a family to buy a new household appliance after only a few years, he said. Its easier to make the case that there are manufacturing defects, Karim said. Karim hears this when Singh attacks the Liberals for nationalizing the Trans Mountain Pipeline, a $4.5-billion purchase that the NDP contends will undermine Canadas commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement. The party is also rolling out new rhetoric about how the NDP is on your side, a message that Karim said is meant to highlight the partys traditional association with unions and workers rights, versus the Liberal government that passed legislation to force striking Canada Post employees back to work. At the same time, some have argued the political field has shifted with the prevalence of populist nationalism in Europe and the United States. Frank Graves, president of the EKOS Research Associates, said the same forces that draw people to anti-elitist rhetoric from the likes of Donald Trump could be a major factor in Canadas 2019 election. That could present another opportunity for the NDP, if it can position itself as the champion of those who feel left out of wider economic success by pursuing policies such as more aggressive taxation of the rich, Graves said. Indeed, Singh has already unveiled a suite of proposals to close tax loopholes for corporate leaders and stop the rich from hiding their money, but left-wing critics such as Avi Lewis co-author of the environmental and social democratic treatise, the Leap Manifesto are calling on him to sharpen his demands with attention-grabbing proposals like free transit for all. One of the answers could be to tap this populist vein, said Graves. (Singh) could definitely be a magnet for people who find it thrilling to hear these things spoken in a more direct way. Political strategies aside, Singhs first hurdle is the February byelection in Burnaby South. For Karim, victory there is the only way to spark a brighter 2019 for the social democratic party or put Singhs leadership in question. People are counting out the NDP, so there is a lot of room to surprise people in 2019, he said. And people love a comeback kid story. ALTON Did Santa bring you a drone for Christmas? You might want to brush up on Illinois rules for flying drones before you take it out of the box. The Illinois Department of Transportation tweeted out a link to some things to remember before flying your new toy for the first time. Here are some of the things that IDOT says you must follow to use your drone for recreational use: The aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use The aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization The aircraft is limited to, not more than, 55 pounds unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a community-based organization The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft When flown within five miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport and the airport air traffic control tower with prior notice of operation A community-based organization is membership-based associations that represent the aeromodelling community, according to IDOTs website. One of the most popular community-based organizations is the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), which includes the AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code. Know Before You Flys website says, Prospective operators from consumers to businesses want to fly and fly safely, but many dont realize that, just because you can easily acquire an unmanned aircraft system, doesnt mean you can fly it anywhere, or for any purpose. According to Pew Research Center, eight percent of Americans own a drone, and about one-in-ten Americans would be angry or scared if they saw a drone fly near their home. The warning tweet from IDOT was sent out Wednesday morning, a week after air traffic at Gatwick airport, Englands second-largest airport, was disrupted after a drone was spotted flying into its air space. Flights were diverted to other airports or canceled altogether, leaving hundreds stranded for the holidays. Flights did not resume until Friday. For more information about drones and their guidelines, visit www.idot.illinois.gov or www.knowbeforeyoufly.org. Reach reporter Riley Newton at (618) 208-6460. DOW Seven people were able to escape an early morning fire Wednesday with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. No injuries were reported, and the family dog also made it out, but the house in the 27000 block of Beltrees Road was destroyed. The fire was discovered about 3 a.m. and quickly spread throughout the house. At noon, QEM firefighters were still putting out hot spots and family members were being comforted by others and figuring out their next step. At 3 a.m., my son said the back of the house is on fire, homeowner Jenny Slow said. We left with nothing. QEM Fire Chief Gerry New said when firefighters arrived, the house and attached garage were fully involved. He said the fire, helped by a stiff breeze, apparently tore through the house, and when he arrived the only thing left standing was the chimney, two back walls and the garage. What the homeowner told me initially was he woke up and there was fire coming out of a back closet, New said. He did tell me he had no wiring problems, other than this is a very old home with very old wiring. The exact cause, unfortunately, with the amount of destruction, will be listed as undetermined. Fieldon, Jerseyville and Godfrey firefighters assisted in fighting the blaze. Part of the reason was they had to truck water. New also said the past few days have been busy for the department, with three separate structure fires. In addition to Wednesdays fire, there was a Christmas Eve fire that was contained and another the night of Dec. 22. That was a loss. They had just had a party a couple of hours ago, and had 40 people at the residence, he said of the earlier fire. Scott Cousins can be reached at 618-208-6447. Christina Fuhrman, now 37, almost didnt make it to her wedding. She was extremely ill as she chose her dress, veil and shoes. The honeymoon in Sweden was spent in a hospital. I was just disappearing and just dying, Fuhrman said. Two years later, she watched her toddler nearly die from the same illness. Fuhrman and her daughter were both infected with the C. difficile bacteria, also known as C. diff, that are naturally resistant to many common antibiotics. When the normal healthy microbiome in the intestines is disrupted, the bacteria can take over the colon and cause inflammation and chronic diarrhea. Each year, nearly half a million Americans suffer from C. diff infections. According to a study published in 2015, C. diff infections contributed to around 29,000 deaths in 2011. Studies also show that people taking antibiotics are seven to 10 times more likely to get C. diff while on antibiotics or in the month after taking them than people not taking these drugs. Now, the Columbia, Missouri, woman is an advocate for careful use of antibiotics and is trying to raise awareness about C. diff infection. She took three trips to Washington this year to talk to people in Congress about the problem and plans to return to the capital next year for more advocacy. She also shared her story online. The Fuhrmans story begins in 2012. Two years after that, hospitals around the country began establishing Antibiotic Stewardship programs. A year later, the Centers for Disease Control established a National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria that set a goal to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by 20 percent by 2020. For now, studies show that 30-50 percent of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals are either unnecessary or inappropriate. Fuhrman got into the habit of overusing antibiotics after she was bitten by a spider when she was 21. The wound got infected, so she went to the hospital. The doctor prescribed antibiotics. I felt so amazing after that, and I felt that wonderful joy of what antibiotics are. I mean, they truly are lifesaving, Fuhrman said. I think it kind of started like, Well, Im not feeling well again. Ill go get more antibiotics. Oh, my goodness, I have a cough for two weeks. So go get more antibiotics. They were always prescribed. Fuhrman frequently had sinus and urinary tract infections. So she took antibiotics roughly every four months. Antibiotics fight bacterial infections, not viruses like those that cause colds and flu. They are usually helpful in treating urinary tract infections, which occur when bacteria take up residence in the urinary tract. However, sinus infections are most often caused by a virus. Antibiotics will not help. Common cold, runny nose, sore throat and flu are other diseases that antibiotics wont necessarily cure. Oftentimes in outpatient settings, patients going for respiratory tract infection will be like, Can I get antibiotics? said Hariharan Regunath, an infectious diseases physician at MU Health Care. If patients (didnt) put pressure on physicians to prescribe antibiotics, that would be the best. Physicians also sometimes fear missing something, and that can compel them to prescribe antibiotics inappropriately, said Amruta Padhye, pediatric infectious diseases physician at MU Health Care. Fuhrman had that experience after having a root canal. Her dentist prescribed a very strong antibiotic just in case, she said. That was June 2012, two months before her wedding. After root canal therapy, patients usually have mild pain and rarely experience flare-ups with or without antibiotics, according to a study done as far back as 1993. Use of antibiotics can lead to allergic reactions, among other risks. This is especially dangerous for children. A study published in February in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has shown that the longer antibiotics are used in young children, the higher the risk that they will develop allergies including asthma. Among the elderly, who are already at high risk for infectious diseases, side effects from antibiotics can include dizziness, kidney damage, a higher potassium level in the blood and seizures, among others. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic like Azithromycin can actually affect the electrical activity of the heart, Regunath said. Antibiotics can also increase the risk of some types of infections. According to the CDC, among the most common infections are Candida, the fungus infecting skin or mucous membranes, and C. diff, the one that almost killed Fuhrman. Within one week after her root canal, Fuhrman became very sick. I was in my best friends wedding, and I could hardly make it through. I hardly could work, she said. Her doctors in Columbia didnt understand what was happening. They didnt expect the C. diff test to be positive, as the infection usually occurs in older people in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Then they arrived in her hospital room in full isolation suits. C. diff can spread quickly and is very difficult to contain. When the doctors walked into my room in isolation suits, I felt fearful and confused, she said. Her doctors told her they would give her antibiotics and that she should be fine. She wasnt. Two days after Fuhrman stopped using antibiotics, the infection returned and she was back in the hospital. So, I was hospitalized six times over the course of seven months, which I didnt work at all those seven months, and it just kept coming back, she said. As soon as I stopped taking antibiotics, it immediately returned within days. While in the hospital, Fuhrman didnt eat or drink and was fed intravenously. She basically lived in the geriatric ward. In January of the next year, Fuhrman was healthy enough to go back to work. In April, she got pregnant. After her daughter, Pearl, was born, she was on guard against letting pediatricians give her child antibiotics. Ive always had my ears perked since C. diff. Ive always been on the alert for it, because its scary, Fuhrman said. Pearl got sick anyway at 21 months. She had never had antibiotics. She started having, like, a lot of stools, and then I noticed that they got worse, Fuhrman said. So I brought her in (to the hospital), and they ran a regular stool test. Doctors didnt run C. diff test at first, as the infection is uncommon among young children. Then another doctor there said, Im running a C. diff test on her, and it was positive, and it about knocked me off my feet, Fuhrman said. Pearl was extremely ill and in the hospital for five days, fed intravenously. Doctors prescribed antibiotics. In a month, C. diff was back. Pearl had a fecal transplant right about the time Fuhrman was due to deliver her second child. When I was about to deliver and Pearl was sick, I felt as if I was never going to wake up from this terrible nightmare, Fuhrman said. I was terrified my daughter would die from it since it took so long to get her diagnosed. I was afraid my newborn son would get it. Now Pearl is almost 5. She has taken antibiotics only once for strep throat. Although there are some situations where antibiotics are necessary, Fuhrman fends off their unnecessary use with the help of her childrens doctors. I think that were such a busy culture, Fuhrman said. You just dont want to be inconvenienced by not feeling well, so you want this magic pill to heal everything but you have to take it right. I read with interest Mr. John Dunphys article, Time to choose: Jesus or Trump. That took me by surprise! But thats easy! Jesus is my savior! Donald J. Trump is my president! Mr. Dunphy said that in Matt. 6:24 Jesus warns us that no one can serve two masters. God is my Master. Mr. Trump was elected by the citizens of the United States to be our president. He was elected to make decisions along with our governors and other branches of government. That has always worked well until Mr. Trump came along and that makes the establishment real mad, and they will not accept who the people elected. Mr. Obama was not my choice, but I had to accept him as our president for eight years. I did not write articles during all those eight years bashing Mr. Obama, or the First Lady. Mr. Obama used tear gas on the law-breaking immigrants many times, and separated children from their parents. But when Mr. Trump did that, the Democrats had a fit! Mr. Dunphy used the image of the nativity scene he saw in Godfrey to declare, Time to choose: Jesus or Trump. The Jesus figure in that nativity scene was in a cage separated from the Joseph and Mary figures. He compared this with the children of illegal immigrants being separated from their parents. The children in cages which were put there by both the Trump and Obama administrations were brought here by unlawful parents, then they were put in protective custody. The Border Patrol protecting those children could see through fencing better than a wall. I heard a Border Patrol guard say they could keep an eye on lots of children, and they could hear a scream if someone was trying to beat or rape a youngster. Walls would have constricted their view. So Im thinking maybe the person who has the baby Jesus figure in a cage in the Godfrey nativity scene might be just protecting the baby from being stolen from the nativity scene. The writer of the article said the Border Patrol fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the least of these brothers and sisters. Would that be the unlawful caravan immigrants that were throwing bricks, bottles, concrete chunks at the Border Patrol personnel, while they were attempting to invade our country? Mr. Dunphy, you have got to be smarter than this article portrays! You say the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly criticized the use of tear gas on children. It threatens their short- and long-term health. What about children being dropped from the top of the border wall? Is that a short- or long-term threat? Both were caused by the childrens parents, not Trump. I wonder what Mr. Dunphy would do if a bunch of people came to his house, stood out in his yard throwing bricks, racks, bottles, chunks of cement at his house, breaking windows, then broke down his door and rushed into his house. Would he at that time offer them something to eat and drink (Matt. 25:35-40). And would he get bedding out to fix a place for them to sleep? Probably not! No matter how many Bible verses are quoted, common sense is the best rule of law here, I think. What if our borders were open to anyone? We would have millions come and eventually we would not have a country! It would be like the countries these caravans are coming from. Wilma Davis Greenfield For the 22nd time since 1975, an impasse between Congress and the President has resulted in a partial shutdown of non-essential government offices. Like the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96, this one is occurring over the Christmas holidays when little government work is done anyway. Members of Congress went home after failing to approve a modest down-payment on essential border security. Thankfully, President Trump has stood strong for building a wall along our southern border, where over 100,000 people crossed illegally last year. Of course the Republican Congress should have addressed this long ago, not days before they lose their majority in the House. It should not have required a successful GoFundMe fundraising effort for the wall to prod the House to finally authorize $5.7 billion to fund it. Some Democrats are refusing to support a border wall merely because Trump supports it. As Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) said last week, I talked to four Democrats that said: Look, if you just stop calling it the wall, were in. Democrats have thought that a shutdown always works to their advantage, but that calculation changed after Republicans benefited from the Schumer shutdown last January. Trump had generously offered to sign legislation protecting the children of illegal aliens, but his offer was rebuffed by Schumer and Pelosi. Democrats claim they support border security, but what they really mean is money to process thousands of bogus claims of asylum by people hoping to land in the great American safety net while they wait for their claims to be heard. Trump has outfoxed the asylum industry by requiring claimants to remain in Mexico while they wait. To reinforce his commitment to protect Americans first, the president also announced plans to withdraw troops from Syria, where ISIS has been decimated, along with a reduction of our involvement in the 17-year, no-win war in Afghanistan. He accepted the resignation of the defense secretary who disagreed with these decisions. Among the D.C. swamp dwellers, many of the same people who resist building a wall on our own border insist that American troops be permanently deployed in faraway countries. They support an endless presence by our soldiers elsewhere, but oppose a wall to protect our own people from the influx of illegal aliens and drugs from Central America. We fight for the borders of other countries, Trump tweeted on December 22, but we wont fight for the borders of our own! Its time to recall the first government shutdown in American history, and how a future president won that battle with his bold, decisive action. It was in December of 1776, when General George Washington was camped along the Delaware River in northeastern Pennsylvania. On December 12, 1776, Congress adjourned without extending the enlistments of American soldiers or approving their pay for the coming year. Members of Congress abandoned Philadelphia, where they had been meeting, because they feared the British troops nearby in New Jersey. Once the soldiers enlistments ran out, the Continental Army would disband and soldiers would return to their farms in the 13 colonies. Some soldiers had already gone home, some were barefoot, food was running short, and winter was coming in. But Washington was not going to give up the American cause without a fight. In an incredibly bold and risky maneuver, he decided to load his entire army men, horses and munitions into boats to cross the icy Delaware River on Christmas night. To inspire his men, Washington ordered them to assemble for a public reading of Thomas Paines new pamphlet, The American Crisis, which had just been published on December 19: These are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. On December 23 and 24, many boats were collected and secured with the help of experienced seamen. The crossing began at sundown December 25, and lasted all night amid horrendous weather: rain, sleet, snow, ice, and winds that were called a hurricane. It was daylight on December 26 when troops reassembled on the Jersey shore. They marched 9 miles to Trenton where they surprised and defeated a contingent of British-allied Hessian troops, took them prisoner and captured their food, supplies and horses. That was the early turning point in the American Revolution, thanks to the leadership of George Washington against all odds. Trump displays the same kind of initiative needed to put our Nation back on the path sought by our Founders. Amid the current Democrat-caused shutdown, Trump delivers to the People the best Christmas present a president can give: leadership to Make America Great Again. John and Andy Schlafly are sons of Phyllis Schlafly (1924-2016). Restless Development(Uganda) is an International NGO established to address the challenges faced byyoung people in Uganda by placing young people at the forefront of change anddevelopment. Our vision is for all Ugandan youth to live healthy and productivelives, fully supported by those around them. Our programming focuses on threecore areas: youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth civicparticipation and youth employment and livelihoods. The Adolescent Development Specialist reportsto the Chief Field Office (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialistprovides support to country office colleagues and internal and externalpartners and stakeholders throughout the programming processes by providingtechnical, administrative and operational support to country office colleaguesand internal and external partners and stakeholders to ensure that adolescentdevelopment and participation and child rights established under the Conventionon the Rights of the Child, international treaties/framework and UNintergovernmental bodies, are integrated in UNICEFs advocacy, policies,programmes and humanitarian work. The Specialist contributes to achievement ofconcrete and sustainable results on adolescent development relatedprogrammes/projects according to plans, allocation, results based-managementapproaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEFs Strategic Plans, standards ofperformance and accountability framework. After backlash the district administration of Noida has said that the companies which were issued notice regarding employees offering namaz at public places would not be held liable. A police station in Uttar Pradesh's Noida had sent notices to 23 private firms asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park, with the administration on Tuesday saying that "unauthorised" religious gatherings will not be allowed at public places. Officials had cited a Supreme Court order of 2009 and said that there is a clear ban on unauthorised use of public places for religious activities by all religions. At a press conference on Tuesday, District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh said Companies and business houses are not liable for employees' religious beliefs and prayers. The district administration will talk to the companies and clear their doubts." Singh also clarified that no companies would be held responsible for their employees' personal activities, as was mentioned in the police notes. The notices, which were issued by Sector 58 Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Rai earlier this month, stated that a park of the Noida Authority in the area was "not permitted to be used for religious gatherings, including the Friday namaz". "It is often seen that Muslim employees of your companies gather in large number in the park despite being advised against doing so and despite the city magistrate denying their request for permission to use it for offering namaz," the notices, addressed to the managers of the firms, said. "Therefore it is expected of you to inform your Muslim employees at your level and if they still assemble at the park, then it would be considered that you have not informed them and held as responsibility of the individual company," the notes stated. SSP Sharma said the notices were only for the purpose of information so that employees of these firms could be made aware that there was "no permission" for holding religious gatherings in the particular park. Singh said such gatherings would be allowed only if permitted by the administration. SHO Rai said the notices were issued after a complaint was received from residents of Bishanpura village, under the Sector 58 police station limits, which is close to the park. "The park has witnessed a rise in number of people gathering for the Friday prayers without any approval for it in the public park," the complaint, dated December 16, stated. "This is a well thought out conspiracy to use the authority's public park for private and religious use," it said. The complainants also claimed that they had come to know that a "mazaar" "could be" constructed there. The district officials referred to the apex court's ruling in the 2009 case of the Union Of India vs State Of Gujarat and Others, in which it had ruled that no unauthorised construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurdwara on public streets, public parks or other public places. (With inputs from PTI) Touched by the compassion of the nurses who tended to her... The MR (measles-rubella) mass vaccination campaign is in full swing throughout the country, and targets to vaccinate 95 per cent children between nine months and 15 years. India, along with 10 other southeast Asian member countries of the WHO, aims to eliminate both measles and rubella by the year 2020. I dont want to sound cynical of the government initiatives. I count myself among those who promoted the MR campaign on social media for public awareness. However, I am a critic of the Indian government taking undue credit for the supposed success of the MR vaccination programme in India. Before blowing the trumpet over the success of this programme, one needs to look at ground facts and related questions. This is not an indigenous Government of India programme, but a global health programme conceptualised by WHO and implemented by India. Decisions regarding this programme are not made in Delhi but at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. Then why are indigenous mass vaccination initiatives, designed per our needs, not conducted? We need to plan our own schemes. Also, the policies that we have already declared are still in the pipeline. While the MR mass vaccination initiative will definitely help reduce infant mortality rate in India, the question that needs to be asked is whether measles and rubella are among the major killers in India? The answer is no. Then, why do we use our limited government resources for a global agenda when there are more serious ailments to tackle? While such programmes are welcome, their supposed success should be taken with a pinch of salt. This vaccination programme targets the eradication, which is defined (as per public health statements) as the complete absence of the live virus from the community. However, the step before virus eradication is virus control, which is defined as the stage where the disease ceases to be a major public health problem. For example, the MR vaccination has been implemented in India as a health programme since the year 1985. Even after so many years, eradication is still a distant dream. An additional fact is that the measles virus is difficult to control as it has high mutation levels and can bounce back in a new form. Hence, in a country where a major killer like malaria is still beyond our reach, diseases like measles should be targeted for control rather than eradication. A recent study conducted by the Population Research Centre and the Institute of Economic Growth revealed that the current vaccination coverage for measles was just 56 per cent. In spite of this, the government machinery is being utilised for a global health programme and that too for a target like eradication, which is very difficult to achieve. Hence, instead of blindly accepting any WHO health programme, we need to prioritise our health problems and focus on the more important issues. Although the programme will definitely benefit a few, it should not create a false sense of well-being or achievement. The current lack of official data on diseases in India is another hurdle on setting the priority of health problems. Along with the various mass vaccination initiatives in India, an effective and reliable data collection system must be established by the government health machinery. Beyond the WHO mass vaccination programme, many vaccines are still waiting to be included in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). When the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, its first health policy decision and declaration was the inclusion of rota virus and injectable polio vaccine in the UIP (Universal Immunisation Programme). However, after four years of governance, this move is yet to be implemented. Additionally, all other vaccines listed under UIP (including measles and rubella) are still awaiting proper implementation and full coverage of population. While the Indian government health machinery is ruthlessly enforcing the WHO MR vaccination programme, which is a non-indigenous health policy, why the lethargy when it comes to our indigenous vaccination programmes? Even small steps in the UIP can bring big changes and increase the coverage. For example, under the UIP scheme, vaccinations for measles and rubella are given on fixed days and for a few hours. For Indias rural population working on daily wages, it is difficult to comply with these fixed hours and days. If the vaccination is available for a full day on all days of the week, the reach can increase, improving the coverage. While the Central government has launched Mission Indradhanush to increase vaccination coverage, its pace is very slow. The MR vaccination programme has to be followed up with a minimum of five years of aggressive surveillance of the virus circulation in the local community. This would be a major challenge in a country with a poor reporting system. The success of the small pox eradication programme many years back is a role model for all other eradication programmes, including MR mass vaccination. However, it should be understood that small pox was a disease without any sub-clinical condition, and with every case manifested. That is not the case with measles, and declaring the disease as eradicated will require lot of conviction. High levels of public transparency, along with effective post vaccination surveillance, will be required to prevent false claims of eradication. Viral diseases like measles and rubella will continue to flourish, thanks to the following threats: Child malnutrition that makes our children more prone to viral infections. Even with vaccination programmes, malnourished children with poor immunity will continue to face the chances of infections. Poor public health and sanitation standards in the country. In summary, the WHO MR programme would be incomplete without effective measures for tackling child malnutrition and implementing an efficient public sewage management and social cleanliness strategy. Dr. Amol Annadate is a paediatrician based in Aurangabad. Views expressed are personal. JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda has sent a clear message to the Congress that his party plans to face the upcoming parliamentary elections alone. Former MLC and JD(S) spokesperson Ramesh Babu, on Wednesday, said, The party has come to a decision. We will contest from all 28 parliamentary constituencies. It will be a friendly match, but it does not mean we will give up our seats. We will fight it cordially, and abstain from allegations and counter-allegations. We will fight to our individual strengths," said Babu. Stating that the decision was the outcome of a series of meetings chaired by former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Babu said, "He [Gowda] held a meeting of party workers in about eight districts including Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga and Tumkur. Similar meetings will be held across the remaining districts. Once again, when we say a friendly match, it does not mean seat-sharing. We are confident of giving a tough fight in 15 constituencies". Babu also mentioned Bengaluru North, Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bijapur, Raichur, Shimoga and Bidar as the constituencies where the party will prove to be a tough contender. Interestingly, the JD(S) and the Congress, which entered a post-poll alliance to form the coalition government in May, had already announced a pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha elections. But, the negotiations yielded little in terms of seat-sharing, say sources, adding that the Congress is not keen to part with 9-10 seats out of the 28 seats. This could have upset the JD(S). Both allies seem to be mum over the agreement signed between them, which had also spelt out a 2:1 power-sharing formula to divide the cabinet berths, portfolios, boards and corporations. The seat-sharing gesture continued even during the five bypolls (including two Lok Sabha seats) which proved beneficial for both parties. However, the growing friction between the allies, despite a coordination committee headed by former chief minister Siddaramaiah, has led to both parties alleging "arbitrary" decisions by the other. The legislators on both sides allege "neglect" by the government. The JD(S) decision comes at a time when the Congress is grappling with dissidence, following the recent cabinet expansion. This could be a setback for the Congress, which is desperate to whip up a grand alliance to take on the BJP in 2019. Deve Gowda to contest from two seats Former prime minister and Hassan MP H.D. Deve Gowda is likely to contest from two seatsBengaluru North and Hassanin the upcoming Parliament elections. The move is being read as the Vokkaliga strongman's bid to expand his political constituency in the state capital. At present, the BJP holds three seatsBengaluru North, South and Centralwhile Congress's D.K. Suresh holds the rural seat. Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda is currently holding the Bengaluru North seat, where JD(S) stood third in the last elections. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has appealed to the Supreme Court to fast-track the hearing in the Ayodhya title suit, stressing if it could happen in the Sabarimala issue, it can be done to resolve this long-pending matter as well. Inaugurating the 15th National Conference of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad in Lucknow on Monday, the Union minister said, "I appeal to the Supreme Court in my personal capacity to hear the Ram Janmabhoomi issue like fast-track court for a prompt disposal of the case." "When the Supreme Court can give its verdict on the Sabarimala Temple case promptly, why is the Ram Janmabhoomi issue pending for the past 70 years," he said. Supreme Court Justice M.R. Shah, Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Govind Mathur were among others present at the event. "Why must we worship Babar," Prasad asked. Citing a copy of the Constitution, he said, "There is a mention of Ram, Krishna as well as Akbar but there is no mention of Babar... But if we talk about such things in the country, a different kind of controversy is raised." The Union minister also talked about bringing an all-India judicial services system for appointment of judges in the future. He appealed to the members of the Adhivakta Parishad to ensure that the cases related to the poor and needy people were heard promptly. The apex court is scheduled to take up a batch of petitions for hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case on January 4. The matter is listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S.K. Kaul. The bench is likely to constitute a three-judge bench for hearing as many as 14 appeals filed against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land be partitioned equally among three partiesthe Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. The crowds at the traditional three-day Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib near Chandigarh seemed to be enjoying themselves, yet in a strange hurry to return to their villages. The reason? The panchayat elections, which are of great significance for rural India, are due to be held on December 30. In addition, these grassroots elections have rarely witnessed such aggressive campaigns as they are seeing now. The reason could well be the fact that these are the first panchayat elections since the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ceded the state to the Congress. The SAD also charged the Congress with misuse of power, and getting the nomination papers of its candidates rejected at a number of places. According to a government spokesperson, a total of 1,863 sarpanches, and 22,200 panches, were elected unopposed after the last day of withdrawal of nomination papers ended on December 23. These have only added to the public interest in these polls. After all, there are still 1,04,027 candidates waiting to face the village level voters, for a total of 13,276 panchayats. A total of 2,10,494 nominations had been filed for panchayat elections, with 48,111 for the post of village sarpanches, and the remaining for the panches. There are a total of over 1.27 crore registered voters in the state for these elections. The state election commission has set up 17,268 polling booths, and 86,340 police and civil personnel will be deputed on election duty. The excise department that oversees the flow of liquorboth country-made and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL)is said to be the most hard pressed, as liquor flows freely at this time. A team constituted to contain illicit liquor in the state recently discovered that alcohol meant only for sale in the neighbouring states were flown into Punjab, courtesy the elections. Abdel Razaq Zorgi, a 32-year-old journalist, set himself on fire yesterday in Tunisia. He posted a video online before self-immolation in the struggling provincial city of Kasserine. He described his desperation and called for a revolt. Also, he expressed frustration at unemployment and the unfulfilled promises of Tunisia's 2011 Arab Spring revolution. According to authorities, Zorgi died of his injuries soon after he was taken to the hospital. Protests erupted in Tunisia post this and it led to clashes with police and nationwide concern. Police fired tear gas at dozens of people who had set tyres ablaze and blocked the main street. Six members of the security forces were injured and nine protesters were detained, interior ministry spokesperson Sofiane al-Zaq said Tuesday. There was brief calm for Zorgi's funeral, post which, people took to the streets again. Tensions were being reported in other places too. In late 2010, in protest of police harassment, unemployment and corruption, a street vendor set himself on fire and this led to nationwide protests fuelled by social media. It brought down Tunisia's long-time authoritarian president in 2011. This ushered in democracy for Tunisia and unleashed similar movements around the Arab world. Despite the country's transition to democracy after overthrowing Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the authorities still struggle to improve poor living conditions. Unemployment and poverty are high, and the area has struggled for years against extremists in the nearby mountains who are linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The Tunisian National Journalists' Union called for demonstrations and a possible strike in response to the journalist's death. In a statement, it accused the state of contributing to Zorgi's death by not cracking down on corruption. Tunisian reporters expressed solidarity with Zorgi, lamenting precarious conditions for freelancers with no legal protections and low pay amid Tunisia's struggling economy. "The reasons for this young man's suicide are poverty and marginalization, as well as the fragile situation of most journalists," said Latifa Labiadh of radio station Ama. With inputs from AFP Mumbai, Dec 26 (PTI) Amid reports that the censor board has objected to certain scenes in the biopic of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray, senior party leader and the film's producer Sanjay Raut Wednesday said nobody can ban the film. Raut, who has also written the film, was talking to reporters here after the launch of its trailer. The biopic features Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Bal Thackeray. According to media reports, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has taken exception to certain scenes referring to the Babri Masjid and the south Indian community. "What is right and what is not right, who will decide? This is a biopic, it is a true story. Balasaheb's life was an open book. The censor board will understand. Some things take time to be understood," Raut said. "Fifty years ago, Balasaheb had spoken about Bhoomiputras (sons of the soil) and now the people who opposed it want Bhoomiputra policy in Madhya Pradesh," added Raut in an apparent reference to the Congress government encouraging recruitment of local people in Madhya Pradesh. The Sena's Rajya Sabha member further said, "There is no question of ban, this is Thackeray. Nobody can ban Thackeray." Known for his provocative statements, Thackeray, in the late 1960s had targeted south Indians, accusing them of snatching away jobs from local Marathi youths. He also dominated the headlines for his anti-Muslim tirades. The Censor board as yet has not come out with any statement about whether it has suggested any cuts. Its spokesperson could not be contacted for comments. Asked about the censor board's reported objections, Thackeray's son and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, "Whatever has happened has happened. We can not change it. If we can not have a quick action about the film (referring to censor clearance) then we better have quick resolution of the Babri Masjid case." "This picture will be two-hour long, but I have seen the full 52-year picture (the time he spent with his father). This must have been a difficult film to make," Uddhav said as he lauded Nawazuddin for portraying a "very difficult role". Nawazuddin said he was grateful to the film's makers for casting him. "This was the most challenging role for me. I did get nervous thinking whether I will be able to do this role or not but the director gave me lot of confidence and put me at ease," the actor said. Directed by Abhijit Panse, the film will release on January 23, Thackeray's birth anniversary. PTI KKP KRK RHL New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) A P J Abdul Kalam could have returned as the president in 2012 with the backing of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress but with no support from the Congress and its allies, he pulled himself out of the race, a new book claims. Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee was then chosen as the 13th President of India, succeeding Pratibha Patil for a five year term at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "After his presidency ended in 2007, Kalams enthusiasm for India's classical culture, his liberal praise for leaders of some Hindu religious bodies, and his earlier work for Indias defence made him Hindu Indias favourite Muslim," historian Rajmohan Gandhi writes in Modern South India: A History from the 17th Century to Our Times. "Some political parties, including the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, proposed a willing Kalam for a fresh presidential term in 2012, but the Congress and its allies did not take to the idea. Aware that he lacked the numbers, Kalam did not stand, and Pranab Mukherjee became president, he says. Gandhi writes that it was the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh who had proposed Kalams name to succeed K R Narayanan in 2002. As the defence minister in the H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral ministries, Yadav had known and liked his DRDO chief, he says. The BJP not possessing, in 2002, the numbers to get one of its own elected to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee was more than glad to sponsor Kalam, and (Congress chief) Sonia Gandhi was willing to support him, the author writes. He became an accessible head of state and a peripatetic one as well, earning the peoples president tag. He was in addition an exhorting president, offering unexceptionable and at times quotable advice. Student audiences loved him, he says of Kalam, who passed away at the age of 83 on July 27, 2015. In Modern South India, published by Aleph, Gandhi navigates the history of southern India from the 13th century to the present day encompassing cultural, linguistic, political, geographic and other similarities and differences. He says the South India story attempted in the book is of a peninsular region influenced by the oceans, not by the Himalayas, yet it is more than that. It is a story of facets of four powerful culturesKannada, Malayali, Tamil and Telugu, to name them again in alphabetical orderand yet more than that, for Kodagu, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya and Tulu cultures have also influenced it, as also other older and possibly more indigenous cultures often seen as tribal, as well as cultures originating in other parts of India and the world, Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, says. The book also makes references to burning inter-state disputes such as the Cauvery river water issue, as it does talk about post-Independence leaders who have dominated southern Indias political landscape over the years. PTI KIS BK BK Kano, Dec 26 (AFP) Boko Haram jihadists ambushed a military convoy in northeastern Nigeria, killing 13 soldiers and a policeman, the army said Wednesday. But an officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militants had overrun an army base, and put the death toll at 18. An army statement said the attackers ambushed a military convoy late Monday on a highway linking Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, with Damaturu in neighbouring Yobe state. "Sadly, 13 military and a police personnel... paid the supreme price while extricating themselves from the ambush," said the statement, signed by local military spokesman Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu. The attack followed an attempted raid on a nearby military base along the highway in Kukareta village, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Damaturu, Nwachukwu said. That attack was "repelled" by troops who "engaged and overpowered the terrorists, killing several of them", Nwachukwu said, adding that a soldier was injured. Other security sources said fighters travelling in eight trucks fitted with anti-aircraft guns had overrun the base. "The terrorists killed 17 soldiers in the attack, which lasted for more than an hour," an officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. "They took over the military base after overpowering troops and burnt it down. A policeman was killed when their vehicle which was heading to Damaturu ran into crossfire but the driver escaped unhurt," the military source said. The assailants were from the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the sources said. A medic in Damaturu hospital said 18 bodies were taken to the morgue late Monday. A civilian militiaman in the area gave a similar account and said the fighters withdrew after torching the base. "They burnt the base and two military vehicles. They also burnt two primary schools in Kukareta and neighbouring Ngaurawa village," said the militiaman. Boko Haram jihadists have carried out dozens of attacks on military bases in recent months. Scores of soldiers have been killed or listed as missing. The 120-kilometre (75-mile) Maiduguri-Damaturu highway has seen repeated attacks, including raids on military bases and markets. In September 2013, Boko Haram fighters disguised as soldiers barricaded the highway and killed 167 people, in the worst attack targeting motorists. The nine-year-long insurgency has killed 27,000 people and displaced two million more, creating a dire humanitarian crisis. The conflict has spilled over into Nigeria's northern neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon. (AFP) SCY New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours: FGN14 US-FIRE-2NDLD INDIANS 3 Indian teenage siblings among 4 dead in fire in US Washington/Hyderabad: Three Indian teenaged siblings were among four people killed in a fire during Christmas celebrations at a house in the US state of Tennessee, according to media reports. FGN12 PAK-LD RUSSIA Qureshi discusses Afghan peace process with Lavrov in Moscow Islamabad/Moscow: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday in Moscow and the two leaders discussed the progress on Afghan peace process and the recent developments in the region. By Sajjad Hussain FGN7 PAK-MQM-MURDER Pakistan's former lawmaker shot dead in Karachi Karachi: Pakistan's former lawmaker Syed Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his home in Karachi, the latest in a series of attacks targeting political leaders in the southern port city. FGN6 BANGLA-CEC-OPPOSITION Bangladesh opposition demands CEC's resignation Dhaka: Bangladesh's main opposition alliance has demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner, questioning his neutrality, days ahead of the December 30 general elections, a senior official has said. By Anisur Rahman FGN5 PAK-ALQAEDA-PLOT Pak claims it foiled al-Qaeda attack at Christmas ceremony Lahore: Pakistani authorities on Wednesday claimed to have foiled a terrorist attack at a Christmas ceremony in Punjab province and arrested four al-Qaeda terrorists. By M Zulqernain FGN2 YEAR-LANKA 2018 will be remembered for worst political crisis in Lanka's history Colombo: The year 2018 would be etched in Sri Lanka's history as the most turbulent one politically as the cash-strapped country saw an unprecedented power struggle between the president and the prime minister, causing much concern in major world capitals, including in New Delhi. FGN4 INDONESIA-TSUNAMI-WARNING Indonesia asks people to avoid coast near erupting volcano Sumur (Indonesia): Indonesian authorities asked people to avoid the coast in areas where a tsunami killed more than 420 people last weekend in a fresh warning issued on the anniversary of the catastrophic 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami. (AP) FGN3 SKOREA-LD NKOREA Koreas broke ground on railways but sanctions block project Seoul: North and South Korea broke ground Wednesday on an ambitious project to modernise North Korean railways and roads and connect them with the South, but without progress in nuclear negotiations, trains won't be crossing the border anytime soon. (AP) PTI AMS AMS Karachi, Dec 26 (PTI) Pakistan's former lawmaker Syed Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his home in Karachi, the latest in a series of attacks targeting political leaders in the southern port city. Two armed men on a motorbike opened fire on the former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker's car outside his house in Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood in Karachi Tuesday night, Dawn newspaper reported. The 46-year-old entrepreneur-turned-politician was shot at point-blank range, the paper said. Abidi was alone in his car at the time of the attack. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. According to the post-mortem examination, Abidi sustained four bullet wounds -- two in his chest and one each in his neck and arm, the paper said. Counter-Terrorism Department officer-in-charge of the Transnational Terrorism Intelligence Group (TTIG) Raja Umer Khattab said that the attackers appeared to be expert at target killings as they had targeted Abidi within a span of just 10 seconds, the paper reported. His funeral prayers were offered on Wednesday at the Imambargah Yasrab and attended by relatives, friends, and political and social figures, including MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi and senior political others condemned Abidi's murder. He was considered as one of MQM's brightest faces. Abidi's bodyguard, Qadeer, has been arrested, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pir Muhammad Shah said. "The guard instead of immediately retaliating to the fire, went inside the house and asked Abidi's father for a weapon to respond to the suspects' firing," Shah said. Abidi was elected to the National Assembly in the 2013 general elections from Karachi's NA-251 constituency on an MQM ticket. In November 2017, Abidi had opposed Sattar and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Mustafa Kamal's short-lived alliance, and even announced that he was resigning from his NA seat as "this is not what I believed in and stood for". He contested the July 25 elections from Karachi's NA-243 constituency, but was defeated by Prime Minister Khan. Abidi was one of the leaders who had stood with former convener Sattar in the buildup to the 2018 elections when the MQM was subject to an internal power battle, the paper said. In September this year, Abidi tendered in his resignation from the MQM's "basic membership" citing "personal reasons". Abidi was lately involved in efforts to reconcile the dispersed factions of the MQM. The MQM, Karachi's biggest political party, emerged as a largely ethnic party in the 1980s. It has political dominance in the southern Sindh provinces urban areas - notably in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur where a large number of urdu-speaking people who migrated from India during partition reside. Abidi's assassination comes days after two workers of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) were killed in the city's Usmania Society. Earlier this month, six people were injured when a blast hit a Milad organised by the MQM in Karachi. PTI AMS ZH AMS AMS Guj govt bans school picnic buses from plying during night Ahmedabad, Dec 26 (PTI) In the wake of two recent bus accidents in which eight students were killed and several others injured, the Gujarat government on Wednesday banned school picnic buses from plying during night hours. The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting held in Gandhinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said after the meeting. Two buses carrying school children met with accident (in separate incidents) while plying during night time in the last few days, he noted. "To avoid such mishaps in future, our government has decided to impose a ban on such buses from plying between 11 pm and 6 am with children on board," Patel told reporters. He said the restriction was being imposed while taking into consideration the safety of children. "Now, bus operators need to stop the journey during this time period and make lodging and boarding arrangements for children," Patel said. On December 22, eight students were killed and 17 others seriously injured when a bus in which they were returning after enjoying a picnic fell into a 200-ft gorge in Dang district. Two adults in the bus were also killed in the mishap. On Tuesday, one person was killed and 24 school students were injured when an overcrowded bus returning from a picnic in Madhya Pradesh met with an accident near Godhra town in Panchmahal district. The private luxury bus, hired by an Ahmedabad-based school for picnic, fell into a roadside pit after the driver lost control over the vehicle. PTI PJT PD GK GK Shillong, Dec 26 (PTI) The ruling NPP-BJP in Meghalaya on Wednesday contested Congress president Rahul Gandhi's jibe on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over 15 labourers trapped in a coal mine, saying the state government is making efforts to rescue them. In a sharp attack against Modi, the Congress chief said 15 labourers trapped in the mine in Meghalaya since December 13 struggled for air while he strutted about on Assam's Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. The prime minister inaugurated the bridge on Brahmaputra river Tuesday. Gandhi also urged Modi to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue of the miners over media reports that the operation to rescue them is hampered by lack of equipment. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, without mentioning Gandhi's comment, said there is no inaction and that the administration and the NDRF had really worked hard to trace the miners, but, unfortunately, the operation did not yield any result. So far, 12 lakh litres of water has been pumped out of the mine, but it seems the whole river has gushed into the pit. Getting high-powered pumps and transporting them to the site of the mishap is not an easy task, he told a private news. On if the rescue operation could be called off under such circumstances, Sangma said there is no question of aborting the rescue work. The chief minister also hoped that the high-powered pumps would be available soon. Sangma-led NPP's ally in the state, the BJP, also said the Meghalaya government is doing its best under the chief minister's leadership to bring the victims out of the rat-hole mine in East Jaintia Hills district. "The government has done and is doing its best under Sangma. We have full faith in him. He has taken up the matter with the central government to send bigger pumps," BJP Minister A L Hek told PTI. The state government tried its best but water at the mine has not receded, he said. The chief minister has written to Coal India requesting for the high-powered pumps, the BJP leader said. East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner F M Dopth said district authorities have taken up the matter with the state government and is awaiting a response. The high-powered pumps, as advised by ace mining mishap expert Jaswant Singh Gill, are not available in the entire North East region, as far as we are aware, Dopth told PTI. Dopth, who ordered temporary suspension of rescue operation last Saturday, said until the bigger pumps are made available, the operations cannot resume. Congress spokesperson H M Shangpliang told PTI that with Gandhi's intervention, "we hope the Centre will direct the state government to change its insensitive attitude and do what is necessary to help save lives". He said a special team of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will soon visit the site at Lumthari village and will try and meet the affected families. However, a senior member of the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP) criticised the Congress, saying the opposition party was creating a "fuss" over the entire December 13 episode. "The Congress has forgotten what happened in 2012 when it abandoned the 14 miners who were trapped when a mine collapsed in South Garo Hills. Then the UPA and the Congress were in power. What have they done?" the NPP leader said, requesting anonymity. "The chief minister is taking special interest in this case and is trying to retrieve the miners dead or alive," he said. In the 2012 case, none of the victims could be retrieved out of the mine and "I do not remember compensation was paid to any of the affected families by the then Congress government," the NPP leader said. PTI JOP SBN RMS SNS ANB ANB I will visit Delhi to make arrangements for Lalus release: Tej Pratap Yadav Patna, Dec 26 (PTI) RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday said he would soon be visiting the national capital to make arrangements for the release of his father Lalu Prasad, who is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases. Yadav said this while leading a state-wide dharna, staged in all districts by activists of the RJDs youth wing, in protest against alleged misuse of the CBI and framing of the party supremo in cases that pertained to his tenure as the Chief Minister of Bihar. Lalu has been wrongly framed in cases. The CBI is being used by the BJP government for political ends. It is also using its political clout to ensure that he is not released on bail as his coming out at the time of elections will energize forces opposed to the BJP, Yadav said. But this is not going to go on for long. I will soon be leaving for Delhi and make arrangements for his release the former Bihar minister said. Yadav who has of late begun to take an active interest in politics giving up his earlier waywardness rubbished speculations of a rift with his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav and remarked as long as Tej and Tejashwi are there, the RJD will remain intact. The mercurial elder son of the RJD supremo had triggered speculations of a rift earlier this week when he stated he was not averse to assuming leadership of the party if given a chance. Rumours have been afloat, for quite some time, that he is uneasy with the growing clout of his younger brother, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and has been declared as the RJDs Chief Ministerial candidate for the next assembly polls. PTI NAC SNS SNS Kanhaiya Kumar accuses Modi & Banerjee of playing with religious sentiments Kolkata, Dec 26 (PTI) All India Students' Federation (AISF) leader Kanhaiya Kumar Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of playing with religious sentiments. He alleged that both Modi and Banerjee are donning the role of protectors of Hindus and Muslims respectively. Kumar said the young people of the country want jobs and not religion. "What Modi is doing in the country from Delhi, Didi (Banerjee) is doing the same sitting in Kolkata," Kumar alleged at a public meeting here to mark the 94th foundation day of the Communist Party of India (CPI). "We will fight against anybody who wants to destroy the democratic fabric of the country, whether Modi or Didi," he said. Kumar said that Bengal's demography, with around 30 per cent minority population, is a blessing but can also become a curse. Stating that Bengal is a multi-cultural state where people have lived together for thousands of years, Kumar claimed that the BJP and RSS finds it necessary to break the social fabric of the state to gain a strong foothold in West Bengal. "There is a conspiracy and people should see through it. Why is Didi trying to be the protector of Muslims and Modi of the Hindus?" he questioned. Stating that neither Hindus, nor Muslims are in danger in the country, he said that it is the humans, humanity and the Constitution which are in danger at present. The young people of the country want jobs and not religion, Kumar said, adding that while five lakh pass out as engineers every year, only one lakh of them are able to get some job. He said that farmers are committing suicide for not getting proper price for their produce and claimed that the Central government has "failed" to do anything to alleviate their plight. Kumar said that while all the opposition parties may not agree on all points, but there are many common issues on which there can be agreement and they should get together on these to fight against the saffron party in the general elections next year. Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani alleged that the BJP and RSS have the agenda of tampering with the social fabric of the country. Asking whether the Left parties should ally with the Trinamool Congress, Mevani said that he and Hardik Patel, belonging to the Dalits and the landowner Patel caste in Gujarat respectively, have come together in an unprecedented alliance to fight the BJP. "What we are facing in the country is an unprecedented crisis and this will lead to unprecedented alliances to defeat fascism," Mevani said, while terming BJP a fascist party. Giving the example of the Bhima Koregaon incident, he alleged that progressive people of the country are being put behind bars to shut out any dissenting voice. PTI AMR RG RG New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday conducted searches across 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in connection with its probe into a new ISIS module, officials said. The new module is called 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam'. "The searches are going on," an NIA spokesperson said. PTI SKL MIN MIN MIN Srinagar, Dec 26 (PTI) In an indication of further shrinkage of the militants' support base in the valley, more and more cases of outlaws using cave-like hideouts away from the human habitations are surfacing, say security personnel. A police official made this remark Wednesday after security forces busted an underground hideout of militants in Awantipora area of Pulwama district where some of the top Hizbul Mujahideen commanders were believed to be hiding. The official said a search operation was launched in the area on early Wednesday on a tip off about the presence of militants in the hideout -- a cave-like structure made in a hillock. Though nothing incriminating could by found by the security forces, there were tell-tale signs of the hideout having been used recently by militants, the official said. The ultras appeared to have deserted it hours before the security forces launched the search operation. This cave-like hideout, away from the human habitations, was detected Wednesday, barely days after discovery of another similar hideout in Arampora area of Awantipora. The busting of the second cave-like hideout came four days after six militants of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, an offshoot of ISIS, were killed in an encounter in Arampora area of Awantipora on Saturday. "The militants killed in the operation on Saturday were also avoiding residential areas for quite sometime and hiding in a cave-like hideout," the official said. He said six militants including some wanted Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in Saktipora operation in Anantnag district on November 23 while three others were gunned down in Pulwama district this month. "In both the cases, the militants had built underground hideouts near orchards," he added. The security officials said the militants have been left looking for alternative hideouts due to the fact that atrocities committed by them against civilians have led to disaffection among the masses and shrinkage of their support base. "More than 50 civilians were killed by militants this year while some of the brutal executions were captured on camera and later circulated on social media. This has further reduced their already shrinking support base," the official said. He said the other factor for this new trend was the continuous flow of human intelligence to the security forces, which has helped them neutralise a large number of ultras during the year. "More than 250 militants have been killed this year and it has been possible due to the stream of human intelligence that we have been getting from general public. This has probably forced the militants to avoid human habitations and take refuge in these structures. However, we have been getting inputs about these places as well and we are working on it," the police official said. PTI MIJ RAX RAX RAX RAX Lucknow, Dec 26 (PTI) A BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district allegedly hit a differently-abled man with a stick and repeatedly poked his face with it for criticising the party's rule in the state and the Centre, with a video of the incident going viral Wednesday. In the video, the local BJP leader, Mohammad Miya, purportedly assaults the man who was shouting that he would vote for Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Miya, later sought to defend his action, saying the man was drunk and dubbed it as a "conspiracy to malign the BJP". Police said a case had been registered in the matter and efforts were on to nab the culprit. The man, who doesn't put up a fight, is heard shouting, "Vote denge Akhilesh ko (Will vote for Akhilesh Yadav)", as he walks away. The BJP leader abuses him and says, "Go go, vote. Hutt (get lost)". Facing outrage, Miya later claimed that he was only trying to make the man leave the place. "He was abusing Modi ji and Yogi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath), I tried to first explain things, he was drunk. It was a conspiracy to malign the BJP, I was just trying to make him leave the place. I didn't shove a stick in his mouth," he told a news channel. PTI SMI AAR New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) A 34-year-old AIIMS doctor allegedly committed suicide by jumping off from the fourth floor of his apartment over a petty issue in south Delhi's Hauz Khas, police said Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Manish Sharma, a native of Nagaur in Rajasthan, they said. On Tuesday, Hauz Khas police station was informed at about 11.29 PM about the incident in Gautam Nagar, police said. On reaching the spot, police learnt that the victim was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre by his friends and neighbours, a senior police officer said. As per the enquiry conducted at the spot, Sharma was a senior resident doctor at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and was preparing for DM. He got married to Tripti Chaudhary, who was a senior resident doctor at PGI Chandigarh, six months back, the officer said. On the day of the incident, the victim picked up a quarrel with his wife over some trivial issue following which he took some pills and hard drinks, the officer added. The woman was somehow rescued by the neighbours. However, when Sharma was alone in his apartment, he jumped off from the balcony of his apartment, he said. Sharma was declared brought dead at the AIIMS Trauma Centre and his body was handed over to his family after a postmortem, police said, adding that further investigation is underway. PTI AMP KJ Mathura, Dec 26 (PTI) A Canadian national was arrested for living in Vrindavan for 24 years allegedly using forged documents, police said Wednesday. SP City Shravan Kumar Singh said that following an input from a reliable source Rayan Adward Glad Stone, 55, was arrested Tuesday evening near ISKCON by the Vrindavan Police and LIU. "He was living in Vrindavan with forged documents," the SP said. After his arrest, he presented a forged document to the police which was prepared by an advocate, showing Haryana as his other address, he said. He was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the foreign national act. He was being interrogated by IB and Local Intelligence Unit, the police official said. PTI CORR AAR Pregnant woman contracts HIV after transfusion in TN, Govt orders screening of blood bank stocks (Eds: Adds details, makes clear transfusion done at government hospital) Virudhunagar, Dec 26 (PTI) A 24-year-old pregnant woman contracted HIV allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank which failed to conduct proper screening for the virus, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to order examination of stocks in the state's blood banks. The services of three lab technicians of the blood bank attached to a government hospital at Sattur, near here, have been terminated,Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said Wednesday. Terming the incident as "disheartening and shocking", he said such a thing has never happened in the state so far. The minister said a thorough probe into the incident was on and promised stringent action against those found guilty. The woman and her husband lodged a police complaint on Wednesday seeking action against the doctors, nurses and employees of the blood bank. Police said an FIR has been registered against doctors and nurses involved in the transfusion of blood besides blood bank workers for medical negligence under relevant IPC sections but did not elaborate. The state government said it was making all efforts to prevent the impact of the virus on the woman, and stocks in all blood banks would be reviewed to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Joint Director of Health Services, Virudhunagar, R Manoharan told PTI the woman, who was eight months pregnant with her second child, had gone for a check-up at a private clinic in Sattur where doctors advised her to have a blood transfusion citing haemoglobin deficiency. Subsequently, she underwent blood transfusion at the Sattur government hospital and the blood was brought from the blood bank. It later emerged that the donor was HIV positive, the official said, adding the recipient's blood was also tested, which confirmed that she too had got infected by the virus. Police said the 19-year-old donor, on coming to know about the incident, allegedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison. He has been admitted to a hospital. They said he was employed at a local fireworks unit in Sivakasi. He had donated blood for a girl, his relative, who was seriously ill. However, the blood-group did not match and it was kept in the blood bank. Subsequently, when he had gone for a health check at Madurai for an overseas job,he tested HIV positive, officials said. He apprehended that he might be questioned by police for no fault of his and attempted suicide, they said. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the blood bank staff had failed to screen the blood properly before supplying it to the private hospital. The personnel who tested the donor's blood had labelled it 'safe,' officials said. A detailed medical treatment is also underway for the woman to ensure the virus does not affect her foetus, the minister said, adding, the government is also giving all livelihood assistance to the family. Lakhs of people were provided with blood component annually including in the form of blood and "there have been no complaints (of such nature) so far and this is the first time which is shocking," he told reporters in Chennai. Talking to reporters, the woman's husband held the state government responsible for the incident and demanded that it provide the best treatment to her. He said he does not want any job from the government but only the best treatment for his wife. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the district and spoke to the woman. If the woman wanted to get treated in a private hospital, she would be provided all help, he said. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the district collector had expressed 'regret' to the family through the revenue divisional officer. DMK president M K Stalin lashed out at the ruling AIADMK over the incident, saying it showed how state-run hospitals function under this "corrupt government".PTI COR SSN SA BN BN BN BJP MLA claims 15 Cong-JDS MLAs in touch with him; Cong dismisses it Bengaluru, Dec 26 (PTI) Senior Karnataka BJP MLA Umesh Katti Wednesday claimed he was in touch with 15 disgruntled legislators of ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and his party would welcome them if they chose to join it. The eight-time MLA further claimed BJP would form a new government in the state by next week, drawing a strong reaction from state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, who hit out at him for making "illusionary statements" to 'confuse' people. The claim by Katti came in the midst of public display of anger by some ministerial aspirants from Congress who were left out in the recent cabinet expansion. Senior MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, upset after being dropped from the H D Kumaraswamy ministry, has threatened to resign and said he would announce his future course of action later this week. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and senior Congress leaders and ministers have asserted that no MLA would resign and there was no threat to the stability of the six-month old government. However, BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa separately said the party was not in touch with any disgruntled MLAs of Congress. Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Katti said: "Fifteen MLAs are in touch with me, I cannot divulge their names now, when time comes I will tell. However, ruling out 'Operation Lotus' (engineering defections), Katti said, "we will welcome those who are pained in Congress and JD(S) and want to join our party. If they come, we will induct them into our party and form the government, he said. Replying to a question, Katti said he would welcome if Ramesh Jarkiholi came to the BJP. New government will be formed by the BJP in Karnataka by next week. How it will be formed, why it will be formed, dont think about it. When it is formed we will tell you, he added. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Commitee President Gundu Rao asked Katti not to confuse people by making such illusionary statements. If it doesnt happen, Katti will have to resign if he has guts, he told reporters. Reacting to Raos comments, Katti claimed that already eight to ten (Congress-JDS) MLAs were ready to resign. "So as a party with 104 MLAs in the 224 member assembly, Im confident we can form the government," he said maintaining that the Congress-JDS government would fall "100 per cent". Yeddyurappa said the BJP had nothing to do with the disgruntlement among the MLAs of the ruling combine. "...if they are fighting internally, lets wait and watch what will happen at the end...till now no one has contacted us, nor we have contacted anybody and we don't require it also..." he told reporters here. PTI KSU VS VS New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) A 24-year-old worker was charred to death and another injured after a fire broke out at a helmet manufacturing factory in northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar, police said Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Devender, a native of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, they said, adding, the incident took place on Tuesday. "A call about the fire was received at 9.25 pm and 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was brought under control by 12.10 am," a senior official from the Delhi Fire Service said. The victims were rushed to Safdarjang Hospital where Devender was declared brought dead while the injured, identified as Jitender (34), sustained 20 percent burn injuries, a senior police officer said. A case has been registered and the matter is being probed, Aslam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) said. The officer said the factory was operating out of rented premises. After post-mortem, the body will be handed over to the family, police said. An inquiry has been initiated and the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Further investigation is underway. PTI AMP AMP DV DV (Eds: Mentioning Karnataka spokesperson in para 3) New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to resolve the issue regarding the proposed construction of Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river that led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week. The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday here. "In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest," an official spokesperson of the Karnataka government told reporters. The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he added. Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement of the Karnataka government. The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to his notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added. He also requested Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. "Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly," it said. Kumaraswamy told PTI that "we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the issue can be resolved." With the two main Tamil Nadu parties -- AIADMK and DMK -- protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties. The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for scrapping of the proposed dam project. The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter. Kumaraswamy's brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar were also present in the meeting in Delhi. Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state. He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysure Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land. The chief minister requested Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75. Kumaraswamy also urged the Union minister to ask the NHAI to complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara. The chief minister also sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373. PTI LUX PR ANB ANB ANB New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) A 50-year-old man was shot dead Wednesday allegedly by unidentified persons in northwest Delhi's Keshav Puram area, police said. The deceased was identified as Vinod Garg, a resident of Rohini Sector-6, they said. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Aslam Khan, police received two calls at around 2.45 pm regarding the incident. Garg was going on a scooter when the incident took place at the Lawrence road underpass, the DCP said. The officer said Garg was unaware about a man, who was shouting for help being robbed by unidentified bike-borne men. The accused got panicked and they fired to intimate the man but the bullet hit Garg on his chest. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead, she added. Garg used to work as a commission agent in a factory on Lawrence road. He was passing through the Lawrence road underpass, where the alleged incident took place, Khan said. Police suspect robbery as the motive behind the incident since the accused took Garg's bag which had around Rs 3,000 cash, the DCP added. In another incident, a businessman was allegedly robbed of Rs 2 lakh in Rani Bagh area in Keshav Puram, police said. Police were informed about the incident at 5.30 pm when the victim, Purushottam, who deals in iron business, was heading to his shop in Rani Bagh after collecting the cash from a dealer in Shastri Nagar, a senior police officer said. According to police, four motorcycle-borne men were following the victim from Shastri Nagar. The accused even tired to stop his car after misleading him that his vehicle is punctured, but the victim did not stop, the officer said. However, the accused managed to get his vehicle stopped and smashed the window pane with pistol butt and snatched the cash bag, the officer added. The accused men threatened to kill the victim if he shouted or tired to intercept them, police said. A case has been registered and police teams have been formed to arrest the accused, they said, adding that further investigation is underway. PTI AMP NIT KJ CALEB MAGGS, Chariho, Football, Junior; Maggs caught 11 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers loss to East Greenwich on Thanksgiving eve. He had scoring receptions of 1 and 29 yards. LUKE LOWRY, Stonington, Football, Junior; Lowry caught a pair of TD passes in the Bears Thanksgiving Day loss to Westerly. The two scoring receptions matched a record for the holiday game held by five others. Lowry had touchdown catches of 36 and 67 yards. He was named Stoningtons top offensive player in the game. ZACK TUCK, Westerly, Football, Junior; Tuck rushed for 241 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Bulldogs Thanksgiving Day victory over Stonington. Tuck was named the games MVP and was also selected as Westerlys top offensive player. Vote View Results Nearly all second hand tyre sellers are offering dodgy rubber to unwitting motorists, a new report shows. An undercover investigation in October by TyreSafe and Trading Standards found 99 per cent of firms are selling dangerous tyres. All but one retailer it visited sold illegal and dangerous tyres that contravened the legislation governing their sale, the probe found. Rubber raid: A new investigation has found that 99% of part-worn tyre firms are selling dangerous rubber to motorists In total, 18 investigations were carried out across England and Scotland involving 68 part worn traders. Of the 129 tyres inspected by the research team, 75 per cent were deemed unsafe and far from fit for use. Almost all the remaining samples were considered dangerous. The review was conducted during tyre safety month, which roped-in help from numerous police forces and fire services, the Environment Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive. This included a multi-agency team led by officers from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit which visited 29 North East part-worn tyre businesses over the course of just one week, finding that none complied with the existing regulations. Motorists should especially reconsider the purchase of these tyres in the winter months, when roads are at their most treacherous. Dated rubber - even that with legal tread depth - can harden and provide less traction if used and then left for several months, limiting their efficiency to keep your vehicle planted to the tarmac. 18 stings were carried out across England and Scotland involving 68 part worn traders This latest report follows a recent review conducted by the same parties earlier in the year, which found that 90 per cent of the firms reviewed were selling past-their-sell-by-date rubber. TyreSafe said the results show that motorists need to think seriously hard before buying part worn tyres as there is a very high likelihood that they will put their safety - and the safety of others - in real jeopardy. Tyre trick with a 20p A simple trick with a 20p coin on your tyres could save a 2,500 fine - or even your life. Read how to do it here. It also said the investigations highlight a high level of incompetence among traders. Stuart Jackson, chairman of the safety group, commented: 'Despite years of appalling results from these investigations into the retail of part worn tyres, these findings still come as a shock. 'How can it be acceptable that three-quarters of the part worn tyres offered for sale were unsafe? 'Tyres are the only part of car in contact with the road and essential to road safety selling dangerous examples to unsuspecting motorists is putting lives at risk.' Of the 129 tyres inspected by the research team, 75 per cent were deemed unsafe and far from fit for use. Almost all the remaining samples were considered dangerous TyreSafe is campaigning to drive compliance of part worn retailers with the governing legislation (Consumer Protection Act 1987, referencing the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994) and raising their competence to a level comparable to new tyre retail technicians. 'The number of dangerous part worn tyres being sold is no doubt related to the widespread incompetence of the retailers,' he added. 'With just one of the 68 retailers found to be compliant with the law, surely the part worn trade must vastly improve its standards before the British motorist can have any confidence in them. 'Until that happens, TyreSafe continues to urge drivers to buy new tyres to avoid paying a potentially heavy price for choosing to fit unsafe part worns.' What a year we had in 2018! Together, on the Ask Tony page, we brought scores of companies to heel when they tried to trample over your consumer rights. Energy firms often popped up, including Green Star, which kept sending bills to someone who was not even a customer. Car hire companies also behaved badly, such as the Avis operator in Milan who refused to hand over a pre-booked vehicle. Back in the UK, Avis apologised and paid restitution. It's been another busy year spent helping readers for Tony Hazell and he has some tips for how to get your problems fixed in 2019 Then there were tales of treasure you might find in your drawers. One reader had $2,000 of old travellers cheques issued by Marks & Spencer that it would not honour. It changed its mind after I got in touch. Another was given 350-worth of beautifully designed old Travel Bonds, issued by Thomas Cook in 1989 and since superseded by dull gift cards. The travel operator confirmed they were still valid. A recurring theme was how poor some organisations can be when dealing with bereaved people or issues surrounding power of attorney. I was pleased to be able to sort out one mess when Halifax was demanding probate on an account that was just over 50,000. Funeral expenses should have brought the balance down to less than this and allow the money to be released. But our reader was poorly advised and, as a result, the building society has updated its procedures. Complaints about broadband and phone outnumbered all others. One provider kept billing an elderly man who had entered a care home with dementia. His relatives found it hard to cancel the contract as the phone firm was demanding passwords to which they had no access. In at least some cases, the problems are avoidable. One reader who was facing a 4,000 hospital bill in Spain had not kept their insurer, Zurich, fully informed, nor retained the proper receipts. Zurich did cough up the money, but it was a lesson for others in the importance of speaking regularly to insurers, even in times of great stress. However, other requests in my inbox failed the test because it became clear the readers had not been open and honest with me or with the firm in question. Ten places to get help if you have a problem For lost bank accounts: mylostaccount.org.uk is a free service covering banks, building societies and National Savings & Investments. Phone 020 3934 0329 for banks or 08085 007007 for NS&I. Lost insurance policies: the Unclaimed Assets Register uar.co.uk or phone 0333 000 0182, email uarenquiries@uk.experian.com To check whether a financial firm is registered with the regulator: The Financial Services Register at fca.org.uk If a financial firm wont address or deal with your complaint: The Financial Ombudsman: financial-ombudsman.org.uk Tel: 0800 023 4 567. If an energy or phone/broadband firm wont resolve your complaint: ombudsman-services.org Tel 0330 440 1614. Nuisance calls complaints: Ofcom.org.uk Tel: 0300 123 3000 or 020 7981 3000. To cut down on junk mail and calls: Mailing preference service: mpsonline.org.uk Telephone preference service: tpsonline.org.uk For impartial guidance on a pension problem: pensionadvisoryservice.org.uk tel 0800 011 3797 For guidance on general money issues: resolver.co.uk For help with your rights - read This is Money's consumer rights guide How to get Ask Tony to help you Money Mail receives thousands of letters every year and we want to help as many of you as we can. But you need to help me, too. So here are some basic rules . . . First, be patient. I do expect you to have contacted the organisation first and given it a chance to sort out the problem. The matter should have been unresolved for a few weeks after your complaint, not two or three days, before you get in touch with us. Its frustrating for the Press teams and me if we spend time trying to get to the bottom of an issue, only to discover customer service has already resolved it. Equally, companies must understand I am not an unpaid adjunct to their customer services teams. Those who try to cut me out of the loop or ask me not to publish will get short shrift. I wont allow it. Please write to me, rather than just putting cc Tony Hazell, Daily Mail. Tell me the problem briefly, in a paragraph, before going into detail. I need full, but concise, details of your complaint. When did it start, what happened, how much money is involved, is there an existing claim number or reference and what are you claiming? Youd be surprised how many people fail to provide details such as their name, their address or the name of the organisation they are complaining about. You may not wish to share account numbers until we have made contact. But if you give at least your name and postcode, the firm should be able to find you old addresses wont help if you didnt inform it of your move. I wont publish your name, but I do need it! Those who email sometimes dont even make the effort to add their name at the end. If you cant take the time to send me a proper message, why do you expect me to spend hours or days looking into your problem? I need your name, address, daytime phone number and, if you have one, email address. If youre writing in, please print these clearly. In cases to do with internet companies, they can usually track you down from your email but make sure you provide the one you gave when you signed up. If you changed your address, but did not tell the organisation, it cant match the email to the account. Avis demanded one reader produce both a Mastercard and Visa credit cards when she went to pick up her hire car It is easier if I can email you to ask for any extra information, especially as so many people are understandably reluctant to answer calls from an unknown number or may have call-minder systems that block my call. My email will be from a different address to the published one, but it will be clear it is from me. With your complaint, please include a letter giving the firm permission to speak to me. The wording should be as follows: I give [organisation] and its representatives permission to discuss all details of my complaint and its resolution with Tony Hazell of the Daily Mail. You should sign and date it and provide your full postal address on it. I cannot investigate without this basic letter. What about the Ombudsman? Theres also the vexed question of the Financial Ombudsman. I used to make it a rule that if it had investigated a complaint, then I would not get involved. In the vast majority of cases, the Ombudsman does get it right. But, as highlighted by BBC Watchdogs bank fraud investigation last year, there are exceptions. So, from now on, I will no longer examine a case currently under investigation, but if you have lost yours and feel there is evidence the Ombudsman has overlooked, I may be prepared to look again. Finally, please remember I cannot investigate every complaint I get. Everyone who writes in should receive an acknowledgement that their letter has been received, but I can only tackle a representative sample. Apologies if yours is not one of those I pick out. Write to Tony Hazell at Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email asktony@dailymail.co.uk please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given. Release: Greg Kelly, former deputy of ousted Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, is driven away from the Tokyo detention centre A former Nissan director and alleged co-conspirator of former chairman Carlos Ghosn was released on bail on Christmas Day. Greg Kelly, 62, was detained in Japan for five weeks and has been barred from leaving while police investigate claims he helped Ghosn, 64, hide his true income from authorities. American Kelly said he believed he would be found innocent in any trial. He added: 'I would like to have a judgement of non-guilty and restore my impaired reputation, and then return to my family.' The price of Kelly's bail was nearly 500,000. Ghosn is expected to be held until at least the New Year. Kelly was being examined in a hospital yesterday. Windfall: City grandee Sir David Clementi collectively owns more than half of WorldFirst Two former City traders and their families stand to make as much as 285million after their payments company fell into the crosshairs of a Chinese tech behemoth. Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinsons WorldFirst is said to have been in talks about a sale to Ant Financial for several months, with a deal potentially valuing the London-based firm at 550million. If agreed, the takeover would be the biggest raid yet on Britains thriving financial technology sector by a Chinese rival. And it would mean a bonanza for Quin, Robinson, their families and WorldFirsts chairman, City grandee Sir David Clementi, who collectively own more than half the business. Quin, 44, owns nearly 21 per cent and would pocket around 115million from a sale, with his wife Alexia, 44, listed as holding another 10 per cent, worth 55million. Robinson, 45, could rake in 65million from his 12 per cent stake and his wife Catherine, 40, around 50million from her 9.1 per cent holding. Clementi (pictured) is the current BBC chairman and former Bank of England deputy governor. He could make 14million from his 2.5 per cent stake. WorldFirst did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. It was founded in London by Quin and Robinson, who both previously worked at investment bank Citi, in 2004. It now employs 600 people, processing tens of billions of pounds in currency exchange transactions. WorldFirst is the latest pioneer to attract a foreign predator, with the fall in the value of the pound after the EU referendum partly blamed for making UK companies cheaper. It has attracted the attention of Ant Financial, which was spun out of Jack Mas Alibaba, as the Chinese firm expands in the UK. However, any potential takeover of WorldFirst could raise privacy concerns. In the US, Ant Financial was barred from buying rival Moneygram, as the powerful Committee on Foreign Investment probed whether data held by the firm could be used to identify American citizens. At the peak of the financial crisis a decade ago, I found myself bombarded by friends with questions as to what they should do with their cash to keep it safe. Once again, many of the same concerns are haunting people of means. A high degree of uncertainty has unsettled their lives. The precise impact of Brexit on business interests obviously is a factor. But even though it could reshape the way we are governed and live for generations, it does not cause the same amount of consternation as the potential sight of Jeremy Corbyn and his Marxist Shadow Chancellor, the deceptively bank manager-like John McDonnell, marching up Downing Street. Threat: Jeremy Corbyn and his Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell are seen by many as a more serious threat than Brexit McDonnells lengthy Whos Who entry declares generally fomenting the overthrow of capitalism as one of his recreations. At the heart of the issue for everyone who believes in free markets are Labours economic and financial proclamations. Aside from the threat of wholesale nationalisation, ranging from the railways to the big six energy companies and land banks held by housebuilders, Labour wants to overhaul property rights and taxes. One McDonnell idea is to grab 10 per cent of the shares of every company, public and private, with more than 250 workers. The result of which would be a calamitous fall in stock markets and wealth held in shares. Among the policies outlined is a restoration of taxes on companies to previous higher levels of 30 per cent or more, from the current 19 per cent. This is despite the evidence showing that the lower rate has generated more income because it disincentivised avoidance. The changes to personal taxation proposed include a return of the highest-rate 50 per cent band on people earning 80,000 a year, plus tax surcharges on existing wealth. McDonnell chillingly observed in 2012: The wealthiest 10 per cent own 4,000billion. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that he wants Britain to become more socialist If you took 20 per cent of that you would then have 800billion and we could tackle our deficit we could tackle our debt four-fifths of our debt would be wiped out. Given these threats both in the past and more recently it is not surprising that many people are already taking actions to protect their interests. Baron de Rothschild, the effective head of the famous banking dynasty, saw his familys French wealth all but destroyed by the late President Mitterrands nationalisation of banking. He had to rebuild from the ground up under Mitterrands successors. More recently, the Francois Hollande government in France (2012-17) raised the top rate of tax to 80 per cent. This triggered a large migration of French nationals from Paris to London to escape the blight of unconscionable high taxes. Several trends are emerging as investors seek defensive strategies. Some of the most wealthy have been engaged in disinvestment from the UK, moving wealth offshore to low-tax destinations. These include Australian shopping centre tycoon Frank Lowy. A mixture of concerns about the future of the retail market in Britain and America (partly as result of the competition online) led him to cash out of his Westfield shopping centre group. He sold to European retail holding company Unibail-Rodamco for an astonishing 18.5billion in cash. It's been a rough year for the FTSE 100, which has fallen 16 per cent from its May high An estimated 800bn has left the UK That money is moving out of the UK is indisputable. A recent survey by data crunchers EPFR (part of the Informa media group) found that 800billion has left UK equity funds, money invested in UK shares, since the Brexit referendum in June 2016. A survey of financial advisers for blue-blooded investment house Schroders found that 35 per cent of the clients have moved money overseas because of Corbyn-related concerns. The United States is the most favoured destination for UK residents. When I recently questioned a property philanthropist about what he proposed to do about Corbyn he confirmed that he already had taken precautionary action, preferring to invest new money overseas rather than the UK. A pharmaceuticals entrepreneur has tipped much of his wealth into a charitable foundation where it should be safe from Labours marauders. Another family I know was advised by their Manchester-based financial advisers to rewrite will and inheritance plans. Using actuarial tables the adviser conducted an audit of life expectancy, generously budgeting for each year including putting money to one side for care costs at the end of life. Having assessed actual needs the remainder of the money is now being distributed to children and grandchildren with instructions to make sure it is spent or locked up in tax-efficient vehicles, such as pension funds. Other friends are focusing on holding some of their wealth in more traditional stores of value such as gold bullion and diamonds. Josh Saul of the City-based Pure Gold Company reports an upsurge of bullion buying as a result of Brexit uncertainty and the increasing risk of a Jeremy Corbyn-led government which might follow. Poll Do you want another Brexit vote? Yes No Do you want another Brexit vote? Yes 1427 votes No 2511 votes Now share your opinion The majority of our clients are buying gold for the long term but there has been a 36 per cent uptick in clients buying gold to hold for the short term and take advantage of market volatility. Other buyers have sold property and converted it to gold rather than have a large sum of cash in a bank account. Some of them are waiting for a better buying opportunity as they expect property prices to fall in the near future. While they wait they seek protection in something they know will be there in the morning. Not everyone is panicking at the prospect of a Corbyn-led government. But the examples of socialism in France under Hollande, and the extreme example of economic and social collapse in Venezuela, offer haunting images of what can go wrong. Clever money already has moved offshore and property developers have in some cases been liquidating portfolios. Individuals are establishing assets in Florida, among other places, to make sure their wealth is out of reach of Brexit turmoil and Corbynism. In making such difficult choices, they have history on their side. The Government is reducing the minimum investment in Premium Bonds from the current level of 100 to 25 to encourage more saving If your child received cash for Christmas, consider squirrelling it away, ready to buy Premium Bonds in the New Year. Those willing to wait a few weeks will be able to invest as little as 25 in the bonds, compared to the current minimum requirement of 100. Premium Bonds allow you to enjoy a flutter each month without losing your stake. The Government-run National Savings & Investments, which sells the bonds, pays out monthly tax-free prizes worth between 25 and 1 million. Next month, NS&I expects to hand out 3,177,703 prizes worth 90.8 million. The vast majority of these (3,120,433) will be for 25. There are then 24,906 50 and 100 prizes apiece; 5,451 at 500; 1,817 at 1,000; 101 at 5,000; 51 at 10,000; 21 at 25,000; ten at 50,000; five at 100,000 and two 1 million jackpots. At the start of each month, winning numbers are generated by a machine known as ERNIE (Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment), which was invented by one of the team of World War II code breakers at Bletchley Park. In 1956, it took more than 100 days to complete a draw. Now, it happens in around five hours. Every 1 bond number has a one in 24,500 chance of winning a monthly prize. But, for the 1 million jackpot, the odds are much longer, at around one in 39 billion. When the first Premium Bond was sold on November 1, 1956, the minimum stake was 1 worth around 24.97 in todays money. It crept up to 2 in 1972 (around 26.93) and again to 5 (39.95) four years later, before doubling to 10 (30.62) in July 1985. The numbers are picked out by a the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment more commonly known as ERNIE To curb costs, NS&I hiked the minimum stake to 100 (255.36) for adults in the late Eighties and then for children in 1993. This effectively priced out grandparents who wanted to treat all their grandchildren to the same stake at Christmas as well as many parents. However, next year, the minimum investment will be reduced to just 25. NS&I will not say exactly when this will happen, only that it will be before the end of March. The Government savings arm also plans to allow uncles, aunts, godparents and family friends to buy Premium Bonds for children. Currently, only parents, grandparents and legal guardians can purchase the bonds for under-16s. Ian Ackerley, chief executive of National Savings & Investments, says: We are extending the opportunity for more people to save and trying to encourage a savings habit, especially among younger people. Despite the current minimum stake of 100, Premium Bonds have remained the favourite NS&I product by far, with some 78 billion invested by more than 21 million customers. Thats nearly double the size of Britains second-largest building society, Coventry. Over a 12-month period, NS&I currently pays out 1.4 pc of the value of the money in the bonds or just over 1 billion though this percentage and the odds of winning can change. If you buy Premium Bonds online, over the phone or through the post for your grandchildren, you need to name a parent or legal guardian to look after them. The child will then receive the prize money even if you bought them. The bonds must be held for a full calendar month before they go into the draw. So bonds bought in January will go in from March. All money in the bonds is 100 pc guaranteed by HM Treasury. Daimler AG, together its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures passenger cars, trucks, vans, and buses in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans, Daimler Trucks and Buses, and Daimler Mobility segments. The Mercedes-Benz Cars segment offers premium and luxury vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, including the Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ brands; small cars under the smart brand name; and ecosystem of Mercedes-Benz under the Mercedes me brand, as well as vans and related services under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Daimler Trucks and Buses segment offers its trucks and special vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star, FUSO, and BharatBenz brands; and buses under the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and FU brands, as well as bus chassis. The Daimler Mobility segment provides financing and leasing packages for end-customers and dealers; and automotive insurance brokerage, banking, investment, and fleet management services under the Athlon brand. It also sells vehicle related spare parts and accessories. Daimler AG was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany Read More SCHENECTADY Mark Weekes, the officer recently cleared by the Attorney General's Office of wrongdoing in the death of a man in police custody, will likely rejoin the force early next year. "We're just about done with the process that will allow him to come back on the force and Officer Weekes is really looking forward to serving the people of Schenectady," Attorney Andrew Safranko, who is representing Weekes, said Wednesday. Over the summer, Weekes, who has 10 years on the job, opted to go out on voluntarily unpaid leave and then months later testified before the grand jury panel that eventually exonerated him in the May 2017 death of Andrew Kearse. The Bronx man had tried to run off after police pulled him over for driving erratically. While in the back seat of Weekes's police cruiser, Kearse's complaints of breathing problems, nausea and dizziness were ignored. By the time, Weekes brought him to the police station, Kearse was unresponsive, and later died at Ellis Hospital. An earlier State Police probe found no fault with the department's handling of the case, and a grand jury in October found no laws were violated. On Wednesday, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Eidens said he expects Weekes will be back to work in the next several weeks. He declined to provide details on Weekes' return but emphasized that the AG's report and recommendations on the department's policy for detainees who request medical help will be discussed soon with police brass. "I expect us to be talking about that as well as other matters early in January," he added. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Weekes did not return an email inquiry. On the same day the grand jury released its finding in October, Nathalia Fernandez, a Bronx Democrat, introduced the "Andrew Kearse Act." The legislation calls for police who fail to act when a person in custody is in obvious medical distress to face criminal charges. The New York State Agency Police Services Unit, a union that represents university police officers and investigators, environmental conservation officers and investigators, park patrol officers, and forest rangers personnel in state agencies, has come out against the measure, saying it is too broad. On Wednesday, Safranko said police work can be tough and hoped that any policy changes would not make fighting crime even more challenging. "I think these guys are put in real difficult situations where they have to make decisions based upon their experience and training and they need to be allowed to have that leeway," said the attorney. It began when Debbie McDermott allowed her daughter Jamie to raise two sheep for a 4-H project. Eventually, her 165-year-old farm was transformed into a successful, family-run, custom fiber processing mill. McDermott's Stonehedge Fiber Mill, which opened in 1999 in East Jordan, Mich., now produces more than 700 pounds of yarn monthly for customers in 38 states and Canada. It produces an additional 15,000 pounds monthly for its personal lines of yarn, including Shepherd's Wool, which is milled and dyed in-house before it's shipped and sold in about 300 shops. "I really think the appeal is our yarn's made in the U.S., and people are more and more going toward U.S.-made products as a support for U.S. companies," McDermott said. Most garments worn in the United States in the first half of the 20th century were American-made, but the decline of the American textile industry began after World War II, according to knitting and wool industries expert Clara Parkes. She's a member of the American Sheep Industry an industry trade group and author of several books on knitting. In recent years, however, there's been a slow-growing demand for wool yarn that's completely produced in the United States, from sheep to skein, Parkes said. One reason, she thinks, could be that consumers are turning back to wool because of the environmental risks of microplastics in garments made from synthetics like acrylic, nylon and polyester. The microplastics are released into waterways when the synthetic garments are washed. Locally sourced yarn helps not only the environment but local businesses too, Parkes said. "There's the environmental impact of shipping goods all the way across the world and bringing it back, but now people are asking themselves, 'What if I can get the wool here and just keep it here?'" McDermott echoed that sentiment: "Shopping local is allowing farmers to raise and keep their animals on the farm." Consumer interest in locally sourced yarn inspired the Michigan Fiber Cooperative to produce a line, Fresh Water Fiber, which uses wool and alpaca from Michigan farms. It's processed by Stonehedge Fiber Mill and dyed by Why Knot Fibers in Traverse City. One store that stocks Fresh Water Fiber is Wool & Honey in Cedar, Mich. Owner Melissa Kelenske said she buys from Michigan-based fiber artists and companies that focus on producing high-quality, ethically sourced yarn with attention to their environmental impact. "I think the farm-to-table movement of eating local, shopping local basically the major slow food movement laid the ground work for the knitting industry," Kelenske said. Another yarn company that supplies Wool & Honey is Brooklyn Tweed, of Portland, Ore. Knitwear designer Jared Flood founded the company in 2010 to "preserve, support and sustain" American textile production by doing business with sheep farmers, fiber mills and dyers across the United States. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The business concept "was not so much about patriotism as supporting local economies," said Christina Rondepierre, Brooklyn Tweed's marketing manager. "It was also the revitalization of East Coast mills and dyeing houses and the whole U.S. textile industry so they could sustain income and make sure towns and business were able to stay afoot," Rondepierre said. For example, the Harrisville, N.H., Historic District mill village spins some of Brooklyn Tweed's yarns. The village was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977. But patriotism, too, is helping to revive the American wool industry. After Ralph Lauren drew flak for making its Team USA apparel for the 2012 Summer Olympics in China, the fashion company had all Team USA apparel for the 2014 Winter Olympics made in the United States. The yarn used for the closing ceremony sweaters was 4,000 pounds of Shepherd's Wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill. McDermott was shocked when a Ralph Lauren representative asked her to supply the yarn. "It was a mouth-dropped-open moment when I realized who I was talking to on the phone," she said. "It was a neat experience." Scott Garfield "White Boy Rick": Matthew McConaughey stars in this tale of the corrupt world of 1980s Detroit at the height of the war on drugs. In the feature film that's based on a true story, McConaughey plays Richard Wershe Sr., a blue-collar father whose 15-year-old son, Rick Wershe Jr. (played by newcomer Richie Merritt), becomes the youngest FBI informant in history. Rick who is given the nickname "White Boy Rick" goes from helping the FBI to becoming a drug dealer. After Rick is abandoned by his FBI handlers, he ends up being sentenced to life in prison. Directed by Yann Demange ("'71"). It also stars Bel Powley ("Diary of a Teenage Girl"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("The Hateful Eight"), Brian Tyree Henry ("Atlanta"), Rory Cochrane ("Black Mass"), RJ Cyler ("Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"), Jonathan Majors ("Hostiles"), Bruce Dern ("Nebraska") and Piper Laurie ("Twin Peaks"). Rochester New York state will embark next year on a multiyear project that will make tens of millions of dollars in repairs to aging bridges spanning the Erie Canal in western New York. The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester reported this week that the Department of Transportation will spend as much as $50 million to fix 15 trusses and lift bridges located in Monroe, Orleans and Wayne counties. According to the newspaper, the spans are more than a century old, with more than half considered to be "structurally deficient" and in need of significant repair work that will disrupt traffic flow in multiple communities for months. The Democrat and Chronicle found that several of the bridges set for repairs have low sufficiency ratings. Bridges are assessed in New York state every two years and are assigned a numerical sufficiency rating on a scale of 1 to 100. Bridges rated lower than 50 are considered in need of significant fixes. While low sufficiency ratings don't mean the bridges are necessarily unsafe, it does mean the structures are in need of serious repair. The entire state canal system, which opened in 1825, is designated a National Historic Landmark meaning any repairs to old bridges have to preserve the existing elements of the span. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "We need to preserve the structures in shape," Frank Billittier, DOT regional design engineer, told the newspaper. "The first order of business is to preserve the integrity of the canal as built." The Erie Canal makes up nearly 340 miles of the state's 450-mile canal system, which also includes the Oswego, Champlain and Seneca-Cayuga canals. Local leaders along the contiguous three-county stretch of the Erie Canal where the bridge repairs will occur plan to hold public meetings before work begins to inform residents and business owners on various details, including detours. "The bottom line is that the bridge needs to be fixed," said Jim Bilotta, Chamber of Commerce president in Fairport, where a bridge will be shut down later in 2019 for what's expected to be more than a year. "And the community recognizes that and knows why it's going to take the amount of time it's going to take." ALBANY The state Department of Motor Vehicles will open its new Albany office Monday, Jan. 7. The DMV will be moving from its current location on South Pearl Street to 855 Central Ave. The new office will officially open at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 7. The South Pearl office will close at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4. The Times Union first reported in September on the DMVs plan to vacate the South Pearl location to Central Avenue. State officials said they were leaving the Historic Pastures neighborhood spot for a centrally located office with plenty of parking and access to public transportation. The state has converted and is leasing existing space at the Central Avenue property, near the Everett Road exit off Interstate 90 in Albany. We are excited about providing a new location for our customers to transact business, said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan in a news release. It is in a convenient area of the city, along a bus line, and near other popular businesses so customers can save time by stopping at the DMV while they are out running other errands. We are also incorporating new technology and customers can expect to see these upgrades the moment they walk into the office. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The state has leased the South Pearl property from Albany County, and its departure leaves the squat building at the corner of South Pearl where Morton Avenue turns into Rensselaer Street empty. County officials have considered relocating the county Board of Elections office, which the county rents space for on North Russell Road for over $350,000 annually, but elections commissioners have expressed concern about locating in the neighborhood and whether the building will meet their needs. Meanwhile, talks have swirled for some time about relocating the county's probation office from its location across from the Times Union Center a few blocks north of the current DMV office. Community members for some time have hoped the area could be redeveloped and the neighborhood could see a grocery store go into the DMV building. SARATOGA - The court action aimed at removing the town of Saratoga Planning Board chair from his appointed post has been frustrated by an inability to serve Ian Murray his court notice. John Cashin, who is among a group of people who filed suit against the town to force Murray's removal because the chair doesn't live in the town, said the Dec. 19 appearance in front of Saratoga County Judge Robert Chauvin was adjourned until Jan. 4 because Murray has yet to be located by the group's process server. The papers, which were brought to his business and town hall, were finally mailed, but would not take effective until Dec. 21, Cashin said, "Murray was obviously aware of the fact that he had to be served within 30 days or the case would be dismissed," Cashin said. "So he became very elusive and his employees at Brookside Nursery were also uncooperative in disclosing his whereabouts." Murray, who owns Brookside Nursery in Ballston, admitted in court papers that he does not live in the town in which he oversees development, which has become a point of contention around Saratoga Lake. However, he did say he was planning on moving back and is building a home at 188 Swamp Road. "I have obtained a building permit, the home's foundation has been poured and the walls are currently being framed," Murray said in court papers. Meanwhile, Murray also stated in the court papers, that he has been staying "temporarily at a rental house located in the town of Ballston, which is owned by one of my business entities." He was forced to moved from his Haas Road home in October 2016 after his divorce, court papers noted. Murray also cited a home he owns at 113 Coveville Road, also in the town of Saratoga, that he promised to move into by Jan. 1. The state Department of State confirmed that members of town planning boards are local officers who must comply with the residency requirements in state law. Lee Park, State Department spokesman, said that the town would have to adopt a local law to bypass or "broaden the area wherein a Planning Board member can reside." In September, Saratoga Supervisor Tom Wood said the town has no such law, but may consider passing one in the future. On Wednesday, Wood did not respond to a Times Union phone call, seeking an update. Murray also did not respond to a call made to Brookside Nursery. The attorney representing the town, Jacquelyn White, has asked to have the case dismissed. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In the affidavit, Murray, who has chaired the Planning Board since Jan. 1, 1998, said it's his intent to remain active in Saratoga's government, despite what he calls his temporary relocation out of necessity. No one answered the door at the Coveville Road house on Wednesday where Murray said he will live as of Jan. 1. The house, where a car and truck were parked, is mostly gutted. There is a foundation at the Swamp Road, but there was no sign of walls being framed. Cashin said Murray's claim that he is living on Coveville Road is "a sham." "He has not lived in the town since 2016," Cashin said. "The law is clear as it states the position shall become vacant upon the incumbent's removal from residency in the town....We argue he has been ineligible to serve on the board since 2016 and should have resigned or been removed." ALBANY A former forensic services manager has filed a federal lawsuit accusing top officials at the state Division of Criminal Justice Services of ignoring sexual harassment complaints against a former department director, and instead punishing her and another female employee for their cooperation in an inspector general's investigation that had sustained the allegations. The lawsuit filed by Kimberly Schiavone, who was transferred from her position against her wishes in 2017, is the second federal lawsuit leveled against top DCJS officials in connection with the apparent scandal. In May, a longtime DCJS attorney, Gina L. Bianchi who was terminated from her position at DCJS for her testimony in the sexual harassment investigation also filed a federal lawsuit accusing the agency's leader, acting Commissioner Michael C. Green, of covering up the allegations against a former forensics director, Brian J. Gestring. Both civil rights lawsuits target several top-ranking state officials in the agency. Schiavone, who has worked for the state since 1996 and at DCJS since 2005, alleges she was sexually harassed and bullied for years by Gestring before the agency transferred her to a new job against her wishes and moved her into an office that was formerly a storage closet. The lawsuit alleges DCJS officials took no action after Schiavone reported that she "was subjected to repeated sexual jokes, comments, threats of physical violence, threats of professional retribution, hostile behavior, taunts, racist comments, sexist comments, and demeaning comments by ... Gestring." Gestring and DCJS, in court filings, have denied the allegations. Gestring was fired from his job in March for what the agency claimed was an unrelated workplace misconduct complaint that took place more than a year ago. His abrupt termination came after a series of Times Union stories highlighting the alleged coverup of the workplace misconduct investigations. The cases of Bianchi and Schiavone underscore what their attorneys and public records indicate has been a pattern in state agencies of punishing accusers while high-ranking male employees accused of sexual harassment or other workplace misconduct have received private counseling memos or job transfers, but no formal discipline. The women's cases received attention because the office of Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott turned over Bianchi's confidential testimony in the Gestring investigation to DCJS, which used it to interrogate Bianchi before she was fired from her senior-level position. Bianchi was able to fall back to a junior-level attorney position with the agency, but suffered a $44,000-a-year pay cut. Schiavone, after she reported the misconduct complaints, was transferred to a new job against her wishes and had to move from an executive office into a former storage closet, according to the lawsuit. The agency never interviewed her about the complaint, said John W. Bailey, the attorney for Schiavone and Bianchi. In a prior statement, DCJS said its decision in December 2017 to terminate Bianchi and transfer Schiavone were "appropriate actions ... to maintain the appropriate work environment at DCJS." Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has declined to comment on the case. The state has aggressively defended the allegations leveled by Bianchi in her federal lawsuit, and has accused her of making statements in the civil complaint that conflict with testimony she provided to the state inspector general's office. But the details of those alleged discrepancies, which Bianchi disputes, have not been made available after the attorneys for the state agency's defendants convinced U.S. Senior Judge Gary L. Sharpe to seal that portion of the case. The judge also granted the state's request over the objections of Bianchi's attorneys to seal a copy of the report from Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott's office that had sustained the allegations against Gestring. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Sharpe has ordered the inspector general's report to remain sealed even though the Times Union obtained a copy of it earlier this year and has extensively reported on the details of its findings. Schiavone's case has been assigned to U.S. Senior Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. Earlier this month, an acting state Supreme Court justice in Albany dismissed a petition by Gestring in which he sought a name-clearing hearing with DCJS. Gestring, a former New York Police Department scientist who was appointed director of DCJS's Office of Forensic Science in 2012, denied that he had harassed anyone and noted that DCJS conducted an independent investigation late last year that cleared him of wrongdoing. Gestring described Schiavone as a "constant complainer" and alleged her job performance was problematic. The inspector general's investigation of Gestring last year revealed a history of offensive and inappropriate behavior that began shortly after he started working for DCJS in July 2012. Records indicate that about four months after Gestring was hired, he received two counseling memos for misbehavior. Leahy Scott's investigators, who obtained sworn testimony from DCJS employees, said they were also told that Gestring had once encouraged Schiavone to file fraudulent sexual harassment charges against a male colleague a former Albany police officer in an apparent effort to have him terminated. In October 2017, Leahy Scott and her deputy inspector general, Spencer Freedman, met with DCJS top legal counsel John Czajka and Green to outline the findings of their investigation. Leahy Scott followed up the October meeting with a five-page letter to DCJS on Dec. 6 outlining the findings of her investigation. The letter, cast as a report, recommended the agency take action against Gestring and two other officials accused of mishandling the allegations, First Deputy Commissioner Mark Bonacquist and Karen Davis, the human resources director. The agency did not take action against those employees. Instead, DCJS said it had conducted its own investigation and could not sustain the allegations against Gestring. After the case involving Gestring was made public in a Times Union story published March 18, Cuomo's office issued a statement saying the governor had asked the state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics to investigate the case the fourth investigation of the allegations by a state agency. It's unclear where that investigation stands. BETHLEHEM A family's home was severely damaged after a Wednesday morning fire, police said. But instead of just extinguishing the blaze, law enforcement officials went an extra step to help the family by arriving at the scene with some leftover Christmas spirit -- gifts and clothes. Around 11 a.m., the Bethlehem Police Department received calls about a house fire at 30 Trotter Road in Selkirk, police said. Selkirk Fire Chief Joe Michaniw said firefighters when firefighters arrived to the scene there were explosions. Michaniw said ammunition and propane tanks in the garage exploded as they caught fire. The fire destroyed the attached garage and caused heavy damage to the roof but the home is standing, he said. The family, which includes three young children, were all able to get out quickly and there were no injuries, police said. "It could've been a lot worse," Michaniw said. The cause of the fire is being investigated, but at this time does not appear suspicious, police said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Due to the severity of the loss police contacted the Albany County Sheriff's Department's Hilltown Christmas Program, which provides families in rural areas of the county with toys, food and Christmas spirit. The Sheriff's Department responded with gifts and clothes for the family. The Bethlehem Police Department, Selkirk Fire Department, Elsmere Fire Department, Delmar Fire Department, North Bethlehem Fire Department and Coeymans Fire Department all responded to the scene, as well as Delmar-Bethlehem EMS and Albany County Paramedics. SARATOGA SPRINGS An especially "rigorous" fire, accompanied by soaring flames and ominous popping noises, tore through a townhouse in the city, and proved fatal to its occupant. Saratoga Springs Assistant Fire Chief Peter Shaw said just after noon on Wednesday that the victim was found in the center townhouse of 23-27 Sarazen St. He said the dead person will remain unidentified until relatives are contacted. "This is the worst news you can get the day after Christmas," Shaw said. Precisely what caused the deadly inferno has yet to be determined. Neighbors say an older woman who was widowed a few years ago is likely the victim. "It's really sad," said Philip Boshoff, who lives across the street in the Interlaken development of townhouses. "It's just awful to see the flames coming from her unit." He said he was awake when the fire trucks arrived at about 7:30 a.m. and that the flames were "very high," shooting far above the second story of her townhouse. "I was amazed how high and how rigorous the fire was," Boshoff said. "I heard a few pops too." Janine Rome, who lives down the street at 7 Sarazen St. said she got up to see which unit it was because she has friends who live in the same complex. "I was woken up by the fire trucks, got dressed and went down to see," said Rome, who took several photos of the blaze. "My friends are OK. But I knew (the victim) ... It's sad." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Shaw said that when firefighters responded to multiple calls soon after 7:15 a.m., they were told that a person was missing. Firefighters tried to enter the building, but were pushed back by the flames. Responders attacked the fire from the exterior until it was safe to go inside. But it was too late to save the occupant. The three-unit townhouse suffered significant damage, including the near-total loss of the upper floor of the center unit where the victim was found. The rear of the building was also destroyed. "It spread across the top of the building; it was in all the attics," Shaw said. "It was in the garage in the back and a car in the garage that ended up being on fire. It totally engulfed the center unit." The Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross was on the scene, providing assistance to two women who lived in one of the other townhouses. Shaw said that the third townhouse was unoccupied. Shaw said Saratoga Springs police will update the public on the victim's name. He also said no firefighters were injured. Houston An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, U.S. immigration authorities said, marking the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trump's request for border wall funding. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the boy identified by the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix as Felipe Gomez Alonzo had shown "signs of potential illness" on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, N.M. He was diagnosed with a cold and a fever, prescribed amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and released Monday afternoon after being held 90 minutes for observation, the agency said. The boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting and died there just after midnight, CBP said. CBP has not yet confirmed when or where the father and son entered the United States or how long they were detained, saying only in its statement that the boy had been "previously apprehended" by its agents. The agency said the cause of the boy's death has not been determined and that it has notified the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general and the Guatemalan government. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents in New Mexico. The body of the girl, Jakelin Caal, was returned to her family's remote village Monday for burial Tuesday. The White House referred questions about the latest case to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP's parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. According to Guatemala's foreign ministry, the father and son entered the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18, then were taken to the Border Patrol's Alamogordo station Sunday. Alamogordo is about 90 miles from El Paso. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he was told by the boy's father in a telephone interview that the two had been traveling from their home in Nenton, a village about 280 miles from Guatemala City. They were planning to go to Johnson City, Tenn. The consul identified the father as 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, and said he remains in U.S. Border Patrol custody. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldn't be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICE's detention centers. Parents and children together are almost always released quickly due to limited space in ICE's family detention facilities. A CBP spokesman on Tuesday did not respond to questions about the ministry's statement. The hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. CBP promised "an independent and thorough review of the circumstances." ALBANY - The state has taken no action since concluding hearings six months ago on whether New York's tipped-wage earners would receive a pay boost. The state Department of Labor began studying the minimum wage guaranteed to tipped workers, such as wait staff and car wash attendants, at the behest of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who announced in December of 2017 that inequities in their pay need to be addressed. The lack of action comes as the general minimum wage in upstate of $10.40 an hour is set to increase to $11.10 in the new year. The minimum hourly tipped wage for the region is $7.50 and isn't scheduled to increase until 2020. Jill Aurora, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Labor, said "the next step is for the commissioner to publish notice of proposed rule-making in the state register, which identifies specific changes and solicits public comment on those changes." But it's not clear whether the department will exercise its ability to raise the hourly minimum wage for tipped workers, as Aurora said the department is still reviewing the feedback it received. For opponents of an increase, though, no action is better than the alternative. Michael Kracker, executive director of the business-backed Unshackle Upstate, is hoping the inaction is a response to the concerns raised during the 40 hours of testimony and 3,000 comments received by the department. "Maybe they are looking to revisit this when fewer people are paying attention or it's a reaction to the initial blow back," he said. Kracker prefers the department put the issue to rest, although the possibility of legislative action is looming with Democrats set to wrest control of the state Senate on Jan. 1. Still, many advocates had assumed the issue would be resolved quickly after the governor forcefully supported the increase last year when calling for hearings. The process has already taken longer than the "Fight for $15," with Cuomo announcing his support for the most recent minimum wage hike in September 2015 and signing it into law six months later. Additionally, other state studies, including a review of legalizing recreational marijuana, were wrapped up in less than a year. Cuomo didn't bring up the tipped wage issue in a 2019 priorities' address earlier this month, but there is an expectation that he might raise it during his third-term inaugural address scheduled to take place next week on Ellis Island. There are a high number of immigrants who work in jobs that rely on income from tipped wages. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. A spokesman for the governor said they're looking forward to receiving the department's determination on the tipped minimum wage. If the department makes a decision based on fiscal studies and the input from its hearings, Restaurant Opportunities Center campaign manager David Palmer is confident that the tipped wage will go up. "The evidence shows that one fair wage would be good for workers," he said. "If this doesn't move, it seems it would have to be more based on politics than facts." Much of the opposition has been funded by an alliance of restaurants, which has raised the possibility that their industry might be left out of any increases taken administratively. Instead, the department would single out workers in nail salons and car washes, the way it unilaterally increased wages for fast food workers in 2015. Last year, Cuomo said the different minimum wages for tipped workers wasn't "working well." "It hurts immigrants," he said. "Seventy percent of the employees are women. So that's one of the inequities that we're going to be looking at." Opponents of an increase argue it will lead to a decrease in tips, which will result in a lower take-home pay for workers drive up costs for businesses, which will need to scale back their staff or potentially face closure. David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87 Are you optimistic or pessimistic about America's future? I'm optimistic. I say that because there have been many moments in our history when old ideas and old arrangements stopped working and people chopped them up. Those transition moments were bumpy, and it was easy to lose hope, but then people figured it out. Never underestimate the power of human ingenuity. The same process is happening today. Americans have lost faith in the big institutions of society. Many fly off to extremes, to the Donald Trump right or the Bernie Sanders left. Most of the rest of us feel adrift, gloomy and politically homeless. But people figure it out. New ideas emerge. Old ideas are put together in new ways. Today, I offer you just one example the Niskanen Center, which has become one of the most creative think tanks in America today. The Niskanen Center began operations in 2015, started by a group of libertarians who broke off from the Cato Institute. Over the next few years many of the leaders of Niskanen began to lose faith in the libertarian ideology. The founder, Jerry Taylor, wrote a brilliant essay in October explaining the process. The first cracks were over the issue of global warming. Libertarianism is a philosophy that emphasizes limited government, free markets and individual rights. There is nothing in that creed that should bias a person one way or another over whether global warming is a serious problem. That's a scientific question, not a philosophical one. Yet Taylor found that many libertarians, fired by ideological zeal, had slid into the position of minimizing climate change because they didn't like some of the big-government remedies that were being proposed to address it. Once he saw this tendency on climate change, he saw it everywhere and on all sides: People with single all-explaining ideologies have a tendency to let their philosophic blinders distort how they view empirical reality. Taylor didn't abandon his faith in markets and individual rights, but he decided to abandon the belief that a single ideology can be applied to all problems. There are a lot of different goods in society: liberty, social justice, equity, community, virtue, prosperity. It's crazy, Taylor argued, to prioritize one of those goods in nearly every single policy context. And yet that's what ideologues do. Taylor and his colleagues embraced a posture of epistemological modesty, threw off the ideological style of thinking and began to notice something: that the central debate in our politics is completely bogus. Since at least 1964, American politics has pitted conservatives who believe in a small government and a free market against liberals who believe in a bigger government. But Niskanen thinkers like Ed Dolan, Samuel Hammond and Will Wilkinson made a simple and empirically verifiable observation. The nations that have the freest markets also generally have the most generous welfare states. The two are not in opposition. In the real world they go together. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The key distinction you have to make, Wilkinson writes, is between the redistributive state and the regulatory state. Nations like Denmark, Sweden and Canada built elaborate redistributive states to give their citizens a foundation of economic security. Then they realized they were going to have to liberalize their economies if they were going to be able to afford their welfare states. Today, those nations have many fewer regulations governing zoning and economic activity. They score very high on the rankings of economic freedom that are put together by conservative outfits like the Heritage Foundation and the Fraser Institute. Recently, Niskanen released a comprehensive report, "The Center Can Hold: Public Policy for an Age of Extremes," written by Brink Lindsey, Steven Teles, Wilkinson and Hammond. The report is a manifesto for a new centrism based on what the authors call a "free-market welfare state" model. They want government to protect citizens against the disruptions of global capitalism: "Without strong income supports that put a floor beneath displaced workers and systems that smooth the transition to new employment, political actors and the public tend to turn against the process of creative destruction itself." At the same time, they want an open, dynamic society. They want to reduce restrictive zoning and land use regulations that favor the rich and entrenched. They see immigration as crucial to America's long-term prosperity. They want charter schools and wider choice, but within strong government structures to ensure quality. The Niskanen authors are making a compelling case for moderation; for understanding that politics is striking a rough but workable balance between competing goods; for understanding that the world is complex and our knowledge is limited, and so it's best to proceed constantly, but skeptically. As I was reading the Niskanen report I experienced two strange sensations: I felt liberated to see the world in fresh new ways, and not only in the ways I've always seen them or the way people with my label are supposed to see them. I began to feel at home. [December 25, 2018] ZAFUL held the "See you in Tulum" campaign, giving lucky fans a chance to visit Mexico with 8 ZAFUL influencers LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In early December, ZAFUL held "See you in Tulum", one of the first offline campaigns since the launch of ZAFUL's Global Influencer Programme. ZAFUL picked two fans in a lucky draw online and offered them a free trip with 8 ZAFUL influencers to Tulum, Mexico. The interconnection with influencers, consumers and the brand brought great social engagement and brand exposure. Global Influencer Programme put into practice This November, ZAFUL kicked off its Global Influencer Programme and upgraded its whole system of influencer cooperation. Its strategy behind influencer marketing is becoming increasingly multi-dimensional. One of the biggest trends for influencer marketing in 2018 is brands and influencers being more transparent about their partnerships for consumers. According to Lilac Luo, the Branding Director ZAFUL, the strategies on influencer marketing have also changed. "It is not necessary to pay an insane amount of money for influencer marketing. Instead, you can empower a group of micro-influencers to create a groundswell of support that is easy to maintain and more natural, community-driven and honest than larg payouts to big names," Lilac said. "See you in Tulum" is one of the cases which ZAFUL starts to practice one of its new marketing strategies. By the end of the event, ZAFUL had gained over 1.6 million reaches and engagements on social media and the exposure from videos grew exponentially compared to average data. "Once in a lifetime experience" Teral Atilan, a UK fashion blogger who has been collaborating with ZAFUL since London Fashion Week in September, joined the trip with ZAFUL. Sharing fashion tips and lifestyle content during trips has been part of her life, which is also one of the reasons for her popularity on social media. "Tulum is such a beautiful city; it has such a chilled out vibe and is super eco-friendly. I fell in love with Quantana Roo. It's a must visit if you are in the area. In terms of styling, I loved mixing and matching ZAFUL pieces to create my own style. Light layers are perfect for this and don't forget a jacket for the evenings. It gets a little colder," Teral said after the trip. For couples like Cristine and Jaret, the trip is even more exciting. "Tulum Beach was absolutely breathtaking with its white sand and turquoise water. We had a blast and can't wait to go back in the future. Thank you ZAFUL for a once in a lifetime experience," they wrote. One of the lucky winners Cathy Shachell, greatly enjoyed her surprising trip with ZAFUL, saying, "I never thought I could travel with my favourite fashion blogger and ZAFUL did a really good job of connecting us." For influencers, the trip was a win-win campaign for both the brand and themselves. They received more interaction on their own social media platforms by sharing lifestyle pictures and generating quality fashion content with their fans and followers. Since the trip and the launch of the Global Influencer Programme, ZAFUL has also attracted more initiative collaboration interest from fashion influencers. About ZAFUL Founded in 2014, ZAFUL is devoted to providing trendy and cost-efficient fashion-related products for all the young women worldwide. In 2018, ZAFUL was ranked 34th in Top 50 China Export Brands by BrandZ, the world's largest brand equity database. So far, ZAFUL has acquired 10 million registered users online with 18 million monthly active users on average, covering consumers in over 180 countries. ZAFUL's vision is to become the leader in online fast fashion. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zaful-held-the-see-you-in-tulum-campaign-giving-lucky-fans-a-chance-to-visit-mexico-with-8-zaful-influencers-300770692.html SOURCE ZAFUL [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 26, 2018] Gopher Protocol Conducting Extensive Hardware/Software Validation of Its MESH System San Diego, CA, Dec. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH ) ("Gopher), a company specializing in the development of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technologies, including a global mesh network technology platform for both mobile and fixed solutions, announced today it is conducting an extensive hardware and software validation of its MESH network system, prior to full system testing. Gopher's MESH network is a complex system that is targeted to be used in life-critical applications (security, military, autonomous machines, communications, and more) and, therefore, requires a systematic approach to verify and validate its functionality. System hardware and software validation is an essential process when the system is to be used in a process or task that can have any effect on the quality, safety, efficacy of a product or product mandated data. In order to manage the complexity of the system, Gopher is using validation techniques and methodologies in which functionality is verified by simulating and validating processes according to the system's description. Gopher is now conducting firmware (FW) and hardware validation of the time division operation and its synchronization with the system's RTC (Real-Time-Clock). The main validation challenge is the Sleep/Awake up process given the fact that the system works in milli-seconds time frames. In order to enable fast, real-time response, the system was designed to work within very short time intervals. The hardware (CPU, RTC, more) and on-board software need to be synchronized together in order to execute a decision when to listen, go to sleep, wake up or remain in idle state. This is a crucial factor of the system in order to maintain long battery life and efficient power consumption. "We are now in system validation stage, prior to full system testing and this is the phase when we typically detect flaws in the architecture. Gladly, we are proud to announce that, so far, the system is functioning according to design parameters and the results are satisfactory, stated Dr. Danny Rittman, Gopher's CTO. A practical difficulty in the validation of advanced hardware systems ischoosing the proper design abstraction level, which provides a trade-off between simulation complexity and error modelling accuracy. Our validation is performed at all levels of abstraction, from the system's behavior, down to each module's functionality. In order to validate the system's behavioral hardware, we use an industry standard description languages, such as VHDL (Very High Speed Hardware Description Language), which is typically used to describe the behavior and structure of electronic systems, and Verilog (a hardware description language (HDL) used to model electronic systems). In addition, we validate the actual hardware to verify system's functionality according to the architecture specification. One of the major challenges of such validation is the functionality of our time division system, given the fact that it is working within very small time frames, i.e. milliseconds. I always compare this system to an orchestra's conductor who makes decisions about timing, which in our system equates to sleep mode, wake up and listening process. This type of mechanism has to work very accurately according to software control and a built in state machine, in order to synchronize the device operational states. We are now addressing functional issues and solutions in both our hardware and software. To date, we are pleased with the results and we are preparing to perform full system testing in the near future." About Gopher Protocol Inc. Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) (Gopher) ( http://gopherprotocol.com/ ) is a development-stage company which considers itself a native IoT creator, developing Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled mobile technology platforms. Gopher has a portfolio of Intellectual Property that, when commercialized, will include smart microchips, mobile and security applications and protocols, and supporting cloud software. Gophers system envisions the creation of a global mesh network. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that can be installed in any mobile or fixed device worldwide. Gopher envisions this system as a low-cost, secure, private mesh network between any enabled devices, providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management/sharing and enhanced mobile features as an alternative to traditional carrier services. https://www.avant-ai.net/auth Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( http://www.sec.gov ). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Contact: Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO Gopher Protocol Inc. VM Only 888-685-7336 Media: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 26, 2018] Defect Risk in California Wildfire Areas Contributes to Rising National Risk, According to First American's Loan Application Defect Index First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a leading global provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions, today released the First American Loan Application Defect Index for November 2018, which estimates the frequency of defects, fraudulence and misrepresentation in the information submitted in mortgage loan applications. The Defect Index reflects estimated mortgage loan defect rates over time, by geography and loan type. It is available as an interactive tool that can be tailored to showcase trends by category, including amortization type, lien position, loan purpose, property and transaction types, and can provide state- and market-specific comparisons of mortgage loan defect levels. November 2018 Loan Application Defect Index The frequency of defects, fraudulence and misrepresentation in the information submitted in mortgage loan applications increased by 2.5 percent compared with the previous month. Compared to November 2017, the Defect Index decreased by 2.4 percent. The Defect Index is down 20.5 percent from the high point of risk in October 2013. The Defect Index for refinance transactions increased by 2.8 percent compared with previous month, and is up 5.8 percent compared with a year ago. The Defect Index for purchase transactions increased by 2.4 percent compared with the previous month, and is down 7.7 percent compared with a year ago. Chief Economist Analysis: Defect Risk Rises Nationally, Partially Influenced by Rising Defect Risk in California Wildfire Areas "In November, the Loan Application Defect Index for purchase transactions continued its string of month-over-month increases, rising for the third month in a row. Yet, year over year, the Defect Index for purchase transactions remains 7.7 percent below its level in November 2017," said Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American. "The Defect Index for refinance transactions also increased 2.8 percent compared to the previous month and is 5.8 percent higher than a year ago. The overall Defect Index, which includes both purchase and refinance transactions, increased 2.5 percent compared with October, but declined 2.4 percent year over year." Fraud and Defect Risk Follows Historic Trends in Wildfire-Impacted Areas "The staggring scope of the damage and loss of life from California's early November wildfires continues to grow. The Camp Fire in Butte County, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century, impacted 16,735 properties worth $3.8 billion, according to data from DataTree by First American," said Fleming. "This number is even higher when you consider other insured losses, in addition to the value of the home. The Woolsey Fire, which spanned Los Angeles and Ventura counties, was slightly smaller in size, but also had a devastating impact and ultimately destroyed over 1,600 structures. "Historical data indicates that natural disasters and loan application defect risk go hand-in-hand, as they increase the potential for misrepresentation of collateral condition," said Fleming. "Last month, we discussed the potential implications of the recent California wildfires on mortgage fraud risk, and after examining the first month of data, it appears historical trends are playing out. "Following the Woolsey and Camp fires, defect and fraud risk has increased in all three of the affected metropolitan areas," said Fleming. "Fraud and defect risk increased the most in Oxnard, rising 6.0 percent compared to October, followed by Los Angeles (3.3 percent) and San Francisco (2.8 percent). Before the November increase, fraud and defect risk was relatively flat in all three metropolitan areas. "The tragic impacts of the Woolsey and Camp fires continue to be assessed and, unfortunately, appear to include rising fraud and defect risk," said Fleming. "Given historical trends, the question is not if defect risk will continue to increase, but when will it stop." November 2018 State Highlights The five states with a year-over-year increase in defect frequency are: Alaska (+19.5 percent), Hawaii (+15.4 percent), West Virginia (+13.3 percent), Maine (+12.5 percent), and New York (+11.7 percent). in defect frequency are: Alaska (+19.5 percent), Hawaii (+15.4 percent), West Virginia (+13.3 percent), Maine (+12.5 percent), and New York (+11.7 percent). The five states with the greatest year-over-year decrease in defect frequency are: Vermont (-24.0 percent), Minnesota (-15.5 percent), Florida (-14.1 percent), Arizona (-14.1 percent), and Arkansas (-12.4 percent). November 2018 Local Market Highlights Among the largest 50 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), the five markets with the greatest year-over-year increase in defect frequency are: San Diego (+20.3 percent), Richmond, Va. (+17.4 percent), Los Angeles (+14.8 percent), Buffalo, N.Y. (+13.4 percent), and Pittsburgh (+12.1 percent). in defect frequency are: San Diego (+20.3 percent), Richmond, Va. (+17.4 percent), Los Angeles (+14.8 percent), Buffalo, N.Y. (+13.4 percent), and Pittsburgh (+12.1 percent). Among the largest 50 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), the five markets with the largest year-over-year decrease in defect frequency are: Houston (-20.2 percent), Minneapolis (-18.5 percent), Jacksonville, Fla. (-17.5 percent), Tampa, Fla. (-15.8 percent), and Birmingham, Ala. (-14.6 percent). Next Release The next release of the First American Loan Application Defect Index will take place the week of January 28, 2019. Methodology The methodology statement for the First American Loan Application Defect Index is available at http://www.firstam.com/economics/defect-index. Disclaimer Opinions, estimates, forecasts and other views contained in this page are those of First American's chief economist, do not necessarily represent the views of First American or its management, should not be construed as indicating First American's business prospects or expected results, and are subject to change without notice. Although the First American Economics team attempts to provide reliable, useful information, it does not guarantee that the information is accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose. 2018 by First American. Information from this page may be used with proper attribution. About First American First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a leading provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions that traces its heritage back to 1889. First American also provides title plant management services; title and other real property records and images; valuation products and services; home warranty products; property and casualty insurance; banking, trust and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $5.8 billion in 2017, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2018, First American was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the third consecutive year. More information about the company can be found at www.firstam.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181226005010/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 26, 2018] Lisa Cini's 2019 Best Living Tech Product Forecast Lisa Cini, senior living expert and founder of BestLivingTech.com, has traveled the world to select her top 2019 product picks that help the 50+ crowd live more rewarding, safe and independent lives. "There are a million products out there to help us manage and improve our lives as we age, but it can be frustrating to know what's worth the money, not a fad, and truly simple to use," says Cini. "Technology should make our lives easier, safer, be affordable, and accessible." Having recently been on research trips to Israel, India, Italy, Germany and China, Cini offers her top six selections for 2019: Loop: A portable screen that allows you to privately and securely send photos, videos and do live video chats with family and friends. <>Livio Ai: A hearing aid that also translates 27 languages, detects falls, connects to your phone, and can be found by GPS tracking when you can't remember where it is. Human Charger: Introduces light therapy through ear buds to reach the photoreceptors of the brain, helping those who may have the winter blues, sleep issues, or just want more energy and alertness. Luxury Class A8 Serenity Bidet Toilet Seat: Replaces your normal toilet seat by adding a bidet feature that both washes and blows you dry. Plus, it's customizable, heated, gets you to the proper height, and includes both a splash guard and a nightlight. Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System: Safe and fun, connected cooking technology that includes step-by-step video guidance for recipes, includes built-in recipes, lets you share what you're cooking with others, and keeps you from burning food with automatic temperature controls. iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop: Wet- and dry-mops your floors and is tiny enough to get under cabinets, beds, furniture and even around the toilet! All you have to do is push a button! BOOM: The Baby Boomers Guide to Leveraging Technology, So That You Can Preserve Your Independent Lifestyle & Thrive (soon to be released), The Future is Here: Senior Living Re-imagined, and Hive, which documents her family's multi-generational social experiment (four generations living under the same roof in her own home). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181226005124/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 26, 2018] Amscot Financial Contributes Mini-Grants to 15 Non-Profit Service Groups Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, recently awarded mini-grants of $150 to $5,000 to support 15 different non-profit service organizations located in the Florida communities where the company serves several million consumers. "There are too many individuals out there facing steep challenges in life with very little help," says Ian MacKechnie, Founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. "By supporting these organizations we're able to pitch in and help change that." Mini-grants went to the following organizations: 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, Miami. Their mission is to give minority boys hope, as well as the vision of greatness to emulate in their everyday lives. For more information, please visit: www.5000rolemodels.com Miami. Their mission is to give minority boys hope, as well as the vision of greatness to emulate in their everyday lives. For more information, please visit: www.5000rolemodels.com Adoption Related Services of Pinellas, Pinellas County. Their primary focus is keeping families together. They work with children who have been removed from their biological families and are in foster care; children who are with their biological parents and in crisis; children who are living with relatives or non-relatives; children who are transitioning from foster care into an adoptive home; and children who have been adopted. They provide in-home counseling, targeted case management, psychiatric services, and parenting education and support. For more information, please visit: www.arsponline.org Pinellas County. Their primary focus is keeping families together. They work with children who have been removed from their biological families and are in foster care; children who are with their biological parents and in crisis; children who are living with relatives or non-relatives; children who are transitioning from foster care into an adoptive home; and children who have been adopted. They provide in-home counseling, targeted case management, psychiatric services, and parenting education and support. For more information, please visit: www.arsponline.org American Legion Auxiliary Unit 273, Pinellas County. They are a volunteer organization supporting military families, veterans and children. They will be distributing food, clothing and toys for the holidays. For more information, please visit: www.alafl273.com Pinellas County. They are a volunteer organization supporting military families, veterans and children. They will be distributing food, clothing and toys for the holidays. For more information, please visit: www.alafl273.com All Kidney Patient Support Group, Pinellas County. They support kidney patients of all ages in the Tampa Bay area at various stages of dialysis and transplantation and other chronic diseases that may lead to kidney disease. They provide educational events in the community, transportation for dialysis and transplant patients with P.S.T.A. GO Cards and gas cards. They also provide occasional help with utility bills that are due, food, and for personal needs. For more information, please visit: www.akpsupportgroup.org Pinellas County. They support kidney patients of all ages in the Tampa Bay area at various stages of dialysis and transplantation and other chronic diseases that may lead to kidney disease. They provide educational events in the community, transportation for dialysis and transplant patients with P.S.T.A. GO Cards and gas cards. They also provide occasional help with utility bills that are due, food, and for personal needs. For more information, please visit: www.akpsupportgroup.org City of Apopka Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting, Apopka. On Dec. 1 st the City of Apopka held their annual event. Admission was free and the children were able to enjoy train rides, face painting and performances by local schools and special guest Santa. For more information, please visit: www.apopka.net Apopka. On Dec. 1 the City of Apopka held their annual event. Admission was free and the children were able to enjoy train rides, face painting and performances by local schools and special guest Santa. For more information, please visit: www.apopka.net Bees Learning Inc., Pinellas County. They are a mobile tutoring service to support educational opportunities for all children. They bring the classroom to the student either by going to the home or group sessions in their mobile RV- turned classroom. The program is designed to teach proficiency in state standards by targeting the following literacy skills: Vocabulary development, reading comprehension and specific reading strategies to become fluent, independent readers. For more information, please visit: www.beeslearning.org Pinellas County. They are a mobile tutoring service to support educational opportunities for all children. They bring the classroom to the student either by going to the home or group sessions in their mobile RV- turned classroom. The program is designed to teach proficiency in state standards by targeting the following literacy skills: Vocabulary development, reading comprehension and specific reading strategies to become fluent, independent readers. For more information, please visit: www.beeslearning.org Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf, Pinellas County. Their philosophy of combining the programming of Montessori with expertise in deaf education creates the perfect environment for their students. Each child is treated as an individual and they strive to do everything it takes to advance every child to his or her maximum potential. For more information, please visit: www.blossomschool.org Pinellas County. Their philosophy of combining the programming of Montessori with expertise in deaf education creates the perfect environment for their students. Each child is treated as an individual and they strive to do everything it takes to advance every child to his or her maximum potential. For more information, please visit: www.blossomschool.org City of Hialeah Mayor's Toy Drive, Miami-Dade County. The event took place Dec. 14 th at Hialeah Park, this year the benefitting organization is "Live Like Bella," a childhood cancer foundation. For more information, please visit: www.hialeahfl.gov Miami-Dade County. The event took place Dec. 14 at Hialeah Park, this year the benefitting organization is "Live Like Bella," a childhood cancer foundation. For more information, please visit: www.hialeahfl.gov Great Explorations Children's Museum, St. Petersburg. They are a preeminent children's museum supporting practical learning applications through proven curriculum. They focus on stimulating learning through creativity, play and exploration. For more information, please visit: greatex.org St. Petersburg. They are a preeminent children's museum supporting practical learning applications through proven curriculum. They focus on stimulating learning through creativity, play and exploration. For more information, please visit: greatex.org Help Now of Osceola, Inc., Osceola County. They are the certified domestic violence center serving the Osceola County area, The philosophy of their Primary Prevention Program is to know that "VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE." The program engages youth in changing social norms about dating relationships and creating a respectful community. This evidence-based curriculum fosters a belief on healthy relationships that encourages our youth to not stand by and witness violence happening but to become ambassadors of change, and to stand up for what is right and just, and to educate those around them. For more information, please visit: www.helpnowshelter.org Osceola County. They are the certified domestic violence center serving the Osceola County area, The philosophy of their Primary Prevention Program is to know that "VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE." The program engages youth in changing social norms about dating relationships and creating a respectful community. This evidence-based curriculum fosters a belief on healthy relationships that encourages our youth to not stand by and witness violence happening but to become ambassadors of change, and to stand up for what is right and just, and to educate those around them. For more information, please visit: www.helpnowshelter.org Learn Tampa Bay, Plant City. The organization focuses its services on four educational components and aims on improving the literacy skills and lives of individuals in the community. Their mission is to empower families and help them achieve success through education. For more information, please visit: www.achieveplantcity.org Plant City. The organization focuses its services on four educational components and aims on improving the literacy skills and lives of individuals in the community. Their mission is to empower families and help them achieve success through education. For more information, please visit: www.achieveplantcity.org Mamma Curry's Closet, Inc., Fort Lauderdale. They provide necessary essentials for all age groups, servicing the Broward County community. The support ranges from providing clothing for college internship and job placement, food, personal hygiene, and school supplies. For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/pages/Mamma-Currys-Closet-Inc/ Fort Lauderdale. They provide necessary essentials for all age groups, servicing the Broward County community. The support ranges from providing clothing for college internship and job placement, food, personal hygiene, and school supplies. For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/pages/Mamma-Currys-Closet-Inc/ City of Ocoee PD Holiday Toys for Kids in Need Program, Ocoee. Children in need will receive toys, school supplies, clothing, bicycles and family food baskets. For more information, please visit: www.ocoee.org Ocoee. Children in need will receive toys, school supplies, clothing, bicycles and family food baskets. For more information, please visit: www.ocoee.org Tenoroc High School Communications Academy, Lakeland. They provide several Career Academies, including Power, Diversified Agri-Sciences, Logistics and Business Communications. The Communications Academy (ROCCom) prepares students for careers in digital communications, from digital design, photography, film production, and leadership. The ROCCom Academy is raising funds for trips to allow students to explore "behind the scenes" at area businesses to see creative/advertising, printing, video production, and corporate environments. For more information, please visit: tenoroc.polk-fl.net Lakeland. They provide several Career Academies, including Power, Diversified Agri-Sciences, Logistics and Business Communications. The Communications Academy (ROCCom) prepares students for careers in digital communications, from digital design, photography, film production, and leadership. The ROCCom Academy is raising funds for trips to allow students to explore "behind the scenes" at area businesses to see creative/advertising, printing, video production, and corporate environments. For more information, please visit: tenoroc.polk-fl.net Wheels of Success, Hillsborough County. They obtain vehicles through purchase or donations then have them restored to good running condition to help families obtain or continue work, by providing them with reliable transportation. For more information, please visit: www.wheelsofsuccess.org www.Amscot.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181226005125/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 26, 2018] U & I Financial Corp. Upgraded to OTCQX Best Market U & I Financial Corp. (OTCQX: UNIF), the holding company for UniBank, began trading today on the OTCQX Best Market. "Since the Bank's inception in 2006, we have solidified our place in the market and have executed on our core strengths. Our performance in 2018 has been stellar, and we look forward to many more years of success. By joining OTCQX, OTC Markets Group's premium market, we seek not only to provide our existing shareholders with enhanced liquidity and transparency, but also reach new partners willing to hear our story," said Peter Park, President and CEO of U & I Financial Corp. Based in Lynnwood, Washington, UniBank is one of the highest performing banks in the state in terms of return on assets. The Bank operates four branches in the Seattle metropolitan area, serving small to medium-sized businesses, professionals, and residents with a particular emphasis on Korean and other ethnic minority communities. Additional information can be found on its website at www.unibankusa.com. Investors can find current financial disclosures and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company at www.otcmarkets.com. The Company will continue to publish quarterly and annual financial results through press releases and on its website. Detailed quarterly financial results of UniBank are available on the website of its primary regulator, the FDIC (www.fdic.gov). Sponsorship and professional guidance on the OTCQX requirements were provided by D.A. Davidson & Co. This news release contains forward-looking statements and reflects industry conditions, company performance and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectation expressed in such forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181226005019/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] It was only a matter of time before Nvidia released mobile versions of its new RTX cards, but it looks like Taiwanese ODM CJScope has let the cat out of the bag a little early. The company recently posted and then removed spec sheets for two unreleased laptops that list the unannounced Nvidia RTX 2080 MXM, 2070 MXM and 2060 MXM cards as options. Though the company pulled its listings, thanks to eagle-eyed Redditor eric98k and Google's cache feature, everyone on the Internet can see the leaked information. Of course, it goes without saying, that CJScope's information could be inaccurate and, considering that we haven't heard of this ODM before, we don't know if we can trust its information. Written in Mandarin Chinese, the two spec sheets are for laptops with the model numbers HX-970 GX and HX-950 GX. As you might guess from the 7s and 5s in their names, these laptops will have 17 and 15-inch screens respectively. According to CJScope, both will be available with a choice of overclocked mobile Nvidia GPUs called the RTX 2080 MXM OC, the RTX 2070 MXM OC and the RTX 2060 MXM OC. There's no ship date listed for the laptops as a whole, but there's a note saying that the RTX 2060 will come out on January 15th. The company lists the following specs for these cards: Spec RTX 2080 MXM OC RTX 2070 MXM OC RTX 2060 MXM OC Base Clock 1515 MHz 1410 MHz 1320 MHz Boost Clock 1847 MHz 1740 MHz 1620 MHz Memory 8GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6 6GB GDDR6 CUDA Cores 2944 2304 1536 Memory Speed 14 Gbps 14 Gbps 14 Gbps The specs for these alleged mobile cards align very closely to their non-mobile counterparts, which makes us wonder whether the "MXM" listing here could be just a red herring. The desktop RTX 2080 FE and RTX 2070 FE have almost the same exact specs, except that they list boost clocks of 1,800 and 1,710 MHz respectively. There is no official RTX 2060 yard yet, though rumors abound. Unsurprisingly, CJScope shows a chart showing that its RTX 2080 OC and RTX 2070 OC cards are faster than some older or non-overclocked Nvidia GPUs. Interestingly, these laptops are available with a choice of either 65-watt mobile processors or full-powered, 95-watt desktop CPUs such as the Intel Core i9-9900K and Core i7-9700K. Perhaps it's no surprise then that they weigh a whopping 3.4 kg (7.5 pounds) and 3.9 kg (8.6 pounds) respectively and that they require 330-watt power bricks. The company claims up to 4 hours of battery life with a 92 WHr battery, but if you buy a laptop like this, you probably don't care much about endurance. We have to take these leaked specs with a grain of salt, particularly since CJScope pulled the pages down. However, everyone expects Nvidia to come out with mobile RTX cards in 2019 so, if the final products are similar to these specs, we wouldn't be at all surprised. Kansas City Tradition Of Service Salvation Army serves 1,300 meals during KCMO event KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Salvation Army continued an over 30-year tradition on Christmas by hosting a special holiday lunch to help out people in need. The event was held at the Linwood Center and attracted hundreds of people. In total, over 1,300 meals were given out. X-Mas Scrooge Story Police shut down Kansas City dinosaur march A Kansas City parade of dozens of people dressed in dinosaur costumes was shut down by police. The Kansas City Star reports that Jacob Honnold says police will send him a ticket for his role in organizing the second annual March of the Dinosaurs Sunday at the Country Club Plaza. Jackson County Good Deeds Deputies take woman who couldn't afford Christmas on shopping spree A routine traffic stop turned into an impromptu Christmas shopping spree, thanks to a couple of central Iowa sheriff's deputies looking to spread a little holiday cheer. Jasper County Sheriff's Reserve Deputy Rod Eilander wrote in a Facebook post that he and Reserve Deputy Nathan Popenhagen pulled a woman over for not having license plates on her truck. Faith-Based Help Local churches help families during the holiday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church has always tried to give back. "For the past 14 years, we have made a special effort to reach out to people and we are reaching out to people whom we feel that are hurting," said Pastor John Modest Miles. Heartland Christmas Spirits Missouri continues liquor sales over Christmas holiday, Kansas stays closed KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Inside the Royal Liquors near Interstate - 435 and State Line Road it's full of holiday ... spirits. "Everyone is in good spirits and happy and it's not bad being at work," says General Manager Allan Hagedorn. Sound Of Cowtown Holiday LISTEN: William Jewell, Grace And Holy Trinity's 'The City Come Again' Holiday Performance In 1982, William Jewell College of Liberty, Missouri, joined with Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, Missouri, to begin a holiday tradition that the college called a Christmas gift to the city in words and music. KCUR recorded this year's performance on December 10 at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral for airing on Christmas Day. Fanboy Season Of Hype Cont'd Upon Further Review: Eight Quick Facts About the Chiefs' Loss to Seattle on Sunday Night The Kansas City Chiefs lost a tight one on Sunday night, falling to the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 38-31. The Chiefs still control their own destiny, however, as a win next week against the Oakland Raiders would lock up a third-straight AFC West title and the No. Hottieand one more serving of Christmas news . . .Closer to home, here are the news links we're check:And this is thefor tonight . . . Mid-size SUV is the most practical option for families these days. They have sedan-like handling with a lot more space, they are tough, can haul more than enough luggage for those long trips, and can also be taken on unfamiliar terrain with little risk. The only problem with them is that they are priced high. So, what do you do? You buy a two or three-year-old used SUV for around half the price than what it retails at new. SUVs are built to last; so you dont have to worry about the longevity, and we have stressed enough on the benefits of pre-owned cars in previous articles. Here is a list of seven best SUVs from 2016 that you can buy. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been around for over 25 years now, but has still not lost its charm. With the fourth generation, that includes the 2016 model, the Grand Cherokee came with an array of engine options to choose from. While the engines are smooth and revv-friendly, the fuel economy is adversely affected because of its curb weight; delivering 15 mpg to 25 mpg, depending on the trim. The top-spec V-8 engine delivers even lower economy ratings. The cabin is a nice place to be, and all creature comforts can be found to keep the family happy. The SUV also comes well equipped with a two-speed on-demand transfer case, Selec-Terrain system, Hill-descent Control, and a skid plate to take care of your off-road aspirations. The four-wheel-drive model received a five-star rating from the NHTSA, which essentially means that the car is filled to the brim in terms of safety features. The Jeep Grand Cherokee can haul 1,350 pounds of payload and has a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. This five-seater has a cargo capacity of 36 cubic-feet as standard and maximum capacity of 68.3 cubic-feet with the rear seats folded. All in all, the Grand Cherokee is a well-rounded car for a family, thanks to the spacious cabin and rich feature list, but it will not satisfy the driver in you because of its slow acceleration and gas-guzzling tendacies. EPA Fuel Economy 15-25 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacity 68.3 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 5 Drivetrain Warranty 5 yr./ 100000 mi. Available Drivetrains RWD, 4WD Government Crash Rating 4 Stars Read our full review on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee The Edge is a strong competitor if youre in the market for a used midsize SUV. It May not be as butch looking as its rivals, but the Edge is still an SUV that will age gracefully and is definitely a keeper. This SUV comes with a variety of engine options, including the fast and efficient 2.7-liter EcoBoost unit. In terms of features, it offers heated seats, park assist, rain-sensing wipers, etc., and two seven-inch LCD screen option as part of the headrest package for the rear occupants. The interior is quite spacious and lively to keep you comfortable even on long journeys. The Edge does, however, come with stuff suspension and harsh ride quality, so there may be slight discomfort when driving for long periods of time On the other hand, the Edge is exactly what the Grand Cherokee isnt an SUV with good driving dynamics and peppy engines. But with that said, the all-wheel-drive Edge is a thirsty car and sucks up as enough gas to offer economy ratings of 17 miles to the gallon in the city. You dont have to be concerned about the safety as it has scored five stars in the NHTSA ratings, though, so it has that going for it. Cargo hauling is not an issue as the Edge offers 39 cubic-feet of cargo capcity that increases to 73.4 cubic-feet with all seats folded down. With the trailer package, you can tow up to 3,500 pounds. In the end, this five-seater SUV is a mixed bag with not-so-great off-roading capabilities, but it is a comfortable midsize family SUV. EPA Fuel Economy 20-24 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacity 73.4 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 5 Drivetrain Warranty 5 yr./ 60000 mi. Available Drivetrains FWD, AWD Government Crash Rating 5 Stars Read our full review on the 2016 Ford Edge The 2016 Kia Sorento is bigger and styled a lot different than the previous-gen model that it replaced. The top-trim comes with Infinity sound system, eight-inch touchscreen, navigation, 19-inch alloy wheels, smart power liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof, to name a few. The interior is ergonomically sound, and youll be happy in this feel-good cabin. NVH levels are also well-controlled, so even longer rides are somewhat peaceful. Being a seven-seater, the Sorento is spacious, but will feel a little tight with all seats occupied. The Kia Sorento is rather efficient if you choose the lower trim levels as you can attain as much as 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. But with a bigger engine and more features, the top-trims deliver a mere economy of 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Despite being a long vehicle, the Sorento is surprisingly well-planted, with great ride quality. It is a comfortable cruiser on highways and will not feel bumpy even if youre going with a full load of people. With that said, even the V-6 engine on offer is not a sprinter and will let you down if you like spirited driving. As for the cargo space, the Sorento offers you 11 cubic-feet with all the three rows in place. Flip the third-row down, and youll have 38 cubic-feet of space. Continue laying down the second row, and youll get 73.5 cubic-feet. The top-spec model can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Although its not very good-looking, it is a great option if youre hunting for a seven-seat SUV. EPA Fuel Economy 19-24 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacity 73.5 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 7 Drivetrain Warranty 10 yr./ 100000 mi. Available Drivetrains FWD, AWD Government Crash Rating 5 Stars Read our full review on the 2016 Kia Sorento The Honda Pilot has been selling like hotcakes ever since its inception. This Japanese SUV comes with eight seats; making it a practical option for a big family. The 2016 model is the third-generation of the Pilot, and it comes with a large 3.5-liter engine, but this is one lousy unit. Honda has paired it with a nine-speed auto, which itself is a slow performer. Not to mention the fact that the V-6 engine is loud. So, expect the car to show its frustration on the highway when you load it to its full capacity. In terms of safety, the car has scored 5 stars in the NHTSA ratings. On the interior front, the cabin is pretty spacious and can accommodate literally anything. The Pilot is well-equipped with lots of features but the cabin looks quite cluttered with buttons all-around, and it needs a mention because it has been a major turn-off. Being more of a minivan than an SUV, it has a maximum cargo capacity of 83.9 cubic-feet, and it can achieve 21 miles to the gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. On the all-wheel-drive models, the Pilot can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Despite being a cacophony of pros and cons, it is a hit among the crowd. EPA Fuel Economy 21-23 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacity 83.9 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 8 Drivetrain Warranty 5 yr./ 60000 mi. Available Drivetrains FWD, AWD Government Crash Rating 5 Stars Read our full review on the 2016 Honda Pilot The Toyota Highlander is a good-looking car, although it is a little bland when compared to the competition. The Lexus-esque grill could have polarizing opinions. The Highlanders comes with a wide range of powertrains, but none of the engines are as sprightly as say, the Ford Edge. The cabin is ergonomically sorted and has most of the creature comforts present, like an 8-inch touchscreen, cooled seats, etc. While the steering wheel is perfectly sized and a joy to hold, it doesnt give good feedback while driving. These dead steering wheels cant be confidence inspiring, especially when youre carrying seven people and driving at 100 mph. The cabin is mighty spacious, and the presence of the third row doesnt devoid it of cargo space; which generally is the norm with three-row cars. With third row in place, theres 13.8 cubic-feet of space, 42.3 cubic-feet behind the second row, and 83.2 cubic-feet with last two rows down. Unlike the Pilot, where you can hear the engine scream at high-revs, the Highlander seems more calm and composed; thanks to a great insulation and acoustic glass. While the bigger V-6 engine has a rated towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, the four-pot Highlanders can tow just 1,500 pounds. Like the others on the list, the Highlander too has scored five stars in safety ratings. As far as fuel economy is concerned, the SUV delivers 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which is not class-leading by any means. But at the end of the day, you get the T badges reliability and good customer service. EPA Fuel Economy 20-22 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacity 83.2 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 8 Drivetrain Warranty 5 yr./ 60000 mi. Available Drivetrains FWD, AWD Government Crash Rating 5 Stars Read our full review on the 2016 Toyota Highlander Check out the rged new look of the 2016 Explorer, and dont forget about the new Platinum trim level. The seven-seater 2016 Explorer came with a revised exterior, and it looks much fresher than the previous iterations. A 2.0-liter engine made way for the peppier 2.3-liter EcoBoost unit with ample power available. The all-wheel-drive system also made its way here. As a driver you may grin from ear-to-ear when you hit the roads, but with the interior, perhaps not. The cabin quality and feel is not what you expect at this price point. The feature list is not disappointing, as you get massaging seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Sync infotainment system, etc., but passenger space is not even par with the competition. Ingress and egress is not an easy task either, especially for the third-row occupants. Coming to the towing capacity, the Explorer, with the V-6 engine can tow up to 5,000 pounds, whereas the four-banger can haul 3,000 pounds. Even the standard cargo loading capacity is rated at a healthy 21 cubic-feet, and flipping the second and third-row down increases this to 81.7 cubic-feet. If good fuel efficiency is a must for you, look elsewhere, though. Like they say, to gain something, you have to lose something. With the six-banger engine, you can achieve just 18 mpg combined. On the safety front, the Explorer is built like a tank and has scored full five-stars in government crash ratings. If you can compromise on the interior space and fuel economy, the Explorer is arguably the best SUV in this list. EPA Fuel Economy 18 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacity 81.7 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 7 Drivetrain Warranty 5 yr./ 60000 mi. Available Drivetrains FWD, AWD Government Crash Rating 5 Stars Read our full review on the 2016 Ford Explorer Sport Slapped with a long, slim bar on the grille, the Flex is an attention-seeker whether you hate it or love it. To describe the design philosophy in simple terms, this is Blue Ovals G-Class. That doesnt mean that you cant flex its muscles on an open road, though. Despite its huge footprint, it can sprint from standstill to 62 mph in under seven seconds; thanks to the powerful six-cylinder engine. Coming to the interior, the Flex is so spacious that you can probably fit more than seven people comfortably. Surprisingly, the third-row can swallow six-footers as well, but theyll find headroom to be a little scanty. Cargo space is aplenty, with a minimum of 20 cubic-feet and as much 83 cubic-feet with seats folded. In terms of features, all the trims get the Sync 3 infotainment system, but its no childs play to operate it. It can feel a little too complicated for the knob-people. Towing capacity is rated as 4,500 pounds, and Safety-wise, the Flex looks to be a tank on wheels. However, NHTSA never tested this SUV, so we have no ratings. In 2009, the previous iteration got a near-perfect score, but things have changed drastically since then; be it the way cars are built, or even the NHTSAs testing methodology. The only grouch is the mediocre fuel economy - The combined economy is around 18 miles to the gallon. If youre someone who likes the boxy, retro, curve-less feel, the Flex would fit your bill. EPA Fuel Economy 18-20 mpg combined Maximum Cargo Capacit 83.2 cu.ft. Available Total Seating 7 Drivetrain Warranty 5 yr./ 60000 mi. Available Drivetrain FWD, AWD Government Crash Rating Not Rated Read our full review on the 2016 Ford Flex. sanjiv@tribunemail.com New Delhi, December 25 Services of state-owned banks are expected to be impacted tomorrow due to a nationwide strike call given by unions to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. This will be the second bank strike in less than a week. Last Friday (December 21), an officers union of state-run banks observed a day-long strike to protest against the merger and also demanded immediate settlement of wage negotiations. Most of the banks have already informed customers about the strike. Private sector banks will continue to function as usual. The strike is being organised by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine unions, including the All India Bank Officers Confederation, the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees and the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). The UFBU claims membership of 10 lakh officers and staffers. According to AIBEA general secretary CH Vekatachalam, the conciliation meeting called by Additional Chief Labour Commissioner did not lead to any assurance and so the unions are going ahead with the strike. PTI Second in a week sanjiv@tribunemail.com Kolkata, December 25 Vedanta Ltd on Tuesday said it will set up a new steel plant in Jharkhand with a capacity of 4.5 million tonne (MT) per annum at an investment of $3-4 billion. The plant will be part of the companys newly-acquired Electrosteel Steels Ltd (ESL) at Bokaro, Vendanta Resources chairman Anil Agarwal told reporters here. This would be a new steel plant under ESL and in the same location at Bokaro... so its a brownfield investment per se. The amount is likely to be to the tune of $3-4 billion for a capacity of 4.5 MT, Agarwal said. Vedanta would initially invest about $300 million to augment capacity of ESL to 2.5 MT from the existing 1.5 MT. Once the new facility is commissioned, the total capacity of ESL would be around 7 MT, he said without elaborating on the time frame. The plant would create 1,20,000 jobs in the form of direct and indirect employment, Agarwal said. We have about 2,200 acres at ESL and are scouting for a little more... The Jharkhand government has been very cooperative in this regard, he said. PTI Set up 4.5-MT steel plant editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 25 The attempt by the Zirakpur municipal council to attribute non-provision of rainwater drainage system to want of funds has backfired. Taking a serious view of the submission, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asserted that the claim was shocking, while summoning the executive officer of the Zirakpur municipal council. This court is shocked at the statement, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur asserted after the council stated that it was not having the requisite finances to make provision for the rainwater drainage system. The assertion came on a petition alleging contempt of court, filed by advocate Naveender PK Singh against IAS officer A Venu Prasad and other respondents. Fixing the case for January last week, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur directed the executive officer to come before the court with a proper plan for doing the needful within a reasonable time. Taking up the petition filed on behalf of societies in Zirakpur abutting the old Ambala road matter, the High Court had earlier ruled that the storm water system was an essentiality to drain out rainwater. The Bench, in April, had also directed the Zirakpur municipal council to make endeavour by considering its feasibility as early as possible, but not later than six months from the date of receiving a certified copy of the order. The judgment was significant as the respondent-council, in its affidavit dated March 6, had claimed absence of provision for constructing storm water drainage. The Bench had also directed the respondent-council to start the process of laying bitumen near Sushma Square on the old Kalka-Ambala highway by issuing an e-tender. It is needless to mention that the respondent shall make strenuous efforts to complete the work in all respects before the onset of the monsoon so that the residents of the area may not suffer in this regard, Justice Jain asserted. Referring to the issue of widening the road, the Bench had observed the respondents stand was that land belonging to private persons had to be acquired for the purpose. As such, the respondent was directed to consider the matter in accordance with law. The Bench had also observed that the sewer line had already been connected with the main line and the respondent-corporation had completed the work of installing interlocking tiles. Naveender PK Singh, among other things, had earlier claimed that neither was the sewer line made functional, nor was the stretch from the old Ambala road to several societies made motorable. Putting up in Zirakpur, the petitioner-advocate had also claimed that the stretch near the Gazipur gurdwara was the sole access for tens of thousands of people living there. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 25 The local police have arrested a 36-year-old man, who is also wanted by the Himachal Police, for possessing a country-made revolver and five cartridges. He has been identified as Parmod Kumar, a resident of Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh. Police officials said they had information that a person, who was involved in a case of dacoity and was released on parole, did not return to jail. He was staying at his sisters house in Maloya. The police claimed that acting on the information, they nabbed the accused at a naka. The police recovered a .32 bore revolver and five cartridges from the accused. The police said the revolver recovered by them was manufactured at an ordinance factory in UP. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against the accused at the Maloya police station. * Has 5 cases against him The police said the accused had five cases registered against him. While two cases of dacoity were registered in Himachal Pradesh, one case of dacoity and two of burglary were registered in Chandigarh. editorial@tribune.com Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 26 A Panjab University (PU) panel on Wednesday decided to relax rules for admission to PhD in engineering as anyone who has qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) can pursue research in the subject. Earlier, a minimum score of 350 was required for general category and 300 for reserved category. Even IITs and NITs take qualifying GATE score. But at PU, we had a fixed score. A lot of students were not eligible for PhD at PU. They were taking admissions in the nearby universities. Our research was getting affected, said assistant prof Praveen Goyal, senator and member of panel on PhD regulations. He said the decision would benefit the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), the University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (UICET) and Hoshairpurs UIET. He reasoned that qualifying GATE score was anyway around 350. This wouldnt mean that we are ready to take poor students. We can filter students through interview, he said. The PU had once issued a circular dated June 29, 2017, where citing the 2016 UGC minimum standard for award of PhD guidelines, a minimum GATE score of 600 was fixed. However, it was later revised to 500. The UIET Director wrote to the PU authorities in August 2017 that: The UIET is a young and upcoming institute and having criteria of 500 GATE score will not attract students. Moreover, in national-level institutes, such as IIT, NIT, IISER, only valid GATE score is required. Students had also pointed out that the UGC guidelines, which were quoted for fixing the minimum score, had only mentioned about GATE qualification without any mention of marks. After that it was brought down to 350 and on Wednesday, it was decided to restrict it to qualifying GATE score only. Thesis could be submitted with acceptance of paper editorial@tribune.com Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 26 In a relief to traders, the town vending committee of the Municipal Corporation has put on hold the process of relocation of vendors outside shops in markets. It has been decided to form a committee of officers on the issue. Members of the town vending committee will visit the markets to survey the sites afresh. It has also been decided to review the decision of imposing a penalty of Rs 10,000 on owners who place items in front of their shops in the open verandah. The committee decided to hold the first draw of lots for allotment of sites to vendors on December 28. The MC has fixed January 5 as the deadline to complete the allotment process. All vendors from Sector 17 will also be shifted before the deadline ends. Sources said around 4,000 vendors were likely to be given sites in the first phase. The traders have been asked to give a representation for exempting them from the definition of illegal vendors under the Street Vendors Act. The decision to consider encroachments outside shops as illegal vendors was taken at the last meeting of the town vending committee. This had sparked a strong protest from the traders. The traders were on the warpath against the decision of the Municipal Corporation for relocating vendors in front of their shops. The traders also closed markets in various sectors against the decision. Baldev Goel, Jagdish Arora, Sanjiv Chadha and Anil Vohra were among the members who attended the meeting. Goel, a leader of the Chandigarh Business Council, said it was a victory for the traders as they had been raising the issue for long. He said a fresh survey would be held to identify new places. Anil Vohra, president of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said the vendors should be allowed in places away from shops as markets are overcrowded. Tandon meets Guv, raises vendors issue Sanjay Tandon, president of the city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VPSingh Badnore and submitted a memorandum regarding the vendors issue. Tandon said the Governor called the Municipal Commissioner and discussed the vendors issues. Tandon said the penalty of Rs 10,000 on shopkeepers would be withdrawn. The Chief Architect has been asked to look for alternative sites for vending zones where objections have been raised by residents and shopkeepers. MK Bhadrakumar MK Bhadrakumar Former Ambassador A high-powered Pakistani delegation lead by foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi set out from Islamabad on a regional tour of four countries (December 24-26) Afghanistan, Iran, China and Russia. The diplomatic outreach aims at harmonising with key capitals that are attuned to the fast-changing regional and international environment and the current developments concerning peace and reconciliation in particular according to Pakistani foreign ministry readout. Alas, New Delhi does not figure in Qureshis itinerary, although he signalled recently that Pakistan welcomed Indias cooperation. Islamabads motivations are obvious. There is high probability that the Afghan war is ending. But the emergent situation bears an uncanny resemblance to the culmination of the Soviet intervention in 1989. President Trump is in the same somber mood as Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev who once called the Afghan war a bleeding wound. But history doesnt repeat itself although it may often rhyme, to borrow the nifty aphorism of Mark Twain. 1989 was a tumultuous year in modern history, the year in which the Berlin Wall came down and a negotiated settlement of Cold War appeared. 2019 may rhyme with 1989 but an exact opposite trend is appearing with new walls coming up as the US struggles to contain a resurgent Russia and rising China in a desperate struggle to establish American global hegemony in the 21st century. The American mainstream opinion is yet to reconcile with the geopolitical reality that it is futile to swim against the tide of historical forces and no single power can dominate the world order. By 1990, Afghanistan became a forgotten story. Gorbachev summarily stopped Soviet aid to Najibullahs government even gasoline for Afghan armed forces and wheat flour for making Nan-i Afgani (national bread). Najib found himself in dire straits, having run out of money to pay the salaries of his unruly, violent Uzbeki warriors led by Rashid Dostum camping just outside Kabul. It became the setting for a Faustian deal between an irate Dostum and Tajik leader Ahmed Shah Massoud that eventually brought the roof down on Najibs government. Najib turned desperately to New Delhi to step in and pick up the threads that Gorbachev summarily abandoned, but Rajiv Gandhi astutely decided not to get entrapped in a debilitating commitment. Inevitably, the shifting sands in intra-Afghan alignments caught Pakistan also by surprise, as it found itself staring at the Mujahideen takeover and the ensuing anarchy. Quite obviously, Pakistan is keen to avoid a similar denouement. Fortunately, history will not repeat insofar as any American withdrawal cannot and will not mean retrenchment by other regional powers China, Russia and Iran in particular. China is already positioning itself for the post-American Afghan order by introducing the Belt and Road Initiative as a key template of regional security and stability. Second, the regional states are far from locked in rivalry for a predominant role in Afghanistan. There is consensus that Afghanistan should not again become the revolving door of international terrorism. Third, a win-win scenario is entirely conceivable because Pakistan too is at a transformative stage today leaving behind the syndrome of national security state to prioritisation of development and regional integration. Pakistani army chief Gen Qamar Bajwas stunning exhortation to the armed forces at the passing out of navy cadets in Karachi in the weekend bears testimony to it We want you to emerge from a security perspective to a development perspective. In a nutshell, Qureshis diplomatic mission aims to strengthen these positive trends in regional politics devolving upon the Afghan situation. Clearly, it is of the utmost importance for Pakistan that Afghanistan does not descend into another civil war, as had happened in 1992-96. Importantly, Pakistan seeks regional engagement in Afghanistan, given the staggering proportions of resources needed to stabilise and reconstruct that war-ranged country. Pakistans Eurasian integration also stands to gain out of it. Unfortunately, the transition in Afghanistan coincides with the turbulence ahead in Indias domestic politics. The Modi government is entering a lame duck phase and until a new government is formed after the 2019 poll, Indian diplomacy will be in hibernation. There is no point in crying over spilt milk, but the sad reality is that Indian diplomacy remained transfixed through past year or two once it dawned on Delhi that Trump was looking for an exit door like the crepuscular deer that gets transfixed by car headlights on the highway and freezes in place. What is, therefore, possible at this point is to move out of harms way. Principally, Modi should also tread softly where Rajiv Gandhi had (wisely) feared to tread two decades ago, namely, assuming the responsibility of the Afghan war from where Trump abandons it very soon. The point is, there is an indomitable lobby of Kabul elites that still believes in military victory over the Taliban. And this influential lobby has its acolytes in Delhi too, within Indian establishment and strategic community. There is every likelihood that the irreconcilable elements in Kabul would circle the wagons with an eye on the impending American departure. Some most recent realignment in the power structure in Kabul seems ominous, indicative of incorrigibly anti-Taliban anti-Pakistani and staunchly nationalistic forces gaining ascendance. It could be that some of them at least are finding common ground with recalcitrant sections of the US military, who oppose the commander-in-chiefs withdrawal plans. In sum, a very tricky situation is arising where Indian interests are best preserved by not jumping into the fray. At the very minimum, India lives in the region and to be at odds with other major regional states is unviable and unsustainable and can only harm our long-term interests. M Rajivlochan M Rajivlochan Member, State Higher Education Council, Chandigarh It is a matter of common understanding that employers of the graduates of Indian universities have a widespread disdain about the universities. A similar disdain exists among those who need to consult 'experts'. Experts from consulting agencies like the PWC, KPMG etc are preferred to those who are working in the universities. The situation is so bad that even the government in India avoids any opportunity to use the expertise of universities, its faculty and students, to find insights into the problems of governance. A disdain for universities A widespread belief is that currently no bridges exist between the universities of India and real life. To add to that belief is the attitude of academics of India who have made a fetish out of not being connected with any practical thing, except as critics. Even the student protesters that come out of the universities every now and then revel in merely protesting rather than finding a solution to the problems about which they are protesting. There also remains a strong suspicion that the sounds of protest that emanate from universities are essentially driven by narrow political interests rather than an understanding of what is wrong with society or how to set the wrongs right. It is almost as if the job of providing a solution for issues of concern to the Indian society should be left to the graduates of top-ranking universities abroad while the job of protesting is left to Indian academics and students. Indian employers of university graduates, and those who need consultancy services, have a disdain for our universities for their out-of-touch-with-reality learning. They consider the universities unworthy. Ratings reflect disdain As it happens, today this disdain can actually be measured through surveys conducted by the MHRD through the National Institutional Ranking Framework exercise that has been going on yearly since 2016. When we drill deep into just one of such surveys that was declared in the NIRF 2018 rankings, we notice that employers and those providing research grants rated only one institution in India the IISc Bengaluru at 100 out of 100. The IISc, however, is a university only in name. It deals with a minuscule number of students, does not host a diversity of departments. It is also very small in size, with just about 4,000 students in all, of which about half are PhD researchers and about 800 in post-graduate classes. Even after being rated at 100 out of 100 in the Employers' Perception, only about a quarter of the students from IISc were able to land campus placements and the rest, hopefully, went on to pursue 'higher studies'. This was the best possible reported ranking of any university in India. The next best was Anna University with about 15,000 students, of which more than 2,000 were doing PhD and about 4,000 were in post-graduate classes. Anna University was rated at 63.22 out of 100 in the NIRF survey on Employers' Perception. After that, the slide in opinion of the employers about the suitability of graduates was dramatic. JNU scored only 46.28 out of 100, BHU was rated at 43.62; Jadavpur and DU scored in mid-30s. Panjab University, Calcutta University, Delhi University, the University of Hyderabad, AMU, had to be content with being marked in the 20s. Jamia Millia Islamia and Pune University were rated in low teens. These, by the way, are the ratings for some of the best universities of India. They featured in the top 20 of the NIRF rankings. Many of them are now going to be given special funds by the government to grow and perform better in order to match the best universities of the world. Towards being the best Being the best in the world will truly be a booster for everyone's self-image. Also, a little additional money is most welcome by all. But that has to go hand in hand with the graduates of our universities being of value to the country. For that, we need to seriously consider transforming every subject and every class into something that has a practical side. Some of the absolutely basic skills for survival in the world of today are missing from our students. They lack even the basic skills in data analysis, word processing and handling workbooks. This needs to be taught as a mandatory skill for all students, irrespective of whether they are from the humanities. By all means, do away with mathematics as it is taught today. But, please start teaching skills in data analysis to everyone. Similarly, all students need to have some exposure to actual work. Mandatorily, all students need to spend at least one month in an internship. This was an idea that was first mooted by Professor Yashpal when he chaired the UGC. No action was taken on it. Today, we know that the Professor was extraordinarily insightful. We need to revive his idea. The ideal would be a month-long internship every year. But, for starters, even a month-long internship per degree programme would help expose them to the world in which they need to work later on. Hands-on learning would also enable the students to break out of the weird caste syndrome that haunts all of India wherein anyone who works is considered to be of a lower status in society. Much of our problem has to do with the fact that the numbers of the teaching faculty with practical experience are few and far between. That is in the very nature of academic work. Other societies handle the problem of breaking the isolation of academics by creating avenues for regular exchange of personnel between academia and industry. Hopefully, with greater autonomy to our educational institutions and more flexibility in service conditions, such exchanges can become easier. In the absence of a faculty that has any clue about how to work in real life and a set of students who are equally clueless, employers in India have started to put a premium on selecting students from elite institutions that update their curricula to reflect business concerns regularly and compel their students to do internships. The rest of our students in our universities, too, need to be forced into internships to ensure that they also become employable. G Parthasarathy G Parthasarathy Former Diplomat A DEVELOPMENT that has received scant notice in global politics is the democratisation of South Asia, where elected governments rule all the regional countries. An alliance of Maoists and the Communist Party (UML) was voted to power in Nepal in November-December 2017. Scheduled elections were held this year in Bhutan, where the enlightened monarchy voluntarily ceded power to elected governments. Pakistan saw a change in government recently, when the Imran Khan-led Tehreeq-e-Insaf party was voted to power, though there is evidence that the victory was facilitated by the army. The Maldives saw a welcome change in government, with opposition parties joining hands to nominate the soft-spoken Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, to oust the authoritarian and anti-India government of President Abdullah Yameen. Bangladesh is now headed for general election on December 30. This will be followed by the General Election in India next year. Presidential elections are also scheduled in Afghanistan next year. Interestingly, it is President Ghani who is determined to hold these elections next year. The Trump administration, however, seems keen to thrust a government with Taliban participation on the Afghan people, to facilitate the expeditious withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, instead of backing a constitutionally mandated election. After going through the traumatic experience of having its elected government arbitrarily dismissed and its legislature dissolved by President Sirisena, Sri Lanka has seen its elected government and parliament being restored, with the judiciary asserting its constitutional authority. Presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka are scheduled in 2020. But given the continuing personal and policy differences between President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe, the island nation appears headed for uncertain times politically and economically in coming months. Developments in South Asia will also be seriously affected by what transpires in the elections in Bangladesh, the results of which will have a bearing on the security of Indias Northeast. The results could shape the contours of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India, by groups operating from Bangladesh. India has seen a vast improvement in relations with Bangladesh during the past decade, because of the cooperation and understanding of the Awami League government headed by Sheikh Hasina. The last decade saw the resolution of the long-pending problem of demarcation of Indias borders with Bangladesh and exchange of enclaves, which was completed in 2016. Likewise, the demarcation of the maritime boundary with Bangladesh was completed, with a UN tribunal awarding Bangladesh 19,467 sq km of the disputed 25,602 sq km in the Bay of Bengal. Sheikh Hasinas two terms in office in recent years have also seen a remarkable strengthening of anti-terrorism cooperation with India. This involved firm action against Indian separatist groups, which were provided a haven by Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh National Party, with Pakistani involvement. India and Bangladesh have acted jointly against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on their soil by measures like the decision not to participate in the SAARC Summit to be held in Islamabad. Indias economic cooperation with Bangladesh has increased substantially in recent years, with projects for the supply of over 3600 MW hydroelectric and thermal power by India. This has been accompanied by substantial expansion in road and rail communication links. Moreover, under Sheikh Hasinas leadership, Bangladesh achieved an unprecedented rise in economic growth, with a threefold increase in per capita income and a reduction of people living below the poverty line, from 19 per cent to 9 per cent. Bangladesh is no longer classified as a least developed country. A booming textile industry and moves to step up growth in areas like pharmaceuticals and IT have spurred optimism that Bangladesh could soon reach a 9 per cent growth rate. Hasina has virtually decimated her rival Khaleda and her party. Also, the formidable Jamat-e-Islami has been banned from participating in elections. Khaleda is in jail, convicted on charges of corruption. Accusations of authoritarianism against Sheikh Hasina have, however, resulted in the forging of opposition unity. The octogenarian Dr Kamal Hossain, who played a leading role in the Bangladesh freedom struggle and became a close associate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, engineered this development. The opposition parties, including Khaledas BNP and members of the Jamat-e-Islami, have joined this alliance, labelled as the Jatiya Oikya Front (National Unity Front), to take on the Awami League. Pakistan has maintained close ties with the BNP and Jamat-e-Islami. Sheikh Hasina has welcomed Chinese assistance, including financing of important projects. China has committed $38 billion in loans, though Bangladesh officials have made it clear that they have no intention of walking into a debt trap, like Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But Bangladesh has welcomed Chinese efforts to find an amicable solution to the Rohingya issue. Sheikh Hasina has averred that Bangladesh will not get involved in US-China rivalries, stating: Our foreign policy is very clear. We want friendly relations with everyone. What China and US are doing is between them. But China let the cat out of the bag about its preferences in Bangladesh, when Khaleda met President Xi in 2016 during his visit to Bangladesh. A press note by the Chinese embassy in Dhaka noted: President Xi Jinping appreciated that the BNP has firmly maintained a friendly policy towards China for years. Despite protestations of non-interference, China has given indications of its involvement in the internal politics of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, where Chinese and Pakistani preferences have been identical. Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League are approaching the electorate with a creditable record on economic development. The challenge by a united opposition cant, however, be ignored. editorial@tribune.com Yamunanagar, December 25 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Naveen Jaihind on Tuesday said that AAP would field its candidates on all Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in the state next year. We will make a clean sweep of all 10 Lok Sabha seats and all 90 Assembly segments in Haryana like we did in the Delhi, he said. Jaihind was interacting with mediapersons here. He said that all sections of society were unhappy with the anti-people polices of the state government. He said examination centres for recruitment to government posts were located at long distances, causing problems for the unemployed youth. Questions which have nothing to do the profession are being asked in examinations for Group-D posts and other government jobs, said Jaihind. He said if the party was voted to power, polices for the betterment of all sections of society would be prepared. Around two lakh government posts are lying vacant. Our government will fill these after coming to power, he said. He welcomed Satish Sharma Dhaurang into the AAP fold. Sharma had contested the Assembly election as an Independent from the Radaur Assembly segment in the district in 2014. TNS editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondet Sonepat, December 25 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the TDI management not to release sewage in the open fields near Nangal Kalan village in the Rai area of the district. The company has been asked to direct the sewage to the sewage treatment plant near Patla village. The NGT had asked the District Pollution Control Board to ensure compliance within 15 days. Residents of Nangal Kalan village, under the banner of the Kisan Udai Samiti, had lodged a complaint on the CM Window regarding release of sewage in open fields near the village, causing pollution in the area. Tahar Singh, Vinod, Sunil, Ajit Singh, Kanwal Singh and other members of the samiti had submitted photographs and video clips of sewage being released by using tractor-pulled water tanks. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, December 26 After the successful trial of the water efficient technology in paddy cultivation, the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) has now taken another task to test the effectiveness of drip irrigation using solar powered irrigation system (SPIS) in wheat crop. Project coordinator and CADA executive engineer Neeraj Sharma told The Tribune on Tuesday that a pilot project had been initiated at Dera Fateh Singh village near Pehowa in the district. He said the project was being implemented in collaboration with progressive farmers who had voluntarily given 9 acres for a field experiment. Earlier, we used an indigenously developed SPIS in the field trials in the same village. A panel of experts found that drip irrigation is possible in paddy cultivation. When fields were irrigated, it was tested that the drip system used 58 per cent less water compared to the conventional form of paddy cultivation, he said. Sharma said CADA was hopeful of good results with testing on wheat. Water requirement for wheat may be quite less than paddy. But we are working to give feasible alternatives to farmers by reducing water use in various crops, he added. Meanwhile, CADAs initiative has drawn the attention of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), a global knowledge sharing platform of innovators and researchers. ICID is a non-profit organisation working for managing water for sustainable agriculture and rural development. The international agency has invited CADA and community leader Karanjit Singh for the presentation of their success story before a high-power delegate from Egypt and Tunisia in New Delhi next month. Our social endeavour has impressed ICID and now they are looking for the possibility to emulate our technology in two partner countries, he said. The project editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Karnal, December 26 Rice millers on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to give them relaxation of three months for delivering rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) after milling without any holding charges. The CM was at the grain market here to interact with rice millers and arhtiyas. The government has fixed the deadline of March 30 for the complete delivery, after which it will take holding charges. The millers sought a deadline of June 30. Hansraj Singla, state president of the Haryana Rice Millers and Dealers Association; Vinod Goel, senior vice-president of the association; and Vijay Thakkar, district president, Karnal Rice Millers Association, and others requested the CM to reduce the criteria for returning custom milled rice. They handed over a memorandum to the CM. Untimely rain has affected paddy quality. A miller who procures paddy has to return 67-kg rice per quintal to the FCI, but millers have poor quality grain, so we have requested the CM to relax the yield after milling to 64 kg per quintal. The UP Government has recently relaxed the norms and reduced it to 64-kg rice per quintal, said Goel. Besides, arhtiyas demanded the CM to give them ownership of 92 shops, which were allotted to them in 2002. Goel informed the CM that these shops were given for Rs 20.32 lakh each, but the price should have been Rs 16.3 lakh. The CM assured them that all issues would be discussed with the authorities concerned soon. He asked them to come over to Chandigarh with documents pertaining to the issues. He refused to waive off the property tax being charged by the Karnal Municipal Corporation. Reacting to a complaint regarding Rs 30 being charged from each vegetable vendor for setting up rehri in the vegetable market, the CM asked the officials concerned to look into the issue. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Rohtak, December 25 The BJP government is under fire from opposition parties over the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Leaders of the Congress, INLD and AAP have attacked BJP leaders on the issue. Former Home Minister Subhash Batra on Tuesday demanded a White Paper on premium collected from farmers and compensation distributed amongst them. Interacting with mediapersons, he claimed that the BJP government had failed to take any concrete steps to improve the lot of farmers. He stated that on coming to power, the Congress would waive agricultural loans on the pattern of Madhya Pradesh and other Congress-ruled states. In a press note, Kaliram Patwari, state president of the INLD farmers cell, termed the scheme as the biggest-ever scam in the states history. He claimed that Rs43 crore had been deducted from the bank accounts of farmers in Rohtak district in one year and they were given compensation of Rs25 crore. This organised loot has been going on through banks under government patronage. The so-called insurance firms do not have any office or employee in the state, he alleged. He said more than Rs 100 crore had been given to insurance companies in the state. He stated that on coming to power, the INLD would abolish the scheme and get the matter probed. AAP state president Naveen Jaihind alleged that farmers were being looted by insurance firms under the state governments patronage. Conditions for grant of compensation in the event of crop failure are so impractical that most farmers who suffer losses are unable to claim or get relief while insurance firms continue to fill their coffers, he claimed. editorial@tribune.com Abhinav Vashisht Kullu, December 25 The police have seized 218-kg charas and arrested 222 persons, including 7 foreigners and 7 women, in 177 cases of drug peddling this year. The seizure was nearly 75 per cent more than the contraband seized last year. The police have tightened the noose on the drug mafia. The police had seized 116.39-kg charas in 2017 and arrested 145 persons in 110 cases. In 2016, the police had seized 115.45-kg charas and arrested 122 persons in 96 cases. In 2015, the police had seized 81.67-kg charas and arrested 119 persons in 92 cases. The police and the Narcotics Control Bureau regularly carry out drives to destroy cultivated cannabis in the remote areas of the district. Many residents of the district had been arrested with the contraband in Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla and other places. However, the police have not able to reach the far-flung areas where the cultivation of charas is being carried out mostly by Nepalese workers. The charas mafia mostly uses Nepalese to peddle charas. The police had arrested a large number of Nepalese involved in the trade. SP Shalini Agnihotri said that the police had been vigilant in curbing the drug menace. She said that a large number of peddlers had been arrested and nakabandi and patrol had been increased to curb drug peddling. The SP said that they were investigating on various aspects to unfold the involvement of drug mafia and curb the menace. editorial@tribune.com Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, December 25 Posters, banners and hoardings dot the city, welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 27 to mark the completion of one year of BJP rule in the state. The state government is not leaving any stone unturned to make the function an impressive show. The rally has galvanised the Congress that was divided. Now, various factions of the Congress have chosen the occasion to criticise the government. However, there have been some changes in the rally theme. Earlier, it was planned as Labharthi rally, which was meant to present before the PM the beneficiaries of various schemes launched by the state and Centre. Later, the rally was named as Aabhar Rally. The PM was earlier scheduled to stay at Dharamsala for three hours but now he was staying here for just one hour. The plan to lay the foundation stone of Central University Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) has also been shelved due to incomplete paper formalities. This has caused disenchantment among people at Dehra. They were expecting that the institute would start coming up there as the land had been transferred in the name of the CUHP in Dehra. BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur had made announcements to this effect. CM Jai Ram Thakur is supervising the arrangements for the rally. After reaching here this evening, he went to the police ground to review the arrangements. The BJP is claiming that it will be for the second time when a PM was coming to Dharamsala. Earlier, Indira Gandhi had visited Dharamsala as PM in late seventies. The insiders, however, feel that by organising such a mega event, the Jai Ram government has opened itself to criticism. The insiders in the BJP claim that the rally has raised hopes of the people in the state that it will get a major package from the Union government ahead of elections. If no announcement comes up, the state government would face criticism from the Opposition. It has launched attack on the BJP, questioning about the unfulfilled promises made by Modi during the last Assembly elections. Event opens door to criticism editorial@tribune.com Kuldeep Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, December 25 Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayees birth anniversary was celebrated today as Good governance day. But the day came as a chilling reminder to the state government as far as delivery of the services to the public under the Public Service Guarantee (PSG) Act is concerned. Himachal has been ranked second after Kerala as the best governed state. But it remains tardy in delivering 155 services, which the government has notified under the PSG Act to people. Patients complain that they do not get X-ray and test reports in time when they go for treatment at civil and zonal hospitals and even IGMC, Shimla. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, soon after taking over, had announced that the patients at Zonal Hospital and Deen Dayal Upadhayay Hospital, Shimla, would get digital X-ray report in a few minutes. But the machine has not been installed, patients rued. They further said they had to go to private labs and pay more. Even they were asked to buy surgical consumables in excess and unused consumables were not given back to them after surgery. The consumers were paying more for the delayed water and electricity bills in the city. The HPSEBL had been slapping hefty electricity bills on the consumers as the company, which was given a contract for billing, had fled. As a result, the consumers were ending up paying 20 per cent more, said Govind Singh, a local resident. The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) issued water bills after six to 10 months. Ration card holders complained that they did not get ration on time at fair price shops. Many districts have not printed the list of services in Sugam centres, offices and hospitals which is mandatory under the Act. If the designated officer does not provide the services in the stipulated time, he/she can be made answerable under Section 3 of the Act, but not even single official has been punished. editorial@tribune.com Ravinder Sood Palampur, December 25 Despite NGT orders to shut down all stone crushers on the 100-metre radius of rivers and rivulets in the state, no steps have been initiated for the implementation of the orders. The deadline fixed by the NGT for implementation of its order will expire on December 30. A team of The Tribune visited Jaisinghpur of the Palampur region on Tuesday, which is notorious for illegal mining as a dozen stone crushers were functioning here on the bank of the Beas. A number of panchayat and social bodies members have alleged that revenue authorities in connivance with the owners of the stone crushers were violating the norms and several stone crushers were operating close to the Beas. Local residents have also expressed doubts over the demarcation being done by the revenue authorities. Residents of the area told mediapersons that the NGTs judgment was landmark if implemented properly as it would save lives of residents of Jaisinghpur, who had been suffering from several diseases because of the pollution being emitted by these stone crushers. Besides, states revenue worth crores would be protected. Half a dozen panchyat pardhans of the area demanded proper implementation of the NGTs order. They said they had already met local MLA Ravinder Ravi Dhiman in this regard and urged him to initiate necessary steps to depute a special team for proper demarcation of the river for the closing of stone crushers. They feared that if local officers were involved in the demarcation process, they would support the stone crusher owners as they were hands-in-glove with the mining mafia. Several environmental groups, who had launched a massive campaign against illegal mining by stone crushers in Jaisinghpur, Alampur, Harsipatan and Lambagaon along Beas river, demanded early implementation of the NGT order. It may be recalled that in Jaisinghpur subdivision of Kangra district, large-scale illegal mining was being carried out by stone crusher in gross violation of directions of the state government and Himachal Pradesh High Court, in connivance with the police, mining mafia, forest department and pollution control board. What order states The NGT, in its order dated October 30, 2018, has ruled that stone crushers functioning in 100-metres distance of any river in the state should be shut with immediate effect. It also directed the state government and the State Pollution Control Board to place the status report before the NGT by December 30. editorial@tribune.com Doda, December 26 For the first time, 100 youths from the remote Doda district have been selected by the Army for 40-day training. The initiative has been taken up due to the low percentage of candidates making the cut in the rigorous selection procedures at the Army recruitment rallies. District Information Officer, Doda, Mohammed Ashraf said, A pre-recruitment rally was held in Doda on Wednesday by the Army in collaboration with the civil administration, in which 1,000 youths took part. For the first time, 100 selected candidates will go for 40-day physical, mental and education training in the Suigawari Army camp of the Rashtriya Rifles. The district administration will bear the expenses of 50 candidates and provide highly efficient teachers for the course, he added. A senior Army officer said, The basic aim of the training is to provide the youth a right direction. Selected candidates will be given physical, education and computer training. Special training shall also be part of the curriculum to achieve intangible qualities such as leadership, camaraderie, discipline and determination, which are inevitable for the military individuals. OC sanjiv@tribunemail.com Jappreet Sethi The year 2018 saw the Indian economy become the talk of the town, the struggle between two superpowers the United States of America and China has seemingly benefitted India. Both parties want India to side with them to tilt the balance. The rest of the BRICS nations are left far behind, and it seems highly probable that We the Indians will triple our GDP in the next twelve years. India will add five trillion dollars to its economy by 2030, and a billion plus people will fuel consumption of different products and services. As Indian GDP per capita moves northwards of $ 3000, we will see conspicuous consumption rising and fueling demand across sectors. The year 2018 saw many companies getting into the billion dollar club, Oyo rooms, Flipkart, Byjus, Udaan, Swiggy and many others made the cut. We are entering 2019 with strong momentum; few roles will be in high demand, and you can leverage them to grow your career prospects. Growth experts As companies and VC funds pour billion dollar rounds in India, there is a considerable demand for growth experts. Growth experts have experience in scaling business and teams to build market shapers. Most of the FMCG and, e-commerce companies are slush with this talent. For employees in their mid 30s, it will be a good idea to move to highly funded startups to ride the growth curve. An ideal candidate would have experience in sales, channel development and customer relationship management. This is a highly rewarding role and gets you the limelight. GDPR project managers GDPR project managers take the lead in ensuring that a company is in compliance with the new GDPR rules formulated this year. Most of the Asian companies are looking to expand their footprint in Europe, and the penalties for not complying with the GDPR rules are humungous. This is a new area, and ideal candidates would have expertise in implementing compliance frameworks. We see an increased focus on privacy, sooner than later most of the countries will have privacy frameworks, and this role is not going out of fashion soon. Digital strategy lead The software is eating the world and consumers are utilising multiple channels before making a buying decision. Having an offline presence is not good enough. Most of the companies are moving to Omnichannel Marketing. As a digital strategy lead your job is to define digital marketing strategies and campaigns for meeting a companys goals. You need an in-depth understanding of traditional marketing methods. The ideal candidate is an expert in web analytics and, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, and customer relationship management software. Cybersecurity experts Security is a significant concern for companies and consumers alike in our connected world, as more and businesses move online, the cost of a breach can run in billions of dollars. One incident of breach can destroy a companys prospects, even biggies like Marriott, who have seen a recent data breach of millions of customer information are not safe. Companies big or small are taking this seriously and creating a separate team of experts to protect their business. There is a significant upswing in the number of security engineer jobs meant to be the first line of defence to safeguard companies. As a cybersecurity expert, your job will be more concerned with probing for risks and weaknesses rather than building robust security solutions. An ideal candidate is a geek, who likes working alone and can spend hours trying to break into a robust network and identify vulnerabilities before a hacker does. Your job is to break into the system and highlight the loophole. The next decade is of Indians, provided we adapt and learn new skills. Digital transformation experts Its evident that most of the big companies will fail to exist if they do not transform and adapt to the digitised world. There is a shortage of digital transformation experts; the best-suited candidates have an IT background with a stint in sales or marketing. By working through these two domains, they have a deeper understanding of technologies and consumer needs. Digital transformation is about marrying the evolving consumer needs with newer and agile technologies for a better experience. Currently, there are few candidates in the market with these skill sets, start with a smaller company and them make the shift to a more significant player. Data architect/scientists The collection of data is getting automated using IoT sensors; still, the analysis and ability to make business recommendations based on the data is dependant on humans. For extracting value from the data sets, businesses need skilled data scientists who can transform information into specific database solutions and identify patterns for business. An ideal candidate would need analytical and creative skills, plus in-depth knowledge of data systems, database methodology. A degree in data sciences or statistics is always helpful. The writer is an HR & Strategy consultant www.humanresourcesblog ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Jasmine Singh Bollywood actor Sonu Sood had to walk up to director Rohit Shetty to ask him why he was saying okay to all his takes while shooting for Simmba. Shares Sonu Sood, who plays the lead villain in the film, I was kind of surprised that he was okay with all my takes. So, I asked if I was actually doing fine. Thats when Rohit told me that I was delivering the way he had wanted and that he and I were on the same page. As the actor from Moga, Punjab, gets ready to take on Simmba in the much-talked about film with the same name, he is more than glad that he said yes to the role. Careful selection Five minutes in the narration, and I was sure that I would be a part of the film, adds the actor, who has a certain criteria for selecting films. Apart from the director, the production house, I am very keen on knowing about my role, and whether I would be able to justify it. Simmba seemed like a film that I would really enjoy doing. Humble co-star As for Ranveer, the actor with unbeatable energy, Sonu calls him a very humble co-star. We would talk about fitness, about giving 100 per cent to the role because this is how both of us are; we work to our perfection, at least we try to. With Simmba hitting theatres this week, Sonu is hopeful that audiences will thoroughly enjoy the film. And is there something that he would enjoy doing, Its a childhood dream to work in a superhero film. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Anil Kapoor, the evergreen actor of B-town, turned 62 on Monday. However, age is surely just a number for him as he has been giving boys half his age, a run for their money. Anil celebrated his birthday by throwing a party with the entire team of his upcoming movie, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. Meanwhile, as a birthday present, Anils daughter Sonam Kapoor took to Instagram to share the first poster of the film, where Sonam is leaning her head on her father Anils shoulder, while he tries to console her. The movie also stars Rajkummar Rao and Juhi Chawla, who were also present at Anils birthday bash. The movie is reportedly based on a woman in love with a Muslim man, whose life turns upside down when she finds out that her father is in love with another woman. JS Raghavan JS Raghavan I met Jindar in Calcutta in the early sixties, when I was a gawky teenager. It was my first trip to the metropolis, where I went gaga over shingadas, rosogollas and mishti doi. On the first day, Venu, my bespectacled scholarly-looking cousin, took me to a chai shop. He would, as a rule, speak only in English, even with fellow Tamilians. 'I can write and speak very well in my mother tongue. Why not cultivate the international language, its nuances, idioms and so forth? Language is only a tool, he would say. Jindar was near a tea shop, hurling abuses at the chai-wallah. I asked Venu what sala meant. He explained the usage of the word, including its Prakrit origin, appropriateness, pith and vigour it exuded when one wanted to translate red-hot anger into razor-sharp words. After the slanging match was over, the tall, wiry Jindar looked at me sharply like a recruiter sizing up a bare-chested candidate for the Army. Before Venu concluded his introduction, he clasped my hand in a vice-like grip, and gave me a bear hug. I could hear the sounds of crushing bones. The process of cultivating his friendship took only a day, though he gave an impression he had known me from my previous birth. He invited me over to his place, where he served me a tall tumbler of thick lassi. To a youngster from Madras, habituated to drink watery buttermilk in a tumbler slightly larger than an ounce glass, it was a tall order. Jindar laughed, swirling the jug in readiness for a refill. Within days, I had earfuls of invectives. Venu rendered them in English or Tamil, his colourful vocabulary of colloquial Punjabi and Hindustani coming to his aid. His erudition in quoting Shakespeare or Milton was in contrast to Jindars ribaldry. Though Jindar was a burly six-footer, Venu, a mere 5 feet 3, seemed to tower over him, brain calling the shots over brawn. Coins have a flipside. I was talking to Jindar, sipping coffee in my uncles flat, when I heard a heavy thud and a resounding aiyo. Jindar hurtled down, taking the stairs two at a time. I followed him as fast as I could. Like a flash, he collected my injured corpulent uncle effortlessly, hailed a hand-pulled rickshaw to rush him to hospital. His shirt was getting splattered with blood. I ran alongside and looked back to see what Venu was doing. The scholar stood petrified, closing his eyes tightly, unable to bear the sight of blood. Jindar looked back shocked and mumbled under his breath sala. I counted yet another dimension to that cryptic mot juste. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Patna, December 26 Police in Bihars Munger district on Wednesday seized one AK-47 rifle during a search operation and arrested two people in connection with it, police said. Deputy Inspector General of Police Jitendar Mishra said a joint team of Bihar Police and the National Investigation Agency raided at a few places in Munger and seized one AK-47 rifle and arrested two people. In the last five months, 22 AK-47 rifles have been seized and more than 30 people, including retired defence personnel and police officials, have been arrested. All AK-47 rifles seized by the police in Munger were smuggled in from outside the state. IANS editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, December 25 Sadaiv Atal, a memorial of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was dedicated to the nation on his 94th birth anniversary on Tuesday. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan were among the dignitaries who paid floral tributes to the former statesman at the memorial built near the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal. The President said he was a true Indian statesman. He will always live in the hearts and minds of the people of the country. In a tweet, the Vice President said, The nation is ever grateful for the invaluable contributions made by him. Vajpayee Ji was an astute parliamentarian, an administrator par excellence, a visionary statesman, an erudite scholar, a gifted orator, a most beloved leader and above all a great human being who believed in the core Indian values of harmony and synthesis. PM Modi tweeted: Tributes to Atal Ji on his Jayanti. We reiterate our commitment towards creating the India he dreamt of. Spread over 1.5 acres, the memorial was constructed by the Central Public Works Department at a cost of Rs10.51 crore. It was funded by the Atal Smriti Nyas Society. The memorials central platform comprises nine blocks. The memorial is enclosed by walls having inscriptions of poetries penned by Vajpayee. TNS ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 26 India and Bhutan will seek to reaffirm their friendship and review bilateral issues, foreign policy and regional focus when Prime Minister Lotay Tshering arrives on his maiden state visit to Delhi on Thursday, less than two months since he assumed office. The three-day visit will be the first high-level exchange between the two sides since Tshering and his Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party won the recently concluded third General Election in the Himalayan nation. Tshering will be accompanied by his foreign affairs and economic affairs ministers when he holds formal talks with Modi. Speaking at a conference on India-Bhutan relations The road ahead earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale underlined: At the heart of India-Bhutan friendship is the belief that we have each others interest at heart. We have vital stakes in each others progress and well-being and in peace and prosperity in the region. It is a goodwill visit. As a new PM he is coming to express appreciation for India. We are not working on any specific agreements per se. We receive assistance from India and are confident of assistance for our 12th plan, said a Bhutanese official. The official talks and joint statement to be issued later is expected to focus among others on issues of economic assistance, hydropower cooperation, visa, possible revival of the BBIN (Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement rejected by Thimphu, border security against backdrop of the 2017 Doklam confrontation with Chinese PLA. As Bhutan enters its 12th Five Year Plan, India stands committed to partner Bhutan in its quest for bringing greater prosperity and happiness to its peoples, Gokhale has said. The 720 MWs Mangdechhu hydropower project is expected to be commissioned during the visit. Bhutan has concerns about Indias revised policy on cross-border trade of electricity that is expected to impact Thimphus ability to sell power to India. Tshering is likely to raise the matter to seek changes in the policy. gspannu7@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 26 India and Bhutan will seek to reaffirm their friendship and review bilateral issues, foreign policy and regional focus when Prime Minister Lotay Tshering arrives on his maiden state visit to Delhi on Thursday, less than two months since he assumed office. The three-day state visit will be the first high-level exchange between the two sides since Tshering and his Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party won surprise victory in the recently concluded third general elections in the Himalayan nation. Tshering will be accompanied by his foreign affairs and economic affairs ministers when he holds formal talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Speaking at a conference on India-Bhutan relations-The road ahead earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale underlined, At the heart of India-Bhutan friendship is the belief that we have each others interest at heart. We have vital stakes in each others progress and well-being and in peace and prosperity in the region. It is a goodwill visit. As a new PM he is coming to express appreciation for India. We are not working on any specific agreements per se. We receive assistance from India and are confident of assistance for our 12th plan, said a Bhutanese official. The official talks and joint statement to be issued later is expected to focus among others on issues of economic assistance, hydropower cooperation, visas, possible revival of the BBIN (Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement rejected by Thimphu, border security against backdrop of the 2017 Doklam confrontation with Chinese PLA. As Bhutan enters its 12th Five Year Plan, India stands firmly committed to partner Bhutan in its quest for bringing greater prosperity and happiness to its people, Gokhale said at the conference. The flagship 720 MWs Mangdechhu hydro-power project is expected to be commissioned during the visit. Bhutan has concerns about Indias revised policy on cross-border trade of electricity (CBTE) that is expected to impact Thimphus ability to sell power to India. Tshering is likely to raise the matter to seek changes in the policy. India and Bhutan are currently commemorating the golden jubilee year of establishment of formal diplomatic relations. Tshering will be accorded a ceremonial welcome and will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday. rchopra@tribunemail.com Thane, December 26 A 39-year-old cleaner allegedly molested a teenage patient by tying her hand to the bed at a civic-run hospital here in Maharashtra, police said on Wednesday. Dinesh Koli has been arrested for the incident which took place at the hospital located in Thane districts Kalwa town around 12.30 am on Saturday, a police official said. The 14-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital on December 19 as she was suffering from seizures. During the treatment, her one hand was tied to the bed to administer saline to her, police said. On Saturday, the accused came over there. He tied the girls other hand also to the bed and allegedly touched her inappropriately, as per the FIR registered in the case. A patient on an adjacent bed saw the girl panicking and sensing something amiss, the former raised an alarm following which the accused was caught, police said. Based on a complaint filed by the girls father, the accused was arrested by the Kalwa police on Monday and booked under Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police said. The hospital authorities refused to comment on the incident. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, December 26 For the first time, the Congress has questioned the motive behind the proposed Federal Front by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Telangana chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) terming it as a conspiracy hatched to help the BJP. Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Gowda has alleged that the attempt was clearly to help the BJP return to power. This he said was a quid pro quo between the BJP and KCR, who the saffron party supported in coming to power in the state. Odisha and West Bengal chief ministers have found the idea of Federal Front very attractive, but they would not fall for it once it becomes clear that the attempt by KCR was only to help the BJP come back to power in 2019. The Rajya Sabha MP said its obvious that the attempts to rope in regional parties and state Chief Ministers to be part of the 'Federal Front' will only help the BJP". KCR is currently in New Delhi where he is expected to meet several leaders from Uttar Pradesh, besides a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has announced a month-long travel to sell his idea of a Federal Front that will not have either the Congress or the BJP as its alliance partner. On December 23 he had met his Odisha counterpart and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik inBhubaneswar to promote, while later he met West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee before moving to the national capital. The Congress was trying to ensure that a Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) with regional, secular and progressive parties became a reality. He disclosed that talks were underway with many regional leaders at various levels. Questioning the motive of KCR, he asked, "If you (Rao) are going around and trying to create a third alternative then you are dividing the opposition vote and paving the way for 'Modi Sarkar'. Asked if he saw the possibility of TRS joining the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan Gowda said, "The Congress would welcome every united in their mission to defeat the BJP that had destroyed the social fabric of the nation. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, December 26 Google on Wednesday honoured the life and legacy of Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, affectionately known as Baba Amte, celebrating his 104th birth anniversary. The Doodle slideshow followed Amtes life, which he dedicated to serving those in need, especially the ones afflicted with leprosy. Created by Vrinda Zaveri, the doodle starts off with a portrait of Amte looking ahead in the distance future. The next features his unity marches which crisscrossed from north to south and later west to east. Another featured his Anandawan, a village and centre he established for leprosy patients. We salute Babe Amte for a lifetime of service to humanity, said Google as they dedicated the day in 1914, when Amte was born. Exposed early on to a life of privilege, Amte, who came from a wealthy family in Maharashtra, would indulge in hunting wild animals, play sports, and drive luxurious cars. He studied law and ran his own successful firm by the time he was in his 20s. Always perceptive, Amte was aware of the class inequalities existing even as a child. In his 30s, he left his practice in order to work alongside the underprivileged. It was during this time that he came across Indu Ghuleshastri, whose kindness to an elderly servant touched him deeply, and the two got married. According to the blogpost, Amtes life was changed forever when he encountered a man suffering from leprosy. The sight of the mans decaying body filled him with overwhelming fear. Confronting that fear, Amte identified the state of mental leprosy that allowed people to feel apathetic in the face of this dreaded affliction. He said: The most frightening disease is not losing ones limbs, but losing ones strength to feel kindness and compassion. Amte defied social stigmas faced by leprosy patients by injecting himself with bacilli to prove that the disease was not highly contagious. In 1949 he established Anandwan-meaning Forest of Bliss-a self-sufficient village and rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients. A strong believer in national unity, Amte launched his first Knit India March in 1985. At the age of 72, he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, more than 3,000 miles, with the simple purpose to inspire unity in India. In a time of national strife, Amte was accompanied by 100 men and 16 women, all under the age of 35. He organised a second march three years later, travelling over 1,800 miles from Assam to Gujarat. In recognition of Amtes tireless work, he was awarded the Padma Shri Award in 1971; in 1988 the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights; and in 1999 Gandhi Peace Prize. His legacy lives on through his two sons who share their fathers sense of compassion, said the blog as the Doodle ends with a family potrait of six. IANS editorial@tribune.com Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, December 25 Amid the biting cold, several government schools in Bhiwani, Hisar and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana have been teaching students the ground realities in a literal way. With classrooms and desks lacking, the students are forced to attend classes on the floor either in verandahs or in open spaces. The worst comes when the cold wave intensifies as the students are told to skip classes. At Ghuskani village in Bhiwani, the school has been functioning in double shifts 150 students in each from a two-room structure. While primary students are taught in the evening shift, Class VI-X students come in the morning. The old building had to be demolished to pave way for a new one. Tashvir Singh, husband of sarpanch Pinky, said he had often advised students: Its better to skip classes than fall ill. He said according to the authorities, Rs 1.43 crore had been sanctioned for the building. But I dont know when it will take shape. In Gokalpura village, the secondary school with 140 students has been functioning from two rooms since February 2017 when its building was razed. In view of the cold, we locked the school yesterday, said zila parishad member Anil Gokalpura. The situation is no different at the primary school in Mahendragarh, the home town of Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma. Students have to sit on the floor as the school lacks furniture. District Education Officer Ram Avtar Sharma said the problem existed in schools where unsafe buildings had to be demolished. I will visit the school in Gokalpura. editorial@tribune.com Bengaluru, December 25 Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy embroiled in a controversy after a purported video showing him ordering a police official to shoot mercilessly those who killed a JD(S) worker in Mandya went viral. With the CM drawing flak over his response, he said it was an emotional outburst and he did not mean it. The Opposition BJP lashed out at Kumaraswamy over the issue and termed it irresponsible and nonsense. JD(S) worker H Prakash (50) was allegedly hacked to death by four men in Maddur town of Mandya district on Monday evening, the police said. The assailants stopped Prakashs car when he was going home and hacked him to death with machetes. Prakash was a former Zilla Panchayat member. Following the killing of his party man, Kumaraswamy purportedly instructed the official over the phone, which was caught on camera and went viral. In the video, the CM is heard saying that there were three murders in the past before he came to Bengaluru and he was disappointed with the police. I dont know how you will handle it (the case) because it was your responsibility. I am actually disappointed because it (the murder) brought a bad name. He (who was murdered) was a good person. There is no problem if you shoot such people mercilessly, he said alluding to the alleged killers. I am least bothered (about the consequences), the CM was further heard saying. As he faced criticism, Kumaraswamy told reporters in Vijayapura that he acted in a fit of rage as he knew the victim. It is beyond my imagination that such a person can ever be killed. My words were only an emotional outburst, which I did not mean, he said. Meanwhile, Kumaraswamys office also issued a statement saying the comments were an emotional reaction to the incident and not orders. PTI editorial@tribune.com KV Prasad Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 25 With an Indian company commencing operations to manage the Chabahar port in Iran, the stage is set to promote and popularise its potential at an event to be held in February next year. A year after Iran President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the first phase, India, Iran and Afghanistan (the three countries signatory to the Chabahar pact) have agreed on the routes for trade and transit corridors between the three nations as India Ports Global Limited on Tuesday opened an office and took over operations at Shaheed Behesti port. At a meeting in Irans southeastern port city, officials from the three sides agreed to finalise at the earliest the protocol to harmonise transit, road, customs and consular matters and also to permit cargo movement using the provisions of TIR (Transport Internationaux Routiers) Convention, a 1975 multilateral pact that aims to simplify administrative formalities of international road transport. The three sides also decided to initiate a study to determine measures needed to make the route attractive, decrease logistic cost and pave the way for smooth operationalisation of the Chabahar Agreement, an official release said. The Iranian News Agency (IRNA) quoted Joint Secretary Deepak Mittal stating that the port has a key role in development of economic and political relations among the regional states and that Chabahar is a good point of entry among India, Iran and Afghanistan and countries in central Asia. Last month, reports from Washington said the US provided an exception from the sanctions on Iran with respect to the development of Chabahar and construction of the associated railway and shipment of non-sanctioned goods through the port to Afghanistan. The construction of the port is seen by New Delhi as one that will contribute to regional trade and provide landlocked Afghanistan with alternate access to global markets. The port in Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran is also seen as a feeder port to the International North-South Transport Corridor to Russia as well as a land route to Central Asia. It is also seen as a counter to the Chinese-built Gwadar port off Pakistan that is located some 80 km away. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Lucknow, December 26 BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday accused the BJP government in UP of creating a religious dispute on the issue of preventing Friday prayers in Noida to divert attention from the failure of the government on all fronts. She questioned the intent of the state government to prevent Friday prayers in a public park in Noidas Sector 58 when the same had been continuing since 2013. Describing the state governments threat to initiate police proceedings against 23 companies whose employees offer prayers in the park as wrong and blatantly one-sided, Mayawati said it appeared to be most irresponsible. She said the move appeared to create religious disputes after the BJPs electoral reverses in five states. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi too hit out at the UP Government over the order against offering of Friday prayers, saying it was showering petals on Kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) but was issuing notice to Muslim faithful who want to offer prayers in public places. UP cops literally showered petals for kanwariyas, but namaz once a week can mean disrupting peace & harmony This is telling Muslims: aap kuch bhi karlo, ghalti to aapki hi hogi (No matter what you do, you will be in the wrong, he said. Also, by law, how does one hold an MNC liable for what its employees do in individual capacity? he questioned. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the government and the administration were working like BJP workers. They will not be able to tell about their achievements in the elections, so at the end this is what they will do. The BJP said the issue was being politicised on communal lines. BJP leader Giriraj Singh said: Jo kanoon aade aa jaye, use dharam se jod dete hai (whenever law becomes a hurdle, it is linked to a religion). Is it necessary to encroach upon a park to offer namaz? One can do so in their houses or in a mosque. TNS/PTI Hindu event disallowed editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 25 A firm in Rohtaks Meham town, registered with the taxation authorities as a dealer of musical instruments, raised bills worth Rs 500 crore for the sale of cotton all fake sales for the purpose of hoodwinking the government through bogus input credits. Four non-existent firms in Fatehabad purchased cotton worth Rs 67 crore from the Meham firm and sold the commodity to firms in Punjab and Gujarat, again for bogus input credits, more commonly known as refund of taxes. By the time the taxation authorities in Fatehabad realised the scam, input claims worth Rs 3.5 crore had already been taken away by the unscrupulous dealers. Input credits worth Rs 78 lakh have been blocked by us in our system, so that they are not able to claim this amount, said VK Shastri, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Fatehabad. Shastri revealed that upon inquiries, it was found that musical instrument firm Priya Industries, that issued bills worth Rs 500 crore in just two months, was registered in the name of a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, Suman Rani. Her residence address has been mentioned as Agra. When I noticed that four firms in Fatehabad were doing exceptionally huge business running into crores, I went to the address of the firms registered in the records. However, I found nothing but empty plots there, he said. Asked why cant the addresses be verified at the time of registering the firms, Shastri said half of the firms in any particular area were registered by the Central authorities and the rest by the state authorities. Though it is mandatory for officials of the Excise and Taxation Department to physically verify the address, online registration is automatically issued to a dealer under the new GST system even if a report has not been submitted by the inspector or the ETO concerned. Of the four non-existent firms in Fatehabad, three were issued licence by Central authorities and one by the state authorities. We will fix responsibility and write to the higher authorities for taking action against those responsible for the lapse, said Shastri. rchopra@tribunemail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 26 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today claimed to have busted a highly radicalised suspected IS-inspired terror module Harkat-Ul-Harb-e-Islam (war for the cause of Islam) allegedly planning suicide attacks on vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi and NCR. The agency arrested 10 suspects in early morning searches across 17 locations in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh with support of the Anti-Terrorism Squad besides Delhi Police and their UP counterparts. Six persons reportedly associated with the module are being interrogated. The members were in an advanced stage of preparation. They were just waiting for the successful assembly of bombs and wanted to hit multiple locations using remote-controlled IEDs, fidayeen attacks using suicide vests and pipe bombs, Alok Mittal, NIA spokesperson and Inspector General, told mediapersons. A homemade rocket launcher, material for suicide vests, 100 alarm clocks (to be used as timers), 25 kg of bomb-making material like potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate and sulphur were recovered during the raids. A cache of handmade weapons, 12 pistols, hundreds of live bullets rounds, 100 mobile phones, 135 SIM cards and Rs 7.5 lakh in cash were also seized, said Mittal. Of the 10 arrested, five are from Amroha and the rest from Seelampur and Jafrabad localities of northeast Delhi. The alleged mastermind, 29-year Mohammed Sohail, alias Hazrath, was arrested from Amroha in western Uttar Pradesh on December 20 and a case was registered under sections of the Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against him. He (Suhail) was presently staying at Jafrabad, Delhi, and had tasked other team members with procuring arms, explosives and other accessories to prepare IEDs and pipe bombs, said the NIA in its statement. Others arrested include an engineering student of a private university in Noida, a third-year graduation student in humanities, an auto-rickshaw driver, two brothers who worked as welders and two garments businessman. Saqib Iftekar, a native of Hapur and Imam in Jama Masjid, Baksar, Uttar Pradesh, has also been arrested for helping Suhail procure weapons. So far, no criminal record of any of the arrested members of the module has surfaced. It seems they were self-trained and self-motivated through Internet, Mittal said, alleging the agency had in its possession a video of Sohail demonstrating how to complete a bomb circuit. Mittal said the suspects had done a reconnaissance of vital government installations and planned to target political figures and other important persons. The level of preparation showed they were planning to carry out fidayeen attacks in the near future, Mittal said, adding the module, founded four months ago, was communicating through encrypted messaging apps WhatsApp, Telegram. The NIA believes the module has foreign-based handler(s) but their identity and location is still being probed. The officials refused to comment on media reports quoting other agencies involved in the operation that RSS headquarters and Delhi Police headquarters were also on the hit list. They (other agencies) can say whatever they feel like. But being the probing agency of this case... we cant make any such claim unless we have some corroborative material to support it, an NIA officer said. The accused would be produced before the court on Thursday. The members were in an advanced stage of preparation. They wanted to hit multiple locations using remote-controlled IEDs Rs Alok Mittal, NIA Spokesperson ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Mukesh Ranjan Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 26 Noting that the time has come for broad reforms in subordinate judiciary, Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in an interaction with The Tribune said by introducing a merit-based combined national entrance examination for recruiting additional judges in lower courts would help bring in representative character to the justice delivery system. Arguing in favour of conducting combined national examination by creating a judicial service cadre on the lines of IAS, Indian Foreign Services and IPS, Prasad said the task for such an exercise could be assigned to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The whole objective of this exercise is to ensure reform in the recruitment process in sub-ordinate judiciary, he said, adding that this would create an opportunity for talented lawyers and law graduates to get selected through a credible system. Once the system is put in place, the existing law pertaining to providing reservation would automatically come into play, which in turn not only make the lower judiciary representative in character but also ensure improvement in justice delivery system, he said. Certain percentage of the posts of additional district judge (ADJ) in all states and UTs could be made available for all-India recruitment, he said, adding that once a person is directly selected at the level of ADJ, he/she will have a certain career progression, which can go up to High Court level. This will also ensure capability and quality of judges, he insisted. Since under the existing system the judges in lower judiciary in certain states are directly recruited by High Courts and in a few states it is done by the state public service commissions on the direction of High Courts, Prasad said: After allotment of cadre the successful candidates could be put under High Courts concerned. If access to justice is to become meaningful then proper reform in recruitment process in subordinate judiciary is very necessary, the minister insisted. As per the latest data available, there are 5,135 vacancies against the sanctioned strength of 22,644 judges in districts and subordinate courts where 2.89 crore cases are pending. rchopra@tribunemail.com Virudhunagar, December 26 A 24-year-old pregnant woman from this district contracted HIV after receiving blood donated by an infected man, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to review the stocks in all blood banks of the state to ensure they were free of the deadly virus. An employee of a blood bank attached to a government hospital in Sattur, near here, had been dismissed, while two others had been suspended, health department officials said on Wednesday. The state government said it was making all efforts to prevent the impact of the virus on the woman, and stocks in all blood banks would be reviewed to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Joint Director of Health Services, Virudhunagar, R Manoharan, told PTI that the woman was admitted to a private hospital in Sattur for the birth of her second child and the doctors advised her to have a blood transfusion citing haemoglobin deficiency. Blood brought from a blood bank was transfused to her. It later emerged that the donor was HIV positive, the official said, adding that the recipients blood was also tested, which confirmed that she too had got infected. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the blood bank staff had failed to screen the blood properly before supplying it to the private hospital. The personnel who tested the donors blood had labelled it safe, officials said. State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said action had been taken against the erring employees of the blood bank. The district collector has also expressed regret, apparently to the family, through the revenue divisional officer. The government is taking steps to prevent the impact of HIV on that woman with the help of technology. All stocks in blood banks will be analysed to ensure they are HIV-free, he told reporters in Chennai. Meanwhile, the woman and her husband lodged a complaint with Sattur police on Wednesday seeking action against the doctors, nurses and employees of the blood bank. Speaking to reporters, the womans husband held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for the incident and demanded that it provide the best treatment to her. The husband said he did not want any job from the government but only the best treatment for his wife. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the district and spoke to the woman. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, December 26 TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday here and discussed various pending projects, including national status for the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. This is the first meeting between the chief minister, popularly called KCR, with Modi after the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) retained power in the state with a huge mandate in the recent assembly election. The meeting came a few days after Rao met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Sunday and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday in an effort to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In the hour-long meeting, the chief minister discussed various issues pertaining to pending projects of the state, an official statement said. The state government said the prime minister responded positively to KCRs request. At the meeting, the chief minister discussed about transfer of a polo ground land in Hyderabad for construction of a new secretariat, release of Rs 450 crore for backward districts and national status for the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Among others issues, Rao discussed about referring petitions of Telangana to Krishna River Water Disputes Resolutions Tribunal, resolution of bifurcation of Schedule 9 and 10 institutions under the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, sub-categorisation of scheduled caste and expeditious completion of railways projects. The Telangana chief minister further demanded revival of the Cement Corporation of India plant in Adilabad district, development of Kakatiya Mega Textile Part at Warangal with a sanction of Rs 1,000 crore and the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone in Zaheerabad in the state. He also sought setting up of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Karimnagar district, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad, 21 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in new districts, besides sanction of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in the state capital. Rao later met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded early implementation of Schedule 9 and 10 of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act. The TRS chief, who is in Delhi since Monday night, also plans to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav has said that he would meet Rao in Hyderabad after January 6 as he could not be in Delhi on December 25 and 26 as planned earlier. The TRS chief had planned to meet Akhilesh Yadav here at the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. It may be noted that the TRS has hired a special aircraft for a period of one month for Raos trips to various places. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com G.S. Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 26 Two Pakistan nationals Mohammad Imran Qureshi Warsi and Abdullah were repatriated to their native place through Attai-Wagah Joint Check post on Wednesday. A resident of Karachi, Warsi was reunited with his family after 14 years. He was jailed in India for the last 10 years on charges of forgery and spying by the Bhopal court under the Official Secrets Act and the Passport Act, finding him guilty of conspiracy, cheating and forging documents. In his late 30s, Warsi had come to Kolkatta to meet his relatives on valid documentation in 2004 for 45 days. He married his uncle's daughter Shazia and overstayed. Out of this marriage, he has two sons, Shezaan (13) and Qurbaan (11). They lived in Kolkata only, but he was never allowed to meet them before departure from India. Warsi said he was at least fortunate to go back to his home, but his fresh battle would begin to get his wife and children back. "I seek help from the Indian government as I would have to go through a legal course in getting my wife and children back to Karachi," he said. Apart from being on the wrong side of law by managing to procure a fake ration card and PAN card to get an Indian passport made on his name, he was betrayed by his own relatives who informed the police. In 2008, he went to Bhopal for the purpose of procuring these documents as he wanted to stay with his wife and children in India. He claimed that his parents had moved to Pakistan while some of his uncles stayed in India during Partition. A dispute arose over the joint ancestral property in India which led to feud between him and his uncles. Meanwhile, they informed the police about him which led to his arrest in 2008 at Bhopal. He was awarded 10 year imprisonment. His sentence ended in January, but Warsi had to spend two more months in jail because he did not have money to pay the Rs 8,000 fine slapped by the trial court. He was released from Bhopal jail on March 14 and sent to Shahjahanabad Police Station, a nodal station where foreigners are kept till they are repatriated. The other Pak national, Abdullah, a 21-year-old autistic boy from Mingora Swat in north-western Pakistan, never knew that his passion for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan would eventually land him in jail. He was at the Attari-Wagah border with friends on May 25, 2017, to witness the Retreat ceremony, when he jumped over and crossed the Zero Line after the ceremony, telling the Border Security Force personnel he wanted to meet Shah Rukh Khan. BSF personnel handed him over to the Gharinda police. He was booked under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and sentenced to six months imprisonment at Amritsar Central Jail. Amritsar Jail Superintendent Arshdeep Singh Gill said due to mental instability, he could not tell clearly about his whereabouts till it was confirmed during the consular access in December last year that he was son of one Zarawar Khan in Swat. However, it took another year to facilitate his release for want of documentation. The jail authorities also presented him with gifts. While crossing over the Attari-Wagah border he imitated Shah Rukh Khan saying "Love You India". He said he will come again to fulfil his dream of meeting his favourite star. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Maharajganj (UP), December 26 An Uzbek woman was arrested in Sonauli town near the border in Uttar Pradesh when she was allegedly trying to cross over to Nepal without valid documents, an official said Wednesday. Dilafruz Norova, 32, who was on her way to Nepal from Delhi, was arrested by the immigration department after officials found she did not have proper visa documents, Sonauli check-post officer Sakieel Ahmed Ansari said. A case has been registered and the Intelligence Bureau has been informed, he said. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 26 With the arrest of five notorious criminals, the city police on Wednesday claimed to have solved the gangster-turned-financier and property dealer Balwinder Singh Billas murder case in Kot Khalsa. The accused were also wanted in another incident in which a youth was shot dead in Bhullar village on December 17. Those arrested were identified as Amarbir Singh alias Gopi of Baba Darshan Singh Avenue, Gurjashanjit Singh alias Chini of Chheharta, Gurbir Singh of Baba Darshan Singh Avenue, Jaidev Singh of Ashok Vihar Colony, Kamboh, and Abhiraj Singh alias Abhi, a driver of Chheharta area. Following a tip off, a checkpoint was laid near Taran Wala Pul late yesterday evening. When the police signalled a white coloured Hyundai I-20 car, the occupants tried to run over the police team headed by Inspector Palwinder Singh besides firing a gun shot. However, the driver lost control and collided with the divider. They were overpowered and nabbed by the police. The police recovered two imported weapons including a 9mm pistol, a .30 bore and .32 bore pistols, with nine live cartridges, from their possession. According to Police Commissioner SS Srivastava, Gopi was wanted in over 20 criminal cases of different nature while others also have several cases registered against them. A case of attempt to murder for firing at the police party was lodged against the accused. Srivastava said Gurjashajit Chini was also involved in the murder of Balwinder Singh Billa in which the police had booked four persons, including Rajbir Dhola and Angrej Singh, both notorious gangsters. They were also involved in the killing of Sukhraj Singh, a 22-year old youth in Bhullar village located on Chogwan-Ajnala road in Ajnala. The police had booked Gopi and Chini among several others. Rural police had already nabbed Sukhman Singh who had a dispute with Sukhraj Singh. Srivastava said Mahal and Abhi were the same persons who had left a Fortuner SUV inside Guru Nanak Dev University campus after police got an alert about entrance of some notorious criminals inside the campus in mid-November. It was the same gang that had fired gun shots in Chheharta area leaving two children injured on November 28. The gang had also snatched a car from near Hartej Hospital from a driver on December 9. The family members of the owner had come to visit PITEX annual fair. They had also attacked a police party in Chheharta area in July. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Moga, December 25 Ahead of the panchayat elections in the state, the police, acting on a tip-off by liquor contractors, seized at least 2,000 boxes of country-made liquor from a truck on the outskirts of Badhni Kalan village in Nihalsinghwala sub-division of the district late this evening. Four smugglers, identified as Jaskaran Singh alias Jassi, Jaswinder Singh, former sarpanch of Buttar Kalan village, Kala, and Ramesh Pandit of Lopo village, managed to flee. Jassi is a notorious liquor smuggler of the area. Many cases of liquor smuggling had been registered against him. A police official said at least 2,000 boxes of liquor manufactured at RSL Distilleries, Chandrao village, Karnal district of Haryana; NV Distilleries, Badhel village, Ambala district; and another brand also manufactured in Haryana have been recovered. The figures of recovery could increase because the counting was still in progress, he said. Senior officials of the Excise and Taxation Department said RSL Distilleries was owned by a senior CongressMLA and his family. In Sangrur, the Chotiya police have arrested SAD Lehragaga block samiti's former chairman Gurdeep Singh with 300 bottles of smuggled liquor. Our team from the Chotiya police post on Monday night intercepted Gurdeep Singh near Alampur and during the checking of his car, confiscated 300 bottles of smuggled liquor. We have registered a case and started investigations, said Ajay Pal Singh, DSP, Moonak. Sanmeek Henry, media adviser to former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, said Gurdeeps arrest had exposed connections of SAD leaders with smugglers. The arrest of Gurdeep has exposed how Akali Dal leaders are involved in the smuggling of liquor, he said. When contacted, SADs Lehragaga circle president Preet Mohinder Singh said, He is a former chairman of block samiti but at present, he does not have any post in the party. 300 boxes of liquor seized, 1 arrested Barnala: The anti-narcotics cell of Barnala confiscated 300 boxes of smuggled liquor and arrested a person on Monday night. We arrested Kala Singh and seized the smuggled liquor from a canter during a naka near Dhaula. The liquor was being transported to Barnala from Bathinda, said Inspector Malkiat Singh, incharge of anti-narcotics cell of Barnala. Two other accomplices of Kala Singh Balwinder Singh and Dharmvir Singh escaped. TNS editorial@tribune.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Kotli Surat Malhi (Gurdaspur), December 26 Budh Singh (54) and his wife Sarabjit Kaur braved the early morning chill on February 4 last year, stood in a serpentine queue and cast their votes in favour of Congress candidate from Dera Baba Nanak Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. More than anybody else, it was this couple which wanted the Congress to win. On October 16, 2016, then PPCC Chief Capt Amarinder Singh accompanied by Randhawa had stepped into debt-ridden Budh Singhs ramshackle tenement and assured him that he would be the first beneficiary of the loan waiver scheme, if the Congress was voted to power. The farmer was asked to sign the Karza kurki khatam, fasal di poori rakam form, which formally launched him as the poster boy of the loan waiver initiative. Capt Amarinder became the Chief Minister, while Randhawa was elected as an MLA for the third time and went on to become a Cabinet minister. However, for Budh Singh, his fortune remained the same. In 2014, the farmer had taken a Rs 3.50-lakh loan against his 4 acres of agricultural land from the Kotli Surat Malhi branch of Punjab Gramin Bank. Anticipating waiver, Budh Singh had stopped paying his loan instalments. Interest continued to accrue on the principal amount and when it became Rs 4.30 lakh, the bank sent him a notice asking him to pay up or the amount would be put in the category of non-performing asset (NPA), following which he would be legally proceeded against. The governments contention is that it is in the process of waiving debts of farmers who have taken loan up to Rs 2 lakh. Budh Singh owes more than that to the bank. Budh Singh developed cold feet after the bank pasted a notice on his door. The farmer then rushed to a money lender, who gave him Rs 80,000 at an exorbitant rate of interest. Budh Singh has since paid that amount to the bank, but the principal amount still stares him in his face. Budh Singh remains optimistic. But if indicators are to be believed, his optimism is misplaced. He says he is waiting for a call from his bank informing him that his loan has been taken care off. However, if the empty coffers of the government are any barometer, then that call may never come. Randhawa says he is trying to get a special package for the beleaguered farmer. We cannot go back on our promise. I am trying to convince officials to come up with some sort of a grant which will help Budh Singh, said Randhawa. On his part, Budh Singh says when the state government decided to hold a function at Mansa in January this year to formally launch the scheme, he thought he would be invited as a symbolic gesture if nothing else. After all, the initiative was launched from my house. Moreover, the CM had promised me that I would be the first farmer to get the benefit. Nothing of that sort has happened till yet. I hope my dream of being free from the debt does not vanish into thin air, he says. editorial@tribune.com Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 26 Habit-forming drugs like de-addiction drug buprenorphine and pain reliever tramadol have been making their way illegally into Punjab from neighboring states through small courier companies, AC buses and trains. These drugs are being mainly manufactured in states like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Neither buprenorphine nor tramadol is manufactured in the state but in the last one year, the states Food and Drug Administration has made big seizures of these drugs in Ludhiana and Bathinda. In August, the states Food and Drug Administration had raided a wholesaler in Ludhiana and had seized 1.6 lakh tablets of buprenorphine plus nalexone (worth Rs 46 lakh) from there. Pardeep Kumar, Joint Commissioner (Drugs), FDA, Punjab, said the investigation into the Ludhiana and Bathinda seizures revealed that the medicines were entering Punjab illegally from neighboring states through small courier companies or being sent through AC buses or trains. Now, the state government has made an inter-state coordination committee of drug controllers to stop the practice. In recent times, Punjab has emerged as one of the biggest illegal markets for habit-forming drugs. The first meeting of the inter-state coordination committee was convened on Wednesday in which the state drug controllers along with representatives of drug manufacturer associations from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh had participated. The meeting was chaired by Pardeep Kumar, Joint Commissioner (Drugs), FDA, Punjab. The illegal flow of habit-forming drugs supplied from other states, either manufacturing states or consumer states, have emerged as a big challenge for us, said Kumar. It was decided that the states should share the information with each other on trafficking of habit-forming drugs. It was also decided that the states would extend their cooperation for investigation in such cases to reach at the terminal end so that public at large could be safeguarded from intoxication. Punjab officials laid emphasis that the other states should also develop a system on the lines of Punjab, where the purchase, sale and distribution of certain habit-forming drugs could not be done without a written authentic order of the purchaser and payment against such supplies is to be made through approved sources either by cheque, draft or RTGS. Payments made by unapproved sources amounts to legal action under the Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940. editorial@tribune.com Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 26 With the post of sarpanch remaining in the family for nearly three decades, Congress MLA from Kartarpur Chaudhary Surinder Singh could not gather unanimous support for his younger daughter Navinder this time from his native Dhaliwal Qadian village. Her papers were ultimately withdrawn. The village that falls in Jalandhar West block has 1,522 voters, of whom about 5 per cent are reportedly settled abroad. Other than Navinder, two more candidates Ram Kumar, a lyricist, and Mandeep Kumar, who has been panch earlier filed their papers. Since the MLA wanted his daughter to win without a contest, he took her papers back. If Navinder, who is a graduate, made it to the post, she would have been the sixth member of her family to have become the sarpanch of the village. The MLAs grandfather and former minister Master Gurbanta Singh had started his political career as a sarpanch in the 1950s. His son and former minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh too had opted to be sarpanch first before taking bigger roles. After the two stalwarts, Chaudhary Jagjit Singhs wife Gurbachan Kaur too remained the sarpanch. In 1980, Chaudhary Surinder Singh became sarpanch and remained on the post for 18 years. When he became the Zila Parishad chairman, his wife Varinder Kaur too joined the bandwagon. Since the MLAs elder daughter Yashwinder is married and her husband is a DSP in Kharar, she could not contest this time. My son Damanvir was just two months short of being 21, so he was ineligible. When I picked my daughter for the polls, two more people came insisting that they wanted to contest. Then I thought it would be better to withdraw Navinders papers, he said. editorial@tribune.com Varinder Singh Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 25 Pakistans loss is Indias gain. The neighbouring country is fast losing its decades old Afghan medical tourism to North India. Medical tourism involves people travelling from their native country to another country for the purpose of obtaining medicare and treatment. The Pakistan governments Ministry of Commerce had admitted last week that the number of neighbouring Afghanistan-based medical tourists to the country was trickling down fast for a couple of deterrents. These included intricacies involving Pakistans border management policy, increasing difficulties faced by Afghans in getting Pakistani visa, compulsory police reports and security clearances and unnecessary security checks at the Pak-Afghan border crossing point. What, however, has worked as a major factor against Pakistan is the escalating medical treatment costs and difficulties faced by Afghan nationals in getting appointments from doctors and even accommodation in Pakistan. The admission about Pakistans dwindling healthcare provider position has come in the shape of a written reply of Pakistans Ministry of Commerce to a question of countrys Member of National Assembly Mahesh Kumar Malani. Pakistan had retained its position as a top medical tourism destination for Afghan nationals until 2016 mainly for favourable factors like almost common language, culture and lesser treatment costs. But, the Afghan medical tourist influx got diverted to North India, including Punjab, after 2016 for comparatively cost-effective treatment facilities and easy availability of specialist doctors. New Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida have emerged as three preferred cities for thousands of Afghans for treatment purposes. A number of them have also started coming to Punjab. We have performed heart surgery on a couple of Afghan patients, said Dr Charanjit Singh Pruthi, managing director of Jalandhar-based BBC HeartCare and Capitol Hospital. According to Dr Vijay Mahajan, the treatment costs of heart bypass surgery and knee replacement was 50 per cent lesser in India as compared to Pakistan. Dr Kuldip Singh, a Ludhiana-based laproscopic surgeon, said a major chunk of Afghan patients come to New Delhi-based top hospitals like Medanta, Batra and Fortis. A number of kidney, heart and knee-replacement patients have started coming down to Ludhiana-based Apollo, DMC and other hospitals due to increased awareness, he pointed out. Earlier, Afghans landing at IGI Airport for treatment were allegedly misled by conduits of a number of Delhi hospitals, insiders say. Now Afghans are more aware about the availability of cost-effective medical facilities in other parts of North India, mainly Punjab, thanks to proliferation of internet and other communication channels in Afghanistan. Most of Afghan patients are not as rich. So, they have started looking out for cost-effective alternative healthcare facilities even within India, observed Ludhiana-based dentist Dr Vivek Saggar. Amarjit Singh, Indias Protector General of Immigrants based in New Delhi who, has remained posted as the Consul General of India in Heart (Afghanistan) observed that more than 500 Afghan tourists were granted Indian visa daily from Herat-based Indian Consulate alone. From entire country, the number reaches thousands. Eighty per cent of Afghans seeking Indian travel visa in fact, come here to seek medical help. Since, they find seeking Indian medical visa a bit cumbersome, most of Afghan come here on travel visa and go back after getting themselves treated or an array of serious illnesses, said Amarjit Singh. Whats working in Indias favour editorial@tribune.com Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 26 Nine cooperative sugar mills have started disbursing payments at the State Assured Price (SAP) of Rs 310 per quintal to sugarcane growers within 14 days of receiving the produce. In the crushing season that began on November 15, the cooperative mills have so far made payment of Rs 90 crore to farmers at their own level. With additional efforts, the department is hopeful of getting 10 per cent more sugarcane for crushing in the current season, said Sukhjinder Randhawa, Cooperation Minister. Official data reveals that the nine cooperative sugar mills in the state have so far crushed 53,69,209 quintal sugarcane and produced 4,70,435 quintal sugar, compared to 51,29,800 quintal sugarcane crushed with 4,13,795 quintal sugar produced in the corresponding period last year. Wary of any protest during the coming panchayat elections and the Lok Sabha polls due early next year, the government is taking steps to cover up for the harassment to farmers due to delayed lifting of sugarcane by private sugar mills. Since the private sugar mills undertake 70 per cent of the crushing, efforts are being made to ensure that private operators also release payment to the cane growers as soon as possible, said an official. Till the government intervened early this month, private sugar mills were refusing to start the crushing operations, demanding the state government to reimburse the gap of Rs 35 a quintal the difference between the State Advised Price of Rs 310 a quintal and Fair Remunerative Price of Rs 285 a quintal that Centre has fixed. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, after a series of meetings with private sugar mill owners, decided that of the gap of Rs 35 per quintal, the government would pay Rs 25 directly to the sugarcane farmers. The private mill operators had agreed to bear the remaining gap of Rs 10 per quintal. The Chief Minister had also announced the release of Rs 65 crore towards the interest on loans taken by private sugar mill owners to clear pending dues of farmers. editorial@tribune.com Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 25 Almost two years after they were voted out of power, the numerous chopper trips made by the Badals to their farmhouse in Balasar in Haryana, relatives and babas (godmen) all at the cost of the exchequer continues to rankle the Comptroller and Auditor General. Punjabs Department of Civil Aviation has failed to convince the CAG that these trips, 68 to Badal village, were made in public interest. Refusing to put a lid on the matter, the CAG, in a note prepared in October, said that the reply by the department was not satisfactory. During its 10-year rule, the Badal government spent Rs 157 crore on copter rides. Besides the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and other members of the family, these were frequently used to ferry BJPs national leaders to rallies and on two occasions Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living. Ropar-based RTI activist Dinesh Chadha had, in a complaint, alleged that there was no mention of the purpose of these trips in the bills as well as the copter logbook. Taking cognisance, the CAG ran a test-check of records between 2013 and 2016. It found that the expenditure on air travel was Rs 26 crore in three years. Subsequently, it sought to know the public interest behind these trips, emphasising these were not permitted for personal interest. The officials tried to wash their hands of the matter, saying a helicopter was provided on the orders of the competent authority. Also, the purpose was mentioned on the tour note sent for ex-post facto approval. The CAG rejected the replies. Chadha claimed it was clear the department was hell bent on protecting the Badals, despite the change of government. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 25 Coming to the rescue of potato growers, the state government has directed Markfed, a marketing cooperative federation under the Department of Cooperation, to procure potatoes for consumption in schools (as part of mid-day meals), jails and government departments. To finalise the procurement of the potato crop in February and March, a meeting was convened by the Agriculture Department on Monday. Adopting the previous practice of procuring potatoes by government departments, details of the fresh procurement process were being worked out, said a senior government functionary. After protests by potato growers over little support from the state government for transportation of the crop to other states, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh during a recently held winter session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha had assured to address this issue on priority. The CM had stated that the state government had sought intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow export of potatoes and sugar to Russia, UAE, Iran and Sri Lanka for fetching better prices of these crops to ensure price stabilisation. As an immediate measure, the Chief Minister has assured steps to enhance the consumption of potatoes, especially in the welfare schemes within the state. Officials point out that storing the potato crop in cold stores in the state was becoming a major problem as over 40 per cent of the cold store capacity was already full with previous years crop. Though the potato production is likely to decrease by 20 per cent this year due to inadequate price fetched last year, inadequate cold storage capacity was a major issue for growers. Last year, farmers had protested by dumping their produce on roadsides when the prices dropped to Rs 1 per kg. Against a cold storage capacity of 20 lakh metric tonnes in 572 stores in the state, the production in 2016-17 was 25.19 lakh metric tonne. At present, about 10 lakh metric tonnes are stored in cold stores by farmers. The potato growers have been demanding that to tide over the crisis, the state should take immediate steps to transport the produce to other states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal, where the demand is high. Recently, the Shiromani Akali Dal had demanded Rs 20,000-per acre relief package for distressed potato growers as well as immediate procurement of potatoes for the state welfare schemes. Tackling the Glut vermaajay1968@gmail.com HOUSTON, Dec. 25 (A.P.)-A space age Galileo aboard Apollo-8, scanning the moon below him on Christmas eve, saw a sunrise unlike any he had ever seen before sunrise, the horizon began to brighten up. It's sort of a fine, white hazeit takes a fan shape, unlike a sunrise on earth where the atmosphere affects it. Before the sun peeped above the horizon. Lovell said, Definite rays could be seen coming from the other side and as a uniform haze emanating from the centre spot where the sun was going to rise. Lovell, Air Force Colonel Frank Borman and Air Force Major William A. Anders continued to circle the moon as Lovell described the sunrise. This was not expected, Lovell remarked. vermaajay1968@gmail.com SPACE CENTRE (Houston), December 25 (AP)-The Apollo-8 explorers sped back into the grasp of earths gravity today as their spaceship dashed unerringly right down the corridor towards a Friday morning landing in the Pacific Ocean. As they streaked homeward, all three space men were tired after their historic 20-hour orbit of the moon and rest was the No. 1 item of business. But they were full of Christmas spirit as they received long-range greetings from their families and prepared to feast on turkey, traditional American Christmas dinner. Apollo-8 zipped through the Equigravisphere, the invisible zone where the gravity pull of earth and moon are equal, at 11.9 p.m. (IST). Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders were reported extremely tired after their historic voyage 10 times around the moon yesterday. During their 20 hours in lunar orbit they spent as much time as possible taking pictures and carrying out observation and navigation exercises, to gather data for a manned moon landing sometime next year. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Washington, December 25 With the US government shutdown entering its third day, President Donald Trump took to Twitter and lamented how he was all alone in the White House and aired his many grievances. I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security. At some point the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our country more money than the border wall we are all talking about. Crazy! the President said. With Congress out of town and the debate over Trumps demand for a $5 billion US-Mexico border wall at an impasse, the President sat holed up, tweeting no less than 10 times by early Monday afternoon to lash out at opponents. The Democrats, and even some Republicans, have already made it clear they would not vote for the border wall. In retaliation, Trump refused to sign a broader spending bill, triggering the stand-off that has left swathes of the US government temporarily without funding. Outside the White House, Washingtons National Christmas Tree became a forlorn symbol of the dysfunction gripping Trumps presidency two years after his election. IANS Presidents dampener on Christmas pardeepdhull@gmail.com Houston, December 26 An 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died in government custody in New Mexico early Tuesday, US immigration authorities said, marking the second death of an immigrant child in detention this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trumps request for border wall funding. US Customs and Border Protection said the boy identified by the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix as Felipe Gomez Alonzo had shown signs of potential illness on Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was diagnosed with a cold and a fever, prescribed amoxicillin and ibuprofen, and released Monday afternoon after being held 90 minutes for observation, the agency said. The boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting and died there just after midnight, CBP said. CBP has not yet confirmed when or where the father and son entered the United States or how long they were detained, saying only in its statement that the boy had been previously apprehended by its agents. The agency said the cause of the boys death has not been determined and that it has notified the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general and the Guatemalan government. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents in New Mexico. The body of the girl, Jakelin Caal, was returned to her familys remote village Monday for burial Tuesday. The White House referred questions about the latest case to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBPs parent agency. CBP officers and the Border Patrol remain on the job despite the shutdown. According to Guatemalas foreign ministry, the father and son entered the U.S. at El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18, then were taken to the Border Patrols Alamogordo station Sunday. Alamogordo is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) from El Paso. Oscar Padilla, the Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, said he was told by the boys father in a telephone interview that the two had been traveling from their home in Nenton, a village about 280 miles (450 kilometers) from Guatemala City. They were planning to go to Johnson City, Tennessee. The consul identified the father as 47-year-old Agustin Gomez, and said he remains in U.S. Border Patrol custody. CBP typically detains immigrants for no more than a few days when they cross the border before either releasing them or turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for longer-term detention. Agency guidelines say immigrants generally shouldnt be detained for more than 72 hours in CBP holding facilities, which are usually smaller and have fewer services than ICEs detention centers. Parents and children together are almost always released quickly due to limited space in ICEs family detention facilities. A CBP spokesman on Tuesday did not respond to questions about the ministrys statement. The hospital, the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations. CBP promised an independent and thorough review of the circumstances. The Guatemalan foreign ministry called for an investigation in accordance with due process. Democratic members of Congress and immigration advocates sharply criticized CBPs handling of Jakelins death and questioned whether border agents could have prevented it by spotting symptoms of distress or calling for an evacuation by air ambulance sooner. CBP has said that it took several hours to transport Jakelin and her father from a remote Border Patrol facility to a larger station, where her temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius). Emergency medical technicians had to revive her twice. She was ultimately flown to an El Paso hospital, where she died the next day. Large numbers of Guatemalan families have been arriving in recent weeks in New Mexico, often in remote and dangerous parts of the desert. Jakelin and her father were with 161 other people when they were apprehended in Antelope Wells, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Alamogordo. AP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Beirut, December 26 Israeli war planes attacked with missiles unspecified targets near Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Tuesday and injured three Syrian soldiers, Syrian state media quoted a military source as saying. Our air defences confronted hostile missiles launched by Israeli war planes from above the Lebanese territories and downed most of them before reaching their targets, the military source said. An arms depot was hit and three soldiers were injured due to the attack, the source added. The nature of the Israeli missiles targets was unclear. Syrian state media reported earlier in the evening downing several hostile targets near Damascus. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on the reports. An IDF aerial defense system activated in response to an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria, the official Israeli army Twitter account later said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said Israeli missiles were launched from above the Lebanese territories and targeted western and southwestern Damascus rural areas. A number of missiles hit arms depots for Hezbollah or Iranian forces, the observatory said. No casualties or losses were reported. Lebanese state-run National News Agency said Israeli war planes performed mock raids above southern Lebanon. During the more than seven-year conflict in neighbouring Syria, Israel has grown deeply alarmed by the expanding clout of its arch enemy Iran - a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Israels air force has struck scores of targets it describes as Iranian deployments or arms transfers to Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in the war. Reuters harinder@tribunemail.com Seoul, December 26 The two Koreas on Wednesday launched a project to reconnect rail and road links severed since the 1950-53 Korean War, but actual construction cannot start while sanctions remain in place against North Korea, officials said. The two sides agreed in October to work on reconnecting railways and roads as part of a thaw in relations that the United States fears will undermine efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. There's a lot of things to do before we actually start construction, South Korean Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee said before the ceremony in the city of Kaesong on the North Korean side of the border. The materials and investment needed for construction to begin are banned under UN and US sanctions imposed over Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programmes. Washington insists sanctions remain until the North gives up its nuclear weapons. South Korean officials, politicians and members of families displaced by the war boarded a special train to the ceremony. The North's Vice Railroad Minister Kim Yun Hyok called for an unwavering determination to stand against headwinds that could threaten the project. Reuters ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM LABUAN, December 25 Indonesian rescuers on Tuesday used drones and sniffer dogs to search for survivors along the devastated west coast of Java hit by a tsunami that killed at least 429 persons, warning more victims are expected to be uncovered as the search expands. Thick ash clouds continued to spew from Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island where a crater collapse at high tide on Saturday sent waves smashing into coastal areas on both sides of the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java. At least 154 persons remain missing. More than 1,400 people were injured, and thousands of residents had to move to higher ground, with a high-tide warning extended to Wednesday. Rescuers used heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, and special cameras to detect and dig bodies out of mud and wreckage along a 100-km stretch of Javas west coast and officials said the search area would be expanded further south. There are several locations that we previously thought were not affected, said Yusuf Latif, spokesman for the national search and rescue agency. But now we are reaching more remote areas...and in fact there are many victims there, he added. The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade. Earthquakes flattened parts of the island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on a remote part of Sulawesi island in September. It took just 24 minutes after the landslide for waves to hit land, and there was no early warning for those living on the coast. Authorities have warned of further high waves and advised residents to stay away from the shoreline. Rescue efforts were hampered by heavy rainfall and low visibility. Military and volunteer teams used drones to assess the extent of the damage along the coast. Reuters ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Vatican City, December 25 Pope Francis, in his Christmas message to the world, urged people on Tuesday to see differences as a source of richness instead of danger and called for reconciliation in places torn apart by conflict. Francis delivered the traditional papal Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message to tens of thousands of people in a sunny St. Peters Square from the same basilica balcony where he first appeared as pontiff shortly after his election on March 13, 2013. In his address, in what appeared to be a reference to the shrill political climate in a number of countries, Francis called for fraternity among people with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another. He also urged people to lead less materialistic lives. Francis, the first Pope from Latin America, alluded to polarisation over migration, saying God wanted love, acceptance, respect for this poor humanity of ours, which we all share in a great variety of races, languages, and cultures. Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness, he said. Francis, 82, called for the resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians to undertake a journey of peace that can put an end to a conflict that for over 70 years has lacerated the land chosen by the Lord to show his face of love. He urged the international community to work for a political solution in Syria and said he hoped a truce brokered in Yemens civil war could bring relief to a population exhausted by violence and famine. The Argentinian-born pope also called for social harmony in Nicaragua and Venezuela, both racked by internal political conflicts. The millions of refugees or displaced people in Africa who are in need of humanitarian assistance and food security should not be forgotten, he said. In Ukraine, he called for a peace respectful of the rights of every nation. Ukraines relations with Russia have been locked in a downwards spiral since Moscow annexed Crimea 2014 and backed pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. Visitors from across the world gathered in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve ahead of midnight mass, queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born and taking in a festive parade. Agencies Shun materialism An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive. ... Let us ask ourselves: Do I really need all these material objects and complicated recipes for living? Can I manage without all these unnecessary extras and live a life of greater simplicity? Pope Francis rchopra@tribunemail.com Kabul, December 26 An Afghan official says a suicide bomber disguised as a beggar has killed six people in a wealthy subdivision of the southern city of Kandahar. Mohammad Yousof Younosi, a provincial council member, says the attack on Tuesday happened a block away from his home and appeared to have targeted a group of Pakistanis from that countrys Baluchistan region. No-one immediately claimed the attack. Several militant and separatist groups operate in Baluchistan. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of sheltering Baluch separatists, including those behind a deadly attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi earlier this month. Afghanistan in turn accuses Pakistan of sheltering the Taliban and other Islamic extremists. AP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Beijing, December 26 An explosion ripped through a Chinese university laboratory here on Wednesday, killing at least three students, the citys fire department said. The explosion occurred around 9:30 am local time at the Beijing Jiaotong University in the western part of the city during a chemistry experiment, state television CGTN reported. Three students, who were doing an experiment on landfill leachate wastewater treatment in the lab, were killed in the accident, the fire department said in a statement. Videos of the scene showed large flames and plumes of smoke gushing out of the building in the university campus. About 30 fire engines were sent to the scene and took nearly an hour to get the blaze under control, the authorities said, adding that investigation is underway to find the cause of the accident, the statement said. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Kabul, December 25 An hours-long gun and suicide attack on a Kabul government compound killed at least 43 persons, the health ministry said on Tuesday, making it one of the deadliest assaults on the Afghan capital this year. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the raid, which caps a bloody year for Afghanistan as long-suffering civilians and security forces are slaughtered in record numbers. Another 10 persons were wounded in Mondays massacre on a site where the Ministry of Public Works and an office that handles pensions and benefits for war veterans are located, spokesman Waheed Majroh said. Gunmen stormed the compound mid-afternoon after detonating a car bomb at the entrance, sending terrified government workers running for their lives. Some jumped from windows several floors high to escape the militants. Hundreds more were trapped inside buildings for hours as heavily armed security forces swarmed the area, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle punctuated by multiple explosions. At least four militants, including the suicide bomber, were killed and more than 350 persons freed, officials said. Most of the dead and wounded were civilians. It was the deadliest assault in the Afghan capital since a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a religious gathering last month, killing at least 55 persons. AFP THE POLICES Safe City Initiative seems to be working but tell DCP McDonald Jacob to keep his foot on the gas or it will be hell for us, said one Port of Spain businessman yesterday. The Express polled several businessmen including Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) president Gregory Aboud. The contrasting stories coming out of Building 13 at the Maximum Security Prison are worrying enough to warrant a full and independent enquiry. The casual dismissal of prisoner complaints by Prisons Commissioner Dennis Pulchan is unacceptable, and reveals an unhealthy attitude at the highest level of the prison system. - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." On December 26, a significant avalanche danger is expected in mountainous areas of Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions. The State Emergency Service reported this with reference to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center's forecasts. On December 26, a considerable (III) level of avalanche risk is expected in mountainous areas of Ivano-Frankivsk region and Lviv regions, the report reads. On Wednesday, snow and sleet are expected throughout Ukraine. Temperature will be from 6 degrees below zero to 2 degrees above zero. Wind gusts will be up to 20 meters per second. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has outlined five priority areas of the healthcare reform in 2019. In a post on his Facebook page, the prime minister wrote: "Five priorities of the healthcare reform in 2019. Family medicine: 23 million Ukrainians have already signed declarations with family doctors. Also, the governments Affordable Medicine program will be continued next year. Nearly 30 million prescriptions have already been issued and citizens received medicines for free or with a small surcharge, Groysman wrote. "Starting from July 1, 2019, we launch the program Free Diagnostics, added Groysman. The government will also continue and reform the emergency medicine, for which UAH 1 billion is envisaged in the state budget for 2019. "This includes new vehicles, new equipment, trainings and raised salaries for doctors," he added. Groysman also noted that the construction of modern cardiology centers is one of the most important tasks for the next year. In 2017-2019, the government projected funds for 39 such centers. iy The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has released preliminary statistics on state border crossing in 2018. The top 5 destinations of Ukrainians in 2018 were Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Belarus, according to the agency's website. "Statistics show that among most popular countries that Ukrainians have visited in the current year, as well as last year, are Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Belarus, Slovakia, Egypt (an increase by 350,000 people) and Turkey," reads the statement. At the same time, according to the State Border Guard Service, there is a demand and increase in trips to Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece and Denmark, Austria, Cyprus, Latvia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Switzerland. The number of trips to the United States and Israel remain at the same level as in 2017. Head of the State Border Guard Service, Petro Tsygykal, has recently reported about a steady increase in traffic volumes - 4% on average. At the same time, 71% of those who crossed the state border were citizens of Ukraine (66.4 million people) and 29%.were foreigner citizens. Petro Tsygykal also noted that the number of Ukrainians traveling abroad grew by 6% compared to 2017. "In particular, there was an increase of the number of Ukrainians travelling to Slovakia (by 22%) and Romania (by 17%), as well as those travelling by air (in general, 10.7 million people, the demand for air travel grew by 29%)," reads the report. iy Military personnel from the Ukrainian Joint Forces provided a hospital in Avdiivka of Donetsk region with humanitarian aid for medical purposes totaling about UAH 209,000. The press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters reported this on its Facebook page. Soldiers from the Joint Forces handed over humanitarian aid for medical purposes to the Avdiivka central municipal hospital. The total cost of humanitarian aid is almost UAH 209,000, the report reads. The event was held within the framework of the strategic humanitarian initiative Aid to Eastern Regions with the support of the association Medical and Charitable Aid France-Ukraine and the Association of International Road Carriers of Ukraine. The world is full of people who have insane stories to tell, and this has always been the case. Every century had its own share of people who were absolute crazies or were able to blur the line between bravery and insanity or led such eccentric lives that decades and centuries after them, people still keep discussing their lives. This list is about such 10 crazy people in history and their bizarre stories. 1. Lord Timothy Dexter, an 18th-century American businessman, made idiotic business decisions all his life that oddly paid off. He also once faked his own death and hosted a grand funeral just to see how people would react, then caned his wife for not crying. Lord Timothy Dexter wasnt actually a lord but an uneducated leather craftsman who was born near Boston in 1748. The title was one he bestowed upon himself to fit amongst the elites after he married a wealthy widow and moved to Bostons well-to-do Charlestown neighborhood. Throughout his life, he made strange and idiotic decisions to make a name for himself and to increase his wealth and was oddly successful. In the late 1700s, the Continental dollar, Americas first form of paper money, failed to gain any public trust and so many of the wealthy people tried to do a good deed by buying from the public some of the bills. Dexter, thinking it as an opportunity to earn respect, invested all his money and his wifes money in the now discontinued dollars and bought boatloads of the bills for pennies. Miraculously, the US Constitution was ratified towards the end of the 18th century, and it was decided that the bills could be traded in for treasury bills at 1% of their face values. He became immensely rich instantly. Later in life when a neighbor tried to bankrupt him by giving him the idea to sell bed-warming pans in the West Indies, he took the advice and voyaged to the West Indies with 42,000 warming pans. There, he realized that the territory enjoys hot weather all the time and there was no demand for warming pans. He rebranded them as ladles and sold them to sugar and molasses plantation owners. The demand was such that he ended up making 79% in profits. Another time, a trader convinced Dexter to sell coals in Newcastle without mentioning that the place already had a large coal mine. Oddly, when Dexter reached the place, the mine was on strike and people flocked to him for coals. He came back with one and a half barrels of silver from there. He was also a self-published author. His memoir, A Pickle For The Knowing Ones, had no punctuation and was full of errors. It was a complete mess. He didnt sell the copies of the book but rather gave them away. The demand was so high that a second edition was printed. One of the most peculiar things he ever did was organizing his own mock funeral. He hired a few trustworthy men to make the arrangements, distributed cards carrying the news of his death. and planned a lavish funeral complete with fancy wines and exotic liquors. His family was to do their part. Three thousand people showed up at his funeral. But when Dexter saw from his hiding place that his wife was smiling, he was enraged. Later, he quietly entered his kitchen and caned his wife, creating a commotion and making the guests enter the kitchen only to find the supposed dead Dexter grinning at them. (source) Advertisements 2. Digby Tatham Warter, a World War II British officer. used to carry an umbrella into the battlefield and once overpowered a German vehicle by poking the driver in the eye with the umbrella. It was the dream of Digby Tatham-Warter to join the British-Indian Army and had graduated from Sandhurst Military College. But after the death of his brother at the Second Battle of El Alamein in 1942, he volunteered for the airborne forces. Digbys father was a World War I veteran and had died in the war too. He was soon transferred to the Parachute Regiment. Digby today is remembered, besides his bravery, for his unusual way of fighting battles while carrying an umbrella with him always. In the Parachute Regiment, he was made the commander of A Company in the Second Parachute Battalion. Before the company was to be deployed in September 1944 for the Battle of Arnhem, Netherlands, Digby prepared his men to use bugle calls if the radios failed. He had a problem with remembering passwords, so Digby, before going to the battle, took an umbrella with him for identification. According to him, if anyone would see him carrying an umbrella into a battle, he would instantly be identified as an Englishman. He fought the battle wearing a bowler hat, swinging his umbrella in the middle of mortar fire. He even disabled a German armored car poking the driver in an eye with his umbrella. In the same battle, in another instance, he saw the military chaplain pinned down by the bullets of the enemies. Digby simply went to him, opened his umbrella to cover the chaplain and assured him that he was safe from the bullets now. He escorted the chaplain to safety. Later, when one of his fellow soldiers told him that his umbrella would not be of much help, he simply questioned him what if it rained? (source) Advertisements 3. A French-Canadian soldier, Leo Major, during World War II captured 93 German soldiers single-handedly in one night. A year later, he alone liberated an entire city from the Nazis. French-Canadian soldier Leo Major was only 19 years old when he decided to join the Canadian Army in the year 1940 to prove his father that he was someone his father could be proud of. He always had a poor relationship with him and little did he know that this would result in him becoming one of the most impactful soldiers during the Second World War. During the Battle of the Scheldt in the year 1944, he was given the task of military observation in Zeeland, the Netherlands on a cold and rainy day when he spotted two German soldiers walking along an embankment. Leo instantly attacked them and captured one of the soldiers. He tried to overpower the other using the captured soldier as bait, but the soldier tried to use his gun and Leo killed him before he could shoot at him. He went on to use the live soldier as bait and captured their commander. He shot three more soldiers dead which compelled others to surrender. He then proceeded to march all the captured soldiers, 93 in total, to the Canadian front line. A year after that, in April 1945, he was near the city of Zwolle, the Netherlands along with his regiment. The city was occupied by German troops. While being there, the regiments commanding officer asked for volunteers who could check on the number of German soldiers against whom they would be fighting the next morning. Leo Major and another soldier, Corporal Willie Arseneault, quickly agreed to do the assessment. Corporal Willie Arseneault, however, was killed in the night when their positions were detected. This but only fueled Leos determination. In a fit of rage, he killed two enemy soldiers and the rest fled after witnessing this. Leo continued alone and soon noticed a German vehicle. He took the driver hostage and made him drive to a bar where a German officer was drinking. First, he fought and took the officer hostage but decided to take a calculated risk of letting him go after telling him that the Canadian artillery would start firing at the German troops at 6:00 am and it would cause huge causalities. After letting the officer go, he went around the city causing as much noise as possible to terrify the German troops throwing grenades and firing a sub-machine gun. He also captured groups of Nazi soldiers and marched them to the Canadian front line. He set the Gestapo HQ on fire and fought with eight enemy soldiers in the SS HQ. In the fight, he killed four while others fled quickly. The terrified German troops vacated the city by 4:30 a.m. and Zwolle was liberated by a single man. (source) The Ministerial Meeting, hosted by the Government of Brazil, culminated a year-long commemorative process known as Cartagena +30, which included four sub-regional consultations with governments, international and regional organizations, Ombudsman offices and the civil society, including the academia. These preparatory meetings were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina (on 18 and 19 March) for the countries of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR); in Quito, Ecuador (on 9 and 10 June) for the Andean countries; in Managua, Nicaragua (on 10 and 11 July) for the countries of Mesoamerica; and in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (on 10 and 11 September) for the Caribbean region. At the closing of the Ministerial Meeting, 28 countries and three territories of Latin America and the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uruguay and Venezuela) adopted by acclamation the Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action, agreeing to work together to uphold the highest international and regional protection standards, implement innovative solutions for refugees and displaced persons and end the plight of stateless persons in the region. The Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action maintain that same visionary spirit and high level of aspiration in devising a new regional framework for the coming decade, acknowledging the new realities in Latin America and the Caribbean forcing people to flee and seek protection. Their wording reflect the commitment of the Governments of Latin America and the Caribbean to address humanely the needs of the most vulnerable, as well as the values and contributions of the region's vibrant civil society supported by the Norwegian Refugee Council, who co-organized the Cartagena +30 process together with UNHCR. Brazil Plan of Action One year of Implementation Virtually all states and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with a significant number of civil society organizations, participated in the Cartagena+30 commemorations. This provided an opportunity to take stock of ongoing challenges and new opportunities to protect refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people in the region. Celebrating the principles of cooperation and solidarity, participants agreed on areas for intervention and specific programmes to further strengthen protection standards and foster comprehensive solutions in the region. This consultative process resulted in a renewed commitment to making positive change in the lives of millions of forcibly displaced and stateless people, with participants adopting the Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action (BPA) on 3 December 2014. One year on, significant achievements have been made in the following chapters of the BPA: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is alarmed at a spike in intercommunal violence in central Mali which over the past weeks has driven some 3,000 people into neighbouring Burkina Faso. Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between the Dogon and Peul communities since February, and homes and other property have been destroyed, mainly in the Koro area of central Malis Mopti region. The violence led 3,000 people to flee across the border into Burkina Fasos Nord Region between mid- February and early April. The new arrivals add to some 24,000 Malian refugees who have found refuge in Burkina Faso since the start of the Mali conflict in 2012. With extremist and inter-communal violence on the rise UNHCR now fears more displacement and increased humanitarian needs. The new arrivals in Burkina Faso include 2,000 Malian citizens as well as 1,000 Burkinabe who had been living in Mali for many years. With many afraid to travel by road, for fear of kidnappings and murder, they arrived via unofficial border crossings, on foot or in light vehicles. The new displacement adds to the challenges faced by people of the region. Food insecurity is high due to a lack of rain affecting crops. Health facilities are equally overstretched, with gaps in medicines and staff. Hosted by friends or relatives, the new arrivals are staying in areas that are hard to reach. UNHCR is urging them to move to a camp further away from the border, where they could be registered and have access to basic social services. This would also afford better protection, as insecurity is rising in the north of Burkina Faso, with recurrent acts of banditry and violence in areas that are hosting Malian refugees. Refugees have no work opportunities, in order to sustain themselves, and parents are afraid to send their children to school. Insecurity in northern Burkina Faso has also led to internal displacement. It is reported that several thousand Burkinabe in the Soum province of the Sahel region have left their homes, fleeing southwards or to the east inside the borders of their country. Together with the authorities, UNHCR is working to relocate to safe zones refugees settled in spontaneous sites. We are also working to assist vulnerable people, such as the elderly, single women and children. Distributions of basic relief items and provision of long-term support are urgently needed, especially for the youth. Currently, UNHCR operations in Burkina Faso are only funded by 8 per cent. An additional US$22.9 million is needed to help in 2018. For more information on this topic, please contact: The lawyer says that in fact Moscow is simply trying once again to promote its "we are brothers" concept. Recent statements by Russian politicians and officials on the alleged simplification of Russian citizenship acquisition process for Ukrainians are part of Russian propaganda, according to a Russian lawyer Mark Feygin. In fact, nothing has changed and nothing will change in Russia's migration policy, Feygin told Obozrevatel. According to the lawyer, in reality, Russian citizenship today is incredibly difficult to obtain. Read alsoPoroshenko: Decision on possible dismissal of SBU officers with ties to Russia to be taken after vetting Here, in order to obtain citizenship, people pay bribes! Migration policy is one of the most corrupt spheres in Russia. Therefore, despite all those declarative statements, the practice is completely the opposite, Feigin said. He stressed that in this way, Russia was simply trying once again to promote their "we are brothers" concept, without taking any real steps in this regard. I live in Moscow, I practice law here. And Im telling you that all declarations claiming simplification in obtaining citizenship are all nothing but a bluff, the human rights activist concluded. Martial law was introduced in regions located along the Russian border, the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan border, as well as the Black and Azov seas' coastline. Today, December 26, at 14:00, martial law introduced in certain regions of Ukraine is set to expire, according to Article 7 of Law of Ukraine "On the legal regime of martial law." Martial law was introduced from 14:00 on November 26, 2018, for a period of 30 days until 14:00 on December 26, 2018. The special regime operated in regions located along the Russian border, the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan border, as well as the Black and Azov seas' coastline. Read alsoOSCE chief admits escalation of Ukraine-Russia conflict possible As UNIAN reported earlier, following a Russian attack on Ukrainian naval boats in the Kerch Strait area, martial law was imposed from November 26, for 30 days in 10 regions of Ukraine located along the Russian border and the Transdniestrian segment of the Ukrainian-Moldavian border, as well as along the Black and Azov seas' coastline. On November 30, head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Petro Tsyhykal, stated that due to the introduction of martial law in 10 regions, the agency restricted entry into Ukraine of Russian males of military age (16-60). Russia has been working to make it increasingly difficult for Ukraine to use the ports surrounding the Crimean peninsula, and the recent attack is considered part of that strategy. One month after Russia attacked three Ukrainian navy ships in the Kerch Strait, Ukraine's Navy chief said his country was prepared to defend its sovereignty from its bigger neighbor and exert its freedom to navigate in the body of water. "There's a war going on, initiated by Russiaand this war is raging at the sea too, since 2014. Whether we want and don't want to lay low at bases and offices; we have to fulfill our duties regarding the protection of our sovereign interests. And the sovereign interests of Ukraine apply to the Kerch Strait as well," Vice Admiral Andriy Tarasov, chief of Ukraine's naval staff, told the Kyiv Post. "If we face an act of aggression, we will be ready to have different rules, particularly regarding the use of weapons, if we are forced to do so, and if we are fully entitled by international and Ukrainian law," Tarasov continued. Read alsoPutin tightening grip on Ukraine - Klimkin On November 25, Russia attacked the three Ukrainian navy vessels after obstructing their passage through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. The strait connects mainland Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, Newsweek reported. According to article 123 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, both Ukraine and Russia are required to share use of the Strait as well as the other waters surrounding the two countries. Russia has been working to make it increasingly difficult for Ukraine to use the ports surrounding the Crimean peninsula, and the recent attack is considered part of that strategy. About 24 Ukrainian sailors were detained in the skirmish, and they have yet to be released. Read alsoVolker: We hope Russia will release Ukrainian sailors as expeditiously as possible Nevertheless, Tarasov expressed his conviction that Ukraine's Navy must continue to operate in the area. Other officials in Ukraine argued that the country needs the international community to continue to pressure Russia to allow freedom of navigation in the waters. "Our ships were navigating sea routes where freedom of navigation is guaranteed by international maritime law. This is not an opinion but an indisputable fact. The only 'crime' to have taken place was that perpetrated by Russian forces, which fired on and then seized Ukrainian ships and their crews in open waters," Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs Pavlo Klimkin wrote in an op-ed for Politico Europe. "It is our firm belief that the highly volatile and dangerous situation in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait can only be deescalated through solidarity among countries with a shared respect for international law," Klimkin continued. Earlier, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said Ukrainian ships would try to pass through the Kerch Strait, taking representatives of OSCE and other international organizations on board as witnesses. The Council will discuss issues related to martial law. The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine will hold a meeting on December 26, to be chaired by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. "A meeting of the National Security and Defense Council is scheduled for 14:00 today. There will be a live broadcast," a source in the Presidential Administration told Ukrayinska Pravda. The Council will discuss issues related to martial law. As UNIAN reported earlier, today, December 26, at 14:00, martial law introduced in certain regions of Ukraine is set to expire, according to Article 7 of Law of Ukraine "On the legal regime of martial law." An attempt by the Russian propaganda to defame Ukraine with a 'plotted chemical attack' report has failed, so the Kremlin opted to recall the old fake news about ISIS. Former Russian State Duma MP Sergei Markov has posted on Facebook an excerpt from an article by a journalist Marc Bennetts about a so-called Chechen battalion, which is allegedly based outside the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. According to the author, "some of the battalion's gunmen admit to having honed their combat skills at Islamic State camps in Iraq and Syria," which they successfully employ in Ukraine, the Ukraine-based Information Resistance OSINT group reported. "In general, nothing new here, just another informational stove-piping from Putin's helpful idiots, especially since Marc Bennetts has been living in Moscow for 15 years, while his position on Ukraine can be seen in his other articles about the country," IR wrote. An attempt by the Russian propaganda to defame Ukraine with a 'plotted chemical attack' report has failed, so the Kremlin opted to recall of ISIS. Nothing new, this article even smells of mothballs of past fakes. And as for the interview, there are some doubts arising, since it is winter now, while 'battalion commander Mansour,' who was allegedly interviewed, was photographed in summer, the experts suggest. Read alsoPoroshenko: Ukraine stands against Goebbels-like Russian propaganda Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Dmytro Zolotukhin drew attention to the journalist who authored the report. "A Moscow-based Western journalist, who is 'in opposition to Putin's regime' has published another report of the 'ISIS and Ukraine' series, this time in The Times and The Sunday Times. Believe me, not all people who harm Ukraine's information space and play along with Putin's propaganda are Kremlin agents... Some are just 'useful idiots'," Zolotukhin said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Zolotukhin took part in an expert discussion on preventing third-party interference in electoral processes in Ukraine and across European Union held in Brussels Dec 3. According to the official, as Russian propaganda is constantly repeating itself, disseminating fake news in the framework of the same narratives, it is important to have an understanding of the Kremlin's previous special information operations carried out during the pre-election period. "Spinning fake stories about Ukraine can be compared to the release of TV series, on which the entire 'Kremlinwood' has been working. Each 'series' of Russian disinformation is divided into 'seasons,' which is a more complex set of ideas within the 'series.' Among such series of Russian propaganda are: ISIS-Ukraine ties, Ukraine Army crimes, MH17 crash, NATO troops in Donbas, Ukraine as a failed state, etc." said Zolotukhin. At the same time, the spokesperson expressed surprise over the round table held in the Verkhovna Rada on mass violations of rights of indigenous peoples in Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry Speaker Maria Zakharova has demanded "at least some status" for the Russian language in Ukraine, claiming that "the majority" of Ukrainians speaks it. "Most of the country speaks Russian. While city leaders, government representatives, and journalists speak it, they cannot give it at least some status in a state whose culture was created, including using this language," Zakharova told a Moscow briefing on Wednesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia. At the same time, she expressed surprise over the round table held in the Verkhovna Rada on mass violations of rights of indigenous peoples in Russia, including encroachments on freedom of speech, conscience, assembly, as well as violations of the rights to study in their native language. "That's if Ukrainian lawmakers have nothing else to do than discuss the situation with indigenous peoples in the Russian Federation," she said, calling the situation "ridiculous." Read alsoVolker: Issues of minority rights should not hold hostage Ukraine-NATO relations The spokesperson went on to claim that Ukraine authorities had themselves hindered basic rights of national minorities in Ukraine. However, she did not specify why Russia has no Ukrainian schools while over 1.8 million Ukrainians live in the country, according to the latest census. MFA Russia's spox says Ukraine's intention is a "new provocation." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation demands that Ukraine abandon plans to have more naval vessels pass from the Black Sea to Ukraine's Azov Sea ports via the Kerch Strait. "We expect that Ukraine's Western curators will not only refrain from participating in this absolutely insane initiative, but also find ways to reason the ruling regime in Kyiv and force them to refuse from taking rash steps that could lead to another escalation in the region," speaker of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told a Moscow briefing on Wednesday, an UNIAN correspondent in Russia reports. Read alsoVolker: We hope Russia will release Ukrainian sailors as expeditiously as possible Zakharova believes Ukraine's intention is a "new provocation," including the idea to involve representatives of NATO and OSCE as observers during the passage. "Apparently, the recent incident with the Ukrainian sailors who became hostages of the aggressive policy of the Maidan authorities did not teach anyone a lesson," Zakharova noted. Earlier, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said Ukrainian ships would try to pass through the Kerch Strait, taking representatives of OSCE and other international organizations on board as witnesses. The decision is based on all components of security situation in Ukraine, the president told an NSDC meeting. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has confirmed termination of martial law in Ukraine. The president made a corresponding statement at the National Security and Defense Council's meeting on Wednesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Now, at 14:00 martial law is terminated. This is my principled decision. It is based on an analysis of all components of the current security situation in the state, the president said. As UNIAN reported earlier, on Nov 26, following a Russian attack on Ukrainian naval boats near the Kerch Strait, martial law was introduced in ten regions of Ukraine for a period of 30 days. Today, December 26, at 14:00, martial law introduced in certain regions of Ukraine was set to expire, according to Article 7 of Law of Ukraine "On the legal regime of martial law." Martial law was introduced from 14:00 on November 26, 2018, for a period of 30 days until 14:00 on December 26, 2018. The special regime operated in regions located along the Russian border, the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan border, as well as the Black and Azov seas' coastline. The democracy will be protected, the president said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he guarantees the timely holding of presidential elections in Ukraine, that is, on March 31, 2019. "We will protect democracy. We precisely guarantee that presidential elections will take place on March 31, 2019. I emphasize this," he said during a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on Wednesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent. As UNIAN reported earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko confirmed termination of martial law in Ukraine on December 26. A number of president's critics said the very introduction of martial law was aimed to either postpone the elections or gain political points by speculating on the issue of repelling Russian aggression. Nebylytsia's lawyer Emil Kurbedinov said the lawyers were going to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The so-called "Supreme" Court of Russian-occupied Crimea on Wednesday declined to free five out of 24 captive Ukrainian Navy members whose appeals it had been considering. The "appeals court" upheld the ruling of Simferopol's Kyivsky District Court and clarified the date when the arrest ends, as there was a technical error made by the court of first instance, and their imprisonment expires on January 24, 2019, rather than January 25, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said. The sailors whose appeals were considered are two captains: Petty Officer 1st Class Oleh Melnychuk of the Yany Kapu tugboat and 1st Lt. Bohdan Nebylytsia of the Nikopol armored boat. The remaining are 2nd rank captain Denys Hrytsenko, senior seaman Yuriy Bezyazychny and seaman Yevhen Semydotsky. The appeals of their lawyers were the last complaints that came to the "supreme" court from the defense of the Ukrainian sailors, a representative of the "Supreme Court" of Crimea said. Nebylytsia's lawyer Emil Kurbedinov said the lawyers were going to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Read alsoUkrainian tug commander refuses to testify, tells Russian investigators he's war prisoner The sailors are now being held at Moscow's Lefortovo detention facility and participated in the hearing by video link. They consider themselves prisoners of war. On November 25, Russia blocked the passage to the Kerch Strait for the Ukrainian tugboat "Yany Kapu" and two armored naval boats "Berdyansk" and "Nikopol," which were on a scheduled re-deployment from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol. The Ukraine Navy Command noted that the Russian side had been informed of the plans to re-deploy the vessels in advance in accordance with international standards to ensure the safety of navigation. The Russian coast guard ship "Don" rammed the Ukrainian tugboat, damaging the Ukrainian vessel. As the Ukrainian boats were heading back in the Odesa direction after being rejected passage via the Kerch Strait, Russian coast guards opened aimed fire on them. All 24 crew members on board were captured and later remanded in custody for two months, being charged with "illegal border crossing" (the sailors are facing up to six years in prison). Three crewmen were wounded in the attack. Russian-controlled "courts" in occupied Crimea ruled that all 24 detainees should be remanded in custody, after which they were transferred to the Moscow-based Lefortovo and Matrosskaya Tishina detention centers. The council considered the measures on December 26. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has slapped additional sanctions against individuals and legal entities from the Russian Federation over the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels and their crews near the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea on November 25 and illegal local "elections" in Russian-occupied Donbas. "Following debate, it was decided to support the imposition of sanctions, primarily on legal entities and individuals: Russian companies, businessmen, politicians and lawmakers, law enforcement officers who actively supported or contributed to aggressive actions against Ukraine," the NSDC said in a statement on December 26. Read alsoRussian-controlled "supreme" court in Crimea backs arrest of five Ukrainian sailors Sanctions were also levied on persons who participated in organizing illegal "elections" in the occupied territories of Donbas, as well as the military, judges and law enforcement officers involved in the unlawful seizure of Ukrainian sailors during an act of Russian aggression against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait and their illegal imprisonment in Russia. As UNIAN reported, Russian border guards attacked and seized three Ukrainian vessels (two artillery boats and a tugboat) and captured 22 crew members and two Ukrainian security service officers. Ukraine's SBU and military prosecutors in absentia indicted the Russian border guards and military men who were involved in the attack on the Ukrainian vessels. Some 1,616 citizens of the Russian Federation have not been allowed into Ukraine since November 26, 2018. The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on December 26 ordered that the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service maintain tightened control on the border with Russia, in particular, extended a ban on Russian male citizens' entry into Ukraine. "Given that the situation is still quite complicated, all the agencies subject to the Interior Ministry continue serving in heightened-alert mode," the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's media liaison office quoted First Deputy Minister Serhiy Yarovyi as saying. "In particular, the NSDC's decision extends the restrictive measures of the State Border Service regarding the entry of Russian men into Ukraine." Read alsoUkraine slaps additional anti-Russia sanctions over seizure of boats, "vote" in Donbas He also said that "since the launch of martial law, 1,616 citizens of the Russian Federation had not been allowed into Ukraine. This number includes 866 individuals in the regions where martial law was in effect. Meanwhile, 351 citizens of Ukraine were refused entry into Russia. As UNIAN reported earlier, chief of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsyhykal on November 30 stated that due to the imposition of martial law in 10 regions, male citizens from Russia whose age is between 16 and 60 shall not be allowed into Ukraine. Martial law introduced in 10 regions along the Russian border and the Transnistrian segment of the Ukrainian-Moldavian border, as well as along the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, lasted for 30 days, from 14:00 on November 26 at to 14:00 on December 26, 2018. Posing as pilgrims, the priests would penetrate the territory controlled by Ukraine troops to collect intelligence in the interests of Russia's proxy forces. Priests who are part of what has until recently been called the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate collaborated with the militants of the Russian terrorist leader Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), that's according to a volunteer and coordinator of "Myr i Co" Foundation, Myroslav Hai. "I'll tell you, in Slaviansk, during the events of 2014 [the start of hostilities in eastern Ukraine], the UOC MP helped Girkins terrorists, those Russian mercenaries, by conducting reconnaissance. Under the guise of pilgrims, they would penetrate the Ukraine-controlled territory, he told Pryamyi TV channel. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on Dec 20 passed a bill to rename the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). Read alsoPropaganda "very strong" in Moscow Patriarchate ex-priest Ukrainian MP from the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko faction Oleksandr Bryhynets said if "the state is recognized as the aggressor state, the church whose administration is located in the territory of the aggressor state must have in its title the full name of the church to which it is subordinate." The legislation introduces only one restriction: the church "subordinated to the aggressor state has no right to be represented in military units on the front line." Neither the range nor the terrain elevation profile, nor the technical characteristics of weapons would allow Joint Forces to inflict such damage to civilian property in the area in question. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission reported damage to four civilian properties in the Donetsk city's Petrovskyi district. "On 23 December, the SMM saw fresh damage to four civilian properties in the Trudivski area of Donetsk citys Petrovskyi district (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk city centre), all assessed as caused by 23mm or 30mm rounds," reads the SMM's daily spot report. Four civilians (men and women, aged 50-70) residing in affected apartment buildings told the Mission that their buildings had been damaged on the evening of December 20. The Ukrainian side to the Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center notes that Russian proxy forces have repeatedly attempted to blame Ukrainian troops for the shooting in civilian areas while continuing to be the actual source of this threatening fire. Read alsoOSCE SMM's UAV spots 22 Grad MLR systems in occupied Donbas Neither the distance, nor the elevation profile of the terrain, nor the technical characteristics of such weapons would allow units of the Joint Forces to fire at civilian properties in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk that were damaged, the JCCC monitors say. The report emphasizes that this fact once again testifies to the targeted actions of the occupation administration and Russia's armed formations toward further aggravation of the conflict, their unwillingness to observe ceasefire, and deliberate failure to fulfill Minsk agreements. According to intelligence data, one militant was killed and another two were injured in the past day. On December 25, Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire five times. At the same time, in two instances, the enemy employed weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements, the press center of Joint Forces Operation reported. In particular, the enemy fired from 120 mm and 82 mm mortars on JFO positions in the area of Krymske on the Luhansk line and from 82 mm mortars in the area of the village of Zolote-4 on the Popasna line. "Our strongholds were fired upon from grenade launchers of various types, large-caliber machine guns and small arms in Novotoshkivske and Luhanske in the Luhansk direction and near the town of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk direction," said the press center. One JFO soldier was injured during the past 24 hours. Read alsoJFO: Three Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Donbas in past day To suppress enemy fire, the Joint Forces used weapons available. According to intelligence data, on December 25, one militant was killed and another two were injured. Since day-start, the enemy opened fire on the Ukrainian positions near Hnutove in the Mariupol area from grenade launchers of various systems and large-caliber machine guns. There have been no casualties among Joint Forces since midnight. As UNIAN reported earlier, the invaders deployed 22 "Grad" MLR systems near Khrustalne in Luhansk region. In October 2017, the renowned Memorial Human Rights Centre declared Bakholdin a political prisoner. A court in Moscow has sentenced Denis Bakholdin, 37, to three and a half years imprisonment for allegedly belonging to the Ukrainian organization Right Sector, a legitimate Ukrainian organization Russia branded as "extremist." The prosecution had claimed that Bakholdin had gone to Ukraine to take part in the war in Donbas to harm the interests of the Russian Federation, according to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. Bakholdin has long been a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and took part in many protests against Russias invasion of Crimea and undeclared war against Ukraine in Donbas. He moved to Ukraine towards the end of 2014 and had been living there since. In March 2017, the man set off for Russia to visit his mother who was unwell. He was seized by Russian border guards and, two weeks later, his mother was officially informed that Bakholdin had been arrested, supposedly while trying to illegally cross the Russian-Ukrainian border. He reports that security officials handcuffed him to a radiator for 12 hours and beaten him in an attempt to extract a "confession." He withstood the torture and has since refused to answer questions from the investigators or in any way assist the prosecution in a trial he views as a sham. In October 2017, the renowned Memorial Human Rights Centre declared Bakholdin a political prisoner. Read alsoPutin says Ukrainian sailors' swap may be discussed after completion of criminal case Bakholdin was charged under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of Russias criminal code involvement in an organization which has been banned as extremist by a Russian court, with this pertaining to Right Sector which Bakholdin was claimed to have been a member of all the time he was in Ukraine. Memorial HRC notes that the investigators had been so sloppy that they charged Bakholdin with committing the alleged "offense" from October 2014 as he entered Ukraine, although Right Sector had only been banned in Russia starting November 2014. The investigators charges, Memorial says, are based on supposition and unproven facts, including the notorious fake appeal by the then head of Right Sector Dmytro Yarosh to Dokka Umarov, a Chechen militant. The latter has been regularly cited, despite the statement's fraudulent nature, to justify Russias demonization of Right Sector. Read alsoRussian court hands down sentences in "Hizb ut-Tahrir case" "The investigators have not explained how the activities of Right Sector in Ukraine could be directed at 'the violent change in the foundations of the constitutional order and violation of the integrity of the Russian Federation and undermining national security'." Russia has stepped up its demonization and persecution of people for alleged involvement in the Right Sector organization over the last 18 months. Another three Ukrainians Oleksandr Shumkov, Roman Ternovsky and Mykola Dadey have been convicted under the same article of Russias criminal code over activities that are entirely legal in Ukraine. The situation is particularly shocking in the case of Shumkov since he was kidnapped from Ukraine to Russia and then taken prisoner. Pham Cong Danh (middle), former chairman of the board of Viet Nam Construction Bank (VNCB) and other defendants at court. - VNA/VNS Photo The court said that Danh bore the major responsibility for VNCBs VND6.1 trillion loss (US$274 million), which caused a negative impact on the banking system. He was accused of violating lending regulations of credit institutions and deliberately violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences. The appeals trial, which began on December 11, reviewed appeals of 14 defendants. Only two of the defendants original sentences were changed. They received probation for three years. At the first-instance trial, 45 defendants received from two years of probation to 30 years in jail. Abuse of power After the State Bank of Vietnam approved Trust Banks restructuring plan, Danh took over the failing bank and renamed it VNCB, according to the indictment issued by the Supreme Peoples Procuracy. Danh abused his post as chairman of the VNCB board of directors and chairman of the members board of the Thien Thanh Group by instructing his staff in the group and the bank to commit a range of violations, according to the indictment. From December 2012 to March 2014, Danh and his accomplices set up false files and committed violations related to the lending regulations of credit institutions. Danh and the other defendants were accused of using VNCBs money as collateral to take out loans totalling more than VND6.1 trillion ($274 million) at TPBank, Sacombank and BIDV. The borrowed money, however, was for Danhs personal use, and he did not repay it. VNCB was established in May 2014 by Trust Bank which operated for 23 years, with charter capital of VND3 trillion ($135 million). In mid-2014, the State Bank of Vietnam appointed new officials to VNCB after several former top executives at the bank were arrested for allegedly violating state regulations. Apart from VNCB, other commercial banks owned by the SBV were Ocean Bank and GP Bank. The SBV bought the three banks for zero ong due to their ailing performances and failure to meet required charter capital increases. Apart from Danh, Tram Be was charged with allowing Phan Huy Khang, ex-general director of Sacombank, to give approval for Danh to borrow VND1.8 trillion ($81 million) through Danhs companies. The support from Tram Be and Phan Huy Khang for Danh contributed to VNCBs losses, according to the indictment. Danh and his accomplices caused losses of more than VND15 trillion ($675.6 million) to VNCB. The corruption case involved the largest-ever recorded economic loss of any preceding corruption case in the country. Hanoi residents may not be able to try out the railway before the 2019 Lunar New Year Since the test run three months ago, Hadong district residents have been on pins and needles waiting for their first trip on the urban railway, which is expected to cut down travel time from the district to the city centre. Dieu Linh, a resident from Hadong district, told VIR, It takes me 45-60 minutes to reach my workplace, which is 14km from my home. Every day, I get stressed and wish I could use public transport instead of my motorbike. Urban railway will be the best option as it will bypass congestions. However, as the Metro line falls farther and farther behind schedule while investment capital mounts every year (currently $868.4 million), it is unlikely that that the project will be put into operation in the 2019 Lunar New Year. Unknown progress In the Ministry of Transports (MoT) adjustment proposal notice sent to the prime minister in June, the MoT proposed adjusting the projects finishing time to 2020, the time to complete installing devices to August 2018, and the time to start test runs to September 2018. However, over the past seven years, despite a test run carried out several months ago, the project developer China-based China Railway Engineering Group No.6 Co., Ltd. has only assembled about 90 per cent of the projects devices. The test run will last for 3-6 months, and the time to put the railway into operation will depend on the results, said a member of the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board. On the other hand, with the goal of putting the project into operation in the 2019 Lunar New Year, since the test run on September 30, 2018, there are only slightly more than four months to complete and put the railway into operation. Personnel fluctuation Another big challenge of the project is the lack of personnel. Accordingly, 80 employees of Hanoi Railway One Member Limited, the projects construction contractor, have left the company. According to Hanoi Railway One Member Limited, 681 workers are employed along the Cat Linh-Hadong elevated railway, including 30 untrained labourers, 201 labourers trained in China, and 451 labourers trained in Vietnam. However, the labourers trained in Vietnam have only received theoretical training from Chinese experts and labourers trained in China. Hanoi Urban Railway One Member Limited requested the Chinese developer to provide more practical trainings but failed, leaving both the companies and personnel hanging during the delay. Some of the personnel employed for the operation of the railway have quit over the long delays. Vu Hong Truong, general director of Hanoi Urban Railway One Member Limited stated 12-15 per cent of the personnel have left. The percentage may keep increasing if the project sees more delays, and the offered wages are not enough to lure in personnel, who also do not receive allowances during the practical training and the test run. A new circular drafted by the State Bank of Vietnam would reduce punishments for foreign currency exchange violations. - Photo vietnamfinance.vn The draft regulation, if approved, would be added to Circular 32/2013/TT-NHNN, dated December 26, 2013, restricting the use of foreign currencies in Vietnam. The draft would allow non-resident foreign investors to use foreign currencies to pay deposits when bidding for stakes in SOEs during their privatisation or capital divestment. If the foreign investors do not win in the bidding, the deposits would be transferred abroad after deducting the costs (if any) they must pay for submitting a bid. If a foreigner investor were to win the bidding, the investment procedures would be conducted following the established regulations about foreign currencies. The central bank said the draft regulation would make it quicker and easier for foreign investors to buy stakes in SOEs undergoing privatisation or capital divestment. There are currently no regulations allowing non-resident foreign investors to pay bid deposits in foreign currencies, meaning foreign investors must get approval for the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on a case-by-case basis. The central bank expects the regulation to encourage the participation of foreign investors in the SOE privatisation and capital divestment process. Privatisation results are expected to miss targets set for this year; therefore, the Government has targeted attracting foreign investors to accelerate the process. Lighter punishment The central bank also drafted a regulation setting lighter punishments for illegal transactions of foreign currencies. This came after 38-year-old Nguyen Ca Re in Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho Province was fined VND90 million for exchanging US$100 at a gold store not an official channel for currency exchange. The punishment for Re was said to be too heavy for such a small individual violation. The draft proposes setting the lightest punishments at merely a warning or VND10-20 million (US$435-870), far lower than the previous fine of VND80-100 million. The central bank said Decree 96/2014/N-CP, which set the original punishment, was outdated after four years in effect, adding that several punishments were no longer appropriate. According to lawyer Nguyen Duc Chanh from the HCM City Bar Association, introducing lighter punishments for illegal currency transactions was reasonable as several punishments were too severe compared to the seriousness of violations. Chanh said the draft should categorise violations into different levels, as the punishment for exchanging $1 should be smaller than for exchanging $1,000. Financial and banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu said it was necessary to quantify the damage of the violations to the economy to identify the appropriate punishment. The draft decree also added punishments to casino operation violations related to the listing of currency exchanges and the opening and use of accounts in foreign countries without the approval of the central bank. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photograph after she recorded her annual Christmas Day message, in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace in central London. (John Stillwell/POOL/AFP) LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II warned of religious "tribalism" in a Christmas message on Tuesday (Dec 25) delivered against a backdrop of Britain bickering over its impending exit from the EU. The tone of the 92-year-old monarch's annual TV appearances reflected a sombre mood sweeping the island nation as it ponders the perils of leaving the European Union in March after 46 years. British royalty traditionally steer well clear of politics - a unifying position that puts them above the daily fray of Westminster and Downing Street. But the queen came close to breaking that mould on several occasions during a five-minute appearance recorded earlier this month and played simultaneously on Britain's main TV stations. "Some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom. I'd like to think so. Perhaps part of that wisdom is to recognise some of life's baffling paradoxes, such as the way human beings have a huge propensity for good, and yet a capacity for evil," the queen said while seated in front of a fireplace and Christmas tree. "Even the power of faith, which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice, can fall victim to tribalism," the queen said. 'RESPECT' The queen's address crowns a stormy month that saw Prime Minister Theresa May survive a leadership challenge staged by her party's most hardened opponents of Brussels. May's entire strategy for a negotiated exit from the European Union is in danger of falling apart at the finish line. The prime minister this month pulled a scheduled vote on a deal she had reached with the EU in November after admitting that it would overwhelmingly lose. London's split from Brussels without a trade agreement would threaten to unleash economic doom over the short term. Those who back Brexit say it is a price worth paying for regaining sovereignty from officials in Brussels who they say subject Britain to their own rules. The debate over the whole process is as emotional and personal for many as it was the day Brexit was backed by a 52-48 majority in a 2016 vote. The queen appeared to be scolding both sides of the widening political divide. "Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding," the queen said. She concluded by noting that message of peace carried by the birth of Jesus in the Christmas story was particularly relevant now. "I believe his message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date," she said. "It can be heeded by everyone; it's needed as much as ever." 'DUTCHESS DIFFICULT' The queen's speech was recorded around the time last week when newly-minted royal Meghan Markle's honeymoon with the British tabloids appeared to be coming to an end. The former US actress has come under almost daily criticism from the papers for allegedly being a tough boss whose demands forced several senior courtiers to quit. The widely read Daily Mail even asked whether Markle - the wife of Prince Harry whose formal title is the dutchess of Sussex - was being "Dutchess Difficult". But top members of the royal family smiled warmly for the cameras while attending a traditional Christmas Day church service near one of their residences in the northeast of England. And the queen herself indicated that she was enjoying the recent spate of royal weddings and the babies - including Meghan and Harry's first in the spring - that they produce. "Closer to home, it's been a busy year for my family, with two weddings and two babies, and another child expected soon," the queen said. "It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied." Vietnam would import 56,284 tonnes of raw tobacco under tariff quota in 2019.-Photo chinhphu.vn The import quotas follow the regulations on application of tariffs under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for its member countries. This quota is not applied for raw tobacco products originating from ASEAN countries. Importing raw tobacco from ASEAN countries should comply with the provisions of Circular 07/2015/TT-BCT dated 12 May 2015 by the ministry, on the non-application of tariff quota to the imports of raw tobacco. The above quota is allocated to traders who are licensed for producing cigarettes by the MoIT. And these traders are in need of raw tobacco for production of cigarettes with a certain percentage of imported raw tobacco certified by the ministry. Last year, the country imported 53,604 tonnes of raw tobacco under the quota. The proposed import amount in 2019 would be 2,680 tonnes higher than that of 2018. The ministry is collecting ideas for the draft decree at its portal. Located about 20 km away from HCM City, the Tre Viet tourism site in Nhon Trach district, Dong Nai province attracts tourists with its peaceful natural scenery and wide-open spaces. This is an ideal place for team building and other outdoor activities Visitors can experience a range of exciting activities such as kayaking, rowing, and cycling. The entrance fee is VND50,000 per person, and visitors are able to buy a combo including a ticket, the use of the swimming pool use and access to the buffet at a price of VND330,000. Roughly 6km away from Bien Hoa city in Dong Nai province, Buu Long tourism site is considered a mini Ha Long Bay. Covering on an area of 84 hectares, the site attracts visitors who come to visit the tranquil green islands and splendid mangrove forests. The highlight of the site is the magnificent Long An lake that is surrounded by rocks, architecture works and clean air. Visitors to the area can take a walk, camp, throw a BBQ party and get involved in kayaking or fishing. The entrance fee is VND70,000 for people over the height of 1.3 metres. 20km away from the centre of HCM City, Thuy Chau tourism site has plenty of green space, delicious food and a diversified range of services. This is the best place for visitors to enjoy a weekend getaway. Visitors with small children can relax beside the swimming pool and immerse themselves within the cool water of the stream inside the site. Ticket prices for adults is VND80,000 and VND40,000 for children who are between the height of 1.2 metresand1.4 metres. Tu Phuong That Dao eco-tourism site can be found 8km away from the centre of Ba Ria city in Phuoc Huu hamlet, Long Phuoc commune. It has received visitors since 2016 and has impressed many tourists with the site of a picturesque village inan area that covers more than 20,000 square metres. Visitors can enjoy activities such as rowing, fishing and visiting the orchards as well as experiencing local delicacies. Bang Lang Tim tourism site is 60 km away from HCM City and located in Nhon Trach district. The landscape is similar to that found in the west. It attracts visitors who come to enjoy the green trees and cool space. Planes at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.-VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung With the master plan to operate 28 airports by 2030, including 15 domestic and 13 international ones, in which Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh are key international gates, Vietnam is attracting investors to pour money into aviation infrastructure projects. The Imex Pan-Pacific Trading Group, chaired by Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, has recently sent a document to Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The proposing to join the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to invest in Passenger Terminal (T3) at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. This is the second time this year Johnathan has expressed such a desire. Meanwhile, the real estate developer FLC Group of Trinh Van Quyet is also interested in investing in the aviation sector. The group has received approval in principle from authorities in the central province of Quang Binh to invest in and upgrade Dong Hoi to an international airport. In document No 533/UBND-KTTH, the provincial Peoples Committee said the project would be implemented under a public-private-partnership (PPP) model. Quang Binh authorities and FLC Group have jointly asked the transport ministry to approve the project, which is expected to raise capacity from 500,000 passengers to ten million by 2020. One of the typical examples of increased private investment is Van Don International Airport. The airport is the first private one in Vietnam invested in the form of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer), with investment capital of VND7.5 trillion (US$321.4 million). The airport is directly invested and operated by Sun Group. The price of aviation services at the airport are still managed by the State in accordance with law. Van Don is approved by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) as an airport of grade 4E (according to ICAO standard code). It is modern with a 3.6km long, 45m wide landing strip and is capable of accommodating large cargo and passenger aircraft. Van Don Airport is scheduled to begin operation this Sunday. In their latest report, experts from Vietcombank Securities (VCBS) said they witnessed a trend of privatisation in infrastructure investment. This trend on the one hand reduces pressure on the State budget and improves service quality, on the other hand it creates a less positive sign for businesses with a large market share in the industry when the market is shared, said experts fromVCBS. VCBS experts also assessed that aviation infrastructure had not caught up with the industrys development. The total passenger transport market of Vietnamese airlines is predicted to increase by an average of 16 per cent per year by 2020 and 8 per cent in the period 2020-30. The passenger transport volume in 2020 and 2030 is 64 million and 131 million, respectively, according to the transport ministrys forecast. Meanwhile, this year witnessed the five biggest airports of Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, all serve a number of passengers exceeding their designed capacity. In particular, Tan Son Nhat Airport exceeded the figure by 40.7 per cent. "Despite improvements in technology, the process partially meets the increasing number of passengers each year, the expansion and upgrades to these airports is still an indispensable requirement," VCBS stressed. According to ACV, in the period 2018-25, there will be 15 key airports that will receive upgrades. Construction works will also be undertaken on Long Thanh International Airport in phase 1 and new passenger terminals for Dien Bien, Na San and Lao Cai airports. It is expected that the total investment of terminal and apron projects (excluding Long Thanh Airport) amounted to more than VND56.7 trillion with capital accumulated from ACVs business activities. In addition, it needs more than VND20.7 trillion to invest in the airfield projects, with capital accumulated from this area. In the above projects, investment priority will belong to Tan Son Nhat Airport. According to Deputy General Director of Vietstar Airlines Luong Hoai Nam, quoted by online newspaper vnexpress.vn at the Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit held early this month in Hanoi, since 1975, Vietnam has only really built completely and put into operation Phu Quoc Airport and most recently Van Don Airport, the rest are mostly upgraded from military airports with limited land funds, making the ability to expand very slight. Vietnam has 21 airports, while Thailand has 38. The capacity of all Vietnams airports is 75 million passengers per year, which is just one-third of Thailands. The combined capacity of all airports in Vietnam is that of Changi Airport of Singapore or Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia. Some three tons of African ivory sat in an unmarked crate in a Cambodian port for more than a year, until a tip from the U.S. embassy led authorities to break it open this week and discover the country's largest-ever haul of trafficked ivory. Port laborers who recently gathered outside the facility told a reporter that no one had ever showed up to claim the valuable cargo. "There are 12 containers and one container consists of elephants tusks packed in sacks and some sacks loading rocks which look like marble," said a laborer who witnessed the seizure at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port Container Terminal on Thursday last week. He asked not to be named since he is afraid of being identified by port authorities. "I think they [authorities] wanted to know [who] the owner is, but perhaps the owner knew and didn't appear," added the laborer. A smartphone photograph provided by the worker shows hundreds of elephant tusks, some cut in two, sitting on a cement floor near the containers. U.S. tips lead to seizure Emily Zeeberg, the U.S. Embassy spokesperson, said American officials provided information to the Cambodian Customs and Excise Department that ultimately led to the search of a sealed container and to the seizure of 1,026 cut and whole pieces of ivory weighing approximately 3,370 kilograms. "The ivory originated from Mozambique. Cambodia is a transit hub; there is no information indicating that the ivory was intended to be sold here in Cambodia," she said in an email. "The investigation is ongoing." Ros Vanna, chairman and CEO of Kampuchea Shipping Agency and Brokers, also known as Kamsab, which grants customs clearance to foreign ships, said the port does not have rights to open the sealed containers immediately if the owner does not come. He said if goods are abandoned, a court must intervene. "The owner didn't appear to take [them] and then we sued to the court and open the containers," he said. Sun Chhay, a director of the Customs and Excise Office at the port, told VOA Khmer that the owner of the containers apparently did not show up to claim the cargo because they feared the smuggling operation had been exposed. "So far we don't know whether the owner is Cambodian or foreigner," he said. Chhay confirmed that the ivory was imported from Mozambique and shipped through Vietnam, where he said it was not checked because that country's customs authority does not have the rights to check transiting cargo. He added that the next actions should be decided by his superior official. Kun Nhim, general director of the General Department of Customs and Excise could not be reached for comment. Ivory trade in Cambodia is 'booming' In December 2017, Cambodian authorities seized around 270 tusks at Cambodia's southwestern port of Sihanoukville. In 2016, the country's authorities also seized around 1.5 tons of ivory kept in containers in Phnom Penh and in 2014 Cambodian customs officials seized some 3 tons of African ivory in Sihanoukville as well. Paul Chambers, a political analyst at the College of Asean Community Studies at Naresuan University in Thailand, said Cambodia could be both a source and a transit country for the tusks. "Cambodia has been an easy place to practice the international ivory trade because government enforcement is relatively lax," he said. "Where there is money to be made, there will be buyers. That is what accounts for the continuing booming ivory trade in Cambodia or elsewhere in the world. The destination could be anywhere in the world, but it is so tragic that this trade continues," he added. Meas Nee, a political analyst, said complex operations like ivory smuggling typically involve powerful people in Cambodia, even if the tusks are headed elsewhere. "I think Cambodia is just a transit only since we don't really have law enforcement and there is also corruption as well," he added. Save the Elephants, a UK-registered charity headquartered in Nairobi, issued new research in October this year, saying that Myanmar's illegal ivory trade has been growing, with more exports headed to China. The whole sale price for African raw ivory in late 2017 in the Golden Triangle region has remained stable at about $770 to $800 per kg since late 2015, according to Save the Elephants. Approximately 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory in just three years between the years 2010 and 2012. Between 20,000 and 30,000 African elephants are killed each year, according to the World Wildlife Fund Bangladesh's main opposition alliance on Tuesday demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner, accusing him of bias, ahead of Sunday's elections while violence worsens, officials and news reports said. Opposition spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Tuesday night that they demanded the resignation of K.M.Nurul Huda as they did not expect a free and fair election under him. He urged the country's figurehead president to appoint a neutral person instead. Alamgir, who is the secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, told a news conference they made the call after senior leaders from an anti-government alliance walked out of a meeting with Huda. He said a meeting between opposition leaders and election officials failed after the opposition alliance noted instances of attacks since campaigning started Dec. 10. "But without paying heed to our allegations, the chief election commissioner talked in a biased and discourteous way that made us frustrated and shocked,'' he said. "It is impossible to get neutral behavior let alone expecting a free, fair and neutral election under him.'' Election officials refused to speak to media about the meeting details. Official and media tallies say more than 100 people, mostly from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, were injured in political violence Tuesday. Supporters of the ruling Awami League and the opposition parties clashed in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Sylhet districts, leading English-language Daily Star newspaper and domestic Jamuna Television reported. Daily Star also said some 250 opposition supporters have been arrested since Monday night. At least six people have been killed and more than 1000 have been injured since Dec. 10. Both opposition and ruling party blame each other for attacks, but media reports say most attacks were executed by the ruling party members and often backed by security officials. On Monday, authorities deployed thousands of army soldiers across the country to work as a striking force for holding the election. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking to return to power for a third consecutive time amid opposition allegations that the elections could be rigged. Authorities have pledged a free and fair election. The country's 11th general election is going to happen amid opposition allegations that thousands of its leaders and activists have been arrested to weaken them. But authorities say the arrests are not politically motivated and the opposition is trying to create chaos ahead of elections. Earlier this month, New York-based Human Rights Watch urged the international community to press the Bangladesh government to create conditions for a free and fair election. The group criticized Bangladeshi security forces for "arresting and intimidating opposition figures and threatening freedom of expression ahead of the election.'' Zia's party is the main partner of the newly formed anti-government alliance Oikyafront that has thrown a challenge to the incumbent government of Hasina. Kamal Hossain, a prominent lawyer and a former foreign minister, is leading the alliance after Zia was disqualified by a court because she is serving prison terms for corruption. A British-Iranian professor who had been held in Iran since April has returned to England. Abbas Edalat, who teaches mathematics and computer science at Imperial College London, was arrested and held on unspecified security charges. Edalat, who has dual Iranian and British citizenship was in Iran to visit family and attend an academic conference at the time of his arrest. The Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, charity Edalat founded, said he was released last week. "It increasingly appears, as we had suspected, that his detention in spring in Iran was a case of misinformation and misunderstanding by the Iranian security apparatus," the group said in a statement. Edalat was one of dozens of dual citizens in Iranian jails, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has been jailed since 2016. The British-Iranian charity worker is serving a five-year sentence for spying, which she denies. On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted, "As we celebrate, let's also remember those unjustly imprisoned like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is 40 tomorrow." Iran, which does not recognize dual citizenship, has been accused of arresting and jailing Iranians with second citizenships in order to use them as win concessions in negotiations. Cambodia's government will host the start of a three-day celebration marking the 20-year anniversary of the end of civil war. The event, beginning Dec. 29, is designed to lay to rest the issue of when the long-running conflict finally ended. Tens of thousands are expected to gather in Chroy Changvar, the peninsula that fronts the capital, dividing the Mekong River and Tonle Sap, to mark the war's end known as "win-win." They will also mark the opening of a memorial that the government says will "tell the next generation the real history of Cambodia." On Dec. 29, 1998, Cambodia's 30-year war ended when surviving Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan formally surrendered to Prime Minister Hun Sen at his compound on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. "Win-win policy allows Cambodia to attain peace and territorial unity and that it brought about socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, particularly as Cambodian people no longer died in war as in the past," Hun Sen recently said. Paris Peace Accords The capitulation came seven years after the 1991 Paris Peace Accords were signed and the end of the war declared; however, the arrival of peacekeepers with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) in 1992 failed to disarm the Khmer Rouge. As a result, the fighting, kidnappings and terrorist attacks continued with three armies loyal to Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, and to the two prime ministers who shared power Hun Sen of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the Funcinpec party squaring off against each other. According to CPP honorary chairman Heng Samrin, that changed in 1997 when Ranariddh sought a deal with the Khmer Rouge. He wanted to forge a military alliance in an effort to outgun Hun Sen, who responded accordingly. Hundreds were killed and Ranariddh was routed. Amnesties in return for defections were offered to the Khmer Rouge as government troops loyal to Hun Sen made a final push into their last strongholds along the Thai border and forced a final surrender. In the book The People's Struggle, Cambodia Reborn, recently released to coincide with the celebrations, author Heng Samrin credits Hun Sen with ending the conflict which began with a Khmer Rouge call to arms in August 1968. "In extinguishing the fire of war something the U.N. was unable to achieve Cambodians and observers from other countries expressed admiration for the tactics of the CPP leaders," he wrote. Peter Starr, English language editor of Cambodia Reborn, said the U.N. and the Paris Peace Accords contributed much to Cambodia's development. "Heng Samrin acknowledges the U.N.'s important role in helping to resettle hundreds of thousands of refugees along the Thai border and supervising multi-party elections in 1993. But he also sets the record straight by explaining that the U.N. did not end the civil war that would take another five years." And it was the final surrender that enabled the Khmer Rouge tribunal to begin in earnest, securing convictions against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan for genocide and crimes against humanity The trouble with peace Cambodia's two decades of peace have been anything but trouble-free. A border dispute with Thailand turned to armed conflict in 2008 and Hun Sen accused a variety of insurgents of attempting to undermine his administration, including the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, Islamic militants and a recent color revolution. Political violence is not uncommon, while land-grabbing and corruption rankle as chief complaints. At elections in July, Cambodia was again returned to a one-party state after Hun Sen banned the main opposition party from contesting the poll. But among ordinary Cambodians, the security that came with peace opened this country up to the outside world, and delivered unprecedented economic growth and a post-war baby boom. "After the war ends, everything is going smoothly, people live peacefully, the country is developing, kids can go to school and people have jobs," said 24-year-old waitress Hean Khea. Her sentiments were echoed by Raksmey El, also 24 and a recent university graduate, who was mindful of the problems experienced by Cambodia amid two decades of peace, particularly with regard to corruption and elections. "I hope that this peace and this political stability will keep improving from today on," he said. "Nowadays we can see that we have more development in our Cambodia, bringing more foreign direct investment, and especially we can see the tourism sector is dramatically increasing every year. "However there are still some problems, for example the corruption, which should be completely eliminated by the government." The government has insisted the three-day "win-win" celebrations are not a snub to the Paris Peace Accords, which also injected $2 billion into Cambodia's struggling economy, but is simply an acknowledgment that civil war lasted 30 years and that its final end was orchestrated by Hun Sen and not the United Nations. The 81-year-old author is often called a dean of Chicano literature. The illustrator is a younger muralist steeped in the visual traditions of Mexican-American pop culture and low-rider cars. Together, novelist Rudolfo Anaya and painter Moises Salcedo who goes by El Moises have created a bilingual children's book with parallel texts in Spanish and English about the adventures of a tiny owl named Ollie who longs to read on his own, even as he skips school and tangles with a cast of conniving animal characters in the hills and skies of northern New Mexico. Anaya achieved lasting literary fame with the novel Bless Me, Ultima in 1972 about a boy's coming of age in post-World War II New Mexico under the guidance of a traditional spiritual healer. The book became a movie and recently an opera. Local, traditional references The new children's book from the Museum of New Mexico Press titled Owl in a Straw Hat, or El Tecolote del Sombrero de Paja is chock-full of references to northern New Mexico geography and homespun Hispanic tradition from posole soup and pinon nuts to the "acequia'' organizations that help irrigate fields and lend a special order to local rural life. Anaya said the work is a heartfelt effort to encourage shared family reading in English or Spanish, with eye-grabbing imagery. The book's illustrations spring from the brush of Mexican-born, Arizona-raised El Moises who made New Mexico his adopted home nearly a decade ago. His other recent commissions include urban murals, a tequila logo, CD covers and more. The 45-year-old illustrator is a father of five who often paints at a weathered living-room table amid the bustle of family. El Moises says people call him a Chicano artist, but it's really just his take on everyday life. "Bold and bright has always been my thing,'' he said. "I love low-riders because I grew up around them. ... I just think that I'm an artist who is narrating his life.'' One of the new book's characters a hungry and untrustworthy wolf in sunglasses named Luis Lobo is adapted from a self-designed tattoo on the artist's upper arm. Other characters include a young raven and crow who prefer video games to school. There are positive role models, too a disciplined roadrunner who drives a dazzling low-rider car and a loving grandmother "Nana'' owl. El Moises and Anaya already are working on a sequel that explores concerns about childhood bullying, something the illustrator and a 13-year-old son have been grappling with recently in Albuquerque, culminating in the decision to do home schooling. Anaya, a widower who lives in Albuquerque with a dachshund at his side, continues to work steadily on essays and novels for grown-up readers. He said Owl in a Straw Hat is an outgrowth of his enduring concern for children, including children living far away in war-torn countries. 'Something positive' "Maybe that's why I write books for children to get a lift, to think there is something positive on Earth that might offset the evil that we see,'' Anaya said, on a day where violence in Syria dominated news headlines. "As I'm writing, I'm speaking to a child, to children. I'm kind of telling them, 'Look at Oli and Raven and Crow.' The children are always there, they're always there wanting to hear a story.'' The English text of the new book contains a smattering of colloquial Spanish words and phrases such as "mi'jito'' for my little son. A Spanish-English glossary at the back of the book resolves any mysteries. That aims to help young readers from various cultures feel comfortable, according to Enrique Lamadrid, who wrote the book's full Spanish translation. Chinese police detained a well-known Marxist student activist at a top university on Wednesday, a witness said, for attempting to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Mao Zedong, whose legacy in China remains controversial. A student eyewitness told AFP that Qiu Zhanxuan, the head of Peking University's Marxist society, was forced into a black car by seven or eight plain-clothes officers near the subway station outside the university's east gate. Qiu was "screaming and resisting arrest," the student said, declining to be named due to the sensitive nature of the issue. "I heard him say I am Qiu Zhanxuan... I did not break the law. Why are you taking me away? What are you doing?" The eyewitness said police showed their "public security department documents," when questioned by onlookers. Peking University and the Ministry of Public Security did not respond to requests for comment. Considered China's most prestigious university, Peking University has a history of student activism with its alumni playing a key role in the pro-democracy Tiananmen protests in 1989. But campus activism has been quashed under President Xi Jinping. In August, a police raid swept up student activists at several universities, beating some of them and confiscating their phones for supporting a labor rights movement. The Jasic Workers Solidarity group rose to prominence this summer when student activists backed its efforts to form a workers' union at Jasic Technology, a welding machinery company in southern Guangdong province. In April, Peking University faculty tried to silence another student, Yue Xin, who co-authored a petition demanding details of a sexual abuse case at the school. "I believe it's ridiculous. Is there anything wrong with commemorating Mao?" the eyewitness, also a member of the campus Marxist society, said. "The faculty has always prevented activities by the Marxist society... It's difficult to spread information, posts on online campus bulletin boards would be deleted and WeChat [messaging] accounts would be blocked... Information about the arrest was strictly blocked by the school." The Communist party in recent years has tried to distance itself from the legacy of Mao. Once hailed as China's "great helmsman", there were no official events to mark his 125th birth anniversary Wednesday. Despite Qiu's arrest, Marxist students from across Beijing gathered at an undisclosed location to organize a "flash-mob style event" Wednesday afternoon, a labor rights NGO worker in close contact with Marxist student groups told AFP. Another group of students, who traveled to Mao's home village Shaoshan in central China's Hunan province, posted a video of them singing revolutionary songs on social media. French authorities have dropped a sensitive investigation into the plane crash that sparked Rwandas 1994 genocide, citing lack of sufficient evidence. Several people close to Rwandas current president, Paul Kagame, had been under investigation. Rwandas government denounced the probe as an attempt to deflect responsibility from Frances suspected role in the genocide, and welcomed the decision to end it. A French judicial official said Wednesday that investigating judges decided last week to close the case, based on a request from prosecutors. The official provided no details about the decision. The April 6, 1994 plane crash killed Rwandas then-President Juvenal Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu. Militants from the Hutu majority blamed minority Tutsis for the death, sparking the ethnic slaughter of some 800,000 people. France was Rwandas longtime benefactor, and the plane had a French crew. The cause of the crash has long been a contentious issue. The Rwandan government says the plane was shot down by Hutu extremists who opposed the governments efforts to forge a peace deal with Tutsi-led rebels. Kagame led the Tutsi rebels at the time. An initial French investigation completed in 2012 found that the missile came from a Rwandan military camp. But France re-opened the probe after a prominent Rwandan exile said he had evidence that Kagame ordered the plane shot down, which Kagame denies. The Rwandan government praised the definitive end of what it called a politically motivated investigation. We welcome this decision which brings to an end a brazen attempt over two decades to obstruct justice for the genocide against the Tutsi, and prevent accountability for both the perpetrators and their wilful accomplices, Foreign Minister Dr. Richard Sezibera said in a statement. Critics say France was too supportive of Rwandas Hutu-led government whose supporters carried out the genocide, and that France turned a blind eye to the killings for too long. Rwandas government has named 22 senior French military officers accused of helping plan and carry out the genocide through support for the Rwandan army. France denies complicity, but has launched several investigations in recent years into the genocide in an effort to come to terms with its role. They notably involve Rwandans who fled to France after the killings but also some French figures. Indonesian rescuers used drones and dogs Tuesday to aid searches for more than 100 people still missing after tsunami waves slammed into the west coast of Java and southern Sumatra on Saturday, killing 429 people. The waves left another 1,400 people injured, while thousands more, having fled to higher ground, were displaced. The tsunami, which struck without warning, swept over popular beaches and engulfed tourist hotels and coastal settlements. The waves may have been caused by a massive underwater landslide that followed eruptions by Anak Krakatoa volcano, located in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra. Authorities cautioned that continued volcanic activity and high tides meant more damaging waves could strike. A false alarm on Tuesday sent panicked coastal residents fleeing. The chief of the Geological Agency, Rudy Suhendar, told VOA's Indonesian service that it was still investigating what caused the tsunami. Jakarta resident Suhada was fishing on Carita Beach and visiting his family for the weekend when he ran from what he described as three waves between 10 and 11 p.m. Saturday. Suhada was able to flee to higher ground with his family. "Thank God I could save my family," he told VOA. Disaster agency head Endan Permana told local media that many people were missing in the tourist locale Tanjung Lesung, Banten province, near Jakarta. Meanwhile, church leaders in mostly Muslim Indonesia called on Christians in the country to pray for tsunami victims. Pastor Rusman Anita Sitorus presided over a service Tuesday at the Rahmat Carita Pentecostal Church near Carita, one of the hardest-hit areas. "After this incident, God let us continue to serve the people, and especially this is a chance to serve God better," Sitorus said. Saturday's tsunami was the latest in a series of disasters to strike Indonesia. Laura Ngo-Fontain, a spokeswoman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told VOA the government had learned some lessons from earlier incidents and their capacity to respond had "expanded exponentially." Ngo-Fontain said the aid group was providing blankets and tarps and organizing the acquisition of drinking water and access to medical services. She said doctors were needed because many of the injured had broken bones. On Sept. 28, a quake and tsunami hit near the city of Palu, on the island of Sulawesi, killing more than 2,500 and displacing about 70,000. On Dec. 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. VOA's Indonesian service and Ira Mellman contributed to this report. Standing on what's left of the the roof of his crumbled home, Ahmed, an aging Mosul resident, trembles as he describes the deaths of his three sons. A Russian Islamic State militant occupied Ahmed's house last year and a U.S.-led coalition airstrike targeted it. The strike killed the militant, and Ahmed's boys. Now, Ahmed says he cannot afford to rebuild his home for his two surviving children. "No one gave us a penny or a single dinar," he says. "They gave us nothing. Not an aid organization or the government or anyone. I lost three children here." Many parts of the region IS once controlled have been rebuilt, often by home and business owners who survived the war. International organizations, the government and local aid groups are also present, but frustration is growing at the slow pace. It has been a full year since Iraq declared victory over IS, but as attacks continue, residents say until the city is rebuilt, stability remains a distant dream. Entire neighborhoods in Mosul, one of Iraq's largest cities, remain flattened, and bodies still rot in the rubble of the Old City. People who lived in the now-destroyed homes are on their own to rebuild, if they can. And it was exactly this kind of neglect and isolation, according to locals, that allowed IS to thrive in this region in the first place. Aid organizations blame the government for the slow pace of reconstruction. Government offices blame each other and say more outside help is needed. "Why is no one helping us?" Ahmed asks later in one of the few rooms that still has walls. He points to the remnants of electricity fixtures and water pipes stolen after the airstrikes, and then to a severed leg of the militant who once occupied his house, now mostly just a bone with torn strips of cloth. "Why?" he asks again. "Do they want us to join terrorist groups?" How it happened before Extremist insurgents took root in this part of Iraq after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion ousted then-dictator Saddam Hussein. In response, roads were choked off by a tangle of Iraqi military checkpoints, isolating communities and damaging local economies. In some places, militants bombed government targets weekly. Extremists used the general atmosphere of despair to recruit followers and drive out resistance. In 2014, Islamic State militants captured cities, towns and villages across northern and western Iraq in less than a week. WATCH: Iraq: A Year After Victory, Stability Still a Dream At a small brick garage on a desert road outside Mosul, local car mechanics describe the brief battles as IS entered the city. "We didn't know what was happening," says Youseff Toufik, a 34-year-old father of four. "The militants came in from the desert and fired at the federal police over there," he adds, pointing to Scorpion Junction, the main western checkpoint before entering Mosul city. "The federal police fired back. We were in the middle." The early days of IS rule were "very, very good," adds Shalan, 25. They opened the roads, promised strict but benevolent Islamic rule and to end the corruption draining Iraq's resources. "But then they changed 180 degrees and started torturing and beheading people," Shalan adds. More than two years later in October 2016, Iraq, backed by an international coalition, began a massive offensive against the group. IS no longer holds any significant territories, but deadly attacks continue throughout the country. Last month, a school bus rolled over an explosive on a road south of Mosul, killing four children and wounding seven. A car bomb killed three people at a restaurant in the city, and security forces say they still conduct near-daily operations seeking militants in hiding. The men say IS may be defeated, but they are far from gone. "Five months ago I got a call on my cellphone," Shalan explains. "They said, 'We are coming for you.' " How it could happen again Aid workers estimate a year and a half after the IS defeat in Mosul, roughly 1,500 bodies of militants and civilians are still buried under the crushed buildings. Two million people remain displaced, many unable to return to these destroyed homes. Like some other business people, Sarmad Mahfodh, a real estate agent in the Old City, has reopened his shop even as the building appears to be crumbling. The remnants of an old IS hideout blankets, cassette tape covers and tin dishes still litter the bombed-out second floor. People are trying to sell properties here, he says, but no one is buying. People mostly feel safe now, he adds, with Mosul squarely under control of Iraqi forces. He fears if more is not done to rebuild, safety will be fleeting. "If the government doesn't provide people with the support they need," he explains, "some people will devise ways to hurt themselves and their country." What is being done When the rebuilding process began in many former IS areas, the destruction was so complete it would have been easier to build neighborhoods from scratch. Homes, hospitals, roads, schools and every other kind of infrastructure were destroyed. What remained was often laden with bombs. Millions of people fled their homes and thousands of civilians were killed in the war. Damaged homes are eligible for rebuilding assistance through local aid groups and the United Nations, which has nine agencies working on the rebuilding and recovery. Electricity, roads and water pipes are being repaired or installed by government and nongovernmental organizations. Local authorities are responsible for much of the infrastructure, according to Mosul Mayor Zuhair Mohsen Al Araji. But funding, he says, comes from the central government in Baghdad, which as of late November had not released any 2018 funds. "We submitted all the financial requirements for the province," he explains, "such as electricity, water, sewage and other services, but we never received the required funding." Contractors hired by the city this year are all expecting back pay, he says, and there will be nothing left unless Baghdad allocates more funds for reconstruction. Small aid groups, private donors and residents are also trying to rebuild, as men with carts of supplies trudge up and down broken roads and lay pipes to connect to new government water supplies. But as he tours some of the homes in the Old City his organization helped repair, Mohammed Dylan of the local aid group Wasal Tasal for Relief and Development says these combined efforts are not nearly enough to end the suffering in the hardest-hit areas. "People are coming back, but this area is still mostly destroyed," he says. "It's not just Mosul, but all the areas IS once held. They are all neglected." Israeli legislators voted Wednesday to dissolve parliament and hold a general election six months ahead of schedule on April 9. The lawmakers voted 102 to 2 in favor of the moves after they were agreed to Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. A coalition crisis over legislation affecting exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men led to the decisions. Netanyahu, who leads the right-wing Likud party, has been governing with a slim majority of 61 seats in the 120-member parliament. Opinion polls suggest Nethanyahu's party will likely win re-election. Those chances could be hurt, however, by an upcoming decision by Israel's attorney general on whether to file charges against Netanyahu. Netanyahu is facing a series of corruption allegations and an indictment would pressure the prime minister to resign. North and South Korea held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday to mark the start of a joint project to connect railways throughout the divided peninsula. The event was held after both Koreas inspected railways along the peninsulas east coast. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon told reporters last week, The railroad linkage project and related groundbreaking ceremony were given the go-ahead to proceed as scheduled in the working group today, referring to meetings held with State Department Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Biegun in Seoul. Jung Dae-jin, a research professor with the Ajou Institute of Unification called the ceremony a strong indicator of both North and South Korea wanting to continue discussions held by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year. It looks frozen water from the surface, but the potential of having those conversations is still alive, like the water flowing beneath the ice, he said. Jung added that as the Norths rail and roadways are improved, it can reduce the traveling time which encourages exchanges between the two governments. A special train carried 100 South Korean officials, politicians and members of families displaced by the war to the ceremony at Panmun Station in the border city of Kaesong. In addition to officials from the United Nations, China, Russia, and Mongolia, South Koreas unification ministry said they were joined by North Koreas delegation of 100 people. Following Wednesdays ceremony, North and South Korea agreed to undertake further railway inspections and work closely with the United States and the United Nations to garner further support for the project and to address sanction concerns. Railways and sanctions North Koreas rail system is said to be antiquated and in desperate need of repair in order to be linked with the Souths. During the first inter-Korean summit in April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to "modernize" and "connect" the roads and railways across their border as part of efforts to improve ties and promote development and prosperity. The railway inspection project had been delayed for months amid concerns about possible violations of UN sanctions on North Korea, but the project was given the go-ahead when the UN Security Council granted a sanctions exemption. Professor Jung recalls that connecting the Norths and Souths rail lines were part of the 2000 Joint Declaration made by Seoul and Pyongyang and between 2007 and 2008, trains traversed the border several hundred times. But, if the extra sanctions are not lifted in the future, the whole plan of modernizing North Koreas railroad will not be possible too, he said. Jung ties the future success of President Moons initiatives and plans for the connected railway to North Koreas denuclearization. We need to see the New Years address by Kim Jong Un, he said and notes that it is necessary that the global community see concrete measures taken by Pyongyang toward denuclearization for the process of rail and roadway use to proceed. Lee Ju-Hyun contributed to this report. A South Korean delegation left for North Korea on Wednesday to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for reconnecting roads and railways across the divided peninsula despite stalled denuclearization talks. A nine-car special train carrying 100 South Koreans, including officials and five people born in the North, was seen leaving Seoul railway station early in the morning for a two-hour journey to the North's border city of Kaesong. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader, Kim Jong Un, agreed to hold the ceremony by the end of this year when they met at their third summit, in Pyongyang in September. Concerns arose that the train and other materials being brought into the North for the ceremony could breach various sanctions imposed on the isolated regime over its nuclear weapons program, but the U.N. Security Council reportedly granted a waiver for the event. Seoul stressed that the ceremony would not herald the start of actual work on reconnecting and modernizing road and rail links between the Koreas which remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended without a peace treaty. Expression of intent The event is a mere "expression of a commitment" to the projects, a South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman said, adding that construction would depend on "progress on the North's denuclearization and circumstances concerning sanctions." The two sides wrapped up their joint railway and road inspections for the projects this month. South Korea has set aside $620,000 for the endeavor. The ceremony comes as the United States ramps up efforts to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. Following a rapid rapprochement earlier this year that culminated in a historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim, progress has stalled with both sides accusing each other of dragging their feet and acting in bad faith. Critics say North Korea has made no concrete commitments and is unlikely to surrender its atomic arsenal, while Washington's policy of maintaining pressure through isolation and sanctions has left Pyongyang seething. Trump said Monday that he was "looking forward" to his second summit with Kim, which Washington says may take place early next year. He tweeted the statement after he was briefed by Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative on North Korea, who wrapped up a three-day trip to Seoul on Saturday. Travel ban Biegun said last week that the United States will be more lenient in enforcing its blanket ban on U.S. citizens' travel to the totalitarian state when dealing with aid workers, a goodwill gesture as Trump seeks a fresh summit. The Trump administration has generally refused to let U.S. aid groups operate in North Korea, seeking to both maximize pressure on Pyongyang and ensure the safety of Americans. Biegun also said in Seoul last week that Washington was willing to discuss trust-building initiatives with Pyongyang. Senior transport officials from Russia, China and Mongolia as well as several foreign ambassadors to South Korea will attend Wednesday's ceremony, the South's Unification Ministry said. French authorities said eight migrants were picked up from a stalled boat Tuesday while trying to cross the English Channel to Britain, where the government office that oversees immigration reported that almost 30 more were rescued in the waters between southern England and northern France. The French regional maritime authority, or prefecture, said in a statement that the small rubber boat with a failed engine was spotted Tuesday off the coast of Calais. A police helicopter monitoring the area directed a tugboat to the stranded migrants, the prefecture said. The maritime authority didn't provide the passengers' nationalities. Calais, a port city on one end of a Channel tunnel that connects France and English by train, long has been a magnet for migrants fleeing conflict or poverty in Africa and the Mideast. French officials two years ago closed a makeshift camp that swelled to a population of 10,000 at one point as people waited to try to hop trucks taking rail ferries to England. 5 incidents on Christmas The Channel has seen a recent spike in migrants attempting the trip from France to England in small boats. Britain's Home Office said border agents responded to five separate boating incidents in English waters starting early Christmas Day involving passengers who said they were from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. The Home Office put the number of England-bound migrants the French tugboat took on at nine, not eight. The French maritime authority could not be reached to resolve the discrepancy. The office told Britain's Press Association that all received medical evaluations and were sent on for immigration interviews. Social welfare agencies would assume care of the two children among the passengers, the news agency reported. Sukaina Mohammed Ali put her own life at risk during the military campaign to liberate Mosul, Iraq, in 2017, rescuing children left wandering the streets after they were separated from their families by the fierce fighting between U.S.-backed Iraqi forces and Islamic State (IS) militants. Since then, Ali has made it her mission to save these abandoned children to help them overcome the trauma and horror of war. Thousands of children have been traumatized by war, but Ali believes she is making a difference by providing some of these children with the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Some of the children she rescues, however, have IS parents, she said. "I have a message to deliver to IS and to their supporters: You took our children to use them as soldiers, as slaves; you turned them into extremists, slaughtered our sons and daughters. Today, I take your children to care for them, to teach them how to be children again, because Islam is not what extremist groups like IS and AQ [al-Qaida] represent," Ali told VOA. Through her work, she has risked her life and reputation, Ali said. She said she also had faced backlash by helping IS children. But she said she was passionate about wanting to erase the traces of hatred and despair that IS has left behind in her country. "People ask me: 'Why are you doing this? Let their children suffer as they made our children suffer.' But these children didn't choose to be born to an IS parent, and we should not do what IS did to us. Otherwise, how we will be different?" Ali said. Ali, who also is the director of the Department of Women and Children in Iraq's northern Nineveh province, fled Mosul in 2014, when IS took over the city and announced the establishment of its so-called caliphate. IS militants took over Ali's house and turned it into one of its headquarters. In November 2016, U.S.-backed Iraqi forces began the operation to liberate Mosul from IS militants, and the ensuing military campaign was fierce and deadly, as IS fortified its positions. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire, and IS used civilians as human shields. "This is the most significant urban combat to take place since World War II," Stephen Townsend, the top coalition commander, said in March 2017 during the Mosul operation. How it began When she returned in 2017, Ali initially used her own house and nearby houses, whose owners believed in Ali's cause, to accommodate the abandoned children. Later, with the help of private donations, she opened an orphanage, which continues to operate on private donations. She currently cares for about 55 children, but the number varies. Ali's orphanage has welcomed many children, including Yazidi children who were held captive by IS; abandoned children in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Iraq; and infants abandoned by their parents. "We care for children whose parents are unknown. We found newborns on the streets, at a mosque's door, in a building's entrance and in a dumpster," Ali said. Social media Ali has used social media to try to find family members of the abandoned children, but some have criticized her for helping the children of suspected IS militants. She said she was advised to leave the children on the street. "The children of Mosul, whether from IS parents or not, are innocent. Some of these orphans have disabilities," Ali replied. Watch: Children of Terror Left Behind in Iraq There is widespread hatred for IS and those associated with the terror group because of the atrocities the group has committed against people in both Iraq and Syria. Since the terror group's defeat in Mosul in 2017, hundreds of families who have connections to IS have returned to the city in hopes of rebuilding their lives. But the stigma of being related to IS fighters continues to haunt them, and society has rejected them. Backlash One widow of a former IS fighter in Mosul, who requested anonymity, told VOA she and her two children had struggled because they were linked to IS. "My husband was an IS member, but what does this have to do with me? If my husband joined the al-Qaida group, what does this have to do with my children? The family and parents have nothing to do with someone's affiliation with a terror group," she said. She said her entire family was being punished, and that her father had been in prison for two years after being accused of having relations with IS. WATCH: Families of Local IS Members Face Rejection by Iraqi Society But some, like Ali, believe Iraqis should treat people better than IS did. She said she believed that if Iraqis did not help children who had IS parents, the children could grow up ostracized and the vicious cycle of hatred would never end. "These children do not go to school; they will end up wandering in the streets, begging for money, and they will be subjected to child exploitation and labor," Ali said. "If we do not integrate them back into society and design special programs for them, then we will risk the rise of another extremist group." Ali has been trying to persuade locals to adopt some of these children. She sets conditions, though: The parents must be from Mosul and show evidence they can provide decent living conditions for the adopted children. About 150 families have applied for adoptions, and more than 50 children have already been adopted. According to Human Rights Watch, about 100,000 families have some kind of connection to IS and are living in Iraq. Most of these families live in IDP camps in the country. Nigeria's military says 14 military and police personnel have been killed in an ambush by Boko Haram extremists. An army statement says the security forces were on escort duty when they were attacked on Monday just outside Damaturu town in Yobe state in the north of the country. The statement signed by army spokesman Col. Onyema Nwachukwu says efforts to pursue and ``eliminate'' the Boko Haram extremists are ongoing. Nigeria's military has been fighting Boko Haram's Islamic insurgency for nearly a decade. The continued threat is a major issue for President Muhammadu Buhari as he seeks a second term in February's election. After a recent series of deadly attacks on Nigeria's military, Buhari and others have warned that the extremists have begun using drones to as part of a resurgence. Pakistani journalists, who have taken on military dictators and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship that is more subtle but no less chilling, one spearheaded by the security services. Journalists and press freedom advocates say the military and the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, are pressuring media outlets to quash critical coverage. The newly elected government is meanwhile slashing its advertising budget, squeezing a key source of revenue for private newspapers and TV stations. Ghazi Salauddin, a veteran Pakistani journalist who has witnessed successive periods of direct military rule, said today's censorship is the worst it's ever been. "Today we don't know what will annoy them," he said of the military. "Today we have to do self-censorship and that is the worst kind of censorship, because it is done out of fear." Websites have been shut down, including the Urdu website of the U.S. government-funded Voice of America, after it reported on a tribal movement critical of military operations in regions bordering Afghanistan. Mashaal Radio, affiliated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has also been shut down. Journalist Cyril Almeida was charged with treason after he published an interview with Nawaz Sharif in which the former prime minister accused the Pakistani military of aiding the militants who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Authorities are also targeting social media, asking Twitter to suspend accounts and submitting thousands of requests to Facebook to take down pages for a variety of reasons, ranging from criticism of the military to propagating hate and insulting Islam. Taha Siddiqui, an opinion writer and journalist who is critical of the security services, lives in self-imposed exile in France after an attempt on his life earlier this year, which he blamed on the ISI. He said Twitter suspended his account twice in 72 hours, telling him it was because of "objectionable content that was in violation of Pakistani law," without elaborating. Journalist Matiullah Jan, labeled "anti-state" by the military for his criticism of the judiciary and army, called the crackdown "a systematic attempt by the military and its intelligence agency to assert control with a facade of a democratically elected government." New legislation regulating print and online media has also alarmed press freedom advocates, who fear it will grant authorities even more censorship tools. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry denies the government is cracking down on press freedoms, saying it only acts to prevent incitement to violence. Pakistan has banned coverage of the hard-line Tehreek-e-Labbaik movement after it held violent protests and threatened to kill a Christian woman who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after years spent on death row. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and the mere accusation can spark deadly mob violence. "Pakistan has the freest media possible, and powerful media criticize the government and even agencies and [the] army establishment at their will," Chaudhry told The Associated Press. "Incitement of hatred is the only area that we interfere." But journalists say the interference goes much further, and has worsened since July's national elections. They say intelligence agents have called reporters to demand that opinion pieces be withdrawn and to quash investigative reports on allegations that the military intervened in the vote to help elect Prime Minister Imran Khan. The security establishment is especially sensitive about coverage of the Pashtun Tahafaz (Protection) Movement, or PTM, which has criticized the military's actions in the tribal regions. Pakistan has long been accused of covertly supporting the Afghan Taliban while waging a scorched-earth campaign against homegrown extremists who threaten the state, allegations denied by the government. "We have been facing a media blackout since the very first day," said Mohsin Dawar, a parliamentarian and founding member of the PTM. "The military now is enjoying unquestioned power in the country, and the PTM questioned their power." Dawar said newspapers have refused to carry their statements or cover their press conferences. Chaudhry said coverage of PTM is restricted because "we have fought a war in that area." "The population is in process of settling down, [and a] narrative that creates hatred cannot be allowed," he said. Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Pakistan has waged an "aggressive crackdown" on the media. "The crackdown comes behind the scenes and is increasingly exerted through the owners of media properties," he said. There are currently 89 private television channels licensed by the government. Most of the privately-owned channels emerged in just the last 15 years and are owned by big businesses, said Mohammad Ziauddin of the Pakistan Press Foundation, a free press advocacy group. "The new entrants in the media are business people. They got into the media industry not to make money, not to serve the public, but to have clout," he said, making them vulnerable to intimidation and financial coercion. In the last two months, hundreds of journalists have been laid off as government advertising a key source of revenue has been drastically reduced. A rate schedule seen by the AP shows the government was until recently paying upward of $2,500 for a 60-second spot, which has now been reduced to $400 to $500. "While reliance on government revenues is not a healthy model for press freedom, the sudden cutbacks have imposed extreme hardship on the media, which has had basically no time to adjust business models," Butler said. Chaudhry defends the new rate schedule, saying previous governments paid well above the market rate in return for positive coverage. "The last government used television advertising as tool to bribe media," he said. More than 750,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled military attacks in Myanmar remain in Bangladesh camps as future repatriation and resettlement plans remain unclear. Across the sprawling camps in Coxs Bazar, close to a million Rohingya Muslim refugees remain in limbo without a clear future. Voluntary repatriation plans last month were postponed amid security concerns about ongoing abuses and a lack of international monitoring. The Myanmar government has allowed tightly controlled trips for international media in recent months, but access to areas where alleged atrocities were carried out has been denied. In Bangladesh, published footage of a resettlement compound on the remote Bhasan Char Island was also being viewed with concern. The UNHCR has not been let on the island to do a risk assessment of the flood conditions but many say the island is prone to flooding and dangerous that means that thousands of Rohingya refugees could potentially be on a flood prone island and thats a very dangerous situation, said John Quinley III, a human rights worker for Fortify Rights. The concrete compound with barred windows awaits an estimated 100,000 refugees who will be transferred from Coxs Bazar onto the remote silt island, built up by Chinese construction crews and the Bangladesh navy. With the Bangladesh election set for December 30, any move to repatriate people or relocate refugees to the remote island will be postponed until 2019. Education prospects The long-term impact on the Rohingya population are yet to be felt, but analysts say the prolonged denial of education for the school-aged children will be damaging. Rohingya in Rakhine that Fortify Rights has spoken to say that the situation on the ground right now is an apartheid state. They have no freedom of movement, no formal access to education, Rohingya students in Sittwe that want to go to Sittwe university cannot go there, Quinley added. The U.N. Childrens Fund (UNICEF) presents a bleak assessment of the future for children on either side of the border, speaking of a lost generation of children and youth. UNICEF said it was widening education programs in the Bangladesh camps, currently for children up to the age of 14, to try to meet the needs of older children. A UNICEF spokesman told VOA that "programming for youth including education at post primary level remains a clear gap which urgently needs to be addressed by increasing both the range of services and access opportunities for youth. The lack of education and economic opportunities exposes this population to multiple risks including drug abuse, and gender-based violence and extremist views." UNICEF points out that even more basic than education needs are the health challenges faced by the Rohingya: "Despite nine massive vaccination campaigns since October 2017 until May 2018 (delivering over 4.2 million doses of vaccines), routine immunization since June 2018 remains a challenge. The children are still vulnerable and at risk of a potential disease outbreak. Continued health support is critical to assist the refugees and especially children to survive in the crowded refugee camps. " Land issues And while the life in the camps can be hard, it is not clear if the Rohingya will ever have anywhere to go back to in Myanmar. Authorities in Myanmar say land that has been burned becomes government managed property, casting into doubt the ownership of more than 200 Rohingya villages that were burned to the ground in the past year and a half. Rohingya lawyer Kyaw Hla Aung said official records can prove rightful ownership, provided they are requested. The 78-year-old activist just won the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity - a global humanitarian award - for his dedication to fighting for equality, education and human rights for the Rohingya people in Myanmar, in the face of persecution, harassment and oppression. With a background as a law clerk for more than two decades in Rakhine state, Kyaw Hla Aung is adamant that land ownership should be easily proven for returning Rohingya citizens. They have all the documents, all the records in the land record office in the home ministry, he said. The international community should ask the government to show all these records. They are not only confiscating the land in Rakhine state but also in Shan state, Kachin state and in the midst of Burma in Karenni state as well, he added. Justice concerns Accountability and justice are other key factors in delaying any form of voluntary return. Rohingya that we have spoken to say they won't go back to Rakhine state until theres restored citizenship rights and accountability for the atrocities that have occurred, said Quinley. Analysts see the ongoing restrictions and attacks as a pattern indicating deliberate actions to eliminate a group. Officials in Myanmar have consistently denied allegations of abuse and repression against the Rohingya, saying its military has conducted legitimate operations against terrorists. Earlier this month, (Dec. 13) the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1091, declaring the crimes carried out during the Myanmar military clearance operation as genocide. The most recent wave of persecution began in August of 2017, when Burmese security forces and civilian mobs began a horrific wave of attacks, said Chairman Ed Royce, on the house floor. Mass murder, rape and destruction of villages throughout Rakhine State has been documented. Activists say the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya Muslims has all the earmarks of a genocide, including lack of access to education, an action by the state government, that was increased since the 2012 communal violence in Rakhine state. The government is making us illiterate so that they can allege that these people are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh because they dont know anything about the world, explained Kyaw Hla Aung. Commission report At a news conference this month, Rosario Manalo, chair of Myanmars Independent Commission of Enquiry, stated that the commission had found no evidence to support allegations of human rights abuses in the four months since it officially opened its investigation. We will clarify how we collected the evidence later. But for the time being, allegations are still allegations. There is no conclusive evidence, the former deputy foreign minister of the Philippines added, during the press conference. The commission started their investigation Aug. 15, and is to submit its findings to the Myanmar presidents office by August 2019. Rights groups are condemning investigation commissions that have been set up by the Myanmar government. The Myanmar commissions dismissal of the extensive documentation of gross human rights abuses against the Rohingya makes abundantly clear that it is not serious about seeking justice, said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. The U.N. Security Council should stop giving credence to this commission and refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC ruled in September that it has jurisdiction over alleged deportations of Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh as a possible crime against humanity. Russia has hailed the reported U.S. plans to pull some troops from Afghanistan as a step in the right direction but cast doubt on whether Washington really intends to do so. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharovav told reporters in Moscow Wednesday that the potential military drawdown could boost renewed efforts aimed at finding a negotiated end to the war between the U.S.-backed Afghan government and the Taliban. We have also noted a statement by the U.S. leadership about the upcoming withdrawal of up to 50 percent of the U.S. forces from Afghanistan. We consider this a step in the right direction, capable of bringing the start of the peace process close, she said. Officials in Washington last week were quoted in media reports as saying that President Donald Trump has verbally ordered military commanders to withdraw 7,000 of the more than 14,000 troops currently stationed in Afghanistan. The drawdown reportedly could begin as early as next month but neither the White House nor the Pentagon has commented on the reports. Zakharova said Moscow is still waiting for an official explanation from Washington on the potential drawdown and noted it would be premature to draw any conclusions at this stage. The only thing we have to do is to see how it will be implemented in practice All the statements that we hear from the U.S. president on the withdrawal of U.S. troops usually have nothing to do with the reality. We are still trying to understand what they are talking about at the moment, she said. Russia, she noted, has emphasized the need for resorting to political and diplomatic channels to seek a negotiated end to the Afghan war and repeatedly warned the U.S. and its coalition partners that it is a mistake to stick to the military solution. U.S.-Taliban talks in UAE She praised last weeks peace talks in the United Arab Emirates between the U.S. and the Afghan Taliban where representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the host country were also in attendance. We welcome these efforts and we believe they should be transparent and reckon with the interest of the Afghan people, the neighbors and the states of the region that are directly affected by this threat rising from Afghanistan," Zakharova said. During the meeting with U.S. negotiators in Abu Dhabi, Taliban officials consistently demanded Washington announce a final date or timeline for withdrawing all American and other foreign troops from the country. Some analysts say the Trump administration's reported withdrawal plans could have stemmed from the talks with the Taliban. Officials in neighboring Pakistan, where Afghan Taliban leaders are allegedly sheltering, say they organized the Abu Dhabi peace talks at Washingtons request to help end the war in Afghanistan. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also visited Moscow on Wednesday for daylong discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to brief him on progress made in the talks in Abu Dhabi. Qureshi visited Russia after holding discussions on the peace process with leaders in Afghanistan, Iran and China as part of his four-nation trip which started on Monday. The Russian military on Wednesday criticized an alleged Israeli airstrike near the Syrian capital, saying it has endangered civilian flights. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that six Israeli F-16 jets launched a "provocative" raid at the moment when two civilian airliners were preparing to land in Damascus and Beirut, creating a "direct threat" to the aircraft. Lebanon's acting Transport Minister Youssef Fenianos later on Wednesday confirmed Konashenkov's account, saying the two airplanes in Lebanese airspace "narrowly" escaped Israeli warplanes, averting a "human catastrophe." Fenianos didn't provide details, but said he reported the incident to the prime minister-designate. He said the Lebanese government will present a complaint to the U.N. Security Council. The Syrian military didn't fully engage its air defense assets to avoid accidentally hitting the passenger jets, Konashenkov said. He added that Syrian air traffic controllers redirected the Damascus-bound plane to the Russian air base in Hemeimeem in Syria's coastal province of Latakia. Konashenkov said the Syrian air defense forces shot down 14 of the 16 precision-guided bombs dropped by the Israeli jets, while the remaining two hit a Syrian military depot 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) west of Damascus, injuring three Syrian soldiers. It wasn't clear if the Syrian military used any of the advanced S-300 air defense missile systems that Russia delivered in October to beef up its air defenses. The move followed the Sept. 17 downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli air raid, an incident that strained previously warm ties between Russia and Israel. The Syrian Foreign Ministry in a statement Wednesday accused Israel of exacerbating the crisis in the country and standing in the way of the government's war on terrorism. In messages sent to the U.N. secretary-general and the president of the Security Council, the ministry said the Israeli airstrike wouldn't have been launched if it wasn't for what it called "unlimited" U.S. support for Israel. Israel has carried out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of them believed to have been aimed at Iranian arms shipments to the Hezbollah militant group. Both Iran and Hezbollah have been fighting alongside the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that he will not allow archenemy Iran to establish a permanent military presence in postwar Syria. Speaking at a military ceremony Wednesday, Netanyahu did not directly mention the alleged airstrike. But he repeated his position that he will not allow archenemy Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, and said Israel's air force has unmatched capabilities and can reach arenas "near and far, very far." "We are not prepared to accept the Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, which is directed against us. We will act against it vigorously and continuously, including during the current period," he told a graduation ceremony of new air force pilots. He said President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. forces out of Syria "will not change our policy." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said Tuesday's Israeli strike targeted three positions south of Damascus that are arms depots for Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group and Iranian forces. A strong earthquake caused by Mount Etna's ongoing eruption led to panic in eastern Sicily early Wednesday. No one was killed, but at least 30 people suffered minor injuries. Italian authorities used helicopters early Wednesday to assess the damage, after the 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck. The island is home to Mount Etna, the volcano which has recently triggered hundreds of tremors, some stronger than others. Homes were damaged, with cracks appearing on building walls and others collapsing entirely. One family whose home collapsed in the town of Fleri said it was a miracle they survived. The local population in these areas is used to the constant eruptions of Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. However, one 80-year-old resident said never in his life had he felt a quake like the one that hit in the middle of the night. Others described leaving their homes through the windows and said the lamps swayed and everything shook. They said they were frightened and prayed that such a powerful quake would not occur again. The epicenter was located north of the eastern Sicilian city of Catania and officials said it was shallow, at a depth of just one kilometer from the surface. At least six towns were affected, and a section of the highway had to be closed for inspection. In Pennisi, near Acireale, the bell tower of a church collapsed as did the statue of Saint Emidio, traditionally believed to protect against earthquakes. Officials were also assessing damage to cultural heritage sites. Eugenio Privitera, the director of the national institute for geophysics and volcanology in Catania, said the seismic events are unsettling and caused by a fault that is dangerous when it moves. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said he would visit those affected by the quake on Thursday. In 2018, technology firms such as Facebook and Google faced more scrutiny and negative press over their handling of data breaches and online speech. The issue may mean new rules and more regulations in the future. The question of who can access personal user data through technology caused many people to rethink how much they trust these companies with their private information. At a recent hearing, House Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy grilled Google over accusations it uses algorithms to suppress conservative voices. "Are America's technology companies serving as instruments of freedom? Or instruments of control? Are they fulfilling the promise of the digital age? Are they advancing the cause of self-government? Or are they serving as instruments of manipulation used by powerful interests and foreign governments to rob the people of their power, agency, and dignity?," he said. At the hearing, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said he runs the U.S. technology giant without political preference. In October, Google acknowledged that several months earlier, it had discovered a data breach involving its Google Plus service, which the company said would be shut down. Pantas Sutardja, chief executive of data storage company LatticeWork Inc., says such scandals are forcing the companies to take a closer look at how they manage and protect user content. "2018 has been a challenging year for tech companies and consumers alike. Company CEOs being called to Congress for hearings and promising profusely to fix the problems of data breach but still cannot do it," said Sutardja. Also this year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced tough questions from U.S. lawmakers over a breach that allowed a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, to exploit the data of millions of Facebook users. Zuckerberg apologized to lawmakers, but some legislators say the giant social network cannot be trusted to regulate itself. Separately, the attorney-general for Washington, Karl Racine, said the U.S. capital had sued Facebook over reports involving Cambridge Analytica's use of data from the social media giant. The year saw new revelations that foreign operatives were using social media to secretly spread divisive and often bogus messages in the United States and worldwide. Walt Mossberg, a former tech journalist, says consumers are frustrated. "It doesn't matter to whose benefit they were operating. What bothers people here is that a foreign country, using our social networks, digital products and services that we have come to feel comfortable in, a foreign government has come in and used that against us," he said. The Facebook data breach has prompted companies like Latticework to create new ways for users to protect their information and themselves, Sutardja says. "Despite apologizing profusely about leaking customer data, they can't do anything about it because their real master, their boss is Wall Street," he said. User data was just one area in which tech firms came under criticism.Under pressure, social media companies tightened restrictions on the kinds of speech they tolerate on their sites. And workers pressed managers about their companies' government contracts and treatment of female colleagues. Mossberg says he wants federal law to limit U.S. internet firms' collection and use of personal data. "These are giant companies now. There really are four or five of them that control everything. And governments and citizens of countries around the world need the right to regulate them without closing down free speech. And that's tricky," he said. Mossberg says he has given up Facebook. Syrian government troops backed by Russian forces have sent extra troops towards the city of Manbij in coordination with the militia that controls it, a militia spokesman said, as Turkish-backed Syrian rebels said they were preparing to attack it. The deployment was coordinated with the U.S.-backed militia in Manbij, the spokesman for the Manbij Military Council said. It is part of the wider buildup of forces in the area. "The battle will soon start," Major Youssef Hamoud, spokesman for the National Army, the main Turkish-backed rebel force in the area, told Reuters. "What we see on the front now is reinforcements to all forces to reach full preparedness for the battle." President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria has triggered alarm among the largely Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). They have partnered with Washington in the war against Islamic State and now fear the U.S. move will open the way for Turkey to launch a long-threatened attack against them. "The Russian army has restored the Syrian-Russian coordination centre to Arima village to the west of Manbij city, after its withdrawal from there a while ago," said Sharfan Darwish, the spokesman for the Manbij Military Council. Manbij was seized in 2016 from Islamic State by Syrian militia allied to the SDF, which control roughly a quarter of Syria. Its capture was a milestone in the U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State. In June, the United States and Turkey reached an agreement that would see the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia ousted from the town, but Turkey says its implementation has been delayed. In November Turkish and U.S. troops began joint patrols in the region. Turkey is determined to cross to the east of the Euphrates river in northern Syria as soon as possible, Ankara's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Ankara regards the YPG as terrorists and has been infuriated by U.S. support for the group in the fight against Islamic State. Trump's abrupt decision to pull troops out of Syria has handed the fight against Islamic State over to Turkey - and effectively given Ankara the green light to push into remaining Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Israeli war planes attacked with missiles unspecified targets near Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Tuesday and injured three Syrian soldiers, Syrian state media quoted a military source as saying. "Our air defenses confronted hostile missiles launched by Israeli war planes from above the Lebanese territories and downed most of them before reaching their targets," the military source said. An arms depot was hit and three soldiers were injured due to the attack, the source added. The nature of the Israeli missiles targets was unclear. Syrian state media reported earlier in the evening downing several "hostile targets" near Damascus. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on the reports. "An IDF aerial defense system activated in response to an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria," the official Israeli army Twitter account later said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, said Israeli missiles were launched from above the Lebanese territories and targeted western and southwestern Damascus rural areas. "A number of missiles hit arms depots for Hezbollah or Iranian forces," the observatory said. No casualties or losses were reported. Lebanese state-run National News Agency said Israeli war planes performed mock raids above southern Lebanon. During the more than seven-year conflict in neighboring Syria, Israel has grown deeply alarmed by the expanding clout of its arch enemy Iran - a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Israel's air force has struck scores of targets it describes as Iranian deployments or arms transfers to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in the war. The year 2018 proved to be one of change in U.S. politics. Opposition Democrats won back control of the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections, and that could have a profound impact on the next two years of Donald Trumps presidency. A preview of what the year ahead could look like came in the December 11 Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders Representative Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer. The verbal jousting over the presidents demand for a border wall with Mexico is likely the first of many partisan showdowns ahead given that Democrats will hold the majority in the House beginning in early January. Democrats will certainly use their majority to highlight some differences with Donald Trump and to investigate the Trump administration, said John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center, a recent guest on VOAs Encounter program. And then we will be spending this year leading into the presidential election of 2020, so it is a transition year. Investigations ahead Democrats fueled their midterm victory with opposition to President Donald Trump spurred by a strong turnout from women and progressive voters on behalf of candidates like Massachusetts Democrat Ayanna Pressley. We have affirmed that while this could go down as the darkest time in our history, we will not let it be. And instead, we will be defined by our hopes, not our fears, Pressley told supporters on election night. Democrats picked up 40 House seats but Republicans bolstered their majority in the Senate and will hold a 53-to-47-seat edge in January. Even though Trump now faces the prospect of a stalled legislative agenda and numerous oversight investigations launched by House Democrats, he remains defiant. Almost from the time I announced I was going to run, they have been giving us this investigation fatigue. It has been a long time, the president told a White House news conference shortly after the election. They have got nothing. Zero. You know why? Because there is nothing. But they can play that game but we can play it better. Deal or no deal? But Democratic control of the House will force the president to adjust to a new political reality, according to University of Virginia expert Larry Sabato. Trump has faced relatively few problems in dealing with Congress [in his first two years] at least compared to other presidents who were dealing with one or both branches being controlled by the opposition party, Sabato told Associated Press Television. Trump can boast of his tax cut passed by a Republican Congress and his two Supreme Court appointments approved by the Republican-controlled Senate. But next year, without full Republican control of Congress, and with an eye on an approaching re-election campaign, Trump could be more interested in cutting some deals with Democrats. Jim Kessler is with the center-left policy group Third Way. At this point we have not seen Donald Trump really have the ability to work with Democrats to cut any sort of deal in the first two years, Kessler told VOA. So, Mr. Art of the Deal has really fallen short and we will see if that is possible this time. Russia probe looms Also looming on the horizon for the Trump White House in 2019, though, is the Russia investigation, which could move toward a conclusion in the coming months. This is a watershed year coming up for President Trump, said Tom DeFrank of the National Journal, who has covered Washington politics for 40 years. I mean, he [Trump] is going to have to confront whatever it is that Robert Mueller says about him or alleges, and I think it is going to be a difficult year for him. Trump will be increasingly focused on the next presidential election, but so will scores of Democrats who hope to defeat him in 2020, said University of Virginia analyst Guian McKee. You know, I think the reality is that the 2020 campaign has begun. That is probably unfortunate, but that shapes everything going forward, said McKee. Given the political reset between Congress and the White House and the uncertainty of what the Russia investigation will find, what happens in 2019 could go a long way to determining whether Donald Trump is a one-term or two-term president. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has ordered a number of changes when caring for children under the age of 10, in the wake of the death of an 8-year old Guatemalan boy in U.S. custody. Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol officials Wednesday hosted a conference call with reporters and said they had completed new medical screenings of almost all the children in the care of the U.S. Border Patrol one of the many changes officials are implementing after two children died this month. WATCH: Medical Screenings Ordered After 2nd Migrant Child Dies in US Custody Felipe Gomez Alonzo, the Guatemalan boy, died shortly before midnight on Dec. 24 hours before a 7-year-old girl who died was laid to rest in her impoverished Guatemalan village. DHS requests medical help Border officials said, "Dependent upon the facility and the location, in some cases the medical screenings are conducted by individuals that are under contract support services to the Border Patrol." In places at the U.S. southwest border sectors where no medical personnel are available, the screenings are done by returning migrant children to a medical facility for additional checkups or "utilizing our organic resources that consist of EMT paramedics." DHS officials said they have asked for medical help from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Defense, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. They did not say how many children are currently in CBP's custody. During the conference call, DHS officials also explained the circumstances of the death of 8-year-old Felipe Gomez Alonzo. Signs of 'potential illness' Officials said while the boy and his father, Agustin Gomez, were in its custody Monday, agents noticed the child was showing signs of "potential illness." Felipe was taken to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where doctors diagnosed him with a cold and fever and released him with prescriptions. Almost five hours after being released from the hospital with antibiotic medication and ibuprofen, Felipe became nauseous and vomited in detention. Because there was no emergency medical technician on duty, CBP then took the boy and his father back to the hospital, but during the trip, Felipe vomited and lost consciousness. The cause of death is not known. Father, son enter system on Dec. 18 Felipe and his father were first held at the Paso del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 18. Both were then transferred to El Paso Border Patrol Station on Dec. 20, and then Alamogordo Border Patrol Station two days later. CBP promised an "independent and thorough review." Besides informing the Guatemalan government, a DHS official said the U.S. Congress was notified "immediately" of Felipe's death. Felipe and his father were in CBP custody for more than 130 hours. When asked why the child was in custody for so long and if that violated the Flores Settlement Agreement which limits the time children may be held in immigration detention and requires officials to turn them over to Health and Human Services within 72 hours a CBP official said, "This subject was accompanied by a family member and was considered a family unit by Border Patrol standards." Jakelin Caal Meanwhile, in the tiny Guatemalan village of San Antonio Secortez, a funeral was held for 7-year-old Jakelin Caal. Balloons hung over the coffin that contained the remains of the little girl during a memorial service in her grandparent's home on Monday. Jakelin died Dec. 8 while also in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Jakelin and her father, Nery Caal, crossed into the United States as part of one of the caravans of Central American migrants. Nery Caal entered the U.S. hoping to find work, which does not exist across much of Guatemala. It is not clear how Jakelin became ill. She was apparently well when agents arrested her and her father along with other migrants when they crossed the U.S. border into New Mexico on Dec. 6. Became ill during bus ride She became sick on the bus ride to a border patrol station and arrived with a 41-degree Celsius fever. Emergency medical teams flew her to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where she died two days later. Her brain was swollen and her liver had failed. U.S. agents say the child likely had little to eat and drink before arriving at the U.S. border. Critics of U.S. immigration policy point to the child deaths as examples of the harsh treatment many migrants can expect when they cross U.S. borders. "The Trump administration is deliberately and unlawfully turning asylum-seekers away from points of entry and delaying the processing of individuals seeking protection to an unbearable crawl, forcing families to take desperate measures to seek safety," the human rights group Amnesty International said Tuesday. President Donald Trump has said all immigrants are welcome to the U.S. but must come to the country legally. Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro said in a statement he was "deeply saddened" and confirmed that CBP informed Congress about the child's death. Incoming Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer said the House of Representatives will be holding hearings on the deaths of migrant children. "House Democrats will not stand idly by and watch as our nation's most fundamental values are eroded, while innocent children are held like prisoners in cages and their lives placed at risk," he said. The partial shutdown of the U.S. government entered its fifth day Wednesday, with no public indication a resolution is imminent. President Donald Trump spoke about the shutdown Tuesday, asserting that it will continue until his demand for funds to construct a U.S.-Mexico border wall are met. "I can't tell you when the government is going to be open. I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it," Trump said in the Oval Office after a video conference with U.S. troops, who are stationed overseas. Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will receive 24 hours notice before having to return for a vote. A Senate session is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, but few senators are expected to be around for it. After a weekend and two holiday days for federal employees, Wednesday was the first regularly scheduled workday affected by the shutdown. Trump claimed the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are furloughed due to the shutdown also want the wall, despite a lack of evidence supporting the contention. On Monday, Trump asserted Democrats "must end" the standoff while Democratic leaders in Congress blamed Trump for "plunging the country into chaos." "The president wanted the shutdown, but seems not to know how to get himself out of it," Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a joint statement. " While government agencies dealing with national security and public safety remain open, other offices are closed and 800,000 federal workers are on furlough. Those who are considered to be essential employees are reporting for duty, but will not get a paycheck for that work until the shutdown is over. White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Keven Hassett said the shutown is merely a temporary problem for affected federal employees. "They might miss a pay period because the government shut down," Hassett told reporters Wednesday. "But in the end, even if they arent working, then Congress has decided to pay people for the whole time. So in the end, its really just a sort of short-term problem not a long-term problem for government workers." Lawmakers are not expected to act before both houses of Congress reconvene on Thursday. The shutdown could last at least until January 3, when Democrat Nancy Pelosi is expected to reclaim the House Speakership. Trump has demanded $5 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats have offered $1.3 billion for other border security measures. The president canceled his Christmas vacation to his Florida resort because of the impasse with Congress. "I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security," he tweeted Monday. "At some point, the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our Country more than the Border Wall we are all talking about. Crazy." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Millions of American parents could be putting their plans for a comfortable retirement at risk by continuing to act as the family bank for their adult children. "Parenting is a lifelong financial commitment," Surya Kolluri, a managing director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, told VOA via email. "Parents spend twice as much on adult children as they contribute to their retirement accounts." More than three-fourths 79 percent of parents with adult children provide financial assistance to their offspring, contributing to living expenses like rent, groceries and cellphone bills, according to a recent study from Merrill Lynch. In many cases, that parental generosity threatens to worsen a looming retirement crisis, according to labor economist and retirement expert Teresa Ghilarducci, who says 40 percent of middle-class people now approaching retirement will be poor or near poor by the time they're 62. "All Americans at every level of income will have some trouble preparing for the retirement especially if their lives are long and their health care needs are substantial," Ghilarducci said via email. "But people at the bottom 90 percent of the income distribution are going to find that the rely on Social Security for most of their income and that wont be enough." The study found U.S. parents spend a total $500 billion on adult children annually. And that doesn't even include the sizable checks parents write to cover one-time, big-ticket expenses like weddings and home purchases. About 6 in 10 parents help pay for their adult childrens weddings, and one-fourth help a child buy their first home. A vast majority of parents 82 percent say they're willing to make a major financial sacrifice for their adult offspring. "Pulling money from retirement accounts to help out adult children may seem like a generous move for adult children but its actually a decision that may hurt your adult children in the long run," Ghilarducci says. "Without the back-up funds to pay a home mortgage or pay off your house, you may have to move into their house to rely on them for medical needs." Half of all parents in the study say they are willing to draw on savings, and 43 percent would downgrade their lifestyles to help their kids. One-fourth would take on debt and withdraw cash from retirement accounts. Asian, African American and Latino parents are more likely to say they would sacrifice their own financial security for their children. Venezuela's foreign ministry on Tuesday described as "interventionist and disrespectful" U.S. comments on a weekend incident in which Venezuela's navy stopped two ships exploring for oil for Exxon Mobil off Guyana's coast. Each of the neighboring South American countries says the incident on Saturday occurred within its territorial waters. In response to the event, the U.S. State Department said Venezuela had behaved "aggressively" and called on the country to "respect international law and the rights of its neighbors." "It is evident that the U.S. government is interfering in a matter that is not at all incumbent upon it, with the goal of promoting corporate interests closely linked to the Washington ruling elite," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of plotting to invade Venezuela and overthrow his government, while Washington has placed sanctions on Venezuela's debt and members of Maduro's government over accusations of corruption, human rights violations and election-rigging. A century-long territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana has flared up in recent years with Exxon's discovery of more than 5 billion barrels of oil and gas off Guyana's coast. In OPEC-member Venezuela, crude output is hovering near 70-year lows amid a severe economic crisis. Guyana says Caracas gave up its claim to the Essequibo, a sparsely populated jungle area making up two-thirds of Guyana's territory, after an 1899 ruling by an international tribunal, but Venezuela later backtracked on that decision. The U.N. this year referred the dispute to the International Court of Justice. Two vessels owned by Norway's Petroleum Geo-Services and under contract by Exxon Mobil were conducting seismic survey work in the area. The ships stopped their work and turned east after the Venezuelan navy told them Guyana did not have jurisdiction there. When asked on Monday if there were plans for the vessels to resume their activities, Guyana Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said the government was "in discussion" with Exxon. Neither Exxon nor PGS immediately responded to requests for comment on Tuesday, and the U.S. State Department declined to comment. On Monday, the Caricom group of 15 Caribbean nations including Guyana many of which have historically received subsidized oil from Venezuela under Caracas' Petrocaribe program said it viewed the "interception" by Venezuela's navy "with grave concern." "Such acts violate the sovereign rights of Guyana under international law," the group said in a statement. On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that almost $2.5 million has been awarded for emergency housing assistance. The funding from the Emergency Solutions Grant program will help homeless Alabamians find housing and offer help to those in danger of becoming homeless. This is through statewide organizations that provide shelter, legal and health assistance and financial education. The program can also help cover families' moving costs. "While many of us gather with family and friends this time of year, it's important to remember that there are some Alabamians currently struggling to keep a roof over their heads and others who don't have a home at all," Ivey said. $275,000 was given to the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless, which will benefit various areas across the state, including Jackson and Marshall counties. The city of Florence and the city of Huntsville each received $275,000, and $20,000 to was awarded to the Marshall County Home Place. Anyone who would like to request assistance can contact their local agency. Case managers screen applicants for eligibility. | BY Ricki Green | Following the announcement last week that the ongoing location of the Australian Space Agency will be in Adelaide, its new brand identity has also been unveiled developed by Ogilvy Australia. It is the first work launched by Ogilvy since its appointment several months ago, following a competitive pitch. Ogilvy developed the new logo and all associated livery after being briefed to develop a bold brand identity that stands out as distinctively Australian. Says David Fox, CEO, Ogilvy Australia: The Australian Space Agency not only needed an identity to reinforce its remit to look to space to provide real improvements on earth, but one that captures our powerful cultural heritage. Were incredibly proud of the resulting brand, which alludes to the light created by human light and industry, while referencing several significant Indigenous constellations that can be seen from our skies, representing important Dreaming stories. Its a bold and flexible logo that can be utilised in a myriad of ways as the new Agency continues to grow and develop. We believe the branding strategy formalises Australias spot on the space map by positioning its unique perspective for the new space age. The Australian Space Agency was established by the Australian Government on 1 July 2018 with a goal to stand out among the international space community. Its key responsibilities and expectations include being the single point of contact to lift national and international engagement in the global space industry, growing the nations space industry capability and forging a new civilian and commercial space identity. The Agency has also been tasked with communicating to the Australian people the importance of space in everyday life while coordinating domestic space activities. Says Fox: Given that space isnt always top of mind for Australians it was vital that any branding really established the new organisation as a globally-respected, trusted and responsible Australian Space Agency. It also had to match Australias creativity and ingenuity through its space exploration involvement. And as a successful Australian agency with our own strong identity, we were proud to use our creative approach to achieve these goals. Fox said the new branding aimed to communicate to the international space sector, local industry and the wider Australian community by using the new logo across a range of channels. In addition to developing the new brand identity, Ogilvy developed for launch an animated event video, plus social and creative elements in support of online and offline activity. Sally Kissane Managing Director Brenton Bleechmore Creative Director Gillian Browne Senior Copywriter Tourists in Rome continue to vandalise the Colosseum. An American tourist has become the latest visitor to the Colosseum caught stealing a fragment of the monument as a "souvenir", according to local media reports. The man, aged 36, was detained by police after breaking off a piece of brick from an interior wall of the ancient amphitheatre. Over the last two years, more than 40 tourists have been reported to the police for either vandalising or stealing chunks of the Colosseum which has welcomed a record 7.4 million visitors in 2018. The video clips purported to show crowds of several hundred each gathering on side roads and heading toward the palace in the heart of Khartoum, the capital. They sang patriotic songs and chanted Freedom, Peaceful, peaceful against the thieves and The people want to bring down the regime. The latter was the most popular slogan of the 2010 and 2011 Arab Spring revolts. Every morning, Adam Mahr, owner of the gift and housewares shop A Mano in the District, steeps his coffee grounds in the Espro Press P7 after a favored ritual ($99.95-$119.95, espro.ca). He chooses a dark bean from Brazil, Colombia or Ethiopia, then grinds it right before brewing to preserve the beans oil. He heats water on the stove but cuts it off right before it boils, then heats up the stainless-steel press with hot water before putting the grounds and coffee water in the double filter of the press keeps the grounds from sludging up the coffee. Lastly, a timer is set for four to five minutes. Every morning, I go down, feed the dogs, make my coffee, watch Morning Joe and then begin my day, he says. Plemons has come a long way, as the only thing his character in Game Night has in common with his breakout role as Landry Clarke in Friday Night Lights is proximity to Kyle Chandler. As Gary, the lonely cop who lives next door to the main characters, Plemons plays up the creepiness that became his forte through roles in Breaking Bad and Black Mirror. Gary isnt a major player in Game Night hes lonely in part because he never receives an invitation. But when he does appear such as when he suddenly turns up on his driveway, eerily stroking his dogs fur its hard to look away. Early intervention is the key, said Tillman. Its important, because you may have a child who is 17 months and still in the infant room because the child is not walking. Or we may have a child who doesnt have any language and so they are not able to express their needs. . . . It can be overwhelming to any adult when someone doesnt understand what theyre saying to them, so imagine how overwhelming it is to a child. When Odessa Shannon was campaigning for a school board seat in Maryland, she got a call from a man who said he was with the Ku Klux Klan and told her to drop out of the race. It was 1982, and she was shaken. It scared the daylights out of me, she recalled. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen deployed teams from the U.S. Coast Guards medical corps to the southern border to ensure that migrant children being held by the government receive double health screenings. She said Wednesday she has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the source of what officials called an increase in sick migrants taken into custody. Dozens have been taken to hospitals with flulike and other symptoms in recent days, officials said, raising the question of whether illness may be spreading in migrant shelters in Mexico. The group all female, as often happens sat around a table in the middle of the Bump n Grind coffee shop. Iced coffees and lattes were tucked among notebooks, sheaves of loose paper and an array of pens, from models that glitter to the kind you would find in an office desk drawer. 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 May an architect of Virginias $3.5 billion transportation funding law in 2013 who served 20 years in the House of Delegates reflects his state partys attempts to regroup after a decade of statewide losses and a blue wave that nearly wiped out its majority in the legislature. In November, the party was further weighed down by its candidate for U.S. Senate, Corey A. Stewart. He lost that election to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Man shoots his dog in park: A man in Hamden, Conn., shot and killed his dog in a park because he feared it might attack children there, police said. The Sunday incident is under investigation. Police Capt. Ronald Smith said the man said his dog, a pit bull that was not on a leash at the time, attacked and seriously injured another dog that was on a leash. The owner of the injured dog was also with his three children at the time. The owner of the pit bull, who was not immediately identified, told police he was worried his dog might also attack the children. So he pulled out a handgun and shot the animal, killing it. Smith said the man was licensed to carry the gun. I used my one call to phone my mother a doctor who worked treating heroin addicts in the South Bronx. She came down to the station and berated the arresting officer in her thick Polish accent, offering to take him to Central Park and point him to all the drug dealers selling heroin there. Why didnt he do something about them, rather than harassing a harmless teenager? She had to spend thousands of dollars to hire a lawyer, who told us that the charges were serious and that I could face jail time. We went to court, and he cut a deal to have the prosecution deferred. I stood before a judge who told me if I did not commit another crime in the next 12 months, the charges would be dropped and my arrest record expunged. Until then, I was a juvenile offender. I passed the time without incident and never picked up a pair of nunchucks again. But after I threatened to rain fire and fury on Santas workshop the likes of which the world has never seen, he gave us a much better deal. He will now export beautiful, clean coal from West Virginia to stockings across the world. Santa, by giving a nod and laying a finger aside of his nose, will replace Obamacare with something cheaper and better. With a wink of his eye and a twist of his head, he will cut the debt in half and make the tax cut pay for itself. He will give a whistle, and Mexico will pay for the wall. Steel jobs will return, Russia will be our friend, North Korea will surrender its nuclear weapons, Germany will pay for NATO, ISIS will disband, everybody will be home for Christmas, and all your Christmases will be white. Yes, West Virginia, and Ohio, and Michigan, there is a Santa Claus. I had concerns for the institution of the presidency, he told reporters. Not for myself, personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through, with the darkened plane, with all windows closed, with no lights on whatsoever, anywhere pitch black. Ive never seen it. Ive been in many airplanes all types and shapes and sizes. Ive never seen anything like it. We actually had a couple set up but were canceled for security reasons because people were finding out, Trump said. Pretty sad when you spend $7 trillion in the Middle East and going in has to be under this massive cover, with planes all over and all of the greatest equipment in the world, and you do everything to get in safely. But for Putin, displays of terrifying new weaponry represent a way to excite Russians who miss the superpower status of the Soviet Union as well an attempt to bring Washington to the negotiating table. Putin has been warning of a new arms race amid fears in Russia that the United States will not renew the New START treaty limiting the two countries deployed nuclear warheads, which is set to expire in 2021. President Trump this year announced that the United States will exit a separate Cold War-era treaty limiting short- and intermediate-range nuclear weapons known as the INF Treaty because of what Washington says is a Russian violation of it. I have said that we will not be deterred from doing what is necessary, Netanyahu said. President Trumps decision to withdraw the American soldiers from Syria will not change our policy. We are standing steadfast on our red lines in Syria and everywhere else. There are a number of ways to look at this announcement, said Erica Jayne Lyman, a professor with the International Environmental Law Project at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. On one hand, Japan has decided to abandon an international regime, which is lamentable. On the other hand, Japan is also recognizing that there is no fully legal path to high-seas commercial whaling, nor was there sufficient demand to make it economically viable. There are other obstacles, too, not least the extremely poor state of North Koreas rail network and the massive investment that would be required to bring it up to standard. South Korean officials completed an initial survey of the main rail routes in the North this month, but further surveys of the rail and road networks are planned before a detailed blueprint for the project is drawn up. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin looked to quash big-bank worries over plunging stock markets and reports that President Donald Trump might move on his Federal Reserve chief by assuring the financial community on Sunday that market liquidity is in good shape. Some market participants, however, questioned why Mnuchin answered a question that no one was asking. Even after recent market losses, a liquidity squeeze or fresh financial crisis hadn't been on the market's mind. Mnuchin's assertion of ample liquidity risked raising doubts. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday he had held a series of phone conversations with top American bankers. Credit:AP Mnuchin tweeted late Sunday afternoon that he'd called the chief executives of the nation's six largest banks and that those chiefs "confirmed they have ample liquidity available for lending to consumer, business markets, and all other market operations". Treasury also said Mnuchin would convene a call on Monday with the President's Working Group on financial markets. Even with US stock markets on the skids for weeks, and the federal government in a partial shutdown since Saturday, many market watchers wondered whether there's something more systemic going on. The developer of a new high-rise apartment block in Sydney's west, which was evacuated after residents heard cracking noises on Christmas Eve, says there is "absolutely no danger for residents" and the company is confident the "localised" damage to an internal wall can be fixed. About 300 residents were told to leave Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday afternoon after fine cracks and a split in the wall on level 10 sparked initial fears the building could collapse. Most residents were allowed to re-enter later that evening, although 51 apartments in the 36-storey tower were deemed unsafe. Some residents were still unable to get back into their apartments on Boxing Day. Weber Historical Society Lecture Series Examines LDS Church Finances December 26, 2018 OGDEN, Utah The Weber Historical Society Lecture series will examine the finances of the top leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to kick off the Spring 2019 series Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. in Weber State Universitys Hurst Center Dumke Legacy Hall. Yale-trained historian and author D. Michael Quinn will speak about the churchs top leadership with regard to income, personal wealth and institutional finances. Quinn is an author and historian whose work has focused on the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quinn holds a doctorate from Yale and is a former Brigham Young University professor. Quinn has authored several books about the church including three that examine the churchs hierarchy. No American success story of any other church, non-profit or business can rival the LDS Churchs rags-to-riches experience, Quinn said. Quinns lecture will be based on more than 40 years of his research and will cover the years 1830-2010. Quinns research includes annual reports of the churchs tithing income and the records of various organizations within the church, such as the presiding bishopric. Additionally, Quinn has researched the American property tax rolls of Ohio, Illinois and the Utah Territory where the church had settlements from 1831-1889. Quinns research extends beyond the United States to include all of the churchs income and expenditures in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Tonga, the Philippines and the United Kingdom from 2000-2010. Quinn will also include information from the personal diaries of church leaders from the mid-1830s to the late 1960s. His research includes itemized wealth-at-death in the probated estates of the churchs general authorities from the 1840s to the 1980s. He also tracked official documents provided by the church about the amount of the living allowances for its general authorities from the 1990s to the first decade of the 21st century. The presentation is sponsored by the WSU Alumni Association, the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the Department of History, Stewart Library and the Weber Historical Society. Visit weber.edu/history/historicalsociety for more information on the Weber Historical Society Spring Lecture Series. For a photo, visit the following link: photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2018-photos/December-2018/i-4Zbct6M/0/f2eb5561/X2/Quinn_MG_2744edit-X2.jpg Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. GREENWICH Earl Coyne usually comes to the Greenwich Knights of Columbus community Christmas dinner by himself. But this year, he brought a friend. My husband is in the hospital, said Margaret Jensen, a postal worker Coyne befriended on his regular trips to buy stamps. The two have seen each other at the dinner for years. (Earl) talked me into coming. I wasnt going to come because I dont like to go anywheres alone. Both Coyne, a resident at Agnes Morley Heights, and Jensen have been coming to the dinner for more than 30 years. Coyne said he didnt want to see a friend miss out on the holiday celebration that has fostered a tight-knit family feeling for decades. Each year since 1974, the Greenwich Chapter of the Knights of Columbus on West Putnam Avenue has held a free dinner open to the public. Anyone without a place to go is welcome; meals are delivered to people who are homebound. About 90 people gathered for the feast Tuesday. Jeanine Wojnas and lifelong Greenwich resident Carla Lynk caught each others gaze from the across the room as the meal began and came together to embrace in a warm hug. They met each other in a computer class at the Greenwich Library when computers had just come out, the women said. This year was Lynks third at the Knights of Columbus dinner. I dont have any family because all my relatives are dead, the Goodwill employee said. Except my cousin, who lives in Florida. Wojnas joined the dinner for the first time this year. Normally, we celebrate our Christmas Eve at home, she said. This year, we did not. My family went out and I stayed in because I did not feel well. Greenwich resident Margaret Yinkowski sat at a table of friends from the senior center. Were alone at the holidays, she said, adding the event brings together people without anywhere else to go. I dont have any family. Yinkowskis friend, Helna Zarga, said she has been coming to the community event for about seven years for friends, socialization, hospitality and food. You see friends who you dont normally see, she said. And you know they would otherwise be alone. As Coyne and Jensen enjoyed their festive meal with old friends, Coyne quipped about the next time hed see her. Im gonna need a new book of stamps soon, he chuckled. No More Lemon Test Contact: Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 26, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Liberty Counsel is filing an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of a case involving a 93-year-old 40-foot cross war memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland that the American Humanist Association has challenged as violating the Establishment Clause. Photo: Image of the "Peace Cross" from First Liberty. The "Peace Cross," made of granite and cement, was built in 1925 as a tribute to local men who died during World War I. The Gold-Star Mothers who designed the memorial in 1919 chose the shape to recall the crosses marking the countless American graves on the Western Front of that war. A plaque on the base of the cross lists the names of 49 soldiers and both faces of the cross have a circle with the symbol of the American Legion, the veterans' organization that helped raise money to build it. It was also paid for by local families and businesses. It stands on a piece of land that has been owned since 1961 by a state commission at Maryland Route 450 and U.S. Route 1 in Bladensburg, approximately five miles from the U.S. Supreme Court. The challenge to the "Peace Cross" began with the American Humanist Association filing a 2014 lawsuit against Maryland officials, which argued that the cross "discriminates against patriotic soldiers who are not Christian." The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled that the cross violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Now the High Court has agreed to hear the two cases that have been consolidated, American Legion v. American Humanist Association and Maryland National Capital Park Council v. American Humanist Association. Liberty Counsel is arguing that the Supreme Court should reject its longstanding test known as the "Lemon Test," used to determine if a law violates the First Amendment. Its name comes from Lemon v. Kurtzman, in which the Court ruled that a Rhode Island law that paid some of the salary of some parochial school teachers was unconstitutional. This test has proven to be unworkable and has led to inconsistent and contradictory decisions on the constitutionality of 10 Commandment monuments and cross monuments like the "Peace Cross." Liberty Counsel is arguing that the "Lemon Test" should be replaced with an objective test that would yield clear and consistent results. The new test would analyze displays based upon history, whether the symbol is ubiquitous and whether the display is coercive, i.e., is actively trying to proselytize or push a particular religious belief. The late Justice Scalia described the so-called "Lemon Test" as a "ghoul in a late-night horror movie" that the Court brings out to scare people and sometimes leaves in the closet. Other justices, including Clarence Thomas, have criticized the "Lemon Test" because it does not provide firm guidance to lower courts. "We are hopeful that the High Court will finally overturn this unconstitutional precedent on the Establishment Clause as a result of this 'Peace Cross' case," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "In 2005, the Court decided two Ten Commandment cases on the same day, using the 'Lemon Test' in one case and no test in the other case. It is past time the Court return to the Constitution and abandon unworkable manmade tests," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. By: Paige Cline Sometimes I am asked to reprint a column from the past. Here[Read More] A popular ski resort in southwestern Manitoba is up for sale. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A popular ski resort in southwestern Manitoba is up for sale. "I cant do it forever," said owner Don Horner, 62, who bought Ski Valley in Minnedosa with his late father, Elliott Horner, in 1978. The sale would include the 140-acre property, located about 230 kilometres west of Winnipeg, and everything on-site, from snow-making equipment to the cutlery in the kitchen. The resort has nine hills ranging in skill level from beginner to advanced, and are as tall as 100 metres. It gets as many as 500 skiers on a busy day, many of whom are students from schools in the surrounding area, Horner said. Ski Valley also has a full-service, licensed restaurant. When Horner bought the property with his father 40 years ago, he was 22 years old. They owned the business together until he bought out his father in 1988. SUPPLIED Ski Valley in Minnedosa He said hes excited about someone new being holding the reins of the business. "Its time for new ideas," he said. The resort went up for sale last year, said Brandon real estate agent Gallagher McGuinness, who is managing the sale. They came close to a deal with a buyer, but it fizzled out. The listing was renewed recently at a price of $1.3 million. "I think its a real good buy," said McGuinness, who said he skied at Ski Valley for 20 years. He hopes the price, which he said is cheap considering the equipment on the property and the quality of the hills, will help sell the property this time around. SUPPLIED A deal for the ski hill fell through. There has already been some interest in the property, including from a Calgary couple and a Brandon man who is assembling a consortium to buy the property. "The prospects are good that well sell this winter," McGuinness said. Horner also said the move to sell has nothing to do with a lawsuit filed against Ski Valley and the Brandon School Division. The parents of a 14-year-old girl filed the suit in January, online court records show. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A Brandon Sun report in March said they alleged both organizations "failed to provide proper supervision, safe conditions and competent care for their daughter" when she broke her leg during a March 2017 school trip to Ski Valley. Brandon School Division and Ski Valley denied responsibility. Ski Valley said the girl and her legal guardian signed a waiver before she was allowed to ski. Horner said its time to sell, adding he doesnt want to wait until hes "old and bitter." Horner plans to live nearby on a portion of the property he subdivided and is willing to help out potential buyers with operating the property for the first couple of years. He said he will try to negotiate a lifetime season pass to the hills when the property is sold. ryan.job@freepress.mb.ca It would have been great if I could have stuck with the original plan, which was to devote this space to the truly inspiring stories about politics, government and public policy from the past year. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion It would have been great if I could have stuck with the original plan, which was to devote this space to the truly inspiring stories about politics, government and public policy from the past year. I tried. But after reviewing the stories that stood out for me, I just couldnt do it. In short, it was a hell of a year. Twelve months of conflict, suffering, political insanity, ungoverned hateful ideology and administrative intransigence. The following examples, which I will use to substantiate my incredibly negative world view, do not make for a comprehensive list of the glass-half-empty stories of the past year. The climate is degrading and we the truly global, royal we are idling our automobiles as we walk by the graveyard. Wildfires ravaged many countries on Earth, including Canada, while California experienced the deadliest fires ever. Ironically, the people who have been most active in denying climate change largely because they thought it wouldnt have affected them much in their lifetime were in for a surprise: the worlds climate experts announced this year that we will reach a bona fide climate crisis in just 20 years. Meanwhile, the global economy is becoming increasingly unstable, pushed to the brink of shrinking once again by Brexit, the China-United States trade war and the perpetually mixed and often incomprehensible messages on the economy, trade and monetary policy generated by U.S. President Donald Trump on his smartphone. Closer to home, the issues are less apocalyptic but still disheartening. The Manitoba government continues to demonstrate reticence about making significant new investments to help combat methamphetamine. And yet, it was somehow moved to provide the increasingly unsustainable horse-racing industry with $37 million in taxpayer support over the next five years. Theres no getting around it: in the battle between horses and meth, the four-legged creatures seem to have come out on top. The insanity at play here is hardly limited to the provincial government. The City of Winnipeg was forced to endure a referendum campaign on whether to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrians. Despite overwhelming evidence that the intersection will require major repairs in the coming years, Winnipeggers overwhelmingly voted to keep the intersection closed. The image of a city where so many citizens were so moved to fight for the status quo was enough to make a grown person cry. At the federal level, we see more insanity. We have a federal Liberal government that is trying to pull the provinces kicking and screaming into a plan where the revenue from a new tax on fossil fuels could be used to pay for clean-energy initiatives. Several provinces, including Manitoba, have generated a temper tantrum of sufficient magnitude to stall the introduction of coast-to-coast carbon pricing. Its all so pointless and tragic given the aforementioned warnings about an impending climate crisis. If all that were not enough, it looks as if immigration and identity politics are destined to become the defining issue of next years federal election. The federal Conservatives continue to veer ever closer to the dangerous lexicon of xenophobia. Recently, Tory Leader Andrew Scheer took to the airwaves to describe the newly minted UN Global Compact for Migration as a loss of sovereignty and a dangerous undermining of a free and independent news media. The compact, a voluntary framework to help countries address the legal vagaries of irregular migration, is none of those things. It is simply a group of countries committing to a higher standard of treatment for anyone making a claim of asylum. Scheer attacked it vigorously, no doubt sensing an opportunity to use fear about asylum-seekers as a lever to undermine support for the Liberal government. It goes on and on. The Humboldt bus disaster that killed 16 players and team officials moved the country. The #MeToo movement continues to reveal the extent to which men in the world continue to denigrate women. The insidious and cynical manipulation of our lives by social media companies. News that Canadians are giving less to charity than ever before, while more people are being killed in traffic accidents, most of them involving drivers who have been drinking. Sigh. There are positive stories from 2018, of course. Most of them are hidden from view by the screaming headlines above the stories I listed here. If there was one story that in large part mitigated the unmitigated disaster that 2018 seems to represent, it is the increasing importance of youth in political debate. In the past year, young people stepped up on important issues like never before. It all started with students in Parkland, Fla., in the wake of a mass shooting in February that claimed 17 lives. The Parkland students walked out of class and into the worlds consciousness to protest an absence of adult action on gun control. Students around the world, including in Canada, organized their own student walkouts in solidarity. Since then, the student voice has been heard on a variety of issues. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. All over the world and throughout the year, students of all ages walked out of classes to protest global inaction on climate change. In Ontario, tens of thousands of students took to the streets to protest Premier Doug Fords decision to eliminate progressive sex-ed curriculum. In Johnstown, Colo., students walked out to protest the harsh and unaccountable punishment of nine high school teachers. In Boston, one inner-city school staged a mass walkout of students and staff to protest the failure of local government to deal with rampant IV drug use that had littered their playground with contaminated needles. Students are giving voice to the need for change and progressive thinking. They are asking adults to be more generous, more compassionate and more forward-thinking in addressing the worlds biggest problems. If we listen to them really listen to them then we will find our way to a better place. A place where the positive stories outnumber the negative ones. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca With Christmas in the rear-view mirror, its time to start thinking about another major birthday: Manitobas big One-Five-O. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion With Christmas in the rear-view mirror, its time to start thinking about another major birthday: Manitobas big One-Five-O. Earlier this year, the province announced the Countdown to Manitoba 150. A special committee was struck and tasked with planning celebrations to honour Manitobas 150th anniversary in 2020. The committee, which is co-chaired by Heritage Minister Cathy Cox and Stuart Murray, former president and CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and former Manitoba PC leader, called for ideas and asked them to be sent to MB150@gov.mb.ca. Considering how popular Canada 150 was that was sarcasm, by the way and the fact that Manitoba was birthed by Indigenous Peoples, I thought it best to start giving gifts early. I put a call out on social media asking for suggestions. Here are the top 10: Monuments Lots of attention has been placed on the Chief Peguis monument at the legislature, but what about honouring notable Indigenous figures who have built this province, such as Elijah Harper, Dave Courchene, Marion Meadmore or Emma LaRocque? An Indigenous Sites in Manitoba app Know where the Tommy Prince monument is? Know where the Molson Lake Rock paintings are? How about Giizhigooweyaabikwe Park (incorporating the traditional name of activist Leslie Spillett)? Manitoba is a hotbed of Indigenous sites, but they are not easy for members of the public to find. This is a missed opportunity for Manitobans to see how deeply tied their communities are with Indigenous Peoples. Recognize the original names of our community There are much-needed conversations taking place about the roles of complicated figures such as Bishop Grandin, but there is a need for Manitobans to understand the traditional and ancestral names of their home. How many people know that Nestawaya is the original name of The Forks, for example? How might we learn more about Winnipeg when we realize "dirty water" is actually talking about the ataagib, the algae? Public art Since the 1970s, Winnipeg has been the centre for Indigenous art in Canada. The city is adorned with some of the most remarkable, savvy and political Indigenous art in North America. In 1971, Potawatomi/Odawa artist Daphne Odjig was commissioned to create a three-by-3-metre mural titled The Creation of the World to recognize the Manitoba centennial you can see it at the entranceway to the Manitoba Museum. Its time for a new piece to honour Manitoba 150. Thats the easy stuff. Heres the transformational stuff: Recognize Indigenous languages as part of the official languages of Manitoba There are seven to include: Anishinaabemowin, Cree, Dakota, Inuktitut, Dene, Michif and Oji-Cree. Think this is impossible? South Africa has 23 official languages. This act alone would make Manitoba the most interesting and historically accurate province in Canada. Build accessible, paved roads to every First Nation Most know about the dangerous and life-threatening conditions of Highway 384 to Mosakahiken Cree Nation, but there are hundreds of similar areas. This is an issue of safety and affects every Manitoban directly. Its also a statement of racism when the pavement suddenly becomes dirt. Declare 2020 the Year of the Indigenous Child Indigenous children are among the most important, yet mistreated, populations in this province, suffering disproportionate violence, neglect and systemic oppression. Make it a public priority for all Manitobans. Talk about it every day. Never look at the justice system, the child-welfare system and poverty the same again. Give health care back to Indigenous communities Virtually every Indigenous community does not have the infrastructure to deliver its own babies. Indigenous communities face some of the most dire health conditions and sicknesses, yet cannot legally address them. Empower local health practitioners and communities to help themselves. Oh, yeah, and deal with the egregious issue of boil-water advisories in First Nations communities. Commit to education Make education about treaties, contributions by and relationships with Indigenous Peoples mandatory for all Manitoba children. Dont leave this to school divisions to determine; it should be part of the curriculum at every level. This must come with an investment in Indigenous teachers and school administrators alongside Indigenous-centred policies for workplaces and universities. Live as treaty people Treaty and land acknowledgments are good (yet slow to come at the Manitoba legislature), but this means nothing if we do not eventually talk about and deal with treaty violations and land theft. This is a hard conversation, I know, but if we are going to move forward, we need leadership to help the public understand that territorial and treaty acknowledgments are meant to lead us towards a just society. If not, these statements at Jets games mean little. A huge gichi-miigwech to everyone on social media who helped make this list. I could have filled my word count with the names. I would like to make one more request for Manitoba 150. To accept that we are all in this place together. This place named after the water and the Earth. Manitowapow: the life that comes from the water. Manito-api: the life thats been placed on the Earth. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. I want it to be clean and healthy for my children, my nieces and my nephews. Indigenous and Canadian. All of us. Indinawemaganidog all of our relations. Manitoban. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca A community of 350 wants to change the world. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A community of 350 wants to change the world. Elm Creek School is adapting social studies and science curriculums to teach the worlds most important lessons. The lessons go beyond a textbook, connecting students to global goals for sustainable development launched by the United Nations in 2015. Each of the 17 goals serves the broader theme of social justice, ranging from basic human rights and ending world hunger and poverty, to world economics, focusing on sustainable cities and responsible consumption and production. Elm Creek School principal Bill Yaworsky said the teachers leading social justice projects are interested in making the world a better place. "What the lead teachers have done here at Elm Creek School, a small rural Manitoba school, is something that can impact in some way, other parts of the province, other parts of the country and even worldwide," Yaworsky said. The school divided the 17 goals between the kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms, hoping to foster leadership and empathy skills across varying age groups. After learning about each goal, each class undertook an action project to address it. Yaworsky said the action projects are rooted in the UNESCO guiding principles: learning to be, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to know. Jackie de Vries, one of four teachers who leads UNESCO projects at the school, said its important for students to see the effects of their efforts beyond their community. "I always like to tell the students that knowledge is power and the more that you learn, the more that you can do," de Vries said. On Dec. 7, de Vriess students took part in performing the puppet show Kinikinik at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kinikinik was written by Governor Generals Award-winning playwright Ian Ross and aims to educate students about treaty relations in Canada. Elm Creek students performed Kinikinik for other students, teachers and administrators in the UNESCO school network in Manitoba. Grade 7 student Olivia Hudson was one of the students who helped with the puppet show. Hudson said she believes she can make a difference in the world by learning more about it. "Changing the world sounds like a huge thing that you probably wont be able to do right away, and so I started in UNESCO and that is the first step because then you can have connections to other things to help make the world a better place," Hudson said. Elm Creek School is one of 14 candidate schools to become recognized as part of UNESCOs Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet).The network acknowledges more than 11,500 schools in 182 countries to support peace, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. Thirteen of the acknowledged schools are in Manitoba. nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca Winnipeg police have laid an attempted murder charge against a teenager in connection with a Tuesday morning stabbing, rounding out a Christmas Day also marked by a West End homicide and a body found outside in the Brooklands neighbourhood. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1072 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeg police have laid an attempted murder charge against a teenager in connection with a Tuesday morning stabbing, rounding out a Christmas Day also marked by a West End homicide and a body found outside in the Brooklands neighbourhood. The Winnipeg Police Service was called to the 600 block of Toronto Street at 3:20 a.m. on Christmas, following a report a woman had been stabbed. Officers found the victim, described as a woman in her 20s, suffering from serious injuries. She was taken to hospital in unstable condition, but has since been upgraded to stable. During the investigation, members of the major crimes unit determined the victim had been at the Toronto Street residence when she was attacked and stabbed multiple times by a woman she knew. The suspect also allegedly stole the victims house keys. Vera Raquel Grieves, 18, of Winnipeg, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. at a hotel on the 1600 block of Ellice Avenue and charged with attempted murder and robbery. She was detained in custody. A few hours after the incident on Toronto Street and roughly a block-and-a-half away, a man was stabbed to death in a back lane on the 400 block of Victor Street. Witnesses described hearing the victim screaming around 7 a.m. Police were called to the scene 15 minutes later. The victim, an adult male, was taken to hospital in critical condition where he was pronounced dead. "We heard yelling and screaming. He was screaming and then the last thing we heard was him praying. He prayed before he died. You could hear it," said a woman who asked not to be named by media for fear of retribution. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A homicide investigation at the 400 block of Victor Street in Winnipeg on Christmas Day. "I heard what I heard, and then next thing I know I see (police) lights." The homicide was Winnipegs 22nd of the year. On Wednesday, WPS spokesman Const. Jay Murray said no arrests had yet been made in the slaying. He declined comment when asked if any persons of interest had been identified or brought in for questioning. "Theres no indication at this time that (the homicide and Toronto Street stabbing) are related," Murray said. Also Tuesday, a body was found on the 1900 block of Logan Avenue, near Route 90, shortly before noon. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Murray said police were notified about a deceased male around 11:40 a.m., adding he believed the body had been found outside. Investigators remained on scene throughout much of Christmas Day, and in the afternoon could be seen entering nearby Innovative Cycle -- a motorcycle dealer -- with the owner. Murray said Wednesday police had yet to make a determination on whether the death was the result of foul play. "Were waiting for the autopsy results to help us determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the death," he said. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion "Coal is dead." These are not the words of a Greenpeace activist or left-wing politician, but of Jim Barry, the global head of the infrastructure investment group at Blackrock the worlds largest asset manager. Barry made this statement in 2017, but the writing has been on the wall for longer than that. Banks know it, which is why they are increasingly unwilling to underwrite new coal mines and power plants. Unions and coal workers know it, which is why they are demanding a just transition and new employment opportunities in the clean economy. Even large diversified mining companies are getting out of the business of coal. The only ones who seem to have remained in denial are U.S. President Donald Trump and non-diversified mining companies like Westmoreland Coal. The Denver-based firm made a bad bet in 2013 when it purchased five coal mines in Alberta. Now it wants Canadian taxpayers to pay for its mistake. Albertas coal phaseout Three years ago, Albertas New Democratic Party (NDP) committed to what some have described as "the most ambitious climate plan in North America to date." In addition to the development of an economy-wide carbon price, the province is phasing out coal-fired power by 2030. Without the infrastructure to export coal, the climate plan has also resulted in a de facto phaseout of local thermal coal mining. To ensure support for the plan, major utility companies in the province were provided with "transition payments" to facilitate the switch to gas and renewable energy. Westmoreland did not receive a government handout, because coal mining companies have no role to play in the energy transition. The company, which filed for bankruptcy protection for its investments in the United States in October, doesnt think this is fair. NAFTAs investment chapter Because Westmoreland is an American company, it can rely on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for protection from "unfair" treatment. NAFTA allows a foreign investor to use a process known as "Investor-State Dispute Settlement" (ISDS) when government action harms its business in some way. ISDS allows foreign investors to bypass local courts and bring claims for monetary compensation to an international tribunal. The system is not unique to NAFTA; it is found in other trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and thousands of bilateral investment treaties (known as Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements in Canada). ISDS is hugely controversial. Concerns have been raised by a wide range of actors about both the process of ISDS, and the way the system can infringe on the sovereign right of states to regulate to protect public health, human rights and the environment. More than 900 ISDS cases have been launched by investors since the early '90s, including 27 against Canada that have so far cost Canadian taxpayers at least $315 million. There is one ongoing dispute that concerns a ban on gas fracking in Quebec, but the Westmoreland claim is the first brought in relation to a policy explicitly designed to combat climate change. Westmoreland argues that part of the reason it invested in Canada in 2013 was to diversify its holdings in response to regulatory risk. At the time, the Obama administration was taking action under the Clean Power Plan to reduce the reliance of American utilities on coal. The companys failure to anticipate similar regulatory action by its northern neighbour is remarkable. A key battleground If governments respond appropriately to the urgent warning issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October, efforts to phase out fossil fuels will have to ramp up considerably and quickly. We should expect the industry to fight these efforts through a variety of means. ISDS may become a key battleground. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA or CUSMA, depending on who is talking about it), which may replace NAFTA (it has been signed, but has not been ratified), does not retain the process of ISDS between Canada and the U.S. While this is good news in the long run, some have suggested that there will be a "rush of filings" before access to ISDS for already established investors expires (three years after USMCA comes into force). Canada will also be exposed to claims from investors under other agreements such as the CPTPP and Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Other countries, particularly poorer nations, face an even higher risk of ISDS claims and have far less resources available to fight them. It is notable that big oil companies have retained some access to ISDS against Mexico in USMCA, after lobbying hard for it. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A climate of fear? If Westmorelands case proceeds to arbitration, it will not have direct implications for Albertas climate policy. An investment tribunal cannot require the provincial government to reverse the coal phaseout; it can only award the company damages. Westmoreland is asking for US$470 million. It is the federal government, rather than Alberta, that would have to pay compensation to Westmoreland if the companys claim was successful. However, Ontario did agree to pay the award in a recent NAFTA case. What is more concerning than any potential payout is that Westmorelands suit could hinder efforts to implement similar plans to combat climate change in other jurisdictions. "Regulatory chill" is a phenomenon that has been observed in several jurisdictions around the world. A notable example is the decision of the New Zealand government to delay the introduction of legislation to require plain packaging of tobacco products until Australia won its ISDS case against the tobacco company Philip Morris International. This delay of regulatory action out of fear of expensive litigation may have cost lives. As recent forest fires and floods have demonstrated, delays in action to combat climate change can also be deadly. Kyla Tienhaara is Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment at Queen's University. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. SAN FRANCISCO - Authorities launched a manhunt Wednesday after they said a gunman shot and killed a police officer during a traffic stop in a small California town. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/12/2018 (1072 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SAN FRANCISCO - Authorities launched a manhunt Wednesday after they said a gunman shot and killed a police officer during a traffic stop in a small California town. In an alert, the California Highway Patrol said the suspect, whose name was not known, is considered to be armed and dangerous. This Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018 image from a surveillance camera video and provided by the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department shows a suspect police are searching for in connection to the fatal shooting of an officer during a traffic stop in Northern California. (Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department via AP) Newman Cpl. Ronil Singh, 33, had called in the traffic stop early Wednesday, saying he was pulling over a grey pickup truck that had no license plate, and a few minutes later reported shots fired over his radio, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Deputy Royjinder Singh said. Multiple agencies responded and found Singh with gunshot wounds. They rushed the husband and father of an infant boy to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Ground and air units were searching for the suspect based on surveillance photos taken at a convenience store shortly before the attack in Newman, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) southeast of San Francisco. In the photos, the heavyset suspect with short dark hair is wearing a thick chain necklace, jeans, a dark T-shirt and a dark jacket with white Ecko brand patches on the shoulders. Surveillance footage also captured the suspect's vehicle, a grey Ram pickup with paper dealership plates, matching the description that Singh had called in. A truck believed to have been the one stopped by Singh was later found in a garage in a mobile home park about 4 miles (6 km) from the shooting. This undated photo provided by the Newman Police Department shows officer Ronil Singh of Newman Police Department who was killed by an unidentified suspect. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said Singh was conducting a traffic stop early Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in the town of Newman, Calif. when he called out "shots fired" over his radio. (Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department via AP) Authorities later located the vehicle and said it was being processed for evidence. "We have sent out information to law enforcement up and down the state, as well as outside California," said Sgt. Tom Letras, a sheriff's spokesman. Singh was a native of Fiji and had worked since July 2011 for the police department in Newman, a town of about 10,000 people. Earlier in his career, Singh worked as a deputy with the Merced County Sheriff's Department. "He was living the American dream," said Stanislaus deputy Singh, who is not related to the slain officer but knew him. After emigrating from Fiji, Ronil Singh went to the police academy and got his dream job, the deputy said, adding that "he loved camping, loved hunting, loved fishing, loved his family." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Police investigate the scene of a shooting that took the life of Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh, 33, on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Newman, Calif. Authorities were searching Wednesday for a gunman who shot and killed the police officer during a traffic stop in California. (Deke Farrow/The Modesto Bee via AP) On his Facebook page, Ronil Singh posted pictures on Christmas Eve from a deep-sea fishing trip that produced a big haul of crabs and fish. The profile picture shows him smiling as he stands at a patrol car with a dog the same photograph of the officer released by the sheriff's department. Singh is survived by his wife, Anamika, and a 5-month-old son, authorities said. Outgoing California Gov. Jerry Brown offered condolences to Singh's family and said flags at the Capitol would fly at half-staff in his honour. "Our hearts are with the entire community of Newman and law enforcement officers across the state who risk their lives every day to protect and serve the people of California," Brown said. ___ Associated Press journalist Amanda Lee Myers in Los Angeles contributed to this story. The following companies are subsidiares of Fluor: 202 Maintenance Services LLC, 3Angle B.V., 3Angle EPCM V.O.F., 684033 N.B. 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Ltd., Fluor (Nigeria) Limited, Fluor A&E Services Inc., Fluor A27/A1 B.V., Fluor AMEC II LLC, Fluor Aker Solutions Indonesia JV, Fluor Alaska Inc., Fluor Americas Inc., Fluor Arabia Limited, Fluor Argentina Inc., Fluor Argentina Inc. Sucursal Argentina, Fluor Australia Pty Ltd., Fluor B.V., Fluor BC Ltd., Fluor BNA GP Inc., Fluor BNA Holdco Inc., Fluor BNA O&M GP Inc., Fluor BNA O&M USA LLC, Fluor Boke Inc., Fluor Brasil Ltda., Fluor Brasil Servicos de Engenharia Ltda, Fluor Canada Ltd., Fluor Caspian Services Limited, Fluor Cebu Inc., Fluor Central Asia LLP, Fluor Chile Inc., Fluor Chile Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., Fluor Colombia Limited, Fluor ConOps Limited, Fluor Construction Services Pty Ltd., Fluor Constructors Canada Ltd., Fluor Constructors International. Inc., Fluor Consultants B.V., Fluor Craft Services Inc., Fluor Daniel (Japan) Inc., Fluor Daniel (Malaysia) Sdn. 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Ltd., TRS SA Holdings Company (Pty) Ltd., TRS Search and Selection (Pty) Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions (Canada) Inc., TRS Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions B.V., TRS Staffing Solutions Inc., TRS Staffing Solutions India Private Limited, TRS Staffing Solutions Limited, TRS Staffing Solutions Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., TRS Staffing Solutions Mozambique Limitada, TRS Staffing Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., TRS Staffing Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd., Tappan Zee Constructors LLC, Technical Resource Solutions S.L., Technip-Fluor JV, Thermoprozess Cooperheat GmbH, Trans Florida Express LLCenezco Inc., Trans-Africa Projects (Pty) Ltd., Trans-Africa Projects Ltd., UNEC Engineering, United Rentals Industrial Services LLC, WODECO Nigeria Limited, Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, Wescon (B) Sdn. Bhd., Wescon International B.V., Williams Brothers Engineering Company, Williams Brothers Engineering Limited, Williams Brothers Process Services Inc., Wilmore/Fluor Modesto LLC, Windsor Essex Mobility Group GP, WorleyParsons Arabia Limited Fluor Arabia Limited Joint Venture, Wright Engineers (Chile) Limitada, Wright Engineers Limitada Peru, and ZuidPlus V.O.F.. Shares of United States Natural Gas Fund reverse split on Friday, January 5th 2018. The 1-4 reverse split was announced on Friday, December 22nd 2017. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the market closes on Thursday, January 4th 2018. An investor that had 100 shares of United States Natural Gas Fund stock prior to the reverse split would have 25 shares after the split. There is not enough analysis data for PFO Global. 4.8 Community Rank Outperform Votes PFO Global has received 50 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes PFO Global has received 19 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment PFO Global has received 72.46% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about PFO Global and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe PFGBQ will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe PFGBQ will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next 9 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Deutsche EuroShop in the last twelve months. There are currently 2 sell ratings, 5 hold ratings and 2 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "hold" Deutsche EuroShop stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in DEQ, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for Deutsche EuroShop or view top-rated stocks. The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. 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Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Consulting Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc.. There is not enough analysis data for Bahamas Petroleum. 4.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Bahamas Petroleum has received 157 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Bahamas Petroleum has received 103 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Bahamas Petroleum has received 60.38% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Bahamas Petroleum and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe BPC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe BPC will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next 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 Travelport Worldwide Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates a travel commerce platform that offers distribution, technology, payment, mobile, and other solutions for the travel and tourism industry in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It facilitates travel commerce by connecting travel providers, such as airlines, hotel chains, and car rental companies with online and offline travel buyers in a business-to-business travel platform. The company provides distribution and merchandising solutions for hotel, car rental, rail, cruise-line, and tour operators; Virtual Account Number payment solutions that automatically generate unique MasterCard numbers that are used to process payments; advertising solutions; and other platform services, such as subscription, processing, and business intelligence data services, as well as marketing-oriented analytical tools to travel agencies, travel providers, and other travel data users. It also offers critical IT solutions and other services to airlines, such as shopping, ticketing, departure control, business intelligence, and other solutions. Travelport Worldwide Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Langley, the United Kingdom. Read More Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. engages in the operation of senior living communities. The firm manages independent living, assisted living and dementia-care communities and continuing care retirement centers. It operates through the following segments: Independent Living Assisted Living & Memory Care, CCRCs, Health Care Services and Management Services. The Independent Living segment is primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors who desire an upscale residential environment providing the highest quality of service. The Assisted Living & Memory Care segment offer housing and 24-hour assistance with ADLs to mid-acuity frail and elderly residents. The CCRCs segment offers a variety of living arrangements and services to accommodate all levels of physical ability and health. The Healthcare Services segment provides home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services, as well as education and wellness programs, to residents of many communities and to seniors living outside communities. The Management Services segment composes of communities operated by the company pursuant to management agreements. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Brentwood, TN. Read More Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is an early-stage contract research company, which provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and academic institutions. It operates through the following segments: Research Models & Services, Discovery & Safety Assessment and Manufacturing Support. The Research Models & Services segment comprises of the production and sale of research models, and also offers services designed to support its client's use of research models in screening non-clinical drug candidates. The Discovery & Safety Assessment segment offers discovery and safety assessment services, both regulated and non-regulated, in which it include both in vivo and in vitro studies, supporting laboratory services, and strategic preclinical consulting and program management to support product development. The Manufacturing Support segment provides endotoxin and microbial detection, avian vaccine and biologics testing solutions. The company was founded by Henry L. Foster in 1947 and is headquartered in Wilmington, MA. Read More 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 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 Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. provides mission-critical flow control and compression equipment; and associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three segments: Industrials, Energy, and Medical. The Industrials segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services a range of air compression, vacuum, and blower products, as well as offers associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services. Its products are used in process-critical applications, such as the operation of industrial air tools, vacuum packaging of food products, aeration of waste water, and others. This segment sells its products through an integrated network of direct sales representatives and independent distributors under the Gardner Denver, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle, Robuschi, and other brand names. The Energy segment engages in the design, manufacture, marketing, and service of a range of displacement and liquid ring vacuum pumps, compressors and integrated systems, and engineered fluid loading and transfer equipment, as well as offers associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services under the Gardner Denver, Nash, Emco Wheaton, and other brands. It serves customers in upstream, midstream, and downstream energy markets, as well as petrochemical processing, transportation, and general industrial sectors. The Medical segment designs, manufactures, and markets a range of specialized gas, liquid, and precision syringe pumps and compressors for use in oxygen therapy, blood dialysis, patient monitoring, laboratory sterilization and wound treatment, and other applications. This segment sells its products under the Thomas and other brands. Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Arrow Electronics: A.E. Petsche Belgium BVBA, A.E. Petsche Canada Inc., A.E. Petsche Company, A.E. Petsche Company Inc., A.E. Petsche Company S De RL, A.E. Petsche SAS, A.E. Petsche UK Limited, ACI Technology, AKS Group Nordic AB, ARROWECS Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal, ARROWECS Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, ARW Electronics Ltd., ARW Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., ARW Portugal Unipessoal LDA, ASI Dedicated Services LLC, ASI Electrical Services LLC, ASI Managed Services LLC, ATM Electronic, ATM Electronic Corp., ATM Electronic Corporation (HK) Limited, ATM Electronics Hong Kong Limited, ATM Electronics Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Addex Distribution AS, Adilam Pty. Ltd, Aiqi Xinxing (Beijing) Information Technology Co. Ltd., Altimate Belgium BVBA, Altimate Group, Altimate ND Belgium BVBA, Altimate Netherlands B.V., Annuity Systems Pty Ltd, Arrow (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Altech Distribution (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Altech Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Argentina S.A., Arrow Asia Distribution Limited, Arrow Asia Pac Ltd., Arrow Brasil S.A., Arrow Capital Solution BVBA, Arrow Capital Solutions Inc., Arrow Capital Solutions Nederlands BV, Arrow Capital Solutions SAS, Arrow Capital Solutions UK Ltd, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, Arrow Central Europe Holding Munich GmbH, Arrow Chip One Stop Holdings GK, Arrow Componentes ACCR S.R.L., Arrow Components (M) Sdn Bhd, Arrow Components (NZ), Arrow Components Mexico S.A. de C.V., Arrow Components Sweden AB, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow ECS (Ireland) Limited, Arrow ECS (NI) Limited, Arrow ECS AG, Arrow ECS ANZ Limited, Arrow ECS ANZ Pty Ltd, Arrow ECS Asia PTE. Ltd, Arrow ECS Australia, Arrow ECS B.V., Arrow ECS Baltic OU, Arrow ECS Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Arrow ECS Canada Ltd., Arrow ECS Central GmbH, Arrow ECS Denmark A/S, Arrow ECS FZCO, Arrow ECS Finland OY, Arrow ECS GmbH, Arrow ECS Internet Security AG, Arrow ECS Internet Security S.L., Arrow ECS Kft., Arrow ECS Ltd., Arrow ECS New Zealand Limited, Arrow ECS Nordic A/S, Arrow ECS Norway AS, Arrow ECS Pty Ltd., Arrow ECS SA/NV, Arrow ECS SAS, Arrow ECS SPA, Arrow ECS Sarl, Arrow ECS Services Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Singapore Pte. Limited, Arrow ECS Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Support Center Ltd., Arrow ECS Support Center Morocco S.A.R.L.A.U, Arrow ECS Sweden AB, Arrow ECS a.s., Arrow ECS d.o.o., Arrow Eastern Europe GmbH, Arrow Electronice S.R.L., Arrow Electronics (CI) Ltd., Arrow Electronics (China) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Jersey) Limited, Arrow Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Sweden) KB, Arrow Electronics (Thailand) Limited, Arrow Electronics (U.K.) Inc., Arrow Electronics (UK) Ltd., Arrow Electronics ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia (S) Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia Limited, Arrow Electronics Australia Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics B.V., Arrow Electronics Canada Ltd., Arrow Electronics China Ltd., Arrow Electronics Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics Czech Republic s.r.o., Arrow Electronics D.O.O., Arrow Electronics Danish Holdings ApS, Arrow Electronics EMEA Group GmbH, Arrow Electronics EMEASA S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Estonia OU, Arrow Electronics FC B.V., Arrow Electronics Funding Corporation, Arrow Electronics GmbH & Co. KG, Arrow Electronics Hellas S.A., Arrow Electronics Holdings Vagyonkezelo Kft, Arrow Electronics Hungary Kereskedelmi Bt, Arrow Electronics India Ltd., Arrow Electronics India Private Limited, Arrow Electronics International Holdings LLC, Arrow Electronics International Inc., Arrow Electronics Italia S.r.l, Arrow Electronics Japan GK, Arrow Electronics Korea Limited, Arrow Electronics Labuan Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ltd., Arrow Electronics Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Arrow Electronics Norwegian Holdings AS, Arrow Electronics Poland Sp.z.o.o., Arrow Electronics Russ OOO, Arrow Electronics Services S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Slovakia s.r.o., Arrow Electronics South Africa LLP, Arrow Electronics Taiwan Ltd., Arrow Electronics UK Holding Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ukraine LLC, Arrow Elektronik Ticaret A.S., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Inc., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions India Private Limited, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Ltd., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., Arrow Finland OY, Arrow France S.A., Arrow Global Asset Disposition Inc., Arrow Global Supply Chain Services Inc., Arrow Holdings (Delaware) LLC, Arrow Iberia Electronica Lda., Arrow Iberia Electronica S.L.U., Arrow International Holdings L.P., Arrow International Holdings Limited, Arrow Nordic Components AB, Arrow Norway A/S, Arrow S-Tech Norway AS, Arrow SEED (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow Systems Integration Inc., Arrow UEC Japan KK, Arrow United Holdings LLC, Arrow United International Holdings LP, Arrow Value Recovery ApS (fka Greentech Denmark ApS), Arrow Value Recovery Belgium BVBA, Arrow Value Recovery Czech Republic sro, Arrow Value Recovery Denmark ApS, Arrow Value Recovery EMEA BV, Arrow Value Recovery Finland Oy (fka Greentech Finland OY), Arrow Value Recovery France SAS, Arrow Value Recovery Germany GmbH, Arrow Value Recovery Netherlands BV, Arrow Value Recovery Norway AS (fka Greentech AS), Arrow Value Recovery Sweden AB (fka Greentech Sweden AB), Arrow Value Recovery UK LTD, Arrow eCommerce B.V., Arrow/Artlink Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow/Components (Agent) Ltd., Arrow/Rapac Ltd., Artlink Technology Co. Ltd., Aspen Labs LLC, Aspencore China Investment LLC, Aspencore LLC, Aspencore Media GmbH, Aspencore/IDG China Investment LLC, Asplenium SA, Asset Recovery Corporation, B.V. Arrow Electronics DLC, Beijing AIQI Technology, Beijing Arrow SEED Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing Canon Advertising Co. Ltd., Broomco (4184) Limited, COMPUTERLINKS, COMPUTERLINKS (UK) Ltd., COMPUTERLINKS Belgium BVBA, COMPUTERLINKS Denmark A/S, COMPUTERLINKS Nederland B.V., COMPUTERLINKS S.A., CSS Computer Security Solutions Erwerbs GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Holding GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Ltd., CT3 Europe Limited, Centia Group Ltd, Centia Ltd., Channel Support Pty Ltd, ChiWan Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Chip One Stop, Chip One Stop (Hong Kong) Ltd., Chip One Stop (Shenzhen) Ltd., Chip One Stop Inc., Commtech Solutions (UK) Limited, Components Agent (Cayman) Limited, Components Agent Asia Holdings Ltd., Components Distribution Business - Achieva, Conrac Asia Display Products Pte. Ltd., Conrac MENA FZE, Converge, Converge (Shanghai) International Trading Co. Ltd., Converge Asia Pte Ltd., Converge Electronics Trading (India) Private Ltd., Converge France SAS, Converge Netherlands BV, Converge Scandinavia AB, Cross Telecom, Data Modul, Data Modul AG, Data Modul Electronics Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Data Modul FZE, Data Modul France S.a r.l, Data Modul Hong Kong Ltd., Data Modul Iberia S.L., Data Modul Inc., Data Modul Italia S.r.l., Data Modul Ltd., Data Modul Shanghai Ltd., Data Modul Suisse GmbH, Data Modul Weikersheim GmbH, Diasa Informatica, Dicopel Inc., Distribution Business - Seed International, Distribution Central (MY) Sdn. Bhd., Distribution Central HK Pty Limited, Distribution Central Limited (NZ), Distribution Central Pte Limited (SG), Distribution Central Pty Limited, E-InfoChips KK, EC America, EDN Asia Advertising Pte Ltd., ETEQ Components Pte Ltd., Electronics Products Technology Co. Ltd., Embedded Developer LLC, Erf 211 Hughes (Pty) Limited, Eshel Technology Group Inc., Eurocomponentes S.A., Excel Tech, Excel Tech Inc., Firewall Systems Pty Limited, Fusion Distribution FZCO, Gates - Arrow Distributing, Gates - FA Distributing, Global Link Technology, Greentech Holding AS, Gross Telecom, ICC Global Media GmbH, IP Vista A/S, IPVista A/S, ITM USA Enterprises Inc., Intechra Holdings, Intex-semi Ltd., KeyLink Systems Group, LED Franchise LLC, LED Source Holdco LLC, LED Source LLC, LOGIX S.A., License Central Pty Ltd, Lite-On Korea Ltd., Marubun Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun Arrow (Thailand) Co Limited, Marubun Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun Arrow Europe Kft., Marubun Corporation, Marubun USA Corporation, Marubun-Arrow Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Marubun/Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun/Arrow (M) Sdn. Bhd (Malaysia), Marubun/Arrow (Philippines) Inc., Marubun/Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shenzhen) Electronic Product Consulting Company Limited, Marubun/Arrow (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun/Arrow USA II LLC, Marubun/Arrow USA LLC, NIC Components Asia PTE Ltd., NIC Components Corp., NIC Components Europe Limited, NIC Eurotech Limited, NUH Electronics India Private Limted, Networld Systems Pty Ltd, Nextworth Solutions Inc., Nu Horizons Electronics, Nu Horizons Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Asia PTE Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Hong Kong Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Malaysia SDN BHD, NuHo Singapore Holdings LLC, Observatory Crest, Openway Group SA, Openway SAS, PCG Parent Corp., PCG Trading LLC, PT Marubun Arrow Indonesia, Pansystem S.r.l., Pax8 Inc., Power and Signal Group GmbH, R.D. Trading Limited, RDC, RF Wireless & Power - Richardson Electronics, Rack Systems Pty Ltd, Red Education Pty Ltd, Redemtech, Renewal Systems Pty Ltd, Richardson RFPD (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Richardson RFPD (Thailand) Limited, Richardson RFPD Australia Pty. Ltd., Richardson RFPD Canada Inc., Richardson RFPD Electronics Trading (China) Co. Ltd., Richardson RFPD France SAS, Richardson RFPD Germany GmbH, Richardson RFPD Hong Kong, Richardson RFPD Inc., Richardson RFPD Israel Ltd., Richardson RFPD Italy Srl, Richardson RFPD Japan KK, Richardson RFPD Korea Ltd., Richardson RFPD Netherlands BV, Richardson RFPD Singapore, Richardson RFPD Spain SL, Richardson RFPD Sweden AB, Richardson RFPD Taiwan, Richardson RFPD UK Ltd., Richey Electronics, San Systems Pty Ltd, Schuylkill Metals of Plant City Inc., Seneca Data, Seneca Data Distributors Inc., Shared Technologies, Silicon Frameworks LLC, SiliconEgypt Technologies LLC, SiliconExpert Holdings LLC, SiliconExpert Technologies, SiliconExpert Technologies Inc., Sphinx CST Limited, Sphinx CST Networks Limited, Sphinx Group, Sphinx Group Limited, Sphinx Professional Services Limited, Spoerle Hungary Kereskedelmi Kft, Sun Chain Technology Corp., TLW Electronics Ltd., TechTurn, Titan Supply Chain Services Limited, Titan Supply Chain Services Pte Ltd., Trafomo AB, Trafomo ApS, Transim Technology, Transim Technology Corporation, U.S. Micro Operating Company LLC, UBM Tech Electronics Network, Ultra Source Electronics (SZ) Co LTD, Ultra Source Technology Corp., Ultra Source Trading Hong Kong Limited, United Technical Publishing Division - Hearst Business Media, Universe Electron Corporation, Verical, Verwaltungsgesellschaft Arrow Electronics GmbH, Wireless and Infrastructure Business Unit - Waching Company, Yongming Xincheng (Beijing) Technology Co., e-InfoChips, e-Infochips Private Limited, eInfochips, eMedia Asia Limited, immixGovernment Inc., immixGroup, immixGroup Inc., immixSolutions Inc., and immixTechnology. The Hershey Co. engages in the manufacture and market of chocolate and sugar confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America; and International and Other. The North America segment is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada. The International and Other segment is the combination of all other operating segments which are not individually material, including those geographic regions where the company operates outside of North America. Its brands include Hershey's, Reese's, and Kisses. The company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 and is headquartered in Hershey, PA. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 211 E. Russell Road LLC, Air-Relief, Belliss & Morcom Brasil, Belliss and Morcom, Boardwalk Enterprises, Charm Merger Sub Inc., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Canada, CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir Holman Ltd, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., CompAir UK Ltd, CompAir USA, Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Emco Wheaton, Emco Wheaton GmbH Branch, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton UK, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Propriety Limited (South Africa), GD Aria Holdings #2 Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First UK Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings, GD Global Holdings II, GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SA, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Services Ltd, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Hoffman, Gardner Denver Holdings, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica, Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd. Branch, Gardner Denver International, Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Intl Ltd Middle East Regional Rep Office, Gardner Denver Investments, Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan, Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd South Africa, Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd. Branch (Ireland), Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co, Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oberdorfer Pumps, Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Petroleum Pumps, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia, Gardner Denver SudAmerica S.r.l., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas, Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver UK, Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, Indonesia Foreign Trade Representative Office, LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MP Pumps Inc., Mako Compressors, Nash, Nash Elmo, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Robuschi, Rotary Compression Technologies, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Syltone, TCM Investments, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, TODO AB, Tamrotor Marine Compressors AS, Thomas Industries, Thomas Industries Inc., Tri-Continent Scientific, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, and Zinsser NA. The following companies are subsidiares of Jabil: AOC Technologies Co. Ltd., AOC Technologies Inc., Badger Technologies LLC, Celetronix, Celetronix India Private Limited, Celetronix USA Inc., Clothing Plus Hong Kong Ltd., Clothing Plus MBU Oy, Clothing Plus Zhejiang Ltd., Clothing+, Eco.logic Brands Inc., Ecologic Brands, F-I Holding Company, GET Manufacturing, Green Point Electronic Technology Co. Ltd., Green Point Precision Electronic Co. Ltd., Green Point Precision Sdn. Bhd., Green Point Technology Co. Ltd., Green Prosperity Co. Ltd., Greenam Electricity (Proprietary) Limited, JCI Funding Ireland Designated Activity Company, JCI Labuan Limited, JN Global Holdings C.V., Jabil AMS LLC, Jabil Advanced Mechanical Solutions Inc., Jabil Advanced Mechanical Solutions de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil C.M. S.r.l., Jabil Canada Corporation, Jabil Chihuahua Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Circuit Austria GmbH, Jabil Circuit Belgium N.V., Jabil Circuit Cayman L.P., Jabil Circuit China Limited, Jabil Circuit Co. Ltd., Jabil Circuit Financial II Inc., Jabil Circuit Holdings Limited, Jabil Circuit Hong Kong Limited, Jabil Circuit Hungary Contract Manufacturing Services Ltd., Jabil Circuit Inc., Jabil Circuit India Private Limited, Jabil Circuit Investment Co. Ltd, Jabil Circuit Italia S.r.l., Jabil Circuit Limited, Jabil Circuit Ltd., Jabil Circuit Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Jabil Circuit Luxembourg S.a r.l., Jabil Circuit Netherlands B.V., Jabil Circuit Pte. Ltd., Jabil Circuit SAS, Jabil Circuit Sdn Bhd, Jabil Circuit Technology LLC, Jabil Circuit Ukraine Limited, Jabil Circuit de Chihuahua S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Circuit de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Circuit of Michigan Inc., Jabil Consulting Limited Liability Company, Jabil DR S.R.L., Jabil Defense and Aerospace Services LLC, Jabil Denmark Aps, Jabil Dutch Mexico B.V., Jabil EMS Switzerland GmbH, Jabil Electronics Co. Ltd., Jabil Energy Ltd., Jabil Green Point Precision Electronics Co. Ltd., Jabil Green Point Technology Co. Ltd., Jabil Guadalajara Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Healthcare DR S.R.L., Jabil Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Holdings Ltd., Jabil Hungary LP Services Limited Liability Company, Jabil India Manufacturing Private Limited, Jabil Industrial do Brasil Ltda., Jabil International Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil International Treasury Pte. Ltd, Jabil Investment Pte. Ltd., Jabil Israel Ltd., Jabil Japan Inc., Jabil Korea International Limited, Jabil Limited Liability Company, Jabil Mexico Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Mexico Investment S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Nypro Holding LLC, Jabil Nypro I LLC, Jabil Nypro II LLC, Jabil Nypro International B.V., Jabil Optics Germany GmbH, Jabil Poland Sp. z.o.o., Jabil Precision Industry Co. Ltd., Jabil Science and Telecommunication Trading Co. Ltd., Jabil Sdn Bhd, Jabil Services Korea Limited, Jabil Silver Creek Inc., Jabil South Africa (Pty) LTD, Jabil Switzerland Manufacturing GmbH, Jabil Technology Co. Ltd, Jabil Technology and Trading Co. Ltd., Jabil Torres S. de R.L. de C.V., Jabil Tuttlingen Manufacturing GmbH, Jabil Umkirch Manufacturing GmbH, Jabil Vietnam Company Limited, Jabil do Brasil Industria Eletroeletronica Ltda., Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, Kasalis, Kasalis Inc., Kuatro Technologies, Kuatro Ukraine LLC, Manna Renewable Energy Investments Two (Pty) Ltd, NP Medical Inc., NPA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Nypro, Nypro Alabama LLC, Nypro Atlanta LLC, Nypro China Holdings Limited, Nypro DR LLC, Nypro Deutschland GmbH, Nypro France SAS, Nypro Guadalajara S.A. de C.V., Nypro Healthcare Baja Inc., Nypro Healthcare GmbH, Nypro Healthcare LLC, Nypro Inc., Nypro Iowa Inc., Nypro Limited, Nypro Monterrey Management S. de R.L. de C.V., Nypro Plastics & Metal Products Co. Ltd., Nypro Plastics & Molding Products Co. Ltd., Nypro Puerto Rico Inc., Nypro Research and Developments Limited, Nypro Spain Holding S.L.U., Nypro de Amazonia, Nypro de la Frontera S. de R.L. de C.V., NyproMold Chicago Inc., NyproMold Inc., NyproMold Investment Corp., PT Jabil Circuit Indonesia, Plasticast Hungary Kft., Plasticos Castella S.A.U., Radius Chicago LLC, Radius Hong Kong Limited, Radius Product Development Inc., Roosevelt Insurance Company Ltd., S.M.R. Metal Ltd., Shay Motion Ltd., Shemer Group, Shemer Motion (2009) Ltd., Taiwan Green Point Enterprises, Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co. Ltd., Telmar Network Technology, TrueTech, Westing Green Plastic Co. Ltd, Wolfe Engineering, Wolfe Engineering Co. Ltd., and Yen Investments 140 (Proprietary) Limited. NovaGold Resources Inc. explores for and develops gold mineral properties in the United States. It primarily owns 50% interest in the Donlin Gold project consisting of 493 mining claims covering an area of 71,420 acres located in the Kuskokwim region of southwestern Alaska. The company was formerly known as NovaCan Mining Resources (1985) Limited and changed its name to NovaGold Resources Inc. in March 1987. NovaGold Resources Inc. was founded in 1984 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Read More NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the nomination of Brian C. Buescher for a federal district judge post: Senators Kamala Harris and Mazie Hirono have raised questions regarding the suitability of Brian C. Buescher to be seated as a federal district judge. They have a problem with his sex and his religion. Their concerns are so illegitimate that it raises serious questions about their ability to scrutinize Catholic males for any federal post. Buescher belongs to the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. Like most practicing Catholics, he is pro-life. According to Harris and Hirono, those two characteristics are troubling, and could be disqualifying. Do Harris and Hirono have a problem with Hadassah, the National Council of Jewish Women, or Women of Reform Judaism? Only Jewish women can belong to them. Do they have a problem with the Catholic Daughters of the Americas? Only Catholic women can belong. Do they have a problem with the League of Women Voters? Do they have a problem with the Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1890? Do they have a problem with the American Association of University Women, founded in 1881? All ban men from joining. Senator Hirono is troubled that the Knights of Columbus supported California's Proposition 8 (designed to limit the institution of marriage to a man and a woman). She calls this position "extreme." Is she calling all of those who supported Proposition 8 "extreme?" That would include millions of traditional Catholics, evangelical Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Mormons, and Muslimsall of whom came together to win in one of the nation's most liberal states. Before being seated on the high court, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was co-founder of the Women's Rights Project at the ACLU. Applying the Harris-Hirono testfrom a different perspectivethis alone should have been a red flag. Would these women object if in the future such an affiliation might be considered disqualifying? Senators Harris and Hirono are playing a game: they are engaged in selective religious profiling and sexism. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was not considered a problem with these senators, yet she is Catholic. But she is also reliably pro-abortion. End of story. We saw this kind of religious profiling at work when Amy Coney Barrett was being considered for a federal appeals court post. Unlike Sotomayor, she is a pro-life Catholic. That's all that counts. It's not just some Democrats who are out of line. Where are the Republicans challenging them on their religious profiling and sexism? Vitamin Shoppe, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a omni-channel specialty retailer and contract manufacturer of nutritional products in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Retail and Manufacturing. The company provides custom manufacturing and private labeling services for vitamin, mineral, and supplement products, as well as develops and markets own branded products. It offers vitamins, minerals, herbs, specialty supplements, sports nutrition products, and other health and wellness products of approximately 900 brands, such as own brands comprising The Vitamin Shoppe, BodyTech, True Athlete, Mytrition, plnt, ProBioCare, Next Step, and Betancourt Nutrition; and national brands, including Optimum Nutrition, Cellucor, Garden of Life, Quest Nutrition, Solaray, Solgar, Megafood, and Nature's Way. The company sells its products through Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements retail stores, as well as through its vitaminshoppe.com Website. As of November 7, 2018, it operated 775 company-operated retail stores under the Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements retail banners. It also operates franchise stores. The company was formerly known as VS Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. in November 2009. Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey. Read More New Media Investment Group Inc. invests in, owns, and operates local media assets in the United States. The company's principal products include 146 daily newspapers with total paid circulation of approximately 1.5 million; 323 weekly newspapers with total paid circulation of approximately 268,000 and total free circulation of approximately 1.4 million; 132 shoppers with total circulation of approximately 3.1 million; and 581 locally-focused Websites, including Internet and mobile devices with approximately 364 million page views per month. Its principal products also comprise 77 business publications; and UpCurve Cloud and ThriveHive, which provides digital marketing and business services. In addition, the company produces niche publications that address specific local market interests, such as recreation, sports, healthcare, and real estate. Further, it offers print and online products that offer local market news and information on various topics comprising local news and politics, community and regional events, youth sports, opinion and editorial pages, local schools, obituaries, weddings, and police reports, as well as commercial printing services for publishers; and prints commercial materials, including flyers, business cards, and invitations. Additionally, the company produces approximately 350 annual events with a collective attendance approximately 400,000, such as themed expo, signature event, endurance event, and white label event services; and provides digital and print advertising services. It reaches approximately 22 million people per week; and serves approximately 199,000 business customers. New Media Investment Group Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York. Read More Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Skeena Resources Limited, a junior mining exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metal properties in Canada. The company holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine covering an area of approximately 1,932 hectares; the Spectrum-GJ copper-gold properties covering an area of 43,500 hectares; and the Porter Idaho silver property that consists of 46 crown-granted mineral claims; and Blackdome gold mine property. It also has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Eskay Creek property covering an area of approximately 6,151 hectares. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Sonoco Products: AMGH, APEI UK Limited, APEI Unlimited IOM, Associated Packaging Technologies Inc., Beteiligungen Sonoco Deutschland Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbh, CP Acquisition LLC, Can Packaging, Can Packaging SAS, Cap Liners Limited, Capseals Limited, Capseals Liners Limited, Cascades Sonoco Inc. (fka Cascades Conversion Inc), Clear Lam Flexible Films (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Clear Lam Packaging Inc., Clear Pack Co., Clear Pack Company, Colombiana P.M. LLC, Conitex Sonoco (BVI) Ltd., Conitex Sonoco (Mexico) S. de R.L. de C.V., Conitex Sonoco Hellas S.A., Conitex Sonoco Holding B.V., Conitex Sonoco Inc., Conitex Sonoco India Pvt. Ltd., Conitex Sonoco N.V., Conitex Sonoco Shanghai Ltd., Conitex Sonoco Suzhou Co. Ltd., Conitex Sonoco Taiwan Ltd., Conitex Sonoco USA Inc., Convex Mold Inc., Corenso Holdings America Inc., Corenso North America, Corenso Richmond LLC, Corepak Limited, CorrFlex Graphics LLC, Demolli Industria Cartaria S.p.A., Engraph Inc., Engraph Puerto Rico Inc., Fair Lawn Packaging Services LLC, Friarsgate Studio Limited, Graffo Paranaense De Embalagens S.A., Graffo Paranaense de Embalagens S/A, Grove Mill Paper Company Limited, Gunther of America Inc., Hartsville Corrugating LLC, Hayes Manufacturing Group, Heathfield Reels Limited, Highland Packaging Solutions, Highland Packaging Solutions LLC, Industrial Machine Co. Inc., Inversiones Sonoco Limitada, Italtubetti SpA, Laminar Medica, Laminar Medica (CE) s.r.o., Laminar Medica Limited, Manufacturas Sonoco S.A. de C.V., Matrix Packaging Inc., Nathaniel Lloyd & Company Limited, OOO Sonoco Alcore (fka ZAO Sonoco Alcore), Ontario Inc., PT Conitex Sonoco, PT Papcor Asia Pacific, PT Papertech Indonesia, PT Sonoco Indonesia, Packaging Holdings Inc., Papcor (Dezhou) Packaging Material Co. Ltd., Papertech Dezhou Co. Ltd., Papertech SL, PenPack LLC, Peninsula Packaging Company, Peninsula Packaging LLC, Penpack S. de R.L. de C.V., Phoenix Packaging Corp., Plastique Holdings LTD, SAS Du Lagon, SCI Lagon Quest, SMB GmbH, SPC Capital Management Inc., SPC Liquidation LLC, SPC Management LLC, SPC Resources Inc., SR Holdings of the Carolinas LLC, Sebro Plastics Inc., Sonoco (Shanghai) Co., Sonoco (Taicang) Packaging Co., Sonoco (Weifang) Packaging Company Ltd., Sonoco Absorbent Technologies LLC, Sonoco Absorbent Technologies Limited, Sonoco Alcore - Demolli S.r.l., Sonoco Alcore AB, Sonoco Alcore GmbH, Sonoco Alcore N.V., Sonoco Alcore Nederland B.V., Sonoco Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Sonoco Asia Holding S.a.r.l., Sonoco Asia L.L.C., Sonoco Asia Management Company L.L.C., Sonoco Australia Pty Ltd, Sonoco Board Mills Limited, Sonoco Bonmati S.A.U., Sonoco Canada Corporation, Sonoco Capseals Liners Limited, Sonoco Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco Consumer Products Dordrecht B.V. (fka Dorpak B.V.), Sonoco Consumer Products Europe GmbH (fka Weidenhammer Packaging Group GmbH), Sonoco Consumer Products Hellas S.A. (fka Weidenhammer Hellas S.A.), Sonoco Consumer Products Limited, Sonoco Consumer Products Mechelen BVBA (fka Weidenhammer Belgium BVBA), Sonoco Consumer Products Montanay SAS (fka Neuvibox SAS), Sonoco Consumer Products Poland Sp. Z.O.O., Sonoco Consumer Products SAS, Sonoco Consumer Products South Africa (PTY) Ltd., Sonoco Consumer Products Zwenkau GmbH (fka fka Weidenhammer Plastice Packaging GmbH), Sonoco Cores and Paper Limited, Sonoco D & P LLC, Sonoco D and P York LLC, Sonoco Deutschland GmbH, Sonoco Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Sonoco Development Inc., Sonoco Display and Packaging LLC, Sonoco Elk Grove Inc., Sonoco Embalagens Ltda. (fka Sonoco Embalagens S.A.), Sonoco Europe Limited, Sonoco Flexible Packaging Canada Corporation, Sonoco Flexible Packaging Co. Inc., Sonoco Graphics India Private Limited, Sonoco Hickory Inc., Sonoco Holdings Inc., Sonoco Holdings UK Limited, Sonoco Hutchinson LLC, Sonoco IPD France SAS, Sonoco Iberia S.L.U., Sonoco International Holdings GmbH, Sonoco JV GmbH & Co. KG, Sonoco Kaiping Packaging Co. Ltd., Sonoco Limited, Sonoco Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Sonoco Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sonoco Milnrow, Sonoco Netherlands Holding II BV, Sonoco Netherlands Holding III BV, Sonoco New Zealand Limited, Sonoco Operadora S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco Packaging Limited, Sonoco Packaging Tapes Limited, Sonoco Paper Mill & IPD Hellas SA, Sonoco Paperboard Group LLC, Sonoco Partitions Inc., Sonoco Phoenix LLC, Sonoco Pina S.A.U., Sonoco Plastics B.V., Sonoco Plastics Canada ULC, Sonoco Plastics Germany GmbH, Sonoco Plastics Inc., Sonoco Poland Holdings B.V., Sonoco Polysack A/S Inc., Sonoco Polysack Limited, Sonoco Products Company UK, Sonoco Products Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sonoco Protective Solutions Inc., Sonoco Recycling - International Trade Group LLC (fka Reparco USA Inc.), Sonoco Recycling LLC, Sonoco Reels Limited, Sonoco Retail Packaging S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco S.A. de C.V., Sonoco SAS, Sonoco Saudi Limited Company, Sonoco Services LLC, Sonoco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Sonoco TEQ Holdings Ltd, Sonoco TEQ LLC, Sonoco TEQ Ltd, Sonoco TEQ Sp. Z.o.o, Sonoco Taiwan Ltd, Sonoco Thailand Ltd, Sonoco UK Leasing Limited, Sonoco Venezolana C.A., Sonoco Venture International Holdings GmbH, Sonoco Ventures UK Limited, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Core Plant LLC, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Inc., Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Paper Mill LLC, Sonoco Yatai Pinghu Packaging Co Ltd, Sonoco de Colombia Ltda, Sonoco do Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Sonoco do Brazil Ltda, Sonoco of Puerto Rico Inc., Sonoco-Alcore AS, Sonoco-Alcore Ou, Sonoco-Alcore Oy, Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., Sonoco-Alcore Sp. Z.O.O., Sonoco-Engraph Puerto Rico Inc., TPT Board Mills Limited, TPT Limited, Tegrant Alloyd Brands Inc., Tegrant Corporation, Tegrant International Inc., Tegrant Property Holdings LLC, Tegrant de Mexico S.A. de C.V., ThermoSafe Brands Asia PTE LTD., ThermoSafe Brands Europe Ltd., Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC, Trident Graphics Canada Corporation, Trident Graphics NA LLC, U.S. Paper Mills Corp., Unit Reels & Drums Limited, Weidenhammer Chile Ltda., Weidenhammer Packaging Group, Weidenhammer UK Ltd., and Wisenberg U.S. Inc.. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Gas Insulated Switchgear Market - Overview The Global Gas Insulated Switchgear Market has witnessed a remarkable growth in the past few years and it has been anticipated that the market will grow at the rapid pace during the forecast period. Electricity is a green source of power, which has gained a significant importance in the modern life. Most of the home appliances, industrial machineries, trains and many other systems rely on electrical supply. Certainly, electricity is a boon to the modern life, however, it can turn into a threat if not handled properly. In a distribution system, all possible measures have to be taken in order to ensure minimum power loss and maximum safety. For this, switchgears are used for switching and protecting devices such as switches, fuses, circuit breakers and relays. The main purpose of switchgears is to ensure safety of the distribution system by disconnecting in case of any short-circuit. As per the study conducted by Market Research Future, the Global Gas Insulated Switchgear Market is likely to grow at the CAGR of around 9%. Power industry is one of the major revenue generating industries which has pushed the market for innovative and eco-friendly energy generation activities, where, gas insulated switchgear market is one of them. In other words, the growth in the power industry will create a positive impact on the market for global gas insulated switchgear. The switchgear has become the backbone of electric transmission lines spread across the country and in cross border distribution. Over the last decade, a significant surge in electric power consumption has been observed and is estimated to grow further owing to numerous electrification projects in several developing countries. Also, growing power consumption rate or per capita power consumption across the developed countries is also a major driver for the growth of global gas insulated switchgears market. Moreover, increasing adoption of electricity based gadgets, equipment, appliances, vehicles and others is projected to increase the power demand and dense electricity distribution network. Furthermore, several countries are engaged in cross border power transmission to their neighbouring countries, which involve a thousand miles of transmission lines and hundreds of distribution stations and sub-stations. Technological advancements in both power generation as well as distribution systems are estimated to be the main drivers of the gas insulated switchgears. Owing to the increasing demand for gas insulated switchgears, various key manufacturers are engaged in developing more advanced and sophisticated gas insulated switchgears. The manufacturers are striving to increase the reliability and efficiency of the gas insulated switchgears by employing automation and high quality materials. Escalating demand for compact size substations on account of high land lease rates is expected to drive the demand for gas insulated switchgears. Installation for these products take 1/10th of the total space required for the conventional switchgears. In November 2015, the U.S. based Public Service Electric & Gas (PSEG) ordered compact and modular 420 kV GIS from ABB to enhance power reliability and protect network from extreme weather conditions. A Sample of This Report Is Available upon Request @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1108 Gas insulated switchgear Global Market - Key Player ABB Ltd., Siemens AG, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, General Electric, Hitachi Ltd., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., Toshiba International Corporation, Nissin Electric Co. Ltd., Crompton Greaves Limited, Hyosung Corporation, Chint Electric Co., Ltd. and Larsen & Toubro are some of the prominent players profiled in MRFR Analysis of the Global Gas Insulated Switchgear Market. Gas insulated switchgear Global Market - Segmentation The scope of the Global Gas Insulated Switchgear Market is segmented into two major segments which are explained below: By Voltage High Medium By End-Users Industrial Utility Power generation Infrastructure Others Gas insulated switchgear Global Market - Competitive Analysis The global market for gas insulated switchgear seems to be highly competitive. To maintain the market position and to drive the market growth, various dynamic and diversified international manufacturers, domestic product developers and as well as new entrants form to competitive landscape. Market leaders are innovating continuously and seeking market expansion through various strategic mergers and acquisitions, product development through innovation approach, increasing investments in research and development and cost-effective product portfolios. Major players are investing on internal R & D and, most of all, in acquiring other firms. Browse the Full Research Report At @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/gas-insulated-switchgear-market-1108 Industry News: In November, 2016 - Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, announced the release of its "145 kV Gas-Insulated Switchgear" (GIS) conforming to the IEC Standard. In October, 2016 - GE (NYSE: GE) achieved another milestone in its 'Make in India' journey with the commencement of dedicated 765kV Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) manufacturing line at its high voltage transmission equipment manufacturing facility at Padappai in Chennai, India . In Feb, 2016 - ABB won from RF PowerGrid to supply four 66 kilovolts (kV) gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations for the city-state of Singapore. The project is part of the Group's main role in the Group's operations in Singapore. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol USA ETF's stock was trading at $59.53 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, USMV shares have increased by 28.9% and is now trading at $76.71. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. VanEck Indonesia Index ETF's stock was trading at $16.84 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IDX shares have increased by 18.8% and is now trading at $20.01. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. There is not enough analysis data for Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund has received 96 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund has received 44 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund has received 68.57% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NAC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NAC will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Pipettes are regularly used in laboratories to transfer a measured volume of liquid. It is one of the most frequently used instruments in the laboratory. They are available in different designs for various purposes with several levels of precision and accuracy, including polyethylene and glass pipettes and electronic or manual pipettes. Increasing demand for accuracy, productivity, and quality in pharmaceutical industry lead to development of ideal pipetting techniques. Download PDF Brochure of This Business Research Report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/2322 Market Dynamics Increasing investment in research and development (R&D) activities is expected to significantly contribute to the pipettes and accessories market growth. Pharmaceutical companies are focusing on increasing R&D activities along with outsourcing research activities to academic research institutes. For instance, in September 2016, Syngene International, a Biocon CRO, established Syngene Amgen Research and Development Center (SARC), a drug discovery research laboratory and multi-disciplinary development center, for Amgen in Bengaluru, India. Although the usage of pipettes is high, rapid development and introduction of automatic and robotic-assisted liquid handling workstations are expected to hinder demand for pipettes and accessories during the forecast period. For instance, in January 2014, Hamilton Robotics launched NIMBUS PCR Workstation, which is an affordable and compact pipetting workstation and enables flexible and fast assay setup for qPCR, real-time, or multiplex PCR. Similarly, in October 2014, NanoScreen LLC, an industry focused on producing automated liquid handling products for the life sciences, launched ORION liquid handling workstation, which is a multi-format, flexible, and high precision pipetting robot designed to meet increasing liquid handling requirements of laboratories. Increasing prevalence of chronic constipation is expected to drive the pipettes and accessories market growth Increasing research and development in the field of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology due to high prevalence of infectious diseases and cancer are the major factors driving the pipettes and accessories market growth. According to 2012 European Union Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors represented 17.7% of business R&D expenditure in the world. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly focusing on conducting research and development activities as well as outsourcing such activities to academic and private research institutes. This in turn is increasing demand for liquid handling systems such as pipettes. Pharmaceutical companies are also increasingly outsourcing their research activities to privately-owned Contract Research Organizations (CRO) to maintain their presence in the growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology market. For instance, in May 2018, Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a manufacturer of novel therapeutic products entered into an agreement with Medpace, a CRO to conduct the first of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials for RP-G28 among patients with lactose intolerance. Pipettes and Accessories Market - Competitive Landscape Key players operating in the global pipettes and accessories market include, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eppendorf AG, Hamilton Company, Mettler-Toledo International, Inc., Lab Depot Inc., Sartorius AG, BRAND GmbH + CO KG, Capp ApS, Corning Inc., Denville Scientific, Inc., Gilson, Inc., Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Integra Biosciences AG, Kimble-chase, Nichiryo Co., Ltd., and Socorex ISBA SA. Pipettes and Accessories Market - Regional Insights On the basis of region, the global pipettes and accessories market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America is the largest market for biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and manufacturing and therefore, demand for pipettes and accessories is the highest in the region. According to a study published by the International Trade Administration in 2016, the U.S. is the major hub for drug manufacturing and is expected to grow considerably in future. Asia Pacific pipettes and accessories market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. This is owing to increasing clinical trials from biopharmaceutical industry in the region due to easy patient recruitment and availability of skilled professionals to conduct research experiments. This in turn leads to increasing number of research laboratories being set up in the region, thereby propelling demand for pipettes and accessories. For instance, in March 2017, Herbalife Company associated with Syngene established a new research and development lab at Bangalore, India. Request For Customization Of This Business Research Report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/2322 Detailed Segmentation: Global Pipettes and Accessories Market, By Product Type: Manual Pipettes Single-channel Multi-channel Electronic Pipettes Single-channel Multi-channel Accessories Global Pipettes and Accessories Market, By End User: Hospitals Academic and Research Institutes Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Others 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. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. engages in the manufacture of transportation equipment and industrial goods. It operates through the following segments: Aerospace system, Energy and Environmental Plant, Precision Machines and Robots, Ship Ocean, Vehicle, Motorcycle and engine, and Other. The Aerospace segment manufactures and sells aircrafts and Jet engine. The Energy and Environmental Plant segment engages in the manufacture and sale of industrial gas turbines, prime movers, industrial machinery, boilers, environmental equipment, steel structures, crushers. The Precision Machines and Robots segment engages in the manufacture and sale of hydraulic equipment and industrial robots. The Ship Ocean segment engages in the manufacture and sale of ships. The Vehicle segment engages in the sale and manufacture of railroad vehicle. The Motorcycle and engine segment engages in the manufacture and sale of motorcycles, four-wheeled buggy vehicles (ATV), versatile four-wheeled vehicles, personal watercraft (jet skis), general-purpose gasoline engines. The Other segment engages in the Brokerage and mediation of commerce, sales and orders. The company was founded by Shozo Kawasaki in April 1878 a Read More Former national security adviser Michael Flynn asked a federal judge on Wednesday to allow him to stay in Rhode Island as well as Washington, DC, and to travel between the two before he is sentenced. Judge Emmet Sullivan postponed Flynn's sentencing earlier this month in a dramatic hearing after the former Army lieutenant general pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI and began cooperating with the special counsel investigation led by former FBI Director Robert Mueller. Continents and regions Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal law Eastern Europe Emmet Sullivan Europe Government and public administration Investigations Law and legal system Michael T. Flynn North America Northeastern United States Political Figures - US Politics Rhode Island Russia Russia meddling investigation Sentencing The Americas United States As part of the postponement, Sullivan put a travel restriction on Flynn starting January 4. The restriction required Flynn to remain within 50 miles of Washington, although Sullivan also approved pre-planned international travel. In a court filing on Wednesday, Flynn's attorneys asked the judge to modify the restriction to include Middletown, Rhode Island. The filing said the special counsel's office had "no objection" to the motion. The filing said that before the travel restriction, Flynn traveled between the home he and his wife own in Middletown and Alexandria, Virginia, a city outside of Washington where the two rent an apartment. Flynn had been set to be sentenced earlier this month, and at the sentencing hearing,Sullivan stressed how seriously he viewed Flynn's crime. "I am not hiding my disgust, my disdain for your criminal offense," Sullivan said. Later that day, Flynn asked for his sentencing to be postponed so he could have more of an opportunity to cooperate in federal investigations and attempt to mitigate the judge's disgust at his actions. Minimum wage is going up again come the first of the year. Minimum wage in New York state will be $11.10 per hour, which is up from $10.40. In New York City, it will reach $15 an hour. The governor's office has launched a Wage Theft Hotline for workers to report employers not complying with the increase. The number to call is 1-888-463-1365. There are minimum wage increases planned for each year through 2020. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Bullet proof helmets are used for enhancing safety in defense, military, and homeland security. They are used by wearers for protection from potentially hazardous elements that range from air-borne flying particles, ballistic threats, and fragments. Get Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/658370 . No of Pages: 137 Global Bulletproof Helmet Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: BAE Systems 3M MKU ArmorSource Aegis Engineering Argun Hard Shell The increasing demand for bulletproof helmets arising due to various law enforcement activities will drive the growth prospects for the global bulletproof helmet market during the forecast period. Some of the factors that determine the need for proper law enforcement across regions include political, social, and socio-cultural elements. For instance, India is focusing on security cooperation, economic integration and the modernization of police forces through the Modernization of State Police Forces (MPF) Scheme. This scheme also reduces the dependence of state governments on the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces for the purpose of controlling law and order issues in the state by strengthening and equipping the State Police Forces. Furthermore, in APAC, the increasing instances of terrorist attacks, rising flow of terrorist fighters from countries in the Middle East such as Syria and Iraq, and groups espousing support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) results in the enhancement of domestic law by the government. Major Points from Table of Contents: Chapter 1, to describe Bulletproof Helmet Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bulletproof Helmet, with sales, revenue, and price of Bulletproof Helmet, in 2016 and 2017; Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017; Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bulletproof Helmet, for each region, from 2013 to 2018; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions; Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018; Chapter 12, Bulletproof Helmet market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023; Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bulletproof Helmet sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source. Inquire more or share questions if any before the purchase on this report @ https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/658370 . Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. Market Segment by Type, covers Metal Material Nonmetal Material Composite Material Market Segment By Applications: Military and Defense Law Enforcement Order a copy of Global Bulletproof Helmet Market Report 2018 @ https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/658370 . About Us Orian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients. Contact Us: Ruwin Mendez Vice President Global Sales & Partner Relations Orian Research Consultants US: +1 (415) 830-3727| UK: +44 020 8144-71-27 Email: info@orianresearch.com Website: www.orianresearch.com/ Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ ATTICA, Ind. (WLFI) - What started as a basement hobby has turned into a thriving homemade candle business. But Brown's Accents in Attica has evolved to give people a place to remember the reason for the holiday season. From outside, to inside, floor, to ceiling, the Christmas season is in the air at Brown's Accents in Attica. Ashely Brown's husband first opened doors for business 15 years ago. She said they met each other while he was in the process of building the shop. "His mom kept bringing home these candles that were $20 to $25 and he said mom, there's got to be a cheaper way to make candles," she said. She said he was also looking for something to keep busy during college. So he started making candles in his parent's basement. The business soon grew to their storefront on U.S. Highway 41. Each candle is hand-poured by the staff that Brown calls her family. Each candle requires three separate pours, too. They can make around 400 to 500 candles in one day. Brown said it's the Attica community that inspires their business. "The love and support that they show us honestly will bring tears to my eyes because it's been a really great thing to be a part of this community because Attica is just a strong community," she said. "They love each other, they support each other." And it was this love and support that helped give Brown a vision of a cross, two gates, and a bunch of ribbons. "If you need forgiveness in your life then take this ribbon and tie it on the gate and ask God for forgiveness or if you have a special prayer you need to pray for somebody or yourself," she said. She said she has seen people, young and old, become enamoured by the display. "A little boy comes up to me and he says can I have the ribbon for forgiveness and he probably stood there for five minutes and he tied and he talked to Jesus and I was like, this is what I was meant to do," she said. So whether it's bringing a warm smell or the warm light of love to your home this Christmas, Brown said she hopes to continue impacting lives of those who come through their door for another 15 years. "And bless more people with our candles and hopefully as long as God will let us we'll keep continuing to do this," she said. Brown's Accents will reopen for business on January 3rd. All Christmas merchandise will be available for purchase at discounted rate until January 7th. The prayer and forgiveness cross will be on display until the end of January. Brown said their next big event will be their Brown Girls Spring Festival. The contribution of Spain to the history of western painting cannot be overlooked. It is home to one of the greatest museums in the world, the Prado. During the Spanish Golden Age, the country flourished in art and literature, becoming a major contributor to the European art world. Spain produced some of the well-respected artists in this era who have had a significant impact on modern art. From the beginning of arts, Spanish artists created some of the magnificent, disturbing, and even erotic images. Below are some of the most celebrated artists who lived and worked in Spain. 7. Salvador Dali Salvador Dali was one of the most prolific and versatile artists of the 20th century. He was a painter, filmmaker, writer, and a sculptor. Salvador is considered the greatest Surrealist artist. He used bizarre dream images to create amazing landscapes of his inner world. Dali was born in 1904 in Figueres and studied arts in Madrid where he experimented with Dadaism and Cubism. He was expelled from his class because he thought the faculty members were not competent enough to administer his final exam. He then moved to Paris where he teamed up with Picasso and soon developed an interest in surrealist art. One of his most famous paintings is Persistence of Memory, a painting of melting clocks. His association with Franco, a Spanish dictator, led to his expulsion by other surrealist artists. He later moved to the United States and finally back to Spain where he died in 1989. 6. El Greco El Greco was born in 1541 on an island which is located in present-day Greece. His official name was Domenikos Theotokopoulo but got the name El Greco due to his Greek origin. He started his career in Italy and moved to Spain in 1577 where he produced much of his work. El Greco was a master painter of religious subjects but was also equally vast with portrait and landscape painting. He rejected naturalism for more conceptual presentations. Grecos work influenced several movements such as Cubism and Expressionism. In fact, historians have struggled to place him in any conventional school. Some of his famous arts include Christ Carrying the Cross and The Burial of the Count of Orgaz which is seen by many artists as a coming together of all Grecos extraordinary attributes of art. 5. Antoni Tapies Antoni Tapies was born in 1923 in Barcelona. His father was a lawyer and an influential Catalan nationalist. Because of this, Tapies was brought up in an environment in which he was exposed to social and cultural leaders. He was introduced to art at the age of 11. After studying law for three years, Tapies devoted his time to painting. He is perhaps the most famous Spanish painter in the period after World War II. His textured, gestural, and sculptural wall arts are an expression of his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. Most of his abstract paintings are inspired by the tradition of Art Informel. Tapies famous works include Ex Libris and Els Solcs. 4. Joan Miro Joan Miro was a painter, ceramicist, and a sculptor. He was born in 1893 in Barcelona, Spain. He spent most of his time in Italy but most of his works were based on imagery from his native Barcelona. His works were inspired by human psyche and were created in Surrealist manner. Miro was one of the first artists to develop automatic drawings as a revolt against the traditional which he understood as a support of the bourgeois society. He represented the beginning of Surrealism as an art movement. Miro is also considered the forefather of Abstract Expressionism movement. Some of his famous works include The Farm, Blue II, and The Harlequins Carnival. Apart from painting, he also worked as a lithographer, producing many sculptures and murals for public space. 3. Pablo Picasso Pablo Picasso is probably one of the greatest painters who ever lived. He was born in 1881 in Malaga and spent most of his time in France. Picasso is one of the founders of the Cubist movement. However, most of his early works were based on realism. Cubism is credited for revolutionizing European painting and sculpture. Picassos style of painting changed over time as e experimented with different techniques, theories, and ideas. He created over 1900 painting in the course of his career. Some of his paintings are among the most expensive artworks ever sold. Some of his famous paintings include Guernica, The Weeping Woman, and Les Demoiselles dAvignon. Picassos early work can be seen in Barcelonas Museu de Picasso and Madrids Museo Reina Sofia. 2. Francisco Goya Francisco de Goya was a prominent painter of the Spanish Royal Family. Born in 1746, he is often considered the last of the Old Master painters and the first of the modern masters. Goya studied art in Madrid but spent his time in Italy before returning to Spain and joining the royal family. He painted several portraits of the royal family and other nobles. One of his most famous work is The Third of May 1808, depicting the killing of the Spanish fighters by Napoleons army during the 1808 French Occupation. Goya later became deaf from an illness. His work later became progressively pessimistic, with his paintings reflecting his bleak outlook. His paintings also reflected social and political issues. Goyas most famous works can be seen in the Prado Museum in Madrid. 1. Diego Velazquez Diego Velazquez was born in 1599 in Seville. He is described as the painter of painters and best known for some of the stunning portraits. Diego was a member of King Philips IVs royal court where he painted portraits of members of the court and other nobles, earning him admiration across the country. But his painting was not only limited to the noble and members of the royal courts; he also painted portraits of other low ranked people in the society. Velazquez also produced paintings that depicted historical and cultural events. One of his well-known paintings is Las Meninas, a portrait of kings young daughters and himself in the act of painting. He died in 1660 in Madrid. Most of his paintings can be found in Prado, Madrid, and also in other museums in New York, Sao Paulo, and London. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Thrombectomy procedures allow surgeons to use a mechanical device to break up or remove the blood clot and restore normal blood flow. It helps neurosurgeons to improve patients health, especially those experiencing a large artery stroke. Thrombectomy is widely used in developed economies, due to high number of stroke incidences and increased spending in healthcare. Download PDF Brochure of This Business Research Report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/2254 Market Dynamics Increasing incidences of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and stroke are the major factors fuelling high demand for thrombectomy devices. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most serious and life-threating complication caused due to thromboembolism. Inappropriate treatment of acute DVT can result in thrombus organization and post-thrombosis syndrome (PTS) in patients, seriously affecting their quality of life. According to University of California, about 10-15% of stroke patients are candidates for thrombectomy, and about 4.7% of patients underwent the treatment in 2015, up from 1.5% in 2009. Despite high demand and applicability of thrombectomy devices, it also poses certain limitations, which can restrain growth of the market during the forecast period. For instance, side effects of thrombectomy include intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, device related injury to the vessel wall, and fragmentation of the target thrombus. Increasing incidences of stroke worldwide is expected to drive growth of the thrombectomy devices market According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2018 report, the risk of stroke increases with age and the chances of getting stroke is higher in men and Asian people. Thrombectomy treatment provides an alternative in the absence of access to standard of care such as thrombolysis, which is contraindicated during pregnancy. Rising demand for minimally invasive procedures coupled with increased patient population of stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) are expected to drive growth of the thrombectomy devices market during the forecast period. According to WHO 2018 report, stroke is the second most common cause of death in the world, with 6.7 million stroke-related deaths each year. Moreover, the burden of disease caused by stroke is set to double worldwide, by 2030. Thrombectomy Devices Market - Regional Insights On the basis of region, the global thrombectomy devices market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. Europe thrombectomy devices market is expected to generate significant revenue share during the forecast period, owing to increasing number of stroke cases coupled with rising geriatric population. According to the Lancet journal 2013 report, stroke affects 152,000 people annually in the U.K., which is equal to 1 person every 3 minutes and 27 seconds. According to the Health Information and Quality Authority 2017 report, in Ireland, circulatory system related diseases such as stroke and coronary hearth diseases were most common cause of death, accounting for one in three of all deaths in 2014. Asia Pacific thrombectomy devices market is expected to expand at the highest CAGR, owing to increasing patient population base and rising disposable income among regional people. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) 2013 report, in India, the incidence of stroke is about 119-145/100,000 population each year. According to a study in the Lancet journal, heart disease, and stroke in India increased by over 50% from 1990 to 2016. The severities of stroke and mortality rate were higher among women. Thrombectomy Devices Market - Competitive Landscape Key players operating in the global thrombectomy devices market include Applied Medical, Argon Medical Devices, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, BTG International, Capture Vascular, Claret Medical, Control Medical Technology, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic PLC, Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Minnetronix, Inc., Nexgen Medical Systems, Inc., Natec Medical Ltd., Penumbra, Inc., Phenox GmbH, Stentys SA, Spectranetics Corporation, Straub Medical AG, Stryker Corporation, Terumo Corporation, and Teleflex Incorporated. Request For Customization Of This Business Research Report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/2254 Thrombectomy Devices Market Restraints High cost of thrombectomy devices eventually increases its procedure cost, which is a major setback for surgery adoption. According to NICE, July 2018 data, the cost of mechanical thrombectomy devices ranges between US$ 700 to US$ 1,719 for aspiration catheters and US$ 1,911 to US$ 6,372 for stent retrievers per unit excluding taxes. Furthermore, other side effects of thrombectomy devices include bleeding from the area where the catheter is inserted, and appearance of bruise in the area causing pain. Moreover, with the breakdown of blood clots, chemicals are released, which can temporarily affect kidney function or rarely the heart. Detailed Segmentation: Global Thrombectomy Devices Market, By Product Type: Mechanical Thrombectomy Devices Aspiration Thrombectomy Devices Hydrodynamic Thrombectomy Devices Ultrasonic Thrombectomy Devices Global Thrombectomy Devices Market, By Application: Neurovascular Cardiovascular Peripheral Vascular Global Thrombectomy Devices Market, By End User: Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Research Laboratories and Academic Institutes 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. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com World Hijab Day is all set to launch its 2019 campaign on Wednesday, aiming to encourage women to "voice their choice" of wearing the hijab, according to the founder of the annual event. #FreeInHijab is the much needed hashtag for our current global situation where women in hijab are labeled by media as oppressed and symbolically imprisoned, Nazma Khan told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview ahead of the campaign launch. Through this hashtag, women are encouraged to voice their choice of wearing the hijab; thus dispelling common misconceptions, Khan added. World Hijab Day, created in 2013 to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear the hijab in support of Muslim women. It is celebrated worldwide every year on Feb. 1. In 2017, World Hijab Day became a nonprofit organization, with a mission to fight discrimination against Muslim women through awareness and education, according to its official webpage. She said 2019s motto for the day is Breaking Stereotypes, Shattering Boundaries, while the campaign also includes promoting World Hijab Day both online and offline globally. Khan said her motive behind the creation of the day was the hardships she faced due to her hijab when growing up in New York City. I was constantly bullied in middle school and high school. Discrimination took on a different height after 9/11, she said, recalling the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. Every day, I would face different challenges just walking on the street; I was chased, spat on, surrounded by goons, called a terrorist, Osama bin Laden, etc, she said, adding that it was devastating and she did not want anyone else to go through the same thing. Therefore, I thought to myself, if I could invite sisters from all faiths and backgrounds to walk in my shoes just for a day, perhaps things would change, she said, and thus, Khan came up with the idea of World Hijab Day. She said women wearing hijab for one day in solidarity would give an idea of the things hijabi women face on a daily basis. Perhaps, this one-day experience will make them see the hijab in a different light, she added. Khan said there were many milestones in the past five years and one of them was the recognition of the day by New York state in 2017. The same year, the House of Commons of the U.K. hosted an event marking the day, where Prime Minister Theresa May also attended, she added. In 2018, the Scottish Parliament also hosted a three-day exhibition to mark the day, and the Philippines also took steps to declare Feb. 1 as national hijab day. With the aforementioned recognitions by government bodies, our movement is continuously working towards reducing gender discrimination, Khan said. On accusations of spreading an ideology of political Islam, Khan said: Theres no politics involved in a movement which tries to bring awareness about women who are being unfairly targeted simply because they choose to wear the hijab. Its simply awareness. Stating that it was a nonprofit and volunteer-based organization, Khan said since the beginning of the campaign, they have seen positive changes in many peoples lives. We have seen non-Muslim mothers accept their Muslim daughters by experiencing what they go through by donning the hijab for a day, she said, adding people from different walks of life stand in solidarity with their hijabi peers for one day. Stories like this go on, and it only takes one day. And this is to remind anyone that wants to change the world, that it only takes one day, Khan noted. She said the day serves as a reminder to be a Muslim who has responsibilities for the betterment of the society at large. TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Members of the Christians on the Move to Evangelize gathered at Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo on Tuesday to prepare hundreds of meals to help feed members of the community for Christmas. Meals were prepared for the elderly, the homeless, jail inmates and others who could not provide their own Christmas Day meals in Lee County and the surrounding counties. Volunteers from at least 4 churches in the area met to prepare meal boxes for the people in need. "We do it to try and bring some joy to people wherever they are. We know it's not fun being incarcerated, but at least you can get one good meal, at least two good meals a year," said Bishop Willie Wilson of New Life Community Church of Deliverance. A new criminal complaint was issued against actor Kevin Spacey for indecent assault and battery for allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old boy at a Nantucket, Massachusetts restaurant in 2016, Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael OKeefe said in a statement Monday to TheWrap. The felony complaint stems from an accusation made by Boston news anchor Heather Unruh, who accused Spacey in November 2017 of sexually assaulting her teenage son. According to the DAs statement, the alleged incident occurred on or around July 7, 2016 at a local restaurant. According to OKeefe, Spacey will be arraigned at Nantucket District Court on Jan. 7. Also Read: Kevin Spacey Declares 'You Want Me Back' as Frank Underwood Character in Bizarre Video A public show-cause hearing was held in the case on Dec. 20, in which Clerk Magistrate Ryan Kearney issued a criminal complaint for the charge against Kevin S. Fowler, also known as Kevin Spacey, OKeefe said. A lawyer for Spacey did not immediately return a request for comment. In 2017, Unruh claimed in a press conference that her son was at the bar The Club Car in Nantucket where Spacey purchased alcohol for him until he was drunk and then reached into her sons pants and grabbed his genitals. She added that Spacey then urged her son to come with him to an after-hours party to drink more, but he fled the bar when Spacey excused himself to use the bathroom. Also Read: Kevin Spacey Hit With Sexual Battery Lawsuit The victim, my son, was a star-struck, straight, 18-year-old young man who had no idea that the famous actor was an alleged sexual predator or that he was about to become his next victim, Unruh said. This was a criminal act. An attorney for Unruh, Mitchell Garabedian, did not immediately return a request for comment. As the Globe broke the story, Spacey today put out a video on Twitter in which he appears as his House of Cards character Frank Underwood, and declares, you want me back. Story continues You wouldnt believe the worst without evidence, would you? he said. You wouldnt rush to judgement without facts, would you? Did you? No not you. Youre smarter than that. Watch it here. Read original story Kevin Spacey to Be Charged With Felony Indecent Assault and Battery in Massachusetts Case At TheWrap Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been released from a hospital after undergoing surgery on Friday. The 85-year-old underwent a pulmonary lobectomy in New York City to remove two malignant cancer growths from her left lung. There is no evidence of any remaining disease, doctors said. Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital released her on Tuesday, and she is now recuperating at home, a spokesperson confirmed to reporters in an email on Wednesday. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, seen in September, has been released from a New York hospital after undergoing surgery. (Photo: Alex Wong via Getty Images) No additional treatment is planned, according to an earlier statement from the Supreme Court. This recent surgery follows a fall in November that left Ginsburg with three fractured ribs. She previously fought pancreatic cancer and has had heart surgery. Related Content Ruth Bader Ginsburg Underwent Successful Pulmonary Lobectomy Court Says Justice Ginsburg Up And Working After Surgery Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Thinking of becoming a flight attendant? Its hard to argue with a job that comes with perks like flying for free. If you could find a job that allows you to travel the world without paying for plane tickets, that could work out pretty nicely. Becoming a flight attendant isnt all glamour and trips to Morocco and the Maldives, though. It requires training and working the flights more senior flight attendants dont want. You could get stuck flying the 5 a.m. Atlanta to Tampa route for quite some time. But there is room for upward mobility in the flight attendant world, opportunity for work camaraderie, and perhaps best of all, the chance to see the world. If youre considering a career as a flight attendant, youre probably brimming with questions. Do you need a college degree? Whats the training program like? How long does it take? Dont worry, weve got all the answers to get you in the sky. Heres how to become a flight attendant: Where Do I Start? Heres a little-known fact about becoming a flight attendant: You train after you get the gig. Its not like becoming a pilot, where you have to get a commercial pilots license before you can apply to be an airline pilot. For those interested in becoming a flight attendant, you have to first apply to various airlines and get hired. If you get the gig, you then take their three-to-six week intensive training course. Do You Need a College Degree? Not technically, no. Most airlines only require applicants to have a high school education or GED. However, having an associates or bachelors degree only helps you secure employment with a major airline. Even better, if your degree is in marketing, hospitality, communication, or tourism, thats a big plus from the airlines perspective. If you have related skills, even that you didnt pick up from a college education, like waiting tables, working in a hotel, or even hosting at a beachside bar and grill, that could help you get hired, too. Keep in mind that while you dont need a college degree, you do need to be at least 18 years old to apply for a job as a flight attendant. Story continues What are Airlines Looking For in Applicants? They want you to present professionally, preferably have some sort of customer service experience, be personable, and be able to stand on your feet for long periods of time. Sound easy? Its much harder than you think. Any service industry job can be hard on your body, and being a flight attendant is no exception. You may be sleep deprived and get minimal breaks, but you still have to be responsible for your cabin on a 19-hour flight from Newark to Singapore. You also need to be tall enough to reach the overhead bins and have vision that can be corrected to 20/40. When applying for a job as a flight attendant, youll need to be able to pass a background check and a drug test. How to Become a Flight Attendant: The Training Program Once youre hired by the airline, its off to the training program. The Alaska Airlines training program runs for five-and-a-half weeks, according to the Alaska Air blog. In training, you learn how to handle emergency situations, including managing evacuations, using oxygen masks and life vests, and operating the evacuation slides. If you thrive in a classroom environment, the training will play to your strengths. After the theoretical portion of training comes practice flights. Thats when youll get your feet wet and learn firsthand what it means to be a flight attendant. The opportunity to learn from flight attendants who have been working for years is really valuable. Youll get to see what works for your colleagues and what doesnt, and pick their brains for advice. Once youve completed your training and practice flights, the airline will submit the application for your Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency to the FAA. How Do You Become a Flight Attendant? Now that you know what it takes to become a flight attendant, and what experience and education will make you a more desirable candidate, its time to start finding the right flight attendant jobs for you. The first two things you want to think about are: What kind of company do you want to work for? And where would you like to be based? For example, would you prefer working for a regional airline that flies primarily in the continental U.S., or do you want to be working international flights as soon as possible? These decisions will help inform your job search. The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Flight Attendant There are downsides to every job, and becoming a flight attendant is no different. You will have to dress in a specific uniform. Hair and makeup needs to meet your airlines regulations, and sometimes female flight attendants heels are required to be a certain height. You will often have to work holidays, and you are typically paid hourly for flying time, but not for time spent getting through security or on layovers. The upside, of course, is that you get to travel for free or a very low price almost anywhere. That means international flights at hugely discounted rates, and those discounts sometimes apply to first class seats as well. Tianjin (China) (AFP) - The trial of a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer took place Wednesday but was closed to the public because of "state secrets", a northern Chinese court said. Wang Quanzhang, 42, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, disappeared in a 2015 sweep -- known as the "709" crackdown -- aimed at courtroom critics of Communist authorities. Charged in January 2016 with alleged "subversion of state power", Wang had been in legal limbo -- detained without a trial date -- until Monday, when his government-appointed lawyer finally contacted his wife with the court date. "The defendant... was tried in the first instance of the Tianjin Second Intermediate People's Court today," the court said in a statement. "Due to the state secrets involved, the court decided not to open the trial to the public. The verdict in this case will be pronounced at a later date." The closed-door proceedings were conducted in a heavily-guarded courthouse in the northern city of Tianjin, with Wang's wife prevented from attending the session and at least two activists detained for protesting outside the building. Wang's wife, Li Wenzu, was on Tuesday placed under de facto house arrest with "more than 20" security personnel outside her apartment. In an account posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning, a supporter Wang Qiaoling detailed how she and Li were barred from leaving a Beijing housing compound by groups of police officers for over an hour. - 'Another potential enemy' - "The authorities in cases like these see the defendant as their enemy and anyone close to them as either a potential tool to be manipulated... or as another potential enemy to be controlled," Eva Pils, a professor specialising in human rights law at King's College London, told AFP. "Placing Li Wenzu under house arrest would fall in that category." Story continues Just before 10:00 am (0200 GMT), AFP journalists witnessed Heilongjiang activist Yang Chunlin getting arrested after he protested outside the court in Tianjin, describing the situation as "fascist rule" and "absurd". Several plainclothes officers set on Yang and bundled him into a waiting black SUV. Witnesses told AFP that Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from central China, had been taken away at about 8:15 am after holding up a sign calling for Wang's release. Wang is charged with being influenced by "infiltrating anti-China forces", of being trained by a foreign group and accepting their funding, and of having subversive thoughts as a result. The documents seen by AFP say he worked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish human rights activist whose group offered training to lawyers who have tried to use the tightly controlled Chinese judiciary to redress apparent government abuses. Dahlin was deported in 2016 after a 23-day detention. Wang is also accused of hyping up and distorting facts in cases he worked on, including a "cult" he was defending. - 'Stay quiet' - In Hong Kong, about 50 people marched to China's liaison office on Wednesday, demanding the release of Wang and others detained during the 709 crackdown. The sweep has dealt a blow to China's human rights defence movement, with most lawyers either jailed, disbarred or under heavy surveillance, making it impossible for them to work, said Human Rights Watch China researcher Yaqiu Wang. "The Chinese government, paranoiacally, sees grassroots Chinese activists and organisations working with foreign non-government organisations as attempts to foment a 'colour revolution' to challenge the Communist Party's grip on power," she said. Li and three others last week shaved their heads in protest of Wang's indefinite detention and tried to submit a petition to the courts but were prevented from doing so by the police. "Family members of detained activists are often warned to 'stay quiet' to avoid their loved ones getting harsher sentences," said Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International. "In the hope of getting the activist out earlier by succumbing to the threats of the authorities, family members and friends avoid bringing the case to journalists or calling for support on social media." TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albania's Defense Ministry has extended for a year its navy's participation in the search-and-rescue operations of European Union border control force Frontex. Defense Minister Olta Xhacka on Wednesday said the mission, mainly in the Aegean Sea, will continue in 2019. Albania's navy contributes one warship to the operations. Xhacka said Albanian sailors have "saved thousands of human lives" during the last two years when refugees have tried to cross from Turkey to Greece. It's the first time Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has taken part in the Western military alliance's maritime missions. Local media reported Wednesday that six Palestinian and three Syrian refugees were detained a day earlier while trying to cross on foot into southeastern Albania, coming from neighboring Greece. They were questioned and sent to a shelter near the capital, Tirana. Earlier in December, 18 other refugees from Syria, Morocco and Afghanistan were taken into the custody in the same location, all aiming to reach wealthier EU member countries. Though not a preferred route, many migrants try to enter Albania to move toward Northern Europe. Albania has signed an agreement allowing EU border guards to enter and help the Balkan country control illegal migration. WASHINGTON (AP) Last year, during one particularly frenetic stretch in Donald Trump's presidency, a top Republican senator said there were three men guarding the country from chaos: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, White House chief of staff John Kelly and then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Within weeks, not one will be left in the administration. Mattis' abrupt resignation Thursday marks the end of the "contain and control" phase of Trump's administration one where generals, business leaders and establishment Republicans struggled to guide the president and curb his most disruptive impulses. They were branded in Washington as the "troika of sanity," the "axis of adults" and the "committee to save America." But as Trump careens toward his third year in office, their efforts are in tatters and most are out of a job. The early consequences of the new era were already apparent at year's end, with Trump not stopping a partial government shutdown despite the advice of GOP leaders and ordering the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria over Mattis' objections. A similar pull-back in Afghanistan appeared to be in the works. The financial markets, spooked by uncertainty from a nearly yearlong trade war, tanked. "We are headed toward a series of grave policy errors which will endanger our nation, damage our alliances & empower our adversaries," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tweeted after Mattis' resignation. The shrinking circle around Trump is now increasingly dominated by a small cadre of longtime Trump loyalists and family members, ex-Fox News talent and former GOP lawmakers who were backbenchers on Capitol Hill before being elevated by the president. Attracting top flight talent will only get more difficult as more investigations envelop the White House once Democrats take over the House in January. To some of Trump's most ardent supporters, the exodus leaves the president with a team that is more in line with his hardline campaign promises. They viewed some of his early advisers as obstacles to enacting the unabashed nationalist agenda they believe Trump had been elected to implement. Story continues Mattis said in his resignation letter that Trump deserved a Pentagon chief "whose views are better aligned with yours." It was not readily apparent who that might be, as Trump's decision in Syria drew widespread bipartisan condemnation this week. Soon after Trump entered the White House, aides seeking to restrain the brash and inexperienced president's foreign policy decisions recognized that those best adept at advising him were or had recently been in uniform. Trump, who never served himself but attended a military academy as a youth, granted them outsized respect. Mattis was one of three generals who filled the top ranks of Trump's staff, along with Kelly and H.R. McMaster, who spent a year as national security adviser. Mattis' appointment required a congressional waiver to laws meant to preserve the civilian nature of the Department of Defense. Mattis and outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Joseph Dunford became almost weekly dinner guests of the president early in his administration, particularly before first lady Melania Trump moved to Washington late last spring. The seemingly informal briefings for the president were in fact carefully orchestrated persuasion sessions designed to ease the president into abandoning some of his disruptive campaign rhetoric and accepting the advice of his senior national security advisers. But Mattis' departure highlights how those early efforts delayed Trump's disruption, rather than averted it. On issues from trade to defense, Trump aides have tried eye-popping tactics to wait out the president Gary Cohn, the former chair of the National Economic Council, went so far as to remove documents related to a tariff action from the Resolute Desk in hopes of convincing the president to adjust course but their exertions proved fleeting. Mattis' decision to resign followed a clash with the president over withdrawing troops from Syria, where a small military force has been fighting Islamic State extremists. The president is also said to be seeking to draw down American forces in Afghanistan, another move with which the Pentagon disagrees. Trump's split with Mattis followed a pattern of public breakdowns with advisers who served as guardrails in the administration. Trump initially hailed Tillerson, the ExxonMobil chief executive, as out of "central casting" when he was tapped as secretary of state, before being unceremoniously discarded by the president earlier this year. Earlier this month, Tillerson described Trump as "pretty undisciplined, doesn't like to read, doesn't read briefing reports, doesn't like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, 'This is what I believe.'" Kelly suffered a similar fate. Hired to bring order to the Oval Office, the retired Marine ultimately found he, too, could not control Trump, who subjected Kelly to a series of public humiliations. Kelly is slated to leave in two weeks. Trump treated Mattis with respect in announcing his departure via tweet, though he cast the move as a retirement rather than a resignation. It was Mattis who made clear in his letter that he was leaving over a dispute with the president. Still, he said he would remain on through February to allow Trump time to nominate and confirm a successor, expressing concern about high-level turnover at the Pentagon at a critical juncture. Mattis, the last of the committee to save America, was trying to mitigate the damage one last time. But on Sunday, Trump pushed out Mattis sooner than planned. In a tweet, Trump said Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will take over as acting secretary on Jan. 1. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE Julie Pace has covered the White House and politics for the AP since 2007. Follow her at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC Zeke Miller has covered the White House for the AP since 2017. Follow him at http://twitter.com/zekejmiller An AP News Analysis BEIJING (Reuters) - Police have detained an unemployed man who hijacked a bus in southeastern China after a dispute with a neighborhood official that resulted in eight people being killed, state media reported. The 48-year-old man, with the family name Qiu, hijacked the bus on Tuesday afternoon in Longyan in the southeastern province of Fujian, the official Xinhua news agency said late on Tuesday. "The initial police investigation showed that on that day, the suspect had a conflict with an official of the neighborhood committee, with whom he had long been at odds, during the official's visit to his home," Xinhua said. "He then attacked people with a knife, hijacked a bus and used it to hit pedestrians," it said. As well as the eight people killed, 22 others were injured, one seriously, the report said. The government had initially put the death toll at five. Pictures on Chinese social media, picked up by some Chinese news outlets, showed a chaotic scene on the street, with crushed motor-bikes and injured people on the ground. One video showed police apparently wrestling the suspect to the ground. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Gao Liangping; Editing by Paul Tait) Tehran (AFP) - Iran has met with the Afghan Taliban, a top Iranian security official said Wednesday according to the Tasnim news agency, just days after the militants attended reconciliation talks in the UAE. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, made the announcement while on a visit to the Afghan capital Kabul, several Iranian agencies reported. "The Afghan government has been informed of the communications and talks carried out with the Taliban, and this process will continue," he said, quoted by Tasnim. No details on where the talks took place were given by the news agency, which is considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. "The Islamic Republic has always been one of the primary pillars of stability in the region and cooperation between the two countries will certainly help in fixing Afghanistan's security issues of today," Shamkhani said. Abas Aslani, a reporter for Tasnim, tweeted that it was the first time talks had been confirmed between Iran and the Taliban. The announcement follows reconciliation talks last week between the United States and Taliban officials in the United Arab Emirates. The Taliban said they also held meetings with officials from the UAE, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but the militants refused to meet a delegation from Afghanistan. The renewed diplomatic efforts come as Washington seeks a way out of the 17-year conflict. An American official told AFP last week that President Donald Trump had decided to pull out "roughly half" of the 14,000 US forces, but the White House has yet to confirm the widely-publicised move. - Complex history - Iran and Afghanistan share a nearly 600-mile border, and have a had a complex relationship in recent years. Tehran has long supported its co-religionists in Afghanistan, the Shia Hazara minority, who were violently persecuted by the Taliban during its rule in the 1990s. Iran worked alongside the United States and Western powers to help drive out the Taliban after the US-led invasion in 2001. Story continues But there have been allegations, from Western and Afghan sources, that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have in recent years established ties with the Taliban aimed at driving out US forces from Afghanistan. Iran hosted Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday in Tehran. No details were given of the discussions. Tehran welcomed Trump's announcement that he was withdrawing all US forces from Syria last week, but has not commented on the reduction in Afghanistan. "The presence of American forces was from the very start, in principle, a wrong and illogical move and a primary cause of instability and insecurity in the region," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on Saturday. Hawks in Washington have criticised Trump's move, saying it will cede significant influence in the region to Iran. The Taliban, meanwhile, has made significant territorial gains this year as its fighters inflict record casualties on government forces. Afghanistan's largest militant group carried out an hours-long gun and bomb attack on a Kabul government compound on Monday that killed at least 43 people, one of the deadliest assaults on the capital this year. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel's army said Wednesday it had located a fifth Hezbollah attack tunnel crossing into its territory from Lebanon and destroyed it with explosives. The military launched an operation earlier this month to locate and destroy tunnels from Lebanon that it said Hezbollah was planning to use in a future conflict against Israel. The military said in a statement that the new tunnel had been dug from the Lebanese village of Ayta ash Shab. It said it "holds the Lebanese government accountable for the attack tunnels dug from Lebanese territory and for the consequences of this violation." "This is another blatant violation of UN resolution 1701 and of Israeli sovereignty," the statement said, referring to the resolution that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the tunnel operation was nearly complete. The highly publicised Israeli operation to expose and destroy the cross-border tunnels has gone ahead without drawing a military response from Hezbollah. 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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You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Targeting Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to dissolve parliament and hold snap elections on April 9. Legislators backed the move 102 for and two against after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition agreed Monday on early polls. The premier's coalition was left with a one-seat majority after defence minister Avigdor Lieberman stepped down in November over a controversial Gaza ceasefire deal. Party leaders have failed to agree on a key bill regulating drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews to the army, and that was the immediate reason to move toward elections. Analysts, however, say that Netanyahu wanted the polls before Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announces his decision on whether to indict the premier in three different corruption cases. While no official timeframe has been given, reports say such an announcement could come in mid-April. With politicians now entering campaign mode, Netanyahu met in Jerusalem on Wednesday with leaders of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and made his pitch for why they should stick with him. Netanyahu's current coalition is seen as the most right-wing in Israel's history. "We'll see an attempt by the left-wing to overthrow our rule with the help of the media and others," he said. "They can't succeed, because if they do -- that will pose a clear danger to the settlement movement." Calling on their support in the elections, Netanyahu told the settler leaders they should not take the fate of their enterprise for granted. "We had to work hard, with the current American administration as well, for the great achievements we brought the settlements," he said in remarks relayed by his office. While Netanyahu portrays himself as the champion of the settlements, settler leaders say he has not done enough, with three prominent heads of West Bank settlements boycotting the Wednesday meeting in protest. Key members of his coalition are however strong settlement backers and oppose a Palestinian state. TOKYO (AP) Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. Japan switched to what it calls research whaling after the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s, and now says stocks have recovered enough to resume commercial hunts. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan would resume commercial whaling in July "in line with Japan's basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence." He added that Japan is disappointed that the IWC which he said is dominated by conservationists focuses on the protection of whale stocks even though the commission has a treaty mandate for both whale conservation and the development of the whaling industry. "Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views," he said at a news conference. Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan's territorial waters and its 200-mile (323-kilometer) exclusive economic zone along its coasts. He said Japan would stop its annual whaling expeditions to the Antarctic and northwest Pacific oceans. Non-signatory states are not allowed to do so, according to Japanese Fisheries Agency officials. The IWC imposed the moratorium on commercial whaling three decades ago due to a dwindling whale population. In 1987, Japan switched to what is calls research whaling, but the program has been criticized as a cover for commercial hunting since the meat is sold on the market at home. Japanese officials said Japan, even after leaving the whaling convention, will remain as an observer to the IWC and plans to continue participating in the group's scientific meetings and annual conferences. Story continues The environmental group Greenpeace condemned Wednesday's announcement and disputed Japan's view that whale stocks have recovered, and noted that ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing. "The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures," Sam Annesley, executive director of Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement. "The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling." Australia's government, often a vocal critic of Japan's whaling policies, said in a statement that it was "extremely disappointed" with Japan's decision to quit the commission. However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters joined Australia in welcoming Japan's withdrawal from the southern ocean. Japan was the only country with an ambition to return to commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWC's method to carefully determine a catch quota on the basis of science, but declined to give an estimate. He said Japan plans to use seven existing whaling hubs on the Pacific coast for the upcoming commercial hunts. Moronuki said Japan is starting with a modest plan because it has to figure out if or how commercial whaling can be a viable industry. "What's most important is to have a diverse and stable food supply," he said. The Fisheries Agency said Japan plans to catch three kinds of whale that are believed to have sufficient stocks minke, sei and Bryde's. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but has reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japan's ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts. Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about one third after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the country's research whaling program wasn't as scientific as it had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the Northern Pacific. Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. It's a fraction of the country's whale meat supply of about 200,000 tons before the IWC moratorium. Critics say they doubt commercial whaling can be a sustainable industry because younger Japanese may not view the animals as food. Nonetheless, Japanese lawmakers want to promote whales not only as a source of protein but as part of Japan's cultural tradition. "We hope the resumption of commercial whaling will lead to the economic revitalization of (whaling) communities," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a meeting of his ruling party's whaling committee. Kazutaka Sangen, mayor of Taiji, a central Japanese town known for dolphin hunts, welcomed the decision and vowed to stick with scientific way of stock management so that Japan's position on whaling can gain understanding from the international community. Suga said that Japan would notify the IWC of its decision by Dec. 31 and that it remains committed to international cooperation on proper management of marine life even after its IWC withdrawal. ___ Associated Press writer Steve McMorran in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Moscow (AFP) - Moscow on Wednesday said Israel had violated Syria's sovereignty with airstrikes the day before, after Israel and Damascus blamed each other for the hostilities. "We are very concerned by the attacks and how they were made. This is a gross violation of the sovereignty of Syria," the Russian ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement. Syria said via state media that its air defences shot down Israeli missiles near Damascus, while Israel said it was protecting itself from anti-aircraft fire. Moscow's defence ministry earlier said Israeli strikes had endangered two passenger planes. "The provocative actions of the Israeli air force.. directly threatened two airliners," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. He said the attack came from over Lebanese territory and came as "two airliners, not from Russia, were preparing to land at the airports of Beirut and Damascus". He said restrictions were imposed on the use of Syrian government forces' air defence systems "to prevent a tragedy". One of the planes was redirected to a Russian airbase within Syria. The Russian defence ministry said three Syrian military personnel were injured in a strike that saw Israeli warplanes drop 16 bombs. Of these, 14 were destroyed by Syrian defence systems, according to the ministry. If Israel is confirmed to have instigated the strikes, it would be the first attack since US President Donald Trump announced last week the withdrawal of American troops from Syria. Experts say Israel is to be greatly affected by a US pull out, as it would leave the area open to Iran and its partners to develop their military capacity. Moscow is an ally of Damascus and its intervention in Syria's civil war in 2015 was seen as key to propping up President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The great-grandson of a Jewish woman named Lilly Cassirer, who surrendered her family's $30 million Camille Pissarro painting to the Nazis, appealed to US court Tuesday, in an attempt to retrieve the priceless painting. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Seventy-nine years ago Cassirer surrendered the Camille Pissarro painting to the Nazis in exchange for safe passage out of Nazi Germany during the WWII. Cassirer's great-grandson walked into a US courtroom for the latest round of what has been a nearly 20-year battle to get it back. Claude Cassier, Lilly's great-grandson (Photo: TNS) After years of appeals by both Lilly Cassirer's descendants and Spain's Thyssen-Bornemisza museum, where the painting has hung for 25 years, a trial to decide its rightful owner is scheduled before US District Judge John F. Walter. Neither side disputes that Cassirer handed the painting over to the Nazis in 1939 in exchange for safe passage out of the country for herself, her husband and her grandson. But the Madrid museum has argued that she forfeited her ownership rights when she accepted $13,000 from Germany in 1958, after the German government concluded the painting was lost forever. The museum also has argued that it acquired the work in good faith and has never tried to hide it. "There's no dispute about the painting's complete history. The court examined all the evidence and determined that the museum is the rightful owner," Thyssen-Bornemisza's US attorney, Thaddeus J. Stauber, told The Associated Press in 2016 after Judge Walter initially dismissed the case. The Cassirer family successfully appealed last year and their lawsuit was returned to the judge for trial. The family's attorney, David Boies, says the matter now boils down to Spain doing what's right and surrendering the painting. 'Rue St.-Honore, Apres-Midi, Effet de Pluie' on display in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid (Photo: TNS) "It's unusual for a modern liberal democracy to be trying to hold onto Nazi-looted art," he said Monday as he prepared for trial. "Every other civilized country in the world is committed to returning Nazi-looted art to the rightful owners." The painting, "Rue St.-Honore, Apres-Midi, Effet de Pluie" has been valued at $30 million or more. Pissarro created the stunning oil-on-canvas work of a rainy Paris street scene from what he saw out the window of a hotel room in 1897. Its title translates to English as "Rue Saint-Honor in the Afternoon, Effect of Rain." Lilly Cassirer's father-in-law bought it directly from Pissarro's art dealer and left it to her and her husband when he died. Seventy-nine years ago, Cassirer surrendered the painting to the Nazis in exchange for safe passage out of Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. For more than 70 years her family believed it was lost. Then in 1999 a friend of Cassirer's grandson, Claude, who had fled Germany with her, saw a photo of it in a catalog and contacted him. "And he was completely stunned because we thought the painting was gone," Claude Cassirer's son, David Cassirer of San Diego, told The Associated Press in 2016. It turned out the work had been sold and resold several times before Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, one of the 20th century's most prominent art collectors, bought it from New York gallery owner Stephen Hahn in 1976. Thyssen-Bornemisza, who died in 2002, sold the painting and hundreds of other works to Spain in 1993 and they now form the core of the museum named for him. If I was one of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's advisors, I would advise him to stop reading the newspapers as of today, and start watching the television and returning politicians' phone calls instead. He has a tough call to make deciding on which charges, if any, the state will indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the others embroiled in his multiple criminal investigations. The decision-making process must neither be contaminated, nor influenced by the election date or election campaigns. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Nothing can separate the elections from the attorney general's decision, and no decision will be to everyone's satisfaction. If Mandelblit decides to postpone the decision until after the elections, many Israelis will wonder and justifiably sofor whom are they being asked to vote. Is it for a man who is facing charges of bribery or for a man who is facing lesser charges? They will ask whether they are voting for someone whose criminal cases are about to be closed due to the fact that "there is nothing, because there was nothing," according to Netanyahu's oft-repeated mantra. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit Will the prime minister announce his resignation when Mandelblit's decision is released? Will a deal be reached? Will his future coalition partners abandon him if he has already formed a government? Will Netanyahu even be the Likud's ultimate candidate or does his candidacy depend on the outcome of these investigations? Even those opposed to Netanyahu don't really know what they are voting for. Those going to the polls must surely wonder whether by giving their vote to Yesh Atid's Yair Lapid, or former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, or Zionist Union's Avi Gabbay, they are voting for a party that will join the coalition once the Netanyahu era is over, or are they voting for a party that will sit in the opposition no matter how things unfold in Likud. Moreover, Likud's satellite parties Jewish Home, Yisrael Beiteinu and Kulanuwill be obligated to explain to their voters the nature of their commitment to Netanyahu, and whether they will continue working with him should any indictments be filed. It appears this situation is convenient for Netanyahu. The right wing wants to see him continuing his tenure. Those on the right who do doubt him risk losing votes. Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman (L) and Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett (Photo: Getty Images, AFP) If Mandelblit decides to release his decision in the run-up to the elections, he will be attacked by all of the candidates on the Likud list, first and foremost Netanyahu. They will surely demand to know by what right Mandelblit is meddling in the elections, and how dare he disgrace the man running for prime minister, the man chosen by the people, without a shred of evidence presented to the courts and before a hearing has even been held. In the best-case scenario, they would compare Mandelblit to former FBI head James Comey, who helped sabotage Hillary Clinton's chances in 2016 by making a series of miserable decisions in the days before the US presidential election. In the worst-case scenario, they would call Mandelblit a traitor, and he would be driven out of his synagogue in Petah Tikva. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (M) announcing early elections at a faction meeting of his Likud party (Photo: Amit Shabi) Elections are an ongoing process. Many vote-changing events can occur at any point before Election Day on April 9, 2019. In the meantime, it appears that the election will focus on one man and his investigations. Netanyahu will be the main issue. No prime minister before him, not even David Ben-Gurion, has played such a dominant role in an election campaign ("Say yes to the old man" was the Mapai party's slogan during Ben-Gurion's days, not "Say yes to the old man even if he took bribes.") Netanyahu's u-turn going from vehemently opposing early elections to fully supporting them is meant to disrupt any move by Mandelblit and transform his decision on whether to indict him into a political issue. It may be impossible to take looming indictments out of the election campaign, but the election campaign must be taken out of the discussions on the indictments. More than 200 people gathered at Kibbutz Harel in in central Israel on Monday to attend the funeral of Simha (Kazik) Rotem, the last surviving member of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Rotem died Saturday at the age of 94. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Among the attendees were members of his family and friends, staff from the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, a special Polish delegation, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and MKs Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, Revital Swid and Eitan Broshi. "All your life you were a humble, confident man with a sense of humor. We remember our walks together, and the family trips around the country. You have lived a life full of substance and curiosity. Rest in peace, our beloved father and hero," Rotem's son, Itai, said as he eulogized his father. Funeral of Simcha Rotem, December 24, 2018 "Kazik, today you become a hero who will live forever in the memory of the Jewish people. The last surviving member of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto Uprising, you are a hero and national symbol. You will always be rememberedan Israeli, a Jew, a hero, a man," Bennett said. Polish soldier attends the funeral of Simcha Rotem, December 24, 2018 (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) Historian Dr. Yitzhak Arad, a former director of Yad Vashem and a Holocaust survivor, eulogized his friend: "Kazik, I came to say goodbye and salute you, the last surviving member of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto Uprising. I salute you for being one of the boldest and most prominent ghetto fighters. Knowing that there will be no victory, you and your friends fought till the end. You have shown the world that Jews can fight, and when necessary, die valiantly. You survived and witnessed Germany's surrender." Rotem was 15 years old when the WWII broke out. When the Nazis established the Warsaw ghetto, his parents sent him to live with relatives. In 1942, at the age of 18, he returned to Warsaw and became an active member of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis. Simcha Rotem laid to rest, December 24, 2018 (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) Speaking at a 2013 ceremony in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the uprising, Rotem recalled that by April 1943 most of the ghetto's Jews had died and the 50,000 who remained expected the same fate. Rotem said he and his comrades launched the uprising to "choose the kind of death" they wanted. "But to this very day I keep thinking whether we had the right to make the decision to start the uprising and by the same token to shorten the lives of many people by a week, a day or two," Rotem said. Simcha Rotem (Photo:AFP) Thousands of Jews died in Europe's first urban anti-Nazi revolt, most of them burned alive, and nearly all the rest were then sent to Treblinka extermination camp. Rotem survived by masterminding an escape through the drain system with dozens of comrades. Polish sewer workers guided them to the surface. After the war, Rotem immigrated to Israel and got married. His wife, Gina, died two years ago. He is survived by two children and five grandchildren. It was not so long ago, August in fact, when Benjamin Netanyahu promised that his Likud party would expand to 40 Knesset seats in the next elections, and other Likud members predicted a veritable windfall of votes. But while the national camp - that confederacy of right-wing Zionists and religious Jews - is set to do well in April, it has a big Netanyahu-shaped problem. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The prime minister has total support from his Likud party, where even political opponents like Gideon Saar toe the line. Similarly, the Jewish Home party says it provides Netanyahu with support from the right and avoids expressing any criticism based on the prime ministers legal predicaments. The right speaks with one voice, and that voice is Netanyahu's, but is he really their representative? Netanyahu, who once led a right-center party, has managed to appear more right-wing than Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett during most of this government's existence. PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: EPA) Most Israelis identify with the conservative stance of the national camp, and this is illustrated by the polls. If a clueless foreign pollster were to land in Israel, he would most certainly advise a potential candidate to create competition within this vast, unchallenged field. Most of Netanyahus political rivals have decided to throw in the towel. They view these elections as abortive just another way to pass the time before Netanyahu is indicted and the next government collapses. They will compete against each other afterwards, when he's gone. Why will the government collapse? Because there are only a limited number of parties willing to join a coalition headed by a prime minister who has multiple indictments hanging over his head: the ultra-Orthodox, the Likud and maybe Jewish Home, but that's it. What will they do, those on the right who believe that a prime minister cannot serve while under suspicion of corruption, but dont identify with the likes of the far-right Jewish Home MK Betzalel Smotrich? What will they do, those who were skeptical that the sensitive security situation, which that precluded elections just a month ago, ended unexpectedly on Monday? Only time will tell. Sources in the US Defense Department claim that several senior Hezbollah officials had been hit in an alleged Israeli airstrike near Damascus, according to a report Wednesday by Newsweek. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Tuesday nights strike, apparently targeting Iran and Hezbollahs arms depots located southwest of Damascus, occurred shortly after the terror groups officials had boarded a plane bound for Tehran. The source said the information was obtained from a senior Israeli military officer directly linked to the attack, Newsweek reported. IDF strike in Syria X The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said Israeli airstrikes targeted three positions south of Damascus and at least three Syrian soldiers were also wounded in the attack. The source also said one of the main targets of IDF bombing was Iranian shipments of advanced GPS components meant to help Hezbollah convert its arsenal of unguided rockets into precision-guided missiles, thereby increasing the threat to Israel. Alleged IDF strike in Syria As in previous reports of attacks in Syria, this attack is also connected to an Iranian plane. On Tuesday morning, the Boeing 747 of Iranian airline Fars Air Qeshm, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, took off from Tehran International Airport (THR) to Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA). At 5:30pm, the plane took off for Damascus International Airport where it landed shortly after 7:45 pm. The plane was apparently used to transport military equipment to the Syrian army and Hezbollah. Hezbollah's information channel reported that S-200 missiles were launched against the attack missiles. The Syrian Assad regime has yet to respond to the reports. A Palestinian man suspected of attempting to carry out a car ramming attack in the West Bank on Wednesday, was shot and moderately wounded. The suspect was treated at the scene by IDF forces and evacuated to Beilinson Hospital at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva. Three civilianstwo women and a manwere treated for shock. The incident is being investigated. The Israel Defense Forces are fully prepared for abn outbreak of war, according to an IDF external commission of inquiry to examine the issue. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The commission was established by departing Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, after IDF Ombudsman Maj. Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Brick harshly criticized the military's readiness in his annual report, which was published in June. The commission examined the main issues that elicited Brick's criticism, and came to the same conclusions as those of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "The ground forces are ready and prepared for war. Our report completely doesn't correspond with Brick's," the heads of the commission wrote in their report. IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot (Photo: Amit Sha'al) As opposed to Brick's claims, the commission, led by Gen. Ilan Harari (res.) and Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi, concluded that there has been a significant improvement in the level of preparedness and fitness of the IDF's ground forces over the past few years. However, the panel noted that some gaps still remain between the ground troops, which have been neglected for years, and the rest of the army. The commission hailed Eisenkot's actions to bolster the ground troops, including adding more than NIS 2 billion to their budget annually, to narrow those existing gaps. A senior member of the commission questioned why Brick remained silent in 2013 and 2014, when the IDF was not training properly, and why Brick had apparently decided to wage a campaign against Eisenkot. MIzrahi also hit back at criticism from Brick that the commission lacked professionalism and was biased in favor of the chief of staff. "You cannot tell reservists what to write in such a report," said Mizrahi, referring to the 100 or so reservist soldiers who contributed to the report. Yitzhak Brick "I've held three major general posts, including serving as the ground forces commander. I know the army. I'm not worried about the chief of staff or his deputy, but the army's fitness," he said. "The IDF is prepared for war. It is true that we lack certain means, but I would never risk signing a document saying the army was fit to face the challenges of war if it weren't," he said. "Brick cannot be right purely because he received the Medal of Valor after the Yom Kippur War. All those who know me can vouch that I've always spoken the truth throughout my military service, even when the truth was not easy to hear. It would have been easier for me to back Brick's report and by doing so protect myself from a future commission of inquiry but I refuse to lie," Mizrahi said. One of the reserves officers, who took part in producing the report, said, "The fact there are gaps doesn't mean we are not ready. We've inspected five divisions, and met with dozens of IDF officers before reaching this conclusion." Nevertheless, the commission pointed out several shortfallsmaintenance of the IDF's emergency warehouse; the low salaries of non-commissioned officers, which the commission recommended raising, the army's logistic mobilization; the low motivation of combat soldiers to become career soldiers; the quality of infrastructure and training, ammunition and open positions for military doctors. During a meeting Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as defense minister, the commission members recommended that the premier allocate a separate budget for ground forces to ensure their level of preparedness, which was impacted by relocation of resources to the Air Force and the Intelligence Corps. Iran has been holding talks with Afghanistan's Taliban with the knowledge of the Afghan government, a senior Iranian security official was quoted by the official news agency IRNA as saying on Wednesday during a visit to Kabul. The news came days after reports last week of talks between US and Taliban officials over proposals for a ceasefire in Afghanistan and a future withdrawal of foreign troops ahead of possible peace negotiations. Russia's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that "provocative" Israeli missile strikes against Syria the previous day had directly threatened two civilian flights, the Interfax news agency reported. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The ministry, which did not specify which flights had been threatened, added that Syrian air defenses had destroyed 14 of 16 Israeli missiles launched by six F-16 jets against unspecified targets near Damascus on Tuesday. Provocative acts by the Israeli Air Force endangered two passenger jets when six of their F-16s carried out airstrikes on Syria from Lebanese airspace, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. IDF strike in Syria (Photo: TNS) Three Syrian soldiers were injured in the strikes, Syrian state media reported. Earlier in the day, Newsweek reported that according to a source in the US Defense Department several senior Hezbollah officials had been hit in an Israel Air Force attack near Damascus. The alleged strike apparently targeting Iran and Hezbollahs arms depots located southwest of Damascus, occurred shortly after the terror groups officials had boarded a plane bound for Tehran. The source said the information was obtained from a senior Israeli military officer directly linked to the attack. The source also claimed one of the main targets of IDF bombing was Iranian shipments of advanced GPS components meant to help Hezbollah convert its arsenal of unguided rockets into precision-guided missiles, thereby increasing the threat to Israel. Three young Jewish Americans in Israel as part of the Taglit-Birthright project were expelled from the program this week for what they say were questions about the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the separation barrier built in the area. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Shira Leah, Emily Bloch and Benjamin Dornberg, all 29, said the incident occurred on a bus ride along the separation fence. Questions they had raised about Israels West Bank barrier quickly escalated into an argument over the Israeli narrative. Following the incident, they were taken to Taglit-Birthright's offices in Tel Aviv, where they were told they could either return to the US, or give up their flight tickets back home and stay in Israel at their own expense. Emily, Benjamin and Shira (Left to right) The three youths are members of the Jewish Left wing organization, IfNotNow, which is already known for provocative actions on previous Taglit-Birthright's tours. "Wow. I was just kicked off Taglit-Birthright Israel this morning, along with two other people, because when we drove past the border separation wall between Israel and the West Bank, we tried to ask questions about it and didn't accept his answer that the entire conflict is caused by crazy violent Palestinians," Shira Leah wrote on Facebook. "I am devastated by Trump's policies of family separation, detention of children, and building a wall on the US-Mexico border because it goes against all of the values I was taught growing up in my Jewish community, where my mom was the Rabbi. It is unfathomable that I would be asked to stay silent when we see the same thing happening in Israel. Clearly this is a bribe, not a gift," she wrote. According to Emily Bloch, other than telling her they violated the program's rules, the tour guide didnt explain why they were being expelled from the program. "In their view, if you ask questions about the Occupation, you are no longer welcome," Emily said. A day after the incident, the three youths visited the West Bank Bedouin village of Umm Al Khair, and launched a fundraising campaign to raise money for the purchase of plane tickets to the United States. Participants of Taglit-Birthright project (file photo) Sources at Taglit-Birthright Israel say that the incident was the result of a coordinated provocation. According to the organization, the activists kept asking unrelated questions and interrupting the tour guide. They also photographed the guide, even though they were asked not to. "The three activists were asked to leave the group after aggressively disrupting the experience of the other participants, regardless of their political agenda. Taglit-Birthright Israel always welcomes participants views and questions, which are essential to the success of the experience, as long as they are shared in a constructive and respectful manner. We will not condone any coordinated plans to ruin the experience for others in order to promote a specific agenda," the organization said in a statement. Since 1999, Birthright Israel has brought thousands of young Jewish youths, aged 18-26, to Israel. So far, more than 650,000 young adults from around the Globe participated in the organization's 10-day trips to Israel. However, it has been reported that the number of participants expected this year have significantly dropped compared to previous years, especially among US participants. Officials from the organization attribute this decline to changes in registration requirements, and a growing sense of alienation among young Americans. Benjamin Netanyahu addresssing graduating pilots at an air base in the Negev, December 26, 2018 Israel will not let Iran embed its troops in Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday, a day after an airstrike attributed to Israel reportedly targeted Hezbollah or Iranian weapons depots in the war-torn country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "Israel is operating against the Iranian entrenchment in Syria," the prime minister told new pilots at an Israel Air Force graduation ceremony. Tuesday night's missile strikes triggered Syrian air defenses, with one of the anti-aircraft missiles crossing the border into Israeli airspace. The missile set off Israel's own air defenses, with residents of the center of the country reporting hearing a loud boom and seeing smoke trails. Russia, which has a sizeable presence in Syria backing President Bashar Assad, later called the airstrike "provocative" and said it endangered two civilian passenger jets. Israel traditionally does not confirm or deny airstrikes it carries out against targets in Syria, but has vowed to prevent the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group from acquiring advanced weaponry via Syria. Both the Lebanese-based Hezbollah and Iran have a presence in Syria, ostensibly to help oust Islamic State from the country. Israel has warned against Iran taking root on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, along the Israeli border. "The State of Israel is counting on you, and I'm counting on you," Netanyahu told the new pilots Wednesday at the ceremony at Hatzerim air base in the Negev. "I accompany our pilots all the time, usually in the wee hours of the night when I stay awake next to the red phone to hear from the military secretary that the mission, complex as it may be, was successfully carried out and that all our forces have safely returned home." Netanyahu also commented on the American withdrawal from Syria, stating Israel would not change its policy. "Protecting our homeland begins nipping major threats in the bud. We'll not accept Iranian entrenchment in Syria, which is meant to harm us and we are acting to eradicate it. US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out from Syria doesn't change our policy. Our red lines remain the samein Syria and everywhere else," he said. "This graduation ceremony represents the young generation, those who were born in Israel and those who immigrated to this country. The Israeli melting pot gives everyone equal opportunities. You have one mission which was the center of your training: to protect the homeland and win the war," the prime minister said. IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin also alluded to IDF activity in Syria, saying that the Air Force operates on several fronts, and our aircraft were involved in an offensive as well as in defensive activity. The IAF in cooperation with Intelligence Corps prevented Iranian forces from establishing their military abilities in the north. Norkin added that, If the need arises, well utilize air and ground forces. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak testified Wednesday at the trial of his former successor, Muslim Brotherhood member Muhammad Mursi, who is facing charges related to prison breaks at the height of the 2011 uprising. During the trial, Mubarak claimed the state did not know that at least 800 armed people crossed into the northern part of Sinai Peninsula, through tunnels from Gaza. "They entered Egypt through Gaza and had weapons. ... They headed toward the prisons to release prisoners belonging to Hezbollah, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood," Mubarak said, referring to Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group and Hamas militants who have ruled Gaza since 2007. For the first time in the history of the Israeli Air Force, a cadet from the Ethiopian community was awarded his pilot wings on Wednesday, and is to start his active duty as a combat navigator. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Being a member of the air squadrons and serving in one of the IDFs most significant units is for me a great honor, said Lieutenant Y, whose identity remains undisclosed, as with all IAF pilots. He was born and raised in the center of the country and attended religious schools, including prestigious Yeshiva high schools. He completed all his matriculation exams and was invited to try out for the pilots course. He thought the idea was cool, but did not think he would actually pass. Lt. Y. (Photo: IDF Spokesman) After completing the initial phase of the course selection, he took time off to study at the Bnei David pre-army IDF preparatory yeshiva in Eli for two and a half years. All he knew before beginning the course were stigmas about pilots that they were cold, cynical and arrogant. But he quickly realized that "they were no different to other people, sometimes they smiled and sometimes they were upset... I am a social person, I love to laugh and I quickly found my place among the group said Lieutenant Y. As the course concludes, I have mixed feelings, he continued. On the one hand it is nice to finally receive our wings after three intensive years of training; on the other hand, it is only the beginning of the journey. 177th pilot's course graduation ceremony at the Hatzerim Air Base. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the new pilots for completing the arduous course during a speech at the 177th pilots graduation ceremony, that took place at the Hatzerim Air Base near the city of Beer Sheva. Netanyahu then asserted Israels determination to prevent the entrenchment of Iranian forces in Syria, and expressed his trust in the IAF. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The nation of Israel depends on you and I put my faith in you, the prime minister said. My mind is always on our pilots. During the wee hours of the morning, I sit near the telephone waiting to hear from my military secretary that an operation was successful and that all our pilots returned home safely. Both Netanyahu and Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin made statements referring to the IDFs operation in Syria Tuesday night. Norkin also welcomed the first Ethiopian to complete the course: Distinguished members of the Ethiopian community are here today, Kessoch, academics and public figures; your presence sends an important message. I am proud of you Lieutenant Y. The Knesset voted to disperse on Wednesday, a decision that will result in snap elections, to take place in April 2019. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The vote took place on Wednesday evening, 105 MKs voted for the government-initiated bill; none objected. Other votes to disperse the Knesset, initiated by several different MKs, were also approved during the assembly. The Knesset assembly voting for dispersal. (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) Several MKs referred to the Knessets term coming to its end in speeches given in the assembly. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said the current term has been fruitful, and that great thing have been achieved by the government and the entire coalition. He mentioned the Nation State Law as one of these achievements, and called it one of the most important bills ever passed in the Israeli Knesset, alongside the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem. Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said this is an exciting moment, and said that the public knows there are investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but has also heard him firmly declare his innocence. Its unheard of that the decision of a clerkeven a senior and an honest one like Attorney General Avichai Mandelblitwill cause a prime minister to have to leave office, as if the decision that the public took during elections means nothing. US President Donald Trump is making an unannounced visit to Iraqhis first visit with US troops in a troubled region. Trump landed at an airbase west of Baghdad after dark Wednesday, leaving behind a government shutdown and other upheaval at home. The trip also comes after Trump announced that he was pulling US forces out of neighboring Syria. The head of one of two main blocs in Iraq's Parliament is denouncing US President Donald Trump's unannounced visit, calling it a "blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty." Sabah al-Saidi says he is calling for an emergency session of Parliament to discuss Trump's visit Wednesday evening. Al-Saidi, who heads the Islah bloc, said "the American occupation of Iraq is over." He said Trump should not be allowed to arrive "as if Iraq is a state of the United States." An unamed security official has confirmed that Israel carried out an overnight airstrike in Syria, saying a series of Iranian targets were hit. The official says the airstrike hit Iranian storage and logistic targets being used to transfer weapons to the Hezbollah militant group. He added that Israel also took out a Syrian anti-aircraft battery near Damascus that fired at the Israeli warplanes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under standard security protocols. The IDF has not commented on the incident. Earlier Wednesday, Russia criticized the airstrikes, saying they had endangered civilian flights. The official said, however, that Israel alerted Russia about the airstrikes ahead of time. News Tucson, Arizona - Wednesday, Roger Dale Godwin, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Raner Collins to 48 months in the Bureau of Prisons followed by three years of supervised release. Godwin had previously pleaded guilty to making threats against the President and mailing threatening communications. On June 1, 2016, while an inmate in the U.S. Penitentiary in Tucson, Ariz., Godwin placed into the outgoing prison mail several letters that were addressed to then-President Barak Obama and then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch. In those letters Godwin threatened to injure or kill Mr. Obama and Ms. Lynch, along with a Bureau of Prisons employee. Godwin must serve his four years consecutive to a 2014 sentence he is separately serving for mailing threats to judges and law enforcement while an inmate in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey joined New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and Sonora Governor Claudia Pavlovich to sign an agreement that streamlines the distribution of natural gas, supporting economic development and the addition of new jobs. The interstate agreement, called a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), promotes production and transmission of clean-burning natural gas produced in New Mexico, transmitted through Arizona, and distributed globally through the sea-port in Guaymas, Sonora. The agreement also supports the promotion of investment, research and innovation between the states around projects related to the production and sale of natural gas. In Arizona, we know how to collaborate to achieve shared goals, said Governor Ducey. Im proud to come together with our neighbors in New Mexico and Sonora to support growing international energy demands through this interstate partnership that benefits our entire region. Im proud to partner with our neighboring states to capitalize on New Mexicos abundance of natural gas as an economic driver for our state, said Governor Martinez. We have worked closely with our partners in Arizona, Sonora, and Asia to open new markets for New Mexicos natural gas producers and this agreement further promotes economic growth for our state and the region. "Joint work continues to transform our potential into productive, competitive, profitable realities with high social and economic impact, said Governor Pavlovich. The MOU went into effect upon signature today and is valid for four years. The agreement was signed by Governors Ducey, Martinez and Pavlovich today at the Arizona State Capitol. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - On December 17, David John Dziedzic, 55, of Scottsdale, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 30 months imprisonment for his lead role in criminal activity related to the short sale of distressed mortgages, some of which were federally-insured. Dziedzic had previously pleaded guilty to one count of communication of unregistered securities, and a separate count involving the failure to notify the Treasury Department of his collection of more than $10,000 in cash from a real estate customer. Dziedzic operated the Housing Angels program through his company, Real Core Realty, LLC. He aggressively marketed a program designed to help homeowners stay in their homes following a short sale, through an undisclosed sale-leaseback program with angel investors. Through this program, he typically received commissions from both the buyer and the seller in a short sale transaction. Dziedzic also recorded false secondary liens on more than 100 short sale properties to induce banks holding primary mortgages to pay off the false secondary mortgages, resulting in more than $100,000 in illegal profits as a result of the scheme. As part of the sentence, Dziedzic must give up his real estate license. He paid $107,280 in restitution for the actual loss caused when 40 banks paid out on the false liens, and he was also ordered to pay a money judgment of $142,000 over time, in order to disgorge additional profits. As part of the plea agreement, Dziedzic, a Canadian national who naturalized as a U.S. citizen during the investigation, agreed to cooperate in his denaturalization, because he had failed to disclose the existence of the investigation to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the naturalization process. Dziedzics wife, Heather Hamilton Dziedzic, 43, pleaded guilty to a related misdemeanor charge, and was also sentenced for her role in the offense. She will also surrender her real estate license. She received a two-year term of probation and a deferred disposition on a felony securities charge, which may be dismissed upon successful completion of the probationary term. The investigation in this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Gary M. Restaino and Monica B. Klapper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix. Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - Seth Nichols was sentenced by United States District Judge Cindy Jorgensen to 60 months in prison. Nichols had previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Nichols used several accounting schemes to embezzle approximately $3,000,000 from his former employer, Marana Stockyards and Livestock Market. He used some of the stolen money to purchase cattle for Nichols Cattle, Inc., a family owned-and-operated cattle business, ownership interest in a helicopter, a down payment for a home, and gambling excursions to Las Vegas. Nichols used elaborate techniques to hide the stolen money, including photo-shopping bank statements and altering internal accounting systems. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Arizona, Tucson. YEN.com.gh have sighted a video making waves on social media involving two ladies advising men to stop sending money to ladies. In the video, the two ladies were seen chastising ladies who intentionally extort money from guys and consequently advised guys to be wise because some ladies have made their mind to extort cash from guys. READ MORE: 'I am hot, I need money so come and chop' - Slay queen invites guys for 'atopa' In the Ghanaian 'twi' dialect, they were seen saying "since mobile money was introduced, Ghana girls have stopped giving wrong cell numbers so men must be wise" READ ALSO: Ghanaians troll 'grammar queen' Nana Aba Anamoah for 'gba-blasting' at #Rapperholic18 "Men be wise because it's been long since we began taking from you. It will be good if you give those monies to your mum than give it to girls who don't love you" one of the ladies added. In the video, the ladies seem furious about how some Ghana girls lie to guys to extort money but after collecting the money refuse to have a relationship with the guys. They continued to say that "Save your money guys because for us the girls, we have made our mind not to stop extorting money from you" "The girls are taking you guys for fool, they regard you as teddy-bear so stop sending them money in return for a relationship. Until they give you guys what you want, don't give them money" the ladies added. READ ALSO: Trending: Ghanaians blast Sarkodie for 'poor Rapperholic' concert Watch: Ghana News Today: Manifesting at Manifestivities| #Yencomgh Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place. Source: Yen Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 26) The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) marks its 50th founding year Wednesday, but the military insists the group has "nothing to celebrate." "As far as we, peace-loving Filipinos, are concerned, the CPP-NPA-NDF has nothing to celebrate and no achievement to be proud of," the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement released on Christmas Day. The AFP has also called for public vigilance against possible attacks by rebels on the anniversary. It urged Filipinos to "take extra caution," saying the group's founder Joma Sison has "ordered them to escalate attacks and violence during the Christmas season." "The threat of heightened atrocities marks another year of violence and manifests their nature as a terror group that works to undermine the government, disrupt national development, and damage public and private properties--all to the inconvenience of the Filipino people," the AFP said. The AFP added its deployed soldiers are continuing to monitor the situation on the ground this holiday season. READ: "Our soldiers on the ground and at all levels of command will continue to monitor and conduct security operations against the CPP-NPA-NDF." Armed Forces of the Philippines https://t.co/sDo55hwVGt pic.twitter.com/FaQZN9kXZb CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) December 25, 2018 Last week, the military bared that two soldiers-- along with 12 members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU)-- were held hostage by the New People's Army (NPA) in Agusan del Sur. This was before the CPP declared a unilateral ceasefire in celebration of the holidays. The first ceasefire was at 12:01 a.m. of December 24 to 11:59 p.m. of December 26, while the second is slated at 12:01 a.m. of December 31 to 11:59 p.m. of January 1, 2019. A right to overthrow admin? In his own statement, Sison slammed the President Rodrigo Duterte's "tyrannical regime." The founder noted the Filipino people has the "sovereign right" to overthrow the current administration. "Having become a tyrant and a shameless instigator of mass murder and other grave human rights violations, Duterte is the abominable No. 1 violator of human rights and is the precise target of the Filipino people's exercise of their sovereign right to free themselves from tyranny and to undertake all necessary actions to oust him from his position," Sison wrote in his statement. "In an attempt to confuse the situation, Duterte and his apologists claim that a political refugee like me and political consultant of the NDFP has the unenviable role of tyrant that Duterte is playing," he added. "Despite the weakness and vulnerability of his position, Duterte has become a tyrant escalating the oppression and exploitation of the people." Malacanang, in response, said Sison's attack against the President is yet another product of the communist leader's constant state of hallucination. "Jose Maria Sison's long exile has dulled his senses, put him out of touch of reality and in constant state of hallucination," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement. "The winds of change will [sweep] this incorrigible rebel, who is living in comfort and luxury while his comrades are in the hills, as well as those who follow him, to oblivion and will be buried in the dustbin of history," he added. Palace on Joma Sison: The winds of change will sweep this incorrigible rebel, who is living in comfort and luxury while his comrades are in the hills Full story soon on https://t.co/sDo55hOx53 pic.twitter.com/6LYLlbZ7dJ CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) December 26, 2018 Peace advocacy group Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) meanwhile called on the President to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The group welcomed House Resolution No. 2339, which urges Duterte to resume the talks with communist groups. "As we celebrate the day of birth of Jesus Christ, the bearer of hope, we affirm our belief that peace is possible through principled dialogue and that the peace talks are still the most viable option to attain a just and enduring peace in the country," PEPP said in a statement. In a speech last Sunday, the country's chief executive directed his troops to "destroy" the CPP and its legal fronts. READ: Duterte tells troops to destroy CPP, legal fronts as rebel group's 50th year nears The government and the rebels have previously accused each other of violating ceasefires, prompting Duterte to terminate the peace talks, which were aimed at ending the communist group's 50-year insurgency. Elephants, the once treasured beings of the wild, have become a threat to mankind as of today. History relates numerous instances when elephants were utilised to do work which couldnt be performed by humans. In Hinduism, the elephant represents wisdom and Lord Ganesh is one of the most popular deities in the religions pantheon. Sri Lanka also includes a considerable number of its population that pay homage to Lord Ganesh. But the elephant in the wild isnt on safe ground. During 2018, 277 elephants were found dead due to various reasons; most of which are related to humans. Issues such as the use of Hakka patas, poisoning, railway accidents and shooting for ivory remain unsolved. As the newly appointed Minister of Wildlife and Tourism recently resumed office, conservationists and officials at the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) feel that there is still some hope of saving the rest of these majestic beings. As such the Daily Mirror takes a closer look at the number of elephants that bid farewell during this year and what could be done in future to save them. Mugalan, known to be the youngest tusker at the Udawalawa National Park, was shot dead during early December One death has also been reported as a result of poisoning. So far, investigations are underway to identify the suspects Although these fences have been put up, they are not properly maintained. It is the duty of the Civil Defence Service to take care of maintenance Incidents of jumbo deaths during 2018 In September this year, a battle between two elephants at the Kalawewa reserve left one dead. Wildlife officials confirmed over 20 stabbings from a tusk which would have been the cause of death. The most intriguing part of this battle was to see a large number of elephants gathering around the corpse of the elephant in a gesture to pay their last respects to the leader of their herd. HEC escalates in Polonnaruwa The corpses of seven elephants were found in a swamp in Periyaaru, Polonnaruwa in early September. According to area residents, they would have walked from the Somawathiya Forest reserve in search of water. In Polonnaruwa alone, 51 elephants and 19 people have been killed due to the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC). Elephant-train accidents and deaths A number of elephants succumbed to their injuries after being hit by trains moving along the Colombo- Batticaloa railway line. Most deaths were reported from Habarana, Palugaswewa and Welikanda areas. An SMS alert service was recently introduced to minimise elephant-train accidents, but to what extent it has been successful is yet to be reported. Mugalan shot dead Mugalan, known to be the youngest tusker at the Udawalawa National Park, was shot dead during early December. The reason for its shooting is yet to be revealed as investigations are underway. However, environmentalists claim that it had a unique pair of tusks. SMS alert service to minimise elephant-train collisions As one of the solutions to minimise elephant-train collisions, the Railway Department recently introduced an SMS alert service which notifies engine drivers about elephants romancing near railway tracks. A special operations centre will also be established to coordinate the messaging service. People not actively involved in reporting elephant-related incidents: DWC By the end of November, 277 elephant deaths have been reported, said U. L Thaufeeq, Deputy Director - Elephant Conservation at the DWC. Out of these, 39 have been shot, 31 elephants have been electrocuted, 54 of them were killed due to hakka patas, 15 were killed due to railway accidents, 19 from other accidents such as falling into pits, 29 natural deaths and 42 due to wounds that werent cured over a period of time. In addition to that, the postmortem reports havent been able to identify the cause of death of 39 other elephants. One death has also been reported as a result of poisoning. So far, investigations are underway to identify the suspects attached to Mugalans death. It was found dead within the Udawalawa National Park, but it may have been shot elsewhere. said Thaufeeq. When asked about the use of hakka patas by farmers to get rid of elephants, Thaufeeq further said that a bill has been circulated to spread awareness in areas where people have experienced these incidents frequently. But people are not actively involved in reporting these incidents. We are also awaiting a final report on Dalaputtuwas death. he said. Some fences are bordering villages and there are issues when it comes to lands owned by the DWC. It takes time to solve these issues U. L Thaufeeq Sri Lanka also witnessed an alarming increase in elephant deaths on railway tracks. Following this, several conservationists came forward with a proposal which was presented to the previous Minister of the Department of Wildlife and Conservation. When this proposal was presented people criticised it and therefore we put up a notice calling for the public to present papers suggesting solutions regarding these elephant deaths. Tentatively we have introduced an SMS alert service along with the Railway Department. he added. Thaufeeq further said that there are land issues when it comes to erecting electric fences. Some fences are bordering villages and there are issues when it comes to lands owned by the DWC. It takes time to solve these issues. Some fences which were scheduled to be put up during this year are yet to be installed due to these issues, he said. It has also been observed that most of these fences do not have electricity and elephants tend to uproot them and charge towards surrounding villages. In response to this issue, Thaufeeq said that although these fences have been put up, they are not properly maintained. It is the duty of the Civil Defence Service to look into the maintenance aspect of electric fences. We have discussed with the CDS and will provide a solution in the near future, said Thaufeeq. Each issue needs to be addressed individually : Jayawardene There are a number of solutions, but the problem lies in whether they are being implemented, said Jayantha Jayawardene, a naturalist, elephant expert and Managing Trustee of The Biodiversity and Conservation Trust. An SMS alert service has been introduced and engine drivers have been pre-warned, but these dont really work. Sometimes these drivers are drunk. Solutions dont really work until each issue is addressed individually. The DWC is conscious of working with conservationists, but they should choose people who are competent in providing solutions. Elephants walk through villages because their migratory routes may have been blocked or because they are restricted to pockets of jungles due to development activities in the surrounding areas, explained Jayawardene. When asked whether we are equipped with technology to address these issues Jayawardene pointed out that we have to first be equipped with a determined group of experts to solve this problem. The DWC has to obey the orders of the Minister and now that the Minister has changed they have to do what he says. But I sincerely hope that the Minister would be able to get some advice from those who are competent in addressing elephant-related issues. he affirmed. An SMS alert service has been introduced and engine drivers have been pre-warned, but these dont really work.Jayantha Jayawardene Will examine progress of existing projects : Amaratunga The Minister of the Department of Wildlife and Conservation is responsible for all matters related to wildlife. But with changing regimes and existing political issues ministers usually cannot complete their full terms in office. Even if they do so, they cannot solve all issues related to wildlife. Yet, much more needs to be fine-tuned in terms of efficiency and practicality in solving wildlife related issues. Just when the previous subject Minister Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka was trying to implement a few effective solutions, the political climate changed for the worse. But with a new Minister appointed, conservationists are harbouring hopes again. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the newly appointed subject minister John Amaratunga said that he would meet all DWC officials and examine how much they have moved forward with existing projects. In case the UNP forms a national government with the SLMC so as to increase the number of Cabinet ministers to 45, then the President will have to seek the Attorney Generals opinion to consider what action to take next, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today. The SLPP said it was unethical to form a national government with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) which has one elected MP in an effort to increase the number of Cabinet ministers to 45. If the UNP carries out this ploy, it will be the people who will go the courts against such a Cabinet. There is no point in having 45 ministers just for eight months, MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane said. He said only the two main political parties could form a national alliance but said even that was unnecessary at this moment. All these attempts are to please MPs who are joining the government and to retain them. We wont allow the unethical increase of the number of ministers, he said. Meanwhile, he said it was not practical to hold the presidential election, the general election and the elections to the provincial councils on a single day. The next presidential election will not be held until the early 2020 and as such it was too late for the PC elections, he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla) President Sirisena categorically has asked the Central Committee of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to rev up the partys engine ahead of elections next year. Though President Maithripala Sirisena reappointed United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, he vowed that he would not have political ties with the new Government. True to his words, he declined to swear in anyone from his United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the new Cabinet despite requests made by the UNP. He also turned down a request to form a national unity Government. The affirmed position of the President was reflected once again on his decision to delay the assignment of subjects to the new Ministries. The Gazette notification is yet to be released announcing the subjects and the institutions coming under each Ministry. It has handicapped the Ministers who wish to carry out their work diligently. The President is not cooperating with the Government Accordingly, the President seems to be asserting himself in full measure The UPFA has renewed its efforts in terms of re-organising The President is at present on an overseas visit, and expected in the country next week. The assignment of institutions can be expected only after his return. Until such times, the newly sworn in ministers will remain tightened in the discharge of their duties, barring the execution of normal routine work. The assignment of subjects and institutions are also difficult tasks this time. Compared with the Cabinet of the Government that existed before October 26, each Minister has a wider scope. The subjects and the institutions that were spread among a few Ministries have to be placed under the purview of one minister or ministry this time. For example, there were separate ministers for northern development and vocational training in the previous Cabinet. As of present, both have been brought under the Prime Minister since the size of the Cabinet has to be restricted to 30 members. Probably, this is also a reason for the delay in gazetting subjects and institutions. Yet, it is not impossible to do it within a short span of time if the President is fully-hearted with the Cabinet at this hour. The UPFA is keen to see a snap general election which can possibly come about only through a parliamentary declaration by two-thirds approval The President is not cooperating with the Government. He indicated it first by refusing to stand for a group photo with the new Cabinet of Ministers. Secondly, he disregarded some nominees by the Prime Minister for Cabinet posts. Now, he has delayed the assignment of subjects. According to the 19th Amendment, the President has to appoint ministers to the Cabinet in consultation with the Prime Minister. However, the President has more authority in the assignment of subjects to them. Accordingly, the President seems to be asserting himself in full measure. On a bumpy road Therefore, the Government is expected to travel on a bumpy road when its members get to charge their duties. Importantly, the next year would be an election year, and the political parties are now bracing for it. The Presidential Elections are due to be conducted by the end of 2019. Besides, elections are overdue regarding six provincial councils. The UPFA, which is virtually a combination of factions led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, is keen to see a snap general election which can possibly come about only through a parliamentary declaration by two-thirds approval. Besides, the UNP is agitating for a snap presidential election. Of course, the President can declare such an election at any time after January 8, next year if he wishes to seek a fresh mandate for himself to run for a second term only. Otherwise, the Presidential Elections have to be conducted by the end of 2019 according to the election calendar. Therefore, the parties would make every possible move to appease voters; that is by giving relief and avoiding unpopular policy decisions. On this score, the UNP would avoid policy clashes with the President as much as possible. In fact, it will opt for a fully pledged Budget early next year with a host of relief measures for people as part of its preparations for the elections on the cards. Already, Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera has announced that he will present a Budget during the first quarter of next year. During the first three and half years of its rule, the UNP tried to implement its economic reforms, an act that riled constituents on some instances. Tax reforms, the leasing out of the Hambantota Port and the plan to lease out the Mattala airport and the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm were such measures that were not populist. Now, the UNP is unlikely to resort to such moves. Instead, it would allocate more money in the upcoming Budget for investment in the public sector. Also, there will be relief measures for farmers and public servants. Practically speaking, it will be difficult for the UNP to proceed with its reform agenda because the President stands in the way. Alongside, a sizeable number of UNP MPs are carrying out an internal struggle for a new leadership to steer the party at the future elections. Some of them even make open remarks to this effect. Recently sworn in Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P.Perera, at a function in Kolonnawa, referred to Minister Sajith Premadasa as the President to be in a few months time. The UNP enters the New Year with preparations for elections while grappling with an internal struggle for a new leadership. Though the UNP, in general, seeks a presidential election, a section of the party is in favour of a resolution to be adopted by Parliament to conduct a snap parliamentary election. But, it is resisted by others within the party. Come what way, the Government will proceed with its work next year bearing in mind the vital national elections, be it presidential or parliamentary. Though the UNP, in general, seeks a presidential election, a section of the party is in favour of a resolution to be adopted by Parliament to conduct a snap parliamentary election. But, it is resisted by others within the party The UPFA has renewed its efforts in terms of re-organising to position itself to contest elections. President Sirisena categorically asked the Central Committee of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to rev up the partys engine ahead of elections next year.You have to consider the next year as an election year, he told the Central Committee. Also, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to launch a re-organization campaign. The SLPP and the SLFP are also in touch with each other these days on the formation of a new political alliance. Instead of the UPFA, these two parties will register a new alliance under a fresh symbol next year. The faction, loyal to Rajapaksa, decided to stand by the President in case the UNP moves to impeach him.An impeachment motion against the President will be moved by the UNP only in the event of the President becoming increasingly hostile towards it. From left - Mr. Sanjeewa Samaranayake, Group Chief Finance Officer SLT; Mr. Kiththi Perera, Chief Executive Officer SLT; Mr. M. B. P. Fernandez, Chief Operation Officer SLT; Mr. P. G. Kumarasinghe Sirisena, Chairman SLT Group; Mr. R. B. Santosh Kumar, country manager Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard; Ms. Sheranga Perera, Senior Specialist - Account Management, Mastercard; Mrs. Anoma Perera, General Manager (Revenue Collection) SLT and Mr. Indika Peiris, Deputy General Manager (Regional Finance) SLT Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT solutions provider in Sri Lanka, announced its partnership with global electronic payments major, Mastercard, to drive the adoption of electronic payments in Sri Lanka. Under this partnership, Mastercard cardholders will receive a cashback reward of Rs.100 on each SLT bill payment of more than Rs.1,000 made using a Mastercard credit or debit card issued in Sri Lanka, for up to three bill payments within a month. Payments can be made at all SLT Teleshop and authorised collection centres around the island and online, on www.slt.lk. The cashback reward sum will be credited to the respective SLT account in the following month. This is applicable to all SLT bill payments made from 15th December 2018 until 30th April 2019. Mastercard is excited to partner with Sri Lankas national ICT solutions provider, SLT, as part of our ongoing efforts to drive the adoption of electronic payments in Sri Lanka. Given SLTs wide customer base across both urban and rural areas, this partnership will allow us to raise awareness on the benefits of electronic payments in all corners of the island. With cash back rewards on offer, we look forward to seeing more individuals and businesses use their Mastercard credit and debit cards for SLT bill payments, said R. B. Santosh Kumar, country manager Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard. P. G. Kumarasinghe Sirisena, Chairman of SLT, commented, At SLT, we have always sought to leverage technology to enhance our service quality and deliver greater value and convenience to the nation. Being cognizant of the transformative power of digital payments and the value it brings to the entire system, we are delighted to partner with Mastercard on promoting the adoption of electronic payment instruments. We invite our customers to avail the rewards on offer by making more of their SLT bill payments with their Mastercard credit and debit cards. Going beyond the rewards, we believe that such efforts play a small yet significant role in transforming the countrys cash heavy payments landscape. Mawanella Police today arrested a man at Hingula, Mawanella for allegedly damaging a Buddha statue, police said. They said two men were reported to have been involved in the incident and one of the suspects was arrested after he was captured by the villagers. The suspect, Mohammad Ashfar (30), will be produced in court and police investigations are underway to ascertain whether there was any move to provoke religious tension among the Sinhalese and Muslim communities. Meanwhile, Minister Kabir Hashim said he condemned the recent acts of violence involving places of worship in Mawanella. As soon as I heard the recent attacks, I instructed the police to investigate and arrest those responsible. The two suspects have been apprehended by the authorities and will be subject to the full extent of the law," he said. (Darshana Sanjeewa) It is reported that the Government has decided to seek the opinion of the Attorney General on the possibility of increasing the size of the Cabinet of Ministers to 32. The argument is that the President and Prime Minister should not be included in the 30 member cabinet, as limited by the 19th Amendment. The Government is therefore seeking a green light considering the legal ambiguity. Interestingly, one of the main figures in the making of the 19th Amendment, Jayampathy Wickramaratne, claimed recently that The National Government which allows Parliament to decide the size of the cabinet, continued to exist despite the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrawing from the government, because, in his words, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) continues to be in it. If this constitutional expert of the United National Party (UNP), who also helped author the 19th Amendment, believes that we still have a national government, why is Ranil Wickremesinghes government sweating over numbers, one must ask. When the 19A was tabled in Parliament, a dissolving clause was included, probably in view of the SC determination The 19th amendment is a remarkable piece of legislation. For all the wrong reasons, one must add. The authors were first rapped on their metaphorical knuckles by the Supreme Court (SC) which determined that sections of the draft were unconstitutional and would require two-thirds support in Parliament plus endorsement through a referendum in order to hold. Interestingly, the SC probably drew from a determination it had delivered way back in 2002 in a case filed by Wickramaratne himself, where he pleaded that the Presidents powers to dissolve Parliament cannot be taken away by Parliament. When the 19A was tabled in Parliament, a dissolving clause was included, probably in view of the SC determination. That was the genesis of the confusion. In essence, then, the SC revoked an earlier decision when it determined that President Maithripala Sirisena did not have the power to dissolve Parliament, rendering the dissolution article meaningless. We have to conclude that the 19A was a piece of legislation that was written and voted for by sophomoric lawmakers. Wait, theres another explanation: it was a deliberate exercise in constitutional tinkering for partisan reasons; in other words for the benefit of the UNP! Some basic questions would put the matter to rest. First of all, why couldnt the likes of Wickramaratne and Sumanthiran come up with a draft that was ambiguity-free with regard to dissolution? Secondly, why did they offer a vague definition of national government that made it possible for people like Wickramaratne to come up with the absurd claim that a UNP+SLMC arrangement would fulfil national government criteria? Thirdly, why did they make a mockery of independence when legislating the composition of the politician-heavy Constitutional Council? It is against all this that we need to examine the current dola-duka of the UNP government regarding increasing cabinet-size. Clearly, that party doesnt give two hoots about promises made to the electorate. Thats not surprising since one of the key leaders of the UNP, Mangala Samaraweera, once brushed aside manifestos as being irrelevant once elections were done. This is obviously not something that is important to the sad bunch of pro-democracy activists who came out of the woodwork recently when it appeared that Sirisena had well and truly trumped Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP. The 19th amendment is a remarkable piece of legislation. For all the wrong reasons, one must add Why 32? Whats this fascination with increasing cabinet-size? Who does Wickremesinghe want to pencil in? What checks are being submitted by whom for what kind of services rendered, are we permitted to ask? The composition of the Cabinet itself is a damning indictment on the Prime Minister and his government. Starting from the top, we have Wickremesinghe, who is close to 70 years of age, as Minister of Youth Affairs. We have a ministry for Kandy Development which begs the question, doesnt the logic require ministries for every major city in the country? Ravi Karunanayake, who is either the man at the centre of the Central Bank bond scam or at best a front-man for Wickremesinghe, has a portfolio need we say more? We could say more. Rishad Bathiudeen, accused of illegal and communalist settlement exercises is the Minister of Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons. Theres a ministry for Dry Zone Development. Why not ministries for the development of other climatic zones? Malik Samarawickrema didnt want a ministry, but he got one. To be fair, Wickremesinghe has not done any worse than his predecessors, dating back to J.R. Jayewardenes time. Then again, the UNP in its good governance avatar was supposed to do things differently. Cannot? Will not? Will not, obviously! To be fair, Wickremesinghe has not done any worse than his predecessors, dating back to J.R. Jayewardenes time As things stand, then, we can safely conclude that the democratic credentials of the UNP are toilet wash. We can conclude that not only was the 19A a careless piece of legislation thats marked by multiple flaws, the errors were deliberate and designed to favour the UNP. Today, ladies and gentlemen, what we see is the UNP and Ranil Wickremesinghe stretching or contracting the 19A in accordance with their political needs. Those who operate in this way do not deserve to be protected, and those who have and continue to protect them (in the name of democracy) have to be considered accessories after the fact of constitutional tinkering, crass political expedience of an anti-democratic political formation and twisting of mandates for partisan reasons. Today, ladies and gentlemen, what we see is the UNP and Ranil Wickremesinghe stretching or contracting the 19A in accordance with their political needs Yes, the 19th Amendment is a remarkable piece of legislation and one that should be studied carefully by students of politics, law and constitutional reform. In terms of process and product, it stands out as an excellent example of how not to write laws. Search efforts for the 154 people still missing in the disaster zone of the deadly tsunami that has killed at least 429 people continued on Tuesday, with some officials admitting privately that the chance of finding more survivors alive was slim. At the Tanjung Lesung beach resort, where the pop band Seventeen was performing when the tsunami struck, resort director Kunto Wijoyo told the Guardian he spent Sunday morning helping to carry some of the 106 bodies of people who died at the holiday retreat. There were men, women and babies, he said, adding that he hoped authorities would consider building a dam in the area to prevent further similar disasters. A grass lawn nearby was strewn with crumpled metal that had formed the bands stage, with half-destroyed musical instrument cases lying among the wreckage. A policeman at the resort, large parts of which were obliterated by the waves, said rescue teams were legally obliged to keep searching for the missing people for seven days, beginning last Sunday morning. Soldiers combed the coast, flying drones overhead as torrential rain contributed to tricky driving conditions for ambulances ferrying injured people to local hospitals. Rescuers have also been searching Sumur, an area at the very southern part of where the tsunami hit. Officials confirmed there were 1,485 people injured by the tsunami as well as 882 houses and 73 hotels and villas damaged. More than 430 boats were also damaged. On Monday, Indonesian officials confirmed that the deadly tsunami was triggered by a chunk of the Anak Krakatau volcano slipping into the ocean. The volcano had been spewing ash and lava for months before a 64-hectare (158-acre) section of its south-west side collapsed, an official said. This caused an underwater landslide and eventually caused the tsunami, said Dwikorita Karnawati, the head of the meteorological agency. The fact that the tsunami was triggered by a volcano rather than an earthquake meant no tsunami warning was triggered, scientists said. Coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs before waves of up to three metres high surged in. December 25, 2018 (Daily Mail) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 26) The communist group on its 50th anniversary slammed the Duterte administration for granting broad powers to the military but stressed that this could still not topple the armed insurgency. President Rodrigo Duterte "has given the military vast powers under his regime," the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said in its 15-page statement to mark its five-decade rebellion. "The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) now has absolute powers covering practically half the country," the CPP claimed, citing the government's "all-out war" against rebels nationwide, the extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2019, and Duterte's Memorandum Order 32 which orders the deployment of more troops to the Bicol Region, Samar and Negros provinces, among others. The CPP said these policies are all tantamount to placing the entire country under military rule, something Malacanang has repeatedly denied. What civilian-led approach? The CPP also took a swipe at Executive Order No. 70, which forms a national task force against local communist armed conflict. Duterte calls this his "civilian-led approach" in fighting the rebels. "Duterte has taken pains to portray his Oplan Kapayapaan counterinsurgency plan as 'civilian-led,' when, on the contrary, the entire civilian bureaucracy is now militarized by being placed under the operational control of the AFP," the CPP said. It added that the EO only clusters various government agencies with the police and military "to weaponize the entire government against the revolutionary movement, the legal democratic forces and all opposition." Duterte's move to strengthen the Armed Forces is not only aimed at defeating the rebels, the CPP said, but also to to meddle in and manipulate the results on the 2019 elections. It said Duterte wants to ensure the victory of candidates who would push for his agenda, including charter change to shift to a federal form of government. Duterte has repeatedly called on soldiers to be neutral and avoid being involved in partisan politics. The CPP also warned of a coup that could arise from troops "disenfranchised by his (Duterte's) favoritism," leading to the end of his regime. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier denied anyone in the military was plotting against Duterte. CPP claims steady growth The CPP stressed that it has remained undefeated by the government, including the Duterte administration which kept missing self-imposed deadlines to crush the New People's Army (NPA), CPP's armed wing. "This year, they proclaim that the NPA will be completely finished by mid-2019. As in all previous regimes, they keep on moving their impossible deadline," the CPP said. It said the rebellion continues to grow steadily. "The Party has fortified its position to further strengthen the revolutionary mass movement and lead the NPA in further advancing the people's war." The CPP said NPA fighters gathered in "fiesta-like assemblies" to celebrate their anniversary on Wednesday, while party members and activists "held meetings and small gatherings under the nose of police and military intelligence agents." The military, however, said the CPP "has nothing to celebrate and no achievement to be proud of," in the past 50 years. READ: Communist group has 'nothing to celebrate,' AFP says The military said the NPA has a 3,700-strong force, most of them are in Mindanao. The NPA was among the lawless groups cited by Duterte in his third request for Congress to extend martial law in the island region of Mindanao. The police and military are now on full force for possible NPA attacks as the Duterte government refused to reciprocate the CPP's unilateral ceasefire for the holidays and its 50th anniversary. "The NPA temporary ceasefire has held since December 24 despite relentless military offensives by the AFP," the CPP said. No peace talks In the past, the government and the communist rebels accused each other of violating ceasefires, prompting Duterte to terminate the peace negotiations. The government also seeks to tag the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group, but this bid is still pending in court. The CPP stressed it was Duterte who "completely shut the doors" to the peace talks. The government is now pushing for localized peace talks, which the CPP refuses to participate in. The CPP dismissed it as "a divide-and-rule tactic and an additional corruption racket." UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field has informed the UK Parliament last week that they expressed concern over the behaviour of some Sri Lankan MPs disrupting parliamentary proceedings. The State Minister said this in response to a question asked by MP Liz McInnes about the latest political developments in Sri Lanka on December 17. The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka met regularly with all political parties and expressed our concern at the behaviour of some MPs in disrupting parliamentary proceedings, he told the parliament on December 20. He said following the swearing in of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena on December 16, he made a statement welcoming progress made towards the peaceful resolution of the political impasse in Sri Lanka since October. This outcome is a welcome indication of the resilience of Sri Lanka's judicial and democratic institutions, and of effective checks and balances between state powers. The UK will continue to stand by Sri Lanka as a close partner and friend, supporting Sri Lanka as it works to deliver sustainable and accountable reform to reinvigorate the economy, improve governance, and safeguard human rights across the country, he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla) Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oaths for fifth time as a Prime Minister President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a 29-member Cabinet last week after two months of political turmoil. It was reported that the United National Party (UNP) has sent in 36 names to the president to be appointed as ministers and that Sirisena had struck off eight of them. He had removed the names of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Palitha Range Bandara from the UNP while he had also omitted the names of A.H.M. Fowzie, Lakshman Seneviratne, Wijith Wijemuni de Soysa and Piyasena Gamage, who crossed over to the government from the SLFP. The president, who is still not happy with the current political developments, had said a few days earlier, My personal opinion on this matter still remains totally unchanged. I decided to reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the prime minister as I have the utmost respect for parliamentary traditions. He also referred to several statements made by pro-UNP activists that the presidents actions could lead to violence and Sirisena might suffer the same fate as Gaddafi. He said, In the past, Sri Lanka had many leaders who faced numerous problems. Some of them, like J.R. Jayewardene, ruled the country with an iron fist. But no one dared to make such claims, as they knew the dire consequences of such threats. Admirable The sudden rash action of the president gave the UNP only two options to either sink or swim, just like what Chandrika Kumaratunge did back in 2004. It was a great test for the UNP. Many of the capable young leaders came forward and rose up to the challenge to support the UNP leader. They now need to be rewarded and recognized. The UNP leaders at least now must move away from the current coterie of people around them and build a new team that has a sense of the common mans thinking and also reduce the huge gap in policy agreement between the two leaders to ensure the current arrangement survives. It would take a few more weeks before political normalcy will be fully restored again and even longer before the shaky economy is brought to even keel. Much will depend on how the government will pan out over the next several weeks and months and how they work with the president. Appreciation One cannot forget the key role played by the people in Sri Lanka during this crisis. Many people chose to stay in the middle without reaching the threshold of supporting either party or any of the key actors. They were patient and thoroughly poised; their demeanour did not change and they lent their ears to everyone but stood for what was right. That is a mark of a mature country. The Sri Lankan values stood tall. That is the most redeeming feature in the midst of a broken down government. The determination and the will of our ordinary people therefore clearly deserve the admiration and applause. The government and president therefore owe it to them to do what is best for the country. Since a two-thirds majority resolution is needed for an early general election that both the Rajapksas and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna want, it also creates the opportunity to piggyback on that majority for a constitutional amendment. Therefore, the task before the government is not to pretend that it has a new mandate to govern on an idiosyncratic agenda of multiple free trade agreements and a million jobs and giving jobs back to those cronies, who ruined the government, but to formulate a minimum programme to build on the political gains of the last two months and to capitalize on the space provided by the judges of the Supreme Court. On the other hand, the president too needs to honour his January 8 pledge. (Dinesh Weerakkody is a thought leader) The Xmas spirit in Sri Lanka was dampened somewhat due to both manmade and natural disasters. Much of the north is affected by adverse weather which had left 26,314 families and over 80,000 people displaced by Wednesday(December 26) morning. We heard Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Perera appealing to the people to provide aid to these displaced people. He said that it was the duty of the people to do so and to focus on this responsibility even though the country was celebrating Christmas. The Cardinal, it seems, is quick to respond when the country is effected by a natural or political disaster. The manmade disaster was the 52-day chaos that the country plunged into. Normalcy was restored when the Supreme Court ruled that the decision taken by President Sirisena to dissolve parliament before the completion of a four and half year period was unconstitutional. The new Cabinet sworn in on December 20 (Thursday) has a herculean task at hand to resurrect the economy which is burdened by heavy foreign debt. Maheswarans appointment as a state minister raises eyebrows But Sri Lankan politics is such that the bad reigns over good The Government has hinted that there would be many surprises in the 2019 Budget Though the UNP won its battle within parliament it is set to face mounting challenges outside it in the future But the challenge for the new Cabinet under President Sirisena would be to work along with the Executive, who is ill-disposed towards its ministers. Premier Wickremesinghe has to continue wearing his thinking cap given that the president rejected a request made by the UNP Leader to reactivate the previous national government. The UNPs motive in making this request was to team up with the SLFP and strengthen the Cabinet. The UNP has its concerns about the future because as many as 15 government ministers were absent when the last Vote on Account took place. This is very serious and amounts to a breach of trust because the UNPs political future depends on the support of several minority parties. For the record there were several TNA parliamentarians among the 116 who were absent during the voting for the Vote on Account. He has warned that the Muslims have lost this power to bargain because they have accepted ministerial posts in the new government. This is food for thought for the UNP which is hell-bent on tapping the minority parties The end of the Christmas celebrations leaves us counting the days till we usher in the new year. But the countrys citizens, focused on 31st Night celebrations are also watchful because among the newly appointed ministers are the names of those who are associated with so much controversy and negativity. Some of the individuals who we would least wish to see as lawmakers are Ravi Karunanayake, Arjuna Ranatunga, John Amaratunga (Cabinet Ministers), Vijeyakala Maheswaran (State Minister) and Palitha Thewarapperuma (Deputy Minister). Karunanayake was forced to resign as Finance Minister over a controversial Penthouse issue while Ranatunga was time and again embroiled in disputes with the employees of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development during his tenure as its minister. Good and the bad in politics Maheswarans appointment as a state minister raises eyebrows because she is a lawmaker who almost brought curtains down on her career as a politician after making the controversial statement that the LTTE should be resurrected in the north. Karunanayake too ran the risk of being eliminated from politics due to his alleged involvement in the Penthouse issue. But Sri Lankan politics is such that the bad reigns over good. In other words those who walk straight are destined to be ousted while those who walk crooked generally enter parliament. This is why Cabinet Minister and Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Ajith P. Perera has stressed that the UNP should play the second innings it has got very cautiously. Perera is of the opinion that the Green Party must serve the people within the limited time it has to ensure it gets a third innings to play in politics. Despite the UNP getting set to deliver during the upcoming 2019 new year, all eyes are on the new Budget to be presented by the Wickremesinghe government. The Government has hinted that there would be many surprises in the 2019 Budget. But whats inauspicious is that the UNP controlled Kandy Municipal Council Budget for 2019 was defeated a few days ago. The UNP has its concerns about the future because as many as 15 government ministers were absent when the last Vote on Account took place. This is very serious and amounts to a breach of trust The UNP led government has to pick up these signals if it is to read the pulse of the people and make necessary adjustments. Another disturbing news is that as many as six provincial councils have gone public in saying that they would not support the new government. Though the UNP won its battle within parliament it is set to face mounting challenges outside it in the future. The TNA for now offers its support to the UNP. But it has put down many conditions for the support it extends. The UNP might not be able to meet all these demands. In this wake there is another minority party, the United Peace Alliance, which has made a very strong point. Its Chairman and former minister Basheer Segu Dawood has affirmed that the Muslims have bargaining power only till they remain in the opposition. He has warned that the Muslims have lost this power to bargain because they have accepted ministerial posts in the new government. This is food for thought for the UNP which is hell-bent on tapping the minority parties by offering them ministerial posts for its survival. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 26) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) assures passengers airport security improvements are underway, in the light of a supposed advisory from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) saying security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were substandard. In a statement, the DOTr said Wednesday the government, through the DOTr, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA,) and the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) "are giving utmost priority and attention to the implementation of strict security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport." Last week, the country's Ambassador to the U.S. Babes Romualdez addressed the issue in his newspaper column, saying he was staying on top of the matter, adding he and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and gave their assurance that there were working on the matter. Meanwhile, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal told CNN Philippines, "We have not received any official communication to that effect yet. We are currently validating that at the moment." The DOTr explained, the U.S. Transport Security Administration (TSA) "conducted an assessment and gave recommendations regarding airport security enhancement and improvements" early this year. The DOTr also said the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) latest security audit findings were "generally satisfactory" with its safety and security standards. The TSA, however, according to the DOTr, gave recommendations to improve screening and security methods, including the installation of new equipment, which they said, would be installed in the second quarter of 2019. "Procurement of such is already under process, but this will take time because the items are not off-the-shelf and will require lead time for manufacturing and delivery following government rules and regulations," it said. Other suggestions included new background checks for newly hired personnel, and a change in the "security culture" among long-time personnel. DOTr said the government and the agencies "are fully committed in employing all measures available to ensure the security and safety of the traveling public." A former council member, current board member and volunteer is saying goodbye to Del Mar after nearly 30 years in the city. Richard Earnest will move to Northern California to be with family in January. Earnest originally relocated to Del Mar from Washington with his wife in 1989. He had planned to retire from his job as a CEO. That idea didnt last long. Soon after moving, he picked up a job as a CEO of a Seattle-based company. While dining in a local restaurant, some residents urged him to run for the city council because of his business perspective. In a recent interview, he laughed and remembered not even knowing what the council did and was baffled at the thought of advocating for votes, especially while running a company. He ended up winning and served for 11 years on the council, including three terms as mayor. Oftentimes, he would fly back and forth between Seattle and San Diego to adhere to both his positions. Its been a great experience for me because I got involved in all kinds of committees, he said of his time on the council. As a result of that, I got to understand more what the city is and what it isnt and what it wants to be. During his time on the dais, Earnest said he strived to find a balance between the grays and greens, meaning he cared about economics but also about the environment. A former military aviator, Earnest also negotiated with the U.S. Marines to stop flying their helicopters over the city. He was also involved in major city decisions, including an attempt to purchase the fairgrounds in 2010, building the Powerhouse Community Center and approving a new lifeguard station, he said. Earnest said one of the biggest lessons he learned while on the council was patience. When youre running a company, if you say, Lets go over there, everybody goes over there, he said. That doesnt happen in politics. You have to listen to everybody. Everyone gets their three minutes. Youre not always going to agree with them, but you have to listen to them. You shouldnt go into any agenda item with your own opinion or your mind made up. More recently, for the last 14 years, Earnest has been a fixture of the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA), where he served as the board chair and vice president of economic development. I think the city now really recognizes our value, he said of the DMVA. Most cities have a marketing department or a business development department. We dont have one. Theres nobody at the city who even has expertise in that area, mostly because we never used to think we needed it. ... I think the city now relies on us to play that role, to be the economic development arm of the city. There has to be somebody doing that. The future of DMVA is very healthy as long as the citys finances are healthy. We kind of go together, and I think well be fine. He said he believes the DMVA will roll along just fine, with leadership from Jen Grove, the executive director, and Gary Wheeler, who will take over Earnests duties. Grove said she considers Earnest a true friend and leader for the city. After 15-plus years of working together, I will personally miss him terribly, she said. However, I know that Richard will always be in touch and stay connected to this tiny village by the sea. Earnest considers the downtown as the living room of the city and promotes safety and better lighting as a way to attract more people there. Moving forward, he said he also hopes Del Mar stays small and that more young people become involved. He also says Del Mar needs to stay abreast on the bigger, regional issues, as well. Del Mar makes a bigger difference in the region than would be justified by the number of people here, he said. We have a big influence over what happens regionally, and we should continue to be involved in regional ideas and whats going to happen to the airport, with the nuclear waste from San Onofre and what the bigger issues are. Earnest remains optimistic about the future, though he notes he will miss all the friends hes made in Del Mar. I got here as an unknown, and Im going to go to a new place as an unknown, he said. Who knows whats going to happen. I want people here to know that whether I agreed with them or not, I respect them. There are many people in this town that I love. ... Its a little bittersweet. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. 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The announcement came on the same day the Chinese agriculture ministry revealed another swine fever outbreak in China, this time with the latest case happening in Guangdong province. The raw material for the 73.93 tonnes of contaminated protein products, mainly used in animal feed, came from 12 slaughter houses in Tianjin, the administration said. It had already issued an alert notice that is valid for six months and will help enhance testing for African swine fever virus in exports. In addition, farms in Hong Kong and Macau were advised to beef up checks on feed imports. According to the administration, a subsidiary of Tianjin Baodi Agri & Tech Co Ltd made the affected product. The company has operations entailing hog breeding and cooked meat production. Prompted by concerns of swine fever outbreaks in the country, China prohibited the use of food waste and pig blood as raw material to make feed for pigs in September. - Reuters Aviagen: EMEA Broiler School demonstrates commitment to international learning An international group of 24 students recently attended Aviagen's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) School in Edinburgh, Scotland, the company said. The last of a series of week-long modules that formed this year's school, the event comprised of lectures, small-group tutorials and problem-solving exercises examining subjects such as ventilation, flock health, nutrition, data analysis and best-practice broiler management strategies. Aviagen's Broiler School is one of six current EMEA School modules that take place in different locations throughout the year. Each module deals with a specific element of the poultry business by covering topics on breeders, broilers, hatcheries and incubation, as well as processing, ventilation and nutrition. The school demonstrates Aviagen's commitment to continuous learning and customer success through communication of the latest information and industry developments, the company added. "Aviagen's EMEA Production Management Schools are designed to enhance individuals' theoretical and practical knowledge of their specific sectors of the poultry industry," said Michael Longley, Aviagen's global technical transfer manager and director of the EMEA School. "The Broiler School takes a very hands-on approach to learning, with a series of practical tutorials and workshops aimed at investigating key management elements such as enhancing broiler performance, troubleshooting common problems and developing readily applicable productivity improvement strategies. Taking this real-life approach delivers knowledge that can considerably enhance practical skills, job prospects and career development." While some school delegates were still involved in both undergraduate and graduate academic studies, most were employed by Aviagen customers - and students were keen to endorse the school's effectiveness as a readily applicable educational tool, according to Aviagen. "I can usefully apply what I'm being taught here to the work that I carry out at home," said Karlino Lareine, diversification manager for Innodis Poultry Limited of Mauritius. Abdel GhaffarItani, farm manager at Lebanon's Snagro, added: "Every lecture contained new and vital information delivered by real experts in their fields." This year's Broiler School was hosted by a team of nearly a dozen Aviagen specialists and independent tutors, who shared a wealth of knowledge and experience with the delegates. "Every School gives us the opportunity to refine and streamline the syllabus that we deliver," the School's director, Michael Longley, commented. "Thanks to constructive feedback from delegates and invaluable input from lecturers, we're always seeking to share the very best in practical, applicable content that enhances bottom-line performance and productivity." - Aviagen Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 26) A lawmaker and a town mayor from Iloilo may face charges for allegedly beating up a police officer. According to a report by Western Visayas police, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Oscar "Richard" Garin and his father, Guimbal, Iloilo Mayor Oscar Garin, called PO3 Federico Macaya and allegedly disarmed, body searched, handcuffed and confiscated the policeman's belongings at gunpoint. The father-son duo then reportedly started striking the Guimbal cop on different parts of his body for still unknown reasons. Western Visayas police Director CSupt. John Bulalacao said they are eyeing filing physical injuries, alarm and scandal, direct assault against an agent of person in authority and grave coercion charges against the lawmaker, while they would file a charge for grave threat against the mayor. Bulalacao said he also ordered the recall of their security escorts and has asked that the mayor be stripped of his power over the police. "I told Cong. Garin that I'm taking this incident as an affront to me. I will not let this pass without taking action against them," Bulalacao said in a statement. He also said he has sacked the provincial police chief "for not taking action to help his personnel." Bulalacao added that most Guimbal police have asked that they be transferred out of the town. In a statement, Rep. Garin apologized for the incident, saying he respects the Philippine National Police as an institution. "I reiterate my apologies for my actions which I take full responsibility for. Pero gusto ko lang ma klaro nga ang akon actions kaina (But I want to make it clear that my actions) are not directed to the PNP as an institution, or against its officers and personnel. My actions were a mere display of extreme frustration towards one, single PNP personnel nga sa akon panglantaw (that in my perspective) committed a great disservice to the people of Guimbal," Rep. Garin said. He said Macaya, instead of filing a case against a suspect who hurt a child in a celebration "Disyembre sa Guimbal" on December 22 in Guimbal, asked the victim to sign a withdrawal, adding that the suspect was a "habitual delinquent" with a pending murder case filed against him when he was 15 years old. "Para sa akin, ang ginawa ng pulis na iyon na pag-areglo sa kaso ay betrayal of public trust at klarong pag-abuse ng kayang posisyon. Ang kanyang ginawa ay kontra sa polisiya ng PNP na hindi dapat makialam sa pag areglo ng mga partido sa isang criminal case," Rep. Garin said. (Translation: For me, what the policeman did, settling the case was a betrayal of public trust and clear abuse of his position. What he did was against the PNP's policy that they should not meddle in settling between parties in a criminal case.) In an interview with CNN Philippines, Bulalacao said the reason why Congressman Garin was so angry at PO3 Macaya was that he did not file physical injury charges against Virgilio Gigato, who had hit another man with a beer bottle, adding the victim did not want to press charges. Bulalacao said Rep. Garin spit on the police officer. Rep. Garin is the husband of former Health Secretary Janette Garin. CNN Philippines Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report. Indaco Ventures I, a Milan Italy-based venture capital fund, has launched a call looking for Italian scaleup companies planning to internationalize their business. The call is open to companies with a turnover of over 1m, a revenue growth rate of over 30%, a defined internationalization plan to become a European/global leader in their segment in the next 18-24 months, operating in such industries as: digital, electronics, robotics, IoT, medtech & healthcare, new materials, and cleantech Interested companies can apply for the call via https://www.growitup.it/apply/ within q1 2019. The call advisor will be growITup, an Open Innovation platform created Cariplo Factory in collaboration with Microsoft. Indaco Ventures I and growITup will invite selected companies to participate in in depth meeting based on a first risk/yield evaluation of the applications. The result of the call will be communicated in December 2019. Founded in 2016 and led by Davide Turco, CEO, Indaco Venture Partners SGR is a venture capital firm specializing in growth stage companies operating in digital, electronics, robotics, medtech and new materials. The firm has over 250m AUM. LPs in Indaco Ventures Fund include Intesa San Paolo, Fondazione Cariplo and Fondo Italiano dInvestimento. FinSMEs 26/12/2018 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Hey Long Beach! Its that time of year again when the world famous floating Christmas tree on the bay returns to Long Beach! Check out our video below all about the history of these classic Long Beach icons below. You... 2018/2019 : Where you can celebrate New Years Eve in Bonn and the region Bonn Soon it will be time to ring out the old and ring in the new. Weve compiled a list of places where you can go to celebrate New Years Eve in Bonn and the region, along with the prices. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Corks will be flying in Bonn and the region on December 31, 2018 as people come together to celebrate New Years Eve. Here are just some of the places where you can go and what it will cost you. Bonn Christmas Circus The Bonn Christmas Circus welcomes guests to a big New Year's Eve gala. Because they have been performing for their "loyal audience" for so long, the team promises a program with "world-class artists, breathtaking show acts and funny clowns". This year, the circus will once again be at its regular venue at the fairgrounds at Siegburger Strae 178 in Beuel. Ticket prices start at 21.65 euros for adults. It starts at 8 p.m., admission is one hour earlier. There will be a fireworks display to ring in the New Year and an after-show party. Food and beverages are also provided. Due to high demand it is advisable to book early. Tickets are available from Bonnticket. Contact: info@bonner-weihnachtscircus.de. New Year's Eve in Bonn hotels Like every year, New Year's Eve will be celebrated in 2018 at the major hotels in Bonn. This year, the Kameha Grand takes a journey back in time to the 1920s. The party starts at 9 pm, and the price of 49 euros includes a glass of champagne, a live band, special acts and DJs as well as fireworks. On the 17th floor of the Marriott, guests can expect a 5-course menu from chef Alexander Stadler with mackerel, veal cheeks and purple imperial plum for 155 euros. It all begins at 6pm with an aperitif and finger food. Later, you can enjoy the fireworks from the terrace and celebrate, accompanied by a DJ. For more information and tickets, please visit the homepage. The Maritim offers a gala with music, dance and fireworks. Guest receive an aperitif, followed by a festive pasta and salad buffet. Tickets can be purchased online and cost 94.60 euros. For those who dont want the dinner, but want to join the rest of the celebration, the tickets cost 74.50 euros and are available here. For 344 euros per person guests can stay overnight in the hotel following the celebration and enjoy a late riser breakfast on New Year's morning. In the Ameron Hotel Konigshof, one of the most popular Bonn party series, the "After Job Party", celebrates directly at the Rhine to ring in the New Year for 2019. It begins at 9pm and tickets are available for 26 euros here. Party in the Biskuithalle Once again there will be a New Year's Eve party in the former Biskuithalle. The organizers have set themselves the goal of reviving the flair of the music venue in Beuel's Bruckenforum with its originals for one night. The party begins at 8 pm. Tickets cost 17.90 euros and are available here. Feast and then celebrate In the Meyer's Restaurant in Bonn, there is a dinner buffet on New Year's Eve for 36.50 euros. If you want to dance after dinner, you can then head to the party in Havana. There is a combination ticket including dinner and party. For more information, please see here. Reservations can be made by calling (0228) 214937. Dance ball in Bad Godesberg The Bonn Turnverein 1860 e.V. (Gymnastics Club 1860) invites you to the big New Year's Eve ball in the Bad Godesberg Stadthalle. Naturally, it's all about dancing. The professional dance couples Mathias and Carina Rochlitz from Blau-Gold Rondo Bonn as well as Hanna Junk and Tobias Thobe from TTC Rot-Gold Koln have confirmed their attendance. Guests can watch the professionals dance and also dance themselves to the music of The Andy Simon Septetts. There will also be a three-course dinner menu. Tickets for the event cost between 33.90 and 44.90 euros and are available here. 80s party at "Sofa" "Das Sofa" offers the only New Year's Eve party in Bonn that is completely dedicated to the 80s with "That's 80 New Year's Eve Special". Beside pop, new wave, punk, indie, dance, rock and synthpop, starting at 10 p.m. there are colorful neon lights, candy cotton and candy sparkles. The tickets for 80's fans start at 9 euros and are available here. Two dance floors in Windeck The Windeck event hall Kabelmetal offers celebrations on two dance floors. Dance floor 1 features mainstream pop and rock, Dance floor 2 offers 60s and 70s rock and more. Admission begins at 7 pm, the first dance floor opens at 8: 30 pm, the second at 10 pm. Tickets cost 16 euros and are available at Bonnticket. Metalheads celebrate earlier This year, heavy metal fans can celebrate New Year's Eve with Uncle Tom, Hornado and Wolfen at Kubana in Siegburg. Tickets for the early New Year's Eve concert are available here for 28.90 euros. More events Longest fireworks display in Phantasialand Phantasialand in Bruhl is also celebrating the New Year: There are various packages available here. Whether rock night with The Upbeat Beatles at Stock's, Asian New Year's Eve at the restaurant Bamboo, party time in Wuze Town or a jungle party for children - there is something for everyone and whole packages can be put together for a New Year's Eve holiday at the theme park. The highlight will be Germany's longest New Year's Eve fireworks display at midnight. For more information, please see here. Black Fooss in the Lanxess Arena What began in 1999 as a one-time event now comes to a terrific end this year with the 20th edition. On December 31, 2018, the New Year's Eve concert of the Cologne cult band Black Fooss will take place for the last time in the Lanxess-Arena. Fans will be entertained well after midnight. The Cologne-based host Linus will ensure a good mood with his wit and jolly spirit, helping the audience ring in the New Year. It is also the 50th anniversary year of Black Fooss. There are still tickets for different categories available (32 euros to 121 euros). The evening begins at 9 pm. Cologne Wolkenburg If you want to spend a lot of money on New Year's Eve, Cologne's Wolkenburg is the right address for you. Tickets for the New Year's Eve gala cost 225 euros in advance. You can save five euros if you buy the tickets at the door. Included in the ticket, guests enjoy champagne at the reception and at midnight, a five-course menu, a selection of wines, beer, coffee variations and non-alcoholic drinks as well as live music from the seven-piece party show band "Fantasia World Beat Orchestra". An overview of the menu can be found on the Wolkenburg website: Cologne Cloud Castle If you want to spend a lot of money on New Year's Eve, Cologne's Wolkenburg is the right address for you. Tickets for the New Year's Eve Gala cost 225 euros in advance. You can save five euros if you buy the tickets at the door. Included in the ticket, guests enjoy champagne at the reception and at midnight, a five-course menu, a selection of wines, beer, coffee variations and non-alcoholic drinks as well as live music from the seven-piece party show band "Fantasia World Beat Orchestra". An overview of the menu can be found on the Wolkenburg website: Reservations can be made by calling 0221/921-326-10. See the full list of the 2018 Public Officials of the Year. Somebody forgot to tell Chris Castro that big ideas take a long time to pull off. Still under 30, he has launched a U.N.-accredited nonprofit to address environmental crises and co-created an urban agriculture program thats been replicated nationally and globally. Now, as Orlandos sustainability director, Castro is working on an even bigger idea: making his city carbon-free by 2050.Castros interest in sustainability and the environment started early. Born in Miami, he grew up close to nature on a palm tree farm operated by his parents. When he wasnt playing in the soil, he was playing in the ocean. He enrolled at the University of Central Florida so he could continue surfing. But it was there that he found his calling.In 2006, UCF committed to becoming a carbon-neutral and sustainable campus by mid-century. This inspired Castro to major in environmental studies, and two years later he launched IDEAS For Us, a nonprofit that engages high school and college students to find solutions to environmental challenges.It was out of IDEAS For Us that Castros Fleet Farming program emerged. Its a hyperlocal initiative that turns front yards into miniature farms. Homeowners get 5 to 10 percent of the harvest, and the group sells the rest to local restaurants and farmers markets. Thanks to this program and his nonprofit, Castro is something of a rock star in the environmental community. Hes keynoted a U.N. conference in Rio de Janeiro and been called the Guru of Green by theFleet Farming was born in a brainstorming session on how to address pollution from agriculture, which contributes to a third of the worlds carbon emissions. The city had just passed an ordinance that allowed farming on up to 60 percent of a residents front yard. That ordinance was revolutionary, Castro says now. Orlando was one of the first cities in the U.S. to do that.It made perfect sense: Lawns are one of the largest sources of pollution in the U.S. Americas 40 million acres of water-guzzling grass yards absorb 3 million tons of chemical fertilizers and 30,000 tons of pesticides each year, while requiring 800 million gallons of gasoline for mowing.In 2016, Castro became Orlandos sustainability director. He expanded Fleet Farmings mission to address the food desert problem. Working with the citys real estate department, he turned unused public land over to farming in Parramore, a low-income community that had no grocery store within two miles. The harvest from the public plot and another dozen farmlets throughout the community is shared with residents and sold at a weekly farmers market. If we can replicate this project neighborhood by neighborhood, Castro says, we can make a huge difference. There is acreage in cities to cure hunger.Still in search of new ideas, Castro is arranging pilots of solar-powered self-driving cars on NASA runways, and using algae pools to test a system that traps carbon emissions.He continues to cast a wide net for partners. Cities arent in the position and dont have the capacity to operate their own farming initiatives, Castro says. Thats why its important to create relationships with nonprofits. What the city can do is enable these types of initiatives. Thats the role of government, in my opinion, to enable businesses to do these things.Elizabeth Daigneau SPEED READ: The Northeast has lost at least 200,000 residents for three years in a row. This year, the region lost the most people to domestic migration since 2004-2005. Roughly two-thirds of the defectors moved south. Where Northeasterners Are Moving State Net Migration To Florida From Florida Connecticut -4,660 11,249 (+/-2,621) 6,589 (+/-1,608) Maine 99 2,960 (+/-1,441) 3,059 (+/-1,360) Massachusetts -6,713 18,212 (+/-3,608) 11,499 (+/-2,214) New Hampshire -3,401 5,887 (+/-1,995) 2,486 (+/-996) New Jersey -18,854 27,892 (+/-5,178) 9,038 (+/-2,342) New York -35,577 63,722 (+/-7,787) 28,145 (+/-3,682) Pennsylvania -11,413 28,507 (+/-4,070) 17,094 (+/-3,046) Rhode Island 751 3,259 (+/-1,793) 4,010 (+/-1,539) Vermont -1,171 2,816 (+/-1,217) 1,645 (+/-901) Why They're Moving State Change in marital status To establish own household Other family reason Massachusetts 4.8% (3.0-7.7%) 4.1% (2.5-6.8%) 16.5% (13.0-20.7%) New Jersey 14.5% (10.4-19.7%) 5.7% (3.3-9.7%) 14.9% (10.8-20.3%) New York 5.9% (4.3-7.9%) 8.5% (6.6-10.8%) 13% (10.7-15.8%) Pennsylvania 3.7% (2.2-6.3%) 1.6% (0.7-3.6%) 14.1% (10.8-18.1%) State New job or job transfer Housing-related reasons Change of climate Massachusetts 29.8% (25.2-34.8%) 21.6% (17.6-26.2%) 3.3% (1.9-5.8%) New Jersey 29.2% (23.6-35.6%) 23% (17.9-29.0%) 4.2% (2.2-7.8%) New York 31% (27.6-34.6%) 23.1% (20.0-26.4%) 2.2% (1.3-3.6%) Pennsylvania 43.8% (38.7-49.0%) 15.7% (12.3-19.8%) 4.1% (2.4-6.7%) About the data For years, the Northeast has lost a steady stream of residents to other parts of the country. New data suggests that trend has recently accelerated.The Census Bureaus Current Population Survey released late last month shows the region lost a net total of 352,000 residents from domestic migration for 2017-2018. That represents the highest tally since 2004-2005. It also marks the Northeast's third consecutive year of losing at least 200,000 residents.Nationally, migration remains at historic lows. Those who have moved traveled relatively short distances. Americans migrating larger distances generally offset one another -- except in the Northeast.Whats happening in states like New Jersey and New York stands in stark contrast with the Midwest, the other region thats historically sustained migration losses. Roughly equal numbers of Americans moved out of the Northeast and Midwest last year. But the Midwest welcomed far more people from other parts of the country, recording a net loss of only 38,000 over the year, not including migration from abroad.The gradual exodus has been most apparent in New York. Previously released Census Bureau figures suggest its domestic migration losses were the worst of any state in the region last year and, according to a Cornell University analysis, were the highest since the mid 2000s.New York City is responsible for the bulk of the negative domestic migration. The Cornell analysis suggests it lost a net of 143,000 residents to other states (including those in the Northeast). If it werent for international migration, the citys total population would be declining.Cornell University demographer Jan Vink says part of the reason the city is losing residents is that younger families are moving into the suburbs. Nationally, Americans have flocked in greater numbers to suburban areas in recent years.Out-migration could further increase, says Vink, as more baby boomers start to retire. As it stands currently, it's not retirees who are driving the steep migration losses. Residents age 65 and over accounted for only about 8 percent of out-migration from the Northeast.Most of the regions remaining losses occurred in New Jersey, which registered a net loss of 57,000 residents to other states over the 12-month period ending last summer. According to a recent report by the think tank New Jersey Future, millennials in particular were leaving the state.In Connecticut, a state Office of Policy and Management report published last year also found mounting numbers of residents were leaving, with net-migration losses climbing 55 percent since the mid-2000s. Similar to New Jersey, out-migration has been most pronounced among the states younger adults, ages 22 to 29, and those 65 and over.Massachusetts and Pennsylvania shed similar numbers to elsewhere in the country.One state where migration patterns are headed in the opposite direction is New Hampshire. It continues to record modest population gains from other parts of the country after experiencing little changes up through 2012. A University of New Hampshire report published earlier this month attributed the shift largely to an influx of children and young adults. More than 1,000 adults in their 20s now migrate to the state every year -- up from an average net loss of 1,500 between 2008 and 2012.The Northeast is unique in that its the only region that lost more employed workers than it gained. The majority -- about 58 percent -- of former residents leaving were of prime working ages, from 25 to 64 years old. Thats about the same, however, as other regions with the exception of the West, where children account for more of the losses.The overwhelming majority of Northeasterners leaving the region headed south. Of the approximately 600,000 who left, an estimated 412,000 moved to the South.A major spike in movement to the South occurred across other regions as well over the 2017-2018 period. The regions net migration topped a half million, its largest annual tally recorded in the Current Population Survey since at least 1980.The top destination for Northeasterners leaving the region was Florida. The Census Bureaus 2017 American Community Survey suggests all parts of the Northeast, with the exceptions of Maine and Rhode Island, lost more residents to the Sunshine State than they received. More New Yorkers, in fact, moved to Florida than to neighboring New Jersey.GoverningSome of the other most frequent destinations for those vacating the Northeast include California and North Carolina.Americans relocate for a number of reasons. Current Population Survey data for 2015-2017, while subject to high margins of error for individual states, provide some clues.In New Jersey, for instance, family motives loom large. An estimated 15 percent cited a change in marital status as the reason for leaving -- a higher share than any other larger state.Americans most commonly relocate further distances for work-related reasons. About 30 percent of those moving out of Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York cited a new job or transfer, while the percentage in Pennsylvania was higher.Housing remains a major consideration in much of the Northeast, particularly in New Jersey and New York. Survey data suggest its not the pricey real estate market thats to blame, as just a small percent of former residents cited cheaper housing. Rather, more people leaving New Jersey and New York did so because they no longer wanted to rent or desired new or better housing.Many suspect the relatively high tax rates throughout the Northeast are also driving people away. Research, while mixed, generally suggests the effects of state tax rates on migration are negligible. The survey questionnaire, however, didnt include tax considerations as a response option, and only a small number of movers cited other reasons.All numbers refer to only migration occurring within the U.S., not from abroad. This report references different Census datasets. Regional estimates were compiled from newly released 2017-2018 Current Population Survey data, which measure whether respondents lived in their homes one year ago. State migration totals are the latest estimates from the Census Bureau's population division and represent migration over the 12-month period ending in July 2017. State-to-state migration flows for Florida referenced refer to 2017 American Community Survey data, which assesses a different time period. Estimates regarding reasons why people moved were calculated from Census Bureau CPS microdata for 2015-2017 using IPUMS-CPS , University of Minnesota. La Merceries boeuf bourguignon. Photo: Melissa Hom One of the very best things about being in New York around the holidays is how much emptier it gets, and so it becomes that much easier to go eat at your favorite restaurants. For those whose offices close after Christmas, this is especially true: You have several days to go eat lunch at excellent restaurants, then get back into bed and watch movies. Here, ten great restaurants where youll be able to pop in for lunch this week. abcV If your request is serene, leisurely meal, but make it vegetarian, head here. Jean-Georges Vongerichten serves dosas with yogurt and avocado, soba noodles with dashi, and plenty of vegan things. Adda The Long Island City-spot is as thrilling as everyone says, and its been very busy (on Grubs visits) since a glowing review in the New York Times. Heaps more praise wont help your cause of casually popping in after work. Theres no need to fret, though, because you can get pakoda fix during lunch, when youll find a kati roll, seasonal saag paneer, and other dishes. Atla Enrique Olvera and Daniela Soto-Innes shifted gears here a couple months back, and nows your chance to check out whats new. To start, theres mole blanco with leeks and cabbage, a lobster salpicon tostada, and duck wings. Frenchette Its not easy getting a table during dinner at 2018s restaurant of the year, but there are plenty still available for a weekend lunch. Go and close out the year with pork schnitzel and boudin blanc. La Mercerie If youre looking for a dignified lunch to help you feel fancy, this is your place. Breakfast is the best time of day here, so make sure youre over in time for creme anglaise with brioche and a galette complete. Come lunch, though, youll still find crepes, as well as a great version of boeuf bourguignon. Loring Place Theres a really good lunch deal here ($29 for a small plate and large plate, or $6 more with dessert). But then youd miss out on the excellent Grandma-style pan pizza, the spicy soppressata, and sausage calzone that the Underground Gourmet named the second-best dish of the year. You know what to do! Olmsted The bad news: Getting into the Friday through Sunday brunch at this perpetually mobbed neighborhood favorite is usually as difficult as dinner. The good news: There are lots of reservations for each day, so gave have yourself some BEC egg rolls, Austrian doughnuts, and latkes. Oxomoco Brunch is served daily at this sun-splashed Mexican restaurant in Greenpoint, where youll find plenty of food fit for a celebratory meal or, lets be honest, a day of napping. Think a tlayuda with camote and quesillo, a hamburguesa pambazo, and frozen palomas. Simon & the Whale Have yourself a long, late lunch of croquettes with gouda and pimenton, grilled octopus with freekeh, and smoked mussels. Tang Hotpot Planning a last-minute lunch with friends on Friday? Gather around the hotpot at this hip spot, where you can dip your meats and tofu in spicy beef tallow broth for lunch from Friday through Sunday. As we come to the end of 2018, one of the hymns that best express our thanks to God is "Great is Thy Faithfulness." No song has the ability to capture the absolute faithfulness of God as this hymn does. Thus, in an effort to celebrate God's faithfulness at the threshold of an upcoming new year, we have compiled a short list of covers of this great hymn from Anthem Lights to Shane and Shane to Israel Houghton to Don Moen to One Sonic Society. Thomas Chisholm wrote "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as a testament to God's faithfulness through his very ordinary life. Born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, Chisholm became a Christian when he was twenty-seven and entered the ministry when he was thirty-six, though poor health forced him to retire after just one year. During the rest of his life, Chisholm spent many years living in New Jersey and working as a life insurance agent. Still, even with a desk job, he wrote nearly 1,200 poems throughout his life, including several published hymns. Chisholm explained toward the end of his life, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness." Thomas Chisholm wrote "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as a testament to God's faithfulness through his very ordinary life. Born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, Chisholm became a Christian when he was twenty-seven and entered the ministry when he was thirty-six, though poor health forced him to retire after just one year. During the rest of his life, Chisholm spent many years living in New Jersey and working as a life insurance agent. Still, even with a desk job, he wrote nearly 1,200 poems throughout his life, including several published hymns. Chisholm explained toward the end of his life, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness." 1. Anthem Lights: 2. Don Moen: 3. One Sonic Society: 4. Israel Houghton: 5. Shane and Shane: Tags : great is thy faithfulness Israel Houghton anthem lights Don Moen Shane and Shane one sonic society Hymns (HedgeCo.Net) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an Order filing and simultaneously settling charges against Jonathan Hansen (Hansen) of Dana Point, California, and his Newport Beach, California, based company, Newport Private Capital LLC, (NPC), for engaging in a fraudulent post-execution allocation scheme, sometimes referred to as cherry-picking. The Order also finds that NPC and Hansen failed to keep required records. During the period of the fraudulent activity, NPC was registered as a Commodity Pool Operator and Commodity Trading Advisor, and Hansen was registered as an Associated Person and listed as Principal of NPC. To read this article: THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHEREin the Helsinki neighbourhood of Arabianranta was visibly subdued on Tuesday, as residents mourned the death of a local child who is believed to have been murdered. While little information has been released to the public, it is known that the victim was murdered near their home on the night of Christmas Eve (December 24). The police apprehended a suspect at the scene of the crime, who has been confirmed as a 36-year old male. Whether the suspect was known to the victim has yet to be determined. THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE in the Helsinki neighbourhood of Arabianranta was visibly subdued on Tuesday, as residents mourned the death of a local child who is believed to have been murdered. While little information has been released to the public, it is known that the victim was murdered near their home on the night of Christmas Eve (December 24). The police apprehended a suspect at the scene of the crime, who has been confirmed as a 36-year old male. Whether the suspect was known to the victim has yet to be determined. Late in the evening of Christmas Day, Otso, the crowning glory of Arctia Oys extensive fleet, departed from Helsinkis Katajanokka Harbour , heading north to the Bay of Bothnia. One of Finlands most famous seafaring vessels, the titanic icebreaker Otso , was deployed on its first mission of the winter season last night, keeping sea routes open for the 22 nd year in a row. The 7000-ton Polar icebreaker has been tasked with keeping waterways open between Oulu, Kemi, and Tornio. Although winter ice conditions have been milder and later than any time in recent memory, parts of the Bay of Bothnia are currently estimated to hold around 20cm of ice, necessitating the deployment of an icebreaker. The ship once held the title of being the widest icebreaker in the world, with a beam width of just under 25 metres. Since her first deployment, Otso has been copied by engineers the world over, with the U.S. coastguard later basing their own icebreakers on her design. Keen followers of icebreaker ships in Finland will be able to watch Otso dock in Oulu on Thursday 27 December. Adam Oliver Smith - HT According to Iltalehti , heads of the company addressed concerns of shareholders by claiming that the company will be able to clear the gold mine completely long before complaints to the Finnish authorities have been processed. This prompted a number of politicians to call for proposed revisions to Finland's Mining Act to be put into place. THE DRAGON MINING COMPANY , an Australian mineral extraction business which operates in the Nordics, has dismissed the possibility of any future legal action stemming from environmental concerns would disrupt their mining activities in Finland, in their pamphlet submitted to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange earlier this month. The executive director of Dragon Mining, Brett Smith, has told the Helsinki Times that this is not the case, describing the claims as "illogical" and stating: "we are investing to extend mine life and exploring to find new opportunities in Finland. Dragon Mining was recently listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and currently operates three gold extraction mines in Finland. Foreign companies have long enjoyed light-touch regulation from the Finnish state when it comes to mining, with revenues being taxed lightly in comparison to many other European countries. In addition, the state does not automatically claim ownership over these types of natural resources, allowing foreign mining companies to stake their claim. The Finnish parliament is currently taking steps to change this via amendments to the Mining Act, which would see the state take a much more active role in the management of mineral resources within Finlands borders. In response to Dragon Minings dismissive stance, Green MP Ville Niinisto snapped back in a lengthy Twitter tirade, demanding a complete overhaul of existing legislation. This situation is highly problematic, and we have wanted to fix it for years. Instead, the government weakens it and unleashes the power of environmental destruction. Finland deserves a mining law, where the environment and the residents come first and the economic benefits to Finland. Meanwhile, Timo Heinonen, a member of the National Coalition Party, was similarly critical, remarking in a recent interview that Dragon Minings actions show that whats not working needs to be fixed. Adam Oliver Smith - HT Image Lehtikuva (Article was corrected on 30.12.18 14:30. In a previous version, the article stated that Dragon Mining has dismissed proposed changes to Finland's Mining Act. This was an error on our behalf. The proposed changes to the Mining Act were highlighted in response to Dragon Mining's supposed claims regarding the ineffectiveness of Finland's current legal complaint system, as outlined in the existing Mining Act. Executive director for Dragon Mining, Brett Smith, has responded by stating: "we have no issues with the Finnish Mining Act or any proposed changes and did not dismiss this in the prospectus as indicated.) (Article was corrected on 28.12.2018 14:00. In the original version it was erroneously stated that the company had told the information to investors in a private meeting last week. It has been corrected to show that information was submitted to potential investors in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange earlier this month.) WASHINGTONFollowing media speculation last week, the Government of Japan has now confirmed that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission. It will cease whaling in the Southern Ocean but continue its whaling program in the North Pacific. By walking out of the IWC, Japan is leaving the international body for whale conservation and the management of whaling. Humane Society International is also concerned that Japan may recruit other pro-whaling nations to leave the IWC, leading to a new chapter of widespread renegade slaughter of whales for profit. Kitty Block, president of Humane Society International and acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, released the following statement: By leaving the IWC but continuing to kill whales in the North Pacific, Japan now becomes a pirate whaling nation killing these ocean leviathans completely outside the bounds of international law. For decades Japan has aggressively pursued a well-funded whaling campaign to upend the global ban on commercial whaling. It has consistently failed but instead of accepting that most nations no longer want to hunt whales, it has now simply walked out. The International Convention which gave rise to the IWC was signed here in Washington DC In December 1946. The US is the depository nation and one of the original countries that agreed to conserve whales for future generations. American citizens care deeply about the plight of the worlds whales. Humane Society International calls on Japan to cease whaling and for other concerned nations to let Japan know that what they propose is unacceptable. At this point in the twenty-first century we need greater international cooperation to help conserve and protect our wild animals and their environment not less. Facts: The IWC was founded in recognition that whaling was driving populations and species to extinction. It was the first international body to try to ensure the sustainable use of living species. Efforts to manage whaling failed and populations continued to crash until the moratorium was agreed in 1982, coming into force in 1986. Many ex-whaling nations including the USA, UK and Argentina are member nations of the IWC as are the three nations that continue to whale for profit Japan, Norway and Iceland. Japan has long categorized its whaling activity as scientific research, hiding behind a clause in the IWC founding treaty (Article VIII), which allows IWC member nations to kill whales for research (a lethal approach superseded by modern non-lethal techniques). The legitimacy of Japans use of the scientific whaling clause was recently been tested in the International Court of Justice, in a case brought by Australia about Japans Antarctic whaling. This multinational court found against Japan in its 2014 verdict and it was ordered to desist. Japan stopped whaling in the Southern Ocean for just one season, but then it returned with what it categorized as a brand-new research program claiming it met the courts concerns. HSI regards the resumed hunt in Antarctica (presently ongoing and targeting a self-allocated quota of 333 minke whales) and the North Pacific hunt (which kills minke and sei whales) as commercial whaling. Japan is not therefore resuming commercial whaling because it never stopped, at best it is moving the focus of its activities to the Northern Hemisphere. The import of meat from Japans North Pacific sei whale hunt was recently found to be in contravention of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and Japan was instructed to explain in the New Year how it means to address this. END Media contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203-270-8929, RRosensweig@humanesociety.org Background Notes At the last meeting of the IWC, in Brazil in September, Japan brought forward a series of linked-proposals that would have undermined the moratorium. This bundle of proposals was voted down, which was predictable. Japan reacted angrily and threatened to leave the IWC. The fact that it did not do it there are then may reflect the fact that other important international negotiations like its new trade deal with the USA have been in discussion. Japan is the biggest financial contributor to the work of the IWC, which is predominantly funded by the membership fees of its member nations. So, Japans departure will probably create some budgetary issues but the IWC has 88 other members, so this will not cause the IWC to fail. Over the last ten years or so the IWC has been busy modernizing and has developed an important body of work focused on non-whaling threats to whales including climate change and bycatch (incidental captures in fishing nets). It is important for the future of the whales and other cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) that this body of work continues. Adams Working on Emergency Management Update ADAMS, Mass. Town officials' effort to better coordinate communications and manage emergencies is beginning to show some results. Emergency Management director Richard Kleiner and Executive Assistant to the Town Administrator Kevin Towle presented an update on the town's emergency management plan at a recent workshop meeting of the Board of Selectmen. "So far we have been able to have several meetings engaging several departments within the town government structure as well as the fire district and the ambulance service," Towle said. "We want to bring everyone to the table to discuss improved communication and better response." The updated was prompted by this past summer's boil water ordered issued by the Water District, a separate entity from the town. Town leaders, officials, and administrators were not all informed about the order. Along with the fall flooding that caused more than $2 million in damage in town, it was agreed that both the plan and lines of communication needed to be overhauled. Towle said one of the town's first charges was to make the plan easier to use. "It was really big and difficult to navigate through if you don't know what you are looking for," he said. "So part of the process is going to be to make this an electronic document that will make it a lot easier to access." He said the updated plan will clearly define what each department does in different scenarios and how information is dispersed. Towle also urged the town to adopt the National Incident Management System and recommended that all those involved in emergency response and the town take training which the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has offered to cover. "The goal is that all of the staff who would have a role in emergency management response and recovery would receive this training," Towle said. "We hope this is the first of many trainings the town can provide so we can get everyone up to the appropriate level of training." Chairman John Duval asked what role he or a future chairman would have in the process and said he felt there should be direct involvement. "I want to know when there is a major fire in town as the chairmen and I want that information instead of going on Facebook and finding out," Duval said. "The chairman is almost equal from a team perspective and I want to be involved directly when things are happening." Kleiner said the chairman is heavily involved in the process and will be the ultimate decision maker after talking to the emergency management team. "He is the decision maker at the ELC and if a decision has to be made, he is the decision maker based on information he gets through everybody that is out in the field," he said. "He is the highest elected official -- he or she is that person." Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan added that the plan will also have redundancies built in, in case the chairman is unavailable. Kleiner said the plan now works in more communication points so he is informed even of minor incidents that could develop into larger ones. He cited the Water Department specifically and noted that he would be kept more in the loop. "I think we can look back at what happened in August with the water and we can say it was not necessarily communicated in the best way out of the gate," he said. He added that if there are flooding issues he is typically notified by the Department of Public Works. With snow emergencies, he is usually updated on road conditions from the police department. Selectman Joseph Nowak said he had concerns about the elderly and young children especially in extreme temperatures and power outages. He said although he thought the Code Red telephone/text system was effective, he asked it was possible to install emergency horns in town. "I thought it was a really good system when I was younger. When the horn would go off and you knew it was a real emergency," Nowak said. "We should look into that because I think it would help our community. We have a lot of dead spots in town." The conversation then turned to the fall flooding and Cesan was asked if the town has had any luck recouping the $2.5 million they borrowed to make emergency repairs. Cesan had nothing specific but said the town is working toward applying for a Pre-Disaster Recovery Grant -- which would require a completed emergency response document. "This is all being fast-tracked," she said. "We have a lot of work to do but we are all on board with getting the parts of the plan to the different members of the emergency management team we will give this our best shot." She added that the town was able to change the focus of its Municipal Vulnerability Action Grant to address issues on the Southwick Brook, which flooded during the fall storms. Before closing, Kleiner said he has been through plan updates before and is confident that this one will really make some needed improvements. "I think the way we are doing it is the right way and as long as we keep doing it that way things will improve," he said. Following a recent statement by the Peoples Democratic Partys presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, it is likely he wont be visiting the United States, any time from now. Atikus inability to visit America for many years, after an alleged indictment in a fraud case has whipped up sentiments over time. It came to a brew recently, after the former vice President won the PDP ticket to represent it, in next years presidential election. However, during an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America, lately, Atiku was heard saying What will I even go to do in America. Although, the Director General of the Atiku campaign organisation, Gbenga Daniel, in November said officials of the United States, have hinted that Atiku had gotten a nod for a U.S. visa. The former Ogun state Governor made this known, in an interview on Channels Television programme, Politics Today. I can also confirm to you that in last few days that there have been signals from the American officials that he (Atiku) should indeed come forward so he can be granted a visa. So between you and I, all the issues are perception. Senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is spreading lies against the president, will not wash away its corruption. The presidency said this in a statement on Wednesday evening. According to Shehu, the PDP speaks ill of Buharis government, a strategy implored to normalise corruption. This was in reaction to allegations by the opposition, that president Buhari has looted USD 322m recovered Abacha loot. See full statement here The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has continued spreading lies about the Buhari administration in the mistaken assumption that its toga of corruption will dissipate if it succeeded in black painting every other person as corrupt. The strategy is to make corruption appear as normative and that everyone is equally involved. They think by so doing, Nigerians will forgive them for their sins. This is a huge mistake. The PDP has become an ill-wind on the country today and the elections next year present the citizens an excellent opportunity to save the country from it. We cant imagine a sane organization shamelessly telling Nigerians that President Buhari is looting, as they themselves did of the recovered loot, the USD 322m lately recovered from the Abacha family. This is an irresponsible lie. The USD 322m recovered is being used to make the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT of a monthly amount of N5,000 to more than 300,000 poor homes across the nation under the Social Investment Program introduced by the Buhari administration. This is in line with the Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the governments of Nigeria and Switzerland as a condition for releasing the funds. As part of the MoU, the World Bank is monitoring the application of the funds. It is also important that the World Bank has equally given an additional facility to support the on-going cash transfers. Nigerians are hereby advised to be watchful of what comes out from the opposition, not to be misled into voting for a party that sees nothing wrong with corruption and would rather have everyone drenched in its colors, as they irretrievably are. The presidency has warned all political appointees, party men or office holders, against extorting innocent citizens. This warning was given by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to president Muhammadu Buhari. According to the presidency, this became important following a series of complaints from the public, on extortion and influence peddling by political appointees. The Presidency has issued a stern warning to political appointees, govt officials and party men against influence peddling for corrupt pecuniary gains and other forms of extortion. Mr Garba Shehu told State House Correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja that complaints of extortions of innocent people by what he called self-serving name droppers and influence peddlers is causing increasing embarrassment to the Presidency. President Muhammadu Buhari had made it very clear since his inauguration that he wont tolerate any form of impropriety by his appointees, aides, and government officials who abuse and misuse their offices for illegal financial advantages. Shehu explained that the President would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people, as this isnt short of corruption. The Presidential spokesman on Media and Publicity, noted that the President isnt one to tolerate corruption and as such those who are not genuinely committed to this vision would be weeded out once caught and punished accordingly. Nigerians were also advised to report any govt official, office holder or appointee, caught using the Presidents name or that of his aides/appointees to extort the public, as they will be dealt serious with by the Buhari led government. Immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has said that President Muhammadu Buhari, has plans to declare an emergency rule in Zamfara state. According to Fayose, the federal government will be hiding under the killings in the state, by armed bandits, as a way of forcing the hands of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to accept, All Progressives Congress, APC field candidates in coming elections. It would be recalled that INEC had declared that the ruling party wont be Fielding candidates into any position in the state, in the coming elections following their refusal to submit names, as at when they should have. Meanwhile the President on Monday December 24, in a telephone call to Alhaji Garba Mohammed Tambari, the Emir of Maradun in Zamfara State, expressed sorrow over the loss of lives following attacks on communities in Zamfara State by bandits and cattle rustlers. Buhari assuring that his government will do everything in its powers to bring to an end the horrendous attacks. However, speaking via his Twitter handle on Tuesday, Fayose made the following allegations. He wrote: I have been reliably informed that the FG is plotting to hide under the killings in Zamfara State by armed bandits to impose emergency rule on the state. This is their response to the insistence of INEC not to allow APC field candidates for the 2019 general election in the state. Vanguard Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state was today a guest at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in Anyiin and Ugba in Logo local government area and Gbajimba in Guma to identify with them and celebrate the Christmas festivities The Nation President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday on telephone conversation with Emir of Maradun in Zamfara, Alhaji Garba Tambari, expressed sadness over the loss of lives and destruction of property following the banditry attacks.The information is contained in a statement by the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday.President Buhari said he was extremely saddened by the loss of lives and destruction of property ThisDay The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said its troops had repelled attack coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents at a military formation in Kukareta, Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe. In a statement, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said the insurgents had on Monday at about 6: 30 pm, attacked a Military Forward Guardian Rev. Jolly Nyame, former Taraba governor, on Tuesday joined his excited colleagues to celebrate stylish Christmas haircuts offered to 300 inmates of Kuje Prison, FCT. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the free haircut was offered by the National Association of Barbers and Salon Employers of Nigeria (NABSEN), during a Christmas visit to Daily Sun President Muhammadu Buhari has finally reacted to the alleged cabal and two powerful men controlling his government as alleged by his wife, Aisha and others. Aisha: The innermost heart of a First Lady He said his government was never run or controlled by cabals or powerful individuals. Aisha had on two different occasions talked publicly Daily Times Amember of the PDP Presidential Council and Director of the Campaigns CUPP/Inter-party Directorate, Senator Ben Obi, said yesterday that the comment by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on 2023 elections was insensitive and height of mischief. Speaking recently, Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari would hand over the presidency to the South West after completing his two Leadership The Senate President Bukola Saraki, has decried the level of insecurity and poverty in the country. He described the untold hardship which the All Progressives Congress ( APC) he helped to power in 2015 has subjected Nigerians to as unprecedented. Saraki who spoke on a joint live radio programme in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, empathised Mother Nature was chosen as the Central Okanagans Newsmaker of the Year for 2017 by The Daily Courier's readers. Mother Nature is portrayed in this photo by Kristal Hunter from Kelowna Actors Studio. BENTONVILLE -- A Kiwanis member stood outside a downtown building 10 seconds before 8 a.m. Christmas Eve and counted down, signaling to a line of cars to pull forward. boxes full of food sat on a table outside and up against the exterior of the building with more inside. Volunteers of all ages began carrying boxes to the cars as drivers and passengers rolled down windows to say how many people they planned to feed. Two women in the first vehicle in line said they needed boxes for two families. The next in line was a gray pickup decked out with a red Rudolph nose on the front and reindeer antlers on the sides. More than 70 volunteers gave away 475 boxes of food Monday during the Kiwanis Club of Bentonville's 63rd Guy Wilkerson food basket giveaway, said event coordinator Bob Silgar and Bobby Smittle, club president. The club had prepared 500 boxes, Silgar said. Smittle said the club gave the remaining 25 boxes to the three local agencies: Salvation Army; Souls Harbor, a Rogers shelter for men recovering from substance abuse; and Samaritan Community Center, an organization in Rogers intended to fight hunger. The number of items -- which included foods such as frozen chicken, boxed stuffing, macaroni and cheese, bread and canned vegetables -- in the boxes varied by family size. "We really want to have enough for everyone to have a great holiday meal," Smittle said. Boxes were available to anyone who showed up between 8 and 10 a.m. Recipients do not have to sign up or show any proof of need. The tradition began in 1955 when Kiwanis member Guy Wilkerson gave away 15 food baskets to families in need. The organization has given away more than 500 food baskets each of the past six years. Wilkerson did most of the work for more than 50 years and stayed involved with the project until 2012, Smittle said. He died in 2013. Kiwanis members and local residents donated food and money to buy food for the boxes, and some grocery stores, such as Aldi and Harps, contributed as well, Smittle said. The event draws at least 40 volunteers each year. "That's one thing we never have to worry about," Smittle said. "There are always enough people to make it happen." Club members do have to worry about where it will host the event each year. The Kiwanis Club hosted the food drive at the armory in downtown Bentonville until it closed about seven years ago, Smittle said. Monday's food drive was in an unoccupied part of a building at 606 S.W. A St. Volunteer Keith Smith leads a Bentonville-based Trail Life USA troop, which he described as a Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts for boys 5-18 years old. He said he has volunteered with the boys at the food drive for about six years. Smith said volunteering shows the season is about giving back to the community more than receiving gifts. Kiwanis member Bill Linz has been serving hot chocolate to volunteers for the past four years. He said hunger knows no age group. "Many of those families have little ones that we want to have the merriest Christmas," Linz said. NW News on 12/25/2018 By Dong Sun-hwa, Park Si-soo A man was arrested on suspicion of making death threats to teenage actor Wang Seok-hyeon, police said. The suspect in his 30s, a self-proclaimed fan of Wang, 16, was put into custody after police traced him with phone records and CCTV footage, according to Seongdong Police Station in Seoul. He told police he had threatened the actor because he refused to meet him. According to police, the suspect introduced himself as a member of the "Gun Distribution Association" in phone calls to the actor's agency and school on Dec. 20. The suspect complained about the difficulty of meeting the actor and said he would kill him, according to investigators. They confirmed the association he claims to be involved with does not exist. Police said it was a "one-person crime," but Wang and his agency LIONHEART say they will not let their guard down. The agency has hired bodyguards to protect the actor around the clock. "We advised Wang to stay at home for a while and avoid meeting with strangers," a LIONHEART official said. Wang debuted in the film "Speed Scandal" in 2008 and rose to stardom. He is appearing in ongoing tvN drama "A Pledge to God." Financial groups appoint more women to executive posts By Lee Kyung-min A growing number of Korea's major financial service firms have appointed women as CEOs or senior executives. This is seen as a significant advancement inching closer to breaking the glass ceiling in the conservative industry long dominated by male-oriented culture. On Dec. 21, Shinhan Financial Group nominated two women to fill senior executive positions in 2019 Wang Mi-hwa and Cho Kyoung-sun. Park Jeong-rim at KB Securities The nomination is in addition to that of former KB Financial Group and Kookmin Bank Vice President Park Jeong-rim, who was nominated Dec. 20 to head KB Securities as co-CEO. The firm's general shareholders meeting approved the nomination the following day, making her the industry's first female CEO in the history of Korea's securities market since its launch in March 1956. Shinhan with the two nominations is now able to shed its earlier image of not having a single female senior executive, a source of criticism that the firm long remained "indifferent" to gender equality. In a quarterly reporting released in November from the country's four major banks KB Kookmin, Shinhan, KEB Hana and Woori out of 96 executives, only three were women. Shinhan had none while the others each had one. Wang Mi-hwa at Shinhan Bank Shinhan said the two women are well-versed in respective fields, with proven track records of detail-oriented, thorough work management and soft leadership. Wang managed up to 200 billion won ($170 million) in customer wealth in 2006, posting annual yields of up to 60 percent, three years after she made a manager-level position at the bank. Cho organized various programs through which both workers and customers built relationships, creating a workplace culture that was as comfortable as home. She received numerous awards for increasing worker productivity and satisfaction. Cho Kyoung-sun at Shinhan Bank They had their talents nurtured by "Shinhan SHeroes," a tailored training and mentoring program launched in March under the direction of group chairman & CEO Cho Yong-byoung. Through the program, female workers are encouraged to strengthen their network connections, share experiences with hardships and ways to boost self-motivation as well as reinforce leadership by setting themselves as role models for other women of less-privileged backgrounds. Jung Jong-suk is currently the only female senior executive at Woori Bank. Serving as head of the Wealth Management Strategy Dept., she was promoted to executive vice president in November for her outstanding sales performance. Korea International Financial Institute (KIFI) CEO Kim Sang-kyung, who doubles as chairwoman of the Korea Network of Women in Finance, said while the recent progress is heartening, far more women should be able to break the glass ceiling. Jung Jong-suk at Woori Bank High school graduates become finance executives By Park Hyong-ki Jin Ok-dong, new Shinhan Bank CEO The recent appointment of Jin Ok-dong as the chief executive of Shinhan Bank is putting the spotlight on executives in the industry who managed to climb the corporate ladder with only a high school degree in the beginning. Some of them, including Jin and Shinhan Bank Chief Digital Officer Seo Choon-seok, graduated from the country's Duksoo High School. Established in 1910, Duksoo has been renowned for teaching its students practical and commercial skills in business, finance and engineering through rigorous training to prepare them for the real world right after graduation. Those who went to such commercial high schools were bright, but did not have the money to pay for regular high schools or college tuition. Most took jobs such as bank tellers, welders, electrical appliance developers or customs agents, and studied part-time for bachelor's degrees as they worked and rose through the ranks. gettyimagesbank Jin is one of them who took that step toward higher positions that required a college degree. He is a Duksoo graduate who started at Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) in 1981, then moved to Shinhan Bank in 1986. He studied business part-time at Korea National Open University, which also focuses its curriculum on teaching practical skills but balanced with theory. He also earned his master's in business from Chung-Ang University while working for Shinhan Bank. Afterwards, Jin became head of Shinhan Bank's Osaka branch in Japan, and was the vice president of Shinhan Financial Group before his appointment to CEO. He is said to have earned "high respect" from Shinhan's Korean-Japanese shareholders. Like Jin, former Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Ra Eung-chan and even former Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon started their jobs at banks only with a high school degree. KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo The two Koreas will hold a groundbreaking ceremony, Wednesday, in Gaeseong, North Korea, for a project aimed at modernizing and connecting roads and railways across the Demilitarized Zone. Joint Press Corps South and North Korea were set to hold a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for an inter-Korean project to modernize and reconnect roads and railways across their heavily armed border. A special train carrying some 100 South Korean participants left for Panmun Station in the North's border town of Kaesong, where the event will be held at around 10 a.m. Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, parliamentary leaders, and other road and railway officials and experts are among them. "The groundbreaking ceremony is meaningful in that it demonstrates the Koreas' willingness to actively cooperate on the modernization and connection project of their railways and roads going forward," the ministry said in a press release Monday. Officials from the United Nations and neighboring countries, including Russia, China and Mongolia, will also attend the event that could be the start of an ambitious plan to connect the inter-Korean railway to the Trans Siberian Railway so as to create a transportation route from Korea all the way to Europe. Ri Son-gwon, the chairman of North Korea's state agency in charge of inter-Korean ties, and Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun-hyok will lead North Korean participants in the event. The ceremony will be comprised of celebratory speeches by representatives of the Koreas followed by such events as "track-linking," signing a railway sleeper and unveiling a signboard at the station, the ministry said. Seoul earlier received sanctions exemptions on materials and items needed to hold the event in the North through close consultations with Washington. The groundbreaking ceremony comes as the Koreas' leaders agreed in April to modernize and connect the roads and railways across their border, a project aimed at fostering balanced development and co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. In their September summit, the leaders also promised to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the project before the year's end. The Koreas have since been conducting joint inspections of the North's railways and roads despite delays caused by concerns over possible violations of sanctions against Pyongyang. They recently carried out an 18-day inspection of the North's railways in the western and eastern regions after the U.N. granted a sanctions waiver. The railway inspection marked the first of its kind since 2007, when the Koreas inspected a 412-km railway linking Kaesong to Sinuiju along the North's western area. This also marked the first time for a South Korean train to run from Mount Kumgang to the Tumen River on the North's east coast since the peninsula was divided following the 1950-53 Korean War. The groundbreaking ceremony is regarded to be a symbolic launch of the road and railway project, not an actual start of construction considering the ongoing denuclearization talks and existing multilayered sanctions on North Korea. "The government will carry out additional, in-depth (on-site) inspections, draw up blueprints and designs going forward following the ceremony," the ministry said. "The actual construction will be pursued in line with situations related to the North's denuclearization and global sanctions against North Korea." (Yonhap) Participants from the two Koreas hold hands together during a groundbreaking ceremony to link roads and railways between the two Koreas at Panmun Station in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong, Wednesday. The inter-Korean project was resumed recently following an exemption of sanctions granted for the project by the United Nations Security Council aiming to boost exchanges between the two Koreas under an inter-Korean agreement. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Actual construction hinges on progress of denuclearization By Kim Yoo-chul The two Koreas held a rather symbolic groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday with the aim of early resumption of road and railway links across the heavily fortified border separating the North and South. A special train carrying a delegation of 100 officials from South Korea including Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, lawmakers and other road and railway officials returned to Seoul Station around 3:10 p.m. after crossing the military demarcation line (MDL). The two-hour ceremony was held at Panmun Station in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong, where the largest inter-Korean industrial complex, Gaeseong Industrial Complex suspended for the time being is located. The symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony came after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) granted a sanctions exemption for the railway and road project, a plus factor to accelerate the "railway diplomacy," being pursued by the two Koreas. Equipment, materials and transport vehicles were allowed in. "Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony is meaningful in terms of a fresh impetus to advance inter-Korean ties. Also, the ceremony represents commitment by the two Koreas to actively cooperate to modernize and connect their railways and roads," Seoul's transport ministry said in a statement. Ahead of the event, rail experts in Seoul went to North Korea for a joint survey of sections of the North's rail network. As most of the North's train tracks were not up to par, with the UNSC applying tough economic sanctions on the North, it's still uncertain whether actual construction will start soon. "Actual construction will be initiated in accordance with progress in the North's denuclearization and the state of economic sanctions against the North. Much work should be done before starting construction. It's unlikely construction will start in the next few years," Transport Minister Kim told reporters. The huge difference in railway and road infrastructure between the two Koreas requires the South to pour billions of dollars into projects to modernize such systems in the impoverished state. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directly mentioned his regime's trains were in an "embarrassing" state during his first meeting with President Moon Jae-in in April this year. As an apparent message to welcome the ceremony, North Korea sent high-profile officials to the event. Some of the major figures attended at the ceremony were Ri Son-gwon, the chairman of North Korea's state agency in charge of inter-Korean ties, and Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun-hyok. The railway project is the latest in a series of ambitious moves in accordance with the President's "engagement-centric" policy toward North Korea. Despite slow progress in talks aimed at dismantling the North, President Moon has been pushing forward with plans to improve bilateral relations. The United States, which was apparently dissatisfied with Moon's push to advance various inter-Korean economic projects, is turning softer ahead of the anticipated second in-person meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. South Korea has officially asked Washington to grant wider sanctions exemptions. While South Korea wants to expand its inter-Korean projects, political analysts in Seoul said a bumpy road is ahead to make additional inter-Korean projects happen as sanctions will remain in place, preventing most materials and goods from crossing the border. Yonhap By Kim Hyun-bin Koreans have become more open to organ donatoin, with nearly seven out of 10 in favor, a government survey showed, Wednesday. But translating that into actual donations may take some time as only 2.6 percent of the population has registered as organ donors. In a survey conducted earlier this month by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) of 1,000 people over 19 years old, 97.5 percent were aware of organ donation and 66.5 percent showed a willingness to donate. Of the people who were against it, 33 percent cited aversion to "damaging" their body, 30.4 percent were just afraid and 16.5 percent named a lack of information on other issues besides the donation process, such as how the body is treated after organs are harvested. More than 60 percent said they learned of organ donation from TV while 35.3 percent cited online ads through blogs, communities and social media. But despite the figures, the number of organ donors is low and far short of demand. There are over 30,000 people waiting for donated organs in Korea, but only 9.95 people in every 1 million of the population donate. The figure is much lower than other advanced countries, with Spain's figure at 46.9, the U.S. at 31.9, Italy at 28.2 and England at 23. "Koreans' perceptions of organ donation have taken positive steps in recent years, but only 2.6 percent of the population has promised to donate organs," a KCDC official said. "We are in dire need of more donors." According to a separate report by the Seoul Institute, 4,400 Seoul citizens have donated their organs since 2010, an average of 490 a year. People in their 20s and 30s made up 46.3 percent of donors, while males accounted for 57.5 percent. Some 370,000 Seoul residents expressed a willingness to donate organs, and 150,000 of them marked the intention on their driver's license. Since 2010, 6,865 Seoul residents have received organ transplants, an average of 763 a year. Most recipients were in their 50s 33.4 percent. Men also outnumbered women, taking up 63.3 percent of the total. Among recipients, 48 percent received kidney transplants, followed by liver transplants at 28.3 percent and corneal transplants at 9 percent. From January 2017 to October 2018, there were 1,862 Seoul citizens waiting for a donor. Of them, 1,300 were in need of a kidney transplant, with people in their 50s and 60s taking up 61.3 percent of those on the waiting list. People who wish to become an organ donor can register at konos.go.kr or via fax, mail or by visiting a registration agency in their area. Government officials and citizens attend the ceremony at the former anti-communism investigation division office of the police's National Security Bureau in Namyeong-dong, central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun A former police investigation building in Namyeong-dong, Seoul, where officers tortured hundreds of pro-democracy activists in the 1970s and 1980s, has been turned into a memorial hall for human rights and democracy. The police, Wednesday, turned over their ownership of the former "Namyeong-dong anti-communist room," which had been used as its own human rights center since 2005, to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to make better use of it as a memorial hall. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon participated in the transfer ceremony, along with Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Boo-kyum and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. "I can hear the screams and moans of deceased activists who were abused by the state authority. We will remember that we are enjoying our freedom because of their devotion to create today's democratic Korea," Lee said. "The memorial hall will forever contribute to the people and history as a place to warn against the state's abuse of power." Korean National Police Agency Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong also attended the ceremony together with 150 victims of torture and bereaved families. "I sincerely apologize for our painful history as a representative of 150,000 police officers across the nation for the tragic event. As a venue of the police's disgraceful history is turning into a center of human rights, we will take this opportunity to become the police of democracy, human rights and public welfare," Min said. The former police facility was used secretly during the Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan administrations to interrogate and torture pro-democracy activists under the name of hunting down communists. The site become notorious among local residents as many testified they heard people screaming at night and there were stories of people disappearing once they were taken into the building. The police facility was soon revealed as an illegal torture site when Seoul National University student Park Jong-chul was killed during water torture on Jan. 14, 1987. Police insisted they only slammed the desk and Park suddenly died of shock. His death became a fuse for the pro-democracy protest on June 10, 1987. The event played a pivotal role in ending Chun's military regime and bringing out a historic constitutional amendment allowing a direct presidential election system here. The torture victims and bereaved families have requested the governments turn the old police building into a memorial hall where people can be educated about democracy and human rights. In 2005, the police turned it into a human rights center, commemorating student Park and making it a historical museum. However, civic groups said it was improper for the police, which tortured and abused the activists with their own hands, to operate the center. President Moon Jae-in accepted their argument earlier this year and promised to turn over the building's ownership to the ministry in his speech at the 31st anniversary of the June 10 pro-democracy movement. "The government will cooperate with pro-democracy activists, torture survivors and human right groups to rebuild this venue as a memorial hall," Moon said at the time. The ministry will outsource its operation to the Korea Democracy Foundation early next year. By Lee Min-hyung The United States is intensifying diplomatic pressure against South Korea to gain the upper hand in their ongoing negotiations for defense cost sharing. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his discomfort over the dialogue, expressing his determination to continue pushing the South to increase its share of the cost. "We are substantially subsidizing the militaries of many very rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our taxpayers, on trade," Trump said in a Twitter post. He went on to say former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned recently from his post, disagreed with Trump's idea on the defense cost talks. "General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I do, and it is being fixed," Trump said. The remark came at a critical time when Seoul and Washington are at odds over the defense cost sharing dialogue. Both sides have to renew the five-year agreement, the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which expires at the end of this year. Seoul has been sharing the cost burden with Washington for the maintenance of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) here since 1991. They renew the agreement every two to five years. But concerns have risen that the resignation of Mattis may bring a negative impact on Seoul's defense cost sharing talks with Washington. Mattis was in a position to respect U.S. allies, such as South Korea, saying the U.S. cannot protect its national interest without what Mattis called an attitude to "treat allies with respect." The former U.S. defense chief wrote in his resignation letter to Trump: "While the U.S. remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies." South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said it would continue making utmost efforts to generate a reasonable outcome in the dialogue for the good of both countries. "The primary goal of the defense cost sharing dialogue is for the safe maintenance of USFK here. Seoul and Washington are doing their best to come to terms on the dialogue in a way to satisfy both countries," an official from the ministry said Wednesday. "The ministry views Mattis' resignation will not cast a game-changing influence on the ongoing defense cost dialogue. We have not shifted any negotiating strategies due to the resignation of Mattis." South Korea paid 960. 2 billion won ($853.3 million) for the defense cost sharing this year. But Trump has urged Seoul to increase the burden by a huge margin, as part of his America first policy drive since taking office last year. Both countries have held 10 rounds of defense cost sharing dialogue since this March, but have failed to reach a consensus in the cost sharing for the USFK upkeep here. U.S. reports say the country wants South Korea to pay at least 1.3 trillion won each year. The latest round of dialogue took place for three days from Dec. 11. A group of ranking officials from the defense and foreign ministries met with their U.S. counterparts in Seoul, but they are known to have failed to reach an agreement due to their differences on cost sharing. Chang Won-sam, a former ambassador to Sri Lanka, led the South Korean delegation, while the U.S. side was headed by Timothy Betts, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of State. Investigators search Cheong Wa Dae in centeral Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Prosecutors raided the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday as part of a probe into allegations that Cheong Wa Dae may have illegally collected information about civilians. The prosecution said prosecutors and inspectors from the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office were sent to the presidential office to secure possible evidence of the alleged crime involving the top executive office. Cheong Wa Dae later confirmed being raided, adding it opened its doors to the prosecutors. "Prosecutors and investigators from the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office executed a search warrant today in relation to the complaint from the Liberty Korea Party (LKP)," Yoon Young-chan, top press secretary to President Moon Jae-in, said in a short released statement. "Cheong Wa Dae fully cooperated under related procedures," he added. The prosecution said the raid targeted the office of special inspection, a Cheong Wa Dae office in charge of keeping taps on government and appointed officials to prevent corruption. Yoon said the prosecution investigators were provided documents and other possible evidence from the inspection office that they requested but were not allowed to physically enter Cheong Wa Dae. The Cheong Wa Dae official earlier hinted the search may have been limited, saying the presidential office is a highly restricted area. Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom later explained the materials handed over to the prosecution included desk top computers. "That is the maximum (level of) information I can provide," he told a press briefing. The ongoing investigation began after the main opposition LKP filed a complaint against top presidential officials, including chief of staff Im Jong-seok and Cho Kuk, top secretary to President Moon Jae-in for civil affairs, accusing them of abusing power and neglecting duties. Such accusations are based on a confession from Kim Tae-woo, a special inspector from the prosecution, saying he had illegally surveilled many civilians, including a major news outlet and former bureaucrats, while working for Cheong Wa Dae. Cheong Wa Dae has strongly denied the allegation, instead accusing Kim of having engaged in such activities despite several warnings from his superiors. It has also filed a formal complaint against Kim with the prosecution on suspicions of leaking classified information he obtained while working at Cheong Wa Dae. Kim was ordered to return to his original post at the prosecution at the start of the month after reports suggested he may have sought to influence an ongoing police investigation involving one of his acquaintances. (Yonhap) Protesters surround the statue of a "comfort woman," calling for Japan's official apology and due compensation to the victims of its war-time sexual slavery system, at the last "Wednesday rally" of 2018 in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno, central Seoul, Wednesday. Victims and their supporters have staged a rally in front of the embassy every Wednesday from noon since Jan. 8, 1992. The rally was listed in March 2002 in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest on a single theme. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Kang Seung-woo A besieged lawmaker apologized Tuesday for his alleged abuse of power in dealing with an airport security agent amid growing public anger over his misconduct. Rep. Kim Jung-ho of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea apologizes, Tuesday, for his alleged abuse of power involving a security agent at Gimpo International Airport. / Yonhap A South Korean soldier stands near a destroyed guard post in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province in this Dec. 12, file photo. Two Koreas inspected 22 dismantled guard posts in each other's territories recently according to the inter-Korean agreement of the Comprehensive Military Agreement made in September. / Korea Times file By Park Ji-won South Korea will not reference North Korea as an "enemy" in its new Defense White Paper, sources said. Government sources said Wednesday the Ministry of National Defense is pushing to change North Korea's status to a non-enemy state in the upcoming biennial paper which will be released next year. The ministry plans to expand the definition of enemy to include the phrase, "Every force that threatens South Korea is an enemy." The 2018 white paper is the first of its kind published under the current Moon Jae-in administration. The assessment published in 2016 referred to the North as the South's main enemy. The ministry said North Korea is an enemy unless the country stops military provocations. The move is likely an inter-Korean effort to ease military tensions, a goal agreed upon at the last inter-Korean summit. Military authorities got rid of 22 front-line guard posts near the border recently following the agreement. The military is not subject to international sanctions against the North when seeking inter-Korean cooperation. The Panmunjeom Declaration agreed on by the two Korean leaders in April says, "South and North Korea agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain including land, air and sea that is a source of military tension and conflict." It was 1995 when North Korea was first referenced in the white paper as a main enemy, a year after the North Korean delegate threatened to turn Seoul into a "sea of flames" during inter-Korean meetings. It was 2004 under the Roh Moo-hyun administration when North Korea was described as "a direct military threat," instead of an enemy. Under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the term was reintroduced and the North has remained as the South's main enemy in the book ever since. Sources said the presidential office's National Security Council has already reviewed its draft. If Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo approves it, the white paper will be published in the middle of January. By Jung Hae-myoung Seoul City Hall will block any visitors with disposable cups and demand they discard the cups and all food content at the entrance, starting next year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Wednesday its intensified efforts to reduce the use of disposable cups would take effect on Jan. 1. City officials and visitors entering the building will have to throw away take-out plastic and paper cups, as well as their contents, at cup collection bins to be set up at the entrances. Other types of disposable containers, such as plastic lunch boxes and spoons from delivery food, will also be banned. The city government will run a special campaign until Jan. 11, to encourage workers and visitors to abide by the rule voluntarily. "The regulation will be applied at the City Hall building and the annex buildings first. After gathering feedback and preparing supplementary measures, we plan to expand the regulation to other city-affiliated organizations' offices and district offices in the first half of next year," an official of the city government said. Earlier in September, Seoul City banned the use of disposable cups in meeting rooms, as well as cafes within City Hall. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping greet each other at the Apec summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on November 17. Yonhap (Korea Times file) While the move reflects South Korea's efforts to enhance relations with its giant neighbor, Japan seen as unhappy, with shift suggesting a downgrade in Seoul-Tokyo relations By Lee Jeong-ho South Korean actor So Ji-sub will hold events to meet Asian fans for two months starting February, his agency said Friday. The agency 51k said the actor from "I'm Sorry, I Love You" (2004) and "Oh My Venus" (2017) will go on a fan meet-and-greet tour, titled "Hello," in seven Asian cities. His first stop is Taipei on Feb. 10. Then he will visit Japan's Chiba for events on Feb. 20 and 21. In March, there will be events in Bangkok on the 2nd, Jakarta on the 9th, Hong Kong on the 10th and Manila on the 16th. The events will consist of a quiz show about himself, as well as music and a session where he consults his fans on various issues. He recently finished MBC TV's "My Secret Terrius" and is considering his next project. (Yonhap) By Ted Gover All signs indicate that U.S. President Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a second summit in early 2019 with the hope of bringing about a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear crisis. While a diplomatic breakthrough is to be encouraged, Washington must be mindful that since the June 12 Trump-Kim summit Pyongyang has done little to curtail its production and deployment of nuclear warheads. Trump needs to hold Kim accountable for his lack of progress on denuclearization. For starters, Washington must not agree to Pyongyang's demands to formally end the Korean War, establish official diplomatic relations or provide security guarantees to the Kim regime without concrete, verifiable measures by the North towards disarmament. Additionally, suspended U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises need to be revived without delay. Since meeting with President Trump in Singapore, Kim has continued to manufacture and deploy nuclear-armed missiles, and he has not lived up to his pledge to South Korean President Moon Jae-in to reduce his country's nuclear capabilities and dismantle its nuclear complex at Yongbyon. Yet Kim's malfeasance does not end there. ?Following July disarmament talks in Pyongyang, North Korea accused the U.S. of having a "gangster-like mindset" and warned of "yet another tragedy" if talks failed. ?Within a month of the June 12 summit, reports cited North Korea's continued production of fissile material for nuclear weapons production as well as advances in its intercontinental ballistic missile program. ?On Nov. 16, North Korean state media reported that Kim witnessed the test of a "newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon." ?Recent satellite imagery research indicates that North Korea is expanding the Yeongjeo-dong missile base, a site that analysts believe would be used for deploying ICBMs. Beyond this, denuclearization talks are stuck. Pyongyang insists that normalization of U.S.-North Korea relations must take place before denuclearization, while Washington holds that the North's nuclear weapons must be surrendered before any normalization of relations can take place. Washington must maintain perspective and remember that the survival of the Kim Dynasty is paramount for Kim. He views a nuclear weapons program as key to these ends. It is also likely that Kim sees "denuclearization" differently from Trump, viewing it as a time in the distant future when Pyongyang abandons its program only after U.S. forces are withdrawn from the Pacific and when the U.S. itself has surrendered its own nuclear weapons. Washington and its allies had best maintain a long-term strategy of containment, sanctions and deterrence with overwhelming capabilities, all while leaving the door open for talks. To this day, North Korea is estimated to possess 30 to 60 nuclear weapons. Going into his second summit with Kim, Trump must keep in mind that his administration's efforts thus far have not changed this reality. More needs to be done to hold Pyongyang's feet to the fire and move the needle on denuclearization. Ted Gover (amberjack_shoal@yahoo.com), Ph.D., is director of the Tribal Administration Program at Claremont Graduate University. The nation learned the full extent to which Russia used social media to manipulate the 2016 presidential election. And it did so by exploiting our own racial, religious and political divisions. The detailed accounting of Russia's malign activity in a pair of reports commissioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee is both astonishing and chilling. It also is definitive: Russia's online warfare is real, sophisticated and unrelenting. It mutates as needed and grows ever more effective. And it continues today. Ignoring or discrediting such reports guarantees the cyber campaign by Vladimir Putin's Kremlin will play an ever-larger role in our electoral process. It also fails to understand that such Russian disruptions continue efforts that began in the 1930s with Soviet Union propaganda campaigns intended to inflame America's racial divisions. Only the methods have changed. The 2016 campaign spread misinformation, fake news and conspiracies across social media including Facebook, Google, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr and PayPal. The weaponization of Instagram was particularly extensive. One account, @blackstagram, had more than 300,000 followers. All told, Russian trolls elicited 187 million engagements such as comments and likes on Instagram. The trolls created Facebook pages like "Blacktivist," "Army of Jesus" and "Heart of Texas." They dubbed Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine the "Satan Team"; Donald Trump and Mike Pence were the "Jesus Team." One fake post claimed Clinton had received $20,000 from the Ku Klux Klan. A Tumblr post urged Pokemon Go players to name their Pokemon after victims of police brutality. Remember: Special counsel Robert Mueller has indicted 25 Russians and three companies on charges related to election interference and hacking. The reports conclude that Russia intended to attack Clinton and elect Trump by suppressing Democratic turnout and pushing right-wing voters toward extremism. There might never be a clear conclusion that the interference got Trump elected. But it's worth noting that Russia targeted African-Americans more than any group, urged them to boycott the election or vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and dispensed incorrect information about the voting process. And, for the first time in 20 years, turnout among black voters did decline. Trump's victory came via narrow wins in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania where black turnout was lower than expected in Milwaukee, Detroit and Philadelphia. Now Russian trolls target Hispanics with a "Brown Power" campaign that's using stories about deportations and treatment of migrants to inflame tensions. More study is needed to learn how to prevent attempts by Russians or any political operatives to influence future elections. So are tough regulations; Google, Facebook and Twitter did not provide all data requested by Senate investigators. Social media users must become savvy about who provides information online, and cross-check stories. Failing to learn from one's mistakes means repeating them. In this case, that would be a disaster for our democracy. The above editorial appeared in Newsday. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Mark Peterson I returned recently from Korea where I attended a conference sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies. The purpose of the conference was to celebrate the 15th year of the "understanding Korea project" the title of the program aimed at correcting mistakes in foreign textbooks in their coverage of Korea. The object of the Academy's concern has been the way Korea is portrayed in textbooks, mainly world history textbooks, in countries around the world. I was one of two representatives from the United States. There were delegates from England, France, Serbia and Argentina as well. My presentation went beyond the 15 years of the Understanding Korea Project they were celebrating, because I have been working to improve for 26 years. Before the National Assembly gave a budget to the Academy of Korean Studies, the budget line for improving Korea's position in overseas textbooks was given to the Korean Overseas Information Service (KOIS) now, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS). A contact I had known at KOIS asked me if I would set up a team to conduct research on the way Korea is treated in American textbooks. I agreed I could do the research and could put a team of students to work on the survey of American textbooks, and KOIS provided the research funding. The research was renewed for a second and third year. We evaluated 82 textbooks in the categories of world history, world cultures, world geography and American history. We had not planned on studying American history textbooks, but we found as much coverage on Korea there as in world history textbooks, in areas concerning the Korean War, immigration, trade and trade friction. Because of my work on textbooks between 1992 and 1994, in 1994 the Korea Society contacted me to see if I would be interested in helping to take a group of textbook writers and editors on a fact-finding tour of Korea. The leader of the group at the Korea Society was a wonderful colleague named Choi (Kim) Yong-jin. She was the sister of Kim Seong-jin, the first president of the Korea International Cultural Society, the predecessor of today's Korea Foundation, and had lots of connections and friends in Korea who helped enrich the seminar. For example, another of her siblings was Kim Hee-jin, a designated National Living Treasure in the field of "maedeup," Korean macrame. In subsequent years, I helped lead over 30 groups on fact-finding, in-country seminars in Korea. At the outset, KOIS provided the budget that supported the program, but 15 years ago, the government transferred the budget line item to the Academy of Korean Studies. Thus, the academy was celebrating its 15 years of the "understanding Korea project." The wording of the project in Korean is "baro alligi" "informing about Korea correctly." There is another organization I have found recently with the same phrase, "baro algi" in this case, "understanding Korean history correctly." The term of "correctly" is odd in English "Correctly? According to whom?" American readers are off-put by the term, because it begs the question as to which authority is saying this or that interpretation is "correct." But in Korean, the term "correct history" makes sense and is not at all odd because of the tradition of historiography in Korea during and after the Japanese period. The Japanese, consciously and overtly, corrupted Korean historiography in order to diminish Korean nationalism and self-esteem. Intentionally important aspects of Korean history were told from the distorted perspective of the Japanese colonialists. Correcting some misleading concepts was easily accomplished, but some, more-subtle concepts are still lingering in standard Korean textbooks and historical narratives. (I'll write more about hidden Japanisms in Korean historiography in coming weeks.) So the term "baro alligi" or "baro algi" (to inform others "correctly" and to understand "correctly") are not terms that create an odd response in Korean. In English, however, the response is uniformly negative or at least curious. Americans are suspicious, by nature, of government interference in academic affairs "academic freedom" is an oft-heard expression. And the phrase, one should "understand history correctly" sets off alarms. The Academy of Korean Studies in defining its project that has the purpose of correcting mistaken coverage of Korea in foreign textbooks uses a softer term in English: "uderstanding Korea." That works better. Here is one case where a more liberal translation, though one could argue its accuracy, is much better. If they approached a foreign textbook publisher with the phrase, "your textbook doesn't have the correct information" the foreign textbook editor would reject their "interference" out-of-hand. But to say that they would like to make sure people understand Korean history, it creates a more sympathetic and positive response. So, Academy of Korean Studies, I wish you well in your endeavors. This world can use a lot more understanding. Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah. Samsung Electronics employees deliver daily necessities for senior citizens in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Dec. 5. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Electronics employees have implemented a series of volunteering activities for people who need support and care during the year-end season, the firm said Wednesday. The firm said its workers carried out volunteer activities to provide assistance to residents in low-income areas in five major cities including Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Incheon. Many residents in the area are senior citizens living alone and Samsung employees have been supporting them for 15 years since 2004. The volunteer groups, comprised of 270 employees from Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung C&T and Samsung Life Insurance, have visited 5,700 households in 10 low-income areas. Song Moo-geun, a researcher at Samsung Electronics, said he joined the volunteer activity "to contribute to society with a humble gesture." "I took part in the volunteer activity twice in 2017 and 2018. I will join the activity in 2019, too," Song said. Samsung Electronics and its affiliates have supported daily necessities worth 300 million won ($267,000) every year and the cumulative amount of the support fund reached 5 billion won. Samsung Electronics employees decorate a Christmas tree with children at a child care center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 20. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Nam Hyun-woo Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) was fined 10.8 billion won ($9.59 million) for abusing its power by unilaterally setting low prices for its subcontractors, Korea's antitrust authority said, Wednesday. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) also said it will file a charge against the shipbuilder with the prosecution, saying DSME's practice was an abuse of its power as the ordering body. According to the FTC, DSME did not issue documents containing details of 1,817 contracts before 27 subcontractors began building vessels and offshore plant facilities from 2013 to 2016. By doing so, the subcontractors had to start work without full knowledge of the workload or price, and they were coerced into agreeing to the payment documents that were written unilaterally by DSME. "While issuing contract documents afterwards, DSME forged dates and contracting periods to make it appear as if those documents were written before the work begin," an FTC official said. The FTC also said DSME unilaterally set excessively low subcontracting prices by using an "unfair" formula that did not reflect the subcontractors' actual workload. The watchdog said the prices were far lower than what the subcontractors were supposed to receive and were even below the industry average. The FTC's punishment will deal a serious blow to the shipbuilder, which has been showing signs of recovery from the global shipbuilding slump in recent months. "Those subcontractors were 100 percent relying on DSME's orders, but it seems the shipbuilder cruelly exploited their weak status and its power," the FTC official said. "The FTC will continue investigating other shipbuilders and issue stern measures should they be found to have committed illegalities." Sempio CEO Park Jin-sun / Korea Times file By Park Jae-hyuk Sempio Foods, the nation's leading soy sauce maker, has come into conflict with its workers since it urged them to agree on the company's use of their location data with a smartphone app, according to industry officials, Wednesday. The employees regard the employer's demand as an attempt to trace their locations in real time. According to the 72-year-old food firm, Sempio salespeople who visit their customers can receive fuel expenses, only if they send their business logs and photos of their dashboards to the finance department via the company's smartphone app. A user of Blind, an anonymous chat app for verified employees, wrote on the app that his colleagues fear they will be under surveillance twenty-four seven. "The location data will be collected with each employee's personal smartphone as our employer does not give employees company cell phones," said the user who claimed to be a Sempio Foods employee. "We use our smartphones when we are off-duty, so the company will be able to trace our locations twenty-four seven." A consent form Sempio distributed to its salespeople Dec. 13. It states the company wants to collect their location data to pay for their fuel costs and manage their sales performance. / Screen captured from Blind app 2018 might have been a challenging year for many people, but it was unquestionably a good one for publishers. This year saw the release of impactful books in a number of genres, from debut short story collections to fascinating biographies. Here are seven presses from around the world that had a great 2018: Coffee House Press: The 34-year-old Minneapolis nonprofit has long been known for publishing fiction, poetry and essay collections that break boundaries and defy easy classification. This year, Coffee House Press introduced the world to Roque Larraquys darkly comic novel Comemadre, May-Lan Tans beautiful short story collection Things to Make and Break and Justin Phillip Reeds National Book Award-winning poetry collection Indecency. Counterpoint Press: The Berkeley-based publisher is one of the most reliable independents in the business. This year, the publishing house reissued books by legendary author Mary Robison, and published remarkable fiction by Karen E. Bender (The New Order), Abby Geni (The Wildlands), Victoria Patterson (The Secret Habit of Sorrow) and Valerie Trueblood (Terrarium). Advertisement Europa Editions: Perhaps best known as the American publisher of Elena Ferrantes books, Europa Editions had a remarkable run this year thanks to Negar Djavadis Disoriental and Domenico Starnones Trick, both of which landed on the shortlist for the National Book Awards new prize for translated literature. This year also saw the publication of American author Nick Arvins excellent Mad Boy, a historical novel about the War of 1812. Graywolf Press: It was another great year for the Minneapolis-based indie outfit, which published Jamel Brinkleys critically acclaimed debut short story collection, A Lucky Man. It made the National Book Award shortlist and is a finalist for the National Book Critics Circles John Leonard Award for Best First Book. Other 2018 standouts from the small press include Daisy Johnsons Everything Under, which was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize, and Anna Burns Milkman, which took home the British literary award. Oxford University Press: The British publisher has been putting out books since 1586, and it continued its remarkable run this year with UC Santa Barbara professor Jeffrey C. Stewarts National Book Award-winning The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke. The biography was one of two Oxford University Press books to land on the National Book Award for Nonfiction shortlist, along with Colin G. Calloways The Indian World of George Washington: The First President, the First Americans, and the Birth of the Nation. Riverhead Books: The Penguin imprint is known for publishing high-quality literary fiction and nonfiction as well as its innovative cover designs. Notable 2018 books by the press include Lauren Groffs Florida, R.O. Kwons The Incendiaries and Sigrid Nunezs The Friend, which saw a spike in sales after it won the National Book Award for Fiction. Two Dollar Radio: The Columbus, Ohio, press brings a punk-rock ethos to the books its been publishing for more than a decade, and the brick-and-mortar bookstore complete with a full bar it has run since 2017. This year, Two Dollar Radio put out some remarkable books including Katya Apekinas stunning novel The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish and Eleanor Krisemans acclaimed debut The Blurry Years. Los Angeles attorney Larry Stein has long depended on Carroll & Co. in Beverly Hills for his wardrobe staples. But the 70-year-old store that once defined a certain kind of high-end, conservative style for politicians, professionals and celebrities is planning to close at the end of January. Stein, a partner at Latham and Watkins, pointed to his attire, from his dapper Zegna suit down to his color-coordinated wingtips, noting that everything but the tie was bought at Carroll & Co. I dont know what Im going to do, Stein, 57, said. Its very sad. Im really going to miss it. That the stalwart menswear store is selling the last of its made-to-measure suits and shirts says a lot about changes facing retailers, even in Beverly Hills Golden Triangle, as well as the value of a well-placed property. Advertisement President John Carroll, son of founder Richard Carroll, said that the companys North Canon Drive store is worth far more than any clothing he could sell. Those six or eight quality mens stores that were in Beverly Hills are now gone, said Carroll, 54, attributing the decline to online competition and rising rents. My father was smart enough to buy our building over 20 years ago, and thats one reason were closing down this store. Its become more of a real estate issue than a retail issue. John Carroll is president of Carroll & Co., the 70-year-old clothing store in Beverly Hills started by his father, Richard. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Carroll & Co. was a post-World War II first for the Westside, said Ilse Metchek, president of the California Fashion Assn. It was the first contemporary mens store in Beverly Hills, Metchek said. Before then, it wasnt really an American look to be dressed up. Before Carrolls, to be well dressed and well groomed, you either had to look like an Englishman or an Italian. Irritation was part of its genesis. Carroll said his father, a former Warner Bros. publicist, was fed up with having to drive downtown to Brooks Brothers to buy a suit. Carroll said his father was encouraged to open his own clothing store because he had always been an elegant, sartorial kind of guy. He had made a number of Hollywood contacts in his years as a publicist, and that really was the foundation for starting his clothing business. The movie industry noticed the carefully crafted and conservative style found not only in Carroll & Co.s professional clothes but also in the casual attire, Metchek said. Hollywood looked at this and said, That is our look. That is our story, Metchek said. The Cary Grants and the sweaters and the V-necks. Thats all Carroll. There was no sportswear look coming from anywhere else but his store, and everyone else copied that look. The movies were driving it. John Carroll put it this way: Anybody that you can think of who has a long history in Hollywood, one way or another, they have worn something from Carroll & Co. Mens jackets line a rack at Carroll & Co. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Cary Grant were among the leading men who were outfitted at Carroll & Co., he said. Frank Sinatra sent a note about a Carroll & Co. suit. It swings, Sinatra enthused. Paul Newman quipped that his new clothes fit terrific, however I did not receive the garter belt. Walter Matthau wondered jokingly how many sweaters can I get for the Oscar he had just won for best supporting actor in 1967. On the political front, Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote thanking Richard Carroll for a shirt he planned to wear to Baja. Jimmy Carter wore a Carroll & Co. tie while delivering one of his State of the Union addresses. The look, Carroll said, was the result of his fathers countless trips to Europe. He went to Scotland. He went to England. He traveled to Italy, and this was in the 1950s, and that was not an easy trip back then, Carroll said. If you wanted to find material, if you wanted to find knitters, the quality people, they didnt have offices in London. You would have to go to them, he said. On other occasions, Carroll said, his father would camp out in a hotel and put out ads in publications commonly read by tailors. He would say, Richard Carroll will be in residence at this hotel, and people would come down on the train and they would show him their collections, Carroll said. Decades before mass mailings and social media, Carroll said, his father used a little trick, sending hundreds of postcards to customers in America saying he was in Europe finding the best new styles, made to fit the warm Southern California climate. Carroll & Co. also has provided clothing for decades of films and TV series, all the way up to Ray Donovan, currently on Showtime. Carroll & Co. general manager Stuart Newmark, left, helps longtime customer Larry Stein with a new jacket. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) The Rodeo Drive version of the store, at the corner of Little Santa Monica Boulevard, has been credited with boosting the retail credibility of the once-sleepy street. It became a place for customers to have coffee and talk deals. Whenever Sinatra was in the store, someone made sure only Sinatra music was playing. Comedian Don Rickles liked insulting everyone in the store. Famous violinist Jascha Heifetz brought his instrument and played for a few minutes to make sure his suits wouldnt feel tight during performances. The closing announcement was kind of a shocker to most people, said Todd Johnson, chief executive of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce. Joseph Nunes, chairman of the marketing department at USCs Marshall School of Business, said consumers shift to e-commerce has reached well beyond shopping malls and large retail chains to expensive brands and bespoke clothing stores. There are a lot of online competitors, Nunes said. You can send in your measurements and have a shirt made for far less than what Carroll & Co. would charge. The California Fashion Assn.s Metchek said all of the old legendary brands are having a problem, unless they have dramatically changed, like Gucci, where its now hip-hop. The legacy look is not fashionable. Carroll & Co. prices are not for everyones budget, even during a going-out-of-business sale. Shoes run from $295 for a classic loafer to $895 for a wingtip brogue. Wool and cashmere dress pants approach $400. Shirts run from $195 to $395. Sport coats run from $1,195 to $1,575. Just browsing the store is an experience. One wall displays more pants suspenders than most people have seen in a lifetime. Memorabilia is everywhere. One photo features a 7-foot, 2-inch UCLA freshman, then named Lew Alcindor, being fitted for a suit by a tailor who was 4 feet 11. Even standing on a chair, tailor Frank Cudas head was still below future Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbars shoulders. Another shows a young John Carroll selling plastic hangers for 5 cents apiece to five-time Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Carroll began hanging around the family store at age 11. He took over as president in 1996, the year the store moved to 425 N. Canon Drive from Rodeo Drive. Richard Carroll died in 2003 at age 80. Carroll & Co. has long catered to celebrities and the affluent. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) John Carroll said he isnt getting out of the clothing business entirely; he just doesnt want to run a store. Hes considering a custom clothing operation of some kind in the future. But the decision has not been easy. Theres a lot of history, not just because its a family business, Carroll said, adding that he has known some employees and customers for as long as 40 years. So to them and to me, Carroll said, closing is kind of like losing a family member in a lot of ways. Longtime customers such as 54-year-old Joshua Berlin feel the same way. Berlins father was a loyal Carroll & Co. customer who also bought Berlins first suit there when I was 14 or 15. So I, of course, got my sons first blazer and suit here as soon as he was big enough. Berlin added, Were obviously sad because its been a big part of our lives. ron.white@latimes.com For more business news, follow Ronald D. White on Twitter: @RonWLATimes Seven days a week, Martha Lopez arrived before dawn at the Target in Brentwood, Tenn., to make sure the store in the Nashville suburb gleamed for shoppers. For about two years, Lopez said, she emptied trash, scrubbed the toilets and polished the white floors to maintain the wet look the retailer demands. The pay wasnt bad, but payday gave her pause. Twice a month, her wages $11.50 an hour were loaded onto an electronic pay card shed been given. The card was stamped with somebody elses name: M Hernandez Cleme. Lopez didnt ask questions. As an immigrant who had entered the United States illegally, she had learned long ago to accept all kinds of oddities and indignities at work. Then, this year, the pay card stopped working. She complained to her boss and eventually got a new card. This one had no name. Lopez lost several weeks pay in the transition, she said, but her boss told her she could gripe all she wanted no one would listen. Shed been working under the name of a person whod left long ago, she recalled him saying, so there would never be any record that shed even picked up a broom on this job. They always told me I didnt exist on their system, Lopez said. Como una fantasma. Like a ghost. Advertisement Lopez wasnt working directly for Target but rather for a company called Diversified Maintenance Systems, which has had contracts to clean Target Corp. stores across the country since 2003. The company has faced serious allegations of labor violations in lawsuits and regulatory actions previously including claims that it put undocumented immigrants to work under assumed names, as Lopez describes. Amid the searing debate over President Trumps immigration crackdown, Diversified and other contractors have provided a way for some of Americas biggest employers including Target and Walmart Inc. to effectively benefit from cheap, undocumented labor without fear of meaningful penalties. Diversified, Walmart and Target all say they dont hire undocumented workers. Its illegal, of course, to hire such workers, but the law says that to be in violation, an employer must knowingly make the hires. That has created opportunities for U.S. staffing companies, an industry that employs an estimated 15 million people. As they provide major U.S. companies with workers for the dirty, low-paid or dangerous jobs that few Americans want, many such firms also give their clients something else: plausible deniability regarding the workers immigration status. This backdoor labor supply sometimes involves the use of assumed names, including those of former workers. In one case, undocumented Venezuelans helped repair a storm-damaged Walmart, but the contractor for that job said a subcontractor supplied the workers and should be held responsible. That template using layers of contractors can frustrate attempts to hold companies accountable. Despite Trumps call for stepped-up enforcement, it has been rare for federal agents to unearth corporate wrongdoing in such arrangements. When they do, its rarer still for any executives to face consequences. Some labor contractors are kind of like a shield for major companies that are bringing in immigrant labor, said Tim Bell, executive director at the Chicago Workers Collaborative, an advocacy group for temp workers. They reap the fruits of their labor but dont take on any potential liability that that kind of hiring would incur liability for violations of labor laws such as discrimination, wage theft, dangerous workplaces and sexual harassment. This month, a few days after Bloomberg asked about Lopezs case, Target said it would cancel its contract with Diversified in Tennessee and order heightened scrutiny of all the firms work. Allegations of Diversifieds use of undocumented immigrants in Target stores previously came to light in a workers lawsuit in 2011 and again more than a year ago. In a sense, Targets decision to now take a closer look traces to a morning in October when Lopez walked into Targets Brentwood store. She had grown desperate to recover her back wages, which she said amounted to almost $4,000 for more than a months work. She needed the money for her three children still living in Mexico. Shed been sending them cash for almost 20 years, ever since she followed a coyote across the desert into California. A big loophole American businesses dependence on immigrant labor took root decades ago. When workers shipped overseas to fight in World War I, the U.S. government admitted large numbers of Mexicans to work untended farm fields. They were repatriated to Mexico when the Great Depression hit, then were called upon again during World War II. After the U.S. troops came home looking for work, Congress made it a crime to harbor, transport, or conceal undocumented immigrants. But farmers in Texas, worried theyd lose a cheap labor source, won an exemption: Employers who hired undocumented workers couldnt be held criminally liable. The loophole became known as the Texas Proviso. In 1986, as the number of undocumented immigrants apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol reached a record 1.7 million, President Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. It gave amnesty to nearly 3 million undocumented immigrants and created the first potential sanctions for employers. But the business lobby won what was essentially a modernized version of the Texas Proviso: The government would have to show that companies had knowingly hired undocumented workers. Moreover, the act stipulated that if an employer views a workers document that reasonably appears on its face to be genuine, he or she has satisfied the law and could even be penalized for discrimination by rejecting it or asking for additional proof. That led to a cottage industry of fake-document makers, said Muzaffar Chishti, an attorney at the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute. It became a big loophole, Chishti said. Employers who had become used to hiring unauthorized workers told them, Go and get me documents. The law tasked government agents with enforcing its employment provisions activity that the Trump administration has vowed to increase. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, federal officials reported opening 6,848 work site investigations, quadruple the prior years total. In fiscal 2017, 1,730 employers were subjected to enforcement-related actions for hiring illegal workers, according to the latest figures from the Department of Homeland Security. According to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, thats about 0.03% of employers. Unwritten official policy With 1,800 stores and 350,000 employees, Target promotes itself as a national leader in corporate social responsibility and workers rights. But its cleaning contractor, Diversified, has drawn controversy. When Diversified janitors who cleaned Target stores and other big-box retailers in Minnesota filed a lawsuit in 2011, they alleged violations of labor law, such as being required to work without breaks or overtime pay. They also detailed how they were instructed to clock in using the identifying information of former workers whose names remained in Diversifieds computer system. The assumed identities were known by workers and managers as ghost employees. The workers described getting electronic pay cards in other peoples names, which they dubbed ghost cards. In a sworn statement filed in the lawsuit, Marco Alvarez, a former Diversified area manager in Minnesota, said hiring undocumented workers to clean Target stores was an unwritten official policy for the contractor in multiple states. Diversified was hiring people, intentionally and knowingly, who did not have proper status so they could avoid paying overtime, he said. Diversified denied any wrongdoing and settled the suit in 2013 for $675,000, according to court documents. When Target then sought bids on a new contract for its Twin Cities stores, Diversified didnt submit one. But Target kept the company on elsewhere. A Target spokesperson said the retailer had retained Diversified in the other locations because, at the time, it was unaware of any additional labor or immigration complaints about the firm. As of Dec. 1, Diversifieds janitors were cleaning 400 Target stores in 23 states. Its website also lists more than a dozen other major U.S. companies as customers. An attorney for Diversified, Meredith Gaunce, said the firm doesnt hire undocumented workers. This has never been company practice, Gaunce said, adding that its managers confirm applicants eligibility with the E-Verify system. If an undocumented person did perform work, then clearly there was an intent to evade company rules and procedures. Martha Lopez said she began working for Diversified days after arriving in Nashville from Los Angeles in December 2012. A friend told her about a job notice tacked to the bulletin board at their neighborhood Latino market. She called about it, and the woman who answered put her to work before dawn the next day, cleaning a Target store. The woman promised to pay her in cash, no questions asked, and handed her the pay card assigned to M Hernandez Cleme, Lopez said. They always told me that person had papers and had been in their system for many years, said Lopez, 42. So thats how they could pay me. Gaunce confirmed that the name on the pay card belongs to a former employee but said she had seen no evidence that any Diversified manager distributed ex-workers pay cards to current employees. She also said the company was unaware that Lopez is undocumented, and the firm has been unable to corroborate her claims of unpaid wages. Gaunce said the firm does have a record of employing Lopez, though it dates to 2013, ending Dec. 24 that year. Lopez said she worked cleaning five Target stores in the Nashville area for Diversified over about 5 years. She had four managers over that time, she said, and they all had her use the same pay card until it stopped working early this year. Lopez said that by the time her manager replaced the card weeks later with one that said DMS Employee shed racked up $3,708.75 in unpaid wages. In August, shed had enough. She was tired of the schedule seven days a week with no overtime and no time for breaks, she said so she quit. Eventually, Lopez met some people from an immigrant labor advocacy group called Dignidad Obrera. Staff members told her about two janitors who last year also said theyd been shorted by Diversified and collected from the company. Like Lopez, the men said they were given pay cards with other peoples names. One was issued to a woman named Alma Hernandez; the other to Angel Amaro, the workers said. Gaunce said both are names of former Diversified employees. On Aug. 17, 2017, Gaunce sent an email agreeing to pay double what the men were seeking, without disputing or admitting to any of their allegations. The lawyer asked that in return, the men stop their protests, the email shows. Gaunce told Bloomberg that the companys internal investigations found no merit to the mens complaints, but we wanted to ensure nothing had been miscommunicated or had evaded our processes. Lopez was inspired by their success. She and another Mexican immigrant who had worked with her cleaning the Brentwood store reached out to Dignidad Obrera. The group, which doesnt inquire about workers immigration status, helped her write a letter to Diversified demanding double their back pay. On Sept. 19, Lopez received a letter from Gaunce asking for more documentation of her work for Diversified because the firms records indicated she hadnt been active in the payroll system for more than four years. I hope you can understand our confusion, the letter said. Lopez took her grievance to Targets front door. That October morning, she and three fellow members of Dignidad Obrera gathered beside the customer service desk in the Brentwood store to give their complaint letter to a manager and ask for help. When the store manager refused to accept the letter, Lopez was taken aback. You guys work through Diversified, the manager said, according to a video of the encounter. We, unfortunately, dont have any ability to do anything directly for you. After Bloomberg asked about Lopezs allegations, Target met this month with Diversifieds chief executive, Derek Gordon. According to a Target executive familiar with the meeting, Gordon pledged to investigate and address the issues raised. Target spokeswoman Jenna Reck said the retailer is firmly committed to responsible business conduct and we hold our team, business partners and vendors to the highest standards. We require our vendors to follow all applicable laws and regulations for their business. A few days after the meeting with Gordon, Target said it would cancel Diversifieds contract in Tennessee. It also said that because of the allegations, it would order a more extensive look into all the contractors work for Target, as part of a scheduled annual audit. The auditors findings will inform the next steps for our national contract with Diversified in 22 other states, Reck said. Diversified said it has always performed well in Targets annual audits and will cooperate with this one. We appreciate their concern for their brand in light of these unwarranted claims, it said in a statement. As for Lopezs allegations, Diversified said she and the workers group hadnt provided sufficient proof of her claims, but it paid her anyway. A check in the amount Lopez had demanded arrived last week bearing her real name. Smith and Etter write for Bloomberg. When T-Mobiles chief executive went before Senate lawmakers this year to make the case for his companys merger with Sprint, he argued that the deal could help preserve U.S. dominance in high-tech wireless networks for smartphones and other devices. Well make sure America wins the global 5G race, John Legere vowed. 5G will unlock capabilities that will fuel job creation and innovation well beyond what we have seen so far. T-Mobile isnt the only carrier touting the amazing new capabilities of 5G, or fifth-generation data networks. The entire industry has spent much of the year marketing a dazzling future one in which the successor to 4G LTE enables entirely new technologies, such as self-driving cars and remote medicine. But despite the hype, 5G is still a long way from becoming a reality for everyday Americans. As companies such as AT&T and Verizon trade barbs over which one technically arrived first to the technology, analysts say the first 5G-capable smartphones wont even arrive on the market until next year at the earliest. And with carriers largely switching on their 5G networks in select cities at first, it will take years for 5G to become as commonplace as 4G LTE is today. Advertisement Its encouraging to see American cellular providers really jumping out in the forefront and deploying aggressively these advanced networks which could have some real advantages for consumers, said Glenn Derene, an editor at Consumer Reports. But Derene has little advice for shoppers who have asked him whether they should buy a 5G-capable phone. When you look to the markets to see what a 5G phone is like, there arent any. Certainly, Consumer Reports cant comment on how good these phones will be until we get them in our lab. In recent months, wireless carriers have made significant advances toward deploying 5G, though those achievements come with important caveats. 5G service rolls out but not without controversy In October, Verizon announced that it had activated 5G service for customers in four cities, including Los Angeles. The product is not meant for use outside the home; instead, its being offered as a stand-in for residential internet service. Still, its a potentially transformative offering households with only one wired internet provider might soon have an additional choice. But it isnt mobile data in the way consumers tend to think of it. This month, AT&T said it too had switched on its 5G service, announcing that it is the first and only company in the U.S. to offer a mobile 5G device over a commercial, standards-based mobile 5G network. The catch: Access is limited for now to a select group of businesses and consumers in a dozen cities, and it requires the use of a mobile hotspot. Sprint says it plans to launch its mobile 5G service in the first half of next year. Until its merger with T-Mobile is approved and complete, executives have said, Sprint will continue to operate as though nothing has changed. The proposed deal last week received a blessing from national security officials, though it must also get approval from the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission. As for when well see the first 5G-capable smartphone? Industry analysts say the consensus appears to be the first quarter of 2019. As for which company will make that first phone, I think the expectation is probably Samsung, said Walt Piecyk, an analyst at the research firm BTIG. Fung writes for the Washington Post. Huawei, the worlds largest supplier of telecommunications gear, has shipped more smartphones than it ever has. The Chinese company announced this week that its 2018 shipments exceeded 200 million devices, despite a Trump administration crackdown and increasing scrutiny from other national governments. Chinas largest privately held company and the worlds second-biggest smartphone maker said its phone shipments increased more than 30% from last year. In the global smartphone market, Huawei has gone from being dismissed as a statistical other to ranking among the top 3 players in the world, Huawei said in a statement, according to CNET. Earlier this year, Huawei topped Apple in the number of smartphone units shipped, and it ranks behind only one other company, Samsung. Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement of record-setting phone sales arrives amid increasing tensions between the company and the U.S. government and allies. Huaweis chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada this month at the request of the U.S. government; she is accused of committing fraud to evade sanctions on Iran. Beijing has pushed for her release and suggested that her arrest was part of a U.S. effort to gain an advantage in the U.S.-China trade war. Advertisement Several U.S. allies have followed the Trump administration in largely barring the use of Huawei devices. They cite a risk that the companys technology could be used to inform Chinese intelligence officers aiming to spy on or disrupt foreign governments, military agencies and corporations. Australia, Britain and New Zealand have joined the United States in blocking Huawei from their next-generation 5G mobile network. And this month, Japan effectively banned Huawei and another Chinese tech provider, ZTE, from government contracts to prevent potential leaks of sensitive data. Huawei and the Chinese government have cast the blacklisting as politically motivated and denied wrongdoing. Huawei has posted significant growth even as several governments have moved against it. The company said its record-breaking shipments were largely fueled by the demand for its P20, Honor 10 and Mate 20 smartphones. According to November data released by the research firm IDC, Huawei clams more than 14% of the global smartphone market, behind Samsungs 20%, which is sliding. Huaweis head of consumer business has said it is possible the Chinese firm will become the worlds top smartphone maker by the end of 2019, pointing to strong growth in Europe and China. Shaban writes for the Washington Post. Sister Wendy Beckett, the cloistered nun who ventured out of seclusion to become a celebrity art critic and historian, died Wednesday at Englands Carmelite Monastery Quidenham in Norfolk, according to the BBC. She was 88. From the time she appeared in her first art appreciation program on BBC in 1991, Becketts provocative and witty commentaries captured the attention of museum curators, book publishers and art critics as well as art lovers around the world. She graduated from Oxford University as an honor student in literature in 1954 but taught herself the history of art from the hermits trailer where she lived on the grounds of a Carmelite monastery in Norfolk, England. Museum postcards and exhibition catalogs were her main research materials. Beckett began her art career as a magazine critic, reviewing exhibitions for small British art journals in the mid-1980s and published her first art book, Contemporary Women Artists, in 1988. Advertisement At an art exhibit in Norfolk, where a BBC camera crew happened to be taping a documentary about feminist author Germaine Greer, Beckett was asked to give her impression of the show on tape. It launched her television career. She cut an unconventional figure for a television personality with her black nuns habit and oversized eyeglasses. Critics pointed to her gapped teeth and her way of pronouncing r as if it were w. Her producers were more impressed by the pithy, ad-lib analyses she could fit neatly into a soundbite, a feat that won her a reputation as one-take Wendy. From the airing of her first series, Sister Wendys Odyssey, in 1992, she evaluated artworks as if the artist were standing beside her. Shame on you, Degas, she scolded the French Impressionist for portraying women in gawky poses. You have a cold heart. Her unique style drew close to 4 million viewers, mesmerized by her billowing black robes and unpretentious observations. Odyssey was the most successful BBC art program since Kenneth Clarks Civilisation, which aired in the United States 23 years earlier. For all of her unique features as a commentator, it was Becketts ease in describing nude paintings that most confounded her viewers. Standing before a double nude portrait by modern British painter Stanley Spencer, she observed, I love all those glistening strands of his hair. And her pubic hair is so soft and fluffy. For the rest of her life she was asked to explain her views on sex. The body is Gods creation, like a tree, only better designed, she once replied. God looked at his creation and said, It is good. In another interview she added, Theres too much puritanical fear of pleasure. She was fully aware that a woman of the cloth could scare some people off. They might think a nun had church-y designs on them, she admitted. But her unorthodox spiritual insights suggested otherwise. Im all for atheists, she once announced. They have rejected the false god. Now its on to find the true one. In 1999, Beckett visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for her series on U.S. museums, called Sister Wendys American Collection. By then, her videos were sold in bookstores and used in art appreciation classes. Schoolchildren ran to her side when they saw her crossing the county museums plaza. At lunchtime, her waiter sang to her on bended knee beside her chair. Becketts frequent director, David Willcock, referred to her as Wens and marveled at the effect she had on strangers. Captains of industry rush around to find her a needle and thread, he said of a typical day with Sister Wendy. Socialites give up their cab for her. Some of her art world colleagues criticized her lack of exposure to original works of art, but she had at least as many admirers. Graham Beal who was artistic director of LACMA in 1999, first met Beckett by mail decades earlier when he was with the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She wrote, asking for a catalog of a George Segal sculpture exhibit. Beal sent it to her without charge. Several years later, he moved to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and postcards from the Norfolk monastery arrived there. When he finally met her at LACMA, Beal understood. I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge, even of artists who are not well known, he said. I guess Im not the only one she was writing to. She was born Wendy Beckett, in East London, South Africa, one of two children. Her father was a bank clerk who later changed careers to be a doctor. From the time I was age 2, my family knew that I would be a nun, she once said. When she was a child, her family moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where her father attended medical school before they returned to South Africa. At 16, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in England and began religious life as Sister Michael. Later, as an act of humility, she reclaimed her given name. She didnt like Wendy. It made her think of Peter Pan. At Oxford University, as a student in her early 20s, Beckett lived in a nuns hostel and soon after graduation moved back to South Africa to teach in a religious school. But persistent heart trouble and a history of epilepsy drained her strength. Health problems combined with the dream of a contemplative life, which she had abandoned when she entered her order of teaching nuns, led Beckett back to England. In the early 1970s, she was released from her vows as a Sister of Notre Dame and changed her religious status to consecrated virgin, with the blessing of the Vatican. From then on, she was not a member of any religious order but continued to wear a homemade black habit, a variation on the one she wore as a Sister of Notre Dame. Asked once to explain her choice, she said, I am a nun. I will always be a nun. She had spent more than 20 years in a convent, perfecting the ways of religious life. As a hermit, she did not feel the need to belong to any particular order. The Carmelites offered her a home on their property and took care of her for the rest of her life. They delivered her meals to the unheated trailer where she slept on the floor, surrounded by towers of art books. She in turn contributed most of her income to the convent. By 2002, Beckett had published some 20 books and completed 11 art programs for public television. Royalties and residuals amounted to an income large enough for her to replace her trailer-hermitage for a newer model, with heat, and to put aside some money for her retirement, as well as help pay the convents expenses. As her fame grew, her passion for military history, crossword puzzles and detective stories became public knowledge. Asked how she managed to read so many crime novels, Beckett had a quick answer. A person can pray and read at the same time. Often in frail health, she spent most of her public life in a wheelchair and only stood up to deliver her light, witty comments before the camera. She once said she persisted because she had a calling to talk about art in ways the average person could appreciate. If you dont know about God, art is the only thing that can set you free, she explained. It challenges the human spirit to accept a deeper reality. One of her last programs was Sister Wendy at the Norton Simon Museum, which aired in October 2002. By then, viewers were accustomed to her mischievous humor and unconventional views. Pausing before the 16th century Italian painting Madonna and Child With Book, by Raphael, she zeroed in on the hefty baby Jesus. Reminding viewers that this child was the son of God in Christian theology, she offered her unconventional best advice. Dont think, fat little bloke, she said. Think young sumo wrestler. Beckett is survived by her sister, Barbara. Gov. Jerry Browns Christmas Eve acts of clemency captured the attention of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who in 2018 emerged as a champion for the wrongly convicted. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star, who helped secure a presidential pardon for grandmother Alice Marie Johnson a week after her May 30 White House visit with President Trump, praised Browns order for new tests of physical evidence in the decades-old quadruple-murder conviction of Kevin Cooper. Just saw the press release from Governor Brown regarding Kevin Cooper! Such amazing news! said a Monday tweet from the cosmetics maven, who along with husband Kanye West, has publicly taken interest in prison reform. Kardashian retweeted the statement, which said that the outgoing California governor was directing limited retesting of certain physical evidence in the case and appointing a retired judge as a special master to oversee this testing, its scope and protocols. Advertisement Just saw the press release from Governor Brown regarding Kevin Cooper! Such amazing news! pic.twitter.com/GUVIgcQYDq Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 25, 2018 Kardashian surprised fans and followers with her advocacy for criminal justice reform this year. First there was the White House visit lto advocate for Johnson, a woman serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. She worked with White House senior advisor and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner to help persuade the president to commute Johnsons sentence. Then in September, Kardashian again visited the White House to discuss prison sentencing reform. At the meeting she also brought up the case of Chris Young, a Tennessee prisoner serving a life sentence on drug charges because of mandatory-sentencing regulations. Some even credit Kardashians advocacy with passage of the First Step Act, the criminal justice reform bill signed earlier this month by Trump. CNN commentator Van Jones told TMZ, If Kim Kardashian had not gone to the White House and talked to Donald Trump, we would not have passed this bill. It started with Ms. Alice, but looking at her and seeing the faces and learning the stories of the men and women Ive met inside prisons I knew I couldnt stop at just one, Kardashian tweeted about her September visit to the White House. Its time for REAL systemic change. The California case against Cooper dates back to 1983 when a mother, father, their 8-year-old daughter and an unrelated 11-year-old boy were found gruesomely stabbed to death in a Chino Hills home. Cooper had escaped from prison in Chino two days before the killings and was arrested about seven weeks later. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1985, but the case was appealed hours before his scheduled execution in 2004. Browns legal staff has been digging into Coopers 2016 clemency petition; meanwhile, Cooper, who has lost more than a dozen appeals, has maintained his innocence and claimed that law enforcement planted evidence and ignored statements by witnesses that pointed to other possible suspects. It started with Ms. Alice, but looking at her and seeing the faces and learning the stories of the men and women Ive met inside prisons I knew I couldnt stop at just one. Its time for REAL systemic change pic.twitter.com/kdKr8s6lJW Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) September 5, 2018 Twitter: @NardineSaad This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 14 years and 30,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. Controversial sitcom star Roseanne Barr is getting another opportunity to speak her mind, this time before the Israeli parliament. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach founder of the World Values Network and a personal friend of Barr announced Monday that the actress was embarking on a trip to Israel in January and has been invited to address parliament by Deputy Speaker Yechiel Hilik Bar. I very much look forward to my trip as a lover of Israel, Barr said via a news release on Monday. While I intend to further my own knowledge of Jewish and Israeli history, I have important work to do as a voice against the insidious and anti-Semitic BDS movement. (According to its website, The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement works to end international support for Israels oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.) News of the trip comes after a rough few months for the actress. Advertisement After the successful reboot of her eponymous sitcom in 2018, Barrs career hit the skids after she posted a racist tweet about former Obama administration advisor Valerie Jarrett. ABC quickly canceled Roseanne, replacing it with a Barr-less spin-off, The Conners, and sent the star packing. Barr is scheduled to address the Israeli parliament on Jan. 30. libby.hill@latimes.com Twitter: @midwestspitfire In the rare moments when the mystery spoof Holmes & Watson clicks, the movie is like a cross between a raunchy 80s comedy and a Daffy Duck cartoon. As super-detective Sherlock Holmes, Will Ferrell is just like Daffy, the overconfident hero, blustering his way into trouble. And as Dr. John Watson, John C. Reilly is Porky Pig, the long-suffering sidekick. Theyre a winning pair of losers. But while Ferrell and Reillys Daffy and Porky routine is good for a few chuckles, its likely to disappoint fans of the more sidesplitting numbskull buddies dynamic the duo perfected in their hits Talladega Nights and Step Brothers. Even the stars sometimes look befuddled about what theyre supposed to be doing, romping around Victorian London in a parody that never figures out what its mocking. Written and directed by Etan Cohen (who previously made the Ferrell vehicle Get Hard), Holmes & Watson starts with Arthur Conan Doyles master sleuth as a boy, learning to suppress his feelings so the bullies at school wont get to him. That odd prologue not that funny, not that relevant to the plot is the first big sign of trouble for Holmes & Watson. Cohen and Ferrell (who co-produced the picture) apparently wanted their Holmes to be as brilliant as Doyles, while still letting the star play to one of his strengths: acting like an overgrown child. Their solution? Make Holmes so emotionally stunted that hes kind of a drip to be around. Advertisement Fast-forward to the early 1900s, and Sherlock Holmes and his best friend, Dr. Watson, are two of the most famous people in England, thanks to their long battle of wits with criminal genius professor James Moriarty. But then Moriarty escapes justice, and threatens to kill the queen, putting the crime fighters reputation at risk. Ralph Fiennes plays Moriarty, in one of the movies many impressively cast supporting turns. Holmes & Watson also has Kelly Macdonald as the landlady/servant Mrs. Hudson, Hugh Laurie as Sherlocks brother, Mycroft, Rob Brydon as Inspector Lestrade, Steve Coogan as a shady one-armed tattoo artist and Rebecca Hall as a visiting American doctor who bewitches Watson. Cohen and company play around with the classic Holmes mythology. One of the more zingy recurring gags has Sherlock and Watson casually offering each other heroin and cocaine, riffing on Holmes frequent drug use in Doyles stories. One of the flatter bits has the hero trying out a bunch of different hats from scene to scene, looking for the one that will become his trademark. Otherwise, Holmes & Watson plays fast and loose with the source material, especially when it comes to historical context. Some of the anachronisms are just meant to be jokes, like the heroes using 100-year-old technology to take selfies and send drunken sexts. Others are lazier, like putting the Titanic into a story with Queen Victoria, who died a decade before that ship was built. True, its silly to nitpick the timeline in a Will Ferrell comedy. But that little goof speaks to a larger slackness. Cohen and his cast dont commit themselves to making fun of anything specific about Sherlock Holmes or the early 1900s; instead they just generally have a go at anything old-timey (like the way Reillys Watson pronounces the name of that exotic insect the mos-kwit-to). Because of the talent involved, every now and then Holmes & Watson hits on something bizarrely inspired: like Watson and his love interest getting sexually aroused while rubbing their hands over a gunk-covered corpse; or Holmes using his deductive skills to figure out where to aim while relieving himself in an alley. But too many of the movies gags land with a thud. An extended dig at President Trump comes off as smug. An Alan Menken-penned musical number is more clunky than magical. Multiple smutty scenes never build up any good scatological momentum because the pictures rated PG-13. Holmes & Watson is more of a well-meaning misfire than a total train wreck. Its frustrating mainly because all of these folks can do much better. They can be a lot Daffier. ------------- Holmes & Watson Rated: PG-13 for crude sexual material, some violence, language and drug references Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Playing: In general release ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies A trio of tiny salamander species could mean big trouble for federal officials spearheading a controversial $1.4-billion public works project to heighten the Shasta Dam in Northern California. Two environmental organizations the Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Protection Information Center filed a federal lawsuit last month asking a judge to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the Shasta salamanders should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity asked the wildlife service in 2012 to declare the amphibians either endangered or threatened, but the agency never made a decision, said Jenny Loda, an attorney for the environmental group. Under federal law, U.S. Fish and Wildlife was required to make a determination on the salamanders within a year. After six years passed with no ruling, the center decided to sue. Advertisement The move was prompted, in part, by the federal governments sudden momentum in efforts to raise the Shasta Dam nearly two stories, a project that environmentalists say would destroy the salamanders habitat and put them at risk of extinction. Salamanders were historically harmed by the original creation of the dam, Loda said. The dam turned a pretty small lake into a very large lake and flooded their habitat. They cant survive in the water like that. The Shasta salamander, a 4-inch lungless amphibian, lives in Shasta County. The animal is at the center of a federal lawsuit between environmental groups and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (U.S. Forest Service) The battle to raise the dams height has been waged for decades. The current fight underscores simmering tensions between the state and federal government and highlights the momentum with the current administration. Central Valley farmers are eager for the extra water it could mean for their crops, noting their growing operations are among the first to face restrictions during periods of drought or when water is redirected to save threatened and endangered species. In 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation completed a federal environmental analysis of raising the dam but shelved the project at the time because the bureau wanted local and state agencies to help shore up the cost. When Donald Trump was elected president, the project was injected with new life. Westlands Water District, which provides water to more than 1,000 square miles of farms in Fresno and Kings counties, offered to help fund it. Westlands was on a mission from God to finish this project, said Ron Stork, a senior policy analyst with Friends of the River. The Trump administration has let Reclamation staff and leaders express their inner reclamation after being repressed for so many years We can go out there and build some dams and who cares if its illegal. The California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, passed in 1972, prohibits the 602-foot structure from getting any taller. But in an era of tension between Washington and California, the states objection to the project isnt proving to be a deterrent for the Trump administration, which is moving forward with the plan. Among the animals touted in the states long-running fight over water are the Delta smelt, which live in San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and have been protected by the Endangered Species Act since 1993. Farmers for years have blamed the tiny freshwater fish for destroying their crops and putting them out of business. The lowly smelt even found itself in Trumps cross-hairs during the presidential campaign when he repeated the claim that the government was taking farmers water supply and shoving it out to sea to protect a certain kind of 3-inch fish. The smelts population has been falling for decades as huge volumes of freshwater are diverted through aqueducts and canals, allowing brackish water to infiltrate deeper into the delta and placing more stress on the tiny fish. Environmentalists, who contend that the Delta smelt is near extinction, have said that the species is considered the bellwether of the health of the delta ecosystem and that its dwindling numbers are an alarming signal for the states water crisis. Balancing water projects meant to serve farms and growing urban populations while protecting species that are impacted by the changes has become a recurring scenario in California, and a point of debate. One of the more straightforward reasons is because untangling the states issues surrounding water is challenging. Centering the conversation around a species is easier for people to wrap their minds around, said Travis Longcore, an urban ecologist and assistant professor at USC. Theres a lot of moving parts around this, and it gets boiled down to endangered species versus water and doesnt everybody need water? Longcore said. Its sometimes inappropriate to hang one agenda on the back of a species, but thats where the debate has been happening. Its also rooted in numbers. California is home to a large population of animals protected by the government, so the likelihood that one might be affected by an infrastructure project is greater. A lot of species end up being found in California and nowhere else, Longcore said. The state is a biodiversity hot spot. Federal officials contend that increasing the height of the New Deal-era Shasta Dam the largest reservoir in California is necessary and would allow it to store even more water and improve reliability for agricultural and other uses. The situation with the Shasta Dam became more urgent for environmentalists in March when Congress approved $20 million to jump-start the heightening project. The Bureau of Reclamation, the division of the Interior Department overseeing the plan, expects to award initial construction contracts in early December 2019. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declined to comment on the lawsuit. Other environmentalists and fishing industry groups also have rallied against a bigger Shasta Dam. Those groups have said federal findings that some wildlife could benefit from the project are undermined by government scientific studies showing it would create serious problems, particularly for salmon. The Golden Gate Salmon Assn. is among the groups that have opposed the project. The plan also is staunchly opposed by the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, which already suffered the destruction of its homes and ancient burial sites when the dam was completed in the 1940s. Tribe officials have said raising the dam would inundate much of their remaining sacred ground. Despite all of the other opposition, it could be a 4-inch lungless amphibian thats found only in Shasta County that ultimately throws a wrench in the works. The Shasta salamander was considered one species until April when scientists split it into three species the Shasta salamander, the Samwel Shasta salamander and the Wintu Shasta salamander based on DNA analysis. Its unclear how many of the animals are in the area because there hasnt been research done to estimate their population, Loda said. If the wildlife service determines the salamanders are threatened with extinction, Loda said, the federal agency would have to assess the direct impacts raising the dam would have on the amphibians and help initiate a plan to raise the dam without harming the animals. But that task might not be so simple, according to Loda. Its just a bad idea overall, Loda said of the project. We dont think the benefit of having a little more water storage outweigh the risks. Its hard to see how they could do the project without having some impact. Their syllogism just isnt coming true anymore, said Stork of the Friends of the River. So, they keep pounding at the door and persuading people to fund feasibility studies and now we have the Trump administration, somebody that believes making America great again, and that comes with starting up a great new dam building era. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry The lights were not twinkling. The toy trains were not whirring. Even the nearby bathrooms were locked. The national Christmas tree, symbol of a countrys seasonal cheer, instead stood as an icon of a government in paralysis, as the partial shutdown stretched into the holiday with an array of federal services frozen, some 800,000 public servants either idled or about to be, and the disruption to the broader public bound to grow when the quiet spell ends later this week. Already facilities at many national parks were shuttered, if the parks were accessible at all, and thousands of federal buildings were to remain closed when the work week resumed unless President Trump and members of Congress quickly break through a budget impasse that the White House said could drag on into 2019. Under cloudy skies in a brisk wind on the third day of the shutdown, the capital put on little holiday wonder for visitors like Greg Forcherio of Columbia, Md., a government contractor with no office to work in after the holidays as long as federal buildings stayed closed. He, his wife and their toddler came Monday to see the giant, glittering spruce tree brought from Colorado to serve as the national Christmas tree, normally a focal point for Washington holiday visitors. Advertisement But a locked chain-link fence blocked access to the site, and the nearby White House visitors center and its bathrooms were closed, with a hand-scrawled sign directing visitors to portable toilets, which also were chained shut. Kind of annoying when youve got young children, Forcherio said. Access to the site was restored later Monday and finally, as night fell on Christmas Eve, the lights returned. The government had announced a day earlier that it would be sealed off because of the shutdown and because repairs had slowed after an episode of vandalism on the tree before the weekend. It reopened with money from the National Park Foundation, a charity. A labor organization representing U.S. Treasury employees said Monday that federal workers around the country were cutting back on spending and changing holiday plans with family because of the shutdown. Just in case anyone still thinks a partial shutdown over a holiday weekend is harmless, think again, Tony Reardon of the National Treasury Employees Union said in a statement. Your friends and neighbors around the country who work for the federal government are already showing signs of financial stress. In the mountain town of Gatlinburg, Tenn., Taylor Futch said the shutdown had already put extra stress on her family, whose sole income comes from her husband, a wildlife biologist who works with black bears for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With two young daughters, the couple is facing an $800 land payment due at the beginning of January as well as a mortgage, car payment and the usual bills. Were trying to gather up a couple things just in case I need to start selling stuff on Facebook or eBay, she said. If his paycheck doesnt get here on Friday, we may not have enough for the mortgage. Federal workers at the agencies affected by the gap in appropriations go unpaid as long as the shutdown lasts. They are expected to get retroactive pay once the impasse is broken. The shutdown affected national parks unevenly, some still accessible with bare-bones staffing levels, some operating with money from states or charitable groups and others locked off. Arizona and Utah officials implemented plans to keep open Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks and provide services such as public restrooms, shuttles and trash collection. Concession operations such as lodges remained open, and Utahs money for parks there included visitor centers. Among sites closed outright: in the Southwest alone, Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico; White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico; Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona; and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in south-central Arizona. Of the roughly 800,000 federal employees going without pay, more than half were deemed essential, such as U.S. Secret Service agents and Transportation Security Administration airport agents. About 380,000 were to be furloughed. Legislation ensuring that workers receive back pay was expected to clear Congress. The immediate impact was blunted by the timing of the shutdown spanning a weekend and now Christmas Eve and Christmas, both federal holidays. But there was little chance to solve anything before Thursday at the earliest, when the House and Senate return to work. Trump stayed at the White House, canceling plans to spend the holidays in Florida, and kept up a torrent of tweets on Monday about his critics and his insistence on money for a border wall, the issue at the heart of the budget dispute. Not far from those quarters, Terri Lyons, visiting from Rockville, Md., with her 27-year-old daughter as they do every Christmas, found the lights off at one of her favorite monuments, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, when she visited Sunday night. A single guide tried to show tourists around in the darkness. But people were drawn to the illuminated Lincoln Memorial, she said. It was the only one with lights. On Monday morning, standing at the fence surrounding the tree, Lyons listened to the foreign tourists around her and said she felt embarrassed. I feel for the people trying to visit from outside of the country, what they think of us, she said. When Danny Fouts was a young man, his daddy warned him about the dangers of working long hours in the mines. Youll end up killing yourself for nothing, just to make other men rich, Vernon chided his son when he put in 16-hour shifts. But Danny had always longed to work underground, just like his father and his grandfather. He took pride in taking on the heavy work other miners wouldnt do, squeezing into a dusty 3-foot-high workspace and slicing through rock with a massive cutting machine shaped like a chainsaw. He kept on even when he began to get short of breath, even when doctors told him he had black lung disease, an incurable illness caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Now 44 years old, Fouts is a young retiree. Advertisement Some of the inhalers Danny Fouts uses to help him breathe. (Silas Walker / For The Times) After nearly 2 decades in the mines, he is unable to work. His lungs operate at less than 45% of their capacity for a man his age, and his income has dropped from about $6,000 to $730 a month as he relies on state and federal disability benefits. Those benefits are now in question as the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, a federal safety net for miners when coal companies go bankrupt, faces a steep cut in funding. If Congress does not take action by the end of the year, the excise tax that coal companies pay on each ton of coal will be cut by 55%. Many coal miners across Appalachia fear that the fund, which is already $4.3 billion in debt, could become insolvent at a time when the region is experiencing a sharp resurgence of coal workers pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease. One in five working underground coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia with at least 25 years on the job suffer from black lung, the highest rate in a quarter of a century, according to a study published this year in the American Journal of Public Health. While advocacy groups for the miners are urging Congress to raise the black lung excise tax by 25%, or at least maintain the current rate, the National Mining Assn., the industrys leading trade organization, is insisting the rate was only supposed to be temporary and should be allowed to expire at a time when coal companies are competing against other energy sources and struggling to rebound after years of decline. A Government Accountability Office report this year warned that the fund is likely to accumulate more debt and is in danger of insolvency because of the planned cuts and dwindling coal production. The fund provides healthcare and disability payments of about $650 to $1,300 a month to more than 25,000 miners and their dependents. Dr. Brandon Crum talks with Jimmy Cline, 66, of Gilbert, W.Va., about this X-ray results on Dec. 20. Crum describes black lung as an epidemic in the region. (Silas Walker / For The Times) Whats the solution? said Wes Addington, an attorney and deputy director of the Appalachian Citizens Law Center. Do taxpayers pick up the bill for the deadly disease that the industry has caused or and this is the scarier thought for my clients do they cut benefits? Thats what were afraid of. Fouts is already struggling. If he lost his $450 a month from the fund, he would have to survive on his state compensation of $144 every two weeks, plus the $400 his wife, Jeannie, brings in every two weeks as a school bus driver. We cant live on that, he said. When Fouts first experienced shortness of breath in his 20s, he shrugged it off. At 27, he was diagnosed with black lung; doctors told him his lungs resembled those of a 100-year-old man. But he kept working. Partly because he loved the adventure of working underground and partly because he didnt want to give up $50 an hour good money in a region with few industries. When he and Jeannie got married, he had promised her he would take care of her for the rest of their lives. When I get to when I cant hold my promise, he said, I feel bad. For a short time, Fouts quit the mines on the advice of his doctor. But the couple struggled to pay their bills and they ended up having to declare bankruptcy and losing their Dodge Stratus. After four months, he went back to work. At 40, he finally decided he could not go underground anymore. I just couldnt produce, he said. Its like they took my manhood from me. Now simple tasks, from tinkering under the hood of his pickup truck to shooting pool or fishing for bass with his grandkids, leave him weak and struggling for breath. Even sitting, he can feel he is being smothered. Its like somebody is sitting on your chest all the time, he said, inhaling deeply as he sank his lanky frame and pot belly into his overstuffed brown sofa one day last week and covered his mouth and nose with a plastic mask hooked up to a life-support ventilator. Even though Fouts always knew he would eventually get black lung, just like his grandfather and father, he did not expect the symptoms to begin so soon or so severely. Fouts is one of a generation of younger Appalachian coal miners who is developing a more complicated and devastating form of the disease. Coal is a way of life, says Danny Fouts, whose father and many other relatives worked in coal mines and have black lung disease. (Silas Walker / For The Times) In the two decades after Congress passed the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act mandating regular mine inspections, strengthening health and safety standards and providing benefits for miners disabled by black lung documented cases of the disease fell significantly. Then, in the 21st century, experts began to notice a curious pattern. After opening a clinic in Coal Run Village in 2014, Dr. James B. Crum, 44, a radiologist and B-reader, certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to evaluate chest X-rays for black lung disease, was shocked to find men his own age or younger with progressive massive fibrosis, an aggressive and often fatal form of black lung. From 2014 to 2015, he documented 60 cases. One man was 29. Around here, it wasnt unusual for people to have black lung, but usually it was when they were in their 60s and 70s, said Crum, who comes from a family of coal miners and spent summers and weekends working in the mines as a teenager. We had never heard of anyone getting black lung in their 20s, 30s or early 40s. In a bid to try to figure out what is causing the increase, Crum has taken hundreds of detailed work histories from former miners with severe black lung. Part of the problem is that the largest coal seams in central Appalachia have been depleted, prompting coal companies to mine smaller seams that expose miners to a particularly toxic combination of silica and coal. Miners have also been working longer hours and using more-efficient technology, such as machines with spinning chisels that whirl up more dust. Jimmy Cline, 66, prepare a for a X-ray of his lungs. Cline worked in coal mines for 45 years in West Virginia and said he was only diagnosed in September of 2018. (Silas Walker / For The Times) An investigation published this month by National Public Radio and Frontline found more than 2,000 Appalachian coal miners suffered from advanced black lung disease between 2011 and 2016 far higher than the 99 cases reported by the federal National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health in the same years. Analyzing federal data recorded by dust-collection monitors, the report found that regulators knew miners were at risk from toxic silica dust but failed to take action. Coal miners across this rugged stretch of eastern Kentucky say they know they have been treated poorly and they worry about the future, but there is little consensus on who is to blame. With the demise of labor unions and the shuttering of coal mines as the industry faces more competition from other energy sources, political allegiances have shifted in this once staunchly Democratic region. Residents voted overwhelmingly for President Trump in 2016, heartened by his opposition to what he called a war on coal and his promises to bring jobs back to coal country. Some miners say the coal companies are responsible for not enforcing safety standards and hiring lawyers to contest workers compensation. Others blame the federal government for not stepping in to provide more medical and financial support. Many, like Fouts, struggle to make sense of what went wrong. I dont understand why we arent we taken care of, Fouts said one afternoon last week after joining a small group of former miners on a journey 100 miles west to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnells east Kentucky field office. We worked hard, you know? Fouts said. We helped this country tremendously as far as keeping power costs down. We paid in a lot of taxes. It aint like we can just go and change careers. Were broke down. Patty Amburgey, of Letcher, Ky., speaks about the death of her husband from black lung disease during a protest near the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the Laurel County Justice Center in London, Ky. (Alex Slitz / For The Times) McConnell, who is the Senate majority leader, was not at his office and a representative would not let the miners inside. So the crowd of about two dozen, many donning United Mine Workers of America caps and one in a Make America Great Again cap, huddled outside the office on Main Street holding up placards reading, BLACK LUNG KILLS. Reading from a yellow notepad, Kenny Fleming, 59, who worked 35 years in the mines, put the blame squarely on the coal companies, saying they were so bent on pursuing the almighty dollar that they did not follow government health and safety regulations. He speculated that if coal operators had rigorously followed ventilation rules, no miners would suffer from black lung. His own struggle for financial assistance after early retirement left him feeling disrespected and dishonored. It almost makes you feel like youve been kind of stupid, he said in a separate interview. Its demeaning when you enter into a contract to work with someone, and they come away with good health and fat bonus checks while you come away with deteriorating health. The least they could do is clean up the mess. Fouts agrees companies should fully compensate workers suffering from black lung, but he is reluctant to blame owners for wanting to maximize profits. The companies arent the ones trying to take our benefits, he said. Its the government that is throwing us to the side. Yes, many of the smaller companies did not follow health and safety regulations, often using curtains to funnel fresh air into the mine only when inspectors came, he said. But that, he said, was just business. If the company found out you were more worried about air quality than production, the next day somebody else would be doing your job, he said. They would just fire your ass; thats the way it was. Ultimately, Fouts said, he chose to work underground. He has few regrets other than that he was forced to retire early. Ive done it to myself, he said as he fiddled with an inhaler. Thats the career I chose. Id do it tomorrow if I could. I still dream about working in the mines, that Im running that piece of machinery. All hes asking for is compensation for his years of hard work. Were not begging for a handout, he said. We just want what we earned. Patty Amburgey, of Letcher, Ky., left and Linda Adams, of Pikeville, Ky., both members of the Black Lung Association of Southeastern Kentucky, shout slogans during a protest near the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. (Alex Slitz / For The Times) jenny.jarvie@latimes.com Twitter: @jennyjarvie Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Wednesday, Dec. 26, and heres whats happening across California: TOP STORIES After word spread about a renewed push by the Department of Homeland Security to get Vietnam to accept more deportees, some people saw it as a mistake by the Trump administration, given the GOPs fading strength in Orange County and the historical support that the Republican Party has gotten from Vietnamese Americans. But in a community where many older residents oppose illegal immigration and younger ones tend to lean left politically, the controversy is just the latest to underscore the generational divide among those of Vietnamese descent. Los Angeles Times Street racings toll Advertisement Since 2009, authorities have made arrests in more than half of cases where street racing was a suspected factor in a car crash where someone died. Those arrests rarely lead to significant jail time, according to a Times analysis of law enforcement and court records. For the family of Natalie Volkoff, this light punishment wasnt enough. Los Angeles Times Another child dies in custody An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died Christmas Eve in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities, the second death in less than three weeks of a child in detention and a searing new emblem of Trump administration border policies that critics are lambasting as cruel and inhumane. The boys death at a New Mexico hospital marked yet another grim inflection point in the wider immigration struggle that has roiled U.S. politics this year, stirring partisan passions and fueling outrage over the ongoing separation of hundreds of children from their parents at the border. Los Angeles Times Get the Essential California newsletter Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, center, and new L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, fourth from right, greet inmates after a Christmas Mass at Mens Central Jail. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) L.A. STORIES Mass in jail: On Christmas Day, the front pew of the jail chapel was empty reserved for Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and his entourage. But when Villanueva arrived, he chose a spot near the back. The VIP pew eventually was filled by some of the nearly 200 inmates who had gathered to celebrate Mass with the archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose H. Gomez, at Mens Central Jail. Los Angeles Times LOL: The Los Angeles and New York police departments are poking some fun at their perceived rivalry and wading into the hotly contested debate: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Los Angeles Times Making a list: Heres columnist Bill Plaschkes Christmas wish list for all the Southlands teams. Los Angeles Times IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER Tragedy in Mexico: A helicopter crash took the lives of the governor of Mexicos south-central Puebla state and her husband, a federal senator and former state governor, authorities said. Los Angeles Times Plus: ICE dumps hundreds of migrants with nowhere to go at a bus station on eve of Christmas without warning shelters. Texas Tribune Whats already built: Trump wants a border wall. See whats in place already. New York Times POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Making history in the O.C.: Californias youngest female mayor holds the gavel in Yorba Linda. Los Angeles Times Oops: The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued 2.3 million new IDs this year using a process that doesnt meet the federal governments standards, the DMV was told last month. Sacramento Bee Crunching the numbers: California is in danger of losing a House seat despite adding 2.3 million people. Quartz CRIME AND COURTS Another pardon: Heather Steels Burnett doesnt remember the name of the official-sounding man who called from Gov. Jerry Browns office. Only that his message brought tears to her eyes. The day before Christmas, the Chico resident received a full and unconditional pardon from Californias governor, erasing a 20-year-old drug offense from another, very different chapter in her life. Her husband had gotten one a few weeks earlier, as they deal with the loss of their home in the Camp fire. Los Angeles Times Plus: Brown is the most forgiving governor in modern California history. Cal Matters But: Mayor London Breeds plea for mercy for her brother, who is serving a 44-year prison sentence in the death of his girlfriend, was spurned by Gov. Jerry Brown. San Francisco Chronicle Nabbed: Authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man suspected of spray-painting swastikas on President Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, police said. Los Angeles Times THE ENVIRONMENT $$$$: Four researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have earned state grants to study how climate change is shifting conditions on the Pacific Coast, including cliffs and tide pools. Los Angeles Times Another fire-induced problem: Tens of thousands of acres of private woodlands in California are being gobbled up by wildfires as the state gets warmer, winters get shorter and fuel gets drier and these dense stands of burned trees, crucial in the fight against global warming, are often lost forever. San Francisco Chronicle CALIFORNIA CULTURE At the theaters: How Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs nephew helped Felicity Jones turn into his aunt in On the Basis of Sex. Los Angeles Times Coming soon: Early Christmas morning, Get Out director Jordan Peele unveiled the trailer for his next horror flick, Us, which will hit theaters March 15. Los Angeles Times All aboard! Kenneth Matassa keeps Orange Countys smallest trains running on time. Los Angeles Times Yum: Searching for Chinas most famous noodle dishes in the San Gabriel Valley. LAist A taste of the holidays: The high-stakes world of Christmas tamales. The Atlantic CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles area: sunny, 66, Wednesday; sunny, 65, Thursday. San Diego: sunny, 64, Wednesday; partly cloudy, 63, Thursday. San Francisco area: sunny, 58, Wednesday and Thursday. San Jose: sunny, 59, Wednesday; sunny, 58, Thursday. Sacramento: partly cloudy, 57, Wednesday; cloudy, 56, Thursday. More weather is here. AND FINALLY Todays California memory comes from Paul Kasbar: As a young boy in Brooklyn in the 1950s, Id spend most of my waking hours outdoors riding my bike around the neighborhood, going to the beach and the Catskill Mountains during the summer. My love of nature took seed. My first trip to California in 1976 took me to San Francisco, Marin County including Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. I fell in love with the raw beauty of the state. After 10 years of traveling from New York to California on business in the 80s, I couldnt take it anymore and escaped to San Francisco in 1991. I now live in Marin County. I cycle to Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais all the time. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad. Its depressing how many students start four-year colleges but never finish. Overall, the nationwide graduation rate is about 60%, meaning that six of 10 students who enter college finish within six years. Thats a figure that no one would find acceptable at a public high school. And the figures are substantially worse for black and Latino students, as the achievement gaps that plague education in public schools persist in college. Less than 40% of black students graduate a four-year college within six years, and half of Latino students, according to a 2017 report by the U.S. Department of Education. At some schools, the graduation rates for those groups are in the single digits. But some colleges consistently beat the average, and education leaders nationwide should be taking a closer look at which schools they are and how theyre doing it. The problem is that until now, no one has put the numbers into an easy-to-compare list. Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, which operates close to 20 Los Angeles-area charter high schools with a student body that is almost entirely black or Latino, has taken the lead on doing just that. Using 2017 data from the National Center for Education Statistics, it compiled a list of nearly 2,500 colleges, ranked in order of their graduation rates for those two groups of students. The data certainly dont appear to support the mismatch theory, which holds that affirmative action often leads to bad outcomes for minority students because they end up attending highly selective schools theyre not academically prepared for. In fact, the more selective schools had the highest graduation rates by far for the black and Latino students. Advertisement Until now, no one has put the numbers into an easy-to-compare list. But there was wide variation even among schools with similar student bodies. Here are a few examples. Almost all black and Latino students at Brown University receive a degree within six years, giving Brown the nations highest graduation rate for those groups: 98%. Thats not terribly surprising; Brown is an Ivy League school that attracts extremely talented students with a strong academic bent. It also provides generous financial aid to students who need it so theyre less likely to drop out for financial reasons. Students at the iconic Massachusetts Institute of Technology also are among the most accomplished in the country and about 90% of them receive financial aid. Yet the six-year graduation rate for the schools black and Latino students is significantly lower than Browns, at 85%. Closer to home, and much easier on the wallet, UC Irvine graduates 82% of its black and Latino students. But Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, another selective campus with similarly high-achieving students, graduates only 64%. The charter organization had a practical purpose for compiling the statistics: It trains its college counselors to guide their high-school seniors toward schools that rank highest on its list, avoiding those with abysmal records of graduating black and Latino students. The numbers range from nearly all to nearly none. Alliance officials say their former students college experiences tend to mirror the graduation rates they found for each school. But theres a bigger, greater use for such data. Education leaders and government officials should use these figures to launch a deeper examination of why some colleges appear to provide a far more successful college experience for black and Latino students than others do. The numbers might not necessarily mean that colleges with lower percentages are doing a bad job with those groups. Its possible that in some cases, colleges expect low graduation rates for all students, not just black and Latino ones. Others may go out of their way to accept students whose records indicate that theyre more likely to make it through the four years, which makes the college look better. Students who are the first in their family to attend college more common among black and Latino students find it especially hard to navigate the experience and are at higher risk of dropping out. They often feel isolated among students with more privileged backgrounds. They may not know how to find a study group or understand how to communicate with professors or put together a course plan. Though they may have excelled in high school, their schools may have done a poor job of preparing them for the more demanding work of college. And even with generous scholarships, the financial burden might be more than they and their families can handle. There are meaningful ways that colleges can improve these students chances. Some colleges have been working on this problem for years. UC Irvine, for example, consistently ranks among the top nationally for its graduation rates among Pell grant recipients, who come from low-income backgrounds. (UC campuses in general rank among the best on this score.) Black and Latino students receive such grants at much higher rates than white or Asian students. UCI holds social events for first-generation students so that they find theyre not alone. It helps them find and form study groups, has graduate students help them with course schedules and study skills, and connects them with faculty members who were the first in their own families to attend college. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Summer bridge programs at UC campuses introduce incoming freshmen to life at their new school so that they can start their classes informed, prepared and more confident. Colleges that have run these kinds of programs find that they make a real difference. Low college graduation rates leave a lot of dreams dashed, money wasted and college loans outstanding without the higher income of a college degree to help pay them off. They also mean that many young people arent getting the education necessary to make the United States a leader in the fastest-growing, higher-paying fields that will strengthen the economy. And when the numbers are so much lower for black and Latino students, it means that educational and economic gaps are being perpetuated. Although Alliance compiled its rankings from public data, its own list is proprietary. Nevertheless, a public agency say, the U.S. Department of Education could easily pull together a similar list online that allows everyone to see these differences in graduation rates. Perhaps that would put pressure on colleges to compare their performance with competing institutions, and consider what measures they can take to graduate more of the students who come to them with such high hopes. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook Public health officials in New York and New Jersey are fighting a measles outbreak that has sickened dozens of people since November, most of them unvaccinated members of orthodox Jewish communities. The virus was traced to travelers from Israel, which is dealing with its own measles outbreak at the moment So far, the outbreak has been relatively small because, despite gaps in whats known as community immunity, the overall national vaccination remains high enough to prevent wide-scale epidemics such as the one that raged through parts of Europe this year. But Americans should be alarmed, nevertheless. The next measles outbreak and there will be one could be much worse. Thats because immunization rates among U.S. school-aged children are incredibly declining in certain states, thanks to unreasonably permissive immunization rules. All but three U.S. states allow parents to opt out of vaccination requirements on religious grounds, and 18 of them allow exemptions based on what they call personal belief, which is an even less strict standard. Thats become a problem in recent years as the gospel of ignorance being pushed by the anti-vax movement has gained traction across the country. Many vaccination opponents believe the medicine in vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella and other real diseases causes autism and various vaccination injuries. They have no science to back this up, only misinformed anecdotes that serve to scare gullible parents. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Advertisement And theyre gaining ground. A study published earlier this year found that nonmedical exemptions have been on the rise in 12 of the 18 states that allow personal belief exemptions. The World Health Organization attributes a global spike in measles in the last two years to the spread of misinformation by those opposed to vaccinations. The opponents of vaccination arent just pushing bad facts. Organizations such as the National Vaccination Information Center are behind legislative efforts to make it easier for parents to refuse to immunize their children. One example was a proposed bill in New York state that would have barred school officials from asking for supporting information when a parent claims a religious exemption. That bill didnt pass. Happily, California has gone the other way tightening its immunization requirements. California is one of only three states that allow neither religious nor personal belief exemptions. A serious measles outbreak in 2014 that was traced to Disneyland brought attention to the states declining immunization rates, particularly in communities where the anti-vax fears had taken root. That outbreak was scary, but it served as a wake-up call to California lawmakers, who just months later banned all exemptions for vaccinations except those for medical reasons. Childhood immunization rates immediately rebounded statewide, reaching 95% for the first time in decade, including in school districts where rates had dropped the most precipitously. Opposition to mandatory vaccination in California continues, however. When personal belief and religious exemptions were banned, medical exemptions increased. The rise is still too small to impact overall rates of protection, but it is a trend that bears watching. Its frustrating that some parents are more concerned about protecting their children from imaginary threats than from a well-documented killer. Measles is nothing to mess around with; it is extremely contagious, in part because sick people can infect others before they realize they are suffering from more than the sniffles. And it can be particularly deadly for unvaccinated adults. Before a vaccination was developed in the 1960s, about 2.6 million people died from measles every year, according to the World Health Organization. No one has died yet in this particular East Coast outbreak. Thats a relief. But it shouldnt take death to wake the public to the fact that the rhetoric behind anti-vaccination arguments has real and terrible consequences. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The members of the association and guests at the event (Photo: VNA) The information was reported by Ms. Pham Hien Luong, Head of the Hai Duong fellow-countrymen association in Macau, at the meeting to review the operation of the association taking place in Macau Island, Macau Special Administrative Region, China, on December 20th. Of the sum of VND200 million, nearly VND80 million was used to support families of war-invalids and martyrs in difficult circumstances in Hai Duong province. The association also presented 150 gifts, worth nearly VND60 million, to poor families in Vietnam in support of the movement Month for the Poor launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee. The remaining funds of the association supported flood victims in Ha Giang and Yen Bai to overcome consequences of natural disasters. At the meeting, Ms. Luong said that since its establishment, the members of the association have always enthusiastically supported and participated in charitable activities launched by the association. These activities not only show the spirit of solidarity and kindness of Vietnamese people living far away from their homeland, but also show the benevolent tradition and mutual affection of each Vietnamese person. Being established in December 2016 and with nearly 200 members, the Hai Duong fellow-countrymen association has become a place for members to exchange and support each other in life./. For immigrants, theres no way to sugarcoat 2018. The Trump administration enacted a series of draconian policies targeting noncitizens, and the one that will most define the year and this administration is the separation of thousands of children, some less than a year old, from their mothers and fathers at the U.S. border. Conceived as a means to deter people from seeking refuge, the scope of the zero tolerance family separation policy was unprecedented, notwithstanding the administrations claim that past presidents engaged in similar practices. The government took more 2,500 children away from their parents. The government did this systematically, without regard for the trauma that would inevitably follow and without a plan for how these families could ever be reunited. This was the worst policy Ive seen in more than 25 years of civil rights work. Of course, this was not the only attack on immigrants by the administration, which is also seeking to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, putting 800,000 young people who were raised here at risk of being deported. The administration has also enacted an asylum ban and abruptly taken protected status away from hundreds of thousands of people who fled wars and natural disasters decades ago. And yet what I saw this past year has made me hopeful. Advertisement I spent much of the year traveling the country making legal arguments in defense of immigrants. I experienced the power of our courts to return children to their parents, affirm the fundamental right to seek asylum and stop entire communities from being hastily deported to countries where they fear persecution and torture. Even the president must answer to an independent judiciary. Our courts not only held the line in numerous cases involving the governments worst abuses, but also issued decisions that spoke to the country we aspire to be. The Supreme Court refused to undo a stay on the administrations asylum ban last week, letting a federal court injunction against it stand. Those same federal courts issued emergency stays stopping Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting, without due process, Iraqis in Michigan, Indonesian Christians in New Hampshire and New Jersey, Cambodian refugees in California, and Somalis in Florida. At a hearing in Boston over whether ICE could deport Indonesian Christians without allowing them time to present evidence that they would be persecuted because of their faith, federal Judge Patti Saris noted, After the Holocaust boats were turned away during World War II, the country said, Never again are we going to do that. In June, federal Judge Dana Sabraw was equally pointed when he halted the practice of family separation, saying it was brutal, offensive, and fails to comport with traditional notions of fair play and decency. And when the administration argued that the ACLU and not the government should be responsible for finding hundreds of parents who had been deported without their children, Sabraw was unequivocal: The reality is that for every parent who is not located, there will be a permanent orphaned child, and that is 100 percent the responsibility of the administration. Notably, in each of these cases, judges rejected the governments assertion that the courts lacked authority to intervene. In doing so, they reaffirmed one of the fundamental tenets of our nation: Even the president must answer to an independent judiciary. Ironically, many of the immigrants in these cases were fleeing to the United States precisely because their home countries lacked independent courts to protect them, yet when they arrived here, they encountered an administration intent on blocking their access to our court system. Although not every migrant or asylum seeker has been helped, judges have stepped in to reestablish justice at the border. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion I am also energized by how the public has responded. The demonstrations over family separation there were tens of thousands of protesters at 600 marches across the country may be the closest the U.S. has come in my time at the ACLU to the type of civil rights moment we experienced during the 1960s. My inbox was flooded with messages from every corner of the country, from individuals asking how they could help. Laura Bush, the pope and the United Nations all publicly condemned the family separation policy. Members of Congress flew to the border to demand access to government facilities, and journalists set out to expose the worst government practices. And I take heart from the immigrants Ive met in the past year, particularly the families who were separated: mothers and fathers who came to this country seeking refuge, only to see their children taken and traumatized before their eyes. One of our clients described how the government made her strap her 18-month-old son into a car seat but would not let her comfort the child when he began crying. Instead, the car drove off with the child while he stared out the window at his disappearing mother. Another of our clients recounted the helplessness she felt when all she could do was tell her little boy to be brave while agents dragged him away. These mothers resilience and that of so many other immigrant parents should be truly inspiring to those of us who dont face dire circumstances. They, along with an independent judiciary and an engaged public, are my source of hope for 2019. Lee Gelernt spearheaded the successful national class action suit against the Trump administrations zero tolerance family separation policy. He is the deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project. This article is one in a series offering reasons for optimism in 2019. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook To the editor: President Trump shut down parts of the federal government because he couldnt get congressional funding for his wall. Mexico wont pay either. We cant build a wall on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande across from Texas, and it cant be done down the middle of the river either. So, the effect of building Trumps wall is that we will be ceding the north bank of the Rio Grande to Mexico. Walls are built to keep people out, but theyre also built to keep people in. Americans wont be fishing or letting their cattle drink from the north bank anymore and Trump wants Americans to pay for what amounts to ceding much of our border to Mexico. Keith Ensminger, Merced, Calif. Advertisement .. To the editor: A wall along the U.S.-Mexico border does not threaten anyone besides those who seek to come to the United States illegally. In fact, it would be an incentive for people to immigrate legally. I find it preposterous that we have to bargain with our elected officials to enforce our laws after they took an oath of office to do so. John Henry, Culver City .. To the editor: Trump wants $5 billion to start building a border wall. The Democrats and some Republicans in Congress agreed to a $1.6-billion increase in spending on border security that does not include a wall. Before the shutdown, Trump indicated that he would agree to this, then he reneged. The expectation now is that the Democrats will increase their offer. This would merely reward Trump for his tantrum. The Democrats should decrease their offer until Trump caves. Trump rejects $1.3 billion? The next offer should be $900 million. If Trump rejects that, offer $500 million. Randall Gellens, San Diego .. To the editor: Dear God, please let our president understand that a government shutdown is a lousy way to get a point across. All it really does is hurt innocent people, the government employees who go to work every day to keep our agencies functioning. The general population is also hurt by a worsening economy and the lack of many government services. Please, God, send the president a tweet. Julius Hirsch, Henderson, Nev. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Two children are dead now arguably because of President Trumps migration policies two children who should have had Christmas with their families. (An 8-year-old Guatemalan child dies in U.S. custody on Christmas Eve after being treated for a cold, Dec. 25) Two children! How many more will have to die while the president tries to keep immigrants out of the United States, the beacon to all the world of freedom, safety and opportunity? Shame on Trump. Shame on this administration. Shame on the Republicans and anyone else who voted for him and sustain him. Esther Cole, Ventura Advertisement .. To the editor: As a Latina mother of three, I send my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of the 8-year-old who died in U.S. custody. But leave it to the Los Angeles Times to blow this story out of proportion by plastering it on its Dec. 25 front page. Other than to tug at human emotion, why is it necessary to include in the headline that it happened on Christmas Eve? Does the day of ones death decrease or increase the value of human life? I can write with the utmost certainty that this sweet boy had a better chance of survival while in the custody of U.S. immigration officials than he would have had in a makeshift shelter in a Mexican border town. Maria C. Mora, San Fernando .. To the editor: This is not America. The cruelty of our president cannot be tolerated. Ours is a nation of immigrants who have contributed immeasurably to our country. Trump must be impeached. Ann Edelman, Woodland Hills Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Heres something dogs understand that cops dont: Its safer to cross in the middle of the street than at a corner. (The LAPDs pedestrian safety program is just a jaywalkers Get Out of Jail Free card, Opinion, Dec. 20) At a corner, you have traffic coming at you from four different directions and one of those directions is behind your back, over your left shoulder. A car behind you could be turning right into your path, and that driver will be looking left for oncoming traffic. He will not be looking at you. Meanwhile, in the middle of the street, you have only two directions to worry about: left and right. The only way to make crosswalks safer is to have whats known as pedestrian scrambles, wherein pedestrians can cross safely in any direction because its an all-way stop. Thats right, all traffic must stop at the same time and let people cross in any direction they choose. Advertisement Imagine that people given priority over cars. Think it could ever happen in L.A? Until then, see you in the middle of the street. Bella Silverstein, Santa Clarita .. To the editor: What this walker needs is a sidewalk free of bicycles and scooters. As a frequent pedestrian, I find going on foot in Los Angeles to be a very unpleasant experience due to the presence of bicycles and scooters. Motor vehicles are problematic, but they are at least well regulated. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation says there are 593 miles of bikeways in the city, which I believe is misleading. There are an additional 10,750 miles of bike paths commonly known as sidewalks, and I am reminded of this fact every time I set foot out my front door. Last month I visited New York, and although Manhattan sidewalks are wall-to-wall people, the pedestrian experience was less anxiety producing. There, the bicycles tend to stay on the street, where they belong. Would that it were true in Los Angeles. The current arrangement is enough to drive one to, well, drive. Joseph Gius, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Writer David L. Ulin makes some good points about jaywalking. But an even more important hazard involving pedestrian safety in Los Angeles can be blamed only on pedestrians and no one else. Im talking about walkers crossing against a red light, which seems to have become an epidemic in recent years. I rarely go for one day without seeing it at least once. This practice is illegal, of course, but the law never seems to be enforced. Come now, pedestrians, isnt driving in a crowded city hazardous enough already? Is it really such an intolerable burden to wait a moment for the light to change? Marc Russell, Los Angeles Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: United Teachers Los Angeles position is not anti-charter. Rather, we want the Los Angeles Unified School District to oversee and regulate charter schools, and to stop its over-charterization policies that drain vital resources from our public schools. LAUSD schools are highly regulated. We must administer multiple tests, and our budgets and resource allocations are highly regulated. Charter organizations, meanwhile, want less district regulation even amid reports of fiscal mismanagement and academic failure. Whats more, charter schools continually kick out students and send them back to their neighborhood schools. Traditional public schools do not kick students out. We are dedicated to working with every student; they are all our children. Additionally, the district does not adequately oversee charter co-locations at our public school campuses. Many charters often disrupt the schools instructional schedules and take over spaces that provide vital services to both students and parents. Advertisement UTLAs goal is to save public education in the face of a national movement to privatize our schools and turn them into businesses instead of institutions dedicated to teaching. Alan Pulner, Los Angeles The writer is an LAUSD teacher. .. To the editor: The goals of LAUSD and UTLA do not align with the public interest. Teachers are undervalued in our society, and their wages are too low. But teacher tenure and seniority can be abused; many of us, as either students or parents, have experienced teachers who were coasting to retirement or were otherwise ineffective. Protecting teachers is important, but so is accountability. And while charter schools are touted by some as superior, this is not clear: If their test scores are better, to what extent is this a result of teaching to the test? And, to what extent is that desirable? The basics of curriculum and teaching do not change significantly over time. Letting good teachers teach and relaxing testing would go a long way toward improving the educational experience for everyone. Ed Salisbury, Santa Monica .. To the editor: Dear Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom: In California, there are many natural events that are labeled disasters. There are also man-made disasters, including fires, oil spills, gas leaks and more. Another man-made disaster is headed our way: the upcoming teacher strike in Los Angeles. LAUSD teachers are underpaid and under appreciated. We often hear rhetoric about how important education is. Please, find a way to help Los Angeles treat its teachers better and avoid this needless and damaging event in the education of our children. Larry Kantor, Tarzana Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Laguna Beach greeted fresh faces in every level of government in the 2018 election season. The year also brought settlements in two major local lawsuits, groundbreaking on two key construction and renovation projects, a centennial celebration for the Laguna Art Museum and more. Here are some of Laguna Beachs top stories in 2018: The Laguna Beach City Council in November unanimously approved a new ordinance allowing but tightly regulating sidewalk vendors following a state law change legalizing street vending and requiring local regulations to be based on public health, safety and welfare. Lagunas regulations limit where and when vendors can sell their wares, including requirements that they be at least 25 feet from fire hydrants, bus zones, ATMs and public art displays. We definitely worked on trying to make something as aggressive as we can be while still complying with the state law, said Christa Johnson, assistant city manager. Two Laguna Beach police officers were justified in shooting a Huntington Beach woman who was holding a BB gun that they mistook for a semiautomatic weapon, the Orange County district attorneys office said in November. Officers Thomas McGuire and James Michaud responded in February to reports of a suicidal woman with a weapon. She pointed a BB gun at each of the officers, authorities said, and McGuire reacted by firing eight shots, striking her multiple times. The woman, identified as Valerie Giocondo, who was 36 at the time of the shooting, was critically wounded but survived. Laguna Beach Democrat Harley Rouda defeated 30-year incumbent Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) to win the 48th Congressional District seat in November. During the campaign, Rouda, a lawyer and real estate businessman, accused Rohrabacher of being soft on Russia and wanting to deport all undocumented people in the United States. Rohrabacher said Rouda wanted to give undocumented immigrants Medicare, which he said would add to their drain on American resources. Also in November, Cottie Petrie-Norris, another Laguna Beach Democrat, won the state 74th Assembly District seat over incumbent Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach). Laguna Beach City Councilwoman Toni Iseman won her sixth council term in the November election as Sue Kempf and Peter Blake were elected to their first. The final tally showed Blake as the top vote-getter, with 4,881, leading Isemans 4,792 votes and Kempfs 4,483. Blake and Kempf took the spots formerly held by Kelly Boyd and Rob Zur Schmiede, both of whom decided not to run for reelection. Laguna Beach voters defeated a ballot measure that would increase the local sales tax by 1 percentage point to pay for burying overhead utility lines on a portion of Laguna Canyon Road as a fire prevention tactic. The City Council voted in May to craft the proposal, called Measure P. Supporters with Underground Laguna Now said undergrounding power lines would reduce the risk of fires caused by downed utility lines. City staff estimated the project would cost $135 million, to be funded by the sales tax increase, the city budget and a special Southern California Edison fund. Opponents complained of the projects cost and the increased taxation. A federal judge in November approved a settlement between Laguna Beach and the American Civil Liberties Union in a lawsuit filed three years ago that accused the city of trying to push out homeless people by not providing adequate accommodations for them. The ACLU argued on behalf of five homeless people who were mentally and physically disabled. In the settlement, in which no money was exchanged, the city agreed to make local homeless shelters more accommodating to disabled people. The agreement, signed in March and filed in June, said the city would create a pilot daytime services program and an enrollment process that gives priority to local homeless people deemed most vulnerable. As required by the settlement, the City Council passed a resolution in December reaffirming the citys commitment to ending homelessness. Laguna Beach City Council members Steve Dicterow, Toni Iseman, Bob Whalen and Rob Zur Schmiede toss shovels of dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony in September for the Village Entrance project. (File Photo) After decades of debate and planning, construction began in September on Lagunas Village Entrance project, with completion tentatively scheduled for summer 2020. The City Council approved an $8.4-million construction bid in August for the $11.1-million project, which envisions a safer and more inviting gateway where Laguna Canyon Road becomes Broadway at Forest Avenue. It will develop paths for walkers and bicyclists and is intended to tackle downtown congestion by creating new bridges, access roads and parking areas with improved circulation. Councilman Steve Dicterow dissented in the 4-1 vote in August, citing escalating costs and suggesting an alternative plan involving private sector resources. Mayor Kelly Boyd and Councilwoman Toni Iseman said the plans had taken long enough originating in the 1970s and that it was time to move forward. The Laguna Beach City Council supported a plan to improve the Festival of Arts grounds and rebrand the downtown art scene in the latest effort to advance the citys Cultural Arts Plan that was approved in 2016. A consultants plan the council approved in September, dubbed the Creative Placement Assessment, suggested the city rebrand the downtown area as the Civic Arts District and use the Festival of Arts grounds more often during the summer and pay to improve seating and technology at the Irvine Bowl. It also concluded that a potential $20-million cultural facility for music, theater, art exhibits and film screenings was unlikely because there wouldnt be enough funding or available space. Laguna Beach sued Orange County in August in a last-ditch effort to stop a commercial and residential development near the Great Park in Irvine that the county Board of Supervisors approved in November 2017. The 108-acre El Toro Development Plan would put a hotel, offices and retail and residential spaces south of the Great Park. Laguna complained that traffic generated by the project would adversely affect the citys roads, recreational amenities and public services and that the county abused its discretion in approving it by skirting a voter-approved initiative called Measure W that placed restrictions on the county general plan. The wheels for a $200,000 renovation of the 50-year-old Laguna Playhouse began turning in June with the Laguna Beach Planning Commissions initial approval of the project. The commission again reviewed the proposal for updating the buildings exterior in July, and the City Council gave its approval after that. The renovations include adding a smooth stucco to the building, changing its color, installing new tile in the ramp and courtyard areas and other cosmetic changes. The project broke ground in early November. The playhouse has been at its current location on Laguna Canyon Road since 1968, but the nonprofit organization has existed since 1920. This clam shell is part of a cluster of fossils found in Laguna Beachs Heisler Park that experts believe are 17 million years old. (File Photo) A Mission Viejo couple were searching for sea glass in Laguna Beachs Heisler Park in November 2017 when they noticed what appeared to be fossils. Experts confirmed in January that they likely were 17-million-year-old clam shells, barnacles and snail shells from the Miocene epoch, between 23 million and 5.3 million years ago. John Foster, coordinator of Cal State Fullertons John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center, said Laguna Beach would have been hundreds of feet underwater millions of years ago and that the fossils likely came from shallower depths closer to where the shoreline would have been. He said there had been findings of similar fossils in Orange County, but not usually in a public park such as Heisler. Laguna Beach and the Federal Aviation Administration reached a settlement in January in the citys lawsuit intended to lessen noise associated with John Wayne Airport. As part of the settlement, the FAA agreed to require planes to fly at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet when crossing south of Laguna Beach, and to work on possible noise-reducing changes to the commercial jet approach to John Wayne during Santa Ana winds. The city sued in 2016, challenging the FAAs plans to change flight departure patterns from John Wayne. The FAA said the changes would be more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally conscious. Laguna Beach argued the FAA did not provide enough evidence that the changes would not adversely affect residents. One hundred years after two local artists began showcasing works in a downtown cabin, the Laguna Art Museum celebrated its centennial with a yearlong lineup of commemorative events. The museum grew out of the Laguna Beach Art Assn., which artists Edgar Payne and Anna Hills founded in 1918 with 150 members more than half the population of the artist colony at the time. The gallery opened in its current location in 1929, officially became a museum in 1972 and expanded to its current form in 1986. The Laguna Art Museum celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. (File Photo) faith.pinho@latimes.com Twitter: @faithepinho Authorities released the identity Sunday of a 29-year-old Glendale man who died in a four-vehicle, chain-reaction crash on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Griffith Park in which the driver accused of triggering the pile-up was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, according to KTLA. Armen Basmadzhyan died in the collision, which took place shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday on the northbound 5 at the Colorado Street exit, California Highway Patrol Officer Kristopher Sackrider said in a written statement. Basmadzhyan was driving a 2009 Honda Civic in the right-hand lane when his car was struck from behind by a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300, the officer said. The impact pushed the Honda into a 2006 Toyota Tundra pickup truck stopped directly in front of it, according to Sackrider. The Toyota, in turn, was forced into the back of a stopped 2017 Nissan 370Z. Paramedics pronounced Basmadzhyan dead at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz that initiated the deadly collision a 22-year-old Glendale man was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, officials said. Further details regarding the circumstances of his alleged flight and arrest were not available Sunday. His name was not released. Investigators were still looking into whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the deadly crash, Sackrider said. Two men inside the Nissan suffered injuries described by the CHP as minor. Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach the CHPs Altadena-area office at (626) 296-8100. Day is a digital news producer at KTLA. New tours on Oahu give travelers more to explore beyond touristy Waikiki. Hawaii Forest & Trails itineraries feature visits to farms and forests in West Oahu, dormant volcanoes outside Honolulu, and island high points to see a rare bird species. Visitors walk through a stand of banana trees at Mao Farms near Waianae, Hawaii, during the Farm to Forest Experience, one of three new tours on Oahu. (Michelle Mishina) The Farm to Forest Experience teaches visitors about modern agriculture and ancient history in West Oahu. While traveling from the shore to the mountains, guides share tales of the native people and their culture. Participants have a chance to see the produce grown on the island during a stop at Mao Organic Farms and then enjoy a farm-to-fork lunch. After that, the tour climbs above Waianae by vehicle and in some places on foot to take in views of the ocean and Honolulu in the distance. Advertisement Tickets for the 7.5-hour tour cost $195 for adults 13 and older, and $170 for children 12 and younger. Guests on the Honolulu Heights tour gain exclusive access to Palehua, an up-country trail on Oahu. (Michelle Mishina) The Honolulu Heights tour takes people to the tops of Oahus long-dormant volcanoes to experience views of the city and tropical mountain forests. While above Honolulu, guests explore 200 acres of rain forest in the Lyon Arboretum. Tickets cost $169 for adults 13 and older, and $144 for children ages 8 to 12. A picnic breakfast with smoothies and fresh pineapple is included in the 7.5-hour tour. The elepaio, a bird in the flycatcher family thats native to the Hawaiian islands, is one of the species that birders can see during a Birds and Wildlife tour. (David Bush) The Birds and Wildlife of Oahu excursion takes participants from sea level to the islands higher elevations in search of the islands birds. The 10-hour tour includes access to private land thats part of the remaining habitat for the indigenous elepaio, a species in the flycatcher family. Along the coast, naturalist guides keep watch for sea life, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The tour, expected to begin in early 2019, costs $200. Info: Hawaii Forest & Trail, (800) 464-1993 travel@latimes.com Twitter: @latimestravel Thinking of joining the 318,000 Las Vegas visitors expected to welcome in 2019? If your New Years Eve plans include seeing a show, youd better buy tickets soon. Big-name performers such as Lady Gaga and Ariana Grade are sold out, but Bruno Mars and the DJs duo the Chainsmokers still have space. And theres a cool new bar with a retro vibe (think vinyl) and of course fireworks everywhere at Americas Party. Here are eight places good for last-minute planners. Bruno Mars will be joined by Boys II Men for two Las Vegas concerts during New Years Eve weekend. (MGM Resorts) 1. Bruno Mars Uptown Funk star Bruno Mars will play two nights at T-Mobile Arena, with opening acts Boyz II Men. Tickets are still available starting at $195 for concerts Dec. 30 and 31 at T-Mobile Arena. Advertisement Actors Jack Black, left, and Kyle Gass pair up as musicians Tenacious D. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) 2. Tenacious D Comedy rock duo Tenacious D (actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass) will perform Dec. 30 and 31 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets from $68 on Dec. 30 and $136 on New Years Eve. DJ and production duo Chainsmokers Andrew Taggart, front, and Alex Pall will ring in the New Year at XS nightclub. (Danny Mahoney) 3. The Chainsmokers DJ and pop duo the Chainsmokers continue their residency at the Wynns XS nightclub with a Dec. 31 show that includes an open bar. Tickets from $65 for women and $75 for men. Visitors to the Vinyl Parlor at On the Record can select a classic album and listen to it while enjoying a cocktail curated for that disc. (On the Record) 4. On the Record The Strips newest nightclub, On the Record, will welcome its first guests Dec. 28. The venue, destined to become a favorite for music lovers, includes the Vinyl Parlor, in which guests can listen to an album of their choice (with headphones) while sipping cocktails created to match the music. The two-story club also features a double-decker bus that serves as the DJ stand. San Diego bartender Erick Castro will introduce his newest creation, the Road to Nowhere, at On the Record at Park MGM. (James Tran / On the Record) On the Record will host guest bartenders from restaurants and clubs around the country. They include Erick Castro from Polite Provisions in San Diego. His special concoction for Vegas the Road to Nowhere is a blend of Commerce gin, chartreuse, absinthe, lemon and pineapple juices, honey syrup and orange bitters. Old-fashioned moonshine is used to create Prohibition-era cocktails at the Speakeasy in the basement of the Mob Museum. (Chris Wessling) 5. The Mob Museum Head downtown to the Mob Museum to sing Auld Lang Syne while hoisting a glass of moonshine. The booze is distilled at the Speakeasy, the museums basement bar, which replicates the Prohibition era. A $60 table for two includes a bottle of Champagne. Reservations: (702) 724-8634. With their intimate knowledge of Italian wine and food, Gino and Rosalba Ferraro will create a special Buon Anno Nuovo dinner on New Years Eve. (Chris Wessling) 6. Dinner at Ferraros Have a cozy, romantic dinner with Gino and Rosalba Ferraro. The owners of Ferraros Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar on Paradise Road about 1 miles east of the Strip have created a special menu for reservations starting at 9 p.m. The meal, priced at $195 per person, includes prawns with caviar, pappardelle with white Italian truffles, and branzino with prawns and artichokes. A midnight Champagne toast will include a serving of lentils, which in Italy are believed to bring prosperity in the New Year. Info and reservations: (702) 364-5300. Each New Years Eve, Las Vegas Boulevard is transformed into a party zone that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world. (David Becker/Las Vegas News Bureau) 7. Americas Party The Strips midnight fireworks display is one of the key reasons 318,000 people will be celebrating Dec. 31 in Las Vegas. As part of Americas Party, more than 80,000 pyrotechnics will be fired from seven resorts as Las Vegas Boulevard turns into a jam-packed, traffic-free party zone. Vegas visitors can enjoy a birds eye view of the New Years Eve fireworks from the newly remodeled Observation Deck at the Stratosphere. (Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower) 8. The Stratosphere The Stratosphere, one of the participating hotels, welcomes guests to view the show from its newly remodeled Observation Deck on Level 108. Tickets for the three-hour party with an open bar, themed food stations, DJs and go-go dancers start at $250. Here are shows you likely wont get into at this late date. Lady Gagas residency at the Park Theater at Park MGM starts Dec. 28. If youre hoping to see her over the holiday weekend she has performances Friday, Sunday and Monday nights Ticketmaster only has resale seats available. Ariana Grandes Dec. 29 concert at the Cosmopolitan is also sold out. Ticketmaster shows single resale seats starting at $1,125. Also at the Cosmopolitan, Imagine Dragons is sold out for Dec. 31. Resale tickets for general admission are $619. travel@latimes.com @latimestravel The 1962 film Tales of Terror featured three parts, each adapted from a story by Edgar Allan Poe. One of them, The Black Cat, came from Poes 1843 short story of the same name. An article in the Nov. 28, 1961, Los Angeles Times reported: The sidewalk in the 600 block of N. Bronson Ave. in Hollywood turned into a cat walk Monday. More than 100 black cats lined upas much as cats will line upfor an audition for a movie part in response to a newspaper ad seeking a sagacious black cat. There were big black cats, little black cats, gray black cats, black kittens, black and white cats, white and black cats, nervous black cats, gentle black cats. There was even a white cat. It was there to keep a pal, a black cat, company. One woman needed first aid after a cat next to her decided he didnt like her leg and scratched it. ... The producer-director Roger Corman was looking for a sagacious black cat to star in The Black Cat, part of a a trilogy called Tales of Terror based on Edgar Allan Poe and being filmed at Producers Studio, 650 N. Bronson Ave. The movies stars Joyce Jameson, Vincent Price and Peter Lorre played with each cat. To see if it was sagacious enough, someone said. Which cat won the part is supposed to be announced today. Turns out, the lead role had already been filled by a professionally trained black cat. But seven black felines were selected for understudy and promotional roles. Tales of Terror appeared in theaters on July 4, 1962. See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi(R) meets with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here on Tuesday. They had an in-depth discussion on the recent changes concerning the situation in Afghanistan and reached a broad consensus. The two sides both believe that the Afghanistan issue could not be solved through military solutions, and political reconciliation is the only viable way. The two sides welcomed all efforts made by relevant parties and expressed willingness to keep communication and strategic coordination over the issue. Both sides also pledged to further strengthen China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership so as to elevate the level of all-round cooperation. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. Japan switched to what it calls research whaling after the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s, and now says stocks have recovered enough to resume commercial hunts. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan would resume commercial whaling in July in line with Japans basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence. He added that Japan is disappointed that the IWC which he said is dominated by conservationists focuses on the protection of whale stocks even though the commission has a treaty mandate for both whale conservation and the development of the whaling industry. Advertisement Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views, he said. Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japans territorial waters and its 200-mile exclusive economic zone along Japans coasts. He said Japan would stop its annual whaling expeditions to the Antarctic and northwest Pacific oceans, noting that non-signatory states are not allowed to do so. The IWC imposed the moratorium on commercial whaling three decades ago due to a dwindling whale population. Japan switched to what it calls research whaling, but the program was criticized as a cover for commercial hunting since the meat is sold on the market at home. The environmental group Greenpeace condemned Wednesdays announcement and disputed Japans view that whale stocks have recovered, noting also that ocean life is being threatened by pollution as well as overfishing. The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures, Sam Annesley, executive director at Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement. The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling. Australias government, often a vocal critic of Japans whaling policies, said in a statement that it was extremely disappointed with Japans decision to quit the commission. However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters joined Australia in welcoming Japans withdrawal from the southern ocean. Japan was the only country with an ambition to return to commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Japanese Fisheries Agency official and longtime IWC negotiator Hideki Moronuki said Japan would use the IWCs method to carefully determine a catch quota, but declined to give an estimate. Japan has hunted whales for centuries, but has reduced its catch following international protests and declining demand for whale meat at home. The withdrawal from the IWC may be a face-saving step to stop Japans ambitious Antarctic hunts and scale down the scope of whaling to around the Japanese coasts. Japan slashed its annual quota in the Antarctic by about a third after a 2014 International Court of Justice ruling that the countrys research whaling program wasnt as scientific as Japan had argued. Japan currently hunts about 600 whales annually in the Antarctic and the northern Pacific. Fisheries officials have said Japan annually consumes thousands of tons of whale meat from the research hunts, mainly by older Japanese seeking a nostalgic meal. But critics say they doubt commercial whaling could be a sustainable industry if younger Japanese dont view the animals as food. Suga said Japan would notify the IWC of its decision by Dec. 31 and remains committed to international cooperation on proper management of marine life even after its IWC withdrawal. Lang Shanmei used to stand on her jetty and watch the construction of the towering bridge taking shape near her village in the Pearl River Delta. Then one day a year back, when the vast expanse was about half-built, building mysteriously stopped. The headless bridge, as locals now call it, looms over the murky water like a monument to uncertainty. Lang and her neighbors wonder if the work crews will ever return, if the vast arc will ever join the shorelines, if the cars and the noise and the change it once promised will ever arrive in their tiny community. My parents and even my grandparents were all fishing people, says Lang, who is 63. We grew up on a boat. We never had any fear on the river because its in our blood. Advertisement A half-finished bridge looms over Xinzhou fishing village in southern China (Gaochao Zhang/Los Angeles Times) Her parents were married on that tiny vessel. At night, Lang and her brother huddled with her parents under an ancient quilt on the boat, bobbing on its anchor by the riverbank. Just over 16 feet long, it was too small for the ocean. So her family cast its nets in the river. Half a dozen chickens or ducks hung in a basket cage over the water, getting soaked when the waves were high. Today, Lang lives on land. When a typhoon screeches onshore, washing a foot of rank river water into the house, she and her husband calmly retreat upstairs to watch and wait. Their village of Xinzhou lies on a tributary behind a desolate wrecking site, where white floral weeds sprout in the detritus of abandoned bicycles, chairs, lumps of concrete, rubber and foam left when the government pulled down some illegal buildings. A scrap of sky winks between the Xinzhou village buildings in the narrow main street, where families leave offerings of apples, juice and incense to the gods of the earth and the sea. Two skinny kittens and their mother huddle on a sack. A father whizzes by on a motorcycle with three of his children somehow piled onboard. Each house has a metal jetty with planters, coils of rope, tangles of wire and piles of nets. An elderly neighbor, her hands swollen and her back bent with age, tosses fishing nets into the familys boat. In buckets on her jetty wriggle a muddle of eels and a small turtle doomed to the cooking pot. A fisherman in Xinzhou fishing village on the Pearl River Delta in southern China. (Gaochao Zhang/Los Angeles Times) As a child, Lang longed for the rare days when her mother took her to the market to help sell their catch, where Lang lapped up the exciting smells and sounds, hoping her mother would buy a treat like chewy dried sweet potato or a wafer made of dried hawthorn berries and sugar. It made a change from watching her parents in the humdrum toil of fishing. Was I bored? Well, yes. We had very limited space and we just waited for our parents to feed us. As children of fishermen, we almost never went on the land. There were eight children in all, but Lang knew only two of them. The others got sick and died or fell in the river and drowned before I was born, she said. Her mother did her best to protect them, calling on the gods and employing traditional medicine to ward off ill fortune. She burned fake money, which was good enough to appease the gods, mixed the ashes with water and spooned the elixir into their mouths. Lang and her husband, Wan Jiaoxing, were both 15 when they met. He too was from a fishing family, which anchored its boat and slept at a small stilted hut on the riverbank. He learned to swim at age 3. There were no weather forecasts, but elder fishermen knew when a storm was coming by looking at the sky, the light and clouds. As the sturdiest boy in his family, Wan took over the heavy fishing work from his father at a young age. He had to pull in the fishing nets by hand, until cheap motors became available. They only made the job more brutal, with the equipment liable to chop off a finger or even snag an arm. I just wondered when these hard times would be over, he recalls. I had no time to pause and enjoy a soft breeze or anything like that. Still, he took pride in being stronger than those city kids. Theyre too spoiled and that makes them weak. If you grow up with a tough life, you will be a much stronger person. In this life, maybe there are massive waves or a typhoon, and they may cost you your life. Lang was one of the happiest and most vivacious girls he had ever seen, he says as he pulls out a cheap cigarette and limps slowly to the kitchen to find a juice carton for an ashtray. Wed talk about the tides and what fish we were getting that season, he says with a soft smile. Wed talk about the weather, maybe about big winds that were coming just about the daily things that mattered to us both. They married at 22 and began their new life on a damp, decrepit vessel that Wans father gave him. It was tough to make a living, since the boat was too small and fragile to go out farther than 100 yards. But they were determined. I felt hopeful and optimistic, Wan says. We were poor, but not so poor that we had no food. I thought, Im young. I may be illiterate. But I can do many things. I can save money. I can get a new boat. The couple saved for at least five years to buy a bigger boat, enabling them to venture out farther, to catch more fish and live a slightly better life. They had two sons. In 1998, they moved into the house with the jetty. A few years ago, Wan had to give up fishing because of health problems. His wife could not run the boat alone, so she had to find work as a cleaner to support them. Both of their sons opted out of the fishing life and got newfangled jobs, one in logistics and the other in a call center. Now the jetty is as close as Lang and Wan get to the open water. I like to sit out there and watch things, Wan says. I feel very peaceful and comfortable sitting out there, because I dont have to worry about fishing. But he and his wife understand that change is coming. Every year, the nearby megacity of Guangzhou sprawls closer. A year ago the villagers were told that jetties and houses would have to be torn down so the city government could build a levee bank. The threat grew more real recently when the government warned that it would start pulling jetties if the owners didnt do it themselves. A harsh metallic hammering pierces the quiet noon hour, as a neighboring couple tears down theirs. Wan and Lang are preparing to pull their jetty down too. They have already sawed through the metal uprights. They have no idea whether they will be able to save a room or two in their house from demolition or if not, where they would go. A drone with a red flashing light swoops over the jetties. Locals say the government is monitoring them from the sky to ensure they dont dump trash in the river as they tear down their jetties. The couple are philosophical about the demolition plans. Change is like the weather, and they have seen a lot of that. The fate of these buildings is like the fate of your own life. You dont know when its going to end. Gaochao Zhang of the Times Beijing Bureau contributed to this report. A fisherman in Xinzhou, southern China. (Gaochao Zhang/Los Angeles Times) robyn.dixon@latimes.com Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT Israeli warplanes flying over Lebanon fired missiles toward areas near the Syrian capital of Damascus late Tuesday, hitting an arms depot and wounding three soldiers, Syrian state media reported, saying that most of the missiles were shot down by air defense units. An unnamed military official was quoted on TV identifying the warplanes as Israeli. Lebanons state-run National News Agency earlier reported that Israeli warplanes were flying at low altitude over parts of southern Lebanon. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said Israeli airstrikes targeted three positions south of Damascus that are arms depots for Lebanons militant Hezbollah group and Iranian forces. The reported attack near Damascus is the first since President Trump announced last week that the U.S. will withdraw all of its 2,000 forces in Syria, a move that will leave control of the oil-rich eastern third of Syria up for grabs. Advertisement Following Trumps announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel would continue to act against Irans attempts to entrench itself militarily in Syria, and to the extent necessary, we will even expand our actions there. Nearly an hour after the attacks began, Damascus residents could still hear the air defense units firing toward targets in the air. The aggression is still ongoing, said a presenter on state TV, which interrupted its programs to air patriotic songs. Later an unnamed military official was quoted as saying that Syrian air defenses shot down most of the missiles before reaching their targets and the aggression damaged an arms depot and wounded three soldiers. The report added that the Israeli warplanes fired the missiles from Lebanese airspace. Israels military spokesmans unit did not confirm the raids, but said in a statement that an aerial defense system was activated against an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria. No damage or injuries were reported by the Israeli military. Israel is widely believed to have been behind a series of airstrikes in the past that mainly targeted Iranian and Hezbollah forces fighting alongside the government in Syria. Tuesdays attack is the first since a missile assault on the southern outskirts of Damascus on Nov. 29. Russia announced it had delivered an S-300 air defense system to Syria in October. That followed the Sept. 17 downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike, a friendly-fire incident that stoked regional tensions. Pham Van Chuong, Vice President of the Vietnamese committee, and Vice President of the Lao committee Alounxay Sounnalath informed each other about socio-economic development in each country and discussed regional and global issues of shared concern. Chuong noted with pleasure the fruitful development of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States and people, as well as cooperation between the two committees. He asked the Lao committee to send more delegations to attend peaceful activities to be held in Vietnam in 2019. He also pledged that the Vietnamese side will do its best to contribute to the Asian regional meeting of the World Peace Council in 2019, of which Laos will play the host. In reply, Alounxay Sounnalath thanked the Vietnamese side for their cooperation and support for the Lao committee, saying he believes that the two committees will continue with their collaboration and exchange of experience, information and viewpoints on regional and international issues, thus contributing to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world. Later the same day, the Vietnamese delegation visited Chairman of the Lao National Assembly and President of the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity Somphan Phengkhammi. The Vietnamese delegation of the Vietnam Peace Committee, led by its Vice President Pham Van Chuong, is on a working visit to Laos from December 24-28. Luknow : An Uttar Pradesh BJP leader from Sambhal has been accused of shoving a stick inside the mouth of a differently abled man, after the chanted slogans that support Samajwadi party Chief Akhilesh Yadav. In a video that has gone viral on the Internet, an Amroha BJP leader, Mohammad Miyan can be seen shoving a stick inside his mouth when the differently-abled person was repeatedly chanting "Akhilesh Yadav zindabad". The incident took place outside the Sambhal SDM's offce. Later, police took custody of the youth. However, the police stated that the differently abled man allegeldy abusing CM Yogi Adityanath and PM Modi. BJP leader Mohammad Miya assaulting specially-abled youth in Sambhal after the latter passed negative remark about BJP leaders. The youth, who could barely put up a fight, can be heard saying 'Vote dunga Akhilesh ko' pic.twitter.com/eazAzwJzJE Piyush Rai (@PiyushRaiTOI) December 25, 2018 Has this Stock Market Selloff Reached a Bottom Yet? Everyone wants to know if this selloff has reached a low or bottom yet and what to expect over the next 30~60+ days. Since October, the US stock market has reacted to the US Fed raising rates above 2.0% with dramatic downward price moves. The latest raise by the US Fed resulted in a very clear price decline in the markets illustrating the fact that investors dont expect the markets to recover based on the current geopolitical and economic climate. Over 5 years ago, our research team developed a financial modeling system that attempted to model the US Fed Funds Rate optimal levels given certain inputs (US GDP, US Population, US Debt, and others). The effort by our team of researchers was to attempt to identify where and when the US Fed should be adjusting rates and when and where the US Fed would make a mistake. The basic premise of our modeling system is that as long as Fed keeps rates within our models optimal output parameters, the US (and presumably global) economy should continue to operate without massive disruption events unless some outside event (think Europe, China or another massive economic collapse) disrupts the ability of the US economy from operating efficiently. Weve included a screen capture of the current FFR modeling results below. This model operates on the premise that US debt, population, and GDP will continue to increase at similar levels to 2004~2012. We can see that our model predicted that the US Fed should have begun raising rates in 2013~2014 and continued to push rates above 1.25% before the end of 2015. Then, the US Fed should have raised rates gradually to near 2.0% by 2017~2018 never breaching the 2.1250% level. Our model expects the US Fed to decrease rates to near 1.4~1.5% in early 2019 and for rates to rotate between 1.25%~2.0% between now and 2020. Eventually, after 2021, our model expects the US Fed to begin to normalize rates near 1.5~1.75% for an extended period of time. Additionally, our Custom Market Cap index has reached a very low level (historically extremely low) and is likely to result in a major price bottom formation or, at least, a pause in this downward price move that may result in some renewed forward optimism going forward. Although we would like to be able to announce that the market has reached a major price bottom and that we are calling a bottom in this move, we simply cant call this as a bottom yet. We have to wait to see if and when the markets confirm a price bottom before we cant attempt any real call in the markets. You can see from our Custom Market Cap Index that the index level is very near historically low levels (below $4.00 near the RED line) and that these levels have resulted in major price low points historically. We are expecting the price to pause over the next week or so near these $3.50 levels and attempt to set up a rotational support level before attempting another price swing. As of right now, we believe there is fairly strong opportunity for a price bottom to setup, yet these are still very early indicators of a major price bottom and we cant actually call a bottom yet. If our Custom Market Cap Index does as it has in the past, then we are very close to a bottom formation in the US markets and traders would be wise to wait for technical confirmation of this bottom before jumping into any aggressive long trades. Lastly, our Custom Global Market Cap Index has also reached levels near the lower deviation channel range over the past 7+ years, which adds further confidence that a potential price bottom may be near to forming in the US markets. As we can see from the chart below, the recent selloff has pushed our Global Market Cap Index to very low levels from near $198 to near $144; a -27.55% total price decline. Nearing these low levels, we should expect the global markets to attempt to find some support and to potentially hammer out a bottom, yet we are still cautious that this downward price move could breach existing support levels and push even further in to bear market territory. There are early warning signs that the market may be attempting to form a market bottom and our research team is scanning every available tool we have at out disposal to attempt to assist all of our members and followers. We alerted you to this move back on September 17, 2018 with our ADL predictive modeling system call for a -5~8%+ market correction. Little did we know that the US Fed would blow the bottom out of the markets with their push to raise rates above the 2.0% level. As the US Fed has already breached our Fed Modeling Systems suggested rate levels, the global markets will be attempting to identify key price support in relation to this new pricing pressure and the expectations that debt/credit issues will become more pronounced as rates push higher. In other words, the global markets are attempting to price in the renewed uncertainty that relates to the US Fed pushing rates beyond optimal levels. We expect the markets are close to finding true support near the levels weve shown on our Custom Index charts, yet we still need confirmation before we can call it a bottom. We will continue to update you with our research and analysis as this move plays out and we hope you were able to follow our analysis regarding the Metals, Oil, Energy and other sectors that called many of these massive price swings. We pride ourselves on our analysis and ability to use our proprietary tools to find and execute successful trades for our members. Our ADL predictive price modeling system is still suggesting an upward price move is in the works for the US markets and we are waiting for our ultimate low price level to be reached before we expect an upside leg to drive prices higher again. Based on our current research, we may be nearing the point where the markets attempt to hammer out a price bottom yet time will tell if this is the correct analysis. Please take a minute to visit www.TheTechnicalTraders.com to learn how we help our members find and execute better trades. Recent swings in the markets have made it much more difficult for average traders to find and execute successful short-term trades. Learn how we can help you find greater success and read some of our recent research posts by visiting www.TheTechnicalTraders.com/FreeResearch/ Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com While in Vietnam, Volodin held talks with National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. He also paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. At the meetings, the leaders stressed that the visit is of important significance and continues a series of high-ranking delegation exchanges between Vietnam and Russia, aiming to foster the bilateral extensive cooperation, and marking a new step of development in the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive partnership. They discussed cooperation contents between the two countries and their law-making bodies. They reviewed growing parliamentary ties, which have seen the regular exchange of all-level delegations, mutual coordination, support and consultation at multilateral parliamentary forums in the region and in the world. In their capacity, the NA of Vietnam and the State Duma will spare no effort in assisting Vietnam-Russia collaboration in all fields, creating favorable legal frameworks to promote bilateral economy-trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange at all levels, particularly between Vietnamese and Russian localities. Volodin stated Russia is willing to provide Vietnam with more scholarships to train high-school Russian language teachers, in addition to 1,000 scholarships granted to Vietnamese students. A highlight of the visit is the signing of an agreement on the establishment of an inter-parliamentary cooperation committee between the NA of Vietnam and the State Duma. It is the first time the NA had set up such a collaboration mechanism with a foreign legislative body, which reflected political trust between the two nations high-ranking leaders and determination to enhance parliamentary cooperation. On the occasion, the State Duma delegation laid a wreath at the Monument for Martyrs, paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and visited the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site in Hanoi. At the event, the leaders of the three provinces signed a document assigning the management and protection of national border markers after completion. Quang Tri handed over the complete drawings of border markers, stakes and marker protection walls to Savannakhet and Salavan provinces. Realising the approved plan on increasing the number of Vietnam-Laos national border markers and upgrading existing ones, between 2008 and 2016, Quang Tri and the two Lao provinces actively and closely cooperated in completing a master plan on the work. The three provinces finished the border marker increase and upgrading at 62 positions with a total of 68 markers as well as added 37 pairs of auxiliary stakes at 24 locations. After completing the work, the border between Quang Tri and the two Lao provinces had additional 37 positions and 38 border markers. Addressing the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri provincial Peoples Committee Ha Sy Dong said the plan on increasing and upgrading the Vietnam-Laos border marker system is an important work between the two nations that holds special significance in terms of security, politics and socio-economy and relates to the territorial sovereignty of each country. The provinces should assign their border management forces to closely coordinate with each other in patrolling and protecting the safety and status quo of the national border marker system, contributing to building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, he noted. 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. This is the 13th year the club has organised a vote to recognise and honour scientists' contribution to the country's socio-economic development. The events are selected in the following areas: policies and mechanisms, natural sciences, applied research, international integration, social sciences and humanities, and honouring scientists. Participating in the poll were more than 40 journalists from over 20 central and local mass media agencies in the field of science and technology, in addition to the evaluation from prestigious scientists. The following are 10 prominent scientific and technological events of Vietnam in 2018. The Vietnamese digitised knowledge system officially operated: On January 1, 2018, the "Vietnamese Digitised Knowledge System" project was launched under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. The system has been set up to promote an integrated knowledge system in all areas, aimed at facilitating everyone to study and master knowledge, while enhancing their research, creativeness and application of scientific and technological advances. The "Coordination polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide" by Dr. Tran Dinh Phong from the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi was awarded the Ta Quang Buu Prize 2018. Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh (R) presents the Ta Quang Buu Award 2018 to Dr. Tran Dinh Phong. (Photo: VNA) Dr. Phong's research successfully demonstrated the structure and working mechanism of amorphous molybdenum sulfide, a low-cost, easy-to-fabricate and alternative material that can replace platinum for hydrogen evolution reaction from water. The research by Dr. Phong is an important step in the "race" to find energy solutions and reduce CO2 emissions into the environment. Viettel's real-time billing system won International Business Stevie Awards: On October 21, in London, the UK, Viettel Groups online charging service called vOCS 3.0 won the gold winner for best new product or service of the year in telecommunications by International Business Stevie Awards. Viettels vOCS 3.0 was praised by the judges for its creativity and impact on a large number of users. Snow ice maker from seawater for offshore fishing preservation: The Centre for High-tech Development of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has announced its successful development of a snow ice generator from sea water. It is the result of a research project conducted by Master Le Van Luan and his colleagues. The project has been recognised as an advanced technology in the field of fisheries by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The snow ice making machine made by Vietnamese scientists to help save costs for preserving offshore fishing products. (Photo: VGP) Vingroup launched the Applied S&T Research Support Fund: On August 21, conglomerate Vingroup officially launched its Applied S&T Research Support Fund, with the aim of funding scientific research projects in the field of computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, nanotechnology, renewable energy and next generation materials. The Fund has an investment of roughly VND2 trillion. This is a meaningful investment activity in the field of science and technology by a large enterprise. A Chau high-tech electrical equipment manufacturing factory: On November 1, the management board of the Hanois Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park agreed on A Chau Industrial Technology JSCs plan to build the A Chau Hi-tech Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Factory. The same day, these two also co-signed a cooperation agreement with Schneider Electric Group for technology transfer, marking a milestone in manufacturing, managing, and automatically monitoring the energy system. Vietnam has become one of only two countries in the world with enterprises to have signed comprehensive cooperation and high technology transfer from Schneider Electric Group - a leading global multinational corporation in energy management and automation. International activities on the fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in Vietnam: The Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 kicked off in Hanoi on July 13, under the chair of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The event attracted around 2,000 delegates, including 11 ambassadors and representatives of international organisations, along with over 50 experts and representatives from both domestic and global businesses. The forum aimed at building suitable policies and regulations for Vietnams active and effective participation in Industry 4.0. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) visits the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018. (Photo: VNA) The World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 (WEF ASIAN 2018), themed ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, was held in Hanoi from September 11 to 13, and was considered the most successful regional conference. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the event, along with the heads of state from ASEAN countries, senior leaders of partner countries, and roughly 1,000 representatives of multi-nation corporations, ASEAN businesses, and 800 domestic companies. Professor Dam Thanh Son received the 2018 Dirac Medal: Vietnamese Professor Dam Thanh Son of the University of Chicago was named one of the three winners of the 2018 Dirac Medal and Prize by International Centre for Theoretical Physics on August 8. Son and the two others winners Subir Sachdev of Harvard University and Xiao-Gang Wen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology received the honour for making important contributions to discovering new phases of matter (besides the three familiar phases of solids, liquid, and gas), and clarifying the transition among these phases when the external influences, such as temperature and pressure, change. Prof. Dam Thanh Son and his two colleagues used extensive knowledge from various fields such as material science, black holes, and cold atoms to research on many-body systems to prove the value of the cross-disciplinary approach. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep honoured with the International Rising Talent award: Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep, lecturer on biomedical technology at the International University under the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, was honoured with the International Rising Talent award by the LOreal - UNESCO Programme in France on March 21, thanks to her contributions to regenerative medicine. Her research team is conducting experiments on the use of a bio-glue, with the ultimate goal to obtain a product that can be stuck right onto any kind of injury to eliminate bacteria and promote the tissue regeneration process. The discovery of the remains of prehistoric people in volcanic caves in Krong No, Dak Nong: For the first time, Vietnamese scientists have discovered the remains of pre-historic people in volcanic caves, adding a new type to the residence of prehistoric people in the basalt land in the Central Highlands. For the first time, Vietnamese scientists have discovered the remains of prehistoric people at a volcanic cave system in Dak Nong. (Photo: VGP) This is the result of the project coded TN17/T06 on Researching the heritage values of caves, for proposing the construction of an on-site preservation museum in the Central Highlands, with the example of Krong No volcanic cave system in Dak Nong province, carried out from August 2017 to August 2020. The excavation result is a turning point for the study of anthropology/paleo-anthropology in Vietnam, providing a scientific foundation for the restoration and reconstruction of the prehistoric peoples daily activities, contributing to the building of a Global Geopark in Dak Nong. South Africas and Togos parliaments this month ratified the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The total number of countries committing to the deal has thus grown to 49. Once the agreement comes into effect, it will create a tariff-free continent, covering a single market of 1.2 billion people in 55 nations with a combined gross domestic product of about $3 trillion. It will constitute the largest free trade area globally, according to South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. Also on rt.com Russia may participate in construction of Trans-African railway The agreement is expected to reduce export tariffs which currently average 6.1 percent, and boost intra-African trade by more than 52 percent after import duties are eliminated. It is focused on diversifying trade exports away from just extractives and enhancing the chances of small and medium enterprises to tap into more regional destinations. Economists say that tariff-free access to a huge and unified market will encourage manufacturers and service providers to leverage economies of scale. READ MORE: Moscow wants BRICS development bank to invest in Africa We look to gain more industrial and value-added jobs in Africa because of intra-African trade, Mukhisa Kituyi, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, told Africa Renewal. The creation of the free trade area requires at least 22 countries submitting instruments of ratification. So far, the agreement has 15 ratifications, with seven more remaining. The African Unions (AU) Commissioner for Trade and Industry Albert Muchanga said this week he is confident the remaining votes required to enforce AfCFTA will be secured before the next AU summit in February 2019. The AfCFTA proposal was approved in 2012 and the members started working on a draft in 2015. In March, the leaders of 44 African countries endorsed the agreement in Rwanda, with more countries joining in since then. The participants of AfCFTA are reportedly weighing the possibility of using a common currency. Also on rt.com Africa shapes biggest free trade area since WTO to boost regional business ties For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section Clashes in Hodeida as UNs Yemen truce team meets for 1st time Clashes in Hodeida as UNs Yemen truce team meets for 1st time Sporadic clashes erupted on Wednesday in Hodeida, Yemen, as a UN-led truce monitoring team was scheduled to convene for the first time. Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels exchanged gunfire in the latest breach of the ceasefire. The sound of heavy artillery could be heard to the east of the Red Sea city, with clashes stopping after a few hours, AFP reported. A truce in Hodeida and its surroundings went into effect on December 18 but has remained shaky, with the two sides accusing each other of violations.Source : RT - Daily news German FM Maas opposes deployment of US medium-range missiles in Europe German FM Maas opposes deployment of US medium-range missiles in Europe Germany opposes the deployment of US medium-range missiles with nuclear warheads in Europe in the event of Washingtons withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said. Europe should not turn into a platform for discussions on arms buildup under any circumstances, the minister told DPA in an interview published on Wednesday. The deployment of new medium-range missiles in Germany would encounter huge dissatisfaction, Maas noted, adding that the policy of the 1980s will not help answer modern-day questions. The INF Treaty, which was signed in 1987, outlawed deployed and non-deployed intermediate range (1,000km-5,000km) and shorter range (500km-1,000km) ground-based missiles.Source : RT - Daily news German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says American nuclear missiles must not be stationed in Germany, or anywhere in Europe, in Washington's arms control debate with Moscow. "The deployment of new medium-range missiles would meet with widespread resistance in Germany," Maas said in an interview with German news agency dpa. The US is set to quit the 30-year-old INF treaty with Russia, which has been preventing Washington from stationing such missiles in Europe. Both countries accuse each other of violating the treaty, and both deny any wrongdoing on their own part. Read more "By no means should Europe become the scene of a debate on weapons build-up," Maas said. Deploying nuclear weapons in response to supposed treaty violations is Cold War-era logic, the German diplomat believes. "Nuclear armament is certainly the wrong answer," he said. "The policy of the 80s does not help to answer the questions of today." The US is accusing Russia of building missiles prohibited by the INF treaty, while Moscow says American missile defense systems already stationed in Eastern Europe can easily be converted into offensive ballistic missile launchers. In October, the US announced it would withdraw from the treaty unless Russia halts the alleged violations, and in December it gave Russia a 60-day deadline to comply. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, Moscow was informed right away that the decision was final, and not an attempt to start a dialogue. Russia has warned it would have to respond if American missiles are stationed in Europe, making any such sites potential targets. If you like this story, share it with a friend! In a bid to curb a potentially radicalizing foreign influence on its Muslim residents, German lawmakers are considering a new mosque tax, intended to make Muslim communities self-reliant and under more control. Many German mosques are sponsored and are de-facto controlled from abroad, leaving local authorities in the dark about what happens inside. Now, several MPs have come up with an idea that they call a solution for a problem that has become increasingly unnerving for Berlin in recent years. Read more The MPs proposal involves the introduction of a special tax to be paid by all practicing Muslims in Germany, which would then be redistributed by the state among all officially registered Islamic religious institutions. A similar tax already exists in Germany and some other European countries for Catholic and Evangelical Christians. The initiative is aimed at helping Islam in Germany free itself from the influence of foreign states and get a stronger domestic orientation, Thorsten Frei, the deputy head of Chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faction in the German Parliament, said, calling the proposed tax an important step in that direction. Freis idea immediately received support from other members of the ruling Grand Coalition. Independent financing would make the communities congregating in mosques in Germany more transparent, Michael Frieser, a legal expert and a member of the Bavarian Christian Social Union a long-time CDU ally, said. A prominent member of the Social Democratic Party, Burkhard Lischka, called the suggestion worthy of discussion. Other suggestions voiced by MPs include legally obliging the imams preaching in Germany to upload their sermons on the internet uncut. The mosques must be open and transparent, said Frieser. However, any potential legislation on that matter has a long way to go before it could be implemented. Any draft bill should be first discussed with the German states as it falls within their jurisdiction, Lischka explained. So far, no detailed account of the future legislation has been presented. Still, the idea also seemingly received backing from the Interior Ministry, which said it can be a solution. However, the ministry also said that the initiative would mostly rely on grassroots support from the Muslim communities themselves as it would still require a great deal of self-organization on their part. The German Muslim community has so far remained conspicuously tight-lipped about the initiative. An outspoken unorthodox female preacher, Seyran Ates, founder of the first liberal mosque in Berlin, has been the only one to comment on the initiative so far. Ates backed the proposal by saying that in the future everything that the community needs could be paid-for by its members themselves. For now, most Muslim religious institutions in Germany rely on foreign aid in some form. The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB), directly controlled by Ankara, is considered to be one of the largest organizations contributing to German mosques as it exerts influence over 896 Muslim communities across the country. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally opened one of the newly built mosques in the German city of Cologne during his visit in September. DITIB might be one of the most influential Muslim organizations in Germany but the authorities are apparently more concerned about some other forces, which also seek to gain influence over German Muslims and which are much more radical. In 2017, German security forces warned that extremists from the Muslim Brotherhood a radical Salafist organization established in 1928 were seeking to gain a monopoly over mosques in the eastern German state of Saxony and were even planning to establish Sharia law in Germany. Also on rt.com Muslim Brotherhood expands presence in Germany, seeks to establish Sharia law security official Earlier reports in the German media also suggested that Islamic religious groups from Gulf States such as Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are supporting the radical Salafist movement in Germany with the suspected approval of their governments. The activities of the foreign-funded Islamic NGOs have caught the attention of the German authorities following the 2015 refugee crisis, as Berlin grew increasingly concerned that their actions would lead to further radicalization of German Muslims as well as refugees, who arrived there in large numbers. READ MORE: Islamist radicals in Germany backed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait & Qatar German media The German domestic intelligence service, the BfV, has also warned that the Salafist movement became one of the most rapidly growing extremist groups in Germany. In late 2017, the then-head of the agency, Hans-Georg Maassen, said that there is now a record number of Islamists in Germany, putting their number at roughly 11,000. In January 2018, a report by the BfV said that the number of Islamists in Berlin has more than doubled since 2011 and is steadily rising as 100 new followers joined local Salafist groups since the spring of 2017. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Israel advances plans for nearly 2,200 settler homes in West Bank NGO Israel advances plans for nearly 2,200 settler homes in West Bank NGO Israeli authorities have advanced plans for nearly 2,200 settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the Peace Now NGO said on Wednesday. The plans would be the first such approvals since snap polls were called earlier this week. A Defense Ministry committee with responsibility for such projects on Tuesday and Wednesday approved the plans, which are in various stages of the approval process, AFP reported, citing the statement. It said 1,159 housing units were given final approvals before building permits can be issued, while 1,032 were at an earlier stage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government agreed Monday to dissolve parliament and call for early elections on April 9. Netanyahu met with settler leaders earlier Wednesday in Jerusalem. Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law as they are built on land Palestinians see as part of their future state.Source : RT - Daily news Russia's Defense Ministry said Israel carried out airstrikes on Syrian targets as two civilian flights were landing in Beirut and Damascus, putting passengers at risk. The Israeli military put two civilian airliners in immediate danger, Igor Konashenkov, the Defense Ministry spokesman, told reporters. Provocative acts by the Israeli Air Force endangered two passenger jets when six of their F-16s carried out airstrikes on Syria from Lebanese airspace. IDF's F-16 flew in as civilian jets were landing at Beirut and Damascus airport. Syrian military didnt deploy surface-to-air missiles and electronic jamming to prevent a tragedy and let Damascus air traffic control divert one of the passenger jets to a reserve airport in Khmeimim. The Israeli Air Force used as many as 16 US-made laser-guided GBU-39 bombs, but only two of them reached their targets. Most were intercepted by Syria's air defenses, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Two precision munitions hit a logistics compound 7km away from Damascus, injuring seven personnel there. DETAILS TO FOLLOW Kosovo: Proposed border swap with Serbia isnt negotiable Kosovo: Proposed border swap with Serbia isnt negotiable Kosovos government has said that a proposed border swap with Serbia isnt negotiable. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Wednesday he would welcome any idea or suggestion for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue but a land swap never will be negotiated. The European Union has told Serbia and Kosovo they must normalize their ties to have a chance to join the bloc. Kosovo declared independence from Belgrade in 2008, which Serbia has not recognized. Earlier this year, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci proposed a border correction, with Kosovo getting southern Serbias Presevo Valley and giving nothing in exchange, without explaining how Serbia would accept that, AP said. Officials in Serbia and Kosovo have suggested a land swap Serbias Presevo Valley for Kosovos northern Mitrovica could help the negotiations.Source : RT - Daily news Pro-Turkish armed groups reinforce near Manbij in N. Syria ahead of Ankaras offensive Pro-Turkish armed groups reinforce near Manbij in N. Syria ahead of Ankaras offensive Pro-Turkish armed groups have reinforced their presence on the outskirts of the city of Manbij in northern Syria as Ankara threatens a new offensive against Kurdish forces, AFP repprted, citing sources. Dozens of pro-Turkish fighters equipped with assault rifles were seen near the city of Jarablus in mud-splattered pick-up trucks on Tuesday, traveling to join sectors near the demarcation line, according to the report, which said that the situation was calm. The pro-Turkish Al-Jaish al-Watani rebel coalition said Wednesday it was finalizing preparations for the planned offensive. Turkey has massed reinforcements at the border, and dispatched tanks and armored vehicles near Manbij, which hosts American troops and where Ankara says Kurdish forces also remain present.Source : RT - Daily news Russia is considering boosting exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China. The LNG would come from its largest island, Sakhalin, to fulfil Beijings growing energy demand, Russias envoy to the country has revealed. There are plans to supply liquefied gas to China not only from the Yamal [LNG plant], but also from Sakhalin. It can be partly supplied in the form of liquefied natural gas, and a pipeline may eventually built, ambassador Andrey Denisov told journalists on Wednesday. The diplomat explained that gas supplies via a pipeline are much cheaper, but such projects can be launched only if a long-term bilateral deal is sealed. On the other hand, LNG is more convenient as the pipeline works only one way, but at the same time the fuel in the liquefied form is more expensive, according to Denisov. China is worlds fifth largest consumer of natural gas and has long been planning to increase imports from foreign suppliers, including Russia. Moscow and Beijing are currently finalizing talks on the gas supplies agreement via the so-called Western Route, which stipulates building the Power of Siberia pipeline to deliver Russian gas from the Far East to China. The new pipeline will deliver 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually for 30 years. The last remaining question the sides are discussing is the price, Denisov said. Also on rt.com China wants to buy more natural gas from Russia & diversify supplies Many issues are agreed, as far as we know, except for the main one, perhaps, the issue of defining the price, the envoy told journalists. Russia currently has two LNG plants Gazproms Sakhalin-2 and Novateks Yamal LNG. Energy giant Rosneft is also planning to build a new plant in partnership with US ExxonMobil, Japans SODECO and Indias ONGC Videsh. The $27 billion Yamal LNG project, which began operations last December, has recently reached full capacity and has already shipped two million tons of the liquefied fuel. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section * Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has invited US President Donald Trump to visit Turkey in 2019, a White House spokesman said on December 24. * At least 14 Palestinian demonstrators were shot and wounded on December 24 during clashes with Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, medics said. * China will unveil more supportive measures for the country's private businesses as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to a State Council executive meeting on December 24. * Russia's economy will see a difficult beginning next year and grow by 1.3 percent for the whole year as expected, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin said on December 24. * US President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Reserve on December 24, describing it as the "only problem" for the US economy, as top officials convened to discuss the growing rout in stock markets caused in part by the president's attacks on the central bank. * Libya's Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on December 24 agreed with the Chairman of the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) Mustafa Sanalla to enhance security in Al-Sharara oil field in southern Libya, which was recently reopened after a forceful shutdown by protesters. * US President Donald Trump said on December 24 that progress is being made on the issues related with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). * The modern weapons rate in the Russian army reached an unprecedented level of 61.5 percent of its total armament, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on December 24. "In total, we have received over 1,500 models of weapon and over 80,000 pieces of equipment, he said. * Turkey is working with other countries to carry the investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to the United Nations, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on December 24. * Israel's political arena was in uproar on December 24 afternoon after the government announced that early elections will be held on April 9, 2019. * Tunisia and Turkey agreed on December 24 to set up a common roadmap to develop bilateral economic cooperation. Tehran held talks with Afghanistans Taliban report Tehran held talks with Afghanistans Taliban report Iran has held talks with the Afghan Taliban, one of the countrys top security officials said, according to the Tasnim news agency. The Afghan government has been informed of the communications and talks carried out with the Taliban, and this process will continue, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was quoted on Wednesday as saying. No details on where the talks took place were given. The news agency is considered close to Irans Revolutionary Guard, AFP said. Shamkhani informed the Afghan authorities about the discussions during a visit to Kabul on Wednesday, according to the report. The Islamic Republic has always been one of the primary pillars of stability in the region and cooperation between the two countries will certainly help in fixing Afghanistans security issues, he said.Source : RT - Daily news A video of a New York Police officer fighting off a group of hostile intoxicated men at a subway station has gone viral. Despite repeated warnings to back off, the homeless men kept on harassing and crowding in on the cop. East Broadway subway station in Manhattan was the scene of a tense confrontation between the solitary police officer and the aggressive crowd on Sunday night. Responding to a harassment report against a female passenger, one of New Yorks finest rushed to her rescue, and encountered several belligerent men. Video footage of the incident shows the cop fending off an intoxicated group of at least five men who, despite repeated warnings, kept on coming at the officer. Step back! Step back! I don't want to hurt you! he shouts, repeatedly trying to defend himself with kicks and his baton. Two of the men attempt to hold the attackers back but to no avail. During a struggle, one man falls onto the tracks, at which point the video ends. To protect the life of one of his attackers, the officer requested that the power be cut on the tracks, before helping the man out. When back-up arrived, police took five men into custody, only to release them for medical evaluations. Police trawled the video of the incident to identify suspects and the gang was later booked for breaches of city transit rules. The District Attorney, however, declined to pursue charges. The name of the NYPD hero has not been released. Also on rt.com NYPD cops use illegal chokehold on suspected subway farebeater (VIDEO) Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Ohio lucked out with two important Mickalene Thomas exhibitions this fall large scale painting and collage works at the Wexner Center for the Arts, and photographs at the Dayton Art Institute. Thomas work is monumental in scale and examines representations of the female body in contemporary subject matter to art history. Both exhibitions reflect on the dual influence of photographs with her paintings and collage that initially brought her acclaim in the contemporary art world. Learn more about the Dayton Art Institute exhibition here . Muse: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and tete-a-tete Dayton Art Institute October 20 2018 January 13 2019 Mickalene Thomas: I Cant See You Without Me Wexner Center for the Arts September 14, 2018 December 30, 2018 It was great to see the quirky color palettes, focused nautical content and joyful painting of Edmund Merricle at Dutoit Gallery. Learn more about the exhibition here. Julia Oldham, Dogs of Future Earth Blue House Gallery October 13 31, 2018 Oldham is a prolific artist, with fascinating artwork and travels on her resume. Oldhams recent series was part of an artist residency in Chernobyl, where she documented the feral dogs that roam the seemingly empty town, descendants of those that survived the nuclear disaster. Blue House featured her large-scale fantastical collages, as well as videos, allowing a glimpse into a reality blended with science fiction. Learn more from the Blue House website. Akram Zaatari, The Fold Space, time and the image October 05, 2018 February 10, 2019 Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center The photo-based work of Akram Zaatari represents sometimes haunting narratives, but his work extends beyond his own studio Zaatari is also the co-founder of the Arab Image Foundation, which preserves a history of photographic images from the Middle East. This exhibition impressively balances his artistic vision and preservation work. Learn more here. Juan-Si Gonzalez, Displacement: Collective Practice to Recover Memory Rosewood Gallery October 15 November 16 In Displacement, Juan-Si Gonzalez digs deep into his own personal archive, from his youth in Cuba, to his political asylum which eventually led him to Dayton, Ohio. This exhibition was a dense, emotional, and significant telling of an artists story, as well as his connections to his present-day community. Learn about Gonzalez exhibitions here. Ashley Jude Jonas, its likely in front of you Dutoit Gallery November 2018 Jonas thoughtful artwork can be highly conceptual, but always is deeply intentional and sensitive to various aspects of material, dimensionality and balance. Her work is most successful when viewers the time to understand the relationships each piece puts forward, both formally and theoretical. A truly beautiful exhibition. Learn more here. BONUS PICKS Joel Whitaker, When Things Go Missing Dayton Visual Arts Center September 7, 2018 November 3, 2018 Whitakers beautiful, quiet photographs documented of sites of trauma, including locations of tornado touch-downs in the American South and photographs that explore the idea of losing thingsthe transitory nature of all things. An incredibly poetic exhibition. Learn more here. Ann Kim, Time Cycles, but Never Back to Now Dutoit Gallery July 2018 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States has once again embarrassed itself by indicting two alleged Chinese hackers for breaking into computers of U.S. government agencies, companies as well as other nations. It's a slanderous campaign by the United States, which routinely depicts itself as cyber-espionage victim while pointing an accusatory finger elsewhere. This time around Washington has taken a different approach, stressing that the alleged Chinese hackers have stolen secrets from other countries as well. There's only one problem: No conclusive proof exists to support the alleged crimes. International Business Machines (IBM), which is on the list of "victim companies," said it had no evidence that sensitive data and client information had been compromised. In fact, it was not the first time for the United States, which has a notorious record in cyber issues, to cook up unfounded accusations against "Chinese hackers" via anonymous sources. "Lanxiang Vocational School," a Chinese vocational school offering courses in subjects like cooking, auto repair and hairdressing, was reported as the "Chinese stronghold of hackers" by The New York Times several years ago, making the news source the butt of public jokes. Coincidentally, Bloomberg Businessweek in a report two months ago claimed that China implanted malicious chips in the hardware of U.S. companies, which was swiftly denied by Apple and Amazon. For long, it has been an open secret that U.S. cyber intelligence and institutionalized cyber forces hack into and eavesdrop on foreign governments, enterprises and individuals. But U.S. authorities and Western media have been working diligently to divert attention from that unpleasant fact by making bizarre accusations against China instead. As China is steadfast in safeguarding cyber security and opposing all forms of cyber espionage, U.S. allegations of cyber espionage against China are unacceptable and have violated the basic norms of international relations and seriously undermined Sino-U.S. cooperation. It should be borne in mind that accusing others of cyber espionage merely to cast a country in a poor light won't help address cyber security issues in the long run. Let's hope Washington quickly figures this out. Sunitha natti By Express News Service Private lender ICICI Bank penalised the highest number of employees for defrauding bank assets in the last three years. Of the 60 scheduled commercial banks operating in India, the Mumbai-based bank topped the list of those taking action against staff for their involvement in frauds during the three years through 2015 to 2017, shows data presented in the Parliament.SBI stood next in terms of action initiated against employees involved in frauds, followed by Punjab National Bank. In all, banks took action against a staggering 13,949 officials, of which 16 per cent, or 2,236, belonged to ICICI. The bank is currently facing adjudication proceedings by Sebi following quid pro quo allegations against its former CEO & MD Chanda Kochhar, who stepped down in October. Interestingly, the number of employees pulled up by ICICI has been on the rise from 732 in 2015 to 879 in 2017, even as the total number of bank officials against whom action was taken for bank frauds involving an amount of Rs 1 lakh or more, has been declining from 5,785 in 2015 to 3,804 in 2017. According to data furnished by the Reserve Bank of India, between 2015 and 2017, SBI took action against 1,287 nearly half that of ICICI Bank while PNB penalised about 1,127 employees. PNB, which reported the banking sectors biggest fraud aggregating Rs 14,000-crore early this year, saw action taken against employees slide down from 420 in 2015 to 376 in 2017. Meanwhile, among other state-run banks, Central Bank of India initiated action against 728 employees, while Bank of Baroda penalised 674 during the past three years. Among private lenders, Axis Bank, took action against 607, while new entrants like Bandhan and Equitas Small Finance Bank pulled up 139 and 15 employees respectively. However, the number of bank fraud cases which resulted in action against employees saw a steady decline over the three years. A total of 5,785 bank employees were charged with fraud in 2015, which reduced to 4,360 in 2016. This fell further to 3,804 cases in 2017. By PTI HYDERABAD: India's information technology (IT) services sector and startups together are expected to hire up to five lakh people in 2019 as demand for freshers is on the upswing, an industry veteran said Wednesday. Former Chief Financial Officer of IT major Infosys Ltd, T V Mohandas Pai said entry-level packages in the industry went up by as much as 20 per cent in 2018, after stagnation in salaries for the past seven years. "Growth is coming back to the Indian IT services industry," he told PTI, talking about industry highlights in 2018 and prospects in the coming calendar year. Pai said 2018 saw "H1B visa situation getting tougher," Indian companies focusing more on Japan and southeast Asia, massive expansion of captives and buy-backs by big companies. Hyderabad has become a hot destination, with many new age companies coming to the Telangana capital, thanks to good infrastructure, and "very good marketing" by KTR (KT Rama Rao, who served as IT Minister in the previous TRS government), according to him. He also said Indian companies were now trying to expand in markets in Asia much more vigorously, particularly Japan which is "opening up" and southeast Asia. Reskilling of employees in IT services companies has redoubled, Pai said. "More than half the people have been reskilled in all the IT companies in India. Digital income is growing in double digits for all the companies. 2018 has been a good year." Hiring has gone up, he said. "First time in seven years, hiring compensation (entry-level) has gone up by 20 per cent. Fresher compensation is going up, after a long time. It's good news." Entry level packages are now pegged at 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum, as companies are beginning to pay more to attact "higher quality." "For many years, entry-level compensation packages had not gone up, demoralising people. In fact, delivery boys in cities make 50,000 rupees a month, much more than software engineers. It's ridiculous," Pai said. He listed greater use artificial intelligence and machine learning in enterprises, greater thrust on digitisation, bigger spending by BFSI (banking, financial services, insurance) in America, as being growth opportunities for Indian IT companies in 2019, which will also see them look for greater penetration into Europe and Asia. But the challenges for them are going to be localisation in America. "You must become more local in America, most of them (Indian companies) are trying to do. And they are finding that when you are local, cost actually is not increasing because you are going to smaller towns where costs are much less". The year 2019 is going to be better for entry-level guys because hiring is going to be much better, said Pai, also Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, and Aarin Capital, and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited. Start-ups have a total of 600,000 employees in India. "In the coming calendar year, my estimation is they (startups) will hire about 200,000 people. In 2018, I think they hired 150,000 people", he said. "Totally between IT services and start-ups, my estimate is 4.5 lakh to five lakh people will be hired (in India in 2019)". In 2018, the IT services companies and startups together are estimated to have hired 3.5 lakh to four lakh people. "Now start-ups are becoming big. There are 39,000 start-ups (in India), every year 5,000 startups come up (in India), so when the startups are beginning to hire, they hire all kinds of people, not only engineers, whereas services companies will hire more engineers and (those for) BPO (business process outsourcing," Pai said. Meera Bhardwaj By Express News Service BENGALURU: In the wake of the green nod for expansion of Kaiga Nuclear Plant, activists have mooted a slew of mitigation measures before the State Board for Wildlife gives its clearance for the 5th and 6th units. The present project includes setting up of a Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor which will add a capacity of 1400MWe to the existing 880MWe. With the proposed plant falling within the 10 km default ESZ of Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR), both the chief wildlife warden and director, KTR, have already recommended the project. With Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) submitting its proposal for wildlife clearance, activists have suggested some measures. This includes expansion of Anshi National Parks boundary through funding from NPCIL and enhancement of funds from Rs 50 lakh/year for relocation of villages from KTR as part of NPCILs commitment to develop wildlife in this region. Requesting the State Board of Wildlife to consider these measures, activist Giridhar Kulkarni said, The existing four units and proposed two units are located close to Kali hydroelectric project (stage-2). While giving environmental clearance for this project, GOI had stipulated on August 16, 1979, that the submergence areas of the three dams have dense vegetation/wildlife, so the boundary of Dandeli Sanctuary should be expanded to cover the reservoirs created by Kalinadi 1 & 2 projects. A number of islands are likely to be created in the Kadra reservoir. So vegetation on these islands above FRL should not be removed as they can be developed as sanctuaries later. Further, with diversion of 732 hectares for the Kaiga plant, the state on February 18, 1988, had clearly stipulated, with the re-fixing of Dandeli Sanctuary boundary for setting up of an atomic power plant, that necessary funds will be provided by the Nuclear Power Board, Mumbai, for protection of wildlife. Kulkarni adds, An independent EIA Committee should be formed to assess the impact of the existing nuclear plant. Before giving the nod, suitable mitigation measures should be taken up as per government stipulations. Although some expansion has taken place, further additions of wildlife habitats around the plant in Kadra Range (Karwar) and Idagundi Range (Yellapur) can be included in Anshi National Park. Activists say that the relocation of villages from KTR has suffered due to lack of funds. As per the EIA report, there is a budgetary allocation of Rs 50 lakh per year from the Nuclear Power Board for wildlife conservation. NPCIL should be asked to provide necessary funds for the village relocation programme, they said.Reacting to the suggestions, a senior forest officer said that mitigation measures will be considered once the matter comes up before the State Wildlife Board. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Members of the Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti (HJS) and other pro-Hindu outfits condemned allegations and the demand for a ban on Sanatan Sanstha and the HJS. They also demanded the withdrawal of cases filed against 3,500 Ayyappa devotees. They also demanded that action is taken on the bursting of crackers on Christmas and New Years Eve, similar to the time limit set for bursting crackers during Deepavali. During the National Hindu Movement held at Town Hall on Tuesday, coordinator of HJS, Mohan Gowda, said they will shut down the conspiracy to frame Sanatan Sanstha, HJS and other pro-Hindu organisations. There were several failed attempts to create the narrative of saffron terror during the Congress rule. Now there is an attempt to recreate that narrative again. Aditya Shrikrishna By Express News Service There is a whole genre called found footage cinema, but what if prized footage was thought to be lost forever? Sandi Tans Netflix documentary Shirkers is about one such piece of footage. She and her friends, Jasmine Ng and Sophia Siddique, made an avant-garde film in Singapore in the early 90s and then the cans of film disappeared. They had called the film Shirkers. Tan and her friends were young, rebels in their own way with self-published magazines, film writings, underground clubs and strong likes, dislikes and opinions on cinema. At one point, Ng says something about Tan liking Bergman, and the latter is quick to correct I hate Bergman!. They talk about cult indie films of Singapore like They Call Her Cleopatra Wong and their love for pop culture. When Tan says she and Jasmine devoured pop culture that people around them ignored, Tamil Nadus own MGR makes an appearance. Part of the generation that lived through phases like the chewing gum ban in Singapore, they grew up in an age of censorship that gave way to more compelling, rebellious art in the young minds of Tan, Ng and Siddique. At the films pivot sits Georges Cardona, Tan and Ngs film school teacher who nurtured their love for cinema. An enigmatic figure, Cardona introduced Tan to French New Wave, to Breathless and Godard. Every cinema lover has a father figure introducing an impressionable mind to the joys of cinema and its myriad characters. For Tan and her friends, it was Cardona, the Singaporeans awed by the white man sharing crazy, weird, intriguing stories and anecdotes about himself and about films (he once claimed Jayne Mansfields decapitated head rolled over to the side of his car!). They may be apocryphal but Cardona at first comes across as that arresting raconteur who can overawe anyone with the gift of the gab. Some of the joyous moments in Shirkers are in the portions where Tan discovers cinema and falls in love with it Blue Velvet, The Seventh Seal, Rushmore, Ghost World, Blow Up. A familiar, identifiable phase for any cinephile. Early in the film, Tan says that one of Cardonas favourite films and influences is Werner Herzogs Fitzcarraldo, about the rubber baron played by Klaus Kinski, who exploits the indigenous people of Peru in transporting a steamship over a hill. The parallels in Shirkers begin to grate at you soon enough. In the beginning of the film, Sandi Tan talks about how to go forward she had to move backwards. As the cans of Shirkers make their way to her, she starts to pull back the pages in search of the memories of George Cardona and the people associated with him. Shirkers, directed by Tan, goes through a dramatic shift in tone in the latter half. The documentary begins to feel like horror, with the ghost of Cardona as its guiding spirit, haunting the footage wherever it goes. Tan uses clay figurines made to look like stop motion animation to bring to life some of Cardonas gaudy stories. After all, what Cardona did with Tan and her friends was textbook ghosting. Tan meets Cardonas widow who seems as stumped as she is, and talks to a cinematographer who worked in Steven Soderberghs Sex, Lies and Videotape. One of Cardonas apocryphal stories was about how he was the inspiration behind James Spaders character in Soderberghs Palme dOr-winning film. Cardona is an inscrutable figure who like all incomplete filmmakers is a voyeur at first. An ex-friend of Cardona describes his complications perfectly He was good with women, he could get what he wanted from them and what he wanted wasnt always sex. Tan, along with them, tries to piece together the unending jigsaw puzzle in her life called Georges Cardona. Shirkers ultimately becomes a tale of emotional abuse and intellectual theft, robbing Tan and her friends of a shared memory as dear to them as life itself. They come undone by several things at once the politics and censorship in Singapore, and the white man pretending to be their teacher and saviour. But it is also about cinema and the love for the medium. Tans first few words in the documentary are, You found freedom by building worlds inside your heads. If that isnt an accurate definition of cinema, I am not sure what is. Shirkers celebrates cinema and places it as something that is as ephemeral as it is timeless. In the end someone mentions how the film Shirkers never had a life, but through this experience of Tan (not to mention this documentary itself), it has attained an afterlife. Cinema is personal. Not everyone reacts the same way to a particular film and ones experience of it is influenced by a host of variables. And Shirkers, a script written and filmed on a whim, is as personal as they come. This documentary is an ode to passions and passion projects around the world. Turkey to soon cross to east of Euphrates in northern Syria ANKARA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is determined to cross to the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria as soon as possible, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday. "Turkey will not wait long to enter the east of Euphrates," Cavusoglu told journalists at a yearend presser. Cavusoglu made the remarks as Ankara postponed the military operation following a U.S. announcement for withdrawal from the war-torn country. "We will coordinate the withdrawal process with the U.S.. After the withdrawal of the U.S., we try to prevent a vacuum in Syria from being filled by terrorist organizations," Turkey's top diplomat noted. Reiterating that Ankara welcomed a U.S. decision to pullout their soldiers from Syria, Cavusoglu told that Ankara and Washington will be in dialogue through this process and a U.S. military delegation will visit Turkey soon. One of the topics of these military to military talks will be about the heavy weapons the U.S. delivered to the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the minister noted. "The U.S. should collect those weapons. We renewed out expectation on this issue after their decision of pullout," Cavusoglu said. The U.S. provided weapons for the Syrian Kurdish fighters for their fight against the Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, despite warnings of Ankara that the group poses threat to its national security. The issue has long been source of tension between the two NATO allies. Ankara views the YPG as Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara, the U.S. and the European Union. Ankara and Washington agreed to finalize a Manbij deal before the U.S. pullout, the minister said, referring to an agreement between the two countries that envisages retreat of the YPG from the northeastern Syrian town. Turkey has the power to single-handedly neutralize the IS in Syria, he stated. Two weeks ago, the Turkish president announced that the army would launch a new military operation in the area controlled by the YPG, but delayed the military campaign after a phone conversation between the U.S. and Turkish presidents. U.S. president, during the conversation, delegated fight against to the Islamic State (IS) to Turkey after its full pullout from the region, Turkish media reported. The minister also said he will travel to Russia soon in order to exchange views over the U.S. decision of withdrawal. "Russia is a very important actor in Syria," he said, adding "it's very important for us to make assessments on the developments with them." Erdogan, speaking to reporters in parliament on Tuesday, said he is planning to have a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Cavusoglu's trip to Moscow. Asked if anyone tries to fill the vacuum, whether France or regime troops, in the region after U.S. withdrawal, Cavusoglu said Turkey will not allow presence of "terrorists" in any case, referring to YPG militants. The minister underlined that if France is staying to "contribute to Syria's future, great, but if they are doing this to protect terrorist YPG. This will bring no benefit to anyone." French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Thursday his troops would carry out operations against IS fighters in Syria to totally wipe out the group's remaining pockets. By IANS NEW DELHI: The NIA on Wednesday claimed to have busted an Islamic State module by arresting 10 people, including the group leader, who were allegedly planning terror attacks targeting some political personalities and security establishments as well as crowded places in Delhi and the national capital region. The arrest of the members of the module, "Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam", was made after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at 17 places, including six places in East Delhi's Jafarabad area, six places in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha, two places each in Lucknow and Hapur and one place in Meerut. Six others, who are suspected to be members of the group, have also been detained and they are being questioned. The agency had registered a case on December 20 under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Addressing a press conference, NIA spokesperson and Inspector General of Police (NIA) Alok Mittal said that the suspects were planning attacks in Delhi but he refused to share when they were planning those attacks. He said the agency arrested the head of the Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam, Mufti Suhail, a resident of Amroha from his house, who is also a Maulvi in a mosque. #WATCH NIA conducts a raid in Delhi's Jafrabad area in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam' . pic.twitter.com/GL1GjOa1tq ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 The official said the module was planning attacks on important political and security offices in Delhi as well as crowded places. "They were planning to detonate a remote-controlled bomb or a fidayeen kind of attack," he said. Asked about the handler of the Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam, Mittal said the agency was trying to ascertain his identity and his country. He said the arrested suspects also tried making a bullet-proof fidayeen vest. It was recovered from Amroha. A country-made rocket launcher, 12 pistols, 112 alarm clocks, 100 mobile phones, 135 SIM cards, many laptops and various electronic gadgets, besides 150 rounds of ammunition were also recovered during the searches. The NIA also seized 25 kg of explosive material, such as potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sulphur, sugar material paste, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch, wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, knife, sword, IS-related literature and Rs 7.5 lakh in cash. READ HERE | Intel agencies on alert as Islamic State modules in Kerala switch to Wickr app The official said the group was a self-funded one and a few of the members stole gold ornaments from their homes and sold them to fund their activities. "During questioning two brothers confessed that they sold gold jewellery worth Rs 5 to 6 lakh," the official said. He said that the group came on the NIA's radar after credible information that a group of pro-IS individuals have formed a terrorist gang and are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks targeting vital installations, sensitive locations and crowded places in and around Delhi and the national capital region (NCR). "The inputs were further developed and field verifications were done. It was ascertained that Suhail alias Hazrath and his associates have mobilized funds and have procured weapons, ammunition and explosive material to prepare IEDs and bombs and they plan to carry out explosions and fidayeen attacks at places of importance in and around Delhi and also target crowded places," the IG said. Mittal said that all the arrested people are in the age group of 20 to 29 years. Besides Suhail, the agency arrested Saeed, 28, Raees Ahmed, Saqib Iftekar, 26 and Mohammad Irshad from Amroha. It arrested Anas Yunus, 24, a B. Tech student of Amity University in Noida, Rashid Zafar Raq, 23, Zubair Malik, 20 and his brother Zaid Malik, 22 and Mohammad Azam, 35, from Delhi's Jafarabad area. According to NIA officials, Yunus was instrumental in procuring electrical items, alarm clocks and batteries etc. in furtherance of their terror conspiracy. The two brothers Saeed and Raees arrested from Amroha had procured a huge quantity of explosive material for preparing IEDs and pipe bombs and were instrumental in fabricating a rocket launcher to carry out terrorist attacks. Mittal also said that Azam, who runs a medical shop in Seelampur area of Delhi and Saqib Iftekar in Amroha helped Suhail in arranging the weapons. He said that the two brothers Zaid and Zubair were also part of the terror conspiracy and were instrumental in procuring batteries, connectors, SIM cards on fake documents and mobilising funds for buying bomb-making material. Asked how these people made bombs and the rocket launcher, the officer said that they took the help of the Internet to make bombs and the rocket launcher. He said that after the questioning of the six other accused more arrests will be made in the case. All the arrested people will be produced in a Special NIA court in Delhi on Thursday. (With Express News Service inputs) By PTI A 30-year-old man was arrested at the Jaipur International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle gold into the country by hiding it in his rectum, a customs official said. Pankaj Saduwani was taken into custody at the airport Sunday night after the Customs personnel suspected odd behaviour. He had alighted from Thai Airways, Assistant Commissioner, Customs, Hoshiyar Singh said. ALSO READ: Two kg gold seized at newly-inaugurated Kannur International Airport During questioning Saduwani revealed that he was hiding six pieces of gold, weighing about 1 kg, in his rectum, he said. Subsequently, he was arrested and the gold seized, Singh said. The official said the modus operandi of the gang is that a smuggler is given a photograph of the consignee -- waiting outside the airport -- and he has to handover the smuggled goods to that person only. Saduwani is being further interrogated, Singh added. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh alleged that journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem, who was sentenced to one-year imprisonment by a local court, had tried to incite and propagate secessionist idea spearheaded by the militant groups. With the effort of the governments at the Centre and the state, Manipur is witnessing a decline in insurgency activities. The video uploaded by Kishorechandra had serious intention to undermine the effort of the government to curb insurgency but incites and propagates the secessionist idea spearheaded by the insurgent outfits, Singh told this correspondent. He said the video uploaded by Wangkhem on Facebook insulted the celebration of the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai, as a symbol of unity, integrity, nationalism and sovereignty of India. In the video, Wangkhem says do you have any sense of nationalism in Manipur. Rani Jhansi has nothing to do with Manipur. But do not betray and insult the freedom fighters of Manipur. Do not betray the present freedom struggle of Manipur. Do not insult at least the people of Manipur, Singh said. He argued: Are not these words questioning the unity, integrity, sovereignty and nationalism of India? Or are they mere criticism against me or my party or the Prime Minister? Is taking legal action against those questioning the unity, integrity, sovereignty and nationalism of India thereby inciting secessionist idea not the duty of a government? Wangkhem had uploaded the video on November 19 wherein he used expletives to slam BJP-RSS and the state government. On the day he had uploaded it, local television channel Information Service TV Network, where he worked, sacked him. He had described the CM as a puppet of Modi and Hindutva. He was miffed with the state government for organizing a function in October to mark the birth anniversary of Lakshmibai. He said she had nothing to do with Manipurs freedom movement. Recently, the Manipur High Court sent notices to the state and the Central governments asking them to respond by February 1 against the petition filed by Wangkhem challenging his detention order under NSA. Meanwhile, over 60 journalists from India and abroad have sought the release of Wangkhem. They described the slapping of NSA as arbitrary, high-handed and vindictive. Sana Shakil By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Home Ministrys December 20 decision authorizing 10 agencies for interception, monitoring and decryption of any information was based on an analysis of such security mechanisms worldwide, government sources said on Tuesday. They claimed that the decision would prevent illegal and unnecessary interceptions. Officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cited examples of several countries, such as the United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Australia, to emphasize how similar procedures were in place abroad to ensure that law enforcement agencies could carry out interceptions for security reasons. READ | Government authorises 10 agencies to snoop on your computer Calling the backlash over the notification needless, a senior MHA official said, Actually, the government order will ensure prevention of unauthorized interception or monitoring by agencies not mentioned in the government order dated 20.12.2018, or by unscrupulous Internet service providers. While taking the decision, it was taken into account that there have been instances when law enforcement agencies have expressed difficulty in locating culprits responsible for posting content that openly incited terror or communal violence, or included child pornography, officials said. We did a detailed study on interception and encryption measures practised worldwide before issuing the December 20 notification, said the official. ALSO READ | Amid snooping row, govt report says monitoring system 'practically complete' The official said the United States Cloud Act, 2018 allowed US law enforcement agencies to compel US-based technology firms to provide requested data stored on servers, whether in USA or on foreign soil. ALSO READ | Government's proposed changes in IT rules: Wary experts warn of risks to privacy, free speech Precedents abroad in Germany, certain intelligence and law enforcement agencies can access and intercept communications. France has a provision whereby national intelligence and security services may intercept and read private communications. Sumi Sukanya dutta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In what could be a major worry for policymakers in the field of education, the number of children who drop out of government schools in class IX and X is increasing significantly in most states of India. The latest data from the Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE), a database of information about schools, says that the situation is particularly grim in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, West Bengal, and some north-eastern states, as per 2016-17 statistics. In these states, the percentage of students dropping out of school in secondary classes was considerably higher than the previous years. For example, in Bihar, in 2016-17, 39.73 per cent students in secondary classes withdrew from school, as compared to just 25.90 per cent students in 2015-16. In Jharkhand, 36.64 per cent students dropped out in 2016-17, the last year for which data is available, which is over 12 per cent more than the previous year. The Union Human Resources Development Ministry has been boasting about making significant changes in the school education sector. Its own figures, however, suggest that while the gross enrolment ratio was over 100 per cent at the primary level in 2016-17 (GER can be more than 100 per cent at the primary level because of overage and underage children taking admissions), it Is less than 80 per cent at the secondary level and is yet to reach 60 per cent at the senior secondary level. Education experts said that while lack of access in rural areas and lack of interest in learning are major factors why children in higher classes drop out of schools, the no-detention policy till class VIII, which was introduced as part of the Right to Education act, could also be a reason. The government has now moved to end the no-detention policy, but in the past many year, it has been seen that children who were not assessed properly till class VIII, lose interest in studies when they dont do well at higher level examinations, said educationist Varsha Narain. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: India on Wednesday sent home two Pakistani nationals, including a 21-year-old who said he had crossed over to meet actor Shah Rukh Khan. Mohammad Imran Qureshi Warsi and Abdullah were repatriated through Attai-Wagah Joint Check post. Warsi, a resident of Karachi who was charged for spying, forgery and cheating under the Official Secrets Act and the Passport Act was reunited with his family after fourteen years. In 2004 he had come to Kolkatta to meet his relatives on valid documentation and married his uncle's daughter Shazia and overstayed and had two sons Shezaan (13) and Qurbaan (11) from his marriage. "I will seek help from the Indian Government through a legal course to get my wife and children back to Karachi, he said while he left back to Pakistan. It was in 2008 that he had gone to Bhopal from Kolkatta to procure a fake ration card and PAN card to get an Indian passport made on his name as he wanted to stay with his wife and children in India but was betrayed by his own relatives who informed the police. But dispute arose between him and his uncles over the joint ancestral property which led to feud between him and his uncles. As his parents had moved to Pakistan while some of his uncles stayed in India during Partition and he was arrested and awarded ten-year imprisonment. His sentence ended in January, but Warsi had to spend two more months in jail because he did not have money to pay the Rs 8,000 fine slapped by the trial court. He was released from a jail in Bhopal on March 14 and sent to Shahjahanabad Police Station where foreigners are kept till they are repatriated. While another Pakistani national 21-year old Abdullah, an autistic boy from Mingora Swat, was at the Attari-Wagah border with friends on May 25, 2017 to see the Beat the Retreat ceremony and then crossed over the zero line and told the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel that he wanted to meet Shah Rukh Khan. He was booked under the Foreigners Act, and sentenced to six months imprisonment and was in Amritsar Central Jail. It took another year to facilitate his release for want of documentation. He said since his dream was not fulfilled, he would come back again to meet SRK. (With online inputs) By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The UAE government on Monday released recent pictures of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, the daughter of Dubais ruler, who had reportedly tried to escape the country aboard a yatch in March after making a video claiming that she had been imprisoned and tortured for three years for an earlier escape attempt. However, reports said the yatch was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard on March 5, and she was forcibly sent back to Dubai by helicopter. This sparked an uproar among human rights organizations, who demanded proof that the princess was alive and well, and accused New Delhi of violating asylum laws. Subsequently, there were reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had ordered the interdiction of the yatch, Nostromo, less than 80 km from the Indian coast near Goa. One report said the operation involved three Coast Guard ships ... helicopters and a maritime surveillance aircraft, and that the Indian government acted after Modi received personal messages from Sheikh Mohammed for help, saying that his daughter had been kidnapped. Other reports said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had personally supervised the operation. While Indias External Affairs Minister claimed it was unaware of the incident, the UAE government remained mum until earlier this month, when it released a statement saying it was deeply saddened by the continued media speculation about Sheikha Latifa, who was adored and cherished by her family, which was looking forward to celebrating her 34th birthday with her. On Monday, the UAEs foreign ministry released pictures, said to have been taken in Dubai on December 15, which show a wan Sheikha Latifa with former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, along with a communique to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office of Special Procedures. By PTI PATNA: RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday said he would soon be visiting the national capital to make arrangements for the release of his father Lalu Prasad, who is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases. Yadav said this while leading a state-wide dharna, staged in all districts by activists of the RJDs youth wing, in protest against alleged misuse of the CBI and framing of the party supremo in cases that pertained to his tenure as the Chief Minister of Bihar. "Lalu has been wrongly framed in cases. The CBI is being used by the BJP government for political ends. It is also using its political clout to ensure that he is not released on bail as his coming out at the time of elections will energize forces opposed to the BJP," Yadav said. But this is not going to go on for long. "I will soon be leaving for Delhi and make arrangements for his release," the former Bihar minister said. Yadav who has of late begun to take an active interest in politics giving up his earlier waywardness rubbished speculations of a rift with his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav and remarked as long as Tej and Tejashwi are there, the RJD will remain intact. The mercurial elder son of the RJD supremo had triggered speculations of a rift earlier this week when he stated he was not averse to assuming leadership of the party if given a chance. Rumours have been afloat, for quite some time, that he is uneasy with the growing clout of his younger brother, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and has been declared as the RJDs Chief Ministerial candidate for the next assembly polls. K Jayakumar By No post-poll analysis is complete without repeated references to the anti-incumbency factor, which is generally understood as the overall apathy of the voters towards the government in power. This apathy or disenchantment caused over a period of time has an individual and social dimension. It is an accumulation of individual experiences of frustration and disappointment of the citizens accrued at their points of interface with the government. Often it is not the immediate response to a single incident, but the outcome of a series of experiences. At some point, these individual experiences of belied expectations get blended in the collective subconscious mind of the society as a shared narrative. The media converts individual experiences from stand-alone and isolated instances into a mega narrative. Thus with the help of the media, the image of a government gets validated with the experiential truth of the citizens. In this alchemy, perception and experience coalesce to create an assessment. These individual assessments, without any conscious mechanism or external manipulation, crystallise into a sense of disenchantment and find expression as anti-incumbency factor during an election. Democracy bestows this great opportunity and power to the citizen on polling day to ventilate pent-up disappointment in the freedom and privacy of the booth. However, individual experiences are not the sole factor affecting the voter. The impressions arising out of the allegations, instances of nepotism and corruption also contribute to the formation of an overall image. It is but natural in a democracy for the opposition parties to find fault with the government and the party in power. That is how democracy redeems itself from unacceptable aggregation of power and ensures accountability. All the allegations may not be true, yet the government has to necessarily answer the allegations and clear the doubts created. Invariably governments muster substantial energy to refute the allegations with facts and figures and counter-allegations. Most of the time governments go into damage-control mode realising that the allegations could damage their electoral prospects. What is often forgotten is that the influence of these major allegations on the voter is not as compelling and decisive as the individual experiences of corruption and apathy in government offices. Of course, in conjunction with the voters experiential truth, the allegations and the general atmosphere of suspicion play a contributory role in deciding whether or not to vote for the ruling party again. The governments defence of the allegations alone, without recognising the value of administrative insolence and abject indifference, particularly towards the poor and powerless, often fails to achieve any worthwhile result. Admittedly, governments cannot afford to ignore the major allegations but it is seldom realised that ignoring the groundswell of disenchantment due to official inertia, arrogance and greed is equally or more costly. So the anti-incumbency factor is nothing but the cumulative outcome of the governments neglect or failure of governance and its underestimation of the damage caused by bureaucratic indifference, audacity and ubiquitous corruption. Ministers becoming the greatest protectors of their departments is a common phenomenon. Any criticism about the working of their department instantly brings out their defence reflexes and the ministers go all out to defend the employees and officers, except when the allegations and irregularities are very grave. This defence and dismissing the allegations as baseless is ostensibly to guard the overall image of the government. This ostrich-like denial gets translated into complacency among government employees over a period of time. Opportunities to correct and overhaul are more often than not wasted by the compulsion for political defence. As a result, employees at the cutting edge and officers at other levels have no inducement to change their attitudes. All the entrenched and unholy practices thus continue government after government. Apathy thus becomes a self-repeating loop. With some attention to detail and a political will to view the implementation of programmes from the point of view of citizens, governance can be made far more effective and accountable. Employees organisations with ideological affinity with the government in power have the chance and potential to be the most effective change agents. The experience however is to the contrary. They often use their political clout to shield the guilty and convey the message that to be an ideological co-traveller is more important than being efficient, upright and accountable. That corruption is a great bonding factor is often not properly appreciated. In field-level offices, where the scope for making extra money is high, political differences melt away in the orgy of sharing the booty. If only the opposing unions were vigilant enough to expose graft. The fact however is that rival unions might compete on several issues but not on a matter as crucial as quality of governance or zero tolerance to graft. The anti-incumbency factor is the outcome of continuous neglect of the citizens and their right for timely services. The insulation against the gradual growth of anti-incumbency sentiment should begin from day one of any government. A government guided by the recognition and credo that citizens rights are supreme and the privileges of bureaucracy and political elite are indeed secondary has greater chances of preventing the formation of the lethal anti-incumbency sentiment. K Jayakumar Former Chief Secretary to Government of Kerala and former Vice Chancellor of Malayalam University Email: k.jayakumar123@gmail.com Aihik Sur By Express News Service HYDERABAD: A new worldwide cyber threat campaign called Operation Sharpshooter which has targeted, nuclear, defence, energy and financial companies, has also attacked Indias telecommunication network, a recent report revealed. This campaign masquerades as a legitimate industry job recruitment activity and gathers information for potential exploitation. The two-phased threat discovered by McAfee in a report, observed that the threat has appeared in 87 organisations across the globe. Though most of the companies were based in the US, the report noted that it had also attacked organisations which were English speaking or had an English-speaking regional office. Majority of targets were defence and government-related organisations, it said. Operation Sharpshooter uses its source code Trojan Duuzer from an infamous cybercriminal group called the Lazarus Group. Although the report did not conclude whether the attacks were indeed perpetrated by the Lazarus Group, researchers have attributed many cyber attacks to them over the last decade. The operation began on October 25 when job vacancies-related documents authored by one Richard were distributed from a US IP address and through the DropBox service to various companies around the world. When one opened the document, it immediately replaced that word document with a decoy document. This decoy document then set forth the second-phase of the attack called the Rising Sun, which is where the Lazarus Groups' Trojan Duuzer is used, launched/terminated processes, read/deleted a file, gotten access to drive details from a computer. It also searched for information related to a computer like computer name, username, IP address information etc and finally sent it back to the hackers. The Communist Party of China's (CPC) top disciplinary agency on Tuesday named and shamed officials in six cases violating the eight-point decision on improving conduct of officials. Cases that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC released range from misuse of public funds for banquets and tours to bribe-taking. Punishments for those on the list include warnings, demotions and removal from office. In one case, Tian Jing, head of the literary federation in Youyang County in Chongqing, was given a warning for holding an extravagant wedding for his daughter and accepting 13,800 yuan (about 2,000 U.S. dollars) in cash as gifts. The eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct was introduced in late 2012 by the CPC leadership to reduce undesirable work practices, maintain close ties with the people and fight bureaucracy, formalism and extravagance among Party members. Though the fight against corruption has scored a sweeping victory, some officials continued to disregard the CPC's repeated warnings and committed offenses knowingly, said a CCDI official. "These are actions that violate political discipline and rules and must be strictly dealt with." The CCDI warned officials against behavior such as this ahead of the New Year's Day and the Spring Festival. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday came under fire from all quarters for directing police to track down the killers of Mandya JD(S) leader Honnalagere Prakash and shoot them mercilessly. While the opposition BJP termed it an irresponsible statement that sends a wrong message to police officers, twitterati slammed him for making a mockery of law, and a former police officer said that those who follow such orders will face action. The Congress, however, defended the CM. ALSO READ | CM HD Kumaraswamy orders cops to find and shoot killers Upset over the JD(S) leaders murder on Monday, the CM told officials to track down his killers and shoot them mercilessly. He was caught on camera giving directions to a police officer at a helipad on the Sainik School campus in Vijayapura. Realizing his folly, the CM later swung into damage control mode, and took to social media to clarify that it was an emotional outburst and not an order. It was an irresponsible statement by the CM and he must apologize for it, former CM and BJP state unit president B S Yeddyurappa said. Stating that those responsible for the JD(S) leaders murder must be punished, the BJP leader said that Kumaraswamys statement will have an adverse impact on people as policemen will be emboldened by such orders. Former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) B K Shivaram said such directions cannot be taken as orders and being a chief minister, Kumaraswamy should not have given such directions to police officers. If someone follows such orders, they can be booked for murder and the person giving such directions can be booked for abetment, Shivaram said. Senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar, too, said it was not right on the part of the CM to give such orders to police officers.JD(S) coalition partner Congress defended the CM. The CM has already made it clear that it was an emotional reaction and not an order for the police to find and kill someone. Since the BJP has no other issue, they are trying to project it as a big issue, said Congress leader and MLC Rizwan Arshad. The BJP has no moral authority to talk about issues like this when their own party president was known as an encounter specialist when he was Home Minister of Gujarat, he added. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The long march by KSRTC empanelled conductors, who were terminated last week, ended in front of the Secretariat on Monday. They submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking fresh appointments. The march that began last Wednesday from Alappuzha reached Sreeekaryam on Sunday. The employees decided to conduct the march to protest their unexpected termination from the service following a High Court order. The employees, along with their families, covered around 155 km walking. Various employees unions assured the terminated employees that their issue would be taken up with the state government. As many as 3,861 empanelled conductors lost their jobs following a High Court order in favour of PSC rank holders who were waiting for appointment. We are now at the receiving end. I am the sole breadwinner of my family. Since the job loss, we find it difficult to make the ends meet. So the government should take action now or else we have no option left but to commit suicide, said Saji, a former empanelled conductor. Meanwhile, the KSRTC has said that those who got appointment through employment exchanges could be reinstated in available vacancies. Earlier, KSRTC MD Tomin J Thachankary sent a letter to the government stating that some empanelled employees could be reinstated as per interim order of High Court. The government has also proposed to constitute a committee to study the issues faced by employees. By Online Desk Police officers deployed at Sabarimala have reportedly told the Kerala DGP Loknath Behera that they will not be able to extend security to women activists attempting to enter the hill shrine merely for publicity. The cops deployed to protect women from the protesters have been working under intense pressure. In view of the swelling numbers of pilgrims, it becomes very hard for them to secure the activists who usually announce their itinerary and arrival time on social media in advance, the special officers in charge of security at Sabarimala said. READ | Sabarimala temple to close on Wednesday to mark the end of Mandalam festival The police should be allowed to dissuade the activists from visiting the temple, the report advised. Over 1 lakh devotees visited the hill shrine on Christmas Day and the flow is expected to increase, according to Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar. The heavy rush to the shrine is expected to continue until the Mandala Puja, the final day of the 41-day annual festival. READ | Sabarimala row: Kerala High Court grants bail to activist Rahul Easwar The police claimed that Bindu, one of the women who attempted to trek to the Sabarimala hills on Tuesday, had a criminal record with many cases pending against her. The Kozhikode-resident, along with Kanakadurga from Malappuram, was sent back by the police citing security problems. Kochi-based activist Rehana Fathima, who had also tried to enter Sabarimala, was arrested in November on charges of hurting religious sentiments through posts on social media. T Muruganandham By Express News Service CHENNAI: The 45-year-old Directorate of Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project is reinventing itself to preserve Tamil words for posterity. The directorate is all set to bring out three dictionaries for youth, particularly college students, besides releasing an updated version of 31 volumes of the Tamil etymological dictionary. Cover page of a dictionary that will be released in March next year Launching the word corpus project for the Tamil language at a cost of Rs 1 crore, releasing Tamil learners concise dictionary, publishing a multilingual etymological dictionary of Dravidian languages, updating the English-Tamil dictionary with current words, establishing an exclusive library for the international Tamil etymological dictionaries are few of the projects in the pipeline. Director of the Project Thanga Kamaraj told Express that his team was working expeditiously to release three dictionaries - Nadaimurai Tamil Peragara Mudali (contemporary Tamil dictionary) which has over 10,000 words, Maanavar Ilakkiya Thamizh Agara Mudali (students literary Tamil dictionary) and a dictionary of Tamil equivalents for words from other languages - by March, 2019. Each dictionary contains over 10,000 words, running into around 400 pages. The antiquity, greatness and richness of a language are measured by the volume of dictionaries brought out in that language. The Tamil term agarathi is known as agaramudali in chaste Tamil. For rising up to the level of the ever-growing science and technology and to preserving the literary and grammatical traditions of Tamil, preparation and updation of a dictionary is indispensable for the development of the language, Kamaraj told Express. Dictionary is a vital tool for any language and it takes the language safely to the next generation. In Europe, people celebrate a Dictionary Week annually to underscore the importance of language. During this week, dictionaries of various languages across the country are displayed and people and researchers buy them eagerly, Kamaraj said. He said the 31 volumes of Tamil etymological dictionary, compiled by multi-linguist Devaneya Paavaanar from 1974, were being updated to cater to the present-day needs. These volumes would now be published as 10 volumes with more than 8,500 pages. Painstaking efforts are being made by Tamil scholars including three scholars who had worked under Devaneya Paavaanar to remove the outdated words from the dictionary and to induct new words, he added. Word corpus Giving details of the word corpus project to be implemented at a cost of Rs 1 crore, Kamaraj said, The purpose is project is to collect all Tamil words used across the globe and make them available online. A toll-free number will be provided which anyone across the world can use to know the meaning of a particular Tamil word with references. They can ask for the meaning of a Tamil word or can ask for the exact word for something by giving a description. The directorate has submitted proposals to the government for this project. He said that once a month, a seminar would be held in a college wherein a word hundi would be placed. Students can coin their own words in Tamil according to the needs of different situations and subjects. They will be considered by the experts in the directorate. Besides, a meeting of Thamizh Kalai Kazhagam is being held once a month to consider the newly coined words and decide whether they are eligible to be inducted into the word corpus. Now, our target is to coin 1,000 new words suitable for different subjects. In January, we will be publishing the first volume of 5,000 words, Kamaraj added. Sreemathi M By Express News Service NAGERCOIL: Maria Anthony, his wife and daughter have spent every Christmas so far in their hut, hoping the tiny structure will withstand the elements. This Christmas, however, was different. On Tuesday, when Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, Anthony and his family received the gift of stability, safety and security in the form of a house, built with the donations and labour of the residents of their village, Chentharai, 30 km from Nagercoil, with MLA Rajeshkumar handing over the house to the family. The elderly man and his wife, who has a visual impairment, are supported by their 45-year-old daughter who works at a cashew processing factory. The daughter, who did not want to be named, said this was the first Christmas they celebrated with joy, and that they believed their lot in life would improve because of the house, gifted by their community. The family is the third beneficiary of an effort initiated by Fr Wiselin Xavier, of the St Xavier Church, in the village in 2016. After the priest was transferred, his successor Fr Roy continued the effort. Every January, the Church calls for donations for a house to be built by Christmas that year. The residents, irrespective of religion and caste, give anything from Rs 100 to Rs 10,000 for the effort over the year. The church starts building the house in summer so it is ready to be handed over by Christmas. The 500 families of Chentharai are engaged in agriculture and business, with many working out of town. This year, the house cost Rs 4.5 lakh, with residents pitching in with labour for construction to bring down the price. How money is raised The houses are built with money raised from carol-singing, Lent contributions, and sponsorship. Many families apply for houses and the poorest is the beneficiary SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: The countdown has begun, to bid farewell to single-use plastic products in the State. The State government is gearing up to keep a promise it made as early as in June to gift a plastic-free State to future generations starting January 2019. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will chair a high-level meeting this week to decide on some of the key issues in this regard. There are a bunch of applications pending with the government, seeking exemption from the ban. This includes a request from the State-owned Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL), which has written to the Environment and Forests Department seeking an exemption for plastic-coated paper cups from the purview of the ban which will come into effect on January 1. Express had earlier reported about TNPLs resistance. Sources in Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board say that the government is yet to decide on the requests sent by TNPL and several other companies. Its a policy decision and a final call on their requests will be taken at the high-level meeting to be held this week, they say. TNPL is one of the major players in the paper cups market. It manufactures and markets about 60,000 tonnes of stock for paper cups in a year. Although the actual stock produced by TNPL does not have any plastic, a thin film of food grade low-density polyethene is added by paper cup converter units to create a liquid barrier before its sold for end use. TNPL also has an in-house LDPE film coating unit, operations of which have been outsourced. This unit processes a very small quantity of the cup stock and sells it as coated cup stock for conversion as paper cups. Out of 5,000 tonnes per month produced, about 2,000 tonnes is marketed in Tamil Nadu, which has a market volume of about 12,000 tonnes per month, TNPL managing director S Sivashanmugaraja has said in his letter. Therefore, the ban will directly impact the sale of TNPL. He also added that plastic accounts for just 5 per cent of the finished product and the remaining 95 per cent is paper, which is recyclable, biodegradable and eco-friendly. Paper cups 5% plastic, 95% paper TNPL is one of the major players in the paper cups market. It manufactures and markets about 60,000 tonnes of stock for paper cups in a year. Although the actual stock produced by TNPL does not have any plastic, a thin film of food grade low-density polyethene is added by paper cup converter units to create a liquid barrier before its sold for end use. TNPL managing director S Sivashanmugaraja said that plastic accounts for just 5 per cent of the finished product and the remaining 95 per cent is paper, which is recyclable, biodegradable and totally eco-friendly. Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam By Express News Service VIRUDHUNAGAR: In a shocking instance of negligence, blood from an HIV+ person was transfused to a 23-year-old pregnant woman at Sattur Government Hospital in early December. The incident came to light when the blood donor voluntarily informed the lab technicians at the Sivakasi Government Hospital, where he had made the donation, after learning he had tested positive for HIV. The woman has since tested positive for HIV. Health officials said the services of a lab technician, a counsellor and the blood banks medical officer had been terminated. According to Joint Director of Health Services, Dr R Manoharan, Abirami (name changed), who was eight months pregnant, came for a check-up at the Sattur GH. Doctors told her she was anaemic and required a blood transfusion. The doctors brought one unit of O positive blood from the blood bank at Sivakasi GH and transfused the blood to her on December 3. Dr K Senthil Raj, project director, State AIDS Control Society said Abirami started showing symptoms, such as chills, fever and diarrhoea within a week of the transfusion. Dr Manoharan said Murugan (name changed) had donated blood in November to replace blood from the bank used to treat his relative at the Sivakasi GH. As Murugan was planning to travel abroad, he underwent a medical check-up in Madurai district where he learnt he was HIV+. Murugan informed the Sivakasi GH blood bank of this on December 13. The lab technicians tested Murugans blood and confirmed he was HIV+, Dr Manoharan said, appreciating Murugans efforts. It is only then that the lab technicians discovered that Murugans blood had been transfused to Abirami. The doctors brought Abirami to the Sattur GH and, after running tests, confirmed she was HIV+ as a result of the blood transfusion. Abirami is under medical observation. Paediatricians say chances of the infection passing on to her child are low. Abiramis delivery will be performed at Virudhunagar GH, Dr Manoharan said. Manoharan has assured that steps will be taken to provide a job in the Health Department for Abirami and her husband. Dr Senthil Raj said that Abirami (name changed) was expected to deliver at the end of January. The regular regime of treatment will be given to neutralise the viral load, as she is already infected, he explained. How did this happen? Elaborating on how such a gargantuan error had occurred, Dr Senthil Raj said it was believed that the lab technician had been careless with the procedure. The lab technician labelled the blood as HIV Negative and stored it. The technician claims it was negative when tested, he said. When asked if the testing kits are sensitive, Dr Senthil Raj said, Testing kits are supplied by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and every year over 8 lakh people are donating blood in Tamil Nadu and over 12 lakh people are benefiting from it. There has been no issue so far, he said, adding there is a mechanism in place to ensure quality and quality testing of kits is also done regularly. However, we will do a technical analysis in the lab on Wednesday with experts, he said. We have terminated the services of the lab technician, who gave the daily report, the counsellor who did not identify that the donor was in the high-risk category, and the blood banks medical officer, he said. While this incident is a serious error and has taught an important lesson to the Health Department, this should not create panic around blood donation, as the blood bank system has been extremely crucial to the success of our healthcare system, Senthil Raj, member secretary of State Blood Transfusion Council, said. Speaking to Express, J Radhakrishnan, State Health Secretary, said Tamil Nadu had a zero tolerance policy towards such errors. While the first level of inquiry has been conducted to identify where the mistake took place, we will conduct further investigations to identify all loose ends. We will also strengthen the counselling procedure to improve the screening, he said 'Murugan' HIV status detected in 2016? Alarmingly, Murugans (name changed) status could have been detected at least two years earlier. In 2016, he donated blood at a blood donation camp conducted by a private institution. Usually, after collection of blood, lab technicians screen the blood for infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV 1 and 2. Only if the results are negative will the blood be stored at the blood bank. Murugan tested positive for HIV in 2016, but the institution which collected the blood failed to inform him of that at the time, Dr Manoharan said. Lab technician labelled blood as HIV Negative Elaborating on how such a gargantuan error had occurred, Dr Senthil Raj, project director, State AIDS Control Society, said it was believed that the lab technician had been careless with procedure. The lab technician labelled the blood as HIV Negative and stored it. The technician claims it was negative when tested, he said. When asked if the testing kits are sensitive, Dr Senthil Raj said, Testing kits are supplied by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and every year over 8 lakh people are donating blood in Tamil Nadu and over 12 lakh people are benefiting from it. There has been no issue so far, he said. Will identify loose ends Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, Inquiry was held to identify where mistake took place. We will conduct probes to identify all loose ends. (With inputs from Sinduja Jane & Sushmitha Ramakrishnan in Chennai) By Express News Service CHENNAI: Amidst speculation about alliance between AIADMK and BJP for the Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan on Wednesday met Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at his residence. The meeting lasted around 25 minutes. Though the Union Minister did not say anything about the meeting, the State government described it as a 'courtesy call'. Meanwhile, giving momentum to political speculations, State Ministers SP Velumani and P Thangamani, who are considered confidantes of the Chief Minister, called on Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and submitted a representation about the pending funds for rural and municipal development departments. Velumani said on Thursday they would be meeting Union Minister for Rural Development, Narendra Singh Tomar. The ministers also said they had requested the Defence minister to ensure sufficient funds for restoration works in cyclone-affected areas. When a scribe pointed out that meeting Union Finance Minister or Prime Minister would be ideal for seeking assistance for the restoration works in areas affected by cyclone 'Gaja', but calling on Defence Minister had raised the eyebrows of all, Velumani and Thangamani said Nirmala Sitharaman is from Tamil Nadu and she inspected the districts affected by the cyclone and hence we requested her to ensure sufficient assistance. Asked about the possibilities for alliance between AIADMK and BJP for the Lok Sabha elections, both ministers said such decisions would be taken by the top leaders of the party and said they did not discuss politics during their meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Three siblings from Nalgonda district, were killed in a deadly house fire in Collierville of Tennessee, United States. The deceased were identified as Sharron Naik(14), Joy Naik(15), and Aaron Naik (17). They belonged to a missionary family and their parents hail from Gurrapu thanda of Neredugumma mandal. According to reports, the victims were staying with a couple and their son in Collierville as their parents were on a missionary trip to India. Collierville Bible Church has identified the family who lived in the house as Danny and Kari Coudriet, and their son Cole. Kari Coudriet also died in the mishap that erupted when everyone was asleep on December 23. The siblings were studying at French Camp Academy, an interdenominational Christian boarding home and academy in Mississippi. According to a USA Today report, "Naik teens were attending school in Mississippi. When the school was closed for winter vacations, the students couldn't go to India so the Coudriets invited them to stay at their home." Collierville Bible Church, in a Facebook post, has said that "The fire started around 11 pm at the Coudriet home. The Coudriet family was hosting, and celebrating Christmas with the three teenagers. The Naik family are Missionaries in India whom our church supports." Leonid Bershidsky By Bloomberg The dictionaries have decided on their 2018 words of the year. Oxford picked toxic. Merriam-Webster went for justice. Collins chose single-use. Id zero in on misgovernment. Surely, 2018 saw a staggering number of countries woefully misruled by the worst crop of world leaders in recent memory. The most egregious examples are in the news every day. U.S. President Donald Trump tops the chart as he runs out of straws to clutch in trying to convince Americans that his election has been good for them. The stock market bump of which he was so proud is disappearing. The fiscal deficit is the highest since 2012. Trade wars notwithstanding, the trade deficit is at a 10-year high. The turnover on the presidential staff has reached catastrophic levels: 65 per cent of Trumps A-Team had been replaced since his election as of Dec. 14, according to the Brookings Institution, and that doesnt even include cabinet members (12 of the 24 officials in the cabinet have been replaced and now a 13th, Defense Secretary James Mattis, is leaving). Trump is having trouble filling once-coveted positions, and the officials he fired and those who have resigned are sometimes unconstrained in criticizing him a situation that, were it to occur in a corporation, would have tanked its stock. All this doesnt even scratch the surface of what Trump has done. The damage he has wreaked on the U.S. role in the world is only beginning to manifest itself. Almost everywhere (with a few exceptions such as Israel and South Korea) favorable views of the U.S. are declining, and people are becoming convinced that the U.S. doesn't care about other countries interests. Alliances are loosening and the multilateral world order is creaking. Almost as obvious is the misgovernment of the U.K. Blind to the reality of disappearing economic growth, slowing business investment and a growing trade deficit, Prime Minister Theresa Mays government has persevered in trying to pull the country out of the European Union and in fantasizing about withdrawal terms that the EU rejected from the start. Destroyed by the EUs dream team of super-competent negotiators, Mays bungling, ill-prepared representatives flailed about, resigned in exasperation and finally produced a deal nobody really wants not even the EU, though its skewed heavily in its favor. With her support weak even within her own party and her negotiating options exhausted, May now is setting up the country for a no-deal Brexit scenario that would cause massive disruption to millions of lives anything to avoid the only reasonable option, a new vote on EU membership for a U.K. public that found out this year it had been misled by Brexit campaigners who lied about the consequences of withdrawal. Not Just an Anglo-Saxon Thing Even beyond these two most obvious examples of mismanagement and incompetence, things arent looking much better. Last year, Emmanuel Macron of France looked like the Western world's great hope with his sweeping reform plans and a grand vision for a tighter-knit EU. He ends the year in retreat before whats looking like the most effective Facebook-driven revolt in a Western nation to date, the Yellow Vest movement that started as a protest against a small increase in fuel taxes but grew into a violent anti-elite rebellion. Macron has undermined his reform ambitions by making concessions to the Yellow Vests worth up to 11 billion euros ($12.5 billion) a year, and his popularity hasnt recovered, remaining at a dismal 27-percent approval in public opinion polls. Another potential leader of the west, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, spent most of the year hobbled by an open revolt within her party, the Christian Democratic Union, and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union. The conservative rebels paralyzed the government demanding tougher immigration policies and forcing Merkel into exhausting backroom battles that left her drained, sometimes even apathetic. The Union performed badly in two important state elections, and Merkel was forced to give up the party leadership. Though her chosen successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, won the leadership election earlier this month, beating the more conservative Friedrich Merz, the split in the party hasn't been healed and a lame-duck Merkel hasn't acted as though the lifted burden of party politics has freed her up to be more assertive as chancellor. The best she's been able to do is ensure stability, which looks to many Germans like stagnation at a time when the country is falling behind others in technology and underinvesting in areas such as education and infrastructure. This was a year of chaos in other democracies, too. The populist government in Italy drew up a fantasy budget that included a version of a universal basic income and fought with the EU over it (only to end up lowering its unrealistic projections) while the economy slid toward recession. In Spain, Mariano Rajoy's center-right government buckled under the weight of corruption scandals and the outgoing prime minister spent a whole day at a restaurant as Socialist rival Pedro Sanchez unseated him in a kind of parliamentary coup. Sanchez, however, isnt doing too well, either: His government is beset by scandals, he faces a reprise of troublemaking by Catalonian separatists that made it almost impossible for Rajoy to focus on anything else. Now, for the first time in decades, a nationalist-populist party, Vox, is gaining popularity and has won representation in Andalusias regional parliament. Sweden and Latvia are entering the new year without governments following inconclusive elections and months of coalition negotiations. In Sweden, established parties are trying to exclude an increasingly powerful populist rival. In Latvia the establishment would like to engage the surging populists to get around a strong party thats considered pro-Russian, but the results are the same: a political fracturing unprecedented in both countries history. In Belgium, the government has just been toppled by a nationalist party campaigning against a non-binding United Nations migration pact that Belgium approved along with 163 other countries. Weakening Strongmen It hasnt been a great year for strongmen and hybrid regimes, either. Russian President Vladimir Putin was re-elected, but has since seen a drop in popularity following a highly unpopular retirement-age increase. Russias economy and Russians incomes are stagnating, and Putins been constrained overseas by a string of public failures by Russia's aggressive military intelligence service and an inability to build a working relationship with the U.S. Indias Narendra Modi goes into 2019 having lost elections in three states where his Bharatiya Janata Party was previously dominant. Modis hubris and the lasting effects of his policy mistakes, such as the disastrous demonetization of 2016 in which Modi took 86 percent of the countrys cash out of circulation, are partly responsible for his weakening hold on power. Urji Patel, the central bank governor, resigned earlier this month after Modis repeated attempts to weaken the banks independence and get control over its reserves. Though economic growth has been strong, it hasnt been inclusive as Modi had promised; unemployment hit a two-year high in October. Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan consolidated his power with an election win, but hes mismanaging Turkeys economy. The Bloomberg consensus forecast sees the country plunging into recession starting this quarter. The lira is the worlds second-worst performing currency after the Argentine peso, having lost about 29 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, once feted as a bold reformer, has seen his reputation destroyed by the October murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The brutal act has undermined international support for MBS, as the prince is known, and thrown a monkey wrench into his plans to reduce the Saudi economys oil dependence. Saudi Arabias arch-rival, Iran, isnt doing much better. Beset by domestic protests and hit again by U.S. sanctions from which European powers have been unable to protect it, the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has had an awful year, even if its not teetering yet. Viktor Orban in Hungary, whose Fidesz party won a supermajority in an election in April, appears to have overplayed his hand with a series of moves aimed at consolidating his power over courts and media, as well as a recent law that has the potential to force Hungarians into working overtime for pay that would be delayed for three years. Hes facing the most persistent protests of his rule and has been forced to resort to violence against the protesters. The current crew of error-prone rulers makes for a fractious world with a growing potential for conflict, armed and otherwise, domestic and international. The elites, both democratic and authoritarian, are weak, and they invite backlashes against their mismanagement. Protest movements and anti-establishment parties have sprung up and are strengthening everywhere; they have different goals but are all bolstered by social-network technology that amplifies anger and violence. Winners Lose Ground Even the few notable exceptions to the misgovernment rule of 2018 dont inspire much confidence. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made no major errors, but his popularity is trending down ahead of next years election. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who vowed to clean up the country after the disheartening corruption that plagued it under Jacob Zuma, couldn't maintain Ramaphoria for long. Though he has restored investor confidence, his anti-corruption efforts havent yielded quick results and fears of a land expropriation campaign continue to hang over the country. Most intriguingly, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has avoided major errors for years, may have made some in 2018. It's unclear whether accepting Trumps trade-war challenge was a good idea. For all its might, China is still a middle-income country thats extremely dependent on trade. Xis battle against Trump may win him sympathy in Europe, but Europeans aren't natural allies for China. Xis show of strength may be premature, and that will become clear in the next couple of years. The shortage of competent, clear-headed, hubris-free leadership in today's world may be a freak accident. But if it's the new normal, living in this world will require new skills from ordinary people, too. Vigilance and easy mobility in case a country deteriorates intolerably are two of them; a capacity for constructive protest is a third. Bad leadership isn't just something we read about on news sites. It could signal the deterioration of institutions, both global and domestic, that shape our lives. Britain's Queen Elizabeth poses after recording her annual Christmas Day message in London on Monday. [Photo/Agencies] In her annual Christmas message, Queen Elizabeth II appealed for people to show more respect to those with opposing views. The queen, who has been on the throne for 66 years, did not specifically mention "Brexit", but it was implied. The UK monarch has been historically neutral on politics in her country, but with just three months to go before Britain is due to leave the European Union, there are deep political divisions. "Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step toward greater understanding," the 92-year-old queen said in her annual Christmas message, adding that peace on earth and goodwill to all is needed as much as ever. Wang Peng, an associate research fellow of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said that the queen is the symbol of national unity. With the UK facing increasing political divisions and turbulence, her message will give positive influence, even if it won't substantively make changes to the current situation. Limited impact Tian Dewen, a researcher of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the monarch is just a symbol of the country, and what she said would have limited impact on the country's domestic issues. The queen's address came after a stormy month in which UK Prime Minister Theresa May barely survived a leadership challenge attempt staged by her conservative party's hard-liners. May's entire Brexit strategy is also in danger. She postponed a parliament vote on the deal to avert obvious defeat. It has been rescheduled for the week of Jan 14, but opposition remains strong across the political spectrum. British lawmakers headed off for a holiday break on Dec 20 with visions of Brexit dancing in their headsand a big decision to make. Parliament closed for a 17-day Christmas recess, without deciding whether to approve the government's EU divorce deal. AP contributed to this story. By AFP TIANJIN (CHINA): Two rights activists were taken away on Wednesday after protesting outside the tightly-guarded courthouse where the trial of a prominent human rights lawyer is set to begin, witnesses saw. Wang Quanzhang, 42, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, disappeared in a 2015 sweep aimed at courtroom critics of Communist authorities known as the "709" crackdown. Charged in January 2016 with alleged "subversion of state power", Wang had been in legal limbo -- detained without a trial date -- until Monday, when his government-appointed lawyer finally contacted his wife with his court date. Just before 10:00 am (0200 GMT), AFP journalists witnessed a man getting arrested after he protested outside the court in Tianjin where Wang's trial is believed to be underway. "A refined scholar has been detained by you lot this way that even members of the public can't see him. This is Fascist rule, it's absurd. The Chinese people need to stop living in fear, we need to stand up to oppression and be brave," shouted Yang Chunlin, a rights activist from Heilongjiang. Shortly after, several plainclothes officers set on Yang and bundled him into a waiting black SUV. Another man holding up a sign that said: "Release (the) innocent Wang Quanzhang" was taken away by local authorities about 8:15 am, a witness told AFP. Amnesty International researcher Patrick Poon identified the man as Zhang Zhecheng, a rights activist from Hangzhou in east China. The court was under virtual lockdown with media and members of the public kept away from the building, separated by a busy four-lane road. An AFP journalist at the scene counted at least 50 security personnel, both uniformed and plainclothes, who told journalists that the trial was not open to the public. Wang's wife and a supporter were also stopped from attending the trial. In an account posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning, Wang Qiaoling detailed how she and Wang Quanzhang's wife, Li Wenzu, were barred from leaving a Beijing housing compound by groups of police officers for over an hour. "By the time I looked at my phone again, it was already 6:44 am (22:44 GMT), there was definitely no way to reach Tianjin," Wang Qiaoling wrote. "Both of us were frozen stiff, we could only go home." Li was also on Tuesday placed under de facto house arrest with "more than 20" security personnel outside her apartment. Wang Qiaoling and Li were among four women who last week shaved their heads to protest Wang Quanzhang's indefinite detention. Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International, earlier this week raised questions about the timing of the trial on December 26, saying: "We think this is deliberate because obviously a big part of the world will be having a holiday and will not be able to respond." By Associated Press KARACHI: Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and former Member of Pakistan National Assembly (MNA) Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead in Karachi on Tuesday According to Deputy Inspector General (South), Javed Alam Odho, Abidi was critically wounded after being shot by unidentified gunmen and he later died at a hospital. The police have sealed the area and have launched a search operation to arrest the killers. However, the number of culprits cannot be ascertained as yet. Abidi's body has been shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for postmortem. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, which drew condemnation from Prime Minister Imran Khan and several other opposition politicians. Abidi was a former member of the National Assembly and his Muttahida Qaumi Movement party has urged the government to immediately trace and arrest his killers. Abidi had resigned from MQM-P's "basic membership" citing "personal reasons" in September. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement party represents the Urdu speaking population and its two factions have an uneasy relationship with each other. (With ANI inputs) By PTI TAIPEI: Nearly half a tonne of heroin from Southeast Asia was seized in Taiwan moments after a drug smuggling gang using diving equipment brought the shipment to shore, officials announced Wednesday. Pingtung District Prosecutors Office, in Taiwan's south, said law enforcement officials captured 470 kilogrammes of the drug, wrapped into 1,240 bricks, as it was brought to shore in the early hours of Wednesday last week. It is the island's second-largest recorded heroin seizure with a street value of TW$6 billion ($195 million). Prosecutors said the shipment was brought over from Southeast Asia on fishing vessels, transferred to smaller dinghies and then brought in by smugglers with wetsuits and flippers. The statement did not say which country the heroin came from but Myanmar is by far Southeast Asia's largest manufacturer of the drug. Ten people, including two minors, were arrested in the operation. Commenting on the seizure, Premier William Lai said crime syndicates were always looking for new ways to avoid detection and that drug gangs were a "security problem" for the island. "Drugs have adversely affect our citizen's desire for a safe society," he added. Taiwan's largest heroin seizure was recorded in May 2017 when 693 kilogrammes were discovered on a fishing boat off the coast of southern Taiwan. That boat's captain and four crew members were arrested. By AFP TRIPOLI: Suicide attackers stormed the Libyan foreign ministry in the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, killing at least three people including a senior civil servant in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Twenty-one other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. A car bomb exploded near the ministry, prompting security forces to rush to the scene, said special forces spokesman Tarak al-Dawass. A suicide bomber then blew himself up on the second floor of the building while a second attacker died when a suitcase he was carrying exploded, he said. A third assailant, who was unarmed and wearing a bulletproof vest, was killed by security forces outside, Dawass added. At least three people were killed and 21 wounded, according to the health ministry. Foreign Minister Tahar Siala said one of the dead was senior diplomat Ibrahim al-Shaibi who headed a department in his ministry. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the building as ambulances, paramedics and security forces gathered outside. IS claimed the attack in a statement distributed on social media, saying that it was carried out by three "soldiers of the caliphate" who were armed with suicide belts and automatic weapons. Interior Minister Fathi Bash Agha admitted during a news conference that "security chaos" reigned in Libya and was "out of our control". He said this was creating a "fertile ground" for IS to operate in the North African country. Torn apart by power struggles and undermined by chronic insecurity, Libya has become a haven for jihadists since the ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Two competing administrations, rival militias, tribes and jihadists have been vying for control of territory and the country's vast oil wealth. IS took advantage of the chaos to gain a foothold in the coastal city of Sirte in 2015. Forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) regained control of Sirte in December 2016 after eight months of deadly fighting. Since then, some jihadists have returned to the desert in an attempt to regroup and reorganise. The interior minister said his department lacked the equipment necessary to restore law and order in Libya. Bach Agha said he found "zero weapons and zero vehicles" in the ministry's warehouses when he took up his job in October. "Weakness and a security breakdown" allowed assailants to attack the foreign ministry, he said. The foreign minister said the UN should lift an arms embargo it has imposed on Libya since the 2011 uprising."Stability cannot be restored without a partial lifting of the embargo. It is needed to guarantee security and combat terrorism," Siala told reporters. The head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) denounced the "cowardly terrorist attack" in a statement. US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino condemnedthe terrorist attack on the building on behalf of the country. The U.S. strongly condemns today's terrorist attack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in #Tripoli. We offer our sincere condolences and stand with all Libyans as they fight terrorism and work towards a prosperous, stable, and secure #Libya. Robert Palladino (@StateDeputySPOX) 25 December 2018 Ghassan Salame also pledged to work with Libyan people "to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven for their crimes". Frank Baker, Britain's ambassador to Libya, also denounced an "appalling terrorist attack" and tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. ALSO READ: Remains of Ethiopian Christians killed by Islamic State uncovered in Libya Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi joined the chorus of condemnation in a statement reiterating Rome's "solidarity with the Libyan people and their just aspiration to real security". In September, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the headquarters of Libya's National Oil Company in the heart of Tripoli which left two dead and 10 wounded. Four months earlier, it claimed an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters which left 14 dead. In April, the GNA launched an operation to track down IS fighters operating in areas of western Libya under its control. Last month IS claimed responsibility for an attack on militia forces in southeastern Libya in which at least nine people were killed. The US military has regularly carried out strikes on jihadists in Libya, particularly south of Sirte. The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal, but a rival administration based in the country's east aligned with military strongman Khalifa Haftar refuses to recognise its authority. Rival Libyan leaders had agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But instability, territorial disputes and divisions have delayed plans for elections. (With UNI inputs) By IANS KARACHI: Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Syed Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead here by unidentified assailants and his bodyguard was arrested by the police on Wednesday. Two armed men on a motorbike had opened fire on the former MNA's car near his residence on Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood of Defence Housing Authority on Tuesday night. Abidi was alone in his car that time and was soon taken to hospital by his father where he succumbed to his injuries. A CCTV footage showed that the 46-year-old entrepreneur-turned-politician was shot at point-blank range. According to the post-mortem examination, Abidi sustained four bullet wounds -- two in his chest and one each in his neck and arm, Dawn newspaper reported. Confirming that Abidi's guard, Qadeer, was taken into custody, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pir Muhammad Shah said: "The guard instead of immediately retaliating to the fire, went inside the house and asked Abidi's father for a weapon to respond to the suspects' firing. "He was deployed at Abidi's residence around two months ago." Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi and others condemned Abidi's murder and prayed for his loved ones. He was considered as one of MQM's brightest faces. His funeral prayers were offered in Karachi on Wednesday. The police were investigating whether the incident was an outcome of a personal dispute or a political or religious fall-out. "The suspects have been traced at two to three spots through CCTV footage of cameras installed in the area," Shah said. Counter-Terrorism Department officer-in-charge of the Transnational Terrorism Intelligence Group Raja Umer Khattab had earlier said that the attackers appeared to be expert at target killings as they had targeted Abidi within a span of just 10 seconds. Abidi's death came days after two workers of the Pakistan Sarzameen Party (PSP) were gunned down in the city's Usmania Society neighbourhood. Prior to that, six people were wounded earlier this month when a low-intensity blast hit a Milad gathering organised by MQM-P in Gulistan-e-Johar. Abidi was elected as a member of the National Assembly on the MQM's ticket in the 2013 general election. However, he later joined the Pakistan faction of the party. He had resigned from his MNA post in November 2017 citing "political and personal reasons". The resignation had come days after Abidi quit the MQM-P after it entered into an electoral alliance with the PSP. Abidi, however, rejoined MQM-P in December 2017, before finally leaving the party in September this year. Enda Curran and Katia Dmitrieva By Bloomberg While 2018 was the year trade wars broke out, 2019 will be the year the global economy feels the pain. Bloombergs Global Trade Tracker is softening amid a fading rush to front-load export orders ahead of threatened tariffs. And volumes are tipped to slow further even as the U.S. and China seek to resolve their trade spat, with companies warning of ongoing disruption. Already there are casualties. GoPro Inc. will move most of its U.S.-bound camera production out of China by next summer, becoming one of the first brand-name electronics makers to take such action, while FedEx Corp. recently slashed its profit forecast and pared international air-freight capacity. Any kind of interference with commerce is going to be a tax on the economy, said Hamid Moghadam, chief executive officer of San Francisco-based Prologis Inc., which owns almost 4,000 logistics facilities globally. And the world economy is probably going to slow down as a result of it. Financial markets have already taken a hit. Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates that the trade war news has accounted for a net drop of 6 percent in the S&P 500 this year. Chinas stock market has lost $2 trillion in value in 2018 and is languishing in a bear market. READ HERE | Why 2018's Nobel prize-winning economist fears US-China trade war Recent data underscore concerns that trade will be a drag on American growth next year. U.S. consumers are feeling the least optimistic about the future economy in a year, while small business optimism about economic improvement fell to a two-year low and companies expect smaller profit gains in 2019. The International Monetary Fund forecasts trade volumes will slow to 4 percent in 2019 from 4.2 percent this year and 5.2 percent in 2017. They warn that trade barriers have become more pronounced. Europe isnt insulated either. While Germanys key machinery sector will produce a record 228 billion euros ($260 billion) this year, the trade disputes are among reasons why growth will slow, according to the VDMA industry association. Output will increase about 5 percent in real terms in 2018, the most since 2011, before growth slows to 2 percent next year. Then theres the risk of the U.S. placing tariffs on auto imports from Europe and Japan, a move that would damage relations between some of the worlds biggest economies. The arrest of Huawei Technologies Co. Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou illustrates the risk of unexpected developments that can quickly inflame already tense relations. ALSO READ | Long trade war would hurt US more than China: Reports "Trade divergence since 2018 and the Tariffs-Limbo into 2019 are likely to keep a high degree of uncertainty and continue to have an impact on trade and investment plans," New York-based Citigroup global markets economist Cesar Rojas wrote in a recent note. The critical question is whether Washington and Beijing can strike a deal by the March 1 deadline. If they succeed, a cloud will be lifted off the world economy. But for now, the threat that tensions will linger is a brake on business expansion plans, and thereby the global economy. Dippin Dots LLC is among those caught in the crossfire. The U.S.-based maker of ice cream and other frozen products spent three years breaking into the Chinese market and opened its first stores in the country this year, only to pay double-digit tariffs on imported dairy products. CEO Scott Fischer said if the U.S.-China talks fail and additional tariffs are added, hed be forced to rethink strategy, supply chains, and where in the world he expands. From an entrepreneurs perspective, our question is how long will this continue?" Fischer said. Its hard to plan business in this environment." ALSO READ | Trade war will help India emerge as bigger trading, manufacturing base: Arun Jaitley What Our Economists Say... For the world economy, the threat of trade war has dissipated, not disappeared. Three risks stand out. First, 90 days of talks between China and the U.S. might end in failure, with higher tariffs following. Second, even without an increase in tariffs, front-loading of exports in 2018 will reduce shipments in 2019. Finally, looking beyond the trade war, early warning signs from PMI surveys to FedEx profit warnings flag a softening of demand. Reporter Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6). (Photo/Xinhua) China plans to build 212 national logistic hubs and form a national logistics hub network in line with the advanced economic system by 2035, thepaper.cn reported on Monday. About 30 hubs will be established by 2020 and another 150 will be built by 2025, reducing the ratio of total logistics expenses to GDP to about 12 percent, according the overall arrangement and construction plan for national logistic hubs. The plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport on Monday also named 127 qualified cities to host the project of building six kinds of hubs, including land port, harbor port, airport, service-oriented port, commerce and trade-oriented port and land border port. Air express, high-speed rail express, cold-chain express, e-commerce express and cross-border companies are encouraged to promote the integrated development of express logistics, supply chain and industrial chain. New technologies and equipment are encouraged to be used to develop new business mode in logistic industry. Qualified national logistic hubs are encouraged to build fully automatic ports and intelligent warehouses, where unmanned trucks, automatic guided vehicles, smart robots and drones will be used. International cooperation will also be established to connect important global logistic hubs, origin of energy and raw materials, manufacturing base and trade center with China's national logistic hubs via China-Europe freight train services, sea routes and airlines. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Reporter/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Wilkes County Kids toy drive gearing up for holiday season The Wilkes County Kids toy donation drive is gearing up for the holiday season. The program is accepting donations through Friday, December 3. Late submissions may still be considered. Any... BOE approves $16,908 cybersecurity contract renewal The Wilkes County Board of Education met on November 29 at 5:30 p.m. The only item on the public agenda was the renewal of a contract with White Rock Cybersecurity.... Dollar General constructing new store on N. Mercer Street Dollar General is constructing an additional store in Washington. The new store building will be located on North Mercer Street in District One and is rapidly nearing completion. According to... The South China tiger Kang Kang, whose DNA was sent into space for backup storage by the Long March 11 carrier rocket on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Dry powder of DNA from a South China tiger of the Guangzhou Zoo was blasted into space by the Long March 11 carrier rocket on Saturday for backup storage of the genes of this endangered species. The DNA launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China comes from the blood of a male South China tiger named Kang Kang, according to the zoo in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. On orbit about 1,000 kilometers above the ground and banking on the low temperature and vacuum in space, the launch marks a positive exploration in the protection and backup of species resources. (Newser) Bryan Walsh, a Princeton alum, has been interviewing Princeton applicants who live near him for years now, sending his recommendations to the university. And in a piece for Medium, he lays out "the dirty secret of elite college admissions": At a time when universities are accepting a smaller and smaller percentage of applicants, they are still accepting a huge share of so-called "legacy" applicants. Consider this: When Walsh applied to Princeton in 1997, the university accepted 12.6% of applicants; last year, it accepted 5.5%. But if one of your parents went to Princeton, making you a legacy, you were four times likelier than a non-legacy applicant to be accepted. That's the case elsewhere, too: Harvard accepted 4.6% of applicants last year, but between 2010 and 2015, 33.6% of legacy applicants made the cut. story continues below Why? It's simple: money. Alumni donate millions to elite universities, which is how they can build up endowments worth as much as Harvard's $39.2 billion. The trend of legacy admissions is particularly notable at a time when college admissions are in the spotlight thanks to a case brought by a group of Asian-American applicants who were rejected by Harvard. They claim the university discriminates against Asian applicants by capping the number it will admit, while Harvard says its "holistic" admissions process isn't discriminatoryand is necessary to create a diverse student body. Walsh notes that the case (which is expected to make it to the Supreme Court) has shed a light on admissions, "a process that is undermined by unfairness." Doing away with the legacy benefit would be one way to make the process more fair. See Walsh's full piece for more. (More on the Harvard lawsuit here.) (Newser) Granted, people in Syria are really suffering. But that doesn't make Mayim Bialik's Christmas any better: "The government is in a shutdown, it's Christmas Eve day, I'm newly single and not doing so well to be quite honest," the Big Bang Theory actor writes on Instagram, per USA Today. "But the most pressing issue right now is that my catsafter 2 years togetherhave started a dominance war that involves urine and feces. Long story short my bed is not able to be slept in and I'm sleeping on my couch." story continues below The 42-year-old revealed in November she was "single again" and spending Thanksgiving with her ex-husband, their two sons, and others"an enjoyable evening," she wrote in her blog, per the Huffington Post. But she admitted in another post that it was hard to be alone after a five-year relationship: "If ever there were a story that should have ended not like this, I feel this might be it," she wrote. "But he has his own will and much as I wish I could control his will, I cannot. And so here we are." She had mentioned having a boyfriend but never revealed his identity. (Meanwhile, another famous actor broke his silence after being charged with sexual assault.) (Newser) California Gov. Jerry Brown has pardoned five refugees from Cambodia and another immigrant from Honduras who faced the possibility of deportation because of their criminal convictions, the AP reports. The pardons were among more than 250 clemency decisions announced by the governor on Christmas Eve. According to Brown's office, the five Cambodians entered the country when they were 5 or younger. The pardons don't automatically stop deportation proceedings, but they eliminate the state convictions on which federal authorities might base deportation decisions. That gives the men's lawyers strong legal arguments before immigration judges to try to prevent their removal from the country. story continues below In all, Brown issued 143 pardons and 131 commutations on Christmas Eve, and has a tradition of granting clemency requests on or near Christian holidays. Brown has now issued 283 commutations and 1,332 pardons since 2011far more pardons than any California governor since at least the 1940s. He issued 404 pardons and one commutation during his first two terms as governor from 1975-1983. This is expected to be Brown's last round of clemency action as governor, but he has until he leaves office Jan. 7 to act. People receiving pardons Monday include Louis Honig, a former state superintendent of public instruction convicted in the 1990s on conflict of interest charges, and two people from Paradise who lost their homes in the recent wildfire. (Brown also ordered DNA tests for a man sitting on death row.) (Newser) A 7-year-old girl who talked to President Trump on Christmas Eve still left out milk and cookies for Santa despite the president telling her it was "marginal" for a child of her age to still believe. Then again, Collman Lloyd of Lexington, SC, says she had never heard the word "marginal" before. Collman had called the NORAD Tracks Santa program Monday night to check on Santa's journey delivering toys, reports the AP. In an interview with the Post and Courier, she said the scientist who answered the NORAD phone asked her if she would like to speak to the president. Six minutes later, Trump was on the line. "Are you still a believer in Santa?" Trump asked. When she responded, "Yes, sir," the president added, "Because at 7, that's marginal, right?" Collman didn't know what "marginal" meant and simply answered, "Yes, sir." Trump closed by saying, "Well, you just enjoy yourself." story continues below Only Trump's end of the conversation could be heard by reporters, but Collman's family later posted video of the call on YouTube. Collman told the Post and Courier that she and her 10-year-old sister and 5-year-old brother left iced sugar cookies and chocolate milk for Santa. She reported that Christmas morning, the food was gone and presents were under the tree. Trump scrapped plans to celebrate in Mar-a-Lago and spent a rare Christmas in Washington because of the shutdown. "I thought it would be wrong for me to be with my family," he told reporters in the Oval Office after talking with members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. "My family is in Florida, Palm Beach, and I just didn't want to go down and be there when other people are hurting," Trump said. He didn't say which family members were at Mar-a-Lago. (Read more Santa Claus stories.) (Newser) Egypt's president is denying that he fat-shamed his own people after his recent calls for Egyptians to lose weight prompted a torrent of jokes online. In televised comments Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said, "How can I shame my own family? Egyptians are my family. How can I watch them (putting on weight) and stay quiet?" He noted the "incredible" number of jokes in response to his call and, chuckling, suggested people "take it easy with the jokes at my expense." The remarks that spurred the outrage came on Dec. 15, when el-Sissi ripped into Egyptians for not walking enough and told them to put in place better health habits, the AP reports. story continues below "The second I walk into any place I look at things you cannot possibly imagine I would notice, and I ask myself, 'What is this? Who are these people? Why are these people not looking after themselves?'" he said. Egypt has one of the world's highest rates of obesity, per the AP. Millions of people rely on government-subsidized bread and other staples, and the price of healthier foods has soared following recent austerity measures. In fact, el-Sissi's critics say his slam on citizens' weight issues is elitist and that he hasn't put forth any solid plans to deal with poverty or to encourage physical fitness. El-Sissi has presided over an unprecedented crackdown on dissent in recent years, and he has often bristled at criticism. (Read more Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi stories.) (Newser) Much has been made of the bone spurs that allowed Donald Trump to secure a medical exemption from serving in the Vietnam War. If you're looking for the story behind that 1968 diagnosis, the New York Times thinks it finally maybe has it. The paper reports that Trump has maintained that he couldn't recall who signed off on the paperwork, but that it believes podiatrist Dr. Larry Braunstein was the man behind the diagnosis. The Times arrived at that name after some digging: An anonymous tipster suggested an unnamed podiatrist with a connection to Trump's father, Fred Trump, had been involved, and the paper turned to old city directories and began interviewing podiatrists to come up with Braunstein's name. story continues below Braunstein died in 2007, but his daughters, now in their 50s, say their father had regaled friends and family with the story of assisting Trump as a "favor" to his father. The elder Trump rented Braunstein his Jamaica, Queens, office space. "I know it was a favor," Dr. Elysa Braunstein says. "Did he examine him, I don't know." She also doesn't know whether Trump really had bone spurs in his heels, though as the Times puts it, "the implication from her father was that Mr. Trump did not." The Times found no documentation to back up the sisters' storyneither from them nor the doctor who bought their father's practice. Read the full story, which floats the name of a second podiatrist who the sisters believe may also have played a part in the diagnosis, here. (Read more President Trump stories.) (Newser) Navy captains can still dock the pay or shore leave of misbehaving sailors under new rules take effect on New Year's Daybut they won't be able to chuck them in the brig with nothing to eat but bread and water. One of dozens of changes in a Uniform Code of Military Justice update signed into law by Barack Obama in 2016 and amended by President Trump this year ends the practice of confinement with "diminished rations" as punishment for minor misconduct by low-ranking sailors, the New York Times reports. The practice, introduced after Congress banned flogging in 1862, was based on a naval punishment that the British abolished in 1891. story continues below Commanders, who used to have the power to impose the punishment on low-ranking sailors for up to three days, are split on the move. "It sounds medieval, and that is sort of the point," retired Capt. Kevin Eyer tells the Times. "Sometimes you just need to scare a kid. We want them to succeed, but you need to give them a kick in the pants." Retired Adm. James Stavridis, however, tells the Navy Times that it's "about time" the punishment was relegated to the pages of history books. " In my time as a CO, I never used bread and water," he says. "Even two decades ago, it seemed a really anachronistic, dumb sort of sanction." (In Canada, meanwhile, a judge has ruled that serving powdered milk doesn't constitute torture.) Visitors take a selfie during a major exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2018. The exhibition has received more than 1.6 million people since its opening. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) At this significant moment of the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up, when we look back at the story of striving jointly written by China and the rest of the world, we feel more certain of the fact that Chinas reform and opening-up has been a strong force for world peace and development and represents a major contribution of the Chinese nation to the progress of human civilization. China has always been an important driving force for an open world economy. Over the past 40 years, the country has seen improvements in both the size and quality of its foreign trade, with the proportion of the total volume of its foreign trade in the global market rising from 0.8 percent in 1978 to 11.5 percent in 2016. Last year, the countrys foreign trade contributed more than 20 percent to global growth. As the worlds largest exporter, China has provided the global market with plenty of cost-efficient products. With every $10,000 worth of products being exported from Chinas manufacturing industry to the rest of the world, China is creating 11.52 more jobs around the world on average. China is also the second largest importer in the world. It is estimated that in the coming 15 years, the country will import more than $30 trillion and $10 trillion worth of goods and services respectively. Seeking overseas development actively, the Chinese enterprises have boosted the economic development and technological progress of various countries around world. China has always been a stable power source for global economic growth. We can still recall vividly how China persisted in refusing to devalue its currency renminbi (RMB) despite great pressure during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, contributing significantly to the financial stability of Asia and the world. In addition, Chinas strong economic growth and active measures taken to cope with the global financial crisis injected confidence into global economic and financial stability, which was more valuable than gold and currencies for the time. Today, China has become the second largest economy of the world, and has accounted for over 30 percent of the worlds economic growth for many years in a row. At the time when the world economy is troubled by sluggish recovery and economic globalization is encountering twists and turns, Chinas insistence on promoting the building of an open world economy will no doubt generate greater driving force for economic growth of the world. For various countries around the world, China has always been a dynamic market with great business opportunities. In this November, China showed the world its enormous vitality as a major market in the world in the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), attended by 172 countries, regions and international organizations. Over 3,600 enterprises showcased their products and services at the CIIE, and more than 400,000 domestic and overseas buyers sought deals at the expo. Over these years, transnational companies have actively shared the dividends of Chinas development. U.S. top electric carmaker Tesla Inc. built its first overseas plant in Shanghai; worlds largest oil and gas company Exxon Mobil Corporation is going to build a large-scale solely-invested petrochemical project in south Chinas Guangdong province. Chinas reforms of certain fields were praised as amazingly fast and effective by the World Bank, which moved the country up 32 places in its doing business rankings. China has always been an active contributor to the reform of global governance. It has long been firmly safeguarding international order with itself completely immersed in the contemporary international order by joining more than 400 multilateral treaties and taking part in all the specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN) and around 90 percent inter-governmental international organizations. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese President Xi Jinping has expounded on Chinas new ideas and new thoughts on global governance in many important diplomatic occasions, proposing new approaches and new measures for resolving major issues in global governance with the aim of pushing forward with the global governance system towards a more fair and reasonable direction. The 19th National Congress of the CPC further made it clear that Chinas pursuit of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics features the building of a new type of international relations and a community of common destiny for mankind. The Chinese wisdom born for improving the global governance has carried with it Chinas expectation of making greater contributions to mankind and demonstrated Chinas sense of responsibility as a major country in the world. (Newser) McKenna Presnar should have spent Christmas Day celebrating with her family. Instead, the 8-year-old succumbed to her injuries Christmas morning at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miaminine days after she was shot by her own father. Police say the case is now a triple murder-suicide, WPLG reports. Police say the girl's father, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class John Presnar, killed his 39-year-old wife, Gretchen, and John Jr., their 7-year-old son, before fatally shooting himself at their Miami-Dade County home last week. McKenna was hospitalized in critical condition after the shooting. story continues below Police say Presnar, a 44-year-old electronics technician who'd served in the Coast Guard since 2001, shot his family and himself after arguing with his wife in the early hours of Dec. 16. They say his wife urged her mother to run out of the house and call for help. "This incident is a tragedy that impacts an entire community. We all mourn when these tragic events occur," Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez tells the Miami Herald. Domestic violence is difficult to prevent, he says, but "as a community, we need to raise awareness to encourage families in need to seek assistance." (Read more Coast Guard stories.) (Newser) Both people who were on board a small plane that crashed and caught fire in a residential neighborhood of South Dakota's largest city died, authorities said Wednesday. The plane crashed at around 5pm Tuesday in the backyards of four homes in Sioux Falls, causing significant damage to two of the homes but not injuring anyone on the ground, authorities said. Police Capt. Loren McManus said at a news briefing that the two people who were on the plane were killed, but he didn't release their names. He added that the debris field stretches for blocks and asked that anyone who comes across mechanical wreckage or "biological debris" to call 911 so officers can take care of it, per the AP. "Please try not to touch it if you can," McManus said. story continues below Jim Lang, who lives nearby, says he felt the ground shake and heard what sounded like a vehicle accelerating rapidly. He looked out his window and saw "a yellow ball of fire." Fire Rescue Division Chief Steve Fessler said residents of two of the four houses that were evacuated following the crash haven't returned to their homes. Fessler said the plane came down in the backyards of the four houses, with two of them sustaining significant damage. Firefighters were able to "knock down" the fire that resulted from the crash within 10 minutes, he said. Police have secured the crash scene and are awaiting further direction from the National Transportation Safety Board, the lead investigative agency. (Read more South Dakota stories.) (Newser) If President Trump's Twitter feed seemed uncharacteristically quiet on Wednesday, now we know why. The president made a surprise trip to Iraq to visit US troops, his first visit to a combat zone, reports the New York Times. First lady Melania Trump accompanied him as he spoke to service members at Al Asad Air Base near Baghdad. Trump was expected to make a second stop as well. Details: Defiant: The president struck a defiant tone in his remarks to the troops, notes the AP. "We're no longer the suckers, folks," he said. "We're respected again as a nation." The president struck a defiant tone in his remarks to the troops, notes the AP. "We're no longer the suckers, folks," he said. "We're respected again as a nation." Staying put: Trump said he had no plans to withdraw the approximately 5,000 US troops stationed in Iraq, and he defended his controversial decision to withdraw troops from Syria. "I think a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking," he told reporters, per Reuters. Besides, he said, the US could always deploy the troops in Iraq to fight ISIS if necessary. In fact, we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria." story continues below Official reason: "President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted. "President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted. Long awaited: Trump had been under increasing pressure to visit troops abroad, notes Politico. Barack Obama and George W. Bush, for instance, visited Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times. Earlier this year, Trump had said he didn't think making such a trip was "overly necessary." Trump had been under increasing pressure to visit troops abroad, notes Politico. Barack Obama and George W. Bush, for instance, visited Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times. Earlier this year, Trump had said he didn't think making such a trip was "overly necessary." Tumultuous times: The visit, of course, comes on the heels of the resignation of defense chief James Mattis over the Syria decision, making this the "biggest week of turmoil the Pentagon has faced during his presidency," per the Washington Post. Trump said Wednesday that acting chief Patrick Shanahan "could be there for a long time." (Read more President Trump stories.) (Newser) Authorities launched a manhunt Wednesday after a gunman shot and killed a police officer during a traffic stop in a small California town, the AP reports. In an alert, the California Highway Patrol said the suspect, whose name was not known, is considered to be armed and dangerous. Newman Police Officer Ronil Singh, 33, had called in the traffic stop early Wednesday and a few minutes later reported shots fired over his radio, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. Multiple agencies responded and found Singh with gunshot wounds. They rushed the husband and father of an infant boy to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Ground and air units were searching for the suspect based on surveillance photos taken at a convenience store shortly before the attack. story continues below The suspect was believed to be driving a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck when the shooting occurred in Newman, about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco. "We have sent out information to law enforcement up and down the state, as well as outside California," said Sgt. Tom Letras said, a sheriff's spokesman. In the photos, the heavyset suspect with short dark hair is wearing a thick chain necklace. jeans, a dark hoodie and dark-colored T-shirt. Singh was a native of Fiji and had worked since July 2011 for the police department in Newman, a town of about 10,000 people. Earlier in his career, Singh worked as a deputy with the Merced County Sheriff's Department. Singh is survived by his wife, Anamika, and a 5-month-old son, authorities said. (A "devastating tragedy" for Chicago police.) The Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), welcomed the arrival of Georgias flag carrier, Georgian Airways, following the commencement of its direct service between Tbilisi and Bahrain. The airline will operate a service between Tbilisi International Airport and BIA twice a week for the next nine months. Georgian Airways is the second carrier to operate the route out of BIA, which reflects the destinations increasing popularity among GCC nationals and residents who can now obtain a visa on arrival. In a statement issued, BAC Chief Commercial Officer, Ayman Zainal said: We are delighted to add another route to Tbilisi and look forward to working with Georgian Airways to offer the best possible passenger experience to its customers. The 25-year relationship between our two countries has only grown stronger over time, as demonstrated by the appointment of Bahrains first ambassador to Georgia in January this year. We hope this new partnership with Georgian Airways will further enhance trade and tourism between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Georgia. Developing new routes and cargo operations out of BIA is a top priority for BAC and its partners. Chinese President Xi Jinpings speech at the gathering commemorating the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up has inspired many ordinary Chinese people to continue reform and opening-up. Lin Shujin, a doctorate student from Xian Jiaotong University, used to work with rural farmers in Pingli County, northwest Chinas Shaanxi province, to help them promote their agricultural products. Lin was inspired by President Xis remarks on poverty relief.Im very much willing to help more people with my marketing skills and join the battle against poverty, he said. Xia Qiang, a hepatobiliary surgery director at Renji Hospital in Shanghai, also found strength in Xis speech. President Xi said we should put people first and work to realize their wishes for a better life. This is in line with our principle at work, Xia said, adding: Ordinary people have raised the bar on hygiene and we should continue to improve our technology and services to help more people. For Yeshe Zangpo, a university student at Xizang Minzu University in southwest Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region, the most impressive part of Xis speech was his words about the progress made in the nations education system. Specifically, the education results in Tibet are outstanding. For years, weve enjoyed 15 years of free compulsory education to help students make it to high school. Coupled with the other supporting policies, its no longer a dream for our students to go to school, Zangpo said. Businesses in Bahrain have been urged to voluntarily register for VAT to avoid unnecessary losses, it is learnt. If the businesss annual supplies do not exceed or are not expected to exceed BD5,000,000, then the entity is not expected to register for VAT. However, if the businesss annual supplies exceed the voluntary VAT registration threshold of BD18,750, it can voluntarily register for VAT. Businesses that chose not to voluntarily register may rack up unnecessary losses, according to experts. This is because these businesses will be paying for VAT added goods by purchasing from VAT registered companies but would not be able to pass on VAT to their customers, said BCCI Chairperson of Finance, Insurance, and Tax Committee, Sawsan Abdulhassan. When a VAT registered company sells goods and services to a non-VAT registered company, the company charges VAT but the non-VAT company cannot pass on the VAT to the customer. So for businesses to recover the tax from their side, they need to be registered, Ms Abdulhassan told Tribune. BCCI board member Sonya Janahi said that the chamber is encouraging its members to register voluntarily. Voluntary registration is something we encourage everyone to do. Because even if you are below five million thresholds, you might still be impacted if you are importing or buying from a company that is VAT registered. And if you are not registered you will not be able to claim the VAT. From our perspective, we encourage everyone to voluntarily apply for the VAT and make sure that their accounting systems are ready. Speaking about the meeting held between BCCI and Finance and Commerce Ministers, BCCI first vice-chairman Khalid Najibi said, During the meeting, the chamber stressed the importance of enhancing the implementation mechanism of the VAT, clarifying all the technical and legal aspects of the tax, and taking into consideration the readiness of the private sector. The High Criminal Appellate Court has upheld the verdict issued by the lower court in a trial, which saw a Bahraini man accusing his wife of adultery. The man had filed a case with the police accusing his wife of committing adultery. According to sources, the woman was allegedly having an affair with another man. The mans ( husband) brother, as well as the housemaid, had told prosecutors that they saw the woman making love with another man in the absence of her husband. On the flip side, the womans lawyer argued that the man had delayed dowry payment and he wanted to get away from his responsibility by filing the adultery case against his wife. Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested an intoxicated 36-year-old man over the alleged theft of a wallet from a woman in Toshima Ward on Tuesday, reports Fuji News Network At just past midnight, Takuya Yata, of no known occupation, allegedly reached inside the purse of the woman, a university student aged in her 20s, and withdrew the wallet containing about 7,000 yen in cash as she walked along a pedestrian corridor under JR Ikebukuro Station. According to police, Yata had been drinking alone just before the incident. aI wanted money,a the suspect was quoted by police in admitting to the allegations. Yata was apprehended after a female officer investigating another theft case heard the student scream. After the suspect fled the scene, the officer chased him down over a distance of about 80 meters. With the New Year holidays underway, police are upping patrols to combat such thefts. Uwe Brutzer (Photo/Chinanews.com) A man from Germany now working in Changsha in central Chinas Hunan province has earned a high reputation because of the charitable deeds he is doing in this oriental country. The man Uwe Brutzer used to work for a pharmaceutical factory based in Stuttgart, Germany. Now he runs a bakery in Changsha that employs eight speaking and hearing impaired personnel. 18 years ago, after learning that many hearing impaired children in Hunan who could have been able to speak were losing their chances to have a voice due to inadequate rehabilitation training, Brutzer and his wife Dorothee Brutzer immediately decided to go to China and work for a local rehabilitation center for the disabled under the administration of the Hunan Disabled Persons' Federation. During the past years, the couple has left their footprints in every inch of Hunan province, helping over 500 hearing impaired children. However, Brutzer found that it would still be uneasy for the hearing impaired group to find jobs even though they are able to communicate and work. Therefore, he started the bakery in 2011, which was a move of him to make the world believe that speaking and hearing impaired people are able to be independent. (Photo/Chinanews.com) The bakery has trained a total of 16 professional bakers during the past 8 years. Apprentice Ma Shaohua told China News Service that free classes are offered to learn baking at Brutzers bakery, and Brutzer would even pay him several hundred yuan every month. Ma said confidently that after one or two years, he would become a real baker and be qualified at any bakery. According to Zhang Ming, who has been working for five years at the bakery, the bakery is entirely different from the working environment she was in. Now shes very respected and earns over 3,000 yuan every month in a decent and relaxed manner. She noted that she would keep working for this bakery. (Photo/Chinanews.com) The bakery always suffered losses, running on the savings of the Brutzers. However, it has turned losses into profits in the past two years and become a celebrated bakery on the internet, drawing many visitors and customers. What we do is trivial, and we hope to help as many people as we can, Brutzer said. He is always willing to help those speaking and hearing impaired people who want to be independent. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday on telephone conversation with Emir of Maradun in Zamfara, Alhaji Garba Tambari, expressed sadnes... President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday on telephone conversation with Emir of Maradun in Zamfara, Alhaji Garba Tambari, expressed sadness over the loss of lives and destruction of property following the banditry attacks. The information is contained in a statement by the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday. He urged the Emir to console his people, and citizens in the entire state over these heart-wrenching tragedies. President Buhari said he was extremely saddened by the loss of lives and destruction of property following the attacks.He urged the Emir to console his people, and citizens in the entire state over these heart-wrenching tragedies. He reiterated his administrations determination to do everything it would take to secure the state and the nation in general, and would bring such attacks to an end. President Buhari had, on Monday, expressed sorrow over the loss of lives following attacks on communities in Zamfara by bandits and cattle rustlers and assured that the Federal Government would do everything in its powers to end the horrendous attacks. He disclosed that a major operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, was being considered to restore peace and stability to affected areas. In a related development, President Buhari has also called the leader of the Izala Muslim religious movement, Sheik Sani Yahaya Jingir in Jos, to condole him following the death, in a road accident in Jigawa, of a number of his followers. President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, in Abuja said his re-election campaign will focus on the scorecard of his administration in the k... President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, in Abuja said his re-election campaign will focus on the scorecard of his administration in the key areas of security, economy and the fight against corruption. Speaking at a Christmas Homage by residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Minister, Mohammed Bello, President Buhari said those three overarching issues were still as relevant to the country as it was before the 2015 polls that brought the APC-led government to power. Very soon we will go to the geopolitical zones to remind the people of our promises in 2015 on three fundamental things: [security, economy and the fight against corruption]. Unless we secure the country, we cannot manage it properly that is why shortly after I was elected, I went to Chad, Niger, Cameroon and the Republic of Benin to seek their support in the fight against the insurgency. People in the North East know that we have recorded remarkable improvement in the fight against Boko Haram, he said. President Buhari also used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that his administration remains committed to tackling kidnapping and banditry in addition to finding a lasting solution to the conflict between herders and sedentary farmers. President Buhari told the gathering, comprising religious, political and traditional leaders in the FCT that his administration has done more work with less resources in agriculture, infrastructure and social investments, considering the state of the economy it inherited from the previous administration. On agriculture, President Buhari said he remained grateful to God for the bumper harvests experienced by farmers in different parts of the country in 2016, 2017 and 2018 despite devastating floods. I am very happy that all the people who returned to agriculture have not regretted it, he said. On the fight against corruption, the President pledged that he will continue to do his best to recover what rightly belongs to Nigeria, guided by the rule of law and respect for constituted authority. The President jocularly said people were calling him Baba Go Slow because he had jettisoned the military way of fighting corruption and opted for due process under a constitutional democracy. When I was going fast I was arrested so why should I go fast again. It is not Baba that is slow it is the system. So whatever the case I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have illegally abused trust by taking [public] funds entrusted to them, he said. Earlier in his remarks, the FCT Minister while congratulating the President for an eventful year with remarkable achievements, said: we in the FCT are your flock and we know you will continue to lead us to the Promised Land. On his part, the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, who spoke on behalf of the Christian community, thanked God for sustaining the President with good health. Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, has urged Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, Zamfara governor, to return home and stand in defense of ... Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, has urged Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, Zamfara governor, to return home and stand in defense of the people of his state. The ex-governor said Yari should not be abroad when there is a spate of killings by armed bandits and high level of insecurity in Zamfara. Fayose, south-west coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council, released a statement on the matter on Tuesday. Im aware that the governor is abroad and I advise that he should return home, he said. This is the time for him to be a man and stand in defense of his people rather than standing with their oppressors. Fayose also accused the federal government of plotting to hide under the killings to impose emergency rule on the state. He said the alleged plot was in response to the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to allow the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field candidates for the 2019 elections in Zamfara. The ex-governor accused the government of orchestrating a selfish, partisan agenda. With the emergency rule, there will only be presidential and national ssembly elections in the state in February next year while governorship and state house of assembly elections will be postponed till May, he said. The federal government should admit its failure and apologise to the people of Zamfara state, who were left at the mercy of armed bandits as using the killings to achieve political goal is not only wicked but inhuman. Fayose said the federal government must be reminded that under the PDP government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, emergency rule was declared in three states in the north-east without dismantling democratic institutions. Some civil society groups have asked the federal government to declare state of emergency in Zamfara state. In a statement on Mond... Some civil society groups have asked the federal government to declare state of emergency in Zamfara state. In a statement on Monday, the groups said the ineptitude of Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara, has worsened the insecurity situation in the state. Commenting on the recent protest in the state, they said the destruction of the campaign posters of President Muhammadu Buhari shows the extent to which people are aggrieved against the efforts so far put in place to contain the problem. Those who signed the statement are Jibrin Ibrahim, Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja; Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Zaria; Massoud Omar, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Zaria; and Saluihu Zubairu Mustapha and Mohammed Nasiru of the department of history, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. They said these killings have the potential of eroding the credibility of Buhari in one of his strongholds. The reckless pronouncements and ineptitude of the government of Abdulaziz Yari has further worsened the security situation in the state, they said. The destruction of the campaign posters of Mr. President shows the extent to which people are aggrieved against the efforts so far put in place to contain the problem. This has the potential of eroding the credibility of Mr. President in one of his strongholds. Innocent citizens, made up of defenceless men, women and children are slaughtered routinely with no help in sight. Women and young girls are raped in the presence of their parents and husbands; some are kidnapped, carried into the bush, subjected to incessant rape, impregnated and sent back to their villages. Consequently, many villages in Zamfara state have been deserted. Economic activities have come to a standstill as farmers have been ordered by the bandits not to farm. Those who dared them have been killed. Herders are also not spared. Thousands of cattle have been rustled and many herders killed. Many people have also been kidnapped for ransom. These developments have had a negative impact on the Federal Governments agricultural policy of Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), and other social intervention programmes. So far, the security measures put in place in Zamfara have failed. The massive demonstration that took place in Tsafe yesterday against the failure of the security agencies which degenerated into the riots indicates that peoples patience has run out. We recommend the immediate declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara state to enable to federal government initiate a series of actions that would address the crisis. They said the the killings in the state indicate that there is a leadership vacuum in Zamfara state. This, therefore calls for drastic measures to arrest the situation and prevent the descent into total anarchy, with dire consequences to Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna states and the neighbouring states of Niger Republic. The Federal Government has disclosed that the dumping of unauthorised Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO, in Nigeria has been reduced to the barest minimum.Speaking in Abuja, during the presentation of the agencys scorecard for 2018, Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA, Mr. Rufus Ebegba, stated that efforts have been heightened to safeguard the country against harmful GM products.He further stated that risks to human health from modern biotechnology practice and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are at their barest minimum.He said, Dumping of unauthorized GMOs into Nigeria is now at its barest minimum, Avenue is being provided to confirm and harness the potentials of modern biotechnology safely. Negative Socio-economic consequences of GMOs are being guarded against. Confidence built in the practice of modern biotechnology, use and handling of GMOs and GM products.Nigerias commitment to the principles of international Agreements and Treaties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) is reaffirming. Proper regulation for imported GM products, so that Nigeria will not be a dumping ground for GMOs and products is assured. Other African Countries look up to Nigeria for leadership in Biosafety Issues.Ebegba noted that the NBMA had provided for the first time, a safe haven for the practice of modern biotechnology, its application and use in Nigeria.According to him, Nigeria can now raise its head among nations as a country ready to appropriately key into the use of safe modern technology, a critical factor for economic development.He stated that in the last three years, the NBMA had been able to develop and review its operational instruments for effective implementation of the NBMA Act 2015 and the ease of doing business within related sectors.Ebegba added that the Agency had also granted Permit for commercial release and importation of GM crops for feed and food processing such as Bt. Cotton to Monsanto Agriculture Nigeria Ltd. (Commercial Release); Biosafety Permit to WACOT Nigeria Limited for commercial release of Bt Cotton.He disclosed that Nigeria is benefiting from safe modern biotechnology under a legal framework for economic growth, improved agriculture, job and wealth creation, industrial growth and sustainable environment, especially as operators now have confidence in the sector.Ebegba added that at present, the NBMA had trained officers through short Biosafety courses, both nationally and internationally, and sometimes to masters level.He said, With the establishment of the agency, our universities and research institutes now have confidence to carry out biotechnology researches expected to increase agricultural productivity as well as contribute to food security in Nigeria.He added that in the coming year, the NBMA looks to train more staff and urged Nigerians to trust government decisions as government has put in place measures to ensure that human health and environment is safe. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) has predicted Nigeria would become the 14th best economy in the world by 2050.The Executive Secretary of the fund, Dr Abdullahi Baffa-Bichi said this during an interactive session with members of the Buhari Support Political Group, One 2 Tell 10, on Wednesday in Kano.According to him, indices of growth and development are manifesting following the sound and excellent economic policy introduced by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.He noted that a report released by an established global economic expert, PWC, had also predicted that Nigeria would be the 14th biggest economy in the world in 2050.Baffa-Bichi disclosed that the report, titled `The World in 2050, which was released recently, attributed this to the current economic revolution introduced by the Buhari administration.He said the Nigerias economy is now on a sound footing as evident by the stability in the business and investment environment.The TETfund boss commended Buhari for his good economic policies and initiatives which were responsible for the country to get out of recession within just two years.According to him, this feat was certified by the major financial players in the world such as IMF and World Bank.If not for the prudent management of resources instilled by the administration, Nigeria would have been in a serious economic crisis, he said.According to Baffa-Bichi, who is the Director-General of the One 2 Tell 10 movement, explained that getting out of recession was by no means a great achievement.He expressed optimism that Nigerians would soon be among the best economies in the world if these policies are sustained.He therefore said such achievement alone should make Nigerian electorate to renew their mandate to the government.Baffa-Bichi further commended the group for their steadfastness and commitment towards ensuring the success of the APC administration.He urged them to redouble efforts in their campaign for the re-election of Buhari and the APC at all levels in the 2019 general elections.Nigerians are now wiser and they have seen the good works of President Buhari, giving him another chance in 2019 will certainly go a long way to further secure our country and launch her among the comity of advanced nations.On assumption of office, Buhari had three major programmes which are ensuring security, fighting corruption and economic recovery.We are all living witnesses today that our country is enjoying peace with the taming of the activities of insurgents and pipeline vandals.While efforts are on top gear to quenching the activities of bandits in other parts of the country. Economically, Nigeria is now on a sound footing while corruption has been reduced to the barest minimum.He pointed out that agricultural activities have been growing, following the availability of farm inputs at affordable prices; unlike in the past where fertiliser and other incentives were out of reach.The Chairman of the One 2 Tell 10 Buhari support group, Mr Yuguda Abdulazeez, had earlier assured that the group was all out to ensure the success of Buhari and all APC candidates in the 2019 elections. Photo via PLA Daily) The Chinese military has conducted over 1,190 escort missions, safeguarding the voyages of more than 6,600 merchant ships from China and abroad in the Gulf of Aden since the first escort fleet was dispatched 10 years ago, showing significant progress in the nations naval escort capability, experts said. Since December 26, 2008, the day when China sent its first escort fleet, consisting of two destroyers and one auxiliary ship, Chinese naval forces have dispatched a total of more than 26,000 soldiers and officers overseas. Chinas decision to send naval forces to the area came in response to the UNs call to launch escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, which is one of the worlds busiest sea passages, but also a notorious area for pirates. In 2008 alone, more than 30 ships were hijacked and over 600 crew members taken hostage. The first Chinese escort fleet received its first emergency call from a Greek merchant ship under siege by pirates. Over the years, Chinese forces have rescued or escorted more than 70 domestic and international ships under emergency situations, casting out some 3,000 pirate vessels. For the naval escort fleets, its an unprecedented task to conduct anti-piracy escort missions on the high seas. Its a challenge for all the soldiers and officers who must work under a completely new environment and to deploy forces to combat piracy, naval expert Zhang Junshe commented. The deployment of Chinese naval forces for anti-piracy missions has sped up by a factor of five over the past decade and the time required for shipborne helicopters has been shortened by three times, according to Zhang. Photo via PLA Daily) In addition to escorting merchant ships, the escort fleets also took up various others missions, including escorting the transportation of the seventh batch of chemical weapons from Syria in September 2013. In December 2014, the fleets sent more than 600 tonnes of fresh water to the capital of Maldives when the city suffered from fresh water shortage. In March 2015, a Chinese escort fleet undertook the nations first evacuation of Chinese nationals overseas. More than 600 Chinese nationals and another 200 citizens from 15 countries and regions were successfully evacuated from Yemen. In March 2011, the Chinese military for the first time escorted an evacuation ship carrying more than 2,000 Chinese nationals from Syria. Chinas high-sea military logistics support has developed into a more comprehensive model with multiple logistic support services, including remote technical support and overseas centralized maintenance. The support model is becoming more mature, with better efficiency, a China Central Television report said. As Chinese nationals travel abroad for sight-seeing and trade, overseas interests are becoming increasingly important to national interests. Therefore, the militarys escort missions serve as an important guarantee for safe sea passage and overseas interests, Zhang noted. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the government was investing in Nigerians to ensure stable and growing country.In a tweet to greet Nigerians on the celebration of Christmas, he described Nigeria as a country with 200 million innumerable ideas.He said the people were with limitless possibilities and wondrous abilities.Osinbajo said that the government envisions a thriving Nigeria for Africa and a prosperous Nigeria for the world.He said: 200 Million people innumerable ideas, limitless possibilities, wondrous abilities.By investing in Nigerians, we are ensuring a stable and growing Nigeria for Nigerians,A thriving Nigeria for Africa,A prospering Nigeria for the worldMerry Christmas Nigerians, you matter!200 Million people innumerable ideas, limitless possibilities, wondrous abilities.By investing in Nigerians, we are ensuring a stable and growing Nigeria for Nigerians,A thriving Nigeria for Africa,A prospering Nigeria for the worldMerry Christmas Nigerians, you matter! pic.twitter.com/PoXZDRXBfC Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) December 25, 2018Osinbajo had on Christmas eve thrilled some residents of Abuja to `Next Level, a song composed from the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign slogan for the 2019 general elections.The vice president addressed a crowd of enthusiastic residents, when he paid a visit to the family of Abdulwaheed Yusuf in Area 1 in Garki, before visiting the family of Col. Ahmed Zubair (rtd) in Wuse Zone 7.He also addressed cheering residents of Wuse Zone 7.Osinbajo bellowed APC!, and the crowd responded Next Level! as many times as the vice president mentioned Next level.The vice president, who spoke partly in Pidgin English, told the residents that the message he had for them from President Muhammadu Buhari was: No shaking, na Next level we dey go; we don finish with the kind leaders wey dey chop money.He said people that looted Nigerias money would not be allowed to come back.Dey no go come back again; Baba Buhari na mai Gaskiya; he will not steal your money; he will use the money for the benefit of the people.From now on, we are making sure that people have money to do their trading and young people have jobs; the only way to do is only if we do not allow these people who want to steal to come back.They will not come back; we are going forward; we are going to the Next level; by the Grace of God, four more years.There is one song that we sing now on radio; we are going higher, higher, Next level; we are going higher, higher, we are going higher, higher, higher Next level, he sang.The excited residents sang in unison with the Vice President and later switched to repeatedly singing Four plus four, Next level; four plus four, Next level.Earlier in Garki Area 1, Osinbajo told the residents that Buhari would not allow any form of looting as he would deploy Nigerias resources to improve the lives of the people.According to him, the Buhari-led administration will use Nigerias money to help Nigerians.Traders will have more money for their trading; people who are working will have more; young people will have jobs; our women will go to market to sell; enough things to sell so that every Nigerian will prosper.Mr President has said that he will not allow a situation where people steal our money; that is why we are not going back to the past.Our money must be used for Nigerians; for all of you who are here.That is why we are doing MarketMoni, TraderMoni; every trader will have something to do; every young person will have a job.By Gods grace, everybody will prosper during Buharis next four years as president, he said.The crowd, comprising mostly women and youths, sang and walked with the vice president for about 200 metres in Area 1 before he departed for Wuse Zone 7 aboard his motorcade. Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, has commended the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams O... Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, has commended the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for flushing out all the unpatriotic elements, whose interests are in sharp contrast with that of the party. The commendation was part of the congratulatory message Madumere sent to Oshiomhole on Tuesday for going ahead to inaugurate the Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo-led Caretaker Committee of Imo APC. He described the Caretaker Committee as peopled by those with the requisite capacity to steer the affairs of Imo APC to victory in the 2019 general election. Madumere also reasoned that there was no way a patriotic party faithful would have allowed Governor Rochas Okorocha to personalize Imo APC. On behalf of the members of Imo State, APC, I heartily felicitate with our indefatigable National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, for his commitment towards exorcising the party of unpatriotic elements, Madumere said. He gave assurance of the partys readiness to work assiduously to ensure that all candidates of the party were delivered in all the electoral contests, adding that members of Committee are highly experienced in party administration and requisite patriotic zeal to deliver conveniently at the polls. Madumere equally commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari for his passionate zeal to improve the living standard on Nigerians and Imolites in particular. President Buhari has embarked on many transforming policy thrusts and implementation in the area of infrastructure, agriculture and aviation. I am prepared to lead the crusade to tell Imo people, the efforts of President Buhari in improving the welfare of the State and the South East at large, Madumere said. He called on the good people of Imo State to support APC. Senator Representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris is planning to arrest and inj... There is a plan by the IG to arrest me today and inject me to death. Men deployed already. CP kogi and others removed. Nigerians watch out. Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) December 25, 2018 Senator Representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris is planning to arrest and inject him to death with a deadly substance.Melaye made the claim in a tweet posted on his official twitter handling alleging that those to carry out the plan had already been deployed to the State.According to the Senator, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and personnel had been redeployed from the State.There is a plan by the IG to arrest me today and inject me to death. Men deployed already. CP kogi and others removed. Nigerians watch out the Senator tweeted. Betel Nut Valley is a 5A-level scenic spot of Chinese folk culture in south Chinas Hainan Province. It is located in a tropical forest, which is home to the island's earliest natives, the Li and Miao ethnic groups. Betel Nut Valley showcases many items of state-level intangible cultural heritage. Li brocade, with a history of several thousand years, was listed as UNESCO's first endangered cultural heritage group in 2009. Now, Li brocade has been used to make a series of featured cultural and creative products, including clothing, scarves, schoolbags and accessories. The prosperous industry has created a large number of jobs for locals, considerably raising their income. From 2005 to 2018, Betel Nut Valley implemented a number of tourism projects as a form of poverty alleviation, helping villagers use culture and tourism to lift themselves out of poverty. The local government allocated about six million yuan (about $872 thousand) to build 123 shops for farmers to run independent businesses. Before 2011, the average annual income of villagers here was little more than 10,000 yuan (about $1,453). Since 2011, by running shops at Betel Nut Valley, villagers average yearly income reached 50,000 yuan about $7,257. Poverty rates in the area dropped from 19.06 to 0.26 percent. Fleuriers four watchmakers joined forces in 2001 to create the most sophisticated watch certification that has ever existed. Chopard, Parmigiani, Vaucher Manufacture and Bovet set the cat among the pigeons where the Poincon de Geneve and the COSC were concerned, by bringing together chronometric, technical, aesthetic and practical criteria and subjecting them to a hitherto unheard-of level of scrutiny. The Fondation Qualite Fleurier was very busy for a time, but then the number of pieces brought to its attention began to drop, and the Qualite Fleurier stamp was forgotten by many. Toric Qualite Fleurier Parmigiani Fleurier And yet it has a lot going for it, mainly its scope: a rigorous 100% Swiss requirement; a high standard of finish; prior certification by the COSC; testing under the Chronofiable protocol, an extremely demanding and very thorough technical certification process, for up to 20 units at a time; and finally, watches are put through the Fleuritest, a machine designed specifically to simulate conditions in wear. So thats the scope of the testing. But as we know, better is often the enemy of good, and a certification this advanced clearly comes at a cost, which is not necessarily balanced out by a commensurate increase in public demand. Tonda Qualite Fleurier Parmigiani Fleurier Nevertheless, Parmigiani has released three new certifications in two phases. First came the Toric Qualite Fleurier, launched in a choice of red or white gold, each with a silvered guilloche dial. It has now been joined by the Kalpa Qualite Fleurier and the Tonda Qualite Fleurier. These three models have different dials, but they all feature a Qualite Fleurier badge. Kalpa Qualite Fleurier Parmigiani Fleurier This little flurry of activity aside, the FQF, however excellent, nevertheless remains handicapped by its field of application. Its statutes specify that any watch may apply, provided that it is made entirely of Swiss components. If the foundation had actively sought to extend the label to brands beyond their small town in the Val de Travers (which may not have been the intention, and certainly has not been the reality), it would remain complex, costly, and tied to the name Fleurier. Such is the price of rigour. In the meantime, Parmigiani is betting on the latest Qualite Fleurier watches to raise the brand profile. After all, there are not too many watches that are capable of passing all these tests.